81_FR_33267 81 FR 33166 - Clean Air Act Redesignation Substitute for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria 1997 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Area; Texas

81 FR 33166 - Clean Air Act Redesignation Substitute for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria 1997 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Area; Texas

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 101 (May 25, 2016)

Page Range33166-33169
FR Document2016-12230

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a redesignation substitute and make a finding of attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone nonattainment area (HGB area). The redesignation substitute demonstration indicates that the area has attained the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due to permanent and enforceable emission reductions and that it will maintain that NAAQS for ten years from the date of the EPA's approval of this demonstration. Final approval of the redesignation substitute will result in the area no longer being subject to any remaining applicable anti-backsliding requirements and the nonattainment new source review (NNSR) requirements associated with the revoked NAAQS. In general, final approval of the redesignation substitute would allow Texas to seek to revise the Texas SIP for the area to remove anti-backsliding measures from the active portion of its SIP if it can demonstrate, pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(1), that such revision would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any applicable NAAQS, or any other requirement of the CAA. However, the EPA believes that in this instance, Texas does not need to revise its SIP to alter certain provisions for NNSR effective in the HGB area.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33166-33169]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12230]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[EPA-R06-OAR-2015-0609; FRL-9946-84-Region 6]


Clean Air Act Redesignation Substitute for the Houston-Galveston-
Brazoria 1997 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Area; Texas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a redesignation substitute and make a finding of attainment for 
the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 
for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone nonattainment area (HGB area). 
The redesignation substitute demonstration indicates that the area has 
attained the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due to permanent and 
enforceable emission reductions and that it will maintain that NAAQS 
for ten years from the date of the EPA's approval of this 
demonstration. Final approval of the redesignation substitute will 
result in the area no longer being subject to any remaining applicable 
anti-backsliding requirements and the nonattainment new source review 
(NNSR) requirements associated with the revoked NAAQS. In general, 
final approval of the redesignation substitute would allow Texas to 
seek to revise the Texas SIP for the area to remove anti-backsliding 
measures from the active portion of its SIP if it can demonstrate, 
pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(1), that such revision 
would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any applicable 
NAAQS, or any other requirement of the CAA. However, the EPA believes 
that in this instance, Texas does not need to revise its SIP to alter 
certain provisions for NNSR effective in the HGB area.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 24, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket No. EPA-R06-OAR-
2015-0609, at http://www.regulations.gov or via email to 
[email protected]. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from 
Regulations.gov. The 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. The 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, please contact Ms. Tracie Donaldson, 
(214) 665-6633, [email protected]. For 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.
    Docket: The index to the docket for this action is available 
electronically at www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at EPA Region 6, 
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas. While all documents in the 
docket are listed in the index, some information may be publicly 
available only at the hard copy location (e.g., copyrighted material), 
and some may not be publicly available at either location (e.g., CBI).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracie Donaldson, (214) 665-6633, 
[email protected]. To inspect the hard copy materials, please 
contact Tracie Donaldson.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document wherever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean the EPA.

I. Background

    In 1979, under section 109 of the CAA, EPA established primary and 
secondary NAAQS for ozone at 0.12 parts per million (ppm) averaged over 
a 1-hour period (44 FR 8202, February 8, 1979). Primary standards are 
set to protect human health while secondary standards are set to 
protect public welfare. In 1997 we revised the primary and secondary 
NAAQS for ozone to set the acceptable level of ozone in the ambient air 
at 0.08 ppm, averaged over an 8-hour period (62 FR 38856, July 18, 
1997). In 2008, we revised the primary and secondary ozone NAAQS to 
0.075 ppm, averaged over an 8-hour period (73 FR 16436, March 27, 
2008). Ozone nonattainment areas are classified at the time of 
designation based on the area's design value (77 FR 30088, 30091, May 
21, 2012 and CAA section 181(a)(1)). The design value is calculated 
from air quality data from the area for the 3 years preceding 
designation. The possible classifications are Marginal, Moderate, 
Serious, Severe, and Extreme. Nonattainment areas with a ``lower'' 
classification have design values that are closer to the NAAQS than 
areas with a ``higher'' classification.
    The EPA revoked the 1997 ozone NAAQS for all purposes effective 
April 6, 2015 (80 FR 12264, 12296, March 6, 2015). In that rule, the 
EPA established a regulatory list of ``applicable requirements'' that 
would apply as anti-backsliding requirements for the transition from 
the 1997 ozone NAAQS to the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Id. at 12298-99. The rule 
provides that an area initially subject to the anti-backsliding 
obligations for a revoked NAAQS will remain so until we approve (1) a 
redesignation to attainment for the area for the 2008 ozone NAAQS or 
(2) a ``redesignation substitute'', which serves as a successor to 
redesignation to attainment, for which the area would have been 
eligible were it not for revocation. Id. at 12304. As explained more 
fully in the preambles to the proposed and final rules, the 
redesignation substitute demonstration must show that the area (1) has 
attained the revoked NAAQS due to permanent and enforceable emission 
reductions and (2) will maintain that revoked NAAQS for 10 years from 
the date of EPA's approval of the showing. See id. at 12303-306; 78 FR 
34178, 34222-223.

[[Page 33167]]

The rule also provides that if, after notice and comment rulemaking, we 
approve a redesignation substitute for a revoked NAAQS, the state may 
request to revise its SIP to revise or remove provisions for NNSR for 
that revoked NAAQS and that other anti-backsliding obligations for that 
revoked NAAQS be shifted to contingency measures, provided that such 
action is consistent with CAA sections 110(l) and 193 (40 CFR 
51.1105(b)(2)).
    The HGB area consists of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, 
Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties in Texas. On April 30, 
2004, the EPA designated and classified the 8-county HGB as a Moderate 
nonattainment area under the 1997 ozone standard with an attainment 
date of no later than June 15, 2010 (see 69 FR 23858 and 69 FR 23951). 
On June 15, 2007, we received a request from the Governor of Texas 
seeking voluntary reclassification of the HGB area from a Moderate 
nonattainment area to a Severe nonattainment area under the 1997 ozone 
standard, which we approved on October 1, 2008 (73 FR 56983).\1\ 
Subsequently, the State submitted the Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) 
and Attainment Demonstration (AD) SIPs for the HGB Severe area under 
the 1997 ozone standard. These RFP and AD SIPs were approved on January 
2, 2014 (see 79 FR 51 and 79 FR 57, respectively).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The attainment date for the HGB Severe nonattainment area 
was as expeditiously as practicable, but not later than June 15, 
2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Texas provided the ``Redesignation Substitute Report for the 
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria 1997 Eight-Hour Standard Nonattainment 
Area'' (redesignation substitute report) to EPA on August 18, 2015. The 
submission also requested that EPA concur that the NNSR provisions 
relevant to the revoked 1997 ozone NAAQS would no longer apply. The 
report is available through www.regulations.gov (e-docket EPA-R06-OAR-
2015-0609).

II. EPA's Evaluation of the Houston Redesignation Substitute Report

    To determine whether we should approve the 1997 8-hour ozone 
redesignation substitute for the HGB area, we evaluated the 
redesignation substitute report provided by Texas and the ambient ozone 
data for the area in the EPA Air Quality System (AQS) database. To 
evaluate the report we used the applicable portions of our September 4, 
1992 memo, ``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to 
Attainment'' (www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t5/memoranda/redesignmem090492.pdf). A detailed discussion of our evaluation can be 
found in the Technical Support Document (TSD) for this action. The TSD 
can be accessed through www.regulations.gov (e-docket EPA-R06-OAR-2015-
0609).

A. Has the area attained the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due to 
permanent and enforceable emission reductions?

    In a previous action we found that the HGB area had attained the 
1997 8-hour ozone standard (80 FR 81466). Ambient air quality found in 
the AQS database shows that the HGB area attained the 1997 8-hour ozone 
standard at the end of 2014, and preliminary data from 2015 indicate 
that the area has continued to maintain the standard (Table 1).

             Table 1--8-Hour Design Values for the HGB Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Years                      8-hour ozone design value
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012-2014.................................  80 ppb.
Preliminary 2013-2015.....................  80 ppb.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 2014, all monitors in the HGB area reported 8-hour ozone values 
of 80 ppb or less. A more detailed table of 8-hour ozone values for the 
HGB monitors can be found in the TSD.
    The HGB area redesignation substitute report provides information 
on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs) and regulations that reduced these emissions. 
NOX and VOCs are ozone precursors. Texas identified control 
measures implemented as part of its 1-hour ozone attainment 
demonstration SIP and its 1997 ozone attainment demonstration SIP that 
led to permanent and enforceable emission reductions. The 1-hour ozone 
attainment demonstration SIP was approved on September 6, 2006 (71 FR 
52670). The 1997 ozone attainment demonstration SIP was approved on 
January 2, 2014 (79 FR 57). Additionally, we have approved SIPs for the 
HGB area that document continuous emissions reductions due to permanent 
and enforceable measures for the 1-hour and 1997 8-hour ozone standards 
(70 FR 7407, February 14, 2005; 74 FR 18298, April 22, 2009; 79 FR 51, 
January 2, 2014). The TCEQ has implemented stringent and innovative 
regulations that address emissions of NOX and VOCs. These 
include, but are not limited to:
     Highly Reactive VOC Emissions Cap and Trade (HECT) 
implemented in 2007. This program affects cooling towers, process vents 
and flares and establishes an emission limit with a cap and trade in 
Harris County. The seven perimeter counties are subject to permit 
allowable limits and monitoring requirements.
     More stringent leak detection and repair (LDAR) 
requirements implemented in 2004.
     NOX Mass Emissions Cap and Trade (MECT) Program 
phased in through April 2007 results in an overall 80% reduction from 
existing industrial sources and utility power plants.
     Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance implemented in Harris 
County in 2002 and then expanded to Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and 
Montgomery Counties.
     Federal Area and Non-road emissions limits are being 
phased in through 2018.
     Federal On-road emissions limits are being phased in 
through 2025.
    Given our previous actions approving Texas SIPs pertaining to 
permanent and enforceable measures, we agree with Texas' conclusion 
that the area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due to permanent 
and enforceable emission reductions. Many others are listed and a more 
detailed review can be found in the TSD.

B. Will the area maintain the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for 10 
years from the date of our approval?

    To demonstrate that the HGB area will maintain the revoked 1997 8-
hour ozone NAAQS for 10 years from the date of our approval of the 
redesignation substitute, the Texas report provided information on 
projected emissions of ozone precursors (Tables 2 and 3). The emission 
projections show that (1) NOX emissions will continue to 
decrease through 2028 and (2) VOC emissions will remain relatively 
steady through 2028 with an overall increase of 8.4 tpd or 1.4%. We 
reviewed this information and agree with the conclusion that the area 
will maintain the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for 10 years from the 
date of our approval. Based on photochemical modeling analyses showing 
that the formation of ozone in the HGB area is more sensitive to 
NOX than to VOC emissions, the small increase in VOC 
emissions during the 10-year maintenance period is expected to be more 
than offset by the 39% decrease in NOX emissions during this

[[Page 33168]]

same period. More detail on our review can be found in the TSD.

                                                    Table 2--NOX Emission Projections (Tons per Day)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Category                       2012            2014            2017            2020            2023            2026            2028
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Sources...........................            98.5          119.67          127.39          127.71          128.03          128.35          128.56
Area Sources............................           21.91           22.52           23.23           23.61           23.47           23.50           23.59
On-Road Mobile Sources..................          159.08          124.64           82.96           61.06           48.94           40.24           37.04
Non-Road Mobile Sources.................          132.24          100.90           87.32           76.34           69.91           64.78           61.62
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................          411.73          367.73          320.90          288.72          270.35          256.87          250.81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                    Table 3--VOC Emission Projections (Tons per Day)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Category                       2012            2014            2017            2020            2023            2026            2028
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Sources...........................           84.06          110.72          115.02          115.65          116.26          116.94          117.41
Area Sources............................          310.07          317.75          328.20          335.07          337.81          341.16          344.75
On-Road Mobile Sources..................           74.51           61.48           47.36           40.38           36.12           31.71           28.99
Non-Road Mobile Sources.................           44.01           38.81           33.51           30.89           30.05           29.84           29.93
                                         -----------------
    Total...............................          512.65          528.76          524.09          521.99          520.24          519.65          521.08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Proposed Action

    Based on the CAA's criteria for redesignation to attainment (CAA 
section 107(d)(3)(E)) and the regulation providing for a redesignation 
substitute (40 CFR 51.1105(b)), EPA is proposing to approve the 
redesignation substitute for the HGB area for the revoked 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS and make a finding of attainment based on our determination 
that the demonstration provided by the State of Texas shows that the 
HGB area has attained the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due to 
permanent and enforceable emission reductions, and that it will 
maintain that NAAQS for ten years from the date of the EPA's approval 
of this demonstration. If EPA finalizes approval of the redesignation 
substitute, the HGB area would no longer be subject to any remaining 
applicable anti-backsliding requirements and the NNSR requirements 
associated with the revoked NAAQS. It would also allow the state to 
request a SIP revision to shift anti-backsliding obligations for the 
revoked ozone NAAQS to contingency measures provided that such action 
is consistent with CAA sections 110(1) and 193 (if applicable).
    Texas's redesignation substitute report also requested that EPA 
concur that the NNSR provisions relevant to the revoked 1997 ozone 
NAAQS would no longer apply. As explained previously, if we approve a 
redesignation substitute, the state may request to revise its SIP to 
revise or remove provisions for NNSR for the revoked standard, provided 
that such action is consistent with CAA sections 110(l) and 193 (40 CFR 
51.1105(b)(2)). However, the EPA believes that in this instance, Texas 
does not need to revise its SIP to alter some of the provisions for 
NNSR effective in the HGB area. The EPA reads Texas's NNSR SIP 
designations and classifications (and thus the related major source 
thresholds and offset ratios) to adjust as 40 CFR part 81 is updated 
and does not require further action by Texas if EPA were to finalize 
the redesignation substitute proposed here. This is explained in detail 
in Section D of the TSD. Because the HGB area is classified as Marginal 
nonattainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS (as of the date of this 
Proposal), if the EPA finalizes this redesignation substitute, we 
believe that Texas's NNSR program would automatically change to 
requirements applicable for marginal areas in accordance with the HGB 
area classification for the 2008 ozone NAAQS for newly permitted 
sources. We note that finalization of this redesignation substitute 
does not relieve sources in the area of their obligations under 
previously established permit conditions.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See Final Implementation Rule for 2008 Ozone Standard, 80 FR 
12264, at 12299, footnote 83 and at 12304, footnote 91.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 
13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011), this action is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this reason, this 
action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions 
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action merely 
proposes to approve a demonstration provided by the State of Texas and 
find that the HGB area is no longer subject to the anti-backsliding 
obligations for additional measures for the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS; and imposes no additional requirements. Accordingly, I certify 
that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this proposed rule does not impose 
any additional enforceable duties, it 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). 
This proposed rule also does not have a substantial direct effect on 
one or more Indian Tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian Tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal

[[Page 33169]]

Government and Indian Tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified 
in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it 
merely proposes to approve a demonstration provided by the State of 
Texas and find that the HGB area is no longer subject to the anti-
backsliding obligations for additional measures for the revoked 1997 8-
hour ozone NAAQS; and does not alter the relationship or the 
distribution of power and responsibilities established in the CAA. This 
proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.
    The proposed rule does not impose an information collection burden 
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.). Additionally, this proposed rule does not involve 
establishment of technical standards, and thus, the requirements of 
section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act 
of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply.
    Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes 
Federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision 
directs Federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and 
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission 
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high 
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, 
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income 
populations in the United States. EPA has determined that this proposed 
rule will not have disproportionately high and adverse human health or 
environmental effects on minority or low-income populations because it 
does not affect the level of protection provided to human health or the 
environment. Additionally, the proposed rule is not an economically 
significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject 
to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997).

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, 
Volatile organic compounds.

40 CFR Part 81

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control.

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

    Dated: May 13, 2016.
Ron Curry,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2016-12230 Filed 5-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                               33166                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                               will not have disproportionately high                   new source review (NNSR)                              the hard copy materials, please contact
                                               and adverse human health or                             requirements associated with the                      Tracie Donaldson.
                                               environmental effects on minority or                    revoked NAAQS. In general, final                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               low-income populations because it does                  approval of the redesignation substitute              Throughout this document wherever
                                               not affect the level of protection                      would allow Texas to seek to revise the               ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
                                               provided to human health or the                         Texas SIP for the area to remove anti-                the EPA.
                                               environment. Additionally, the                          backsliding measures from the active
                                               proposed rule is not an economically                    portion of its SIP if it can demonstrate,             I. Background
                                               significant regulatory action based on                  pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA) section                  In 1979, under section 109 of the
                                               health or safety risks subject to                       110(1), that such revision would not                  CAA, EPA established primary and
                                               Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,                     interfere with attainment or                          secondary NAAQS for ozone at 0.12
                                               April 23, 1997).                                        maintenance of any applicable NAAQS,                  parts per million (ppm) averaged over a
                                                                                                       or any other requirement of the CAA.                  1-hour period (44 FR 8202, February 8,
                                               List of Subjects
                                                                                                       However, the EPA believes that in this                1979). Primary standards are set to
                                               40 CFR Part 52                                          instance, Texas does not need to revise               protect human health while secondary
                                                 Environmental protection, Air                         its SIP to alter certain provisions for               standards are set to protect public
                                               pollution control, Incorporation by                     NNSR effective in the HGB area.                       welfare. In 1997 we revised the primary
                                               reference, Intergovernmental relations,                 DATES: Written comments must be                       and secondary NAAQS for ozone to set
                                               Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Volatile                       received on or before June 24, 2016.                  the acceptable level of ozone in the
                                               organic compounds.                                                                                            ambient air at 0.08 ppm, averaged over
                                                                                                       ADDRESSES:   Submit your comments,
                                                                                                                                                             an 8-hour period (62 FR 38856, July 18,
                                               40 CFR Part 81                                          identified by Docket No. EPA–R06–
                                                                                                                                                             1997). In 2008, we revised the primary
                                                 Environmental protection, Air                         OAR–2015–0609, at http://
                                                                                                                                                             and secondary ozone NAAQS to 0.075
                                               pollution control.                                      www.regulations.gov or via email to
                                                                                                                                                             ppm, averaged over an 8-hour period
                                                                                                       Donaldson.tracie@epa.gov. Follow the
                                                  Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.                                                                          (73 FR 16436, March 27, 2008). Ozone
                                                                                                       online instructions for submitting
                                                                                                                                                             nonattainment areas are classified at the
                                                 Dated: May 13, 2016.                                  comments. Once submitted, comments
                                                                                                                                                             time of designation based on the area’s
                                               Ron Curry,                                              cannot be edited or removed from
                                                                                                                                                             design value (77 FR 30088, 30091, May
                                               Regional Administrator, Region 6.                       Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish
                                                                                                                                                             21, 2012 and CAA section 181(a)(1)).
                                                                                                       any comment received to its public
                                               [FR Doc. 2016–12229 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am]                                                                   The design value is calculated from air
                                                                                                       docket. Do not submit electronically any
                                               BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                                                                        quality data from the area for the 3 years
                                                                                                       information you consider to be
                                                                                                                                                             preceding designation. The possible
                                                                                                       Confidential Business Information (CBI)
                                                                                                                                                             classifications are Marginal, Moderate,
                                               ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                or other information whose disclosure is
                                                                                                                                                             Serious, Severe, and Extreme.
                                               AGENCY                                                  restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                                                                                                                                             Nonattainment areas with a ‘‘lower’’
                                                                                                       submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                                                                                                                                             classification have design values that
                                               40 CFR Parts 52 and 81                                  accompanied by a written comment.
                                                                                                                                                             are closer to the NAAQS than areas with
                                                                                                       The written comment is considered the
                                               [EPA–R06–OAR–2015–0609; FRL–9946–84–                                                                          a ‘‘higher’’ classification.
                                                                                                       official comment and should include
                                               Region 6]                                                                                                        The EPA revoked the 1997 ozone
                                                                                                       discussion of all points you wish to
                                                                                                                                                             NAAQS for all purposes effective April
                                               Clean Air Act Redesignation Substitute                  make. The EPA will generally not
                                                                                                                                                             6, 2015 (80 FR 12264, 12296, March 6,
                                               for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria                      consider comments or comment
                                                                                                                                                             2015). In that rule, the EPA established
                                               1997 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment                         contents located outside of the primary
                                                                                                                                                             a regulatory list of ‘‘applicable
                                               Area; Texas                                             submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or
                                                                                                                                                             requirements’’ that would apply as anti-
                                                                                                       other file sharing system). For
                                               AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                                                                             backsliding requirements for the
                                                                                                       additional submission methods, please
                                               Agency (EPA).                                                                                                 transition from the 1997 ozone NAAQS
                                                                                                       contact Ms. Tracie Donaldson, (214)
                                               ACTION: Proposed rule.                                                                                        to the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Id. at 12298–
                                                                                                       665–6633, Donaldson.tracie@epa.gov.
                                                                                                                                                             99. The rule provides that an area
                                                                                                       For the full EPA public comment policy,
                                               SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                                                                       initially subject to the anti-backsliding
                                                                                                       information about CBI or multimedia
                                               Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a                                                                        obligations for a revoked NAAQS will
                                                                                                       submissions, and general guidance on
                                               redesignation substitute and make a                                                                           remain so until we approve (1) a
                                                                                                       making effective comments, please visit
                                               finding of attainment for the 1997 8-                                                                         redesignation to attainment for the area
                                                                                                       http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                               hour ozone National Ambient Air                                                                               for the 2008 ozone NAAQS or (2) a
                                                                                                       commenting-epa-dockets.
                                               Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the                                                                             ‘‘redesignation substitute’’, which serves
                                               Houston-Galveston-Brazoria ozone                           Docket: The index to the docket for                as a successor to redesignation to
                                               nonattainment area (HGB area). The                      this action is available electronically at            attainment, for which the area would
                                               redesignation substitute demonstration                  www.regulations.gov and in hard copy                  have been eligible were it not for
                                               indicates that the area has attained the                at EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue,                    revocation. Id. at 12304. As explained
                                               revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due                     Suite 700, Dallas, Texas. While all                   more fully in the preambles to the
                                               to permanent and enforceable emission                   documents in the docket are listed in                 proposed and final rules, the
                                               reductions and that it will maintain that               the index, some information may be                    redesignation substitute demonstration
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                                               NAAQS for ten years from the date of                    publicly available only at the hard copy              must show that the area (1) has attained
                                               the EPA’s approval of this                              location (e.g., copyrighted material), and            the revoked NAAQS due to permanent
                                               demonstration. Final approval of the                    some may not be publicly available at                 and enforceable emission reductions
                                               redesignation substitute will result in                 either location (e.g., CBI).                          and (2) will maintain that revoked
                                               the area no longer being subject to any                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      NAAQS for 10 years from the date of
                                               remaining applicable anti-backsliding                   Tracie Donaldson, (214) 665–6633,                     EPA’s approval of the showing. See id.
                                               requirements and the nonattainment                      Donaldson.tracie@epa.gov. To inspect                  at 12303–306; 78 FR 34178, 34222–223.


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                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                            33167

                                               The rule also provides that if, after                   redesignmem090492.pdf). A detailed                          • Highly Reactive VOC Emissions
                                               notice and comment rulemaking, we                       discussion of our evaluation can be                      Cap and Trade (HECT) implemented in
                                               approve a redesignation substitute for a                found in the Technical Support                           2007. This program affects cooling
                                               revoked NAAQS, the state may request                    Document (TSD) for this action. The                      towers, process vents and flares and
                                               to revise its SIP to revise or remove                   TSD can be accessed through                              establishes an emission limit with a cap
                                               provisions for NNSR for that revoked                    www.regulations.gov (e-docket EPA–                       and trade in Harris County. The seven
                                               NAAQS and that other anti-backsliding                   R06–OAR–2015–0609).                                      perimeter counties are subject to permit
                                               obligations for that revoked NAAQS be                                                                            allowable limits and monitoring
                                                                                                       A. Has the area attained the revoked
                                               shifted to contingency measures,                                                                                 requirements.
                                                                                                       1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due to
                                               provided that such action is consistent                                                                             • More stringent leak detection and
                                                                                                       permanent and enforceable emission
                                               with CAA sections 110(l) and 193 (40                                                                             repair (LDAR) requirements
                                                                                                       reductions?
                                               CFR 51.1105(b)(2)).                                                                                              implemented in 2004.
                                                  The HGB area consists of Brazoria,                     In a previous action we found that the                    • NOX Mass Emissions Cap and Trade
                                               Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris,                 HGB area had attained the 1997 8-hour                    (MECT) Program phased in through
                                               Liberty, Montgomery and Waller                          ozone standard (80 FR 81466). Ambient                    April 2007 results in an overall 80%
                                               counties in Texas. On April 30, 2004,                   air quality found in the AQS database                    reduction from existing industrial
                                               the EPA designated and classified the 8-                shows that the HGB area attained the                     sources and utility power plants.
                                               county HGB as a Moderate                                1997 8-hour ozone standard at the end                       • Vehicle Inspection and
                                               nonattainment area under the 1997                       of 2014, and preliminary data from 2015                  Maintenance implemented in Harris
                                               ozone standard with an attainment date                  indicate that the area has continued to                  County in 2002 and then expanded to
                                               of no later than June 15, 2010 (see 69 FR               maintain the standard (Table 1).                         Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and
                                               23858 and 69 FR 23951). On June 15,                                                                              Montgomery Counties.
                                               2007, we received a request from the                      TABLE 1—8-HOUR DESIGN VALUES                              • Federal Area and Non-road
                                               Governor of Texas seeking voluntary                             FOR THE HGB AREA                                 emissions limits are being phased in
                                               reclassification of the HGB area from a                                                                          through 2018.
                                               Moderate nonattainment area to a                                                                 8-hour ozone       • Federal On-road emissions limits
                                                                                                                      Years
                                               Severe nonattainment area under the                                                              design value    are being phased in through 2025.
                                               1997 ozone standard, which we                                                                                       Given our previous actions approving
                                               approved on October 1, 2008 (73 FR                      2012–2014 ............................   80 ppb.         Texas SIPs pertaining to permanent and
                                                                                                       Preliminary 2013–2015 .........          80 ppb.         enforceable measures, we agree with
                                               56983).1 Subsequently, the State
                                               submitted the Reasonable Further                                                                                 Texas’ conclusion that the area has
                                               Progress (RFP) and Attainment                              In 2014, all monitors in the HGB area                 attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS
                                               Demonstration (AD) SIPs for the HGB                     reported 8-hour ozone values of 80 ppb                   due to permanent and enforceable
                                               Severe area under the 1997 ozone                        or less. A more detailed table of 8-hour                 emission reductions. Many others are
                                               standard. These RFP and AD SIPs were                    ozone values for the HGB monitors can                    listed and a more detailed review can be
                                               approved on January 2, 2014 (see 79 FR                  be found in the TSD.                                     found in the TSD.
                                               51 and 79 FR 57, respectively).                            The HGB area redesignation substitute
                                                                                                       report provides information on                           B. Will the area maintain the revoked
                                                  Texas provided the ‘‘Redesignation
                                                                                                       emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and                   1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for 10 years
                                               Substitute Report for the Houston-
                                                                                                       volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and                    from the date of our approval?
                                               Galveston-Brazoria 1997 Eight-Hour
                                               Standard Nonattainment Area’’                           regulations that reduced these                             To demonstrate that the HGB area will
                                               (redesignation substitute report) to EPA                emissions. NOX and VOCs are ozone                        maintain the revoked 1997 8-hour ozone
                                               on August 18, 2015. The submission                      precursors. Texas identified control                     NAAQS for 10 years from the date of
                                               also requested that EPA concur that the                 measures implemented as part of its 1-                   our approval of the redesignation
                                               NNSR provisions relevant to the                         hour ozone attainment demonstration                      substitute, the Texas report provided
                                               revoked 1997 ozone NAAQS would no                       SIP and its 1997 ozone attainment                        information on projected emissions of
                                               longer apply. The report is available                   demonstration SIP that led to permanent                  ozone precursors (Tables 2 and 3). The
                                               through www.regulations.gov (e-docket                   and enforceable emission reductions.                     emission projections show that (1) NOX
                                               EPA–R06–OAR–2015–0609).                                 The 1-hour ozone attainment                              emissions will continue to decrease
                                                                                                       demonstration SIP was approved on                        through 2028 and (2) VOC emissions
                                               II. EPA’s Evaluation of the Houston                     September 6, 2006 (71 FR 52670). The                     will remain relatively steady through
                                               Redesignation Substitute Report                         1997 ozone attainment demonstration                      2028 with an overall increase of 8.4 tpd
                                                  To determine whether we should                       SIP was approved on January 2, 2014                      or 1.4%. We reviewed this information
                                               approve the 1997 8-hour ozone                           (79 FR 57). Additionally, we have                        and agree with the conclusion that the
                                               redesignation substitute for the HGB                    approved SIPs for the HGB area that                      area will maintain the revoked 1997 8-
                                               area, we evaluated the redesignation                    document continuous emissions                            hour ozone NAAQS for 10 years from
                                               substitute report provided by Texas and                 reductions due to permanent and                          the date of our approval. Based on
                                               the ambient ozone data for the area in                  enforceable measures for the 1-hour and                  photochemical modeling analyses
                                               the EPA Air Quality System (AQS)                        1997 8-hour ozone standards (70 FR                       showing that the formation of ozone in
                                               database. To evaluate the report we used                7407, February 14, 2005; 74 FR 18298,                    the HGB area is more sensitive to NOX
                                               the applicable portions of our                          April 22, 2009; 79 FR 51, January 2,                     than to VOC emissions, the small
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                                               September 4, 1992 memo, ‘‘Procedures                    2014). The TCEQ has implemented                          increase in VOC emissions during the
                                               for Processing Requests to Redesignate                  stringent and innovative regulations that                10-year maintenance period is expected
                                               Areas to Attainment’’ (www.epa.gov/ttn/                 address emissions of NOX and VOCs.                       to be more than offset by the 39%
                                               oarpg/t5/memoranda/                                     These include, but are not limited to:                   decrease in NOX emissions during this


                                                 1 The attainment date for the HGB Severe

                                               nonattainment area was as expeditiously as
                                               practicable, but not later than June 15, 2019.

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                                               33168                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                               same period. More detail on our review
                                               can be found in the TSD.

                                                                                               TABLE 2—NOX EMISSION PROJECTIONS (TONS PER DAY)
                                                        Category                        2012              2014                2017                  2020            2023             2026          2028

                                               Point Sources ...............                98.5             119.67              127.39               127.71           128.03          128.35         128.56
                                               Area Sources ...............                21.91              22.52               23.23                23.61            23.47           23.50          23.59
                                               On-Road Mobile
                                                 Sources ....................             159.08             124.64               82.96                61.06               48.94        40.24          37.04
                                               Non-Road Mobile
                                                 Sources ....................             132.24             100.90               87.32                76.34               69.91        64.78          61.62

                                                    Total ......................          411.73             367.73              320.90               288.72           270.35          256.87         250.81


                                                                                               TABLE 3—VOC EMISSION PROJECTIONS (TONS PER DAY)
                                                        Category                        2012              2014                2017                  2020            2023             2026          2028

                                               Point Sources ...............               84.06             110.72              115.02               115.65           116.26          116.94         117.41
                                               Area Sources ...............               310.07             317.75              328.20               335.07           337.81          341.16         344.75
                                               On-Road Mobile
                                                 Sources ....................              74.51                 61.48            47.36                40.38               36.12        31.71          28.99
                                               Non-Road Mobile
                                                 Sources ....................              44.01                 38.81            33.51                30.89               30.05        29.84          29.93

                                                    Total ......................          512.65             528.76              524.09               521.99           520.24          519.65         521.08



                                               III. Proposed Action                                        for the revoked standard, provided that                IV. Statutory and Executive Order
                                                                                                           such action is consistent with CAA                     Reviews
                                                  Based on the CAA’s criteria for
                                                                                                           sections 110(l) and 193 (40 CFR
                                               redesignation to attainment (CAA                                                                                      Under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR
                                                                                                           51.1105(b)(2)). However, the EPA
                                               section 107(d)(3)(E)) and the regulation                                                                           51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76
                                               providing for a redesignation substitute                    believes that in this instance, Texas
                                                                                                           does not need to revise its SIP to alter               FR 3821, January 21, 2011), this action
                                               (40 CFR 51.1105(b)), EPA is proposing                                                                              is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’
                                               to approve the redesignation substitute                     some of the provisions for NNSR
                                                                                                                                                                  and therefore is not subject to review by
                                               for the HGB area for the revoked 1997                       effective in the HGB area. The EPA
                                                                                                                                                                  the Office of Management and Budget.
                                               8-hour ozone NAAQS and make a                               reads Texas’s NNSR SIP designations
                                                                                                                                                                  For this reason, this action is also not
                                               finding of attainment based on our                          and classifications (and thus the related              subject to Executive Order 13211,
                                               determination that the demonstration                        major source thresholds and offset                     ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That
                                               provided by the State of Texas shows                        ratios) to adjust as 40 CFR part 81 is                 Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                               that the HGB area has attained the                          updated and does not require further                   Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
                                               revoked 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS due                         action by Texas if EPA were to finalize                22, 2001). This action merely proposes
                                               to permanent and enforceable emission                       the redesignation substitute proposed                  to approve a demonstration provided by
                                               reductions, and that it will maintain                       here. This is explained in detail in                   the State of Texas and find that the HGB
                                               that NAAQS for ten years from the date                      Section D of the TSD. Because the HGB                  area is no longer subject to the anti-
                                               of the EPA’s approval of this                               area is classified as Marginal                         backsliding obligations for additional
                                               demonstration. If EPA finalizes approval                    nonattainment for the 2008 ozone                       measures for the revoked 1997 8-hour
                                               of the redesignation substitute, the HGB                    NAAQS (as of the date of this Proposal),               ozone NAAQS; and imposes no
                                               area would no longer be subject to any                      if the EPA finalizes this redesignation                additional requirements. Accordingly, I
                                               remaining applicable anti-backsliding                       substitute, we believe that Texas’s                    certify that this proposed rule will not
                                               requirements and the NNSR                                   NNSR program would automatically                       have a significant economic impact on
                                               requirements associated with the                            change to requirements applicable for                  a substantial number of small entities
                                               revoked NAAQS. It would also allow                          marginal areas in accordance with the                  under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                               the state to request a SIP revision to                      HGB area classification for the 2008                   U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this
                                               shift anti-backsliding obligations for the                                                                         proposed rule does not impose any
                                                                                                           ozone NAAQS for newly permitted
                                               revoked ozone NAAQS to contingency                                                                                 additional enforceable duties, it does
                                                                                                           sources. We note that finalization of this
                                               measures provided that such action is                                                                              not contain any unfunded mandate or
                                                                                                           redesignation substitute does not relieve
                                               consistent with CAA sections 110(1)                                                                                significantly or uniquely affect small
                                               and 193 (if applicable).                                    sources in the area of their obligations
                                                                                                           under previously established permit                    governments, as described in the
                                                  Texas’s redesignation substitute                                                                                Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
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                                                                                                           conditions.2
                                               report also requested that EPA concur                                                                              (Pub. L. 104–4). This proposed rule also
                                               that the NNSR provisions relevant to the                                                                           does not have a substantial direct effect
                                               revoked 1997 ozone NAAQS would no                                                                                  on one or more Indian Tribes, on the
                                               longer apply. As explained previously,                                                                             relationship between the Federal
                                               if we approve a redesignation substitute,                      2 See Final Implementation Rule for 2008 Ozone      Government and Indian Tribes, or on
                                               the state may request to revise its SIP to                  Standard, 80 FR 12264, at 12299, footnote 83 and       the distribution of power and
                                               revise or remove provisions for NNSR                        at 12304, footnote 91.                                 responsibilities between the Federal


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                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          33169

                                               Government and Indian Tribes, as                        Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Volatile                     May 31, 2016. Additional information
                                               specified by Executive Order 13175 (65                  organic compounds.                                    regarding the hearing appears below
                                               FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will                                                                         under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
                                                                                                       40 CFR Part 81
                                               it have substantial direct effects on the                                                                     ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at
                                               States, on the relationship between the                   Environmental protection, Air                       the following location: Sheraton Kansas
                                               national government and the States, or                  pollution control.                                    City Hotel at Crown Center, 2345 McGee
                                               on the distribution of power and                          Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.                   Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64108
                                               responsibilities among the various                        Dated: May 13, 2016.                                (phone number 866–841–8134). A
                                               levels of government, as specified in                   Ron Curry,                                            complete set of documents related to the
                                               Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,                                                                           proposal will be available for public
                                                                                                       Regional Administrator, Region 6.
                                               August 10, 1999), because it merely                                                                           inspection through the Federal
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2016–12230 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am]
                                               proposes to approve a demonstration                                                                           eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                               provided by the State of Texas and find                                                                       www.regulations.gov, Docket ID No.
                                               that the HGB area is no longer subject                                                                        EPA–HQ–OAR–2016–0004. Documents
                                               to the anti-backsliding obligations for                                                                       can also be viewed at the EPA Docket
                                                                                                       ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                               additional measures for the revoked                                                                           Center, located at 1301 Constitution
                                                                                                       AGENCY
                                               1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS; and does                                                                             Avenue NW, Room 3334, Washington,
                                               not alter the relationship or the                       40 CFR Part 80                                        DC between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
                                               distribution of power and                                                                                     Monday through Friday, excluding legal
                                               responsibilities established in the CAA.                [EPA–HQ–OAR–2016–0004; FRL–9946–97–
                                                                                                                                                             holidays.
                                                                                                       OAR]
                                               This proposed rule also is not subject to                                                                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia
                                               Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,                     RIN 2060–AS72                                         MacAllister, Office of Transportation
                                               April 23, 1997), because it is not                                                                            and Air Quality, Assessment and
                                               economically significant.                               Public Hearing for Standards for 2017
                                                                                                                                                             Standards Division, Environmental
                                                  The proposed rule does not impose an                 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for
                                                                                                                                                             Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood
                                               information collection burden under the                 2018 Under the Renewable Fuel
                                                                                                                                                             Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone
                                               provisions of the Paperwork Reduction                   Standard Program
                                                                                                                                                             number: (734) 214–4131; Fax number:
                                               Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).                   AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                     (734) 214–4816; Email address: RFS_
                                               Additionally, this proposed rule does                   Agency (EPA).                                         Hearing@epa.gov.
                                               not involve establishment of technical
                                                                                                       ACTION: Notice; announcement of public                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                               standards, and thus, the requirements of
                                                                                                       hearing.                                              proposal for which EPA is holding the
                                               section 12(d) of the National
                                                                                                                                                             public hearing will be published
                                               Technology Transfer and Advancement                     SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection               separately in the Federal Register. The
                                               Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not                 Agency (EPA) is announcing a public                   pre-publication version can be found at
                                               apply.                                                  hearing to be held in Kansas City,
                                                  Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,                                                                         https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-
                                                                                                       Missouri on June 9, 2016 for the                      standard-program/standards-2017-and-
                                               February 16, 1994) establishes Federal                  proposed rule ‘‘Renewable Fuel
                                               executive policy on environmental                                                                             biomass-based-diesel-volume-2018-
                                                                                                       Standard Program: Standards for 2017                  documents.
                                               justice. Its main provision directs                     and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for                     Public Hearing: The public hearing
                                               Federal agencies, to the greatest extent                2018.’’ This proposed rule will be                    will provide interested parties the
                                               practicable and permitted by law, to                    published separately in the Federal                   opportunity to present data, views, or
                                               make environmental justice part of their                Register. The pre-publication version of              arguments concerning the proposal
                                               mission by identifying and addressing,                  this proposal can be found at https://                (which can be found at https://
                                               as appropriate, disproportionately high                 www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-                  www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-
                                               and adverse human health or                             program/standards-2017-and-biomass-                   program/regulations-and-volume-
                                               environmental effects of their programs,                based-diesel-volume-2018-documents.                   standards-under-renewable-fuel-
                                               policies, and activities on minority                    In the separate notice of proposed                    standard). The EPA may ask clarifying
                                               populations and low-income                              rulemaking, EPA has proposed                          questions during the oral presentations
                                               populations in the United States. EPA                   amendments to the renewable fuel                      but will not respond to the
                                               has determined that this proposed rule                  standard program regulations that                     presentations at that time. Written
                                               will not have disproportionately high                   would establish annual percentage                     statements and supporting information
                                               and adverse human health or                             standards for cellulosic biofuel,                     submitted during the comment period
                                               environmental effects on minority or                    biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel,               will be considered with the same weight
                                               low-income populations because it does                  and renewable fuels that would apply to               as any oral comments and supporting
                                               not affect the level of protection                      all gasoline and diesel produced in the               information presented at the public
                                               provided to human health or the                         U.S. or imported in the year 2017. In                 hearing. Written comments must be
                                               environment. Additionally, the                          addition, the separate proposal includes              received by the last day of the comment
                                               proposed rule is not an economically                    a proposed biomass-based diesel                       period, as specified in the notice of
                                               significant regulatory action based on                  applicable volume for 2018.                           proposed rulemaking.
                                               health or safety risks subject to                       DATES: The public hearing will be held
                                               Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,                     on June 9, 2016 at the location noted                 How can I get copies of this document,
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                                               April 23, 1997).                                        below under ADDRESSES. The hearing                    the proposed rule, and other related
                                                                                                       will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end when all              information?
                                               List of Subjects
                                                                                                       parties present who wish to speak have                  The EPA has established a docket for
                                               40 CFR Part 52                                          had an opportunity to do so. Parties                  this action under Docket ID No. EPA–
                                                 Environmental protection, Air                         wishing to testify at the hearing should              HQ–OAR–2016–0004. The EPA has also
                                               pollution control, Incorporation by                     notify the contact person listed under                developed a Web site for the Renewable
                                               reference, Intergovernmental relations,                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by                    Fuel Standard (RFS) program, including


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Document Created: 2018-02-07 15:03:18
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 15:03:18
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.
DatesWritten comments must be received on or before June 24, 2016.
ContactTracie Donaldson, (214) 665-6633, [email protected] To inspect the hard copy materials, please contact Tracie Donaldson.
FR Citation81 FR 33166 
CFR Citation40 CFR 52
40 CFR 81
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone and Volatile Organic Compounds

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