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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 09-1665

NOTICES

Proposed Revision to the State Implementation Plan for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania Fine Particulate Nonattainment Area; Public Hearing

[39 Pa.B. 5278]
[Saturday, September 5, 2009]

 Particulate matter (PM) includes both solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. Fine particle pollution describes PM that is less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5). PM2.5 concentrations above the Federal health-based standard pose a serious human health threat. Health studies have shown a significant association between exposure to fine particles and premature death from heart or lung disease. In 1997, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an annual primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) PM2.5 standard of 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), based on the 3-year average of annual mean PM2.5 concentrations. The EPA also established a primary and secondary 24-hour standard of 65 µg/m3 determined by the 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentrations. Implementation of the standard was delayed due to legal challenges. In this Commonwealth, the EPA designated eight areas comprised of all or parts of 18 counties as PM2.5 nonattainment areas for the annual standard. For each nonattainment area, the Commonwealth is required to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision that demonstrates how the area will attain the standard by the prescribed attainment date, April 5, 2010.

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is seeking public comment on the SIP revision for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley PM2.5 nonattainment area (Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area). The proposed SIP revision contains information on PM2.5 trends and emissions to demonstrate that the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area meets all requirements necessary for an approvable SIP revision. The proposed SIP revision demonstrates how the area will attain the PM2.5 standard by April 5, 2010, by presenting evidence from air quality modeling, emission trends, regional pollutant transport impacts and emission reductions through state and Federal control measures. In addition, the proposed revision to the SIP contains the base year 2002 emissions inventory, mobile source emission budgets for purposes of transportation conformity and a contingency plan to bring the area back into attainment should future violations of the standard occur. After consideration of comments received, the SIP revision will be finalized and submitted to the EPA for approval.

 The proposed PM2.5 SIP revision for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area is available on the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (choose ''Air Topics'') or through the contact persons listed. Notice of the proposed SIP revision will also be published in newspapers of general circulation in the affected area.

 The Department will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposal on October 6, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the Department's Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA. Persons wishing to present testimony at the hearing should contact Yvette House, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 787-9495 or yhouse@state.pa.us to reserve a time. Persons who do not reserve a time will be able to testify as time allows. Witnesses should keep testimony to 10 minutes and should provide two written copies of their statement at the hearing.

 Persons with a disability who wish to attend the hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceeding should contact Yvette House at (717) 787-9495 or yhouse@state.pa.us. TDD users may contact the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 to discuss how the Department can best accommodate their needs.

 The Department must receive comments no later than October 9, 2009. Written comments should be sent to the attention of Arleen Shulman, Division of Air Resource Management, Bureau of Air Quality, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468, ashulman@state.pa.us. Use ''Pittsburgh PM2.5 SIP'' in the subject line.

JOHN HANGER, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 09-1665. Filed for public inspection September 4, 2009, 9:00 a.m.]


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