82 FR 1651 - Addition of Natural Gas Processing Facilities to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 4 (January 6, 2017)

EPA is proposing to add natural gas processing (NGP) facilities (also known as natural gas liquid extraction facilities) to the scope of the industrial sectors covered by the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), commonly known as the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Adding these facilities would meaningfully increase the information available to the public on releases and other waste management of listed chemicals from the natural gas processing sector and further the purposes of EPCRA section 313. EPA estimates that at least 282 NGP facilities in the U.S. would meet the TRI employee threshold (10 full- time employees or equivalent) and manufacture, process, or otherwise use (threshold activities) at least one TRI-listed chemical in excess of applicable threshold quantities. NGP facilities in the U.S. manufacture, process, or otherwise use more than 21 different TRI- listed chemicals, including n-hexane, hydrogen sulfide, toluene, benzene, xylene, and methanol. EPA expects that TRI reporting by U.S. NGP facilities would provide significant release and waste management data on these chemicals to the public.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 4 (Friday, January 6, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1651-1656]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31921]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 372

[EPA-HQ-TRI-2016-0390; FRL-9953-68]
RIN 2070-AK16


Addition of Natural Gas Processing Facilities to the Toxics 
Release Inventory (TRI)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to add natural gas processing (NGP) 
facilities (also known as natural gas liquid extraction facilities) to 
the scope of the industrial sectors covered by the reporting 
requirements of section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community 
Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), commonly known as the Toxics Release 
Inventory (TRI) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). 
Adding these facilities would meaningfully increase the information 
available to the public on releases and other waste management of 
listed chemicals from the natural gas processing sector and further the 
purposes of EPCRA section 313. EPA estimates that at least 282 NGP 
facilities in the U.S. would meet the TRI employee threshold (10 full-
time employees or equivalent) and manufacture, process, or otherwise 
use (threshold activities) at least one TRI-listed chemical in excess 
of applicable threshold quantities. NGP facilities in the U.S. 
manufacture, process, or otherwise use more than 21 different TRI-
listed chemicals, including n-hexane, hydrogen sulfide, toluene, 
benzene, xylene, and methanol. EPA expects that TRI reporting by U.S. 
NGP facilities would provide significant release and waste management 
data on these chemicals to the public.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
TRI-2016-0390, at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. 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. 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 (e.g., mail or hand 
delivery), 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.
    Docket: The docket contains supporting information used in 
developing the proposed rule, comments on the proposed rule, and 
additional supporting information. A public version of the docket is 
available for inspection and copying between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays, at the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center Reading Room, WJC 
West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20004. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
David Turk, Regulatory Development Branch, Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (7410M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; 202-566-1527; email 
address: [email protected], for specific information on this notice.
    For general information contact: The Emergency Planning and 
Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Hotline; telephone numbers: toll 
free at (800) 424-9346 (select menu option 3) or (703) 412-9810 in the 
Washington, DC Area and International; or toll free, TDD (800) 553-
7672; or go to http://www.epa.gov/superfund/contacts/infocenter.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    Entities potentially regulated by this proposed action are those 
facilities that primarily engage in the recovery of liquid hydrocarbons 
from oil and gas field gases, including facilities that engage in 
sulfur recovery from natural gas, and which manufacture, process, or 
otherwise use chemicals listed at 40 CFR 372.65 and meet the reporting 
requirements of EPCRA section 313, 42 U.S.C. 11023, and PPA section 
6607, 42 U.S.C. 13106. These facilities are categorized under Standard 
Industrial Classification (SIC) code 1321 and North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) code 211112. Note that the TRI 
regulations currently use the 2012 set of NAICS codes, as discussed 
further in Units II.D. and IV.C.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
http://www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of 
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk 
or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM 
as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as 
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting 
comments, see the commenting tips at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/comments.html.

II. Introduction

A. What is the statutory authority for this proposed rule?

    This action is taken under EPCRA sections 313(b) and 328, 42 U.S.C. 
11023(b) and 11048.
    Specifically, EPCRA section 313(b)(1)(B), 42 U.S.C. 11023(b)(1)(B), 
states that the Agency may ``add or

[[Page 1652]]

delete Standard Industrial Codes for purposes of subparagraph (A), but 
only to the extent necessary to provide that each Standard Industrial 
Code is relevant to the purposes of this section.'' In addition, 
Congress granted EPA broad rulemaking authority under EPCRA section 
328, 28 U.S.C. 11048, which provides that the ``Administrator may 
prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this 
chapter.''

B. What are the toxics release inventory reporting requirements and 
whom do they affect?

    EPCRA section 313, 42 U.S.C. 11023, requires certain facilities 
that manufacture, process, or otherwise use listed toxic chemicals in 
amounts above reporting threshold levels to report their environmental 
releases and other waste management quantities of such chemicals 
annually. These facilities must also report pollution prevention and 
recycling data for such chemicals, pursuant to PPA section 6607, 42 
U.S.C. 13106. Congress established the original scope of TRI sectors 
subject to EPCRA section 313 reporting, requiring reporting by 
facilities in the manufacturing sectors covered by SIC codes 20 through 
39. In 1997, EPA exercised its statutory authority under EPCRA to add 
SIC Codes to the scope of TRI, adding (with some limitations) metal 
mining, coal mining, electric utilities, commercial hazardous waste 
treatment, chemicals and allied products-wholesale, petroleum bulk 
plants and terminals-wholesale, and solvent recovery services. (62 FR 
23834, May 1, 1997).
    Regulations at 40 CFR part 372, subpart B, require facilities that 
meet all of the following criteria to report:
     The facility has 10 or more full-time employee equivalents 
(i.e., a total of 20,000 hours worked per year or greater; see 40 CFR 
372.3); and
     The facility is included in a NAICS Code listed at 40 CFR 
372.23, or under Executive Order 13148, Federal facilities regardless 
of their industry classification; and
     The facility manufactures (defined by statute to include 
importing), processes, or otherwise uses any EPCRA section 313 (TRI) 
chemical in quantities greater than the established thresholds for the 
specific chemical in the course of a calendar year.
    Facilities that meet the criteria must file a Form R report or, in 
some cases, may submit a Form A Certification Statement, for each 
listed toxic chemical for which the criteria are met. As specified in 
EPCRA section 313(a), the report for any calendar year must be 
submitted on or before July 1 of the following year. For example, 
reporting year 2015 data should have been postmarked on or before July 
1, 2016.
    The list of toxic chemicals subject to TRI reporting can be found 
at 40 CFR 372.65. This list is also published every year as Table II in 
the current version of the Toxics Release Inventory Reporting Forms and 
Instructions. The current TRI chemical list contains 594 individually 
listed chemicals and 31 chemical categories.

C. How does EPA decide to propose adding industry sectors to the 
coverage of TRI?

    As described in Units II.A. and II.B., Congress provided EPA with 
explicit statutory authority to expand the categories of facilities 
required to report under EPCRA section 313, and EPA exercised that 
authority to add sectors in 1997. (62 FR 23834, May 1, 1997). When 
adding these seven sectors, EPA considered three factors:
     Chemical Factor--Whether one or more toxic 
chemicals are reasonably anticipated to be present at facilities within 
the candidate industry group.
     Activity Factor--Whether facilities within the 
candidate industry group ``manufacture,'' ``process,'' or ``otherwise 
use'' these toxic chemicals.
     Information Factor--Whether facilities within 
the candidate industry group can reasonably be anticipated to increase 
the information made available pursuant to EPCRA section 313, or 
otherwise further the purposes of EPCRA section 313. This factor may 
include consideration of: (1) Whether the addition of the candidate 
industry group would lead to reporting by facilities within that 
candidate industry group (e.g., whether facilities within the candidate 
industry group would conduct activities that exceed the reporting 
thresholds in EPCRA section 313(f)); (2) whether facilities within the 
candidate industry group are likely to be subject to an existing 
statutory or regulatory exemption from the requirement to file a Form 
R; (3) whether submitted Form R reports from that industry group could 
be expected to contain release and waste management data; or (4) 
whether a significant portion of the facilities in the industry group 
would be expected to file a Form A. (See 61 FR 33588, 33594, June 27, 
1996).
    As explained in Units II.D. and III.A. of the 1997 Final Rule, EPA 
identified these three factors in determining whether the statutory 
standard in EPCRA section 313(b)(1)(B) would be met by addition of the 
candidate facilities.

D. What are North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
codes?

    On April 9, 1997, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
published in the Federal Register a final decision to adopt the NAICS 
for the U.S. (62 FR 17288.) The NAICS industry classification system 
replaced the SIC system that government agencies had used for 
collecting statistical data and for other administrative and regulatory 
purposes. EPA transitioned to NAICS codes for TRI reporting purposes 
when it amended its regulations on June 6, 2006, to include NAICS codes 
in addition to SIC codes. (71 FR 32464.) The list of TRI NAICS codes 
that appeared in the final rule was developed from the OMB 2002 NAICS 
revision. OMB revises NAICS Codes every 5 years. Accordingly, EPA 
updated the list of TRI NAICS codes in 2008 (73 FR 32466, June 9, 2008) 
(FRL-8577-1) to incorporate changes to the TRI NAICS codes resulting 
from the OMB 2007 NAICS revision. In 2013, EPA updated the list of TRI 
NAICS codes to conform to the OMB 2012 NAICS revision (78 FR 42875, 
July 18, 2013) (FRL-9825-8). On August 8, 2016, OMB published a notice 
to adopt, with one minor exception, the recommended NAICS revisions for 
2017 (81 FR 52584). EPA anticipates promulgating a separate rule to 
align the list of NAICS codes TRI uses to the OMB NAICS revisions for 
2017. An alignment of the NAICS codes used by TRI would not alter the 
scope of this proposed addition of NGP facilities. Because TRI 
currently uses the set of NAICS codes for 2012, this action refers to 
the set of NAICS codes for 2012 unless otherwise stated, as further 
discussed in Unit IV.C.

E. Why do some natural gas processing facilities already submit TRI 
reporting forms to EPA?

    Some NGP facilities are already subject to TRI reporting 
requirements because NGP facilities that primarily recover sulfur from 
natural gas are part of a manufacturing sector that was originally 
subjected to reporting by Congress.
    Specifically, the scope of TRI sectors subject to reporting 
includes SIC code 2819 (Industrial Inorganic Chemicals, Not Elsewhere 
Classified), which was one of the manufacturing sectors in SIC 20-39 
originally required to report to TRI by Congress. SIC code 2819 
crosswalks to several manufacturing sector NAICS codes, including 
211112 (Natural Gas Liquid Extraction), but only to the extent that it 
includes facilities that primarily engage in sulfur recovery from 
natural gas.

[[Page 1653]]

    Thus, when EPA began to use NAICS codes for TRI reporting purposes, 
the Agency listed NAICS 211112 with a qualifier to limit TRI coverage 
of the sector to facilities that fit SIC code 2819. See 40 CFR 
372.23(b) (211112--Natural Gas Liquid Extraction): ``Limited to 
facilities that recover sulfur from natural gas (previously classified 
under SIC 2819, Industrial Inorganic chemicals, NEC (recovering sulfur 
from natural gas)).''

III. Background

    By a letter dated October 24, 2012, the Environmental Integrity 
Project (EIP), together with 16 other organizations, and later joined 
by two additional organizations (collectively, Petitioners), submitted 
a Petition to EPA pursuant to section 553(e) of the Administrative 
Procedure Act (APA) to add the Oil and Gas Extraction industrial sector 
(SIC code 13) to the scope of industrial sectors covered by the 
reporting requirements of the TRI. The Petition and related documents 
can be found in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-TRI-2013-0281 at http://www.regulations.gov.

A. What did the petition request?

    The Petitioners requested that EPA exercise its discretionary TRI 
sector addition authority to add the Oil and Gas Extraction sector, as 
defined by SIC code 13. SIC 13 is broad in scope, comprising the 
following subsectors:
     Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas (SIC 1311);
     Natural Gas Liquids (SIC 1321);
     Drilling Oil and Gas Wells (SIC 1381);
     Oil and Gas Field Exploration Services (SIC 1382); and
     Oil and Gas Field Services, Not Elsewhere Classified (SIC 
1389).
    These SIC-defined subsectors correspond to the following NAICS 
sectors, in whole or in part:
     Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction (NAICS 211111);
     Natural Gas Liquid Extraction (NAICS 211112);
     Drilling Oil and Gas Wells (NAICS 213111);
     Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (NAICS 
213112);
     Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction 
(NAICS 237120);
     Site Preparation Contractors (NAICS 238910); and
     Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (NAICS 541360).
    By requesting that EPA extend the TRI reporting requirements to SIC 
13, the Petition requested that EPA add to TRI the SIC codes 1311, 
1321, 1381, 1382, and 1389, along with the relevant portion of each 
corresponding NAICS code.

B. How did EPA respond?

    On October 22, 2015, EPA granted, in part, the Petition insofar as 
it requested that EPA commence the rulemaking process to propose adding 
NGP facilities to the scope of TRI. EPA denied the remainder of the 
Petition. EPA's response to the Petition, including a full explanation 
of the Agency's rationale, can be found in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-TRI-
2013-0281 and as a reference in the docket for this proposal in Docket 
ID No. EPA-HQ-TRI-2016-0390 (Reference (Ref.) 1).

IV. Proposed Addition of Natural Gas Processing Facilities to the 
Toxics Release Inventory

A. Why is EPA proposing to add NGP facilities to the scope of TRI?

    According to a triennial survey of NGP facilities by the U.S. 
Energy Information Administration (EIA-757 survey), described further 
in an economic analysis EPA prepared for this rulemaking, there were 
517 NGP facilities in the lower 48 states as of 2012 (Ref. 2). As 
explained more fully later in this document, EPA estimates that over 
half of these facilities would annually meet TRI reporting thresholds 
for at least one of more than 21 different TRI-listed chemicals and, if 
covered by the reporting requirements of TRI, would be required to 
submit TRI information to EPA (Ref. 2). The information likely to be 
obtained from these facilities is not readily available elsewhere.
    As discussed previously, EPA generally considers three factors when 
deciding whether to add an industrial sector to the scope of the 
industrial sectors covered by TRI:
    1. Chemical Factor--Whether one or more toxic chemicals are 
reasonably anticipated to be present at facilities within the candidate 
industry group.
    2. Activity Factor--Whether facilities within the candidate 
industry group ``manufacture,'' ``process,'' or ``otherwise use'' these 
toxic chemicals.
    3. Information Factor--Whether facilities within the candidate 
industry group can reasonably be anticipated to increase the 
information made available pursuant to EPCRA section 313, or otherwise 
further the purposes of EPCRA section 313.
    NGP facilities meet these three factors:
     Chemical and Activity factors: TRI-listed chemicals are 
present at NGP facilities (Ref. 2). Using information from Canada's 
National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), a program analogous to TRI 
that already covers NGP facilities, EPA estimates that NGP facilities 
in the U.S. manufacture, process, or otherwise use more than 21 
different TRI-listed chemicals (Ref. 2). These chemicals include n-
hexane, hydrogen sulfide, toluene, benzene, xylene, and methanol (Ref. 
2).
     Information factor: EPA estimates that between 282 and 444 
NGP facilities in the U.S. would meet the TRI employee threshold (10 
full-time employees or equivalent) and manufacture, process, or 
otherwise use at least one TRI-listed chemical in excess of applicable 
threshold quantities (Ref. 2). Furthermore, based upon information 
submitted to Canada's NPRI and the 2012 EIA-757 survey of NGP 
facilities, EPA expects that TRI reporting by U.S. NGP facilities would 
provide significant release and waste management data (Ref. 2). 
Therefore, the addition of NGP facilities to TRI would meaningfully 
increase the information available to the public and further the 
purposes of EPCRA section 313.

B. Scope of Proposed Addition

    NGP facilities are stationary surface facilities that receive gas 
from a gathering system that supplies raw natural gas from many nearby 
wells. These facilities prepare natural gas (composed primarily of 
methane) to industrial or pipeline specifications and extract heavier 
liquid hydrocarbons from the raw or field natural gas. During this 
process, natural gas liquids (NGLs) (i.e., heavier hydrocarbons than 
methane) and contaminants (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and 
nitrogen) are separated from the natural gas stream, resulting in 
processed pipeline quality natural gas. NGLs are fractionated on-site 
into isolated streams (e.g., ethane, propane, butanes, natural 
gasoline) or shipped off-site for subsequent fractionation or other 
processing. Hydrogen sulfide is often either disposed through 
underground injection or reacted into sulfuric acid or elemental 
sulfur, while carbon dioxide and nitrogen may be emitted to the 
atmosphere. The processed pipeline-quality natural gas is then 
transferred to consumers via intra- and inter-state pipeline networks. 
NGLs are primarily used as feedstocks by petrochemical manufacturers or 
refineries.
    SIC 1321 (Natural Gas Liquids) and NAICS 211112 (Natural Gas Liquid 
Extraction) comprise establishments that recover liquid hydrocarbons 
from oil and gas field gases (see discussion in Unit II.E.). NAICS 
211112 includes facilities that primarily recover sulfur from natural 
gas--such facilities already

[[Page 1654]]

report TRI data to EPA because they are in SIC 2819 (Industrial 
Inorganic Chemicals, Not Otherwise Classified), which is a 
manufacturing sector already covered by TRI.
    Current regulations only require NAICS 211112 facilities that 
recover sulfur from natural gas to report TRI data (i.e., facilities in 
SIC 2819). Specifically, 40 CFR 372.23(b), which covers NAICS codes 
that correspond to SIC codes 20 through 39, lists NAICS 211112, but 
states: ``Limited to facilities that recover sulfur from natural gas 
(previously classified under SIC 2819, Industrial Inorganic chemicals, 
NEC (recovering sulfur from natural gas)).'' Removing that limitation 
and adding SIC 1321 to the scope of industry sectors covered by TRI 
would expand TRI coverage to include all NGP facilities that meet TRI-
reporting thresholds.
    To add the facilities contemplated by this proposed rule to the 
scope of industrial sectors that TRI covers, EPA is proposing to:
     Add SIC code 1321 to 40 CFR 372.23(a);
     Remove the ``Exceptions and/or limitations'' language from 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) text for NAICS code 211112 for 
NAICs codes that correspond to SIC codes 20 through 39 in 40 CFR 
372.23(b); and
     Add NAICS code 211112 to the CFR text for NAICS codes that 
correspond to SIC codes other than SIC codes 20 through 39 in 40 CFR 
372.23(c).
    It would be necessary to list NAICS 211112 in both subsections (b) 
and (c) of 40 CFR 372.23 for two reasons: (1) 40 CFR 372.23(b) lists 
NAICS codes that crosswalk to SIC codes within the original scope of 
TRI sectors subject to Section 313 reporting (SIC Codes 20-39), and (2) 
40 CFR 372.23(c) lists NAICS codes that crosswalk to SIC codes not 
within the original scope of TRI sectors. Because NAICS 211112 includes 
a SIC code in the original scope of TRI sectors (SIC 2819) and a SIC 
code not in the original scope of TRI sectors (SIC 1321), EPA proposes 
that NAICS 211112 be listed under both subsections to provide 
additional clarity for the crosswalk.
    This proposal does not seek to add to TRI coverage natural gas 
field facilities that only recover condensate from a stream of natural 
gas, lease separation facilities that separate condensate from natural 
gas, or natural gas pipeline compressor stations that supply energy to 
move gas through transmission or distribution lines into storage. 
Additional examples of operations that this proposal does not intend to 
add to TRI coverage include Joule-Thompson valves, dew point depression 
valves, and isolated or standalone Joule-Thompson skids. The industrial 
operations described in this paragraph often occur at or close to 
extraction sites and are typically classified under NAICS codes other 
than 211112 (e.g., NAICS 211111 (Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas 
Extraction)), and thus are not within the scope of the proposed NAICS 
code addition.
    However, the term ``facility'' is defined by EPCRA section 329(4) 
as ``all buildings, equipment, structures, and other stationary items 
which are located on a single site or on contiguous or adjacent sites 
and which are owned or operated by the same person (or by any person 
which controls, is controlled by, or under common control with, such 
person).'' 42 U.S.C. 11049(4). Accordingly, operations described in the 
previous paragraph could be part of a single ``facility'' with TRI 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements if they are contiguous or 
adjacent to ``buildings, equipment, structures, and other stationary 
items'' with a common owner or operator that are in a covered TRI 
industrial sector.

C. How do recent updates to NAICS codes impact this proposal?

    Every 5 years the OMB updates the NAICS codes to ``clarify existing 
industry definitions and content, recognize new and emerging 
industries, and correct errors and omissions.'' (80 FR 46480, August 4, 
2015). EPA updates its TRI regulations to align with OMB revisions to 
the NAICS codes (see, e.g., 78 FR 42875, July 18, 2013). OMB published 
a ``Notice of Solicitation of Comments on the Economic Classification 
Policy Committee's Recommendations for the 2017 Revision of the North 
American Industry Classification System'' on August 4, 2015 (80 FR 
46480), and published a Notice of Final Decision revising the NAICS 
codes ``for reference years beginning on or after January 1, 2017'' on 
August 8, 2016 (81 FR 52584). As noted in Unit II.D., EPA anticipates 
promulgating a separate rule to align the list of NAICS codes TRI uses 
to the OMB NAICS revisions for 2017.
    In OMB's revisions for the 2017 NAICS codes, facilities performing 
activities involving natural gas that currently classify under NAICS 
211111 (Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction) and NAICS 211112 
(Natural Gas Liquid Extraction) will classify under a new NAICS code: 
211130 (Natural Gas Extraction).
    This proposed rule to add NGP facilities to the scope of the TRI 
proposes to add facilities that primarily engage in the recovery of 
liquid hydrocarbons from oil and gas field gases (and to retain 
facilities that primarily engage in sulfur recovery from natural gas, 
which are already covered facilities), as described in Unit IV.A. This 
proposed rule would accomplish this, based on the 2012 NAICS codes 
currently used by the TRI regulations, by adding SIC code 1321 to 40 
CFR 372.23(a), removing the ``exceptions and/or limitations'' from 
NAICS code 211112 currently found in 40 CFR 372.23(b), and adding NAICS 
code 211112 to 40 CFR 372.23(c). If EPA updates the NAICS codes used 
for TRI reporting purposes to align with the OMB revisions for 2017 
before EPA issues a final rule adding NGP facilities to TRI, then if 
EPA issues a final rule adding NGP facilities to TRI, that final rule 
will reflect the appropriate new NAICS code (i.e., NAICS 211130), 
qualified by any appropriate ``exceptions and/or limitations,'' to add 
NGP facilities, as described in Unit IV.A., and would incorporate 
changes, if any, to the proposed scope of the addition, as appropriate 
in light of comments received on the proposal. That is, the actual 
scope of the addition to TRI here being proposed would not be affected 
by the 2017 OMB NAICS revision, or by any EPA update of its TRI 
regulations to align with the 2017 OMB revision.

V. References

    The following is a listing of the documents that are specifically 
referenced in this document. For assistance in locating reference 
documents, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    1. USEPA. Formal Response to October, 24, 2012, Petition to Add the 
Oil and Gas Extraction Industry, Standard Industrial Classification 
Code 13, to the List of Facilities Required to Report under Section 313 
of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. October 22, 
2015.
    2. USEPA, OPPT. Economic Analysis of the Proposed Addition of 
Natural Gas Processing Facilities to the Toxics Release Inventory. 
August 11, 2016.
    3. USEPA, OPPT. Supporting Statement for an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Proposed Rule 
ICR; Addition of Natural Gas Processing Facilities to the Toxics 
Release Inventory (TRI). EPA ICR No. 2560.01; OMB Control No. 2070-
[NEW]. November 2016.

[[Page 1655]]

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Additional information about these statutes and Executive Orders 
can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders.

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

    This action is not a significant regulatory action and was 
therefore not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) 
and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011). EPA prepared an economic 
analysis of the potential costs and benefits associated with this 
action, which is available in the docket (Ref. 2).

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    The information collection activities in this proposed rule have 
been submitted for approval to OMB under the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq. The Information Collection Request (ICR) document that EPA 
prepared has been assigned EPA ICR No. 2560.01; OMB Control No. 2070-
[NEW] (Ref. 3). You can find a copy of the ICR in the docket for this 
rule, and it is briefly summarized here.
    This action would impose an incremental information collection 
burden under the PRA. OMB has previously approved the information 
collection activities contained in the existing regulations and has 
assigned OMB control numbers 2025-0009 and 2050-0078. This proposal 
would not alter the reporting and recordkeeping requirements for 
facilities that currently have regulatory requirements related to TRI 
reporting. However, this proposal would require all facilities that 
classify under NAICS 211112 to consider TRI reporting requirements 
regardless of whether or not they primarily recover sulfur from natural 
gas. Accordingly, if EPA adds this industrial sector to the scope of 
industries covered by TRI, these facilities would need to adhere to 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements should they trigger TRI 
reporting.
    Currently, the facilities subject to the reporting requirements 
under EPCRA 313 and PPA 6607 may use either the EPA Toxic Chemicals 
Release Inventory Form R (EPA Form 1B9350- 1), or the EPA Toxic 
Chemicals Release Inventory Form A (EPA Form 1B9350- 2). The Form R 
must be completed if a facility manufactures, processes, or otherwise 
uses any listed chemical above threshold quantities and meets certain 
other criteria. For the Form A, EPA established an alternative 
threshold for facilities with low annual reportable amounts of a listed 
toxic chemical. A facility that meets the appropriate reporting 
thresholds, but estimates that the total annual reportable amount of 
the chemical does not exceed 500 pounds per year, can take advantage of 
an alternative manufacture, process, or otherwise use threshold of 1 
million pounds per year of the chemical, provided that certain 
conditions are met, and submit the Form A instead of the Form R. In 
addition, respondents may designate the specific chemical identity of a 
substance as a trade secret pursuant to EPCRA section 322, 42 U.S.C. 
11042, 40 CFR part 350.
    OMB has approved the reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
related to Forms A and R, supplier notification, and petitions under 
OMB Control number 2025-0009 (EPA Information Collection Request (ICR) 
No. 1363) and those related to trade secret designations under OMB 
Control number 2050-0078 (EPA ICR No. 1428). As provided in 5 CFR 
1320.5(b) and 1320.6(a), an Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB 
control numbers relevant to EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 
9, and displayed on the information collection instruments (e.g., 
forms, instructions).
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR include facilities primarily engaged in natural gas 
processing.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Respondents are obligated to 
respond or report to EPA (42 U.S.C. 11023).
    Estimated number of respondents: 282-444.
    Frequency of response: Annually.
    Total estimated burden: Up to 250,034 hours in the first year and 
up to 119,064 hours every subsequent year. Burden is defined at 5 CFR 
1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: Up to $13,584,347 in the first year and up to 
$6,468,747 every subsequent year, includes $0 annualized capital or 
operation & maintenance costs.
    Submit your comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for 
minimizing respondent burden to EPA using the docket identified at the 
beginning of this rule. You may also send your ICR-related comments to 
OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs via email to 
[email protected], Attention: Desk Officer for the EPA. Since 
OMB is required to make a decision concerning the ICR between 30 and 60 
days after receipt, OMB must receive comments no later than February 6, 
2017.
    EPA will respond to any ICR-related comments in the final rule.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA, 5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq. The small entities subject to the requirements of 
this action are natural gas processing facilities. The Agency has 
linked the 282-444 facilities estimated to be impacted by this action 
to 76-90 parent entities, 32-41 of which qualify as small businesses as 
defined by the RFA (Ref. 2). No small governments or small 
organizations are expected to be affected by this action. All 32-41 
small businesses that would be affected by this action are estimated to 
incur annualized cost impacts of less than 1%. EPA's detailed analysis 
of the impacts on small entities is located in the EPA economic 
analysis (Ref. 2).

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. EPA's economic 
analysis indicates that the total industry reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for collecting this information would be between $8,624,018 and 
$13,584,347 in the first year (Ref. 2). In subsequent years, the total 
industry reporting and recordkeeping burden for collecting this 
information is estimated to be between $4,106,642 and $6,468,747 (Ref. 
2). The total annualized cost of the proposed rule to industry and EPA 
is estimated to be approximately $4,634,000 to $7,300,000 with a 3% 
discount rate and approximately $4,721,000 to $7,437,000 with a 7% 
discount rate (Ref. 2). EPA's analysis shows that no small government 
owns or operates an NGP facility that would report under EPCRA section 
313.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications, as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because 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.

[[Page 1656]]

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

    This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in 
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because this 
action relates to toxic chemical reporting under EPCRA section 313, 
which primarily affects private sector facilities. No facilities owned 
or operated by tribal governments are expected to classify under SIC 
1321 or NAICS 211112.

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

    EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) 
as applying only to those regulatory actions that concern environmental 
health or safety risks that 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 Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This action is not a ``significant energy action'' as defined in 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is not 
likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution 
or use of energy. NGP facilities would be subject to the requirements 
of this proposal; however, this proposal would not impact how these 
facilities operate but rather would require facilities that trigger TRI 
reporting requirements to submit annual reports on chemicals for which 
they trigger reporting requirements. Moreover, the impact this action 
could cause is minor. EPA's economic analysis for this action indicates 
that all entities that would be impacted are estimated to incur 
annualized cost impacts of less than 1% (Ref. 2).

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This rulemaking does not involve any technical standards, and is 
therefore not subject to considerations under NTTAA section 12(d), 15 
U.S.C. 272 note.

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

    This action does not have disproportionately high and adverse human 
health or environmental effects on minority populations, low-income 
populations and/or indigenous peoples, as specified in Executive Order 
12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). This action does not address any 
human health or environmental risks and does not affect the level of 
protection provided to human health or the environment. This action 
adds an industry sector to the EPCRA section 313 reporting 
requirements. By adding an industry to the list of industry sectors 
subject to reporting under EPCRA section 313, EPA would be providing 
communities across the U.S. (including minority populations and low 
income populations) with access to data which they may use to seek 
lower exposures and consequently reductions in chemical risks for 
themselves and their children. This information can also be used by 
government agencies and others to identify potential problems, set 
priorities, and take appropriate steps to reduce any potential risks to 
human health and the environment. Therefore, the informational benefits 
of the action will have a positive impact on the human health and 
environmental impacts of minority populations, low-income populations, 
and indigenous peoples.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 372

    Environmental protection, Community right-to-know, reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, and Toxic chemicals.

    Dated: December 27, 2016.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.
    Therefore, it is proposed that 40 CFR part 372, be amended as 
follows:

PART 372--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 372 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 11023 and 11048.
0
2. Amend Sec.  372.23 by:
0
a. In paragraph (a) adding alphabetically an entry for ``1321'';
0
b. In paragraph (b) removing ``211112--Natural Gas Liquid Extraction'' 
from the table;
0
c. In paragraph (c) adding alphabetically an entry for ``211112- 
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction''.
    The additions to read as follows:


Sec.  372.23   SIC and NAICS codes to which this Part applies.

    (a) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Major group or industry code        Exceptions and/or limitations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
1321...................................
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subsector code or industry code       Exceptions and/or limitations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
211112--Natural Gas Liquid Extraction..
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-31921 Filed 1-5-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P