Purpose of notice: DEQ is seeking comments on the overall plan, and on the issue of whether the plan enables the Northern Virginia PM2.5 Nonattainment Area to maintain compliance with the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS until at least 2025.
Public comment period: January 28, 2013 to February 26, 2013.
Public hearing: A public hearing will be conducted at the Fairfax County Government Center, in conference room 2/3, at 7:00 pm on February 25, 2013. The Fairfax County Government Center is located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22035. A map and directions maybe found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/maps/county/government-center.htm.
Description of proposal: The proposal consists of the following.
1. Air quality maintenance plan in support of a concurrent request to redesignate the Northern Virginia PM2.5 Nonattainment Area (Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William; Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park) to attainment: The purpose of the plan is to ensure that emissions of PM2.5, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOX) do not exceed the 2007 attainment year levels through 2025, enabling the area to continue meeting the 1997 NAAQS for PM2.5. The plan contains control measures that are currently in place and will be continued in order to maintain the PM2.5, SO2, and NOX emissions at or below the 2007 levels. These measures include, but are not limited to, federal control programs for on-road and non-road engines as well as limitations on local power plants. The plan also contains a program of contingency measures to be implemented if the air quality monitoring stations in the area record a violation of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS or if emissions in the area increase above the 2007 levels, as well as information concerning emissions estimates, growth assumptions, emission factors, and reduction assumptions.
2. Motor vehicle emissions budgets for the years 2007, 2017, and 2025: The purpose of the motor vehicle emissions budgets is to ensure that transportation emissions conform to the requirements of the proposed plan for maintaining compliance with the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS (transportation conformity).
The proposed PM2.5 redesignation request and maintenance plan were prepared by the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC), which consists of elected officials from the affected localities and representatives of state transportation and air quality planning agencies.
The maintenance plan, which contains the motor vehicle emissions budgets, will be submitted as a SIP revision in conjunction with a request to EPA from the Commonwealth to redesignate the Northern Virginia PM2.5 Nonattainment Area as attainment/maintenance. DEQ is accepting comments on both the redesignation request and maintenance plan, but the redesignation request will not be submitted as part of the SIP revision.
Federal information: This notice is being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). The proposed maintenance plan and supporting technical documents 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.
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 no later than the last day of the comment period. 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. Comments on the redesignation request and maintenance plan must be submitted to Doris A. McLeod at the address below.
To review the proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices for Plans web site (http://www.deq.state.va.us/Programs/Air/PublicNotices/airplansandprograms.aspx). The documents may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ representative named above. 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 and 2) Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA, 703-583-3800
| Name / Title: | Doris McLeod |
| Address: |
629 East Main Street P.O. Box 1105 Richmond, 23218 |
| Email Address: | doris.mcleod@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (804)698-4197 FAX: (804)698-4510 TDD: (804)698-4021 |