DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Public Notice – Air Quality Plan

Notice of action: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comments and announcing a public comment period on a proposed second maintenance plan for the Shenandoah National Park (Page County and Madison County) 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) maintenance area. The plan shows that emission reductions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the area will continue such that air quality is expected to continue improving. The Commonwealth intends to submit the plan as a revision to the Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act. The SIP is the plan developed by Virginia to fulfill its responsibilities under the Act to attain and maintain the NAAQS promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Purpose of notice: DEQ is seeking comments on the maintenance plan for the Shenandoah National Park 1997 ozone NAAQS maintenance area, which consists of portions of Page County and Madison County located within the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park.

Public comment period: June 16, 2025, to July 16, 2025

Public hearing: A public hearing will be conducted if a request is made in writing to the contact listed below. To be considered, the request must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the hearing and be received by DEQ by the last day of the comment period. Notice of the date, time, and location of any requested public hearing will be announced in a separate notice, and another 30-day comment period will be conducted.

Description of proposal: The proposal consists of the following:

1. An air quality maintenance plan for the Shenandoah National Park 1997 ozone NAAQS maintenance area consisting of the portions of Page County and Madison County located within Shenandoah National Park.

2. A comprehensive attainment year inventory of actual emissions from all sources of relevant ozone precursor pollutants (NOX and VOC) for the year 2022.

3. Air quality data from 2001 to 2024 showing that the area has been attaining the 1997 ozone NAAQS since 2004 with a significant margin of safety.

4. Contingency measures in the unlikely situation where air quality monitors within the area record an exceedance of the 1997 ozone NAAQS.

5. Assurance that the Commonwealth will continue to operate an ozone monitoring network in accordance with 40 CFR Part 58 within the area.

Federal information: This notice is being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). The proposal will be submitted as a revision to the Virginia SIP under § 110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act in accordance with 40 CFR 51.104. DEQ plans to submit all provisions of the proposal as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia SIP.

How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email and postal mail.  To be considered, comments must include the full name, address, and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ no later than the last day of the comment period.  Comments must be submitted to Allyson Frantz, Environmental Specialist II, Department of Environmental Quality, 22nd Floor, 1111 East Main St, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, Virginia 23219, phone 804-584-0037, email allyson.b.frantz@deq.virginia.gov. All materials received are part of the public record.

To review the proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices web site:  https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/air. The public may schedule an appointment to review the documents between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm of each business day until the close of the public comment period at the following DEQ locations: 1) DEQ Main Street Office, 22nd Floor, 1111 E. Main St, Richmond, Virginia 23219, 804-584-0037 2) Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-574-7800 and 3) Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, Virginia 22193, 703-583-3800.