Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Emissions Banking and Trading of Allowances Program

On November 16, 2010 (75 FR 69884), EPA published a direct final rule approving portions of four revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) that create and amend the Emissions Banking and Trading of Allowances (EBTA) Program. The EBTA Program establishes a cap and trade program to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) and sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) from participating electric generating facilities in Texas. The direct final action was published without prior proposal because EPA anticipated no adverse comments. EPA stated in the direct final rule that if we received relevant, adverse comments by December 16, 2010, EPA would publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register. EPA subsequently received timely adverse comments on the direct final rule. Therefore, EPA is withdrawing the direct final approval. EPA will address all relevant, adverse comments submitted by December 16, 2010, in a subsequent final action based on the parallel proposal also published on November 16, 2010 (75 FR 69909). As stated in the parallel proposal, EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.