Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Removal of Stage II Gasoline Vapor Recovery Requirements for Gasoline Dispensing Facilities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of removing the requirement for gasoline vapor recovery equipment on gasoline dispensing pumps (otherwise referred to as Stage II vapor recovery, or simply as Stage II) in Virginia area facilities formerly required to have installed and operated Stage II vapor recovery controls under the prior, approved Virginia SIP. In the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Commonwealth's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for EPA's approval of Virginia's Stage II-related SIP revision with amended regulations addressing vapor recovery is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.