[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 208 (Thursday, October 26, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64191-64192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27030]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[TX-119-1-7448b; FRL-6886-2]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Water 
Heaters, Small Boilers, and Process Heaters; Agreed Orders; Major 
Stationary Sources of Nitrogen Oxides for the Beaumont/Port Arthur 
Ozone Nonattainment Area

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to take direct final action on revisions 
to the Texas State Implementation Plan. This rulemaking covers four 
separate actions. First, we are approving revisions to the Nitrogen 
Oxides (NOX) SIP to add a rule for water heaters, small 
boilers, and process heaters sold and installed in Texas (the Texas 
Water Heater Rule). This rule will contribute to attainment

[[Page 64192]]

of the 1-hour ozone standard in the Beaumont/Port Arthur (B/PA), 
Houston/Galveston (H/GA), and Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW) nonattainment 
areas and will contribute to continued maintenance of the standard in 
the rest of the State of Texas. Second, we are approving revisions to 
the Texas NOX SIP for certain major stationary point source 
categories in the B/PA ozone nonattainment area. These new limits for 
certain stationary point sources will contribute to attainment of the 
1-hour ozone standard in the B/PA area. Third, we are approving 
revisions to the existing approved Texas NOX Reasonably 
Available Control Technology SIP because the changes are administrative 
in nature. Fourth, we are approving two Agreed Orders between the State 
of Texas and two companies in Northeast Texas. These Orders will 
contribute to attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard in the B/PA, H/
GA, and D/FW nonattainment areas and will contribute to continued 
maintenance of the standard in the eastern half of the State of Texas.
    The EPA is approving these revisions to regulate emissions of 
Nitrogen dioxide in accordance with the requirements of the Federal 
Clean Air Act.
    In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, 
EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule 
without prior proposal because the EPA views this as a noncontroversial 
revision and anticipates no adverse comment. The EPA has explained its 
reasons for this approval in the preamble to the direct final rule. If 
EPA receives no relevant adverse comments, the EPA will not take 
further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives relevant adverse 
comment, EPA will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take 
effect. The EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final 
rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second 
comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting 
must do so at this time. Please note that if we receive adverse 
comment(s) on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if 
that provision is independent of the remainder of the rule, we may 
adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of 
an adverse comment.

DATES: Written comments must be received by November 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Thomas H. Diggs, 
Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), at the EPA Region 6 Office listed 
below. Copies of documents relevant to this action are available for 
public inspection during normal business hours at the following 
locations. Anyone wanting to examine these documents should make an 
appointment with the appropriate office at least two working days in 
advance.
    Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Air Planning Section 
(6PD-L), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
    Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Office of Air 
Quality, 12124 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas 78753.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Shar, P.E., Air Planning 
Section (6PD-L), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-
2733, telephone (214) 665-6691.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document concerns Control of Air 
Pollution from Nitrogen Compounds for major stationary sources in the 
B/PA ozone nonattainment area and the control measures for attainment 
demonstration purposes. For further information, please see the 
information provided in the direct final action that is located in the 
``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication.

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

    Dated: October 3, 2000.
Myron O. Knudson,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 00-27030 Filed 10-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P