

[Federal Register: October 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 193)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 56974]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05oc07-26]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2007-0423-200743(b); FRL-8475-5]

 
Approval of Implementation Plans; North Carolina: Clean Air 
Interstate Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the North Carolina 
State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of North 
Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental and 
Natural Resources on August 7, 2006. These revisions will incorporate 
provisions related to the implementation of EPA's Clean Air Interstate 
Rule (CAIR), promulgated on May 12, 2005, and subsequently revised on 
April 28, 2006, and December 13, 2006, and the CAIR Federal 
Implementation Plan (FIP) concerning sulfur dioxide (SO2), 
nitrogen oxides (NOX) annual, and NOX ozone 
season emissions for the State of North Carolina, promulgated on April 
28, 2006, and subsequently revised December 13, 2006. EPA is not 
proposing to make any changes to the CAIR FIP, but is proposing to 
amend, to the extent EPA approves North Carolina's SIP revisions, the 
appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to note 
that approval.
    On July 3, 2007, North Carolina requested that EPA only act on a 
portion of the August 7, 2006, submittal as an abbreviated SIP. 
Consequently, EPA is proposing to approve the abbreviated SIP revisions 
that address the methodology to be used to allocate annual and ozone 
season NOX allowances to existing and new units under the 
CAIR FIPs and CAIR FIP opt-in provisions.
    This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air 
Act. The intended effect of these revisions is to clarify certain 
provisions and to ensure consistency with the requirements of the CAA. 
In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is 
approving the State's SIP revision 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. The EPA will not 
institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties 
interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2007-0423, by one of the following methods:
    1. http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 

submitting comments.
    2. E-mail: ward.nacosta@epa.gov.
    3. Fax: (404) 562-9019.
    4. Mail: EPA-R04-OAR-2007-0423, Regulatory Development Section, Air 
Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.
    5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Nacosta C. Ward, Regulatory 
Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics 
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Such deliveries are 
only accepted during the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. 
The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through 
Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding Federal holidays.
    Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules 
section of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to 
submit comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nacosta C. Ward, Regulatory 
Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics 
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number 
is (404) 562-9140. Ms. Ward can also be reached via electronic mail at 
ward.nacosta@epa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For additional information see the direct 
final rule which is published in the Rules section of this Federal 
Register.

    Dated: September 21, 2007.
J.I. Palmer, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. E7-19318 Filed 10-4-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
