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You are subscribed to Opportunity for Comment for Maine Department of Environmental Protection. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Hearing to be Held and Comment Period Extended, State Implementation Plan Amendment Noninterference Demonstration for the Removal of the Reformulated Gasoline Requirement in Southern Maine In April 2019, the 129th Maine Legislature enacted L.D. 274 “An Act to Allow the Sale of Ethanol-free Gasoline Statewide,” which provides for the repeal of the reformulated gasoline (RFG) sales requirement in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox and Lincoln counties as of November 1, 2020. In order to opt out of the RFG program, Maine is required to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision demonstrating that the elimination of the RFG requirement in southern Maine will not cause or contribute to nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for ozone or interfere with the maintenance of that standard. Maine has completed a technical analysis, including modeling, to estimate the change in emissions that would result from removing RFG from York, Cumberland, Kennebec, Androscoggin, Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc counties to demonstrate that emissions in these counties will continue to decline if the requirement is lifted. The analysis presented in this proposal shows decreases in both oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from point, non-point (area), and mobile sources, expressed as tons per summer day, will continue to decline in future years even with the repeal of the RFG requirement, and removing this requirement in Maine’s seven southern counties will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) or with any other applicable requirement of the CAA pursuant to Section 110(l) of the CAA. This SIP revision will be submitted to EPA as a revision to Maines State Implementation Plan. Written comments may be submitted by mail, e-mail or fax to the contact person before the end of the comment period. To ensure the comments are considered, they must include your name and the organization you represent, if any. A public hearing will be held on August 6, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. Please contact Stacy Knapp for details on how to participate in the public hearing. The Department is extending the 30-day written comment period through August 7, 2020 at 5 p.m. Submit comments to: Stacy Knapp |
