82_FR_45663 82 FR 45475 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Nonattainment New Source Review Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard

82 FR 45475 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Nonattainment New Source Review Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 188 (September 29, 2017)

Page Range45475-45479
FR Document2017-20834

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the State of Maryland's state implementation plan (SIP). The revision is in response to EPA's February 3, 2017 Findings of Failure to Submit for various requirements relating to the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This SIP revision is specific to nonattainment new source review (NNSR) requirements. EPA is approving this revision in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 188 (Friday, September 29, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45475-45479]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20834]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2017-0398; FRL-9968-5-Region 3]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Maryland; Nonattainment New Source Review Requirements for the 2008 8-
Hour Ozone Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct 
final action to approve a revision to the State of Maryland's state 
implementation plan (SIP). The revision is in response to EPA's 
February 3, 2017 Findings of Failure to Submit for various requirements 
relating to the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality 
standards (NAAQS). This SIP revision is specific to nonattainment new 
source review (NNSR) requirements. EPA is approving this revision in 
accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This rule is effective on November 28, 2017 without further 
notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by October 30, 
2017. If EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely 
withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform 
the public that the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-
OAR-2017-0398 at https://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 edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either 
manner of submission, 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. 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: Mrs. Amy Johansen, (215) 814-2156, or 
by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On May 8, 2017, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) 
submitted on behalf of the State of Maryland a formal revision, 
requesting EPA's approval for the SIP of its NNSR Certification for the 
2008 Ozone Standard (Revision 17-01). The SIP revision is in response 
to EPA's final 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS Findings of Failure to Submit 
for NNSR requirements. See 82 FR 9158 (February 3, 2017). Specifically, 
Maryland is certifying that its existing NNSR program, covering the 
Baltimore Nonattainment Area (which includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, 
Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties and the city of Baltimore), the 
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City Nonattainment Area (which 
includes Cecil County in Maryland), and the Washington, DC 
Nonattainment Area (which includes Calvert, Charles, Frederick, 
Montgomery, and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland) for the 2008 8-
hour ozone NAAQS, is at least as stringent as the requirements at 40 
CFR 51.165, as amended by the final rule titled ``Implementation of the 
2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards

[[Page 45476]]

for Ozone: State Implementation Plan Requirements'' (SIP Requirements 
Rule), for ozone and its precursors.\1\ See 80 FR 12264 (March 6, 
2015).
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    \1\ The SIP Requirements Rule addresses a range of nonattainment 
area SIP requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, including 
requirements pertaining to attainment demonstrations, reasonable 
further progress (RFP), reasonably available control technology, 
reasonably available control measures, major new source review, 
emission inventories, and the timing of SIP submissions and of 
compliance with emission control measures in the SIP. The rule also 
revokes the 1997 ozone NAAQS and establishes anti-backsliding 
requirements.
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A. 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS

    On March 12, 2008, EPA promulgated a revised 8-hour ozone NAAQS of 
0.075 parts per million (ppm). See 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). Under 
EPA's regulations at 40 CFR 50.15, the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is 
attained when the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily 
maximum 8-hour average ambient air quality ozone concentrations is less 
than or equal to 0.075 ppm.
    Upon promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, the CAA requires EPA 
to designate as nonattainment any area that is violating the NAAQS 
based on the three most recent years of ambient air quality data at the 
conclusion of the designation process. The Philadelphia-Wilmington-
Atlantic City Area and the Washington, DC Area were classified as 
marginal nonattainment areas, and the Baltimore Area was classified as 
a moderate nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS on May 21, 
2012 (effective July 20, 2012) using 2008-2010 ambient air quality 
data. See 77 FR 30088. On March 6, 2015, EPA issued the final SIP 
Requirements Rule, which establishes the requirements that state, 
tribal, and local air quality management agencies must meet as they 
develop implementation plans for areas where air quality exceeds the 
2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. See 80 FR 12264. Areas that were designated as 
marginal ozone nonattainment areas were required to attain the 2008 8-
hour ozone NAAQS no later than July 20, 2015, based on 2012-2014 
monitoring data. See 40 CFR 51.1103. The Philadelphia-Wilmington-
Atlantic City Area and the Washington, DC Area did not attain the 2008 
8-hour ozone NAAQS by July 20, 2015; however, these areas did meet the 
CAA section 181(a)(5) criteria, as interpreted in 40 CFR 51.1107, for a 
1-year attainment date extension. See 81 FR 26697 (May 4, 2016). 
Therefore, on April 11, 2016, the EPA Administrator signed a final rule 
extending the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City Area and the 
Washington, DC Area 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS attainment date from July 
20, 2015 to July 20, 2016.\2\
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    \2\ EPA proposed approval of a Determination of Attainment (DOA) 
for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the Philadelphia-Wilmington-
Atlantic City Area and the Washington, DC Area on April 18, 2017 and 
April 25, 2017, respectively. These proposed actions were based on 
complete, certified, and quality assured ambient air quality 
monitoring data for the 2013-2015 monitoring period. See 82 FR 18268 
(April 18, 2017) and 82 FR 19011 (April 25, 2017). It should be 
noted that a DOA does not alleviate the need for Maryland to certify 
that their existing SIP approved NNSR program is as stringent as the 
requirements at 40 CFR 51.165, as NNSR applies in nonattainment 
areas until an area has been redesignated to attainment. EPA expects 
to finalize the April 18, 2017 and April 25, 2017 DOAs in future 
rulemaking actions.
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    Moderate areas, such as the Baltimore Area, are required to attain 
the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS no later than July 20, 2018, six years 
after the effective date of the initial nonattainment designations.\3\ 
See 40 CFR 51.1103. The statutorily required DOA, for the Baltimore 
Area, which is due prior to the attainment date for the Area, has not 
passed and will be addressed in a future rulemaking action.
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    \3\ On June 1, 2015, EPA finalized a clean data determination 
(CDD) for the Baltimore Area. This determination was based upon 
complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air quality 
monitoring data that shows the Baltimore Area has monitored 
attainment of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the 2012-2014 
monitoring period. As a result of this determination, the 
requirement for the Baltimore Area to submit an attainment 
demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures 
(RACM), reasonable further progress plans (RFP), contingency 
measures, and other SIP revisions related to attainment of the 
standard are suspended for as long as the area continues to attain 
the 2008 8-hour ozone standard. See 80 FR 30941 (June 2, 2015). This 
action did not alleviate the need for Maryland to submit a NNSR 
Certification SIP revision, which is the subject of this rulemaking 
action.
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    Based on initial nonattainment designations for the 2008 8-hour 
ozone standard, as well as the March 6, 2015 final SIP Requirements 
Rule, Maryland was required to develop a SIP revision addressing 
certain CAA requirements for the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, 
Washington, DC, and Baltimore Areas, and submit to EPA a NNSR 
Certification SIP or SIP revision no later than 36 months after the 
effective date of area designations for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS 
(i.e., July 20, 2015). See 80 FR 12264 (March 6, 2015). EPA is taking 
action on Maryland's May 8, 2017 NNSR Certification SIP revision. EPA's 
analysis of how this SIP revision addresses the NNSR requirements for 
the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is provided in Section II below.

B. 2017 Findings of Failure To Submit SIP for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone 
NAAQS

    Areas designated nonattainment for the ozone NAAQS are subject to 
the general nonattainment area planning requirements of CAA section 172 
and also to the ozone-specific planning requirements of CAA section 
182.\4\ States in the ozone transport region (OTR), such as Maryland, 
are additionally subject to the requirements outlined in CAA section 
184.
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    \4\ Ozone nonattainment areas are classified based on the 
severity of their ozone levels (as determined based on the area's 
``design value,'' which represents air quality in the area for the 
most recent 3 years). The possible classifications for ozone 
nonattainment areas are Marginal, Moderate, Serious, Severe, and 
Extreme. See CAA section 181(a)(1).
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    Ozone nonattainment areas in the lower classification levels have 
fewer and/or less stringent mandatory air quality planning and control 
requirements than those in higher classifications. For a marginal area, 
such as the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City Area and the 
Washington, DC Area, a state is required to submit a baseline emissions 
inventory, adopt a SIP requiring emissions statements from stationary 
sources, and implement a NNSR program for the relevant ozone standard. 
See CAA section 182(a). For a moderate area, such as the Baltimore 
Area, a state needs to comply with the marginal area requirements, plus 
additional requirements, including the requirement to submit a 
demonstration that the area will attain in 6 years, the requirement to 
adopt and implement certain emissions controls, such as reasonably 
available control technology (RACT), and the requirement for greater 
emissions offsets for new or modified major stationary sources under 
the state's NNSR program. For each higher ozone nonattainment 
classification, a state needs to comply with all lower area 
classification requirements, plus additional emissions controls and 
more expansive NNSR offset requirements.
    The CAA sets out specific requirements for states in the OTR.\5\ 
Upon promulgation of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, states in the OTR 
were required to submit a SIP revision for RACT. See 40 CFR 51.1116. 
This requirement is the only recurring obligation for an OTR state upon 
revision of a NAAQS, unless that state also contains some portion of a 
nonattainment area for the revised NAAQS. In that case, the 
nonattainment requirements described previously also apply to those 
portions of that state.
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    \5\ CAA section 184 details specific requirements for a group of 
states (and the District of Columbia) that make up the OTR. States 
in the OTR are required to submit RACT SIP revisions and mandate a 
certain level of emissions control for the pollutants that form 
ozone, even if the areas in the state meet the ozone standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the March 6, 2015 SIP Requirements Rule, EPA detailed the

[[Page 45477]]

requirements applicable to ozone nonattainment areas, as well as 
requirements that apply in the OTR, and provided specific deadlines for 
SIP submittals.
    On February 3, 2017, EPA found that 15 states and the District of 
Columbia failed to submit SIP revisions in a timely manner to satisfy 
certain requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS that apply to 
nonattainment areas and/or states in the OTR. See 82 FR 9158. As 
explained in that rulemaking action, consistent with the CAA and EPA 
regulations, these findings of failure to submit established certain 
deadlines for the imposition of sanctions, if a state does not submit a 
timely SIP revision addressing the requirements for which the finding 
is being made, and for the EPA to promulgate a federal implementation 
plan (FIP) to address any outstanding SIP requirements.
    EPA found that the State of Maryland failed to submit SIP revisions 
in a timely matter to satisfy NNSR requirements for its marginal and 
moderate nonattainment areas, specifically the Philadelphia-Wilmington-
Atlantic City Area, the Washington, DC Area, and the Baltimore Area.\6\ 
Maryland submitted its May 8, 2017 SIP revision to address the specific 
NNSR requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, located in 40 CFR 
51.160-165, as well as its obligations under EPA's February 3, 2017 
Findings of Failure to Submit. EPA's analysis of how this SIP revision 
addresses the NNSR requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS and the 
Findings of Failure to Submit is provided in Section II below.
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    \6\ The EPA found that the State of Maryland also failed to 
submit SIP revisions for inspection and maintenance (I/M) basic and 
nitrogen oxide RACT for major sources. These SIP requirements will 
be addressed in separate rulemaking actions and will not be 
discussed here. See 82 FR 9158 (February 3, 2017).
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II. Summary of SIP Revision and EPA Analysis

    This rulemaking action is specific to Maryland's NNSR requirements. 
NNSR is a preconstruction review permit program that applies to new 
major stationary sources or major modifications at existing sources 
located in a nonattainment area.\7\ The specific NNSR requirements for 
the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS are located in 40 CFR 51.160-165. The SIP 
Requirements Rule explained that, for each nonattainment area, a NNSR 
plan or plan revision was due no later than 36 months after the 
effective date of area designations for the 2008 8-hour ozone standard 
(i.e., July 20, 2015).\8\
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    \7\ See CAA sections 172(c)(5), 173 and 182.
    \8\ With respect to states with nonattainment areas subject to a 
finding of failure to submit NNSR SIP revisions, such revisions 
would no longer be required if the area were redesignated to 
attainment. The CAA's prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) 
program requirements apply in lieu of NNSR after an area is 
redesignated to attainment. For areas outside the OTR, NNSR 
requirements do not apply in areas designated as attainment.
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    The minimum SIP requirements for NNSR permitting programs for the 
2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS are located in 40 CFR 51.165. See 40 CFR 
51.1114. These NNSR program requirements include those promulgated in 
the ``Phase 2 Rule'' implementing the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS (75 FR 
71018 (November 29, 2005)) and the SIP Requirements Rule implementing 
the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Under the Phase 2 Rule, the SIP for each 
ozone nonattainment area must contain NNSR provisions that: Set major 
source thresholds for oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and volatile 
organic compounds (VOC) pursuant to 40 CFR 51.165(a)(1)(iv)(A)(1)(i)-
(iv) and (2); classify physical changes as a major source if the change 
would constitute a major source by itself pursuant to 40 CFR 
51.165(a)(1)(iv)(A)(3); consider any significant net emissions increase 
of NOX as a significant net emissions increase for ozone 
pursuant to 40 CFR 51.165(a)(1)(v)(E); consider certain increases of 
VOC emissions in extreme ozone nonattainment areas as a significant net 
emissions increase and a major modification for ozone pursuant to 40 
CFR 51.165(a)(1)(v)(F); set significant emissions rates for VOC and 
NOX as ozone precursors pursuant to 40 CFR 
51.165(a)(1)(x)(A)-(C) and (E); contain provisions for emissions 
reductions credits pursuant to 40 CFR 51.165(a)(3)(ii)(C)(1)-(2); 
provide that the requirements applicable to VOC also apply to 
NOX pursuant to 40 CFR 51.165(a)(8); and set offset ratios 
for VOC and NOX pursuant to 40 CFR 51.165(a)(9)(i)-(iii) 
(renumbered as (a)(9)(ii)-(iv) under the SIP Requirements Rule for the 
2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS). Under the SIP Requirements Rule for the 2008 
8-hour ozone NAAQS, the SIP for each ozone nonattainment area 
designated nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS and designated 
nonattainment for the 1997 ozone NAAQS on April 6, 2015, must also 
contain NNSR provisions that include the anti-backsliding requirements 
at 40 CFR 51.1105. See 40 CFR 51.165(a)(12).
    Maryland's longstanding SIP approved NNSR program, established in 
Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Air Quality Rule COMAR 26.11.17--
Nonattainment Provisions for Major New Sources and Major Modifications, 
applies to the construction and modification of major stationary 
sources in nonattainment areas. In its May 8, 2017 SIP revision, 
Maryland certifies that the version of the Air Quality Rule COMAR 
26.11.17 in the SIP is at least as stringent as the federal NNSR 
requirements for the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City Area, the 
Washington, DC Area, and the Baltimore Area. EPA last approved 
revisions to the SIP approved version of Maryland's NNSR rule in 2012 
addressing, among other things, NSR Reform and NOX as a 
precursor to ozone. See 77 FR 45949 (August 2, 2012).\9\
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    \9\ On August 30, 2012, EPA published a rulemaking correcting 
minor errors in their August 2, 2012 final rule. The correction of 
these errors did not change EPA's final action to approve the 
Maryland regulations. See 77 FR 52605.
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    EPA notes that neither COMAR 26.11.17 nor Maryland's approved SIP 
have the regulatory provision for any emissions change of VOC in 
extreme nonattainment areas, specified in 40 CFR 51165(a)(1)(v)(F), 
because Maryland has never had an area designated extreme nonattainment 
for any of the ozone NAAQS. Thus, the Maryland SIP is not required to 
have this requirement for VOC in extreme nonattainment areas until such 
time as Maryland has an extreme ozone nonattainment area. Additionally, 
there are no anti-backsliding provisions found in 40 CFR 51.165(a)(12) 
in either COMAR 26.11.17 or the Maryland SIP because Maryland's major 
stationary source thresholds were established for the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS nonattainment designations, which were and continue to be more 
stringent. Thus, antibacksliding requirements are not required. 
Maryland has not changed these major stationary source threshold 
provisions in COMAR 26.11.17.01(17), so they remain in Maryland's 
federally-approved SIP.\10\ All of the sources located in the 2008 8-
hour ozone nonattainment areas in Maryland are required to meet a major 
stationary source threshold of 25 tons or more per year of VOC or 
NOX.
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    \10\ Under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, the Baltimore Area was 
classified as serious nonattainment and the Philadelphia-Wilmington-
Atlantic City and Washington, DC Areas were classified as moderate 
nonattainment.
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    The version of COMAR 26.11.17 that is contained in the current SIP 
has not changed since the 2012 rulemaking where EPA last approved 
Maryland's NNSR provisions. This version of the rule covers the 
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Washington, DC, and Baltimore 
Nonattainment Areas

[[Page 45478]]

and remains adequate to meet all applicable NNSR requirements for the 
2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS in 40 CFR 51.165, the Phase 2 Rule and the SIP 
Requirements Rule. A detailed description of the state submittal and 
EPA's evaluation is included in a technical support document (TSD) 
prepared in support of this rulemaking action. A copy of the TSD is 
available, upon request, from the EPA Regional Office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document or is also available electronically 
within the Docket for this rulemaking action.

III. Final Action

    EPA is approving Maryland's May 8, 2017 SIP revision addressing the 
NNSR requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS for the Philadelphia-
Wilmington-Atlantic City, Washington, DC, and Baltimore Areas. EPA has 
concluded that the State's submission fulfills the 40 CFR 51.1114 
revision requirement, meets the requirements of CAA sections 110 and 
172 and the minimum SIP requirements of 40 CFR 51.165, as well as its 
obligations under EPA's February 3, 2017 Findings of Failure to Submit. 
EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because EPA views 
this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no adverse 
comment. However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's Federal 
Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the 
proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse comments are filed. 
This rule will be effective on November 28, 2017 without further notice 
unless EPA receives adverse comment by October 30, 2017. If EPA 
receives adverse comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the 
Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take 
effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule 
based on the proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment 
period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so 
at this time.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. General Requirements

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable 
federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in 
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, 
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this 
action merely approves state law as meeting federal requirements and 
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state 
law. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     Does not have federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the CAA; and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in 
the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct 
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.

B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and 
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).

C. Petitions for Judicial Review

    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by November 28, 2017. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor 
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may 
be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or 
action. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are 
encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of 
proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules 
section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate 
petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can 
withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed 
rulemaking action. This action approving Maryland's 2008 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS Certification SIP revision for NNSR may not be challenged later 
in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2)).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

    Dated: September 14, 2017.
Cecil Rodrigues,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart V--Maryland

0
2. In Sec.  52.1070, the table in paragraph (e) is amended by adding 
the entry ``2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS Nonattainment New Source Review

[[Page 45479]]

Requirements'' at the end of the table to read as follows:


Sec.  52.1070  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Name of non-regulatory SIP          Applicable           State                                Additional
             revision                geographic area    submittal date   EPA approval date       explanation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS            The Baltimore Area           5/8/17  9/29/17 [insert
 Nonattainment New Source Review    (includes Anne                       Federal Register
 Requirements.                      Arundel,                             citation].
                                    Baltimore,
                                    Carroll, Harford,
                                    and Howard
                                    Counties and the
                                    city of
                                    Baltimore), the
                                    Philadelphia-
                                    Wilmington-
                                    Atlantic City Area
                                    (includes Cecil
                                    County in
                                    Maryland), and the
                                    Washington, DC
                                    Area (includes
                                    Calvert, Charles,
                                    Frederick,
                                    Montgomery, and
                                    Prince Georges
                                    Counties in
                                    Maryland).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2017-20834 Filed 9-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                   45475

                                                                                                TABLE 1—EPA-APPROVED NORTH CAROLINA REGULATIONS
                                                                                                                         State effective
                                                      State citation                     Title/subject                                                   EPA approval date                      Explanation
                                                                                                                              date


                                                              *                         *                         *                          *                       *                      *                 *

                                                                                                                      Subchapter 2Q          Air Quality Permits


                                                              *                         *                         *                          *                       *                      *                 *

                                                                                                                      Section .0800      Exclusionary Rules


                                                              *                         *                         *                          *                       *                      *                 *

                                                  Sect .0809 .........     Concrete Batch Plants ..................               4/1/2004       9/27/2017, [insert Federal Reg-
                                                                                                                                                   ister citation].


                                                              *                         *                         *                          *                       *                      *                 *

                                                                                                                      Section .0900      Permit Exemptions

                                                  Sect .0901 .........     Purpose and Scope ......................               1/1/2005       9/27/2017, [insert Federal Reg-
                                                                                                                                                   ister citation].
                                                  Sect .0902 .........     Portable Crushers .........................            1/1/2005       9/27/2017, [insert Federal Reg-
                                                                                                                                                   ister citation].



                                                  *       *       *        *      *                            written comment by October 30, 2017.                       making effective comments, please visit
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–20325 Filed 9–28–17; 8:45 am]                  If EPA receives such comments, it will                     http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                       publish a timely withdrawal of the                         commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                                                                               direct final rule in the Federal Register                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs.
                                                                                                               and inform the public that the rule will                   Amy Johansen, (215) 814–2156, or by
                                                  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                     not take effect.                                           email at johansen.amy@epa.gov.
                                                  AGENCY                                                       ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  40 CFR Part 52                                               identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R03–
                                                                                                               OAR–2017–0398 at https://                                  I. Background
                                                  [EPA–R03–OAR–2017–0398; FRL–9968–5–                          www.regulations.gov, or via email to                          On May 8, 2017, the Maryland
                                                  Region 3]                                                    aquino.marcos@epa.gov. For comments                        Department of the Environment (MDE)
                                                                                                               submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the                   submitted on behalf of the State of
                                                  Approval and Promulgation of Air
                                                                                                               online instructions for submitting                         Maryland a formal revision, requesting
                                                  Quality Implementation Plans;
                                                                                                               comments. Once submitted, comments                         EPA’s approval for the SIP of its NNSR
                                                  Maryland; Nonattainment New Source
                                                                                                               cannot be edited or removed from                           Certification for the 2008 Ozone
                                                  Review Requirements for the 2008 8-
                                                                                                               Regulations.gov. For either manner of                      Standard (Revision 17–01). The SIP
                                                  Hour Ozone Standard
                                                                                                               submission, EPA may publish any                            revision is in response to EPA’s final
                                                  AGENCY: Environmental Protection                             comment received to its public docket.                     2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS Findings of
                                                  Agency (EPA).                                                Do not submit electronically any                           Failure to Submit for NNSR
                                                  ACTION: Direct final rule.                                   information you consider to be                             requirements. See 82 FR 9158 (February
                                                                                                               confidential business information (CBI)                    3, 2017). Specifically, Maryland is
                                                  SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                      or other information whose disclosure is                   certifying that its existing NNSR
                                                  Agency (EPA) is taking direct final                          restricted by statute. Multimedia                          program, covering the Baltimore
                                                  action to approve a revision to the State                    submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be                   Nonattainment Area (which includes
                                                  of Maryland’s state implementation plan                      accompanied by a written comment.                          Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll,
                                                  (SIP). The revision is in response to                        The written comment is considered the                      Harford, and Howard Counties and the
                                                  EPA’s February 3, 2017 Findings of                           official comment and should include                        city of Baltimore), the Philadelphia-
                                                  Failure to Submit for various                                discussion of all points you wish to                       Wilmington-Atlantic City
                                                  requirements relating to the 2008 8-hour                     make. EPA will generally not consider                      Nonattainment Area (which includes
                                                  ozone national ambient air quality                           comments or comment contents located                       Cecil County in Maryland), and the
                                                  standards (NAAQS). This SIP revision is                      outside of the primary submission (i.e.                    Washington, DC Nonattainment Area
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                                                  specific to nonattainment new source                         on the Web, cloud, or other file sharing                   (which includes Calvert, Charles,
                                                  review (NNSR) requirements. EPA is                           system). For additional submission                         Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince
                                                  approving this revision in accordance                        methods, please contact the person                         Georges Counties in Maryland) for the
                                                  with the requirements of the Clean Air                       identified in the FOR FURTHER                              2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, is at least
                                                  Act (CAA).                                                   INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the                       as stringent as the requirements at 40
                                                  DATES: This rule is effective on                             full EPA public comment policy,                            CFR 51.165, as amended by the final
                                                  November 28, 2017 without further                            information about CBI or multimedia                        rule titled ‘‘Implementation of the 2008
                                                  notice, unless EPA receives adverse                          submissions, and general guidance on                       National Ambient Air Quality Standards


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                                                  45476            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  for Ozone: State Implementation Plan                    8-hour ozone NAAQS attainment date                      general nonattainment area planning
                                                  Requirements’’ (SIP Requirements Rule),                 from July 20, 2015 to July 20, 2016.2                   requirements of CAA section 172 and
                                                  for ozone and its precursors.1 See 80 FR                   Moderate areas, such as the Baltimore                also to the ozone-specific planning
                                                  12264 (March 6, 2015).                                  Area, are required to attain the 2008 8-                requirements of CAA section 182.4
                                                                                                          hour ozone NAAQS no later than July                     States in the ozone transport region
                                                  A. 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS                              20, 2018, six years after the effective                 (OTR), such as Maryland, are
                                                     On March 12, 2008, EPA promulgated                   date of the initial nonattainment                       additionally subject to the requirements
                                                  a revised 8-hour ozone NAAQS of 0.075                   designations.3 See 40 CFR 51.1103. The                  outlined in CAA section 184.
                                                  parts per million (ppm). See 73 FR                      statutorily required DOA, for the                         Ozone nonattainment areas in the
                                                  16436 (March 27, 2008). Under EPA’s                     Baltimore Area, which is due prior to                   lower classification levels have fewer
                                                  regulations at 40 CFR 50.15, the 2008 8-                the attainment date for the Area, has not               and/or less stringent mandatory air
                                                  hour ozone NAAQS is attained when                       passed and will be addressed in a future                quality planning and control
                                                  the 3-year average of the annual fourth-                rulemaking action.                                      requirements than those in higher
                                                  highest daily maximum 8-hour average                       Based on initial nonattainment                       classifications. For a marginal area, such
                                                  ambient air quality ozone                               designations for the 2008 8-hour ozone                  as the Philadelphia-Wilmington-
                                                  concentrations is less than or equal to                 standard, as well as the March 6, 2015                  Atlantic City Area and the Washington,
                                                  0.075 ppm.                                              final SIP Requirements Rule, Maryland                   DC Area, a state is required to submit a
                                                     Upon promulgation of a new or                        was required to develop a SIP revision                  baseline emissions inventory, adopt a
                                                  revised NAAQS, the CAA requires EPA                     addressing certain CAA requirements                     SIP requiring emissions statements from
                                                  to designate as nonattainment any area                  for the Philadelphia-Wilmington-                        stationary sources, and implement a
                                                  that is violating the NAAQS based on                    Atlantic City, Washington, DC, and                      NNSR program for the relevant ozone
                                                  the three most recent years of ambient                  Baltimore Areas, and submit to EPA a                    standard. See CAA section 182(a). For a
                                                                                                          NNSR Certification SIP or SIP revision                  moderate area, such as the Baltimore
                                                  air quality data at the conclusion of the
                                                                                                          no later than 36 months after the                       Area, a state needs to comply with the
                                                  designation process. The Philadelphia-
                                                                                                          effective date of area designations for                 marginal area requirements, plus
                                                  Wilmington-Atlantic City Area and the
                                                                                                          the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS (i.e., July                 additional requirements, including the
                                                  Washington, DC Area were classified as
                                                                                                          20, 2015). See 80 FR 12264 (March 6,                    requirement to submit a demonstration
                                                  marginal nonattainment areas, and the
                                                                                                          2015). EPA is taking action on                          that the area will attain in 6 years, the
                                                  Baltimore Area was classified as a
                                                                                                          Maryland’s May 8, 2017 NNSR                             requirement to adopt and implement
                                                  moderate nonattainment for the 2008 8-
                                                                                                          Certification SIP revision. EPA’s                       certain emissions controls, such as
                                                  hour ozone NAAQS on May 21, 2012
                                                                                                          analysis of how this SIP revision                       reasonably available control technology
                                                  (effective July 20, 2012) using 2008–
                                                                                                          addresses the NNSR requirements for                     (RACT), and the requirement for greater
                                                  2010 ambient air quality data. See 77 FR                the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is                          emissions offsets for new or modified
                                                  30088. On March 6, 2015, EPA issued                     provided in Section II below.                           major stationary sources under the
                                                  the final SIP Requirements Rule, which
                                                                                                          B. 2017 Findings of Failure To Submit                   state’s NNSR program. For each higher
                                                  establishes the requirements that state,
                                                                                                          SIP for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS                     ozone nonattainment classification, a
                                                  tribal, and local air quality management
                                                                                                                                                                  state needs to comply with all lower
                                                  agencies must meet as they develop                        Areas designated nonattainment for                    area classification requirements, plus
                                                  implementation plans for areas where                    the ozone NAAQS are subject to the                      additional emissions controls and more
                                                  air quality exceeds the 2008 8-hour                                                                             expansive NNSR offset requirements.
                                                  ozone NAAQS. See 80 FR 12264. Areas                        2 EPA proposed approval of a Determination of
                                                                                                                                                                    The CAA sets out specific
                                                  that were designated as marginal ozone                  Attainment (DOA) for the 2008 8-hour ozone
                                                                                                                                                                  requirements for states in the OTR.5
                                                  nonattainment areas were required to                    NAAQS for the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic
                                                                                                          City Area and the Washington, DC Area on April          Upon promulgation of the 2008 8-hour
                                                  attain the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS no                   18, 2017 and April 25, 2017, respectively. These        ozone NAAQS, states in the OTR were
                                                  later than July 20, 2015, based on 2012–                proposed actions were based on complete, certified,     required to submit a SIP revision for
                                                  2014 monitoring data. See 40 CFR                        and quality assured ambient air quality monitoring
                                                                                                                                                                  RACT. See 40 CFR 51.1116. This
                                                  51.1103. The Philadelphia-Wilmington-                   data for the 2013–2015 monitoring period. See 82
                                                                                                          FR 18268 (April 18, 2017) and 82 FR 19011 (April        requirement is the only recurring
                                                  Atlantic City Area and the Washington,                  25, 2017). It should be noted that a DOA does not       obligation for an OTR state upon
                                                  DC Area did not attain the 2008 8-hour                  alleviate the need for Maryland to certify that their   revision of a NAAQS, unless that state
                                                  ozone NAAQS by July 20, 2015;                           existing SIP approved NNSR program is as stringent
                                                                                                          as the requirements at 40 CFR 51.165, as NNSR
                                                                                                                                                                  also contains some portion of a
                                                  however, these areas did meet the CAA                   applies in nonattainment areas until an area has        nonattainment area for the revised
                                                  section 181(a)(5) criteria, as interpreted              been redesignated to attainment. EPA expects to         NAAQS. In that case, the nonattainment
                                                  in 40 CFR 51.1107, for a 1-year                         finalize the April 18, 2017 and April 25, 2017 DOAs     requirements described previously also
                                                  attainment date extension. See 81 FR                    in future rulemaking actions.
                                                                                                             3 On June 1, 2015, EPA finalized a clean data
                                                                                                                                                                  apply to those portions of that state.
                                                  26697 (May 4, 2016). Therefore, on                                                                                In the March 6, 2015 SIP
                                                                                                          determination (CDD) for the Baltimore Area. This
                                                  April 11, 2016, the EPA Administrator                   determination was based upon complete, quality-         Requirements Rule, EPA detailed the
                                                  signed a final rule extending the                       assured, and certified ambient air quality
                                                  Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City                   monitoring data that shows the Baltimore Area has         4 Ozone nonattainment areas are classified based

                                                  Area and the Washington, DC Area 2008                   monitored attainment of the 2008 8-hour ozone           on the severity of their ozone levels (as determined
                                                                                                          NAAQS for the 2012–2014 monitoring period. As           based on the area’s ‘‘design value,’’ which
                                                                                                          a result of this determination, the requirement for     represents air quality in the area for the most recent
                                                    1 The SIP Requirements Rule addresses a range of      the Baltimore Area to submit an attainment              3 years). The possible classifications for ozone
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                                                  nonattainment area SIP requirements for the 2008        demonstration and associated reasonably available       nonattainment areas are Marginal, Moderate,
                                                  8-hour ozone NAAQS, including requirements              control measures (RACM), reasonable further             Serious, Severe, and Extreme. See CAA section
                                                  pertaining to attainment demonstrations, reasonable     progress plans (RFP), contingency measures, and         181(a)(1).
                                                  further progress (RFP), reasonably available control    other SIP revisions related to attainment of the          5 CAA section 184 details specific requirements
                                                  technology, reasonably available control measures,      standard are suspended for as long as the area          for a group of states (and the District of Columbia)
                                                  major new source review, emission inventories, and      continues to attain the 2008 8-hour ozone standard.     that make up the OTR. States in the OTR are
                                                  the timing of SIP submissions and of compliance         See 80 FR 30941 (June 2, 2015). This action did not     required to submit RACT SIP revisions and
                                                  with emission control measures in the SIP. The rule     alleviate the need for Maryland to submit a NNSR        mandate a certain level of emissions control for the
                                                  also revokes the 1997 ozone NAAQS and                   Certification SIP revision, which is the subject of     pollutants that form ozone, even if the areas in the
                                                  establishes anti-backsliding requirements.              this rulemaking action.                                 state meet the ozone standards.



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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                    45477

                                                  requirements applicable to ozone                        the 2008 8-hour ozone standard (i.e.,                    Nonattainment Provisions for Major
                                                  nonattainment areas, as well as                         July 20, 2015).8                                         New Sources and Major Modifications,
                                                  requirements that apply in the OTR, and                    The minimum SIP requirements for                      applies to the construction and
                                                  provided specific deadlines for SIP                     NNSR permitting programs for the 2008                    modification of major stationary sources
                                                  submittals.                                             8-hour ozone NAAQS are located in 40                     in nonattainment areas. In its May 8,
                                                     On February 3, 2017, EPA found that                  CFR 51.165. See 40 CFR 51.1114. These                    2017 SIP revision, Maryland certifies
                                                  15 states and the District of Columbia                  NNSR program requirements include                        that the version of the Air Quality Rule
                                                  failed to submit SIP revisions in a                     those promulgated in the ‘‘Phase 2                       COMAR 26.11.17 in the SIP is at least
                                                  timely manner to satisfy certain                        Rule’’ implementing the 1997 8-hour                      as stringent as the federal NNSR
                                                  requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone                  ozone NAAQS (75 FR 71018 (November                       requirements for the Philadelphia-
                                                  NAAQS that apply to nonattainment                       29, 2005)) and the SIP Requirements                      Wilmington-Atlantic City Area, the
                                                  areas and/or states in the OTR. See 82                  Rule implementing the 2008 8-hour                        Washington, DC Area, and the Baltimore
                                                  FR 9158. As explained in that                           ozone NAAQS. Under the Phase 2 Rule,                     Area. EPA last approved revisions to the
                                                  rulemaking action, consistent with the                  the SIP for each ozone nonattainment                     SIP approved version of Maryland’s
                                                  CAA and EPA regulations, these                          area must contain NNSR provisions                        NNSR rule in 2012 addressing, among
                                                  findings of failure to submit established               that: Set major source thresholds for                    other things, NSR Reform and NOX as a
                                                  certain deadlines for the imposition of                 oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and volatile                    precursor to ozone. See 77 FR 45949
                                                  sanctions, if a state does not submit a                 organic compounds (VOC) pursuant to                      (August 2, 2012).9
                                                  timely SIP revision addressing the                      40 CFR 51.165(a)(1)(iv)(A)(1)(i)–(iv) and                   EPA notes that neither COMAR
                                                  requirements for which the finding is                   (2); classify physical changes as a major                26.11.17 nor Maryland’s approved SIP
                                                  being made, and for the EPA to                          source if the change would constitute a                  have the regulatory provision for any
                                                  promulgate a federal implementation                     major source by itself pursuant to 40                    emissions change of VOC in extreme
                                                  plan (FIP) to address any outstanding                   CFR 51.165(a)(1)(iv)(A)(3); consider any                 nonattainment areas, specified in 40
                                                  SIP requirements.                                       significant net emissions increase of                    CFR 51165(a)(1)(v)(F), because
                                                     EPA found that the State of Maryland                 NOX as a significant net emissions                       Maryland has never had an area
                                                  failed to submit SIP revisions in a                     increase for ozone pursuant to 40 CFR                    designated extreme nonattainment for
                                                  timely matter to satisfy NNSR                           51.165(a)(1)(v)(E); consider certain                     any of the ozone NAAQS. Thus, the
                                                  requirements for its marginal and                       increases of VOC emissions in extreme                    Maryland SIP is not required to have
                                                  moderate nonattainment areas,                           ozone nonattainment areas as a                           this requirement for VOC in extreme
                                                  specifically the Philadelphia-                          significant net emissions increase and a                 nonattainment areas until such time as
                                                  Wilmington-Atlantic City Area, the                      major modification for ozone pursuant                    Maryland has an extreme ozone
                                                  Washington, DC Area, and the Baltimore                  to 40 CFR 51.165(a)(1)(v)(F); set                        nonattainment area. Additionally, there
                                                  Area.6 Maryland submitted its May 8,                    significant emissions rates for VOC and                  are no anti-backsliding provisions found
                                                  2017 SIP revision to address the specific               NOX as ozone precursors pursuant to 40                   in 40 CFR 51.165(a)(12) in either
                                                  NNSR requirements for the 2008 8-hour                   CFR 51.165(a)(1)(x)(A)–(C) and (E);                      COMAR 26.11.17 or the Maryland SIP
                                                  ozone NAAQS, located in 40 CFR                          contain provisions for emissions                         because Maryland’s major stationary
                                                  51.160–165, as well as its obligations                  reductions credits pursuant to 40 CFR                    source thresholds were established for
                                                  under EPA’s February 3, 2017 Findings                   51.165(a)(3)(ii)(C)(1)–(2); provide that                 the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS
                                                  of Failure to Submit. EPA’s analysis of                 the requirements applicable to VOC also                  nonattainment designations, which
                                                  how this SIP revision addresses the                     apply to NOX pursuant to 40 CFR                          were and continue to be more stringent.
                                                  NNSR requirements for the 2008 8-hour                   51.165(a)(8); and set offset ratios for                  Thus, antibacksliding requirements are
                                                  ozone NAAQS and the Findings of                         VOC and NOX pursuant to 40 CFR                           not required. Maryland has not changed
                                                  Failure to Submit is provided in Section                51.165(a)(9)(i)–(iii) (renumbered as                     these major stationary source threshold
                                                  II below.                                               (a)(9)(ii)–(iv) under the SIP                            provisions in COMAR 26.11.17.01(17),
                                                  II. Summary of SIP Revision and EPA                     Requirements Rule for the 2008 8-hour                    so they remain in Maryland’s federally-
                                                  Analysis                                                ozone NAAQS). Under the SIP                              approved SIP.10 All of the sources
                                                                                                          Requirements Rule for the 2008 8-hour                    located in the 2008 8-hour ozone
                                                     This rulemaking action is specific to                ozone NAAQS, the SIP for each ozone                      nonattainment areas in Maryland are
                                                  Maryland’s NNSR requirements. NNSR                      nonattainment area designated                            required to meet a major stationary
                                                  is a preconstruction review permit                      nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour                        source threshold of 25 tons or more per
                                                  program that applies to new major                       ozone NAAQS and designated                               year of VOC or NOX.
                                                  stationary sources or major                             nonattainment for the 1997 ozone                            The version of COMAR 26.11.17 that
                                                  modifications at existing sources located               NAAQS on April 6, 2015, must also                        is contained in the current SIP has not
                                                  in a nonattainment area.7 The specific                  contain NNSR provisions that include                     changed since the 2012 rulemaking
                                                  NNSR requirements for the 2008 8-hour                   the anti-backsliding requirements at 40                  where EPA last approved Maryland’s
                                                  ozone NAAQS are located in 40 CFR                       CFR 51.1105. See 40 CFR 51.165(a)(12).                   NNSR provisions. This version of the
                                                  51.160–165. The SIP Requirements Rule                      Maryland’s longstanding SIP                           rule covers the Philadelphia-
                                                  explained that, for each nonattainment                  approved NNSR program, established in                    Wilmington-Atlantic City, Washington,
                                                  area, a NNSR plan or plan revision was                  Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR)                     DC, and Baltimore Nonattainment Areas
                                                  due no later than 36 months after the                   Air Quality Rule COMAR 26.11.17—
                                                  effective date of area designations for
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                                                                                                                                                                      9 On August 30, 2012, EPA published a
                                                                                                            8 With  respect to states with nonattainment areas     rulemaking correcting minor errors in their August
                                                     6 The EPA found that the State of Maryland also                                                               2, 2012 final rule. The correction of these errors did
                                                                                                          subject to a finding of failure to submit NNSR SIP
                                                  failed to submit SIP revisions for inspection and       revisions, such revisions would no longer be             not change EPA’s final action to approve the
                                                  maintenance (I/M) basic and nitrogen oxide RACT         required if the area were redesignated to attainment.    Maryland regulations. See 77 FR 52605.
                                                  for major sources. These SIP requirements will be       The CAA’s prevention of significant deterioration           10 Under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, the
                                                  addressed in separate rulemaking actions and will       (PSD) program requirements apply in lieu of NNSR         Baltimore Area was classified as serious
                                                  not be discussed here. See 82 FR 9158 (February 3,      after an area is redesignated to attainment. For areas   nonattainment and the Philadelphia-Wilmington-
                                                  2017).                                                  outside the OTR, NNSR requirements do not apply          Atlantic City and Washington, DC Areas were
                                                     7 See CAA sections 172(c)(5), 173 and 182.           in areas designated as attainment.                       classified as moderate nonattainment.



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                                                  45478            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  and remains adequate to meet all                        impose additional requirements beyond                 report containing this action and other
                                                  applicable NNSR requirements for the                    those imposed by state law. For that                  required information to the U.S. Senate,
                                                  2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS in 40 CFR                       reason, this action:                                  the U.S. House of Representatives, and
                                                  51.165, the Phase 2 Rule and the SIP                       • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                the Comptroller General of the United
                                                  Requirements Rule. A detailed                           action’’ subject to review by the Office              States prior to publication of the rule in
                                                  description of the state submittal and                  of Management and Budget under                        the Federal Register. A major rule
                                                  EPA’s evaluation is included in a                       Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,                  cannot take effect until 60 days after it
                                                  technical support document (TSD)                        October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,               is published in the Federal Register.
                                                  prepared in support of this rulemaking                  January 21, 2011);                                    This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
                                                  action. A copy of the TSD is available,                    • Does not impose an information                   defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
                                                  upon request, from the EPA Regional                     collection burden under the provisions
                                                                                                          of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                    C. Petitions for Judicial Review
                                                  Office listed in the ADDRESSES section of
                                                  this document or is also available                      U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
                                                  electronically within the Docket for this                  • Is certified as not having a                     petitions for judicial review of this
                                                  rulemaking action.                                      significant economic impact on a                      action must be filed in the United States
                                                                                                          substantial number of small entities                  Court of Appeals for the appropriate
                                                  III. Final Action                                       under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5               circuit by November 28, 2017. Filing a
                                                     EPA is approving Maryland’s May 8,                   U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                  petition for reconsideration by the
                                                  2017 SIP revision addressing the NNSR                      • Does not contain any unfunded                    Administrator of this final rule does not
                                                  requirements for the 2008 ozone                         mandate or significantly or uniquely                  affect the finality of this action for the
                                                  NAAQS for the Philadelphia-                             affect small governments, as described                purposes of judicial review nor does it
                                                  Wilmington-Atlantic City, Washington,                   in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                   extend the time within which a petition
                                                  DC, and Baltimore Areas. EPA has                        of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);                              for judicial review may be filed, and
                                                  concluded that the State’s submission                      • Does not have federalism                         shall not postpone the effectiveness of
                                                  fulfills the 40 CFR 51.1114 revision                    implications as specified in Executive                such rule or action. Parties with
                                                  requirement, meets the requirements of                  Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                  objections to this direct final rule are
                                                  CAA sections 110 and 172 and the                        1999);                                                encouraged to file a comment in
                                                  minimum SIP requirements of 40 CFR                         • Is not an economically significant               response to the parallel notice of
                                                  51.165, as well as its obligations under                regulatory action based on health or                  proposed rulemaking for this action
                                                  EPA’s February 3, 2017 Findings of                      safety risks subject to Executive Order               published in the proposed rules section
                                                  Failure to Submit. EPA is publishing                    13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                  of today’s Federal Register, rather than
                                                  this rule without prior proposal because                   • Is not a significant regulatory action           file an immediate petition for judicial
                                                  EPA views this as a noncontroversial                    subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR               review of this direct final rule, so that
                                                  amendment and anticipates no adverse                    28355, May 22, 2001);                                 EPA can withdraw this direct final rule
                                                  comment. However, in the ‘‘Proposed                        • Is not subject to requirements of                and address the comment in the
                                                  Rules’’ section of today’s Federal                      section 12(d) of the National                         proposed rulemaking action. This action
                                                  Register, EPA is publishing a separate                  Technology Transfer and Advancement                   approving Maryland’s 2008 8-hour
                                                  document that will serve as the proposal                Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because              ozone NAAQS Certification SIP revision
                                                  to approve the SIP revision if adverse                  application of those requirements would               for NNSR may not be challenged later in
                                                  comments are filed. This rule will be                   be inconsistent with the CAA; and                     proceedings to enforce its requirements.
                                                  effective on November 28, 2017 without                     • Does not provide EPA with the
                                                                                                                                                                (See section 307(b)(2)).
                                                  further notice unless EPA receives                      discretionary authority to address, as
                                                  adverse comment by October 30, 2017.                    appropriate, disproportionate human                   List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                                  If EPA receives adverse comment, EPA                    health or environmental effects, using                  Environmental protection, Air
                                                  will publish a timely withdrawal in the                 practicable and legally permissible                   pollution control, Incorporation by
                                                  Federal Register informing the public                   methods, under Executive Order 12898                  reference, Intergovernmental relations,
                                                  that the rule will not take effect. EPA                 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                      Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and
                                                                                                             In addition, this rule does not have
                                                  will address all public comments in a                                                                         recordkeeping requirements, Volatile
                                                                                                          tribal implications as specified by
                                                  subsequent final rule based on the                                                                            organic compounds.
                                                                                                          Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
                                                  proposed rule. EPA will not institute a                                                                         Dated: September 14, 2017.
                                                                                                          November 9, 2000), because the SIP is
                                                  second comment period on this action.                                                                         Cecil Rodrigues,
                                                                                                          not approved to apply in Indian country
                                                  Any parties interested in commenting
                                                                                                          located in the state, and EPA notes that              Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
                                                  must do so at this time.
                                                                                                          it will not impose substantial direct                     40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
                                                  IV. Statutory and Executive Order                       costs on tribal governments or preempt
                                                  Reviews                                                 tribal law.                                           PART 52—APPROVAL AND
                                                  A. General Requirements                                 B. Submission to Congress and the                     PROMULGATION OF
                                                                                                          Comptroller General                                   IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
                                                    Under the CAA, the Administrator is
                                                  required to approve a SIP submission                      The Congressional Review Act, 5                     ■ 1. The authority citation for part 52
                                                  that complies with the provisions of the                U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small             continues to read as follows:
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                                                  CAA and applicable federal regulations.                 Business Regulatory Enforcement                           Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                  42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                     Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
                                                  Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,                     that before a rule may take effect, the               Subpart V—Maryland
                                                  EPA’s role is to approve state choices,                 agency promulgating the rule must
                                                  provided that they meet the criteria of                 submit a rule report, which includes a                ■  2. In § 52.1070, the table in paragraph
                                                  the CAA. Accordingly, this action                       copy of the rule, to each House of the                (e) is amended by adding the entry
                                                  merely approves state law as meeting                    Congress and to the Comptroller General               ‘‘2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
                                                  federal requirements and does not                       of the United States. EPA will submit a               Nonattainment New Source Review


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                             45479

                                                  Requirements’’ at the end of the table to               § 52.1070    Identification of plan.                      (e) * * *
                                                  read as follows:                                        *      *      *      *       *

                                                                                                                                 State                         EPA
                                                    Name of non-regulatory SIP                                                                                                             Additional
                                                                                         Applicable geographic area            submittal                     approval
                                                             revision                                                                                                                     explanation
                                                                                                                                 date                          date


                                                           *                 *                    *                                *                          *                    *                *
                                                  2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS      The Baltimore Area (includes                            5/8/17      9/29/17 [insert Federal Reg-
                                                    Nonattainment New Source     Anne Arundel, Baltimore,                                            ister citation].
                                                    Review Requirements.         Carroll, Harford, and How-
                                                                                 ard Counties and the city of
                                                                                 Baltimore), the Philadel-
                                                                                 phia-Wilmington-Atlantic
                                                                                 City Area (includes Cecil
                                                                                 County in Maryland), and
                                                                                 the Washington, DC Area
                                                                                 (includes Calvert, Charles,
                                                                                 Frederick, Montgomery,
                                                                                 and Prince Georges Coun-
                                                                                 ties in Maryland).



                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–20834 Filed 9–28–17; 8:45 am]             receives adverse comment, we will                       provides additional information by
                                                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                  publish a timely withdrawal of the                      addressing the following:
                                                                                                          direct final rule in the Federal Register               I. What is being addressed in this document?
                                                                                                          informing the public that the rule will                 II. Have the requirements for approval of a
                                                  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                not take effect.                                             SIP revision been met?
                                                  AGENCY                                                  ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                        III. What action is EPA taking?
                                                                                                                                                                  IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                                                  40 CFR Part 52                                          identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R07–
                                                                                                          OAR–2017–0517, to https://                              I. What is being addressed in this
                                                  [EPA–R07–OAR–2017–0517; FRL–9968–66–                    www.regulations.gov. Follow the online                  document?
                                                  Region 7]                                               instructions for submitting comments.
                                                                                                          Once submitted, comments cannot be                         EPA is approving elements of the
                                                  Approval of Iowa Air Quality                                                                                    2012 PM2.5 NAAQS infrastructure SIP
                                                  Implementation Plans; Elements of the                   edited or removed from Regulations.gov.
                                                                                                          EPA may publish any comment received                    submission from the State of Iowa,
                                                  Infrastructure SIP Requirements for                                                                             dated December 15, 2015, and received
                                                  the 2012 Annual Fine Particulate Matter                 to its public docket. Do not submit
                                                                                                          electronically any information you                      on December 22, 2015. Specifically,
                                                  (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality                                                                            EPA is approving the following
                                                  Standard (NAAQS)                                        consider to be Confidential Business
                                                                                                          Information (CBI) or other information                  elements of section 110(a)(2): (A), (B),
                                                  AGENCY: Environmental Protection                        whose disclosure is restricted by statute.              (C), (D)(i)(II)—prevent significant
                                                  Agency (EPA).                                           Multimedia submissions (audio, video,                   deterioration of air quality (prong 3),
                                                  ACTION: Direct final rule.                              etc.) must be accompanied by a written                  (D)(ii) (E) through (H), and (J) through
                                                                                                          comment. The written comment is                         (M).
                                                  SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection                considered the official comment and                        A Technical Support Document (TSD)
                                                  Agency (EPA) is taking direct final                     should include discussion of all points                 is included as part of the docket to
                                                  action to approve elements of a State                   you wish to make. EPA will generally                    discuss the details of this action,
                                                  Implementation Plan (SIP) submission,                   not consider comments or comment                        including analysis of how the SIP meets
                                                  for the 2012 Annual Fine Particulate                    contents located outside of the primary                 the applicable 110 requirements for
                                                  Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air                     submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or                  infrastructure SIPs.
                                                  Quality Standard (NAAQS).                               other file sharing system). For
                                                  Infrastructure SIPs address the                                                                                 II. Have the requirements for approval
                                                                                                          additional submission methods, the full                 of a SIP revision been met?
                                                  applicable requirements of Clean Air                    EPA public comment policy,
                                                  Act (CAA) section 110, which requires                   information about CBI or multimedia                       The state submission has met the
                                                  that each state adopt and submit a SIP                                                                          public notice requirements for SIP
                                                                                                          submissions, and general guidance on
                                                  for the implementation, maintenance,                                                                            submissions in accordance with 40 CFR
                                                                                                          making effective comments, please visit
                                                  and enforcement of each new or revised                                                                          51.102. The state held a 30-day
                                                                                                          https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                  NAAQS promulgated by the EPA. These                                                                             comment period, and a public hearing
                                                                                                          commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                  SIPs are commonly referred to as                                                                                on November 16, 2015. No oral or
                                                  ‘‘infrastructure’’ SIPs. The infrastructure             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        written comments were received. This
                                                  requirements are designed to ensure that                Heather Hamilton, Air Planning and                      submission also satisfied the
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                                                  the structural components of each                       Development Branch, U.S.                                completeness criteria of 40 CFR part 51,
                                                  state’s air quality management program                  Environmental Protection Agency,                        appendix V. In addition, as explained
                                                  are adequate to meet the state’s                        Region 7, 11201 Renner Boulevard,                       above and in more detail in the
                                                  responsibilities under the CAA.                         Lenexa, KS 66219 at (913) 551–7039, or                  technical support document which is
                                                  DATES: This direct final rule is effective              by email at hamilton.heather@epa.gov.                   part of this docket, the revision meets
                                                  November 28, 2017, without further                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              the substantive SIP requirements of the
                                                  notice, unless EPA receives adverse                     Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’                CAA, including section 110 and
                                                  comment by October 30, 2017. If EPA                     and ‘‘our’’ refer to EPA. This section                  implementing regulations.


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Document Created: 2017-09-29 03:26:54
Document Modified: 2017-09-29 03:26:54
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionDirect final rule.
DatesThis rule is effective on November 28, 2017 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by October 30, 2017. If EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take effect.
ContactMrs. Amy Johansen, (215) 814-2156, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 45475 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Volatile Organic Compounds

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