81 FR 53097 - Technical Correction to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 155 (August 11, 2016)

Page Range		53097-53098
FR Document		2016-19033

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to correct an equation in an appendix in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particle Pollution. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register, we are approving the correction as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. Equation 2 describes an intermediate step in the calculation of the design value for the annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers) NAAQS. This proposed action would correct a scrivener's error in one of the equations used to calculate an annual mean PM<INF>2.5</INF> concentration, to properly account for cases where a site does not have four complete quarters of data and passes one of two substitution tests. This change accurately reflects the intended calculation of the annual mean PM<INF>2.5</INF> design value and is consistent with the text elsewhere in the appendix.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 155 (Thursday, August 11, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 155 (Thursday, August 11, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53097-53098]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19033]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0408; FRL-9950-46-OAR]
RIN 2060-AS89


Technical Correction to the National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards for Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing 
revisions to correct an equation in an appendix in the National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particle Pollution. In the ``Rules 
and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register, we are approving the 
correction as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we 
receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this 
proposed rule. Equation 2 describes an intermediate step in the 
calculation of the design value for the annual PM2.5 
(particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 
2.5 micrometers) NAAQS. This proposed action would correct a 
scrivener's error in one of the equations used to calculate an annual 
mean PM2.5 concentration, to properly account for cases 
where a site does not have four complete quarters of data and passes 
one of two substitution tests. This change accurately reflects the 
intended calculation of the annual mean PM2.5 design value 
and is consistent with the text elsewhere in the appendix.

DATES: Written comments must be received by September 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2016-0408, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. 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 (e.g., 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: Mr. Brett Gantt, U.S. EPA, Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Assessment Division, 
Air Quality Analysis Group (Mail Code: C304-04), Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-5274; fax number: (919) 
541-3613; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Why is the EPA issuing this proposed rule?

    This document proposes a revision in appendix N to correct a 
scrivener's error in an intermediate equation in the calculation of the 
annual PM2.5 design value to properly account for cases 
where a site does not have four complete quarters of data in a specific 
year and passes the minimum quarterly value substitution test. We have 
published a direct final rule approving the revisions to appendix N in 
the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register because 
we view this as a non-controversial action and anticipate no adverse 
comment. We have explained our reasons for this action in the preamble 
of the direct final rule.
    If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action 
on this proposed rule. If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw 
the direct final rule, and it will not take effect. We would address 
all public comments in any subsequent final rule based on this proposed 
rule.
    We do not intend to institute a second comment period on this 
action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. 
For further information, please see the information provided in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document.

II. Does this action apply to me?

    This action applies to you if you are calculating the annual 
PM2.5 design value for a site which does not have four 
complete quarters of data for a specific year and passes the minimum 
quarterly value substitution test.

III. Environmental Justice

    The 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. This rule does not relax the calculation of the annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS design values and, therefore, will not cause 
decreases in the design values used to designate and classify 
nonattainment areas and assess progress towards meeting the NAAQS.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    For a complete discussion of the administrative requirements 
applicable to this action, see the direct final rule in the ``Rules and 
Regulations'' section of this Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

    Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, 
Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.

    Dated: August 3, 2016.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Environmental 
Protection Agency proposes to amend title 40, chapter I of the Code of 
Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 50--NATIONAL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AMBIENT AIR QUALITY 
STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 50 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In appendix N to part 50, in section 4.4, Equation 2 is revised to 
read as follows:

[[Page 53098]]

Appendix N to Part 50--Interpretation of the National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards for PM2.5

* * * * *
4.4 Equations for the Annual PM2.5 NAAQS
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11AU16.003
    
Where:

Xy = the annual mean concentration for year y (y = 1, 2, or 3);
nQ,y = the number of complete quarters Q in year y; and
Xq,y = the mean for quarter q of year y (result of equation 1).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-19033 Filed 8-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 155 / Thursday, August 11, 2016 / Proposed Rules 53097

§ 206.107(a). The criteria for assigning a DATES: Written comments must be final rule, and it will not take effect. We
HECM loan to the Commissioner in received by September 12, 2016. would address all public comments in
§ 206.107(a) would remain, thereby still ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, any subsequent final rule based on this
precluding the mortgagee from assigning identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– proposed rule.
the HECM loan if the loan or the OAR–2016–0408, to the Federal We do not intend to institute a second
mortgagee’s servicing of the loan does eRulemaking Portal: http:// comment period on this action. Any
not meet the criteria. Therefore, the www.regulations.gov. Follow the online parties interested in commenting must
proposal would require the mortgagee to instructions for submitting comments. do so at this time. For further
assign the mortgage to the Once submitted, comments cannot be information, please see the information
Commissioner at the given threshold edited or withdrawn. The EPA may provided in the ADDRESSES section of
unless the loan or the mortgagee’s publish any comment received to its this document.
servicing of the loan does not meet the public docket. Do not submit
assignment criteria. II. Does this action apply to me?
electronically any information you
HUD is soliciting public comment consider to be Confidential Business This action applies to you if you are
solely on this proposal for a period of Information (CBI) or other information calculating the annual PM2.5 design
30 days. whose disclosure is restricted by statute. value for a site which does not have four
Dated: August 9, 2016. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, complete quarters of data for a specific
Genger Charles, etc.) must be accompanied by a written year and passes the minimum quarterly
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for comment. The written comment is value substitution test.
Housing. considered the official comment and III. Environmental Justice
[FR Doc. 2016–19255 Filed 8–10–16; 8:45 am] should include discussion of all points
you wish to make. The EPA will The EPA has determined that this
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
generally not consider comments or proposed rule will not have
comment contents located outside of the disproportionately high and adverse
primary submission (e.g., on the Web, human health or environmental effects
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION on minority or low-income populations
AGENCY Cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full because it does not affect the level of
40 CFR Part 50 EPA public comment policy, protection provided to human health or
information about CBI or multimedia the environment. This rule does not
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2016–0408; FRL–9950–46– submissions, and general guidance on relax the calculation of the annual PM2.5
OAR] NAAQS design values and, therefore,
making effective comments, please visit
RIN 2060–AS89 http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/ will not cause decreases in the design
commenting-epa-dockets. values used to designate and classify
Technical Correction to the National FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. nonattainment areas and assess progress
Ambient Air Quality Standards for Brett Gantt, U.S. EPA, Office of Air towards meeting the NAAQS.
Particulate Matter Quality Planning and Standards, Air IV. Statutory and Executive Order
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Quality Assessment Division, Air Reviews
Agency (EPA). Quality Analysis Group (Mail Code:
C304–04), Research Triangle Park, NC For a complete discussion of the
ACTION: Proposed rule. administrative requirements applicable
27711; telephone number: (919) 541–
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection 5274; fax number: (919) 541–3613; to this action, see the direct final rule in
Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to email address: gantt.brett@epa.gov. the ‘‘Rules and Regulations’’ section of
correct an equation in an appendix in this Federal Register.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
the National Ambient Air Quality List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50
Standards (NAAQS) for Particle I. Why is the EPA issuing this proposed
Pollution. In the ‘‘Rules and rule? Air pollution control, Carbon
Regulations’’ section of the Federal This document proposes a revision in monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide,
Register, we are approving the appendix N to correct a scrivener’s error Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.
correction as a direct final rule without in an intermediate equation in the Dated: August 3, 2016.
a prior proposed rule. If we receive no calculation of the annual PM2.5 design Gina McCarthy,
adverse comment, we will not take value to properly account for cases Administrator.
further action on this proposed rule. where a site does not have four
Equation 2 describes an intermediate For the reasons stated in the
complete quarters of data in a specific
step in the calculation of the design preamble, the Environmental Protection
year and passes the minimum quarterly
value for the annual PM2.5 (particles Agency proposes to amend title 40,
value substitution test. We have
with an aerodynamic diameter less than chapter I of the Code of Federal
published a direct final rule approving
or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers) Regulations as follows:
the revisions to appendix N in the
NAAQS. This proposed action would ‘‘Rules and Regulations’’ section of this PART 50—NATIONAL PRIMARY AND
correct a scrivener’s error in one of the Federal Register because we view this SECONDARY AMBIENT AIR QUALITY
equations used to calculate an annual as a non-controversial action and
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS

STANDARDS
mean PM2.5 concentration, to properly anticipate no adverse comment. We
account for cases where a site does not have explained our reasons for this ■ 1. The authority citation for Part 50
have four complete quarters of data and action in the preamble of the direct final continues to read as follows:
passes one of two substitution tests. rule.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
This change accurately reflects the If we receive no adverse comment, we
intended calculation of the annual mean will not take further action on this ■ 2. In appendix N to part 50, in section
PM2.5 design value and is consistent proposed rule. If we receive adverse 4.4, Equation 2 is revised to read as
with the text elsewhere in the appendix. comment, we will withdraw the direct follows:

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Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:27:25
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:27:25

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Proposed rule.
Dates		Written comments must be received by September 12, 2016.
Contact		Mr. Brett Gantt, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Assessment Division, Air Quality Analysis Group (Mail Code: C304-04), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-5274; fax number: (919)
FR Citation		81 FR 53097
RIN Number		2060-AS89
CFR Associated		Air Pollution Control; Carbon Monoxide; Lead; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides