Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Standards for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions

EPA is approving two State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. These revisions pertain to amendments to Virginia's controls on sources of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in the Northern Virginia portion of the Metropolitan Washington DC serious ozone nonattainment area and the Richmond moderate ozone nonattainment area. These revisions were submitted to impose additional control measures on sources of VOC emissions to provide emissions reductions which are creditable toward the 15% Rate of Progress Plan (15% ROP Plan) in the Northern Virginia portion of the Metropolitan Washington DC nonattainment area; and to impose additional control measures in the Richmond nonattainment area to reduce VOC emissions. The intended effect of today's action is to approve the submitted amendments to Virginia's rules imposing additional controls on sources of VOCs because they strengthen the Virginia SIP and provide creditable measures upon which Virginia can rely in the 15% ROP Plan for Northern Virginia. Additionally, EPA is taking action in this rulemaking to approve a renumbering of the revised Virginia regulations submitted in these SIP revisions. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).