Notice of action: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comments and announcing a public hearing on a proposed revision to a plan that ensures the Fredericksburg Ozone Maintenance Area’s air quality will maintain compliance with the 1997 national ambient air quality standard for ozone. 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 plan revision, and on the issue of whether the plan revision enables the area to maintain compliance with the 1997 ozone national ambient air quality standard.
Public comment period: August 15 to September 16, 2011.
Public hearing: A public hearing will be conducted in the George Washington Regional Commission, Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, 406 Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg VA, at 10:30 am on September 16, 2011.
Description of proposal: The proposed revision consists of updating the motor vehicle emissions budgets for nitrogen oxides (NOX) using EPA's motor vehicle emission factor model (MOVES2010a) in order to help ensure that the Fredericksburg region can properly demonstrate transportation conformity.
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 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 email, fax, and postal mail. In order to be considered, comments must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ on the last day of the comment period. Commenters sending faxes 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 EPA.
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 am and 4:30 pm of each business day until the close of the public comment period at the following DEQ locations: 1) Main Street Office, 8th Floor, 629 E. Main St, Richmond VA, 804-698-4070; 2) Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge VA, 703-583-3800; and 3) George Washington Regional Commission, Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, 406 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg VA, 540-373-2890.
