01-11280. Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Maryland; Approval of Revisions to Volatile Organic Compounds Regulations and Miscellaneous Revisions

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA proposes to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Maryland. The revisions replace the existing regulation and adopt a new regulation for control of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from expandable polystyrene operations (EPO), establish VOC reasonably available control technology (RACT) standards for facilities that recycle bakery and confectionary waste, adopt by reference the EPA definition of VOC and include other miscellaneous revisions. 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 6, 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 Maryland Department of the Environment, 2500 Broening Highway, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rose Quinto at [phone], or by e-mail at [e-mail] for information concerning the EPO regulation or Kelly L. Bunker at [phone], or by e-mail at [e-mail] for the remaining regulation revisions.

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.

Dated: April 24, 2001.

William C. Early,

Acting Regional Administrator,Region III.