NOTICES

Proposed 8-Hour Ozone Attainment/Nonattainment Designation Recommendations Public Meetings

[33 Pa.B. 3183]

   Ground-level ozone concentrations above the Federal health-based standard are a serious human health threat. Ozone can also cause damage to crops, forests and wildlife. In July 1997, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated the 8-hour ozone National ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The revised ozone standard of 0.08 part per million, measured over an 8-hour period, is more protective of public health than the 1-hour health-based ozone standard. Section 107 of the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to make designations (attainment, nonattainment or unclassifiable) for new or revised NAAQS within 1 year of promulgation of the standard. However, implementation of the 8-hour ozone health-based standard had been delayed due to legal challenges.

   The governor of each state must now submit designation recommendations to the EPA in accordance with section 107(d) of the CAA. These recommendations will be based on air quality monitoring data (and other criteria) obtained for the 3-year period preceding the recommendations.

   The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is seeking public input on the proposed 8-hour ozone designation recommendations. Air quality information obtained during 2000-2002 indicates that the EPA may designate at least 33 counties in this Commonwealth as 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas. The Commonwealth will recommend to the EPA that boundaries for the designated areas generally follow metropolitan area and county boundaries. This approach is similar to the methodology used for designating areas under the 1-hour ozone health-based standard.

   This proposal is available on the Department's website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Subject/Air Quality/Ozone/Clean Air Plans) or through the following contact persons. The Department will hold public informational meetings on Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. at its offices at the following locations:

Hearing Room
Lee Park, Suite 6010
555 North Lane
Conshohocken, PA

Goddard Conference Room
208 West Third St.
Suite 101
Williamsport, PA

Green Room Conference Room
400 Market Street, 15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA

Susquehanna Room
Two Public Square
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Susquehanna Room
909 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA

Waterfront A and B
Conference Rooms
400 Waterfront Drive
Pittsburgh, PA

Main Conference Room
230 Chestnut Street
Meadville, PA

   For more information on the public meetings, contact Susan Ferree, (717) 787-9495, sferree@state.pa.us. Persons with a disability who wish to attend a meeting and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceeding should also contact Susan Ferree. TDD users should contact the AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 to discuss how the Department can best accommodate their needs.

   Written comments on the recommendations should be sent to J. Wick Havens, Chief, Air Resource Management Division, Bureau of Air Quality, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468, jhavens@state.pa.us by 4 p.m. on August 11, 2003. Written comments (including e-mail submittals) must include the name, affiliation (if any), mailing address and telephone number of the interested person.

KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-1317. Filed for public inspection July 3, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]

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