[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11550-11551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4653]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 63

[ADL-FRL-6948-8]
RIN 2060-AH47


National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant 
Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of compliance.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to extend certain compliance dates 
contained in national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutant 
emissions for Group IV polymers and resins for polyethylene 
terephthalate (PET) affected sources. We are proposing this compliance 
extension pursuant to section 301(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to 
complete reconsideration of equipment leaks provisions and any 
necessary revision to the rule.
    In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, 
we are approving the extension of compliance dates as a direct final 
rule without prior proposal because we view this as a noncontroversial 
revision and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our 
reasons for this approval in the preamble to the direct final rule. If 
we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule and 
it will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a 
subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not 
institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in commenting must do so at this time.

DATES: Comments. Written comments must be received by March 28, 2001, 
unless a hearing is requested by March 8, 2001. If a hearing is 
requested, written comments must be received by April 12, 2001.
    Public Hearing. Anyone requesting a public hearing must contact the 
EPA no later than March 8, 2001. If a hearing is held, it will take 
place on March 13, 2001, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted (in duplicate, if 
possible) to: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), 
Attention Docket Number A-92-45 (Group IV Polymers and Resins), Room M-
1500, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. The 
EPA requests that a separate copy also be sent to the contact person 
listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Comments and data 
may also be submitted electronically by following the instructions 
provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. No Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through electronic mail.
    Public Hearing. If a public hearing is held, it will be held at the 
EPA's Office of Administration Auditorium, Research Triangle Park, 
North Carolina. Persons interested in attending the hearing or wishing 
to present oral testimony should notify Ms. Maria Noell, U.S. EPA, MD-
13, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-5607.
    Docket. The official record for this rulemaking has been 
established under docket number A-92-45. A public version of this 
record, including printed, paper versions of electronic comments and 
data, which does not include any information claimed as CBI, is 
available for inspection between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The official rulemaking record is 
located at U.S. EPA, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20460. Alternatively, a docket index, as well as individual items 
contained within the docket, may be obtained by calling (202) 260-7548 
or (202) 260-7549. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Keith Barnett, Organic Chemicals 
Group, Emission Standards Division (MD-13), Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, 
telephone number (919) 541-5605, fax number (919) 541-3470, and 
electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Docket. The docket reflects the full administrative record for this 
action and includes all the information relied upon by EPA in the 
development of this rule. The docket is a dynamic file because material 
is added throughout the rulemaking process. The docketing system is 
intended to allow members of the public and industries involved to 
readily identify and locate documents so that they can effectively 
participate in the rulemaking process. Along with the proposed and 
promulgated standards and their preambles, the contents of the docket 
will serve as the record in the case of judicial review. (See section 
307(d)(7)(A) of the CAA.)
    World Wide Web (WWW). In addition to being available in the docket, 
an electronic copy of this proposed rule will also be available on the 
WWW through the Technology Transfer Network (TTN). Following the 
Administrator's signature, a copy of the action will be posted on the 
TTN's policy and guidance page for newly proposed or promulgated rules 
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg. The TTN provides information and 
technology exchange in various areas of air pollution control. If more 
information regarding the TTN is needed, call the TTN HELP line at 
(919) 541-5384.
    Regulated Entities. Regulated categories and entities include:

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                Category                 Examples of regulated  entities
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Industry...............................  Facilities manufacturing PET
                                          using a batch dimethyl
                                          terephthalate (DMT) process,
                                          PET facilities using a
                                          continuous DMT process, PET
                                          facilities using a batch
                                          terephthalic acid (TPA)
                                          process, and PET facilities
                                          using a continuous TPA
                                          records.
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    This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide

[[Page 11551]]

for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by the Group IV 
Polymers and Resins standards. Other types of entities not listed in 
the table could also be regulated. To determine whether your facility 
is regulated, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria 
in Sec. 63.1310 of the rule. If you have questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person 
listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    For further information, please see the information provided in the 
direct final rule that is located in the ``Rules and Regulations'' 
section of this Federal Register publication.

Administrative Requirements

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as amended by the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.

    The RFA generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment 
rulemaking requirements, under the Administrative Procedure Act or 
another statute, 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 organizations, 
and small governmental jurisdictions. For purposes of assessing the 
impacts of today's proposed rule on small entities, small entity is 
defined as: (1) A small business that is a business with less than 750 
employees; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government 
of a city, county, town, school district or special district with a 
population of less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is 
any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated 
and is not dominant in its field.
    This proposed rule would not impose any requirements on small 
entities, because only one entity is subject to the PCCT standard and 
it is not a small entity. In addition, this proposed rule would relieve 
regulatory burden for all entities subject to the rule. After 
considering the economic impacts of today's proposed rule on small 
entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    For information regarding other administrative requirements for 
this action, please see the direct final/final rule action notice that 
is located in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal 
Register publication.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Air pollution control, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental 
relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: February 20, 2001.
Christine Todd Whitman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-4653 Filed 2-23-01; 8:45 am]
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