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 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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REGION 8
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1595 Wynkoop Street
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Denver, CO   80202-1129
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Phone 800-227-8917
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www.epa.gov/region8


Ref: Memo to Docket, 40 CFR 51.308(g)(8), Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Montana; Regional Haze 5-Year Progress Report State Implementation Plan

June 19, 2019

In preparation of this notice, EPA has concluded that the requirements at 40 CFR 51.308(g)(8), specifically the requirement for a periodic assessment of a state's smoke management plan, does not apply to the state of Montana.

The requirements at 40 CFR 51.308(g)(8) only apply if, among other factors, the state conducts a period program assessment.  But in this case, even though the Montana regional haze SIP says it will conduct such as assessment, Montana looked for and confirmed that it has not yet conducted such an assessment. Therefore, 308(g)(8) doesn't apply. 


Kate Gregory (U.S. EPA, Region 8, Air Quality Planning Branch) contacted Rebecca Harbage (Montana Department of Environmental Quality) by phone Wednesday, June 12, 2019 to inquire whether or not the State had conducted a periodic review of their smoke management plan. On Monday, June 17, 2019, Rebecca Harbage responded via email (available in this docket) that both the State and the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group had not conducted a periodic assessment of their smoke management plan. 


Kate Gregory
Air Quality Planning Branch, Environmental Protection Agency
1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202-1129
(303) 312-6175, gregory.kate@epa.gov

