[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4901-4902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2152]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 51, 72, 75, and 96
[FRL-7617-5]
Public Hearings for Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine
Particulate Matter and Ozone (Interstate Air Quality Rule) and Proposed
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; and, in the
Alternative, Proposed Standards of Performance for New and Existing
Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Steam Generating Units
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing three public hearings to be held jointly
for two related proposals that were published in the Federal Register
on January 30, 2004. The hearings are for the proposed ``Rule to Reduce
Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (Interstate
Air Quality Rule)'' and the ``Proposed National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants; and, in the Alternative, Proposed Standards
of Performance for New and Existing Stationary Sources: Electric
Utility Steam Generating Units,'' which is also known as the proposed
Utility Mercury Reductions Rule. The hearings will be held concurrently
in Chicago, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
[[Page 4902]]
and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Each hearing will last two
days and is scheduled for February 25 and 26, 2004. Persons wishing to
present oral testimony for one or both proposals may speak on either
day. Details of the facility sites for the hearings and the starting
and ending times will be provided on the web sites for the rulemakings
identified under ADDRESSES as soon as the information is available.
The EPA's proposed Interstate Air Quality Rule would reduce
emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxides in 29 eastern States
and the District of Columbia that are significantly contributing to
fine particulate matter and 8-hour ozone nonattainment problems in
downwind States. Each State would be required to adopt control measures
to meet specific statewide emission reduction requirements. The EPA
believes that the most cost-effective way for States to achieve the
required reductions would be to regulate utilities under a cap-and-
trade program similar to EPA's highly successful Acid Rain Program. The
proposed Utility Mercury Reductions Rule provides options that would
reduce mercury emissions and would set a mandatory, declining cap on
the total mercury emissions allowed from utilities nationwide. The
proposal also would reduce nickel emissions from utilities. The EPA is
coordinating these rulemakings to allow the emissions reductions to be
achieved in the most cost-effective manner by sources affected by both
actions.
DATES: The public hearings will be held on February 25 and 26, 2004.
Please refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on
the public hearings.
ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held concurrently in Chicago, Illinois;
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Written comments on these proposed rules may also be submitted to
EPA electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or through hand delivery/
courier. Please refer to the proposals for the addresses and detailed
instructions.
Documents relevant to this action are available for public
inspection at the EPA Docket Center, located at 1301 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Room B102, Washington, DC between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. A reasonable fee may
be charged for copying. Documents are also available through EPA's
electronic Docket system at http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
The EPA Web sites for the rulemakings, which will include
information about the public hearings, are at http://www.epa.gov/interstateairquality and http://www.epa.gov/mercury.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to speak at the
public hearings or have questions concerning the public hearings,
please contact JoAnn Allman at the address given below under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Questions concerning the Interstate Air
Quality Rule should be addressed to Scott Mathias, U.S. EPA, Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and
Standards Division (C539-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711,
telephone number (919) 541-5310, e-mail at [email protected].
Questions concerning the Utility Mercury Reductions Rule should be
addressed to William Maxwell, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards, Emission Standards Division, Combustion Group (C439-01),
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone number (919) 541-5430, fax
number (919) 541-5450, e-mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Hearings
The public hearings will provide interested parties the opportunity
to present data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed rules. The
EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but
will not respond to the presentations at that time. Written statements
and supporting information submitted during the comment period will be
considered with the same weight as any oral comments and supporting
information presented at the public hearings. Written comments must be
postmarked by the last day of the comment period, as specified in the
proposals.
If you would like to present oral testimony at the hearings, please
notify JoAnn Allman, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, C539-02,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-1815, e-mail
[email protected] no later than February 20, 2004. She will provide
you with a specific time and date to speak. Oral testimony will be
limited to 10 minutes for each commenter to address either or both
proposals. We will not be providing equipment for commenters to show
overhead slides or make computerized slide presentations unless we
receive special requests in advance. Commenters should notify JoAnn
Allman if they will need specific equipment. The hearing schedules,
including lists of speakers, will be posted on EPA's Web pages for the
proposals at http://www.epa.gov/interstateairquality and http://www.epa.gov/mercury prior to the hearing. Verbatim transcripts of the
hearings and written statements will be included in the rulemaking
dockets.
How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?
The EPA has established the official public docket for the
Interstate Air Quality Rule under Docket ID No. OAR-2003-0053. The EPA
has established the official public docket for the Utility Mercury
Reductions Rule under Docket ID No. OAR-2002-0056. The EPA has also
developed web sites for the proposals at the addresses given above.
Please refer to the proposals, which were published in the Federal
Register on January 30, 2004, for detailed information on accessing
information related to the proposals.
Dated: January 28, 2004.
Anna B. Duncan,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 04-2152 Filed 1-30-04; 8:45 am]
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