82_FR_45951 82 FR 45762 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Albuquerque and Bernalillo County; Regional Haze Progress Report State Implementation Plan

82 FR 45762 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Albuquerque and Bernalillo County; Regional Haze Progress Report State Implementation Plan

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 189 (October 2, 2017)

Page Range45762-45771
FR Document2017-21006

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to a State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, New Mexico (the County) submitted by the Governor on June 24, 2016. The SIP revision addresses requirements of the Act and the EPA's rules that require the County to submit a periodic report assessing reasonable progress goals (RPGs) for regional haze with a determination of the adequacy of the existing regional haze SIP.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45762-45771]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21006]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R06-OAR-2016-0406; FRL-9967-77-Region 6]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; 
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County; Regional Haze Progress Report State 
Implementation Plan

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a 
revision to a State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the City of 
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, New Mexico (the County) submitted by 
the Governor on June 24, 2016. The SIP revision addresses

[[Page 45763]]

requirements of the Act and the EPA's rules that require the County to 
submit a periodic report assessing reasonable progress goals (RPGs) for 
regional haze with a determination of the adequacy of the existing 
regional haze SIP.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, identified by Docket No. EPA-R06-OAR-2016-
0406, at http://www.regulations.gov or via email to 
[email protected]. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from 
Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public 
docket. Do not submit any information electronically that is considered 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or any other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, 
video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written 
comment will be considered the official comment with multimedia 
submissions and should include all discussion points desired. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or their contents submitted 
outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing systems). For additional submission methods, please 
contact James E. Grady, (214) 665-6745, [email protected]. 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.
    Docket: The index to the docket for this action is available 
electronically at www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at the EPA 
Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas. While all 
documents in the docket are listed in the index, some information may 
be publicly available only at the hard copy location (e.g., copyrighted 
material), and some may not be publicly available at either location 
(e.g., CBI).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Grady, (214) 665-6745; 
[email protected]. To inspect the hard copy materials, please 
schedule an appointment with James E. Grady or Mr. Bill Deese at 214-
665-7253.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' or 
``our'' each mean ``the EPA.''

Table of Contents:

I. Background on Regional Haze
    A. Visibility Protection
    B. Regulation Overview
II. Requirements for Regional Haze Progress Report
III. Evaluation of Regional Haze Progress Report
    A. Class I Areas
    B. Status of Control Strategies
    1. SO2 Milestone and Backstop Trading Program
    2. NOX and PM Control Strategies
    3. Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART)
    4. Mobile Source Emissions
    5. Fire and Smoke Management
    6. Fugitive and Unpaved Road Dust Measures
    7. Additional Controls--Local State Regulations
    8. Summary of Control Strategy Implementation
    C. Emission Reductions From Control Strategies
    D. Visibility Progress
    E. Emissions Progress
    F. Assessment of Changes Impeding Visibility Progress
    G. Assessment of Current Strategy To Meet RPGs
    H. Review of Visibility Monitoring Strategy
    I. Determination of Adequacy of Existing Regional Haze Plan
IV. The EPA's Proposed Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background on Regional Haze

A. Visibility Protection

    Regional haze is visibility impairment that occurs over a wide 
geographic area primarily from the pollution of fine particles 
(PM2.5) in nature.\1\ Fine particles causing haze consist of 
sulfates, nitrates, organics, elemental carbon (EC), and soil dust.\2\ 
Airborne PM2.5 can scatter and absorb the incident light 
and, therefore, lead to atmospheric opacity and horizontal visibility 
degradation. Regional haze limits visual distance and reduces color, 
clarity and contrast of view. Emissions that affect visibility include 
a wide variety of natural and man-made sources. In New Mexico, the most 
important sources of haze-forming emissions are coal-fired power 
plants, oil and gas development, woodland fires, and windblown dust. 
Reducing PM2.5 and its precursor gases in the atmosphere is 
an effective method of improving visibility. PM2.5 
precursors consist of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides 
(NOX), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs).
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    \1\ Fine particles are less than or equal to 2.5 microns 
([micro]m) in diameter and usually form secondary in nature 
indirectly from other sources. Particles less than or equal to 10 
[micro]m in diameter are referred to as PM10. Particles 
greater than PM2.5 but less than PM10 are 
referred to as coarse mass. Coarse mass can contribute to light 
extinction as well and is made up of primary particles directly 
emitted into the air. Fine particles tend to be man-made, while 
coarse particles tend to have a natural origin. Coarse mass settles 
out from the air more rapidly than fine particles and usually will 
be found relatively close to emission sources. Fine particles can be 
transported long distances by wind and can be found in the air 
thousands of miles from where they were formed.
    \2\ Organic carbon (OC) can be emitted directly as particles, or 
formed through reactions involving gaseous emissions. Elemental 
carbon, in contrast to organic carbon, is exclusively of primary 
origin and emitted by the incomplete combustion of carbon-based 
fuels. They are especially prevalent in diesel exhaust and smoke 
from wild and prescribed fires.
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B. Regulation Overview

    In section 169A of the 1977 CAA Amendments, Congress declared as a 
national goal the prevention of any future, and the remedying of any 
existing, visibility impairment in mandatory class I Federal areas 
where impairment results from manmade air pollution.\3\ Congress added 
section 169B to the CAA in 1990 that added visibility protection 
provisions, and the EPA published final regulations addressing regional 
haze with the 1999 Regional Haze Rule (RHR).\4\ The RHR revised the 
existing visibility regulations and established a more comprehensive 
visibility protection program for mandatory Class I areas. The 
requirements for regional haze are found at 40 CFR 51.308 and 51.309. 
States must demonstrate reasonable progress toward meeting the national 
goal of a return to natural visibility conditions for mandatory Class I 
Federal areas both within and outside states by 2064. The requirement 
to submit a regional haze SIP applies to all fifty states, the District 
of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. The City of Albuquerque and 
Bernalillo County,\5\ New Mexico must also submit

[[Page 45764]]

a regional haze SIP separate from the State of New Mexico \6\ to 
completely satisfy the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D) of the CAA 
for the entire State under the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act 
(section 74-2-4).\7\
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    \3\ Mandatory Class I Federal areas consist of national parks 
exceeding 6,000 acres, wilderness areas and national memorial parks 
exceeding 5,000 acres, and all international parks that were in 
existence on August 7, 1977. The EPA, in consultation with the 
Department of Interior, promulgated a list of 156 areas where 
visibility was identified as an important value. The extent of a 
mandatory Class I area includes subsequent changes in boundaries, 
such as park expansions. Although states and tribes may designate 
additional areas as Class I, the requirements of the visibility 
program set forth in the CAA applies only to ``mandatory Class I 
Federal areas.'' Each mandatory Class I Federal area is the 
responsibility of a ``Federal Land Manager.'' When the term ``Class 
I area'' is used in this action, it means ``mandatory Class I 
Federal areas.'' [See 44 FR 69122, November 30, 1979 and CAA 
Sections 162(a), 169A, and 302(i)].
    \4\ See July 1, 1999 Regional Haze Rule final action (64 FR 
35714), as amended in July 6, 2005 (70 FR 39156), October 13, 2006 
(71 FR 60631), June 7, 2012 (77 FR 33656) and in January 10, 2017 
(82 FR 3079).
    \5\ Note that the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County is 
treated like a ``state'' for purposes of implementing the RHR, which 
is written specifically for states. The EPA regulates and funds 
Bernalillo County as it does any other state air agency. Enacted in 
1967, the New Mexico State Air Quality Control Act [NMSA 1978 
Sections 74-2-4, 74-2-5, and 74-2-7] allowed for the establishment 
of the Air Quality Control Board (AQCB) as a local board and 
empowered it with the authority to administer and enforce its air 
quality regulations within Bernalillo County. The AQCB has 
jurisdiction over all of Bernalillo County, (including the City of 
Albuquerque), except Indian lands. The State of New Mexico 
Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) has jurisdiction over all 
other counties in New Mexico.
    \6\ On December 31, 2003, New Mexico submitted a regional haze 
SIP with later revisions (July 5, 2011 and October 7, 2013) that 
addressed 40 CFR 51.309. The EPA approved both of the (2003 and 
2011) submittals on November 27, 2012 (77 FR 70693) and approved a 
2013 revision on October 9, 2014 with two separate rules (79 FR 
60985 and 79 FR 60978). The New Mexico progress report was approved 
by the EPA on November 3, 2015 (see 80 FR 67682).
    \7\On November 12, 2003, the County first adopted its 40 CFR 
51.309 regional haze SIP with later revisions (August 13, 2008; June 
8, 2011). The EPA approved these submittals on Apr. 25, 2012 (77 FR 
24768).
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II. Requirements for Regional Haze Progress Report

    The RHR requires a comprehensive analysis of each state's regional 
haze SIP every ten years and a progress report at five-year intervals. 
The five-year review is intended to provide an interim report on the 
implementation of, and, if necessary, mid-course corrections to, the 
regional haze SIP. The progress report provides an opportunity for 
public input on the County's (and the EPA's) assessment of whether the 
approved regional haze SIP is being implemented appropriately and 
whether reasonable visibility progress is being achieved consistent 
with the projected visibility improvement in the SIP. At a minimum, the 
required elements of the progress report under the RHR must include the 
following seven elements: \8\
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    \8\ See also General Principles for the 5-Year Regional Haze 
Progress Reports for the Initial Regional Haze State Implementation 
Plans (Intended to Assist States and EPA Regional Offices in 
Development and Review of the Progress Reports), April 2013, EPA-
454/B-03-005, available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/documents/haze_5year_4-10-13.pdf.
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    (1) Provide a description of the status of implementation of all 
measures included in the regional haze SIP.
    (2) Summarize the emissions reductions achieved throughout the 
state.
    (3) Provide an assessment of current visibility conditions and the 
change in visibility impairment over the past five years.
    (4) Provide analysis tracking the change over the past five years 
in emissions of pollutants contributing to visibility impairment from 
all sources and activities within the state.
    (5) Provide an assessment of any significant changes in 
anthropogenic emissions within or outside the state that have occurred 
over the past five years that have limited or impeded progress in 
reducing pollutant emissions and improving visibility.
    (6) Provide an assessment of whether the current SIP elements and 
strategies are sufficient to enable the state (or other states with 
mandatory Class I areas affected by emissions from the state) to meet 
all established RPGs.
    (7) Provide a review of the state's visibility monitoring strategy 
and any modifications to the strategy as necessary.
    The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, New Mexico submitted 
its progress report SIP for the County under 40 CFR 51.309 on June 24, 
2016. Typically, progress report requirements of most states are 
covered under 40 CFR 51.308(g) and (h). 40 CFR 51.309 presents nine 
western states with an optional approach of fulfilling RHR requirements 
by adopting emission reduction strategies developed by the Grand Canyon 
Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC). These strategies were designed 
primarily to improve visibility of sixteen Class I areas in the 
Colorado Plateau area.\9\ Three western states (New Mexico, Utah and 
Wyoming) including the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, NM 
exercised the option provided in the RHR to meet alternative 
requirements contained in 40 CFR 51.309 for regional haze SIPs. For 
these states, the required content of the five-year progress report is 
identical with those for the other states, but are codified at 40 CFR 
51.309(d)(10) instead of at 40 CFR 51.308 (g) and (h). This section 
specifies fixed due dates in 2013 and 2018 for these progress 
reports.\10\ In contrast, under 40 CFR 51.308, states must submit a 
progress report five years from submittal of the initial implementation 
plan. Under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(ii), states are required to submit, at 
the same time as the progress report SIP, a determination of the 
adequacy of their existing regional haze SIP and to take one of four 
possible actions, as described in more detail in this proposal.
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    \9\ The Colorado Plateau is a high, semi-arid tableland in 
Southeast Utah, Northern Arizona, Northwest New Mexico, and Western 
Colorado. The sixteen mandatory Class I areas are as follows: Grand 
Canyon National Park, Mount Baldy Wilderness, Petrified Forest 
National Park, Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Black Canyon of the 
Gunnison National Park Wilderness, Flat Tops Wilderness, Maroon 
Bells Wilderness, Mesa Verde National Park, Weminuche Wilderness, 
West Elk Wilderness, San Pedro Parks Wilderness, Arches National 
Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capital 
Reef National Park, and Zion National Park.
    \10\ The 1999 RHR provided that these three states will 
eventually revert to the progress report due date requirements in 40 
CFR 51.308 for the second implementation period. Recently, there was 
an extension of the second regional haze implementation period 
deadline from 2018 to 2021. (82 FR 3080, January 10, 2017).
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III. Evaluation of Regional Haze Progress Report

    On July 28 2011, the AQCB submitted a regional haze SIP for its own 
geographic area of Bernalillo County, New Mexico (including the City of 
Albuquerque) that addressed the requirements of 40 CFR 51.309.\11\ This 
SIP submittal was a necessary component of the regional haze plan for 
New Mexico to ensure that the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D) of 
the CAA were satisfied for the whole state. On July 6, 2016, the EPA 
received the periodic report on progress for the County's regional haze 
SIP in the form of a SIP revision. This latest submission is the 
subject of this proposed approval. The periodic report was made in the 
first implementation period to assess visibility progression for Class 
I areas in and outside of the County that were negatively affected by 
emissions from within the County. The progress report included the 
County's determination that the existing regional haze SIP required no 
substantive revisions to achieve the established regional haze 
visibility improvement and emission reduction goals for 2018. The EPA 
agrees with the County's assessment and is proposing to approve its 
progress report SIP on the basis that it satisfies all requirements of 
40 CFR 51.309(d)(10) as explained in further details in each subsequent 
section.
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    \11\ See the EPA's proposed approval (77 FR 24768, April 25, 
2012) and final rule (77 FR 71119, November 29, 2012) for the 
County.
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A. Class I Areas

    The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County does not formulate 
specific RPGs for particular Class I areas within its borders since no 
such areas exist.\12\ Therefore, the County is not required to identify 
RPGs or calculate baseline and natural visibility conditions at any 
Class I area. The County, however, is required to address the 
apportionment of visibility impact from the emissions generated by 
sources within the County at Class I areas outside of the County 
borders. As a result, the progress report addressed the emissions 
impact on RPGs and related emission reduction goals for nine Class I 
areas within the state of New Mexico that were identified as being 
close

[[Page 45765]]

enough to the County that they could conceivably be affected by 
emissions from within the County. The nine Class I areas within New 
Mexico that were addressed in the progress report were: Bandelier 
Wilderness, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Carlsbad 
Caverns National Park, Gila Wilderness, Pecos Wilderness, Salt Creek 
Wilderness, Wheeler Peak Wilderness, White Mountain Wilderness, and San 
Pedro Parks Wilderness.\13\ Visibility impairment at New Mexico's nine 
Class I areas was tracked in units of deciviews (dv)\14\ as measured by 
eight monitors in the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual 
Environments (IMPROVE) Network. Through collaboration with the Western 
Regional Air Partnership (WRAP),\15\ the AQCB worked with New Mexico 
and other western states to assess state-by-state contributions to 
visibility impairment in specific Class I areas affected by Albuquerque 
and Bernalillo County, NM emissions. The determinations in the progress 
report relied on the technical analysis and emission inventories 
developed by the WRAP which is documented online and also appears in 
the technical appendices.\16\
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    \12\ See 77 FR 24768, 24790 (Apr. 25, 2012).
    \13\ The Section 309 SIP submitted by New Mexico in December 
2003 addressed only San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area and the other 
Class I areas were added in a later SIP revision under Section 
309(g) in June 2011 and revised in October 2013. The EPA approved 
both of the (2003 and 2011) submittals on November 27, 2012 (77 FR 
70693) and approved a 2013 revision on October 9, 2014 with two 
separate rules (79 FR 60985 and 79 FR 60978).
    \14\ A deciview is a haze index derived from calculated light 
extinction, such that uniform changes in haziness correspond to 
uniform incremental changes in perception across the entire range of 
conditions, from pristine to highly impaired. The preamble to the 
RHR provides additional details about the deciview (64 FR 35714, 
35725, July 1, 1999).
    \15\ The WRAP is a collaborative effort of tribal governments, 
state governments and various federal agencies representing the 
western states that provides technical and policy tools for the 
western states and tribes to comply with the EPA's Regional Haze 
regulations. Detailed information regarding WRAP support of air 
quality management issues for western states is provided on the WRAP 
Web site (www.wrapair2.org). Data summary descriptions and tools 
specific to RHR support are available on the WRAP Technical Support 
System Web site (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/tss/).
    \16\ The Western Regional Air Partnership Regional Haze Rule 
Reasonable Progress Summary Report technical support document has 
been prepared on behalf of the fifteen Western State members in the 
WRAP region to provide the technical basis for use by states to 
develop the first of their individual reasonable progress reports 
for the 116 Federal Class I areas located in the Western states.
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    The EPA is proposing to find that the County has appropriately 
identified the Class I areas in this report which could be affected by 
emissions from within the County, as required by 40 CFR 51.309(g). This 
regulation provides a requirement for compliance with 40 CFR 51.308(d) 
to the extent that planning is necessary for areas other than the 
sixteen Class I areas on the Colorado Plateau addressed in the initial 
2003 regional haze SIP. In the ensuing sections, the EPA addresses 
these Class I areas and the seven regulatory elements required by the 
progress report SIP; \17\ how the County's progress report SIP 
addressed each element; and the EPA's analysis and proposed 
determination as to whether the County satisfied each part.
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    \17\ See 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i).
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B. Status of Control Strategies

    40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(A) requires a description of the status of 
implementation of all control measures included in the regional haze 
SIP for achieving RPGs for Class I areas both within and outside the 
state.
    The County evaluated the status of all control measures in its 2011 
regional haze SIP in accordance with the requirements under 40 CFR 
51.309(d)(10)(i)(A). The major control measures identified by the 
County in the progress report are as follows:
     SO2 Milestone and Backstop Trading Program
     NOX and PM Control Strategies
     Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART)
     Mobile Sources Emissions \18\
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    \18\ Under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(5)(ii), New Mexico is required to 
submit interim reports to the EPA and the public on the 
implementation status of the regional and local strategies to 
address mobile source emissions.
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     Fire and Smoke Management
     Fugitive and Unpaved Road Dust Measures
     Additional Controls--Local State Regulations
    The County identified ammonium sulfate, particulate organic matter, 
and coarse mass as the largest contributors to visibility impairment at 
New Mexico's Class I areas that need to be controlled.\19\ Many of the 
sources, however, that produce these visibility-impairing pollutants in 
New Mexico are natural, rather than anthropogenic in nature, and are 
not controllable. For the purpose of this progress report, the County 
focused on those emission sources that were anthropogenic in nature (as 
did New Mexico in its report). The primary sources of ammonium sulfate 
are point sources and mobile source emissions. Ammonium sulfate results 
from SO2 and NH3 precursor emissions. 
SO2 emissions in New Mexico are generally associated with 
anthropogenic point sources such as coal-fired power plants, other 
industrial sources like refineries and cement plants, and both on and 
off-road mobile sources. Particulate organic matter emissions in New 
Mexico are from natural and anthropogenic fire. Large wildfire events 
in the west dominate particulate organic aerosol emissions which are 
emitted directly into the air as particles instead of gases. Coarse 
mass emissions in New Mexico happen mainly as a result of windblown and 
fugitive dust. Coarse mass settles out of air more rapidly than fine 
particles, so strong wind events act as a transport vehicle to carry 
them long distances. Otherwise, they will typically be found close to 
the emission source.
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    \19\ See the County's 2016 regional haze progress report 
submittal (page 9) which was reiterated in New Mexico's regional 
haze progress report (page 7).
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1. SO2 Milestone and Backstop Trading Program
    The progress report discussed the SO2 Milestone and 
Backstop Trading Program as a control measure to reduce emissions for 
major sources of SO2.\20\ The County has participated in 
this voluntary program since December 31, 2003.\21\ As part of this 
program, the Section 309 western states and the County must submit an 
annual report that compares tracked stationary sources of 
SO2 emissions to yearly milestones.\22\ A milestone is an 
established maximum level of annual emissions for a given year (from 
2003-2018). The milestones help establish annual SO2 
emission reduction targets. The annual targets represent RPGs in 
reducing visibility-impairing emissions. If states fail to meet the 
milestones, then the backstop-trading program is triggered to

[[Page 45766]]

implement an emissions cap. The cap allocates emission allowances (or 
credits) to the affected sources based on the cap, and requires the 
sources to hold sufficient allowances to cover their emissions each 
year.
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    \20\ Under Section 309, nine western states and the tribes 
within those states had the option of submitting plans to reduce 
visibility-impairing emissions at sixteen Class I areas on the 
Colorado Plateau. Five states (Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, 
Wyoming) and the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, NM 
exercised this option by submitting plans to the EPA by December 1, 
2003. Oregon and Arizona have since elected to cease participation 
in the Milestone and Backstop Trading Program in 2006 and 2010, 
respectively. The tribes are not subject to any deadline and can 
still opt into the program at any time.
    \21\ The County cooperates with its WRAP partners to maintain an 
inventory of regional SO2 emissions, across the Section 
309 states. The City of Albuquerque Air Quality Program (AQP) 
monitors SO2 ambient air concentrations in Bernalillo 
County consistent with EPA regulations. See the City of Albuquerque 
Environmental Health Department (EHD) Web site at https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/documents for Annual Network Reviews for 
Ambient Air Monitoring.
    \22\ See WRAP Web site at https://www.wrapair2.org/reghaze.aspx 
for the Regional Milestone reports. A final 2014 milestone report 
was posted on March 7, 2016 and a draft 2015 report was posted 
recently on March 20, 2017. Appendix G of the County progress report 
includes the 2013 Regional SO2 Emissions and Milestone 
Report.
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    The regional haze SIP requires multiyear averaging of emissions for 
the milestone comparison. From 2005-2017, the three-year average, which 
includes the reporting year and the two previous years, is calculated 
and compared to the milestone. The regional milestone for 2013 was 
185,795 tons SO2. The three-year average SO2 
emissions for 2011, 2012, and 2013 was 105,402 tons SO2, 
which was 43 percent below the 2013 milestone. In table 1 below, 2014 
and 2015 WRAP data shows similar SO2 reduction trends that 
continue beyond 2013 toward 2018. No triggering of the backstop trading 
program has been necessary and the likelihood of meeting the 2018 
target means no changes in the program are needed at the moment. The 
compliance dates show that SO2 emissions have consistently 
been below each annual RPG and are currently tracking to be below the 
2018 milestone.

                                      Table 1--SO2 Emission Milestones \23\
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                                         Regional SO2      Average SO2 emissions to determine compliance with
                                        milestone tons                          milestone
                 Year                      per year    ---------------------------------------------------------
                                             (tpy)
                                                                SO2  (tpy)                 3-Year average
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2008..................................         269,083  265,662..................  2006, 2007 and 2008.
2009..................................         234,903  165,633..................  2007, 2008 and 2009.
2010..................................         200,722  146,808..................  2008, 2009 and 2010.
2011..................................         200,722  130,935..................  2009, 2010 and 2011.
2012..................................         200,722  115,115..................  2010, 2011 and 2012.
2013..................................         185,795  105,402..................  2011, 2012 and 2013.
2014..................................         170,868  96,392...................  2012, 2013 and 2014.
2015..................................         155,940  91,310...................  2013, 2014 and 2015.
2016..................................         155,940  Not Available............  2014, 2015 and 2016.
2017..................................         155,940  Not Available............  2015, 2016 and 2017.
2018..................................         141,849  Not Available............  2016, 2017 and 2018.
2019 forward..........................         141,849  Not Available............  Annual; no averaging.
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2. NOX and PM Control Strategies
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    \23\ The milestone numbers reflect the participation of Wyoming, 
Utah, and New Mexico (including the City of Albuquerque and 
Bernalillo County) in the 309 backstop trading program.
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    The County included a report in its 2011 regional haze SIP that 
assessed emission control strategies for NOX and PM 
stationary sources, and the degree of visibility improvement that would 
result from their implementation.\24\ The report concluded that current 
and future NOX and PM emissions do not show to be major 
contributors to regional haze (typically about two percent on average) 
in the vast majority of western Class I areas. The report represented 
the initial assessment of stationary source NOX and PM 
strategies for regional haze, and was a starting point for a more 
extensive analysis in the future. The 2011 regional haze SIP stated 
that the progress report would assess the need for new NOX 
and PM control measures to address any new contributions to regional 
haze from stationary sources in the County. The County concluded in the 
progress report that it does not find new control measures necessary 
for NOX and PM stationary sources at this time. Stationary 
source NOX and PM emissions in the County have not impeded 
reasonable progress of emissions and visibility in New Mexico as a 
whole and are not likely to do so. Please refer to the emission 
reduction section of this report for more details regarding 
NOX and PM emissions.
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    \24\ The report, Stationary Source NOX and PM Emissions in the 
WRAP Region: An Initial Assessment of Emissions, Controls, and Air 
Quality Impacts, was prepared by the WRAP and is included in 
Appendix H-O of the SIP.
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3. Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) \25\
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    \25\ BART sources are those sources that have the potential to 
emit 250 tons or more of visibility-impairing pollutants, were put 
in place between August 7, 1962 and August 7, 1977, and whose 
operations fall within one or more of 26 specifically listed source 
categories.
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    The regional haze SIP determined that there are no BART-eligible 
sources in the County, so there are no requirements to install BART 
controls.\26\ Even so, the progress report mentioned how the County 
must still specifically demonstrate that its SO2 milestone 
and backstop-trading program will achieve greater reasonable progress 
than would be achieved by implementation of BART controls.\27\ Under 
this approach, a section 51.309 regional haze SIP must establish 
declining SO2 emission milestones for each year of the 
program through 2018. The milestones must be consistent with the 
GCTVC's goal of fifty to seventy percent reduction in SO2 
emissions by 2040. As demonstrated in the County's regional haze SIP, 
the SO2 milestones provide greater reasonable progress than 
BART and track at a sixty percent pace reduction of the 1990 
SO2 emission levels.\28\ The actual annual SO2 
emission reduction results outperformed this milestone pace. The 
progress report showed that the three-year average SO2 
emissions for 2013 was 43 percent below the 2013 milestone at 105,402 
tons SO2 (see Table 1). That represents a 71 percent 
reduction from the 1990 emission totals and is exceeding the GCVTC goal 
of fifty to seventy percent reduction. The regional SO2 
emissions have continued to decline at a faster pace than called for by 
the SO2 milestones. Thus, as anticipated, the milestone 
program has actually continued to achieve greater reasonable progress 
than would be the case if BART were implemented.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ The WRAP identified three potential BART-eligible sources 
in the County. These were PNM Reeves Generating Station, GCC Rio 
Grande Inc., and Cobisa Person Power Project. The AQCB assessed 
whether these facilities were existing stationary facilities as 
defined at 40 CFR 51.301 and determined that all three sources were 
not BART-eligible. PNM Reeves and GCC Rio Grande were not in 
existence nor operating during the requisite time period, and Cobisa 
Person Power Project did not have emission units in the 26 source 
categories for BART. See the EPA's proposed approval for the 
County's regional haze SIP (77 FR 24768, 24782, April 25, 2012).
    \27\ 40 CFR 51.309(d)(4)(i).
    \28\ See the County's 2011 regional haze SIP submittal (pages 
112-124). SO2 emissions from sources in 1990 totaled 
358,364 tpy and the 2018 milestone is 141,849 tpy, which represents 
sixty percent reduction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Mobile Source Emissions
    The progress report mentioned that the County is relying upon 
federal standards as long-term measures to

[[Page 45767]]

achieve declines in mobile source emissions that contribute to regional 
haze.\29\ The County also committed itself in the SIP to monitoring 
mobile source emissions (through the WRAP) to assure a continuous 
decline in emissions as defined in 40 CFR 51.309(b)(6).\30\ A statewide 
inventory of baseline and future annual mobile source emissions has 
been compiled for the years 2003-2018 with assistance from the 
WRAP.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See the County's 2011 regional haze SIP (pages 56-58) and 
New Mexico's 2011 regional haze SIP (page 144) for ongoing 
implementation of federal mobile source regulations. The County 
regional haze SIP listed as a haze-control measure 20.11.104 NMAC, 
Emission Standards for New Motor Vehicles. This regulation was 
adopted in 2007 to implement California's clean car standards. At 
the time the regulation was adopted by New Mexico, the California 
standards were projected to substantially differ from federal motor 
vehicle emissions standards. Since that time, the California and 
federal programs for emissions standards for motor vehicles have 
become more aligned with each other than was expected by New Mexico 
when it adopted the State Mobile Source Regulation. For example, in 
2009, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) proposed ``regulatory convergence'' with California on motor 
vehicle fuel economy standards. See 74 FR 49454 (September 28, 
2009). This was subsequently adopted, starting with model years 
2012-2016. 75 FR 25323 (May 7, 2010). Therefore, 20.11.104 NMAC is 
currently redundant and is not being implemented.
    \30\ See the County's 2011 regional haze SIP (page 59).
    \31\ See WRAP 2013 Summary Report, pages 3-11 to 3-20, 4-1 to 4-
2, and 6-222 to 6-233.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Fire and Smoke Management
    The County is relying on fire and smoke management programs under 
20.11.21 NMAC, Open Burning, in order to help control anthropogenic 
fire related emissions of VOCs, NOX, elemental carbon, 
organic carbon, and PM2.5. This regulation requires that 
most open burning in Bernalillo County be conducted under a permit from 
the City of Albuquerque EHD subject to specific requirements, 
including: reporting of emissions for use in emissions inventories; 
consideration of alternatives to burning; use of enhanced smoke 
management techniques recommended by the WRAP; and use of specific 
emission reduction techniques. The programs in this measure are 
generally designed to limit increases in emissions, rather than to 
reduce existing emissions.
6. Fugitive and Unpaved Road Dust Measures
    The progress report mentioned measures that provide for control of 
PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from unpaved roads and 
from stationary fugitive dust sources.\32\ The EHD implements this 
requirement through 20.11.20 NMAC, Fugitive Dust Control, which 
requires the use of reasonably available control measures (RACM) to 
reduce fugitive dust that impairs visibility or adversely affects 
public health, welfare, and safety.\33\ The measure prevents fugitive 
dust from leaving sites where it is produced, and thus reduces the 
amount of those emissions. The regulation requires sources to obtain 
permits and pay related fees, limits construction activity, and has an 
active enforcement program in place to implement the provisions on an 
ongoing basis. In addition, the AQCB tracks road dust emissions with 
the assistance of the WRAP. They provide updates, including modeling 
and monitoring information, on paved and unpaved road dust emission 
impacts on visibility in the sixteen Colorado Plateau Class I Areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ For more information on the WRAP modeling and assessment of 
road dust impacts, see section F of the County regional haze SIP 
(pages 69-71).
    \33\ The City of Albuquerque EHD also has delegated authority to 
enforce applicable federal standards related to particulate matter, 
as promulgated in 40 CFR Sections 60, 61, and 63.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Additional Controls--Local State Regulations
    The County lists several local regulations that are being used to 
aid in controlling emissions that contribute to the formation of 
regional haze at Class I areas. These regulations, and the pollutants 
targeted by them, appear in table 2 below. The EHD implements and 
enforces these regulations on a continuing basis.

      Table 2--County Regulations Applicable to Regional Haze \34\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Pollutant
          Regulation                  Description          controlled
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20.11.22 NMAC.................  Wood burning..........  CO, PM.
20.11.65 NMAC.................  Volatile Organic        VOCs.
                                 Compounds.
20.11.66 NMAC.................  Process Equipment.....  PM.
20.11.67 NMAC.................  Equipment, Emissions,   SO2, NOX, PM.
                                 Limitations.
20.11.71 NMAC.................  Municipal Solid Waste   CO.
                                 Landfills.
20.11.100 NMAC................  Motor Vehicle           CO, PM,
                                 Inspection,             hydrocarbons.
                                 Decentralized.
20.11.102 NMAC................  Oxygenated Fuels......  CO.
20.11.103 NMAC................  Motor Vehicle Visible   PM.
                                 Emissions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Summary of Control Strategy Implementation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ See the County Web site for a listing of the NMAC rules at 
http://164.64.110.239/nmac/_title20/T20C011.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EPA proposes to conclude that the County adequately addressed 
the status of control measures in its regional haze SIP, as required by 
the provisions under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(A) for the first 
implementation period. The County's progress report documented the 
status of all control measures included in its regional haze SIP and 
described additional measures that came into effect since the County's 
regional haze SIP was completed, including state regulations and 
various federal measures. All major control measures were identified 
and the strategy behind each control was explained. The County included 
a summary of the implementation status associated with each control 
measure and quantified the benefits where possible. In addition, the 
progress report SIP adequately outlined the compliance timeframe for 
all controls

C. Emission Reductions From Control Strategies

    The provisions under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(B) require the state 
to provide a summary of the emission reductions achieved in the state 
through the control measures subject to the requirements under 40 CFR 
51.309(d)(10)(i)(A). As mentioned previously, the County identified 
ammonium sulfate, particulate organic matter, and coarse mass as the 
largest contributors historically to visibility impairment at New 
Mexico's Class I areas for the initial round of regional haze SIPS. 
Many of the sources, however, that produce these visibility-impairing 
pollutants in New Mexico are natural, rather than anthropogenic in 
nature, and are not controllable. As a result, the New Mexico progress 
report focused on emission reductions from

[[Page 45768]]

point sources because they represent the anthropogenic sources in New 
Mexico.\35\ The New Mexico report showed that these pollutants have 
mostly been contributing less to visibility impairment at New Mexico 
Class I areas over time, and the anthropogenic point source emissions 
related to these pollutants have also been declining in areas of the 
state outside the County.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ See the 2014 New Mexico Regional Haze Progress Report (page 
7).
    \36\ See Figure 3.6 from the 2014 New Mexico Regional Haze 
Progress Report (page 15).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For comparison, in its progress report, the County took the same 
approach as New Mexico and reported anthropogenic point source emission 
data (see table 3) from the County for NOX, SO2, 
PM10, and PM2.5 and compared it to WRAP 2018 
projections for the 2008-2013 time-period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ See the 2016 County Regional Haze Progress Report (page 
21).

          Table 3--The County Stationary Point Source Emissions Compared to 2018 WRAP Projections \37\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    PM2.5 (tpy)
                      Year                           NOX (tpy)       SO2 (tpy)      PM10 (tpy)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008............................................           1,139              57           1,222             239
2011............................................           1,120              74             186             110
2012............................................           1,167             132             351             116
2013............................................           1,401             165             323             117
2018 WRAP Projections...........................           3,402           1,612             411              23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The County noted that pollutant emissions from the County have not 
impeded reductions in the rest of the state. SO2 and 
NOX county emission trends have increased slightly since 
2008 but have remained well below the WRAP 2018 projections for point 
sources and were just a fraction of the levels observed in the rest of 
the state (see table 4). PM10 emission levels for the County 
were below the WRAP 2018 projections while PM2.5 levels were 
above the WRAP predictions. Although the PM2.5 levels were 
above WRAP 2018 projections, PM emission levels from the County have 
decreased in a downward trend for both fine particulates and coarse 
mass since 2008. When comparing pollutant emission contributions of 
NOX, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 
from the County to the statewide national emission inventory (NEI), the 
County concluded that it is improbable that the County emissions have 
had significant impacts on nearby Class I areas. The reported point 
source amounts from the County remain low in comparison to those from 
the rest of the state as seen from the statewide NEI data in table 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ As reported in the online EPA Emissions Inventory System 
(EIS) Gateway database for point sources only.

                    Table 4--NEI Point Source Emission Data for New Mexico for 2002-2014 \38\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    PM2.5 (tpy)
                      Year                           NOX (tpy)       SO2 (tpy)      PM10 (tpy)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002............................................          95,493          36,392           6,558           5,511
2005............................................          72,707          18,532           3,611           2,994
2008............................................          57,461          22,868           2,953           1,754
2011............................................          47,497          19,987           2,545           1,722
2014............................................          42,623          12,535           3,091           1,538
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The NEI data shows that the emission trend of each major 
contributor to visibility impairment in New Mexico has decreased 
significantly since 2002. NOX emissions have decreased by 55 
percent and SO2 emissions have decreased by 65 percent. PM 
reductions also reduced considerably from their NEI baseline totals 
(52% for PM10 and 72% for PM2.5) and remain below 
the 2018 WRAP projections for New Mexico, although not especially 
pronounced.\39\ A more-detailed breakdown of the distribution of each 
contributing pollutant species can be seen in section E of this report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ See Figure 3.6 from the 2014 New Mexico Regional Haze 
Progress Report (page 15).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EPA proposes to conclude that the County adequately addressed 
the requirements under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(B) with its summary of 
emission reductions of visibility impairing pollutants. Overall, the 
County demonstrated the emission reductions achieved in the major 
contributing visibility impairing pollutants in the County for the 
first implementation period. Anthropogenic emissions of haze related 
pollutants from stationary point sources in the County are unlikely to 
reverse the larger, favorable statewide emission trends, because over 
time such local emissions have remained at a fraction of the levels 
seen in the rest of the state. Furthermore, such county emissions are 
under or close to the WRAP 2018 projections for those pollutants.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ See the 2016 County Regional Haze Progress Report (pages 
15-22).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Visibility Progress

    The provisions under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(C) require that states 
with Class I areas provide the following information for the most 
impaired and least impaired days \41\ for each area, with values 
expressed in terms of five-year averages of these annual values: (1) 
Current visibility conditions; (2) the difference between current 
visibility conditions and baseline visibility conditions; and (3) the 
change in visibility impairment over the past five years. The County 
does not have any Class I areas within its borders; therefore, no 
visibility data is required to be analyzed for this element. In regard 
to New Mexico's Class I areas outside of the County, please note that 
when comparing baseline to current visibility conditions, the New 
Mexico progress report showed that New Mexico is currently on track, if 
not exceeding, the visibility impairment

[[Page 45769]]

emission reductions needed to achieve RPG's for 2018.\42\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ The most and least impaired days in the regional haze rule 
refers to the average visibility impairment (measured in deciviews) 
for the 20 percent of monitored days in a calendar year with the 
highest and lowest amount of visibility impairment, respectively, 
averaged over a five-year period (see 40 CFR 51.301).
    \42\ See table 2.1 of New Mexico Regional Haze Progress Report 
(page 5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Emissions Progress

    The provisions under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(D) require an analysis 
tracking emission changes of visibility impairing pollutants from the 
state's sources by type or category over the past five years based on 
the most recent updated emission inventory. In its progress report SIP, 
the County presented WRAP emission inventories for 2002, 2008, and 
2011, as well as projected inventories for 2018, in accordance with the 
requirements of 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(D). The pollutant inventories 
included SO2, NOX, NH3, VOCs, organic 
carbon, elemental carbon, coarse mass, and soil dust. The inventories 
were categorized for all major visibility-impairing pollutants under 
major source groupings either as anthropogenic or natural. The 
anthropogenic source categorization included point and area sources; on 
and off-road mobile sources; area oil and gas; fugitive and road dust; 
and anthropogenic fire. The natural source categorization included 
natural fire, wind-blown dust, and biogenic sources. A breakdown of the 
total anthropogenic emissions for the County and state can be seen 
below in table 5. The table shows the percent apportionment of County 
emissions for each of the key haze-causing pollutants related to the 
rest of the state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ The emission totals for the County are taken from the 
County regional haze progress report (tables 3.22-3.29). Emission 
totals for the entire state of New Mexico are taken from the New 
Mexico Regional Haze progress report (tables 3.23-3.30). Detailed 
inventory descriptions for development of the WRAP Base02b, plan02c 
and plan02d inventories are available on the WRAP TSS Web site 
http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/TSS/Results/Emissions.aspx and 
archived on the original WRAP Web site http://www.wrapair.org/forums/ssjf/pivot.html.

          Table 5--Comparison of County and State Anthropogenic Emissions to WRAP 2018 Projections \43\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2002 Total
                                                     baseline       2008 Total      2011 Total       WRAP 2018
       Pollutant species            Inventory        emissions       emissions       emissions      projections
                                                    (tons/year)     (tons/year)     (tons/year)     (tons/year)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2...........................  County..........     4,772 (10%)             291      1,250 (6%)          13,770
                                State...........          48,354          27,392          21,624
NOX...........................  County..........    33,661 (11%)          16,960     14,760 (9%)          26,819
                                State...........         295,266         211,132         168,008
NH3...........................  County..........      1,400 (4%)             856        682 (2%)           1,683
                                State...........          32,266          43,840          37,071
VOCs..........................  County..........     25,573 (7%)          19,137     14,574 (7%)          23,891
                                State...........         344,077         268,792         214,360
PM2.5.........................  County..........     2,229 (18%)           4,112      5,777 (7%)           2,433
                                State...........          12,573          61,587          85,576
Coarse Mass...................  County..........    16,387 (25%)          36,982     56,655 (7%)          17,369
                                State...........          66,096         511,327         830,697
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The WRAP data showed that the percentage of County emissions 
contributing to the total state emissions has decreased for each 
pollutant species from the 2002 baseline to 2011. The WRAP emission 
inventories were previously identified in the SIP as reflecting 
overestimates of actual emissions in key source categories. Even so, 
there has not been a drastic, sudden spike in the percentages, which 
would be a cause for concern for visibility degradation at the Class I 
areas. The decreasing WRAP percentages are indicators that the County 
``conservative'' emission estimates have improved throughout the first 
implementation period and are contributing less and less to visibility 
impairment at Class I areas outside of its borders from 2002-2011. The 
County concluded that it is unlikely that the County emissions had 
significant impacts on nearby Class I areas as a result. The County's 
contribution of emissions compared to the New Mexico emission 
inventory, as estimated by the WRAP, is six percent of the State 
SO2 emissions; nine percent of the State NOX 
emissions; two percent of the State NH3 emissions; seven 
percent of the State VOC emissions; seven percent of the State 
PM2.5 emissions; and seven percent of the State coarse mass 
emissions. These percentages are all down from their 2002 baseline 
levels. PM2.5 and coarse mass 2011 total emissions are 
higher than the WRAP 2018 projections, but their decreasing percent 
contributions are better indicators of the progress made since 
emissions have increased statewide, yet their percentages have 
decreased from eighteen and 25 percent respectively, in 2002, to seven 
percent each in 2011.
    The EPA is proposing to find that the County adequately addressed 
the requirements under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(D). The EPA concludes 
that the County presented an adequate analysis tracking emission trends 
for the key visibility impairing pollutants. The analysis provided the 
most recent period of approximately five years for which data was 
available in practical terms (2002-2008), and provided an additional 
update for 2011 that presented further information covering 
approximately two five-year periods (2002-2011). The trends indicate 
that it was improbable that sources located within the County caused or 
contributed to visibility impairment in any Class I area located 
outside of the County. The emission trends declined within the County 
compared to 2002 baseline levels and the percent contributions related 
to the rest of the state have all continued to decline over time.

F. Assessment of Changes Impeding Visibility Progress

    The provisions under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(E) require an 
assessment of whether any significant emission changes have occurred 
within the state over the five-year period since the SIP was submitted, 
and whether emission increases outside the state are affecting a Class 
I area within the state adversely. A ``significant change'' could be 
either a substantial unexpected increase in anthropogenic emissions 
that occurred over the five-year period or a significant expected 
reduction in anthropogenic emissions that did not occur in the analysis 
for the SIP.
    The EPA proposes to conclude that the County adequately addressed 
the provisions under 40 CFR

[[Page 45770]]

51.309(d)(10)(i)(E). The County does not have any Class I areas within 
its borders, so there is no requirement to assess impacts in the County 
from sources outside of its boundaries. Furthermore, the County sources 
do not impact any of the Class I areas outside of its borders, as was 
stated in the County's regional haze SIP revision, which the EPA 
approved on April 25, 2012.\44\ In conjunction with that previous 
action, the EPA's current analysis of emission reductions to meet the 
provisions of 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(B) and 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(D) 
show that no ``significant changes'' in emissions within the County 
have occurred to impede visibility improvement or have adversely 
affected the nine Class I areas in New Mexico.\45\ Emission trends for 
the key visibility impairing pollutants were confirmed to be decreasing 
from the baseline to 2018 by statewide NEI data and reported County 
emissions. Additionally, the WRAP data showed that emissions from the 
County have remained at the same percentage levels over time or 
decreased relative to emissions from elsewhere in the state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ See 77 FR (24768, 24791).
    \45\ Changes in wildfires are not a ``change'' to report under 
51.309(d)(10)(i)(E) per EPA guidance, General Principles for the 5-
Year Regional Haze Progress Reports for the Initial Regional Haze 
State Implementation Plans (page 15).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

G. Assessment of Current Strategy To Meet RPGs

    The provisions under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(F) require an 
assessment of whether the current regional haze SIP is sufficient to 
enable the state, or other states, to meet the RPGs for Class I areas 
affected by emissions from the state. The County does not contain any 
Class I areas, and emissions from the County were found to not impact 
any Class I areas outside of its borders. As discussed previously, the 
NEI data showed that the total emissions of each major contributor to 
visibility impairment in New Mexico has decreased significantly since 
2002. The total County emissions have remained at a fraction of the 
levels seen in the rest of the state and are under or close to the WRAP 
2018 RPGs when looking at the cumulative anthropogenic emissions.
    The County provided a breakdown showing whether or not every key 
pollutant in each source category was meeting its 2018 RPGs for annual 
emissions.\46\ Of the 56 individual RPGs for the County, 42 were either 
being met or referred to pollutants that showed declining emissions 
since 2002. Fourteen of the County goals were not yet being met as of 
the 2011 WRAP inventory, but nine of those annual goals showed reported 
emission levels less than 200 tpy, and one was just under 500 tpy. 
Those ten goals were associated with point sources and on and off road 
mobile source categories. The County concluded that those ten reported 
emissions were unlikely to impede New Mexico's progress toward 
achieving statewide goals for emissions and visibility since the 
emission levels represented a negligible portion of total statewide 
emissions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ Showed in tables 3.22-3.29 of the County Regional Haze 
Progress Report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The four remaining annual emission goals that were not being met 
covered coarse mass, organic carbon, and PM2.5 pollutants. 
The increased contributions from these pollutants were associated with 
fugitive/road dust and area (non-point) source categories. Annual 
emissions with higher levels of organic matter, elemental carbon, 
PM2.5 and coarse mass with a lower contribution from 
ammonium sulfate are heavily dominated from wildfires and particulate 
matter. High coarse mass was measured during the spring, which was 
indicative of high-wind events that occurred during the late winter and 
spring months in New Mexico. Wildfires or high-wind events might again 
affect annual emissions in the 2018 timeframe, but the County showed 
that it is meeting nearly all of its annual emission goals even with 
experienced annual emission increases from natural events that still 
have not hindered New Mexico from meeting its RPGs beyond the County 
borders. The County expects further reduction of SO2 and 
NO2 emissions, the primary pollutant species associated with 
anthropogenic sources, to continue their broad declines in the same 
areas.
    The EPA proposes to conclude that the County has addressed 40 CFR 
51.309(d)(10)(i)(F) because its current regional haze SIP is sufficient 
to enable the state of New Mexico and other nearby states to meet their 
RPGs, particularly as the County was not identified as contributing to 
any impairment in such Class I areas. The fairly constant proportion of 
County emissions compared to the rest of the state are negligible. In 
spite of natural events, the County showed that it is meeting nearly 
all of its annual emission goals and the annual emission increases from 
natural events still have not hindered New Mexico from meeting its RPGs 
beyond the County borders.

H. Review of Visibility Monitoring Strategy

    The provisions under 40 CFR 51.309(10)(i)(G) require a review of a 
state's visibility monitoring strategy for visibility impairing 
pollutants and an assessment of whether any modifications to the 
strategy are necessary. In its progress report SIP, the County stated 
that there are no Class I areas within its boundaries, and therefore it 
was not required to fulfill this provision. The EPA proposes to 
conclude that the County is exempt from addressing the requirements of 
40 CFR 51.309(10)(i)(G), as that requirement is solely for states with 
Class I areas in their borders.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ The New Mexico progress report concluded (pages 46-47) that 
no changes in the state's visibility monitoring strategy are needed 
because the IMPROVE network has continued to provide adequate 
monitoring data to support implementation of the RHR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Determination of Adequacy of Existing Regional Haze Plan

    Under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(ii), states are required to submit, at 
the same time as the progress report SIP, a determination of the 
adequacy of their existing regional haze SIP and to take one of four 
possible actions based on information in the progress report. 40 CFR 
51.309(d)(10)(ii) requires states to take one of the following actions:
    (1) Submit a negative declaration to the EPA that no further 
substantive revision to the State's existing regional haze SIP is 
needed.
    (2) If the State determines that the implementation plan is or may 
be inadequate to ensure reasonable progress due to emissions from 
sources in another state(s) which participated in a regional planning 
process, the State must provide notification to the EPA and to the 
other state(s) which participated in the regional planning process with 
the states. The State must also collaborate with the other state(s) 
through the regional planning process for developing additional 
strategies to address the plan's deficiencies.
    (3) Where the State determines that the implementation plan is or 
may be inadequate to ensure reasonable progress due to emissions from 
sources in another country, the State shall provide notification, along 
with available information, to the Administrator.
    (4) If the State determines that the implementation plan is or may 
be inadequate to ensure reasonable progress due to emissions from 
sources within the State, then the State shall revise its 
implementation plan to

[[Page 45771]]

address the plan's deficiencies within one year.
    The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, New Mexico has 
provided the information required under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i) in the 
five-year progress report. Based upon this information, the County 
stated in its progress report SIP that it believes that the current 
Section 309 and Section 309(g) regional haze SIPs are adequate to meet 
the State's 2018 RPGs and require no further revision at this time. 
Thus, the EPA has received a negative declaration from the City of 
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, NM.

IV. The EPA's Proposed Action

    The EPA is proposing to approve the City of Albuquerque and 
Bernalillo County, New Mexico's regional haze five-year progress report 
SIP revision (submitted June 24, 2016) as meeting the applicable 
regional haze requirements set forth in 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10). The EPA 
is proposing to approve the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, 
New Mexico's determination that the current regional haze SIP is 
adequate to meet the State's 2018 RPGs.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable 
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in 
reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA's role is to approve state choices, 
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this 
action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this 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), 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011), and 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 2017);
     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 (Public Law 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, the 
SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any 
other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe 
has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the proposed rule 
does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial 
direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified 
by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Best Available 
Retrofit Technology, Carbon monoxide, Incorporation by reference, 
Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate 
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Regional haze, Sulfur 
dioxide, Visibility, Volatile organic compounds.

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

    Dated: September 26, 2017.
Samuel Coleman,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2017-21006 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                  45762                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  Specialty Care; 64.042 VHA Inpatient                    § 17.417    Health care providers.                       (ii) The beneficiary is receiving
                                                  Surgery; 64.043 VHA Mental Health                          (a) Definitions. The following                     services in a State other than the health
                                                  Residential; 64.044 VHA Home Care;                      definitions apply to this section.                    care provider’s State of licensure,
                                                  64.045 VHA Outpatient Ancillary                            (1) Beneficiary. The term beneficiary              registration, or certification;
                                                  Services; 64.046 VHA Inpatient                          means a veteran or any other individual                  (iii) The health care provider is
                                                  Psychiatry; 64.047 VHA Primary Care;                    receiving health care under title 38 of               delivering services in a State other than
                                                  64.048 VHA Mental Health Clinics;                       the United States Code.                               the health care provider’s State of
                                                  64.049 VHA Community Living Center;                        (2) Health care provider. The term                 licensure, registration, or certification;
                                                  and 64.050 VHA Diagnostic Care.                         health care provider means an                            (iv) The health care provider is
                                                                                                          individual who:                                       delivering services either on or outside
                                                  Signing Authority                                          (i) Is licensed, registered, or certified          VA property;
                                                                                                          in a State to practice a health care                     (v) The beneficiary is receiving
                                                    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
                                                                                                          specialty identified under 38 U.S.C.                  services while she or he is located either
                                                  designee, approved this document and
                                                                                                          7402(b);                                              on or outside VA property;
                                                  authorized the undersigned to sign and
                                                                                                             (ii) Is appointed to an occupation in                 (vi) The beneficiary has or has not
                                                  submit the document to the Office of the
                                                                                                          the Veterans Health Administration that               previously been assessed, in person, by
                                                  Federal Register for publication
                                                                                                          is listed in or authorized under 38                   the health care provider; or
                                                  electronically as an official document of                                                                        (vii) Other State requirements would
                                                                                                          U.S.C. 7401(1) or (3);
                                                  the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina                   (iii) Maintains credentials (e.g., a               prevent or impede the practice of health
                                                  S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff,                     license, registration, or certification) in           care providers delivering telehealth to
                                                  Department of Veterans Affairs,                         accordance with the requirements of his               VA beneficiaries.
                                                  approved this document on July 28,                      or her medical specialty as identified                   (c) Preemption of State law. To
                                                  2017 for publication.                                   under 38 U.S.C. 7402(b); and                          achieve important Federal interests,
                                                  List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 17                         (iv) Is not a VA-contracted employee.              including, but not limited to, the ability
                                                                                                             (3) State. The term State means a State            to provide the same complete medical
                                                    Administrative practice and                           as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(20), or a                 and hospital service to beneficiaries in
                                                  procedure, Alcohol abuse, Alcoholism,                   political subdivision of such a State.                all States under 38 U.S.C. 7301, this
                                                  Claims, Day care, Dental health, Drug                      (4) Telehealth. The term telehealth                section preempts conflicting State laws
                                                  abuse, Foreign relations, Government                    means the use of electronic information               relating to the practice of health care
                                                  contracts, Grant programs—health,                       or telecommunications technologies to                 providers when such health care
                                                  Grant programs—veterans, Health care,                   support clinical health care, patient and             providers are practicing telehealth
                                                  Health facilities, Health professions,                  professional health-related education,                within the scope of their VA
                                                  Health records, Homeless, Medical and                   public health, and health                             employment. Any State law, rule,
                                                  dental schools, Medical devices,                        administration.                                       regulation or requirement pursuant to
                                                  Medical research, Mental health                            (b) Health care provider’s practice. (1)           such law, is without any force or effect
                                                  programs, Nursing homes, Reporting                      Health care providers may provide                     on, and State governments have no legal
                                                  and recordkeeping requirements,                         telehealth services, within their scope of            authority to enforce them in relation to,
                                                  Scholarships and fellowships, Travel                    practice and in accordance with                       this section or decisions made by VA
                                                  and transportation expenses, Veterans.                  privileges granted to them by the                     under this section.
                                                    Dated: September 26, 2017.
                                                                                                          Department, irrespective of the State or              [FR Doc. 2017–20951 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          location within a State where the health
                                                  Michael Shores,                                                                                               BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
                                                                                                          care provider or the beneficiary is
                                                  Director, Regulation Policy & Management,               physically located. Health care
                                                  Office of the Secretary, Department of
                                                  Veterans Affairs.
                                                                                                          providers’ practice is subject to the
                                                                                                          limitations imposed by the Controlled                 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                                                                          Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801, et seq.,               AGENCY
                                                    For the reasons set forth in the
                                                  preamble, we propose to amend 38 CFR                    on the authority to prescribe or                      40 CFR Part 52
                                                  part 17 as follows:                                     administer controlled substances, as
                                                                                                          well as any other limitations on the                  [EPA–R06–OAR–2016–0406; FRL–9967–77–
                                                  PART 17—MEDICAL                                         provision of VA care set forth in                     Region 6]
                                                                                                          applicable Federal law and policy. This
                                                                                                                                                                Approval and Promulgation of
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 17 is              section only grants health care providers
                                                                                                                                                                Implementation Plans; New Mexico;
                                                  amended by adding an entry for                          the ability to practice telehealth within
                                                                                                                                                                Albuquerque and Bernalillo County;
                                                  § 17.417 in numerical order to read in                  the scope of their VA employment and
                                                                                                                                                                Regional Haze Progress Report State
                                                  part as follows:                                        does not otherwise grant health care
                                                                                                                                                                Implementation Plan
                                                    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, and as noted in             providers additional authorities that go
                                                  specific sections.                                      beyond the scope of the health care                   AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                                  *      *     *       *      *                           providers’ State license, registration, or            Agency (EPA).
                                                    Section 17.417 also issued under 38 U.S.C.            certification.                                        ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                  1701 (note), 1709A, 1712A (note), 1722B,                   (2) Situations where a health care
                                                                                                          provider’s VA practice of telehealth may              SUMMARY:   Pursuant to the Federal Clean
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  7301, 7330A, 7401–7403; 7406 (note)).
                                                                                                          be inconsistent with a State law or State             Air Act (CAA or the Act), the
                                                  ■ 2. Revise the undesignated center                     license, registration, or certification               Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
                                                  heading immediately after § 17.412 to                   requirements related to telehealth                    is proposing to approve a revision to a
                                                  read as follows:                                        include when:                                         State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the
                                                  Authority of Health Care Providers to                      (i) The beneficiary and the health care            City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo
                                                  Practice in the Department                              provider are physically located in                    County, New Mexico (the County)
                                                                                                          different States during the episode of                submitted by the Governor on June 24,
                                                  ■   3. Add § 17.417 to read as follows:                 care;                                                 2016. The SIP revision addresses


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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                       45763

                                                  requirements of the Act and the EPA’s                   II. Requirements for Regional Haze Progress             emissions are coal-fired power plants,
                                                  rules that require the County to submit                       Report                                            oil and gas development, woodland
                                                  a periodic report assessing reasonable                  III. Evaluation of Regional Haze Progress               fires, and windblown dust. Reducing
                                                                                                                Report
                                                  progress goals (RPGs) for regional haze                                                                         PM2.5 and its precursor gases in the
                                                                                                             A. Class I Areas
                                                  with a determination of the adequacy of                    B. Status of Control Strategies                      atmosphere is an effective method of
                                                  the existing regional haze SIP.                            1. SO2 Milestone and Backstop Trading                improving visibility. PM2.5 precursors
                                                  DATES: Written comments must be                               Program                                           consist of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
                                                  received on or before November 1, 2017.                    2. NOX and PM Control Strategies                     oxides (NOX), ammonia (NH3) and
                                                                                                             3. Best Available Retrofit Technology                volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
                                                  ADDRESSES: Submit comments,                                   (BART)
                                                  identified by Docket No. EPA–R06–                          4. Mobile Source Emissions                           B. Regulation Overview
                                                  OAR–2016–0406, at http://                                  5. Fire and Smoke Management                            In section 169A of the 1977 CAA
                                                  www.regulations.gov or via email to                        6. Fugitive and Unpaved Road Dust                    Amendments, Congress declared as a
                                                                                                                Measures
                                                  grady.james@epa.gov. Follow the online                     7. Additional Controls—Local State
                                                                                                                                                                  national goal the prevention of any
                                                  instructions for submitting comments.                         Regulations                                       future, and the remedying of any
                                                  Once submitted, comments cannot be                         8. Summary of Control Strategy                       existing, visibility impairment in
                                                  edited or removed from Regulations.gov.                       Implementation                                    mandatory class I Federal areas where
                                                  The EPA may publish any comment                            C. Emission Reductions From Control                  impairment results from manmade air
                                                  received to its public docket. Do not                         Strategies                                        pollution.3 Congress added section 169B
                                                  submit any information electronically                      D. Visibility Progress                               to the CAA in 1990 that added visibility
                                                                                                             E. Emissions Progress
                                                  that is considered Confidential Business                                                                        protection provisions, and the EPA
                                                                                                             F. Assessment of Changes Impeding
                                                  Information (CBI) or any other                                Visibility Progress                               published final regulations addressing
                                                  information whose disclosure is                            G. Assessment of Current Strategy To Meet            regional haze with the 1999 Regional
                                                  restricted by statute. Multimedia                             RPGs                                              Haze Rule (RHR).4 The RHR revised the
                                                  submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be                   H. Review of Visibility Monitoring Strategy          existing visibility regulations and
                                                  accompanied by a written comment.                          I. Determination of Adequacy of Existing             established a more comprehensive
                                                  The written comment will be                                   Regional Haze Plan                                visibility protection program for
                                                  considered the official comment with                    IV. The EPA’s Proposed Action                           mandatory Class I areas. The
                                                                                                          V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                                                  multimedia submissions and should                                                                               requirements for regional haze are found
                                                  include all discussion points desired.                  I. Background on Regional Haze                          at 40 CFR 51.308 and 51.309. States
                                                  The EPA will generally not consider                                                                             must demonstrate reasonable progress
                                                  comments or their contents submitted                    A. Visibility Protection
                                                                                                                                                                  toward meeting the national goal of a
                                                  outside of the primary submission (i.e.                   Regional haze is visibility impairment                return to natural visibility conditions for
                                                  on the web, cloud, or other file sharing                that occurs over a wide geographic area                 mandatory Class I Federal areas both
                                                  systems). For additional submission                     primarily from the pollution of fine                    within and outside states by 2064. The
                                                  methods, please contact James E. Grady,                 particles (PM2.5) in nature.1 Fine                      requirement to submit a regional haze
                                                  (214) 665–6745, grady.james@epa.gov.                    particles causing haze consist of                       SIP applies to all fifty states, the District
                                                  For the full EPA public comment policy,                 sulfates, nitrates, organics, elemental                 of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. The
                                                  information about CBI or multimedia                     carbon (EC), and soil dust.2 Airborne                   City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo
                                                  submissions, and general guidance on                    PM2.5 can scatter and absorb the                        County,5 New Mexico must also submit
                                                  making effective comments, please visit                 incident light and, therefore, lead to
                                                  http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/                            atmospheric opacity and horizontal                        3 Mandatory Class I Federal areas consist of

                                                  commenting-epa-dockets.                                 visibility degradation. Regional haze                   national parks exceeding 6,000 acres, wilderness
                                                                                                                                                                  areas and national memorial parks exceeding 5,000
                                                     Docket: The index to the docket for                  limits visual distance and reduces color,               acres, and all international parks that were in
                                                  this action is available electronically at              clarity and contrast of view. Emissions                 existence on August 7, 1977. The EPA, in
                                                  www.regulations.gov and in hard copy                    that affect visibility include a wide                   consultation with the Department of Interior,
                                                                                                          variety of natural and man-made                         promulgated a list of 156 areas where visibility was
                                                  at the EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue,                                                                          identified as an important value. The extent of a
                                                  Suite 700, Dallas, Texas. While all                     sources. In New Mexico, the most                        mandatory Class I area includes subsequent changes
                                                  documents in the docket are listed in                   important sources of haze-forming                       in boundaries, such as park expansions. Although
                                                  the index, some information may be                                                                              states and tribes may designate additional areas as
                                                                                                            1 Fine particles are less than or equal to 2.5        Class I, the requirements of the visibility program
                                                  publicly available only at the hard copy                                                                        set forth in the CAA applies only to ‘‘mandatory
                                                                                                          microns (mm) in diameter and usually form
                                                  location (e.g., copyrighted material), and              secondary in nature indirectly from other sources.      Class I Federal areas.’’ Each mandatory Class I
                                                  some may not be publicly available at                   Particles less than or equal to 10 mm in diameter       Federal area is the responsibility of a ‘‘Federal Land
                                                  either location (e.g., CBI).                            are referred to as PM10. Particles greater than PM2.5   Manager.’’ When the term ‘‘Class I area’’ is used in
                                                                                                          but less than PM10 are referred to as coarse mass.      this action, it means ‘‘mandatory Class I Federal
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        Coarse mass can contribute to light extinction as       areas.’’ [See 44 FR 69122, November 30, 1979 and
                                                  James E. Grady, (214) 665–6745;                         well and is made up of primary particles directly       CAA Sections 162(a), 169A, and 302(i)].
                                                  grady.james@epa.gov. To inspect the                     emitted into the air. Fine particles tend to be man-      4 See July 1, 1999 Regional Haze Rule final action

                                                                                                          made, while coarse particles tend to have a natural     (64 FR 35714), as amended in July 6, 2005 (70 FR
                                                  hard copy materials, please schedule an                 origin. Coarse mass settles out from the air more       39156), October 13, 2006 (71 FR 60631), June 7,
                                                  appointment with James E. Grady or Mr.                  rapidly than fine particles and usually will be         2012 (77 FR 33656) and in January 10, 2017 (82 FR
                                                  Bill Deese at 214–665–7253.                             found relatively close to emission sources. Fine        3079).
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                                                                                                          particles can be transported long distances by wind       5 Note that the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              and can be found in the air thousands of miles from     County is treated like a ‘‘state’’ for purposes of
                                                  Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’                where they were formed.                                 implementing the RHR, which is written
                                                  or ‘‘our’’ each mean ‘‘the EPA.’’                         2 Organic carbon (OC) can be emitted directly as      specifically for states. The EPA regulates and funds
                                                                                                          particles, or formed through reactions involving        Bernalillo County as it does any other state air
                                                  Table of Contents:                                      gaseous emissions. Elemental carbon, in contrast to     agency. Enacted in 1967, the New Mexico State Air
                                                                                                          organic carbon, is exclusively of primary origin and    Quality Control Act [NMSA 1978 Sections 74–2–4,
                                                  I. Background on Regional Haze                          emitted by the incomplete combustion of carbon-         74–2–5, and 74–2–7] allowed for the establishment
                                                     A. Visibility Protection                             based fuels. They are especially prevalent in diesel    of the Air Quality Control Board (AQCB) as a local
                                                     B. Regulation Overview                               exhaust and smoke from wild and prescribed fires.                                                   Continued




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                                                  45764                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  a regional haze SIP separate from the                      (5) Provide an assessment of any                   51.309(d)(10)(ii), states are required to
                                                  State of New Mexico 6 to completely                      significant changes in anthropogenic                 submit, at the same time as the progress
                                                  satisfy the requirements of section                      emissions within or outside the state                report SIP, a determination of the
                                                  110(a)(2)(D) of the CAA for the entire                   that have occurred over the past five                adequacy of their existing regional haze
                                                  State under the New Mexico Air Quality                   years that have limited or impeded                   SIP and to take one of four possible
                                                  Control Act (section 74–2–4).7                           progress in reducing pollutant                       actions, as described in more detail in
                                                                                                           emissions and improving visibility.                  this proposal.
                                                  II. Requirements for Regional Haze                         (6) Provide an assessment of whether
                                                  Progress Report                                          the current SIP elements and strategies              III. Evaluation of Regional Haze
                                                     The RHR requires a comprehensive                      are sufficient to enable the state (or               Progress Report
                                                  analysis of each state’s regional haze SIP               other states with mandatory Class I                     On July 28 2011, the AQCB submitted
                                                  every ten years and a progress report at                 areas affected by emissions from the                 a regional haze SIP for its own
                                                  five-year intervals. The five-year review                state) to meet all established RPGs.                 geographic area of Bernalillo County,
                                                  is intended to provide an interim report                   (7) Provide a review of the state’s                New Mexico (including the City of
                                                  on the implementation of, and, if                        visibility monitoring strategy and any               Albuquerque) that addressed the
                                                  necessary, mid-course corrections to,                    modifications to the strategy as                     requirements of 40 CFR 51.309.11 This
                                                  the regional haze SIP. The progress                      necessary.                                           SIP submittal was a necessary
                                                  report provides an opportunity for                         The City of Albuquerque and                        component of the regional haze plan for
                                                  public input on the County’s (and the                    Bernalillo County, New Mexico                        New Mexico to ensure that the
                                                  EPA’s) assessment of whether the                         submitted its progress report SIP for the            requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D) of
                                                  approved regional haze SIP is being                      County under 40 CFR 51.309 on June                   the CAA were satisfied for the whole
                                                  implemented appropriately and whether                    24, 2016. Typically, progress report                 state. On July 6, 2016, the EPA received
                                                  reasonable visibility progress is being                  requirements of most states are covered              the periodic report on progress for the
                                                  achieved consistent with the projected                   under 40 CFR 51.308(g) and (h). 40 CFR               County’s regional haze SIP in the form
                                                  visibility improvement in the SIP. At a                  51.309 presents nine western states with             of a SIP revision. This latest submission
                                                  minimum, the required elements of the                    an optional approach of fulfilling RHR               is the subject of this proposed approval.
                                                  progress report under the RHR must                       requirements by adopting emission                    The periodic report was made in the
                                                  include the following seven elements: 8                  reduction strategies developed by the                first implementation period to assess
                                                     (1) Provide a description of the status               Grand Canyon Visibility Transport                    visibility progression for Class I areas in
                                                  of implementation of all measures                        Commission (GCVTC). These strategies                 and outside of the County that were
                                                  included in the regional haze SIP.                       were designed primarily to improve                   negatively affected by emissions from
                                                     (2) Summarize the emissions                           visibility of sixteen Class I areas in the           within the County. The progress report
                                                  reductions achieved throughout the                       Colorado Plateau area.9 Three western                included the County’s determination
                                                  state.                                                   states (New Mexico, Utah and
                                                     (3) Provide an assessment of current                                                                       that the existing regional haze SIP
                                                                                                           Wyoming) including the City of                       required no substantive revisions to
                                                  visibility conditions and the change in                  Albuquerque and Bernalillo County,
                                                  visibility impairment over the past five                                                                      achieve the established regional haze
                                                                                                           NM exercised the option provided in
                                                  years.                                                                                                        visibility improvement and emission
                                                                                                           the RHR to meet alternative
                                                     (4) Provide analysis tracking the                                                                          reduction goals for 2018. The EPA
                                                                                                           requirements contained in 40 CFR
                                                  change over the past five years in                                                                            agrees with the County’s assessment and
                                                                                                           51.309 for regional haze SIPs. For these
                                                  emissions of pollutants contributing to                                                                       is proposing to approve its progress
                                                                                                           states, the required content of the five-
                                                  visibility impairment from all sources                                                                        report SIP on the basis that it satisfies
                                                                                                           year progress report is identical with
                                                  and activities within the state.                                                                              all requirements of 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)
                                                                                                           those for the other states, but are
                                                                                                                                                                as explained in further details in each
                                                                                                           codified at 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10) instead
                                                  board and empowered it with the authority to                                                                  subsequent section.
                                                                                                           of at 40 CFR 51.308 (g) and (h). This
                                                  administer and enforce its air quality regulations
                                                  within Bernalillo County. The AQCB has                   section specifies fixed due dates in 2013            A. Class I Areas
                                                  jurisdiction over all of Bernalillo County, (including   and 2018 for these progress reports.10 In
                                                                                                                                                                   The City of Albuquerque and
                                                  the City of Albuquerque), except Indian lands. The       contrast, under 40 CFR 51.308, states
                                                  State of New Mexico Environmental Improvement                                                                 Bernalillo County does not formulate
                                                                                                           must submit a progress report five years
                                                  Board (EIB) has jurisdiction over all other counties                                                          specific RPGs for particular Class I areas
                                                  in New Mexico.                                           from submittal of the initial
                                                                                                                                                                within its borders since no such areas
                                                     6 On December 31, 2003, New Mexico submitted          implementation plan. Under 40 CFR
                                                                                                                                                                exist.12 Therefore, the County is not
                                                  a regional haze SIP with later revisions (July 5, 2011
                                                  and October 7, 2013) that addressed 40 CFR 51.309.         9 The Colorado Plateau is a high, semi-arid
                                                                                                                                                                required to identify RPGs or calculate
                                                  The EPA approved both of the (2003 and 2011)             tableland in Southeast Utah, Northern Arizona,       baseline and natural visibility
                                                  submittals on November 27, 2012 (77 FR 70693)            Northwest New Mexico, and Western Colorado. The      conditions at any Class I area. The
                                                  and approved a 2013 revision on October 9, 2014          sixteen mandatory Class I areas are as follows:
                                                  with two separate rules (79 FR 60985 and 79 FR
                                                                                                                                                                County, however, is required to address
                                                                                                           Grand Canyon National Park, Mount Baldy
                                                  60978). The New Mexico progress report was               Wilderness, Petrified Forest National Park,
                                                                                                                                                                the apportionment of visibility impact
                                                  approved by the EPA on November 3, 2015 (see 80          Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Black Canyon of the      from the emissions generated by sources
                                                  FR 67682).                                               Gunnison National Park Wilderness, Flat Tops         within the County at Class I areas
                                                     7On November 12, 2003, the County first adopted
                                                                                                           Wilderness, Maroon Bells Wilderness, Mesa Verde      outside of the County borders. As a
                                                  its 40 CFR 51.309 regional haze SIP with later           National Park, Weminuche Wilderness, West Elk
                                                  revisions (August 13, 2008; June 8, 2011). The EPA       Wilderness, San Pedro Parks Wilderness, Arches       result, the progress report addressed the
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                                                  approved these submittals on Apr. 25, 2012 (77 FR        National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park,           emissions impact on RPGs and related
                                                  24768).                                                  Canyonlands National Park, Capital Reef National     emission reduction goals for nine Class
                                                     8 See also General Principles for the 5-Year          Park, and Zion National Park.                        I areas within the state of New Mexico
                                                  Regional Haze Progress Reports for the Initial             10 The 1999 RHR provided that these three states

                                                  Regional Haze State Implementation Plans                 will eventually revert to the progress report due
                                                                                                                                                                that were identified as being close
                                                  (Intended to Assist States and EPA Regional Offices      date requirements in 40 CFR 51.308 for the second
                                                                                                                                                                 11 See the EPA’s proposed approval (77 FR 24768,
                                                  in Development and Review of the Progress                implementation period. Recently, there was an
                                                  Reports), April 2013, EPA–454/B–03–005, available        extension of the second regional haze                April 25, 2012) and final rule (77 FR 71119,
                                                  at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-      implementation period deadline from 2018 to 2021.    November 29, 2012) for the County.
                                                  03/documents/haze_5year_4-10-13.pdf.                     (82 FR 3080, January 10, 2017).                       12 See 77 FR 24768, 24790 (Apr. 25, 2012).




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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                   45765

                                                  enough to the County that they could                    requirement for compliance with 40                    Mexico are generally associated with
                                                  conceivably be affected by emissions                    CFR 51.308(d) to the extent that                      anthropogenic point sources such as
                                                  from within the County. The nine Class                  planning is necessary for areas other                 coal-fired power plants, other industrial
                                                  I areas within New Mexico that were                     than the sixteen Class I areas on the                 sources like refineries and cement
                                                  addressed in the progress report were:                  Colorado Plateau addressed in the                     plants, and both on and off-road mobile
                                                  Bandelier Wilderness, Bosque del                        initial 2003 regional haze SIP. In the                sources. Particulate organic matter
                                                  Apache National Wildlife Refuge,                        ensuing sections, the EPA addresses                   emissions in New Mexico are from
                                                  Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Gila                    these Class I areas and the seven                     natural and anthropogenic fire. Large
                                                  Wilderness, Pecos Wilderness, Salt                      regulatory elements required by the                   wildfire events in the west dominate
                                                  Creek Wilderness, Wheeler Peak                          progress report SIP; 17 how the County’s              particulate organic aerosol emissions
                                                  Wilderness, White Mountain                              progress report SIP addressed each                    which are emitted directly into the air
                                                  Wilderness, and San Pedro Parks                         element; and the EPA’s analysis and                   as particles instead of gases. Coarse
                                                  Wilderness.13 Visibility impairment at                  proposed determination as to whether                  mass emissions in New Mexico happen
                                                  New Mexico’s nine Class I areas was                     the County satisfied each part.                       mainly as a result of windblown and
                                                  tracked in units of deciviews (dv)14 as                                                                       fugitive dust. Coarse mass settles out of
                                                  measured by eight monitors in the                       B. Status of Control Strategies                       air more rapidly than fine particles, so
                                                  Interagency Monitoring of Protected                       40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(A) requires a               strong wind events act as a transport
                                                  Visual Environments (IMPROVE)                           description of the status of                          vehicle to carry them long distances.
                                                  Network. Through collaboration with                     implementation of all control measures                Otherwise, they will typically be found
                                                  the Western Regional Air Partnership                    included in the regional haze SIP for                 close to the emission source.
                                                  (WRAP),15 the AQCB worked with New                      achieving RPGs for Class I areas both                 1. SO2 Milestone and Backstop Trading
                                                  Mexico and other western states to                      within and outside the state.                         Program
                                                  assess state-by-state contributions to                    The County evaluated the status of all
                                                  visibility impairment in specific Class I               control measures in its 2011 regional                    The progress report discussed the SO2
                                                  areas affected by Albuquerque and                       haze SIP in accordance with the                       Milestone and Backstop Trading
                                                  Bernalillo County, NM emissions. The                    requirements under 40 CFR                             Program as a control measure to reduce
                                                  determinations in the progress report                   51.309(d)(10)(i)(A). The major control                emissions for major sources of SO2.20
                                                  relied on the technical analysis and                    measures identified by the County in                  The County has participated in this
                                                  emission inventories developed by the                   the progress report are as follows:                   voluntary program since December 31,
                                                  WRAP which is documented online and                       • SO2 Milestone and Backstop                        2003.21 As part of this program, the
                                                  also appears in the technical                           Trading Program                                       Section 309 western states and the
                                                  appendices.16                                             • NOX and PM Control Strategies                     County must submit an annual report
                                                     The EPA is proposing to find that the                  • Best Available Retrofit Technology                that compares tracked stationary sources
                                                  County has appropriately identified the                 (BART)                                                of SO2 emissions to yearly milestones.22
                                                  Class I areas in this report which could                  • Mobile Sources Emissions 18                       A milestone is an established maximum
                                                  be affected by emissions from within the                  • Fire and Smoke Management                         level of annual emissions for a given
                                                  County, as required by 40 CFR                             • Fugitive and Unpaved Road Dust                    year (from 2003–2018). The milestones
                                                  51.309(g). This regulation provides a                   Measures                                              help establish annual SO2 emission
                                                                                                            • Additional Controls—Local State                   reduction targets. The annual targets
                                                    13 The Section 309 SIP submitted by New Mexico                                                              represent RPGs in reducing visibility-
                                                  in December 2003 addressed only San Pedro Parks
                                                                                                          Regulations
                                                                                                                                                                impairing emissions. If states fail to
                                                  Wilderness Area and the other Class I areas were          The County identified ammonium
                                                                                                                                                                meet the milestones, then the backstop-
                                                  added in a later SIP revision under Section 309(g)      sulfate, particulate organic matter, and
                                                  in June 2011 and revised in October 2013. The EPA                                                             trading program is triggered to
                                                                                                          coarse mass as the largest contributors
                                                  approved both of the (2003 and 2011) submittals on
                                                  November 27, 2012 (77 FR 70693) and approved a          to visibility impairment at New                          20 Under Section 309, nine western states and the
                                                  2013 revision on October 9, 2014 with two separate      Mexico’s Class I areas that need to be                tribes within those states had the option of
                                                  rules (79 FR 60985 and 79 FR 60978).                    controlled.19 Many of the sources,                    submitting plans to reduce visibility-impairing
                                                    14 A deciview is a haze index derived from                                                                  emissions at sixteen Class I areas on the Colorado
                                                                                                          however, that produce these visibility-
                                                  calculated light extinction, such that uniform                                                                Plateau. Five states (Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon,
                                                  changes in haziness correspond to uniform               impairing pollutants in New Mexico are                Utah, Wyoming) and the City of Albuquerque and
                                                  incremental changes in perception across the entire     natural, rather than anthropogenic in                 Bernalillo County, NM exercised this option by
                                                  range of conditions, from pristine to highly            nature, and are not controllable. For the             submitting plans to the EPA by December 1, 2003.
                                                  impaired. The preamble to the RHR provides              purpose of this progress report, the                  Oregon and Arizona have since elected to cease
                                                  additional details about the deciview (64 FR 35714,                                                           participation in the Milestone and Backstop
                                                  35725, July 1, 1999).                                   County focused on those emission                      Trading Program in 2006 and 2010, respectively.
                                                    15 The WRAP is a collaborative effort of tribal       sources that were anthropogenic in                    The tribes are not subject to any deadline and can
                                                  governments, state governments and various federal      nature (as did New Mexico in its report).             still opt into the program at any time.
                                                  agencies representing the western states that           The primary sources of ammonium                          21 The County cooperates with its WRAP partners

                                                  provides technical and policy tools for the western                                                           to maintain an inventory of regional SO2 emissions,
                                                  states and tribes to comply with the EPA’s Regional     sulfate are point sources and mobile                  across the Section 309 states. The City of
                                                  Haze regulations. Detailed information regarding        source emissions. Ammonium sulfate                    Albuquerque Air Quality Program (AQP) monitors
                                                  WRAP support of air quality management issues for       results from SO2 and NH3 precursor                    SO2 ambient air concentrations in Bernalillo County
                                                  western states is provided on the WRAP Web site         emissions. SO2 emissions in New                       consistent with EPA regulations. See the City of
                                                  (www.wrapair2.org). Data summary descriptions                                                                 Albuquerque Environmental Health Department
                                                  and tools specific to RHR support are available on                                                            (EHD) Web site at https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/
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                                                                                                            17 See 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i).
                                                  the WRAP Technical Support System Web site                                                                    documents for Annual Network Reviews for
                                                                                                            18 Under  40 CFR 51.309(d)(5)(ii), New Mexico is
                                                  (http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/tss/).                                                                       Ambient Air Monitoring.
                                                    16 The Western Regional Air Partnership Regional      required to submit interim reports to the EPA and        22 See WRAP Web site at https://

                                                  Haze Rule Reasonable Progress Summary Report            the public on the implementation status of the        www.wrapair2.org/reghaze.aspx for the Regional
                                                  technical support document has been prepared on         regional and local strategies to address mobile       Milestone reports. A final 2014 milestone report
                                                  behalf of the fifteen Western State members in the      source emissions.                                     was posted on March 7, 2016 and a draft 2015
                                                  WRAP region to provide the technical basis for use        19 See the County’s 2016 regional haze progress     report was posted recently on March 20, 2017.
                                                  by states to develop the first of their individual      report submittal (page 9) which was reiterated in     Appendix G of the County progress report includes
                                                  reasonable progress reports for the 116 Federal         New Mexico’s regional haze progress report (page      the 2013 Regional SO2 Emissions and Milestone
                                                  Class I areas located in the Western states.            7).                                                   Report.



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                                                  45766                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  implement an emissions cap. The cap                                  includes the reporting year and the two                      continue beyond 2013 toward 2018. No
                                                  allocates emission allowances (or                                    previous years, is calculated and                            triggering of the backstop trading
                                                  credits) to the affected sources based on                            compared to the milestone. The regional                      program has been necessary and the
                                                  the cap, and requires the sources to hold                            milestone for 2013 was 185,795 tons                          likelihood of meeting the 2018 target
                                                  sufficient allowances to cover their                                 SO2. The three-year average SO2                              means no changes in the program are
                                                  emissions each year.                                                 emissions for 2011, 2012, and 2013 was                       needed at the moment. The compliance
                                                     The regional haze SIP requires                                    105,402 tons SO2, which was 43 percent                       dates show that SO2 emissions have
                                                  multiyear averaging of emissions for the                             below the 2013 milestone. In table 1                         consistently been below each annual
                                                  milestone comparison. From 2005–                                     below, 2014 and 2015 WRAP data                               RPG and are currently tracking to be
                                                  2017, the three-year average, which                                  shows similar SO2 reduction trends that                      below the 2018 milestone.

                                                                                                                      TABLE 1—SO2 EMISSION MILESTONES 23
                                                                                                     Regional SO2                           Average SO2 emissions to determine compliance with milestone
                                                                                                     milestone tons
                                                                     Year                               per year                          SO2                                                  3-Year average
                                                                                                          (tpy)                           (tpy)

                                                  2008   .........................................           269,083    265,662 ...................................    2006, 2007 and 2008.
                                                  2009   .........................................           234,903    165,633 ...................................    2007, 2008 and 2009.
                                                  2010   .........................................           200,722    146,808 ...................................    2008, 2009 and 2010.
                                                  2011   .........................................           200,722    130,935 ...................................    2009, 2010 and 2011.
                                                  2012   .........................................           200,722    115,115 ...................................    2010, 2011 and 2012.
                                                  2013   .........................................           185,795    105,402 ...................................    2011, 2012 and 2013.
                                                  2014   .........................................           170,868    96,392 .....................................   2012, 2013 and 2014.
                                                  2015   .........................................           155,940    91,310 .....................................   2013, 2014 and 2015.
                                                  2016   .........................................           155,940    Not Available ...........................      2014, 2015 and 2016.
                                                  2017   .........................................           155,940    Not Available ...........................      2015, 2016 and 2017.
                                                  2018   .........................................           141,849    Not Available ...........................      2016, 2017 and 2018.
                                                  2019   forward ...........................                 141,849    Not Available ...........................      Annual; no averaging.



                                                  2. NOX and PM Control Strategies                                     emissions and visibility in New Mexico                       establish declining SO2 emission
                                                                                                                       as a whole and are not likely to do so.                      milestones for each year of the program
                                                     The County included a report in its                               Please refer to the emission reduction                       through 2018. The milestones must be
                                                  2011 regional haze SIP that assessed                                 section of this report for more details                      consistent with the GCTVC’s goal of
                                                  emission control strategies for NOX and                              regarding NOX and PM emissions.                              fifty to seventy percent reduction in SO2
                                                  PM stationary sources, and the degree of                                                                                          emissions by 2040. As demonstrated in
                                                  visibility improvement that would                                    3. Best Available Retrofit Technology
                                                                                                                                                                                    the County’s regional haze SIP, the SO2
                                                  result from their implementation.24 The                              (BART) 25
                                                                                                                                                                                    milestones provide greater reasonable
                                                  report concluded that current and future                               The regional haze SIP determined that                      progress than BART and track at a sixty
                                                  NOX and PM emissions do not show to                                  there are no BART-eligible sources in                        percent pace reduction of the 1990 SO2
                                                  be major contributors to regional haze                               the County, so there are no requirements                     emission levels.28 The actual annual
                                                  (typically about two percent on average)                             to install BART controls.26 Even so, the                     SO2 emission reduction results
                                                  in the vast majority of western Class I                              progress report mentioned how the                            outperformed this milestone pace. The
                                                  areas. The report represented the initial                            County must still specifically                               progress report showed that the three-
                                                  assessment of stationary source NOX                                  demonstrate that its SO2 milestone and                       year average SO2 emissions for 2013 was
                                                  and PM strategies for regional haze, and                             backstop-trading program will achieve                        43 percent below the 2013 milestone at
                                                  was a starting point for a more extensive                            greater reasonable progress than would                       105,402 tons SO2 (see Table 1). That
                                                  analysis in the future. The 2011 regional                            be achieved by implementation of BART                        represents a 71 percent reduction from
                                                  haze SIP stated that the progress report                             controls.27 Under this approach, a                           the 1990 emission totals and is
                                                  would assess the need for new NOX and                                section 51.309 regional haze SIP must                        exceeding the GCVTC goal of fifty to
                                                  PM control measures to address any                                                                                                seventy percent reduction. The regional
                                                  new contributions to regional haze from                                 25 BART sources are those sources that have the           SO2 emissions have continued to
                                                  stationary sources in the County. The                                potential to emit 250 tons or more of visibility-            decline at a faster pace than called for
                                                  County concluded in the progress report                              impairing pollutants, were put in place between
                                                                                                                                                                                    by the SO2 milestones. Thus, as
                                                  that it does not find new control                                    August 7, 1962 and August 7, 1977, and whose
                                                                                                                       operations fall within one or more of 26 specifically        anticipated, the milestone program has
                                                  measures necessary for NOX and PM                                    listed source categories.                                    actually continued to achieve greater
                                                  stationary sources at this time.                                        26 The WRAP identified three potential BART-
                                                                                                                                                                                    reasonable progress than would be the
                                                  Stationary source NOX and PM                                         eligible sources in the County. These were PNM               case if BART were implemented.
                                                  emissions in the County have not                                     Reeves Generating Station, GCC Rio Grande Inc.,
                                                  impeded reasonable progress of                                       and Cobisa Person Power Project. The AQCB                    4. Mobile Source Emissions
                                                                                                                       assessed whether these facilities were existing
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                                                                                                                       stationary facilities as defined at 40 CFR 51.301 and          The progress report mentioned that
                                                    23 The milestone numbers reflect the participation                 determined that all three sources were not BART-             the County is relying upon federal
                                                  of Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico (including the                      eligible. PNM Reeves and GCC Rio Grande were not
                                                  City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County) in the                    in existence nor operating during the requisite time
                                                                                                                                                                                    standards as long-term measures to
                                                  309 backstop trading program.                                        period, and Cobisa Person Power Project did not
                                                    24 The report, Stationary Source NO and PM
                                                                                       X                               have emission units in the 26 source categories for            28 See the County’s 2011 regional haze SIP

                                                  Emissions in the WRAP Region: An Initial                             BART. See the EPA’s proposed approval for the                submittal (pages 112–124). SO2 emissions from
                                                  Assessment of Emissions, Controls, and Air Quality                   County’s regional haze SIP (77 FR 24768, 24782,              sources in 1990 totaled 358,364 tpy and the 2018
                                                  Impacts, was prepared by the WRAP and is                             April 25, 2012).                                             milestone is 141,849 tpy, which represents sixty
                                                  included in Appendix H–O of the SIP.                                    27 40 CFR 51.309(d)(4)(i).                                percent reduction.



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                                          45767

                                                  achieve declines in mobile source                              inventories; consideration of                                           of those emissions. The regulation
                                                  emissions that contribute to regional                          alternatives to burning; use of enhanced                                requires sources to obtain permits and
                                                  haze.29 The County also committed                              smoke management techniques                                             pay related fees, limits construction
                                                  itself in the SIP to monitoring mobile                         recommended by the WRAP; and use of                                     activity, and has an active enforcement
                                                  source emissions (through the WRAP) to                         specific emission reduction techniques.                                 program in place to implement the
                                                  assure a continuous decline in                                 The programs in this measure are                                        provisions on an ongoing basis. In
                                                  emissions as defined in 40 CFR                                 generally designed to limit increases in                                addition, the AQCB tracks road dust
                                                  51.309(b)(6).30 A statewide inventory of                       emissions, rather than to reduce existing                               emissions with the assistance of the
                                                  baseline and future annual mobile                              emissions.                                                              WRAP. They provide updates, including
                                                  source emissions has been compiled for                                                                                                 modeling and monitoring information,
                                                                                                                 6. Fugitive and Unpaved Road Dust
                                                  the years 2003–2018 with assistance                                                                                                    on paved and unpaved road dust
                                                                                                                 Measures
                                                  from the WRAP.31                                                                                                                       emission impacts on visibility in the
                                                                                                                    The progress report mentioned
                                                  5. Fire and Smoke Management                                                                                                           sixteen Colorado Plateau Class I Areas.
                                                                                                                 measures that provide for control of
                                                     The County is relying on fire and                           PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from unpaved                                   7. Additional Controls—Local State
                                                  smoke management programs under                                roads and from stationary fugitive dust                                 Regulations
                                                  20.11.21 NMAC, Open Burning, in order                          sources.32 The EHD implements this
                                                  to help control anthropogenic fire                             requirement through 20.11.20 NMAC,                                         The County lists several local
                                                  related emissions of VOCs, NOX,                                Fugitive Dust Control, which requires                                   regulations that are being used to aid in
                                                  elemental carbon, organic carbon, and                          the use of reasonably available control                                 controlling emissions that contribute to
                                                  PM2.5. This regulation requires that most                      measures (RACM) to reduce fugitive                                      the formation of regional haze at Class
                                                  open burning in Bernalillo County be                           dust that impairs visibility or adversely                               I areas. These regulations, and the
                                                  conducted under a permit from the City                         affects public health, welfare, and                                     pollutants targeted by them, appear in
                                                  of Albuquerque EHD subject to specific                         safety.33 The measure prevents fugitive                                 table 2 below. The EHD implements and
                                                  requirements, including: reporting of                          dust from leaving sites where it is                                     enforces these regulations on a
                                                  emissions for use in emissions                                 produced, and thus reduces the amount                                   continuing basis.

                                                                                          TABLE 2—COUNTY REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO REGIONAL HAZE 34
                                                                 Regulation                                                                 Description                                                          Pollutant controlled

                                                  20.11.22 NMAC ...............................   Wood burning ........................................................................................   CO, PM.
                                                  20.11.65 NMAC ...............................   Volatile Organic Compounds .................................................................            VOCs.
                                                  20.11.66 NMAC ...............................   Process Equipment ................................................................................      PM.
                                                  20.11.67 NMAC ...............................   Equipment, Emissions, Limitations ........................................................              SO2, NOX, PM.
                                                  20.11.71 NMAC ...............................   Municipal Solid Waste Landfills .............................................................           CO.
                                                  20.11.100 NMAC .............................    Motor Vehicle Inspection, Decentralized ...............................................                 CO, PM, hydrocarbons.
                                                  20.11.102 NMAC .............................    Oxygenated Fuels ..................................................................................     CO.
                                                  20.11.103 NMAC .............................    Motor Vehicle Visible Emissions ...........................................................             PM.



                                                  8. Summary of Control Strategy                                 measures were identified and the                                        the control measures subject to the
                                                  Implementation                                                 strategy behind each control was                                        requirements under 40 CFR
                                                                                                                 explained. The County included a                                        51.309(d)(10)(i)(A). As mentioned
                                                     The EPA proposes to conclude that
                                                                                                                 summary of the implementation status                                    previously, the County identified
                                                  the County adequately addressed the
                                                  status of control measures in its regional                     associated with each control measure                                    ammonium sulfate, particulate organic
                                                  haze SIP, as required by the provisions                        and quantified the benefits where                                       matter, and coarse mass as the largest
                                                  under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(A) for the                       possible. In addition, the progress report                              contributors historically to visibility
                                                  first implementation period. The                               SIP adequately outlined the compliance                                  impairment at New Mexico’s Class I
                                                  County’s progress report documented                            timeframe for all controls                                              areas for the initial round of regional
                                                  the status of all control measures                             C. Emission Reductions From Control                                     haze SIPS. Many of the sources,
                                                  included in its regional haze SIP and                          Strategies                                                              however, that produce these visibility-
                                                  described additional measures that                                                                                                     impairing pollutants in New Mexico are
                                                  came into effect since the County’s                              The provisions under 40 CFR                                           natural, rather than anthropogenic in
                                                  regional haze SIP was completed,                               51.309(d)(10)(i)(B) require the state to                                nature, and are not controllable. As a
                                                  including state regulations and various                        provide a summary of the emission                                       result, the New Mexico progress report
                                                  federal measures. All major control                            reductions achieved in the state through                                focused on emission reductions from
                                                    29 See the County’s 2011 regional haze SIP (pages            each other than was expected by New Mexico when                            31 See WRAP 2013 Summary Report, pages 3–11

                                                  56–58) and New Mexico’s 2011 regional haze SIP                 it adopted the State Mobile Source Regulation. For                      to 3–20, 4–1 to 4–2, and 6–222 to 6–233.
                                                  (page 144) for ongoing implementation of federal               example, in 2009, the EPA and the National                                 32 For more information on the WRAP modeling
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                                                  mobile source regulations. The County regional                 Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)                           and assessment of road dust impacts, see section F
                                                  haze SIP listed as a haze-control measure 20.11.104            proposed ‘‘regulatory convergence’’ with California
                                                  NMAC, Emission Standards for New Motor                                                                                                 of the County regional haze SIP (pages 69–71).
                                                                                                                 on motor vehicle fuel economy standards. See 74                            33 The City of Albuquerque EHD also has
                                                  Vehicles. This regulation was adopted in 2007 to
                                                                                                                 FR 49454 (September 28, 2009). This was
                                                  implement California’s clean car standards. At the                                                                                     delegated authority to enforce applicable federal
                                                                                                                 subsequently adopted, starting with model years
                                                  time the regulation was adopted by New Mexico,                                                                                         standards related to particulate matter, as
                                                  the California standards were projected to                     2012–2016. 75 FR 25323 (May 7, 2010). Therefore,
                                                                                                                 20.11.104 NMAC is currently redundant and is not                        promulgated in 40 CFR Sections 60, 61, and 63.
                                                  substantially differ from federal motor vehicle                                                                                           34 See the County Web site for a listing of the
                                                  emissions standards. Since that time, the California           being implemented.
                                                  and federal programs for emissions standards for                  30 See the County’s 2011 regional haze SIP (page                     NMAC rules at http://164.64.110.239/nmac/_
                                                  motor vehicles have become more aligned with                   59).                                                                    title20/T20C011.htm.




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                                                  45768                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  point sources because they represent the                                    Class I areas over time, and the                                  New Mexico and reported
                                                  anthropogenic sources in New                                                anthropogenic point source emissions                              anthropogenic point source emission
                                                  Mexico.35 The New Mexico report                                             related to these pollutants have also                             data (see table 3) from the County for
                                                  showed that these pollutants have                                           been declining in areas of the state                              NOX, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 and
                                                  mostly been contributing less to                                            outside the County.36                                             compared it to WRAP 2018 projections
                                                  visibility impairment at New Mexico                                           For comparison, in its progress report,                         for the 2008–2013 time-period.
                                                                                                                              the County took the same approach as

                                                           TABLE 3—THE COUNTY STATIONARY POINT SOURCE EMISSIONS COMPARED TO 2018 WRAP PROJECTIONS 37
                                                                                                         Year                                                                 NOX (tpy)         SO2 (tpy)          PM10 (tpy)        PM2.5 (tpy)

                                                  2008   .................................................................................................................            1,139                 57            1,222                 239
                                                  2011   .................................................................................................................            1,120                 74              186                 110
                                                  2012   .................................................................................................................            1,167                132              351                 116
                                                  2013   .................................................................................................................            1,401                165              323                 117
                                                  2018   WRAP Projections ..................................................................................                          3,402              1,612              411                  23



                                                     The County noted that pollutant                                          the County were below the WRAP 2018                               PM2.5 from the County to the statewide
                                                  emissions from the County have not                                          projections while PM2.5 levels were                               national emission inventory (NEI), the
                                                  impeded reductions in the rest of the                                       above the WRAP predictions. Although                              County concluded that it is improbable
                                                  state. SO2 and NOX county emission                                          the PM2.5 levels were above WRAP 2018                             that the County emissions have had
                                                  trends have increased slightly since                                        projections, PM emission levels from                              significant impacts on nearby Class I
                                                  2008 but have remained well below the                                       the County have decreased in a                                    areas. The reported point source
                                                  WRAP 2018 projections for point                                             downward trend for both fine                                      amounts from the County remain low in
                                                  sources and were just a fraction of the                                     particulates and coarse mass since 2008.                          comparison to those from the rest of the
                                                  levels observed in the rest of the state                                    When comparing pollutant emission                                 state as seen from the statewide NEI
                                                  (see table 4). PM10 emission levels for                                     contributions of NOX, SO2, PM10, and                              data in table 4.

                                                                                   TABLE 4—NEI POINT SOURCE EMISSION DATA FOR NEW MEXICO FOR 2002–2014 38
                                                                                                         Year                                                                 NOX (tpy)         SO2 (tpy)          PM10 (tpy)        PM2.5 (tpy)

                                                  2002   .................................................................................................................          95,493           36,392               6,558               5,511
                                                  2005   .................................................................................................................          72,707           18,532               3,611               2,994
                                                  2008   .................................................................................................................          57,461           22,868               2,953               1,754
                                                  2011   .................................................................................................................          47,497           19,987               2,545               1,722
                                                  2014   .................................................................................................................          42,623           12,535               3,091               1,538



                                                     The NEI data shows that the emission                                     County demonstrated the emission                                  with values expressed in terms of five-
                                                  trend of each major contributor to                                          reductions achieved in the major                                  year averages of these annual values: (1)
                                                  visibility impairment in New Mexico                                         contributing visibility impairing                                 Current visibility conditions; (2) the
                                                  has decreased significantly since 2002.                                     pollutants in the County for the first                            difference between current visibility
                                                  NOX emissions have decreased by 55                                          implementation period. Anthropogenic                              conditions and baseline visibility
                                                  percent and SO2 emissions have                                              emissions of haze related pollutants                              conditions; and (3) the change in
                                                  decreased by 65 percent. PM reductions                                      from stationary point sources in the                              visibility impairment over the past five
                                                  also reduced considerably from their                                        County are unlikely to reverse the                                years. The County does not have any
                                                  NEI baseline totals (52% for PM10 and                                       larger, favorable statewide emission                              Class I areas within its borders;
                                                  72% for PM2.5) and remain below the                                         trends, because over time such local                              therefore, no visibility data is required
                                                  2018 WRAP projections for New                                               emissions have remained at a fraction of                          to be analyzed for this element. In
                                                  Mexico, although not especially                                             the levels seen in the rest of the state.                         regard to New Mexico’s Class I areas
                                                  pronounced.39 A more-detailed                                               Furthermore, such county emissions are
                                                                                                                                                                                                outside of the County, please note that
                                                  breakdown of the distribution of each                                       under or close to the WRAP 2018
                                                  contributing pollutant species can be                                                                                                         when comparing baseline to current
                                                                                                                              projections for those pollutants.40
                                                  seen in section E of this report.                                                                                                             visibility conditions, the New Mexico
                                                     The EPA proposes to conclude that                                        D. Visibility Progress                                            progress report showed that New
                                                  the County adequately addressed the                                           The provisions under 40 CFR                                     Mexico is currently on track, if not
                                                  requirements under 40 CFR                                                   51.309(d)(10)(i)(C) require that states                           exceeding, the visibility impairment
                                                  51.309(d)(10)(i)(B) with its summary of                                     with Class I areas provide the following
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                                                  emission reductions of visibility                                           information for the most impaired and
                                                  impairing pollutants. Overall, the                                          least impaired days 41 for each area,
                                                    35 See the 2014 New Mexico Regional Haze                                    38 As reported in the online EPA Emissions                        41 The most and least impaired days in the

                                                  Progress Report (page 7).                                                   Inventory System (EIS) Gateway database for point                 regional haze rule refers to the average visibility
                                                    36 See Figure 3.6 from the 2014 New Mexico                                sources only.                                                     impairment (measured in deciviews) for the 20
                                                  Regional Haze Progress Report (page 15).                                      39 See Figure 3.6 from the 2014 New Mexico                      percent of monitored days in a calendar year with
                                                    37 See the 2016 County Regional Haze Progress                             Regional Haze Progress Report (page 15).                          the highest and lowest amount of visibility
                                                                                                                                                                                                impairment, respectively, averaged over a five-year
                                                  Report (page 21).                                                             40 See the 2016 County Regional Haze Progress
                                                                                                                                                                                                period (see 40 CFR 51.301).
                                                                                                                              Report (pages 15–22).


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                                  45769

                                                  emission reductions needed to achieve                                   for 2002, 2008, and 2011, as well as                           off-road mobile sources; area oil and
                                                  RPG’s for 2018.42                                                       projected inventories for 2018, in                             gas; fugitive and road dust; and
                                                                                                                          accordance with the requirements of 40                         anthropogenic fire. The natural source
                                                  E. Emissions Progress
                                                                                                                          CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i)(D). The pollutant                         categorization included natural fire,
                                                     The provisions under 40 CFR                                          inventories included SO2, NOX, NH3,                            wind-blown dust, and biogenic sources.
                                                  51.309(d)(10)(i)(D) require an analysis                                 VOCs, organic carbon, elemental carbon,                        A breakdown of the total anthropogenic
                                                  tracking emission changes of visibility                                 coarse mass, and soil dust. The                                emissions for the County and state can
                                                  impairing pollutants from the state’s                                   inventories were categorized for all                           be seen below in table 5. The table
                                                  sources by type or category over the past                               major visibility-impairing pollutants                          shows the percent apportionment of
                                                  five years based on the most recent                                     under major source groupings either as
                                                                                                                                                                                         County emissions for each of the key
                                                  updated emission inventory. In its                                      anthropogenic or natural. The
                                                                                                                                                                                         haze-causing pollutants related to the
                                                  progress report SIP, the County                                         anthropogenic source categorization
                                                                                                                                                                                         rest of the state.
                                                  presented WRAP emission inventories                                     included point and area sources; on and

                                                           TABLE 5—COMPARISON OF COUNTY AND STATE ANTHROPOGENIC EMISSIONS TO WRAP 2018 PROJECTIONS 43
                                                                                                                                                                      2002 Total        2008 Total         2011 Total       WRAP 2018
                                                                                                                                                                        baseline
                                                                Pollutant species                                               Inventory                                               emissions          emissions        projections
                                                                                                                                                                      emissions         (tons/year)        (tons/year)      (tons/year)
                                                                                                                                                                      (tons/year)

                                                  SO2 ...................................................   County ..............................................      4,772 (10%)               291        1,250 (6%)             13,770
                                                                                                            State .................................................         48,354            27,392            21,624
                                                  NOX ...................................................   County ..............................................     33,661 (11%)            16,960       14,760 (9%)             26,819
                                                                                                            State .................................................        295,266           211,132           168,008
                                                  NH3 ...................................................   County ..............................................       1,400 (4%)               856          682 (2%)              1,683
                                                                                                            State .................................................         32,266            43,840            37,071
                                                  VOCs .................................................    County ..............................................      25,573 (7%)            19,137       14,574 (7%)             23,891
                                                                                                            State .................................................        344,077           268,792           214,360
                                                  PM2.5 .................................................   County ..............................................      2,229 (18%)             4,112        5,777 (7%)              2,433
                                                                                                            State .................................................         12,573            61,587            85,576
                                                  Coarse Mass .....................................         County ..............................................     16,387 (25%)            36,982       56,655 (7%)             17,369
                                                                                                            State .................................................         66,096           511,327           830,697



                                                     The WRAP data showed that the                                        NH3 emissions; seven percent of the                            was improbable that sources located
                                                  percentage of County emissions                                          State VOC emissions; seven percent of                          within the County caused or contributed
                                                  contributing to the total state emissions                               the State PM2.5 emissions; and seven                           to visibility impairment in any Class I
                                                  has decreased for each pollutant species                                percent of the State coarse mass                               area located outside of the County. The
                                                  from the 2002 baseline to 2011. The                                     emissions. These percentages are all                           emission trends declined within the
                                                  WRAP emission inventories were                                          down from their 2002 baseline levels.                          County compared to 2002 baseline
                                                  previously identified in the SIP as                                     PM2.5 and coarse mass 2011 total                               levels and the percent contributions
                                                  reflecting overestimates of actual                                      emissions are higher than the WRAP                             related to the rest of the state have all
                                                  emissions in key source categories. Even                                2018 projections, but their decreasing                         continued to decline over time.
                                                  so, there has not been a drastic, sudden                                percent contributions are better
                                                                                                                                                                                         F. Assessment of Changes Impeding
                                                  spike in the percentages, which would                                   indicators of the progress made since
                                                                                                                                                                                         Visibility Progress
                                                  be a cause for concern for visibility                                   emissions have increased statewide, yet
                                                  degradation at the Class I areas. The                                   their percentages have decreased from                             The provisions under 40 CFR
                                                  decreasing WRAP percentages are                                         eighteen and 25 percent respectively, in                       51.309(d)(10)(i)(E) require an
                                                  indicators that the County                                              2002, to seven percent each in 2011.                           assessment of whether any significant
                                                  ‘‘conservative’’ emission estimates have                                  The EPA is proposing to find that the                        emission changes have occurred within
                                                  improved throughout the first                                           County adequately addressed the                                the state over the five-year period since
                                                  implementation period and are                                           requirements under 40 CFR                                      the SIP was submitted, and whether
                                                  contributing less and less to visibility                                51.309(d)(10)(i)(D). The EPA concludes                         emission increases outside the state are
                                                  impairment at Class I areas outside of its                              that the County presented an adequate                          affecting a Class I area within the state
                                                  borders from 2002–2011. The County                                      analysis tracking emission trends for the                      adversely. A ‘‘significant change’’ could
                                                  concluded that it is unlikely that the                                  key visibility impairing pollutants. The                       be either a substantial unexpected
                                                  County emissions had significant                                        analysis provided the most recent                              increase in anthropogenic emissions
                                                  impacts on nearby Class I areas as a                                    period of approximately five years for                         that occurred over the five-year period
                                                  result. The County’s contribution of                                    which data was available in practical                          or a significant expected reduction in
                                                  emissions compared to the New Mexico                                    terms (2002–2008), and provided an                             anthropogenic emissions that did not
                                                  emission inventory, as estimated by the                                 additional update for 2011 that                                occur in the analysis for the SIP.
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                                                  WRAP, is six percent of the State SO2                                   presented further information covering                            The EPA proposes to conclude that
                                                  emissions; nine percent of the State                                    approximately two five-year periods                            the County adequately addressed the
                                                  NOX emissions; two percent of the State                                 (2002–2011). The trends indicate that it                       provisions under 40 CFR
                                                     42 See table 2.1 of New Mexico Regional Haze                         state of New Mexico are taken from the New Mexico              site http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/TSS/Results/
                                                  Progress Report (page 5).                                               Regional Haze progress report (tables 3.23–3.30).              Emissions.aspx and archived on the original WRAP
                                                     43 The emission totals for the County are taken                      Detailed inventory descriptions for development of             Web site http://www.wrapair.org/forums/ssjf/
                                                  from the County regional haze progress report                           the WRAP Base02b, plan02c and plan02d                          pivot.html.
                                                  (tables 3.22–3.29). Emission totals for the entire                      inventories are available on the WRAP TSS Web



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                                                  45770                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  51.309(d)(10)(i)(E). The County does not                declining emissions since 2002.                       H. Review of Visibility Monitoring
                                                  have any Class I areas within its                       Fourteen of the County goals were not                 Strategy
                                                  borders, so there is no requirement to                  yet being met as of the 2011 WRAP                        The provisions under 40 CFR
                                                  assess impacts in the County from                       inventory, but nine of those annual                   51.309(10)(i)(G) require a review of a
                                                  sources outside of its boundaries.                      goals showed reported emission levels                 state’s visibility monitoring strategy for
                                                  Furthermore, the County sources do not                  less than 200 tpy, and one was just                   visibility impairing pollutants and an
                                                  impact any of the Class I areas outside                 under 500 tpy. Those ten goals were                   assessment of whether any
                                                  of its borders, as was stated in the                    associated with point sources and on                  modifications to the strategy are
                                                  County’s regional haze SIP revision,                    and off road mobile source categories.                necessary. In its progress report SIP, the
                                                  which the EPA approved on April 25,
                                                                                                          The County concluded that those ten                   County stated that there are no Class I
                                                  2012.44 In conjunction with that
                                                                                                          reported emissions were unlikely to                   areas within its boundaries, and
                                                  previous action, the EPA’s current
                                                                                                          impede New Mexico’s progress toward                   therefore it was not required to fulfill
                                                  analysis of emission reductions to meet
                                                                                                          achieving statewide goals for emissions               this provision. The EPA proposes to
                                                  the provisions of 40 CFR
                                                                                                          and visibility since the emission levels              conclude that the County is exempt
                                                  51.309(d)(10)(i)(B) and 40 CFR
                                                  51.309(d)(10)(i)(D) show that no                        represented a negligible portion of total             from addressing the requirements of 40
                                                  ‘‘significant changes’’ in emissions                    statewide emissions.                                  CFR 51.309(10)(i)(G), as that
                                                  within the County have occurred to                                                                            requirement is solely for states with
                                                                                                             The four remaining annual emission
                                                  impede visibility improvement or have                                                                         Class I areas in their borders.47
                                                                                                          goals that were not being met covered
                                                  adversely affected the nine Class I areas               coarse mass, organic carbon, and PM2.5                I. Determination of Adequacy of
                                                  in New Mexico.45 Emission trends for                    pollutants. The increased contributions               Existing Regional Haze Plan
                                                  the key visibility impairing pollutants                 from these pollutants were associated                    Under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(ii), states
                                                  were confirmed to be decreasing from                    with fugitive/road dust and area (non-                are required to submit, at the same time
                                                  the baseline to 2018 by statewide NEI                   point) source categories. Annual                      as the progress report SIP, a
                                                  data and reported County emissions.                     emissions with higher levels of organic
                                                  Additionally, the WRAP data showed                                                                            determination of the adequacy of their
                                                                                                          matter, elemental carbon, PM2.5 and                   existing regional haze SIP and to take
                                                  that emissions from the County have
                                                  remained at the same percentage levels                  coarse mass with a lower contribution                 one of four possible actions based on
                                                  over time or decreased relative to                      from ammonium sulfate are heavily                     information in the progress report. 40
                                                  emissions from elsewhere in the state.                  dominated from wildfires and                          CFR 51.309(d)(10)(ii) requires states to
                                                                                                          particulate matter. High coarse mass                  take one of the following actions:
                                                  G. Assessment of Current Strategy To                    was measured during the spring, which                    (1) Submit a negative declaration to
                                                  Meet RPGs                                               was indicative of high-wind events that               the EPA that no further substantive
                                                    The provisions under 40 CFR                           occurred during the late winter and                   revision to the State’s existing regional
                                                  51.309(d)(10)(i)(F) require an                          spring months in New Mexico.                          haze SIP is needed.
                                                  assessment of whether the current                       Wildfires or high-wind events might                      (2) If the State determines that the
                                                  regional haze SIP is sufficient to enable               again affect annual emissions in the                  implementation plan is or may be
                                                  the state, or other states, to meet the                 2018 timeframe, but the County showed                 inadequate to ensure reasonable
                                                  RPGs for Class I areas affected by                      that it is meeting nearly all of its annual           progress due to emissions from sources
                                                  emissions from the state. The County                                                                          in another state(s) which participated in
                                                                                                          emission goals even with experienced
                                                  does not contain any Class I areas, and                                                                       a regional planning process, the State
                                                                                                          annual emission increases from natural
                                                  emissions from the County were found                                                                          must provide notification to the EPA
                                                                                                          events that still have not hindered New
                                                  to not impact any Class I areas outside                                                                       and to the other state(s) which
                                                                                                          Mexico from meeting its RPGs beyond                   participated in the regional planning
                                                  of its borders. As discussed previously,                the County borders. The County expects
                                                  the NEI data showed that the total                                                                            process with the states. The State must
                                                                                                          further reduction of SO2 and NO2                      also collaborate with the other state(s)
                                                  emissions of each major contributor to
                                                                                                          emissions, the primary pollutant species              through the regional planning process
                                                  visibility impairment in New Mexico
                                                                                                          associated with anthropogenic sources,                for developing additional strategies to
                                                  has decreased significantly since 2002.
                                                  The total County emissions have                         to continue their broad declines in the               address the plan’s deficiencies.
                                                  remained at a fraction of the levels seen               same areas.                                              (3) Where the State determines that
                                                  in the rest of the state and are under or                  The EPA proposes to conclude that                  the implementation plan is or may be
                                                  close to the WRAP 2018 RPGs when                        the County has addressed 40 CFR                       inadequate to ensure reasonable
                                                  looking at the cumulative anthropogenic                 51.309(d)(10)(i)(F) because its current               progress due to emissions from sources
                                                  emissions.                                              regional haze SIP is sufficient to enable             in another country, the State shall
                                                    The County provided a breakdown                       the state of New Mexico and other                     provide notification, along with
                                                  showing whether or not every key                        nearby states to meet their RPGs,                     available information, to the
                                                  pollutant in each source category was                   particularly as the County was not                    Administrator.
                                                  meeting its 2018 RPGs for annual                        identified as contributing to any                        (4) If the State determines that the
                                                  emissions.46 Of the 56 individual RPGs                                                                        implementation plan is or may be
                                                                                                          impairment in such Class I areas. The
                                                  for the County, 42 were either being met                                                                      inadequate to ensure reasonable
                                                                                                          fairly constant proportion of County
                                                                                                                                                                progress due to emissions from sources
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                                                  or referred to pollutants that showed                   emissions compared to the rest of the
                                                                                                                                                                within the State, then the State shall
                                                    44 See
                                                                                                          state are negligible. In spite of natural             revise its implementation plan to
                                                          77 FR (24768, 24791).
                                                    45 Changes in wildfires are not a ‘‘change’’ to
                                                                                                          events, the County showed that it is
                                                  report under 51.309(d)(10)(i)(E) per EPA guidance,      meeting nearly all of its annual emission               47 The New Mexico progress report concluded
                                                  General Principles for the 5-Year Regional Haze         goals and the annual emission increases               (pages 46–47) that no changes in the state’s
                                                  Progress Reports for the Initial Regional Haze State                                                          visibility monitoring strategy are needed because
                                                  Implementation Plans (page 15).
                                                                                                          from natural events still have not
                                                                                                                                                                the IMPROVE network has continued to provide
                                                    46 Showed in tables 3.22–3.29 of the County           hindered New Mexico from meeting its                  adequate monitoring data to support
                                                  Regional Haze Progress Report.                          RPGs beyond the County borders.                       implementation of the RHR.



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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                           45771

                                                  address the plan’s deficiencies within                     • Does not have Federalism                         proposes to modify its regulations to
                                                  one year.                                               implications as specified in Executive                permit, subject to disclosure
                                                     The City of Albuquerque and                          Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                  requirements, ex parte communications
                                                  Bernalillo County, New Mexico has                       1999);                                                in informal rulemaking proceedings.
                                                  provided the information required                          • Is not an economically significant               The Board also proposes other changes
                                                  under 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10)(i) in the                    regulatory action based on health or                  to its ex parte rules that would clarify
                                                  five-year progress report. Based upon                   safety risks subject to Executive Order               and update when and how interested
                                                  this information, the County stated in its              13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                  persons may communicate informally
                                                  progress report SIP that it believes that                  • Is not a significant regulatory action           with the Board regarding pending
                                                  the current Section 309 and Section                     subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR               proceedings other than rulemakings.
                                                  309(g) regional haze SIPs are adequate                  28355, May 22, 2001);                                 The intent of the proposed regulations
                                                  to meet the State’s 2018 RPGs and                          • Is not subject to requirements of                is to enhance the Board’s ability to make
                                                  require no further revision at this time.               section 12(d) of the National                         informed decisions through increased
                                                  Thus, the EPA has received a negative                   Technology Transfer and Advancement                   stakeholder communications while
                                                  declaration from the City of                            Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because              ensuring that the Board’s record-
                                                  Albuquerque and Bernalillo County,                      application of those requirements would               building process in rulemaking
                                                  NM.                                                     be inconsistent with the CAA; and                     proceedings remains transparent and
                                                                                                             • Does not provide EPA with the                    fair.
                                                  IV. The EPA’s Proposed Action                           discretionary authority to address, as                DATES: Comments are due by November
                                                     The EPA is proposing to approve the                  appropriate, disproportionate human                   1, 2017. Replies are due by November
                                                  City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo                      health or environmental effects, using                16, 2017.
                                                  County, New Mexico’s regional haze                      practicable and legally permissible
                                                                                                                                                                ADDRESSES: Comments and replies may
                                                  five-year progress report SIP revision                  methods, under Executive Order 12898                  be submitted either via the Board’s e-
                                                  (submitted June 24, 2016) as meeting the                (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). In                   filing format or in paper format. Any
                                                  applicable regional haze requirements                   addition, the SIP is not approved to                  person using e-filing should attach a
                                                  set forth in 40 CFR 51.309(d)(10). The                  apply on any Indian reservation land or               document and otherwise comply with
                                                  EPA is proposing to approve the City of                 in any other area where EPA or an                     the instructions found on the Board’s
                                                  Albuquerque and Bernalillo County,                      Indian tribe has demonstrated that a                  Web site at ‘‘www.stb.gov’’ at the ‘‘E–
                                                  New Mexico’s determination that the                     tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of             FILING’’ link. Any person submitting a
                                                  current regional haze SIP is adequate to                Indian country, the proposed rule does                filing in paper format should send an
                                                  meet the State’s 2018 RPGs.                             not have tribal implications and will not             original and 10 paper copies of the filing
                                                  V. Statutory and Executive Order                        impose substantial direct costs on tribal             to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn:
                                                  Reviews                                                 governments or preempt tribal law as                  Docket No. EP 739, 395 E Street SW.,
                                                                                                          specified by Executive Order 13175 (65                Washington, DC 20423–0001. Copies of
                                                     Under the CAA, the Administrator is                  FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
                                                  required to approve a SIP submission                                                                          written comments and replies will be
                                                  that complies with the provisions of the                List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                    available for viewing and self-copying at
                                                  Act and applicable Federal regulations.                                                                       the Board’s Public Docket Room, Room
                                                                                                            Environmental protection, Air                       131, and will be posted to the Board’s
                                                  42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                     pollution control, Best Available
                                                  Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the                                                                       Web site.
                                                                                                          Retrofit Technology, Carbon monoxide,
                                                  EPA’s role is to approve state choices,                                                                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          Incorporation by reference,
                                                  provided that they meet the criteria of                                                                       Jonathon Binet at (202) 245–0368.
                                                                                                          Intergovernmental relations, Lead,
                                                  the CAA. Accordingly, this action                                                                             Assistance for the hearing impaired is
                                                                                                          Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate
                                                  merely proposes to approve state law as                                                                       available through the Federal
                                                                                                          matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
                                                  meeting Federal requirements and does                                                                         Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
                                                                                                          requirements, Regional haze, Sulfur
                                                  not impose additional requirements                                                                            (800) 877–8339.
                                                                                                          dioxide, Visibility, Volatile organic
                                                  beyond those imposed by state law. For                  compounds.                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                  that reason, this action:                                                                                     Board’s current regulations at 49 CFR
                                                                                                            Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                     • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                                                                        1102.2 generally prohibit most informal
                                                  action’’ subject to review by the Office                  Dated: September 26, 2017.                          communications between the Board and
                                                  of Management and Budget under                          Samuel Coleman,                                       interested persons concerning the merits
                                                  Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,                    Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.              of pending Board proceedings. These
                                                  October 4, 1993), 13563 (76 FR 3821,                    [FR Doc. 2017–21006 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am]           regulations require that communications
                                                  January 21, 2011), and 13771 (82 FR                     BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                                                                                with the Board or Board staff regarding
                                                  9339, February 2, 2017);                                                                                      the merits of an ‘‘on-the-record’’ Board
                                                     • Does not impose an information                                                                           proceeding not be made on an ex parte
                                                  collection burden under the provisions                                                                        basis (i.e., without the knowledge or
                                                                                                          SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
                                                  of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                                                                            consent of the parties to the
                                                  U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                   49 CFR Part 1102                                      proceeding). See 49 CFR 1102.2(c); 49
                                                     • Is certified as not having a                                                                             CFR 1102.2(a)(3). The current
                                                  significant economic impact on a                        [Docket No. EP 739]                                   regulations detail the procedures
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                                                  substantial number of small entities                                                                          required in the event an impermissible
                                                                                                          Ex Parte Communications in Informal
                                                  under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                                                                       communication occurs and the potential
                                                                                                          Rulemaking Proceedings
                                                  U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                                                                          sanctions for violations. See 49 CFR
                                                     • Does not contain any unfunded                      AGENCY:   Surface Transportation Board.               1102.2(e), (f).
                                                  mandate or significantly or uniquely                    ACTION:   Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.                 The Board’s predecessor agency, the
                                                  affect small governments, as described                                                                        Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC),
                                                  in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                     SUMMARY: In this decision, the Surface                determined that the general prohibition
                                                  of 1995 (Public Law 104–4);                             Transportation Board (the Board)                      on ex parte communications in


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Document Created: 2017-09-30 04:41:26
Document Modified: 2017-09-30 04:41:26
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesWritten comments must be received on or before November 1, 2017.
ContactJames E. Grady, (214) 665-6745; [email protected] To inspect the hard copy materials, please schedule an appointment with James E. Grady or Mr. Bill Deese at 214- 665-7253.
FR Citation82 FR 45762 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Best Available Retrofit Technology; Carbon Monoxide; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Lead; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Regional Haze; Sulfur Dioxide; Visibility and Volatile Organic Compounds

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