81 FR 8711 - Adequacy Status of the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard Reasonable Further Progress Budgets for Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrogen Oxides for 2012 for Transportation Conformity Purposes

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 34 (February 22, 2016)

Page Range		8711-8711
FR Document		2016-03609

In this notice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying the public that EPA has found that the Baltimore 1997 8-hour ozone standard reasonable further progress budgets for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) for 2012 are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. As a result of EPA's finding, the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area must use these budgets for future conformity determinations.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 34 (Monday, February 22, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 34 (Monday, February 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 8711]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03609]



[[Page 8711]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9942-60-Region 3]


Adequacy Status of the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard 
Reasonable Further Progress Budgets for Volatile Organic Compounds and 
Nitrogen Oxides for 2012 for Transportation Conformity Purposes

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of adequacy.

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

SUMMARY: In this notice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
notifying the public that EPA has found that the Baltimore 1997 8-hour 
ozone standard reasonable further progress budgets for volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) for 2012 are 
adequate for transportation conformity purposes. As a result of EPA's 
finding, the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area must use 
these budgets for future conformity determinations.

DATES: This final rule is effective on March 8, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Becoat, Physical Scientist, 
Office of Air Program Planning (3AP30), United States Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19103, (215) 814-2036; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 22, 2013, EPA received a State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision from Maryland Department of the 
Environment (MDE). This revision consisted of 2012 reasonable further 
progress (RFP) motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for the Baltimore 
1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area. This submission established MVEBs 
for the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area for the year 
2012. The MVEBs are the amount of emissions allowed in the SIP for on-
road motor vehicles; it establishes an emissions ceiling for the 
regional transportation network. The MVEBs are provided in Table 1:

  Table 1--2012 RFP Mobile Budgets for the Baltimore NonAttainment Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Motor vehicle
                                         Motor vehicle      emissions
                 Year                      emissions       budgets for
                                        budgets for NOX    VOCs in tons
                                        in tons per day      per day
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012..................................            93.5             40.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On November 23, 2015, EPA posted the availability of the Baltimore 
1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area MVEBs on EPA's Web site for the 
purpose of soliciting public comments as part of the adequacy process. 
The comment period closed on November 23, 2015 and EPA received no 
comments.
    Today's notice is simply an announcement of a finding that EPA has 
already made. EPA Region III sent a letter to MDE on January 14, 2016, 
finding that the 2012 RFP MVEBs in the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone 
Nonattainment Area SIP, submitted on July 22, 2013 by MDE, are adequate 
and must be used for transportation conformity determinations in the 
Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area. The finding and 
associated letter is available at EPA's conformity Web site: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/adequacy.htm.
    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the 
Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA's conformity rule requires that transportation 
plans, transportation improvement programs, and projects conform to 
SIPs and establishes the criteria and procedures for determining 
whether or not they do. Conformity to a SIP means that transportation 
activities will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing 
violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air 
quality standards.
    The criteria by which EPA determines whether a SIP's MVEBs are 
adequate for conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). 
EPA described the process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP 
budgets in a July 1, 2004 preamble starting at 69 FR 40038 and used the 
information in these resources in making this adequacy determination. 
Please note that an adequacy review is separate from EPA's completeness 
review, and should not be used to prejudge EPA's ultimate approval 
action for the SIP. Even if EPA finds the budgets for the Baltimore 
1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area adequate, the SIP could later be 
disapproved. The finding and the response to comments are available at 
EPA's conformity Web site: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/adequacy.htm.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

    Dated: February 4, 2016.
 Shawn M. Garvin,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2016-03609 Filed 2-19-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 34 / Monday, February 22, 2016 / Notices 8711

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION On November 23, 2015, EPA posted ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY the availability of the Baltimore 1997 8- AGENCY
Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area
[9940–91–OEI]
[FRL–9942–60–Region 3] MVEBs on EPA’s Web site for the
purpose of soliciting public comments Cross-Media Electronic Reporting:
Adequacy Status of the Baltimore 1997 as part of the adequacy process. The Authorized Program Revision
8-Hour Ozone Standard Reasonable comment period closed on November Approval, State of Arizona
Further Progress Budgets for Volatile 23, 2015 and EPA received no
Organic Compounds and Nitrogen comments. AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Oxides for 2012 for Transportation Today’s notice is simply an Agency (EPA).
Conformity Purposes announcement of a finding that EPA has ACTION: Notice.
already made. EPA Region III sent a SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA’s
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
letter to MDE on January 14, 2016, approval of the State of Arizona’s
Agency (EPA).
finding that the 2012 RFP MVEBs in the request to revise/modify certain of its
ACTION: Notice of adequacy. Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone EPA-authorized programs to allow
Nonattainment Area SIP, submitted on electronic reporting.
SUMMARY: In this notice, the
July 22, 2013 by MDE, are adequate and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) DATES: EPA’s approval is effective
must be used for transportation
is notifying the public that EPA has February 22, 2016.
conformity determinations in the
found that the Baltimore 1997 8-hour FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone
ozone standard reasonable further Karen Seeh, U.S. Environmental
Nonattainment Area. The finding and
progress budgets for volatile organic Protection Agency, Office of
associated letter is available at EPA’s
compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides Environmental Information, Mail Stop
conformity Web site: http://www.epa.
(NOX) for 2012 are adequate for 2823T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/
transportation conformity purposes. As Washington, DC 20460, (202) 566–1175,
adequacy.htm.
a result of EPA’s finding, the Baltimore seeh.karen@epa.gov.
1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area Transportation conformity is required
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
must use these budgets for future by section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act
(CAA). EPA’s conformity rule requires October 13, 2005, the final Cross-Media
conformity determinations. Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR)
DATES: This final rule is effective on
that transportation plans, transportation
improvement programs, and projects was published in the Federal Register
March 8, 2016. (70 FR 59848) and codified as part 3 of
conform to SIPs and establishes the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: criteria and procedures for determining title 40 of the CFR. CROMERR
Gregory Becoat, Physical Scientist, whether or not they do. Conformity to establishes electronic reporting as an
Office of Air Program Planning (3AP30), a SIP means that transportation acceptable regulatory alternative to
United States Environmental Protection activities will not produce new air paper reporting and establishes
Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, quality violations, worsen existing requirements to assure that electronic
Philadelphia, PA 19103, (215) 814– violations, or delay timely attainment of documents are as legally dependable as
2036; becoat.gregory@epa.gov. the national ambient air quality their paper counterparts. Subpart D of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July standards. CROMERR requires that state, tribal or
22, 2013, EPA received a State local government agencies that receive,
The criteria by which EPA determines or wish to begin receiving, electronic
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision from whether a SIP’s MVEBs are adequate for
Maryland Department of the reports under their EPA-authorized
conformity purposes are outlined in 40 programs must apply to EPA for a
Environment (MDE). This revision CFR 93.118(e)(4). EPA described the
consisted of 2012 reasonable further revision or modification of those
process for determining the adequacy of programs and obtain EPA approval.
progress (RFP) motor vehicle emission submitted SIP budgets in a July 1, 2004
budgets (MVEBs) for the Baltimore 1997 preamble starting at 69 FR 40038 and Subpart D provides standards for such
8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area. This used the information in these resources approvals based on consideration of the
submission established MVEBs for the electronic document receiving systems
in making this adequacy determination. that the state, tribe, or local government
Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Please note that an adequacy review is
Nonattainment Area for the year 2012. will use to implement the electronic
separate from EPA’s completeness reporting. Additionally, § 3.1000(b)
The MVEBs are the amount of emissions review, and should not be used to
allowed in the SIP for on-road motor through (e) of 40 CFR part 3, subpart D
prejudge EPA’s ultimate approval action provides special procedures for program
vehicles; it establishes an emissions for the SIP. Even if EPA finds the
ceiling for the regional transportation revisions and modifications to allow
budgets for the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour electronic reporting, to be used at the
network. The MVEBs are provided in Ozone Nonattainment Area adequate,
Table 1: option of the state, tribe or local
the SIP could later be disapproved. The government in place of procedures
finding and the response to comments available under existing program-
TABLE 1—2012 RFP MOBILE BUDG- are available at EPA’s conformity Web
specific authorization regulations. An
ETS FOR THE BALTIMORE NON- site: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/state
application submitted under the subpart
ATTAINMENT AREA resources/transconf/adequacy.htm.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

D procedures must show that the state,
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401–7671q. tribe or local government has sufficient
Motor vehicle Motor vehicle
emissions emissions legal authority to implement the
Dated: February 4, 2016.
Year budgets for budgets for electronic reporting components of the
NOX in tons VOCs in tons Shawn M. Garvin, programs covered by the application
per day per day Regional Administrator, Region III. and will use electronic document
2012 .......... 93.5 40.2
[FR Doc. 2016–03609 Filed 2–19–16; 8:45 am] receiving systems that meet the
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P applicable subpart D requirements.

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Document Created: 2016-02-19 23:56:46
Document Modified: 2016-02-19 23:56:46

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of adequacy.
Dates		This final rule is effective on March 8, 2016.
Contact		Gregory Becoat, Physical Scientist, Office of Air Program Planning (3AP30), United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, (215) 814-2036; [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 8711