Background information: The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) redesignated the Vancouver area to attainment of the CO standard in 1996 after finding that the area met Clean Air Act requirements for redesignation. These requirements include:

•	Monitoring data showing the area meets the standard, and
•	An EPA-approved plan for maintaining the standard for an initial ten-year period.

     After a redesignated area has met the standard for ten years, the Clean Air Act requires a maintenance plan for the second ten years of the maintenance period as part of the SIP. The Southwest Clean Air Agency developed a maintenance plan for the Vancouver area. The maintenance plan assures that the area will continue to meet the carbon monoxide standard for a second ten-year period.

     Since Vancouver's carbon monoxide levels are so low, EPA has determined the area is not likely to exceed the standard. Therefore, EPA is requiring only a limited maintenance plan to meet the Clean Air Act requirement. Since the area is unlikely to exceed the standard, the plan continues the existing control strategy, does not need to demonstrate maintenance of the standard, and exempts the area from regional transportation conformity determinations. Other conformity requirements, such as project conformity and consultation, remain.

     The hearing: Ecology will hold a hearing following the Southwest Clean Air Agency's March board meeting. The board will adjourn after completing its business meeting and ecology will provide a short break before beginning the SIP hearing.

     The date and location of the hearing are: Thursday, March 1, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., at the Southwest Clean Air Agency, 11815 N.E. 99th Street, Suite 1294, Vancouver, WA 98682.

     The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment on including the Southwest Clean Air Agency's maintenance plan in the SIP.

     Review copies are available:

     You can review copies of the SIP revision at the following locations:

Southwest Clean Air Agency

11815 N.E. 99th Street, Suite 1294

Vancouver, WA 99682-2394 [98682-2394]

Department of Ecology

Air Quality Program

300 Desmond Drive

Lacey, WA 98503

Vancouver Community Library

1007 East Mill Plain Boulevard

Vancouver, WA 98663

Department of Ecology

Vancouver Field Office

2108 Grand Boulevard

Vancouver, WA 98661-4622

     How to comment: You can comment in person at the hearings, or mail, e-mail or fax your comments to Doug Schneider, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 4700 [47600], Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-6874, fax (360) 407-7534, e-mail dsch461@ecy.wa.gov.

     You must provide your comments by 5:00 p.m., March 2, 2007.

     For more information please contact Doug Schneider.

     If you need special accommodations, please contact Tami Dahlgren at (360) 407-6830 by February 20, 2007. Persons with hearing loss can call 711 for Washington Relay Service. Persons with a speech disability can call (877) 833-6341.

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office