Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Illinois; Oxides of Nitrogen

On April 3, 2001, the EPA proposed to approve a draft statewide rule to control the emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from Electric Generating Units (EGUs) in the State of Illinois. Illinois submitted this rule for parallel processing on October 20, 2000. The adopted rule provides NO<INF>X</INF> emission reductions to support attainment of the one-hour ozone standard in the Metro-East/St. Louis ozone nonattainment area. In the April 3, 2001, proposed rule, EPA noted that significant changes in the rule between the version upon which EPA's proposed rule is based and the final adopted version, other than those changes resulting from issues discussed in the April 3, 2001, proposed rule, would require EPA to prepare and publish a new EPA proposed rule on Illinois' subsequent submittal of the adopted rule. Because Illinois' final rule submitted on May 8, 2001, did not contain any significant unforeseen changes, EPA is responding to public comments received in response to its proposed rule and announcing final approval of the State adopted rule.