98-16254. Approval and Promulgation of State Air Quality Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants Allegheny County, PA; Removal of Final Rule Pertaining to the Control of Landfill Gas Emissions from Existing Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33250-33251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16254]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 62

[PA107-4066a; FRL-6111-8]


Approval and Promulgation of State Air Quality Plans for 
Designated Facilities and Pollutants Allegheny County, PA; Removal of 
Final Rule Pertaining to the Control of Landfill Gas Emissions from 
Existing Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Removal of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: On April 10, 1998, EPA published (63 FR 17683) approval of the 
municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill 111(d) plan submitted by the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on behalf of Allegheny County for the 
purpose of controlling landfill gas emissions from existing MSW 
landfills. Approval of the 111(d) plan would have established certain 
emission limitations for landfill gas emissions, including operating, 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements. The intended effect of the 
action was to implement enforceable emission reductions in MSW landfill 
gas, which contain volatile organic

[[Page 33251]]

compounds (VOCs), other organic compounds, methane, and hazardous air 
pollutants.
    EPA approved this direct final rulemaking without prior proposal 
because the Agency viewed it as a noncontroversial amendment and 
anticipated no adverse comments. The final rule was published in the 
Federal Register with a provision for a 30 day comment period (63 FR 
17683). At the same time, EPA announced that this final rule would 
convert to a proposed rule in the event that adverse comments were 
submitted to EPA within 30 days of publication of the rule in the 
Federal Register (63 FR 17683, April 10, 1998). The final rulemaking 
action would be withdrawn by publishing a document announcing 
withdrawal of this action.
    Adverse comments were submitted to EPA within the prescribed 
comment period. Therefore, EPA is amending 40 CFR part 62, subpart NN, 
by removing the April 10, 1998 final rulemaking action. All public 
comments received will be addressed in a subsequent rulemaking action 
based on the proposed rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 18, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James B. Topsale at [phone] or 
by e-mail at [e-mail].

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 62

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Air pollution control, Intergovernmental relations, Non-methane organic 
compounds, Methane, Municipal solid waste landfills, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: June 9, 1998.

W. Michael McCabe,

Regional Administrator, Region III.

    40 CFR Part 62 is amended as follows:

PART 62--[AMENDED]

Subpart NN--Pennsylvania

    1. The authority citation for Part 62 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.


Secs. 62.9630--62.9632  [Removed]

    2. The undesignated centerheading and Secs. 62.9630 through 62.9632 
are removed.

[FR Doc. 98-16254 Filed 6-17-98; 8:45 am]
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