EPA Approves Air Quality Implementation Plans for Pennsylvania

The agency also has issued proposed rules to relax federal volatility requirements in five Louisiana parishes.

June 20, 2018

WASHINGTON – This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve Pennsylvania’s revision to its state implementation plan (SIP). The revision will remove the requirement limiting summertime gasoline volatility to 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) to address nonattainment under the one-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley ozone nonattainment area.

In early May, Pennsylvania submitted a SIP revision requesting this change, saying that the repeal of the RVP requirements rule would not interfere with the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley area’s attainment of any NAAQS. The rule will become effective on August 14.

The EPA also issued a proposed rule to relax the RVP standard applicable to gasoline supplied to the five Louisiana parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension and Iberville (the Baton Rouge area) from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0 psi during the summer ozone season.

The agency is collecting written comments on the Louisiana proposed rules between now and July 16, unless a public hearing is requested by June 29.

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