Notice of action: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comment on a proposed plan to implement reasonably available control technology (RACT) in support of the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Northern Virginia Emissions Control Area. The Commonwealth intends to submit the plan as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the requirements of § 110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act. The SIP is
the plan developed by the Commonwealth in order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Act to attain and maintain the ambient air  quality standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Act.

Purpose of notice: DEQ is seeking comment on the issue of whether the  plan correctly certifies that there are no sources subject to the Control  Techniques Guidelines (CTG) for the 2016 Oil and Natural Gas Industry in the Northern Virginia Emissions Control Area (Counties of Arlington,  Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, and Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls  Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park).

Public comment period: July 5 to August 5, 2021

Public hearing: A public hearing will be conducted if a request is made in  writing to the contact listed below. In order to be considered, the request  must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person  requesting the hearing and be received by DEQ by the last day of the  comment period. Notice of the date, time, and location of any requested  public hearing will be announced in a separate notice, and another 30-day comment period will be conducted.

Description of proposal: The proposal consists of a declaration that there  are no sources subject to the 2016 CTG for the Oil and Natural Gas  Industry in the Northern Virginia Emissions Control Area in support of the  2015 ozone NAAQS. A similar declaration for the 2008 ozone NAAQS was  previously approved by EPA on February 10, 2021 (86 FR 8868). Section  10(a) of the Clean Air Act requires that following adoption of the revised  2015 ozone NAAQS, affected states re-evaluate whether any of the CTGs  apply to sources within ozone nonattainment areas or sources within the Ozone Transport Region (OTR). The Northern Virginia Emissions Control  Area is the only portion of Virginia with a 2015 marginal ozone nonattainment area and within the OTR. DEQ has reviewed all readily available data and determined that there are still no sources within the  Northern Virginia Emissions Control Area that are subject to the 2016 Oil  and Natural Gas CTG.

Federal information: This notice is being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). The  proposed document will be submitted as a revision to the Commonwealth  of Virginia SIP under § 110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act in accordance  with 40 CFR 51.104.

How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email, fax, and  postal  mail. In order to be considered, comments must include the full  name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be  received by DEQ on the last day of the comment period. All faxes must  have a cover page that lists the intended recipient. All materials received are part of the public record.

To review the proposal: The proposal is available on the DEQ Air Public  Notices web site: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits-regulations/public-notices/air. The proposal may also be obtained by contacting the DEQ  representative named above. The public may make an appointment to  review the proposal between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm of each business day  until the close of the comment period at the following DEQ locations: 1) Main Street Office, Suite 1400, 1111 E. Main St, Richmond VA, 804-698-4070 and 2) Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge VA, 703-583-3800.