Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans for Louisiana: General Conformity Rules

This action conditionally approves a revision to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) that contains regulations for implementing and enforcing the general conformity rules which the EPA promulgated on November 30, 1993. Specifically, the general conformity rules enable the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to review conformity of all Federal actions (see 40 CFR part 51 subpart W--Determining Conformity of General Federal Actions to State or Federal Implementation Plans) with the control strategy SIP's submitted for the nonattainment and maintenance areas in Louisiana. This approval action is intended to streamline the conformity process and allow direct consultation among agencies at the local levels. The Federal actions by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration (under 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act) are covered by the transportation conformity rules under 40 CFR part 51, subpart T--Conformity to State or Federal Implementation Plans of Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects Developed, Funded or Approved Under Title 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act. The EPA will act on the State's transportation conformity SIP under a separate Federal Register document. The EPA is approving this SIP revision under sections 110(k) and 176 of the Clean Air Act (the Act). The rationale for the approval and other information are provided in this notice.