Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Illinois

On October 21, 1993, and March 4, 1994, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) submitted to the USEPA volatile organic compound (VOC) rules that were intended to satisfy part of the requirements of section 182(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (Act), as amended in 1990. Specifically, these rules provide control requirements for certain major sources not covered by a Control Technique Guideline (CTG) document. These non-CTG VOC rules apply to sources in the Chicago ozone nonattainment area which have the potential to emit 25 tons of VOC per year. These rules provide an environmental benefit due to the imposition of these additional control requirements. IEPA estimates that these rules will result in VOC emission reductions, from 119 industrial plants, of 2.78 tons per day. On January 26, 1996, USEPA issued a direct final approval of these non-CTG VOC rules. On the same day (January 26, 1996) USEPA proposed approval and solicited public comment on this requested revision to the Illinois State implementation plan (SIP). This proposed rule established a 30-day public comment period noting that if adverse comments were received regarding the direct final rule USEPA would withdraw the direct final rule and publish an additional final rule to address the public comments. Adverse comments were received during the public comment period from the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group (IERG). USEPA withdrew the direct final rule on March 25, 1996. This final rule addresses these comments and finalizes the approval of these major non-CTG rules for the Chicago area.