80_FR_76922 80 FR 76685 - California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Portable Diesel-Fueled Engines Air Toxics Control Measure; Notice of Decision

80 FR 76685 - California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Portable Diesel-Fueled Engines Air Toxics Control Measure; Notice of Decision

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 237 (December 10, 2015)

Page Range76685-76690
FR Document2015-31043

The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') is granting the California Air Resources Board's (``CARB'') request for authorization of amendments to its Portable Diesel-Fueled Engines Air Toxics Control Measure (``Portable Engine Amendments''). EPA is also confirming that certain Portable Engine Amendments are within the scope of a prior EPA authorization. CARB's Portable Engine Amendments apply to in-use, portable, off-road \1\ diesel-fueled engines rated 50 brake horsepower (bhp) and greater. This decision is issued under the authority of the Clean Air Act (``CAA'' or ``Act''). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 237 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76685-76690]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31043]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0798; FRL-9939-92-OAR]


California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; 
Portable Diesel-Fueled Engines Air Toxics Control Measure; Notice of 
Decision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') is granting the 
California Air Resources Board's (``CARB'') request for authorization 
of amendments to its Portable Diesel-Fueled Engines Air Toxics Control 
Measure (``Portable Engine Amendments''). EPA is also confirming that 
certain Portable Engine Amendments are within the scope of a prior EPA 
authorization. CARB's Portable Engine Amendments apply to in-use, 
portable, off-road \1\ diesel-fueled engines rated 50 brake horsepower 
(bhp) and greater. This decision is issued under the authority of the 
Clean Air Act (``CAA'' or ``Act'').
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    \1\ The federal term ``nonroad'' and the California term ``off-
road'' may be used interchangeably herein.

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DATES: Petitions for review must be filed by February 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0798. All documents relied upon in making this 
decision, including those submitted to EPA by CARB, are contained in 
the public docket. Publicly available docket materials are available 
either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at 
the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Headquarters Library, EPA West 
Building, Room 3334, located at 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open to the public on all 
federal government working days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; generally, 
it is open Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The telephone 
number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744. The Air and Radiation 
Docket and Information Center's Web site is http://www.epa.gov/oar/docket.html. The electronic mail (email) address for the Air and 
Radiation Docket is: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov, the telephone number is 
(202) 566-1742, and the fax number is (202) 566-9744. An electronic 
version of the public docket is available through the federal 
government's electronic public docket and comment system. You may 
access EPA dockets at http://www.regulations.gov. After opening the 
www.regulations.gov Web site, enter EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0798 in the ``Enter 
Keyword or ID'' fill-in box to view documents in the record. Although a 
part of the official docket, the public docket does not include 
Confidential Business Information (``CBI'') or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute.
    EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (``OTAQ'') maintains 
a Web page that contains general information on its review of 
California waiver and authorization requests. Included on that page are 
links to prior waiver Federal Register notices, some of which are cited 
in today's notice; the page can be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cafr.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Read, Attorney, Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Telephone: (734) 214-4367. 
Fax: (734) 214-4212. Email: read.david@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    California initially adopted its Portable Engine regulations on 
February 26, 2004 as part of a broad California program to reduce 
emissions of diesel particulate matter. The regulations applied to in-
use, portable, off-road diesel-fueled engines rated 50 brake horsepower 
(bhp) and greater. ``Portable engines'' are engines that may be moved 
easily from location to location.\2\ Subject engines were required to 
be certified to certain emission standards by January 1, 2010, unless 
the engines were designated as low-use engines or as engines 
exclusively used in emergency applications. Fleets of in-use diesel-
fueled portable engines were required to meet fleet-average standards 
for diesel PM emissions that become increasingly more stringent in 
2013, 2017, and 2020. The initial Portable Engine air toxic control 
measure (ATCM) became operative under state law on March 11, 2005 \3\ 
and EPA authorized the regulations on November 29, 2012.\4\
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    \2\ 77 FR 72846, 72847 (December 6, 2012).
    \3\ The Portable Engine ATCM is set forth at 17 CCR 93116 et 
seq.
    \4\ 77 FR 72846 (December 6, 2012).
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    CARB adopted the 2007 amendments on July 31, 2007, and they became 
effective on September 12, 2007. The 2007 amendments were designed to 
extend temporary, emergency provisions CARB had adopted to address the 
inability of owners and operators to permit or register older

[[Page 76686]]

engines that did not satisfy the Portable Engine certification 
requirement to meet the most stringent federal or California emission 
standards. The 2007 amendments addressed this issue by (i) granting 
discretion to local air districts to permit or register uncertified 
portable engines that were operated in California within a designated 
time period prior to October 1, 2006, or that were low-use engines or 
used exclusively in emergency applications, (ii) allowing Tier 1 and 
Tier 2 engines that were in operation within a designated time period 
prior to October 1, 2006, but did not meet the most stringent emission 
requirements, to be permitted or registered until December 31, 2009, 
and (iii) otherwise providing additional compliance flexibility.
    In 2008, CARB adopted an In-Use Off-Road regulation \5\ and a Truck 
and Bus regulation.\6\ CARB then amended the Portable Engine 
regulations to exempt certain engines (viz., secondary engines on two-
engine cranes and two-engine sweepers, and on lattice boom cranes) that 
instead became subject to either the In-Use Off-Road regulation or the 
Truck and Bus regulation. CARB formally adopted the amendments to the 
Portable Engine ATCM on October 19, 2009 (the 2009 amendments).
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    \5\ The California In-Use Off-Road regulation is set forth at 13 
CCR 2449 et seq.
    \6\ The California Truck and Bus regulation is set forth at 13 
CCR 2025 et seq.
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    California formally approved the 2010 amendments to the Portable 
Engine ATCM regulations on October 19, 2010 and January 20, 2011. The 
2010 amendments became operative under state law on February 19, 2011. 
The 2010 amendments provided further compliance flexibility, and 
clarified or modified other aspects of the regulations. For example, 
some entities were allowed to operate a limited number of non-certified 
engines for an additional year, through December 31, 2010. Additional 
regulatory relief was provided for engines that were permitted or 
registered prior to January 1, 2010. The amendments provided for 
permitting of portable engines that were certified to standards for new 
on-road engines. Auxiliary deck engines on water well drilling rigs 
were exempted and instead made subject to CARB's In-Use Off-Road 
Regulation. Portable engines used exclusively on dedicated snow removal 
vehicles were also exempted. Low-use and emergency use engines were 
required to be removed or replaced with a current tier engine by 
January 1, 2017. The 2010 amendments also deleted the provision that 
had allowed local air districts, in their discretion, to permit non-
certified engines that had operated between March 1, 2004 and October 
1, 2006. The amendments specified particulate matter (PM) emission 
factors for certain engines, which are used to help determine fleet 
average standards. Finally, the 2010 amendments provided relief for 
certified engines that lost their permit exemption due to changes in 
local air district rules.
    By letter dated September 15, 2014, CARB submitted a request to EPA 
pursuant to section 209(e) of the Act for confirmation that the 2007, 
2009, and 2010 amendments fall within the scope of EPA's previous 
authorization, or, in the alternative, that EPA grant a full 
authorization for those amendments.

A. Clean Air Act Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Authorizations

    Section 209(e)(1) of the Act permanently preempts any state, or 
political subdivision thereof, from adopting or attempting to enforce 
any standard or other requirement relating to the control of emissions 
for certain new nonroad engines or vehicles.\7\ For all other nonroad 
engines (including ``non-new'' engines), states generally are preempted 
from adopting and enforcing standards and other requirements relating 
to the control of emissions, except that section 209(e)(2)(A) of the 
Act requires EPA, after notice and opportunity for public hearing, to 
authorize California to adopt and enforce such regulations unless EPA 
makes one of three enumerated findings. Specifically, EPA must deny 
authorization if the Administrator finds that (1) California's 
protectiveness determination (i.e., that California standards will be, 
in the aggregate, as protective of public health and welfare as 
applicable federal standards) is arbitrary and capricious, (2) 
California does not need such standards to meet compelling and 
extraordinary conditions, or (3) the California standards and 
accompanying enforcement procedures are not consistent with section 209 
of the Act.
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    \7\ States are expressly preempted from adopting or attempting 
to enforce any standard or other requirement relating to the control 
of emissions from new nonroad engines which are used in construction 
equipment or vehicles or used in farm equipment or vehicles and 
which are smaller than 175 horsepower. Such express preemption under 
section 209(e)(1) of the Act also applies to new locomotives or new 
engines used in locomotives.
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    On July 20, 1994, EPA promulgated a rule interpreting the three 
criteria set forth in section 209(e)(2)(A) that EPA must consider 
before granting any California authorization request for nonroad engine 
or vehicle emission standards.\8\ EPA revised these regulations in 
1997.\9\ As stated in the preamble to the 1994 rule, EPA historically 
has interpreted the consistency inquiry under the third criterion, 
outlined above and set forth in section 209(e)(2)(A)(iii), to require, 
at minimum, that California standards and enforcement procedures be 
consistent with section 209(a), section 209(e)(1), and section 
209(b)(1)(C) of the Act.\10\
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    \8\ See ``Air Pollution Control; Preemption of State Regulation 
for Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Standards,'' 59 FR 36969 (July 20, 
1994).
    \9\ See ``Control of Air Pollution: Emission Standards for New 
Nonroad Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 37 Kilowatts; 
Preemption of State Regulation for Nonroad Engine and Vehicle 
Standards; Amendments to Rules,'' 62 FR 67733 (December 30, 1997). 
The applicable regulations are now found in 40 CFR part 1074, 
subpart B, section 1074.105.
    \10\ See supra note 8. EPA has interpreted 209(b)(1)(C) in the 
context of section 209(b) motor vehicle waivers.
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    In order to be consistent with section 209(a), California's nonroad 
standards and enforcement procedures must not apply to new motor 
vehicles or new motor vehicle engines. To be consistent with section 
209(e)(1), California's nonroad standards and enforcement procedures 
must not attempt to regulate engine categories that are permanently 
preempted from state regulation. To determine consistency with section 
209(b)(1)(C), EPA typically reviews nonroad authorization requests 
under the same ``consistency'' criteria that are applied to motor 
vehicle waiver requests under section 209(b)(1)(C). That provision 
provides that the Administrator shall not grant California a motor 
vehicle waiver if she finds that California ``standards and 
accompanying enforcement procedures are not consistent with section 
202(a)'' of the Act. Previous decisions granting waivers and 
authorizations have noted that state standards and enforcement 
procedures will be found to be inconsistent with section 202(a) if (1) 
there is inadequate lead time to permit the development of the 
necessary technology, giving appropriate consideration to the cost of 
compliance within that time, or (2) the federal and state testing 
procedures impose inconsistent certification requirements.
    In light of the similar language of sections 209(b) and 
209(e)(2)(A), EPA has reviewed California's requests for authorization 
of nonroad vehicle or engine standards under section 209(e)(2)(A) using 
the same principles that it has historically applied in reviewing 
requests for waivers of preemption for new motor vehicle or new motor 
vehicle engine standards

[[Page 76687]]

under section 209(b).\11\ These principles include, among other things, 
that EPA should limit its inquiry to the three specific authorization 
criteria identified in section 209(e)(2)(A),\12\ and that EPA should 
give substantial deference to the policy judgments California has made 
in adopting its regulations. In previous waiver decisions, EPA has 
stated that Congress intended EPA's review of California's decision-
making be narrow. EPA has rejected arguments that are not specified in 
the statute as grounds for denying a waiver:
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    \11\ See Engine Manufacturers Association v. EPA, 88 F.3d 1075, 
1087 (D.C. Cir. 1996): ``. . . EPA was within the bounds of 
permissible construction in analogizing Sec.  209(e) on nonroad 
sources to Sec.  209(a) on motor vehicles.''
    \12\ See supra note 7, at 36983.

    The law makes it clear that the waiver requests cannot be denied 
unless the specific findings designated in the statute can properly 
be made. The issue of whether a proposed California requirement is 
likely to result in only marginal improvement in California air 
quality not commensurate with its costs or is otherwise an arguably 
unwise exercise of regulatory power is not legally pertinent to my 
decision under section 209, so long as the California requirement is 
consistent with section 202(a) and is more stringent than applicable 
Federal requirements in the sense that it may result in some further 
reduction in air pollution in California.\13\
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    \13\ ``Waiver of Application of Clean Air Act to California 
State Standards,'' 36 FR 17458 (Aug. 31, 1971). Note that the more 
stringent standard expressed here, in 1971, was superseded by the 
1977 amendments to section 209, which established that California 
must determine that its standards are, in the aggregate, at least as 
protective of public health and welfare as applicable Federal 
standards. In the 1990 amendments to section 209, Congress 
established section 209(e) and similar language in section 
209(e)(1)(i) pertaining to California's nonroad emission standards 
which California must determine to be, in the aggregate, at least as 
protective of public health and welfare as applicable federal 
standards.

    This principle of narrow EPA review has been upheld by the U.S. 
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.\14\ Thus, EPA's 
consideration of all the evidence submitted concerning an authorization 
decision is circumscribed by its relevance to those questions that may 
be considered under section 209(e)(2)(A).
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    \14\ See, e.g., Motor and Equip. Mfrs Assoc. v. EPA, 627 F.2d 
1095 (D.C. Cir. 1979) (``MEMA I'').
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    If California amends regulations that were previously authorized by 
EPA, California may ask EPA to determine that the amendments are within 
the scope of the earlier authorization. A within-the-scope 
determination for such amendments is permissible without a full 
authorization review if three conditions are met. First, the amended 
regulations must not undermine California's previous determination that 
its standards, in the aggregate, are as protective of public health and 
welfare as applicable federal standards. Second, the amended 
regulations must not affect consistency with section 209 of the Act, 
following the same criteria discussed above in the context of full 
authorizations. Third, the amended regulations must not raise any ``new 
issues'' affecting EPA's prior authorizations.\15\
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    \15\ See ``California State Motor Vehicle Pollution Control 
Standards; Amendments Within the Scope of Previous Waiver of Federal 
Preemption,'' 46 FR 36742 (July 15, 1981).
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B. Deference to California

    In previous waiver and authorization decisions, EPA has recognized 
that the intent of Congress in creating a limited review based on the 
section 209(b)(1) criteria was to ensure that the federal government 
did not second-guess state policy choices. As the agency explained in 
one prior waiver decision:

    It is worth noting . . . I would feel constrained to approve a 
California approach to the problem which I might also feel unable to 
adopt at the federal level in my own capacity as a regulator. The 
whole approach of the Clean Air Act is to force the development of 
new types of emission control technology where that is needed by 
compelling the industry to ``catch up'' to some degree with newly 
promulgated standards. Such an approach . . . may be attended with 
costs, in the shape of reduced product offering, or price or fuel 
economy penalties, and by risks that a wider number of vehicle 
classes may not be able to complete their development work in time. 
Since a balancing of these risks and costs against the potential 
benefits from reduced emissions is a central policy decision for any 
regulatory agency under the statutory scheme outlined above, I 
believe I am required to give very substantial deference to 
California's judgments on this score.\16\
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    \16\ 40 FR 23102, 23103-23104 (May 28, 1975).

    Similarly, EPA has stated that the text, structure, and history of 
the California waiver provision clearly indicate both a congressional 
intent and appropriate EPA practice of leaving the decision on 
``ambiguous and controversial matters of public policy'' to 
California's judgment.\17\ This interpretation is supported by relevant 
discussion in the House Committee Report for the 1977 amendments to the 
Clean Air Act.\18\ Congress had the opportunity through the 1977 
amendments to restrict the preexisting waiver provision, but elected 
instead to expand California's flexibility to adopt a complete program 
of motor vehicle emission controls. The report explains that the 
amendment is intended to ratify and strengthen the preexisting 
California waiver provision and to affirm the underlying intent of that 
provision, that is, to afford California the broadest possible 
discretion in selecting the best means to protect the health of its 
citizens and the public welfare.\19\
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    \17\ Id. at 23104; 58 FR 4166 (January 13, 1993).
    \18\ MEMA I, 627 F.2d at 1110 (citing H.R. Rep. No. 294, 95th 
Cong., 1st Sess. 301-302 (1977)).
    \19\ Id.
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C. Burden and Standard of Proof

    As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has made clear in 
MEMA I, opponents of a waiver request by California bear the burden of 
showing that the statutory criteria for a denial of the request have 
been met:

    [T]he language of the statute and its legislative history 
indicate that California's regulations, and California's 
determinations that they must comply with the statute, when 
presented to the Administrator are presumed to satisfy the waiver 
requirements and that the burden of proving otherwise is on whoever 
attacks them. California must present its regulations and findings 
at the hearing and thereafter the parties opposing the waiver 
request bear the burden of persuading the Administrator that the 
waiver request should be denied.\20\
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    \20\ MEMA I, supra note 17, at 1121.

    The same logic applies to authorization requests. The 
Administrator's burden, on the other hand, is to make a reasonable 
evaluation of the information in the record in coming to the waiver 
decision. As the court in MEMA I stated: ``here, too, if the 
Administrator ignores evidence demonstrating that the waiver should not 
be granted, or if he seeks to overcome that evidence with unsupported 
assumptions of his own, he runs the risk of having his waiver decision 
set aside as `arbitrary and capricious.' ''\21\ Therefore, the 
Administrator's burden is to act ``reasonably.'' \22\
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    \21\ Id. at 1126.
    \22\ Id. at 1126.
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    With regard to the standard of proof, the court in MEMA I explained 
that the Administrator's role in a section 209 proceeding is to:

    [. . .] consider all evidence that passes the threshold test of 
materiality and . . . thereafter assess such material evidence 
against a standard of proof to determine whether the parties 
favoring a denial of the waiver have shown that the factual 
circumstances exist in which Congress intended a denial of the 
waiver.\23\
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    \23\ Id. at 1122.

    With regard to the protectiveness finding, the court upheld the 
Administrator's position that, to deny a waiver, there must be ``clear 
and compelling evidence'' to show that

[[Page 76688]]

proposed enforcement procedures undermine the protectiveness of 
California's standards.\24\ The court noted that this standard of proof 
also accords with the congressional intent to provide California with 
the broadest possible discretion in setting regulations it finds 
protective of the public health and welfare.\25\
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    \24\ Id.
    \25\ Id.
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    With respect to the consistency finding, the court did not 
articulate a standard of proof applicable to all proceedings, but found 
that the opponents of the waiver were unable to meet their burden of 
proof even if the standard were a mere preponderance of the evidence. 
EPA's past waiver decisions have consistently made clear that: ``[E]ven 
in the two areas concededly reserved for Federal judgment by this 
legislation--the existence of `compelling and extraordinary' conditions 
and whether the standards are technologically feasible--Congress 
intended that the standards of EPA review of the State decision to be a 
narrow one.'' \26\
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    \26\ See, e.g., ``California State Motor Vehicle Pollution 
Control Standards; Waiver of Federal Preemption,'' 40 FR 23102 (May 
28, 1975), at 23103.
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D. EPA's Administrative Process in Consideration of California's 
Portable Engine ATCM Amendment Request for Authorization

    On November 21, 2014, EPA published a Federal Register notice 
announcing its receipt of California's authorization request. In that 
notice, EPA invited public comment on each of the Portable Engine ATCM 
amendments and an opportunity to request a public hearing.\27\
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    \27\ See ``California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control 
Standards; Portable Diesel-Fueled Engines Air Toxics Control 
Measure; Request for Confirmation That Amendments Are Within-the-
Scope of Previous Authorization; Opportunity for Public Hearing and 
Comment,'' 79 FR 69462 (November 21, 2014).
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    First, EPA requested comments on whether California's 2007, 2009, 
or 2010 Portable Engine ATCM amendments: (1) Undermine California's 
previous determination that its standards, in the aggregate, are at 
least as protective of public health and welfare as comparable federal 
standards; (2) affect the consistency of California's requirements with 
section 209 of the Act; or (3) raise any other new issues affecting 
EPA's previous authorization determinations. EPA also requested 
comments on whether the 2007, 2009, or 2010 Portable Engine ATCM 
amendments meet the criteria for a full authorization should any party 
believe that the amendments are not within the scope of the previous 
authorization.
    EPA received no comments and no requests for a public hearing. 
Consequently, EPA did not hold a public hearing.

II. Discussion

A. Within-the-Scope Discussion

    CARB maintains that the amendments noted above meet all three 
within-the-scope criteria, i.e., that the amendments: (1) Do not 
undermine the original protectiveness determination underlying 
California's Portable Engine ATCM regulations; (2) do not affect the 
consistency of the Portable Engine ATCM regulations with section 209, 
and (3) do not raise any new issues affecting the prior 
authorization.\28\ We received no adverse comments or evidence 
suggesting a within-the-scope analysis is inappropriate, or that these 
Portable Engine ATCM amendments fail to meet any of the three criteria 
for within-the-scope confirmation.
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    \28\ ``Request for Authorization Action Pursuant to Clean Air 
Act Section 209(e) for 2007, 2009, and 2010 Amendments to 
California's Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Portable Diesel 
Engines 50 Horsepower and Greater'' (September 15, 2014), 
(``California Authorization Support Document''), at 10-14 [publicly 
available at www.regulations.gov Web site, docket number EPA-HQ-OAR-
2014-0798-0002].
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    With regard to the first within-the-scope prong, CARB maintains 
that the stringency of its emission standards is, in the aggregate, at 
least as protective of public health and welfare as applicable federal 
standards, especially since there are no federally applicable standards 
regulating in-use nonroad engines.\29\ No comments presented otherwise, 
and EPA agrees that there are no federally applicable standards for in-
use nonroad engines and that no evidence exists in the record to 
demonstrate that CARB's Portable Engine ATCM regulations, in the 
aggregate, are less protective than applicable federal standards. 
Therefore, we find that the Portable Engine ATCM amendments, as noted, 
do not undermine the protectiveness determination made with regard to 
the original Portable Engine ATCM authorization.
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    \29\ California Authorization Support Document, at 11.
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    With regard to the second within-the-scope prong (consistency with 
section 209), CARB first maintains that the Portable Engine ATCM 
amendments do not regulate new motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines 
and so are consistent with section 209(a).\30\ Likewise the Portable 
Engine ATCM amendments do not regulate any of the permanently preempted 
categories of engines or vehicles (e.g., new locomotives, engines for 
new locomotives, or new nonroad engines less than 175 horsepower used 
in farm and construction equipment and vehicles), and so are consistent 
with section 209(e)(1).\31\ CARB maintains that the Portable Engine 
ATCM amendments do not cause any technological feasibility issues or 
cause inconsistency between state and federal test procedures, per 
section 209(b)(1)(C). Finally, CARB maintains that none of the 2007, 
2009 or 2010 Amendments alter the test procedures specified for 
certifying engines, so there is no effect on the consistency with 
federal test procedures.\32\ As mentioned above, no comments were 
received showing otherwise on any of these contentions. Because there 
is no evidence in the record to indicate that CARB's Portable Engine 
amendments are inconsistent with section 209, we cannot find that the 
noted Portable Engine amendments are inconsistent with section 209.
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    \30\ California Authorization Support Document, at 11.
    \31\ California Authorization Support Document, at 11.
    \32\ California Authorization Support Document, at 14.
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    Regarding the third prong, California states that it is ``not aware 
of any new issues affecting the previously granted authorization for 
the Portable Engine ATCM.'' \33\ There were also no comments arguing 
that any new issues have been raised affecting the previously granted 
authorization. CARB's 2007 Amendments and 2009 Amendments provide 
compliance flexibilities and regulatory relief that would not appear to 
raise any new issues affecting the previously granted authorization. 
Thus, we cannot find that the 2007 or 2009 Amendments raise any new 
issues affecting the previously granted authorization.
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    \33\ California Authorization Support Document, at 14.
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    CARB's 2010 Amendments, however, include some new or stricter 
regulatory requirements, such as (i) requiring low-use and emergency 
use engines to be removed or replaced with a current tier engine by 
January 1, 2017 (which is earlier than originally required for some 
engine sizes), (ii) no longer allowing local air districts to permit 
non-certified engines that had operated between March 1, 2004 and 
October 1, 2006, and (iii) specifying PM emission factors for certain 
engines in order to help determine fleet average standards. These 
amendments will be referred to herein as the ``New 2010 Requirements.'' 
Because these New 2010 Requirements raise new issues affecting the 
authorization previously granted for the

[[Page 76689]]

Portable Engine ATCM, the New 2010 Requirements are not considered 
within the scope of the prior authorization, and will need to be 
evaluated for a full authorization.\34\
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    \34\ Because the New 2010 amendments create both new and more 
stringent emission requirements on the regulated parties, which are 
the type of requirements otherwise preempted under section 
209(e)(1), EPA considers such amendments to create ``new issues'' 
which require a full consideration of the authorization criteria 
under section 209(e)(2)(A). Minor amendments to previously waived 
standards that do not create additional burdens on the regulated 
parties are considered under the within-the-scope criteria by EPA. 
See 37 FR 14831 (July 25, 1972).
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    In summary, for the 2007 and 2009 Amendments, we find that 
California has met the three criteria for a within-the-scope 
authorization approval, and these amendments are thus confirmed as 
within the scope of the previous EPA authorization of California's 
Portable Engine ATCM regulations. For the 2010 Amendments, while most 
of the 2010 amendments are within the scope of the previous 
authorization, the New 2010 Requirements are not within the scope of 
the prior authorization, and we will proceed to determine whether the 
New 2010 Requirements qualify for full authorization.

B. Full Authorization Discussion for the New 2010 Requirements

    As described in the background section, the CAA directs EPA to 
grant authorization, unless EPA makes one of three possible findings: 
(1) That California's protectiveness determination is arbitrary and 
capricious, (2) that California does not need state standards to meet 
compelling and extraordinary conditions, or (3) that the California 
standards and accompanying enforcement procedures are not consistent 
with section 209 of the Act. As mentioned above, the New 2010 
Requirements to be evaluated for full authorization include the 
amendments requiring low-use and emergency use engines to be removed or 
replaced with a current tier engine by January 1, 2017, the amendments 
no longer allowing local air districts to permit non-certified engines 
that had operated between March 1, 2004 and October 1, 2006, and the 
amendments specifying PM emission factors for certain engines in order 
to help determine fleet average standards.
    Regarding the first possible finding, it is clear that California's 
standards are at least as protective of public health and welfare as 
applicable federal standards, especially since there are no federally 
applicable standards to regulate in-use nonroad engines.\35\ No 
comments presented otherwise, and the New 2010 Requirements at issue 
make the standards more protective, not less. Therefore, we find that 
California's protectiveness determination is not arbitrary and 
capricious.
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    \35\ California Authorization Support Document, at 11.
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    Regarding the second possible finding, California reasserts its 
longstanding position that the State continues to need its own nonroad 
engine program to meet serious air pollution problems.\36\ CARB points 
out that California, particularly in the South Coast and San Joaquin 
Valley Air Basins, continues to experience some of the worst air 
quality in the nation.\37\ We further note that the relevant inquiry 
under section 209(e)(2)(A)(ii) is whether California needs its own 
emission control program to meet compelling and extraordinary 
conditions, not whether any given standard is necessary to meet such 
conditions.\38\ CARB's emission control program is a central part of 
California's efforts to improve its air quality, to meet its air 
quality goals and satisfy its State Implementation Plan obligations. No 
comments were submitted otherwise. Therefore, we cannot find that 
California does not need its state standards to meet compelling and 
extraordinary conditions in California.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ California Authorization Support Document, at 14-16.
    \37\ California Authorization Support Document, at 15.
    \38\ Final 209(e) Rule, 59 FR at 36982. The Administrator has 
recognized that even if such a standard by standard test were 
applied to California, it ``would not be applicable to its fullest 
stringency due to the degree of discretion given to California in 
dealing with its mobile source pollution problems.'' (41 FR 44209, 
44213, (October 7, 1976); 49 FR 18887, 18892 (May 3, 1984).); see 
also EPA's 2009 GHG Waiver Decision wherein EPA rejected the 
suggested interpretation of section 209(b)(1)(B) as requiring a 
review of the specific need for California's new motor vehicle 
greenhouse gas emission standards as opposed to the traditional 
interpretation (need for the program as a whole) applied to local or 
regional air pollution problems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The third and final possible finding upon which authorization could 
be denied is if the New 2010 Requirements are not consistent with 
``this section.'' As discussed above, this requires evaluation of 
consistency with sections 209(a), 209(e)(1), and 209(b)(1)(C). To be 
consistent with section 209(a), the amendments must not apply to new 
motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines. CARB states that none of its 
Portable Engine ATCM requirements apply to new motor vehicles or motor 
vehicle engines.\39\ No evidence has been received to the contrary. 
Second, to be consistent with section 209(e)(1) of the Act, the 
regulations must not attempt to regulate vehicles and engines 
permanently preempted from state regulation by section 209(e)(1), 
including new nonroad engines below 175 horsepower used in farm and 
construction equipment and vehicles, or new locomotives or locomotive 
engines. CARB states that none of its Portable Engine ATCM requirements 
apply to these preempted vehicles or engines.\40\ Again, we received no 
evidence to the contrary. We therefore cannot find that the New 2010 
Requirements are inconsistent with sections 209(a) and 209(e)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ California Authorization Support Document, at 11.
    \40\ California Authorization Support Document, at 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Third, to be consistent with section 209(b)(1)(c), there must be 
adequate lead time to permit technological development for compliance 
with the new standards, and the state test procedures must not be made 
inconsistent with federal test procedures.
    Regarding test procedures, CARB maintains that the amendments do 
not alter any test procedures, and EPA does not have comparable in-use 
standards and test procedures; thus, by definition, there is no 
inconsistency with federal test procedures.\41\ No comments were 
received otherwise. We therefore cannot find that the New 2010 
Requirements are inconsistent with federal test procedures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ California Authorization Support Document, at 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regarding the existence of adequate lead time, CARB maintains that 
the New 2010 Requirements do not require development of new 
technologies, and that EPA has already previously determined that 
California's applicable Tier 1 through Tier 4 off-road compression 
ignition engine standards are technically feasible,\42\ thus there is 
no consistency issue presented with regard to lead time. As mentioned 
above, we received no comment or evidence contesting California's 
positions regarding the consistency criterion under section 
209(b)(1)(c).The compliance date for low use and emergency use engines 
is nearly the same as the original compliance date, and the two other 
changes (i.e., elimination of discretionary permits by local air 
districts, and specification of PM emission factors used to calculate 
fleet average standards) likewise do not raise feasibility issues. 
Thus, we cannot find any evidence indicating that the New 2010 
Requirements do not provide adequate lead time or are otherwise not

[[Page 76690]]

technically feasible. We therefore cannot find that the New 2010 
Requirements that we analyzed under the full authorization criteria are 
inconsistent with section 209 of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ California Authorization Support Document, at 13, citing 75 
FR 8056, 8060 (February 23, 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Having found that the New 2010 Requirements satisfy each of the 
criteria for full authorization, and having received no contrary 
evidence to contradict this finding, we cannot deny authorization of 
the amendments.

III. Decision

    The Administrator has delegated the authority to grant California 
section 209(e) authorizations to the Assistant Administrator for Air 
and Radiation. After evaluating CARB's amendments to its Portable 
Engine ATCM regulations described above and CARB's submissions for EPA 
review, EPA is granting a within-the-scope authorization for the 
Portable Engine ATCM 2007, 2009, and 2010 Amendments, other than the 
New 2010 Requirements (as specified above). In addition, EPA is 
granting a full authorization for the New 2010 Requirements.
    This decision will affect persons in California and those 
manufacturers and/or owners/operators nationwide who must comply with 
California's requirements. In addition, because other states may adopt 
California's standards for which a section 209(e)(2)(A) authorization 
has been granted if certain criteria are met, this decision would also 
affect those states and those persons in such states. See CAA section 
209(e)(2)(B). For these reasons, EPA determines and finds that this is 
a final action of national applicability, and also a final action of 
nationwide scope or effect for purposes of section 307(b)(1) of the 
Act. Pursuant to section 307(b)(1) of the Act, judicial review of this 
final action may be sought only in the United States Court of Appeals 
for the District of Columbia Circuit. Petitions for review must be 
filed by February 8, 2016. Judicial review of this final action may not 
be obtained in subsequent enforcement proceedings, pursuant to section 
307(b)(2) of the Act.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    As with past authorization and waiver decisions, this action is not 
a rule as defined by Executive Order 12866. Therefore, it is exempt 
from review by the Office of Management and Budget as required for 
rules and regulations by Executive Order 12866.
    In addition, this action is not a rule as defined in the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601(2). Therefore, EPA has not prepared a 
supporting regulatory flexibility analysis addressing the impact of 
this action on small business entities.
    Further, the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801, et seq., as 
added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996, does not apply because this action is not a rule for purposes of 
5 U.S.C. 804(3).

    Dated: December 1, 2015.
Janet G. McCabe,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2015-31043 Filed 12-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 237 / Thursday, December 10, 2015 / Notices                                                  76685

                                                  should be filed in all the dockets listed               ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                              access EPA dockets at http://
                                                  above no later than January 6, 2016. A                  AGENCY                                                www.regulations.gov. After opening the
                                                  schedule for post-technical conference                                                                        www.regulations.gov Web site, enter
                                                                                                          [EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–0798; FRL–9939–92–
                                                  comments will be established at the                     OAR]
                                                                                                                                                                EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–0798 in the ‘‘Enter
                                                  technical conference.                                                                                         Keyword or ID’’ fill-in box to view
                                                                                                          California State Nonroad Engine                       documents in the record. Although a
                                                     The technical conference is open to
                                                                                                          Pollution Control Standards; Portable                 part of the official docket, the public
                                                  the public. The Chairman and                                                                                  docket does not include Confidential
                                                  Commissioners may attend and                            Diesel-Fueled Engines Air Toxics
                                                                                                          Control Measure; Notice of Decision                   Business Information (‘‘CBI’’) or other
                                                  participate in the technical conference.                                                                      information whose disclosure is
                                                     Pre-registration through the                         AGENCY: Environmental Protection                      restricted by statute.
                                                  Commission’s Web site https://                          Agency (EPA).                                            EPA’s Office of Transportation and
                                                  www.ferc.gov/whats-new/registration/                    ACTION: Notice of Decision.                           Air Quality (‘‘OTAQ’’) maintains a Web
                                                  01-12-16-form.asp is encouraged by                                                                            page that contains general information
                                                                                                          SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection               on its review of California waiver and
                                                  December 18, 2015, to help ensure                       Agency (‘‘EPA’’) is granting the
                                                  sufficient seating is available.                                                                              authorization requests. Included on that
                                                                                                          California Air Resources Board’s                      page are links to prior waiver Federal
                                                     This conference will also be                         (‘‘CARB’’) request for authorization of               Register notices, some of which are
                                                  transcribed. Interested persons may                     amendments to its Portable Diesel-                    cited in today’s notice; the page can be
                                                  obtain a copy of the transcript for a fee               Fueled Engines Air Toxics Control                     accessed at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/
                                                  by contacting Ace-Federal Reporters,                    Measure (‘‘Portable Engine                            cafr.htm.
                                                  Inc. at (202) 347–3700.                                 Amendments’’). EPA is also confirming
                                                                                                          that certain Portable Engine                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                     In addition, there will be a free audio                                                                    David Read, Attorney, Office of
                                                                                                          Amendments are within the scope of a
                                                  cast of the conference. Anyone wishing                  prior EPA authorization. CARB’s                       Transportation and Air Quality, U.S.
                                                  to listen to the meeting should send an                 Portable Engine Amendments apply to                   Environmental Protection Agency, 2565
                                                  email to Sarah McKinley at                              in-use, portable, off-road 1 diesel-fueled            Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
                                                  sarah.mckinley@ferc.gov by January 5,                   engines rated 50 brake horsepower (bhp)               Telephone: (734) 214–4367. Fax: (734)
                                                  2016, to request call-in information.                   and greater. This decision is issued                  214–4212. Email: read.david@epa.gov.
                                                  Please reference ‘‘call information for                 under the authority of the Clean Air Act              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  PJM cost allocation technical                           (‘‘CAA’’ or ‘‘Act’’).                                 I. Background
                                                  conference’’ in the subject line of the                 DATES: Petitions for review must be filed
                                                  email. The call-in information will be                                                                           California initially adopted its
                                                                                                          by February 8, 2016.                                  Portable Engine regulations on February
                                                  provided prior to the meeting.                          ADDRESSES: EPA has established a                      26, 2004 as part of a broad California
                                                     Persons listening to the technical                   docket for this action under Docket ID                program to reduce emissions of diesel
                                                  conference may participate by                           EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–0798. All                             particulate matter. The regulations
                                                  submitting questions, either prior to or                documents relied upon in making this                  applied to in-use, portable, off-road
                                                  during the technical conference, by                     decision, including those submitted to                diesel-fueled engines rated 50 brake
                                                  emailing PJMDFAXconfDL@ferc.gov.                        EPA by CARB, are contained in the                     horsepower (bhp) and greater. ‘‘Portable
                                                                                                          public docket. Publicly available docket              engines’’ are engines that may be moved
                                                     Commission conferences are
                                                                                                          materials are available either                        easily from location to location.2 Subject
                                                  accessible under section 508 of the
                                                                                                          electronically through                                engines were required to be certified to
                                                  Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For                         www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at                certain emission standards by January 1,
                                                  accessibility accommodations please                     the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA               2010, unless the engines were
                                                  send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov                 Headquarters Library, EPA West                        designated as low-use engines or as
                                                  or call toll free 1–866–208–3372 (voice)                Building, Room 3334, located at 1301                  engines exclusively used in emergency
                                                  or 202–502–8659 (TTY); or send a fax to                 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,                  applications. Fleets of in-use diesel-
                                                  202–208–2106 with the required                          DC. The Public Reading Room is open                   fueled portable engines were required to
                                                  accommodations.                                         to the public on all federal government               meet fleet-average standards for diesel
                                                     For more information about this                      working days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30                   PM emissions that become increasingly
                                                  technical conference, please contact                    p.m.; generally, it is open Monday                    more stringent in 2013, 2017, and 2020.
                                                  PJMDFAXconfDL@ferc.gov; or Sarah                        through Friday, excluding holidays. The               The initial Portable Engine air toxic
                                                  McKinley, 202–502–8368,                                 telephone number for the Reading Room                 control measure (ATCM) became
                                                  sarah.mckinley@ferc.gov, regarding                      is (202) 566–1744. The Air and                        operative under state law on March 11,
                                                  logistical issues.                                      Radiation Docket and Information                      2005 3 and EPA authorized the
                                                                                                          Center’s Web site is http://www.epa.gov/              regulations on November 29, 2012.4
                                                    Dated: December 4, 2015.                              oar/docket.html. The electronic mail                     CARB adopted the 2007 amendments
                                                  Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,                                (email) address for the Air and                       on July 31, 2007, and they became
                                                  Deputy Secretary.                                       Radiation Docket is: a-and-r-Docket@                  effective on September 12, 2007. The
                                                  [FR Doc. 2015–31123 Filed 12–9–15; 8:45 am]             epa.gov, the telephone number is (202)                2007 amendments were designed to
                                                                                                          566–1742, and the fax number is (202)                 extend temporary, emergency
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                                                  BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                                                                          566–9744. An electronic version of the                provisions CARB had adopted to
                                                                                                          public docket is available through the                address the inability of owners and
                                                                                                          federal government’s electronic public                operators to permit or register older
                                                                                                          docket and comment system. You may
                                                                                                                                                                  2 77FR 72846, 72847 (December 6, 2012).
                                                                                                            1 The                                                 3 ThePortable Engine ATCM is set forth at 17
                                                                                                                  federal term ‘‘nonroad’’ and the California
                                                                                                          term ‘‘off-road’’ may be used interchangeably         CCR 93116 et seq.
                                                                                                          herein.                                                4 77 FR 72846 (December 6, 2012).




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                                                  76686                      Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 237 / Thursday, December 10, 2015 / Notices

                                                  engines that did not satisfy the Portable               discretion, to permit non-certified                    standards.8 EPA revised these
                                                  Engine certification requirement to meet                engines that had operated between                      regulations in 1997.9 As stated in the
                                                  the most stringent federal or California                March 1, 2004 and October 1, 2006. The                 preamble to the 1994 rule, EPA
                                                  emission standards. The 2007                            amendments specified particulate                       historically has interpreted the
                                                  amendments addressed this issue by (i)                  matter (PM) emission factors for certain               consistency inquiry under the third
                                                  granting discretion to local air districts              engines, which are used to help                        criterion, outlined above and set forth in
                                                  to permit or register uncertified portable              determine fleet average standards.                     section 209(e)(2)(A)(iii), to require, at
                                                  engines that were operated in California                Finally, the 2010 amendments provided                  minimum, that California standards and
                                                  within a designated time period prior to                relief for certified engines that lost their           enforcement procedures be consistent
                                                  October 1, 2006, or that were low-use                   permit exemption due to changes in                     with section 209(a), section 209(e)(1),
                                                  engines or used exclusively in                          local air district rules.                              and section 209(b)(1)(C) of the Act.10
                                                  emergency applications, (ii) allowing                     By letter dated September 15, 2014,                    In order to be consistent with section
                                                  Tier 1 and Tier 2 engines that were in                  CARB submitted a request to EPA                        209(a), California’s nonroad standards
                                                  operation within a designated time                      pursuant to section 209(e) of the Act for              and enforcement procedures must not
                                                  period prior to October 1, 2006, but did                confirmation that the 2007, 2009, and                  apply to new motor vehicles or new
                                                  not meet the most stringent emission                    2010 amendments fall within the scope                  motor vehicle engines. To be consistent
                                                  requirements, to be permitted or                        of EPA’s previous authorization, or, in                with section 209(e)(1), California’s
                                                  registered until December 31, 2009, and                 the alternative, that EPA grant a full                 nonroad standards and enforcement
                                                  (iii) otherwise providing additional                    authorization for those amendments.                    procedures must not attempt to regulate
                                                  compliance flexibility.                                                                                        engine categories that are permanently
                                                     In 2008, CARB adopted an In-Use Off-                 A. Clean Air Act Nonroad Engine and
                                                                                                          Vehicle Authorizations                                 preempted from state regulation. To
                                                  Road regulation 5 and a Truck and Bus                                                                          determine consistency with section
                                                  regulation.6 CARB then amended the                         Section 209(e)(1) of the Act                        209(b)(1)(C), EPA typically reviews
                                                  Portable Engine regulations to exempt                   permanently preempts any state, or                     nonroad authorization requests under
                                                  certain engines (viz., secondary engines                political subdivision thereof, from                    the same ‘‘consistency’’ criteria that are
                                                  on two-engine cranes and two-engine                     adopting or attempting to enforce any                  applied to motor vehicle waiver
                                                  sweepers, and on lattice boom cranes)                   standard or other requirement relating                 requests under section 209(b)(1)(C).
                                                  that instead became subject to either the               to the control of emissions for certain                That provision provides that the
                                                  In-Use Off-Road regulation or the Truck                 new nonroad engines or vehicles.7 For                  Administrator shall not grant California
                                                  and Bus regulation. CARB formally                       all other nonroad engines (including                   a motor vehicle waiver if she finds that
                                                  adopted the amendments to the Portable                  ‘‘non-new’’ engines), states generally are             California ‘‘standards and
                                                  Engine ATCM on October 19, 2009 (the                    preempted from adopting and enforcing                  accompanying enforcement procedures
                                                  2009 amendments).                                       standards and other requirements                       are not consistent with section 202(a)’’
                                                     California formally approved the 2010                relating to the control of emissions,                  of the Act. Previous decisions granting
                                                  amendments to the Portable Engine                       except that section 209(e)(2)(A) of the                waivers and authorizations have noted
                                                  ATCM regulations on October 19, 2010                    Act requires EPA, after notice and                     that state standards and enforcement
                                                  and January 20, 2011. The 2010                          opportunity for public hearing, to                     procedures will be found to be
                                                  amendments became operative under                       authorize California to adopt and                      inconsistent with section 202(a) if (1)
                                                  state law on February 19, 2011. The                     enforce such regulations unless EPA                    there is inadequate lead time to permit
                                                  2010 amendments provided further                        makes one of three enumerated findings.                the development of the necessary
                                                  compliance flexibility, and clarified or                Specifically, EPA must deny                            technology, giving appropriate
                                                  modified other aspects of the                           authorization if the Administrator finds               consideration to the cost of compliance
                                                  regulations. For example, some entities                 that (1) California’s protectiveness                   within that time, or (2) the federal and
                                                  were allowed to operate a limited                       determination (i.e., that California                   state testing procedures impose
                                                  number of non-certified engines for an                  standards will be, in the aggregate, as                inconsistent certification requirements.
                                                  additional year, through December 31,                   protective of public health and welfare
                                                  2010. Additional regulatory relief was                  as applicable federal standards) is                      In light of the similar language of
                                                  provided for engines that were                          arbitrary and capricious, (2) California               sections 209(b) and 209(e)(2)(A), EPA
                                                  permitted or registered prior to January                does not need such standards to meet                   has reviewed California’s requests for
                                                  1, 2010. The amendments provided for                    compelling and extraordinary                           authorization of nonroad vehicle or
                                                  permitting of portable engines that were                conditions, or (3) the California                      engine standards under section
                                                  certified to standards for new on-road                  standards and accompanying                             209(e)(2)(A) using the same principles
                                                  engines. Auxiliary deck engines on                      enforcement procedures are not                         that it has historically applied in
                                                  water well drilling rigs were exempted                  consistent with section 209 of the Act.                reviewing requests for waivers of
                                                  and instead made subject to CARB’s In-                     On July 20, 1994, EPA promulgated a                 preemption for new motor vehicle or
                                                  Use Off-Road Regulation. Portable                       rule interpreting the three criteria set               new motor vehicle engine standards
                                                  engines used exclusively on dedicated                   forth in section 209(e)(2)(A) that EPA
                                                                                                                                                                   8 See ‘‘Air Pollution Control; Preemption of State
                                                  snow removal vehicles were also                         must consider before granting any
                                                                                                                                                                 Regulation for Nonroad Engine and Vehicle
                                                  exempted. Low-use and emergency use                     California authorization request for                   Standards,’’ 59 FR 36969 (July 20, 1994).
                                                  engines were required to be removed or                  nonroad engine or vehicle emission                       9 See ‘‘Control of Air Pollution: Emission
                                                  replaced with a current tier engine by                                                                         Standards for New Nonroad Compression-Ignition
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                                                  January 1, 2017. The 2010 amendments                       7 States are expressly preempted from adopting or   Engines at or Above 37 Kilowatts; Preemption of
                                                  also deleted the provision that had                     attempting to enforce any standard or other            State Regulation for Nonroad Engine and Vehicle
                                                                                                          requirement relating to the control of emissions       Standards; Amendments to Rules,’’ 62 FR 67733
                                                  allowed local air districts, in their                   from new nonroad engines which are used in             (December 30, 1997). The applicable regulations are
                                                                                                          construction equipment or vehicles or used in farm     now found in 40 CFR part 1074, subpart B, section
                                                    5 The California In-Use Off-Road regulation is set                                                           1074.105.
                                                                                                          equipment or vehicles and which are smaller than
                                                  forth at 13 CCR 2449 et seq.                            175 horsepower. Such express preemption under            10 See supra note 8. EPA has interpreted
                                                    6 The California Truck and Bus regulation is set      section 209(e)(1) of the Act also applies to new       209(b)(1)(C) in the context of section 209(b) motor
                                                  forth at 13 CCR 2025 et seq.                            locomotives or new engines used in locomotives.        vehicle waivers.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 237 / Thursday, December 10, 2015 / Notices                                                   76687

                                                  under section 209(b).11 These principles                  its standards, in the aggregate, are as               that the amendment is intended to ratify
                                                  include, among other things, that EPA                     protective of public health and welfare               and strengthen the preexisting
                                                  should limit its inquiry to the three                     as applicable federal standards. Second,              California waiver provision and to
                                                  specific authorization criteria identified                the amended regulations must not affect               affirm the underlying intent of that
                                                  in section 209(e)(2)(A),12 and that EPA                   consistency with section 209 of the Act,              provision, that is, to afford California
                                                  should give substantial deference to the                  following the same criteria discussed                 the broadest possible discretion in
                                                  policy judgments California has made in                   above in the context of full                          selecting the best means to protect the
                                                  adopting its regulations. In previous                     authorizations. Third, the amended                    health of its citizens and the public
                                                  waiver decisions, EPA has stated that                     regulations must not raise any ‘‘new                  welfare.19
                                                  Congress intended EPA’s review of                         issues’’ affecting EPA’s prior
                                                  California’s decision-making be narrow.                                                                         C. Burden and Standard of Proof
                                                                                                            authorizations.15
                                                  EPA has rejected arguments that are not                                                                           As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
                                                  specified in the statute as grounds for                   B. Deference to California                            DC Circuit has made clear in MEMA I,
                                                  denying a waiver:                                           In previous waiver and authorization                opponents of a waiver request by
                                                     The law makes it clear that the waiver                 decisions, EPA has recognized that the                California bear the burden of showing
                                                  requests cannot be denied unless the specific             intent of Congress in creating a limited              that the statutory criteria for a denial of
                                                  findings designated in the statute can                    review based on the section 209(b)(1)                 the request have been met:
                                                  properly be made. The issue of whether a                  criteria was to ensure that the federal                 [T]he language of the statute and its
                                                  proposed California requirement is likely to              government did not second-guess state                 legislative history indicate that California’s
                                                  result in only marginal improvement in                    policy choices. As the agency explained               regulations, and California’s determinations
                                                  California air quality not commensurate with                                                                    that they must comply with the statute, when
                                                  its costs or is otherwise an arguably unwise
                                                                                                            in one prior waiver decision:
                                                                                                                                                                  presented to the Administrator are presumed
                                                  exercise of regulatory power is not legally                  It is worth noting . . . I would feel              to satisfy the waiver requirements and that
                                                  pertinent to my decision under section 209,               constrained to approve a California approach          the burden of proving otherwise is on
                                                  so long as the California requirement is                  to the problem which I might also feel unable         whoever attacks them. California must
                                                  consistent with section 202(a) and is more                to adopt at the federal level in my own               present its regulations and findings at the
                                                  stringent than applicable Federal                         capacity as a regulator. The whole approach           hearing and thereafter the parties opposing
                                                  requirements in the sense that it may result              of the Clean Air Act is to force the                  the waiver request bear the burden of
                                                  in some further reduction in air pollution in             development of new types of emission                  persuading the Administrator that the waiver
                                                  California.13                                             control technology where that is needed by            request should be denied.20
                                                    This principle of narrow EPA review                     compelling the industry to ‘‘catch up’’ to
                                                                                                            some degree with newly promulgated                       The same logic applies to
                                                  has been upheld by the U.S. Court of                                                                            authorization requests. The
                                                                                                            standards. Such an approach . . . may be
                                                  Appeals for the District of Columbia                      attended with costs, in the shape of reduced          Administrator’s burden, on the other
                                                  Circuit.14 Thus, EPA’s consideration of                   product offering, or price or fuel economy            hand, is to make a reasonable evaluation
                                                  all the evidence submitted concerning                     penalties, and by risks that a wider number           of the information in the record in
                                                  an authorization decision is                              of vehicle classes may not be able to                 coming to the waiver decision. As the
                                                  circumscribed by its relevance to those                   complete their development work in time.              court in MEMA I stated: ‘‘here, too, if the
                                                  questions that may be considered under                    Since a balancing of these risks and costs            Administrator ignores evidence
                                                  section 209(e)(2)(A).                                     against the potential benefits from reduced
                                                                                                            emissions is a central policy decision for any
                                                                                                                                                                  demonstrating that the waiver should
                                                     If California amends regulations that                                                                        not be granted, or if he seeks to
                                                  were previously authorized by EPA,                        regulatory agency under the statutory scheme
                                                                                                            outlined above, I believe I am required to            overcome that evidence with
                                                  California may ask EPA to determine
                                                                                                            give very substantial deference to California’s       unsupported assumptions of his own,
                                                  that the amendments are within the
                                                                                                            judgments on this score.16                            he runs the risk of having his waiver
                                                  scope of the earlier authorization. A
                                                                                                              Similarly, EPA has stated that the                  decision set aside as ‘arbitrary and
                                                  within-the-scope determination for such
                                                                                                            text, structure, and history of the                   capricious.’ ’’21 Therefore, the
                                                  amendments is permissible without a
                                                                                                            California waiver provision clearly                   Administrator’s burden is to act
                                                  full authorization review if three
                                                                                                            indicate both a congressional intent and              ‘‘reasonably.’’ 22
                                                  conditions are met. First, the amended                                                                             With regard to the standard of proof,
                                                  regulations must not undermine                            appropriate EPA practice of leaving the
                                                                                                                                                                  the court in MEMA I explained that the
                                                  California’s previous determination that                  decision on ‘‘ambiguous and
                                                                                                                                                                  Administrator’s role in a section 209
                                                                                                            controversial matters of public policy’’
                                                                                                                                                                  proceeding is to:
                                                    11 See Engine Manufacturers Association v. EPA,
                                                                                                            to California’s judgment.17 This
                                                  88 F.3d 1075, 1087 (D.C. Cir. 1996): ‘‘. . . EPA was      interpretation is supported by relevant                 [. . .] consider all evidence that passes the
                                                  within the bounds of permissible construction in                                                                threshold test of materiality and . . .
                                                  analogizing § 209(e) on nonroad sources to § 209(a)       discussion in the House Committee
                                                                                                                                                                  thereafter assess such material evidence
                                                  on motor vehicles.’’                                      Report for the 1977 amendments to the                 against a standard of proof to determine
                                                    12 See supra note 7, at 36983.                          Clean Air Act.18 Congress had the                     whether the parties favoring a denial of the
                                                    13 ‘‘Waiver of Application of Clean Air Act to
                                                                                                            opportunity through the 1977                          waiver have shown that the factual
                                                  California State Standards,’’ 36 FR 17458 (Aug. 31,       amendments to restrict the preexisting                circumstances exist in which Congress
                                                  1971). Note that the more stringent standard
                                                  expressed here, in 1971, was superseded by the            waiver provision, but elected instead to              intended a denial of the waiver.23
                                                  1977 amendments to section 209, which established         expand California’s flexibility to adopt a               With regard to the protectiveness
                                                  that California must determine that its standards         complete program of motor vehicle                     finding, the court upheld the
                                                  are, in the aggregate, at least as protective of public   emission controls. The report explains
                                                  health and welfare as applicable Federal standards.                                                             Administrator’s position that, to deny a
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                                                  In the 1990 amendments to section 209, Congress                                                                 waiver, there must be ‘‘clear and
                                                                                                              15 See ‘‘California State Motor Vehicle Pollution
                                                  established section 209(e) and similar language in                                                              compelling evidence’’ to show that
                                                  section 209(e)(1)(i) pertaining to California’s           Control Standards; Amendments Within the Scope
                                                  nonroad emission standards which California must          of Previous Waiver of Federal Preemption,’’ 46 FR
                                                                                                                                                                   19 Id.
                                                  determine to be, in the aggregate, at least as            36742 (July 15, 1981).
                                                                                                              16 40 FR 23102, 23103–23104 (May 28, 1975).          20 MEMA    I, supra note 17, at 1121.
                                                  protective of public health and welfare as
                                                                                                              17 Id. at 23104; 58 FR 4166 (January 13, 1993).      21 Id. at 1126.
                                                  applicable federal standards.
                                                    14 See, e.g., Motor and Equip. Mfrs Assoc. v. EPA,        18 MEMA I, 627 F.2d at 1110 (citing H.R. Rep. No.    22 Id. at 1126.

                                                  627 F.2d 1095 (D.C. Cir. 1979) (‘‘MEMA I’’).              294, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 301–302 (1977)).            23 Id. at 1122.




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                                                  76688                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 237 / Thursday, December 10, 2015 / Notices

                                                  proposed enforcement procedures                         amendments are not within the scope of                 permanently preempted categories of
                                                  undermine the protectiveness of                         the previous authorization.                            engines or vehicles (e.g., new
                                                  California’s standards.24 The court                       EPA received no comments and no                      locomotives, engines for new
                                                  noted that this standard of proof also                  requests for a public hearing.                         locomotives, or new nonroad engines
                                                  accords with the congressional intent to                Consequently, EPA did not hold a                       less than 175 horsepower used in farm
                                                  provide California with the broadest                    public hearing.                                        and construction equipment and
                                                  possible discretion in setting regulations              II. Discussion                                         vehicles), and so are consistent with
                                                  it finds protective of the public health                                                                       section 209(e)(1).31 CARB maintains
                                                  and welfare.25                                          A. Within-the-Scope Discussion                         that the Portable Engine ATCM
                                                     With respect to the consistency                         CARB maintains that the amendments                  amendments do not cause any
                                                  finding, the court did not articulate a                 noted above meet all three within-the-                 technological feasibility issues or cause
                                                  standard of proof applicable to all                     scope criteria, i.e., that the amendments:             inconsistency between state and federal
                                                  proceedings, but found that the                         (1) Do not undermine the original                      test procedures, per section 209(b)(1)(C).
                                                  opponents of the waiver were unable to                  protectiveness determination                           Finally, CARB maintains that none of
                                                  meet their burden of proof even if the                  underlying California’s Portable Engine                the 2007, 2009 or 2010 Amendments
                                                  standard were a mere preponderance of                   ATCM regulations; (2) do not affect the                alter the test procedures specified for
                                                  the evidence. EPA’s past waiver                         consistency of the Portable Engine                     certifying engines, so there is no effect
                                                  decisions have consistently made clear                  ATCM regulations with section 209, and                 on the consistency with federal test
                                                  that: ‘‘[E]ven in the two areas                         (3) do not raise any new issues affecting              procedures.32 As mentioned above, no
                                                  concededly reserved for Federal                         the prior authorization.28 We received                 comments were received showing
                                                  judgment by this legislation—the                        no adverse comments or evidence                        otherwise on any of these contentions.
                                                  existence of ‘compelling and                            suggesting a within-the-scope analysis is              Because there is no evidence in the
                                                  extraordinary’ conditions and whether                   inappropriate, or that these Portable                  record to indicate that CARB’s Portable
                                                  the standards are technologically                       Engine ATCM amendments fail to meet                    Engine amendments are inconsistent
                                                  feasible—Congress intended that the                     any of the three criteria for within-the-              with section 209, we cannot find that
                                                  standards of EPA review of the State                    scope confirmation.                                    the noted Portable Engine amendments
                                                  decision to be a narrow one.’’ 26                          With regard to the first within-the-                are inconsistent with section 209.
                                                                                                          scope prong, CARB maintains that the                      Regarding the third prong, California
                                                  D. EPA’s Administrative Process in                      stringency of its emission standards is,               states that it is ‘‘not aware of any new
                                                  Consideration of California’s Portable                  in the aggregate, at least as protective of            issues affecting the previously granted
                                                  Engine ATCM Amendment Request for                       public health and welfare as applicable                authorization for the Portable Engine
                                                  Authorization                                           federal standards, especially since there              ATCM.’’ 33 There were also no
                                                    On November 21, 2014, EPA                             are no federally applicable standards                  comments arguing that any new issues
                                                  published a Federal Register notice                     regulating in-use nonroad engines.29 No                have been raised affecting the
                                                  announcing its receipt of California’s                  comments presented otherwise, and                      previously granted authorization.
                                                  authorization request. In that notice,                  EPA agrees that there are no federally                 CARB’s 2007 Amendments and 2009
                                                  EPA invited public comment on each of                   applicable standards for in-use nonroad                Amendments provide compliance
                                                  the Portable Engine ATCM amendments                     engines and that no evidence exists in                 flexibilities and regulatory relief that
                                                  and an opportunity to request a public                  the record to demonstrate that CARB’s                  would not appear to raise any new
                                                  hearing.27                                              Portable Engine ATCM regulations, in                   issues affecting the previously granted
                                                                                                          the aggregate, are less protective than                authorization. Thus, we cannot find that
                                                    First, EPA requested comments on
                                                                                                          applicable federal standards. Therefore,               the 2007 or 2009 Amendments raise any
                                                  whether California’s 2007, 2009, or 2010
                                                                                                          we find that the Portable Engine ATCM                  new issues affecting the previously
                                                  Portable Engine ATCM amendments: (1)
                                                                                                          amendments, as noted, do not                           granted authorization.
                                                  Undermine California’s previous                                                                                   CARB’s 2010 Amendments, however,
                                                  determination that its standards, in the                undermine the protectiveness
                                                                                                          determination made with regard to the                  include some new or stricter regulatory
                                                  aggregate, are at least as protective of                                                                       requirements, such as (i) requiring low-
                                                  public health and welfare as comparable                 original Portable Engine ATCM
                                                                                                          authorization.                                         use and emergency use engines to be
                                                  federal standards; (2) affect the                                                                              removed or replaced with a current tier
                                                  consistency of California’s requirements                   With regard to the second within-the-
                                                                                                          scope prong (consistency with section                  engine by January 1, 2017 (which is
                                                  with section 209 of the Act; or (3) raise                                                                      earlier than originally required for some
                                                  any other new issues affecting EPA’s                    209), CARB first maintains that the
                                                                                                          Portable Engine ATCM amendments do                     engine sizes), (ii) no longer allowing
                                                  previous authorization determinations.                                                                         local air districts to permit non-certified
                                                  EPA also requested comments on                          not regulate new motor vehicles or
                                                                                                          motor vehicle engines and so are                       engines that had operated between
                                                  whether the 2007, 2009, or 2010                                                                                March 1, 2004 and October 1, 2006, and
                                                  Portable Engine ATCM amendments                         consistent with section 209(a).30
                                                                                                          Likewise the Portable Engine ATCM                      (iii) specifying PM emission factors for
                                                  meet the criteria for a full authorization                                                                     certain engines in order to help
                                                  should any party believe that the                       amendments do not regulate any of the
                                                                                                                                                                 determine fleet average standards. These
                                                                                                             28 ‘‘Request for Authorization Action Pursuant to   amendments will be referred to herein
                                                    24 Id.
                                                                                                          Clean Air Act Section 209(e) for 2007, 2009, and       as the ‘‘New 2010 Requirements.’’
                                                    25 Id.
                                                                                                          2010 Amendments to California’s Airborne Toxic         Because these New 2010 Requirements
                                                    26 See, e.g., ‘‘California State Motor Vehicle        Control Measure for Portable Diesel Engines 50
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                                                  Pollution Control Standards; Waiver of Federal          Horsepower and Greater’’ (September 15, 2014),
                                                                                                                                                                 raise new issues affecting the
                                                  Preemption,’’ 40 FR 23102 (May 28, 1975), at 23103.     (‘‘California Authorization Support Document’’), at    authorization previously granted for the
                                                    27 See ‘‘California State Nonroad Engine Pollution    10–14 [publicly available at www.regulations.gov
                                                  Control Standards; Portable Diesel-Fueled Engines       Web site, docket number EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–                 31 California   Authorization Support Document, at
                                                  Air Toxics Control Measure; Request for                 0798–0002].                                            11.
                                                                                                             29 California Authorization Support Document, at      32 California
                                                  Confirmation That Amendments Are Within-the-                                                                                     Authorization Support Document, at
                                                  Scope of Previous Authorization; Opportunity for        11.                                                    14.
                                                  Public Hearing and Comment,’’ 79 FR 69462                  30 California Authorization Support Document, at      33 California   Authorization Support Document, at
                                                  (November 21, 2014).                                    11.                                                    14.



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 237 / Thursday, December 10, 2015 / Notices                                                        76689

                                                  Portable Engine ATCM, the New 2010                      nonroad engines.35 No comments                            consistent with section 209(e)(1) of the
                                                  Requirements are not considered within                  presented otherwise, and the New 2010                     Act, the regulations must not attempt to
                                                  the scope of the prior authorization, and               Requirements at issue make the                            regulate vehicles and engines
                                                  will need to be evaluated for a full                    standards more protective, not less.                      permanently preempted from state
                                                  authorization.34                                        Therefore, we find that California’s                      regulation by section 209(e)(1),
                                                    In summary, for the 2007 and 2009                     protectiveness determination is not                       including new nonroad engines below
                                                  Amendments, we find that California                     arbitrary and capricious.                                 175 horsepower used in farm and
                                                                                                             Regarding the second possible                          construction equipment and vehicles, or
                                                  has met the three criteria for a within-
                                                                                                          finding, California reasserts its                         new locomotives or locomotive engines.
                                                  the-scope authorization approval, and
                                                                                                          longstanding position that the State                      CARB states that none of its Portable
                                                  these amendments are thus confirmed                     continues to need its own nonroad                         Engine ATCM requirements apply to
                                                  as within the scope of the previous EPA                 engine program to meet serious air                        these preempted vehicles or engines.40
                                                  authorization of California’s Portable                  pollution problems.36 CARB points out                     Again, we received no evidence to the
                                                  Engine ATCM regulations. For the 2010                   that California, particularly in the South                contrary. We therefore cannot find that
                                                  Amendments, while most of the 2010                      Coast and San Joaquin Valley Air                          the New 2010 Requirements are
                                                  amendments are within the scope of the                  Basins, continues to experience some of                   inconsistent with sections 209(a) and
                                                  previous authorization, the New 2010                    the worst air quality in the nation.37 We                 209(e)(1).
                                                  Requirements are not within the scope                   further note that the relevant inquiry                       Third, to be consistent with section
                                                  of the prior authorization, and we will                 under section 209(e)(2)(A)(ii) is whether                 209(b)(1)(c), there must be adequate lead
                                                  proceed to determine whether the New                    California needs its own emission                         time to permit technological
                                                  2010 Requirements qualify for full                      control program to meet compelling and                    development for compliance with the
                                                  authorization.                                          extraordinary conditions, not whether                     new standards, and the state test
                                                  B. Full Authorization Discussion for the                any given standard is necessary to meet                   procedures must not be made
                                                  New 2010 Requirements                                   such conditions.38 CARB’s emission                        inconsistent with federal test
                                                                                                          control program is a central part of                      procedures.
                                                     As described in the background                       California’s efforts to improve its air                      Regarding test procedures, CARB
                                                  section, the CAA directs EPA to grant                   quality, to meet its air quality goals and                maintains that the amendments do not
                                                  authorization, unless EPA makes one of                  satisfy its State Implementation Plan                     alter any test procedures, and EPA does
                                                  three possible findings: (1) That                       obligations. No comments were                             not have comparable in-use standards
                                                  California’s protectiveness                             submitted otherwise. Therefore, we                        and test procedures; thus, by definition,
                                                  determination is arbitrary and                          cannot find that California does not                      there is no inconsistency with federal
                                                  capricious, (2) that California does not                need its state standards to meet                          test procedures.41 No comments were
                                                  need state standards to meet compelling                 compelling and extraordinary                              received otherwise. We therefore cannot
                                                  and extraordinary conditions, or (3) that               conditions in California.                                 find that the New 2010 Requirements
                                                  the California standards and                               The third and final possible finding                   are inconsistent with federal test
                                                  accompanying enforcement procedures                     upon which authorization could be                         procedures.
                                                                                                          denied is if the New 2010 Requirements                       Regarding the existence of adequate
                                                  are not consistent with section 209 of
                                                                                                          are not consistent with ‘‘this section.’’                 lead time, CARB maintains that the New
                                                  the Act. As mentioned above, the New
                                                                                                          As discussed above, this requires                         2010 Requirements do not require
                                                  2010 Requirements to be evaluated for
                                                                                                          evaluation of consistency with sections                   development of new technologies, and
                                                  full authorization include the                                                                                    that EPA has already previously
                                                                                                          209(a), 209(e)(1), and 209(b)(1)(C). To be
                                                  amendments requiring low-use and                                                                                  determined that California’s applicable
                                                                                                          consistent with section 209(a), the
                                                  emergency use engines to be removed or                                                                            Tier 1 through Tier 4 off-road
                                                                                                          amendments must not apply to new
                                                  replaced with a current tier engine by                                                                            compression ignition engine standards
                                                                                                          motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines.
                                                  January 1, 2017, the amendments no                      CARB states that none of its Portable                     are technically feasible,42 thus there is
                                                  longer allowing local air districts to                  Engine ATCM requirements apply to                         no consistency issue presented with
                                                  permit non-certified engines that had                   new motor vehicles or motor vehicle                       regard to lead time. As mentioned
                                                  operated between March 1, 2004 and                      engines.39 No evidence has been                           above, we received no comment or
                                                  October 1, 2006, and the amendments                     received to the contrary. Second, to be                   evidence contesting California’s
                                                  specifying PM emission factors for                                                                                positions regarding the consistency
                                                  certain engines in order to help                          35 California   Authorization Support Document, at      criterion under section 209(b)(1)(c).The
                                                  determine fleet average standards.                      11.                                                       compliance date for low use and
                                                                                                            36 California  Authorization Support Document, at
                                                     Regarding the first possible finding, it                                                                       emergency use engines is nearly the
                                                                                                          14–16.
                                                  is clear that California’s standards are at                37 California Authorization Support Document, at
                                                                                                                                                                    same as the original compliance date,
                                                  least as protective of public health and                15.                                                       and the two other changes (i.e.,
                                                  welfare as applicable federal standards,                   38 Final 209(e) Rule, 59 FR at 36982. The              elimination of discretionary permits by
                                                  especially since there are no federally                 Administrator has recognized that even if such a          local air districts, and specification of
                                                                                                          standard by standard test were applied to                 PM emission factors used to calculate
                                                  applicable standards to regulate in-use                 California, it ‘‘would not be applicable to its fullest
                                                                                                          stringency due to the degree of discretion given to       fleet average standards) likewise do not
                                                    34 Because the New 2010 amendments create both        California in dealing with its mobile source              raise feasibility issues. Thus, we cannot
                                                  new and more stringent emission requirements on         pollution problems.’’ (41 FR 44209, 44213, (October       find any evidence indicating that the
                                                  the regulated parties, which are the type of            7, 1976); 49 FR 18887, 18892 (May 3, 1984).); see
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                                                                                                                                                                    New 2010 Requirements do not provide
                                                  requirements otherwise preempted under section          also EPA’s 2009 GHG Waiver Decision wherein EPA
                                                  209(e)(1), EPA considers such amendments to             rejected the suggested interpretation of section          adequate lead time or are otherwise not
                                                  create ‘‘new issues’’ which require a full              209(b)(1)(B) as requiring a review of the specific
                                                                                                          need for California’s new motor vehicle greenhouse          40 California   Authorization Support Document, at
                                                  consideration of the authorization criteria under
                                                  section 209(e)(2)(A). Minor amendments to               gas emission standards as opposed to the traditional      11.
                                                  previously waived standards that do not create          interpretation (need for the program as a whole)            41 California   Authorization Support Document, at
                                                  additional burdens on the regulated parties are         applied to local or regional air pollution problems.      14.
                                                  considered under the within-the-scope criteria by          39 California Authorization Support Document, at         42 California Authorization Support Document, at

                                                  EPA. See 37 FR 14831 (July 25, 1972).                   11.                                                       13, citing 75 FR 8056, 8060 (February 23, 2010).



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                                                  76690                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 237 / Thursday, December 10, 2015 / Notices

                                                  technically feasible. We therefore                      flexibility analysis addressing the                   insurance plans, including designing
                                                  cannot find that the New 2010                           impact of this action on small business               plans, assisting in the implementation
                                                  Requirements that we analyzed under                     entities.                                             of plans, providing administrative
                                                  the full authorization criteria are                        Further, the Congressional Review                  services to plans, and developing
                                                  inconsistent with section 209 of the Act.               Act, 5 U.S.C. 801, et seq., as added by               employee communication programs for
                                                    Having found that the New 2010                        the Small Business Regulatory                         plans, pursuant to sections 225.28(b)(5),
                                                  Requirements satisfy each of the criteria               Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, does                (b)(6)(ii), (b)(9)(ii) and (b)(14)(i),
                                                  for full authorization, and having                      not apply because this action is not a                respectively.
                                                  received no contrary evidence to                        rule for purposes of 5 U.S.C. 804(3).                   Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
                                                  contradict this finding, we cannot deny                                                                       System, December 7, 2015.
                                                                                                            Dated: December 1, 2015.
                                                  authorization of the amendments.
                                                                                                          Janet G. McCabe,                                      Michael J. Lewandowski,
                                                  III. Decision                                           Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air         Associate Secretary of the Board.
                                                     The Administrator has delegated the                  and Radiation.                                        [FR Doc. 2015–31109 Filed 12–9–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  authority to grant California section                   [FR Doc. 2015–31043 Filed 12–9–15; 8:45 am]           BILLING CODE 6210–01–P
                                                  209(e) authorizations to the Assistant                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                  Administrator for Air and Radiation.
                                                  After evaluating CARB’s amendments to                                                                         FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT
                                                  its Portable Engine ATCM regulations                    FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM                                INVESTMENT BOARD
                                                  described above and CARB’s
                                                  submissions for EPA review, EPA is                      Notice of Proposals To Engage in or                   Sunshine Act; Notice of Meeting/
                                                  granting a within-the-scope                             To Acquire Companies Engaged in                       Correction—Addition of #6
                                                  authorization for the Portable Engine                   Permissible Nonbanking Activities
                                                  ATCM 2007, 2009, and 2010                                                                                     TIME AND DATE:  10:00 a.m. (Eastern
                                                  Amendments, other than the New 2010                        The companies listed in this notice                Time) December 14, 2015 (Telephonic)
                                                  Requirements (as specified above). In                   have given notice under section 4 of the              PLACE: 10th Floor Board Meeting Room,
                                                  addition, EPA is granting a full                        Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C.                   77 K Street NE., Washington, DC 20002.
                                                  authorization for the New 2010                          1843) (BHC Act) and Regulation Y, (12                 STATUS: Parts will be open to the public
                                                  Requirements.                                           CFR part 225) to engage de novo, or to                and parts will be closed to the public.
                                                     This decision will affect persons in                 acquire or control voting securities or               MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
                                                  California and those manufacturers and/                 assets of a company, including the
                                                  or owners/operators nationwide who                      companies listed below, that engages                  Open to the Public
                                                  must comply with California’s                           either directly or through a subsidiary or            1. Approval of the Minutes for the
                                                  requirements. In addition, because other                other company, in a nonbanking activity                  November 25, 2015 Board Member
                                                  states may adopt California’s standards                 that is listed in § 225.28 of Regulation Y               Meeting
                                                  for which a section 209(e)(2)(A)                        (12 CFR 225.28) or that the Board has                 2. Monthly Reports
                                                  authorization has been granted if certain               determined by Order to be closely                     (a) Monthly Participant Activity Report
                                                  criteria are met, this decision would                   related to banking and permissible for                (b) Monthly Investment Performance
                                                  also affect those states and those                      bank holding companies. Unless                           Report
                                                  persons in such states. See CAA section                 otherwise noted, these activities will be             (c) Legislative Report
                                                  209(e)(2)(B). For these reasons, EPA                    conducted throughout the United States.               3. Quarterly Metrics Report
                                                                                                             Each notice is available for inspection            4. OGC Report and Annual Presentation
                                                  determines and finds that this is a final
                                                  action of national applicability, and also              at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated.                Closed to the Public
                                                  a final action of nationwide scope or                   The notice also will be available for
                                                                                                          inspection at the offices of the Board of             5. Security
                                                  effect for purposes of section 307(b)(1)                                                                      6. Personnel
                                                  of the Act. Pursuant to section 307(b)(1)               Governors. Interested persons may
                                                                                                          express their views in writing on the                 CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
                                                  of the Act, judicial review of this final
                                                                                                          question whether the proposal complies                Kimberly Weaver, Director, Office of
                                                  action may be sought only in the United
                                                                                                          with the standards of section 4 of the                External Affairs, (202) 942–1640.
                                                  States Court of Appeals for the District
                                                  of Columbia Circuit. Petitions for review               BHC Act.                                                Dated: December 8, 2015.
                                                  must be filed by February 8, 2016.                         Unless otherwise noted, comments                   James Petrick,
                                                  Judicial review of this final action may                regarding the notices must be received                General Counsel, Federal Retirement Thrift
                                                  not be obtained in subsequent                           at the Reserve Bank indicated or the                  Investment Board.
                                                  enforcement proceedings, pursuant to                    offices of the Board of Governors not                 [FR Doc. 2015–31268 Filed 12–8–15; 4:15 pm]
                                                  section 307(b)(2) of the Act.                           later than December 28, 2015.                         BILLING CODE 6760–01–P
                                                                                                             A. Federal Reserve Bank of
                                                  IV. Statutory and Executive Order                       Minneapolis (Jacquelyn K. Brunmeier,
                                                  Reviews                                                 Assistant Vice President) 90 Hennepin                 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                    As with past authorization and waiver                 Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota                        HUMAN SERVICES
                                                  decisions, this action is not a rule as                 55480–0291:
                                                  defined by Executive Order 12866.                          1. State Bankshares, Inc., Fargo, North            Centers for Disease Control and
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                                                  Therefore, it is exempt from review by                  Dakota to acquire an additional 51                    Prevention
                                                  the Office of Management and Budget as                  percent of the voting shares of Discovery
                                                                                                          Benefits, Inc., Fargo, North Dakota, and              [30Day–16–0307]
                                                  required for rules and regulations by
                                                  Executive Order 12866.                                  indirectly acquire additional voting
                                                                                                                                                                Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork
                                                    In addition, this action is not a rule                shares of Discovery Benefits, Inc., Fargo,
                                                                                                                                                                Reduction Act Review
                                                  as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility                North Dakota, and thereby engage in
                                                  Act, 5 U.S.C. 601(2). Therefore, EPA has                providing consulting services to                        The Centers for Disease Control and
                                                  not prepared a supporting regulatory                    employee benefit, compensation and                    Prevention (CDC) has submitted the


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Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:28:25
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:28:25
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Decision.
DatesPetitions for review must be filed by February 8, 2016.
ContactDavid Read, Attorney, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Telephone: (734) 214-4367. Fax: (734) 214-4212. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 76685 

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