01-23625. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Revisions to General Rules and Regulations for Control of Air Pollution by Permits for New Sources and Modifications

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The EPA is proposing to take direct final action to approve revisions of the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP). Specifically, EPA is approving revisions to regulations of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) which relate to definitions in Texas' general rules and to regulations relating to the permitting of new sources and modifications. The revisions that EPA is approving in this action are to recodify several provisions of the existing SIP without substantive changes and approve provisions for permit alterations which will strengthen the SIP as it pertains to the permitting of new and modified sources. Approval of these revisions will bring the federally-approved SIP which pertains to the permitting of new and modified sources more closely in line with Texas' existing program. This action will better serve the State, the public, and the regulated community by making the approved SIP more closely match the rules that Texas currently implements. The approval of these revisions is independent of, and will not adversely affect, other SIP actions that EPA and TNRCC are currently undertaking to ensure the attainment and maintenance of air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Galveston, and Beaumont-Port Arthur regions of Texas. The EPA is approving revisions which Texas submitted in 1998 to the extent that they are equivalent to revisions that Texas previously submitted in 1993. The EPA is taking no action on certain provisions which relate to emissions reduction credits and offsets, permit exemptions, permit renewals, and emergency orders, which are not in the current SIP and for reasons discussed in the direct final action.

In the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because EPA views this as a noncontroversial revision and anticipates no adverse comment. The EPA has explained its reasons for this approval in the preamble to the direct final rule. If EPA receives no relevant adverse comment, EPA will not take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives relevant adverse comment, EPA will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. The EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

DATES:

Written comments must be received by October 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Please address written comments on this action to Ms. Jole C. Luehrs, Chief, Air Permits Section, Attention: Stanley M. Spruiell, at the EPA Region 6 Office listed below. Copies of documents relevant to this action are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the following locations. Anyone wanting to examine these documents should make an appointment with the appropriate office at least two working days in advance.

EPA, Region 6, Air Permits Section (6PD-R), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.

TNRCC, Office of Air Quality, 12124 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas 78753.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stanley M. Spruiell of the Air Permits Section at [phone], or at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This document concerns revisions to regulations of TNRCC which relate to definitions in Texas' general rules and to regulations relating to the permitting of new sources and modifications. For further information, please see the information provided in the direct final action that is located in the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register publication.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Dated: September 12, 2001.

Gregg A. Cooke,

Regional Administrator, Region 6.