[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 73 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16423-16424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9177]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 80
[FRL-5457-6]
Approval of Colorado's Petition to Relax the Federal Gasoline
Reid Vapor Pressure Volatility Standard for 1996 and 1997
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'' or the
``Agency'') is proposing a limited approval of the State of Colorado's
petition to relax the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard that applies
to gasoline introduced into commerce in the Denver-Boulder ozone
nonattainment area from June 1 to September 15. It is proposed that the
standard be relaxed from 7.8 pounds per square inches (psi) to 9.0 psi
for the years 1996 and 1997. Pursuant to the Clean Air Act Amendments
of 1990, Federal RVP standards were promulgated by EPA on June 11, 1990
and revised on December 12, 1991. Colorado's petition is based on
evidence that the Denver-Boulder area does not need the 7.8 psi
standard to maintain ozone attainment in the near term and that the 7.8
psi standard would impose significant costs on industry and
[[Page 16424]]
consumers. Colorado's petition requests a continuation of previous
relaxations of the RVP standard. EPA has approved relaxations in the
Denver-Boulder area for the past four years, from 1992 through 1995.
DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be received in writing by
May 15, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Materials relevant to this rulemaking have been placed in
Docket A-96-10 by EPA. The docket is located at the Docket Office of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20460, Room M-1500 in Waterside Mall and may be
inspected from 8:30am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. A reasonable
fee may be charged for copying docket material.
Comments should be submitted (in duplicate if possible) to the Air
Docket Section at the above address. A copy should also be sent to the
EPA contact person listed below at the following address: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, 401 M
Street, SW. (6406-J), Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Winstead McCall of the Fuels
and Energy Division at 202-233-9029 at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For more detailed information on this
proposal, please see EPA's Direct Final Rulemaking published in the
Final Rules section of this Federal Register which approves for a
limited time period Colorado's petition to relax the Reid Vapor
Pressure standard in the Denver-Boulder area from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi
for the summer ozone season beginning June 1, 1996. The Agency views
this as a noncontroversial action due to the limited scope of this
proposed rulemaking, Colorado's continued attainment of the ozone
standard and for the reasons discussed in the direct final rulemaking
published in today's Federal Register. If no adverse comments are
received in response to this proposed rule, no further action is
contemplated in relation to this rule. If EPA receives adverse
comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public
comments received will be addressed in a subsequent rule. The EPA will
not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties
interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7545 and 7601(a).
Dated: April 4, 1996.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-9177 Filed 4-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P