81_FR_72928 81 FR 72724 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Removal of Stage II Gasoline Vapor Recovery Requirements for Gasoline Dispensing Facilities

81 FR 72724 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Removal of Stage II Gasoline Vapor Recovery Requirements for Gasoline Dispensing Facilities

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 204 (October 21, 2016)

Page Range72724-72729
FR Document2016-25301

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Virginia's state implementation plan (SIP). The revision serves to remove requirements for vapor recovery equipment (also referred to as Stage II vapor recovery, or simply as Stage II) from subject gasoline stations in areas of Virginia that were formerly required to install and operate Stage II under the prior approved SIP. In 2012, EPA determined that new, gasoline-powered vehicles equipped with onboard vapor recovery systems (beginning with those manufactured in model year 1998) were in widespread use and have, in great part, supplanted emission reductions formerly controlled via Stage II vapor recovery on gasoline dispensers at service stations. In two prior rulemakings, EPA has already approved Virginia's demonstrations showing that the emission benefits generated by Stage II vapor recovery have been fully offset, without impacting the affected Virginia areas' ability to attain and maintain any national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). Virginia amended its existing rules to remove Stage II as a required measure by January 2017 and added decommissioning procedures for stations electing to opt out of the program. EPA is approving this SIP revision to amend the Virginia Stage II vapor recovery program in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72724-72729]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25301]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2016-0308; FRL-9954-18-Region 3]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Virginia; Removal of Stage II Gasoline Vapor Recovery Requirements for 
Gasoline Dispensing Facilities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct 
final action to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Virginia's 
state implementation plan (SIP). The revision serves to remove 
requirements for vapor recovery equipment (also referred to as Stage II 
vapor recovery, or simply as Stage II) from subject gasoline stations 
in areas of Virginia that were formerly required to install and operate 
Stage II under the prior approved SIP. In 2012, EPA determined that 
new, gasoline-powered vehicles equipped with onboard vapor recovery 
systems (beginning with those manufactured in model year 1998) were in 
widespread use and have, in great part, supplanted emission reductions 
formerly controlled via Stage II vapor recovery on gasoline dispensers 
at service stations. In two prior rulemakings, EPA has already approved 
Virginia's demonstrations showing that the emission benefits generated 
by Stage II vapor recovery have been fully offset, without impacting 
the affected Virginia areas' ability to attain and maintain any 
national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). Virginia amended its 
existing rules to remove Stage II as a required measure by January 2017 
and added decommissioning procedures for stations electing to opt out 
of the program. EPA is approving this SIP revision to amend the 
Virginia Stage II vapor recovery program in accordance with the 
requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This rule is effective on December 20, 2016 without further 
notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by November 21, 
2016. If EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely 
withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform 
the public that the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-
OAR-2016-0308 at http://www.regulations.gov, or via email to 
[email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either 
manner of submission, EPA may publish any comment received to its 
public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you 
consider to be confidential business information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia 
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written 
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and 
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e. on the Web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person 
identified in the For Further Information Contact section. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rehn, (215) 814-2176, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Stage II vapor recovery is a means of capturing volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs) emitted as vapors displaced from a vehicle's gas tank 
during refueling operations, via vapor controls equipped on a gasoline 
pump at a gasoline dispensing facility (GDF). Stage II vapor recovery 
uses special refueling nozzles and coaxial hoses on the gasoline 
dispenser to capture these vapors that might otherwise be emitted to 
the atmosphere during vehicle

[[Page 72725]]

fueling. These gasoline vapors contain toxic air emissions and serve as 
precursors to the formation of ground-level ozone--an ambient air 
pollutant regulated under the CAA. Under section 182(b)(3) of the CAA, 
areas classified as moderate or worse ozone nonattainment were required 
to adopt a Stage II vapor recovery program. Areas in the Ozone 
Transport Region (OTR) were required under section 184(a) and (b)(2) to 
adopt Stage II, or a comparable measure that could achieve similar 
emission reductions.
    Virginia has three areas that have approved Stage II SIPs meeting 
Stage II requirements under the 1990 amendments to the CAA. The 
Richmond area was designated as moderate nonattainment under the 1-hour 
ozone NAAQS, and again under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. On July 26, 
1996, Virginia submitted a request to redesignate the Richmond area to 
attainment of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA's approval of this request 
was published in the November 17, 1997 Federal Register (62 FR 61237). 
On September 26, 2006, Virginia requested redesignation of the Richmond 
area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA approved that 
redesignation request in the June 1, 2007 Federal Register (72 FR 
30485). However, Virginia's plans for maintenance of the respective 
NAAQS relied upon the emissions reductions from Stage II as a means to 
ensure continued maintenance of the ozone NAAQS. Although the 1-hour 
ozone NAAQS was revoked June 15, 2005, EPA's implementation rule for 
the 1997 ozone NAAQS retained Stage II as a required measure to prevent 
backsliding under the NAAQS.
    The Virginia portion of the Washington, DC-MD-VA ozone 
nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the Washington area) was 
subject to Stage II not only because of its designation as 
nonattainment for the ozone NAAQS, but also because this area lies in a 
CAA-established OTR. The area was designated serious nonattainment 
under the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. Under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, both 
the Northern Virginia area and the neighboring Fredericksburg area were 
designated as moderate nonattainment. On November 13, 2002, EPA 
reclassified the Virginia portion of the Washington, DC-MD-VA area as 
severe nonattainment under the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. 67 FR 68805. 
Virginia subsequently submitted and EPA approved attainment plans for 
the 1-hour and 1997 8-hour NAAQS for the Washington area, and approved 
a redesignation and maintenance plan for the Fredericksburg area. 
Although the 1-hour ozone NAAQS was revoked effective June 2005, EPA's 
implementation rule for the 1997 ozone NAAQS retained Stage II-related 
requirements under CAA section 182(b)(3) for certain areas. Therefore, 
Stage II continued to apply in the Washington, DC nonattainment area as 
an anti-backsliding measure (for the revoked 1-hour ozone NAAQS) and in 
the Fredericksburg area as a maintenance measure (under the 1997 ozone 
NAAQS) pending EPA determination that onboard refueling vapor recovery 
(ORVR) was in widespread use and Virginia could demonstrate that Stage 
II was no longer a necessary component of its air quality plans.
    Virginia adopted Stage II regulations in the November 2, 1992 
edition of the Virginia Register of Regulations (Vol. 9, Issue 3) 
effective January 1, 1993. Stage II applicability was limited to the to 
the Northern Virginia volatile organic compound (VOC) Emission Control 
Area (comprised of Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince 
William and Stafford Counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, 
Falls Church, Manassas, and Stafford) and to the Richmond VOC Emission 
Control Area (comprised of the Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, 
Hanover, and Henrico, plus the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, 
and Richmond). Virginia submitted its Stage II regulation to EPA as a 
SIP revision on November 5, 1992. EPA approved Virginia's Stage II SIP 
revision on June 23, 1993 (59 FR 32353).
    ORVR is an emissions control system equipped on new, gasoline-
powered vehicles (beginning with model year 1998 vehicles) for the 
purpose of capturing refueling gasoline vapors before they escape the 
vehicle gas tank and to store them in an underhood canister for later 
engine combustion. Section 202(a)(6) of the CAA directed that Stage II 
requirements under 182(b)(3) would no longer apply to moderate ozone 
nonattainment areas upon promulgation of standards for ORVR systems as 
part of the emission control system on newly manufactured vehicles. 
Section 202(a)(6) further directs that Stage II requirements no longer 
apply to ozone nonattainment areas designated serious or worse upon 
EPA's determination that ORVR technology is in ``widespread use.'' EPA 
issued its widespread use determination on May 16, 2012 (77 FR 28772), 
indicating that ORVR was in widespread use throughout the U.S. vehicle 
fleet, and that at that time ORVR vehicles were essentially equal to 
and would soon surpass the emissions reductions achieved by Stage II 
alone.
    Virginia has examined whether Stage II vapor recovery continues to 
be necessary for ozone control purposes, given the prevalence of ORVR-
equipped gasoline-powered vehicles and the redundancy between ORVR and 
Stage II systems in reducing gasoline tank displacement emissions 
associated with refueling. Additionally, Virginia has analyzed the 
interference effect between certain Stage II systems and ORVR systems. 
As a result, Virginia determined that Stage II vapor recovery is no 
longer necessary as a control measure to address ambient ozone in the 
Washington, Fredericksburg, and Richmond areas.
    On November 12, 2013 and March 18, 2014, Virginia submitted SIP 
revisions to EPA that evaluate and address the emissions impacts to 
each of those affected areas associated with removal of the Stage II 
program. These plans serve to amend the ozone maintenance plan for the 
Richmond area and the attainment plan for the Washington area to 
demonstrate that removal of the Stage II programs will not interfere 
with those areas' ability to attain and maintain any NAAQS. On May 26, 
2015 (80 FR 29959), EPA approved the Commonwealth's March 18, 2014 SIP 
revision amending the approved ozone attainment plan for the Virginia 
portion of Washington nonattainment area and the approved ozone 
maintenance plan for the Fredericksburg area to remove the Stage II 
program. On August 11, 2014, EPA approved Virginia's November 12, 2013 
SIP revision amending the approved ozone maintenance plan SIP for the 
Richmond area to remove the Stage II program.

II. Summary of SIP Revision and EPA Analysis

    On October 15, 2015, the Commonwealth of Virginia submitted a 
formal revision to remove the requirements for Stage II vapor recovery 
controls in Virginia ozone nonattainment areas from the approved 
Virginia SIP (Revision C14). This October 2015 SIP revision contains 
the amended Stage II vapor recovery regulatory provisions of Virginia 
Rule 4-37, entitled ``Emission Standards for Volatile Organic Compounds 
from Petroleum Liquid Storage and Transfer Operations.'' The October 
2015 SIP revision includes Virginia's regulatory amendments listed at 
9VAC5-20 and 9VAC5-40 that were adopted by Virginia in June of 2014, 
and published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on June 15, 2015. 
The purpose of the Commonwealth's 2015 SIP revision

[[Page 72726]]

submittal is to remove Stage II vapor recovery requirements applicable 
in covered areas in Virginia from the Commonwealth's rule provisions 
governing petroleum liquid storage and transfer operations. Under 
Virginia's amended Rule 4-37, gasoline stations in the Washington and 
Fredericksburg areas were no longer required to employ Stage II systems 
as of January 2014, and Richmond area stations will no longer be 
required to employ Stage II vapor recovery systems as of January 2017. 
Virginia's amendment to Rule 4-37 also requires facilities electing to 
decommission Stage II to meet established decommissioning procedures 
and those electing to continue to operate Stage II to continue to 
properly operate and maintain their Stage II systems.
    As described in the Background section of this action, EPA has 
already approved Virginia's SIP revisions submitted on November 12, 
2013 and March 18, 2014 demonstrating that removal of Stage II as a 
control measure from the SIP will not interfere with the Washington, 
Fredericksburg, and Richmond areas' ability to attain and maintain any 
applicable NAAQS.
    Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) examined 
whether Stage II vapor recovery is necessary for ozone control 
purposes, and determined this program is no longer beneficial to air 
quality of the Commonwealth, given EPA's widespread use determination 
for ORVR equipment in new vehicles manufactured since 1998 and the 
inherent redundancies between Stage II vapor recovery equipment and 
vehicle-based ORVR systems, as well as the known incompatibilities 
between certain types of Stage II vapor recovery equipment and vehicle-
based, ORVR systems.
    EPA has evaluated the regulatory amendments adopted by Virginia to 
its Rule 4-37 to rescind Stage II vapor recovery requirements for new 
and existing stations, to adopt decommissioning procedures and 
requirements for GDFs electing to no longer operate existing Stage II 
systems, and to require the continued operation and maintenance of 
Stage II equipment for stations that elect to continue participation in 
the program. Virginia's regulatory changes meet EPA guidance and the 
related requirements of sections 182 and 202 of the CAA with respect to 
the applicability of Stage II requirements after EPA's issuance of its 
widespread use policy of ORVR determination in 2012, as described in 
the Background section of this document. Virginia has properly analyzed 
the impact of removal of the Stage II program in adherence with EPA's 
``Guidance on Removing Stage II Gasoline Vapor Control Programs from 
State Implementation Plans and Assessing Comparable Measures,'' dated 
August 7, 2012 (EPA-457/B-12-001), including applicability of Stage II 
or comparable measures in the OTR, per section 184 of the CAA. As 
previously found by EPA, Virginia has demonstrated that removal of the 
Stage II requirement does not interfere with any affected area's 
ability to attain or maintain a NAAQS, under section 110(l) of the CAA.
    For further information on Virginia's analysis of the impacts of 
removal of the Stage II programs in the Washington and Fredericksburg 
areas, please refer to EPA's May 26, 2015 approval of the SIP 
demonstration applicable to those areas. See 80 FR 29959. For further 
information with respect to Virginia's analysis of the removal of Stage 
II in the Richmond area, please refer to EPA's August 11, 2014 approval 
of the Commonwealth's demonstration applicable to Richmond. See 79 FR 
4671.

III. Final Action

    EPA is approving Virginia's revision to its SIP to include revised 
Stage II vapor recovery provisions to remove the requirement for 
Virginia area GDFs to operate Stage II in areas formerly subject to 
Stage II under CAA sections 182 and 184, and to add provisions setting 
requirements for GDFs opting to decommission existing Stage II systems. 
As described previously, EPA previously approved two earlier, related 
Virginia SIP revisions demonstrating that Virginia's Stage II-affected 
areas (i.e., the Virginia portion of Washington, DC, Fredericksburg, 
and Richmond ozone nonattainment areas) will not be adversely affected 
by the removal of the Stage II vapor recovery requirement. EPA is 
publishing this rule without prior proposal because EPA views this as a 
noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no adverse comment.
    However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's Federal 
Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the 
proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse comments are filed. 
This rule will be effective on December 20, 2016 without further notice 
unless EPA receives adverse comment by November 21, 2016. If EPA 
receives adverse comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the 
Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take 
effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule 
based on the proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment 
period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so 
at this time.

IV. General Information Pertaining to SIP Submittals From the 
Commonwealth of Virginia

    In 1995, Virginia adopted legislation that provides, subject to 
certain conditions, for an environmental assessment (audit) 
``privilege'' for voluntary compliance evaluations performed by a 
regulated entity. The legislation further addresses the relative burden 
of proof for parties either asserting the privilege or seeking 
disclosure of documents for which the privilege is claimed. Virginia's 
legislation also provides, subject to certain conditions, for a penalty 
waiver for violations of environmental laws when a regulated entity 
discovers such violations pursuant to a voluntary compliance evaluation 
and voluntarily discloses such violations to the Commonwealth and takes 
prompt and appropriate measures to remedy the violations. Virginia's 
Voluntary Environmental Assessment Privilege Law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-
1198, provides a privilege that protects from disclosure documents and 
information about the content of those documents that are the product 
of a voluntary environmental assessment. The Privilege Law does not 
extend to documents or information that: (1) Are generated or developed 
before the commencement of a voluntary environmental assessment; (2) 
are prepared independently of the assessment process; (3) demonstrate a 
clear, imminent and substantial danger to the public health or 
environment; or (4) are required by law.
    On January 12, 1998, the Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the 
Attorney General provided a legal opinion that states that the 
Privilege Law, Va. Code Sec.  10.1-1198, precludes granting a privilege 
to documents and information ``required by law,'' including documents 
and information ``required by federal law to maintain program 
delegation, authorization or approval,'' since Virginia must ``enforce 
federally authorized environmental programs in a manner that is no less 
stringent than their federal counterparts . . . .'' The opinion 
concludes that ``[r]egarding Sec.  10.1-1198, therefore, documents or 
other information needed for civil or criminal enforcement under one of 
these programs could not be privileged because such documents and 
information are essential to pursuing enforcement in a manner required 
by federal law to maintain program delegation, authorization or 
approval.''

[[Page 72727]]

Virginia's Immunity law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1199, provides that ``[t]o 
the extent consistent with requirements imposed by federal law,'' any 
person making a voluntary disclosure of information to a state agency 
regarding a violation of an environmental statute, regulation, permit, 
or administrative order is granted immunity from administrative or 
civil penalty. The Attorney General's January 12, 1998 opinion states 
that the quoted language renders this statute inapplicable to 
enforcement of any federally authorized programs, since ``no immunity 
could be afforded from administrative, civil, or criminal penalties 
because granting such immunity would not be consistent with federal 
law, which is one of the criteria for immunity.''
    Therefore, EPA has determined that Virginia's Privilege and 
Immunity statutes will not preclude the Commonwealth from enforcing its 
program consistent with the federal requirements. In any event, because 
EPA has also determined that a state audit privilege and immunity law 
can affect only state enforcement and cannot have any impact on federal 
enforcement authorities, EPA may at any time invoke its authority under 
the CAA, including, for example, sections 113, 167, 205, 211 or 213, to 
enforce the requirements or prohibitions of the state plan, 
independently of any state enforcement effort. In addition, citizen 
enforcement under section 304 of the CAA is likewise unaffected by 
this, or any, state audit privilege or immunity law.

V. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, EPA is finalizing regulatory text that includes 
incorporation by reference. In accordance with requirements of 1 CFR 
51.5, EPA is finalizing the incorporation by reference of Virginia's 
amendments to Article 37 of 9VAC5-40, relating also to amendments to 
Virginia's general provisions at 9VAC5-20-21, reflecting the addition 
of a new source of documents incorporated by reference, effective on 
July 20, 2015. Additionally, Virginia amended its Rule 4-37 governing 
petroleum liquid and transfer operations applicable to existing 
stationary sources. Specifically, Virginia modified requirements for 
the Commonwealth's Stage II vapor recovery program in 9-VAC5-5220 and 
9VAC5-5270, effective July 20, 2015. These materials have been approved 
by EPA for inclusion in the SIP, have been incorporated by reference by 
EPA into that plan, are fully federally enforceable under sections 110 
and 113 of the CAA as of the effective date of the final rulemaking of 
EPA's approval, and will be incorporated by reference by the Director 
of the Federal Register in the next update of the SIP compilation.\1\ 
EPA has made, and will continue to make, these materials generally 
available through www.regulations.gov and/or at the EPA Region III 
Office (please contact the person identified in the ``For Further 
Information Contact'' section of this preamble for more information).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 62 FR 27968 (May 22, 1997).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. General Requirements

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable 
federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in 
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, 
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this 
action merely approves state law as meeting federal requirements and 
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state 
law. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     does not have federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the CAA; and
     does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land as 
defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151 or in any other area where EPA or an Indian 
tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of 
Indian country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not 
impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal 
law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 
2000).

B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and 
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).

C. Petitions for Judicial Review

    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by December 20, 2016. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor 
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may 
be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or 
action. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are 
encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of 
proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules 
section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate 
petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can 
withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed 
rulemaking action. This action to amend Virginia's approved Stage II

[[Page 72728]]

vapor recovery SIP to amend the Commonwealth's requirements for the 
Stage II vapor recovery program may not be challenged later in 
proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

    Dated: September 29, 2016.
Shawn M. Garvin,
Regional Administrator, Region III.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart VV--Virginia

0
2. Amend Sec.  52.2420:
0
 a. In the table in paragraph (c) by revising the entry ``5-40-5220'' 
and adding in numerical order an entry for ``5-40-5270'': and
0
b. In the table in paragraph (e) by revising an entry ``Documents 
Incorporated by Reference (9 VAC 5-20-21, Section B.)'' and adding 
``Documents Incorporated by Reference (9 VAC 5-20-21, Section E.15.)'' 
at the end of the table.
    The revised and added text reads as follows:


Sec.  52.2420  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                                 EPA-Approved Virginia Regulations and Statutes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Explanation
         State citation               Title/Subject            State       EPA Approval date      [former SIP
                                                          effective date                           citation]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            9 VAC 5, Chapter 40 Existing Stationary Sources[Part IV]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Part II Emissions Standards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Article 37 Emission Standards for Petroleum Liquid Storage and Transfer Operations (Rule 4-37)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-40-5220......................  Standard for Volatile        07/30/2015  10/21/2016 [Insert  ..................
                                  Organic Compounds.                       Federal Register
                                                                           Citation].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-40-5270......................  Standard for Toxic           07/30/2015  10/21/2016 [Insert  ..................
                                  Pollutants.                              Federal Register
                                                                           Citation].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Name of non-regulatory SIP     Applicable geographic        State                              Additional
            revision                       area           submittal date   EPA Approval date      explanation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Documents Incorporated by        Northern Virginia             10/1/2015  10/21/2016 [Insert  State effective
 Reference (9 VAC 5-20-21,        (Metropolitan                            Federal Register    date is 7/30/15.
 Section B.).                     Washington) Ozone                        Citation].
                                  Nonattainment Area,
                                  Fredericksburg Ozone
                                  Maintenance Area,
                                  Richmond-Petersburg
                                  Ozone Maintenance Area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[[Page 72729]]

 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Documents Incorporated by        Northern Virginia             10/1/2015  10/21/2016 [Insert  State effective
 Reference (9 VAC 5-20-21,        (Metropolitan                            Federal Register    date is 7/30/15.
 Section E.15.).                  Washington) Ozone                        Citation].
                                  Nonattainment Area,
                                  Fredericksburg Ozone
                                  Maintenance Area,
                                  Richmond-Petersburg
                                  Ozone Maintenance Area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-25301 Filed 10-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                  72724                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                                                                                                   State                    EPA                     Final rule
                                                                                   Title                                          effective               effective                                         Comments
                                                                                                                                                                                  citation/date
                                                                                                                                    date                    date

                                                               *                            *                            *                           *                        *                        *            *

                                                      5 CCR 1001–13, Regulation Number 11, Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program—Part F, Maximum Allowable Emissions Limits
                                                                   for Motor Vehicle Exhaust, Evaporative and Visible Emissions for Light-Duty and Heavy-Duty Vehicles


                                                               *                            *                            *                           *                        *                        *            *

                                                  V. Visible Smoke ........................................................         2/15/2013              11/21/2016      [Insert Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                              citation], 10/21/2016.
                                                  VI. Clean Screen Program Maximum Allowable                                        8/30/2007              11/21/2016      [Insert Federal Register
                                                    Emissions Limits.                                                                                                         citation], 10/21/2016.
                                                  VII. On-Board Diagnostic Inspection Passing Criteria                              2/15/2013              11/21/2016      [Insert Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                              citation], 10/21/2016.

                                                                                                                5 CCR 1001–13, Regulation Number 11, Appendices

                                                  Appendix A, Specifications for Colorado 94 Analyzer                               8/30/2007              11/21/2016      [Insert Federal Register
                                                                                                                                   12/30/2013                                 citation], 10/21/2016.
                                                  Appendix B, Standards and Specifications for the                                 12/30/2013              11/21/2016      [Insert Federal Register
                                                    Suppliers of Span and Calibration Gases.                                                                                  citation], 10/21/2016.


                                                               *                            *                            *                           *                        *                        *            *



                                                  *       *        *        *        *                                dispensers at service stations. In two                        information you consider to be
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–25295 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]                        prior rulemakings, EPA has already                            confidential business information (CBI)
                                                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                              approved Virginia’s demonstrations                            or other information whose disclosure is
                                                                                                                      showing that the emission benefits                            restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                                                                                                      generated by Stage II vapor recovery                          submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                                  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                            have been fully offset, without                               accompanied by a written comment.
                                                  AGENCY                                                              impacting the affected Virginia areas’                        The written comment is considered the
                                                                                                                      ability to attain and maintain any                            official comment and should include
                                                  40 CFR Part 52                                                      national ambient air quality standard                         discussion of all points you wish to
                                                  [EPA–R03–OAR–2016–0308; FRL–9954–18–                                (NAAQS). Virginia amended its existing                        make. EPA will generally not consider
                                                  Region 3]                                                           rules to remove Stage II as a required                        comments or comment contents located
                                                                                                                      measure by January 2017 and added                             outside of the primary submission (i.e.
                                                  Approval and Promulgation of Air                                    decommissioning procedures for                                on the Web, cloud, or other file sharing
                                                  Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia;                             stations electing to opt out of the                           system). For additional submission
                                                  Removal of Stage II Gasoline Vapor                                  program. EPA is approving this SIP                            methods, please contact the person
                                                  Recovery Requirements for Gasoline                                  revision to amend the Virginia Stage II                       identified in the FOR FURTHER
                                                  Dispensing Facilities                                               vapor recovery program in accordance                          INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the
                                                  AGENCY: Environmental Protection                                    with the requirements of the Clean Air                        full EPA public comment policy,
                                                                                                                      Act (CAA).                                                    information about CBI or multimedia
                                                  Agency (EPA).
                                                                                                                      DATES: This rule is effective on                              submissions, and general guidance on
                                                  ACTION: Direct final rule.
                                                                                                                      December 20, 2016 without further                             making effective comments, please visit
                                                  SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection                            notice, unless EPA receives adverse                           http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                  Agency (EPA) is taking direct final                                 written comment by November 21,                               commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                  action to approve revisions to the                                  2016. If EPA receives such comments, it                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  Commonwealth of Virginia’s state                                    will publish a timely withdrawal of the                       Brian Rehn, (215) 814–2176, or by email
                                                  implementation plan (SIP). The revision                             direct final rule in the Federal Register                     at rehn.brian@epa.gov.
                                                  serves to remove requirements for vapor                             and inform the public that the rule will                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  recovery equipment (also referred to as                             not take effect.
                                                  Stage II vapor recovery, or simply as                               ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                              I. Background
                                                  Stage II) from subject gasoline stations                            identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R03–                             Stage II vapor recovery is a means of
                                                  in areas of Virginia that were formerly                             OAR–2016–0308 at http://                                      capturing volatile organic compounds
                                                  required to install and operate Stage II                            www.regulations.gov, or via email to                          (VOCs) emitted as vapors displaced
                                                  under the prior approved SIP. In 2012,                              pino.maria@epa.gov. For comments                              from a vehicle’s gas tank during
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  EPA determined that new, gasoline-                                  submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the                      refueling operations, via vapor controls
                                                  powered vehicles equipped with                                      online instructions for submitting                            equipped on a gasoline pump at a
                                                  onboard vapor recovery systems                                      comments. Once submitted, comments                            gasoline dispensing facility (GDF). Stage
                                                  (beginning with those manufactured in                               cannot be edited or removed from                              II vapor recovery uses special refueling
                                                  model year 1998) were in widespread                                 Regulations.gov. For either manner of                         nozzles and coaxial hoses on the
                                                  use and have, in great part, supplanted                             submission, EPA may publish any                               gasoline dispenser to capture these
                                                  emission reductions formerly controlled                             comment received to its public docket.                        vapors that might otherwise be emitted
                                                  via Stage II vapor recovery on gasoline                             Do not submit electronically any                              to the atmosphere during vehicle


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014       16:30 Oct 20, 2016       Jkt 241001    PO 00000        Frm 00040   Fmt 4700       Sfmt 4700    E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM   21OCR1


                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       72725

                                                  fueling. These gasoline vapors contain                  the Fredericksburg area. Although the 1-              would soon surpass the emissions
                                                  toxic air emissions and serve as                        hour ozone NAAQS was revoked                          reductions achieved by Stage II alone.
                                                  precursors to the formation of ground-                  effective June 2005, EPA’s                               Virginia has examined whether Stage
                                                  level ozone—an ambient air pollutant                    implementation rule for the 1997 ozone                II vapor recovery continues to be
                                                  regulated under the CAA. Under section                  NAAQS retained Stage II-related                       necessary for ozone control purposes,
                                                  182(b)(3) of the CAA, areas classified as               requirements under CAA section                        given the prevalence of ORVR-equipped
                                                  moderate or worse ozone nonattainment                   182(b)(3) for certain areas. Therefore,               gasoline-powered vehicles and the
                                                  were required to adopt a Stage II vapor                 Stage II continued to apply in the                    redundancy between ORVR and Stage II
                                                  recovery program. Areas in the Ozone                    Washington, DC nonattainment area as                  systems in reducing gasoline tank
                                                  Transport Region (OTR) were required                    an anti-backsliding measure (for the                  displacement emissions associated with
                                                  under section 184(a) and (b)(2) to adopt                revoked 1-hour ozone NAAQS) and in                    refueling. Additionally, Virginia has
                                                  Stage II, or a comparable measure that                  the Fredericksburg area as a                          analyzed the interference effect between
                                                  could achieve similar emission                          maintenance measure (under the 1997                   certain Stage II systems and ORVR
                                                  reductions.                                             ozone NAAQS) pending EPA                              systems. As a result, Virginia
                                                     Virginia has three areas that have                   determination that onboard refueling                  determined that Stage II vapor recovery
                                                  approved Stage II SIPs meeting Stage II                 vapor recovery (ORVR) was in                          is no longer necessary as a control
                                                  requirements under the 1990                             widespread use and Virginia could                     measure to address ambient ozone in
                                                  amendments to the CAA. The Richmond                     demonstrate that Stage II was no longer               the Washington, Fredericksburg, and
                                                  area was designated as moderate                         a necessary component of its air quality              Richmond areas.
                                                  nonattainment under the 1-hour ozone                    plans.                                                   On November 12, 2013 and March 18,
                                                  NAAQS, and again under the 1997 8-                         Virginia adopted Stage II regulations              2014, Virginia submitted SIP revisions
                                                  hour ozone NAAQS. On July 26, 1996,                     in the November 2, 1992 edition of the                to EPA that evaluate and address the
                                                  Virginia submitted a request to                         Virginia Register of Regulations (Vol. 9,             emissions impacts to each of those
                                                  redesignate the Richmond area to                        Issue 3) effective January 1, 1993. Stage             affected areas associated with removal
                                                  attainment of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS.                   II applicability was limited to the to the            of the Stage II program. These plans
                                                  EPA’s approval of this request was                      Northern Virginia volatile organic                    serve to amend the ozone maintenance
                                                  published in the November 17, 1997                      compound (VOC) Emission Control                       plan for the Richmond area and the
                                                  Federal Register (62 FR 61237). On                      Area (comprised of Arlington,                         attainment plan for the Washington area
                                                  September 26, 2006, Virginia requested                  Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince                   to demonstrate that removal of the Stage
                                                  redesignation of the Richmond area to                   William and Stafford Counties, plus the               II programs will not interfere with those
                                                  attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone                    cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls                  areas’ ability to attain and maintain any
                                                  NAAQS. EPA approved that                                Church, Manassas, and Stafford) and to                NAAQS. On May 26, 2015 (80 FR
                                                  redesignation request in the June 1,                    the Richmond VOC Emission Control                     29959), EPA approved the
                                                  2007 Federal Register (72 FR 30485).                    Area (comprised of the Counties of                    Commonwealth’s March 18, 2014 SIP
                                                  However, Virginia’s plans for                           Charles City, Chesterfield, Hanover, and              revision amending the approved ozone
                                                  maintenance of the respective NAAQS                     Henrico, plus the cities of Colonial                  attainment plan for the Virginia portion
                                                  relied upon the emissions reductions                    Heights, Hopewell, and Richmond).                     of Washington nonattainment area and
                                                  from Stage II as a means to ensure                      Virginia submitted its Stage II regulation            the approved ozone maintenance plan
                                                  continued maintenance of the ozone                      to EPA as a SIP revision on November                  for the Fredericksburg area to remove
                                                  NAAQS. Although the 1-hour ozone                        5, 1992. EPA approved Virginia’s Stage                the Stage II program. On August 11,
                                                  NAAQS was revoked June 15, 2005,                        II SIP revision on June 23, 1993 (59 FR               2014, EPA approved Virginia’s
                                                  EPA’s implementation rule for the 1997                  32353).                                               November 12, 2013 SIP revision
                                                  ozone NAAQS retained Stage II as a                         ORVR is an emissions control system                amending the approved ozone
                                                  required measure to prevent backsliding                 equipped on new, gasoline-powered                     maintenance plan SIP for the Richmond
                                                  under the NAAQS.                                        vehicles (beginning with model year                   area to remove the Stage II program.
                                                     The Virginia portion of the                          1998 vehicles) for the purpose of
                                                                                                                                                                II. Summary of SIP Revision and EPA
                                                  Washington, DC–MD–VA ozone                              capturing refueling gasoline vapors
                                                                                                                                                                Analysis
                                                  nonattainment area (hereafter referred to               before they escape the vehicle gas tank
                                                  as the Washington area) was subject to                  and to store them in an underhood                        On October 15, 2015, the
                                                  Stage II not only because of its                        canister for later engine combustion.                 Commonwealth of Virginia submitted a
                                                  designation as nonattainment for the                    Section 202(a)(6) of the CAA directed                 formal revision to remove the
                                                  ozone NAAQS, but also because this                      that Stage II requirements under                      requirements for Stage II vapor recovery
                                                  area lies in a CAA-established OTR. The                 182(b)(3) would no longer apply to                    controls in Virginia ozone
                                                  area was designated serious                             moderate ozone nonattainment areas                    nonattainment areas from the approved
                                                  nonattainment under the 1-hour ozone                    upon promulgation of standards for                    Virginia SIP (Revision C14). This
                                                  NAAQS. Under the 1997 8-hour ozone                      ORVR systems as part of the emission                  October 2015 SIP revision contains the
                                                  NAAQS, both the Northern Virginia area                  control system on newly manufactured                  amended Stage II vapor recovery
                                                  and the neighboring Fredericksburg area                 vehicles. Section 202(a)(6) further                   regulatory provisions of Virginia Rule
                                                  were designated as moderate                             directs that Stage II requirements no                 4–37, entitled ‘‘Emission Standards for
                                                  nonattainment. On November 13, 2002,                    longer apply to ozone nonattainment                   Volatile Organic Compounds from
                                                  EPA reclassified the Virginia portion of                areas designated serious or worse upon                Petroleum Liquid Storage and Transfer
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  the Washington, DC–MD–VA area as                        EPA’s determination that ORVR                         Operations.’’ The October 2015 SIP
                                                  severe nonattainment under the 1-hour                   technology is in ‘‘widespread use.’’ EPA              revision includes Virginia’s regulatory
                                                  ozone NAAQS. 67 FR 68805. Virginia                      issued its widespread use determination               amendments listed at 9VAC5–20 and
                                                  subsequently submitted and EPA                          on May 16, 2012 (77 FR 28772),                        9VAC5–40 that were adopted by
                                                  approved attainment plans for the 1-                    indicating that ORVR was in                           Virginia in June of 2014, and published
                                                  hour and 1997 8-hour NAAQS for the                      widespread use throughout the U.S.                    in the Virginia Register of Regulations
                                                  Washington area, and approved a                         vehicle fleet, and that at that time ORVR             on June 15, 2015. The purpose of the
                                                  redesignation and maintenance plan for                  vehicles were essentially equal to and                Commonwealth’s 2015 SIP revision


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:30 Oct 20, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00041   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM   21OCR1


                                                  72726             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  submittal is to remove Stage II vapor                   analyzed the impact of removal of the                 proposed rule. EPA will not institute a
                                                  recovery requirements applicable in                     Stage II program in adherence with                    second comment period on this action.
                                                  covered areas in Virginia from the                      EPA’s ‘‘Guidance on Removing Stage II                 Any parties interested in commenting
                                                  Commonwealth’s rule provisions                          Gasoline Vapor Control Programs from                  must do so at this time.
                                                  governing petroleum liquid storage and                  State Implementation Plans and
                                                                                                                                                                IV. General Information Pertaining to
                                                  transfer operations. Under Virginia’s                   Assessing Comparable Measures,’’ dated
                                                                                                                                                                SIP Submittals From the
                                                  amended Rule 4–37, gasoline stations in                 August 7, 2012 (EPA–457/B–12–001),
                                                                                                                                                                Commonwealth of Virginia
                                                  the Washington and Fredericksburg                       including applicability of Stage II or
                                                  areas were no longer required to employ                 comparable measures in the OTR, per                      In 1995, Virginia adopted legislation
                                                  Stage II systems as of January 2014, and                section 184 of the CAA. As previously                 that provides, subject to certain
                                                  Richmond area stations will no longer                   found by EPA, Virginia has                            conditions, for an environmental
                                                  be required to employ Stage II vapor                    demonstrated that removal of the Stage                assessment (audit) ‘‘privilege’’ for
                                                  recovery systems as of January 2017.                    II requirement does not interfere with                voluntary compliance evaluations
                                                  Virginia’s amendment to Rule 4–37 also                  any affected area’s ability to attain or              performed by a regulated entity. The
                                                  requires facilities electing to                         maintain a NAAQS, under section 110(l)                legislation further addresses the relative
                                                  decommission Stage II to meet                           of the CAA.                                           burden of proof for parties either
                                                  established decommissioning                                For further information on Virginia’s              asserting the privilege or seeking
                                                  procedures and those electing to                        analysis of the impacts of removal of the             disclosure of documents for which the
                                                  continue to operate Stage II to continue                Stage II programs in the Washington and               privilege is claimed. Virginia’s
                                                  to properly operate and maintain their                  Fredericksburg areas, please refer to                 legislation also provides, subject to
                                                  Stage II systems.                                       EPA’s May 26, 2015 approval of the SIP                certain conditions, for a penalty waiver
                                                     As described in the Background                       demonstration applicable to those areas.              for violations of environmental laws
                                                  section of this action, EPA has already                 See 80 FR 29959. For further                          when a regulated entity discovers such
                                                  approved Virginia’s SIP revisions                       information with respect to Virginia’s                violations pursuant to a voluntary
                                                  submitted on November 12, 2013 and                      analysis of the removal of Stage II in the            compliance evaluation and voluntarily
                                                  March 18, 2014 demonstrating that                       Richmond area, please refer to EPA’s                  discloses such violations to the
                                                  removal of Stage II as a control measure                August 11, 2014 approval of the                       Commonwealth and takes prompt and
                                                  from the SIP will not interfere with the                Commonwealth’s demonstration                          appropriate measures to remedy the
                                                  Washington, Fredericksburg, and                         applicable to Richmond. See 79 FR                     violations. Virginia’s Voluntary
                                                  Richmond areas’ ability to attain and                   4671.                                                 Environmental Assessment Privilege
                                                  maintain any applicable NAAQS.                                                                                Law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1–1198, provides
                                                     Virginia’s Department of                             III. Final Action                                     a privilege that protects from disclosure
                                                  Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)                             EPA is approving Virginia’s revision               documents and information about the
                                                  examined whether Stage II vapor                         to its SIP to include revised Stage II                content of those documents that are the
                                                  recovery is necessary for ozone control                 vapor recovery provisions to remove the               product of a voluntary environmental
                                                  purposes, and determined this program                   requirement for Virginia area GDFs to                 assessment. The Privilege Law does not
                                                  is no longer beneficial to air quality of               operate Stage II in areas formerly subject            extend to documents or information
                                                  the Commonwealth, given EPA’s                           to Stage II under CAA sections 182 and                that: (1) Are generated or developed
                                                  widespread use determination for ORVR                   184, and to add provisions setting                    before the commencement of a
                                                  equipment in new vehicles                               requirements for GDFs opting to                       voluntary environmental assessment; (2)
                                                  manufactured since 1998 and the                         decommission existing Stage II systems.               are prepared independently of the
                                                  inherent redundancies between Stage II                  As described previously, EPA                          assessment process; (3) demonstrate a
                                                  vapor recovery equipment and vehicle-                   previously approved two earlier, related              clear, imminent and substantial danger
                                                  based ORVR systems, as well as the                      Virginia SIP revisions demonstrating                  to the public health or environment; or
                                                  known incompatibilities between                         that Virginia’s Stage II-affected areas               (4) are required by law.
                                                  certain types of Stage II vapor recovery                (i.e., the Virginia portion of Washington,               On January 12, 1998, the
                                                  equipment and vehicle-based, ORVR                       DC, Fredericksburg, and Richmond                      Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the
                                                  systems.                                                ozone nonattainment areas) will not be                Attorney General provided a legal
                                                     EPA has evaluated the regulatory                     adversely affected by the removal of the              opinion that states that the Privilege
                                                  amendments adopted by Virginia to its                   Stage II vapor recovery requirement.                  Law, Va. Code § 10.1–1198, precludes
                                                  Rule 4–37 to rescind Stage II vapor                     EPA is publishing this rule without                   granting a privilege to documents and
                                                  recovery requirements for new and                       prior proposal because EPA views this                 information ‘‘required by law,’’
                                                  existing stations, to adopt                             as a noncontroversial amendment and                   including documents and information
                                                  decommissioning procedures and                          anticipates no adverse comment.                       ‘‘required by federal law to maintain
                                                  requirements for GDFs electing to no                       However, in the ‘‘Proposed Rules’’                 program delegation, authorization or
                                                  longer operate existing Stage II systems,               section of today’s Federal Register, EPA              approval,’’ since Virginia must ‘‘enforce
                                                  and to require the continued operation                  is publishing a separate document that                federally authorized environmental
                                                  and maintenance of Stage II equipment                   will serve as the proposal to approve the             programs in a manner that is no less
                                                  for stations that elect to continue                     SIP revision if adverse comments are                  stringent than their federal counterparts
                                                  participation in the program. Virginia’s                filed. This rule will be effective on                 . . . .’’ The opinion concludes that
                                                  regulatory changes meet EPA guidance                    December 20, 2016 without further                     ‘‘[r]egarding § 10.1–1198, therefore,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  and the related requirements of sections                notice unless EPA receives adverse                    documents or other information needed
                                                  182 and 202 of the CAA with respect to                  comment by November 21, 2016. If EPA                  for civil or criminal enforcement under
                                                  the applicability of Stage II                           receives adverse comment, EPA will                    one of these programs could not be
                                                  requirements after EPA’s issuance of its                publish a timely withdrawal in the                    privileged because such documents and
                                                  widespread use policy of ORVR                           Federal Register informing the public                 information are essential to pursuing
                                                  determination in 2012, as described in                  that the rule will not take effect. EPA               enforcement in a manner required by
                                                  the Background section of this                          will address all public comments in a                 federal law to maintain program
                                                  document. Virginia has properly                         subsequent final rule based on the                    delegation, authorization or approval.’’


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:30 Oct 20, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00042   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM   21OCR1


                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                        72727

                                                  Virginia’s Immunity law, Va. Code Sec.                  be incorporated by reference by the                     • does not provide EPA with the
                                                  10.1–1199, provides that ‘‘[t]o the extent              Director of the Federal Register in the               discretionary authority to address, as
                                                  consistent with requirements imposed                    next update of the SIP compilation.1                  appropriate, disproportionate human
                                                  by federal law,’’ any person making a                   EPA has made, and will continue to                    health or environmental effects, using
                                                  voluntary disclosure of information to a                make, these materials generally                       practicable and legally permissible
                                                  state agency regarding a violation of an                available through www.regulations.gov                 methods, under Executive Order 12898
                                                  environmental statute, regulation,                      and/or at the EPA Region III Office                   (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
                                                  permit, or administrative order is                      (please contact the person identified in                The SIP is not approved to apply on
                                                  granted immunity from administrative                    the ‘‘For Further Information Contact’’               any Indian reservation land as defined
                                                  or civil penalty. The Attorney General’s                section of this preamble for more                     in 18 U.S.C. 1151 or in any other area
                                                  January 12, 1998 opinion states that the                information).                                         where EPA or an Indian tribe has
                                                  quoted language renders this statute                                                                          demonstrated that a tribe has
                                                  inapplicable to enforcement of any                      VI. Statutory and Executive Order                     jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian
                                                  federally authorized programs, since                    Reviews                                               country, the rule does not have tribal
                                                  ‘‘no immunity could be afforded from                    A. General Requirements                               implications and will not impose
                                                  administrative, civil, or criminal                                                                            substantial direct costs on tribal
                                                                                                             Under the CAA, the Administrator is                governments or preempt tribal law as
                                                  penalties because granting such
                                                                                                          required to approve a SIP submission                  specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
                                                  immunity would not be consistent with
                                                  federal law, which is one of the criteria               that complies with the provisions of the              FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
                                                  for immunity.’’                                         CAA and applicable federal regulations.
                                                                                                          42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                   B. Submission to Congress and the
                                                     Therefore, EPA has determined that
                                                                                                          Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,                   Comptroller General
                                                  Virginia’s Privilege and Immunity
                                                  statutes will not preclude the                          EPA’s role is to approve state choices,                  The Congressional Review Act, 5
                                                  Commonwealth from enforcing its                         provided that they meet the criteria of               U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
                                                  program consistent with the federal                     the CAA. Accordingly, this action                     Business Regulatory Enforcement
                                                  requirements. In any event, because                     merely approves state law as meeting                  Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
                                                  EPA has also determined that a state                    federal requirements and does not                     that before a rule may take effect, the
                                                  audit privilege and immunity law can                    impose additional requirements beyond                 agency promulgating the rule must
                                                  affect only state enforcement and cannot                those imposed by state law. For that                  submit a rule report, which includes a
                                                  have any impact on federal enforcement                  reason, this action:                                  copy of the rule, to each House of the
                                                  authorities, EPA may at any time invoke                    • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                Congress and to the Comptroller General
                                                  its authority under the CAA, including,                 action’’ subject to review by the Office              of the United States. EPA will submit a
                                                  for example, sections 113, 167, 205, 211                of Management and Budget under                        report containing this action and other
                                                  or 213, to enforce the requirements or                  Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,                  required information to the U.S. Senate,
                                                  prohibitions of the state plan,                         October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,               the U.S. House of Representatives, and
                                                  independently of any state enforcement                  January 21, 2011);                                    the Comptroller General of the United
                                                  effort. In addition, citizen enforcement                   • does not impose an information                   States prior to publication of the rule in
                                                  under section 304 of the CAA is                         collection burden under the provisions                the Federal Register. A major rule
                                                  likewise unaffected by this, or any, state              of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                    cannot take effect until 60 days after it
                                                  audit privilege or immunity law.                        U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                 is published in the Federal Register.
                                                                                                             • is certified as not having a                     This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
                                                  V. Incorporation by Reference                           significant economic impact on a                      defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
                                                     In this rule, EPA is finalizing                      substantial number of small entities
                                                                                                          under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5               C. Petitions for Judicial Review
                                                  regulatory text that includes
                                                  incorporation by reference. In                          U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                     Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
                                                  accordance with requirements of 1 CFR                      • does not contain any unfunded                    petitions for judicial review of this
                                                  51.5, EPA is finalizing the incorporation               mandate or significantly or uniquely                  action must be filed in the United States
                                                  by reference of Virginia’s amendments                   affect small governments, as described                Court of Appeals for the appropriate
                                                  to Article 37 of 9VAC5–40, relating also                in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                   circuit by December 20, 2016. Filing a
                                                  to amendments to Virginia’s general                     of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);                              petition for reconsideration by the
                                                  provisions at 9VAC5–20–21, reflecting                      • does not have federalism                         Administrator of this final rule does not
                                                  the addition of a new source of                         implications as specified in Executive                affect the finality of this action for the
                                                  documents incorporated by reference,                    Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                  purposes of judicial review nor does it
                                                  effective on July 20, 2015. Additionally,               1999);                                                extend the time within which a petition
                                                  Virginia amended its Rule 4–37                             • is not an economically significant               for judicial review may be filed, and
                                                  governing petroleum liquid and transfer                 regulatory action based on health or                  shall not postpone the effectiveness of
                                                  operations applicable to existing                       safety risks subject to Executive Order               such rule or action. Parties with
                                                  stationary sources. Specifically, Virginia              13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                  objections to this direct final rule are
                                                  modified requirements for the                              • is not a significant regulatory action           encouraged to file a comment in
                                                  Commonwealth’s Stage II vapor                           subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR               response to the parallel notice of
                                                  recovery program in 9–VAC5–5220 and                     28355, May 22, 2001);                                 proposed rulemaking for this action
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  9VAC5–5270, effective July 20, 2015.                       • is not subject to requirements of                published in the proposed rules section
                                                  These materials have been approved by                   Section 12(d) of the National                         of today’s Federal Register, rather than
                                                  EPA for inclusion in the SIP, have been                 Technology Transfer and Advancement                   file an immediate petition for judicial
                                                  incorporated by reference by EPA into                   Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because              review of this direct final rule, so that
                                                  that plan, are fully federally enforceable              application of those requirements would               EPA can withdraw this direct final rule
                                                  under sections 110 and 113 of the CAA                   be inconsistent with the CAA; and                     and address the comment in the
                                                  as of the effective date of the final                                                                         proposed rulemaking action. This action
                                                  rulemaking of EPA’s approval, and will                    1 62   FR 27968 (May 22, 1997).                     to amend Virginia’s approved Stage II


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:30 Oct 20, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00043   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM   21OCR1


                                                  72728               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  vapor recovery SIP to amend the                                   Dated: September 29, 2016.                                      ■  a. In the table in paragraph (c) by
                                                  Commonwealth’s requirements for the                             Shawn M. Garvin,                                                  revising the entry ‘‘5–40–5220’’ and
                                                  Stage II vapor recovery program may not                         Regional Administrator, Region III.                               adding in numerical order an entry for
                                                  be challenged later in proceedings to                                                                                             ‘‘5–40–5270’’: and
                                                                                                                        40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:                       ■ b. In the table in paragraph (e) by
                                                  enforce its requirements. (See section
                                                  307(b)(2).)                                                                                                                       revising an entry ‘‘Documents
                                                                                                                  PART 52—APPROVAL AND
                                                                                                                                                                                    Incorporated by Reference (9 VAC 5–
                                                  List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                              PROMULGATION OF
                                                                                                                                                                                    20–21, Section B.)’’ and adding
                                                                                                                  IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
                                                                                                                                                                                    ‘‘Documents Incorporated by Reference
                                                    Environmental protection, Air
                                                                                                                                                                                    (9 VAC 5–20–21, Section E.15.)’’ at the
                                                  pollution control, Incorporation by                             ■ 1. The authority citation for part 52                           end of the table.
                                                  reference, Intergovernmental relations,                         continues to read as follows:                                        The revised and added text reads as
                                                  Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping                                  Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.                             follows:
                                                  requirements, Volatile organic
                                                  compounds.                                                      Subpart VV—Virginia                                               § 52.2420   Identification of plan.
                                                                                                                                                                                    *       *    *       *     *
                                                                                                                  ■   2. Amend § 52.2420:                                               (c) * * *

                                                                                                      EPA–APPROVED VIRGINIA REGULATIONS AND STATUTES
                                                                                                                                                             State                                           Explanation [former SIP
                                                         State citation                                       Title/Subject                                 effective              EPA Approval date                citation]
                                                                                                                                                              date


                                                             *                             *                          *                          *                           *                       *                     *

                                                                                                            9 VAC 5, Chapter 40 Existing Stationary Sources[Part IV]


                                                             *                             *                          *                          *                           *                       *                     *

                                                                                                                              Part II Emissions Standards


                                                             *                             *                          *                          *                           *                       *                     *

                                                                             Article 37 Emission Standards for Petroleum Liquid Storage and Transfer Operations (Rule 4–37)


                                                             *                             *                          *                          *                           *                       *                     *

                                                  5–40–5220 .....................       Standard for Volatile Organic Compounds ........                     07/30/2015          10/21/2016 [Insert Fed-
                                                                                                                                                                                   eral Register Cita-
                                                                                                                                                                                   tion].


                                                             *                             *                          *                          *                           *                       *                     *

                                                  5–40–5270 .....................       Standard for Toxic Pollutants .............................          07/30/2015          10/21/2016 [Insert Fed-
                                                                                                                                                                                   eral Register Cita-
                                                                                                                                                                                   tion].


                                                             *                             *                          *                          *                           *                       *                     *



                                                  *      *       *       *          *                                   (e) * * *



                                                                                                                                                              State
                                                   Name of non-regulatory                           Applicable geographic area                              submittal              EPA Approval date          Additional explanation
                                                       SIP revision                                                                                           date
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                             *                             *                          *                          *                           *                       *                     *

                                                  Documents Incorporated                Northern Virginia (Metropolitan Washington)                              10/1/2015       10/21/2016 [Insert Fed-     State effective date is
                                                    by Reference (9 VAC                   Ozone Nonattainment Area, Fredericksburg                                                 eral Register Cita-         7/30/15.
                                                    5–20–21, Section B.).                 Ozone Maintenance Area, Richmond-Peters-                                                 tion].
                                                                                          burg Ozone Maintenance Area.




                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014     16:30 Oct 20, 2016        Jkt 241001    PO 00000     Frm 00044   Fmt 4700       Sfmt 4700    E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM       21OCR1


                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                         72729



                                                                                                                                                      State
                                                   Name of non-regulatory                      Applicable geographic area                           submittal              EPA Approval date        Additional explanation
                                                       SIP revision                                                                                   date

                                                             *                        *                       *                          *                           *                      *                    *

                                                  Documents Incorporated            Northern Virginia (Metropolitan Washington)                          10/1/2015       10/21/2016 [Insert Fed-   State effective date is
                                                    by Reference (9 VAC               Ozone Nonattainment Area, Fredericksburg                                             eral Register Cita-       7/30/15.
                                                    5–20–21, Section                  Ozone Maintenance Area, Richmond-Peters-                                             tion].
                                                    E.15.).                           burg Ozone Maintenance Area.


                                                             *                        *                       *                          *                           *                      *                    *



                                                  *      *       *       *      *                           reconsideration are available in the                            reconsideration is nationally applicable
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–25301 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]              docket under Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–                              for purposes of CAA section 307(b)(1)
                                                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                    OAR–2009–0734.                                                  because the action directly affects the
                                                                                                              Docket. The EPA has established a                             final Standards of Performance for New
                                                                                                            docket for this action under Docket ID                          Residential Wood Heaters, new
                                                  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                  No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2009–0734.                                       Residential Hydronic Heaters and
                                                  AGENCY                                                    Publicly available docket materials are                         Forced-Air Furnaces published on
                                                                                                            available either electronically through                         March 16, 2015, (‘‘2015 New Source
                                                  40 CFR Part 60                                            http://www.regulations.gov or in hard                           Performance Standards (NSPS)’’), which
                                                  [EPA–HQ–OAR–2009–0734; FRL–9954–38–                       copy at the EPA Docket Center (EPA/                             are nationally applicable regulations.
                                                  OAR]                                                      DC), EPA WJC West, Room 3334, 1301                              Thus, any petitions for review of the
                                                                                                            Constitution Ave. NW., Washington,                              EPA’s decision to deny the petition for
                                                  Reconsideration of Standards of                           DC. The EPA Docket Center Public                                reconsideration described in this
                                                  Performance for New Residential                           Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to                          document must be filed in the United
                                                  Wood Heaters, New Residential                             4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,                               States Court of Appeals for the District
                                                  Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air                           excluding legal holidays. The telephone                         of Columbia Circuit by December 20,
                                                  Furnaces                                                  number for the Public Reading Room is                           2016.
                                                  AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                         (202) 566–1744, and the telephone
                                                                                                                                                                            III. Description of Action
                                                  Agency (EPA).                                             number for the Air Docket is (202) 566–
                                                                                                            1742. This action, the petition for                                The 2015 NSPS finalizes amendments
                                                  ACTION: Notice of final action denying
                                                                                                            reconsideration and the EPA’s letter                            to the 1988 Standards of Performance
                                                  petition for reconsideration.                                                                                             for New Residential Wood Heaters (40
                                                                                                            addressing the petition can also be
                                                  SUMMARY:   This action provides notice                    found on the EPA’s Web site at http://                          CFR part 60, subpart AAA), i.e., the
                                                  that the U.S. Environmental Protection                    www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg.                                          1988 NSPS, and adds one new subpart:
                                                  Agency (EPA) Administrator, Gina                            Electronic access. You may access this                        Standards of Performance for the New
                                                  McCarthy, denied a petition for                           Federal Register document                                       Residential Hydronic Heaters and
                                                  reconsideration of the final Standards of                 electronically from the Government                              Forced-Air Furnaces (40 CFR part 60,
                                                  Performance for New Residential Wood                      Printing Office under the ‘‘Federal                             subpart QQQQ). The 2015 NSPS was
                                                  Heaters, New Residential Hydronic                         Register’’ listings at FDSys (http://                           developed following a CAA section
                                                  Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces                           www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/                                       111(b)(1)(B) review of the 1988 NSPS
                                                  published in the Federal Register on                      collection.action?collectionCode=FR).                           (53 FR 5860, February 26, 1988). This
                                                  March 16, 2015.                                                                                                           information is contained in the docket,
                                                                                                            II. Judicial Review                                             which is available at http://
                                                  DATES: This action is effective on
                                                  October 21, 2016.                                            Section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act                       www.regulations.gov. On February 3,
                                                                                                            (CAA) indicates which Federal Court of                          2014, the EPA proposed Standards of
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
                                                                                                            Appeals have venue over petitions for                           Performance for New Residential Wood
                                                  Amanda Aldridge, Outreach and
                                                                                                            review of final EPA actions. This section                       Heaters, New Residential Hydronic
                                                  Information Division (C304–05), Office
                                                                                                            provides, in part, that the petitions for                       Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces (79 FR
                                                  of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
                                                                                                            review must be filed in the Court of                            6373). The EPA received additional data
                                                  Environmental Protection Agency,
                                                                                                            Appeals for the District of Columbia                            and comments during the public
                                                  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
                                                                                                            Circuit if: (i) The agency action consists                      comment period. These data and
                                                  27711; telephone number: (919) 541–
                                                                                                            of ‘‘nationally applicable regulations                          comments were considered and
                                                  5268; fax number (919) 541–2664; email
                                                                                                            promulgated, or final action taken, by                          analyzed and, where appropriate, the
                                                  address: aldridge.amanda@epa.gov.
                                                                                                            the Administrator;’’ or (ii) such actions                       EPA revised the proposed rule. The
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                are locally or regionally applicable, if                        final rule was published on March 16,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  I. General Information                                    ‘‘such action is based on a                                     2015 (80 FR 13671).
                                                                                                            determination of nationwide scope or                               On June 2, 2015, Richard S. Burns &
                                                  A. How can I get copies of this                           effect and if in taking such action the                         Company, Inc. (‘‘Burns’’) submitted a
                                                  document and other related                                Administrator finds and publishes that                          petition for reconsideration of the 2015
                                                  information?                                              such action is based on such a                                  NSPS (80 FR 13671, March 16, 2015). In
                                                    This Federal Register notice, the                       determination.’’                                                its petition, Burns asks the EPA to
                                                  petition for reconsideration and the                         The EPA has determined that its                              reconsider aspects of the final rule’s
                                                  EPA’s letter addressing the petition for                  action denying the petition for                                 pellet fuel requirements in 40 CFR


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014     16:30 Oct 20, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00045   Fmt 4700       Sfmt 4700    E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM      21OCR1



Document Created: 2018-02-13 16:35:42
Document Modified: 2018-02-13 16:35:42
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionDirect final rule.
DatesThis rule is effective on December 20, 2016 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by November 21, 2016. If EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take effect.
ContactBrian Rehn, (215) 814-2176, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 72724 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Ozone; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Volatile Organic Compounds

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR