81_FR_8488 81 FR 8455 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Puerto Rico; Infrastructure Requirements for the 1997 and 2008 Ozone, 1997 and 2006 Fine Particulate Matter and 2008 Lead NAAQS

81 FR 8455 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Puerto Rico; Infrastructure Requirements for the 1997 and 2008 Ozone, 1997 and 2006 Fine Particulate Matter and 2008 Lead NAAQS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 33 (February 19, 2016)

Page Range8455-8460
FR Document2016-03395

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve most elements of the five State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submittals from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to demonstrate that the State meets the requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) and 2008 lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The plan is required to address basic program elements, including, but not limited to, regulatory structure, monitoring, modeling, legal authority, and adequate resources necessary to assure attainment and maintenance of the standards. These elements are referred to as infrastructure requirements. In this rulemaking action, EPA is proposing to approve, in accordance with the requirements of the CAA, the infrastructure SIP submissions with the exception of some portions of the submittals addressing Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 33 (Friday, February 19, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8455-8460]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03395]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R02-OAR-2016-0060, FRL-9942-52-Region 2]


Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Puerto Rico; 
Infrastructure Requirements for the 1997 and 2008 Ozone, 1997 and 2006 
Fine Particulate Matter and 2008 Lead NAAQS

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve most elements of the five State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
revision submittals from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to demonstrate 
that the State meets the requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) of 
the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006 fine 
particulate matter (PM2.5) and 2008 lead National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The plan is required to address basic 
program elements, including, but not limited to, regulatory structure, 
monitoring, modeling, legal authority, and adequate resources necessary 
to assure attainment and maintenance of the standards. These elements 
are referred to as infrastructure requirements. In this rulemaking 
action, EPA is proposing to approve, in accordance with the 
requirements of the CAA, the infrastructure SIP submissions with the 
exception of some portions of the submittals addressing Prevention of 
Significant Deterioration (PSD).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R02-OAR-2016-0060 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any 
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, 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: Raymond K. Forde, Air Programs Branch, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, 
New York 10007-1866, (212) 637-3716, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section is arranged as follows:

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Summary of State Submittals
III. EPA's Approach To Review Infrastructure SIPs
IV. Summary of EPA's Rationale for Proposing Approval and 
Disapproval
V. Proposed Action
VI. Incorporation by Reference
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

    On July 18, 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
promulgated a revised national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or 
standards) for ozone (62 FR 38856) and a new NAAQS for fine particle 
matter (PM2.5) (62 FR 38652). The revised ozone NAAQS was 
based on 8-hour average concentrations. The 8-hour averaging period 
replaced the previous 1-hour averaging period, and the level of the 
NAAQS was changed from 0.12 parts per million (ppm) to 0.08 ppm. The 
new PM2.5 NAAQS established a health-based annual standard 
of 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter ([micro]g/m\3\) based on a 3-year 
average of annual mean PM2.5 concentrations, and a 24-hour 
standard of 65 [micro]g/m\3\ based on a 3-year average of the 98th 
percentile of 24-hour concentrations.
    On October 17, 2006 (71 FR 61144), effective December 18, 2006, EPA 
revised the 24-hour average PM2.5

[[Page 8456]]

primary and secondary NAAQS from 65 [micro]g/m\3\ to 35 [micro]g/m\3\. 
As required by section 110(a)(1) of the CAA, the 110(a)(2) submittals 
were due within three years after promulgation of the revised standard.
    On March 27, 2008 (73 FR 16436) EPA strengthened its NAAQS for 
ground-level ozone, revising the 8-hour primary ozone standard to 0.075 
ppm. EPA also strengthened the secondary 8-hour ozone standard to the 
level of 0.075 ppm making it identical to the revised primary standard.
    On November 12, 2008 (73 FR 66964), EPA promulgated a revised NAAQS 
for lead. The Agency revised the level of the primary lead standard 
from 1.5 [micro]g/m\3\ to 0.15 [micro]g/m\3\ . The EPA also revised the 
secondary NAAQS to 0.15 [micro]g/m\3\ and made it identical to the 
revised primary standard.
    Pursuant to section 110(a)(1) of the CAA, states are required to 
submit SIPs meeting the applicable requirements of section 110(a)(2) 
within three years after promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS or 
within such shorter period as EPA may prescribe. Section 110(a)(2) 
requires states to address basic SIP elements such as requirements for 
monitoring, basic program requirements, and legal authority that are 
designed to assure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. Section 
110(a) imposes the obligation upon states to make a SIP submission to 
EPA for a new or revised NAAQS, but the contents of that submission may 
vary depending upon the facts and circumstances. In particular, the 
data and analytical tools available at the time the state develops and 
submits the SIP for a new or revised NAAQS affects the content of the 
submission. The content of such SIP submission may also vary depending 
upon what provisions the state's existing SIP already contains.
    More specifically, section 110(a)(1) provides the procedural and 
timing requirements for SIPs. Section 110(a)(2) lists specific elements 
that states must meet for ``infrastructure'' SIP requirements related 
to a newly established or revised NAAQS. As mentioned earlier, these 
requirements include basic SIP elements such as requirements for 
monitoring, basic program requirements, and legal authority that are 
designed to assure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS.

II. Summary of State Submittals

    The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico through the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico Environmental Quality Board (PREQB) submitted five revisions to 
its SIP to satisfy the requirements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA for 
the five different NAAQS. On November 29, 2006, PREQB submitted SIP 
revisions addressing the infrastructure requirements for the 1997 ozone 
and PM2.5 NAAQS. On January 22, 2013 and April 16, 2015, 
PREQB submitted SIP revisions addressing the infrastructure 
requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 ozone NAAQS, and 
supplemented the November 2006 submittal for the 1997 ozone and 
PM2.5 NAAQS. On January 31, 2013, PREQB submitted SIP 
revisions addressing the infrastructure requirements for the 2008 lead 
NAAQS. On February 1, 2016, PREQB submitted additional provisions for 
inclusion into the SIP which address infrastructure SIP requirements 
for 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 lead 
NAAQS. Each of the infrastructure SIP revisions addressed the following 
infrastructure elements for the applicable NAAQS which EPA is proposing 
to approve pursuant to section 110(a)(2) of the CAA. Specifically 
sections 110(a)(2)(A), (B), portions of (C), portions of (D), (E), (F), 
(G), (H), portions of (J), (K), (L), and (M) for the 1997 and 2008 
ozone, 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 lead NAAQS.

III. EPA's Approach To Review Infrastructure SIPs

    EPA is acting upon Puerto Rico's SIP submissions that address the 
infrastructure requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA for 
the 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 lead 
NAAQS. The requirement for states to make a SIP submission of this type 
arises out of section 110(a)(1). Pursuant to section 110(a)(1), states 
must make SIP submissions ``within 3 years (or such shorter period as 
the Administrator may prescribe) after the promulgation of a national 
primary ambient air quality standard (or any revision thereof),'' and 
these SIP submissions are to provide for the ``implementation, 
maintenance, and enforcement'' of such NAAQS. The statute directly 
imposes on states the duty to make these SIP submissions, and the 
requirement to make the submissions is not conditioned upon EPA's 
taking any action other than promulgating a new or revised NAAQS. 
Section 302(d) of the CAA includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 
the definition of the term ``State.'' Section 110(a)(2) includes a list 
of specific elements that ``each such plan'' submission must address.
    EPA has historically referred to these SIP submissions made for the 
purpose of satisfying the requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) as 
``infrastructure SIP'' submissions. Although the term ``infrastructure 
SIP'' does not appear in the CAA, EPA uses the term to distinguish this 
particular type of SIP submission from submissions that are intended to 
satisfy other SIP requirements under the CAA, such as ``nonattainment 
SIP'' or ``attainment plan SIP'' submissions to address the 
nonattainment planning requirements of part D of Title I of the CAA, 
``regional haze SIP'' submissions required by EPA rule to address the 
visibility protection requirements of section 169A of the CAA, and 
nonattainment new source review permit program submissions to address 
the permit requirements of CAA, Title I, part D.
    Section 110(a)(1) addresses the timing and general requirements for 
infrastructure SIP submissions and section 110(a)(2) provides more 
details concerning the required contents of these submissions. The list 
of required elements provided in section 110(a)(2) contains a wide 
variety of disparate provisions, some of which pertain to required 
legal authority, some of which pertain to required substantive program 
provisions, and some of which pertain to requirements for both 
authority and substantive program provisions.\1\ EPA therefore believes 
that while the timing requirement in section 110(a)(1) is unambiguous, 
some of the other statutory provisions are ambiguous. In particular, 
EPA believes that the list of required elements for infrastructure SIP 
submissions provided in section 110(a)(2) contains ambiguities 
concerning what is required for inclusion in an infrastructure SIP 
submission.
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    \1\ For example: Section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) provides that states 
must provide assurances that they have adequate legal authority 
under state and local law to carry out the SIP; Section 110(a)(2)(C) 
provides that states must have a SIP-approved program to address 
certain sources as required by part C of Title I of the CAA; and 
section 110(a)(2)(G) provides that states must have legal authority 
to address emergencies as well as contingency plans that are 
triggered in the event of such emergencies.
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    The following examples of ambiguities illustrate the need for EPA 
to interpret some section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2) requirements 
with respect to infrastructure SIP submissions for a given new or 
revised NAAQS. One example of ambiguity is that section 110(a)(2) 
requires that ``each'' SIP submission must meet the list of 
requirements therein, while EPA has long noted that this literal 
reading of the statute is internally inconsistent and would create a 
conflict with the nonattainment provisions in part D of Title I of the 
CAA, which specifically address nonattainment SIP

[[Page 8457]]

requirements.\2\ Section 110(a)(2)(I) pertains to nonattainment SIP 
requirements and part D addresses when attainment plan SIP submissions 
to address nonattainment area requirements are due. For example, 
section 172(b) requires EPA to establish a schedule for submission of 
such plans for certain pollutants when the Administrator promulgates 
the designation of an area as nonattainment, and section 107(d)(1)(B) 
allows up to two years or in some cases three years, for such 
designations to be promulgated.\3\ This ambiguity illustrates that 
rather than apply all the stated requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a 
strict literal sense, EPA must determine which provisions of section 
110(a)(2) are applicable for a particular infrastructure SIP 
submission.
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    \2\ See, e.g., ``Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine 
Particulate Matter and Ozone (Clean Air Interstate Rule); Revisions 
to Acid Rain Program; Revisions to the NOX SIP Call; 
Final Rule,'' 70 FR 25162, at 25163-65 (May 12, 2005) (explaining 
relationship between timing requirement of section 110(a)(2)(D) 
versus section 110(a)(2)(I)).
    \3\ EPA notes that this ambiguity within section 110(a)(2) is 
heightened by the fact that various subparts of part D set specific 
dates for submission of certain types of SIP submissions in 
designated nonattainment areas for various pollutants. Note, e.g., 
that section 182(a)(1) provides specific dates for submission of 
emissions inventories for the ozone NAAQS. Some of these specific 
dates are necessarily later than three years after promulgation of 
the new or revised NAAQS.
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    Another example of ambiguity within section 110(a)(1) and (2) with 
respect to infrastructure SIPs pertains to whether states must meet all 
of the infrastructure SIP requirements in a single SIP submission, and 
whether EPA must act upon such SIP submission in a single action. 
Although section 110(a)(1) directs states to submit ``a plan'' to meet 
these requirements, EPA interprets the CAA to allow states to make 
multiple SIP submissions separately addressing infrastructure SIP 
elements for the same NAAQS. If states elect to make such multiple SIP 
submissions to meet the infrastructure SIP requirements, EPA can elect 
to act on such submissions either individually or in a larger combined 
action.\4\ Similarly, EPA interprets the CAA to allow it to take action 
on the individual parts of one larger, comprehensive infrastructure SIP 
submission for a given NAAQS without concurrent action on the entire 
submission. For example, EPA has sometimes elected to act at different 
times on various elements and sub-elements of the same infrastructure 
SIP submission.\5\
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    \4\ See, e.g., ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation 
Plans; New Mexico; Revisions to the New Source Review (NSR) State 
Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of Significant Deterioration 
(PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) Permitting,'' 78 FR 
4339 (January 22, 2013) (EPA's final action approving the structural 
PSD elements of the New Mexico SIP submitted by the State separately 
to meet the requirements of EPA's 2008 PM2.5 NSR rule), 
and ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
New Mexico; Infrastructure and Interstate Transport Requirements for 
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS,'' 78 FR 4337 (January 22, 2013) 
(EPA's final action on the infrastructure SIP for the 2006 
PM2.5 NAAQS).
    \5\ On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee, through the 
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, made a SIP 
revision to EPA demonstrating that the State meets the requirements 
of sections 110(a)(1) and (2). EPA proposed action for 
infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) on January 23, 2012 (77 FR 
3213) and took final action on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 14976). On 
April 16, 2012 (77 FR 22533) and July 23, 2012 (77 FR 42997), EPA 
took separate proposed and final actions on all other section 
110(a)(2) infrastructure SIP elements of Tennessee's December 14, 
2007 submittal.
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    Ambiguities within section 110(a)(1) and (2) may also arise with 
respect to infrastructure SIP submission requirements for different 
NAAQS. Thus, EPA notes that not every element of section 110(a)(2) 
would be relevant, or as relevant, or relevant in the same way, for 
each new or revised NAAQS. The states' attendant infrastructure SIP 
submissions for each NAAQS therefore could be different. For example, 
the monitoring requirements that a state might need to meet in its 
infrastructure SIP submission for purposes of section 110(a)(2)(B) 
could be very different for different pollutants, because the content 
and scope of a state's infrastructure SIP submission to meet this 
element might be very different for an entirely new NAAQS than for a 
minor revision to an existing NAAQS.\6\
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    \6\ For example, implementation of the 1997 PM2.5 
NAAQS required the deployment of a system of new monitors to measure 
ambient levels of that new indicator species for the new NAAQS.
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    EPA notes that interpretation of section 110(a)(2) is also 
necessary when EPA reviews other types of SIP submissions required 
under the CAA. Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP submissions, EPA 
also has to identify and interpret the relevant elements of section 
110(a)(2) that logically apply to these other types of SIP submissions. 
For example, section 172(c)(7) requires attainment plan SIP submissions 
required by part D to meet the ``applicable requirements'' of section 
110(a)(2); thus, attainment plan SIP submissions must meet the 
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A) regarding enforceable emission 
limits and control measures and section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) regarding air 
agency resources and authority. By contrast, it is clear that 
attainment plan SIP submissions required by part D would not need to 
meet the portion of section 110(a)(2)(C) that pertains to the PSD 
program required in part C of Title I of the CAA, because PSD does not 
apply to a pollutant for which an area is designated nonattainment and 
thus subject to part D planning requirements. As this example 
illustrates, each type of SIP submission may implicate some elements of 
section 110(a)(2) but not others.
    Given the potential for ambiguity in some of the statutory language 
of section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), EPA believes that it is 
appropriate to interpret the ambiguous portions of section 110(a)(1) 
and section 110(a)(2) in the context of acting on a particular SIP 
submission. In other words, EPA assumes that Congress could not have 
intended that each and every SIP submission, regardless of the NAAQS in 
question or the history of SIP development for the relevant pollutant, 
would meet each of the requirements, or meet each of them in the same 
way. Therefore, EPA has adopted an approach under which it reviews 
infrastructure SIP submissions against the list of elements in section 
110(a)(2), but only to the extent each element applies for that 
particular NAAQS.
    Historically, EPA has elected to use guidance documents to make 
recommendations to states for infrastructure SIPs, in some cases 
conveying needed interpretations on newly arising issues and in some 
cases conveying interpretations that have already been developed and 
applied to individual SIP submissions for particular elements.\7\ EPA 
most recently issued guidance for infrastructure SIPs on September 13, 
2013 (2013 Guidance).\8\ EPA developed this document to provide states 
with up-to-date guidance for infrastructure SIPs for any new or revised 
NAAQS. Within this guidance, EPA describes the duty of states to make 
infrastructure SIP submissions to meet basic structural SIP 
requirements within three years of promulgation of a new or revised 
NAAQS. EPA also made recommendations about many specific subsections of 
section 110(a)(2) that are relevant in the context of infrastructure

[[Page 8458]]

SIP submissions.\9\ The guidance also discusses the substantively 
important issues that are germane to certain subsections of section 
110(a)(2). EPA interprets section 110(a)(1) and (2) such that 
infrastructure SIP submissions need to address certain issues and need 
not address others. Accordingly, EPA reviews each infrastructure SIP 
submission for compliance with the applicable statutory provisions of 
section 110(a)(2), as appropriate.
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    \7\ EPA notes, however, that nothing in the CAA requires EPA to 
provide guidance or to promulgate regulations for infrastructure SIP 
submissions. The CAA directly applies to states and requires the 
submission of infrastructure SIP submissions, regardless of whether 
or not EPA provides guidance or regulations pertaining to such 
submissions. EPA elects to issue such guidance in order to assist 
states, as appropriate.
    \8\ ``Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),'' 
Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13, 2013.
    \9\ EPA's September 13, 2013, guidance did not make 
recommendations with respect to infrastructure SIP submissions to 
address Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). EPA issued the guidance shortly 
after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the D.C. Circuit 
decision in EME Homer City, 696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir. 2012) which had 
interpreted the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In light 
of the uncertainty created by ongoing litigation, EPA elected not to 
provide additional guidance on the requirements of section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that time. As the guidance is neither binding 
nor required by statute, whether EPA elects to provide guidance on a 
particular section has no impact on a state's CAA obligations.
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    As an example, section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) is a required element of 
section 110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP submissions. Under this 
element, a state must meet the substantive requirements of section 128, 
which pertain to state boards that approve permits or enforcement 
orders and heads of executive agencies with similar powers. Thus, EPA 
reviews infrastructure SIP submissions to ensure that the state's SIP 
appropriately addresses the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) 
and section 128. The 2013 Guidance explains EPA's interpretation that 
there may be a variety of ways by which states can appropriately 
address these substantive statutory requirements, depending on the 
structure of an individual state's permitting or enforcement program 
(e.g., whether permits and enforcement orders are approved by a multi-
member board or by a head of an executive agency). However they are 
addressed by the state, the substantive requirements of Section 128 are 
necessarily included in EPA's evaluation of infrastructure SIP 
submissions because section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) explicitly requires that 
the state satisfy the provisions of section 128.
    As another example, EPA's review of infrastructure SIP submissions 
with respect to the PSD program requirements in section 110(a)(2)(C), 
(D)(i)(II), and (J) focuses upon the structural PSD program 
requirements contained in part C and EPA's PSD regulations. Structural 
PSD program requirements include provisions necessary for the PSD 
program to address all regulated sources and NSR pollutants, including 
Green House Gases (GHGs). By contrast, structural PSD program 
requirements do not include provisions that are not required under 
EPA's regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 but are merely available as an 
option for the state, such as the option to provide grandfathering of 
complete permit applications with respect to the PM2.5 
NAAQS. Accordingly, the latter optional provisions are types of 
provisions EPA considers irrelevant in the context of an infrastructure 
SIP action.
    For other section 110(a)(2) elements, however, EPA's review of a 
state's infrastructure SIP submission focuses on assuring that the 
state's SIP meets basic structural requirements. For example, section 
110(a)(2)(C) includes, inter alia, the requirement that states have a 
program to regulate minor new sources. Thus, EPA evaluates whether the 
state has an EPA-approved minor new source review program and whether 
the program addresses the pollutants relevant to that NAAQS. In the 
context of acting on an infrastructure SIP submission, however, EPA 
does not think it is necessary to conduct a review of each and every 
provision of a state's existing minor source program (i.e., already in 
the existing SIP) for compliance with the requirements of the CAA and 
EPA's regulations that pertain to such programs.
    With respect to certain other issues, EPA does not believe that an 
action on a state's infrastructure SIP submission is necessarily the 
appropriate type of action in which to address possible deficiencies in 
a state's existing SIP. These issues include: (i) Existing provisions 
related to excess emissions from sources during periods of startup, 
shutdown, or malfunction (SSM) that may be contrary to the CAA and 
EPA's policies addressing such excess emissions; (ii) existing 
provisions related to ``director's variance'' or ``director's 
discretion'' that may be contrary to the CAA because they purport to 
allow revisions to SIP-approved emissions limits while limiting public 
process or not requiring further approval by EPA; and (iii) existing 
provisions for PSD programs that may be inconsistent with current 
requirements of EPA's ``Final NSR Improvement Rule,'' 67 FR 80186 
(December 31, 2002), as amended by 72 FR 32526 (June 13, 2007) (NSR 
Reform). Thus, EPA believes it may approve an infrastructure SIP 
submission without scrutinizing the totality of the existing SIP for 
such potentially deficient provisions and may approve the submission 
even if it is aware of such existing provisions.\10\ It is important to 
note that EPA's approval of a state's infrastructure SIP submission 
should not be construed as explicit or implicit re-approval of any 
existing potentially deficient provisions that relate to the three 
specific issues just described.
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    \10\ By contrast, EPA notes that if a state were to include a 
new provision in an infrastructure SIP submission that contained a 
legal deficiency, such as a new exemption for excess emissions 
during SSM events, then EPA would need to evaluate that provision 
for compliance against the rubric of applicable CAA requirements in 
the context of the action on the infrastructure SIP.
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    EPA's approach to review of infrastructure SIP submissions is to 
identify the CAA requirements that are logically applicable to that 
submission. EPA believes that this approach to the review of a 
particular infrastructure SIP submission is appropriate, because it 
would not be reasonable to read the general requirements of section 
110(a)(1) and the list of elements in section 110(a)(2) as requiring 
review of each and every provision of a state's existing SIP against 
all requirements in the CAA and EPA regulations merely for purposes of 
assuring that the state in question has the basic structural elements 
for a functioning SIP for a new or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have 
grown by accretion over the decades as statutory and regulatory 
requirements under the CAA have evolved, they may include some outmoded 
provisions and historical artifacts. These provisions, while not fully 
up to date, nevertheless may not pose a significant problem for the 
purposes of ``implementation, maintenance, and enforcement'' of a new 
or revised NAAQS when EPA evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure SIP 
submission. EPA believes that a better approach is for states and EPA 
to focus attention on those elements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA 
most likely to warrant a specific SIP revision due to the promulgation 
of a new or revised NAAQS or other factors.
    For example, EPA's 2013 Guidance gives simpler recommendations with 
respect to carbon monoxide than other NAAQS pollutants to meet the 
visibility requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), because carbon 
monoxide does not affect visibility. As a result, an infrastructure SIP 
submission for any future new or revised NAAQS for carbon monoxide need 
only state this fact in order to address the visibility prong of 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
    Finally, EPA believes that its approach with respect to 
infrastructure SIP requirements is based on a reasonable reading of 
section 110(a)(1) and (2) because the CAA provides other

[[Page 8459]]

avenues and mechanisms to address specific substantive deficiencies in 
existing SIPs. These other statutory tools allow EPA to take 
appropriately tailored action, depending upon the nature and severity 
of the alleged SIP deficiency. Section 110(k)(5) authorizes EPA to 
issue a ``SIP call'' whenever the Agency determines that a state's SIP 
is substantially inadequate to attain or maintain the NAAQS, to 
mitigate interstate transport, or to otherwise comply with the CAA.\11\
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    \11\ For example, EPA issued a SIP call to Utah to address 
specific existing SIP deficiencies related to the treatment of 
excess emissions during SSM events. See ``Findings of Substantial 
Inadequacy of Implementation Plan; Call for Utah State 
Implementation Plan Revisions,'' 74 FR 21639 (April 18, 2011).
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    Section 110(k)(6) authorizes EPA to correct errors in past actions, 
such as past approvals of SIP submissions.\12\ Significantly, EPA's 
determination that an action on a state's infrastructure SIP submission 
is not the appropriate time and place to address all potential existing 
SIP deficiencies does not preclude EPA's subsequent reliance on 
provisions in section 110(a)(2) as part of the basis for action to 
correct those deficiencies at a later time. For example, although it 
may not be appropriate to require a state to eliminate all existing 
inappropriate director's discretion provisions in the course of acting 
on an infrastructure SIP submission, EPA believes that section 
110(a)(2)(A) may be among the statutory bases that EPA relies upon in 
the course of addressing such deficiency in a subsequent action.\13\
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    \12\ EPA has used this authority to correct errors in past 
actions on SIP submissions related to PSD programs. See ``Limitation 
of Approval of Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions 
Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in State Implementation 
Plans; Final Rule,'' 75 FR 82536 (December 30, 2010). EPA has 
previously used its authority under section 110(k)(6) of the CAA to 
remove numerous other SIP provisions that the Agency determined it 
had approved in error. See, e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62 
FR 34641 (June 27, 1997) (corrections to American Samoa, Arizona, 
California, Hawaii, and Nevada SIPs); 69 FR 67062, November 16, 2004 
(corrections to California SIP); and 74 FR 57051 (November 3, 2009) 
(corrections to Arizona and Nevada SIPs).
    \13\ See, e.g., EPA's disapproval of a SIP submission from 
Colorado on the grounds that it would have included a director's 
discretion provision inconsistent with CAA requirements, including 
section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR 42342 at 42344 (July 21, 
2010) (proposed disapproval of director's discretion provisions); 76 
FR 4540 (January 26, 2011) (final disapproval of such provisions).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Summary of EPA's Rationale for Proposing Approval and Disapproval

    In this rulemaking action, EPA is proposing approval of Puerto 
Rico's infrastructure SIP submittals for the 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 
and 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 lead NAAQS as addressing 
requirements in section 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C) (with the exception of 
program requirements for PSD), (D)(i) (with the exception of program 
requirements related to PSD), (D)(ii) (with the exception of program 
requirements related to PSD), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J) (with the 
exception of program requirements related to PSD), (K), (L), and (M) of 
the CAA.
    On February 1, 2016, PREQB submitted rules from the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico Statutes, ``Environmental Public Policy Act,'' Act No. 416 
(2004, as amended), Section 7.A, and Section 7.D and ``Puerto Rico 
Government Ethics Law,'' Act. No 1 (approved January 3, 2012), Section 
5, for incorporation into the SIP to address the requirements of 
Sections 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and 128 of the CAA. Among other things, these 
collective provisions prohibit members of the Commonwealth's 
Environmental Quality Board from having any ``conflicts of interests 
that might interfere with the discharge their offices,'' and require 
disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. EPA is proposing to 
approve these submissions, which are intended to apply to any person 
subject to CAA 128, for inclusion into the SIP as meeting CAA 
obligations under section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) for the 1997 ozone, 1997 
PM2.5, 2006 PM2.5, 2008 lead, and 2008 ozone 
NAAQS.
    EPA Region 2 is the permitting authority for Puerto Rico's PSD 
Major Source Program. The sources affected by PSD Program are subject 
to the Federal Implementation Plan PSD control requirements in 40 CFR 
Sections 52.21. Puerto Rico does not have its own state adopted PSD 
program, its infrastructure submission is not approvable with respect 
to this element. Therefore, EPA is disapproving the following 
infrastructure SIP elements as they relate to the PSD program for lack 
of a State adopted PSD rule to satisfy section 110(a)(2) for the 1997 
and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006 PM2.5, and 2008 lead NAAQS: 
sections 110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i) prong 3, (D)(ii) and (J). It should be 
noted that a FIP clock will not be started because a PSD FIP is 
currently in place, and sanctions will not be triggered.
    Section 110(a)(2)(J) requires SIPs to meet applicable requirements 
of part C of the CAA related to visibility. Puerto Rico's submittal 
does not address the visibility portion of J, including submission of 
any visibility measures under this sub-element. As indicated in EPA's 
September 2013 Infrastructure Guidance, although states are subject to 
visibility and regional haze program requirements under part C, the 
visibility and regional haze program requirements under part C do not 
change due to promulgation of, or revision to, a NAAQS. The SIP is not 
required to be revised with respect to visibility protection since 
there are no new visibility obligations. Accordingly, air agencies do 
not need to address the visibility sub-element of section 110(a)(2)(J) 
in infrastructure SIP submissions. Since Puerto Rico did not make a 
submission addressing the visibility portion of (J), action on this 
sub-element is not applicable.
    EPA is not acting on section 110(a)(2)(I), plan revisions for 
nonattainment areas. Specific SIP submissions for nonattainment areas, 
as required under CAA title I part D, are subject to a different 
submission schedule \14\ than those for section 110 infrastructure 
elements and are reviewed and acted upon under a separate process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ These elements are typically referred to as nonattainment 
SIP or attainment plan elements and are due by the dates prescribed 
under subparts 2 through 5 of part D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A detailed analysis of EPA's review and rationale for proposing to 
approve and disapprove elements of the infrastructure SIP submittals as 
addressing these CAA requirements may be found in the Technical Support 
Document (TSD) for this proposed rulemaking action which is available 
on line at www.regulations.gov, Docket ID Number EPA-R02-OAR-2016-0060.
    EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this 
document. These comments will be considered before taking final action.

V. Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing to approve Puerto Rico's infrastructure submittals 
dated November 29, 2006, January 22 and 31, 2013, April 16, 2005 and 
February 1, 2016, for the 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006 
PM2.5 and 2008 lead NAAQS, respectively, as meeting the 
requirements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA, including specifically 
section 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C) (with the exception of program 
requirements for PSD), (D)(i) (with the exception of program 
requirements related to PSD), (D)(ii) (with the exception of program 
requirements related to PSD), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J) (with the 
exception of program requirements related to PSD), (K), (L), and (M).
    EPA is proposing to incorporate the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's 
``Environmental Public Policy Act'', Act No. 416 (2004, as amended), 
Section 7.A, and Section 7.D and the ``Puerto Rico Government Ethics 
Law,'' Act. No. 1 (approved January 3, 2012), Section 5,

[[Page 8460]]

for inclusion into Puerto Rico's SIP to address the requirements of 
Sections 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and 128 of the CAA. EPA is further proposing 
to approve these submissions, which are intended to apply to any person 
subject to CAA 128, for inclusion into the SIP as meeting CAA 
obligations section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) for the 1997 ozone, 1997 
PM2.5, 2006 PM2.5, 2008 lead, and 2008 ozone 
NAAQS.
    EPA is disapproving the following infrastructure SIP requirements 
as they relate to the PSD program for lack of a State adopted PSD rule 
to satisfy section 110(a)(2) for the 1997 and 2008 ozone NAAQS, 1997 
and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, and 2008 lead NAAQS: sections 
110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i) prong 3, (D)(ii) and (J). It should be noted that 
a FIP clock will not be started because a PSD FIP is currently in 
place, and sanctions will not be triggered. Since Puerto Rico is not 
required to address the visibility portion of section 110(a)(2)(J) in 
the context of an infrastructure SIP, and therefore did not make a 
submission, action on this sub-element is not applicable.

VI. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA rule 
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance 
with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is proposing to incorporate by 
reference Puerto Rico's ``Environmental Public Policy Act,'' Act No. 
416 (2004, as amended), Section 7.A, and Section 7.D and ``Puerto Rico 
Government Ethics Law,'' Act. No. 1 (approved January 3, 2012), Section 
5. These provisions are intended to apply to any person subject to CAA 
Section 128. The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these 
documents generally available electronically through http://www.regulations (see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this preamble for more information).

VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    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 proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
     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).
    In addition, this proposed rulemaking action, pertaining to Puerto 
Rico's section 110(a)(2) infrastructure requirements for the 1997 and 
2008 ozone NAAQS, 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, and 2008 lead 
NAAQS does not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 
13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved 
to apply in Indian country located in the state, and EPA notes that it 
will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or 
preempt tribal law.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

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

    Dated: February 9, 2016.
Judith A. Enck,
Regional Administrator, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 2016-03395 Filed 2-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                            8455

                                                      distributable amount to supported                       regarding non-functionally integrated                 submit electronically any information
                                                      organizations that are attentive to O.                  Type III supporting organizations                     you consider to be Confidential
                                                         (6) Distributions that count toward                  effective before the date the Treasury                Business Information (CBI) or other
                                                      distribution requirement. * * *                         decision adopting these rules as final or             information whose disclosure is
                                                      Distributions by the supporting                         temporary regulations is published in                 restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                                      organization that count toward the                      the Federal Register.                                 submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                                      distribution requirement imposed in                                                                           accompanied by a written comment.
                                                                                                              John Dalrymple,
                                                      paragraph (i)(5)(ii) of this section are                                                                      The written comment is considered the
                                                      limited to the following—                               Deputy Commissioner for Services and
                                                                                                                                                                    official comment and should include
                                                                                                              Enforcement.
                                                      *       *      *       *     *                                                                                discussion of all points you wish to
                                                                                                              [FR Doc. 2016–02858 Filed 2–18–16; 8:45 am]
                                                         (iii) Any reasonable and necessary—                                                                        make. The EPA will generally not
                                                                                                              BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
                                                         (A) Administrative expenses paid to                                                                        consider comments or comment
                                                      accomplish the exempt purposes of the                                                                         contents located outside of the primary
                                                      supported organization, which do not                                                                          submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or
                                                      include expenses incurred in the                        ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                              other file sharing system). For
                                                      production of investment income or the                  AGENCY                                                additional submission methods, the full
                                                      conduct of fundraising activities, except                                                                     EPA public comment policy,
                                                                                                              40 CFR Part 52
                                                      as provided in paragraph (i)(6)(iii)(B) of                                                                    information about CBI or multimedia
                                                      this section; and                                       [EPA–R02–OAR–2016–0060, FRL–9942–52–                  submissions, and general guidance on
                                                         (B) Expenses incurred to solicit                     Region 2]                                             making effective comments, please visit
                                                      contributions that are received directly                                                                      http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                      by a supported organization, but only to                Approval of Air Quality Implementation                commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                      the extent the amount of such expenses                  Plans; Puerto Rico; Infrastructure
                                                                                                                                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                      does not exceed the amount of                           Requirements for the 1997 and 2008
                                                                                                                                                                    Raymond K. Forde, Air Programs
                                                      contributions actually received by the                  Ozone, 1997 and 2006 Fine Particulate
                                                                                                                                                                    Branch, Environmental Protection
                                                      supported organization as a result of the               Matter and 2008 Lead NAAQS
                                                                                                                                                                    Agency, 290 Broadway, 25th Floor, New
                                                      solicitation, as substantiated in writing               AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                     York, New York 10007–1866, (212) 637–
                                                      by the supported organization;                          Agency (EPA).                                         3716, or by email at forde.raymond@
                                                      *       *      *       *     *                          ACTION: Proposed rule.                                epa.gov.
                                                         (v) Any amount set aside for a specific                                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                      project that accomplishes the exempt                    SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                 The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
                                                      purposes of a supported organization,                   Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve                  section is arranged as follows:
                                                      with such set-aside counting toward the                 most elements of the five State
                                                      distribution requirement for the taxable                Implementation Plan (SIP) revision                    Table of Contents
                                                      year in which the amount is set aside                   submittals from the Commonwealth of                   I. Background
                                                      but not in the year in which it is                      Puerto Rico to demonstrate that the                   II. Summary of State Submittals
                                                      actually paid, if at the time of the set-               State meets the requirements of section               III. EPA’s Approach To Review Infrastructure
                                                      aside, the supporting organization—                     110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act                      SIPs
                                                                                                              (CAA) for the 1997 and 2008 ozone,                    IV. Summary of EPA’s Rationale for
                                                      *       *      *       *     *                                                                                      Proposing Approval and Disapproval
                                                         (l) Effective/applicability dates. (1)               1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter
                                                                                                              (PM2.5) and 2008 lead National Ambient                V. Proposed Action
                                                      Paragraphs (a)(6), (f)(5), and (i) of this                                                                    VI. Incorporation by Reference
                                                      section are effective on December 28,                   Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The
                                                                                                                                                                    VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                                                      2012, except—                                           plan is required to address basic
                                                         (i) Paragraphs (i)(4)(ii)(C), (i)(5)(ii)(C)          program elements, including, but not                  I. Background
                                                      and (D), (i)(6)(iv), (i)(7)(ii), and (i)(8) of          limited to, regulatory structure,                        On July 18, 1997, the Environmental
                                                      this section are applicable on December                 monitoring, modeling, legal authority,                Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a
                                                      21, 2015; and                                           and adequate resources necessary to                   revised national ambient air quality
                                                         (ii) Paragraphs (f)(5)(ii), (i)(2)(i) and            assure attainment and maintenance of                  standard (NAAQS or standards) for
                                                      (iii), (i)(3)(i), (i)(4)(ii)(A)(1), (i)(4)(ii)(B),      the standards. These elements are                     ozone (62 FR 38856) and a new NAAQS
                                                      (i)(4)(iii) and (iv), (i)(5)(ii)(A) and (B),            referred to as infrastructure                         for fine particle matter (PM2.5) (62 FR
                                                      (i)(5)(iii)(A), (i)(6)(i), (iii) and (v) of this        requirements. In this rulemaking action,              38652). The revised ozone NAAQS was
                                                      section, Example 3 of paragraph                         EPA is proposing to approve, in                       based on 8-hour average concentrations.
                                                      (i)(3)(iv) of this section, and Example 4               accordance with the requirements of the               The 8-hour averaging period replaced
                                                      of paragraph (i)(5)(iii)(D) of this section             CAA, the infrastructure SIP submissions               the previous 1-hour averaging period,
                                                      are effective on the date the Treasury                  with the exception of some portions of                and the level of the NAAQS was
                                                      decision adopting these rules as final or               the submittals addressing Prevention of               changed from 0.12 parts per million
                                                      temporary regulations is published in                   Significant Deterioration (PSD).                      (ppm) to 0.08 ppm. The new PM2.5
                                                      the Federal Register.                                   DATES: Written comments must be                       NAAQS established a health-based
                                                         (2) See paragraphs (i)(5)(ii)(B) and (C)             received on or before March 21, 2016.                 annual standard of 15.0 micrograms per
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                                                      and (i)(8) of § 1.509(a)–4T contained in                ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                      cubic meter (mg/m3) based on a 3-year
                                                      26 CFR part 1, revised as of April 1,                   identified by Docket ID Number EPA–                   average of annual mean PM2.5
                                                      2015, for certain rules regarding non-                  R02–OAR–2016–0060 at http://                          concentrations, and a 24-hour standard
                                                      functionally integrated Type III                        www.regulations.gov. Follow the online                of 65 mg/m3 based on a 3-year average
                                                      supporting organizations effective                      instructions for submitting comments.                 of the 98th percentile of 24-hour
                                                      before December 21, 2015. See                           Once submitted, comments cannot be                    concentrations.
                                                      paragraphs (i)(5)(ii)(A) and (B) and                    edited or removed from Regulations.gov.                  On October 17, 2006 (71 FR 61144),
                                                      (i)(5)(iii)(D) of § 1.509(a)–4 (as effective            The EPA may publish any comment                       effective December 18, 2006, EPA
                                                      December 21, 2015), for certain rules                   received to its public docket. Do not                 revised the 24-hour average PM2.5


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                                                      8456                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      primary and secondary NAAQS from 65                     section 110(a)(2) of the CAA for the five             ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ does not appear in
                                                      mg/m3 to 35 mg/m3. As required by                       different NAAQS. On November 29,                      the CAA, EPA uses the term to
                                                      section 110(a)(1) of the CAA, the                       2006, PREQB submitted SIP revisions                   distinguish this particular type of SIP
                                                      110(a)(2) submittals were due within                    addressing the infrastructure                         submission from submissions that are
                                                      three years after promulgation of the                   requirements for the 1997 ozone and                   intended to satisfy other SIP
                                                      revised standard.                                       PM2.5 NAAQS. On January 22, 2013 and                  requirements under the CAA, such as
                                                         On March 27, 2008 (73 FR 16436)                      April 16, 2015, PREQB submitted SIP                   ‘‘nonattainment SIP’’ or ‘‘attainment
                                                      EPA strengthened its NAAQS for                          revisions addressing the infrastructure               plan SIP’’ submissions to address the
                                                      ground-level ozone, revising the 8-hour                 requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 and                   nonattainment planning requirements of
                                                      primary ozone standard to 0.075 ppm.                    2008 ozone NAAQS, and supplemented                    part D of Title I of the CAA, ‘‘regional
                                                      EPA also strengthened the secondary 8-                  the November 2006 submittal for the                   haze SIP’’ submissions required by EPA
                                                      hour ozone standard to the level of                     1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS. On                        rule to address the visibility protection
                                                      0.075 ppm making it identical to the                    January 31, 2013, PREQB submitted SIP                 requirements of section 169A of the
                                                      revised primary standard.                               revisions addressing the infrastructure               CAA, and nonattainment new source
                                                         On November 12, 2008 (73 FR 66964),                  requirements for the 2008 lead NAAQS.                 review permit program submissions to
                                                      EPA promulgated a revised NAAQS for                     On February 1, 2016, PREQB submitted                  address the permit requirements of
                                                      lead. The Agency revised the level of                   additional provisions for inclusion into              CAA, Title I, part D.
                                                      the primary lead standard from 1.5 mg/                  the SIP which address infrastructure SIP
                                                      m3 to 0.15 mg/m3 . The EPA also revised                 requirements for 1997 and 2008 ozone,                    Section 110(a)(1) addresses the timing
                                                      the secondary NAAQS to 0.15 mg/m3                       1997 and 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 lead                     and general requirements for
                                                      and made it identical to the revised                    NAAQS. Each of the infrastructure SIP                 infrastructure SIP submissions and
                                                      primary standard.                                       revisions addressed the following                     section 110(a)(2) provides more details
                                                         Pursuant to section 110(a)(1) of the                 infrastructure elements for the                       concerning the required contents of
                                                      CAA, states are required to submit SIPs                 applicable NAAQS which EPA is                         these submissions. The list of required
                                                      meeting the applicable requirements of                  proposing to approve pursuant to                      elements provided in section 110(a)(2)
                                                      section 110(a)(2) within three years after              section 110(a)(2) of the CAA.                         contains a wide variety of disparate
                                                      promulgation of a new or revised                        Specifically sections 110(a)(2)(A), (B),              provisions, some of which pertain to
                                                      NAAQS or within such shorter period                     portions of (C), portions of (D), (E), (F),           required legal authority, some of which
                                                      as EPA may prescribe. Section 110(a)(2)                 (G), (H), portions of (J), (K), (L), and (M)          pertain to required substantive program
                                                      requires states to address basic SIP                    for the 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and                 provisions, and some of which pertain
                                                      elements such as requirements for                       2006 PM2.5 and 2008 lead NAAQS.                       to requirements for both authority and
                                                      monitoring, basic program                                                                                     substantive program provisions.1 EPA
                                                      requirements, and legal authority that                  III. EPA’s Approach To Review                         therefore believes that while the timing
                                                      are designed to assure attainment and                   Infrastructure SIPs                                   requirement in section 110(a)(1) is
                                                      maintenance of the NAAQS. Section                          EPA is acting upon Puerto Rico’s SIP               unambiguous, some of the other
                                                      110(a) imposes the obligation upon                      submissions that address the                          statutory provisions are ambiguous. In
                                                      states to make a SIP submission to EPA                  infrastructure requirements of section                particular, EPA believes that the list of
                                                      for a new or revised NAAQS, but the                     110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA for the                  required elements for infrastructure SIP
                                                      contents of that submission may vary                    1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006                    submissions provided in section
                                                      depending upon the facts and                            PM2.5 and 2008 lead NAAQS. The                        110(a)(2) contains ambiguities
                                                      circumstances. In particular, the data                  requirement for states to make a SIP                  concerning what is required for
                                                      and analytical tools available at the time              submission of this type arises out of                 inclusion in an infrastructure SIP
                                                      the state develops and submits the SIP                  section 110(a)(1). Pursuant to section                submission.
                                                      for a new or revised NAAQS affects the                  110(a)(1), states must make SIP
                                                                                                                                                                       The following examples of
                                                      content of the submission. The content                  submissions ‘‘within 3 years (or such
                                                                                                                                                                    ambiguities illustrate the need for EPA
                                                      of such SIP submission may also vary                    shorter period as the Administrator may
                                                                                                                                                                    to interpret some section 110(a)(1) and
                                                      depending upon what provisions the                      prescribe) after the promulgation of a
                                                                                                                                                                    section 110(a)(2) requirements with
                                                      state’s existing SIP already contains.                  national primary ambient air quality
                                                                                                                                                                    respect to infrastructure SIP
                                                         More specifically, section 110(a)(1)                 standard (or any revision thereof),’’ and
                                                                                                              these SIP submissions are to provide for              submissions for a given new or revised
                                                      provides the procedural and timing
                                                                                                              the ‘‘implementation, maintenance, and                NAAQS. One example of ambiguity is
                                                      requirements for SIPs. Section 110(a)(2)
                                                                                                              enforcement’’ of such NAAQS. The                      that section 110(a)(2) requires that
                                                      lists specific elements that states must
                                                                                                              statute directly imposes on states the                ‘‘each’’ SIP submission must meet the
                                                      meet for ‘‘infrastructure’’ SIP
                                                                                                              duty to make these SIP submissions,                   list of requirements therein, while EPA
                                                      requirements related to a newly
                                                                                                              and the requirement to make the                       has long noted that this literal reading
                                                      established or revised NAAQS. As
                                                                                                              submissions is not conditioned upon                   of the statute is internally inconsistent
                                                      mentioned earlier, these requirements
                                                                                                              EPA’s taking any action other than                    and would create a conflict with the
                                                      include basic SIP elements such as
                                                                                                              promulgating a new or revised NAAQS.                  nonattainment provisions in part D of
                                                      requirements for monitoring, basic
                                                                                                              Section 302(d) of the CAA includes the                Title I of the CAA, which specifically
                                                      program requirements, and legal
                                                                                                              Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the                    address nonattainment SIP
                                                      authority that are designed to assure
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                                                      attainment and maintenance of the                       definition of the term ‘‘State.’’ Section
                                                                                                                                                                       1 For example: Section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) provides
                                                      NAAQS.                                                  110(a)(2) includes a list of specific
                                                                                                                                                                    that states must provide assurances that they have
                                                                                                              elements that ‘‘each such plan’’                      adequate legal authority under state and local law
                                                      II. Summary of State Submittals                         submission must address.                              to carry out the SIP; Section 110(a)(2)(C) provides
                                                         The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico                         EPA has historically referred to these             that states must have a SIP-approved program to
                                                      through the Commonwealth of Puerto                      SIP submissions made for the purpose                  address certain sources as required by part C of
                                                                                                                                                                    Title I of the CAA; and section 110(a)(2)(G) provides
                                                      Rico Environmental Quality Board                        of satisfying the requirements of section             that states must have legal authority to address
                                                      (PREQB) submitted five revisions to its                 110(a)(1) and (2) as ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’           emergencies as well as contingency plans that are
                                                      SIP to satisfy the requirements of                      submissions. Although the term                        triggered in the event of such emergencies.



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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                     8457

                                                      requirements.2 Section 110(a)(2)(I)                     action on the individual parts of one                    program required in part C of Title I of
                                                      pertains to nonattainment SIP                           larger, comprehensive infrastructure SIP                 the CAA, because PSD does not apply
                                                      requirements and part D addresses                       submission for a given NAAQS without                     to a pollutant for which an area is
                                                      when attainment plan SIP submissions                    concurrent action on the entire                          designated nonattainment and thus
                                                      to address nonattainment area                           submission. For example, EPA has                         subject to part D planning requirements.
                                                      requirements are due. For example,                      sometimes elected to act at different                    As this example illustrates, each type of
                                                      section 172(b) requires EPA to establish                times on various elements and sub-                       SIP submission may implicate some
                                                      a schedule for submission of such plans                 elements of the same infrastructure SIP                  elements of section 110(a)(2) but not
                                                      for certain pollutants when the                         submission.5                                             others.
                                                      Administrator promulgates the                              Ambiguities within section 110(a)(1)
                                                                                                                                                                          Given the potential for ambiguity in
                                                      designation of an area as nonattainment,                and (2) may also arise with respect to
                                                                                                                                                                       some of the statutory language of section
                                                      and section 107(d)(1)(B) allows up to                   infrastructure SIP submission
                                                                                                                                                                       110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), EPA
                                                      two years or in some cases three years,                 requirements for different NAAQS.
                                                                                                                                                                       believes that it is appropriate to
                                                      for such designations to be                             Thus, EPA notes that not every element
                                                                                                                                                                       interpret the ambiguous portions of
                                                      promulgated.3 This ambiguity illustrates                of section 110(a)(2) would be relevant,
                                                                                                                                                                       section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2)
                                                      that rather than apply all the stated                   or as relevant, or relevant in the same
                                                                                                                                                                       in the context of acting on a particular
                                                      requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a                  way, for each new or revised NAAQS.
                                                                                                                                                                       SIP submission. In other words, EPA
                                                      strict literal sense, EPA must determine                The states’ attendant infrastructure SIP
                                                                                                                                                                       assumes that Congress could not have
                                                      which provisions of section 110(a)(2)                   submissions for each NAAQS therefore
                                                                                                              could be different. For example, the                     intended that each and every SIP
                                                      are applicable for a particular
                                                                                                              monitoring requirements that a state                     submission, regardless of the NAAQS in
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission.
                                                         Another example of ambiguity within                  might need to meet in its infrastructure                 question or the history of SIP
                                                      section 110(a)(1) and (2) with respect to               SIP submission for purposes of section                   development for the relevant pollutant,
                                                      infrastructure SIPs pertains to whether                 110(a)(2)(B) could be very different for                 would meet each of the requirements, or
                                                      states must meet all of the infrastructure              different pollutants, because the content                meet each of them in the same way.
                                                      SIP requirements in a single SIP                        and scope of a state’s infrastructure SIP                Therefore, EPA has adopted an
                                                      submission, and whether EPA must act                    submission to meet this element might                    approach under which it reviews
                                                      upon such SIP submission in a single                    be very different for an entirely new                    infrastructure SIP submissions against
                                                      action. Although section 110(a)(1)                      NAAQS than for a minor revision to an                    the list of elements in section 110(a)(2),
                                                      directs states to submit ‘‘a plan’’ to meet             existing NAAQS.6                                         but only to the extent each element
                                                      these requirements, EPA interprets the                     EPA notes that interpretation of                      applies for that particular NAAQS.
                                                      CAA to allow states to make multiple                    section 110(a)(2) is also necessary when                    Historically, EPA has elected to use
                                                      SIP submissions separately addressing                   EPA reviews other types of SIP                           guidance documents to make
                                                      infrastructure SIP elements for the same                submissions required under the CAA.                      recommendations to states for
                                                      NAAQS. If states elect to make such                     Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP                    infrastructure SIPs, in some cases
                                                      multiple SIP submissions to meet the                    submissions, EPA also has to identify                    conveying needed interpretations on
                                                      infrastructure SIP requirements, EPA                    and interpret the relevant elements of                   newly arising issues and in some cases
                                                      can elect to act on such submissions                    section 110(a)(2) that logically apply to                conveying interpretations that have
                                                      either individually or in a larger                      these other types of SIP submissions.                    already been developed and applied to
                                                      combined action.4 Similarly, EPA                        For example, section 172(c)(7) requires                  individual SIP submissions for
                                                      interprets the CAA to allow it to take                  attainment plan SIP submissions                          particular elements.7 EPA most recently
                                                                                                              required by part D to meet the                           issued guidance for infrastructure SIPs
                                                        2 See, e.g., ‘‘Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport    ‘‘applicable requirements’’ of section                   on September 13, 2013 (2013
                                                      of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (Clean Air         110(a)(2); thus, attainment plan SIP                     Guidance).8 EPA developed this
                                                      Interstate Rule); Revisions to Acid Rain Program;
                                                      Revisions to the NOX SIP Call; Final Rule,’’ 70 FR
                                                                                                              submissions must meet the                                document to provide states with up-to-
                                                      25162, at 25163–65 (May 12, 2005) (explaining           requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A)                     date guidance for infrastructure SIPs for
                                                      relationship between timing requirement of section      regarding enforceable emission limits                    any new or revised NAAQS. Within this
                                                      110(a)(2)(D) versus section 110(a)(2)(I)).              and control measures and section
                                                        3 EPA notes that this ambiguity within section
                                                                                                                                                                       guidance, EPA describes the duty of
                                                                                                              110(a)(2)(E)(i) regarding air agency                     states to make infrastructure SIP
                                                      110(a)(2) is heightened by the fact that various
                                                      subparts of part D set specific dates for submission    resources and authority. By contrast, it                 submissions to meet basic structural SIP
                                                      of certain types of SIP submissions in designated       is clear that attainment plan SIP                        requirements within three years of
                                                      nonattainment areas for various pollutants. Note,       submissions required by part D would                     promulgation of a new or revised
                                                      e.g., that section 182(a)(1) provides specific dates    not need to meet the portion of section
                                                      for submission of emissions inventories for the                                                                  NAAQS. EPA also made
                                                      ozone NAAQS. Some of these specific dates are           110(a)(2)(C) that pertains to the PSD                    recommendations about many specific
                                                      necessarily later than three years after promulgation                                                            subsections of section 110(a)(2) that are
                                                      of the new or revised NAAQS.                              5 On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee,
                                                                                                                                                                       relevant in the context of infrastructure
                                                        4 See, e.g., ‘‘Approval and Promulgation of           through the Tennessee Department of Environment
                                                      Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Revisions to          and Conservation, made a SIP revision to EPA
                                                      the New Source Review (NSR) State                       demonstrating that the State meets the requirements        7 EPA notes, however, that nothing in the CAA

                                                      Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of                of sections 110(a)(1) and (2). EPA proposed action       requires EPA to provide guidance or to promulgate
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                                                      Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment       for infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) on           regulations for infrastructure SIP submissions. The
                                                      New Source Review (NNSR) Permitting,’’ 78 FR            January 23, 2012 (77 FR 3213) and took final action      CAA directly applies to states and requires the
                                                      4339 (January 22, 2013) (EPA’s final action             on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 14976). On April 16,            submission of infrastructure SIP submissions,
                                                      approving the structural PSD elements of the New        2012 (77 FR 22533) and July 23, 2012 (77 FR              regardless of whether or not EPA provides guidance
                                                      Mexico SIP submitted by the State separately to         42997), EPA took separate proposed and final             or regulations pertaining to such submissions. EPA
                                                      meet the requirements of EPA’s 2008 PM2.5 NSR           actions on all other section 110(a)(2) infrastructure    elects to issue such guidance in order to assist
                                                      rule), and ‘‘Approval and Promulgation of Air           SIP elements of Tennessee’s December 14, 2007            states, as appropriate.
                                                      Quality Implementation Plans; New Mexico;               submittal.                                                 8 ‘‘Guidance on Infrastructure State

                                                      Infrastructure and Interstate Transport                   6 For example, implementation of the 1997 PM
                                                                                                                                                                 2.5   Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean
                                                      Requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS,’’ 78 FR          NAAQS required the deployment of a system of             Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),’’
                                                      4337 (January 22, 2013) (EPA’s final action on the      new monitors to measure ambient levels of that new       Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13,
                                                      infrastructure SIP for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS).           indicator species for the new NAAQS.                     2013.



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                                                      8458                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      SIP submissions.9 The guidance also                       Gases (GHGs). By contrast, structural                existing provisions.10 It is important to
                                                      discusses the substantively important                     PSD program requirements do not                      note that EPA’s approval of a state’s
                                                      issues that are germane to certain                        include provisions that are not required             infrastructure SIP submission should
                                                      subsections of section 110(a)(2). EPA                     under EPA’s regulations at 40 CFR                    not be construed as explicit or implicit
                                                      interprets section 110(a)(1) and (2) such                 51.166 but are merely available as an                re-approval of any existing potentially
                                                      that infrastructure SIP submissions need                  option for the state, such as the option             deficient provisions that relate to the
                                                      to address certain issues and need not                    to provide grandfathering of complete                three specific issues just described.
                                                      address others. Accordingly, EPA                          permit applications with respect to the                 EPA’s approach to review of
                                                      reviews each infrastructure SIP                           PM2.5 NAAQS. Accordingly, the latter                 infrastructure SIP submissions is to
                                                      submission for compliance with the                        optional provisions are types of                     identify the CAA requirements that are
                                                      applicable statutory provisions of                        provisions EPA considers irrelevant in               logically applicable to that submission.
                                                      section 110(a)(2), as appropriate.                        the context of an infrastructure SIP                 EPA believes that this approach to the
                                                         As an example, section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)                action.                                              review of a particular infrastructure SIP
                                                      is a required element of section                             For other section 110(a)(2) elements,             submission is appropriate, because it
                                                      110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP                          however, EPA’s review of a state’s                   would not be reasonable to read the
                                                      submissions. Under this element, a state                  infrastructure SIP submission focuses                general requirements of section
                                                      must meet the substantive requirements                    on assuring that the state’s SIP meets               110(a)(1) and the list of elements in
                                                      of section 128, which pertain to state                    basic structural requirements. For                   section 110(a)(2) as requiring review of
                                                      boards that approve permits or                            example, section 110(a)(2)(C) includes,              each and every provision of a state’s
                                                      enforcement orders and heads of                           inter alia, the requirement that states              existing SIP against all requirements in
                                                      executive agencies with similar powers.                   have a program to regulate minor new                 the CAA and EPA regulations merely for
                                                      Thus, EPA reviews infrastructure SIP                      sources. Thus, EPA evaluates whether                 purposes of assuring that the state in
                                                      submissions to ensure that the state’s                    the state has an EPA-approved minor                  question has the basic structural
                                                      SIP appropriately addresses the                           new source review program and                        elements for a functioning SIP for a new
                                                      requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)                  whether the program addresses the                    or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have
                                                      and section 128. The 2013 Guidance                        pollutants relevant to that NAAQS. In                grown by accretion over the decades as
                                                      explains EPA’s interpretation that there                  the context of acting on an                          statutory and regulatory requirements
                                                      may be a variety of ways by which states                  infrastructure SIP submission, however,              under the CAA have evolved, they may
                                                      can appropriately address these                           EPA does not think it is necessary to                include some outmoded provisions and
                                                      substantive statutory requirements,                       conduct a review of each and every                   historical artifacts. These provisions,
                                                      depending on the structure of an                          provision of a state’s existing minor                while not fully up to date, nevertheless
                                                      individual state’s permitting or                          source program (i.e., already in the                 may not pose a significant problem for
                                                      enforcement program (e.g., whether                        existing SIP) for compliance with the                the purposes of ‘‘implementation,
                                                      permits and enforcement orders are                        requirements of the CAA and EPA’s                    maintenance, and enforcement’’ of a
                                                      approved by a multi-member board or                       regulations that pertain to such                     new or revised NAAQS when EPA
                                                      by a head of an executive agency).                        programs.                                            evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure
                                                      However they are addressed by the                            With respect to certain other issues,             SIP submission. EPA believes that a
                                                      state, the substantive requirements of                    EPA does not believe that an action on               better approach is for states and EPA to
                                                      Section 128 are necessarily included in                   a state’s infrastructure SIP submission is           focus attention on those elements of
                                                      EPA’s evaluation of infrastructure SIP                                                                         section 110(a)(2) of the CAA most likely
                                                                                                                necessarily the appropriate type of
                                                      submissions because section                                                                                    to warrant a specific SIP revision due to
                                                                                                                action in which to address possible
                                                      110(a)(2)(E)(ii) explicitly requires that                                                                      the promulgation of a new or revised
                                                                                                                deficiencies in a state’s existing SIP.
                                                      the state satisfy the provisions of section                                                                    NAAQS or other factors.
                                                                                                                These issues include: (i) Existing
                                                      128.                                                                                                              For example, EPA’s 2013 Guidance
                                                         As another example, EPA’s review of                    provisions related to excess emissions
                                                                                                                from sources during periods of startup,              gives simpler recommendations with
                                                      infrastructure SIP submissions with                                                                            respect to carbon monoxide than other
                                                      respect to the PSD program                                shutdown, or malfunction (SSM) that
                                                                                                                may be contrary to the CAA and EPA’s                 NAAQS pollutants to meet the visibility
                                                      requirements in section 110(a)(2)(C),                                                                          requirements of section
                                                      (D)(i)(II), and (J) focuses upon the                      policies addressing such excess
                                                                                                                emissions; (ii) existing provisions                  110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), because carbon
                                                      structural PSD program requirements                                                                            monoxide does not affect visibility. As
                                                      contained in part C and EPA’s PSD                         related to ‘‘director’s variance’’ or
                                                                                                                ‘‘director’s discretion’’ that may be                a result, an infrastructure SIP
                                                      regulations. Structural PSD program                                                                            submission for any future new or
                                                      requirements include provisions                           contrary to the CAA because they
                                                                                                                purport to allow revisions to SIP-                   revised NAAQS for carbon monoxide
                                                      necessary for the PSD program to                                                                               need only state this fact in order to
                                                      address all regulated sources and NSR                     approved emissions limits while
                                                                                                                limiting public process or not requiring             address the visibility prong of section
                                                      pollutants, including Green House                                                                              110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
                                                                                                                further approval by EPA; and (iii)
                                                         9 EPA’s September 13, 2013, guidance did not           existing provisions for PSD programs                    Finally, EPA believes that its
                                                      make recommendations with respect to                      that may be inconsistent with current                approach with respect to infrastructure
                                                      infrastructure SIP submissions to address Section         requirements of EPA’s ‘‘Final NSR                    SIP requirements is based on a
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                                                      110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). EPA issued the guidance shortly
                                                                                                                Improvement Rule,’’ 67 FR 80186                      reasonable reading of section 110(a)(1)
                                                      after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the                                                              and (2) because the CAA provides other
                                                      D.C. Circuit decision in EME Homer City, 696 F.3d         (December 31, 2002), as amended by 72
                                                      7 (D.C. Cir. 2012) which had interpreted the              FR 32526 (June 13, 2007) (NSR Reform).                 10 By contrast, EPA notes that if a state were to
                                                      requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In light of   Thus, EPA believes it may approve an
                                                      the uncertainty created by ongoing litigation, EPA                                                             include a new provision in an infrastructure SIP
                                                      elected not to provide additional guidance on the         infrastructure SIP submission without                submission that contained a legal deficiency, such
                                                      requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that        scrutinizing the totality of the existing            as a new exemption for excess emissions during
                                                      time. As the guidance is neither binding nor              SIP for such potentially deficient                   SSM events, then EPA would need to evaluate that
                                                      required by statute, whether EPA elects to provide                                                             provision for compliance against the rubric of
                                                      guidance on a particular section has no impact on
                                                                                                                provisions and may approve the                       applicable CAA requirements in the context of the
                                                      a state’s CAA obligations.                                submission even if it is aware of such               action on the infrastructure SIP.



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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                8459

                                                      avenues and mechanisms to address                        addressing requirements in section                   under part C do not change due to
                                                      specific substantive deficiencies in                     110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C) (with the exception           promulgation of, or revision to, a
                                                      existing SIPs. These other statutory tools               of program requirements for PSD), (D)(i)             NAAQS. The SIP is not required to be
                                                      allow EPA to take appropriately tailored                 (with the exception of program                       revised with respect to visibility
                                                      action, depending upon the nature and                    requirements related to PSD), (D)(ii)                protection since there are no new
                                                      severity of the alleged SIP deficiency.                  (with the exception of program                       visibility obligations. Accordingly, air
                                                      Section 110(k)(5) authorizes EPA to                      requirements related to PSD), (E), (F),              agencies do not need to address the
                                                      issue a ‘‘SIP call’’ whenever the Agency                 (G), (H), (J) (with the exception of                 visibility sub-element of section
                                                      determines that a state’s SIP is                         program requirements related to PSD),                110(a)(2)(J) in infrastructure SIP
                                                      substantially inadequate to attain or                    (K), (L), and (M) of the CAA.                        submissions. Since Puerto Rico did not
                                                      maintain the NAAQS, to mitigate                             On February 1, 2016, PREQB                        make a submission addressing the
                                                      interstate transport, or to otherwise                    submitted rules from the                             visibility portion of (J), action on this
                                                      comply with the CAA.11                                   Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Statutes,                sub-element is not applicable.
                                                         Section 110(k)(6) authorizes EPA to                   ‘‘Environmental Public Policy Act,’’ Act                EPA is not acting on section
                                                      correct errors in past actions, such as                  No. 416 (2004, as amended), Section                  110(a)(2)(I), plan revisions for
                                                      past approvals of SIP submissions.12                     7.A, and Section 7.D and ‘‘Puerto Rico               nonattainment areas. Specific SIP
                                                      Significantly, EPA’s determination that                  Government Ethics Law,’’ Act. No 1                   submissions for nonattainment areas, as
                                                      an action on a state’s infrastructure SIP                (approved January 3, 2012), Section 5,               required under CAA title I part D, are
                                                      submission is not the appropriate time                   for incorporation into the SIP to address            subject to a different submission
                                                      and place to address all potential                       the requirements of Sections                         schedule 14 than those for section 110
                                                      existing SIP deficiencies does not                       110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and 128 of the CAA.                 infrastructure elements and are
                                                      preclude EPA’s subsequent reliance on                    Among other things, these collective                 reviewed and acted upon under a
                                                      provisions in section 110(a)(2) as part of               provisions prohibit members of the                   separate process.
                                                      the basis for action to correct those                    Commonwealth’s Environmental                            A detailed analysis of EPA’s review
                                                      deficiencies at a later time. For example,               Quality Board from having any                        and rationale for proposing to approve
                                                      although it may not be appropriate to                    ‘‘conflicts of interests that might                  and disapprove elements of the
                                                      require a state to eliminate all existing                interfere with the discharge their                   infrastructure SIP submittals as
                                                      inappropriate director’s discretion                      offices,’’ and require disclosure of                 addressing these CAA requirements may
                                                      provisions in the course of acting on an                 potential conflicts of interest. EPA is              be found in the Technical Support
                                                      infrastructure SIP submission, EPA                       proposing to approve these submissions,              Document (TSD) for this proposed
                                                      believes that section 110(a)(2)(A) may be                which are intended to apply to any                   rulemaking action which is available on
                                                      among the statutory bases that EPA                       person subject to CAA 128, for inclusion             line at www.regulations.gov, Docket ID
                                                      relies upon in the course of addressing                  into the SIP as meeting CAA obligations              Number EPA–R02–OAR–2016–0060.
                                                      such deficiency in a subsequent                          under section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) for the                  EPA is soliciting public comments on
                                                      action.13                                                1997 ozone, 1997 PM2.5, 2006 PM2.5,                  the issues discussed in this document.
                                                                                                               2008 lead, and 2008 ozone NAAQS.                     These comments will be considered
                                                      IV. Summary of EPA’s Rationale for                          EPA Region 2 is the permitting
                                                      Proposing Approval and Disapproval                                                                            before taking final action.
                                                                                                               authority for Puerto Rico’s PSD Major
                                                        In this rulemaking action, EPA is                      Source Program. The sources affected by              V. Proposed Action
                                                      proposing approval of Puerto Rico’s                      PSD Program are subject to the Federal                  EPA is proposing to approve Puerto
                                                      infrastructure SIP submittals for the                    Implementation Plan PSD control                      Rico’s infrastructure submittals dated
                                                      1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997 and 2006                       requirements in 40 CFR Sections 52.21.
                                                      PM2.5 and 2008 lead NAAQS as                                                                                  November 29, 2006, January 22 and 31,
                                                                                                               Puerto Rico does not have its own state
                                                                                                                                                                    2013, April 16, 2005 and February 1,
                                                                                                               adopted PSD program, its infrastructure
                                                                                                                                                                    2016, for the 1997 and 2008 ozone, 1997
                                                         11 For example, EPA issued a SIP call to Utah to
                                                                                                               submission is not approvable with
                                                      address specific existing SIP deficiencies related to                                                         and 2006 PM2.5 and 2008 lead NAAQS,
                                                                                                               respect to this element. Therefore, EPA
                                                      the treatment of excess emissions during SSM                                                                  respectively, as meeting the
                                                      events. See ‘‘Findings of Substantial Inadequacy of      is disapproving the following
                                                                                                                                                                    requirements of section 110(a)(2) of the
                                                      Implementation Plan; Call for Utah State                 infrastructure SIP elements as they
                                                      Implementation Plan Revisions,’’ 74 FR 21639                                                                  CAA, including specifically section
                                                                                                               relate to the PSD program for lack of a
                                                      (April 18, 2011).                                                                                             110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C) (with the exception
                                                                                                               State adopted PSD rule to satisfy section
                                                         12 EPA has used this authority to correct errors in                                                        of program requirements for PSD), (D)(i)
                                                      past actions on SIP submissions related to PSD           110(a)(2) for the 1997 and 2008 ozone,
                                                                                                                                                                    (with the exception of program
                                                      programs. See ‘‘Limitation of Approval of                1997 and 2006 PM2.5, and 2008 lead
                                                      Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions       NAAQS: sections 110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i)                 requirements related to PSD), (D)(ii)
                                                      Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in            prong 3, (D)(ii) and (J). It should be               (with the exception of program
                                                      State Implementation Plans; Final Rule,’’ 75 FR
                                                                                                               noted that a FIP clock will not be started           requirements related to PSD), (E), (F),
                                                      82536 (December 30, 2010). EPA has previously                                                                 (G), (H), (J) (with the exception of
                                                      used its authority under section 110(k)(6) of the        because a PSD FIP is currently in place,
                                                      CAA to remove numerous other SIP provisions that         and sanctions will not be triggered.                 program requirements related to PSD),
                                                      the Agency determined it had approved in error.             Section 110(a)(2)(J) requires SIPs to             (K), (L), and (M).
                                                      See, e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62 FR
                                                                                                               meet applicable requirements of part C                  EPA is proposing to incorporate the
                                                      34641 (June 27, 1997) (corrections to American                                                                Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s
                                                                                                               of the CAA related to visibility. Puerto
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                                                      Samoa, Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada
                                                      SIPs); 69 FR 67062, November 16, 2004 (corrections       Rico’s submittal does not address the                ‘‘Environmental Public Policy Act’’, Act
                                                      to California SIP); and 74 FR 57051 (November 3,         visibility portion of J, including                   No. 416 (2004, as amended), Section
                                                      2009) (corrections to Arizona and Nevada SIPs).
                                                                                                               submission of any visibility measures                7.A, and Section 7.D and the ‘‘Puerto
                                                         13 See, e.g., EPA’s disapproval of a SIP submission
                                                                                                               under this sub-element. As indicated in              Rico Government Ethics Law,’’ Act. No.
                                                      from Colorado on the grounds that it would have
                                                      included a director’s discretion provision               EPA’s September 2013 Infrastructure                  1 (approved January 3, 2012), Section 5,
                                                      inconsistent with CAA requirements, including            Guidance, although states are subject to
                                                      section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR 42342 at 42344                                                           14 These elements are typically referred to as

                                                      (July 21, 2010) (proposed disapproval of director’s
                                                                                                               visibility and regional haze program                 nonattainment SIP or attainment plan elements and
                                                      discretion provisions); 76 FR 4540 (January 26,          requirements under part C, the visibility            are due by the dates prescribed under subparts 2
                                                      2011) (final disapproval of such provisions).            and regional haze program requirements               through 5 of part D.



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                                                      8460                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      for inclusion into Puerto Rico’s SIP to                    • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                  Dated: February 9, 2016.
                                                      address the requirements of Sections                    action’’ subject to review by the Office              Judith A. Enck,
                                                      110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and 128 of the CAA. EPA                of Management and Budget under                        Regional Administrator, Region 2.
                                                      is further proposing to approve these                   Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,                   [FR Doc. 2016–03395 Filed 2–18–16; 8:45 am]
                                                      submissions, which are intended to                      October 4, 1993);                                     BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                      apply to any person subject to CAA 128,                    • does not impose an information
                                                      for inclusion into the SIP as meeting                   collection burden under the provisions
                                                      CAA obligations section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)                of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                      for the 1997 ozone, 1997 PM2.5, 2006                    U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                 AGENCY
                                                      PM2.5, 2008 lead, and 2008 ozone                           • is certified as not having a
                                                      NAAQS.                                                  significant economic impact on a                      40 CFR part 52
                                                         EPA is disapproving the following                    substantial number of small entities                  [EPA–R05–OAR–2015–0529; FRL–9942–57–
                                                      infrastructure SIP requirements as they                 under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5               Region 5]
                                                      relate to the PSD program for lack of a                 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                                                      State adopted PSD rule to satisfy section                  • does not contain any unfunded                    Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin;
                                                      110(a)(2) for the 1997 and 2008 ozone                   mandate or significantly or uniquely                  Infrastructure SIP Requirements for
                                                      NAAQS, 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS,                       affect small governments, as described                the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
                                                      and 2008 lead NAAQS: sections                           in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                   AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                                      110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i) prong 3, (D)(ii) and               of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);                              Agency (EPA).
                                                      (J). It should be noted that a FIP clock                   • does not have Federalism                         ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                      will not be started because a PSD FIP is                implications as specified in Executive
                                                      currently in place, and sanctions will                  Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                  SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection
                                                      not be triggered. Since Puerto Rico is                  1999);                                                Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve
                                                      not required to address the visibility                     • is not an economically significant               some elements of a state
                                                      portion of section 110(a)(2)(J) in the                  regulatory action based on health or                  implementation plan (SIP) submission
                                                      context of an infrastructure SIP, and                   safety risks subject to Executive Order               from Wisconsin regarding the
                                                      therefore did not make a submission,                    13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                  infrastructure requirements of section
                                                      action on this sub-element is not                                                                             110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the
                                                                                                                 • is not a significant regulatory action
                                                      applicable.                                                                                                   2012 fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
                                                                                                              subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
                                                                                                                                                                    National Ambient Air Quality Standards
                                                      VI. Incorporation by Reference                          28355, May 22, 2001);
                                                                                                                                                                    (NAAQS). The infrastructure
                                                                                                                 • is not subject to requirements of                requirements are designed to ensure that
                                                        In this rule, EPA is proposing to
                                                                                                              Section 12(d) of the National                         the structural components of each
                                                      include in a final EPA rule regulatory
                                                                                                              Technology Transfer and Advancement                   state’s air quality management program
                                                      text that includes incorporation by
                                                                                                              Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because              are adequate to meet the state’s
                                                      reference. In accordance with
                                                                                                              application of those requirements would               responsibilities under the CAA.
                                                      requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is
                                                                                                              be inconsistent with the CAA; and                     DATES: Comments must be received on
                                                      proposing to incorporate by reference
                                                      Puerto Rico’s ‘‘Environmental Public                       • does not provide EPA with the                    or before March 21, 2016.
                                                      Policy Act,’’ Act No. 416 (2004, as                     discretionary authority to address, as
                                                                                                                                                                    ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                      amended), Section 7.A, and Section 7.D                  appropriate, disproportionate human                   identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R05–
                                                      and ‘‘Puerto Rico Government Ethics                     health or environmental effects, using                OAR–2015–0529 at http://
                                                      Law,’’ Act. No. 1 (approved January 3,                  practicable and legally permissible                   www.regulations.gov or via email to
                                                      2012), Section 5. These provisions are                  methods, under Executive Order 12898                  aburano.douglas@epa.gov. For
                                                      intended to apply to any person subject                 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                      comments submitted at Regulations.gov,
                                                      to CAA Section 128. The EPA has made,                      In addition, this proposed rulemaking              follow the online instructions for
                                                      and will continue to make, these                        action, pertaining to Puerto Rico’s                   submitting comments. Once submitted,
                                                      documents generally available                           section 110(a)(2) infrastructure                      comments cannot be edited or removed
                                                      electronically through http://                          requirements for the 1997 and 2008                    from Regulations.gov. For either manner
                                                      www.regulations (see the FOR FURTHER                    ozone NAAQS, 1997 and 2006 PM2.5                      of submission, EPA may publish any
                                                      INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                     NAAQS, and 2008 lead NAAQS does                       comment received to its public docket.
                                                      preamble for more information).                         not have tribal implications as specified             Do not submit electronically any
                                                                                                              by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,                information you consider to be
                                                      VII. Statutory and Executive Order                      November 9, 2000), because the SIP is                 Confidential Business Information (CBI)
                                                      Reviews                                                 not approved to apply in Indian country               or other information whose disclosure is
                                                        Under the CAA, the Administrator is                   located in the state, and EPA notes that              restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                                      required to approve a SIP submission                    it will not impose substantial direct                 submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                                      that complies with the provisions of the                costs on tribal governments or preempt                accompanied by a written comment.
                                                      CAA and applicable Federal regulations.                 tribal law.                                           The written comment is considered the
                                                      42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                     List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                    official comment and should include
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,                                                                           discussion of all points you wish to
                                                      EPA’s role is to approve state choices,                   Environmental protection, Air                       make. EPA will generally not consider
                                                      provided that they meet the criteria of                 pollution control, Incorporation by                   comments or comment contents located
                                                      the CAA. Accordingly, this action                       reference, Nitrogen dioxide,                          outside of the primary submission (i.e.
                                                      merely proposes to approve state law as                 Intergovernmental relations, Lead,                    on the Web, cloud, or other file sharing
                                                      meeting Federal requirements and does                   Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting                  system). For additional submission
                                                      not impose additional requirements                      and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur                methods, please contact the person
                                                      beyond those imposed by state law. For                  oxides, Volatile organic compounds.                   identified in the FOR FURTHER
                                                      that reason, this proposed action:                        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.                   INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the



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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:31:43
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:31:43
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesWritten comments must be received on or before March 21, 2016.
ContactRaymond K. Forde, Air Programs Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, New York 10007-1866, (212) 637-3716, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 8455 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Nitrogen Dioxide; Intergovernmental Relations; Lead; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Sulfur Oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds

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