82 FR 9512 - Air Plan Disapproval; AL; Prong 4 Visibility for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 24 (February 7, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 24 (February 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 9512-9515 | |
| FR Document | 2017-02303 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 9512-9515] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-02303] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0689; FRL-9958-42-Region 4] Air Plan Disapproval; AL; Prong 4 Visibility for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is disapproving the visibility transport (prong 4) portion of a revision to the Alabama State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) infrastructure SIP requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure SIP.'' Here, EPA is specifically disapproving the prong 4 portion of Alabama's August 20, 2012, 2008 8-hour ozone infrastructure SIP submission. All other applicable infrastructure requirements for this SIP submission have been addressed in separate rulemakings. DATES: This rule will be effective March 9, 2017. ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket Identification No. EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0689. All documents in the docket are listed on the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information may not be publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection. The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Lakeman of the Air Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Mr. Lakeman can be reached by telephone at (404) 562-9043 or via electronic mail at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background By statute, states must submit SIPs meeting the requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA within three years after promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS to provide for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of that NAAQS. EPA has historically referred to these SIP submissions made for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as ``infrastructure SIP'' submissions. Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) require states to address basic SIP elements such as for monitoring, basic program requirements, and legal authority that are designed to assure attainment and maintenance of the newly established or revised NAAQS. More specifically, section 110(a)(1) provides the procedural and timing requirements for infrastructure SIPs, and section 110(a)(2) lists specific elements that states must meet for the infrastructure SIP requirements related to a newly established or revised NAAQS. The contents of an infrastructure SIP submission may vary depending upon the data and analytical tools available to the state, as well as the provisions already contained in the state's implementation plan at the time the state develops and submits the submission for a particular new or revised NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)(D) has two components: 110(a)(2)(D)(i) and 110(a)(2)(D)(ii). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) includes four distinct components, commonly referred to as ``prongs,'' that must be addressed in infrastructure SIP submissions. The first two prongs, which are codified in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), prohibit any source or other type of emissions activity in one state from contributing significantly to nonattainment of the NAAQS in another state (prong 1) and from interfering with maintenance of the NAAQS in another state (prong 2). The third and fourth prongs, which are codified in section [[Page 9513]] 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), prohibit any source or other type of emissions activity in one state from interfering with measures required to prevent significant deterioration of air quality in another state (prong 3) or from interfering with measures to protect visibility in another state (prong 4). There are two ways in which a state's infrastructure SIP may satisfy prong 4. The first is through a confirmation in the infrastructure SIP submission that the state has an EPA-approved regional haze SIP that fully meets the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308 or 51.309. Alternatively, in the absence of a fully approved regional haze SIP, a state may meet the requirements of prong 4 through a demonstration in its infrastructure SIP submission that emissions within its jurisdiction do not interfere with other states' plans to protect visibility. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) requires SIPs to include provisions ensuring compliance with sections 115 and 126 of the Act, relating to international and interstate pollution abatement, respectively. On March 12, 2008, EPA revised the 8-hour ozone NAAQS to 0.075 parts per million. See 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). States were required to submit infrastructure SIP submissions for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS to EPA no later than March 12, 2011. Alabama submitted its infrastructure SIP for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS on August 20, 2012; this action only addresses the prong 4 element of the August 2012 submission. Alabama's August 20, 2012, 2008 8-hour ozone infrastructure submission cites to the State's regional haze SIP alone to satisfy prong 4 requirements.\1\ Alabama's regional haze SIP relies on the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) \2\ as an alternative to the best available retrofit technology (BART) requirements for its CAIR-subject electric generating units (EGUs).\3\ Although this reliance on CAIR was consistent with the CAA at the time the State submitted its regional haze SIP, CAIR has since been replaced by the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) \4\ and can no longer be relied upon as an alternative to BART or as part of a long-term strategy (LTS) for addressing regional haze. Therefore, EPA finalized a limited disapproval of Alabama's 2008 regional haze SIP submission to the extent that it relied on CAIR to satisfy the BART and LTS requirements.\5\ See 77 FR 33642 (June 7, 2012). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ As mentioned above, a state may meet the requirements of prong 4 in the absence of a fully approved regional haze SIP by showing that its SIP contains adequate provisions to prevent emissions from within the state from interfering with other states' measures to protect visibility. Alabama did not, however, provide a demonstration in the infrastructure SIP submission subject to this proposed action that emissions within its jurisdiction do not interfere with other states' plans to protect visibility. \2\ CAIR created regional cap-and-trade programs to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NOX ) emissions in 28 eastern states, including Alabama, that contributed to downwind nonattainment and maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS and the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. \3\ Section 169A of the CAA and EPA's implementing regulations require states to establish long-term strategies for making reasonable progress towards the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in certain Class I areas. The 156 mandatory Class I federal areas in which visibility has been determined to be an important value are listed at subpart D of 40 CFR part 81. For brevity, these areas are referred to here, simply as ``Class I areas.'' Implementation plans must give specific attention to certain stationary sources. Specifically, section 169A(b)(2)(A) of the CAA requires states to revise their SIPs to contain such measures as may be necessary to make reasonable progress towards the natural visibility goal, including a requirement that certain categories of existing major stationary sources built between 1962 and 1977 procure, install, and operate BART as determined by the state. Under the Regional Haze Rule, states are directed to conduct BART determinations for such ``BART-eligible'' sources that may be anticipated to cause or contribute to any visibility impairment in a Class I area. \4\ CSAPR addresses the interstate transport of emissions contributing to nonattainment and interfering with maintenance of the two air quality standards covered by CAIR as well as the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. CSAPR requires substantial reductions of SO2 and (NOX ) emissions from EGUs in 28 states in the eastern United States. \5\ EPA finalized a limited approval of Alabama's regional haze SIP on June 28, 2012. See 77 FR 38515. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In that limited disapproval action, EPA also amended the Regional Haze Rule to provide that CSAPR can serve as an alternative to BART, i.e., that participation by a state's EGUs in a CSAPR trading program for a given pollutant achieves greater reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas than source-specific BART for those EGUs for that pollutant.\6\ See 40 CFR 51.308(e)(4); 77 FR 33642. A state can participate in the trading program through either a federal implementation plan (FIP) implementing CSAPR or an integrated CSAPR state trading program implemented through an approved SIP revision. In promulgating this amendment to the Regional Haze Rule, EPA relied on an analytic demonstration of visibility improvement from CSAPR implementation relative to BART based on an air quality modeling study. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ Legal challenges to EPA's determination that CSAPR can be an alternative to BART are pending. Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, No. 12-1342 (D.C. Cir. filed August 6, 2012). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- At the time of the rule amendment, questions regarding the legality of CSAPR were pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) and the court had stayed implementation of the rule. The D.C. Circuit subsequently vacated and remanded CSAPR in August 2012, leaving CAIR in place temporarily.\7\ However, in April 2014, the Supreme Court reversed the vacatur and remanded to the D.C. Circuit for resolution of the remaining claims.\8\ The D.C. Circuit then granted EPA's motion to lift the stay and to toll the rule's deadlines by three years.\9\ Consequently, implementation of CSAPR Phase 1 began in January 2015 and implementation of Phase 2 is scheduled to begin in January 2017. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA, 696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir. 2012). \8\ EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, L.P., 134 S. Ct. 1584 (2014), reversing 696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir. 2012). \9\ Order, EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA, No. 11-1302 (D.C. Cir. issued October 23, 2014). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following the Supreme Court remand, the D.C. Circuit conducted further proceedings to address the remaining claims. In July 2015, the court issued a decision denying most of the claims but remanding the Phase 2 sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) emissions budgets for Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas and the Phase 2 ozone-season nitrogen oxides (NOX ) budgets for 11 states to EPA for reconsideration.\10\ Since receipt of the D.C. Circuit's 2015 decision, EPA has engaged the affected states to determine appropriate next steps to address the decision with regard to each state.\11\ In a November 10, 2016, proposed rulemaking, EPA stated that it expects that potentially material changes to the scope of CSAPR coverage resulting from the remand will be limited to withdrawal of the CSAPR FIP requiring Texas to participate in the Phase 2 trading programs for annual emissions of SO2 and NOX and withdrawal of Florida's CSAPR FIP requirements for ozone-season NOX , which EPA recently finalized in another action.\12\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA, 795 F.3d 118, 138 (D.C. Cir. 2015). The D.C. Circuit did not remand the CSAPR ozone season NOX budgets for Alabama. \11\ As discussed below, Alabama submitted a SIP revision to EPA on October 26, 2015, to incorporate the Phase 2 annual NOX and annual SO2 CSAPR budgets for the State into the SIP. EPA approved this SIP revision in a final action published on August 31, 2016. See 81 FR 59869. \12\ See 81 FR 78954 (November 10, 2016) for further discussion regarding EPA's expectations and the proposed withdrawal of the CSAPR FIP for Texas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Due to these expected changes to CSAPR's scope, EPA conducted a sensitivity analysis to the 2012 CSAPR ``alternative to BART'' demonstration showing that the analysis would have supported the same conclusion if the [[Page 9514]] actions that EPA has proposed to take or has already taken in response to the D.C. Circuit's remand--specifically, the proposed withdrawal of PM2.5 -related CSAPR Phase 2 FIP requirements for Texas EGUs and the recently finalized withdrawal of ozone-related CSAPR Phase 2 FIP requirements for Florida EGUs--had been reflected in that analysis. EPA's November 10, 2016, notice of proposed rulemaking sought comment on this sensitivity analysis. See 81 FR 78954. Alabama sought to convert the 2012 limited approval/limited disapproval of the State's CAIR-reliant regional haze SIP to a full approval through a SIP revision submitted on October 26, 2015. This SIP revision intended to adopt the CSAPR trading program into the SIP, including the State's Phase 2 annual NOX and annual SO2 CSAPR budgets, and then to replace reliance on CAIR with reliance on CSAPR to satisfy its regional haze BART and LTS requirements. Although EPA has approved the CSAPR trading program into the Alabama SIP,\13\ EPA has not yet had an opportunity to evaluate comments received on its proposal that CSAPR should continue to be available as an alternative to BART.\14\ EPA thus cannot approve the portion of Alabama's 2015 SIP submission seeking to replace reliance on CAIR with reliance on CSAPR to satisfy the BART and LTS requirements at this time. Because Alabama's prong 4 SIP submission relies solely on the State having a fully approved regional haze SIP, EPA proposed to disapprove the prong 4 element of Alabama's August 20, 2012, 2008 8- hour ozone infrastructure SIP submission in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on December 5, 2016 (81 FR 87503). Additional detail regarding the background and rationale for EPA's action is contained in the NPRM. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ See 81 FR 59869 (August 31, 2016). \14\ The deadline for these comments is January 9, 2017. See 81 FR 88636 (December 8, 2016). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments on the proposed rulemaking were due on or before December 27, 2016. EPA received one adverse comment on the December 5, 2016, NPRM. The comment was submitted by the Utility Air Regulatory Group (hereinafter referred to as ``the Commenter'') and is available in the docket for this final rulemaking action. EPA's response and a summary of the comment are provided below. II. Response to Comment Comment: The Commenter asserts that EPA should approve Alabama's August 20, 2012, 2008 8-hour ozone infrastructure SIP revision in ``conjunction with Alabama's reliance in its October 2015 SIP on CSAPR to satisfy BART and other regional haze rule requirements.'' According to the Commenter, EPA has the authority and an obligation to approve Alabama's October 2015 regional haze SIP because EPA has approved the State's CSAPR annual SO2 and NOX emissions budgets into the Alabama SIP and because the ``CSAPR=BART rule . . . remains legally in effect.'' The Commenter believes that Alabama is ``plainly entitled to rely at this time on the CSAPR=BART rule'' and that EPA's reliance on the November 10, 2016 rulemaking that proposed to reaffirm that CSAPR can serve as an alternative to source-specific BART is a ``legally and factually invalid reason for EPA to refuse at this time to approve Alabama's 2015 regional haze SIP submission and, by extension, Alabama's 2012 prong 4 submission.'' Response: EPA disagrees with the Commenter. EPA is disapproving the prong 4 element of Alabama's August 20, 2012, 8-hour ozone infrastructure SIP revision because the State does not have a fully- approved regional haze SIP and has not otherwise shown that its SIP contains adequate provisions to prevent emissions from within the State from interfering with other states' measures to protect visibility. Although Alabama's 2015 regional haze SIP submission sought to convert the limited approval/limited disapproval of its regional haze SIP to a full approval by relying on CSAPR to satisfy BART and LTS requirements, intervening developments dictate that EPA cannot act on that revision until EPA completes action on the D.C. Circuit's remand of certain CSAPR budgets and determines the impact of the final remand response on CSAPR participation as an alternative to BART requirements. As discussed above, CSAPR's scope has been impacted by the D.C. Circuit's remand of the Phase 2 SO2 emissions budgets for Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas and the Phase 2 ozone season NOX budgets for 11 states. The magnitude of this impact and the resulting effect on the CSAPR ``alternative to BART'' rule depends, in part, on the actions of the states with remanded budgets. EPA expects that potentially material changes to CSAPR's scope will be limited to the withdrawal of Texas from the annual NOX and SO2 trading program and the withdrawal of Florida from the ozone-season NOX trading program based on several considerations, including discussions with the affected states, the incorporation of the CSAPR Phase 2 annual NOX and SO2 budgets into the Alabama SIP, and commitment letters from Georgia and South Carolina to adopt the CSAPR Phase 2 budgets.\15\ EPA's November 10, 2016, proposed determination that CSAPR would continue to be available as an alternative to BART is therefore based on the assumption that Georgia and South Carolina will remain in CSAPR with annual NOX and SO2 emissions budgets equal to or more stringent than those in their CSAPR FIPs. However, EPA has not yet received SIP revisions from Georgia or South Carolina adopting their respective CSAPR FIP budgets. Although EPA expects that Georgia and South Carolina will submit such SIP revisions in the near future, the continued validity of CSAPR as an alternative to BART will only be resolved under EPA's November 10, 2016, proposal if and when Georgia and South Carolina submit SIP revisions adopting their respective remanded CSAPR budgets; EPA addresses public comment on its November 10, 2016 proposed determination that CSAPR continues to be an alternative to BART given the expected changes to CSAPR's scope; and EPA finalizes its determination that CSAPR remains an alternative to BART. For these reasons, EPA cannot approve Alabama's 2015 regional haze SIP revision at this time. Because Alabama does not have a fully approved regional haze SIP and has not alternatively demonstrated that its emissions do not interfere with other states' required measures protecting visibility, EPA must disapprove the prong 4 element of Alabama's August 20, 2012, 8-hour ozone infrastructure SIP revision. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ See letters to Heather McTeer Toney, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4, from Judson H. Turner, Director of the Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (May 26, 2016) and from Myra C. Reece, Director of Environmental Affairs, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (April 19, 2016), available in the docket for this action. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. Final Action As described above, EPA is disapproving the prong 4 portion of Alabama's August 20, 2012, 2008 8-hour ozone infrastructure SIP submission. All other applicable infrastructure requirements for this SIP submission have been addressed in separate rulemakings. IV. 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. [[Page 9515]] See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. EPA is determining that the prong 4 portion of the aforementioned SIP submission does not meet federal requirements. Therefore, this action does not impose additional requirements on the state beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011); does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4); does not have Federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999); is not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997); is not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001); is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the CAA; and does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). 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 rule does not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law. The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by April 10, 2017. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. See section 307(b)(2). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate Matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. Dated: January 5, 2017. Heather McTeer Toney, Regional Administrator, Region 4. 40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows: PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS 0 1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows: Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Subpart B--Alabama 0 2. Section 52.53 is amended by adding a reserved paragraph (d) and paragraph (e) to read as follows: Sec. 52.53 Approval status. * * * * * (e) Disapproval. Portion of the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on August 20, 2012, that addresses the visibility protection (prong 4) element of Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for the 2008 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is disapproving the prong 4 portion of ADEM's SIP submittal because it relies solely on the State having a fully approved regional haze SIP to satisfy the prong 4 requirements for the 2008 8-hour Ozone NAAQS. [FR Doc. 2017-02303 Filed 2-6-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
![9512 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
(iv) The public’s understanding of the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Office’s official hours of business are
subject in question must be enhanced by AGENCY Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to
the disclosure to a significant extent. 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays.
However, the Office shall not make 40 CFR Part 52 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
value judgments about whether the [EPA–R04–OAR–2012–0689; FRL–9958–42– Sean Lakeman of the Air Regulatory
information at issue is ‘‘important’’ Region 4] Management Section, Air Planning and
enough to be made public. Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides
Air Plan Disapproval; AL; Prong 4 and Toxics Management Division, U.S.
(3) In deciding whether the requester Visibility for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone
has demonstrated the requirement of Environmental Protection Agency,
Standard Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW.,
paragraph (k)(1)(ii) of this section, the
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. Mr.
Office shall consider the following two
Agency (EPA). Lakeman can be reached by telephone at
factors: (404) 562–9043 or via electronic mail at
ACTION: Final rule.
(i) The Office shall identify any lakeman.sean@epa.gov.
commercial interest of the requester that SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
would be furthered by the requested Agency (EPA) is disapproving the
disclosure. Requesters shall be given an visibility transport (prong 4) portion of I. Background
opportunity to provide explanatory a revision to the Alabama State By statute, states must submit SIPs
information regarding this Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted meeting the requirements of sections
consideration. by the Alabama Department of 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA within
Environmental Management (ADEM), three years after promulgation of a new
(ii) A waiver or reduction of fees is
addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or or revised NAAQS to provide for the
justified where the public interest is
Act) infrastructure SIP requirements for implementation, maintenance, and
greater than any identified commercial the 2008 8-hour ozone National enforcement of that NAAQS. EPA has
interest in disclosure. The Office Ambient Air Quality Standards historically referred to these SIP
ordinarily shall presume that where a (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each submissions made for the purpose of
news media requester has satisfied the state adopt and submit a SIP for the satisfying the requirements of sections
public interest standard, the public implementation, maintenance, and 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as
interest will be the interest primarily enforcement of each NAAQS ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ submissions.
served by disclosure to that requester. promulgated by EPA, commonly Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) require states
Disclosure to data brokers or others who referred to as an ‘‘infrastructure SIP.’’ to address basic SIP elements such as
merely compile and market government Here, EPA is specifically disapproving for monitoring, basic program
information for direct economic return the prong 4 portion of Alabama’s August requirements, and legal authority that
shall not be presumed to primarily serve 20, 2012, 2008 8-hour ozone are designed to assure attainment and
the public interest. infrastructure SIP submission. All other maintenance of the newly established or
(4) Where only some of the records to applicable infrastructure requirements revised NAAQS. More specifically,
for this SIP submission have been section 110(a)(1) provides the
be released satisfy the requirements for
addressed in separate rulemakings. procedural and timing requirements for
a waiver of fees, a waiver shall be
DATES: This rule will be effective March infrastructure SIPs, and section
granted for those records.
9, 2017. 110(a)(2) lists specific elements that
(5) Requests for a waiver or reduction ADDRESSES: EPA has established a states must meet for the infrastructure
of fees should be made when the request docket for this action under Docket SIP requirements related to a newly
is first submitted to the Office and Identification No. EPA–R04–OAR– established or revised NAAQS. The
should address the criteria referenced 2012–0689. All documents in the docket contents of an infrastructure SIP
above. A requester may submit a fee are listed on the www.regulations.gov submission may vary depending upon
waiver request at a later time so long as Web site. Although listed in the index, the data and analytical tools available to
the underlying record request is some information may not be publicly the state, as well as the provisions
pending or on administrative appeal. available, i.e., Confidential Business already contained in the state’s
When a requester who has committed to Information or other information whose implementation plan at the time the
pay fees subsequently asks for a waiver disclosure is restricted by statute. state develops and submits the
of those fees and that waiver is denied, Certain other material, such as submission for a particular new or
the requester shall be required to pay copyrighted material, is not placed on revised NAAQS.
any costs incurred up to the date the fee the Internet and will be publicly Section 110(a)(2)(D) has two
waiver request was received. available only in hard copy form. components: 110(a)(2)(D)(i) and
Publicly available docket materials are 110(a)(2)(D)(ii). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)
Dated: December 28, 2016.
available either electronically through includes four distinct components,
Karyn Temple Claggett, www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at commonly referred to as ‘‘prongs,’’ that
Acting Register of Copyrights and Director the Air Regulatory Management Section, must be addressed in infrastructure SIP
of the U.S. Copyright Office. Air Planning and Implementation submissions. The first two prongs,
Approved by: Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics which are codified in section
Carla D. Hayden, Management Division, U.S. 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), prohibit any source or
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES
Librarian of Congress.
Environmental Protection Agency, other type of emissions activity in one
Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., state from contributing significantly to
[FR Doc. 2017–01770 Filed 2–6–17; 8:45 am]
Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. EPA nonattainment of the NAAQS in another
BILLING CODE 1410–30–P requests that if at all possible, you state (prong 1) and from interfering with
contact the person listed in the FOR maintenance of the NAAQS in another
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to state (prong 2). The third and fourth
schedule your inspection. The Regional prongs, which are codified in section
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 9515
See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Business Regulatory Enforcement August 20, 2012, that addresses the
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides visibility protection (prong 4) element of
EPA’s role is to approve state choices, that before a rule may take effect, the Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for
provided that they meet the criteria of agency promulgating the rule must the 2008 8-hour Ozone National
the CAA. EPA is determining that the submit a rule report, which includes a Ambient Air Quality Standards
prong 4 portion of the aforementioned copy of the rule, to each House of the (NAAQS). EPA is disapproving the
SIP submission does not meet federal Congress and to the Comptroller General prong 4 portion of ADEM’s SIP
requirements. Therefore, this action of the United States. EPA will submit a submittal because it relies solely on the
does not impose additional report containing this action and other State having a fully approved regional
requirements on the state beyond those required information to the U.S. Senate, haze SIP to satisfy the prong 4
imposed by state law. For that reason, the U.S. House of Representatives, and requirements for the 2008 8-hour Ozone
this action: the Comptroller General of the United NAAQS.
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory States prior to publication of the rule in [FR Doc. 2017–02303 Filed 2–6–17; 8:45 am]
action’’ subject to review by the Office the Federal Register. A major rule BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
of Management and Budget under cannot take effect until 60 days after it
Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, is published in the Federal Register.
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
January 21, 2011); defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). AGENCY
• does not impose an information Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
collection burden under the provisions petitions for judicial review of this 40 CFR Part 52
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 action must be filed in the United States
[EPA–R05–OAR–2016–0134; FRL–9957–58–
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); Court of Appeals for the appropriate Region 5]
• is certified as not having a circuit by April 10, 2017. Filing a
significant economic impact on a petition for reconsideration by the Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; NOX as
substantial number of small entities Administrator of this final rule does not a Precursor to Ozone, PM2.5 Increment
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 affect the finality of this action for the Rules and PSD Infrastructure SIP
U.S.C. 601 et seq.); purposes of judicial review nor does it Requirements
• does not contain any unfunded extend the time within which a petition
mandate or significantly or uniquely for judicial review may be filed, and AGENCY: Environmental Protection
affect small governments, as described shall not postpone the effectiveness of Agency (EPA).
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act such rule or action. This action may not ACTION: Final rule.
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4); be challenged later in proceedings to SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
• does not have Federalism enforce its requirements. See section Agency (EPA) is approving a revision to
implications as specified in Executive 307(b)(2). Wisconsin’s state implementation plan
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, (SIP), revising portions of the State’s
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
1999); Prevention of Significant Deterioration
• is not an economically significant Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by (PSD) and ambient air quality programs
regulatory action based on health or
reference, Intergovernmental relations, to address deficiencies identified in
safety risks subject to Executive Order
EPA’s previous narrow infrastructure
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997); Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate
SIP disapprovals and Finding of Failure
• is not a significant regulatory action Matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
to Submit (FFS). This SIP revision
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR requirements, Volatile organic
request is consistent with the Federal
28355, May 22, 2001); compounds.
• is not subject to requirements of PSD rules and addresses the required
Dated: January 5, 2017. elements of the fine particulate matter
Section 12(d) of the National Heather McTeer Toney,
Technology Transfer and Advancement (PM2.5) PSD Increments, Significant
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
Regional Administrator, Region 4. Impact Levels (SILs) and Significant
application of those requirements would 40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows: Monitoring Concentration (SMC) Rule.
be inconsistent with the CAA; and EPA is also approving elements of SIP
• does not provide EPA with the PART 52—APPROVAL AND submissions from Wisconsin regarding
discretionary authority to address, as PROMULGATION OF PSD infrastructure requirements of
appropriate, disproportionate human IMPLEMENTATION PLANS section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA)
health or environmental effects, using for the 1997 PM2.5, 1997 ozone, 2006
■ 1. The authority citation for part 52 PM2.5, 2008 lead, 2008 ozone, 2010
practicable and legally permissible continues to read as follows:
methods, under Executive Order 12898 nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 2010 sulfur
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. dioxide (SO2), and 2012 PM2.5 National
The SIP is not approved to apply on Ambient Air Quality Standards
Subpart B—Alabama (NAAQS). The infrastructure
any Indian reservation land or in any
other area where EPA or an Indian tribe requirements are designed to ensure that
■ 2. Section 52.53 is amended by adding the structural components of each
has demonstrated that a tribe has a reserved paragraph (d) and paragraph
jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian state’s air quality management program
(e) to read as follows: are adequate to meet the state’s
country, the rule does not have tribal
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES
implications as specified by Executive § 52.53 Approval status. responsibilities under the CAA.
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, * * * * * DATES: This final rule is effective on
2000), nor will it impose substantial (e) Disapproval. Portion of the state March 9, 2017.
direct costs on tribal governments or implementation plan (SIP) revision ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
preempt tribal law. submitted by the State of Alabama, docket for this action under Docket ID
The Congressional Review Act, 5 through the Alabama Department of No. EPA–R05–OAR–2016–0134. All
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Environmental Management (ADEM) on documents in the docket are listed on
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:06 Feb 06, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\07FER1.SGM 07FER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_9536/page/4.svg)
Document Created: 2017-02-07 00:27:27
Document Modified: 2017-02-07 00:27:27
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Rules and Regulations | |
| Action | Final rule. | |
| Dates | This rule will be effective March 9, 2017. | |
| Contact | Sean Lakeman of the Air Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Mr. Lakeman can be reached by telephone at (404) 562-9043 or via electronic mail at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 9512 | |
| CFR Associated | Environmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Volatile Organic Compounds |
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