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EPA to hold public hearing on proposed emission control plan

Release Date: 08/03/2006
Contact Information: Laurie Ostrand, 303-312-6437, ostrand.laurie@epa.gov Richard Long, 303-312-6005, long.richard@epa.gov

(Denver, Colo. - August 1, 2006) -- EPA has proposed a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for the Billings/Laurel Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) Area to fill the gaps in the SO₂ State Implementation Plan (SIP) that EPA disapproved in part in May 2002 and May 2003. The proposed federal plan, in combination with the State’s plan, will keep air quality within the health limits for sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide in the air is an irritant which may cause breathing difficulty in people with asthma, worsen respiratory illness and contribute to other human health and environmental problems.

What: EPA will hold a public hearing to give interested parties the opportunity to present comments and for EPA to ask clarifying questions. Hearing comments will be transcribed. Contact Laurie Ostrand if you would like to schedule time to speak at the hearing.
Who: Jonah Staller, EPA Region 8 Office of Regional Counsel, will be the presiding officer at the hearing. Richard Long, Director of EPA Region 8’s Air and Radiation Program and Laurie Ostrand of EPA Region 8’s Air and Radiation Program will also be at the hearing.
When: August 10, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Montana State University-Billings, Lewis and Clark Room, 1500 University Drive, Billings, Mont.

Written comments: You may also submit written comments on EPA's proposed FIP. Written comments should reference Docket ID No. EPA-R08-OAR-2006-0098 and must be received on or before September 11, 2006. Written comments may be submitted in any of the following ways:
• At the public hearing
• Online at http://www.regulations.gov by following the instructions for submitting comments
• By e-mail to long.richard@epa.gov and to ostrand.laurie@epa.gov
• By fax 303-312-6064
• By mail to:
Richard Long
EPA Air and Radiation Program Director for Region 8
Mailcode 8P-AR
999 18th Street, Ste. 200
Denver, CO 80202-2466
• Deliver by hand to: Richard Long, Suite 300 at the above address

EPA's FIP proposal notice explains that comments received will be included in the public docket and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov. See the proposal notice for further instructions on submitting comments.

The proposal may be viewed at:
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket ID No. EPA-R08-OAR-2006-0098.