Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maine; Nitrogen Oxides Exemption Request for Northern Maine

EPA is approving a request for an exemption from the requirements for the control of nitrogen oxide (NO<INF>X</INF>) emissions contained in section 182(f) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for northern Maine (specifically Aroostook, Franklin, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Washington, and portions of Hancock and Waldo Counties). This exemption request, submitted by the State of Maine, is based on a demonstration that NO<INF>X</INF> emissions in the exemption area are not impacting Maine's ozone nonattainment areas or other ozone nonattainment areas in the Ozone Transport Region (OTR) during times when elevated ozone levels are monitored in those areas. As such, additional reductions in NO<INF>X</INF> emissions from this area beyond what the state regulations already provide for are not necessary for future attainment in any of Maine's ozone nonattainment areas or any other ozone nonattainment area in the OTR. Thus, as provided for in section 182(f)(2), additional NO<INF>X</INF> reductions in these areas constitute excess reductions, and EPA will waive them.