Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; District of Columbia; Excess Volatile Organic Compound and Nitrogen Oxides Emissions Fee Rule

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the District of Columbia (District) State Implementation Plan (SIP) for ozone. The rule requires major stationary sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) in the District, which is part of the Metropolitan Washington DC Severe Ozone Nonattainment Area, to pay a fee to the District if the area fails to attain the one-hour national ambient air quality standard for ozone by November 15, 2005. The fee must be paid beginning in 2006, and in each calendar year thereafter, until the area is redesignated to attainment for the pollutant ozone. The District of Columbia submitted this rule on April 16, 2004, pursuant to the requirements of Section 110 of the Clean Air Act.