Clean Air Act Final Interim Approval of Operating Permits Program; Washington

EPA is repromulgating final interim approval of one element of the State of Washington's title V air operating permits program. On November 9, 1994, EPA granted interim approval to Washington's operating permits program. 59 FR 55813 (November 9, 1994). One of the bases for granting Washington's program interim rather than full approval was that EPA determined that Washington's exemption for ``insignificant emission units'' exceeded the exemption authorized for such units under the Clean Air Act. A coalition of industries filed a petition for review of EPA's decision to condition full approval on changes to Washington's treatment of insignificant emission units. Upon EPA's request for a voluntary remand, the Court remanded this interim approval issue to EPA for reconsideration. EPA continues to believe that Washington has impermissibly expanded the exemption for insignificant emission units and therefore again conditions full approval of the Washington operating permits program on changes to Washington's treatment of insignificant emission units. EPA is also approving a change to the jurisdiction of the Benton County Clean Air Authority. Finally, EPA is correcting the date for expiration of the interim approval and the due date of the required submission addressing the interim approval issues.