E9-14871. Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Tennessee; Approval of Revisions to the Knox County Portion

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the Knox County portion of the Tennessee State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Tennessee on April 21, 2008. The revision pertains to the Knox County Department of Air Quality Management (KCDAQM) Regulation, Section 25.0 “Permits,” specifically subsection 25.6—Exemptions. This revision removes “mobile sources” from the list of exempted air contaminant sources, with respect to operating permits and reserves subsection 25.6.A. This revision is part of KCDAQM strategy to attain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 8-hour ozone, particulate matter (PM)_2.5 and PM₁₀. This revision was certified by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to be at least as stringent as the State of Tennessee's existing requirements in Chapter 1200-3-9-.04 “Exemptions,” and is being approved pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before July 27, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-OAR-2008-0676, by one of the following methods:

1. http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

2. E-mail: [e-mail].

3. Fax: [phone].

4. Mail: “EPA-R04-OAR-2008-0676,” Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.

5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Ms. Lynorae Benjamin, Chief, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays.

Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to submit comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Twunjala Bradley, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number is [phone]. Ms. Bradley can also be reached via electronic mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For additional information see the direct final rule which is published in the Rules section of this Federal Register.

Dated: June 15, 2009.

Beverly H. Banister,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.