[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54298-54299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24885]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2017-0149; FRL-9970-82-Region 3]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Maryland; 2011 Base Year Inventory for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standard for the Maryland Portion of the
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City Nonattainment Area; Withdrawal
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Withdrawal of direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: Due to the receipt of an adverse comment, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the September 25, 2017 direct
final rule that approved the 2011 base year inventory for the Maryland
portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City marginal
nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air
quality standard (NAAQS). EPA stated in the direct final rule that if
EPA received adverse comments by October 25, 2017, the rule would be
withdrawn and not take effect. EPA subsequently received an adverse
comment. EPA will address the comment received in a subsequent final
action based upon the proposed action also published on September 25,
2017. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.
DATES: As of as of November 17, 2017, the direct final rule published
at 82 FR 44522 on September 25, 2017 is withdrawn.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Calcinore, (215) 814-2043, or by
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 21, 2012, the Philadelphia-
Wilmington-Atlantic City area was designated as marginal nonattainment
for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. 77 FR 30088. The Philadelphia-
Wilmington-Atlantic City nonattainment area is comprised of Cecil
County in Maryland, as well as counties in Delaware, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania. Under section 172(c)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA),
Maryland is required to submit a comprehensive, accurate, and current
inventory of actual emissions from all sources of the relevant
pollutants, i.e. the ozone precursors nitrogen oxides (NOX)
and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in its marginal nonattainment
area, i.e., the Maryland portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-
Atlantic City nonattainment area. On January 19, 2017, the State of
Maryland, through the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE),
submitted a formal revision (state implementation plan (SIP) # 16-15)
to its SIP. The SIP revision consists of the 2011 base year inventory
for the Maryland portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City
nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
EPA approved Maryland's 2011 base year inventory for the Maryland
portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City nonattainment area
for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the direct final rule published on
September 25, 2017 (82 FR 44522). In this direct final rule, we stated
that if we received adverse comment by October 25, 2017, the rule would
be withdrawn and not take effect. EPA subsequently received an adverse
comment. On September 25, 2017 (82 FR 44522), EPA simultaneously
proposed to approve Maryland's 2011 base year inventory for the
Maryland portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City
nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA will address
the comment received in a subsequent final action based upon this
proposed action and will not institute a second comment period on this
action.
As a result of the comment received, EPA is withdrawing the direct
final rule approving Maryland's 2011 base year inventory for the
Maryland portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City
nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
[[Page 54299]]
Dated: November 3, 2017.
Cosmo Servidio,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
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Accordingly, the amendment to Sec. 52.1070(e) published on September
25, 2017 (82 FR 44522), which were to become effective November 24,
2017, is withdrawn.
[FR Doc. 2017-24885 Filed 11-16-17; 8:45 am]
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