/IAIJ MEMORANDUM 1/1) ------- TO: 40. FROM: Jim Cicconi 4•°#fi DATE: July 10, 1979- RE: State Plan to Implement Clean Air Act cx) +0 CZ 11 ,N44,e)s 1. As you recall, the State Implementation Plan (SIP) to comply with the federal Clean Air Act amendments received conditional approval by the EPA Regional Office in Dallas, and was sent on to Washington for final consideration. 2. John Blair, the Air Control Board Chairman, called today and indicated that he foresees no major obstacles to approval and that, in fact, EPA is anxious to get Texas "in the bag" to prod other states. 3. However, Blair has been informed that EPA would like some changes made in the SIP which Blair terms "minor" and "nothing significant." He and Bill Stewart, the Executive Director of Air Control Board, will be in Dallas tomorrow to discuss the changes with EPA. Blair recommends we "gripe a lot, then agree" for several reasons: a. the politics now favor us since EPA is anxious to "trumpet" an accepted SIP from a conservative state like Texas to prod other states--if we stall, we may no longer be in such a strong position; b. a bill in Congress to postpone application of the Clean Air amendments for one year is gaining support--this also pressures EPA to be reasonable; c. early approval of the SIP will strengthen us for the big battle on PSD which could severely hamper Texas' industrial growth--it will, show we're acting in good faith, and, Blair feels, it will give us a chit for later use; d. allowing EPA to use Texas' plan to pressure other states will put more people in the same boat with us--this will be useful if relief is later needed on other points. 4. The alternativ_e_is_tQ,stall in hopes that the bill to p2.§..t.pLoDe application of the Clean Air Act amendments for one year will pass Congress. The prospects for this bill are better now because: a. states who have not submitted plans are pressuring their delegations for an extension; and b. the energy crisis is causing pressure to relax environmental standards, at least temporarily. 't=1 5. BLa_ir_........ilfrly prefers to go ahead with the plan and accept minor changes. Before we decide on this, though, I prefer to get more information on the changes EPA wants, especially since the Regional Office has already given conditional approval. I'd also prefer to get a more accurate reading on the prospects of the extension bill in Congress. To be blunt, I'm afraid of getting boxed on this. I'm checking on the requested changes, and have asked Statg-Fsderal,tor an assessment of the extension bill's ... . ,., . „4..u.. • I., . . .1. . • wait .../4.4.....- . ..... , .. "res)"°4 rospects. Recommend we not commit to Blair's suggested course till we have —. more information. This should be available by Monday. 6. Suggest the Governor be appraised of this situation.