2011-18182. Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Plans: State of Missouri

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to approve an April 20, 2011, request from the State of Missouri to exempt sources of Nitrogen Oxides (NO_X) in the Missouri portion of the St. Louis (MO-IL) metropolitan 8-hour ozone nonattainment area from the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for NO_X Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for purposes of attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The Missouri NO_X RACT waiver request for its portion of the St. Louis metropolitan 8-hour ozone nonattainment area is based on the most recent three years of complete, quality-assured ozone monitoring data, which demonstrate that additional reductions of NO_X emissions in the Area would not contribute to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.

DATES:

Comments on this proposed action must be received in writing by August 22, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R07-OAR-2011-0451, by mail to Ms. Lachala Kemp, Air Planning and Development Branch, U.S. EPA Region 7, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101. Comments may also be submitted electronically or through hand delivery/courier by following the detailed instructions in the ADDRESSES section of the direct final rule located in the rules section of this Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lachala Kemp, Air Planning and Development Branch, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101 at 913 551 7214, or by e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In the final rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's request to exempt sources of NO_X in the Missouri portion of the St. Louis (MO-IL) metropolitan 8-hour ozone nonattainment area from the CAA requirements for NO_X RACT for purposes of attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is approving the Missouri's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a non-controversial 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 action 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 If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule.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. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

For additional information, see the direct final rule, which is located in the rules section of this Federal Register.

Dated: July 12, 2011.

Karl Brooks,

Regional Administrator, Region 7.