Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Removal of Stage II Gasoline Vapor Recovery Requirements for Gasoline Dispensing Facilities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The revision includes regulatory amendments that allow gasoline dispensing facilities (GDFs) located in Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, and Richmond that are currently required to install and operate vapor recovery equipment on gasoline dispensers (otherwise referred to as Stage II vapor recovery, or simply as Stage II) to decommission that equipment by January 2017. In prior rulemaking actions, EPA already approved Virginia's demonstrations that decommissioning Stage II is consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA guidance. The intended effect of this action is to approve Virginia's revised petroleum transfer and storage regulation to allow for decommissioning of Stage II equipment.