Rescission of the Conditional Section 182(f) Exemption to the Nitrogen Oxides (NOINFX/INF) Control Requirements for the Dallas/ Fort Worth Ozone Nonattainment Area; TX

In this direct final action, we, the EPA, are rescinding the conditional nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) exemption for the Dallas/ Fort Worth (DFW) ozone nonattainment area. We granted the conditional exemption under the Federal Clean Air Act (Act) on November 21, 1994, conditioned on our approval of initial modeling showing that NO<INF>X</INF> controls were not needed in the DFW area to reach attainment. However, the DFW area failed to attain EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone by its moderate ozone deadline of November 15, 1996, and we reclassified the area to ``serious'' ozone nonattainment on February 18, 1998. The modeling conducted for this serious area State Implementation Plan shows control of NO<INF>X</INF> sources will help the area attain the ozone. The State of Texas requested the rescission of the conditional NO<INF>X</INF> exemption based on this new photochemical modeling. We agree with the need for future NO<INF>X</INF> controls and are rescinding the conditional exemption. The State must now implement NO<INF>X</INF> control rules and conformity determinations will have to consider NO<INF>X</INF> in the DFW area.