Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Rhode Island

The EPA today is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Rhode Island. These revisions consist of the 1990 base year ozone emission inventory, Photochemical Assessment Monitoring System (PAMS) network, and volatile organic compound (VOC) regulations that will serve as contingency measures for the Rhode Island SIP. The inventory was submitted by the State to satisfy a Clean Air Act (CAA) requirement that States containing ozone nonattainment areas submit inventories of actual ozone precursor emissions in accordance with guidance from the EPA. The ozone emission inventory submitted by the State is for the Providence, Rhode Island serious area. The PAMS SIP revision was submitted to satisfy the requirements of the CAA and the PAMS regulations. The PAMS regulation required the State to provide for the establishment and maintenance of an enhanced ambient air quality monitoring network in the form of PAMS by November 12, 1993. The VOC regulations were submitted to fulfill a CAA requirement that contingency measures be implemented if Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) is not achieved or if the standard is not attained by the applicable date. The intended effect of this action is to approve as a revision to the Rhode Island SIP the state's 1990 base year ozone emission inventory, PAMS network, Commercial and Consumer products regulation, and Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) coating regulation.