Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group (FLAG) Response to Public Comments on Revised Phase I Report (2010)

摘要

The Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group (FLAG) was formed to develop a more consistent approach for the Federal Land Managers (FLMs) to evaluate air pollution effects on their resources. The primarybut not solefocus of FLAG is the New Source Review (NSR) program, especially with respect to the review of Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) of air quality permit applications. The goals of FLAG have been to provide consistent policies and processes both for identifying air quality related values (AQRVs) and for evaluating the effects of air pollution on AQRVs. While the primarily focus of AQRV protection has been in Federal Class I air quality areas, we are also responsible for protecting AQRVs in Class II areas. FLAG members include representatives from the three primary agencies that administer the nations Federal Class I areas: the U.S. Department of the Interiors National Park Service (NPS) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service (FS). Both state permitting agencies and permit applicants requested that the FLMs provide better consistency pertaining to their role in the review of NSR permit applications near Federal Class I areas. To address this concern, the FLMs formed the FLAG and published the original Phase I report in December 2000 (FLAG 2000). The FLAG 2000 report provided state permitting authorities and potential permit applicants a consistent and predictable process for assessing the impacts of new and modified sources on AQRVs, including a process to identify those AQRVs and potential adverse impacts.