Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Removal of Department of Environmental Protection Gasoline Volatility Requirements for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area; Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule

Cecil Rodrigues
Environmental Protection Agency
6 August 2018

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16604]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2018-0277; FRL-9981-70--Region 3]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Pennsylvania; Removal of Department of Environmental Protection 
Gasoline Volatility Requirements for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area; 
Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Withdrawal of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: Due to receipt of adverse comment, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the direct final rule published 
on June 15, 2018, to approve a revision to the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania state implementation plan (SIP) requesting removal of 
Pennsylvania requirements limiting summertime gasoline volatility to 
7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) to address 
nonattainment under the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality 
standard (NAAQS) in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley ozone nonattainment 
area (hereafter Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area).

DATES: The direct final rule published at 83 FR 27901 on June 15, 2018, 
is withdrawn effective August 6, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rehn, Office of Air Program 
Planning, Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region 3, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Brian Rehn 
can be reached via telephone at (215) 814-2176 or via electronic mail 
at rehn.brian@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Please see the information provided in the 
direct final action published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2018 
(83 FR 27901) and in the companion proposed rule which was also 
published on June 15, 2018 (83 FR 27910).
    In those actions, EPA proposed to approve a May 2, 2018 SIP 
revision from Pennsylvania to remove Pennsylvania Department of 
Environmental Protection (PADEP) requirements for summertime low 
volatility gasoline (as codified at 25 Pa. Code Chapter 126, Subchapter 
C) from the Pennsylvania SIP. EPA's June 15, 2018 direct final action 
served to approve the Commonwealth's supporting analysis, submitted to 
EPA on May 2, 2018, which demonstrates that removal of the Pittsburgh-
Beaver Valley Area low RVP gasoline program does not interfere with the 
Commonwealth's ability to attain or maintain any NAAQS in the 
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area. Removal of PADEP volatility requirements 
would leave in place federal gasoline volatility requirements, as well 
as separate Allegheny County low-RVP requirements adopted by the 
Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and approved by EPA as a 
separate part of the Pennsylvania SIP.
    In the direct final rule published on June 15, 2018 (83 FR 27901), 
EPA stated that if we received adverse comments on our action the rule 
would be withdrawn and would not take effect. EPA subsequently received 
adverse comments. EPA will address the comments received on our 
proposed action to remove the PADEP low RVP gasoline requirements from 
the Pennsylvania SIP in a subsequent final action based upon the 
proposed action also published on June 15, 2018 (83 FR 27910). EPA will 
not institute a second comment period on this action.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen 
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: July 24, 2018.
Cecil Rodrigues,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.

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Accordingly, the amendment to 40 CFR 52.2020(c)(1), published on June 
15, 2018 (83 FR 27901), is withdrawn effective August 6, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-16604 Filed 8-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P