Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maine; Control of Gasoline Volatility

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maine on June 7, 2000 and May 29, 2001, establishing a lower Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) fuel requirement for gasoline distributed in southern Maine which includes York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Androscoggin, Knox, and Lincoln Counties. Maine has developed these fuel requirements to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is approving Maine's fuel requirements into the Maine SIP because EPA has found that the requirements are necessary for southern Maine to achieve the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone. The intended effect of this action is to approve Maine's request to control the RVP of fuel in these seven southern counties. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.