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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 18-1751

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Proposed State Implementation Plan Revision; Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for the Delaware County Nonattainment Area for the 2012 Annual Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard; Public Hearing

[48 Pa.B. 7178]
[Saturday, November 10, 2018]

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is seeking public comment on a redesignation request and a proposed revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning a maintenance plan demonstrating that the Delaware County Area can maintain the 2012 annual fine particulate matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for the next 10 years as required under section 175A(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 7505a(a)). This maintenance plan SIP revision will also establish new motor vehicle emission budgets for transportation conformity purposes in the Delaware County Area.

 Particulate matter 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 (PM2.5). PM2.5 concentrations above the Federal health-based standard pose a serious human health threat. On January 15, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Delaware County as a moderate nonattainment area for the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS (80 FR 2205, 2264-2265). The Delaware County Area has since come into attainment based on 2013—2015 air quality monitoring data, which the Department submitted to the EPA on April 1, 2016. The EPA determined that Delaware County has attained the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS based on 2013—2015 complete, quality assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data that shows that the area is monitoring attainment (81 FR 89868).

 With significant improvements in air quality in Delaware County, this nonattainment area now meets the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Therefore, the Department intends to submit this proposed maintenance plan SIP revision and redesignation request for the Delaware County Area to the EPA for approval.

 This proposed SIP revision and redesignation request are available on the Department's web site at http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by contacting Amanda Rodriguez at amarodrigu@pa.gov or (717) 787-9702.

 The Department will provide the opportunity for a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed SIP revision on December 12, 2018, at 10 a.m. at the Department's Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA. Persons wishing to present testimony should contact Amanda Rodriguez, P.O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 787-9702 or amarodrigu@pa.gov to reserve a time. Speakers will be limited to 5 minutes and should provide two written copies of their comments.

 The hearing will be cancelled if no person has requested to testify at the hearing by 12 p.m. on Monday, December 10, 2018. The Department will provide public notice on the Bureau of Air Quality webpage at http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/Pages/default.aspx if the hearing is cancelled. Persons may also contact Amanda Rodriguez at amarodrigu@pa.gov or (717) 787-9702.

 Persons with a disability who wish to attend a hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceeding should contact Amanda Rodriguez at amarodrigu@pa.gov or (717) 787-9702. 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 13, 2018. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail at 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 ''Delaware County PM2.5'' as the subject line in written communication.

PATRICK McDONNELL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 18-1751. Filed for public inspection November 9, 2018, 9:00 a.m.]


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