Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0611-0012
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Implementation of the Revoked 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Updates for Areas That Attained by the Attainment Date; Withdrawal
Posted Date: 2020-12-09T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 79129-79130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26960]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0611; FRL-10017-82-OAR]
RIN 2060-AU54

Implementation of the Revoked 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards; Updates to 40 CFR Part 52 for Areas That 
Attained by the Attainment Date; Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Withdrawal of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: Due to the receipt of adverse comment, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the October 9, 2020, direct 
final rule to update the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to codify 
its findings that nine areas in four states attained the revoked 1997 
8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by the 
applicable attainment dates. The EPA will address all comments received 
in a subsequent final rule for which the EPA will not institute a 
second comment period.

DATES: The direct final rule published on October 9, 2020 (85 FR 64046) 
is withdrawn effective December 9, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Virginia Raps, Air Quality Policy 
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: C539-01, Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-4383; fax number: (919) 541-5315; 
email address: raps.virginia@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 9, 2020, the EPA published a 
direct final rule (85 FR 64046) to codify its findings that nine areas 
in four states attained the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the 
applicable attainment dates. In the proposal for the direct final rule 
published on the same day (85 FR 64089), the EPA stated that written 
comments must be received on or before November 9, 2020. The EPA stated 
that if any relevant adverse comments are received on the proposal, the 
EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the 
Federal Register. On November 2, 2020, an anonymous comment was posted 
in the docket that the EPA interprets as relevant and adverse. 
Therefore, the EPA is withdrawing the direct final rule and will 
publish a subsequent final rule wherein the EPA will address all 
comments received. The EPA will not

[[Page 79130]]

institute a second comment period on the subsequent final rule.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Air pollution control, Designations and classifications, Incorporation 
by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

Andrew Wheeler,
Administrator.

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

0
Accordingly, the rule amending 40 CFR 52.282, 52.350, 52.1683, and 
52.2585 published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2020 (85 FR 
64046) is withdrawn effective December 9, 2020.

[FR Doc. 2020-26960 Filed 12-8-20; 8:45 am]
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