Rules and Regulations. Proposed rule

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Action: Proposed rule
Citation: FR Doc. 2013-24846 · EPA-R01-OAR-2011-0148; A-1-FRL-9901-72-Region 1 · 40 CFR 52

Summary

EPA is proposing to fully approve certain revisions to the Rhode Island State Implementation Plan (SIP) primarily relating to regulation of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) under Rhode Island's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) preconstruction permitting program. EPA is also proposing to fully approve the State's definition of “PM ^2.5 ” (fine particulate matter) which is specific only to permitting. Certain of the State's SIP revisions consist of definitions that also relate more broadly to the State's PSD and nonattainment new source review (NSR) preconstruction permitting requirements, i.e., to major stationary sources that also emit regulated new source review pollutants other than GHGs. EPA is proposing to conditionally approve those definitions as they relate to the non-GHG pollutants. All of the revisions in question were submitted by Rhode Island, through the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) Office of Air Resources, on January 18, 2011. They are primarily intended to align Rhode Island's SIP regulations with EPA's “Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule.” Finally, EPA is not taking action on certain other SIP revisions contained in RI DEM's January 18, 2011 submittal.

Dates

Written comments must be received on or before November 25, 2013.

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 notice published today for 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 If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule.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. 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 Final Rules Section of this Federal Register . Dated: September 20, 2013. H. Curtis Spalding, Regional Administrator, EPA New England. [FR Doc. 2013-24846 Filed 10-23-13; 8:45 am]