Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 42 : Section 7474


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 7474. Area redesignation

    (a) Authority of States to redesignate areas
      Except as otherwise provided under subsection (c) of this
    section, a State may redesignate such areas as it deems appropriate
    as class I areas. The following areas may be redesignated only as
    class I or II:
        (1) an area which exceeds ten thousand acres in size and is a
      national monument, a national primitive area, a national
      preserve, a national recreation area, a national wild and scenic
      river, a national wildlife refuge, a national lakeshore or
      seashore, and
        (2) a national park or national wilderness area established
      after August 7, 1977, which exceeds ten thousand acres in size.

    The extent of the areas referred to in paragraph )1(! (1) and (2)
    shall conform to any changes in the boundaries of such areas which
    have occurred subsequent to August 7, 1977, or which may occur
    subsequent to November 15, 1990. Any area (other than an area
    referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) or an area established as class
    I under the first sentence of section 7472(a) of this title) may be
    redesignated by the State as class III if - 

        (A) such redesignation has been specifically approved by the
      Governor of the State, after consultation with the appropriate
      Committees of the legislature if it is in session or with the
      leadership of the legislature if it is not in session (unless
      State law provides that such redesignation must be specifically
      approved by State legislation) and if general purpose units of
      local government representing a majority of the residents of the
      area so redesignated enact legislation (including for such units
      of local government resolutions where appropriate) concurring in
      the State's redesignation;
        (B) such redesignation will not cause, or contribute to,
      concentrations of any air pollutant which exceed any maximum
      allowable increase or maximum allowable concentration permitted
      under the classification of any other area; and
        (C) such redesignation otherwise meets the requirements of this
      part.

    Subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not apply to area
    redesignations by Indian tribes.
    (b) Notice and hearing; notice to Federal land manager; written
      comments and recommendations; regulations; disapproval of
      redesignation
      (1)(A) Prior to redesignation of any area under this part, notice
    shall be afforded and public hearings shall be conducted in areas
    proposed to be redesignated and in areas which may be affected by
    the proposed redesignation. Prior to any such public hearing a
    satisfactory description and analysis of the health, environmental,
    economic, social, and energy effects of the proposed redesignation
    shall be prepared and made available for public inspection and
    prior to any such redesignation, the description and analysis of
    such effects shall be reviewed and examined by the redesignating
    authorities.
      (B) Prior to the issuance of notice under subparagraph (A)
    respecting the redesignation of any area under this subsection, if
    such area includes any Federal lands, the State shall provide
    written notice to the appropriate Federal land manager and afford
    adequate opportunity (but not in excess of 60 days) to confer with
    the State respecting the intended notice of redesignation and to
    submit written comments and recommendations with respect to such
    intended notice of redesignation. In redesignating any area under
    this section with respect to which any Federal land manager has
    submitted written comments and recommendations, the State shall
    publish a list of any inconsistency between such redesignation and
    such recommendations and an explanation of such inconsistency
    (together with the reasons for making such redesignation against
    the recommendation of the Federal land manager).
      (C) The Administrator shall promulgate regulations not later than
    six months after August 7, 1977, to assure, insofar as practicable,
    that prior to any public hearing on redesignation of any area,
    there shall be available for public inspection any specific plans
    for any new or modified major emitting facility which may be
    permitted to be constructed and operated only if the area in
    question is designated or redesignated as class III.
      (2) The Administrator may disapprove the redesignation of any
    area only if he finds, after notice and opportunity for public
    hearing, that such redesignation does not meet the procedural
    requirements of this section or is inconsistent with the
    requirements of section 7472(a) of this title or of subsection (a)
    of this section. If any such disapproval occurs, the classification
    of the area shall be that which was in effect prior to the
    redesignation which was disapproved.
    (c) Indian reservations
      Lands within the exterior boundaries of reservations of federally
    recognized Indian tribes may be redesignated only by the
    appropriate Indian governing body. Such Indian governing body shall
    be subject in all respect to the provisions of subsection (e) of
    this section.
    (d) Review of national monuments, primitive areas, and national
      preserves
      The Federal Land Manager shall review all national monuments,
    primitive areas, and national preserves, and shall recommend any
    appropriate areas for redesignation as class I where air quality
    related values are important attributes of the area. The Federal
    Land Manager shall report such recommendations, within )2(!
    supporting analysis, to the Congress and the affected States within
    one year after August 7, 1977. The Federal Land Manager shall
    consult with the appropriate States before making such
    recommendations.

    (e) Resolution of disputes between State and Indian tribes
      If any State affected by the redesignation of an area by an
    Indian tribe or any Indian tribe affected by the redesignation of
    an area by a State disagrees with such redesignation of any area,
    or if a permit is proposed to be issued for any new major emitting
    facility proposed for construction in any State which the Governor
    of an affected State or governing body of an affected Indian tribe
    determines will cause or contribute to a cumulative change in air
    quality in excess of that allowed in this part within the affected
    State or tribal reservation, the Governor or Indian ruling body may
    request the Administrator to enter into negotiations with the
    parties involved to resolve such dispute. If requested by any State
    or Indian tribe involved, the Administrator shall make a
    recommendation to resolve the dispute and protect the air quality
    related values of the lands involved. If the parties involved do
    not reach agreement, the Administrator shall resolve the dispute
    and his determination, or the results of agreements reached through
    other means, shall become part of the applicable plan and shall be
    enforceable as part of such plan. In resolving such disputes
    relating to area redesignation, the Administrator shall consider
    the extent to which the lands involved are of sufficient size to
    allow effective air quality management or have air quality related
    values of such an area.



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