(1) Designation.
(a) Lands within the exterior boundaries of Indian reservations may be proposed for redesignation by an Indian governing body or EPA. This restriction does not apply to nontrust lands within the 1873 Survey Area of the Puyallup Indian Reservation.
(b) All areas of the state must be designated either Class I, II or III.
(i) The following areas are the Class I areas in Washington state:
(A) Alpine Lakes Wilderness;
(B) Glacier Peak Wilderness;
(C) Goat Rocks Wilderness;
(D) Adams Wilderness;
(E) Mount Rainier National Park;
(F) North Cascades National Park;
(G) Olympic National Park;
(H) Pasayten Wilderness; and
(I) Spokane Indian Reservation.1
(ii) All other areas of the state are Class II, but may be redesignated as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
1. | EPA redesignated this land based on a request from the Spokane Tribal Council. See 40 C.F.R. 52.2497 and 56 FR 14862, April 12, 1991, for details. |
(2) Restrictions on area classifications.
(a) Except for the Spokane Indian Reservation, the Class I areas listed in subsection (1) of this section may not be redesignated.
(b) Except as provided in (a) of this subsection, the following areas that exceed 10,000 acres in size may be redesignated as Class I or II:
(i) Areas in existence on August 7, 1977:
(A) A national monument;
(B) A national primitive area;
(C) A national preserve;
(D) A national wild and scenic river;
(E) A national wildlife refuge;
(F) A national lakeshore or seashore; or
(G) A national recreation area.
(ii) Areas established after August 7, 1977:
(A) A national park;
(B) A national wilderness area; or
(C) Areas proposed by ecology for designation or redesignation.
(3) Redesignation of area classifications.
(a) Ecology shall propose the redesignation of an area classification as a revision to the SIP.
(b) Ecology may submit to EPA a proposal to redesignate areas of the state as Class I or II if:
(i) Ecology followed the public involvement procedures in WAC
173-400-171(12);
(ii) Ecology explained the reasons for the proposed redesignation, including a description and analysis of the health, environmental, economic, social, and energy effects of the proposed redesignation;
(iii) Ecology made available for public inspection at least thirty days before the hearing the explanation of the reasons for the proposed redesignation;
(iv) Ecology notified other states, tribal governing bodies, and federal land managers (as defined in 40 C.F.R. 52.21 (b)(24)) whose lands may be affected by the proposed redesignation at least thirty days prior to the public hearing;
(v) Ecology consulted with the elected leadership of local governments in the area covered by the proposed redesignation before proposing the redesignation; and
(vi) Ecology followed these procedures when a redesignation includes any federal lands:
(A) Ecology notified in writing the appropriate federal land manager on the proposed redesignation. Ecology allowed forty-five days for the federal land manager to confer with ecology and to submit written comments.
(B) Ecology responded to any written comments from the federal land manager that were received within forty-five days of notification. Ecology's response was available to the public in advance of the notice of the hearing.
(I) Ecology sent the written comments of the federal land manager, along with ecology's response to those comments, to the public location as required in WAC
173-400-171 (2)(a).
(II) If ecology disagreed with the federal land manager's written comments, ecology published a list of any inconsistency between the redesignation and the comments of the federal land manager, together with the reasons for making the redesignation against the recommendation of the federal land manager.
(c) Ecology may submit to EPA a proposal to redesignate any area other than an area to which subsection (1) of this section applies as Class III if:
(i) The redesignation followed the public involvement requirements of WAC
173-400-171 and 173-400-118(3);
(ii) The redesignation has been specifically approved by the governor of Washington state, after consultation with the appropriate committees of the legislature if it is in session, or with the leadership of the legislature, if it is not in session;
(iii) The redesignation has been approved by local governments representing a majority of the residents of the area to be redesignated. The local governments enacted legislation or passed resolutions concurring in the redesignation;
(iv) The redesignation would not cause, or contribute to, a concentration of any air contaminant which would exceed any maximum allowable increase permitted under the classification of any other area or any National Ambient Air Quality Standard; and
(v) A PSD permit under WAC
173-400-720 for a new major stationary source or major modification could be issued only if the area in question were redesignated as Class III, and material submitted as part of that application was available for public inspection prior to any public hearing on redesignation of the area as Class III.