E6-15932. Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Revisions To Control Volatile Organic Compound Emissions; Volatile Organic Compound Control for El Paso, Gregg, Nueces, and Victoria Counties and the Ozone Standard ...

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to approve Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions. The revisions pertain to regulations to control Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from facilities in El Paso, Gregg, Nueces, and Victoria Counties; the 8-hour ozone standard nonattainment areas of Beaumont/Port Arthur and Houston/Galveston; and portions of the Dallas/Fort Worth 8-hour ozone standard nonattainment area. The revisions add additional controls on VOC emissions from industrial wastewater systems in the Beaumont/Port Arthur, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston/Galveston areas. The revisions also amend requirements to identify and correct emissions from VOC leaks from facilities that refine petroleum or process natural gas, gasoline or petrochemicals in the Beaumont/Port Arthur, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston/Galveston areas, and from petroleum refineries in Gregg, Nueces, and Victoria Counties. We are proposing to approve the revisions pursuant to section 110 and part D of the Federal Clean Air Act. The control of VOC emissions will help to attain and maintain the 8-hour national ambient air quality standard for ozone in Texas. Approval will make the revised regulations Federally enforceable.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before October 30, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. Comments may also be submitted electronically or through hand delivery/courier by following the detailed instructions in the ADDRESSES section of the direct final rule located in the rules section of this Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carl Young, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone [phone]; fax number 214-665-7263; e-mail address [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In the final rules 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 relevant adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no relevant adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives relevant adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of the rule, and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.

For additional information, see the direct final rule which is located in the rules section of this Federal Register.

Dated: September 12, 2006.

Richard E. Greene,

Regional Administrator, Region 6.