[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 190 (Monday, October 2, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 51382-51383] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-24355] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 [LA-15-1-6073b; FRL-5307-5] Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of Louisiana; Approval of the Maintenance Plan for the New Orleans Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA); Redesignation of the New Orleans CMSA to Attainment AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rulemaking. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On October 15, 1994, the State of Louisiana submitted a revised maintenance plan and request to redesignate the New Orleans CMSA ozone nonattainment area to attainment. The New Orleans CMSA is comprised of six parishes: Jefferson, Orleans, St. Charles, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany. Maintenance and contingency plans are not included in the action for the parishes of St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany. St. John the Baptist Parish was previously redesignated to attainment, and St. Tammany Parish has never been designated as nonattainment. This maintenance plan and redesignation request was initially submitted to the EPA on April 23, 1993. Although the EPA deemed this initial submittal complete on September 10, 1993, certain approvability issues existed. The State of Louisiana addressed these approvability issues and has revised its submissions. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), nonattainment areas may be redesignated to attainment if sufficient data are available to warrant the redesignation and the area meets the other CAA redesignation requirements. In this action, EPA is approving Louisiana's redesignation request because it meets the maintenance plan and redesignation requirements set forth in the CAA, and EPA is approving the 1990 base year emissions inventory. The approved maintenance plan will become a federally enforceable part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for Louisiana. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving this redesignation request as a direct final rulemaking without prior proposal because the EPA views this action as noncontroversial 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 that direct final rule, no further activity is contemplated in relation to this proposed rule. If the 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 action. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be postmarked by November 1, 1995. If no adverse comments are received, then the direct final rule will be effective on December 1, 1995. ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Thomas H. Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. Copies of the State's petition and other information relevant to this action are available for inspection during normal hours at the following locations: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality, 7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810. Anyone wishing to review this petition at the Region 6 EPA office is asked to contact the person below to schedule an appointment 24 hours in advance. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mick Cote, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), EPA Region 6, telephone (214) 665-7219. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the information provided in the direct final rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal Register. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Area designations, Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental regulations, National Parks, Reporting [[Page 51383]] and recordkeeping, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds, Wilderness areas. Dated: September 22, 1995. Allyn M. Davis, Acting Regional Administrator (6RA). [FR Doc. 95-24355 Filed 9-29-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P