719 Proposed State Implementation Plan revision; redesignation request and maintenance plan for the Allentown nonattainment area for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard; public hearing

Proposed State Implementation Plan Revision; Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for the Allentown Nonattainment Area for the 2006 24-hour Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard; Public Hearing

[44 Pa.B. 2136]
[Saturday, April 5, 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 (PM_2.5). PM_2.5 concentrations above the Federal health-based standard pose a serious human health threat. With significant improvements in air quality in the Allentown Area, this nonattainment area now meets the 2006 24-hour PM_2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Therefore, the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) intends to submit a request to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesignate the area to attainment.

 The Department is seeking public comment on the redesignation request and 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 2006 24-hour PM_2.5 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 the EPA approval, the maintenance plan will also establish new motor vehicle emission budgets for transportation conformity purposes.

 The request to redesignate the area to attainment and the proposed SIP revision are available on the Department's web site at www.dep.state.pa.us (choose ''Air,'' then ''Bureau of Air Quality,'' then ''Regs/Plan,'' then ''Clean Air Plans'') or through the contact persons listed as follows.

 The Department will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposal on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the DEP Northeast Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Susquehanna Room A, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915. Persons wishing to present testimony at the hearing should contact Alex Haas, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, [phone] or [e-mail] to reserve a time. Witnesses should keep testimony to 10 minutes and should provide two written copies of their statement at the hearing.

 If by Tuesday, May 6, 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/dep/deputate/airwaste/aq/default.htm 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 Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at [phone] to discuss how the Department can best accommodate their needs.

 The Department must receive comments no later than May 9, 2014. Written comments should be sent to the attention of Nancy Herb, Bureau of Air Quality, P. O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468, [e-mail]. Use ''Allentown PM2.5 Redesignation'' as the subject line in written communication.

E. CHRISTOPHER ABRUZZO, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-719. Filed for public inspection April 4, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]