WSR 04-10-053

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY


[ Filed April 30, 2004, 2:09 p.m. ]


DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING



Including Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority's

PM10 Limited Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request

in the State Implementation Plan



     Local air pollution control agencies periodically submit air quality plan updates and regulations to the Department of Ecology (ecology) for inclusion in Washington's state implementation plan (SIP). The SIP is a statewide plan for meeting federal health-based standards for certain air pollutants.

     The Yakima area is designated nonattainment for particulate matter air pollution smaller than 10 microns in size (PM10). This means that, in the past, the area did not meet federal health-based standards for PM10. As the area has been meeting the standards since 1994, it can now be redesignated to attainment by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

     The Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority (YRCAA) has prepared a plan, called a limited maintenance plan, for PM10. This plan demonstrates that the Yakima area meets all federal Clean Air Act requirements for PM10. It also summarizes the progress of the area in attaining the PM10 standard, demonstrates that the Yakima area qualifies for EPA's Clean Data Policy and Limited Maintenance Plan option, and includes a maintenance plan to assure continued attainment for ten years after the redesignation. The plan includes a formal request to EPA to redesignate the Yakima, Washington, PM10 nonattainment area to attainment for the health-based 24-hour average PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

     The board of directors of YRCAA will conduct a public hearing on this issue. The board is expected to adopt the plan following the local hearing. Ecology will then hold a separate public hearing to receive comments on including the YRCAA's limited maintenance plan and redesignation request in the statewide plan, the SIP.

     Ecology's hearing is on Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at 3:00 p.m., at the Yakima County Courthouse, 128 North 2nd Street, Room B33, Yakima, WA.

     For a SIP hearing, only comments related to including air quality plans or regulations in the SIP can be considered. Written comments must be postmarked no later than June 11, 2004, and should be sent to Brett Rude, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

     For more information about the content of the plan prior to the hearing, please contact Charlie Stansel, Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority, (509) 834-2050.

     If you have special accommodation needs, please contact the agency receptionist at Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority, (509) 834-2050 (voice) or (509) 834-2060 (fax) by May 15, 2004.

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