99-23915. Notice of Proposed Rule Revisions to Emissions Budgets Set Forth in EPA's Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone for the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 50036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23915]



[[Page 50036]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 51

[FRL-6437-4]


Notice of Proposed Rule Revisions to Emissions Budgets Set Forth 
in EPA's Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for 
Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone for the States of 
Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On October 27, 1998, EPA published a final action requiring 22 
States and the District of Columbia to submit State implementation plan 
(SIP) revisions to prohibit specified amounts of emissions of oxides of 
nitrogen (NOX)--one of the precursors to ozone (smog) 
pollution--for the purpose of reducing NOX and ozone 
transport across State boundaries in the eastern half of the United 
States. This action is referred to as the NOX SIP Call.
    Subsequent to that rulemaking, three States, Connecticut, 
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, approached EPA with concerns about the 
distribution of the emission reduction requirements to the three 
States. While the States agreed that the amount of the overall emission 
reductions that EPA was requiring from the three State region was 
appropriate, the States had concerns about the specific emission 
reductions that EPA was requiring from each of the three individual 
States. In particular, the States were concerned that the emission 
reduction requirements were inconsistent with the emission reductions 
that those States were requiring in connection with an existing multi-
state effort to reduce NOX and ozone transport across State 
boundaries in the northeastern portion of the United States.
    In response to these concerns, EPA and the States of Connecticut, 
Massachusetts and Rhode Island signed a memorandum of understanding 
(MOU) in February 1999. This MOU required EPA to take action to 
redistribute the NOX emission reduction requirements among 
the three States. With this rule EPA is proposing to redistribute the 
total combined electricity generating stationary source (EGU) budget 
for the three States.
    Subsequent to the signing of the MOU, EPA took a final action that 
changed the EGU portion of the budgets for the three States in a 
Technical Amendment to the NOX SIP Call published on May 14, 
1999. EPA is now proposing action to redistribute the States' budgets. 
The redistribution that EPA is proposing is slightly different than the 
redistribution stated in the MOU to reflect and remain consistent with 
the May 14, 1999 changes to the budgets.

DATES: Comments: Written comments must be received by October 5, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Any written comments must be identified with Docket No. A-
99-13, must be identified as comments on the direct final rule and 
companion proposal and must be submitted in duplicate to: EPA Air 
Docket (6102), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20460. The docket is available for public inspection 
and copying between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 
the address given above. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Petrillo, Acid Rain Division 
(6204J) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, 
Washington DC 20460, telephone number [phone]; e-mail: 
[e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is proposing to redistribute the EGU 
portions of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island 
NOX Budgets in accordance with the Memorandum of 
Understanding that was signed by the three States and EPA in February 
1999. In a direct final action that is located in the ``Rules and 
Regulations'' section of today's Federal Register, we are promulgating 
the revisions to the State budgets of Connecticut, Massachusetts and 
Rhode Island without prior proposal because we view the revisions as 
noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained 
our reasons for this action in the preamble to the direct final rule. 
If we receive no timely adverse comment, we will not take further 
action on this proposed rule. If we receive timely adverse comment, we 
will withdraw the direct final rule, and the direct final rule will not 
take effect.
    We will then address all public comments in a subsequent final rule 
based on this proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment 
period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so 
at this time. For further information, please see the information 
provided in the direct final action that is located in the ``Rules and 
Regulations'' section of today's Federal Register.

    Dated: September 7, 1999.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-23915 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P