Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Illinois

On June 29, 1990, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) promulgated Federal stationary source volatile organic compound (VOC) control measures representing reasonably available control technology (RACT) for emission sources located in six northeastern Illinois (Chicago area) counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will. The USEPA also took final rulemaking action on certain VOC RACT rules previously adopted and submitted by the State of Illinois for inclusion in its State Implementation Plan (SIP). Included in the USEPA's rules was a requirement that the Viskase Corporation's (Viskase) cellulose food casing facility in Bedford Park (Cook County) be subject to the ``generic'' rule for miscellaneous fabricated product manufacturing processes and the ``generic'' rule for miscellaneous formulation manufacturing processes. On July 19, 1990, Viskase requested that USEPA reconsider its rules as applicable to Viskase's operations and, as a result, the USEPA convened a proceeding for reconsideration. On May 31, 1991, USEPA also issued a stay of the applicable rules pending reconsideration. On November 18, 1994, USEPA proposed to promulgate site-specific RACT control requirements for Viskase's operations. In addition, USEPA proposed to disapprove an ``Adjusted RACT standard'' for Viskase submitted by Illinois on February 24, 1989. Finally, USEPA proposed to withdraw the May 31, 1991 stay. In this rule, the USEPA is taking final action consistent with its proposal.