Notice of action: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a proposed plan to attain and maintain the national ambient air quality standard for very fine particulate matter (PM2.5). If adopted, the Commonwealth intends to submit the plan as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the requirements of § 110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act. The SIP is the plan developed by the Commonwealth in order to fulfill its responsibilities under the federal Clean Air Act to attain and maintain the ambient air quality standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Act.
Purpose of notice: DEQ is seeking comments on the overall plan, and on the issue of whether the plan demonstrates the Commonwealth’s compliance with certain federal Clean Air Act requirements related to general state plan infrastructure.
Public comment period: March 31, 2008 to May 1, 2008.
Public hearing: First Floor Conference Room, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, at 9:00 a.m. on April 30, 2008.
Description of proposal: This SIP revision addresses those requirements of § 110(a)(2)(A) through (M) of the federal Clean Air Act for PM2.5 which have not been addressed in other SIP revisions. It is a compilation of certain elements that describe how the state will demonstrate how the PM2.5 NAAQS is being implemented, maintained, and enforced. This SIP revision, once approved by EPA, will provide a federally enforceable confirmation of how the state will continue to comply with the PM2.5 requirements of § 110(a)(2).
Federal information: This notice is being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). Except as noted below, the proposal will be submitted as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia SIP under § 110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act in accordance with 40 CFR 51.104. It is planned to submit all provisions of the proposal as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia SIP.
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by e-mail, facsimile transmission and postal mail. IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED, WRITTEN COMMENTS MUST INCLUDE THE FULL NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE PERSON COMMENTING AND BE RECEIVED BY DEQ BY 5:00 P.M. ON THE LAST DAY OF THE COMMENT PERIOD. Due to problems with the quality of facsimile transmissions, commenters are encouraged to provide the signed original by postal mail within one week. Both oral and written comments are accepted at the public hearing. DEQ prefers that comments be provided in writing, along with any supporting documents or exhibits. All testimony, exhibits and documents received are part of the public record. Please note this proposed plan is being concurrently reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
To review proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices for Plans web site (
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/air/permitting/planotes.html). The documents may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ representative named below. The public may review the documents between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. of each business day until the close of the public comment period at the following locations: 1) DEQ Main Street Office, 8th Floor, 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, (804) 698-4070, 2) DEQ Southwest Regional Office, 355 Deadmore Street, Abingdon, Virginia, 540-676-4800, 3) DEQ West Central Regional Office, 3019 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 540-562-6700, 4)DEQ South Central Regional Office, 7705 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, Virginia, 804-582-5120, 5) DEQ Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 540-574-7800, 6) DEQ Fredericksburg Satellite Office, 806 Westwood Office Park, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 540-899-4600, 7) DEQ Piedmont Regional Office, 4949-A, Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia, 804-527-5020, 8) DEQ Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, Virginia, 703-583-3800, and 9) DEQ Tidewater Regional Office, 5636 Southern Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 757-518-2000.
