NOTICES
Proposed State Implementation Plan Revision; Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for the Johnstown Nonattainment Area for the 1997 Annual and 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Public Hearing
[44 Pa.B. 6291]
[Saturday, October 4, 2014]Particulate matter (PM) includes both solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. Fine particle pollution describes particulate matter 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. With significant improvements in air quality in the Johnstown Area, this nonattainment area now meets the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Therefore, the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) intends to submit a request to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the redesignation of the Johnstown Area to attainment of the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
The Department is seeking public comments on the proposed redesignation request, a proposed revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) containing the 2007 comprehensive inventory as required under section 172(c)(3) of the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) (42 U.S.C.A. § 7502(c)(3)) and a maintenance plan demonstrating that the area can maintain the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 health-based NAAQS for the next 10 years as required under section 175A(a) of the CAA (42 U.S.C.A. § 7505a(a)). Upon EPA approval of the SIP revision, the maintenance plan will also establish new motor vehicle emission budgets for transportation conformity purposes.
The Department's proposed request to the EPA for the redesignation of the Johnstown Area to attainment and the proposed SIP revision are available on the Department's web site at www.dep.state.pa.us (choose ''Air,'' choose ''Bureau of Air Quality,'' choose ''Regs/Plan,'' choose ''Clean Air Plans'') or through the following contact persons.
The Department will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposal on Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at 11 a.m. at the Department's Ebensburg District Office, 286 Industrial Park Road, Ebensburg, PA 15931-4119. Persons wishing to present testimony at the hearing should contact Alex Haas, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 787-9495, alehaas@pa.gov to reserve a time. Witnesses should keep testimony to 10 minutes and should also provide two written copies of their statement at the hearing.
If by Monday, November 3, 2014, no person has expressed an interest in testifying at the hearing, the hearing will be cancelled. The Department will provide public notice on the Bureau of Air Quality web page at www.dep.state.pa.us (choose ''Air,'' choose ''Bureau of Air Quality'') if the hearing is cancelled. Persons may also contact the Department to find out if the hearing is cancelled by contacting Alex Haas.
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 Alex Haas. TDD users may contact the 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 Friday, November 7, 2014. Written comments should be sent to the attention of Nancy Herb, Bureau of Air Quality, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468, nherb@pa.gov. Use ''Johnstown PM2.5 Redesignation'' as the subject line in written communication.
E. CHRISTOPHER ABRUZZO,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-2070. Filed for public inspection October 3, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
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