Approval and Promulgation of Extension of Temporary Section 182(f) and Section 182(b) Exemption to the Nitrogen Oxides (NOINFX/INF) Control Requirements for the Houston/Galveston and Beaumont/Port Arthur Ozone Nonattainment Areas; Texas

In this action, EPA is approving a petition for an extension of the temporary exemption from the NO<INF>X</INF> control requirements of sections 182(f) and 182(b) of the Clean Air Act (the Act) for the Houston/Galveston (HGA) and Beaumont/Port Arthur (BPA) ozone nonattainment areas from December 31, 1996, to December 31, 1997. The State of Texas submitted the petition to EPA requesting the extension to permit additional time to complete Urban Airshed Modeling (UAM). A temporary NO<INF>X</INF> exemption has been granted by EPA because preliminary photochemical grid modeling showed that reductions in NOx would be detrimental to attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone in these areas. Approval of this petition will extend the temporary exemption which waives the Federal NOx requirements for Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT), New Source Review (NSR), Vehicle Inspection/Maintenance (I/M), and conformity by one year (December 31, 1996, to December 31, 1997) and the implementation date for NO<INF>X</INF> RACT by two years to May 31, 1999.