Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Removal of Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Trading Programs; Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule

Due to receipt of an adverse comment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the September 28, 2017 direct final rule (DFR) that approved a revision to the Virginia state implementation plan (SIP). The revision removed from the Virginia SIP regulations from the Virginia Administrative Code that established EPA- administered trading programs under the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which were discontinued on December 31, 2014 upon the implementation of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). EPA stated in the direct final rule that if EPA received adverse comments by October 30, 2017, the rule would be withdrawn and not take effect. EPA subsequently received an adverse comment. EPA will address the comments received in a subsequent final action based upon the proposed action also published on September 28, 2017. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.