[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47216-47217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23505]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[MD003-3024b, MD025-3024b, MD066-3024b; FRL-6149-2]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Maryland; Conditional Limited Approval of Major VOC Source RACT and 
Minor VOC Source Requirements and Withdrawal of Proposed Rule 
Pertaining to Major RACT and Minor VOC Source Requirements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule and withdrawal of notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: EPA proposes conditional limited approval of the State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Maryland. 
These revisions pertain to Maryland's major source volatile organic 
compound (VOC) reasonably available control technology (RACT) 
regulation and minor VOC source requirements. In addition, EPA is 
withdrawing its March 1, 1996 proposed conditional approval of these 
SIP revisions, because the proposal does not comply with EPA's November 
7, 1996 generic RACT policy. No public comments were received on that 
proposal. These actions are being taken in accordance with the SIP 
submittal and revision provisions of the Act. In the Final Rules 
section of this Federal Register, EPA is conditionally and limitedly 
approving the State's SIP revisions as a direct final rule without 
prior proposal because the Agency views these as noncontroversial SIP 
revisions and anticipates no adverse comments. Detailed rationales for 
these actions are set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse 
comments are received in response to this proposed rule, no further 
activity 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adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all 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 final rule 
based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment 
period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting on this 
action should do so at this time.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by October 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to David L. Arnold, 
Chief, Ozone and Mobile Sources Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the documents relevant

[[Page 47217]]

to this action are available for public inspection during normal 
business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania 19103; and the Maryland Department of the Environment, 
2500 Broening Highway, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria A. Pino, (215) 814-2181, at the 
EPA Region III address above, or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the information provided in the Direct 
Final action of the same title, pertaining to Maryland's major VOC 
source RACT and minor VOC source requirements, located in the Rules and 
Regulations Section of this Federal Register.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

    Dated: August 12, 1998.
W. Michael McCabe,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 98-23505 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]
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