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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 24-595

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Pennsylvania's Ozone Exceptional Event Analyses for June 1, 2023, through June 2, 2023, and June 29, 2023, through June 30, 2023

[54 Pa.B. 2328]
[Saturday, April 27, 2024]

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is seeking public comment on the Commonwealth's Exceptional Event (EE) analyses for wildfires that occurred in May and June 2023, from Canada and New Jersey. The EE analysis outlines the impacts that the byproducts (nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) of the Western Canada, Nova Scotia and New Jersey wildfires had on ozone formation across this Commonwealth from June 1, 2023, through June 2, 2023. The same byproducts impacted ozone formation across this Commonwealth from Eastern Canada from June 29, 2023, through June 30, 2023.

 On May 21, 2007, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a rule to oversee the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events (EE Rule). See 72 FR 13560 (March 22, 2007). The intent of the EPA's final rule was to modify the handling of air monitoring data due to events (termed to be exceptional) for which the Clean Air Act's (42 U.S.C. §§ 7401—7671q) normal planning and regulatory process was not appropriate. Subsequently, on October 3, 2016, the EPA promulgated final amendments to its original EE Rule. See 81 FR 68216 (October 3, 2016). One of the major revisions to the original EE Rule was the handling of ambient ozone concentration data as it relates to exceptional events, specifically wildfire events. In addition, under 40 CFR 50.14 (relating to treatment of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events), air quality state agencies must follow the public comment process and document that the comment period was open for a minimum of 30 days prior to final submission of the EE analysis to the EPA Regional Administrator.

 The Commonwealth's EE analysis is available for public comment on the Department's web site at http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by contacting Sean Nolan at (717) 772-3377 or senolan@pa.gov.

 The Department must receive comments no later than May 28, 2024. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's eComment system at http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments may be submitted to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Use ''Ozone EE Analyses'' as the subject line in written communication.

JESSICA SHIRLEY, 
Interim Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-595. Filed for public inspection April 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]


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