Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Illinois; Amendments to Gasoline Vapor Recovery Requirements for Illinois

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) on January 17, 2014, concerning the state's gasoline vapor recovery requirements. The revision phases out the Stage II vapor recovery (Stage II) program requirements in the Illinois portion of the Chicago ozone nonattainment area (NAA) as a component of the Illinois ozone SIP. To be consistent with the repeal of the Stage II program requirements, the SIP revision also includes amendments to the state's permitting regulations applicable to storage tanks and fuel dispensing, including repealing the Stage I vapor recovery (Stage I) registration provisions due to overlapping Federal notification requirements and state tracking systems for gasoline dispensing operations. Finally, the SIP revision includes other clarifying and clean-up amendments at 35 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 201, 218, and 219. The submittal also includes a demonstration under section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that shows there are no emissions impacts associated with the removal of the program. A proposed rule approving IEPA's submittal was published in the Federal Register on October 17, 2014.