81_FR_20668 81 FR 20600 - Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Prong 4-2008 Ozone, 2010 NO2,

81 FR 20600 - Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Prong 4-2008 Ozone, 2010 NO2,

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 68 (April 8, 2016)

Page Range20600-20605
FR Document2016-07669

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve portions of revisions to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR), addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) visibility transport (prong 4) infrastructure SIP requirements for the 2008 8-hour Ozone, 2010 1-hour Nitrogen Dioxide (NO<INF>2</INF>), 2010 1-hour Sulfur Dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>), and 2012 annual Fine Particulate Matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure SIP.'' Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve the prong 4 portions of North Carolina's November 2, 2012, 2008 8-hour Ozone infrastructure SIP submission; August 23, 2013, 2010 1-hour NO<INF>2</INF> infrastructure SIP submission; March 18, 2014, 2010 1- hour SO<INF>2</INF> infrastructure SIP submission; and December 4, 2015, 2012 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> infrastructure SIP submission. All other applicable infrastructure requirements for these SIP submissions have been or will be addressed in separate rulemakings.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20600-20605]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07669]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2016-0072; FRL-9944-53-Region 4]


Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Prong 4-2008 Ozone, 2010 
NO2, SO2, and 2012 PM2.5

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve portions of revisions to the North Carolina State 
Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the North Carolina Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR), addressing the Clean 
Air Act (CAA or Act) visibility transport (prong 4) infrastructure SIP 
requirements for the 2008 8-hour Ozone, 2010 1-hour Nitrogen Dioxide 
(NO2), 2010 1-hour Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and 2012 
annual Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and 
submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of 
each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, commonly referred to as an 
``infrastructure SIP.'' Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve the 
prong 4 portions of North Carolina's November 2, 2012, 2008 8-hour 
Ozone infrastructure SIP submission; August 23, 2013, 2010 1-hour 
NO2 infrastructure SIP submission; March 18, 2014, 2010 1-
hour SO2 infrastructure SIP submission; and December 4, 
2015, 2012 annual PM2.5 infrastructure SIP submission. All 
other applicable infrastructure requirements for these SIP submissions 
have been or will be addressed in separate rulemakings.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No EPA-R04-
OAR-2016-0072 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment 
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general 
guidance on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Lakeman of the Air Regulatory 
Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, 
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 
30303-8960. Mr. Lakeman can be reached by telephone at (404) 562-9043 
or via electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    By statute, SIPs meeting the requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and 
(2) of the CAA are to be submitted by states within three years after 
promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS to provide for the 
implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the new or revised 
NAAQS. EPA has historically referred to these SIP submissions made for 
the purpose of satisfying the requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and 
110(a)(2) as ``infrastructure SIP'' submissions. Sections 110(a)(1) and 
(2) require states to address basic SIP elements such as for 
monitoring, basic program requirements, and legal authority that are 
designed to assure attainment and maintenance of the newly established 
or revised NAAQS. More specifically, section 110(a)(1) provides the 
procedural and timing requirements for infrastructure SIPs. Section 
110(a)(2) lists specific elements that states must meet for the 
infrastructure SIP requirements related to a newly established or 
revised NAAQS. The contents of an infrastructure SIP submission may 
vary depending upon the data and analytical tools available to the 
state, as well as the provisions already contained in the state's 
implementation plan at the time in which the state develops and submits 
the submission for a new or revised NAAQS.
    Section 110(a)(2)(D) has two components: 110(a)(2)(D)(i) and 
110(a)(2)(D)(ii). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) includes four distinct 
components, commonly referred to as ``prongs,'' that must be addressed 
in infrastructure SIP submissions. The first two prongs, which are 
codified in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), are provisions that prohibit 
any source or other type of emissions activity in one state from 
contributing significantly to nonattainment of the NAAQS in another 
state (prong 1) and from interfering with maintenance of the NAAQS in 
another state (prong 2). The third and fourth prongs, which are 
codified in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), are provisions that prohibit 
emissions activity in one state from interfering with measures required 
to prevent significant deterioration of air quality in another state 
(prong 3) or from interfering with measures to protect visibility in 
another state (prong 4). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) requires SIPs to 
include provisions ensuring compliance with sections 115 and 126 of the 
Act, relating to interstate and international pollution abatement.
    Through this action, EPA is proposing to approve the prong 4 
portions of North Carolina's infrastructure SIP submissions for the 
2008 8-hour Ozone, 2010 1-hour NO2, 2010 1-hour 
SO2, and 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS as discussed in 
section IV of this document. All other applicable infrastructure SIP 
requirements for these SIP submissions have been or will be addressed 
in separate rulemakings. A brief background regarding the NAAQS 
relevant to this proposal is provided below. For comprehensive 
information on these NAAQS, please refer to the

[[Page 20601]]

Federal Register documents cited in the following subsections.

a. 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS

    On March 12, 2008, EPA revised the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS to 0.075 
parts per million. See 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). States were 
required to submit infrastructure SIP submissions for the 2008 8-hour 
Ozone NAAQS to EPA no later than March 12, 2011. North Carolina 
submitted its infrastructure SIP submission on November 2, 2012, for 
the 2008 8-hour Ozone NAAQS. This proposed action only addresses the 
prong 4 element of that submission.

b. 2010 1-Hour NO2 NAAQS

    On January 22, 2010, EPA established a new 1-hour primary NAAQS for 
NO2 at a level of 100 parts per billion, based on a 3-year 
average of the 98th percentile of the yearly distribution of 1-hour 
daily maximum concentrations. See 75 FR 6474 (February 9, 2010). States 
were required to submit infrastructure SIP submissions for the 2010 1-
hour NO2 NAAQS to EPA no later than January 22, 2013. North 
Carolina submitted its infrastructure SIP submission on August 23, 
2013, for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS. This proposed action 
only addresses the prong 4 element of that submission.

c. 2010 1-Hour SO2 NAAQS

    On June 2, 2010, EPA revised the primary SO2 NAAQS to an 
hourly standard of 75 parts per billion based on a 3-year average of 
the annual 99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations. See 
75 FR 35520 (June 22, 2010). States were required to submit 
infrastructure SIP submissions for the 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS 
to EPA no later than June 2, 2013. North Carolina submitted its 
infrastructure SIP submission on March 18, 2014, for the 2010 1-hour 
SO2 NAAQS. This proposed action only addresses the prong 4 
element of that submission.

d. 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS

    On December 14, 2012, EPA revised the primary annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS to 12 micrograms per cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\). 
See 78 FR 3086 (January 15, 2013). States were required to submit 
infrastructure SIP submissions for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS to 
EPA no later than December 14, 2015. North Carolina submitted its 
infrastructure SIP submission on December 4, 2015, for the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS. This proposed action only addresses the prong 4 
element of that submission.

II. What is EPA's approach to the review of infrastructure SIP 
submissions?

    The requirement for states to make a SIP submission of this type 
arises out of section 110(a)(1). Pursuant to section 110(a)(1), states 
must make SIP submissions ``within 3 years (or such shorter period as 
the Administrator may prescribe) after the promulgation of a national 
primary ambient air quality standard (or any revision thereof),'' and 
these SIP submissions are to provide for the ``implementation, 
maintenance, and enforcement'' of such NAAQS. The statute directly 
imposes on states the duty to make these SIP submissions, and the 
requirement to make the submissions is not conditioned upon EPA's 
taking any action other than promulgating a new or revised NAAQS. 
Section 110(a)(2) includes a list of specific elements that ``each such 
plan'' submission must address.
    EPA has historically referred to these SIP submissions made for the 
purpose of satisfying the requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) as 
``infrastructure SIP'' submissions. Although the term ``infrastructure 
SIP'' does not appear in the CAA, EPA uses the term to distinguish this 
particular type of SIP submission from submissions that are intended to 
satisfy other SIP requirements under the CAA, such as ``nonattainment 
SIP'' or ``attainment plan SIP'' submissions to address the 
nonattainment planning requirements of part D of Title I of the CAA, 
``regional haze SIP'' submissions required by EPA rule to address the 
visibility protection requirements of section 169A of the CAA, and 
nonattainment new source review permit program submissions to address 
the permit requirements of CAA, Title I, part D.
    Section 110(a)(1) addresses the timing and general requirements for 
infrastructure SIP submissions and section 110(a)(2) provides more 
details concerning the required contents of these submissions. The list 
of required elements provided in section 110(a)(2) contains a wide 
variety of disparate provisions, some of which pertain to required 
legal authority, some of which pertain to required substantive program 
provisions, and some of which pertain to requirements for both 
authority and substantive program provisions.\1\ EPA therefore believes 
that while the timing requirement in section 110(a)(1) is unambiguous, 
some of the other statutory provisions are ambiguous. In particular, 
EPA believes that the list of required elements for infrastructure SIP 
submissions provided in section 110(a)(2) contains ambiguities 
concerning what is required for inclusion in an infrastructure SIP 
submission.
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    \1\ For example: section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) provides that states 
must provide assurances that they have adequate legal authority 
under state and local law to carry out the SIP; Section 110(a)(2)(C) 
provides that states must have a SIP-approved program to address 
certain sources as required by part C of Title I of the CAA; and 
section 110(a)(2)(G) provides that states must have legal authority 
to address emergencies as well as contingency plans that are 
triggered in the event of such emergencies.
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    The following examples of ambiguities illustrate the need for EPA 
to interpret some section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2) requirements 
with respect to infrastructure SIP submissions for a given new or 
revised NAAQS. One example of ambiguity is that section 110(a)(2) 
requires that ``each'' SIP submission must meet the list of 
requirements therein, while EPA has long noted that this literal 
reading of the statute is internally inconsistent and would create a 
conflict with the nonattainment provisions in part D of Title I of the 
CAA, which specifically address nonattainment SIP requirements.\2\ 
Section 110(a)(2)(I) pertains to nonattainment SIP requirements and 
part D addresses when attainment plan SIP submissions to address 
nonattainment area requirements are due. For example, section 172(b) 
requires EPA to establish a schedule for submission of such plans for 
certain pollutants when the Administrator promulgates the designation 
of an area as nonattainment, and section 107(d)(1)(B) allows up to two 
years or in some cases three years, for such designations to be 
promulgated.\3\ This ambiguity illustrates that rather than apply all 
the stated requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a strict literal sense, 
EPA must determine which provisions of section 110(a)(2) are applicable 
for a particular infrastructure SIP submission.
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    \2\ See, e.g., ``Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine 
Particulate Matter and Ozone (Clean Air Interstate Rule); Revisions 
to Acid Rain Program; Revisions to the NOX SIP Call; 
Final Rule,'' 70 FR 25162, at 25163-65 (May 12, 2005) (explaining 
relationship between timing requirement of section 110(a)(2)(D) 
versus section 110(a)(2)(I)).
    \3\ EPA notes that this ambiguity within section 110(a)(2) is 
heightened by the fact that various subparts of part D set specific 
dates for submission of certain types of SIP submissions in 
designated nonattainment areas for various pollutants. Note, e.g., 
that section 182(a)(1) provides specific dates for submission of 
emissions inventories for the ozone NAAQS. Some of these specific 
dates are necessarily later than three years after promulgation of 
the new or revised NAAQS.
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    Another example of ambiguity within section 110(a)(1) and (2) with 
respect to infrastructure SIPs pertains to whether states must meet all 
of the infrastructure

[[Page 20602]]

SIP requirements in a single SIP submission, and whether EPA must act 
upon such SIP submission in a single action. Although section 110(a)(1) 
directs states to submit ``a plan'' to meet these requirements, EPA 
interprets the CAA to allow states to make multiple SIP submissions 
separately addressing infrastructure SIP elements for the same NAAQS. 
If states elect to make such multiple SIP submissions to meet the 
infrastructure SIP requirements, EPA can elect to act on such 
submissions either individually or in a larger combined action.\4\ 
Similarly, EPA interprets the CAA to allow it to take action on the 
individual parts of one larger, comprehensive infrastructure SIP 
submission for a given NAAQS without concurrent action on the entire 
submission. For example, EPA has sometimes elected to act at different 
times on various elements and sub-elements of the same infrastructure 
SIP submission.\5\
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    \4\ See, e.g., ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation 
Plans; New Mexico; Revisions to the New Source Review (NSR) State 
Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of Significant Deterioration 
(PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) Permitting,'' 78 FR 
4339 (January 22, 2013) (EPA's final action approving the structural 
PSD elements of the New Mexico SIP submitted by the State separately 
to meet the requirements of EPA's 2008 PM2.5 NSR rule), 
and ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
New Mexico; Infrastructure and Interstate Transport Requirements for 
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS,'' 78 FR 4337 (January 22, 2013) 
(EPA's final action on the infrastructure SIP for the 2006 
PM2.5 NAAQS).
    \5\ On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee, through the 
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, made a SIP 
revision to EPA demonstrating that the State meets the requirements 
of sections 110(a)(1) and (2). EPA proposed action for 
infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) on January 23, 2012 (77 FR 
3213) and took final action on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 14976). On 
April 16, 2012 (77 FR 22533) and July 23, 2012 (77 FR 42997), EPA 
took separate proposed and final actions on all other section 
110(a)(2) infrastructure SIP elements of Tennessee's December 14, 
2007 submittal.
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    Ambiguities within section 110(a)(1) and (2) may also arise with 
respect to infrastructure SIP submission requirements for different 
NAAQS. Thus, EPA notes that not every element of section 110(a)(2) 
would be relevant, or as relevant, or relevant in the same way, for 
each new or revised NAAQS. The states' attendant infrastructure SIP 
submissions for each NAAQS therefore could be different. For example, 
the monitoring requirements that a state might need to meet in its 
infrastructure SIP submission for purposes of section 110(a)(2)(B) 
could be very different for different pollutants, because the content 
and scope of a state's infrastructure SIP submission to meet this 
element might be very different for an entirely new NAAQS than for a 
minor revision to an existing NAAQS.\6\
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    \6\ For example, implementation of the 1997 PM2.5 
NAAQS required the deployment of a system of new monitors to measure 
ambient levels of that new indicator species for the new NAAQS.
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    EPA notes that interpretation of section 110(a)(2) is also 
necessary when EPA reviews other types of SIP submissions required 
under the CAA. Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP submissions, EPA 
also has to identify and interpret the relevant elements of section 
110(a)(2) that logically apply to these other types of SIP submissions. 
For example, section 172(c)(7) requires attainment plan SIP submissions 
required by part D to meet the ``applicable requirements'' of section 
110(a)(2); thus, attainment plan SIP submissions must meet the 
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A) regarding enforceable emission 
limits and control measures and section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) regarding air 
agency resources and authority. By contrast, it is clear that 
attainment plan SIP submissions required by part D would not need to 
meet the portion of section 110(a)(2)(C) that pertains to the PSD 
program required in part C of Title I of the CAA, because PSD does not 
apply to a pollutant for which an area is designated nonattainment and 
thus subject to part D planning requirements. As this example 
illustrates, each type of SIP submission may implicate some elements of 
section 110(a)(2) but not others.
    Given the potential for ambiguity in some of the statutory language 
of section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), EPA believes that it is 
appropriate to interpret the ambiguous portions of section 110(a)(1) 
and section 110(a)(2) in the context of acting on a particular SIP 
submission. In other words, EPA assumes that Congress could not have 
intended that each and every SIP submission, regardless of the NAAQS in 
question or the history of SIP development for the relevant pollutant, 
would meet each of the requirements, or meet each of them in the same 
way. Therefore, EPA has adopted an approach under which it reviews 
infrastructure SIP submissions against the list of elements in section 
110(a)(2), but only to the extent each element applies for that 
particular NAAQS.
    Historically, EPA has elected to use guidance documents to make 
recommendations to states for infrastructure SIPs, in some cases 
conveying needed interpretations on newly arising issues and in some 
cases conveying interpretations that have already been developed and 
applied to individual SIP submissions for particular elements.\7\ EPA 
most recently issued guidance for infrastructure SIPs on September 13, 
2013 (2013 Guidance).\8\ EPA developed this document to provide states 
with up-to-date guidance for infrastructure SIPs for any new or revised 
NAAQS. Within this guidance, EPA describes the duty of states to make 
infrastructure SIP submissions to meet basic structural SIP 
requirements within three years of promulgation of a new or revised 
NAAQS. EPA also made recommendations about many specific subsections of 
section 110(a)(2) that are relevant in the context of infrastructure 
SIP submissions.\9\ The guidance also discusses the substantively 
important issues that are germane to certain subsections of section 
110(a)(2). EPA interprets section 110(a)(1) and (2) such that 
infrastructure SIP submissions need to address certain issues and need 
not address others. Accordingly, EPA reviews each infrastructure SIP 
submission for compliance with the applicable statutory provisions of 
section 110(a)(2), as appropriate.
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    \7\ EPA notes, however, that nothing in the CAA requires EPA to 
provide guidance or to promulgate regulations for infrastructure SIP 
submissions. The CAA directly applies to states and requires the 
submission of infrastructure SIP submissions, regardless of whether 
or not EPA provides guidance or regulations pertaining to such 
submissions. EPA elects to issue such guidance in order to assist 
states, as appropriate.
    \8\ ``Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),'' 
Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13, 2013.
    \9\ EPA's September 13, 2013, guidance did not make 
recommendations with respect to infrastructure SIP submissions to 
address section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). EPA issued the guidance shortly 
after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the DC Circuit 
decision in EME Homer City, 696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Circuit 2012) which had 
interpreted the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In light 
of the uncertainty created by ongoing litigation, EPA elected not to 
provide additional guidance on the requirements of section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that time. As the guidance is neither binding 
nor required by statute, whether EPA elects to provide guidance on a 
particular section has no impact on a state's CAA obligations.
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    As an example, section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) is a required element of 
section 110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP submissions. Under this 
element, a state must meet the substantive requirements of section 128, 
which pertain to state boards that approve permits or enforcement 
orders and heads of executive agencies with similar powers. Thus, EPA 
reviews infrastructure SIP submissions to ensure that the state's SIP 
appropriately addresses the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) 
and section 128. The 2013 Guidance explains EPA's interpretation that 
there

[[Page 20603]]

may be a variety of ways by which states can appropriately address 
these substantive statutory requirements, depending on the structure of 
an individual state's permitting or enforcement program (e.g., whether 
permits and enforcement orders are approved by a multi-member board or 
by a head of an executive agency). However they are addressed by the 
state, the substantive requirements of Section 128 are necessarily 
included in EPA's evaluation of infrastructure SIP submissions because 
section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) explicitly requires that the state satisfy the 
provisions of section 128.
    As another example, EPA's review of infrastructure SIP submissions 
with respect to the PSD program requirements in section 110(a)(2)(C), 
(D)(i)(II), and (J) focuses upon the structural PSD program 
requirements contained in part C and EPA's PSD regulations. Structural 
PSD program requirements include provisions necessary for the PSD 
program to address all regulated sources and NSR pollutants, including 
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). By contrast, structural PSD program 
requirements do not include provisions that are not required under 
EPA's regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 but are merely available as an 
option for the state, such as the option to provide grandfathering of 
complete permit applications with respect to the PM2.5 
NAAQS. Accordingly, the latter optional provisions are types of 
provisions EPA considers irrelevant in the context of an infrastructure 
SIP action.
    For other section 110(a)(2) elements, however, EPA's review of a 
state's infrastructure SIP submission focuses on assuring that the 
state's SIP meets basic structural requirements. For example, section 
110(a)(2)(C) includes, inter alia, the requirement that states have a 
program to regulate minor new sources. Thus, EPA evaluates whether the 
state has an EPA-approved minor new source review program and whether 
the program addresses the pollutants relevant to that NAAQS. In the 
context of acting on an infrastructure SIP submission, however, EPA 
does not think it is necessary to conduct a review of each and every 
provision of a state's existing minor source program (i.e., already in 
the existing SIP) for compliance with the requirements of the CAA and 
EPA's regulations that pertain to such programs.
    With respect to certain other issues, EPA does not believe that an 
action on a state's infrastructure SIP submission is necessarily the 
appropriate type of action in which to address possible deficiencies in 
a state's existing SIP. These issues include: (i) Existing provisions 
related to excess emissions from sources during periods of startup, 
shutdown, or malfunction (SSM) that may be contrary to the CAA and 
EPA's policies addressing such excess emissions; \10\ (ii) existing 
provisions related to ``director's variance'' or ``director's 
discretion'' that may be contrary to the CAA because they purport to 
allow revisions to SIP-approved emissions limits while limiting public 
process or not requiring further approval by EPA; and (iii) existing 
provisions for PSD programs that may be inconsistent with current 
requirements of EPA's ``Final NSR Improvement Rule,'' 67 FR 80186 
(December 31, 2002), as amended by 72 FR 32526 (June 13, 2007) (NSR 
Reform). Thus, EPA believes that it may approve an infrastructure SIP 
submission without scrutinizing the totality of the existing SIP for 
such potentially deficient provisions and may approve the submission 
even if it is aware of such existing provisions.\11\ It is important to 
note that EPA's approval of a state's infrastructure SIP submission 
should not be construed as explicit or implicit re-approval of any 
existing potentially deficient provisions that relate to the three 
specific issues just described.
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    \10\ Subsequent to issuing the 2013 Guidance, EPA's 
interpretation of the CAA with respect to the approvability of 
affirmative defense provisions in SIPs has changed. See ``State 
Implementation Plans: Response to Petition for Rulemaking; 
Restatement and Update of EPA's SSM Policy Applicable to SIPs; 
Findings of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls To Amend 
Provisions Applying to Excess Emissions During Periods of Startup, 
Shutdown and Malfunction,'' 80 FR 33839 (June 12, 2015). As a 
result, EPA's 2013 Guidance (p. 21 & n.30) no longer represents the 
EPA's view concerning the validity of affirmative defense 
provisions, in light of the requirements of section 113 and section 
304.
    \11\ By contrast, EPA notes that if a state were to include a 
new provision in an infrastructure SIP submission that contained a 
legal deficiency, such as a new exemption or affirmative defense for 
excess emissions during SSM events, then EPA would need to evaluate 
that provision for compliance against the rubric of applicable CAA 
requirements in the context of the action on the infrastructure SIP.
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    EPA's approach to review of infrastructure SIP submissions is to 
identify the CAA requirements that are logically applicable to that 
submission. EPA believes that this approach to the review of a 
particular infrastructure SIP submission is appropriate, because it 
would not be reasonable to read the general requirements of section 
110(a)(1) and the list of elements in section 110(a)(2) as requiring 
review of each and every provision of a state's existing SIP against 
all requirements in the CAA and EPA regulations merely for purposes of 
assuring that the state in question has the basic structural elements 
for a functioning SIP for a new or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have 
grown by accretion over the decades as statutory and regulatory 
requirements under the CAA have evolved, they may include some outmoded 
provisions and historical artifacts. These provisions, while not fully 
up to date, nevertheless may not pose a significant problem for the 
purposes of ``implementation, maintenance, and enforcement'' of a new 
or revised NAAQS when EPA evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure SIP 
submission. EPA believes that a better approach is for states and EPA 
to focus attention on those elements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA 
most likely to warrant a specific SIP revision due to the promulgation 
of a new or revised NAAQS or other factors.
    For example, EPA's 2013 Guidance gives simpler recommendations with 
respect to carbon monoxide than other NAAQS pollutants to meet the 
visibility requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), because carbon 
monoxide does not affect visibility. As a result, an infrastructure SIP 
submission for any future new or revised NAAQS for carbon monoxide need 
only state this fact in order to address the visibility prong of 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
    Finally, EPA believes that its approach with respect to 
infrastructure SIP requirements is based on a reasonable reading of 
section 110(a)(1) and (2) because the CAA provides other avenues and 
mechanisms to address specific substantive deficiencies in existing 
SIPs. These other statutory tools allow EPA to take appropriately 
tailored action, depending upon the nature and severity of the alleged 
SIP deficiency. Section 110(k)(5) authorizes EPA to issue a ``SIP 
call'' whenever the Agency determines that a state's SIP is 
substantially inadequate to attain or maintain the NAAQS, to mitigate 
interstate transport, or to otherwise comply with the CAA.\12\ Section 
110(k)(6) authorizes EPA to correct errors in past actions, such as 
past approvals of SIP submissions.\13\

[[Page 20604]]

Significantly, EPA's determination that an action on a state's 
infrastructure SIP submission is not the appropriate time and place to 
address all potential existing SIP deficiencies does not preclude EPA's 
subsequent reliance on provisions in section 110(a)(2) as part of the 
basis for action to correct those deficiencies at a later time. For 
example, although it may not be appropriate to require a state to 
eliminate all existing inappropriate director's discretion provisions 
in the course of acting on an infrastructure SIP submission, EPA 
believes that section 110(a)(2)(A) may be among the statutory bases 
that EPA relies upon in the course of addressing such deficiency in a 
subsequent action.\14\
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    \12\ For example, EPA issued a SIP call to Utah to address 
specific existing SIP deficiencies related to the treatment of 
excess emissions during SSM events. See ``Finding of Substantial 
Inadequacy of Implementation Plan; Call for Utah State 
Implementation Plan Revisions,'' 74 FR 21639 (April 18, 2011).
    \13\ EPA has used this authority to correct errors in past 
actions on SIP submissions related to PSD programs. See ``Limitation 
of Approval of Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions 
Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in State Implementation 
Plans; Final Rule,'' 75 FR 82536 (December 30, 2010). EPA has 
previously used its authority under section 110(k)(6) of the CAA to 
remove numerous other SIP provisions that the Agency determined it 
had approved in error. See, e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62 
FR 34641 (June 27, 1997) (corrections to American Samoa, Arizona, 
California, Hawaii, and Nevada SIPs); 69 FR 67062, November 16, 2004 
(corrections to California SIP); and 74 FR 57051 (November 3, 2009) 
(corrections to Arizona and Nevada SIPs).
    \14\ See, e.g., EPA's disapproval of a SIP submission from 
Colorado on the grounds that it would have included a director's 
discretion provision inconsistent with CAA requirements, including 
section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR 42342 at 42344 (July 21, 
2010) (proposed disapproval of director's discretion provisions); 76 
FR 4540 (January 26, 2011) (final disapproval of such provisions).
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III. What are the Prong 4 requirements?

    Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires a state's SIP to contain 
provisions prohibiting sources in that state from emitting pollutants 
in amounts that interfere with any other state's efforts to protect 
visibility under part C of the CAA (which includes sections 169A and 
169B). The 2013 Guidance states that these prong 4 requirements can be 
satisfied by approved SIP provisions that EPA has found to adequately 
address any contribution of that state's sources to impacts on 
visibility program requirements in other states. The 2013 Guidance also 
states that EPA interprets this prong to be pollutant-specific, such 
that the infrastructure SIP submission need only address the potential 
for interference with protection of visibility caused by the pollutant 
(including precursors) to which the new or revised NAAQS applies.
    The 2013 Guidance lays out two ways in which a state's 
infrastructure SIP may satisfy prong 4. The first way is through an air 
agency's confirmation in its infrastructure SIP submission that it has 
an EPA-approved regional haze SIP that fully meets the requirements of 
40 CFR 51.308 or 51.309. 40 CFR 51.308 and 51.309 specifically require 
that a state participating in a regional planning process include all 
measures needed to achieve its apportionment of emission reduction 
obligations agreed upon through that process. A fully approved regional 
haze SIP will ensure that emissions from sources under an air agency's 
jurisdiction are not interfering with measures required to be included 
in other air agencies' plans to protect visibility.
    Alternatively, in the absence of a fully approved regional haze 
SIP, a state may meet the requirements of prong 4 through a 
demonstration in its infrastructure SIP submission that emissions 
within its jurisdiction do not interfere with other air agencies' plans 
to protect visibility. Such an infrastructure SIP submission would need 
to include measures to limit visibility-impairing pollutants and ensure 
that the reductions conform with any mutually agreed regional haze 
reasonable progress goals for mandatory Class I areas in other states.

IV. What is EPA's analysis of how North Carolina addressed Prong 4?

    North Carolina's November 2, 2012, 2008 8-hour Ozone submission; 
August 23, 2013, 2010 1-hour NO2 submission; March 18, 2014, 
2010 1-hour SO2 submission; and December 4, 2015, 2012 
annual PM2.5 submission cite to the State's regional haze 
SIP as satisfying prong 4 requirements. However, as explained below, 
EPA has not yet fully approved North Carolina's regional haze SIP 
because the SIP relies on the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) to 
satisfy the nitrogen oxides (NOX) and SO2 Best 
Available Retrofit Technology (BART) requirements for the CAIR-subject 
electric generating units (EGUs) in the State and the requirement for a 
long-term strategy (LTS) sufficient to achieve the state-adopted 
reasonable progress goals.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ CAIR, promulgated in 2005, required 27 states and the 
District of Columbia to reduce emissions of NOX and 
SO2 that significantly contribute to, or interfere with 
maintenance of, the 1997 NAAQS for fine particulates and/or ozone in 
any downwind state. CAIR imposed specified emissions reduction 
requirements on each affected State, and established an EPA-
administered cap and trade program for EGUs in which States could 
join as a means to meet these requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA demonstrated that CAIR achieved greater reasonable progress 
toward the national visibility goal than BART for NOX and 
SO2 at BART-eligible EGUs in CAIR affected states, and 
revised the regional haze rule (RHR) to provide that states 
participating in CAIR's cap-and-trade program need not require affected 
BART-eligible EGUs to install, operate, and maintain BART for emissions 
of SO2 and NOX. See 70 FR 39104 (July 6, 2005). 
As a result, a number of states in the CAIR region designed their 
regional haze SIPs to rely on CAIR as an alternative to NOX 
and SO2 BART for CAIR-subject EGUs. These states also relied 
on CAIR as an element of a LTS for achieving their reasonable progress 
goals.
    The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 
Circuit (D.C. Circuit) initially vacated CAIR in 2008,\16\ but 
ultimately remanded the rule to EPA without vacatur to preserve the 
environmental benefits provided by CAIR.\17\ On August 8, 2011, acting 
on the D.C. Circuit's remand, EPA promulgated the Cross-State Air 
Pollution Rule (CSAPR) to replace CAIR and thus to address the 
interstate transport of emissions contributing to nonattainment and 
interfering with maintenance of the two air quality standards covered 
by CAIR as well as the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.\18\ See 76 FR 
48208.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F.3d 896 (D.C. Circuit 2008).
    \17\ North Carolina v. EPA, 550 F.3d 1176 (D.C. Circuit 2008).
    \18\ Although a number of parties challenged the legality of 
CSAPR and the D.C. Circuit initially vacated and remanded CSAPR to 
EPA in EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA, 696 F.3d 7, 38 (D.C. 
Circuit 2012), the United States Supreme Court reversed the D.C. 
Circuit's decision on April 29, 2014, and remanded the case to the 
D.C. Circuit to resolve remaining issues in accordance with the high 
court's ruling. EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, L.P., 134 S. Ct. 
1584 (2014). On remand, the D.C. Circuit affirmed CSAPR in most 
respects and CSAPR is now in effect. EME Homer City Generation, L.P. 
v. EPA, 795 F.3d 118 (D.C. Circuit 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Due to CAIR's status as a temporary measure following the D.C. 
Circuit's 2008 ruling, EPA could not fully approve regional haze SIP 
revisions to the extent that they relied on CAIR to satisfy the BART 
requirement and the requirement for a long-term strategy sufficient to 
achieve the state-adopted reasonable progress goals. On these grounds, 
EPA finalized a limited disapproval of North Carolina's regional haze 
SIP on June 7, 2012, triggering the requirement for EPA to promulgate a 
FIP unless North Carolina submitted and EPA approved a SIP revision 
that corrected the deficiency. See 77 FR 33642. EPA finalized a limited 
approval of North Carolina's regional haze SIP on June 27, 2012, as 
meeting the remaining applicable regional haze requirements set forth 
in the CAA and the Regional Haze Rule. See 77 FR 38185.
    On October 31, 2014, North Carolina submitted a regional haze SIP 
revision to correct the deficiencies identified in the June 7, 2012, 
limited disapproval by replacing reliance on CAIR with reliance on a 
BART Alternative to

[[Page 20605]]

satisfy NOX and SO2 BART requirements for EGUs 
formerly subject to CAIR. Concurrent with this proposed prong 4 action, 
EPA is proposing to approve the October 31, 2014, SIP revision and 
convert North Carolina's regional haze SIP from a limited approval to a 
full approval because EPA believes that final approval of this SIP 
revision would correct the deficiencies that led to EPA's limited 
disapproval of the State's regional haze SIP. Because a state may 
satisfy prong 4 requirements through a fully approved regional haze 
SIP, EPA is proposing to approve the prong 4 portions of North 
Carolina's November 2, 2012, August 23, 2013, 2010, March 18, 2014, and 
December 4, 2015, 2012 SIP submissions. EPA will not finalize this 
proposed prong 4 action unless it approves North Carolina's October 31, 
2014, SIP revision and converts the State's regional haze SIP from a 
limited approval to a full approval.

V. Proposed Action

    As described above, EPA is proposing to approve the prong 4 
portions of North Carolina's November 2, 2012, 2008 8-hour Ozone 
infrastructure SIP submission; August 23, 2013, 2010 1-hour 
NO2 infrastructure SIP submission; March 18, 2014, 2010 1-
hour SO2 infrastructure SIP submission; and December 4, 
2015, 2012 annual PM2.5 infrastructure SIP submission. All 
other applicable infrastructure requirements for these SIP submissions 
have been or will be addressed in separate rulemakings.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable 
federal regulations. See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in 
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, 
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this 
proposed action merely approves state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     does not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the CAA; and
     does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or 
in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a 
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does 
not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it impose substantial direct 
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, 
Particulate Matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile 
organic compounds.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

    Dated: March 25, 2016.
Heather McTeer Toney,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2016-07669 Filed 4-7-16; 8:45 am]
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                                                      20600                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      methods, under Executive Order 12898                    hour Ozone infrastructure SIP                          of sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as
                                                      (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                        submission; August 23, 2013, 2010 1-                   ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ submissions.
                                                         In addition, this rulemaking action,                 hour NO2 infrastructure SIP submission;                Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) require states
                                                      proposing to approve amendments to                      March 18, 2014, 2010 1-hour SO2                        to address basic SIP elements such as
                                                      Pennsylvania’s regulations regarding                    infrastructure SIP submission; and                     for monitoring, basic program
                                                      testing and sampling methods for                        December 4, 2015, 2012 annual PM2.5                    requirements, and legal authority that
                                                      stationary sources of PM, including                     infrastructure SIP submission. All other               are designed to assure attainment and
                                                      filterable and condensable PM, does not                 applicable infrastructure requirements                 maintenance of the newly established or
                                                      have tribal implications as specified by                for these SIP submissions have been or                 revised NAAQS. More specifically,
                                                      Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,                     will be addressed in separate                          section 110(a)(1) provides the
                                                      November 9, 2000), because the SIP is                   rulemakings.                                           procedural and timing requirements for
                                                      not approved to apply in Indian country                 DATES: Comments must be received on                    infrastructure SIPs. Section 110(a)(2)
                                                      located in the Commonwealth, and EPA                    or before April 29, 2016.                              lists specific elements that states must
                                                      notes that it will not impose substantial                                                                      meet for the infrastructure SIP
                                                                                                              ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                      direct costs on tribal governments or                                                                          requirements related to a newly
                                                                                                              identified by Docket ID No EPA–R04–
                                                      preempt tribal law.                                                                                            established or revised NAAQS. The
                                                                                                              OAR–2016–0072 at http://
                                                                                                                                                                     contents of an infrastructure SIP
                                                      List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                      www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
                                                                                                                                                                     submission may vary depending upon
                                                                                                              instructions for submitting comments.
                                                        Environmental protection, Air                                                                                the data and analytical tools available to
                                                                                                              Once submitted, comments cannot be
                                                      pollution control, Incorporation by                                                                            the state, as well as the provisions
                                                                                                              edited or removed from Regulations.gov.
                                                      reference, Particulate matter, Reporting                                                                       already contained in the state’s
                                                                                                              EPA may publish any comment received
                                                      and recordkeeping requirements.                                                                                implementation plan at the time in
                                                                                                              to its public docket. Do not submit
                                                                                                                                                                     which the state develops and submits
                                                         Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.                    electronically any information you
                                                                                                                                                                     the submission for a new or revised
                                                        Dated: March 24, 2016                                 consider to be Confidential Business
                                                                                                                                                                     NAAQS.
                                                      Shawn M. Garvin,                                        Information (CBI) or other information
                                                                                                                                                                        Section 110(a)(2)(D) has two
                                                                                                              whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
                                                      Regional Administrator Region III.                                                                             components: 110(a)(2)(D)(i) and
                                                                                                              Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
                                                      [FR Doc. 2016–08159 Filed 4–7–16; 8:45 am]                                                                     110(a)(2)(D)(ii). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)
                                                                                                              etc.) must be accompanied by a written
                                                      BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                                                                         includes four distinct components,
                                                                                                              comment. The written comment is
                                                                                                                                                                     commonly referred to as ‘‘prongs,’’ that
                                                                                                              considered the official comment and
                                                                                                                                                                     must be addressed in infrastructure SIP
                                                                                                              should include discussion of all points
                                                      ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                                                                       submissions. The first two prongs,
                                                                                                              you wish to make. EPA will generally                   which are codified in section
                                                      AGENCY                                                  not consider comments or comment                       110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), are provisions that
                                                      40 CFR Parts 52                                         contents located outside of the primary                prohibit any source or other type of
                                                                                                              submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or                 emissions activity in one state from
                                                      [EPA–R04–OAR–2016–0072; FRL–9944–53–                    other file sharing system). For
                                                      Region 4]                                                                                                      contributing significantly to
                                                                                                              additional submission methods, the full                nonattainment of the NAAQS in another
                                                                                                              EPA public comment policy,                             state (prong 1) and from interfering with
                                                      Air Plan Approval; North Carolina;
                                                                                                              information about CBI or multimedia                    maintenance of the NAAQS in another
                                                      Prong 4–2008 Ozone, 2010 NO2, SO2,
                                                                                                              submissions, and general guidance on                   state (prong 2). The third and fourth
                                                      and 2012 PM2.5
                                                                                                              making effective comments, please visit                prongs, which are codified in section
                                                      AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                       http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/                           110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), are provisions that
                                                      Agency.                                                 commenting-epa-dockets.                                prohibit emissions activity in one state
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule.                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       from interfering with measures required
                                                                                                              Sean Lakeman of the Air Regulatory                     to prevent significant deterioration of air
                                                      SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                 Management Section, Air Planning and                   quality in another state (prong 3) or
                                                      Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve                    Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides                 from interfering with measures to
                                                      portions of revisions to the North                      and Toxics Management Division, U.S.                   protect visibility in another state (prong
                                                      Carolina State Implementation Plan                      Environmental Protection Agency,                       4). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) requires SIPs
                                                      (SIP), submitted by the North Carolina                  Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW.,                       to include provisions ensuring
                                                      Department of Environment and Natural                   Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. Mr.                       compliance with sections 115 and 126
                                                      Resources (NC DENR), addressing the                     Lakeman can be reached by telephone at                 of the Act, relating to interstate and
                                                      Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) visibility                   (404) 562–9043 or via electronic mail at               international pollution abatement.
                                                      transport (prong 4) infrastructure SIP                  lakeman.sean@epa.gov.                                     Through this action, EPA is proposing
                                                      requirements for the 2008 8-hour Ozone,                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             to approve the prong 4 portions of North
                                                      2010 1-hour Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),                                                                            Carolina’s infrastructure SIP
                                                      2010 1-hour Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and                   I. Background                                          submissions for the 2008 8-hour Ozone,
                                                      2012 annual Fine Particulate Matter                        By statute, SIPs meeting the                        2010 1-hour NO2, 2010 1-hour SO2, and
                                                      (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality                    requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and                 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS as discussed
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                                                      Standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires                     (2) of the CAA are to be submitted by                  in section IV of this document. All other
                                                      that each state adopt and submit a SIP                  states within three years after                        applicable infrastructure SIP
                                                      for the implementation, maintenance,                    promulgation of a new or revised                       requirements for these SIP submissions
                                                      and enforcement of each NAAQS                           NAAQS to provide for the                               have been or will be addressed in
                                                      promulgated by EPA, commonly                            implementation, maintenance, and                       separate rulemakings. A brief
                                                      referred to as an ‘‘infrastructure SIP.’’               enforcement of the new or revised                      background regarding the NAAQS
                                                      Specifically, EPA is proposing to                       NAAQS. EPA has historically referred to                relevant to this proposal is provided
                                                      approve the prong 4 portions of North                   these SIP submissions made for the                     below. For comprehensive information
                                                      Carolina’s November 2, 2012, 2008 8-                    purpose of satisfying the requirements                 on these NAAQS, please refer to the


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                     20601

                                                      Federal Register documents cited in the                 II. What is EPA’s approach to the                       therefore believes that while the timing
                                                      following subsections.                                  review of infrastructure SIP                            requirement in section 110(a)(1) is
                                                                                                              submissions?                                            unambiguous, some of the other
                                                      a. 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS                                                                                      statutory provisions are ambiguous. In
                                                                                                                 The requirement for states to make a
                                                        On March 12, 2008, EPA revised the                                                                            particular, EPA believes that the list of
                                                                                                              SIP submission of this type arises out of
                                                      8-hour Ozone NAAQS to 0.075 parts per                                                                           required elements for infrastructure SIP
                                                                                                              section 110(a)(1). Pursuant to section                  submissions provided in section
                                                      million. See 73 FR 16436 (March 27,                     110(a)(1), states must make SIP
                                                      2008). States were required to submit                                                                           110(a)(2) contains ambiguities
                                                                                                              submissions ‘‘within 3 years (or such                   concerning what is required for
                                                      infrastructure SIP submissions for the                  shorter period as the Administrator may                 inclusion in an infrastructure SIP
                                                      2008 8-hour Ozone NAAQS to EPA no                       prescribe) after the promulgation of a                  submission.
                                                      later than March 12, 2011. North                        national primary ambient air quality                       The following examples of
                                                      Carolina submitted its infrastructure SIP               standard (or any revision thereof),’’ and               ambiguities illustrate the need for EPA
                                                      submission on November 2, 2012, for                     these SIP submissions are to provide for                to interpret some section 110(a)(1) and
                                                      the 2008 8-hour Ozone NAAQS. This                       the ‘‘implementation, maintenance, and                  section 110(a)(2) requirements with
                                                      proposed action only addresses the                      enforcement’’ of such NAAQS. The                        respect to infrastructure SIP
                                                      prong 4 element of that submission.                     statute directly imposes on states the                  submissions for a given new or revised
                                                                                                              duty to make these SIP submissions,                     NAAQS. One example of ambiguity is
                                                      b. 2010 1-Hour NO2 NAAQS                                and the requirement to make the                         that section 110(a)(2) requires that
                                                         On January 22, 2010, EPA established                 submissions is not conditioned upon                     ‘‘each’’ SIP submission must meet the
                                                      a new 1-hour primary NAAQS for NO2                      EPA’s taking any action other than                      list of requirements therein, while EPA
                                                      at a level of 100 parts per billion, based              promulgating a new or revised NAAQS.                    has long noted that this literal reading
                                                      on a 3-year average of the 98th                         Section 110(a)(2) includes a list of                    of the statute is internally inconsistent
                                                      percentile of the yearly distribution of 1-             specific elements that ‘‘each such plan’’               and would create a conflict with the
                                                      hour daily maximum concentrations.                      submission must address.                                nonattainment provisions in part D of
                                                      See 75 FR 6474 (February 9, 2010).                         EPA has historically referred to these               Title I of the CAA, which specifically
                                                      States were required to submit                          SIP submissions made for the purpose                    address nonattainment SIP
                                                      infrastructure SIP submissions for the                  of satisfying the requirements of section               requirements.2 Section 110(a)(2)(I)
                                                      2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS to EPA no                         110(a)(1) and (2) as ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’             pertains to nonattainment SIP
                                                      later than January 22, 2013. North                      submissions. Although the term                          requirements and part D addresses
                                                                                                              ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ does not appear in               when attainment plan SIP submissions
                                                      Carolina submitted its infrastructure SIP
                                                                                                              the CAA, EPA uses the term to                           to address nonattainment area
                                                      submission on August 23, 2013, for the
                                                                                                              distinguish this particular type of SIP                 requirements are due. For example,
                                                      2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS. This
                                                                                                              submission from submissions that are                    section 172(b) requires EPA to establish
                                                      proposed action only addresses the
                                                                                                              intended to satisfy other SIP                           a schedule for submission of such plans
                                                      prong 4 element of that submission.
                                                                                                              requirements under the CAA, such as                     for certain pollutants when the
                                                      c. 2010 1-Hour SO2 NAAQS                                ‘‘nonattainment SIP’’ or ‘‘attainment                   Administrator promulgates the
                                                                                                              plan SIP’’ submissions to address the                   designation of an area as nonattainment,
                                                        On June 2, 2010, EPA revised the                      nonattainment planning requirements of                  and section 107(d)(1)(B) allows up to
                                                      primary SO2 NAAQS to an hourly                          part D of Title I of the CAA, ‘‘regional                two years or in some cases three years,
                                                      standard of 75 parts per billion based on               haze SIP’’ submissions required by EPA                  for such designations to be
                                                      a 3-year average of the annual 99th                     rule to address the visibility protection               promulgated.3 This ambiguity illustrates
                                                      percentile of 1-hour daily maximum                      requirements of section 169A of the                     that rather than apply all the stated
                                                      concentrations. See 75 FR 35520 (June                   CAA, and nonattainment new source                       requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a
                                                      22, 2010). States were required to                      review permit program submissions to                    strict literal sense, EPA must determine
                                                      submit infrastructure SIP submissions                   address the permit requirements of                      which provisions of section 110(a)(2)
                                                      for the 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS to EPA                    CAA, Title I, part D.                                   are applicable for a particular
                                                      no later than June 2, 2013. North                          Section 110(a)(1) addresses the timing               infrastructure SIP submission.
                                                      Carolina submitted its infrastructure SIP               and general requirements for                               Another example of ambiguity within
                                                      submission on March 18, 2014, for the                   infrastructure SIP submissions and                      section 110(a)(1) and (2) with respect to
                                                      2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS. This                             section 110(a)(2) provides more details                 infrastructure SIPs pertains to whether
                                                      proposed action only addresses the                      concerning the required contents of                     states must meet all of the infrastructure
                                                      prong 4 element of that submission.                     these submissions. The list of required
                                                                                                              elements provided in section 110(a)(2)                  emergencies as well as contingency plans that are
                                                      d. 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS                              contains a wide variety of disparate                    triggered in the event of such emergencies.
                                                                                                                                                                         2 See, e.g., ‘‘Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport

                                                        On December 14, 2012, EPA revised                     provisions, some of which pertain to                    of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (Clean Air
                                                      the primary annual PM2.5 NAAQS to 12                    required legal authority, some of which                 Interstate Rule); Revisions to Acid Rain Program;
                                                      micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m3).                     pertain to required substantive program                 Revisions to the NOX SIP Call; Final Rule,’’ 70 FR
                                                                                                              provisions, and some of which pertain                   25162, at 25163–65 (May 12, 2005) (explaining
                                                      See 78 FR 3086 (January 15, 2013).
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                                                                                                                                                                      relationship between timing requirement of section
                                                      States were required to submit                          to requirements for both authority and                  110(a)(2)(D) versus section 110(a)(2)(I)).
                                                      infrastructure SIP submissions for the                  substantive program provisions.1 EPA                       3 EPA notes that this ambiguity within section

                                                      2012 PM2.5 NAAQS to EPA no later than                                                                           110(a)(2) is heightened by the fact that various
                                                                                                                1 For example: section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) provides       subparts of part D set specific dates for submission
                                                      December 14, 2015. North Carolina                       that states must provide assurances that they have      of certain types of SIP submissions in designated
                                                      submitted its infrastructure SIP                        adequate legal authority under state and local law      nonattainment areas for various pollutants. Note,
                                                      submission on December 4, 2015, for the                 to carry out the SIP; Section 110(a)(2)(C) provides     e.g., that section 182(a)(1) provides specific dates
                                                                                                              that states must have a SIP-approved program to         for submission of emissions inventories for the
                                                      2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. This proposed                         address certain sources as required by part C of        ozone NAAQS. Some of these specific dates are
                                                      action only addresses the prong 4                       Title I of the CAA; and section 110(a)(2)(G) provides   necessarily later than three years after promulgation
                                                      element of that submission.                             that states must have legal authority to address        of the new or revised NAAQS.



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                                                      20602                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      SIP requirements in a single SIP                        NAAQS than for a minor revision to an                  individual SIP submissions for
                                                      submission, and whether EPA must act                    existing NAAQS.6                                       particular elements.7 EPA most recently
                                                      upon such SIP submission in a single                       EPA notes that interpretation of                    issued guidance for infrastructure SIPs
                                                      action. Although section 110(a)(1)                      section 110(a)(2) is also necessary when               on September 13, 2013 (2013
                                                      directs states to submit ‘‘a plan’’ to meet             EPA reviews other types of SIP                         Guidance).8 EPA developed this
                                                      these requirements, EPA interprets the                  submissions required under the CAA.                    document to provide states with up-to-
                                                      CAA to allow states to make multiple                    Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP                  date guidance for infrastructure SIPs for
                                                      SIP submissions separately addressing                   submissions, EPA also has to identify                  any new or revised NAAQS. Within this
                                                      infrastructure SIP elements for the same                and interpret the relevant elements of                 guidance, EPA describes the duty of
                                                      NAAQS. If states elect to make such                     section 110(a)(2) that logically apply to              states to make infrastructure SIP
                                                      multiple SIP submissions to meet the                    these other types of SIP submissions.                  submissions to meet basic structural SIP
                                                      infrastructure SIP requirements, EPA                    For example, section 172(c)(7) requires                requirements within three years of
                                                      can elect to act on such submissions                    attainment plan SIP submissions                        promulgation of a new or revised
                                                      either individually or in a larger                      required by part D to meet the                         NAAQS. EPA also made
                                                      combined action.4 Similarly, EPA                        ‘‘applicable requirements’’ of section                 recommendations about many specific
                                                      interprets the CAA to allow it to take                  110(a)(2); thus, attainment plan SIP                   subsections of section 110(a)(2) that are
                                                      action on the individual parts of one                   submissions must meet the                              relevant in the context of infrastructure
                                                      larger, comprehensive infrastructure SIP                requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A)                   SIP submissions.9 The guidance also
                                                      submission for a given NAAQS without                    regarding enforceable emission limits                  discusses the substantively important
                                                      concurrent action on the entire                         and control measures and section                       issues that are germane to certain
                                                      submission. For example, EPA has                        110(a)(2)(E)(i) regarding air agency                   subsections of section 110(a)(2). EPA
                                                      sometimes elected to act at different                   resources and authority. By contrast, it               interprets section 110(a)(1) and (2) such
                                                      times on various elements and sub-                      is clear that attainment plan SIP                      that infrastructure SIP submissions need
                                                      elements of the same infrastructure SIP                 submissions required by part D would                   to address certain issues and need not
                                                      submission.5                                            not need to meet the portion of section                address others. Accordingly, EPA
                                                         Ambiguities within section 110(a)(1)                 110(a)(2)(C) that pertains to the PSD                  reviews each infrastructure SIP
                                                      and (2) may also arise with respect to                  program required in part C of Title I of               submission for compliance with the
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission                           the CAA, because PSD does not apply                    applicable statutory provisions of
                                                      requirements for different NAAQS.                       to a pollutant for which an area is                    section 110(a)(2), as appropriate.
                                                      Thus, EPA notes that not every element                  designated nonattainment and thus                         As an example, section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)
                                                      of section 110(a)(2) would be relevant,                 subject to part D planning requirements.               is a required element of section
                                                      or as relevant, or relevant in the same                 As this example illustrates, each type of              110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP
                                                      way, for each new or revised NAAQS.                     SIP submission may implicate some                      submissions. Under this element, a state
                                                      The states’ attendant infrastructure SIP                elements of section 110(a)(2) but not                  must meet the substantive requirements
                                                      submissions for each NAAQS therefore                    others.                                                of section 128, which pertain to state
                                                      could be different. For example, the                       Given the potential for ambiguity in                boards that approve permits or
                                                      monitoring requirements that a state                    some of the statutory language of section              enforcement orders and heads of
                                                      might need to meet in its infrastructure                110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), EPA                   executive agencies with similar powers.
                                                      SIP submission for purposes of section                  believes that it is appropriate to                     Thus, EPA reviews infrastructure SIP
                                                      110(a)(2)(B) could be very different for                interpret the ambiguous portions of                    submissions to ensure that the state’s
                                                      different pollutants, because the content               section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2)                SIP appropriately addresses the
                                                      and scope of a state’s infrastructure SIP               in the context of acting on a particular               requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)
                                                      submission to meet this element might                   SIP submission. In other words, EPA                    and section 128. The 2013 Guidance
                                                      be very different for an entirely new                   assumes that Congress could not have                   explains EPA’s interpretation that there
                                                                                                              intended that each and every SIP
                                                        4 See, e.g., ‘‘Approval and Promulgation of                                                                     7 EPA notes, however, that nothing in the CAA
                                                                                                              submission, regardless of the NAAQS in
                                                      Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Revisions to                                                                 requires EPA to provide guidance or to promulgate
                                                      the New Source Review (NSR) State
                                                                                                              question or the history of SIP                         regulations for infrastructure SIP submissions. The
                                                      Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of                development for the relevant pollutant,                CAA directly applies to states and requires the
                                                      Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment       would meet each of the requirements, or                submission of infrastructure SIP submissions,
                                                      New Source Review (NNSR) Permitting,’’ 78 FR            meet each of them in the same way.                     regardless of whether or not EPA provides guidance
                                                      4339 (January 22, 2013) (EPA’s final action                                                                    or regulations pertaining to such submissions. EPA
                                                      approving the structural PSD elements of the New
                                                                                                              Therefore, EPA has adopted an                          elects to issue such guidance in order to assist
                                                      Mexico SIP submitted by the State separately to         approach under which it reviews                        states, as appropriate.
                                                      meet the requirements of EPA’s 2008 PM2.5 NSR           infrastructure SIP submissions against                    8 ‘‘Guidance on Infrastructure State

                                                      rule), and ‘‘Approval and Promulgation of Air           the list of elements in section 110(a)(2),             Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean
                                                      Quality Implementation Plans; New Mexico;                                                                      Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),’’
                                                      Infrastructure and Interstate Transport
                                                                                                              but only to the extent each element                    Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13,
                                                      Requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS,’’ 78 FR          applies for that particular NAAQS.                     2013.
                                                      4337 (January 22, 2013) (EPA’s final action on the         Historically, EPA has elected to use                   9 EPA’s September 13, 2013, guidance did not
                                                      infrastructure SIP for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS).           guidance documents to make                             make recommendations with respect to
                                                        5 On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee,                                                              infrastructure SIP submissions to address section
                                                                                                              recommendations to states for
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                                                      through the Tennessee Department of Environment                                                                110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). EPA issued the guidance shortly
                                                      and Conservation, made a SIP revision to EPA            infrastructure SIPs, in some cases                     after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the
                                                      demonstrating that the State meets the requirements     conveying needed interpretations on                    DC Circuit decision in EME Homer City, 696 F.3d
                                                      of sections 110(a)(1) and (2). EPA proposed action      newly arising issues and in some cases                 7 (D.C. Circuit 2012) which had interpreted the
                                                      for infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) on          conveying interpretations that have                    requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In light of
                                                      January 23, 2012 (77 FR 3213) and took final action                                                            the uncertainty created by ongoing litigation, EPA
                                                      on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 14976). On April 16,           already been developed and applied to                  elected not to provide additional guidance on the
                                                      2012 (77 FR 22533) and July 23, 2012 (77 FR                                                                    requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that
                                                      42997), EPA took separate proposed and final              6 For example, implementation of the 1997 PM
                                                                                                                                                              2.5    time. As the guidance is neither binding nor
                                                      actions on all other section 110(a)(2) infrastructure   NAAQS required the deployment of a system of           required by statute, whether EPA elects to provide
                                                      SIP elements of Tennessee’s December 14, 2007           new monitors to measure ambient levels of that new     guidance on a particular section has no impact on
                                                      submittal.                                              indicator species for the new NAAQS.                   a state’s CAA obligations.



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                     20603

                                                      may be a variety of ways by which states                action in which to address possible                    the CAA and EPA regulations merely for
                                                      can appropriately address these                         deficiencies in a state’s existing SIP.                purposes of assuring that the state in
                                                      substantive statutory requirements,                     These issues include: (i) Existing                     question has the basic structural
                                                      depending on the structure of an                        provisions related to excess emissions                 elements for a functioning SIP for a new
                                                      individual state’s permitting or                        from sources during periods of startup,                or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have
                                                      enforcement program (e.g., whether                      shutdown, or malfunction (SSM) that                    grown by accretion over the decades as
                                                      permits and enforcement orders are                      may be contrary to the CAA and EPA’s                   statutory and regulatory requirements
                                                      approved by a multi-member board or                     policies addressing such excess                        under the CAA have evolved, they may
                                                      by a head of an executive agency).                      emissions; 10 (ii) existing provisions                 include some outmoded provisions and
                                                      However they are addressed by the                       related to ‘‘director’s variance’’ or                  historical artifacts. These provisions,
                                                      state, the substantive requirements of                  ‘‘director’s discretion’’ that may be                  while not fully up to date, nevertheless
                                                      Section 128 are necessarily included in                 contrary to the CAA because they                       may not pose a significant problem for
                                                      EPA’s evaluation of infrastructure SIP                  purport to allow revisions to SIP-                     the purposes of ‘‘implementation,
                                                      submissions because section                             approved emissions limits while                        maintenance, and enforcement’’ of a
                                                      110(a)(2)(E)(ii) explicitly requires that               limiting public process or not requiring               new or revised NAAQS when EPA
                                                      the state satisfy the provisions of section             further approval by EPA; and (iii)                     evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure
                                                      128.                                                    existing provisions for PSD programs                   SIP submission. EPA believes that a
                                                         As another example, EPA’s review of                  that may be inconsistent with current                  better approach is for states and EPA to
                                                      infrastructure SIP submissions with                     requirements of EPA’s ‘‘Final NSR                      focus attention on those elements of
                                                      respect to the PSD program                              Improvement Rule,’’ 67 FR 80186                        section 110(a)(2) of the CAA most likely
                                                      requirements in section 110(a)(2)(C),                   (December 31, 2002), as amended by 72                  to warrant a specific SIP revision due to
                                                      (D)(i)(II), and (J) focuses upon the                    FR 32526 (June 13, 2007) (NSR Reform).                 the promulgation of a new or revised
                                                      structural PSD program requirements                     Thus, EPA believes that it may approve                 NAAQS or other factors.
                                                      contained in part C and EPA’s PSD                       an infrastructure SIP submission                          For example, EPA’s 2013 Guidance
                                                      regulations. Structural PSD program                     without scrutinizing the totality of the               gives simpler recommendations with
                                                      requirements include provisions                         existing SIP for such potentially                      respect to carbon monoxide than other
                                                      necessary for the PSD program to                        deficient provisions and may approve                   NAAQS pollutants to meet the visibility
                                                      address all regulated sources and NSR                   the submission even if it is aware of                  requirements of section
                                                      pollutants, including Greenhouse Gases                  such existing provisions.11 It is                      110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), because carbon
                                                      (GHGs). By contrast, structural PSD                     important to note that EPA’s approval of               monoxide does not affect visibility. As
                                                      program requirements do not include                     a state’s infrastructure SIP submission                a result, an infrastructure SIP
                                                      provisions that are not required under                  should not be construed as explicit or                 submission for any future new or
                                                      EPA’s regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 but                  implicit re-approval of any existing                   revised NAAQS for carbon monoxide
                                                      are merely available as an option for the               potentially deficient provisions that                  need only state this fact in order to
                                                      state, such as the option to provide                    relate to the three specific issues just               address the visibility prong of section
                                                      grandfathering of complete permit                       described.                                             110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
                                                      applications with respect to the PM2.5                     EPA’s approach to review of                            Finally, EPA believes that its
                                                      NAAQS. Accordingly, the latter                          infrastructure SIP submissions is to                   approach with respect to infrastructure
                                                      optional provisions are types of                        identify the CAA requirements that are                 SIP requirements is based on a
                                                      provisions EPA considers irrelevant in                  logically applicable to that submission.               reasonable reading of section 110(a)(1)
                                                      the context of an infrastructure SIP                    EPA believes that this approach to the                 and (2) because the CAA provides other
                                                      action.                                                 review of a particular infrastructure SIP              avenues and mechanisms to address
                                                         For other section 110(a)(2) elements,                submission is appropriate, because it                  specific substantive deficiencies in
                                                      however, EPA’s review of a state’s                      would not be reasonable to read the                    existing SIPs. These other statutory tools
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission focuses                   general requirements of section                        allow EPA to take appropriately tailored
                                                      on assuring that the state’s SIP meets                  110(a)(1) and the list of elements in                  action, depending upon the nature and
                                                      basic structural requirements. For                      section 110(a)(2) as requiring review of               severity of the alleged SIP deficiency.
                                                      example, section 110(a)(2)(C) includes,                 each and every provision of a state’s                  Section 110(k)(5) authorizes EPA to
                                                      inter alia, the requirement that states                 existing SIP against all requirements in               issue a ‘‘SIP call’’ whenever the Agency
                                                      have a program to regulate minor new                                                                           determines that a state’s SIP is
                                                      sources. Thus, EPA evaluates whether                      10 Subsequent to issuing the 2013 Guidance,
                                                                                                                                                                     substantially inadequate to attain or
                                                      the state has an EPA-approved minor                     EPA’s interpretation of the CAA with respect to the    maintain the NAAQS, to mitigate
                                                      new source review program and                           approvability of affirmative defense provisions in
                                                                                                              SIPs has changed. See ‘‘State Implementation Plans:    interstate transport, or to otherwise
                                                      whether the program addresses the                       Response to Petition for Rulemaking; Restatement       comply with the CAA.12 Section
                                                      pollutants relevant to that NAAQS. In                   and Update of EPA’s SSM Policy Applicable to           110(k)(6) authorizes EPA to correct
                                                      the context of acting on an                             SIPs; Findings of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP      errors in past actions, such as past
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission, however,                 Calls To Amend Provisions Applying to Excess
                                                                                                              Emissions During Periods of Startup, Shutdown and      approvals of SIP submissions.13
                                                      EPA does not think it is necessary to                   Malfunction,’’ 80 FR 33839 (June 12, 2015). As a
                                                      conduct a review of each and every                      result, EPA’s 2013 Guidance (p. 21 & n.30) no            12 For example, EPA issued a SIP call to Utah to

                                                      provision of a state’s existing minor
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                                                                                                              longer represents the EPA’s view concerning the        address specific existing SIP deficiencies related to
                                                      source program (i.e., already in the                    validity of affirmative defense provisions, in light   the treatment of excess emissions during SSM
                                                                                                              of the requirements of section 113 and section 304.    events. See ‘‘Finding of Substantial Inadequacy of
                                                      existing SIP) for compliance with the                     11 By contrast, EPA notes that if a state were to    Implementation Plan; Call for Utah State
                                                      requirements of the CAA and EPA’s                       include a new provision in an infrastructure SIP       Implementation Plan Revisions,’’ 74 FR 21639
                                                      regulations that pertain to such                        submission that contained a legal deficiency, such     (April 18, 2011).
                                                      programs.                                               as a new exemption or affirmative defense for            13 EPA has used this authority to correct errors in

                                                         With respect to certain other issues,                excess emissions during SSM events, then EPA           past actions on SIP submissions related to PSD
                                                                                                              would need to evaluate that provision for              programs. See ‘‘Limitation of Approval of
                                                      EPA does not believe that an action on                  compliance against the rubric of applicable CAA        Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions
                                                      a state’s infrastructure SIP submission is              requirements in the context of the action on the       Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in
                                                      necessarily the appropriate type of                     infrastructure SIP.                                                                                Continued




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                                                      20604                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      Significantly, EPA’s determination that                  participating in a regional planning                  39104 (July 6, 2005). As a result, a
                                                      an action on a state’s infrastructure SIP                process include all measures needed to                number of states in the CAIR region
                                                      submission is not the appropriate time                   achieve its apportionment of emission                 designed their regional haze SIPs to rely
                                                      and place to address all potential                       reduction obligations agreed upon                     on CAIR as an alternative to NOX and
                                                      existing SIP deficiencies does not                       through that process. A fully approved                SO2 BART for CAIR-subject EGUs.
                                                      preclude EPA’s subsequent reliance on                    regional haze SIP will ensure that                    These states also relied on CAIR as an
                                                      provisions in section 110(a)(2) as part of               emissions from sources under an air                   element of a LTS for achieving their
                                                      the basis for action to correct those                    agency’s jurisdiction are not interfering             reasonable progress goals.
                                                      deficiencies at a later time. For example,               with measures required to be included                    The United States Court of Appeals
                                                      although it may not be appropriate to                    in other air agencies’ plans to protect               for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C.
                                                      require a state to eliminate all existing                visibility.                                           Circuit) initially vacated CAIR in
                                                      inappropriate director’s discretion                        Alternatively, in the absence of a fully            2008,16 but ultimately remanded the
                                                      provisions in the course of acting on an                 approved regional haze SIP, a state may               rule to EPA without vacatur to preserve
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission, EPA                       meet the requirements of prong 4                      the environmental benefits provided by
                                                      believes that section 110(a)(2)(A) may be                through a demonstration in its                        CAIR.17 On August 8, 2011, acting on
                                                      among the statutory bases that EPA                       infrastructure SIP submission that                    the D.C. Circuit’s remand, EPA
                                                      relies upon in the course of addressing                  emissions within its jurisdiction do not              promulgated the Cross-State Air
                                                      such deficiency in a subsequent                          interfere with other air agencies’ plans              Pollution Rule (CSAPR) to replace CAIR
                                                      action.14                                                to protect visibility. Such an                        and thus to address the interstate
                                                                                                               infrastructure SIP submission would                   transport of emissions contributing to
                                                      III. What are the Prong 4 requirements?                  need to include measures to limit                     nonattainment and interfering with
                                                         Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires a                visibility-impairing pollutants and                   maintenance of the two air quality
                                                      state’s SIP to contain provisions                        ensure that the reductions conform with               standards covered by CAIR as well as
                                                      prohibiting sources in that state from                   any mutually agreed regional haze                     the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.18 See 76 FR
                                                      emitting pollutants in amounts that                      reasonable progress goals for mandatory               48208.
                                                      interfere with any other state’s efforts to              Class I areas in other states.                           Due to CAIR’s status as a temporary
                                                      protect visibility under part C of the                                                                         measure following the D.C. Circuit’s
                                                                                                               IV. What is EPA’s analysis of how                     2008 ruling, EPA could not fully
                                                      CAA (which includes sections 169A and                    North Carolina addressed Prong 4?
                                                      169B). The 2013 Guidance states that                                                                           approve regional haze SIP revisions to
                                                      these prong 4 requirements can be                          North Carolina’s November 2, 2012,                  the extent that they relied on CAIR to
                                                      satisfied by approved SIP provisions                     2008 8-hour Ozone submission; August                  satisfy the BART requirement and the
                                                      that EPA has found to adequately                         23, 2013, 2010 1-hour NO2 submission;                 requirement for a long-term strategy
                                                      address any contribution of that state’s                 March 18, 2014, 2010 1-hour SO2                       sufficient to achieve the state-adopted
                                                      sources to impacts on visibility program                 submission; and December 4, 2015,                     reasonable progress goals. On these
                                                      requirements in other states. The 2013                   2012 annual PM2.5 submission cite to                  grounds, EPA finalized a limited
                                                      Guidance also states that EPA interprets                 the State’s regional haze SIP as                      disapproval of North Carolina’s regional
                                                      this prong to be pollutant-specific, such                satisfying prong 4 requirements.                      haze SIP on June 7, 2012, triggering the
                                                      that the infrastructure SIP submission                   However, as explained below, EPA has                  requirement for EPA to promulgate a
                                                      need only address the potential for                      not yet fully approved North Carolina’s               FIP unless North Carolina submitted
                                                      interference with protection of visibility               regional haze SIP because the SIP relies              and EPA approved a SIP revision that
                                                                                                               on the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)               corrected the deficiency. See 77 FR
                                                      caused by the pollutant (including
                                                                                                               to satisfy the nitrogen oxides (NOX) and              33642. EPA finalized a limited approval
                                                      precursors) to which the new or revised
                                                                                                               SO2 Best Available Retrofit Technology                of North Carolina’s regional haze SIP on
                                                      NAAQS applies.
                                                         The 2013 Guidance lays out two ways                   (BART) requirements for the CAIR-                     June 27, 2012, as meeting the remaining
                                                      in which a state’s infrastructure SIP may                subject electric generating units (EGUs)              applicable regional haze requirements
                                                      satisfy prong 4. The first way is through                in the State and the requirement for a                set forth in the CAA and the Regional
                                                      an air agency’s confirmation in its                      long-term strategy (LTS) sufficient to                Haze Rule. See 77 FR 38185.
                                                                                                               achieve the state-adopted reasonable                     On October 31, 2014, North Carolina
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission that it has
                                                                                                               progress goals.15                                     submitted a regional haze SIP revision
                                                      an EPA-approved regional haze SIP that
                                                                                                                 EPA demonstrated that CAIR                          to correct the deficiencies identified in
                                                      fully meets the requirements of 40 CFR                   achieved greater reasonable progress
                                                      51.308 or 51.309. 40 CFR 51.308 and                                                                            the June 7, 2012, limited disapproval by
                                                                                                               toward the national visibility goal than              replacing reliance on CAIR with
                                                      51.309 specifically require that a state                 BART for NOX and SO2 at BART-eligible                 reliance on a BART Alternative to
                                                                                                               EGUs in CAIR affected states, and
                                                      State Implementation Plans; Final Rule,’’ 75 FR
                                                      82536 (December 30, 2010). EPA has previously            revised the regional haze rule (RHR) to                 16 North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F.3d 896 (D.C.

                                                      used its authority under section 110(k)(6) of the        provide that states participating in                  Circuit 2008).
                                                      CAA to remove numerous other SIP provisions that         CAIR’s cap-and-trade program need not                   17 North Carolina v. EPA, 550 F.3d 1176 (D.C.

                                                      the Agency determined it had approved in error.          require affected BART-eligible EGUs to                Circuit 2008).
                                                      See, e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62 FR                                                                 18 Although a number of parties challenged the
                                                      34641 (June 27, 1997) (corrections to American
                                                                                                               install, operate, and maintain BART for
                                                                                                                                                                     legality of CSAPR and the D.C. Circuit initially
                                                                                                               emissions of SO2 and NOX. See 70 FR
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                                                      Samoa, Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada                                                                 vacated and remanded CSAPR to EPA in EME
                                                      SIPs); 69 FR 67062, November 16, 2004 (corrections                                                             Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA, 696 F.3d 7, 38
                                                      to California SIP); and 74 FR 57051 (November 3,            15 CAIR, promulgated in 2005, required 27 states   (D.C. Circuit 2012), the United States Supreme
                                                      2009) (corrections to Arizona and Nevada SIPs).          and the District of Columbia to reduce emissions of   Court reversed the D.C. Circuit’s decision on April
                                                         14 See, e.g., EPA’s disapproval of a SIP submission   NOX and SO2 that significantly contribute to, or      29, 2014, and remanded the case to the D.C. Circuit
                                                      from Colorado on the grounds that it would have          interfere with maintenance of, the 1997 NAAQS for     to resolve remaining issues in accordance with the
                                                      included a director’s discretion provision               fine particulates and/or ozone in any downwind        high court’s ruling. EPA v. EME Homer City
                                                      inconsistent with CAA requirements, including            state. CAIR imposed specified emissions reduction     Generation, L.P., 134 S. Ct. 1584 (2014). On remand,
                                                      section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR 42342 at 42344    requirements on each affected State, and              the D.C. Circuit affirmed CSAPR in most respects
                                                      (July 21, 2010) (proposed disapproval of director’s      established an EPA-administered cap and trade         and CSAPR is now in effect. EME Homer City
                                                      discretion provisions); 76 FR 4540 (January 26,          program for EGUs in which States could join as a      Generation, L.P. v. EPA, 795 F.3d 118 (D.C. Circuit
                                                      2011) (final disapproval of such provisions).            means to meet these requirements.                     2015).



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                 20605

                                                      satisfy NOX and SO2 BART                                VI. Statutory and Executive Order                        • is not a significant regulatory action
                                                      requirements for EGUs formerly subject                  Reviews                                                subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
                                                      to CAIR. Concurrent with this proposed                     Under the CAA, the Administrator is                 28355, May 22, 2001);
                                                      prong 4 action, EPA is proposing to                     required to approve a SIP submission                     • is not subject to requirements of
                                                      approve the October 31, 2014, SIP                       that complies with the provisions of the               Section 12(d) of the National
                                                      revision and convert North Carolina’s                   Act and applicable federal regulations.                Technology Transfer and Advancement
                                                      regional haze SIP from a limited                        See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
                                                      approval to a full approval because EPA                 Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,                    application of those requirements would
                                                      believes that final approval of this SIP                EPA’s role is to approve state choices,                be inconsistent with the CAA; and
                                                      revision would correct the deficiencies                 provided that they meet the criteria of                  • does not provide EPA with the
                                                      that led to EPA’s limited disapproval of                the CAA. Accordingly, this proposed                    discretionary authority to address, as
                                                      the State’s regional haze SIP. Because a                action merely approves state law as                    appropriate, disproportionate human
                                                      state may satisfy prong 4 requirements                  meeting Federal requirements and does                  health or environmental effects, using
                                                      through a fully approved regional haze                  not impose additional requirements                     practicable and legally permissible
                                                      SIP, EPA is proposing to approve the                    beyond those imposed by state law. For                 methods, under Executive Order 12898
                                                      prong 4 portions of North Carolina’s                    that reason, this proposed action:                     (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
                                                                                                                 • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                   The SIP is not approved to apply on
                                                      November 2, 2012, August 23, 2013,                      action’’ subject to review by the Office
                                                      2010, March 18, 2014, and December 4,                                                                          any Indian reservation land or in any
                                                                                                              of Management and Budget under                         other area where EPA or an Indian tribe
                                                      2015, 2012 SIP submissions. EPA will                    Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
                                                      not finalize this proposed prong 4 action                                                                      has demonstrated that a tribe has
                                                                                                              October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,                jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian
                                                      unless it approves North Carolina’s                     January 21, 2011);                                     country, the rule does not have tribal
                                                      October 31, 2014, SIP revision and                         • does not impose an information
                                                      converts the State’s regional haze SIP                                                                         implications as specified by Executive
                                                                                                              collection burden under the provisions
                                                                                                                                                                     Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
                                                      from a limited approval to a full                       of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                                                                                                                                                     2000), nor will it impose substantial
                                                      approval.                                               U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
                                                                                                                 • is certified as not having a                      direct costs on tribal governments or
                                                      V. Proposed Action                                      significant economic impact on a                       preempt tribal law.
                                                        As described above, EPA is proposing                  substantial number of small entities                   List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                                                                                              under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                                      to approve the prong 4 portions of North                                                                         Environmental protection, Air
                                                                                                              U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                                                      Carolina’s November 2, 2012, 2008 8-                       • does not contain any unfunded                     pollution control, Incorporation by
                                                      hour Ozone infrastructure SIP                           mandate or significantly or uniquely                   reference, Intergovernmental relations,
                                                      submission; August 23, 2013, 2010 1-                    affect small governments, as described                 Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate
                                                      hour NO2 infrastructure SIP submission;                 in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                    Matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
                                                      March 18, 2014, 2010 1-hour SO2                         of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);                               requirements, Volatile organic
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission; and                         • does not have Federalism                          compounds.
                                                      December 4, 2015, 2012 annual PM2.5                     implications as specified in Executive                   Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission. All other                Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                                                                                                                                                       Dated: March 25, 2016.
                                                      applicable infrastructure requirements                  1999);
                                                      for these SIP submissions have been or                     • is not an economically significant                Heather McTeer Toney,
                                                                                                              regulatory action based on health or                   Regional Administrator, Region 4.
                                                      will be addressed in separate
                                                      rulemakings.                                            safety risks subject to Executive Order                [FR Doc. 2016–07669 Filed 4–7–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                              13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                   BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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Document Created: 2018-02-07 13:49:53
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 13:49:53
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesComments must be received on or before April 29, 2016.
ContactSean Lakeman of the Air Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Mr. Lakeman can be reached by telephone at (404) 562-9043 or via electronic mail at [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 20600 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Volatile Organic Compounds

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