Temporary Administrative Stay of the Reformulated Gasoline Program: Nine Counties in New York, Twenty-Eight Counties in Pennsylvania, and Two Counties in Maine

In today's action, EPA is temporarily staying the reformulated gasoline program requirements in nine opt-in counties in New York, in twenty-eight opt-in counties in Pennsylvania and in two opt-in counties in Maine. Today's action stays the applicability of the RFG requirements for these areas effective from January 1, 1995, until July 1, 1995. Although EPA believes that the RFG program provides a highly cost-effective means of reducing ground-level ozone and toxic vehicle emissions, the Agency believes that States should be given the flexibility to choose which programs best meet each State's needs for emissions reductions. In a separate notice of proposed rulemaking to be published soon, EPA will propose to approve the requests for opt-out for these specified counties from the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine. EPA will be unable to take final action on this proposed rulemaking by January 1, 1995, the date when RFG requirements must be met at the retail level. EPA believes a stay in the implementation of the reformulated gasoline requirements in these areas effective January 1, 1995 and continuing until July 1, 1995, will avoid significant disruption in the marketplace while notice and comment rulemaking proceeds. This temporary stay is issued without prior notice and comment, based on good cause described herein.