96-23265. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Louisiana: General Conformity Rules

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 179 (Friday, September 13, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48453-48454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23265]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52

[LA 25-1-6964b; FRL-5549-8]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Louisiana: 
General Conformity Rules

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to conditionally approve the Louisiana 
State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision that contains regulations for 
implementing and enforcing the general conformity rules which the EPA 
promulgated on November 30, 1993 (58 FR 63214). Specifically, the 
general conformity rules, if approved, will enable the Louisiana 
Department of Environmental Quality to review conformity of all Federal 
actions (see 40 CFR part 51, subpart W--Determining Conformity of 
General Federal Actions to State or Federal Implementation Plans) with 
the control strategy SIP's submitted for the nonattainment and 
maintenance areas. This proposed action would streamline the conformity 
process and allow direct consultation among agencies at the local 
levels. The Federal actions by the Federal Highway Administration and 
Federal Transit

[[Page 48454]]

Administration (under 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act) are covered 
by the transportation conformity rules under 40 CFR part 51, subpart 
T--Conformity to State or Federal Implementation Plans of 
Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects Developed, Funded or 
Approved Under Title 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act. The EPA will 
act on the State's transportation conformity SIP under a separate 
Federal Register document.
    In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is 
approving this General Conformity SIP revision as a direct final 
rulemaking without prior proposal because the EPA views this action as 
noncontroversial 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 that direct final rule, no 
further activity is contemplated in relation to this proposed rule. If 
the 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. The EPA will not 
institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in providing comments on this action should do so at this 
time.

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be received in writing, 
postmarked by October 15, 1996. If no adverse comments are received, 
then the direct final rule will be effective on November 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Mr. Thomas H. Diggs, Chief, Air 
Planning Section (6PDL) at the address below. Copies of the State's 
General Conformity SIP and other relevant information are available for 
inspection during normal business hours at the following locations. 
Interested persons wanting to examine these documents should make an 
appointment with the appropriate office at least 24 hours before the 
visiting day:

Air Planning Section (6PDL), Multimedia Planning and Permitting 
Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, 
Dallas, Texas 75202, Telephone: [phone].
Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Air Quality Division, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, 
7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810, Telephone: 
[phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. J. Behnam, P. E.; Air Planning 
Section (6PDL), Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, 
Texas 75202, Telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the information provided in the Direct 
Final rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal 
Register.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Hydrocarbons, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, 
Particulate matter, Volatile organic compounds.

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

    Dated: July 24, 1996.
Allyn M. Davis,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-23265 Filed 9-12-96; 8:45 am]
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