STATE OF RHODE ISLAND ANDPROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

OFFICE OF AIRRESOURCES NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN RE: Adoption of Amendments to the "Rhode Island Air Pollution Control General Definitions R egul ation" The Director ofthe Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) proposes to amend the "Rhode Island Air Pollution Control General Definitions Regulation" and gives notice ofintent to receive public comment on the proposed amendments and to afford interested parties an opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments in writing on the proposed amendments. A public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held if requested by one or more people, a governmental agency or subdivision, or an association If a public hearing is held, a notice will be published announcing the date, time and place ofsuch hearing. The proposed amendments would add two substances, propylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate, to the list of substances that are exempt fromthe definition of the term "volatile organic compounds" or "VOC,' in the Rhode Island air pollution control regulations. The US Environmental Protection Agency has exempted propylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate fromthe Federal VOCdefinition based on adetermination that those substances are "negligibly reactive" and, therefore, do not contribute significantly to the formation of ground-level ozone. The amendments would make the Rhode Island air pollution control definition of "VOC" consistent with the Federal definition ofthat term . A copy of the proposed amended regulation can be obtained at the DEM website, http:llwww

.dem .ri .gov. (Click on the Regulations link on the left hand side ofthe page and go to the Proposed Regulations section) . Copies are also available at DEM's Office of Air Resources, 235 Promenade St., Providence, RI . Any additional requests can be made by contacting the Office ofAir Resources at 222-2808, weekdays, 8:30AM- 4 :00 PM . DEM has complied with the requirements of R .1. Gen. Laws Section 42-35-3 by considering alternative approaches to the proposed regulations and has determined that no alternative approach would be as effective and less burdensome. DEMhas also determined that the proposed amended regulation does not overlap or duplicate any other state regulation. DEM has complied with the requirements of R .I . Gen. Laws Section 42-35-3.3 by submitting copies ofthe proposed regulations to the Governor's Office and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) . DEM encourages the submission of written comments. To be considered part of the administrative record, ,ATitten comments must be submitted during the public comment period. Written comments may be mailed or e-mailed to the Office ofAir Resources and must be received no later than 4:00 PM, 23 August 2010, at which time the public comment period will close. The mailing address for comments is:Barbara Morin, Supervising Environznental Scientist Department ofEnvironmental Management Office ofAirResources 235Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908-5767 The e-mail address for comments is: barbara.morin;ii?dem ri .gov Signed this 215` dayofJuly, 2010

Douglas L. McVay, Acting Chief Office ofAir Resources