[Federal Register: April 3, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 63)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16534-16535]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ap06-23]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 50 and 51
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0159; FRL-8052-8]
RIN 2060-AN40
Notice of Public Hearing for the Proposed Rule--The Treatment of
Data Influenced by Exceptional Events
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Announcement of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing two public hearings for the proposed
rule on ``The Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional Events''
which was published in the Federal Register on March 10, 2006.
DATES: The public hearings will be held on April 18, 2006, and April
25, 2006. Please refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional
information on the hearings.
ADDRESSES: Public Hearing: The public hearings will be held at the
following locations:
1. Research Triangle Park, N.C.: Date of hearing: April 18, 2006.
The Sheraton Imperial Hotel, 4700 Emperor Blvd., Durham, N.C. 27703,
Phone: 919-941-5050.
2. Denver, CO: Date of hearing: April 25, 2006. The Adams Mark
Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-893-3333.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to speak at the
public hearing or have questions concerning the public hearing, please
contact Ms. Pamela Long at the address provided below under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Questions concerning the proposed rule entitled ``The Treatment of
Data Influenced by Exceptional Events'' should be addressed to Mr.
Larry Wallace, Ph.D., U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Air Quality Policy Division, (C539-01), Research Triangle
Park, N.C. 27711, telephone number (919) 541-0906, e-mail at
Wallace.larry@epa.gov, or Mr. Neil Frank, U.S. EPA, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Assessment Division, (C304-
01), Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711, telephone number (919) 541-
5560, and e-mail address frank.neil@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA has proposed a rule to govern the
review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by
exceptional events. Exceptional events are events for which the normal
planning and regulatory process established by the Clean Air Act is not
appropriate. In this rulemaking action, EPA is proposing to: Implement
section 319(b)(3)(B) and section 107(d)(3) authority to exclude air
quality monitoring data from regulatory determinations related to
exceedances or violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) and avoid designating an area as nonattainment, redesignating
an area as nonattainment, or reclassifying an existing nonattainment
area to a higher classification if a State adequately demonstrates that
an exceptional event has caused an exceedance or violation of a NAAQS.
Public hearings: The proposal for which EPA is holding the public
hearings was published in the Federal Register on March 10, 2006 (71 FR
21592) and is available on the following Web site: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1pfpr.html.
The public hearings will provide interested
parties the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning
the proposed rule. The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral
presentations, but will not respond to the presentations at that time.
Written statements and supporting information submitted during the
comment period will be considered with the same weight as any oral
comments and supporting information presented at the public hearings.
Written comments must be postmarked by May 10, 2006, which is the
closing date for the comment period, as specified in the proposal for
the rule.
The two public hearings will be held in Research Triangle Park,
N.C. on April 18, 2006 and Denver, CO on April 25, 2006. Both public
hearings will begin at 9 a.m. (local time) and continue until 5 p.m. on
each day, if necessary, depending on the number of speakers. The EPA
may end the hearing early (no
[[Page 16535]]
earlier than 2 p.m.) if all registered speakers have had an opportunity
to speak.
Commenters desiring to speak at the hearing should notify Ms.
Pamela Long, (C539-01), U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711,
long.pam@epa.gov, (919) 541-0641 by 12 p.m. Eastern time on April 13,
2006. We request that commenters contact Ms. Long at U.S. EPA, Research
Triangle Park, N.C. 27711, by e-mail at long.pam@epa.gov, or by
telephone at (919) 541-0641, and provide the requests to speak at the
hearing. Ms. Long will arrange a time slot for participants to speak at
the hearing.
Commenters should notify Ms. Long if they will need specific
equipment, or if there are other special needs related to providing
comments at the hearing. Persons desiring to present oral testimony
that have not made arrangements in advance can register by 2 p.m. on
the day of the hearing. The EPA will provide equipment for commenters
to show overhead slides or make computerized slide presentations if we
receive special requests in advance. Oral testimony will be limited to
5 minutes for each commenter. The EPA encourages commenters to provide
EPA with a copy of their oral testimony electronically (via e-mail,
computer disk, or CD) or in hard copy form.
The hearing schedule, including lists of speakers, will be posted
on EPA's Web site http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1pfpr.html. Verbatim
transcripts of the hearings and written statements will be included in
the docket for the rulemaking.
How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?
The EPA has established the official public docket for the proposed
rule entitled ``The Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional
Events'' under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0159. As stated
previously, the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on
March 10, 2006 (71 FR 12592) and is available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1pfpr.html
.
Dated: March 27, 2006.
Gregory Green,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 06-3154 Filed 3-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P