01-15750. Approval and Promulgation of Maintenance Plan Revisions; Ohio

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to approve a May 31, 2001, request from Ohio for a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision of the Cleveland/Akron/Lorain, Ohio ozone maintenance plan. The maintenance plan revision allocates a portion of the safety margin to the transportation conformity mobile source emissions budget for the year 2006. EPA is proposing to approve the allocation of 10 tons per day of volatile organic compounds (VOC) to the area's 2006 mobile source emissions budget for transportation conformity purposes. This allocation will still maintain the total emissions for the area at or below the attainment level required by the transportation conformity regulations. 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 revision and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If we receive no written adverse comments in response to that direct final rule we plan to take no further activity in relation to this proposed rule. If EPA receives significant adverse comments, in writing, which have not been addressed, we will withdraw the direct final rule and address all public comments received in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before July 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments to: J. Elmer Bortzer, Chief, Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60604.

You may inspect copies of the documents relevant to this action during normal business hours at the following location:

Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60604.

Please contact Patricia Morris at [phone] before visiting the Region 5 office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patricia Morris, Environmental Scientist, Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Throughout this document wherever “we,” “us,” or “our” are used we mean EPA.

This Supplementary Information section is organized as follows:

What action is EPA taking today?

Where can I find more information about this proposal and the corresponding direct final rule?

What Action is EPA Taking Today?

In this action, we are proposing to approve a revision to the ozone maintenance plan for Cleveland/Akron/Lorain, Ohio. The revision will change the mobile source VOC emissions budget that is used for transportation conformity purposes. The revision will keep the total emissions for the area at or below the attainment level required by law. This action will allow State or local agencies to maintain air quality while providing for transportation growth.

Where Can I Find More Information About this Proposal and the Corresponding Direct Final Rule?

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

Dated: June 14, 2001.

David A. Ullrich,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.