2232 Proposed revision to the State Implementation Plan for the motor vehicle emissions budgets for the 5-county Philadelphia fine particulate matter nonattainment area; public hearing
Proposed Revision to the State Implementation Plan for the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets for the 5-County Philadelphia Fine Particulate Matter Nonattainment Area; Public Hearing [42 Pa.B. 7148]
[Saturday, November 17, 2012]The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is revising the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs) included in the State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision: Attainment Demonstration and Base Year Inventory for 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard for the 5-county Philadelphia area (77 FR 51930, August 28, 2012). The revised budgets, once approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will expedite future transportation planning for the 5-county Philadelphia area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties).
The EPA developed a new computer model, the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) that estimates emissions from highway vehicles more accurately. EPA also provided a 2-year grace period prior to requiring that MOVES be used for regional emissions analyses for transportation conformity determinations (75 FR 9411, March 2, 2010). Subsequently, the EPA announced that the most updated version of MOVES must be used for regional transportation conformity analyses that begin after March 2, 2013 (77 FR 11394, February 27, 2012).
The approved PM2.5 attainment plan for the 5-county Philadelphia area used the former EPA-approved model, Mobile6, for estimating highway vehicles emissions in 2009. Emissions of nitrogen oxides and PM2.5 are estimated to be at higher levels by the new model than what was approved in the attainment plan. The transportation conformity regulation specifies that emissions from updated local transportation improvement plans must not exceed the MVEBs in the area's approved, applicable SIP. By using similar modeling in transportation planning and the SIP, a more realistic comparison between the two plans will reduce the chance of transportation projects being delayed.
It is important to note that higher emission estimates calculated by MOVES do not mean that emissions from vehicles actually increased. The MOVES model more accurately estimates emissions that are already being produced by vehicles. Consequently, the ability of the area to attain the fine particulate matter standard will not be affected by migration to the new model.
This proposed SIP revision is available on the Department's web site at www.dep.state.pa.us (choose ''Air Plans'') or through the contact persons listed as follows.
The Department is seeking public comment on this SIP revision and changes made to the MVEBs in the PM2.5 attainment plan for the 5-county Philadelphia area. The Department will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposal on Monday, December 17, 2012, at 11 a.m. in the Ridley Creek Room at the Department of Environmental Protection's Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401.
Persons wishing to present testimony at the hearing should contact Alex Haas, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 787-9495 or alehaas@pa.gov to reserve a time. If, by December 13, 2012, no person has expressed intent to testify at the hearing, the hearing will be cancelled. 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 Alex Haas at (717) 787-9495 or alehaas@pa.gov. 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 December 17, 2012. Written comments should be sent to the attention of Arleen Shulman, Chief, Division of Air Resource Management, Bureau of Air Quality, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468 or ashulman@pa.gov. Use ''Philadelphia MVEB Revisions'' in the subject line.
MICHAEL L. KRANCER,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-2232. Filed for public inspection November 16, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]
