81_FR_96134 81 FR 95884 - Extension of Deadline for Action on the November 2016 Section 126 Petition From Delaware

81 FR 95884 - Extension of Deadline for Action on the November 2016 Section 126 Petition From Delaware

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 250 (December 29, 2016)

Page Range95884-95886
FR Document2016-31256

In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining that 60 days is insufficient time to complete the technical and other analyses and public notice-and-comment process required for our review of a petition submitted by the state of Delaware pursuant to section 126 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The petition requests that the EPA make a finding that Homer City Generating Station, located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, emits air pollution that significantly contributes to nonattainment and interferes with maintenance of the 2008 and 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in the state of Delaware. Under section 307(d)(10) of CAA, the EPA is authorized to grant a time extension for responding to a petition if the EPA determines that the extension is necessary to afford the public, and the agency, adequate opportunity to carry out the purposes of the section 307(d) notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements. By this action, the EPA is making that determination. The EPA is therefore extending the deadline for acting on the petition to no later than July 9, 2017.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 95884-95886]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31256]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0691; FRL-9957-28-OAR]


Extension of Deadline for Action on the November 2016 Section 126 
Petition From Delaware

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
determining that 60 days is insufficient time to complete the technical 
and other analyses and public notice-and-comment process required for 
our review of a petition submitted by the state of Delaware pursuant to 
section 126 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The petition requests that the 
EPA make a finding that Homer City Generating Station, located in 
Indiana County, Pennsylvania, emits air pollution that significantly 
contributes to nonattainment and interferes with maintenance of the 
2008 and 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in 
the state of Delaware. Under section 307(d)(10) of CAA, the EPA is 
authorized to grant a time extension for responding to a petition if 
the EPA determines that the extension is necessary to afford the 
public, and the agency, adequate opportunity to carry out the purposes 
of the section 307(d) notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements. By 
this action, the EPA is making that determination. The EPA is therefore 
extending the deadline for acting on the petition to no later than July 
9, 2017.

DATES: This final rule is effective on December 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0691. All documents in the docket are 
listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in 
the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., 
Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure 
is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted 
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available 
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are 
available electronically through http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Benjamin Gibson, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (C545-E), U.S. EPA, Research Triangle 
Park, North Carolina 27709, telephone number (919) 541-3277, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Legal Requirements for Interstate Air Pollution

    This is a procedural action to extend the deadline for the EPA to 
respond to a petition from the state of Delaware filed pursuant to CAA 
section 126(b). The EPA received the petition on November 10, 2016. The 
petition requests that the EPA make a finding under section 126(b) of 
the CAA that the Homer City Generating Station, located in Indiana 
County, Pennsylvania, is operating in a manner that emits air 
pollutants in violation of the provisions of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) 
of the CAA

[[Page 95885]]

with respect to the 2008 and 2015 ozone NAAQS.
    Section 126(b) of the CAA authorizes states to petition the EPA to 
find that a major source or group of stationary sources in upwind 
states emits or would emit any air pollutant in violation of the 
prohibition of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) \1\ by contributing 
significantly to nonattainment or maintenance problems in downwind 
states. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA prohibits emissions of 
any air pollutant in amounts which will contribute significantly to 
nonattainment in, or interfere with maintenance by, any other state 
with respect to any NAAQS. The petition asserts that emissions from 
Homer City Generating Station's three electric generating units emit 
air pollutants in violation of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with 
respect to the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, set at 0.075 parts per million 
(ppm), and the revised 2015 8-hour ozone NAAQS, set at 0.070 ppm.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The text of CAA section 126 codified in the United States 
Code cross references CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) instead of CAA 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). The courts have confirmed that this is a 
scrivener's error and the correct cross reference is to CAA section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i). See Appalachian Power Co. v. EPA, 249 F.3d 1032, 
1040-44 (D.C. Cir. 2001).
    \2\ On October 1, 2015, the EPA strengthened the ground-level 
ozone NAAQS, based on extensive scientific evidence about ozone's 
effects on public health and welfare. See 80 FR 65291 (October 26, 
2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to CAA section 126(b), the EPA must make the finding 
requested in the petition, or must deny the petition within 60 days of 
its receipt. Under CAA section 126(c), any existing sources for which 
the EPA makes the requested finding must cease operations within 3 
months of the finding, except that the source may continue to operate 
if it complies with emission limitations and compliance schedules 
(containing increments of progress) that the EPA may provide to bring 
about compliance with the applicable requirements as expeditiously as 
practical but no later than 3 years from the date of the finding.
    CAA section 126(b) further provides that the EPA must hold a public 
hearing on the petition. The EPA's action under section 126 is also 
subject to the procedural requirements of CAA section 307(d). See CAA 
section 307(d)(1)(N). One of these requirements is notice-and-comment 
rulemaking, under section 307(d)(3)-(6).
    In addition, CAA section 307(d)(10) provides for a time extension, 
under certain circumstances, for a rulemaking subject to CAA section 
307(d). Specifically, CAA section 307(d)(10) provides:

    Each statutory deadline for promulgation of rules to which this 
subsection applies which requires promulgation less than six months 
after date of proposal may be extended to not more than six months 
after date of proposal by the Administrator upon a determination 
that such extension is necessary to afford the public, and the 
agency, adequate opportunity to carry out the purposes of the 
subsection.

    CAA section 307(d)(10) may be applied to section 126 rulemakings 
because the 60-day time limit under CAA section 126(b) necessarily 
limits the period for promulgation of a final rule after proposal to 
less than 6 months.

II. Final Rule

A. Rule

    In accordance with CAA section 307(d)(10), the EPA is determining 
that the 60-day period afforded by CAA section 126(b) for responding to 
the petition from the state of Delaware is not adequate to allow the 
public and the agency the opportunity to carry out the purposes of CAA 
section 307(d). Specifically, the 60-day period is insufficient for the 
EPA to complete the necessary technical review, develop an adequate 
proposal, and allow time for notice and comment, including an 
opportunity for public hearing, on a proposed finding regarding whether 
the Homer City Generating Station identified in the CAA section 126 
petition contributes significantly to nonattainment or interferes with 
maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS or the 2015 ozone NAAQS in 
Delaware. Moreover, the 60-day period is insufficient for the EPA to 
review and develop response to any public comments on a proposed 
finding, or testimony supplied at a public hearing, and to develop and 
promulgate a final finding in response to the petition. The EPA is in 
the process of determining an appropriate schedule for action on the 
CAA section 126 petition. This schedule must afford the EPA adequate 
time to prepare a proposal that clearly elucidates the issues to 
facilitate public comment, and must provide adequate time for the 
public to comment and for the EPA to review and develop responses to 
those comments prior to issuing the final rule. As a result of this 
extension, the deadline for the EPA to act on the petition is July 9, 
2017.

B. Notice and Comment Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)

    This document is a final agency action, but may not be subject to 
the notice-and-comment requirements of the APA, 5 U.S.C. 553(b). The 
EPA believes that, because of the limited time provided to make a 
determination, the deadline for action on the CAA section 126 petition 
should be extended. Congress may not have intended such a determination 
to be subject to notice-and-comment rulemaking. However, to the extent 
that this determination otherwise would require notice and opportunity 
for public comment, there is good cause within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B) not to apply those requirements here. Providing for notice 
and comment would be impracticable because of the limited time provided 
for making this determination, and would be contrary to the public 
interest because it would divert agency resources from the substantive 
review of the CAA section 126 petition.

C. Effective Date Under the APA

    This action is effective on December 29, 2016. Under the APA, 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), agency rulemaking may take effect before 30 days 
after the date of publication in the Federal Register if the agency has 
good cause to mandate an earlier effective date. This action--a 
deadline extension--must take effect immediately because its purpose is 
to extend by 6 months the deadline for action on the petition. As 
discussed earlier, the EPA intends to use the 6-month extension period 
to develop a proposal on the petition and provide time for public 
comment before issuing the final rule. It would not be possible for the 
EPA to complete the required notice and comment and public hearing 
process within the original 60-day period noted in the statute. These 
reasons support an immediate effective date.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory

    This action is exempt from review by the Office of Management and 
Budget because it simply extends the date for the EPA to take action on 
a petition.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose an information collection burden under 
the PRA. This good cause final action simply extends the date for the 
EPA to take action on a petition and does not impose any new 
obligations or enforceable duties on any state, local or tribal 
governments or the private sector. It does not contain any 
recordkeeping or reporting requirements.

[[Page 95886]]

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    This action is not subject to the RFA. The RFA applies only to 
rules subject to notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements under the 
APA, 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other statute. This rule is not subject to 
notice-and-comment requirements because the agency has invoked the APA 
``good cause'' exemption under 5 U.S.C. 553(b).

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate of $100 million 
or more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. The action imposes 
no enforceable duty on any state, local or tribal governments or the 
private sector.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have 
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between 
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in 
Executive Order 13175. This good cause final action simply extends the 
date for the EPA to take action on a petition. Thus, Executive Order 
13175 does not apply to this rule.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health and Safety Risks

    The EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those 
regulatory actions that concern environmental health or safety risks 
that the EPA has reason to believe may disproportionately affect 
children, per the definition of ``covered regulatory action'' in 
section 2-202 of the Executive Order. This action is not subject to 
Executive Order 13045 because it does not concern an environmental 
health risk or safety risk.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution or Use

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is 
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This rulemaking does not involve technical standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    The EPA believes that this action is not subject to Executive Order 
12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) because it does not establish an 
environmental health or safety standard. This good cause final action 
simply extends the date for the EPA to take action on a petition and 
does not have any impact on human health or the environment.

K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

    This action is subject to the CRA, and the EPA will submit a rule 
report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of 
the United States. The CRA allows the issuing agency to make a rule 
effective sooner than otherwise provided by the CRA if the agency makes 
a good cause finding that notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures are 
impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest (5 U.S.C. 
808(2)). The EPA has made a good cause finding for this rule as 
discussed in Section II.B of this document, including the basis for 
that finding.

IV. Statutory Authority

    The statutory authority for this action is provided by sections 
110, 126 and 307 of the CAA as amended (42 U.S.C. 7410, 7426 and 7607).

V. Judicial Review

    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, judicial review of this final 
rule is available only by the filing of a petition for review in the 
U.S. Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by February 27, 2017. 
Under section 307(b)(2) of the CAA, the requirements that are the 
subject of this final rule may not be challenged later in civil or 
criminal proceedings brought by us to enforce these requirements.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Administrative practices and procedures, 
Air pollution control, Electric utilities, Incorporation by reference, 
Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone.

    Dated: December 15, 2016.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-31256 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                             95884            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                               An investment manager of a pooled                      activities would generally concern such               for our review of a petition submitted by
                                             investment vehicle that holds assets of                  issues as the independence and                        the state of Delaware pursuant to section
                                             more than one employee benefit plan                      expertise of candidates for the                       126 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The
                                             may be subject to a proxy voting policy                  corporation’s board of directors and                  petition requests that the EPA make a
                                             of one plan that conflicts with the proxy                assuring that the board has sufficient                finding that Homer City Generating
                                             voting policy of another plan.                           information to carry out its                          Station, located in Indiana County,
                                             Compliance with ERISA section                            responsibility to monitor management.                 Pennsylvania, emits air pollution that
                                             404(a)(1)(D) would require the                           Other issues may include such matters                 significantly contributes to
                                             investment manager to reconcile, insofar                 as governance structures and practices,               nonattainment and interferes with
                                             as possible, the conflicting policies                    particularly those involving board                    maintenance of the 2008 and 2015
                                             (assuming compliance with each policy                    composition, executive compensation,                  ozone national ambient air quality
                                             would be consistent with ERISA section                   transparency and accountability in                    standards (NAAQS) in the state of
                                             404(a)(1)(D)) and, if necessary and to the               corporate decision-making,                            Delaware. Under section 307(d)(10) of
                                             extent permitted by applicable law, vote                 responsiveness to shareholders, the                   CAA, the EPA is authorized to grant a
                                             the relevant proxies to reflect such                     corporation’s policy regarding mergers                time extension for responding to a
                                             policies in proportion to each plan’s                    and acquisitions, the extent of debt                  petition if the EPA determines that the
                                             interest in the pooled investment                        financing and capitalization, the nature              extension is necessary to afford the
                                             vehicle. If, however, the investment                     of long-term business plans including                 public, and the agency, adequate
                                             manager determines that compliance                       plans on climate change preparedness                  opportunity to carry out the purposes of
                                             with conflicting voting policies would                   and sustainability, governance and                    the section 307(d) notice-and-comment
                                             violate ERISA section 404(a)(1)(D) in a                  compliance policies and practices for                 rulemaking requirements. By this
                                             particular instance, for example, by                     avoiding criminal liability and ensuring              action, the EPA is making that
                                             being imprudent or not solely in the                     employees comply with applicable laws                 determination. The EPA is therefore
                                             interest of plan participants, the                       and regulations, the corporation’s                    extending the deadline for acting on the
                                             investment manager would be required                     workforce practices (e.g., investment in              petition to no later than July 9, 2017.
                                             to ignore the voting policy that would                   training to develop its work force,                   DATES: This final rule is effective on
                                             violate ERISA section 404(a)(1)(D) in                    diversity, equal employment                           December 29, 2016.
                                             that instance. Such an investment                        opportunity), policies and practices to
                                             manager may, however, require                                                                                  ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a
                                                                                                      address environmental or social factors
                                             participating investors to accept the                                                                          docket for this action under Docket ID
                                                                                                      that have an impact on shareholder
                                             investment manager’s own investment                                                                            No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2016–0691. All
                                                                                                      value, and other financial and non-
                                             policy statement, including any                                                                                documents in the docket are listed on
                                                                                                      financial measures of corporate
                                             statement of proxy voting policy, before                                                                       the http://www.regulations.gov Web
                                                                                                      performance. Active monitoring and
                                             they are allowed to invest. As with                                                                            site. Although listed in the index, some
                                                                                                      communication may be carried out
                                             investment policies originating from                                                                           information is not publicly available,
                                                                                                      through a variety of methods including
                                             named fiduciaries, a policy initiated by                                                                       e.g., Confidential Business Information
                                                                                                      by means of correspondence and
                                             an investment manager and adopted by                                                                           or other information whose disclosure is
                                                                                                      meetings with corporate management as
                                             the participating plans would be                                                                               restricted by statute. Certain other
                                                                                                      well as by exercising the legal rights of
                                             regarded as an instrument governing the                                                                        material, such as copyrighted material,
                                                                                                      a shareholder.
                                             participating plans, and the investment                                                                        is not placed on the Internet and will be
                                             manager’s compliance with such a                         Phyllis C. Borzi,                                     publicly available only in hard copy
                                             policy would be governed by ERISA                        Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits                form. Publicly available docket
                                             section 404(a)(1)(D).                                    Security Administration, Department of                materials are available electronically
                                                                                                      Labor.                                                through http://www.regulations.gov.
                                             (3) Shareholder Engagement                               [FR Doc. 2016–31515 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
                                                An investment policy that                             BILLING CODE 4510–29–P                                Benjamin Gibson, Office of Air Quality
                                             contemplates activities intended to                                                                            Planning and Standards (C545–E), U.S.
                                             monitor or influence the management of                                                                         EPA, Research Triangle Park, North
                                             corporations in which the plan owns                      ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                              Carolina 27709, telephone number (919)
                                             stock is consistent with a fiduciary’s                   AGENCY                                                541–3277, email: gibson.benjamin@
                                             obligations under ERISA where the                                                                              epa.gov.
                                             responsible fiduciary concludes that                     40 CFR Part 52
                                             there is a reasonable expectation that                                                                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                             such monitoring or communication with                    [EPA–HQ–OAR–2016–0691; FRL–9957–28–
                                                                                                      OAR]                                                  I. Background and Legal Requirements
                                             management, by the plan alone or
                                                                                                                                                            for Interstate Air Pollution
                                             together with other shareholders, is                     Extension of Deadline for Action on
                                             likely to enhance the value of the plan’s                                                                         This is a procedural action to extend
                                                                                                      the November 2016 Section 126
                                             investment in the corporation, after                                                                           the deadline for the EPA to respond to
                                                                                                      Petition From Delaware
                                             taking into account the costs involved.                                                                        a petition from the state of Delaware
                                             Such a reasonable expectation may exist                  AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                     filed pursuant to CAA section 126(b).
                                             in various circumstances, for example,                   Agency (EPA).                                         The EPA received the petition on
                                             where plan investments in corporate                      ACTION: Final rule.                                   November 10, 2016. The petition
                                             stock are held as long-term investments,                                                                       requests that the EPA make a finding
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                             where a plan may not be able to easily                   SUMMARY:   In this action, the                        under section 126(b) of the CAA that the
                                             dispose of such an investment, or where                  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)                 Homer City Generating Station, located
                                             the same shareholder engagement issue                    is determining that 60 days is                        in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, is
                                             is likely to exist in the case of available              insufficient time to complete the                     operating in a manner that emits air
                                             alternative investments. Active                          technical and other analyses and public               pollutants in violation of the provisions
                                             monitoring and communication                             notice-and-comment process required                   of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014    14:51 Dec 28, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00032   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\29DER1.SGM   29DER1


                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       95885

                                             with respect to the 2008 and 2015 ozone                  Specifically, CAA section 307(d)(10)                  the APA, 5 U.S.C. 553(b). The EPA
                                             NAAQS.                                                   provides:                                             believes that, because of the limited
                                                Section 126(b) of the CAA authorizes                    Each statutory deadline for promulgation            time provided to make a determination,
                                             states to petition the EPA to find that a                of rules to which this subsection applies             the deadline for action on the CAA
                                             major source or group of stationary                      which requires promulgation less than six             section 126 petition should be extended.
                                             sources in upwind states emits or would                  months after date of proposal may be                  Congress may not have intended such a
                                             emit any air pollutant in violation of the               extended to not more than six months after            determination to be subject to notice-
                                             prohibition of CAA section                               date of proposal by the Administrator upon            and-comment rulemaking. However, to
                                             110(a)(2)(D)(i) 1 by contributing                        a determination that such extension is
                                                                                                      necessary to afford the public, and the
                                                                                                                                                            the extent that this determination
                                             significantly to nonattainment or                                                                              otherwise would require notice and
                                                                                                      agency, adequate opportunity to carry out the
                                             maintenance problems in downwind                         purposes of the subsection.                           opportunity for public comment, there
                                             states. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the                                                                      is good cause within the meaning of 5
                                             CAA prohibits emissions of any air                         CAA section 307(d)(10) may be
                                                                                                                                                            U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) not to apply those
                                             pollutant in amounts which will                          applied to section 126 rulemakings
                                                                                                                                                            requirements here. Providing for notice
                                             contribute significantly to                              because the 60-day time limit under
                                                                                                                                                            and comment would be impracticable
                                             nonattainment in, or interfere with                      CAA section 126(b) necessarily limits
                                                                                                                                                            because of the limited time provided for
                                             maintenance by, any other state with                     the period for promulgation of a final
                                                                                                                                                            making this determination, and would
                                             respect to any NAAQS. The petition                       rule after proposal to less than 6
                                                                                                                                                            be contrary to the public interest
                                             asserts that emissions from Homer City                   months.
                                                                                                                                                            because it would divert agency
                                             Generating Station’s three electric                      II. Final Rule                                        resources from the substantive review of
                                             generating units emit air pollutants in                                                                        the CAA section 126 petition.
                                             violation of CAA section                                 A. Rule
                                             110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with respect to the                      In accordance with CAA section                     C. Effective Date Under the APA
                                             2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, set at 0.075                    307(d)(10), the EPA is determining that                  This action is effective on December
                                             parts per million (ppm), and the revised                 the 60-day period afforded by CAA                     29, 2016. Under the APA, 5 U.S.C.
                                             2015 8-hour ozone NAAQS, set at 0.070                    section 126(b) for responding to the                  553(d)(3), agency rulemaking may take
                                             ppm.2                                                    petition from the state of Delaware is                effect before 30 days after the date of
                                                Pursuant to CAA section 126(b), the                   not adequate to allow the public and the              publication in the Federal Register if
                                             EPA must make the finding requested in                   agency the opportunity to carry out the               the agency has good cause to mandate
                                             the petition, or must deny the petition                  purposes of CAA section 307(d).                       an earlier effective date. This action—a
                                             within 60 days of its receipt. Under                     Specifically, the 60-day period is                    deadline extension—must take effect
                                             CAA section 126(c), any existing                         insufficient for the EPA to complete the              immediately because its purpose is to
                                             sources for which the EPA makes the                      necessary technical review, develop an                extend by 6 months the deadline for
                                             requested finding must cease operations                  adequate proposal, and allow time for                 action on the petition. As discussed
                                             within 3 months of the finding, except                   notice and comment, including an                      earlier, the EPA intends to use the 6-
                                             that the source may continue to operate                  opportunity for public hearing, on a                  month extension period to develop a
                                             if it complies with emission limitations                 proposed finding regarding whether the                proposal on the petition and provide
                                             and compliance schedules (containing                     Homer City Generating Station                         time for public comment before issuing
                                             increments of progress) that the EPA                     identified in the CAA section 126                     the final rule. It would not be possible
                                             may provide to bring about compliance                    petition contributes significantly to                 for the EPA to complete the required
                                             with the applicable requirements as                      nonattainment or interferes with                      notice and comment and public hearing
                                             expeditiously as practical but no later                  maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS                   process within the original 60-day
                                             than 3 years from the date of the                        or the 2015 ozone NAAQS in Delaware.                  period noted in the statute. These
                                             finding.                                                 Moreover, the 60-day period is                        reasons support an immediate effective
                                                CAA section 126(b) further provides                   insufficient for the EPA to review and                date.
                                             that the EPA must hold a public hearing                  develop response to any public
                                             on the petition. The EPA’s action under                  comments on a proposed finding, or                    III. Statutory and Executive Order
                                             section 126 is also subject to the                       testimony supplied at a public hearing,               Reviews
                                             procedural requirements of CAA section                   and to develop and promulgate a final                 A. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory
                                             307(d). See CAA section 307(d)(1)(N).                    finding in response to the petition. The              Planning and Review and Executive
                                             One of these requirements is notice-and-                 EPA is in the process of determining an               Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
                                             comment rulemaking, under section                        appropriate schedule for action on the
                                                                                                                                                            Regulatory
                                             307(d)(3)–(6).                                           CAA section 126 petition. This schedule
                                                In addition, CAA section 307(d)(10)                   must afford the EPA adequate time to                    This action is exempt from review by
                                             provides for a time extension, under                     prepare a proposal that clearly                       the Office of Management and Budget
                                             certain circumstances, for a rulemaking                  elucidates the issues to facilitate public            because it simply extends the date for
                                             subject to CAA section 307(d).                           comment, and must provide adequate                    the EPA to take action on a petition.
                                                                                                      time for the public to comment and for                B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
                                               1 The  text of CAA section 126 codified in the         the EPA to review and develop
                                             United States Code cross references CAA section          responses to those comments prior to                     This action does not impose an
                                             110(a)(2)(D)(ii) instead of CAA section                  issuing the final rule. As a result of this           information collection burden under the
                                             110(a)(2)(D)(i). The courts have confirmed that this                                                           PRA. This good cause final action
                                             is a scrivener’s error and the correct cross reference   extension, the deadline for the EPA to
                                                                                                                                                            simply extends the date for the EPA to
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                             is to CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). See Appalachian       act on the petition is July 9, 2017.
                                             Power Co. v. EPA, 249 F.3d 1032, 1040–44 (D.C. Cir.                                                            take action on a petition and does not
                                             2001).                                                   B. Notice and Comment Under the                       impose any new obligations or
                                                2 On October 1, 2015, the EPA strengthened the        Administrative Procedure Act (APA)                    enforceable duties on any state, local or
                                             ground-level ozone NAAQS, based on extensive
                                             scientific evidence about ozone’s effects on public
                                                                                                        This document is a final agency                     tribal governments or the private sector.
                                             health and welfare. See 80 FR 65291 (October 26,         action, but may not be subject to the                 It does not contain any recordkeeping or
                                             2015).                                                   notice-and-comment requirements of                    reporting requirements.


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                                             95886            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)                      I. National Technology Transfer and                   ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                                                                      Advancement Act (NTTAA)                               AGENCY
                                               This action is not subject to the RFA.
                                             The RFA applies only to rules subject to                    This rulemaking does not involve
                                                                                                      technical standards.                                  40 CFR Part 180
                                             notice-and-comment rulemaking
                                             requirements under the APA, 5 U.S.C.                                                                           [EPA–HQ–OPP–2016–0007 and EPA–HQ–
                                                                                                      J. Executive Order 12898: Federal                     OPP–2016–0008; FRL–9950–40]
                                             553, or any other statute. This rule is not              Actions To Address Environmental
                                             subject to notice-and-comment                            Justice in Minority Populations and                   Isobutyl Acetate and Isobutyric Acid;
                                             requirements because the agency has                      Low-Income Populations                                Exemption From the Requirement of a
                                             invoked the APA ‘‘good cause’’                              The EPA believes that this action is               Tolerance
                                             exemption under 5 U.S.C. 553(b).                         not subject to Executive Order 12898 (59
                                                                                                                                                            AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                             D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                          FR 7629, February 16, 1994) because it
                                                                                                                                                            Agency (EPA).
                                             (UMRA)                                                   does not establish an environmental
                                                                                                      health or safety standard. This good                  ACTION: Final rule.
                                               This action does not contain any                       cause final action simply extends the
                                             unfunded mandate of $100 million or                                                                            SUMMARY:    This regulation establishes
                                                                                                      date for the EPA to take action on a                  exemptions from the requirement of a
                                             more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C.                      petition and does not have any impact
                                             1531–1538, and does not significantly or                                                                       tolerance for residues of isobutyl acetate
                                                                                                      on human health or the environment.                   (CAS Reg. No. 110–19–0) and isobutyric
                                             uniquely affect small governments. The
                                             action imposes no enforceable duty on                    K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)                     acid (CAS Reg. No. 79–31–2) when used
                                             any state, local or tribal governments or                   This action is subject to the CRA, and             as inert ingredients (solvent) in
                                             the private sector.                                      the EPA will submit a rule report to                  pesticide formulations applied to
                                                                                                      each House of the Congress and to the                 growing crops and raw agricultural
                                             E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism                     Comptroller General of the United                     commodities after harvest. Technology
                                                                                                      States. The CRA allows the issuing                    Sciences Group Inc. on behalf of Jeneil
                                               This action does not have federalism                                                                         Biosurfactant Company submitted a
                                             implications. It will not have substantial               agency to make a rule effective sooner
                                                                                                      than otherwise provided by the CRA if                 petition to EPA under the Federal Food,
                                             direct effects on the states, on the                                                                           Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA),
                                             relationship between the national                        the agency makes a good cause finding
                                                                                                      that notice-and-comment rulemaking                    requesting establishment of these
                                             government and the states, or on the                                                                           exemptions from the requirement of a
                                             distribution of power and                                procedures are impracticable,
                                                                                                      unnecessary or contrary to the public                 tolerance. This regulation eliminates the
                                             responsibilities among the various                                                                             need to establish maximum permissible
                                             levels of government.                                    interest (5 U.S.C. 808(2)). The EPA has
                                                                                                      made a good cause finding for this rule               levels for residues of isobutyl acetate
                                             F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation                   as discussed in Section II.B of this                  and isobutyric acid.
                                             and Coordination With Indian Tribal                      document, including the basis for that                DATES: This regulation is effective
                                             Governments                                              finding.                                              December 29, 2016. Objections and
                                                                                                                                                            requests for hearings must be received
                                               This action does not have tribal                       IV. Statutory Authority                               on or before February 27, 2017, and
                                             implications, as specified in Executive                     The statutory authority for this action            must be filed in accordance with the
                                             Order 13175. This good cause final                       is provided by sections 110, 126 and                  instructions provided in 40 CFR part
                                             action simply extends the date for the                   307 of the CAA as amended (42 U.S.C.                  178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
                                             EPA to take action on a petition. Thus,                  7410, 7426 and 7607).                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
                                             Executive Order 13175 does not apply                                                                           ADDRESSES: The dockets for this action,
                                             to this rule.                                            V. Judicial Review
                                                                                                                                                            identified by docket identification (ID)
                                                                                                        Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,                 numbers EPA–HQ–OPP–2016–0007 and
                                             G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
                                                                                                      judicial review of this final rule is                 EPA–HQ–OPP–2016–0008, are available
                                             Children From Environmental Health
                                                                                                      available only by the filing of a petition            at http://www.regulations.gov or at the
                                             and Safety Risks
                                                                                                      for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals               Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory
                                               The EPA interprets Executive Order                     for the appropriate circuit by February               Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the
                                             13045 as applying only to those                          27, 2017. Under section 307(b)(2) of the              Environmental Protection Agency
                                             regulatory actions that concern                          CAA, the requirements that are the                    Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
                                             environmental health or safety risks that                subject of this final rule may not be                 Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301
                                             the EPA has reason to believe may                        challenged later in civil or criminal                 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC
                                             disproportionately affect children, per                  proceedings brought by us to enforce                  20460–0001. The Public Reading Room
                                             the definition of ‘‘covered regulatory                   these requirements.                                   is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
                                             action’’ in section 2–202 of the                         List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                    Monday through Friday, excluding legal
                                             Executive Order. This action is not                                                                            holidays. The telephone number for the
                                             subject to Executive Order 13045                           Environmental protection,
                                                                                                                                                            Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
                                             because it does not concern an                           Administrative practices and
                                                                                                                                                            and the telephone number for the OPP
                                             environmental health risk or safety risk.                procedures, Air pollution control,
                                                                                                                                                            Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review
                                                                                                      Electric utilities, Incorporation by
                                                                                                                                                            the visitor instructions and additional
                                             H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That                   reference, Intergovernmental relations,
                                                                                                                                                            information about the docket available
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                             Significantly Affect Energy Supply,                      Nitrogen oxides, Ozone.
                                                                                                                                                            at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
                                             Distribution or Use                                        Dated: December 15, 2016.                           FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                               This action is not subject to Executive                Gina McCarthy,                                        Michael Goodis, Registration Division
                                             Order 13211, because it is not a                         Administrator.                                        (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
                                             significant regulatory action under                      [FR Doc. 2016–31256 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]          Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
                                             Executive Order 12866.                                   BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,


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Document Created: 2016-12-29 01:58:46
Document Modified: 2016-12-29 01:58:46
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis final rule is effective on December 29, 2016.
ContactMr. Benjamin Gibson, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (C545-E), U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, telephone number (919) 541-3277, email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 95884 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Administrative Practices and Procedures; Air Pollution Control; Electric Utilities; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Nitrogen Oxides and Ozone

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