81 FR 78591 - Adequacy Status of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Attainment Demonstration 8-Hour Ozone Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for Transportation Conformity Purposes

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 216 (November 8, 2016)

Page Range		78591-78591
FR Document		2016-26957

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying the public that it has found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW) Attainment Demonstration (AD) State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), submitted on August 5, 2016 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. As a result of EPA's finding, the DFW area must use these budgets for future conformity determinations.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 78591]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26957]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9954-45-Region 6]


Adequacy Status of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Attainment 
Demonstration 8-Hour Ozone Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for 
Transportation Conformity Purposes

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of adequacy.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying the 
public that it has found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets 
(MVEBs) in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW) Attainment Demonstration 
(AD) State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the 2008 8-hour ozone 
National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), submitted on August 5, 
2016 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are 
adequate for transportation conformity purposes. As a result of EPA's 
finding, the DFW area must use these budgets for future conformity 
determinations.

DATES: These budgets are effective November 23, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The essential information in this 
notice will be available at EPA's conformity Website: https://www.epa.gov/state-and-local-transportation/adequacy-review-state-implementation-plan-sip-submissions-conformity. You may also contact 
Mr. Jeffrey Riley, State Implementation Section (6MM-AA), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, 
Texas 75202-2733, at (214) 665-8542 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' and 
``our'' refers to EPA. The word ``budget(s)'' refers to the mobile 
source emissions budget for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the 
mobile source emissions budget for nitrogen oxides (NOX).
    On August 5, 2016, we received a SIP revision from the TCEQ. This 
revision consisted of an AD SIP for the DFW 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS 
nonattainment area. This submission established MVEBs for the DFW 2008 
ozone nonattainment area for the year 2017. The MVEB is the amount of 
emissions allowed in the SIP for on-road motor vehicles; it establishes 
an emissions ceiling for the DFW area regional transportation network, 
used to develop the 2017 on-road motor vehicle emissions projections 
contained in the AD SIP. The MVEBs are provided in Table 1:

  Table 1--Dallas-Fort Worth Attainment Demonstration NOX and VOC MVEBS
                      [Summer season tons per day]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX.....................................................          130.77
VOC.....................................................           64.91
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On September 7, 2016, EPA posted the revised DFW area MVEBs on 
EPA's Web site for the purpose of soliciting public comments, as part 
of the adequacy process. The comment period closed on October 6, 2016, 
and we received no comments.
    Today's notice is simply an announcement of a finding that EPA has 
already made. EPA Region 6 sent a letter to TCEQ on October 17, 2016, 
finding that the MVEBs in the DFW AD SIP, submitted on August 5, 2016 
are adequate and must be used for transportation conformity 
determinations in the DFW area. This finding has also been announced on 
EPA's conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/state-and-local-transportation/adequacy-review-state-implementation-plan-sip-submissions-conformity.
    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the 
Clean Air Act. EPA's conformity rule, 40 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) part 93, requires that transportation plans, programs and 
projects conform to state air quality implementation plans and 
establishes the criteria and procedures for determining whether or not 
they do so. Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities 
will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing 
violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air 
quality standards.
    The criteria by which EPA determines whether a SIP's MVEB is 
adequate for transportation conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 
93.118(e)(4). We have also described the process for determining the 
adequacy of submitted SIP budgets in our July 1, 2004, final rulemaking 
entitled, ``Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments for the New 8-
hour Ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing Areas; Transportation 
Conformity Rule Amendments: Response to Court Decision and Additional 
Rule Changes'' See 69 FR 40004 (July 1, 2004). Please note that an 
adequacy review is separate from EPA's completeness review, and it 
should not be used to prejudge EPA's ultimate approval of the DFW 2008 
8-hour ozone NAAQS AD SIP revision submittal. Even if EPA finds the 
budgets adequate, the DFW AD SIP revision submittal could later be 
disapproved.
    Within 24 months from the effective date of this notice, the DFW-
area transportation partners, such as the North Central Texas Council 
of Governments, will need to demonstrate conformity to the new MVEBs if 
the demonstration has not already been made, pursuant to 40 CFR 
93.104(e). See 73 FR 4419 (January 24, 2008).

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

    Dated: November 2, 2016.
Ron Curry,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2016-26957 Filed 11-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2016 / Notices 78591

available on a first-come, first-served submissions-conformity. You may also programs and projects conform to state
basis. Members of the public wishing to contact Mr. Jeffrey Riley, State air quality implementation plans and
attend should contact Jacob B. Strickler Implementation Section (6MM–AA), establishes the criteria and procedures
via email at: assumablewaters@epa.gov U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for determining whether or not they do
or by phone at: (202) 564–4692 by Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, so. Conformity to a SIP means that
December 5th, 2016, so we can ensure Texas 75202–2733, at (214) 665–8542 or transportation activities will not
adequate phone lines are available. On Riley.Jeffrey@epa.gov. produce new air quality violations,
December 9th, 2016, public comments SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: worsen existing violations, or delay
will heard beginning at 3:00 p.m. until Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ timely attainment of the national
3:30 p.m. EDT or until all comments and ‘‘our’’ refers to EPA. The word ambient air quality standards.
have been heard. ‘‘budget(s)’’ refers to the mobile source The criteria by which EPA determines
Meeting Access: The agency will emissions budget for volatile organic whether a SIP’s MVEB is adequate for
strive to reasonably accommodate compounds (VOCs) and the mobile transportation conformity purposes are
individuals with disabilities. source emissions budget for nitrogen outlined in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). We
Information regarding accessibility and/ oxides (NOX). have also described the process for
or accommodations for individuals with On August 5, 2016, we received a SIP determining the adequacy of submitted
disabilities should be directed to Jacob revision from the TCEQ. This revision SIP budgets in our July 1, 2004, final
B. Strickler at the email address or consisted of an AD SIP for the DFW rulemaking entitled, ‘‘Transportation
phone number listed above. To ensure 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS Conformity Rule Amendments for the
adequate time for processing, please nonattainment area. This submission New 8-hour Ozone and PM2.5 National
make requests for accommodations at established MVEBs for the DFW 2008 Ambient Air Quality Standards and
least 8 days prior to the meeting. ozone nonattainment area for the year Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing
Dated: November 1, 2016. 2017. The MVEB is the amount of Areas; Transportation Conformity Rule
emissions allowed in the SIP for on-road Amendments: Response to Court
Benita Best-Wong,
motor vehicles; it establishes an Decision and Additional Rule Changes’’
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and emissions ceiling for the DFW area See 69 FR 40004 (July 1, 2004). Please
Watersheds.
regional transportation network, used to note that an adequacy review is separate
[FR Doc. 2016–26967 Filed 11–7–16; 8:45 am]
develop the 2017 on-road motor vehicle from EPA’s completeness review, and it
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P emissions projections contained in the should not be used to prejudge EPA’s
AD SIP. The MVEBs are provided in ultimate approval of the DFW 2008 8-
Table 1: hour ozone NAAQS AD SIP revision
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
submittal. Even if EPA finds the budgets
AGENCY TABLE 1—DALLAS-FORT WORTH AT- adequate, the DFW AD SIP revision
[FRL–9954–45–Region 6] TAINMENT DEMONSTRATION NOX submittal could later be disapproved.
AND VOC MVEBS Within 24 months from the effective
Adequacy Status of the Dallas-Fort date of this notice, the DFW-area
[Summer season tons per day]
Worth, Texas Attainment transportation partners, such as the
Demonstration 8-Hour Ozone Motor 2017 North Central Texas Council of
Vehicle Emission Budgets for Governments, will need to demonstrate
Transportation Conformity Purposes NOX ...................................... 130.77 conformity to the new MVEBs if the
VOC ...................................... 64.91 demonstration has not already been
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). made, pursuant to 40 CFR 93.104(e). See
On September 7, 2016, EPA posted 73 FR 4419 (January 24, 2008).
ACTION: Notice of adequacy. the revised DFW area MVEBs on EPA’s
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Web site for the purpose of soliciting
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Dated: November 2, 2016.
public comments, as part of the
Agency (EPA) is notifying the public
adequacy process. The comment period Ron Curry,
that it has found that the motor vehicle
closed on October 6, 2016, and we Regional Administrator, Region 6.
emissions budgets (MVEBs) in the
received no comments. [FR Doc. 2016–26957 Filed 11–7–16; 8:45 am]
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW) Today’s notice is simply an
Attainment Demonstration (AD) State BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
announcement of a finding that EPA has
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for already made. EPA Region 6 sent a letter
the 2008 8-hour ozone National to TCEQ on October 17, 2016, finding
Ambient Air Quality Standard FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
that the MVEBs in the DFW AD SIP, COMMISSION
(NAAQS), submitted on August 5, 2016 submitted on August 5, 2016 are
by the Texas Commission on adequate and must be used for [OMB 3060–0214]
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are transportation conformity
adequate for transportation conformity determinations in the DFW area. This Information Collection Being Reviewed
purposes. As a result of EPA’s finding, finding has also been announced on by the Federal Communications
the DFW area must use these budgets for EPA’s conformity Web site: https:// Commission
future conformity determinations. www.epa.gov/state-and-local- AGENCY: Federal Communications
DATES: These budgets are effective transportation/adequacy-review-state-
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

Commission.
November 23, 2016. implementation-plan-sip-submissions- ACTION: Notice and request for
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The conformity. comments.
essential information in this notice will Transportation conformity is required
be available at EPA’s conformity by section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act. SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort
Website: https://www.epa.gov/state- EPA’s conformity rule, 40 Code of to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
and-local-transportation/adequacy- Federal Regulations (CFR) part 93, required by the Paperwork Reduction
review-state-implementation-plan-sip- requires that transportation plans, Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–

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Document Created: 2018-02-14 08:23:45
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 08:23:45

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of adequacy.
Dates		These budgets are effective November 23, 2016.
Contact		The essential information in this notice will be available at EPA's conformity Website: https:// www.epa.gov/state-and-local-transportation/adequacy-review-state- implementation-plan-sip-submissions-conformity. You may also contact Mr. Jeffrey Riley, State Implementation Section (6MM-AA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, at (214) 665-8542 or [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 78591