Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Illinois

On October 24, 1994, the State of Illinois submitted a site- specific State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision request to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for Alumax Incorporated's Morris, Illinois facility, as part of the State's requirement under the Clean Air Act (Act) to adopt Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) rules controlling Volatile Organic Material (VOM) for sources in the Chicago ozone nonattainment area which have the potential to emit 25 tons of VOM per year and are not covered under a USEPA Control Techniques Guideline (CTG) document. VOM, as defined by the State of Illinois, is identical to ``volatile organic compounds'' (VOC), as defined by USEPA. Emissions of VOC react with other pollutants, such as oxides of nitrogen, on hot summer days to form ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog. Ozone pollution is of particular concern because of its harmful effects upon lung tissue and breathing passages. Chicago area RACT rules are intended to establish for each particular major stationary source in the Chicago ozone nonattainment area the lowest VOC emission limitation it is capable of meeting by the application of control technology that is reasonably available, considering technological and economic feasibility. RACT controls are a major component of the Chicago ozone nonattainment area's overall strategy to achieve and maintain attainment with the ozone standard. A final approval action is being taken because the submittal meets all pertinent Federal requirements.