[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2611-2615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1031]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 63

[AD-FRL-6220-8]


National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Natural 
Gas Transmission and Storage

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposal; reopening of public comment 
period and notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: On February 6, 1998 (63 FR 6288), the EPA proposed standards 
(the proposal or proposed standards) to limit emissions of hazardous 
air pollutants (HAP) from existing and new natural gas transmission and 
storage facilities under section 112 of the Clean Air Act as amended in 
1990 (Act). The public comment period on the proposed standards ended 
April 7, 1998. This action announces the availability of supplemental 
information, the reopening of the public comment period on the 
supplemental information, and the notice of public hearing.
    During the public comment period, the EPA received comments that 
the data collected by the EPA to support development of the proposed 
rule did not adequately characterize the HAP emission sources and 
controls in the natural gas transmission and storage source category. 
The EPA agreed to solicit and consider additional data pertaining to 
the development of maximum available control technology (MACT) 
standards for the natural gas transmission and storage source category. 
The EPA plans to consider comments received on this action, along with 
comments received on the proposal, and take final action by May 15, 
1999.

DATES: Comments. Comments must be received on or before February 16, 
1999. For information on submitting electronic comments see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. If a public hearing 
is held, comments referring to new information resulting from the 
public hearing must be received by March 1, 1999.
    Public Hearing. If anyone contacts the EPA requesting to speak at a 
public hearing by January 22, 1999, a public hearing will be held on 
February 1, 1999, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Persons wishing to present 
oral testimony must contact the EPA by January 22, 1999. For 
information on requesting a public hearing see the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice. For detailed information on the public hearing see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted (in duplicate, if 
possible) to: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (MC-
6102), Attention: Docket No. A-94-04, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. The docket is located 
at this address in Room M-1500, Waterside Mall (ground floor). The EPA 
requests that a separate copy of comments also be sent to Greg Nizich, 
Waste and Chemical Processes Group (MD-13), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; 
telephone: (919) 541-3078; fax: (919) 541-0246 or electronically at: 
[email protected]. Comments and data may be submitted electronically 
by following the instructions listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. No 
confidential business information (CBI) should be submitted 
electronically.
    Public Hearing: Persons interested in speaking at a hearing should 
notify Ms. JoLynn Collins, telephone (919) 541-5671, Waste and Chemical 
Processes Group (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27711. Persons interested in attending the hearing 
should contact Ms. Collins to verify that a hearing will occur.
    Docket. A docket, No. A-94-04, containing information considered by 
the EPA in the development of the proposed standards, public comments 
received on the proposal, and the information discussed in today's 
notice, is available for public inspection and copying between 8 a.m. 
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), at the Air 
and Radiation Docket and Information Center. See the above address. A 
reasonable fee may be charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning today's 
action,

[[Page 2612]]

contact Mr. Greg Nizich, Waste and Chemical Processes Group (MD-13), 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North 
Carolina 27711; telephone: (919) 541-3078; fax (919) 541-0246; or 
electronically at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Hearing. A public hearing will be 
held, if requested, to provide interested persons an opportunity for 
oral presentation of data, views, or arguments concerning the 
supplemental data for the natural gas transmission and storage proposed 
standards. If a public hearing is requested and held, the EPA may ask 
clarifying questions regarding the oral presentation but will not 
respond to the presentation or comments. Written statements and 
supporting information will be considered with equivalent weight as any 
oral statement and supporting information subsequently presented at a 
public hearing, if held.
    Electronic Comments. Electronic comments can be sent directly to 
the EPA at: A-and-R-D[email protected]. Electronic comments must be 
submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and 
any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on 
disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 and 6.1 file format or ASCII file format. 
All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the 
docket number A-94-04. Electronic comments on this notice may be filed 
online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
    The information presented in this notice is organized as follows:

I. Background
II. Collection of Additional Information
III. MACT Floor for Existing Sources
IV. MACT Floor for New Sources
V. Throughput and Benzene Emissions Cutoffs
VI. Solicitation of Comments
VII. Administrative Requirements
    A. Docket
    B. Public Hearing
    C. Paperwork Reduction Act
    D. Executive Order 12866: A Significant Regulatory Action 
Determination
    E. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    G. Executive Order 12875: Enhancing the Intergovernmental 
Partnership
    H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks.
    I. Executive Order 13084: Consultation and Coordination with 
Indian Tribal Governments
    J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

I. Background

    On February 6, 1998 (63 FR 6288), the EPA proposed standards to 
limit emissions of HAP from existing and new natural gas transmission 
and storage facilities under the authority of section 112 of the Act. 
These standards would be codified under 40 CFR part 63, subpart HHH. 
The EPA proposed that process vents on existing or new glycol 
dehydration units that are located at major HAP sources, must be 
controlled for HAP unless: (1) The actual annual average flowrate of 
natural gas to the unit is less than 85 thousand cubic meters per day 
(m\3\/day) (3.0 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF/D)), or (2) 
if actual annual benzene emissions from the unit are less than 0.9 
megagram per year (Mg/yr) (1 ton per year (tpy)). Glycol dehydration 
units required to use air emission controls would also be required 
under the proposed standard to reduce HAP emissions by 95 percent or 
more or to reduce HAP emissions to an outlet concentration of 20 parts 
per million by volume (ppmv) or less for combustion devices. In 
addition, pollution prevention measures, such as process modifications 
that reduce the amount of HAP emissions generated, could be used, alone 
or in combination with a control device, provided they are demonstrated 
to achieve a HAP emission reduction of 95 percent or greater.
    The proposed standards were developed under the authority of 
section 112(d) of the Act, which requires the EPA to establish 
standards to reflect the maximum degree of reduction in HAP emissions. 
The EPA is required to establish standards that are no less stringent 
than the level of control defined under section 112(d)(3), referred to 
as the MACT floor. Under section 112 of the Act, the minimum level (the 
floor) at which standards may be set, for existing sources, is the 
``average emission limitation achieved by the best performing 12 
percent of the existing sources'' (section 112(d)(3) of the Act). The 
EPA collects and reviews available information on emission limitations 
achieved by each of: (1) The best performing 12 percent of existing 
sources in a category consisting of more than 30 sources, or (2) the 
best performing five sources in a category consisting of 30 sources or 
less. The Agency then determines an average of those limitations. 
``Average'' is interpreted by the Agency to mean a measure of central 
tendency such as the arithmetic mean, median, or mode or some other 
central tendency within the available data.
    The EPA collected information to support the proposal through: (1) 
A questionnaire developed under the authority of section 114 of the 
Clean Air Act (CAA) that was distributed to one company with 31 glycol 
dehydration units in the natural gas transmission and storage source 
category, and (2) a search of the available literature. Based on the 
available information collected, the EPA estimated that five facilities 
in the natural gas transmission and storage source category would be 
impacted by the proposed rule. Further, the Agency concluded at that 
time that the floor for existing and new sources in the natural gas 
transmission and storage source category was a 95-percent HAP emission 
reduction.
    During the public comment period, which closed on April 7, 1998, 
the EPA received several comment letters stating that the EPA did not 
collect information sufficient to properly characterize the natural gas 
transmission and storage source category for the purpose of developing 
MACT standards. In particular, the commenters were concerned that the 
proposed control level of 95 percent and the throughput level cutoff of 
85 thousand m\3\/day (3.0 MMSCF/D) were not appropriate for glycol 
dehydration units in the natural gas transmission and storage source 
category. No comments were received requesting a change in the 0.9-Mg/
yr (1-tpy) benzene emissions cutoff. The commenters requested that the 
EPA collect additional information to characterize HAP emissions and 
controls in the industry properly.

II. Collection of Additional Information

    The EPA addressed these concerns by collecting additional 
information on glycol dehydration units in the natural gas transmission 
and storage source category. The EPA conducted site visits to five 
natural gas transmission and storage facilities to gain additional 
first-hand knowledge of the processes and operations at existing 
facilities in this source category. The EPA also met with stakeholders 
from the natural gas transmission and storage industry to understand 
their concerns. The EPA developed a questionnaire for distribution to 
selected natural gas transmission and storage companies under the 
authority of section 114 of the CAA. In the questionnaire, the EPA 
requested data on the processes, operations, and control technologies 
in use at existing natural gas transmission and storage facilities and 
relevant to the development of HAP emissions standards.
    Through the questionnaire and site visits, the EPA collected 
additional information on approximately 81 facilities in the natural 
gas transmission and storage source category. The EPA is considering 
this new information, along

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with previously collected information on the natural gas transmission 
and storage source category, to develop a MACT floor for process vents 
on glycol dehydration units located at existing and new facilities in 
this source category. The EPA is also considering the development of 
appropriate natural gas throughput and benzene emissions threshold 
levels for which sources below these cutoffs would not be subject to 
the control requirements.
    The purpose of this notice is to announce the availability of, and 
to discuss the consideration of, the additional information on the 
natural gas transmission and storage source category collected by the 
EPA since proposal. The additional data being announced today includes 
the following items located in Air Docket A-94-04: (1) Completed 
responses to the EPA's section 114 survey questionnaire, items IV-G-24, 
and IV-G-26 through IV-G-32; (2) site visit information, items IV-G-21, 
IV-G-22, and IV-G-25; and (3) summary of the meeting with 
representatives of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, 
the Gas Research Institute, and industry, item IV-E-02. The EPA has 
also prepared analyses of these data, items MACT floor memo docket 
number and throughput and benzene emissions cutoff memo docket number.

III. MACT Floor for Existing Sources

    According to the information collected from 112 facilities through 
the section 114 questionnaire, site visits, and data previously 
collected during the development of the proposed standards, 69 glycol 
dehydration units are controlled. Fifty-nine of these units utilize 
combustion as the control technology for process vents on glycol 
dehydration units. Of these, 51 utilize flares, seven utilize enclosed 
combustion devices, and one uses an in-stack flare system. Six units 
utilize a combination of condensation and combustion to control glycol 
dehydration unit process vents and four utilize condensation.
    The MACT floor analysis for the natural gas transmission and 
storage source category is based on information available on the top 14 
performing glycol dehydration units, which corresponds to 12 percent of 
112 glycol dehydration units.
    The EPA compared the data on the average emission limitation 
achieved by the 14 best performing units to the proposed control level 
of 95 percent for process vents on glycol dehydration units at existing 
and new natural gas transmission and storage facilities. The available 
information indicates that the best performing 12 percent of the 
facilities, i.e., 14 units, utilize some form of combustion and achieve 
an average HAP emission reduction of 98 percent. However, among all 
sources that apply combustion, the reported control efficiency ranged 
from 95 to 98 percent. The EPA has been unable to determine the 
technical basis for the reported differences in the control 
efficiencies for these combustion devices. Therefore, in order to 
account for the observed variability in HAP emission reduction 
efficiency, the EPA has selected 95 percent as the required HAP 
emission reduction for this source category associated with this 
technology. The EPA solicits comments and supporting information on the 
MACT floor level of 95-percent HAP emission reduction. As noted in the 
ADDRESSES section of today's notice, the docket (Docket No. A-94-04) 
contains the information collected from industry, as well as a more 
detailed analysis of these data (item MACT floor memo docket number).

IV. MACT Floor for New Sources

    Under the proposed standards, the MACT floor for new sources was 
the same as the MACT floor for existing sources (i.e., 95-percent 
control). In the review of the new additional information, the EPA did 
not identify a method of control applicable to all types of new sources 
that would achieve a greater level of HAP emission reduction than the 
MACT floor for existing sources. Therefore, as with the proposal, the 
EPA is considering a MACT floor for new sources in the natural gas 
transmission and storage source category to be the same as the MACT 
floor for existing sources.

V. Throughput and Benzene Emissions Cutoff

    In the proposal, glycol dehydration units operating at an actual 
annual average natural gas throughput less than 85 thousand m\3\/day (3 
MMSCF/D) or having benzene emissions less than 0.9 Mg/yr (1 tpy) are 
exempt from the control requirements. The EPA evaluated the data 
collected from the 112 facilities in the natural gas transmission and 
storage source category to determine whether there was a natural gas 
throughput level, or a benzene emission level for which glycol 
dehydration units operating below this level were not controlled.
    In the new data, the Agency did not identify evidence to suggest 
that glycol dehydration units operating with actual annual average 
natural gas throughput rates less than 283 thousand m\3\/day (10 MMSCF/
D) or having actual benzene emissions less than 0.9 Mg/yr (1 tpy) are 
controlled at the MACT floor. The EPA does not believe that it would be 
cost effective to go beyond the floor for these glycol dehydration 
units.
    In addition, the Agency does not have any information indicating 
that, there are any sources in the natural gas transmission and storage 
source category operating below 283 thousand m\3\/day (10 MMSCF/D) or 
having benzene emissions less than 0.9 Mg/yr (1 tpy) that have 
emissions greater than the major source thresholds of 10 tpy for 
individual HAP or 25 tpy for any combination of HAP.
    Based on the available information, the EPA is considering raising 
the throughput cutoff from the proposed level of 85 thousand m\3\/day 
(3 MMSCF/D) to 283 thousand m\3\/day (10 MMSCF/D) on an actual annual 
average basis; glycol dehydration units operating below this level 
would not have to apply controls. Further, the EPA believes that the 
0.9-Mg/yr (1-tpy) benzene cutoff provided in the proposed standards is 
appropriate for glycol dehydration units in the natural gas 
transmission and storage source category. Therefore, no changes have 
been made to the benzene emissions cutoff.

VI. Solicitation of Comments

    Specifically, the EPA is requesting comments and supporting 
information on the consideration of a 95-percent HAP emission reduction 
as the floor level of control for new and existing facilities in the 
natural gas transmission and storage source category as required under 
section 112 of the Act. The EPA is also requesting comments on the 283-
thousand m\3\/day (10-MMSCF/D) actual annual average throughput and the 
0.9-Mg/yr (1-tpy) benzene emission cutoffs for the control of glycol 
dehydration units in this source category.

VII. Administrative Requirements

A. Docket

    The docket for this rulemaking is A-94-04. The docket is an 
organized and complete file of all the information considered by the 
EPA in the development of this rulemaking. The principal purposes of 
the docket are (1) to allow interested parties a means to identify and 
locate documents so that they can effectively participate in the 
rulemaking process and (2) to serve as the record in case of judicial 
review (except for interagency review materials) (section 307(d)(7)(A) 
of the Act). This docket contains copies of the regulatory text, BID, 
BID references, and technical memoranda documenting the

[[Page 2614]]

information considered by the EPA in the development of the proposed 
rule. The docket is available for public inspection at the EPA's Air 
and Radiation Docket and Information Center, the location of which is 
given in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

B. Public Hearing

    A public hearing will be held, if requested, to discuss this 
supplemental information in accordance with section 307(d)(5) of the 
Act. If a public hearing is held, the EPA will ask clarifying questions 
during the oral presentations but will not respond to the presentations 
or comments. To provide an opportunity for all who may wish to speak, 
oral presentations will be limited to 15 minutes each. Any member of 
the public may file a written statement (see DATES and ADDRESSES). 
Written statements and supporting information will be considered with 
equivalent weight as any oral statement and supporting information 
subsequently presented at a public hearing, if held.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information requirements of the proposed NESHAP were submitted 
for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on May 15, 
1997 under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. An 
Information Collection Request (ICR) document has been prepared by the 
EPA (ICR No. 1789.01), and a copy may be obtained from Sandy Farmer, 
OPPE Regulatory Information Division; U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (2137); 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460 or by calling 
(202) 260-2740. The information requirements are not effective until 
OMB approves them.
    Today's notice will have no impact on the information collection 
burden estimates made previously. This notice announces the 
availability of additional data and presents the EPA's consideration of 
these new data and therefore does not mandate any new requirements. 
Consequently, the ICR has not been revised.

D. Executive Order 12866: A Significant Regulatory Action Determination

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 5173 (October 4, 1993)), the EPA 
must determine whether the proposed regulatory action is 
``significant,'' and therefore, subject to OMB review and the 
requirements of the Executive Order. The order defines a 
``significant'' regulatory action as one that is likely to lead to a 
rule that may: (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of 
the economy, public health or safety in State, local, or tribal 
governments or communities; (2) create a serious inconsistency or 
otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; 
(3) materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user 
fees, or loan programs, or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in 
the Executive Order.
    It has been determined that today's notice of data availability is 
not a ``significant'' regulatory action, since it does not establish or 
lead to new regulatory requirements (and therefore is not a regulatory 
action). Therefore, today's notice did not require OMB review.

E. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency 
to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to 
notice and comment rulemaking requirements, unless the agency certifies 
that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small 
businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, and small governmental 
jurisdictions. Today's notice announces the availability of additional 
information and the EPA's consideration of these new data and does not 
establish any binding rules of general applicability.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Pub. L. 
104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal 
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, the 
EPA generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-
benefit analysis, for the proposed and final rules with ``Federal 
mandates'' that may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for 
which a written statement is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally 
requires the EPA to identify and consider a reasonable number of 
regulatory alternatives and adopt the least costly, most cost-
effective, or least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives 
of the rule. The provisions of section 205 do not apply when they are 
inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover, section 205 allows the EPA 
to adopt an alternative other than the least costly, most cost-
effective, or least burdensome alternative if the Administrator 
publishes with the final rule an explanation why that alternative was 
not adopted. Before the EPA establishes any regulatory requirements 
that may significantly or uniquely affect small governments, including 
tribal governments, it must have developed under section 203 of the 
UMRA a small government agency plan. The plan must provide for 
notifying potentially affected small governments, enabling officials of 
affected small governments to have meaningful and timely input in the 
development of the EPA regulatory proposals with significant Federal 
intergovernmental mandates, and informing, educating, and advising 
small governments on compliance with the regulatory requirements.
    The EPA has determined that today's action does not include a 
Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100 million or 
more to either State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate or 
to the private sector. Therefore, the requirements of the Unfunded 
Mandates Act do not apply to today's action.

G. Executive Order 12875: Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership

    Under Executive Order 12875, the EPA may not issue a regulation 
that is not required by statute and that creates a mandate upon a 
State, local, or tribal government unless the Federal government 
provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance costs 
incurred by those governments, or the EPA consults with those 
governments. If the EPA complies by consulting, Executive Order 12875 
requires the EPA to provide the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a 
description of the extent of the EPA's prior consultation with 
representatives of affected State, local, and tribal governments, the 
nature of their concerns, copies of any written communications from the 
governments, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
regulation. In addition, Executive Order 12875 requires the EPA to 
develop an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
representatives of State, local, and tribal governments to provide 
meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals 
containing significant unfunded mandates.
    While the proposed rule, published on February 6, 1998, does not 
create mandates upon State, local, or tribal governments, the EPA 
involved State and local governments in its development. Because 
today's action is

[[Page 2615]]

announcing the availability of additional data and the EPA's 
consideration of this new data, today's action does not create a 
mandate upon State, local, or tribal governments.

H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    Executive Order 13045 applies to any rule that the EPA determines 
(1) is economically significant as defined under Executive Order 12866, 
and (2) the environmental health or safety risk addressed by the rule 
has a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action 
meets both criteria, the EPA must evaluate the environmental health or 
safety effects of the planned rule on children and explain why the 
planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and 
reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the EPA.
    Today's action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it 
does not involve decisions on environmental health or safety risks that 
may disproportionately affect children.

I. Executive Order 13084: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    Under Executive Order 13084, the EPA may not issue a regulation 
that is not required by statute, that significantly or uniquely affects 
the communities of Indian tribal governments, and that imposes 
substantial direct compliance costs on those communities unless the 
Federal government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct 
compliance costs incurred by the tribal governments, or the EPA 
consults with those governments. If the EPA complies by consulting, 
Executive Order 13084 requires the EPA to provide to the OMB, in a 
separately identified section of the preamble to the rule, a 
description of the extent of the EPA's prior consultation with 
representatives of affected tribal governments, a summary of the nature 
of their concerns, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
regulation. In addition, Executive Order 13084 requires the EPA to 
develop an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
representatives of Indian tribal governments to provide meaningful and 
timely input in the development of regulatory policies on matters that 
significantly or uniquely affect their communities.
    Today's action does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
communities of Indian tribal governments. The proposed rule, published 
on February 6, 1998, does not create mandates upon tribal governments. 
Because today's action announces the availability of additional data 
and the EPA's interpretation of that data, today's action does not 
create a mandate on tribal governments. Accordingly, the requirements 
of section 3(b) of Executive Order 13084 do not apply to this action.

J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act (NTTAA) directs all Federal agencies to use voluntary consensus 
standards instead of government-unique standards in their regulatory 
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling 
procedures, business practices) that are developed or adopted by one or 
more voluntary consensus standards bodies. Examples of organizations 
generally regarded as voluntary consensus standards bodies include the 
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the National Fire 
Protection Association (NFPA), and the Society of Automotive Engineers 
(SAE). The NTTAA requires Federal agencies like the EPA to provide 
Congress, through OMB, with explanations when an agency decides not to 
use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards.
    Today's notice does not involve any new technical standards or the 
incorporation by reference of existing technical standards. Therefore, 
consideration of voluntary consensus standards is not relevant to this 
action.

    Dated: January 7, 1999.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 99-1031 Filed 1-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U