[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 43009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17615]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6734-2]


Notice of Availability for Draft Guidance on the Use of Emissions 
Reductions From Motor Vehicles Operated on Low-Sulfur Gasoline as New 
Source Review (NSR) Offsets for Tier 2/Gasoline Sulfur Refinery 
Projects in Nonattainment Areas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The EPA is making available for public review and comment a 
preliminary draft of its pending guidance on the use of emissions 
reductions resulting from motor vehicles operated on low sulfur 
gasoline as NSR offsets for Tier 2/Gasoline Sulfur Refinery Projects in 
nonattainment areas.
    On February 10, 2000, EPA issued new emissions standards (``Tier 2 
standards'') for all passenger vehicles, including sport utility 
vehicles, minivans, vans and pick-up trucks. To ensure the 
effectiveness of low emissions control technologies in these vehicles, 
this rule also sets new standards to significantly reduce the sulfur 
content in gasoline. In order to meet these sulfur-in-gasoline 
requirements, many refiners will have to make modifications to their 
existing facilities, which could be subject to the major permitting 
requirements under parts C and D of the Clean Air Act. For a refinery 
located in an area designated nonattainment, the acquisition of 
emissions offsets is one of the prerequisites for receiving the 
construction permit authorizing the major modification. To provide 
greater certainty and to expedite the NSR permitting process for 
refinery projects undertaken in nonattainment areas to comply with the 
new gasoline sulfur requirements, EPA intends to provide guidance to 
explain how States can use some of the motor vehicle emissions 
reductions resulting from use of low sulfur gasoline as NSR offsets.
    A draft of EPA's guidance is available for public review and 
comment. The EPA does not intend to respond to individual comments, but 
rather to consider the comments from the public in the preparation of 
the final guidance.

DATES: The comment period on the draft guidance will close on August 
11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Pamela J. Smith, 
Information Transfer and Program Integration Division (MD-12), Office 
of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle 
Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone 919-541-0641, telefax 919-541-
5509 or E-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan deRoeck, Information Transfer and 
Program Integration Division (MD-12), Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, 
telephone 919-541-5593, telefax 919-541-5509 or E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A copy of the draft guidance document may be 
obtained by calling or E-mailing Pamela J. Smith. The draft guidance 
may also be downloaded from the NSR Web Site http://www.epa.gov/ttn/nsr 
under the topic ``What's New on NSR.''

    Dated: July 5, 2000.
John S. Seitz,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-17615 Filed 7-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P