The EPA is promulgating revisions to the interim approval criteria within the regulations in part 70, chapter I, title 40, of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Part 70 contains regulations requiring States to develop, and submit to EPA for approval, programs for issuing operating permits to major, and certain other, stationary sources of air pollution as required by title V of the Clean Air Act (Act). Two changes to the interim approval criteria were proposed on August 29, 1994 to address difficulties in program development that have occurred since promulgation of part 70. Today's action finalizes one of those changes; the other will be finalized in a subsequent action. As a result of today's revision to part 70, certain State operating permit programs will become eligible for interim program approval. Without today's changes, these programs would not have been eligible for interim program approval under the part 70 regulations. Specifically, interim approval may now be granted for programs which do not provide for the incorporation of terms contained in permits issued under EPA-approved minor source preconstruction permit programs into corresponding part 70 permits. To be eligible for this interim approval, such programs would have to show compelling reasons for the interim approval and meet certain other requirements regarding the content of part 70 permits that exclude these applicable preconstruction permit terms during the 2-year interim period. After 2 years, interim approval expires and the State must have revised its program to address the exclusion of these terms, and any other deficiencies, in order to receive full approval.