Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Control of Emissions From Various Processes and Fuel-Burning Equipment From Kraft Pulp Mills

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting conditional approval of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). The revisions adds and amends regulations in the SIP which control emissions from various processes and fuel-burning equipment at Kraft pulp mills. The SIP revision includes the following: a new definition for "NO<INF>X</INF> Ozone Season Allowance;" a new regulation with nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) limits for fuel-burning equipment located at Kraft pulp mills; a removal and relocation of existing NO<INF>X</INF> reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements for Kraft pulp mills into another Maryland regulation; and a revised regulation which clarifies the volatile organic compound (VOC) control system and emission requirements for several process installations at Kraft pulp mills. EPA is granting conditional approval because the new Maryland definition references the defunct Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and because MDE provided a commitment to remove all references to CAIR within the definition of "NO<INF>X</INF> Ozone Season Allowance" and submit a revised definition as a new SIP revision, no later than a year from EPA finalizing this conditional approval. Upon timely meeting of this commitment, EPA will propose to convert the conditional approval of the SIP revision to a final, full approval. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).