[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11910]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 80

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0787; FRL-9911-13-OAR]


Approval of States' Requests To Relax the Federal Reid Vapor 
Pressure Volatility Standard in Florida, and the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel 
Hill and Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point Areas in North Carolina

AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Withdrawal of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: Due to the receipt of adverse comments, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the March 31, 2014, direct final 
rule to approve requests from Florida and North Carolina for the EPA to 
relax the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) Standard applicable to gasoline 
introduced into commerce from June 1 to September 15 of each year in 
six counties in Florida, and in counties in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel 
Hill Area (also referred to as the ``Triangle Area'') and the 
Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point Area (also referred to as the 
``Triad Area'') in North Carolina. The EPA is considering these 
comments and will address the comments in a subsequent action that is 
to be published soon. The EPA will not institute a second comment 
period on this action.

DATES: The direct final rule published at 79 FR 17889 on March 31, 
2014, is withdrawn as of May 22, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rudolph Kapichak, Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 
Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone number: 734-214-4574; 
fax number 734-214-4052; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 31, 2014 (79 FR 17889), the EPA 
published a direct final rule approving a request from Florida to 
change the summertime RVP standard for Broward, Dade, Duval, 
Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties in Florida from 7.8 psi 
to 9.0 psi by amending the EPA's regulations at 40 CFR 80.27(a)(2). 
Additionally, in that direct final rule the EPA approved a request from 
North Carolina to change the summertime RVP standard for the Triangle 
and Triad Areas from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi by amending the EPA's 
regulations at 40 CFR 80.27(a)(2). The Triangle Area is comprised of 
Durham and Wake Counties, and the Dutchville Township portion of 
Granville County. The Triad Area is comprised of the counties of 
Davidson, Forsyth and Guilford in their entirety, and the portion of 
Davie County bounded by the Yadkin River, Dutchmans Creek, North 
Carolina Highway 801, Fulton Creek and back to Yadkin River. In 
previous rulemakings, the EPA approved state implementation plan 
revisions from Florida and North Carolina which provided technical 
analyses that demonstrated that removal of the Federal RVP requirements 
of 7.8 psi for gasoline sold between June 1 and September 15 of each 
year in the six counties in Florida, and the North Carolina Triangle 
and Triad Areas would not interfere with maintenance of the national 
ambient air quality standards in these areas. In the direct final rule, 
the EPA stated that if adverse comments were received by April 30, 
2014, the rule would be withdrawn and not take effect. On March 29, 
2014, the EPA received a comment letter. The EPA interprets the 
comments in that letter as adverse and, therefore, the EPA is 
withdrawing the direct final rule. The EPA will address these comments 
in a separate final action based upon the proposed rulemaking action at 
79 FR 17966 (March 31, 2014). The EPA will not institute a second 
comment period on this action.
    Accordingly, the amendment to 40 CFR 80.27 which published in the 
Federal Register on March 31, 2014, at 79 FR 17895 is withdrawn as of 
May 22, 2014.

    Dated: May 15, 2014.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-11910 Filed 5-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P