[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61141-61142]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25438]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R01-OAR-2015-0527; A-1-FRL-9935-32-Region1]

Air Plan Approval; Maine; General Permit Regulations for
Nonmetallic Mineral Processing Plants and Concrete Batch Plants

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the
State of Maine. This revision establishes and requires general permit
regulations for minor nonmetallic mineral processing plants and
concrete batch plants. The regulations provide an option for new
sources of air emissions to comply with the State's minor new source
review (NSR) rules. The intended effect of this action is to approve
general permit regulations for minor nonmetallic mineral processing
plants and concrete batch plants. This action is being taken in
accordance with section 110 the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R01-
OAR-2015-0527 by one of the following methods:
    1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
    2. Email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    3. Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    4. Mail: ``EPA-R01-OAR-2015-0527'', Ida E. McDonnell, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional Office,
Office of Ecosystem Protection, Air Permits, Toxics and Indoor Programs
Unit, 5 Post Office Square--Suite 100, (Mail code OEP05-2), Boston, MA
02109-3912.
    5. Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to: Ida E.
McDonnell, Manager, Air Permits, Toxics, and Indoor Programs Unit,
Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA New England Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square--Suite 100, (Mail
code OEP05-2), Boston, MA 02109-3912. Such deliveries are only accepted
during the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. The Regional
Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding legal holidays.

    Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules
Section of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to
submit comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Lancey, Office of Ecosystem
Protection, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (OEP05-2), telephone number
(617) 918-1656, fax number<PHONE_NUMBER>, email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Final Rules Section of this Federal
Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP submittals as a direct final
rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a
noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A
detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final
rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action
rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse
comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public
comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on
this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any
parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this
time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment,
paragraph, or section of either or both of Maine's regulations as part
of this rule and if that provision or provisions may be severed from
the remainder of the State's regulations and this rule, EPA may adopt
as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an
adverse comment.
    For additional information, see the direct final rule which is
located in the Rules Section of this Federal Register.

    Dated: September 21, 2015.
H. Curtis Spalding,
Regional Administrator, EPA New England.
[FR Doc. 2015-25438 Filed 10-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


July 9, 2004

Hon. Esteban Mujica-Cotto

President, Environmental Quality Board

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

P.O. Box 11488

San Juan, Puerto Rico  00910-1488

Dear Mr. Mujica:

I am pleased to inform you that the June, 2004 Anti-degradation Policy
Implementation Procedure document provided to us by the Puerto Rico
Environmental Quality Board (EQB) meets the requirements of  the Clean
Water Act and its implementing regulations at 40 C.F.R. (131.12.

The EQB previously clarified, in its December 16, 2003 letter, that the
methods reflected in the earlier, September 2003 draft of this document
constitute Puerto Rico(s currently-used practices and procedures for
implementing Puerto Rico(s antidegradation policy.  Since then, our
staffs have worked together to provide additional clarification in the
current version of the document.

Our review of the June 2004 document confirms that it (identifies
methods( for implementing Puerto Rico(s policy, as required by 40 C.F.R.
( 131.12(a).  In addition, the document properly identifies
implementation procedures for the three (tiers( of antidegradation that
are consistent with the requirements for each tier as specified in 40
C.F.R. ( 131.12(a)(1), (2) and (3).  We did detect one typographical
error in the June 2004 document, and we suggest that EQB correct this
error before finalizing the policy.  Specifically, the citation in the
last line of the document that reads (IV.a.ii( should be revised to read
(IV.a.iii(.

EPA recognizes that the Board intends to adopt the Anti-degradation
Policy Implementation Procedure into the Puerto Rico Water Quality
Standards Regulation.  While the Commonwealth certainly has the
discretion to do this, EPA interprets its regulatory requirement to
(identify methods( for implementing its policy as not requiring States,
Tribes and Territories to adopt such methods in regulatory form.

Region 2 commends the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on its efforts to
consolidate its practices for implementing its antidegradation policy in
its (Anti-degradation Policy Implementation Procedure( and we look
forward to working with you in the future to further protect the quality
of waters in Puerto Rico.

Sincerely,

Walter Mugdan, Director

Division of Environmental Planning & Protection

cc:	Ruben Gonzalez, EQB