Notice of action: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comments and announcing a public hearing on a proposed five year progress report regarding visibility impairment in Federal Class I areas. Virginia is home to two such areas: Shenandoah National Park and James River Face Wilderness. The Commonwealth intends to submit the report as a revision to the Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the requirements of §§ 110(a) and 169A 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).

Purpose of notice: DEQ is seeking comments on the progress report, on the conclusion that the Virginia Class I areas are on track to meet their reasonable progress goals by 2018, and on the conclusion that no additional controls are necessary in this planning period.

Public comment period: September 23, 2013 to October 23, 2013.

Public hearing: A public hearing will be conducted on October 22, 2013, in Conference Room A, Department of Environmental Quality, 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, Virginia at 10:00 am. Directions may be found at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Locations/CentralOffice.aspx.

Description of proposal: Virginia is required by 40 CFR 51.308(g) to submit to EPA and adopt into the Virginia SIP a report evaluating progress toward the reasonable progress goals provided in Virginia’s Regional Haze Plan. The report must contain a description of the status of the implementation of all measures included in the plan, a summary of emission reductions, an assessment of visibility conditions and changes, and other analyses. Additionally, the report must contain an assessment of whether the current plan elements and strategies are sufficient to enable Virginia to meet established reasonable progress goals for visibility improvement. The proposed progress report provides the required analyses, demonstrates that Virginia Class I areas are on track to meet the reasonable progress goals outlined in Virginia’s Regional Haze Plan, and concludes that no additional controls are necessary for this planning period.

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) and 169A 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.

Consultation with federal land managers (FLMs): As provided in 40 CFR 51.302(b)(2), the FLMs were given the opportunity to comment on the proposal from June 17, 2013 to August 19, 2013. FLM comments on the proposed progress report and DEQ responses to these comments are located in Appendix B of the report.

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. Both oral and written comments are accepted at the public hearing. DEQ prefers that the comments be provided in writing, along with any supporting documents or exhibits. All materials received are part of the public record.

To review 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 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) DEQ Main Street Office, 8th Floor, 629 E. Main St, Richmond VA, 804-698-4070; 2) Southwest Regional Office, 355 Deadmore St, Abingdon VA, 540-676-4800; 3) Blue Ridge Regional Office, Roanoke Location, 3019 Peters Creek Rd, Roanoke VA, 540-562-6700; 4) Blue Ridge Regional Office, Lynchburg Location, 7705 Timberlake Rd, Lynchburg VA, 804-582-5120; 5) Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Rd, Harrisonburg VA, 540-574-7800; 6) Piedmont Regional Office, 4949-A Cox Rd, Glen Allen VA, 804-527-5020; 7) Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge VA, 703-583-3800; 8) Tidewater Regional Office, 5636 Southern Blvd, Virginia Beach VA, 757-518-2000.