03-5308. Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants: Rhode Island; Negative Declaration

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA proposes to approve the sections 111(d) negative declaration submitted by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) on May 27, 1998. This negative declaration adequately certifies that there are no existing municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills located in the state of Rhode Island that have accepted waste since November 8, 1987 and that must install collection and control systems according to EPA's emissions guidelines for existing MSW landfills.

DATES:

EPA must receive comments in writing by April 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

You should address your written comments to: Mr. Steven Rapp, Chief, Air Permits, Toxics & Indoor Programs Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. EPA, One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (CAP), Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2023.

Copies of documents relating to this proposed rule are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the following location: Environmental Protection Agency, Air Permits, Toxics & Indoor Program Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection, One Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2023. The interested persons wanting to examine these documents should make an appointment with the appropriate office at least 24 hours before the day of the visit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Courcier, Office of Ecosystem Protection (CAP), EPA—New England, Region 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02203, [phone], or by e-mail at [e-mail]. While the public may forward questions to EPA via e-mail, it must submit comments on this proposed rule according to the procedures outlined above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, EPA published regulations at 40 CFR part 60, subpart B which require states to submit control plans to control emissions of designated pollutants from designated facilities. In the event that a state does not have a particular designated facility located within its boundaries, EPA requires that the state submit a negative declaration in lieu of a control plan.

The Rhode Island DEM submitted the negative declaration to satisfy the requirements of 40 CFR part 60, subpart B. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Rhode Island negative declaration as a direct final rule without a prior proposal. EPA is doing this because the Agency views this action as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates that it will not receive any significant, material, and adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If EPA does not receive any significant, material, and adverse comments to this action, then the approval will become final without further proceedings. If EPA receives adverse comments, we will withdraw the direct final rule and EPA will address all public comments received in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not begin a second comment period.

Dated: February 20, 2003.

Robert W. Varney,

Regional Administrator, EPA New England.