Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan; Louisiana; Nonattainment Major Stationary Source Revision

This action approves a revision to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) relating to "Nonattainment New Source Review Procedures." This revision was submitted on July 25, 1997, by the Governor of Louisiana to EPA for approval. This revision removes a provision from the State's regulation, in Title 33 of the Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC), chapter 5, section 504, that treated nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) as precursors to ozone in ozone nonattainment areas. This makes the regulation consistent with earlier actions by EPA that exempted NO<INF>X</INF> as an ozone precursor in the Baton Rouge and Lake Charles nonattainment areas. Such exemptions are conditional and may be rescinded in which event section 504 would need to again be modified. By letter from Governor Foster to EPA dated March 5, 2001, the State has indicated that it is in fact considering a request for recission of the waiver. Despite such, however, EPA must first act on the State's prior request for a NO<INF>X</INF> waiver and any regulations that the State adopted to implement such NO<INF>X</INF> waiver pursuant to section 110(k) of the Act. In addition, this regulation also contains several administrative revisions that are non- substantive in nature and do not alter the meaning of this rule (such as corrections of capitalization errors). This rulemaking action is being taken under sections 110, 301, and part D of the Federal Clean Air Act (Act).