Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; District of Columbia; Oxygenated Gasoline Program

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA proposes to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the District of Columbia. The revision makes the oxygenated gasoline program a contingency measure for the District of Columbia (the District), which means that the oxygenated gasoline program would only be required to be implemented in the District if there is a violation of the carbon monoxide (CO) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The District's revision also makes technical amendments to its oxygenated gasoline regulations which correct the deficiencies previously identified by EPA in a January 26, 1995 final rule granting limited approval/limited disapproval of those regulations. Therefore, the limited approval/limited disapproval is being converted to a full approval. In the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A more detailed description of the state submittal and EPA's evaluation are included in a Technical Support Document (TSD) prepared in support of this rulemaking action. A copy of the TSD is available, upon request, from the EPA Regional Office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. If EPA receives no adverse comments, EPA will not take further action. If EPA receives adverse comments, EPA will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

DATES:

Comments must be received in writing by June 8, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be addressed to David L. Arnold, Chief, Air Quality Planning and Information Services Branch , Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the documents relevant to this action are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103; and the District of Columbia Department of Public Health, Air Quality Division, 51 N Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kelly L. Bunker, (215) 814-2177, at the EPA Region III address above, or by e-mail at bunker.kelly@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For further information, please see the information provided in the direct final action, with the same title, that is located in the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register publication.