[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63918-63919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31737]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 80

[FRL-5931-4]


Petition by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for 
Exemption From Anti-Dumping and Detergent Additization Requirements for 
Conventional Gasoline

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed notice of decision.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'' or ``the 
Agency'') is proposing to grant a petition by the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands (``CNMI'') for exemption from the anti-dumping 
requirements for gasoline sold in the United States after January 1, 
1995. This action is being taken because of CNMI's unique geographic 
location and economic factors. If the gasoline anti-dumping exemption 
were not granted, CNMI would be required to import gasoline from a 
supplier meeting the anti-dumping requirements adding a considerable 
expense to gasoline purchased by the CNMI consumer. CNMI is in full 
attainment with the national ambient air quality standard for ozone. 
This action is not expected to cause harmful environmental effects to 
the citizens of CNMI. EPA is not granting CNMI's petition for exemption 
from the fuel detergent additization requirements that all gasoline 
sold in the United States after January 1, 1995 contain fuel 
detergents. CNMI did not show that these requirements were unreasonable 
or infeasible due to any unique local factors. The fuel detergent 
additization requirements are designed to prevent the build-up of 
deposits in gasoline engines and fuel supply systems. By controlling 
such desposits in CNMI's vehicles, harmful engine exhaust emissions 
will be reduced.

DATES: Comments on this proposed final decision must be received in 
writing by January 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Materials relevant to this petition are available for 
inspection in public docket A-96-11 at the Air Docket Office of the 
EPA, room M-1500, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, (202) 260-
7548, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday. A duplicate public docket, A-NM-96, has been established at 
U.S. EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street (Mail Code: A-2-1), 17th Floor, 
San Francisco, CA 94105, (415) 744-1225, and is available between the 
hours of 8:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday. As provided in 40 CFR part 2, a reasonable fee may be charged 
for copying services.
    Comments should be submitted (in duplicate if possible) to the two 
dockets listed above, with a copy forwarded to Marilyn Winstead McCall, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Fuels and Energy Division, 401 M 
Street, SW (Mail Code: 6406J), Washington, D.C. 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Winstead McCall at (202) 233-
9029.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For more detailed information on this 
proposal, please see EPA's Notice of Direct Final Decision published in 
the Final Rules section of this Federal Register which

[[Page 63919]]

approves CNMI's petition for exemption from the gasoline anti-dumping 
regulations, but does not approve CNMI's petition for exemption from 
the fuel detergent additization regulations. The Agency views this 
final decision as a noncontroversial action for the reasons discussed 
in the Notice of Direct Final Decision published in today's Federal 
Register, and because it believes the effects of this decision are 
limited to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. If no 
adverse or critical comments are received in response to this proposed 
decision, no further action is contemplated in relation to this 
decision. If EPA receives adverse or critical comments, EPA will 
withdraw the Notice of Direct Final Decision by publishing an 
appropriate document in the Federal Register, and all public comments 
received will be addressed in a subsequent document. The EPA will not 
institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties 
interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

    Dated: November 25, 1997.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-31737 Filed 12-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P