UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

OFFICE OF

AIR AND RADIATION

February 28, 2003

Dear State and Local Agencies:

This letter is to inform you that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promulgated revisions to the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) portions of State Implementation Plans (SIP) in 40 CFR Part 52, Subparts (C) through (DDD). These revisions will incorporate by reference in the FIP's the changes to the Federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program (contained in 40 CFR § 52.21) that we published on December 31, 2002. 67 Fed. Reg. 80186. The Federal Register will publish a notice of this action within the next few days.

The December 31, 2002, notice in the Federal Register made changes to the applicability of the PSD and nonattainment New Source Review programs. We originally proposed these changes in 1996, 61 FR 38250. That Federal Register notice also included a proposal to include the changed applicability approaches in Part 52 regulations governing Federal permitting programs. We are now taking final action on this portion of the proposal dealing with the Part 52 regulations by revising the paragraph references in the FIP's to be consistent with the current regulations at 40 CFR Part 52.21. The Administrator signed the final action on

February 28, 2003.

Notice of this final action may not be published in the Federal Register before

March 3, 2003, which is the effective date of the revised Federal PSD program. Therefore, we are notifying affected governmental entities of these changes by letter. A copy of the Federal Register notice is attached for your information. If you have any questions about this Federal Register notice or the revised Federal PSD program, please contact Lynn Hutchinson at (919) 541-5795 or by electronic mail at hutchinson.lynn@epa.gov. We look forward to working with you to ensure a smooth transition to the revised Federal PSD program.

Sincerely,

/s/

Jeffrey R. Holmstead

Assistant Administrator