82_FR_13131 82 FR 13086 - Approval of California Air Plan Revisions, Western Mojave Desert, Rate of Progress Demonstration

82 FR 13086 - Approval of California Air Plan Revisions, Western Mojave Desert, Rate of Progress Demonstration

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 45 (March 9, 2017)

Page Range13086-13088
FR Document2017-04692

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act requirements applicable to the Western Mojave Desert (WMD) ozone nonattainment area. The EPA is proposing to approve the initial six-year 15 percent rate of progress demonstration to address requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13086-13088]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04692]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R09-OAR-2017-0028; FRL-9958-81-Region 9]


Approval of California Air Plan Revisions, Western Mojave Desert, 
Rate of Progress Demonstration

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a state implementation plan revision submitted by the State of 
California to meet Clean Air Act requirements applicable to the Western 
Mojave Desert (WMD) ozone nonattainment area. The EPA is proposing to 
approve the initial six-year 15 percent rate of progress demonstration 
to address requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air 
quality standards (NAAQS).

DATES: Any comments must arrive by April 10, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
OAR-2017-0028 at http://www.regulations.gov, or via email to 
[email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be removed or edited from Regulations.gov. For either 
manner of submission, 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, please contact the person 
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the full 
EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia 
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please 
visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Kelly, EPA Region IX, by phone at 
(415) 972-3856 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we,'' ``us,'' 
and ``our'' refer to the EPA.

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. The State's SIP Submittal
    A. Documents Comprising the SIP Submittal
    B. CAA Procedural and Administrative Requirements for SIP 
Submittals
III. The EPA's Evaluation and Action
    A. Requirements for the ROP Demonstration
    B. The ROP Demonstration in the 2014 SIP Update
    C. The EPA's Evaluation of the ROP Demonstration and Proposed 
Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

    Following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, the EPA is 
required by the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') to designate areas 
throughout the nation as attaining or not attaining the NAAQS. In the 
``Final Rule To Implement the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air

[[Page 13087]]

Quality Standard--Phase 1,'' (``Phase 1 Rule''), we designated 
nonattainment areas for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. See 69 FR 23858 
(April 30, 2004). The designations and classifications for the 1997 8-
hour ozone NAAQS for California areas are codified at 40 CFR 81.305. In 
the Phase 1 Rule, the EPA classified the WMD as Moderate nonattainment 
for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, with an attainment date no later than 
June 15, 2010. See 69 FR 23858, 23884.
    On February 14, 2008, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 
requested that the EPA reclassify three California areas designated 
nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.\1\ For the WMD, CARB 
requested reclassification from Moderate to Severe-17.\2\ On March 14, 
2012, CARB submitted a clarification requesting that the EPA reclassify 
the WMD from Moderate to Severe-15.\3\ Consistent with section 
181(b)(3) of the CAA, we granted the State's request and reclassified 
the WMD area from Moderate to Severe-15 nonattainment for the 1997 8-
hour ozone NAAQS, with an attainment date of no later than June 15, 
2019. See 77 FR 26950 (May 8, 2012).
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    \1\ See letter dated February 14, 2008, from James N. Goldstene, 
Executive Officer, CARB, to Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, 
EPA Region 9. In addition to the WMD, CARB requested that the EPA 
reclassify the Ventura County and Sacramento Metro ozone 
nonattainment areas under CAA section 181(b)(3) to higher 
classifications for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Pursuant to this 
request, the EPA reclassified the Ventura County area from Moderate 
to Serious nonattainment effective June 19, 2008, 73 FR 29073 (May 
20, 2008), and reclassified the Sacramento Metro area from Serious 
to Severe-15 nonattainment effective June 4, 2010, 75 FR 24409 (May 
5, 2010).
    \2\ CARB subsequently submitted a SIP revision for this area to 
address the attainment demonstration and related requirements for 
severe-17 ozone nonattainment areas. See July 22, 2008, letter and 
enclosures from James N. Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB, to 
Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region 9.
    \3\ See letter dated March 14, 2012, from James N. Goldstene, 
Executive Director, CARB, to Jared Blumenfeld, Regional 
Administrator, EPA Region 9.
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    The WMD is located in northeast Los Angeles County and southwest 
San Bernardino County. For a precise description of the geographic 
boundaries of the area, see 40 CFR 81.305. The Los Angeles County 
portion of the WMD area is under the jurisdiction of the Antelope 
Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD), and the San Bernardino 
County portion of the area is under the jurisdiction of the Mojave 
Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD). The districts and 
State are responsible for adopting and submitting plans to attain the 
1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for their areas. Designation of an area as 
nonattainment starts the process for a state to develop and submit to 
the EPA a state implementation plan (SIP) providing for attainment of 
the NAAQS under title 1, part D of the CAA. For the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS areas designated as nonattainment effective June 15, 2004, this 
attainment SIP was due by June 15, 2007. See CAA section 172(b) and 40 
CFR 51.908(a) and 51.910.

II. The State's SIP Submittal

A. Documents Comprising the SIP Submittal

    California has made several SIP submittals to address the CAA 
planning requirements for attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the 
WMD. In today's proposal, we are proposing to take action only on the 
15 percent volatile organic compound (VOC) rate of progress (ROP) 
determination for the WMD. This demonstration is contained in the 2014 
CARB staff report entitled ``Proposed Updates to the 1997 8-Hour Ozone 
Standard, State Implementation Plans: Coachella Valley and Western 
Mojave Desert 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Areas'' (``2014 SIP 
Update'').\4\
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    \4\ CARB, Staff Report, ``Proposed Updates to the 1997 8-Hour 
Ozone Standard, State Implementation Plans: Coachella Valley and 
Western Mojave Desert 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Areas,'' September 
22, 2014. Other elements of CARB's SIP submittal include: AVAQMD, 
``Federal 8-Hour Ozone Attainment Plan (Western Mojave Desert Non-
attainment Area),'' May 20, 2008; MDAQMD, ``Federal 8-Hour Ozone 
Attainment Plan (Western Mojave Desert Non-attainment Area),'' June 
9, 2008; CARB, ``2007 State Strategy for the California State 
Implementation Plan,'' April 26, 2007, and Appendices A-G, Release 
Date May 7, 2007. See letter from Richard Corey, Executive Officer 
CARB, to Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, US. EPA dated 
November 6, 2014, with enclosures.
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B. CAA Procedural and Administrative Requirements for SIP Submittals

    Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) and 110(l) of the CAA require a state to 
provide reasonable public notice and opportunity for public hearing 
prior to the adoption and submittal of a SIP or SIP revision. To meet 
this requirement, every SIP submittal should include evidence that 
adequate public notice was given and an opportunity for a public 
hearing was provided, consistent with the EPA's implementing 
regulations in 40 CFR 51.102.
    For the 2014 SIP Update, CARB provided a public comment period from 
September 22, 2014, to October 24, 2014, and held a public hearing, on 
October 24, 2014. CARB formally adopted the 2014 SIP Update in Board 
Resolution 14-29 on October 24, 2014. Therefore, we find the submittals 
meet the procedural requirements of CAA sections 110(a) and 110(l).
    Section 110(k)(1)(B) of the CAA requires that the EPA determine 
whether a SIP submittal is complete within 60 days of receipt. This 
section also provides that any plan that the EPA has not affirmatively 
determined to be complete or incomplete will become complete six months 
after the date of submittal by operation of law. The EPA's SIP 
completeness criteria are found at 40 CFR part 51, Appendix V. The 2014 
SIP Update was submitted to the EPA on November 6, 2014, and became 
complete by operation of law on May 6, 2015.

III. The EPA's Evaluation and Action

A. Requirements for the ROP Demonstration

    For areas classified as Moderate or above, CAA section 182(b)(1) 
requires a SIP revision providing for ROP, defined as a one time, 15 
percent actual VOC emission reduction during the six years following 
the baseline year 1990, for an average reduction of 3 percent per year. 
For areas designated Serious nonattainment or above, no further action 
is necessary if the area fulfilled its ROP requirement for the 1-hour 
NAAQS (from 1990-1996). As the EPA explained in the 1997 Ozone 
Implementation Rule,\5\ for areas that did not meet the 15 percent VOC 
ROP reduction for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS, a state may notify the EPA 
that it wishes to rely on a previously submitted SIP (for the 1-hour 
ozone NAAQS), or it may elect to submit a new or revised SIP addressing 
the 15 percent VOC ROP reduction (for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS). The 
ROP demonstration requirement is a continuing applicable requirement 
for the WMD under the EPA's anti-backsliding rules that apply once a 
NAAQS has been revoked. See 40 CFR 51.1105(a)(1) and 51.1100(o)(4).
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    \5\ 69 FR 23980 (October 27, 2004).
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    The CAA outlines and EPA guidance details the method for 
calculating the requirements for the 1990-1996 period. Section 
182(b)(1) requires that reductions: (1) Be in addition to those needed 
to offset any growth in emissions between the base year and the 
milestone year; (2) exclude emission reductions from four prescribed 
federal programs (i.e., the federal motor vehicle control program, the 
federal Reid vapor pressure (RVP) requirements, any RACT corrections 
previously specified by the EPA, and any inspection and maintenance (I/
M) program corrections necessary to meet the basic I/M level);

[[Page 13088]]

and (3) be calculated from an ``adjusted'' baseline relative to the 
year for which the reduction is applicable.
    The adjusted base year inventory excludes emission reductions from 
fleet turnover between 1990 and 1996 and from federal RVP regulations 
that were promulgated by November 15, 1990, or required under section 
211(h) of the Act. The effect of these adjustments is that states are 
not able to take credit for emissions reductions that would result from 
fleet turnover of current federal standard cars and trucks, or from 
already existing federal fuel regulations. However, the SIP can take 
full credit for the benefits of any new (i.e., post-1990) vehicle 
emissions standards, as well as any other new federal or state motor 
vehicle or fuel program that will be implemented in the nonattainment 
area, such as Tier 1 exhaust standards, new evaporative emissions 
standards, reformulated gasoline, enhanced I/M, California low 
emissions vehicle program, and transportation control measures.
    The Southeast Desert, which includes the WMD, has attained the 1-
hour ozone NAAQS,\6\ but we have not approved a 15 percent ROP plan for 
the 1-hour ozone NAAQS in the area. Per 40 CFR 51.1118, our 
determination that the area attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS means that 
the Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) requirement (including the 15 
percent ROP requirement for VOCs) no longer applies to the 1-hour ozone 
NAAQS for the Southeast Desert area. The ROP demonstration requirement 
remains in effect for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, and the WMD must 
therefore demonstrate a six-year, 15 percent VOC ROP reduction.
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    \6\ See 80 FR 20166 (April 15, 2015).
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B. The ROP Demonstration in the 2014 SIP Update

    The 2014 SIP Update incorporates the 15 percent VOC ROP 
demonstration as an element of the RFP demonstration, contained in 
Appendix C and discussed on page 10. For today's notice, we are acting 
only on the ROP emissions demonstration. Table C-2 in the 2014 SIP 
Update was used to create Table 1 below. The revised 15 percent ROP 
demonstration compares milestone year average summer weekday emissions 
of VOC \7\ with a 2002 base year inventory. Based on the progress of 
the VOC emissions reductions from 2002 to 2008, the State concluded 
that the WMD did not meet the ROP demonstration requirement in 2008, 
but found that it met the requirement in the subsequent reporting 
milestone, in 2011. See 2014 SIP Update at 10.
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    \7\ The 2014 SIP Update uses the term Reactive Organic Gasses, 
or ROG, instead of VOC. These terms are essentially synonymous. For 
simplicity, we use the term VOC in this notice to mean either VOC or 
ROG.

 Table 1--15 Percent Rate of Progress Demonstration for VOC Emissions in
                               the WMD \a\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  VOC
                        VOC emissions                          emissions
                                                                  (tpd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 2002 baseline inventory...................................       71.5
2. 2008 remaining emissions..................................       63.1
3. 2008 goal (remaining emissions after 15% ROP Reduction           58.2
 required from 2002 baseline)................................
4. ROP reduction achieved by 2008 (Compare Line 3 to Line 2)?         No
5. 2011 remaining emissions..................................       56.1
6. ROP reduction achieved by 2011 (compare Line 5 to Line 2)?        Yes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Source: 2014 SIP Update, Table C-2.

C. The EPA's Evaluation of the ROP Demonstration and Proposed Action

    The 2014 SIP Update demonstrates that the WMD achieved the 15 
percent reduction in VOC emissions required by CAA section 182(b)(1). 
Although the state did not demonstrate these reductions within the six-
year period set out in this section, it has shown that all necessary 
reductions were achieved in the earliest subsequent reporting period. 
The EPA has previously approved ROP demonstrations with a demonstration 
date more than six years from a baseline year.\8\ We therefore propose 
to approve the ROP demonstration for the WMD.
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    \8\ See, e.g., 65 FR 31485 (May 18, 2000). This approach was 
upheld in Sierra Club v. EPA, 252 F.3d 943 (8th Cir. 2001).
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IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a 
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and 
applicable federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). 
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA's role is to approve State 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. 
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 Clean Air Act; and
     Does not provide the EPA with the discretionary authority 
to address disproportionate human health or environmental effects with 
practical, appropriate, and legally permissible methods under Executive 
Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian 
reservation land or in any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe 
has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of 
Indian country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not 
impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal 
law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 
2000).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

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

    Dated: January 13, 2017.
Deborah Jordan,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2017-04692 Filed 3-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                    13086                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 45 / Thursday, March 9, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                    IV. Proposed Action                                     Technology Transfer and Advancement                   DATES:  Any comments must arrive by
                                                       The EPA is proposing to approve the                  Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because              April 10, 2017.
                                                    Arizona SIP revisions removing ADEQ                     application of those requirements would               ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                    R18–2–310 and MCAQD Rule 140 from                       be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;               identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R09–
                                                    the ADEQ and MCAQD portions of the                      and                                                   OAR–2017–0028 at http://
                                                    Arizona SIP. The EPA is proposing                          • Does not provide the EPA with the                www.regulations.gov, or via email to
                                                    approval of the SIP revisions because                   discretionary authority to address                    kelly.thomasp@epa.gov. For comments
                                                    the Agency has determined that they are                 disproportionate human health or                      submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the
                                                    in accordance with the requirements for                 environmental effects with practical,                 online instructions for submitting
                                                    SIP provisions under the CAA. The EPA                   appropriate, and legally permissible                  comments. Once submitted, comments
                                                    is not reopening the SSM SIP Action in                  methods under Executive Order 12898                   cannot be removed or edited from
                                                    this action and is only taking comment                  (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                      Regulations.gov. For either manner of
                                                    on whether this SIP revision is                         In addition, the SIP is not approved to               submission, the EPA may publish any
                                                    consistent with CAA requirements and                    apply on any Indian reservation land or               comment received to its public docket.
                                                    whether it addresses the identified                     in any other area where the EPA or an                 Do not submit electronically any
                                                    substantial inadequacy in the specific                  Indian tribe has demonstrated that a                  information you consider to be
                                                    Arizona SIP provisions identified in the                tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of             Confidential Business Information (CBI)
                                                    SSM SIP Action.                                         Indian country, the rule does not have                or other information whose disclosure is
                                                                                                            tribal implications and will not impose               restricted by statute. Multimedia
                                                    V. Statutory and Executive Order                                                                              submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
                                                                                                            substantial direct costs on tribal
                                                    Reviews                                                                                                       accompanied by a written comment.
                                                                                                            governments or preempt tribal law as
                                                       Under the Clean Air Act, the                         specified by Executive Order 13175 (65                The written comment is considered the
                                                    Administrator is required to approve                    FR 67249, November 9, 2000).                          official comment and should include
                                                    SIP submissions that comply with the                                                                          discussion of all points you wish to
                                                    provisions of the Act and applicable                    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                    make. The EPA will generally not
                                                    federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k);                   Environmental protection, Air                       consider comments or comment
                                                    40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP                 pollution control, Carbon monoxide,                   contents located outside of the primary
                                                    submissions, the EPA’s role is to                       Incorporation by reference,                           submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or
                                                    approve state choices, provided that                    Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen                 other file sharing system). For
                                                    they meet the criteria of the Clean Air                 dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter,                   additional submission methods, please
                                                    Act. Accordingly, this proposed action                  Reporting and recordkeeping                           contact the person identified in the FOR
                                                    merely proposes to approve state                        requirements, Volatile organic                        FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
                                                    requests as meeting federal                             compounds.                                            For the full EPA public comment policy,
                                                    requirements and does not impose                          Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                                                                                                                                  information about CBI or multimedia
                                                    additional requirements beyond those                                                                          submissions, and general guidance on
                                                    imposed by state law. For that reason,                    Dated: January 18, 2017.                            making effective comments, please visit
                                                    this proposed action:                                   Alexis Strauss,                                       http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                       • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                  Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.             commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                    action’’ subject to review by the Office                [FR Doc. 2017–04683 Filed 3–8–17; 8:45 am]            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
                                                    of Management and Budget under                          BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                Kelly, EPA Region IX, by phone at (415)
                                                    Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,                                                                           972–3856 or by email at kelly.thomasp@
                                                    October 4, 1993);                                                                                             epa.gov.
                                                       • Does not impose an information                     ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                    collection burden under the provisions                  AGENCY                                                Throughout this document, ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’
                                                    of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                                                                            and ‘‘our’’ refer to the EPA.
                                                    U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                   40 CFR Part 52
                                                       • Is certified as not having a                                                                             Table of Contents
                                                                                                            [EPA–R09–OAR–2017–0028; FRL–9958–81–
                                                    significant economic impact on a                        Region 9]                                             I. Background
                                                    substantial number of small entities                                                                          II. The State’s SIP Submittal
                                                    under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                 Approval of California Air Plan                          A. Documents Comprising the SIP
                                                    U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                    Revisions, Western Mojave Desert,                           Submittal
                                                       • Does not contain any unfunded                      Rate of Progress Demonstration                           B. CAA Procedural and Administrative
                                                    mandate or significantly or uniquely                                                                                Requirements for SIP Submittals
                                                    affect small governments, as described                  AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                     III. The EPA’s Evaluation and Action
                                                    in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                     Agency (EPA).                                            A. Requirements for the ROP
                                                                                                                                                                        Demonstration
                                                    of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);                                ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                                                                                                                                     B. The ROP Demonstration in the 2014 SIP
                                                       • Does not have Federalism                                                                                       Update
                                                    implications as specified in Executive                  SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                  C. The EPA’s Evaluation of the ROP
                                                    Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                    Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a                      Demonstration and Proposed Action
                                                    1999);                                                  state implementation plan revision                    IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                                                       • Is not an economically significant                 submitted by the State of California to
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                            meet Clean Air Act requirements                       I. Background
                                                    regulatory action based on health or
                                                    safety risks subject to Executive Order                 applicable to the Western Mojave Desert                  Following promulgation of a new or
                                                    13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                    (WMD) ozone nonattainment area. The                   revised NAAQS, the EPA is required by
                                                       • Is not a significant regulatory action             EPA is proposing to approve the initial               the Clean Air Act (CAA or ‘‘Act’’) to
                                                    subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR                 six-year 15 percent rate of progress                  designate areas throughout the nation as
                                                    28355, May 22, 2001);                                   demonstration to address requirements                 attaining or not attaining the NAAQS. In
                                                       • Is not subject to requirements of                  for the 1997 8-hour ozone national                    the ‘‘Final Rule To Implement the 8-
                                                    section 12(d) of the National                           ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).                Hour Ozone National Ambient Air


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 45 / Thursday, March 9, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                 13087

                                                    Quality Standard—Phase 1,’’ (‘‘Phase 1                  NAAQS for their areas. Designation of                  Therefore, we find the submittals meet
                                                    Rule’’), we designated nonattainment                    an area as nonattainment starts the                    the procedural requirements of CAA
                                                    areas for the 1997 8-hour ozone                         process for a state to develop and                     sections 110(a) and 110(l).
                                                    NAAQS. See 69 FR 23858 (April 30,                       submit to the EPA a state                                Section 110(k)(1)(B) of the CAA
                                                    2004). The designations and                             implementation plan (SIP) providing for                requires that the EPA determine
                                                    classifications for the 1997 8-hour ozone               attainment of the NAAQS under title 1,                 whether a SIP submittal is complete
                                                    NAAQS for California areas are codified                 part D of the CAA. For the 1997 8-hour                 within 60 days of receipt. This section
                                                    at 40 CFR 81.305. In the Phase 1 Rule,                  ozone NAAQS areas designated as                        also provides that any plan that the EPA
                                                    the EPA classified the WMD as                           nonattainment effective June 15, 2004,                 has not affirmatively determined to be
                                                    Moderate nonattainment for the 1997 8-                  this attainment SIP was due by June 15,                complete or incomplete will become
                                                    hour ozone NAAQS, with an attainment                    2007. See CAA section 172(b) and 40                    complete six months after the date of
                                                    date no later than June 15, 2010. See 69                CFR 51.908(a) and 51.910.                              submittal by operation of law. The
                                                    FR 23858, 23884.                                                                                               EPA’s SIP completeness criteria are
                                                       On February 14, 2008, the California                 II. The State’s SIP Submittal
                                                                                                                                                                   found at 40 CFR part 51, Appendix V.
                                                    Air Resources Board (CARB) requested                    A. Documents Comprising the SIP                        The 2014 SIP Update was submitted to
                                                    that the EPA reclassify three California                Submittal                                              the EPA on November 6, 2014, and
                                                    areas designated nonattainment for the                                                                         became complete by operation of law on
                                                                                                               California has made several SIP
                                                    1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.1 For the                                                                              May 6, 2015.
                                                                                                            submittals to address the CAA planning
                                                    WMD, CARB requested reclassification
                                                                                                            requirements for attaining the 1997 8-                 III. The EPA’s Evaluation and Action
                                                    from Moderate to Severe-17.2 On March
                                                                                                            hour ozone NAAQS in the WMD. In
                                                    14, 2012, CARB submitted a                                                                                     A. Requirements for the ROP
                                                                                                            today’s proposal, we are proposing to
                                                    clarification requesting that the EPA                                                                          Demonstration
                                                                                                            take action only on the 15 percent
                                                    reclassify the WMD from Moderate to                                                                               For areas classified as Moderate or
                                                                                                            volatile organic compound (VOC) rate of
                                                    Severe-15.3 Consistent with section                                                                            above, CAA section 182(b)(1) requires a
                                                                                                            progress (ROP) determination for the
                                                    181(b)(3) of the CAA, we granted the                                                                           SIP revision providing for ROP, defined
                                                                                                            WMD. This demonstration is contained
                                                    State’s request and reclassified the                                                                           as a one time, 15 percent actual VOC
                                                                                                            in the 2014 CARB staff report entitled
                                                    WMD area from Moderate to Severe-15                                                                            emission reduction during the six years
                                                                                                            ‘‘Proposed Updates to the 1997 8-Hour
                                                    nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour                                                                              following the baseline year 1990, for an
                                                                                                            Ozone Standard, State Implementation
                                                    ozone NAAQS, with an attainment date                                                                           average reduction of 3 percent per year.
                                                                                                            Plans: Coachella Valley and Western
                                                    of no later than June 15, 2019. See 77                                                                         For areas designated Serious
                                                                                                            Mojave Desert 8-hour Ozone
                                                    FR 26950 (May 8, 2012).                                                                                        nonattainment or above, no further
                                                                                                            Nonattainment Areas’’ (‘‘2014 SIP
                                                       The WMD is located in northeast Los                                                                         action is necessary if the area fulfilled
                                                                                                            Update’’).4
                                                    Angeles County and southwest San                                                                               its ROP requirement for the 1-hour
                                                    Bernardino County. For a precise                        B. CAA Procedural and Administrative                   NAAQS (from 1990–1996). As the EPA
                                                    description of the geographic                           Requirements for SIP Submittals                        explained in the 1997 Ozone
                                                    boundaries of the area, see 40 CFR                                                                             Implementation Rule,5 for areas that did
                                                                                                              Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) and 110(l)
                                                    81.305. The Los Angeles County portion
                                                                                                            of the CAA require a state to provide                  not meet the 15 percent VOC ROP
                                                    of the WMD area is under the
                                                                                                            reasonable public notice and                           reduction for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS,
                                                    jurisdiction of the Antelope Valley Air
                                                                                                            opportunity for public hearing prior to                a state may notify the EPA that it wishes
                                                    Quality Management District
                                                                                                            the adoption and submittal of a SIP or                 to rely on a previously submitted SIP
                                                    (AVAQMD), and the San Bernardino
                                                                                                            SIP revision. To meet this requirement,                (for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS), or it may
                                                    County portion of the area is under the
                                                                                                            every SIP submittal should include                     elect to submit a new or revised SIP
                                                    jurisdiction of the Mojave Desert Air
                                                                                                            evidence that adequate public notice                   addressing the 15 percent VOC ROP
                                                    Quality Management District
                                                                                                            was given and an opportunity for a                     reduction (for the 1997 8-hour ozone
                                                    (MDAQMD). The districts and State are
                                                                                                            public hearing was provided, consistent                NAAQS). The ROP demonstration
                                                    responsible for adopting and submitting
                                                                                                            with the EPA’s implementing                            requirement is a continuing applicable
                                                    plans to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone
                                                                                                            regulations in 40 CFR 51.102.                          requirement for the WMD under the
                                                       1 See letter dated February 14, 2008, from James
                                                                                                              For the 2014 SIP Update, CARB                        EPA’s anti-backsliding rules that apply
                                                    N. Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB, to Wayne         provided a public comment period from                  once a NAAQS has been revoked. See
                                                    Nastri, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9. In        September 22, 2014, to October 24,                     40 CFR 51.1105(a)(1) and 51.1100(o)(4).
                                                    addition to the WMD, CARB requested that the EPA        2014, and held a public hearing, on                       The CAA outlines and EPA guidance
                                                    reclassify the Ventura County and Sacramento            October 24, 2014. CARB formally                        details the method for calculating the
                                                    Metro ozone nonattainment areas under CAA
                                                    section 181(b)(3) to higher classifications for the     adopted the 2014 SIP Update in Board                   requirements for the 1990–1996 period.
                                                    1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Pursuant to this               Resolution 14–29 on October 24, 2014.                  Section 182(b)(1) requires that
                                                    request, the EPA reclassified the Ventura County                                                               reductions: (1) Be in addition to those
                                                    area from Moderate to Serious nonattainment                4 CARB, Staff Report, ‘‘Proposed Updates to the
                                                                                                                                                                   needed to offset any growth in
                                                    effective June 19, 2008, 73 FR 29073 (May 20,           1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard, State Implementation
                                                    2008), and reclassified the Sacramento Metro area                                                              emissions between the base year and the
                                                                                                            Plans: Coachella Valley and Western Mojave Desert
                                                    from Serious to Severe-15 nonattainment effective       8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Areas,’’ September 22,      milestone year; (2) exclude emission
                                                    June 4, 2010, 75 FR 24409 (May 5, 2010).                2014. Other elements of CARB’s SIP submittal           reductions from four prescribed federal
                                                       2 CARB subsequently submitted a SIP revision for
                                                                                                            include: AVAQMD, ‘‘Federal 8-Hour Ozone                programs (i.e., the federal motor vehicle
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                                                    this area to address the attainment demonstration       Attainment Plan (Western Mojave Desert Non-
                                                    and related requirements for severe-17 ozone
                                                                                                                                                                   control program, the federal Reid vapor
                                                                                                            attainment Area),’’ May 20, 2008; MDAQMD,
                                                    nonattainment areas. See July 22, 2008, letter and      ‘‘Federal 8-Hour Ozone Attainment Plan (Western        pressure (RVP) requirements, any RACT
                                                    enclosures from James N. Goldstene, Executive           Mojave Desert Non-attainment Area),’’ June 9, 2008;    corrections previously specified by the
                                                    Officer, CARB, to Wayne Nastri, Regional                CARB, ‘‘2007 State Strategy for the California State   EPA, and any inspection and
                                                    Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection            Implementation Plan,’’ April 26, 2007, and
                                                    Agency, Region 9.
                                                                                                                                                                   maintenance (I/M) program corrections
                                                                                                            Appendices A–G, Release Date May 7, 2007. See
                                                       3 See letter dated March 14, 2012, from James N.     letter from Richard Corey, Executive Officer CARB,     necessary to meet the basic I/M level);
                                                    Goldstene, Executive Director, CARB, to Jared           to Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, US.
                                                    Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9.       EPA dated November 6, 2014, with enclosures.            5 69   FR 23980 (October 27, 2004).



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                                                    13088                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 45 / Thursday, March 9, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                    and (3) be calculated from an ‘‘adjusted’’              the State concluded that the WMD did                   of Management and Budget under
                                                    baseline relative to the year for which                 not meet the ROP demonstration                         Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
                                                    the reduction is applicable.                            requirement in 2008, but found that it                 October 4, 1993);
                                                       The adjusted base year inventory                     met the requirement in the subsequent                     • Does not impose an information
                                                    excludes emission reductions from fleet                 reporting milestone, in 2011. See 2014                 collection burden under the provisions
                                                    turnover between 1990 and 1996 and                      SIP Update at 10.                                      of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                                    from federal RVP regulations that were                                                                         U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
                                                    promulgated by November 15, 1990, or                          TABLE 1—15 PERCENT RATE OF                          • Is certified as not having a
                                                    required under section 211(h) of the                          PROGRESS DEMONSTRATION FOR                       significant economic impact on a
                                                    Act. The effect of these adjustments is                       VOC EMISSIONS IN THE WMD a                       substantial number of small entities
                                                    that states are not able to take credit for                                                                    under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                                    emissions reductions that would result                                                               VOC       U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                                                    from fleet turnover of current federal                             VOC emissions                   emissions      • Does not contain any unfunded
                                                    standard cars and trucks, or from                                                                    (tpd)
                                                                                                                                                                   mandate or significantly or uniquely
                                                    already existing federal fuel regulations.                                                                     affect small governments, as described
                                                                                                            1. 2002 baseline inventory ...........          71.5
                                                    However, the SIP can take full credit for               2. 2008 remaining emissions .......             63.1   in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                                    the benefits of any new (i.e., post-1990)               3. 2008 goal (remaining emis-                          of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
                                                    vehicle emissions standards, as well as                   sions after 15% ROP Reduction                           • Does not have Federalism
                                                    any other new federal or state motor                      required from 2002 baseline) ....             58.2   implications as specified in Executive
                                                    vehicle or fuel program that will be                    4. ROP reduction achieved by
                                                                                                                                                                   Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                                    implemented in the nonattainment area,                    2008 (Compare Line 3 to Line
                                                                                                              2)?                                            No    1999);
                                                    such as Tier 1 exhaust standards, new
                                                    evaporative emissions standards,                        5. 2011 remaining emissions .......             56.1      • Is not an economically significant
                                                    reformulated gasoline, enhanced I/M,                    6. ROP reduction achieved by                           regulatory action based on health or
                                                    California low emissions vehicle
                                                                                                              2011 (compare Line 5 to Line                         safety risks subject to Executive Order
                                                                                                              2)?                                            Yes   13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
                                                    program, and transportation control
                                                    measures.                                                 a   Source: 2014 SIP Update, Table C–2.                 • Is not a significant regulatory action
                                                       The Southeast Desert, which includes                                                                        subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
                                                                                                            C. The EPA’s Evaluation of the ROP                     28355, May 22, 2001);
                                                    the WMD, has attained the 1-hour ozone                  Demonstration and Proposed Action
                                                    NAAQS,6 but we have not approved a                                                                                • Is not subject to requirements of
                                                    15 percent ROP plan for the 1-hour                        The 2014 SIP Update demonstrates                     section 12(d) of the National
                                                    ozone NAAQS in the area. Per 40 CFR                     that the WMD achieved the 15 percent                   Technology Transfer and Advancement
                                                    51.1118, our determination that the area                reduction in VOC emissions required by                 Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
                                                    attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS                         CAA section 182(b)(1). Although the                    application of those requirements would
                                                    means that the Reasonable Further                       state did not demonstrate these                        be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;
                                                    Progress (RFP) requirement (including                   reductions within the six-year period set              and
                                                    the 15 percent ROP requirement for                      out in this section, it has shown that all                • Does not provide the EPA with the
                                                    VOCs) no longer applies to the 1-hour                   necessary reductions were achieved in                  discretionary authority to address
                                                    ozone NAAQS for the Southeast Desert                    the earliest subsequent reporting period.              disproportionate human health or
                                                    area. The ROP demonstration                             The EPA has previously approved ROP                    environmental effects with practical,
                                                    requirement remains in effect for the                   demonstrations with a demonstration                    appropriate, and legally permissible
                                                    1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, and the                        date more than six years from a baseline               methods under Executive Order 12898
                                                    WMD must therefore demonstrate a six-                   year.8 We therefore propose to approve                 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
                                                    year, 15 percent VOC ROP reduction.                     the ROP demonstration for the WMD.                        In addition, the SIP is not approved
                                                                                                            IV. Statutory and Executive Order                      to apply on any Indian reservation land
                                                    B. The ROP Demonstration in the 2014                                                                           or in any other area where the EPA or
                                                    SIP Update                                              Reviews
                                                                                                                                                                   an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
                                                      The 2014 SIP Update incorporates the                    Under the Clean Air Act, the
                                                                                                                                                                   tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of
                                                    15 percent VOC ROP demonstration as                     Administrator is required to approve a
                                                                                                                                                                   Indian country, the rule does not have
                                                    an element of the RFP demonstration,                    SIP submission that complies with the
                                                                                                                                                                   tribal implications and will not impose
                                                                                                            provisions of the Act and applicable
                                                    contained in Appendix C and discussed                                                                          substantial direct costs on tribal
                                                                                                            federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k);
                                                    on page 10. For today’s notice, we are                                                                         governments or preempt tribal law as
                                                                                                            40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP
                                                    acting only on the ROP emissions                                                                               specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
                                                                                                            submissions, the EPA’s role is to
                                                    demonstration. Table C–2 in the 2014                                                                           FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
                                                                                                            approve State choices, provided that
                                                    SIP Update was used to create Table 1
                                                                                                            they meet the criteria of the Clean Air                List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                                    below. The revised 15 percent ROP
                                                                                                            Act. Accordingly, this action merely
                                                    demonstration compares milestone year                                                                            Environmental protection, Air
                                                                                                            proposes to approve State law as
                                                    average summer weekday emissions of                                                                            pollution control, Incorporation by
                                                                                                            meeting federal requirements and does
                                                    VOC 7 with a 2002 base year inventory.                                                                         reference, Intergovernmental relations,
                                                                                                            not impose additional requirements
                                                    Based on the progress of the VOC                                                                               Ozone, Volatile organic compounds.
                                                                                                            beyond those imposed by State law. For
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                                                    emissions reductions from 2002 to 2008,                                                                          Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                                                                            that reason, this proposed action:
                                                      6 See
                                                                                                              • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                    Dated: January 13, 2017.
                                                           80 FR 20166 (April 15, 2015).
                                                      7 The 2014 SIP Update uses the term Reactive
                                                                                                            action’’ subject to review by the Office               Deborah Jordan,
                                                    Organic Gasses, or ROG, instead of VOC. These                                                                  Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
                                                    terms are essentially synonymous. For simplicity,         8 See, e.g., 65 FR 31485 (May 18, 2000). This

                                                    we use the term VOC in this notice to mean either       approach was upheld in Sierra Club v. EPA, 252         [FR Doc. 2017–04692 Filed 3–8–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    VOC or ROG.                                             F.3d 943 (8th Cir. 2001).                              BILLING CODE 6560–50–P




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Document Created: 2017-03-09 04:59:14
Document Modified: 2017-03-09 04:59:14
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.
DatesAny comments must arrive by April 10, 2017.
ContactTom Kelly, EPA Region IX, by phone at (415) 972-3856 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 13086 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Ozone and Volatile Organic Compounds

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