95-14851. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Ohio

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31934-31935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14851]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[OH50-4-7071; FRL-5222-8]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation 
of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Ohio

AGENCY: United States Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Denial of comment period extension on proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On May 2, 1995, the United States Environmental Protection 
Agency (USEPA) published a proposed rule (60 FR 21490) and a direct 
final rule (60 FR 21456) approving a request by Ohio to redesignate the 
Toledo ozone nonattainment area to attainment of the National Ambient 
Air Quality Standard for ozone, and also approving the State's 
maintenance plan for this area. Several commentors provided comments on 
the proposed approval, and made a general request that the USEPA extend 
the public comment period on the rulemaking. One commentor requested an 
extension of the comment period so that concerns about increased 
vehicle emissions caused by new road contruction projects and a 
possible increase in highway tolls can be evaluated and addressed. The 
USEPA is denying the extension requests for the following reasons: Ohio 
solicited public comments on the issues associated with redesignating 
the Toledo area in October 1993; the USEPA announced its conclusions 
regarding the request to the press 6 weeks before publishing the 
action; justification was not provided that extending the comment 
period would significantly enhance public input; the USEPA will address 
the commentors' concerns in a final rule document; and no parties 
wishing to actually make additional comments were identified. The USEPA 
notes that a public function for the rulemaking package was held on 
March 14, 1995, in Toledo, Ohio, and it was shown on television news 
programs. Based on the factors discussed above, since the public was 
made aware of this rulemaking action, and because no party has sought 
to submit comments after the comment period, the USEPA does not believe 
that an extension of the comment period is warranted. The USEPA is 
withdrawing the direct final rule mentioned above in a final rule 
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Lee, Regulation Development 
Section, Air Enforcement Branch (AE-17J), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson [[Page 31935]] Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois 60604. Telephone: [phone].

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

    Dated: June 7, 1995.
Valdas V. Adamkus,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-14851 Filed 6-16-95; 8:45 am]
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