2011-20208. Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Minnesota; Rules Update

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to take several actions on a revision to the Minnesota State Implementation Plan (SIP) which updates Minnesota's rules in the SIP. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) submitted the SIP revision to EPA on May 5, 2008. EPA is proposing to approve the majority of MPCA's submittal, which will result in consistent enforceability of rules at the state and Federal levels. EPA is proposing to defer action on two sections of Minnesota's rules related to the state's operating permit program. Finally, EPA is proposing to disapprove the state's request to remove the Minneapolis/St. Paul vehicle inspection and maintenance program from the Minnesota SIP. These actions are approvable because they are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA regulations.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before September 9, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-2008-0448, by one of the following methods:

1. http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

2. E-mail: [e-mail].

3. Fax: [phone].

4. Mail: Doug Aburano, Chief, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

5. Hand Delivery: Doug Aburano, Chief, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Regional Office official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays.

Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Final Rules section of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to submit comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christos Panos, Environmental Engineer, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, [phone], [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the state's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial 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 rule, 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. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. For additional information, see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register.

Dated: July 29, 2011.

Susan Hedman,

Regional Administrator, Region 5.