83_FR_10863 83 FR 10814 - Air Plan Approval and Air Quality Designation; SC; Redesignation of the Greenville-Spartanburg Unclassifiable Area

83 FR 10814 - Air Plan Approval and Air Quality Designation; SC; Redesignation of the Greenville-Spartanburg Unclassifiable Area

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 49 (March 13, 2018)

Page Range10814-10816
FR Document2018-05060

On January 22, 2018, the State of South Carolina, through the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), submitted a request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesignate the Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) unclassifiable area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Greenville Area'' or ``Area'') to unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 primary and secondary annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Greenville Area is comprised of Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg Counties in South Carolina. EPA now has sufficient data to determine that the Greenville Area is in attainment of the 1997 primary and secondary annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve the State's request and redesignate the Area to unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 primary and secondary annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS based upon valid, quality- assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the PM<INF>2.5</INF> monitors in the Area are in compliance with the 1997 primary and secondary annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10814-10816]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05060]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 81

[EPA-R04-OAR-2018-0017; FRL-9975-52-Region 4]


Air Plan Approval and Air Quality Designation; SC; Redesignation 
of the Greenville-Spartanburg Unclassifiable Area

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

[[Page 10815]]


ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On January 22, 2018, the State of South Carolina, through the 
Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), submitted a 
request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesignate 
the Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina fine particulate matter 
(PM2.5) unclassifiable area (hereinafter referred to as the 
``Greenville Area'' or ``Area'') to unclassifiable/attainment for the 
1997 primary and secondary annual PM2.5 national ambient air 
quality standards (NAAQS). The Greenville Area is comprised of 
Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg Counties in South Carolina. EPA 
now has sufficient data to determine that the Greenville Area is in 
attainment of the 1997 primary and secondary annual PM2.5 
NAAQS. Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve the State's request and 
redesignate the Area to unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 primary 
and secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS based upon valid, quality-
assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the 
PM2.5 monitors in the Area are in compliance with the 1997 
primary and secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2018-0017 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment 
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general 
guidance on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madolyn Sanchez, 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. Ms. Sanchez can be reached by telephone at (404) 562-9644 
or via electronic mail at sanchez.madolyn@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) establishes a process for air 
quality management through the establishment and implementation of the 
NAAQS. After the promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, EPA is 
required to designate areas, pursuant to section 107(d)(1) of the CAA, 
as attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable. On July 18, 1997 (62 
FR 38652), EPA revised the NAAQS for particulate matter to add new 
standards for PM2.5 (annual and 24-hour). The primary and 
secondary annual standards were each set at a level of 15.0 micrograms 
per cubic meter ([micro]g/m\3\), based on a 3-year average of annual 
mean PM2.5 concentrations. The primary and secondary 24-hour 
standards were each set at a level of 65 [micro]g/m\3\, based on a 3-
year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentrations. EPA 
established the standards based on significant evidence and numerous 
health studies demonstrating that serious health effects are associated 
with exposures to particulate matter.
    The process for designating areas following promulgation of a new 
or revised NAAQS is contained in section 107(d)(1) of the CAA. EPA and 
state air quality agencies initiated the monitoring process for the 
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in 1999, and deployed all air quality 
monitors by January 2001. On January 5, 2005 (70 FR 944), EPA 
designated areas across the country as nonattainment, unclassifiable, 
or unclassifiable/attainment \1\ for the PM2.5 NAAQS based 
upon air quality monitoring data from these monitors for calendar years 
2001-2003.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ For the initial PM area designations in 2005 (for the 1997 
annual PM2.5 NAAQS), EPA used a designation category of 
``unclassifiable/attainment'' for areas that had monitors showing 
attainment of the standard and were not contributing to nearby 
violations and for areas that did not have monitors but for which 
EPA had reason to believe were likely attaining the standard and not 
contributing to nearby violations. EPA used the category 
``unclassifiable'' for areas in which EPA could not determine, based 
upon available information, whether or not the NAAQS was being met 
and/or EPA had not determined the area to be contributing to nearby 
violations. EPA reserves the ``attainment'' category for when EPA 
redesignates a nonattainment area that has attained the relevant 
NAAQS and has an approved maintenance plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Greenville County, South Carolina, had a monitor with less than 
three years of data since the monitor had not been in operation for the 
full 2001-2003 period. Based upon the data that was obtained during its 
operation, the monitor indicated a potential to violate the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS. Also, Anderson and Spartanburg Counties had 
emissions and population levels that potentially contributed to the 
elevated concentrations of PM2.5 at the Greenville monitor 
in question. Therefore, EPA designated all three counties--Anderson, 
Greenville and Spartanburg--as unclassifiable for the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS.

II. What are the criteria for redesignating an area from unclassifiable 
to unclassifiable/attainment?

    Section 107(d)(3) of the CAA provides the framework for changing 
the area designations for any NAAQS pollutants. Section 107(d)(3)(A) 
provides that the Administrator may notify the Governor of any state 
that the designation of an area should be revised ``on the basis of air 
quality data, planning and control considerations, or any other air 
quality-related considerations the Administrator deems appropriate.'' 
The Act further provides in section 107(d)(3)(D) that even if the 
Administrator has not notified a state Governor that a designation 
should be revised, the Governor of any state may, on the Governor's own 
motion, submit a request to revise the designation of any area, and the 
Administrator must approve or deny the request.
    When approving or denying a request to redesignate an area, EPA 
bases its decision on the air quality data for the area as well as the 
considerations provided under section 107(d)(3)(A).\2\ In keeping with 
section 107(d)(1)(A), areas that are redesignated to unclassifiable/
attainment must meet the requirements for attainment areas and thus 
must meet the relevant NAAQS. In addition, the area must not contribute 
to ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet the NAAQS. 
The relevant monitoring data must be collected and quality-assured in 
accordance with 40 CFR part 58 and recorded in the EPA Air Quality 
System (AQS) database. The designated monitors generally should have 
remained at the same location for the duration of the monitoring period

[[Page 10816]]

upon which the redesignation request is based.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ While CAA section 107(d)(3)(E) also list specific 
requirements for redesignations, those requirements only apply to 
redesignations of nonattainment areas to attainment and therefore 
are not applicable in the context of a redesignation of an area from 
unclassifiable to unclassifiable/attainment.
    \3\ See Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, EPA Air Quality 
Management Division, entitled ``Procedures for Processing Requests 
to Redesignate Areas to Attainment'' (September 4, 1992).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. What is EPA's rationale for proposing to redesignate the Area?

    In order to redesignate the Area from unclassifiable to 
unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 primary and secondary annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS, the 3-year average of annual arithmetic mean 
concentrations (i.e., design value) over the most recent 3-year period 
must be less than or equal to 15.0 [micro]g/m\3\ at all monitoring 
sites in the Area over the full 3-year period, as determined in 
accordance with 40 CFR 50.18 and Appendix N of Part 50. EPA reviewed 
PM2.5 monitoring data from monitoring stations in the 
Greenville Area for the 1997 primary and secondary annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS for the 3-year period from 2014-2016. These data 
have been quality-assured, certified, and recorded in AQS by South 
Carolina, and the monitoring locations have not changed during the 
monitoring period. As summarized in Table 1, the design values for the 
monitors in the Area for the 2014-2016 period are well below the 1997 
primary and secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS.

 Table 1--1997 Annual PM2.5 Design Values for Monitors in the Greenville
                           Area for 2014-2016
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             2014-2016
             Local site name                Monitoring     Design value
                                               site        ([mu]g/m\3\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenville ESC..........................     45-045-0015             9.3
Hillcrest Middle School.................     45-045-0016             8.6
T.K. Gregg..............................     45-083-0011             8.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the 3-year design values, based on valid, quality-assured 
data, demonstrate that the Area meets the 1997 primary and secondary 
annual PM2.5 standards, EPA is proposing to redesignate the 
Greenville Area from unclassifiable to unclassifiable/attainment for 
this NAAQS.

IV. Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing to approve South Carolina's January 22, 2018, 
request to redesignate the Greenville Area from unclassifiable to 
unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 primary and secondary annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS. If finalized, approval of the redesignation 
request would change the legal designation, found at 40 CFR part 81, of 
Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg Counties from unclassifiable to 
unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 primary and secondary annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, redesignation of an area to unclassifiable/
attainment is an action that affects the status of a geographical area 
and does not impose any additional regulatory requirements on sources 
beyond those imposed by state law. A redesignation to unclassifiable/
attainment does not in and of itself create any new requirements. 
Accordingly, this proposed action merely proposes to redesignate an 
area to unclassifiable/attainment and does not impose additional 
requirements. For that reason, this proposed 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);
     Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 
2017) regulatory action because redesignations are exempted under 
Executive Order 12866;
     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
     Will not have disproportionate human health or 
environmental effects under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 
16, 1994).
    In addition, this proposed action to redesignate the Greenville 
Area from unclassifiable to unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 
primary and secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS does not have 
Tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, 
November 9, 2000). The Catawba Indian Nation Reservation is located 
within the State of South Carolina. Pursuant to the Catawba Indian 
Claims Settlement Act, S.C. Code Ann. 27-16-120, ``all state and local 
environmental laws and regulations apply to the Catawba Indian Nation 
and Reservation and are fully enforceable by all relevant state and 
local agencies and authorities.'' However, because no tribal lands are 
located within the Area and the redesignation does not create new 
requirements, EPA has determined that this proposed rule does not have 
substantial direct effects on an Indian Tribe. EPA notes this proposed 
action will not impose substantial direct costs on Tribal governments 
or preempt Tribal law.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 81

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control.

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

    Dated: March 5, 2018.
Onis ``Trey'' Glenn, III,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2018-05060 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                               10814                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                               revision also adds paragraph 4 which                    make a negligible contribution to                        • Does not contain any unfunded
                                               states: ‘‘For purposes of enforcement for               troposphere ozone formation.                          mandate or significantly or uniquely
                                               a specific source, the test methods                                                                           affect small governments, as described
                                                                                                       III. Incorporation by Reference
                                               specified in these regulations, in the                                                                        in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                               approved SIP, or in a permit issued                        In this rule, EPA is proposing to                  of 1995 (Public Law 104–4);
                                               pursuant to these regulations shall be                  include in a final EPA rule regulatory                   • Does not have Federalism
                                               used to be consistent with state                        text that includes incorporation by                   implications as specified in Executive
                                               regulations.’’ EPA is proposing to                      reference. In accordance with                         Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                               approve these revisions because they are                requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is                    1999);
                                               consistent with the definition of VOC at                proposing to incorporate by reference                    • Is not an economically significant
                                               40 CFR 51.100(s) and with other similar                 Chapter 4 of Part II, Section 4–2,                    regulatory action based on health or
                                               SIP-approved regulations.                               ‘‘Definitions’’ effective August 16, 1995,            safety risks subject to Executive Order
                                                  Finally, the SIP revision adds                       which revised the definition of VOC.                  13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
                                               paragraph 5 which states: ‘‘The                         EPA has made, and will continue to                       • Is not a significant regulatory action
                                               following compound(s) are VOC for                       make, these materials generally                       subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
                                               purposes of all recordkeeping,                          available through www.regulations.gov                 28355, May 22, 2001);
                                               emissions reporting, photochemical                      and at the EPA Region 4 Office (please                   • Is not subject to requirements of
                                               dispersion modeling and inventory                       contact the person identified in the ‘‘For            section 12(d) of the National
                                               requirements which apply to VOC and                     Further Information Contact’’ section of              Technology Transfer and Advancement
                                               shall be uniquely identified in emission                this preamble for more information).                  Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
                                               reports, but are not VOC for purposes of                                                                      application of those requirements would
                                                                                                       IV. Proposed Action                                   be inconsistent with the CAA; and
                                               VOC emissions limitations or VOC
                                                                                                          Pursuant to section 110 of the CAA,                   • Does not provide EPA with the
                                               content requirements: t-butyl acetate.’’
                                                                                                       EPA is proposing to approve the                       discretionary authority to address, as
                                               Through this revision, Hamilton County
                                                                                                       aforementioned changes to Tennessee’s                 appropriate, disproportionate human
                                               is also adding t-butyl acetate to the list
                                                                                                       SIP for Chapter 4 of Part II, Section 4–              health or environmental effects, using
                                               of negligibly reactive compounds, but
                                                                                                       2. EPA has evaluated the relevant                     practicable and legally permissible
                                               maintaining the requirements of
                                                                                                       portions of Tennessee’s June 25, 2008,                methods, under Executive Order 12898
                                               recordkeeping, emissions reporting, and
                                                                                                       SIP revision and has determined that it               (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
                                               inventory. EPA is proposing to approve                                                                           The SIP is not approved to apply on
                                               this revision because it is consistent                  meets the applicable requirements of the
                                                                                                       CAA and EPA regulations and is                        any Indian reservation land or in any
                                               with the definition of VOC at 40 CFR                                                                          other area where EPA or an Indian tribe
                                               51.100(s).3 4                                           consistent with EPA policy.
                                                                                                                                                             has demonstrated that a tribe has
                                                  Pursuant to CAA section 110(l), the                  V. Statutory and Executive Order                      jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian
                                               Administrator shall not approve a                       Reviews                                               country, the rule does not have tribal
                                               revision of a plan if the revision would                                                                      implications as specified by Executive
                                               interfere with any applicable                             Under the CAA, the Administrator is
                                                                                                       required to approve a SIP submission                  Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
                                               requirement concerning attainment and                                                                         2000), nor will it impose substantial
                                               reasonable further progress (as defined                 that complies with the provisions of the
                                                                                                       Act and applicable Federal regulations.               direct costs on tribal governments or
                                               in CAA section 171), or any other                                                                             preempt tribal law.
                                               applicable requirement of the Act. The                  See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).
                                               State’s addition of the County’s                        Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,                   List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                               exemptions from the definition of VOC,                  EPA’s role is to approve state choices,                 Environmental protection, Air
                                               addition of recordkeeping, emissions                    provided that they meet the criteria of               pollution control, Incorporation by
                                               reporting, photochemical dispersion                     the CAA. This action merely proposes to               reference, Intergovernmental relations,
                                               modeling, and inventory requirements                    approve state law as meeting Federal                  Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
                                               for t-butyl acetate, and other changes in               requirements and does not impose                      requirements, Volatile organic
                                               paragraphs 3 and 4 to Chapter 4 of Part                 additional requirements beyond those                  compounds.
                                               II, Section 4–2, of the Chattanooga Code                imposed by state law. For that reason,
                                                                                                       this proposed action:                                   Dated: February 20, 2018.
                                               ‘‘Definitions’’ are approvable under
                                               section 110(l) because they reflect                       • Is not a significant regulatory action            Onis ‘‘Trey’’ Glenn, III,
                                                                                                       subject to review by the Office of                    Regional Administrator, Region 4.
                                               changes to federal regulations based on
                                               findings that the aforementioned                        Management and Budget under                           [FR Doc. 2018–04932 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am]
                                               compounds are negligibly reactive and                   Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                       October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
                                                  3 In EPA’s November 29, 2004, final rulemaking,      January 21, 2011);
                                               the Agency added tertiary butyl acetate to the list       • Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82               ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                               of excluded compounds from the definition of            FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory                 AGENCY
                                               VOCs. See 69 FR 69298.
                                                                                                       action because SIP approvals are
                                                  4 While EPA added t-butyl acetate to the list of                                                           40 CFR Part 81
                                               negligibly reactive compounds in the November 29,       exempted under Executive Order 12866.
                                               2004, final rulemaking, t-butyl acetate continued to      • Does not impose an information                    [EPA–R04–OAR–2018–0017; FRL–9975–52-
                                                                                                                                                             Region 4]
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                               be a VOC for purposes of all recordkeeping,             collection burden under the provisions
                                               emissions reporting, and inventory requirements         of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                               which applied to VOC. See 69 FR 69298.
                                                                                                       U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                 Air Plan Approval and Air Quality
                                               Subsequently, on February 25, 2016 (81 FR 9339),                                                              Designation; SC; Redesignation of the
                                               EPA issued a final rule removing recordkeeping,           • Is certified as not having a
                                               emissions reporting, and inventory requirements for                                                           Greenville-Spartanburg Unclassifiable
                                                                                                       significant economic impact on a
                                               t-Butyl acetate. Although EPA no longer requires                                                              Area
                                               recordkeeping, emissions reporting, and inventory
                                                                                                       substantial number of small entities
                                               requirements for t-butyl acetate, this SIP revision     under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5               AGENCY:    Environmental Protection
                                               includes this requirement.                              U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                  Agency.


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:40 Mar 12, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00006   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\13MRP1.SGM   13MRP1


                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                       10815

                                               ACTION:   Proposed rule.                                Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides                     Greenville County, South Carolina,
                                                                                                       and Toxics Management Division, U.S.                     had a monitor with less than three years
                                               SUMMARY:    On January 22, 2018, the State              Environmental Protection Agency,                         of data since the monitor had not been
                                               of South Carolina, through the                          Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta,                 in operation for the full 2001–2003
                                               Department of Health and                                Georgia 30303–8960. Ms. Sanchez can                      period. Based upon the data that was
                                               Environmental Control (DHEC),                           be reached by telephone at (404) 562–                    obtained during its operation, the
                                               submitted a request for the                             9644 or via electronic mail at                           monitor indicated a potential to violate
                                               Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)                   sanchez.madolyn@epa.gov.                                 the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Also,
                                               to redesignate the Greenville-                                                                                   Anderson and Spartanburg Counties
                                                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               Spartanburg, South Carolina fine                                                                                 had emissions and population levels
                                               particulate matter (PM2.5) unclassifiable               I. Background                                            that potentially contributed to the
                                               area (hereinafter referred to as the                                                                             elevated concentrations of PM2.5 at the
                                               ‘‘Greenville Area’’ or ‘‘Area’’) to                       The Clean Air Act (CAA or Act)
                                                                                                       establishes a process for air quality                    Greenville monitor in question.
                                               unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997                                                                           Therefore, EPA designated all three
                                               primary and secondary annual PM2.5                      management through the establishment
                                                                                                       and implementation of the NAAQS.                         counties—Anderson, Greenville and
                                               national ambient air quality standards                                                                           Spartanburg—as unclassifiable for the
                                                                                                       After the promulgation of a new or
                                               (NAAQS). The Greenville Area is                                                                                  1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                                                                       revised NAAQS, EPA is required to
                                               comprised of Anderson, Greenville, and
                                                                                                       designate areas, pursuant to section                     II. What are the criteria for
                                               Spartanburg Counties in South Carolina.
                                                                                                       107(d)(1) of the CAA, as attainment,                     redesignating an area from
                                               EPA now has sufficient data to
                                                                                                       nonattainment, or unclassifiable. On                     unclassifiable to unclassifiable/
                                               determine that the Greenville Area is in
                                                                                                       July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38652), EPA                         attainment?
                                               attainment of the 1997 primary and
                                                                                                       revised the NAAQS for particulate
                                               secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS.                                                                                       Section 107(d)(3) of the CAA provides
                                                                                                       matter to add new standards for PM2.5
                                               Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve                                                                           the framework for changing the area
                                               the State’s request and redesignate the                 (annual and 24-hour). The primary and
                                                                                                       secondary annual standards were each                     designations for any NAAQS pollutants.
                                               Area to unclassifiable/attainment for the                                                                        Section 107(d)(3)(A) provides that the
                                               1997 primary and secondary annual                       set at a level of 15.0 micrograms per
                                                                                                       cubic meter (mg/m3), based on a 3-year                   Administrator may notify the Governor
                                               PM2.5 NAAQS based upon valid,                                                                                    of any state that the designation of an
                                                                                                       average of annual mean PM2.5
                                               quality-assured, and certified ambient                                                                           area should be revised ‘‘on the basis of
                                               air monitoring data showing that the                    concentrations. The primary and
                                                                                                       secondary 24-hour standards were each                    air quality data, planning and control
                                               PM2.5 monitors in the Area are in                                                                                considerations, or any other air quality-
                                                                                                       set at a level of 65 mg/m3, based on a 3-
                                               compliance with the 1997 primary and                                                                             related considerations the Administrator
                                               secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS.                           year average of the 98th percentile of 24-
                                                                                                       hour concentrations. EPA established                     deems appropriate.’’ The Act further
                                               DATES: Comments must be received on                                                                              provides in section 107(d)(3)(D) that
                                                                                                       the standards based on significant
                                               or before April 12, 2018.                               evidence and numerous health studies                     even if the Administrator has not
                                               ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                        demonstrating that serious health effects                notified a state Governor that a
                                               identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R04–                    are associated with exposures to                         designation should be revised, the
                                               OAR–2018–0017 at http://                                particulate matter.                                      Governor of any state may, on the
                                               www.regulations.gov. Follow the online                     The process for designating areas                     Governor’s own motion, submit a
                                               instructions for submitting comments.                   following promulgation of a new or                       request to revise the designation of any
                                               Once submitted, comments cannot be                      revised NAAQS is contained in section                    area, and the Administrator must
                                               edited or removed from Regulations.gov.                 107(d)(1) of the CAA. EPA and state air                  approve or deny the request.
                                               EPA may publish any comment received                    quality agencies initiated the monitoring                   When approving or denying a request
                                               to its public docket. Do not submit                     process for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in                      to redesignate an area, EPA bases its
                                               electronically any information you                      1999, and deployed all air quality                       decision on the air quality data for the
                                               consider to be Confidential Business                    monitors by January 2001. On January 5,                  area as well as the considerations
                                               Information (CBI) or other information                  2005 (70 FR 944), EPA designated areas                   provided under section 107(d)(3)(A).2 In
                                               whose disclosure is restricted by statute.              across the country as nonattainment,                     keeping with section 107(d)(1)(A), areas
                                               Multimedia submissions (audio, video,                   unclassifiable, or unclassifiable/                       that are redesignated to unclassifiable/
                                               etc.) must be accompanied by a written                  attainment 1 for the PM2.5 NAAQS based                   attainment must meet the requirements
                                               comment. The written comment is                         upon air quality monitoring data from                    for attainment areas and thus must meet
                                               considered the official comment and                     these monitors for calendar years 2001–                  the relevant NAAQS. In addition, the
                                               should include discussion of all points                 2003.                                                    area must not contribute to ambient air
                                               you wish to make. EPA will generally                                                                             quality in a nearby area that does not
                                               not consider comments or comment                           1 For the initial PM area designations in 2005 (for   meet the NAAQS. The relevant
                                               contents located outside of the primary                 the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS), EPA used a                 monitoring data must be collected and
                                               submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or                 designation category of ‘‘unclassifiable/attainment’’    quality-assured in accordance with 40
                                               other file sharing system). For                         for areas that had monitors showing attainment of        CFR part 58 and recorded in the EPA
                                                                                                       the standard and were not contributing to nearby
                                               additional submission methods, the full                 violations and for areas that did not have monitors      Air Quality System (AQS) database. The
                                               EPA public comment policy,                              but for which EPA had reason to believe were likely      designated monitors generally should
                                               information about CBI or multimedia                                                                              have remained at the same location for
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                       attaining the standard and not contributing to
                                               submissions, and general guidance on                    nearby violations. EPA used the category                 the duration of the monitoring period
                                                                                                       ‘‘unclassifiable’’ for areas in which EPA could not
                                               making effective comments, please visit                 determine, based upon available information,
                                               http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/                            whether or not the NAAQS was being met and/or              2 While CAA section 107(d)(3)(E) also list specific

                                               commenting-epa-dockets.                                 EPA had not determined the area to be contributing       requirements for redesignations, those requirements
                                                                                                       to nearby violations. EPA reserves the ‘‘attainment’’    only apply to redesignations of nonattainment areas
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                       category for when EPA redesignates a                     to attainment and therefore are not applicable in the
                                               Madolyn Sanchez, Air Regulatory                         nonattainment area that has attained the relevant        context of a redesignation of an area from
                                               Management Section, Air Planning and                    NAAQS and has an approved maintenance plan.              unclassifiable to unclassifiable/attainment.



                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:40 Mar 12, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00007   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\13MRP1.SGM     13MRP1


                                               10816                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                               upon which the redesignation request is                                    the most recent 3-year period must be                                       2014–2016. These data have been
                                               based.3                                                                    less than or equal to 15.0 mg/m3 at all                                     quality-assured, certified, and recorded
                                               III. What is EPA’s rationale for                                           monitoring sites in the Area over the                                       in AQS by South Carolina, and the
                                               proposing to redesignate the Area?                                         full 3-year period, as determined in                                        monitoring locations have not changed
                                                                                                                          accordance with 40 CFR 50.18 and                                            during the monitoring period. As
                                                  In order to redesignate the Area from                                   Appendix N of Part 50. EPA reviewed                                         summarized in Table 1, the design
                                               unclassifiable to unclassifiable/                                          PM2.5 monitoring data from monitoring                                       values for the monitors in the Area for
                                               attainment for the 1997 primary and                                        stations in the Greenville Area for the                                     the 2014–2016 period are well below
                                               secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS, the 3-                                       1997 primary and secondary annual                                           the 1997 primary and secondary annual
                                               year average of annual arithmetic mean
                                                                                                                          PM2.5 NAAQS for the 3-year period from                                      PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                               concentrations (i.e., design value) over

                                                            TABLE 1—1997 ANNUAL PM2.5 DESIGN VALUES FOR MONITORS IN THE GREENVILLE AREA FOR 2014–2016
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               2014–2016
                                                                                                                       Local site name                                                                                      Monitoring site   Design value
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (μg/m3)

                                               Greenville ESC ........................................................................................................................................................       45–045–0015                9.3
                                               Hillcrest Middle School ............................................................................................................................................          45–045–0016                8.6
                                               T.K. Gregg ...............................................................................................................................................................    45–083–0011                8.7



                                                  Because the 3-year design values,                                          • Is not a significant regulatory action                                 under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR
                                               based on valid, quality-assured data,                                      subject to review by the Office of                                          7629, February 16, 1994).
                                               demonstrate that the Area meets the                                        Management and Budget under                                                    In addition, this proposed action to
                                               1997 primary and secondary annual                                          Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
                                                                                                                                                                                                      redesignate the Greenville Area from
                                               PM2.5 standards, EPA is proposing to                                       October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
                                                                                                                                                                                                      unclassifiable to unclassifiable/
                                               redesignate the Greenville Area from                                       January 21, 2011);
                                                                                                                             • Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82                                    attainment for the 1997 primary and
                                               unclassifiable to unclassifiable/
                                                                                                                          FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory                                       secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS does
                                               attainment for this NAAQS.
                                                                                                                          action because redesignations are                                           not have Tribal implications as
                                               IV. Proposed Action                                                        exempted under Executive Order 12866;                                       specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
                                                                                                                             • Does not impose an information                                         FR 67249, November 9, 2000). The
                                                  EPA is proposing to approve South                                                                                                                   Catawba Indian Nation Reservation is
                                                                                                                          collection burden under the provisions
                                               Carolina’s January 22, 2018, request to                                                                                                                located within the State of South
                                                                                                                          of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                               redesignate the Greenville Area from                                                                                                                   Carolina. Pursuant to the Catawba
                                                                                                                          U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
                                               unclassifiable to unclassifiable/
                                                                                                                             • Is certified as not having a                                           Indian Claims Settlement Act, S.C. Code
                                               attainment for the 1997 primary and                                                                                                                    Ann. 27–16–120, ‘‘all state and local
                                                                                                                          significant economic impact on a
                                               secondary annual PM2.5 NAAQS. If
                                                                                                                          substantial number of small entities                                        environmental laws and regulations
                                               finalized, approval of the redesignation
                                                                                                                          under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                                     apply to the Catawba Indian Nation and
                                               request would change the legal                                             U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                                        Reservation and are fully enforceable by
                                               designation, found at 40 CFR part 81, of                                      • Does not contain any unfunded                                          all relevant state and local agencies and
                                               Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg                                      mandate or significantly or uniquely
                                               Counties from unclassifiable to                                                                                                                        authorities.’’ However, because no tribal
                                                                                                                          affect small governments, as described                                      lands are located within the Area and
                                               unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997                                     in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                               primary and secondary annual PM2.5                                                                                                                     the redesignation does not create new
                                                                                                                          of 1995 (Public Law 104–4);                                                 requirements, EPA has determined that
                                               NAAQS.                                                                        • Does not have Federalism                                               this proposed rule does not have
                                               V. Statutory and Executive Order                                           implications as specified in Executive                                      substantial direct effects on an Indian
                                               Reviews                                                                    Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                                        Tribe. EPA notes this proposed action
                                                                                                                          1999);
                                                                                                                                                                                                      will not impose substantial direct costs
                                                  Under the CAA, redesignation of an                                         • Is not an economically significant
                                                                                                                                                                                                      on Tribal governments or preempt
                                               area to unclassifiable/attainment is an                                    regulatory action based on health or
                                               action that affects the status of a                                                                                                                    Tribal law.
                                                                                                                          safety risks subject to Executive Order
                                               geographical area and does not impose                                      13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                                        List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 81
                                               any additional regulatory requirements                                        • Is not a significant regulatory action
                                               on sources beyond those imposed by                                         subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR                                       Environmental protection, Air
                                               state law. A redesignation to                                              28355, May 22, 2001);                                                       pollution control.
                                               unclassifiable/attainment does not in                                         • Is not subject to requirements of                                         Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.
                                               and of itself create any new                                               section 12(d) of the National
                                               requirements. Accordingly, this                                            Technology Transfer and Advancement                                           Dated: March 5, 2018.
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                               proposed action merely proposes to                                         Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because                                    Onis ‘‘Trey’’ Glenn, III,
                                               redesignate an area to unclassifiable/                                     application of those requirements would                                     Regional Administrator, Region 4.
                                               attainment and does not impose                                             be inconsistent with the CAA; and                                           [FR Doc. 2018–05060 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am]
                                               additional requirements. For that                                             • Will not have disproportionate                                         BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                               reason, this proposed action:                                              human health or environmental effects
                                                 3 See Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director,                           ‘‘Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate
                                               EPA Air Quality Management Division, entitled                              Areas to Attainment’’ (September 4, 1992).



                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014         16:40 Mar 12, 2018         Jkt 244001       PO 00000       Frm 00008        Fmt 4702      Sfmt 4702       E:\FR\FM\13MRP1.SGM               13MRP1



Document Created: 2018-03-13 01:57:10
Document Modified: 2018-03-13 01:57:10
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.
DatesComments must be received on or before April 12, 2018.
ContactMadolyn Sanchez, 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. Ms. Sanchez can be reached by telephone at (404) 562-9644 or via electronic mail at [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 10814 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection and Air Pollution Control

2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR