83_FR_11986 83 FR 11933 - Air Plan Approval; Connecticut; Infrastructure State Implementation Plan Requirements; Prevention of Significant Deterioration Permit Program Revisions

83 FR 11933 - Air Plan Approval; Connecticut; Infrastructure State Implementation Plan Requirements; Prevention of Significant Deterioration Permit Program Revisions

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 53 (March 19, 2018)

Page Range11933-11944
FR Document2018-05318

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve elements of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from Connecticut regarding the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2012 fine particle (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and a SIP submission addressing interstate transport requirements of the CAA for the 2006 PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. In addition, we are proposing to approve one statute included in the SIP for the 2012 PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA. The EPA is also proposing to approve revisions to the SIP submitted by Connecticut on October 18, 2017, satisfying Connecticut's earlier commitment to adopt and submit provisions that meet certain requirements of the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit program. In addition, we are proposing to convert the June 3, 2016 conditional approval for elements of Connecticut's infrastructure SIP regarding PSD requirements to treat nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) as a precursor to ozone and to establish a minor source baseline date for PM<INF>2.5</INF> emissions. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 53 (Monday, March 19, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11933-11944]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05318]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R01-OAR-2017-0065; FRL-9975-43--Region 1]


Air Plan Approval; Connecticut; Infrastructure State 
Implementation Plan Requirements; Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration Permit Program Revisions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve elements of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from 
Connecticut regarding the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air 
Act (CAA or Act) for the 2012 fine particle (PM2.5) National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and a SIP submission addressing 
interstate transport requirements of the CAA for the 2006 
PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, we are proposing to approve one 
statute included in the SIP for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The 
infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural 
components of each state's air quality management program are adequate 
to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA. The EPA is also 
proposing to approve revisions to the SIP submitted by Connecticut on 
October 18, 2017, satisfying Connecticut's earlier commitment to adopt 
and submit provisions that meet certain requirements of the federal 
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit program. In 
addition, we are proposing to convert the June 3, 2016 conditional 
approval for elements of Connecticut's infrastructure SIP regarding PSD 
requirements to treat nitrogen oxides (NOX) as a precursor 
to ozone and to establish a minor source baseline date for 
PM2.5 emissions. This action is being taken under the Clean 
Air Act.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R01-
OAR-2017-0065 at https://www.regulations.gov, or via email to 
simcox.alison@epa.gov. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either 
manner of submission, the 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. The EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person 
identified in the ``For Further Information Contact'' section. For the 
full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia 
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please 
visit www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alison C. Simcox, Air Quality Unit, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional Office, 
5 Post Office Square--Suite 100 (Mail code OEP05-2), Boston, MA 02109--
3912, tel. (617) 918-1684; simcox.alison@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.

Table of Contents

I. Background and Purpose
    A. What Connecticut SIP submissions does this rulemaking 
address?
    B. What is the scope of this rulemaking?
II. What guidance is EPA using to evaluate these SIP submissions?
III. EPA's Review
    A. Section 110(a)(2)(A)--Emission Limits and Other Control 
Measures
    B. Section 110(a)(2)(B)--Ambient Air Quality Monitoring/Data 
System
    C. Section 110(a)(2)(C)--Program for Enforcement of Control 
Measures and for Construction or Modification of Stationary Sources
    D. Section 110(a)(2)(D)--Interstate Transport
    E. Section 110(a)(2)(E)--Adequate Resources
    F. Section 110(a)(2)(F)--Stationary Source Monitoring System
    G. Section 110(a)(2)(G)--Emergency Powers
    H. Section 110(a)(2)(H)--Future SIP Revisions
    I. Section 110(a)(2)(I)--Nonattainment Area Plan or Plan 
Revisions Under Part D
    J. Section 110(a)(2)(J)--Consultation With Government Officials; 
Public Notifications; Prevention of Significant Deterioration; 
Visibility Protection
    K. Section 110(a)(2)(K)--Air Quality Modeling/Data
    L. Section 110(a)(2)(L)--Permitting Fees
    M. Section 110(a)(2)(M)--Consultation/Participation by Affected 
Local Entities
    N. Connecticut Statute Submitted for Incorporation Into the SIP
IV Proposed Action
V. Incorporation by Reference
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background and Purpose

A. What Connecticut SIP submissions does this rulemaking address?

    This rulemaking addresses three submissions from the Connecticut 
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). The state 
submitted a SIP addressing the

[[Page 11934]]

``Good Neighbor'' (or ``transport'') provisions for the 2006 
PM2.5 \1\ National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) 
(Section 110(a)(2)(D)(I) of the CAA) on August 19, 2011, and an 
infrastructure SIP (including the transport provisions) for the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS on December 14, 2015. Under sections 110(a)(1) 
and (2) of the CAA, states are required to submit infrastructure SIPs 
to ensure that state SIPs provide for implementation, maintenance, and 
enforcement of the NAAQS, including the 2006 and 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ PM2.5 refers to particulate matter of 2.5 microns 
or less in diameter, often referred to as ``fine'' particles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, on October 18, 2017, CT DEEP submitted a SIP revision 
that addresses applicable requirements for the PSD permit program in 
Part C of the CAA that are codified in 40 CFR 51.166. PSD permitting 
requirements apply to new major sources or major modifications for 
pollutants where the area in which the source is located is either in 
attainment with or unclassifiable with regard to the relevant NAAQS. CT 
DEEP had committed by letter dated August 5, 2015, to submit these 
revisions to the PSD permit program for EPA approval.

B. What is the scope of this rulemaking?

    EPA is acting on three SIP submissions from Connecticut that 
address the infrastructure requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 
110(a)(2) for the 2006 and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS and revisions to 
the PSD permit program.
    The requirement for states to make a SIP submission of this type 
arises out of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2). Pursuant to these 
sections, each state must submit a SIP that provides for the 
implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each primary or 
secondary NAAQS. States must make such SIP submission ``within 3 years 
(or such shorter period as the Administrator may prescribe) after the 
promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS.'' This requirement is triggered 
by the promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS and is not conditioned 
upon EPA's taking any other action. Section 110(a)(2) includes the 
specific elements that ``each such plan'' must address.
    EPA commonly refers to such SIP submissions made for the purpose of 
satisfying the requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as 
``infrastructure SIP'' submissions. Although the term ``infrastructure 
SIP'' does not appear in the CAA, EPA uses the term to distinguish this 
particular type of SIP submission from submissions that are intended to 
satisfy other SIP requirements under the CAA, such as ``nonattainment 
SIP'' or ``attainment plan SIP'' submissions to address the 
nonattainment planning requirements of part D of title I of the CAA.
    This rulemaking will not cover three substantive areas that are not 
integral to acting on a state's infrastructure SIP submission: (i) 
Existing provisions related to excess emissions during periods of 
start-up, shutdown, or malfunction at sources (``SSM'' emissions) that 
may be contrary to the CAA and EPA's policies addressing such excess 
emissions; (ii) existing provisions related to ``director's variance'' 
or ``director's discretion'' that purport to permit revisions to SIP-
approved emissions limits with limited public process or without 
requiring further approval by EPA, that may be contrary to the CAA 
(``director's discretion''); and, (iii) existing provisions for 
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) programs that may be 
inconsistent with current requirements of EPA's ``Final New Source 
Review (NSR) Improvement Rule,'' 67 FR 80186 (December 31, 2002), as 
amended by 72 FR 32526 (June 13, 2007) (``NSR Reform''). Instead, EPA 
has the authority to address each one of these substantive areas 
separately. A detailed history, interpretation, and rationale for EPA's 
approach to infrastructure SIP requirements can be found in EPA's May 
13, 2014, proposed rule entitled, ``Infrastructure SIP Requirements for 
the 2008 Lead NAAQS'' in the section, ``What is the scope of this 
rulemaking?'' See 79 FR 27241 at 27242-45.

II. What guidance is EPA using to evaluate these SIP submissions?

    EPA highlighted the statutory requirement to submit infrastructure 
SIPs within 3 years of promulgation of a new NAAQS in an October 2, 
2007, guidance document entitled ``Guidance on SIP Elements Required 
Under Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) for the 1997 8-hour Ozone and 
PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards'' (2007 
guidance). EPA has issued additional guidance documents and memoranda, 
including a September 13, 2013, guidance document entitled ``Guidance 
on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean 
Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2)'' (2013 guidance).
    With respect to the Good Neighbor provision, the most recent 
relevant document was a memorandum published on March 17, 2016, 
entitled ``Information on the Interstate Transport `Good Neighbor' 
Provision for the 2012 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards under Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)'' 
(2016 memorandum).\2\ The 2016 memorandum describes EPA's past approach 
to addressing interstate transport, and provides EPA's general review 
of relevant modeling data and air quality projections as they relate to 
the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The 2016 memorandum provides 
information relevant to EPA Regional office review of the CAA section 
110 (a)(2)(D)(i)(I) ``Good Neighbor'' provision requirements in 
infrastructure SIPs with respect to the 2012 annual PM2.5 
NAAQS. This rulemaking considers information provided in that 
memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ This memorandum is available in the docket and at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-08/documents/good-neighbor-memo_implementation.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. EPA's Review

    In this notice of proposed rulemaking, EPA is proposing action on 
Connecticut's infrastructure SIP submissions and revisions to the PSD 
permit program. In Connecticut's submissions, a detailed list of 
Connecticut Laws and previously SIP-approved Air Quality Regulations 
show precisely how the various components of its EPA-approved SIP meet 
each of the requirements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA for the 2006 
and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The following review evaluates the 
state's submissions in light of section 110(a)(2) requirements and 
relevant EPA guidance. For Connecticut's August 19, 2011 submission 
addressing the transport provisions with respect to the 2006 
PM2.5 NAAQS, we reviewed infrastructure elements in Section 
110(a)(2)(D)(I).\3\ For the state's December 14, 2015 submission 
addressing the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, we reviewed all Section 
110(a)(2) elements, including the transport provisions, but excluding 
the three areas discussed above under the scope of this rulemaking. The 
revisions to the PSD permit program were evaluated for consistency with 
the regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 and Part C of the CAA and are required 
to be included in the SIP by Section 110(a)(2)(C).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ EPA previously took action on the other elements of 
Connecticut's infrastructure SIP for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS 
on October 16, 2012 (77 FR 63228) and on June 3, 2016 (81 FR 35636).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Section 110(a)(2)(A)--Emission Limits and Other Control Measures

    This section (also referred to in this action as an element) of the 
Act requires

[[Page 11935]]

SIPs to include enforceable emission limits and other control measures, 
means or techniques, schedules for compliance, and other related 
matters. However, EPA has long interpreted emission limits and control 
measures for attaining the standards as being due when nonattainment 
planning requirements are due.\4\ In the context of an infrastructure 
SIP, EPA is not evaluating the existing SIP provisions for this 
purpose. Instead, EPA is only evaluating whether the state's SIP has 
basic structural provisions for the implementation of the NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See, e.g., EPA's final rule on ``National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards for Lead.'' 73 FR 66964, 67034 (Nov. 12, 2008).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Connecticut Public Act No. 11-80 established the CT DEEP, and 
Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) Section 22a-6(a)(1) provides the 
Commissioner of CT DEEP authority to adopt, amend or repeal 
environmental standards, criteria and regulations. It is under this 
general grant of authority that the Commissioner has adopted emissions 
standards and control measures for a variety of sources and pollutants. 
Connecticut also has SIP-approved provisions for specific pollutants. 
For example, CT DEEP has adopted primary and secondary ambient air 
quality standards for PM2.5 in Regulations of Connecticut 
State Agencies (RCSA) Section 22a-174-24(f).
    As noted in EPA's approval of RCSA Sec.  22a-174-24, Ambient Air 
Quality Standards, on June 24, 2015 (80 FR 36242), Connecticut's 
standards are consistent with the current federal NAAQS. Under element 
A of its December 14, 2015 infrastructure SIP submittal for the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS, Connecticut DEEP highlighted several rules that 
the state has previously adopted, and that EPA has previously approved, 
to limit the quantity, rate, or concentration of emissions of 
PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors. Some of these are: 
RCSA Sec.  22a-174-18, Control of particulate matter and visible 
emissions (July 16, 2014; 79 FR 41427); RCSA Sec.  22a-174-19a, Control 
of sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants and other large 
stationary sources (July 10, 2014; 79 FR 39322); and RCSA Sec.  22a-
174-22, Control of nitrogen oxides emissions (October 6, 1997; 62 FR 
52016 and July 10, 2014; 79 FR 39322).
    In its infrastructure SIP submittal for the 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS, Connecticut submitted revisions to CGS Sec.  16a-21a (Sulfur 
content of home heating oil and off-road diesel fuel. Suspension of 
requirements for emergency). This statute was previously approved into 
the SIP (June 3, 2016; 81 FR 35636) and limited the sulfur content of 
fuels sold or used in Connecticut to 0.3 percentage by weight for 
number two heating oil and off-road diesel fuel. The sulfur content of 
number two heating oil was further limited to 500 ppm from July 1, 2011 
through June 30, 2014, and to 15 ppm beginning July 1, 2014. The EPA-
approved statute included a provision that these sulfur limits would 
not take effect until the states of New York, Massachusetts and Rhode 
Island each had adopted similar requirements. In addition, the statute 
allows Connecticut to suspend these requirements if availability of the 
compliant fuel is inadequate to meet the needs of residential, 
commercial or industrial users in the state and if Connecticut deems 
that this constitutes an emergency.
    Connecticut's revision of this statute removes the provision 
concerning the three other states, and moves the dates for the 500-ppm 
requirement to July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018, and for the 15-ppm 
requirement, to July 1, 2018. The revision also includes a provision 
stating that CT DEEP can use RCSA section 22a-174-19b, fuel sulfur 
content limitations for stationary sources, to enforce provisions of 
the statute. EPA has determined that the revision to CGS Sec.  16a-21a 
is as stringent as the EPA-approved version and, therefore, proposes to 
approve this revision into the Connecticut SIP.
    EPA proposes that Connecticut meets the infrastructure SIP 
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A) with respect to the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS. As previously noted, EPA is not proposing to 
approve or disapprove any existing state provisions or rules related to 
SSM or director's discretion in the context of section 110(a)(2)(A).

B. Section 110(a)(2)(B)--Ambient Air Quality Monitoring/Data System

    This section requires SIPs to include provisions to provide for 
establishing and operating ambient air quality monitors, collecting and 
analyzing ambient air quality data, and making these data available to 
EPA upon request. Each year, states submit annual air monitoring 
network plans to EPA for review and approval. EPA's review of these 
annual monitoring plans includes our evaluation of whether the state: 
(i) Monitors air quality at appropriate locations throughout the state 
using EPA-approved Federal Reference Methods or Federal Equivalent 
Method monitors; (ii) submits data to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) in 
a timely manner; and (iii) provides EPA Regional Offices with prior 
notification of any planned changes to monitoring sites or the network 
plan.
    CT DEEP continues to operate a monitoring network, and EPA approved 
the state's 2016 Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan for 
PM2.5 on September 12, 2016.\5\ Furthermore, CT DEEP 
populates EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) with air quality monitoring 
data in a timely manner, and provides EPA with prior notification when 
considering a change to its monitoring network or plan. Under element B 
of its December 14, 2015 infrastructure SIP submittal for the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS, Connecticut DEEP referenced EPA's prior 
approvals of Connecticut's annual network monitoring plans, as well as 
CGS Sec.  22a-174(d), which provides the Commissioner with ``all 
incidental powers necessary to carry out the purposes of'' 
Connecticut's air pollution control laws. EPA proposes that CT DEEP has 
met the infrastructure SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(B) with 
respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ EPA's approval letter is included in the docket for today's 
action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Section 110(a)(2)(C)--Program for Enforcement of Control Measures 
and for Construction or Modification of Stationary Sources

    States are required to include a program providing for enforcement 
of all SIP measures and the regulation of construction of new or 
modified stationary sources to meet NSR requirements under PSD and 
nonattainment new source review (NNSR) programs. Part C of the CAA 
(sections 160-169B) addresses PSD, while part D of the CAA (sections 
171-193) addresses NNSR requirements.
    The evaluation of each state's submission addressing the 
infrastructure SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(C) covers the 
following: (i) Enforcement of SIP measures; (ii) PSD program for major 
sources and major modifications; and (iii) a permit program for minor 
sources and minor modifications.
Sub-Element 1: Enforcement of SIP Measures
    CT DEEP staffs and implements an enforcement program pursuant to 
CGS Title 22a. Specifically, CGS Sec. Sec.  22a-6 and 22a-6b authorize 
the Commissioner of CT DEEP to inspect and investigate to ascertain 
whether violations of any statute, regulation, or permit may have 
occurred and to impose civil penalties. Additionally, CGS Sec.  22a-171 
requires the Commissioner to ``adopt, amend, repeal, and enforce 
regulations . . . and do any other act necessary to enforce the

[[Page 11936]]

provisions of'' CGS Sec. Sec.  22a-170 through 22a-206, which provide 
CT DEEP with the authority to, among other things, enforce its 
regulations, issue orders to correct violations of regulations or 
permits, impose state administrative penalties, and seek judicial 
relief. EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the enforcement of SIP 
measures requirement of section 110(a)(2)(C) with respect to the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS.
Sub-Element 2: PSD Program for Major Sources and Major Modifications
    PSD applies to new major sources or modifications made to major 
sources for pollutants where the area in which the source is located is 
in attainment of, or unclassifiable with regard to, the relevant NAAQS. 
CT DEEP's EPA-approved PSD rules in RCSA sections 22a-174-1, 22a-174-
2a, and 22a-174-3a contain provisions that address applicable 
requirements for all regulated NSR pollutants, including greenhouse 
gases (GHGs).
    EPA's ``Final Rule to Implement the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient 
Air Quality Standard--Phase 2; Final Rule to Implement Certain Aspects 
of the 1990 Amendments Relating to New Source Review and Prevention of 
Significant Deterioration as They Apply in Carbon Monoxide, Particulate 
Matter, and Ozone NAAQS; Final Rule for Reformulated Gasoline'' (Phase 
2 Rule) was published on November 29, 2005 (70 FR 71612). Among other 
requirements, the Phase 2 Rule obligated states to revise their PSD 
programs to explicitly identify NOX as a precursor to ozone. 
See 70 FR 71679 at 71699-700. This requirement is codified in 40 CFR 
51.166, and requires that states submit SIP revisions incorporating the 
requirements of the rule, including provisions that would treat 
NOX as a precursor to ozone provisions. These SIP revisions 
were to have been submitted to EPA by states by June 15, 2007. See 70 
FR 71683.
    Connecticut's EPA-approved PSD rules do not currently contain the 
provisions needed to ensure that NOX be treated as a 
precursor to ozone. However, CT DEEP has made the necessary revisions 
to its regulation and, on October 18, 2017, submitted regulations for 
the EPA's approval of its PSD rules to treat NOx as precursor pollutant 
to ozone.
    Accordingly, as we discuss further on in our discussion of this 
sub-element, we are proposing to approve the revisions to CT DEEP's PSD 
permit program at RCSA Section 22a-174-3a(k)(1)(C), and to convert our 
June 3, 2016, conditional approval of this PSD infrastructure sub-
element relating to treating NOX emissions as precursor 
emissions to ozone formation to a full approval. See 81 FR 35636.
    On October 20, 2010, EPA issued a final rule (75 FR 64864) entitled 
``Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) for Particulate Matter 
Less Than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)--Increments, Significant 
Impact Levels (SILs) and Significant Monitoring Concentration (SMC)'' 
(2010 NSR Rule). This rule established several components for making 
PSD permitting determinations for PM2.5, including adding 
the required elements for PM2.5 into a state's existing 
system of ``increment analysis,'' which is the mechanism used in the 
PSD permitting program to estimate significant deterioration of ambient 
air quality for a pollutant in relation to new source construction or 
modification. The maximum allowable increment increases for different 
pollutants are codified in 40 CFR 51.166(c) and 40 CFR 52.21(c).
    The 2010 NSR Rule described in the preceding paragraph revised the 
existing system for determining increment consumption by establishing a 
new ``major source baseline date'' for PM2.5 of October 20, 
2010, and by establishing a trigger date for PM2.5 in 
relation to the definition of ``minor source baseline date.'' These 
revisions to the federal PSD rules are codified in 40 CFR 
51.166(b)(14)(i)(c) and (b)(14)(ii)(c), and 52.21(b)(14)(i)(c) and 
(b)(14)(ii)(c).
    Lastly, the 2010 NSR Rule revised the definition of ``baseline 
area'' to include a level of significance of 0.3 micrograms per cubic 
meter, annual average, for PM2.5. This change is codified in 
40 CFR 51.166(b)(15)(i) and 52.21(b)(15)(i). States were required to 
revise their SIPs consistent with these changes to the federal 
regulations.
    On July 24, 2015, EPA approved Connecticut's October 9, 2012, SIP 
revision for its PSD program, which incorporated two of the four 
changes addressed by the 2010 NSR Rule. The two changes were (1) a 
revised definition of ``Major source baseline date'' that included a 
date for PM2.5 specifically; and (2) the addition of the 
maximum allowable increment for PM2.5. See 80 FR 43960.
    CT DEEP's October 9, 2012, SIP revision did not specifically 
address the two other changes EPA made to the PSD rules in 2010, and 
for the following reasons EPA did not include those as part of the 
conditional approval described in our October 16, 2012 notice. See 77 
FR 63228. One of those changes is the requirement that a State's 
definition of ``minor source baseline date'' be amended to include a 
trigger date for PM2.5 emissions (see EPA's definition for 
``minor source baseline date'' at 40 CFR 51.166(b)(14)(ii)). Instead of 
using a specific date, EPA's definition for minor source baseline date 
provides that the minor source baseline date is triggered by a state's 
receipt of its first complete PSD application. At the time CT DEEP made 
its October 9, 2012 SIP revision, it would not have been possible for 
the State to have amended its regulation to include a specific minor 
source baseline date because no source had submitted a complete PSD 
application for PM2.5. This is so because CT DEEP`s PSD 
regulations are structured in a way that uses actual specific dates 
based on submission of a first complete PSD application for a 
particular pollutant. (The approach contained in EPA's regulations is 
somewhat different in the sense that instead of using actual specific 
dates, EPA articulates the concept of a first complete PSD application 
as the minor source baseline date trigger.) EPA understands that CT 
DEEP did not receive a complete PSD application for a source subject to 
PSD for PM2.5 emissions until 2014. Consequently, the State 
could not have included an actual date in its definition of ``minor 
source baseline date'' within its October 9, 2012 SIP revision.
    Although Connecticut could not establish an actual date for 
PM2.5 in its definition of ``minor source baseline date,'' 
at the time of its October 9, 2012 SIP revision, Connecticut has since 
revised this definition to include a specific date. As a result, on 
June 3, 2016, the EPA conditionally approved this element of 
Connecticut's infrastructure requirements to establish a ``minor source 
baseline date.'' See 81 FR 35636. On October 18, 2017, CT DEEP 
submitted revised regulations for EPA's approval to satisfy this 
requirement and establish the minor source baseline date as August 24, 
2014, for PM2.5. Although Connecticut's approach to 
establishing a minor source baseline emissions concentration as part of 
an increment consumption analysis differs slightly from the approach 
taken under the federal PSD regulations codified at 40 CFR 51.166, the 
EPA has determined the minor discrepancy does not result in a different 
minor source baseline emissions concentration and Connecticut's 
approach is therefore functionally equivalent to the federal PSD 
regulations. For example, Connecticut's regulation identifies August 
24, 2014 as the minor source baseline date as opposed to September 24, 
2014 when the State received its first complete PSD application that 
was significant for PM2.5. Although this

[[Page 11937]]

approach results in a slightly different time period for calculating 
minor source baseline emissions (i.e., one month earlier), the EPA has 
concluded that the calculation would yield a result that is as 
protective as the federal PSD regulations. Consequently, we propose to 
approve Connecticut's revisions to the PSD permit program at RCSA 
Section 22a-174-1(71) and to convert our June 3, 2016 conditional 
approval of this PSD infrastructure sub-element relating to section 
110(a)(2)(C) to a full approval. See 81 FR 35636.
    On July 3, 2016, EPA fully approved Connecticut's SIP with regard 
to the remainder of the requirements for this sub-element (81 FR 
35636). For a detailed analysis, see EPA's proposed rule at 80 FR 
54471.
    In summary, we are proposing to approve Connecticut's submittals 
for this sub-element pertaining to section 110(a)(2)(C) with respect to 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, as well as revisions to the PSD permit 
program pertaining to treating NOX as a precursor to ozone 
and to establishing a minor source baseline date for PM2.5.
Sub-Element 3: Preconstruction Permitting for Minor Sources and Minor 
Modifications
    To address the pre-construction regulation of the modification and 
construction of minor stationary sources and minor modifications of 
major stationary sources, an infrastructure SIP submission should 
identify the existing EPA-approved SIP provisions and/or include new 
provisions that govern the minor source pre-construction program that 
regulate emissions of the relevant NAAQS pollutants. EPA approved 
Connecticut's minor NSR program, as well as updates to that program, 
with the most recent approval occurring on February 28, 2003 (68 FR 
9009). Since this date, Connecticut and EPA have relied on the existing 
minor NSR program to ensure that new and modified sources not captured 
by the major NSR permitting programs do not interfere with attainment 
and maintenance of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
    We are proposing to find that Connecticut has met the requirement 
to have a SIP approved minor new source review permit program as 
required under Section 110(a)(2)(C) for the 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS.

D. Section 110(a)(2)(D)--Interstate Transport

    This section contains a comprehensive set of air quality management 
elements pertaining to the transport of air pollution with which states 
must comply. It covers the following five topics, categorized as sub-
elements: Sub-element 1, Significant contribution to nonattainment, and 
interference with maintenance of a NAAQS; \6\ Sub-element 2, PSD; Sub-
element 3, Visibility protection; Sub-element 4, Interstate pollution 
abatement; and Sub-element 5, International pollution abatement. Sub-
elements 1 through 3 above are found under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of 
the Act, and these items are further categorized into the four prongs 
discussed below, two of which are found within sub-element 1. Sub-
elements 4 and 5 are found under section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) of the Act 
and include provisions insuring compliance with sections 115 and 126 of 
the Act relating to interstate and international pollution abatement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ For this sub-element only, we are evaluating two Connecticut 
SIP submittals, the transport SIP for the 2006 PM2.5 
NAAQS submitted on August 19, 2011, and the infrastructure SIP for 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS submitted on December 14, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub-Element 1: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)--Significant Contribution to 
Nonattainment (Prong 1) and Interference With Maintenance of the NAAQS 
(Prong 2)
    Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA requires a SIP to prohibit 
any emissions activity in the state that will contribute significantly 
to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS in any 
downwind state. EPA commonly refers to these requirements as prong 1 
(significant contribution to nonattainment) and prong 2 (interference 
with maintenance), or jointly as the ``Good Neighbor'' or ``transport'' 
provisions of the CAA. This rulemaking proposes action on the portions 
of Connecticut's August 19, 2011 and December 14, 2015 SIP submissions 
that address the prong 1 and 2 requirements with respect to the 2006 
and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively.
    EPA has developed a consistent framework for addressing the prong 1 
and 2 interstate-transport requirements with respect to the 
PM2.5 NAAQS in several previous federal rulemakings. The 
four basic steps of that framework include: (1) Identifying downwind 
receptors that are expected to have problems attaining or maintaining 
the NAAQS; (2) identifying which upwind states contribute to these 
identified problems in amounts sufficient to warrant further review and 
analysis; (3) for states identified as contributing to downwind air 
quality problems, identifying upwind emissions reductions necessary to 
prevent an upwind state from significantly contributing to 
nonattainment or interfering with maintenance of the NAAQS downwind; 
and (4) for states that are found to have emissions that significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS 
downwind, reducing the identified upwind emissions through adoption of 
permanent and enforceable measures. This framework was most recently 
applied with respect to PM2.5 in the Cross-State Air 
Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which addressed both the 1997 and 2006 
PM2.5 standards, as well as the 1997 ozone standard. See 76 
FR 48208 (August 8, 2011).
    EPA's analysis for CSAPR, conducted consistent with the four-step 
framework, included air-quality modeling that evaluated the impacts of 
38 eastern states on identified receptors in the eastern United States. 
EPA indicated that, for step 2 of the framework, states with impacts on 
downwind receptors that are below the contribution threshold of 1% of 
the relevant NAAQS would not be considered to significantly contribute 
to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the relevant NAAQS, 
and would, therefore, not be included in CSAPR. See 76 FR 48220. EPA 
further indicated that such states could rely on EPA's analysis for 
CSAPR as technical support in order to demonstrate that their existing 
or future interstate transport SIP submittals are adequate to address 
the transport requirements of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with regard to the 
relevant NAAQS. Id.
    In addition, as noted above, on March 17, 2016, EPA released the 
2016 memorandum to provide information to states as they develop SIPs 
addressing the Good Neighbor provision as it pertains to the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS. Consistent with step 1 of the framework, the 
2016 memorandum provides projected future-year annual PM2.5 
design values for monitors throughout the country based on quality-
assured and certified ambient-monitoring data and recent air-quality 
modeling and explains the methodology used to develop these projected 
design values. The memorandum also describes how the projected values 
can be used to help determine which monitors should be further 
evaluated to potentially address if emissions from other states 
significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance 
of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS at these monitoring sites. The 2016 
memorandum explained that the pertinent year for evaluating air quality 
for purposes of addressing interstate transport for the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS is 2021, the attainment deadline for 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS nonattainment areas

[[Page 11938]]

classified as Moderate. Accordingly, because the available data 
included 2017 and 2025 projected average and maximum PM2.5 
design values calculated through the CAMx photochemical model, the 
memorandum suggests approaches states might use to interpolate 
PM2.5 values at sites in 2021.
    For all but one monitor site in the eastern United States, the 
modeling data provided in the 2016 memorandum showed that monitors were 
expected to both attain and maintain the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS in 
both 2017 and 2025. The modeling results project that this one monitor, 
the Liberty monitor, (ID number 420030064), located in Allegheny 
County, Pennsylvania, will be above the 2012 annual PM2.5 
NAAQS in 2017, but only under the model's maximum projected conditions, 
which are used in EPA's interstate transport framework to identify 
maintenance receptors. The Liberty monitor (along with all the other 
Allegheny County monitors) is projected to both attain and maintain the 
NAAQS in 2025. The 2016 memorandum suggests that under such a condition 
(again, where EPA's photochemical modeling indicates an area will 
maintain the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS in 2025, but not in 
2017), further analysis of the site should be performed to determine if 
the site may be a nonattainment or maintenance receptor in 2021 (which, 
again, is the attainment deadline for moderate PM2.5 areas). 
The memorandum also indicates that for certain states with incomplete 
ambient monitoring data, additional information including the latest 
available data, should be analyzed to determine whether there are 
potential downwind air quality problems that may be impacted by 
transported emissions. This rulemaking considers these analyses for 
Connecticut, as well as additional analysis conducted by EPA during 
review of Connecticut's submittals.
    To develop the projected values presented in the memorandum, EPA 
used the results of nationwide photochemical air-quality modeling that 
it recently performed to support several rulemakings related to the 
ozone NAAQS. Base-year modeling was performed for 2011. Future-year 
modeling was performed for 2017 to support the proposed CSAPR Update 
for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. See 80 FR 75705 (December 3, 2015). Future-
year modeling was also performed for 2025 to support the Regulatory 
Impact Assessment of the final 2015 Ozone NAAQS.\7\ The outputs from 
these model runs included hourly concentrations of PM2.5 
that were used in conjunction with measured data to project annual 
average PM2.5 design values for 2017 and 2025. Areas that 
were designated as moderate PM2.5 nonattainment areas for 
the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS in 2014 must attain the NAAQS by 
December 31, 2021, or as expeditiously as practicable. Although neither 
the available 2017 nor 2025 future-year modeling data corresponds 
directly to the future-year attainment deadline for moderate 
PM2.5 nonattainment areas, EPA believes that the modeling 
information is still helpful for identifying potential nonattainment 
and maintenance receptors in the 2017-2021 period. Assessing downwind 
PM2.5 air-quality problems based on estimates of air-quality 
concentrations in a future year aligned with the relevant attainment 
deadline is consistent with the instructions from the United States 
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in North Carolina 
v. EPA, 531 F.3d 896, 911-12 (D.C. Cir. 2008) that upwind emission 
reductions should be harmonized, to the extent possible, with the 
attainment deadlines for downwind areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See 2015 ozone NAAQS RIA at: https://www3.epa.gov/ttnecas1/docs/20151001ria.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connecticut's Submissions for Prongs 1 and 2
    On September 18, 2009, CT DEEP submitted an infrastructure SIP for 
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, which included transport provisions 
that addressed prongs 1 and 2 with respect to the 2006 PM2.5 
NAAQS. However, on January 7, 2011, CT DEEP withdrew the transport 
portion of this 2009 SIP. On August 19, 2011, Connecticut submitted a 
revised SIP that replaced the portions of the state's submission that 
were previously withdrawn. The state's revised SIP relied on EPA's 
analysis performed for the CSAPR rulemaking to conclude that the state 
will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with 
maintenance of the NAAQS in any downwind area.
    On December 14, 2015, CT DEEP submitted an infrastructure SIP for 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. This submission addressed prongs 1 and 
2 of the interstate transport requirements. Based on information given 
in Attachment D of its SIP submission, Connecticut concluded that it 
does not contribute significantly to nonattainment or interfere with 
maintenance of the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS in any other 
state because projected emissions of PM2.5 and 
PM2.5 precursors (NOX and SO2) in 
Connecticut are expected to decline over at least the next decade, and 
there are federal and SIP-approved state regulations in place to 
control emissions of PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors.
    Regarding future emissions of PM2.5 and PM2.5 
precursors, Connecticut developed comprehensive emissions inventories 
in collaboration with other states in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast 
Visibility Union (MANE-VU). Results indicate that total emissions of 
PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors are projected to 
decrease significantly between 2007 and 2025 in New Haven and Fairfield 
counties in southwestern Connecticut, the area of the state that 
historically has had the highest monitored PM2.5 levels.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ ``Connecticut's PM2.5 Redesignation Request and 
Maintenance Plan, Technical Support Document,'' (June 22, 2012). 
Included in the docket for this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA analyzed the state's August 19, 2011 and December 14, 2015 SIP 
submittals to determine whether they fully address the prong 1 and 2 
transport provisions with respect to the 2006 and 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS. As discussed below, EPA concludes that emissions of 
PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors in Connecticut will 
not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with 
maintenance of the 2006 or 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS in any other 
state.
Analysis of Connecticut's Submission for the 2006 PM2.5 
NAAQS
    With respect to the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, EPA's analysis in 
the 2011 CSAPR rulemaking determined that Connecticut's impact to all 
downwind receptors would be below the 1% contribution threshold for 
this NAAQS (i.e., 0.15 [mu]g/m\3\), indicating that the state will not 
significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance 
for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in any downwind state. As noted 
above, EPA previously determined that states can rely on EPA's CSAPR 
analysis for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. Accordingly, as EPA has 
already concluded that Connecticut will not significantly contribute to 
nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2006 
PM2.5 NAAQS, we do not need to reevaluate Connecticut's Good 
Neighbor obligation with respect to this NAAQS. Consequently, EPA is 
proposing to approve Connecticut's August 8, 2011, SIP submission with 
regard to prongs 1 and 2 for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Analysis of Connecticut's Submission for the 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS
    As noted above, the modeling discussed in EPA's 2016 memorandum 
identified one potential maintenance receptor for the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS at

[[Page 11939]]

the Liberty monitor (ID number 420030064), located in Allegheny County. 
The memorandum also identified certain states with incomplete ambient 
monitoring data as areas that may require further analysis to determine 
whether there are potential downwind air quality problems that may be 
impacted by transported emissions.
    While developing the 2011 CSAPR rulemaking, EPA modeled the impacts 
of all 38 eastern states in its modeling domain on fine particulate 
matter concentrations at downwind receptors in other states in the 2012 
analysis year in order to evaluate the contribution of upwind states on 
downwind states with respect to the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5. 
Although the modeling was not conducted for purposes of analyzing 
upwind states' impacts on downwind receptors with respect to the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS, the contribution analysis for the 1997 and 2006 
standards can be informative for evaluating Connecticut's compliance 
with the Good Neighbor provision for the 2012 standard.
    This CSAPR modeling showed that Connecticut had a very small impact 
(0.005 [mu]g/m\3\) on the Liberty monitor in Allegheny County, 
Pennsylvania, which is the only out-of-state monitor that may be a 
nonattainment or maintenance receptor in 2021. Although EPA has not 
proposed a particular threshold for evaluating the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS, EPA notes that Connecticut's impact on the 
Liberty monitor is far below the threshold of 1% for the annual 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS (i.e., 0.12 [mu]g/m\3\) that EPA previously used 
to evaluate the contribution of upwind states to downwind air-quality 
monitors. (A spreadsheet showing CSAPR contributions for ozone and 
PM2.5 is included in docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0491-4228.) 
Therefore, even if the Liberty monitor were considered a receptor for 
purposes of transport, the EPA proposes to conclude that Connecticut 
will not significantly contribute to nonattainment, or interfere with 
maintenance, of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS at that monitor.
    In addition, the Liberty monitor is already close to attaining the 
2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, and expected emissions reductions in the 
next four years will lead to additional reductions in measured 
PM2.5 concentrations. There are both local and regional 
components to measured PM2.5 levels. All monitors in 
Allegheny County have a regional component, with the Liberty monitor 
most strongly influenced by local sources. This is confirmed by the 
fact that annual average measured concentrations at the Liberty monitor 
have consistently been 2-4 [mu]g/m\3\ higher than other monitors in 
Allegheny County.
    Specifically, previous CSAPR modeling showed that regional 
emissions from upwind states, particularly SO2 and NOx 
emissions, contribute to PM2.5 nonattainment at the Liberty 
monitor. In recent years, large SO2 and NOX 
reductions from power plants have occurred in Pennsylvania and states 
upwind from the Greater Pittsburgh region. Pennsylvania's energy sector 
emissions of SO2 will have decreased 166,000 tons between 
2015-2017 as a result of CSAPR implementation. This is due to both the 
installation of emissions controls and retirements of electric 
generating units (EGUs). Projected power plant closures and additional 
emissions controls in Pennsylvania and upwind states will help further 
reduce both direct PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors. 
Regional emission reductions will continue to occur from current on-
the-books federal and state regulations such as the federal on-road and 
non-road vehicle programs, and various rules for major stationary 
emissions sources. See proposed approval of the Ohio Infrastructure SIP 
for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS (82 FR 57689; December 7, 2017).
    In addition to regional emissions reductions and plant closures, 
additional local reductions to both direct PM2.5 and 
SO2 emissions are expected to occur and should contribute to 
further declines in Allegheny County's PM2.5 monitor 
concentrations. For example, significant SO2 reductions have 
recently occurred at US Steel's integrated steel mill facilities in 
southern Allegheny County as part of a 1-hr SO2 NAAQS 
SIP.\9\ Reductions are largely due to declining sulfur content in the 
Clairton Coke Work's coke oven gas (COG). Because this COG is burned at 
U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, Irvin Mill, and Edgar Thompson Steel 
Mill, these reductions in sulfur content should contribute to much 
lower PM2.5 precursor emissions in the immediate future. The 
Allegheny SO2 SIP also projects lower SO2 
emissions resulting from vehicle fuel standards, reductions in general 
emissions due to declining population in the Greater Pittsburgh region, 
and several shutdowns of significant sources of emissions in Allegheny 
County.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ http://www.achd.net/air/pubs/SIPs/SO2_2010_NAAQS_SIP_9-14-
2017.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA modeling projections, the recent downward trend in local and 
upwind emissions reductions, the expected continued downward trend in 
emissions between 2017 and 2021, and the downward trend in monitored 
PM2.5 concentrations all indicate that the Liberty monitor 
will attain and be able to maintain the 2012 annual PM2.5 
NAAQS by 2021. See proposed approval of the Ohio Infrastructure SIP (82 
FR 57689).
    As noted in the 2016 memorandum, several states have had recent 
data-quality issues identified as part of the PM2.5 
designations process. In particular, some ambient PM2.5 data 
for certain time periods between 2009 and 2013 in Florida, Illinois, 
Idaho, Tennessee, and Kentucky did not meet all data-quality 
requirements under 40 CFR part 50, appendix L. The lack of data means 
that the relevant areas in those states could potentially be in 
nonattainment or be maintenance receptors in 2021. However, as 
mentioned above, EPA's analysis for the 2011 CSAPR rulemaking with 
respect to the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS determined that 
Connecticut's impact to all these downwind receptors would be well 
below the 1% contribution threshold for this NAAQS. That conclusion 
informs the analysis of Connecticut's contributions for purposes of the 
2012 PM2.5 NAAQS as well. Given this, and the fact, 
discussed below, that the state's PM2.5 design values for 
all ambient monitors have declined since 2009-2013, EPA concludes that 
it is highly unlikely that Connecticut significantly contributes to 
nonattainment or interferes with maintenance of the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS in areas with data-quality issues.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Connecticut's PM2.5 design values for all 
ambient monitors from 2004-2006 through 2013-2015 are available on 
Table 6 of the 2015 Design Value Report at https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-design-values_.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional information in Connecticut's 2015 SIP submission 
corroborates EPA's proposed conclusion that Connecticut's SIP meets its 
Good Neighbor obligations. First, Connecticut's emissions are 
decreasing, as indicated in a technical analysis of the state's 
interstate transport of pollution relative to the 2012 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS, which was included in the 2015 submittal. The 
technical analysis includes Connecticut's 2014 PM2.5 design 
values; design-value trends over the last decade for Connecticut and 
the nearby states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode 
Island; as well as other factors such as meteorology and emissions 
projections. Design values for Connecticut and nearby states have shown 
a declining trend and have remained in compliance with the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS since 2011. Emissions projections show 
continuing

[[Page 11940]]

maintenance of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS in Connecticut and the 
nearby states. Connecticut's technical analysis also refers to 
emissions projections through 2025 for the southwestern portion of 
Connection, the area that historically has had the highest monitored 
PM2.5 levels. These projections were part of the state's 10-
year (ending in 2025) maintenance plan for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS that was approved by EPA on September 24, 
2013. See 78 FR 58467. In southwestern Connecticut, emissions of 
PM2.5, NOX and SO2 were projected to 
decrease by 22%, 52% and 43%, respectively, between 2007 and 2025, and 
similar levels of reductions were projected for the rest of the state. 
This technical analysis is supported by additional indications that the 
state's air quality is improving and emissions are falling, including 
certified annual PM2.5 monitor values recorded since 
Connecticut's 2015 submittal, with the highest value in 2015 being 9.9 
[mu]g/m\3\ at a monitor in Hartford and the highest value in 2016 being 
9.4 [mu]g/m\3\ at a monitor in Bridgeport, with further statewide 
declines indicated by 2017 preliminary results.\11\ In addition, as 
reported in EPA's Clean Air Markets Program database, actual ozone-
season NOX emissions from EGUs in Connecticut from 2011 
through 2017 fell from 858 to 430 tons, a 50-percent drop.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 24-hour and annual PM2.5 monitor values for 
individual monitoring sites throughout Connecticut are available at 
https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data/monitor-values-report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, Connecticut's sources are well-controlled. Connecticut's 
2015 submission indicates that the SIP contains the following major 
requirements related to the interstate transport of pollution: RCSA 
section 22a-174-2a (NSR program, including notification of nearby 
states of major source permits and modifications), RCSA section 22a-
174-3a (PSD and NSR requirements, including modeling to that ensure new 
and modified sources do not cause or contribute to PSD or NAAQS issues 
in nearby states). These rules were approved by EPA on July 24, 2015, 
and became effective on September 22, 2015. See 80 FR 43960.
    It should also be noted that Connecticut is not in the CSAPR 
program because EPA analyses show that the state no longer emits ozone-
season NOX at a level that contributes significantly to non-
attainment or interferes with maintenance of the 1997 and 2006 
PM2.5 NAAQS in any other state.
    For the reasons explained herein, EPA agrees with Connecticut's 
conclusions and proposes to determine that Connecticut will not 
significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance 
of the 2006 or 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS in any other state. 
Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve the August 2011 and December 
2015 infrastructure SIP submissions from Connecticut addressing prongs 
1 and 2 of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) for the 2006 and 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively.
Sub-Element 2: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)--PSD (Prong 3)
    To prevent significant deterioration of air quality, this sub-
element requires SIPs to include provisions that prohibit any source or 
other type of emissions activity in one state from interfering with 
measures that are required in any other state's SIP under Part C of the 
CAA. One way for a state to meet this requirement, specifically with 
respect to in-state sources and pollutants that are subject to PSD 
permitting, is through a comprehensive PSD permitting program that 
applies to all regulated NSR pollutants and that satisfies the 
requirements of EPA's PSD implementation rules. For in-state sources 
not subject to PSD, this requirement can be satisfied through an 
approved NNSR program with respect to any previous NAAQS.
    Connecticut updated RCSA Section 22a-174-3a(k) and 3a(i) effective 
April 2014. EPA approved these changes on July 24, 2015 (80 FR 43960). 
These regulations contain provisions for how the state must treat and 
control sources in nonattainment areas, consistent with 40 CFR 51.165, 
or appendix S to 40 CFR 51.
Sub-Element 3: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)--Visibility Protection 
(Prong 4)
    With regard to applicable requirements for visibility protection of 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), states are subject to visibility and 
regional-haze program requirements under part C of the CAA (which 
includes sections 169A and 169B). The 2009 guidance, 2011 guidance, and 
2013 guidance recommend that these requirements can be satisfied by an 
approved SIP addressing reasonably attributable visibility impairment, 
if required, or an approved SIP addressing regional haze. A fully 
approved regional haze SIP meeting the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308 
will ensure that emissions from sources under an air agency's 
jurisdiction are not interfering with measures required to be included 
in other air agencies' plans to protect visibility. Connecticut's 
Regional Haze SIP was approved by EPA on July 10, 2014 (79 FR 39322). 
Accordingly, EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the visibility 
protection requirements of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) for the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS.
Sub-Element 4: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii)--Interstate Pollution Abatement
    This sub-element requires each SIP to contain provisions requiring 
compliance with requirements of section 126 relating to interstate 
pollution abatement. Section 126(a) requires new or modified sources to 
notify neighboring states of potential impacts from the source. The 
statute does not specify the method by which the source should provide 
the notification. States with SIP-approved PSD programs must have a 
provision requiring such notification by new or modified sources.
    EPA approved revisions to Connecticut's PSD program on July 24, 
2015 (80 FR 43960), including the element pertaining to notification to 
neighboring states of the issuance of PSD permits. Therefore, we 
propose to approve Connecticut's compliance with the infrastructure SIP 
requirements of section 126(a) with respect to the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS. Connecticut has no obligations under any other 
provision of section 126.
Sub-Element 5: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii)--International Pollution 
Abatement
    This sub-element requires each SIP to contain provisions requiring 
compliance with the applicable requirements of section 115 relating to 
international pollution abatement. Connecticut does not have any 
pending obligations under section 115 for the 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS. Therefore, EPA is proposing that Connecticut has met the 
applicable infrastructure SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) 
related to section 115 of the CAA (international pollution abatement) 
for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.

E. Section 110(a)(2)(E)--Adequate Resources

    This section requires each state to provide for personnel, funding, 
and legal authority under state law to carry out its SIP and related 
issues. In addition, Section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) requires each state to 
comply with the requirements with respect to state boards under section 
128. Finally, section 110(a)(2)(E)(iii) requires that, where a state 
relies upon local or regional governments or agencies for the 
implementation of its SIP provisions, the state retain responsibility 
for ensuring implementation of SIP

[[Page 11941]]

obligations with respect to relevant NAAQS. However, this sub-element 
does not apply to this action because Connecticut does not rely upon 
local or regional governments or agencies for the implementation of its 
SIP provisions.
Sub-Element 1: Adequate Personnel, Funding, and Legal Authority Under 
State Law To Carry Out Its SIP, and Related Issues
    Connecticut, through its infrastructure SIP submittal, has 
documented that its air agency has authority and resources to carry out 
its SIP obligations. CGS Sec.  22a-171 authorizes the CT DEEP 
Commissioner to enforce the state's air laws, accept and administer 
grants, and exercise incidental powers necessary to carry out the law. 
The Connecticut SIP, as originally submitted on March 3, 1972, and 
subsequently amended, provides additional descriptions of the 
organizations, staffing, funding and physical resources necessary to 
carry out the plan. EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the 
infrastructure SIP requirements of this portion of section 110(a)(2)(E) 
with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Sub-Element 2: State Board Requirements Under Section 128 of the CAA
    Section 110(a)(2)(E) also requires each SIP to contain provisions 
that comply with the state board requirements of section 128 of the 
CAA. That provision contains two explicit requirements: (1) That any 
board or body which approves permits or enforcement orders under this 
chapter shall have at least a majority of members who represent the 
public interest and do not derive any significant portion of their 
income from persons subject to permits and enforcement orders under 
this chapter, and (2) that any potential conflicts of interest by 
members of such board or body or the head of an executive agency with 
similar powers be adequately disclosed.
    In Connecticut, no board or body approves permits or enforcement 
orders; these are approved by the Commissioner of CT DEEP. Thus, 
Connecticut is subject only to the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of 
section 128 of the CAA. Infrastructure SIPs submitted by Connecticut 
include descriptions of conflict-of-interest provisions in CGS Sec.  1-
85, which applies to all state employees and public officials. Section 
1-85 prevents the Commissioner from acting on a matter in which the 
Commissioner has an interest that is ``in substantial conflict with the 
proper discharge of his duties or employment in the public interest and 
of his responsibilities as prescribed in the laws of'' Connecticut.
    Connecticut submitted CGS Sec.  1-85 for incorporation into the SIP 
on December 28, 2012, with its infrastructure SIP for the 2008 ozone 
NAAQS. We approved this statute into the Connecticut SIP on June 3, 
2016 (81 FR 35636). Therefore, Connecticut has met the applicable 
infrastructure SIP requirements for this section of 110(a)(2)(E) for 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.

F. Section 110(a)(2)(F)--Stationary Source Monitoring System

    States must establish a system to monitor emissions from stationary 
sources and submit periodic emissions reports. Each plan shall also 
require the installation, maintenance, and replacement of equipment, 
and the implementation of other necessary steps, by owners or operators 
of stationary sources to monitor emissions from such sources. The state 
plan shall also require periodic reports on the nature and amounts of 
emissions and emissions-related data from such sources, and correlation 
of such reports by each state agency with any emission limitations or 
standards established pursuant to this chapter. Lastly, the reports 
shall be available at reasonable times for public inspection.
    CGS Sec.  22a-6(a)(5) authorizes the Commissioner to enter at all 
reasonable times, any public or private property (except a private 
residence) to investigate possible violations of any statute, 
regulation, order or permit. Additionally, CGS Sec.  22a-174 authorizes 
the Commissioner to require periodic inspection of sources of air 
pollution and to require any person to maintain, and to submit to CT 
DEEP, certain records relating to air pollution or to the operation of 
facilities designed to abate air pollution. For monitoring possible air 
violations, CT DEEP implements RCSA Sec.  22a-174-4 (Source monitoring, 
record keeping and reporting) to require the installation, maintenance, 
and use of emissions monitoring devices and to require periodic 
reporting to the Commissioner of the nature and extent of the 
emissions. Section 22a-174-4 has been approved into the SIP. See 79 FR 
41427 (July 16, 2014). Additionally, CT DEEP implements RCSA Sec.  22a-
175-5 (Methods for sampling, emissions testing, sample analysis, and 
reporting), which provides, among other things, specific test methods 
to be used to demonstrate compliance with various aspects of 
Connecticut's air regulations, and this rule has also been approved 
into the SIP. See 46 FR 43418 (December 19, 1980). Furthermore, under 
RCSA Sec.  22a-174-10 (Public availability of information) emissions 
data are to be available to the public and are not entitled to 
protection as a trade secret. See 37 FR 23085 (October 28, 1972). EPA 
recognizes that Connecticut routinely collects information on air 
emissions from its industrial sources and makes this information 
available to the public. In addition, RCSA Sec.  22a-174-10 requires 
that emission data made public by CT DEEP shall be presented in such a 
manner as to show the relationship (or correlation) between measured 
emissions and the applicable emission limitations or standards, as 
required by CAA Sec.  110(a)(2)(F)(iii).
    Therefore, EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the infrastructure 
SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(F) with respect to the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS.

G. Section 110(a)(2)(G)--Emergency Powers

    This section requires that a plan provide for state authority 
analogous to that provided to the EPA Administrator in section 303 of 
the CAA, and adequate contingency plans to implement such authority. 
Section 303 of the CAA provides authority to the EPA Administrator to 
seek a court order to restrain any source from causing or contributing 
to emissions that present an ``imminent and substantial endangerment to 
public health or welfare, or the environment.'' Section 303 further 
authorizes the Administrator to issue ``such orders as may be necessary 
to protect public health or welfare or the environment'' in the event 
that ``it is not practicable to assure prompt protection . . . by 
commencement of such civil action.''
    Connecticut's submittal notes that CGS Sec.  22a-181 (Emergency 
action) authorizes the Commissioner of the CT DEEP to issue an order 
requiring any person to immediately reduce or discontinue air pollution 
as required to protect the public health or safety. In addition, in a 
letter dated August 5, 2015, Connecticut specified that CGS Sec.  22a-7 
grants the Commissioner the authority, whenever he finds ``that any 
person is causing, engaging in or maintaining, or is about to cause, 
engage in or maintain, any condition or activity which, in his 
judgment, will result in or is likely to result in imminent and 
substantial damage to the environment, or to public health within the 
jurisdiction of the commissioner under the provisions of chapter . . . 
446c [Air Pollution Control] . . . [to] issue a cease and desist order 
in writing to such person to discontinue, abate or alleviate such 
condition or activity.'' This section further provides the Commissioner 
with the authority to seek a court ``to enjoin

[[Page 11942]]

any person from violating a cease and desist order issued pursuant to 
[Sec.  22a-7] and to compel compliance with such order.''
    We propose to find that RCSA Sec.  22a-174-6, along with CGS Sec.  
22a-181, provide for authority comparable to that in section 303.
    Section 110(a)(2)(G) requires a state to submit for EPA approval a 
contingency plan to implement the air agency's emergency episode 
authority for any Air Quality Control Region (AQCR) within the state 
that is classified as Priority I, IA, or II for certain pollutants, See 
40 CFR 51.150. This requirement may be satisfied by submitting a plan 
that meets the applicable requirements of 40 CFR part 51, subpart H (40 
CFR 51.150 through 51.153) (``Prevention of Air Pollution Emergency 
Episodes'') for the relevant NAAQS, and, indeed, Connecticut has ``Air 
pollution emergency episode procedures'' at RCSA Sec.  22a-174-6 that 
EPA has previously evaluated and approved as satisfying the 
requirements of Section 110(a)(2)(G) in the context of SOX 
and ozone. See 81 FR 35636 (June 3, 2016); 80 FR 54471 (Sept. 10, 
2015). PM2.5, however, is not explicitly included in the 
contingency plan requirements of 40 CFR part 51, subpart H, and, thus, 
a contingency plan satisfying the provisions of subpart H is not 
required. For PM2.5, EPA's 2009 guidance recommends instead 
that states develop emergency episode plans for any area that has 
monitored and recorded 24-hour PM2.5 levels greater than 140 
[mu]g/m\3\ since 2006. EPA's review of Connecticut's certified air 
quality data in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) indicates that the 
highest 24-hour PM2.5 level recorded since 2006 was 57.5 
[mu]g/m\3\, which was recorded at a monitor in Bridgeport on January 1, 
2011. And, as noted earlier, Connecticut has general authority to order 
a source to reduce or discontinue air pollution as required to protect 
the public health or safety or the environment.
    Connecticut also, as a matter of practice, posts on the internet 
daily forecasted ozone and fine particle levels through the EPA AirNow 
and EPA EnviroFlash systems. Information regarding these two systems is 
available on EPA's website at www.airnow.gov. Notices are sent out to 
EnviroFlash participants when levels are forecast to exceed the current 
8-hour ozone or 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, when 
levels are expected to exceed the ozone or PM2.5 NAAQS in 
Connecticut, the media are alerted via a press release, and the 
National Weather Service (NWS) is alerted to issue an Air Quality 
Advisory through the normal NWS weather alert system.
    Therefore, EPA proposes that Connecticut through the combination of 
statutes and regulations discussed above, and participation in EPA's 
AirNow program, has met the applicable infrastructure SIP requirements 
of section 110(a)(2)(G) with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 
NAAQS.

H. Section 110(a)(2)(H)--Future SIP Revisions

    This section requires that a state's SIP provide for revision from 
time to time as may be necessary to take account of changes in the 
NAAQS or availability of improved methods for attaining the NAAQS and 
whenever the EPA finds that the SIP is substantially inadequate.
    Connecticut certifies that its SIP may be revised should EPA find 
that it is substantially inadequate to attain a standard or to comply 
with any additional requirements under the CAA and notes that CGS Sec.  
22a-174(d) grants the Commissioner all incidental powers necessary to 
control and prohibit air pollution. EPA proposes that Connecticut has 
met the infrastructure SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(H) with 
respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.

I. Section 110(a)(2)(I)--Nonattainment Area Plan or Plan Revisions 
Under Part D

    The CAA requires that each plan or plan revision for an area 
designated as a nonattainment area meet the applicable requirements of 
part D of the CAA. Part D relates to nonattainment areas. EPA has 
determined that section 110(a)(2)(I) is not applicable to the 
infrastructure SIP process. Instead, EPA takes action on part D 
attainment plans through separate processes.

J. Section 110(a)(2)(J)--Consultation With Government Officials; Public 
Notifications; Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Visibility 
Protection

    The evaluation of the submission from Connecticut with respect to 
the requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(J) is described below.
Sub-Element 1: Consultation With Government Officials
    States must provide a process for consultation with local 
governments and Federal Land Managers (FLMs) carrying out NAAQS 
implementation requirements.
    CGS Sec.  22a-171 (Duties of Commissioner of Energy and 
Environmental Protection) directs the Commissioner to consult with 
agencies of the United States, agencies of the state, political 
subdivisions and industries and any other affected groups in matters 
relating to air quality. Additionally, CGS Sec.  22a-171, which was 
approved into Connecticut's SIP (81 FR 35636; June 3, 2016), directs 
the Commissioner to initiate and supervise state-wide programs of air 
pollution control education and to adopt, amend, repeal and enforce air 
regulations.
    Furthermore, RCSA Sec.  22a-174-2a, which has been approved into 
Connecticut's SIP (80 FR 43960; July 24, 2015), directs CT DEEP to 
notify relevant municipal officials and FLMs, among others, of 
tentative determinations by CT DEEP with respect to certain permits.
    EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the infrastructure SIP 
requirements of this portion of section 110(a)(2)(J) with respect to 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Sub-Element 2: Public Notification
    Section 110(a)(2)(J) also requires states to notify the public if 
NAAQS are exceeded in an area, advise the public of health hazards 
associated with exceedances, and enhance public awareness of measures 
that can be taken to prevent exceedances and of ways in which the 
public can participate in regulatory and other efforts to improve air 
quality.
    As part of the fulfillment of CGS Sec.  22a-171 (Duties of 
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection), Connecticut 
issues press releases and posts warnings on its website advising people 
what they can do to help prevent NAAQS exceedances and avoid adverse 
health effects on poor air quality days. Connecticut is also an active 
partner in EPA's AirNow and Enviroflash air quality alert programs. In 
addition, in 2014, Connecticut revised CGS Sec.  4-168 to require that 
state regulations be submitted through the state's e-regulations 
system, thus creating an additional way for the public to access any 
changes to state regulations.
    EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the infrastructure SIP 
requirements of this portion of section 110(a)(2)(J) with respect to 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Sub-Element 3: PSD
    States must meet applicable requirements of section 110(a)(2)(C) 
related to PSD. Connecticut's PSD program in the context of 
infrastructure SIPs has already been discussed in the paragraphs 
addressing sections 110(a)(2)(C) and 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) and satisfies 
the requirements of EPA's PSD implementation rules.
    We are proposing to approve the revisions to Connecticut's PSD 
program that were submitted on October 18, 2017 regarding PSD 
requirements to treat

[[Page 11943]]

NOX as a precursor to ozone and to establish a minor source 
baseline date for PM2.5 emissions. Consequently, we are 
proposing to approve the PSD sub-element of section 110(a)(2)(J) for 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, consistent with the actions we are 
proposing for sections 110(a)(2)(C) and 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
Sub-Element 4: Visibility Protection
    With regard to the applicable requirements for visibility 
protection, states are subject to visibility and regional haze program 
requirements under part C of the CAA (which includes sections 169A and 
169B). In the event of the establishment of a new NAAQS, however, the 
visibility and regional haze program requirements under part C do not 
change. Thus, as noted in EPA's 2013 guidance, we find that there is no 
new visibility obligation ``triggered'' under section 110(a)(2)(J) when 
a new NAAQS becomes effective. In other words, the visibility 
protection requirements of section 110(a)(2)(J) are not germane to 
infrastructure SIPs for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.

K. Section 110(a)(2)(K)--Air Quality Modeling/Data

    To satisfy Element K, the state air agency must demonstrate that it 
has the authority to perform air quality modeling to predict effects on 
air quality of emissions of any NAAQS pollutant and submission of such 
data to EPA upon request.
    In its submittal, Connecticut indicates that CGS Sec.  22a-5 
(Duties and powers of commissioner) implicitly authorizes the 
Commissioner of the CT DEEP to perform air quality modeling to predict 
effects on air quality of emissions of any NAAQS pollutant and to 
submit such data to EPA upon request. Connecticut reviews the potential 
impact of major sources consistent with 40 CFR part 51, appendix W, 
``Guidelines on Air Quality Models.'' In its submittal, Connecticut 
also cites RCSA section 22a-174-3a(i), which authorizes the 
commissioner to request any owner or operator to submit an ambient air-
quality impact analysis using applicable air quality models and 
modeling protocols approved by the commissioner. CT DEEP updated RCSA 
Section 22a-174-3a(i), effective April 2014, and EPA published a direct 
final rule approving these updates on July 24, 2015. See FR 80 FR 
43960.
    The state also collaborates with the Ozone Transport Commission 
(OTC) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association and EPA 
in order to perform large-scale urban air shed modeling for ozone and 
PM, if necessary. EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the 
infrastructure SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(K) with respect to 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.

L. Section 110(a)(2)(L)--Permitting Fees

    This section requires SIPs to mandate that each major stationary 
source pay permitting fees to cover the cost of reviewing, approving, 
implementing, and enforcing a permit.
    EPA's full approval of Connecticut's Title V program became 
effective on May 31, 2002. See 67 FR 31966 (May 13, 2002). To gain this 
approval, Connecticut demonstrated the ability to collect sufficient 
fees to run the program. CGS Sec.  22a-174(g) directs the Commissioner 
of CT DEEP to require the payment of a fee sufficient to cover the 
reasonable cost of reviewing and acting upon an application for, and 
monitoring compliance with, any state or federal permit, license, 
registration, order, or certificate. CT DEEP implements this directive 
through state regulations at RCSA Sec. Sec.  22a-174-26 and 22a-174-33, 
which contain specific requirements related to permit fees, including 
fees for Title V sources. EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the 
infrastructure SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(L) with respect to 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.

M. Section 110(a)(2)(M)--Consultation/Participation by Affected Local 
Entities

    To satisfy Element M, states must consult with, and allow 
participation from, local political subdivisions affected by the SIP. 
Connecticut's infrastructure submittal references CGS Sec.  4-168 
(Notice prior to action on regulations), which provides a public 
participation process for all stakeholders that includes a minimum of a 
30-day comment period and an opportunity for public hearing for all 
SIP-related actions.
    Connecticut also notes that monthly meetings of the State 
Implementation Plan Revision Advisory Committee provide an additional 
forum for consultation and participation by the public and other 
stakeholders on air-quality-related topics.
    EPA proposes that Connecticut has met the infrastructure SIP 
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(M) with respect to the 2012 
PM2.5 NAAQS.

N. Connecticut Statute Submitted for Incorporation Into the SIP

    Connecticut's December 14, 2015, infrastructure SIP submittal for 
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS included a revision of CGS Sec.  16a-
21a, ``Sulfur content of home heating oil and off-road diesel fuel. 
Suspension of requirements for emergency'' (see discussion under 
element A), EPA is proposing to approve revisions to CGS Sec.  16a-21a 
into the Connecticut SIP.

IV. Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing to approve the elements of the infrastructure SIP 
submitted by Connecticut on December 14, 2015, for the 2012 
PM2.5, NAAQS. Specifically, EPA's proposed action regarding 
each infrastructure SIP requirement are contained in Table 1 below.

 Table 1--Proposed Action on Connecticut's Infrastructure SIP Submittal
                        for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Element                            2012 PM2.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A): Emission limits and other control          A
 measures.
(B): Ambient air quality monitoring and data    A
 system.
(C)1: Enforcement of SIP measures.............  A
(C)2: PSD program for major sources and major   A
 modifications.
(C)3: PSD program for minor sources and minor   A
 modifications.
(D)1: Contribute to nonattainment/interfere     A
 with maintenance of NAAQS.
(D)2: PSD.....................................  A
(D)3: Visibility Protection...................  A
(D)4: Interstate Pollution Abatement..........  A
(D)5: International Pollution Abatement.......  A
(E)1: Adequate resources......................  A
(E)2: State boards............................  A
(E)3: Necessary assurances with respect to      NA
 local agencies.
(F): Stationary source monitoring system......  A
(G): Emergency power..........................  A
(H): Future SIP revisions.....................  A

[[Page 11944]]

 
(I): Nonattainment area plan or plan revisions  +
 under part D.
(J)1: Consultation with government officials..  A
(J)2: Public notification.....................  A
(J)3: PSD.....................................  A
(J)4: Visibility protection...................  +
(K): Air quality modeling and data............  A
(L): Permitting fees..........................  A
(M): Consultation and participation by          A
 affected local entities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the above table, the key is as follows: A, Approve. NA, Not
  applicable. +, Not germane to infrastructure SIPs.

    EPA also is proposing to approve the transport provisions (Element 
(D)1 in Table 1) of Connecticut's August 2011 infrastructure SIP 
submittal for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, EPA is 
proposing to approve, and incorporate into the Connecticut SIP, the 
following Connecticut statute, which was included for approval in 
Connecticut's infrastructure SIP submittal:
    Revisions to CGS Sec.  16a-21a, Sulfur content of home heating oil 
and off-road diesel fuel. Suspension of requirements for emergency, 
effective July 1, 2015.
    EPA is also proposing to approve revisions to the PSD permit 
program pertaining to treating NOX as a precursor to ozone 
and establishing a minor source baseline date for PM2.5.
    EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this 
proposal or on other relevant matters. These comments will be 
considered before EPA takes final action. Interested parties may 
participate in the Federal rulemaking procedure by submitting comments 
to this proposed rule by following the instructions listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this Federal Register.

V. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA rule 
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance 
with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is proposing to incorporate by 
reference the Connecticut statute referenced in Section IV above. The 
EPA has made, and will continue to make, these documents generally 
available electronically through https://www.regulations.gov and at the 
EPA New England Region 1 Office (please contact the person identified 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble for 
more information).

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a 
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and 
applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). 
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. 
Accordingly, this proposed action merely approves state law as meeting 
Federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond 
those imposed by state law. For that reason, this 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);
     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 Clean Air Act; and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian 
reservation land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has 
demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian 
country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose 
substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen 
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Alexandra Dapolito Dunn,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1.
[FR Doc. 2018-05318 Filed 3-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                              11933

                                                  in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                     SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection              contact the person identified in the ‘‘FOR
                                                  of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);                                Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve                  FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT’’         section.
                                                     • does not have Federalism                           elements of a State Implementation Plan               For the full EPA public comment policy,
                                                  implications as specified in Executive                  (SIP) submission from Connecticut                     information about CBI or multimedia
                                                  Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                    regarding the infrastructure                          submissions, and general guidance on
                                                  1999);                                                  requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA                making effective comments, please visit
                                                     • is not an economically significant                 or Act) for the 2012 fine particle (PM2.5)            www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-
                                                  regulatory action based on health or                    National Ambient Air Quality Standards                dockets.
                                                  safety risks subject to Executive Order                 (NAAQS), and a SIP submission                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                    addressing interstate transport
                                                     • is not a significant regulatory action                                                                   Alison C. Simcox, Air Quality Unit, U.S.
                                                                                                          requirements of the CAA for the 2006                  Environmental Protection Agency, EPA
                                                  subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR                 PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, we are
                                                  28355, May 22, 2001);                                                                                         New England Regional Office, 5 Post
                                                                                                          proposing to approve one statute                      Office Square—Suite 100 (Mail code
                                                     • is not subject to requirements of                  included in the SIP for the 2012 PM2.5
                                                  Section 12(d) of the National                                                                                 OEP05–2), Boston, MA 02109—3912,
                                                                                                          NAAQS. The infrastructure                             tel. (617) 918–1684; simcox.alison@
                                                  Technology Transfer and Advancement                     requirements are designed to ensure that
                                                  Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because                                                                      epa.gov.
                                                                                                          the structural components of each
                                                  this rulemaking does not involve                        state’s air quality management program                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  technical standards; and                                are adequate to meet the state’s                      Throughout this document whenever
                                                     • does not provide the EPA with the                  responsibilities under the CAA. The                   ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
                                                  discretionary authority to address, as                  EPA is also proposing to approve                      EPA.
                                                  appropriate, disproportionate human                     revisions to the SIP submitted by                     Table of Contents
                                                  health or environmental effects, using                  Connecticut on October 18, 2017,
                                                  practicable and legally permissible                                                                           I. Background and Purpose
                                                                                                          satisfying Connecticut’s earlier                         A. What Connecticut SIP submissions does
                                                  methods, under Executive Order 12898                    commitment to adopt and submit
                                                  (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                                                                                    this rulemaking address?
                                                                                                          provisions that meet certain                             B. What is the scope of this rulemaking?
                                                     In addition, this proposed action does               requirements of the federal Prevention                II. What guidance is EPA using to evaluate
                                                  not apply on any Indian reservation                     of Significant Deterioration (PSD)                          these SIP submissions?
                                                  land or in any other area where the EPA                 permit program. In addition, we are                   III. EPA’s Review
                                                  or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that                proposing to convert the June 3, 2016                    A. Section 110(a)(2)(A)—Emission Limits
                                                  a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of             conditional approval for elements of                        and Other Control Measures
                                                  Indian country, the rule does not have                                                                           B. Section 110(a)(2)(B)—Ambient Air
                                                                                                          Connecticut’s infrastructure SIP                            Quality Monitoring/Data System
                                                  tribal implications as specified by                     regarding PSD requirements to treat
                                                  Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,                                                                              C. Section 110(a)(2)(C)—Program for
                                                                                                          nitrogen oxides (NOX) as a precursor to                     Enforcement of Control Measures and for
                                                  November 9, 2000).                                      ozone and to establish a minor source                       Construction or Modification of
                                                  List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                      baseline date for PM2.5 emissions. This                     Stationary Sources
                                                                                                          action is being taken under the Clean                    D. Section 110(a)(2)(D)—Interstate
                                                    Environmental protection, Air                                                                                     Transport
                                                  pollution control, Incorporation by                     Air Act.
                                                                                                                                                                   E. Section 110(a)(2)(E)—Adequate
                                                  reference, Intergovernmental relations,                 DATES: Written comments must be                             Resources
                                                  Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter,                   received on or before April 18, 2018.                    F. Section 110(a)(2)(F)—Stationary Source
                                                  Reporting and recordkeeping                             ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                            Monitoring System
                                                  requirements, Sulfur oxides, Visibility,                identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R01–                     G. Section 110(a)(2)(G)—Emergency
                                                                                                          OAR–2017–0065 at https://                                   Powers
                                                  Volatile organic compounds.                                                                                      H. Section 110(a)(2)(H)—Future SIP
                                                     Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                                                                          www.regulations.gov, or via email to
                                                                                                                                                                      Revisions
                                                                                                          simcox.alison@epa.gov. For comments                      I. Section 110(a)(2)(I)—Nonattainment Area
                                                    Dated: February 26, 2018.                             submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the                    Plan or Plan Revisions Under Part D
                                                  Chris Hladick,                                          online instructions for submitting                       J. Section 110(a)(2)(J)—Consultation With
                                                  Regional Administrator, Region 10.                      comments. Once submitted, comments                          Government Officials; Public
                                                  [FR Doc. 2018–04931 Filed 3–16–18; 8:45 am]             cannot be edited or removed from                            Notifications; Prevention of Significant
                                                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                  Regulations.gov. For either manner of                       Deterioration; Visibility Protection
                                                                                                          submission, the EPA may publish any                      K. Section 110(a)(2)(K)—Air Quality
                                                                                                                                                                      Modeling/Data
                                                                                                          comment received to its public docket.
                                                                                                                                                                   L. Section 110(a)(2)(L)—Permitting Fees
                                                  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                Do not submit electronically any                         M. Section 110(a)(2)(M)—Consultation/
                                                  AGENCY                                                  information you consider to be                              Participation by Affected Local Entities
                                                                                                          Confidential Business Information (CBI)                  N. Connecticut Statute Submitted for
                                                  40 CFR Part 52                                          or other information whose disclosure is                    Incorporation Into the SIP
                                                  [EPA–R01–OAR–2017–0065; FRL–9975–                       restricted by statute. Multimedia                     IV Proposed Action
                                                  43—Region 1]                                            submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be              V. Incorporation by Reference
                                                                                                          accompanied by a written comment.                     VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                                                  Air Plan Approval; Connecticut;                         The written comment is considered the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                                                                                I. Background and Purpose
                                                  Infrastructure State Implementation                     official comment and should include
                                                  Plan Requirements; Prevention of                        discussion of all points you wish to                  A. What Connecticut SIP submissions
                                                  Significant Deterioration Permit                        make. The EPA will generally not                      does this rulemaking address?
                                                  Program Revisions                                       consider comments or comment                            This rulemaking addresses three
                                                  AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                       contents located outside of the primary               submissions from the Connecticut
                                                  Agency (EPA).                                           submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or               Department of Energy and
                                                                                                          other file sharing system). For                       Environmental Protection (CT DEEP).
                                                  ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                                                                          additional submission methods, please                 The state submitted a SIP addressing the


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00031   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                  11934                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  ‘‘Good Neighbor’’ (or ‘‘transport’’)                      submissions that are intended to satisfy             ‘Good Neighbor’ Provision for the 2012
                                                  provisions for the 2006 PM2.5 1 National                  other SIP requirements under the CAA,                Fine Particulate Matter National
                                                  Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)                      such as ‘‘nonattainment SIP’’ or                     Ambient Air Quality Standards under
                                                  (Section 110(a)(2)(D)(I) of the CAA) on                   ‘‘attainment plan SIP’’ submissions to               Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)’’
                                                  August 19, 2011, and an infrastructure                    address the nonattainment planning                   (2016 memorandum).2 The 2016
                                                  SIP (including the transport provisions)                  requirements of part D of title I of the             memorandum describes EPA’s past
                                                  for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS on December                      CAA.                                                 approach to addressing interstate
                                                  14, 2015. Under sections 110(a)(1) and                       This rulemaking will not cover three              transport, and provides EPA’s general
                                                  (2) of the CAA, states are required to                    substantive areas that are not integral to           review of relevant modeling data and air
                                                  submit infrastructure SIPs to ensure that                 acting on a state’s infrastructure SIP               quality projections as they relate to the
                                                  state SIPs provide for implementation,                    submission: (i) Existing provisions                  2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The 2016
                                                  maintenance, and enforcement of the                       related to excess emissions during                   memorandum provides information
                                                  NAAQS, including the 2006 and 2012                        periods of start-up, shutdown, or                    relevant to EPA Regional office review
                                                  PM2.5 NAAQS.                                              malfunction at sources (‘‘SSM’’                      of the CAA section 110 (a)(2)(D)(i)(I)
                                                     In addition, on October 18, 2017, CT                   emissions) that may be contrary to the               ‘‘Good Neighbor’’ provision
                                                  DEEP submitted a SIP revision that                        CAA and EPA’s policies addressing                    requirements in infrastructure SIPs with
                                                  addresses applicable requirements for                     such excess emissions; (ii) existing                 respect to the 2012 annual PM2.5
                                                  the PSD permit program in Part C of the                   provisions related to ‘‘director’s                   NAAQS. This rulemaking considers
                                                  CAA that are codified in 40 CFR 51.166.                   variance’’ or ‘‘director’s discretion’’ that         information provided in that
                                                  PSD permitting requirements apply to                      purport to permit revisions to SIP-                  memorandum.
                                                  new major sources or major                                approved emissions limits with limited
                                                                                                            public process or without requiring                  III. EPA’s Review
                                                  modifications for pollutants where the
                                                  area in which the source is located is                    further approval by EPA, that may be                    In this notice of proposed rulemaking,
                                                  either in attainment with or                              contrary to the CAA (‘‘director’s                    EPA is proposing action on
                                                  unclassifiable with regard to the                         discretion’’); and, (iii) existing                   Connecticut’s infrastructure SIP
                                                  relevant NAAQS. CT DEEP had                               provisions for Prevention of Significant             submissions and revisions to the PSD
                                                  committed by letter dated August 5,                       Deterioration (PSD) programs that may                permit program. In Connecticut’s
                                                  2015, to submit these revisions to the                    be inconsistent with current                         submissions, a detailed list of
                                                  PSD permit program for EPA approval.                      requirements of EPA’s ‘‘Final New                    Connecticut Laws and previously SIP-
                                                                                                            Source Review (NSR) Improvement                      approved Air Quality Regulations show
                                                  B. What is the scope of this rulemaking?                  Rule,’’ 67 FR 80186 (December 31,                    precisely how the various components
                                                     EPA is acting on three SIP                             2002), as amended by 72 FR 32526 (June               of its EPA-approved SIP meet each of
                                                  submissions from Connecticut that                         13, 2007) (‘‘NSR Reform’’). Instead, EPA             the requirements of section 110(a)(2) of
                                                  address the infrastructure requirements                   has the authority to address each one of             the CAA for the 2006 and 2012 PM2.5
                                                  of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2)                   these substantive areas separately. A                NAAQS. The following review evaluates
                                                  for the 2006 and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS                         detailed history, interpretation, and                the state’s submissions in light of
                                                  and revisions to the PSD permit                           rationale for EPA’s approach to                      section 110(a)(2) requirements and
                                                  program.                                                  infrastructure SIP requirements can be               relevant EPA guidance. For
                                                     The requirement for states to make a                   found in EPA’s May 13, 2014, proposed                Connecticut’s August 19, 2011
                                                  SIP submission of this type arises out of                 rule entitled, ‘‘Infrastructure SIP                  submission addressing the transport
                                                  CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2).                     Requirements for the 2008 Lead                       provisions with respect to the 2006
                                                  Pursuant to these sections, each state                    NAAQS’’ in the section, ‘‘What is the                PM2.5 NAAQS, we reviewed
                                                  must submit a SIP that provides for the                   scope of this rulemaking?’’ See 79 FR                infrastructure elements in Section
                                                  implementation, maintenance, and                          27241 at 27242–45.                                   110(a)(2)(D)(I).3 For the state’s December
                                                  enforcement of each primary or                            II. What guidance is EPA using to                    14, 2015 submission addressing the
                                                  secondary NAAQS. States must make                         evaluate these SIP submissions?                      2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, we reviewed all
                                                  such SIP submission ‘‘within 3 years (or                                                                       Section 110(a)(2) elements, including
                                                  such shorter period as the Administrator                     EPA highlighted the statutory
                                                                                                                                                                 the transport provisions, but excluding
                                                  may prescribe) after the promulgation of                  requirement to submit infrastructure
                                                                                                                                                                 the three areas discussed above under
                                                  a new or revised NAAQS.’’ This                            SIPs within 3 years of promulgation of
                                                                                                                                                                 the scope of this rulemaking. The
                                                  requirement is triggered by the                           a new NAAQS in an October 2, 2007,
                                                                                                                                                                 revisions to the PSD permit program
                                                  promulgation of a new or revised                          guidance document entitled ‘‘Guidance
                                                                                                                                                                 were evaluated for consistency with the
                                                  NAAQS and is not conditioned upon                         on SIP Elements Required Under
                                                                                                                                                                 regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 and Part C
                                                  EPA’s taking any other action. Section                    Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) for the 1997
                                                                                                                                                                 of the CAA and are required to be
                                                  110(a)(2) includes the specific elements                  8-hour Ozone and PM2.5 National
                                                                                                                                                                 included in the SIP by Section
                                                  that ‘‘each such plan’’ must address.                     Ambient Air Quality Standards’’ (2007
                                                                                                                                                                 110(a)(2)(C).
                                                     EPA commonly refers to such SIP                        guidance). EPA has issued additional
                                                  submissions made for the purpose of                       guidance documents and memoranda,                    A. Section 110(a)(2)(A)—Emission
                                                  satisfying the requirements of CAA                        including a September 13, 2013,                      Limits and Other Control Measures
                                                  sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as                       guidance document entitled ‘‘Guidance                  This section (also referred to in this
                                                                                                            on Infrastructure State Implementation
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ submissions.                                                                            action as an element) of the Act requires
                                                  Although the term ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’                  Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean Air Act
                                                  does not appear in the CAA, EPA uses                      Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2)’’ (2013               2 This memorandum is available in the docket

                                                  the term to distinguish this particular                   guidance).                                           and at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/
                                                  type of SIP submission from                                  With respect to the Good Neighbor                 2016-08/documents/good-neighbor-memo_
                                                                                                            provision, the most recent relevant                  implementation.pdf.
                                                                                                                                                                   3 EPA previously took action on the other
                                                    1 PM                                                    document was a memorandum
                                                          2.5 refers to particulate matter of 2.5 microns                                                        elements of Connecticut’s infrastructure SIP for the
                                                  or less in diameter, often referred to as ‘‘fine’’        published on March 17, 2016, entitled                2006 PM2.5 NAAQS on October 16, 2012 (77 FR
                                                  particles.                                                ‘‘Information on the Interstate Transport            63228) and on June 3, 2016 (81 FR 35636).



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00032   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                    11935

                                                  SIPs to include enforceable emission                    limited the sulfur content of fuels sold              planned changes to monitoring sites or
                                                  limits and other control measures,                      or used in Connecticut to 0.3 percentage              the network plan.
                                                  means or techniques, schedules for                      by weight for number two heating oil                    CT DEEP continues to operate a
                                                  compliance, and other related matters.                  and off-road diesel fuel. The sulfur                  monitoring network, and EPA approved
                                                  However, EPA has long interpreted                       content of number two heating oil was                 the state’s 2016 Annual Air Monitoring
                                                  emission limits and control measures                    further limited to 500 ppm from July 1,               Network Plan for PM2.5 on September
                                                  for attaining the standards as being due                2011 through June 30, 2014, and to 15                 12, 2016.5 Furthermore, CT DEEP
                                                  when nonattainment planning                             ppm beginning July 1, 2014. The EPA-                  populates EPA’s Air Quality System
                                                  requirements are due.4 In the context of                approved statute included a provision                 (AQS) with air quality monitoring data
                                                  an infrastructure SIP, EPA is not                       that these sulfur limits would not take               in a timely manner, and provides EPA
                                                  evaluating the existing SIP provisions                  effect until the states of New York,                  with prior notification when
                                                  for this purpose. Instead, EPA is only                  Massachusetts and Rhode Island each                   considering a change to its monitoring
                                                  evaluating whether the state’s SIP has                  had adopted similar requirements. In                  network or plan. Under element B of its
                                                  basic structural provisions for the                     addition, the statute allows Connecticut              December 14, 2015 infrastructure SIP
                                                  implementation of the NAAQS.                            to suspend these requirements if                      submittal for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS,
                                                     Connecticut Public Act No. 11–80                     availability of the compliant fuel is                 Connecticut DEEP referenced EPA’s
                                                  established the CT DEEP, and                            inadequate to meet the needs of                       prior approvals of Connecticut’s annual
                                                  Connecticut General Statutes (CGS)                      residential, commercial or industrial                 network monitoring plans, as well as
                                                  Section 22a–6(a)(1) provides the                        users in the state and if Connecticut                 CGS § 22a–174(d), which provides the
                                                  Commissioner of CT DEEP authority to                    deems that this constitutes an                        Commissioner with ‘‘all incidental
                                                  adopt, amend or repeal environmental                    emergency.                                            powers necessary to carry out the
                                                  standards, criteria and regulations. It is                 Connecticut’s revision of this statute             purposes of’’ Connecticut’s air pollution
                                                  under this general grant of authority that              removes the provision concerning the                  control laws. EPA proposes that CT
                                                  the Commissioner has adopted                            three other states, and moves the dates               DEEP has met the infrastructure SIP
                                                  emissions standards and control                         for the 500-ppm requirement to July 1,                requirements of section 110(a)(2)(B)
                                                  measures for a variety of sources and                   2014 through June 30, 2018, and for the               with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  pollutants. Connecticut also has SIP-                   15-ppm requirement, to July 1, 2018.
                                                  approved provisions for specific                                                                              C. Section 110(a)(2)(C)—Program for
                                                                                                          The revision also includes a provision                Enforcement of Control Measures and
                                                  pollutants. For example, CT DEEP has                    stating that CT DEEP can use RCSA
                                                  adopted primary and secondary ambient                                                                         for Construction or Modification of
                                                                                                          section 22a–174–19b, fuel sulfur content              Stationary Sources
                                                  air quality standards for PM2.5 in                      limitations for stationary sources, to
                                                  Regulations of Connecticut State                        enforce provisions of the statute. EPA                   States are required to include a
                                                  Agencies (RCSA) Section 22a-174–24(f).                  has determined that the revision to CGS               program providing for enforcement of
                                                     As noted in EPA’s approval of RCSA                   § 16a–21a is as stringent as the EPA-                 all SIP measures and the regulation of
                                                  § 22a–174–24, Ambient Air Quality                       approved version and, therefore,                      construction of new or modified
                                                  Standards, on June 24, 2015 (80 FR                      proposes to approve this revision into                stationary sources to meet NSR
                                                  36242), Connecticut’s standards are                     the Connecticut SIP.                                  requirements under PSD and
                                                  consistent with the current federal                                                                           nonattainment new source review
                                                                                                             EPA proposes that Connecticut meets
                                                  NAAQS. Under element A of its                                                                                 (NNSR) programs. Part C of the CAA
                                                                                                          the infrastructure SIP requirements of
                                                  December 14, 2015 infrastructure SIP                                                                          (sections 160–169B) addresses PSD,
                                                                                                          section 110(a)(2)(A) with respect to the
                                                  submittal for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS,                                                                           while part D of the CAA (sections 171–
                                                                                                          2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. As previously
                                                  Connecticut DEEP highlighted several                                                                          193) addresses NNSR requirements.
                                                                                                          noted, EPA is not proposing to approve                   The evaluation of each state’s
                                                  rules that the state has previously
                                                                                                          or disapprove any existing state                      submission addressing the
                                                  adopted, and that EPA has previously
                                                                                                          provisions or rules related to SSM or                 infrastructure SIP requirements of
                                                  approved, to limit the quantity, rate, or
                                                                                                          director’s discretion in the context of               section 110(a)(2)(C) covers the
                                                  concentration of emissions of PM2.5 and
                                                                                                          section 110(a)(2)(A).                                 following: (i) Enforcement of SIP
                                                  PM2.5 precursors. Some of these are:
                                                  RCSA § 22a–174–18, Control of                           B. Section 110(a)(2)(B)—Ambient Air                   measures; (ii) PSD program for major
                                                  particulate matter and visible emissions                Quality Monitoring/Data System                        sources and major modifications; and
                                                  (July 16, 2014; 79 FR 41427); RCSA                                                                            (iii) a permit program for minor sources
                                                                                                            This section requires SIPs to include               and minor modifications.
                                                  § 22a–174–19a, Control of sulfur dioxide
                                                                                                          provisions to provide for establishing
                                                  emissions from power plants and other                                                                         Sub-Element 1: Enforcement of SIP
                                                                                                          and operating ambient air quality
                                                  large stationary sources (July 10, 2014;                                                                      Measures
                                                                                                          monitors, collecting and analyzing
                                                  79 FR 39322); and RCSA § 22a–174–22,
                                                                                                          ambient air quality data, and making                    CT DEEP staffs and implements an
                                                  Control of nitrogen oxides emissions
                                                                                                          these data available to EPA upon                      enforcement program pursuant to CGS
                                                  (October 6, 1997; 62 FR 52016 and July
                                                                                                          request. Each year, states submit annual              Title 22a. Specifically, CGS §§ 22a–6
                                                  10, 2014; 79 FR 39322).
                                                     In its infrastructure SIP submittal for              air monitoring network plans to EPA for               and 22a–6b authorize the Commissioner
                                                  the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, Connecticut                       review and approval. EPA’s review of                  of CT DEEP to inspect and investigate to
                                                                                                          these annual monitoring plans includes                ascertain whether violations of any
                                                  submitted revisions to CGS § 16a–21a
                                                                                                          our evaluation of whether the state: (i)
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  (Sulfur content of home heating oil and                                                                       statute, regulation, or permit may have
                                                                                                          Monitors air quality at appropriate                   occurred and to impose civil penalties.
                                                  off-road diesel fuel. Suspension of
                                                                                                          locations throughout the state using                  Additionally, CGS § 22a–171 requires
                                                  requirements for emergency). This
                                                                                                          EPA-approved Federal Reference                        the Commissioner to ‘‘adopt, amend,
                                                  statute was previously approved into
                                                                                                          Methods or Federal Equivalent Method                  repeal, and enforce regulations . . . and
                                                  the SIP (June 3, 2016; 81 FR 35636) and
                                                                                                          monitors; (ii) submits data to EPA’s Air              do any other act necessary to enforce the
                                                    4 See, e.g., EPA’s final rule on ‘‘National Ambient   Quality System (AQS) in a timely
                                                  Air Quality Standards for Lead.’’ 73 FR 66964,          manner; and (iii) provides EPA Regional                 5 EPA’s approval letter is included in the docket

                                                  67034 (Nov. 12, 2008).                                  Offices with prior notification of any                for today’s action.



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00033   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                  11936                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  provisions of’’ CGS §§ 22a–170 through                  treating NOX emissions as precursor                   definition for ‘‘minor source baseline
                                                  22a–206, which provide CT DEEP with                     emissions to ozone formation to a full                date’’ at 40 CFR 51.166(b)(14)(ii)).
                                                  the authority to, among other things,                   approval. See 81 FR 35636.                            Instead of using a specific date, EPA’s
                                                  enforce its regulations, issue orders to                   On October 20, 2010, EPA issued a                  definition for minor source baseline
                                                  correct violations of regulations or                    final rule (75 FR 64864) entitled                     date provides that the minor source
                                                  permits, impose state administrative                    ‘‘Prevention of Significant Deterioration             baseline date is triggered by a state’s
                                                  penalties, and seek judicial relief. EPA                (PSD) for Particulate Matter Less Than                receipt of its first complete PSD
                                                  proposes that Connecticut has met the                   2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)—Increments,                   application. At the time CT DEEP made
                                                  enforcement of SIP measures                             Significant Impact Levels (SILs) and                  its October 9, 2012 SIP revision, it
                                                  requirement of section 110(a)(2)(C) with                Significant Monitoring Concentration                  would not have been possible for the
                                                  respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                        (SMC)’’ (2010 NSR Rule). This rule                    State to have amended its regulation to
                                                                                                          established several components for                    include a specific minor source baseline
                                                  Sub-Element 2: PSD Program for Major                    making PSD permitting determinations
                                                  Sources and Major Modifications                                                                               date because no source had submitted a
                                                                                                          for PM2.5, including adding the required              complete PSD application for PM2.5.
                                                     PSD applies to new major sources or                  elements for PM2.5 into a state’s existing            This is so because CT DEEP‘s PSD
                                                  modifications made to major sources for                 system of ‘‘increment analysis,’’ which               regulations are structured in a way that
                                                  pollutants where the area in which the                  is the mechanism used in the PSD                      uses actual specific dates based on
                                                  source is located is in attainment of, or               permitting program to estimate                        submission of a first complete PSD
                                                  unclassifiable with regard to, the                      significant deterioration of ambient air              application for a particular pollutant.
                                                  relevant NAAQS. CT DEEP’s EPA–                          quality for a pollutant in relation to new            (The approach contained in EPA’s
                                                  approved PSD rules in RCSA sections                     source construction or modification.                  regulations is somewhat different in the
                                                  22a–174–1, 22a–174–2a, and 22a–174–                     The maximum allowable increment                       sense that instead of using actual
                                                  3a contain provisions that address                      increases for different pollutants are                specific dates, EPA articulates the
                                                  applicable requirements for all regulated               codified in 40 CFR 51.166(c) and 40                   concept of a first complete PSD
                                                  NSR pollutants, including greenhouse                    CFR 52.21(c).                                         application as the minor source baseline
                                                  gases (GHGs).                                              The 2010 NSR Rule described in the                 date trigger.) EPA understands that CT
                                                     EPA’s ‘‘Final Rule to Implement the 8-               preceding paragraph revised the existing              DEEP did not receive a complete PSD
                                                  Hour Ozone National Ambient Air                         system for determining increment                      application for a source subject to PSD
                                                  Quality Standard—Phase 2; Final Rule                    consumption by establishing a new                     for PM2.5 emissions until 2014.
                                                  to Implement Certain Aspects of the                     ‘‘major source baseline date’’ for PM2.5              Consequently, the State could not have
                                                  1990 Amendments Relating to New                         of October 20, 2010, and by establishing
                                                  Source Review and Prevention of                                                                               included an actual date in its definition
                                                                                                          a trigger date for PM2.5 in relation to the           of ‘‘minor source baseline date’’ within
                                                  Significant Deterioration as They Apply                 definition of ‘‘minor source baseline
                                                  in Carbon Monoxide, Particulate Matter,                                                                       its October 9, 2012 SIP revision.
                                                                                                          date.’’ These revisions to the federal
                                                  and Ozone NAAQS; Final Rule for                         PSD rules are codified in 40 CFR                         Although Connecticut could not
                                                  Reformulated Gasoline’’ (Phase 2 Rule)                  51.166(b)(14)(i)(c) and (b)(14)(ii)(c), and           establish an actual date for PM2.5 in its
                                                  was published on November 29, 2005                      52.21(b)(14)(i)(c) and (b)(14)(ii)(c).                definition of ‘‘minor source baseline
                                                  (70 FR 71612). Among other                                 Lastly, the 2010 NSR Rule revised the              date,’’ at the time of its October 9, 2012
                                                  requirements, the Phase 2 Rule                          definition of ‘‘baseline area’’ to include            SIP revision, Connecticut has since
                                                  obligated states to revise their PSD                    a level of significance of 0.3 micrograms             revised this definition to include a
                                                  programs to explicitly identify NOX as                  per cubic meter, annual average, for                  specific date. As a result, on June 3,
                                                  a precursor to ozone. See 70 FR 71679                   PM2.5. This change is codified in 40 CFR              2016, the EPA conditionally approved
                                                  at 71699–700. This requirement is                       51.166(b)(15)(i) and 52.21(b)(15)(i).                 this element of Connecticut’s
                                                  codified in 40 CFR 51.166, and requires                 States were required to revise their SIPs             infrastructure requirements to establish
                                                  that states submit SIP revisions                        consistent with these changes to the                  a ‘‘minor source baseline date.’’ See 81
                                                  incorporating the requirements of the                   federal regulations.                                  FR 35636. On October 18, 2017, CT
                                                  rule, including provisions that would                      On July 24, 2015, EPA approved                     DEEP submitted revised regulations for
                                                  treat NOX as a precursor to ozone                       Connecticut’s October 9, 2012, SIP                    EPA’s approval to satisfy this
                                                  provisions. These SIP revisions were to                 revision for its PSD program, which                   requirement and establish the minor
                                                  have been submitted to EPA by states by                 incorporated two of the four changes                  source baseline date as August 24, 2014,
                                                  June 15, 2007. See 70 FR 71683.                         addressed by the 2010 NSR Rule. The                   for PM2.5. Although Connecticut’s
                                                     Connecticut’s EPA-approved PSD                       two changes were (1) a revised                        approach to establishing a minor source
                                                  rules do not currently contain the                      definition of ‘‘Major source baseline                 baseline emissions concentration as part
                                                  provisions needed to ensure that NOX                    date’’ that included a date for PM2.5                 of an increment consumption analysis
                                                  be treated as a precursor to ozone.                     specifically; and (2) the addition of the             differs slightly from the approach taken
                                                  However, CT DEEP has made the                           maximum allowable increment for                       under the federal PSD regulations
                                                  necessary revisions to its regulation and,              PM2.5. See 80 FR 43960.                               codified at 40 CFR 51.166, the EPA has
                                                  on October 18, 2017, submitted                             CT DEEP’s October 9, 2012, SIP                     determined the minor discrepancy does
                                                  regulations for the EPA’s approval of its               revision did not specifically address the             not result in a different minor source
                                                  PSD rules to treat NOx as precursor                     two other changes EPA made to the PSD                 baseline emissions concentration and
                                                  pollutant to ozone.                                     rules in 2010, and for the following                  Connecticut’s approach is therefore
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                     Accordingly, as we discuss further on                reasons EPA did not include those as                  functionally equivalent to the federal
                                                  in our discussion of this sub-element,                  part of the conditional approval                      PSD regulations. For example,
                                                  we are proposing to approve the                         described in our October 16, 2012                     Connecticut’s regulation identifies
                                                  revisions to CT DEEP’s PSD permit                       notice. See 77 FR 63228. One of those                 August 24, 2014 as the minor source
                                                  program at RCSA Section 22a–174–                        changes is the requirement that a State’s             baseline date as opposed to September
                                                  3a(k)(1)(C), and to convert our June 3,                 definition of ‘‘minor source baseline                 24, 2014 when the State received its first
                                                  2016, conditional approval of this PSD                  date’’ be amended to include a trigger                complete PSD application that was
                                                  infrastructure sub-element relating to                  date for PM2.5 emissions (see EPA’s                   significant for PM2.5. Although this


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00034   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                             11937

                                                  approach results in a slightly different                following five topics, categorized as sub-              interfering with maintenance of the
                                                  time period for calculating minor source                elements: Sub-element 1, Significant                    NAAQS downwind; and (4) for states
                                                  baseline emissions (i.e., one month                     contribution to nonattainment, and                      that are found to have emissions that
                                                  earlier), the EPA has concluded that the                interference with maintenance of a                      significantly contribute to
                                                  calculation would yield a result that is                NAAQS; 6 Sub-element 2, PSD; Sub-                       nonattainment or interfere with
                                                  as protective as the federal PSD                        element 3, Visibility protection; Sub-                  maintenance of the NAAQS downwind,
                                                  regulations. Consequently, we propose                   element 4, Interstate pollution                         reducing the identified upwind
                                                  to approve Connecticut’s revisions to                   abatement; and Sub-element 5,                           emissions through adoption of
                                                  the PSD permit program at RCSA                          International pollution abatement. Sub-                 permanent and enforceable measures.
                                                  Section 22a–174–1(71) and to convert                    elements 1 through 3 above are found                    This framework was most recently
                                                  our June 3, 2016 conditional approval of                under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the Act,               applied with respect to PM2.5 in the
                                                  this PSD infrastructure sub-element                     and these items are further categorized                 Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR),
                                                  relating to section 110(a)(2)(C) to a full              into the four prongs discussed below,                   which addressed both the 1997 and
                                                  approval. See 81 FR 35636.                              two of which are found within sub-                      2006 PM2.5 standards, as well as the
                                                     On July 3, 2016, EPA fully approved                  element 1. Sub-elements 4 and 5 are                     1997 ozone standard. See 76 FR 48208
                                                  Connecticut’s SIP with regard to the                    found under section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) of                 (August 8, 2011).
                                                  remainder of the requirements for this                  the Act and include provisions insuring                    EPA’s analysis for CSAPR, conducted
                                                  sub-element (81 FR 35636). For a                        compliance with sections 115 and 126                    consistent with the four-step framework,
                                                  detailed analysis, see EPA’s proposed                   of the Act relating to interstate and                   included air-quality modeling that
                                                  rule at 80 FR 54471.                                    international pollution abatement.                      evaluated the impacts of 38 eastern
                                                     In summary, we are proposing to                                                                              states on identified receptors in the
                                                  approve Connecticut’s submittals for                    Sub-Element 1: Section                                  eastern United States. EPA indicated
                                                  this sub-element pertaining to section                  110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)—Significant                          that, for step 2 of the framework, states
                                                  110(a)(2)(C) with respect to the 2012                   Contribution to Nonattainment (Prong 1)                 with impacts on downwind receptors
                                                  PM2.5 NAAQS, as well as revisions to                    and Interference With Maintenance of                    that are below the contribution
                                                  the PSD permit program pertaining to                    the NAAQS (Prong 2)                                     threshold of 1% of the relevant NAAQS
                                                  treating NOX as a precursor to ozone                       Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA                would not be considered to significantly
                                                  and to establishing a minor source                      requires a SIP to prohibit any emissions                contribute to nonattainment or interfere
                                                  baseline date for PM2.5.                                activity in the state that will contribute              with maintenance of the relevant
                                                                                                          significantly to nonattainment or                       NAAQS, and would, therefore, not be
                                                  Sub-Element 3: Preconstruction                          interfere with maintenance of the                       included in CSAPR. See 76 FR 48220.
                                                  Permitting for Minor Sources and Minor                  NAAQS in any downwind state. EPA                        EPA further indicated that such states
                                                  Modifications                                           commonly refers to these requirements                   could rely on EPA’s analysis for CSAPR
                                                    To address the pre-construction                       as prong 1 (significant contribution to                 as technical support in order to
                                                  regulation of the modification and                      nonattainment) and prong 2                              demonstrate that their existing or future
                                                  construction of minor stationary sources                (interference with maintenance), or                     interstate transport SIP submittals are
                                                  and minor modifications of major                        jointly as the ‘‘Good Neighbor’’ or                     adequate to address the transport
                                                  stationary sources, an infrastructure SIP               ‘‘transport’’ provisions of the CAA. This               requirements of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with
                                                  submission should identify the existing                 rulemaking proposes action on the                       regard to the relevant NAAQS. Id.
                                                  EPA-approved SIP provisions and/or                      portions of Connecticut’s August 19,                       In addition, as noted above, on March
                                                  include new provisions that govern the                  2011 and December 14, 2015 SIP                          17, 2016, EPA released the 2016
                                                  minor source pre-construction program                   submissions that address the prong 1                    memorandum to provide information to
                                                  that regulate emissions of the relevant                 and 2 requirements with respect to the                  states as they develop SIPs addressing
                                                  NAAQS pollutants. EPA approved                          2006 and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS,                              the Good Neighbor provision as it
                                                  Connecticut’s minor NSR program, as                     respectively.                                           pertains to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  well as updates to that program, with                      EPA has developed a consistent                       Consistent with step 1 of the framework,
                                                  the most recent approval occurring on                   framework for addressing the prong 1                    the 2016 memorandum provides
                                                  February 28, 2003 (68 FR 9009). Since                   and 2 interstate-transport requirements                 projected future-year annual PM2.5
                                                  this date, Connecticut and EPA have                     with respect to the PM2.5 NAAQS in                      design values for monitors throughout
                                                  relied on the existing minor NSR                        several previous federal rulemakings.                   the country based on quality-assured
                                                  program to ensure that new and                          The four basic steps of that framework                  and certified ambient-monitoring data
                                                  modified sources not captured by the                    include: (1) Identifying downwind                       and recent air-quality modeling and
                                                  major NSR permitting programs do not                    receptors that are expected to have                     explains the methodology used to
                                                  interfere with attainment and                           problems attaining or maintaining the                   develop these projected design values.
                                                  maintenance of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                    NAAQS; (2) identifying which upwind                     The memorandum also describes how
                                                    We are proposing to find that                         states contribute to these identified                   the projected values can be used to help
                                                  Connecticut has met the requirement to                  problems in amounts sufficient to                       determine which monitors should be
                                                  have a SIP approved minor new source                    warrant further review and analysis; (3)                further evaluated to potentially address
                                                  review permit program as required                       for states identified as contributing to                if emissions from other states
                                                  under Section 110(a)(2)(C) for the 2012                 downwind air quality problems,                          significantly contribute to
                                                                                                          identifying upwind emissions                            nonattainment or interfere with
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                                                                          reductions necessary to prevent an                      maintenance of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
                                                  D. Section 110(a)(2)(D)—Interstate                      upwind state from significantly                         at these monitoring sites. The 2016
                                                  Transport                                               contributing to nonattainment or                        memorandum explained that the
                                                     This section contains a                                                                                      pertinent year for evaluating air quality
                                                  comprehensive set of air quality                          6 For this sub-element only, we are evaluating two
                                                                                                                                                                  for purposes of addressing interstate
                                                  management elements pertaining to the                   Connecticut SIP submittals, the transport SIP for the
                                                                                                          2006 PM2.5 NAAQS submitted on August 19, 2011,
                                                                                                                                                                  transport for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS is
                                                  transport of air pollution with which                   and the infrastructure SIP for the 2012 PM2.5           2021, the attainment deadline for 2012
                                                  states must comply. It covers the                       NAAQS submitted on December 14, 2015.                   PM2.5 NAAQS nonattainment areas


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00035   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                  11938                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  classified as Moderate. Accordingly,                    NAAQS.7 The outputs from these model                  Connecticut are expected to decline
                                                  because the available data included                     runs included hourly concentrations of                over at least the next decade, and there
                                                  2017 and 2025 projected average and                     PM2.5 that were used in conjunction                   are federal and SIP-approved state
                                                  maximum PM2.5 design values                             with measured data to project annual                  regulations in place to control emissions
                                                  calculated through the CAMx                             average PM2.5 design values for 2017                  of PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors.
                                                  photochemical model, the                                and 2025. Areas that were designated as                  Regarding future emissions of PM2.5
                                                  memorandum suggests approaches                          moderate PM2.5 nonattainment areas for                and PM2.5 precursors, Connecticut
                                                  states might use to interpolate PM2.5                   the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS in 2014                   developed comprehensive emissions
                                                  values at sites in 2021.                                must attain the NAAQS by December                     inventories in collaboration with other
                                                                                                          31, 2021, or as expeditiously as                      states in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast
                                                     For all but one monitor site in the                  practicable. Although neither the                     Visibility Union (MANE–VU). Results
                                                  eastern United States, the modeling data                available 2017 nor 2025 future-year                   indicate that total emissions of PM2.5
                                                  provided in the 2016 memorandum                         modeling data corresponds directly to                 and PM2.5 precursors are projected to
                                                  showed that monitors were expected to                   the future-year attainment deadline for               decrease significantly between 2007 and
                                                  both attain and maintain the 2012 PM2.5                 moderate PM2.5 nonattainment areas,                   2025 in New Haven and Fairfield
                                                  NAAQS in both 2017 and 2025. The                        EPA believes that the modeling                        counties in southwestern Connecticut,
                                                  modeling results project that this one                  information is still helpful for                      the area of the state that historically has
                                                  monitor, the Liberty monitor, (ID                       identifying potential nonattainment and               had the highest monitored PM2.5 levels.8
                                                  number 420030064), located in                           maintenance receptors in the 2017–2021                   EPA analyzed the state’s August 19,
                                                  Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, will                    period. Assessing downwind PM2.5 air-                 2011 and December 14, 2015 SIP
                                                  be above the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS                    quality problems based on estimates of                submittals to determine whether they
                                                  in 2017, but only under the model’s                     air-quality concentrations in a future                fully address the prong 1 and 2
                                                  maximum projected conditions, which                     year aligned with the relevant                        transport provisions with respect to the
                                                  are used in EPA’s interstate transport                  attainment deadline is consistent with                2006 and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. As
                                                  framework to identify maintenance                       the instructions from the United States               discussed below, EPA concludes that
                                                  receptors. The Liberty monitor (along                   Court of Appeals for the District of                  emissions of PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors
                                                  with all the other Allegheny County                     Columbia Circuit in North Carolina v.                 in Connecticut will not significantly
                                                  monitors) is projected to both attain and               EPA, 531 F.3d 896, 911–12 (D.C. Cir.                  contribute to nonattainment or interfere
                                                  maintain the NAAQS in 2025. The 2016                    2008) that upwind emission reductions                 with maintenance of the 2006 or 2012
                                                  memorandum suggests that under such                     should be harmonized, to the extent                   PM2.5 NAAQS in any other state.
                                                  a condition (again, where EPA’s                         possible, with the attainment deadlines               Analysis of Connecticut’s Submission
                                                  photochemical modeling indicates an                     for downwind areas.                                   for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS
                                                  area will maintain the 2012 annual                      Connecticut’s Submissions for Prongs 1                   With respect to the 2006 PM2.5
                                                  PM2.5 NAAQS in 2025, but not in 2017),                  and 2                                                 NAAQS, EPA’s analysis in the 2011
                                                  further analysis of the site should be                                                                        CSAPR rulemaking determined that
                                                                                                             On September 18, 2009, CT DEEP
                                                  performed to determine if the site may                  submitted an infrastructure SIP for the               Connecticut’s impact to all downwind
                                                  be a nonattainment or maintenance                       2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, which included                      receptors would be below the 1%
                                                  receptor in 2021 (which, again, is the                  transport provisions that addressed                   contribution threshold for this NAAQS
                                                  attainment deadline for moderate PM2.5                  prongs 1 and 2 with respect to the 2006               (i.e., 0.15 mg/m3), indicating that the
                                                  areas). The memorandum also indicates                   PM2.5 NAAQS. However, on January 7,                   state will not significantly contribute to
                                                  that for certain states with incomplete                 2011, CT DEEP withdrew the transport                  nonattainment or interfere with
                                                  ambient monitoring data, additional                     portion of this 2009 SIP. On August 19,               maintenance for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS
                                                  information including the latest                        2011, Connecticut submitted a revised                 in any downwind state. As noted above,
                                                  available data, should be analyzed to                   SIP that replaced the portions of the                 EPA previously determined that states
                                                  determine whether there are potential                   state’s submission that were previously               can rely on EPA’s CSAPR analysis for
                                                  downwind air quality problems that                      withdrawn. The state’s revised SIP                    the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. Accordingly, as
                                                  may be impacted by transported                          relied on EPA’s analysis performed for                EPA has already concluded that
                                                  emissions. This rulemaking considers                    the CSAPR rulemaking to conclude that                 Connecticut will not significantly
                                                  these analyses for Connecticut, as well                 the state will not significantly                      contribute to nonattainment or interfere
                                                  as additional analysis conducted by                     contribute to nonattainment or interfere              with maintenance of the 2006 PM2.5
                                                  EPA during review of Connecticut’s                      with maintenance of the NAAQS in any                  NAAQS, we do not need to reevaluate
                                                  submittals.                                             downwind area.                                        Connecticut’s Good Neighbor obligation
                                                                                                             On December 14, 2015, CT DEEP                      with respect to this NAAQS.
                                                     To develop the projected values                                                                            Consequently, EPA is proposing to
                                                  presented in the memorandum, EPA                        submitted an infrastructure SIP for the
                                                                                                          2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. This submission                     approve Connecticut’s August 8, 2011,
                                                  used the results of nationwide                                                                                SIP submission with regard to prongs 1
                                                  photochemical air-quality modeling that                 addressed prongs 1 and 2 of the
                                                                                                          interstate transport requirements. Based              and 2 for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  it recently performed to support several
                                                  rulemakings related to the ozone                        on information given in Attachment D                  Analysis of Connecticut’s Submission
                                                  NAAQS. Base-year modeling was                           of its SIP submission, Connecticut                    for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  performed for 2011. Future-year                         concluded that it does not contribute
                                                                                                                                                                  As noted above, the modeling
                                                  modeling was performed for 2017 to                      significantly to nonattainment or
                                                                                                                                                                discussed in EPA’s 2016 memorandum
                                                  support the proposed CSAPR Update for                   interfere with maintenance of the 2012                identified one potential maintenance
                                                                                                          annual PM2.5 NAAQS in any other state                 receptor for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS at
                                                  the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. See 80 FR
                                                                                                          because projected emissions of PM2.5
                                                  75705 (December 3, 2015). Future-year
                                                                                                          and PM2.5 precursors (NOX and SO2) in
                                                  modeling was also performed for 2025                                                                             8 ‘‘Connecticut’s PM
                                                                                                                                                                                        2.5 Redesignation Request and
                                                                                                                                                                Maintenance Plan, Technical Support Document,’’
                                                  to support the Regulatory Impact                         7 See 2015 ozone NAAQS RIA at: https://              (June 22, 2012). Included in the docket for this
                                                  Assessment of the final 2015 Ozone                      www3.epa.gov/ttnecas1/docs/20151001ria.pdf.           notice.



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00036   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                   11939

                                                  the Liberty monitor (ID number                          have consistently been 2–4 mg/m3 higher               downward trend in monitored PM2.5
                                                  420030064), located in Allegheny                        than other monitors in Allegheny                      concentrations all indicate that the
                                                  County. The memorandum also                             County.                                               Liberty monitor will attain and be able
                                                  identified certain states with incomplete                  Specifically, previous CSAPR                       to maintain the 2012 annual PM2.5
                                                  ambient monitoring data as areas that                   modeling showed that regional                         NAAQS by 2021. See proposed approval
                                                  may require further analysis to                         emissions from upwind states,                         of the Ohio Infrastructure SIP (82 FR
                                                  determine whether there are potential                   particularly SO2 and NOx emissions,                   57689).
                                                  downwind air quality problems that                      contribute to PM2.5 nonattainment at the                 As noted in the 2016 memorandum,
                                                  may be impacted by transported                          Liberty monitor. In recent years, large               several states have had recent data-
                                                  emissions.                                              SO2 and NOX reductions from power                     quality issues identified as part of the
                                                     While developing the 2011 CSAPR                      plants have occurred in Pennsylvania                  PM2.5 designations process. In
                                                  rulemaking, EPA modeled the impacts                     and states upwind from the Greater                    particular, some ambient PM2.5 data for
                                                  of all 38 eastern states in its modeling                Pittsburgh region. Pennsylvania’s energy              certain time periods between 2009 and
                                                  domain on fine particulate matter                       sector emissions of SO2 will have                     2013 in Florida, Illinois, Idaho,
                                                  concentrations at downwind receptors                    decreased 166,000 tons between 2015–                  Tennessee, and Kentucky did not meet
                                                  in other states in the 2012 analysis year               2017 as a result of CSAPR                             all data-quality requirements under 40
                                                  in order to evaluate the contribution of                implementation. This is due to both the               CFR part 50, appendix L. The lack of
                                                  upwind states on downwind states with                   installation of emissions controls and                data means that the relevant areas in
                                                  respect to the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5.                     retirements of electric generating units              those states could potentially be in
                                                  Although the modeling was not                           (EGUs). Projected power plant closures                nonattainment or be maintenance
                                                  conducted for purposes of analyzing                     and additional emissions controls in                  receptors in 2021. However, as
                                                  upwind states’ impacts on downwind                      Pennsylvania and upwind states will                   mentioned above, EPA’s analysis for the
                                                  receptors with respect to the 2012 PM2.5                help further reduce both direct PM2.5                 2011 CSAPR rulemaking with respect to
                                                  NAAQS, the contribution analysis for                    and PM2.5 precursors. Regional emission               the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS determined that
                                                  the 1997 and 2006 standards can be                      reductions will continue to occur from                Connecticut’s impact to all these
                                                  informative for evaluating Connecticut’s                current on-the-books federal and state                downwind receptors would be well
                                                  compliance with the Good Neighbor                       regulations such as the federal on-road               below the 1% contribution threshold for
                                                  provision for the 2012 standard.                        and non-road vehicle programs, and                    this NAAQS. That conclusion informs
                                                     This CSAPR modeling showed that                      various rules for major stationary                    the analysis of Connecticut’s
                                                  Connecticut had a very small impact                     emissions sources. See proposed                       contributions for purposes of the 2012
                                                  (0.005 mg/m3) on the Liberty monitor in                 approval of the Ohio Infrastructure SIP               PM2.5 NAAQS as well. Given this, and
                                                  Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which                   for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS (82 FR                       the fact, discussed below, that the state’s
                                                  is the only out-of-state monitor that may               57689; December 7, 2017).                             PM2.5 design values for all ambient
                                                  be a nonattainment or maintenance                          In addition to regional emissions                  monitors have declined since 2009–
                                                  receptor in 2021. Although EPA has not                  reductions and plant closures,                        2013, EPA concludes that it is highly
                                                  proposed a particular threshold for                     additional local reductions to both                   unlikely that Connecticut significantly
                                                  evaluating the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, EPA                    direct PM2.5 and SO2 emissions are                    contributes to nonattainment or
                                                  notes that Connecticut’s impact on the                  expected to occur and should contribute               interferes with maintenance of the 2012
                                                  Liberty monitor is far below the                        to further declines in Allegheny                      PM2.5 NAAQS in areas with data-quality
                                                  threshold of 1% for the annual 2012                     County’s PM2.5 monitor concentrations.                issues.10
                                                  PM2.5 NAAQS (i.e., 0.12 mg/m3) that                     For example, significant SO2 reductions                  Additional information in
                                                  EPA previously used to evaluate the                     have recently occurred at US Steel’s                  Connecticut’s 2015 SIP submission
                                                  contribution of upwind states to                        integrated steel mill facilities in                   corroborates EPA’s proposed conclusion
                                                  downwind air-quality monitors. (A                       southern Allegheny County as part of a                that Connecticut’s SIP meets its Good
                                                  spreadsheet showing CSAPR                               1-hr SO2 NAAQS SIP.9 Reductions are                   Neighbor obligations. First,
                                                  contributions for ozone and PM2.5 is                    largely due to declining sulfur content               Connecticut’s emissions are decreasing,
                                                  included in docket EPA–HQ–OAR–                          in the Clairton Coke Work’s coke oven                 as indicated in a technical analysis of
                                                  2009–0491–4228.) Therefore, even if the                 gas (COG). Because this COG is burned                 the state’s interstate transport of
                                                  Liberty monitor were considered a                       at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works,                  pollution relative to the 2012 annual
                                                  receptor for purposes of transport, the                 Irvin Mill, and Edgar Thompson Steel                  PM2.5 NAAQS, which was included in
                                                  EPA proposes to conclude that                           Mill, these reductions in sulfur content              the 2015 submittal. The technical
                                                  Connecticut will not significantly                      should contribute to much lower PM2.5                 analysis includes Connecticut’s 2014
                                                  contribute to nonattainment, or interfere               precursor emissions in the immediate                  PM2.5 design values; design-value trends
                                                  with maintenance, of the 2012 PM2.5                     future. The Allegheny SO2 SIP also                    over the last decade for Connecticut and
                                                  NAAQS at that monitor.                                  projects lower SO2 emissions resulting                the nearby states of New York, New
                                                     In addition, the Liberty monitor is                  from vehicle fuel standards, reductions               Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode
                                                  already close to attaining the 2012 PM2.5               in general emissions due to declining                 Island; as well as other factors such as
                                                  NAAQS, and expected emissions                           population in the Greater Pittsburgh                  meteorology and emissions projections.
                                                  reductions in the next four years will                  region, and several shutdowns of                      Design values for Connecticut and
                                                  lead to additional reductions in                        significant sources of emissions in                   nearby states have shown a declining
                                                  measured PM2.5 concentrations. There                                                                          trend and have remained in compliance
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                          Allegheny County.
                                                  are both local and regional components                     EPA modeling projections, the recent               with the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS since 2011.
                                                  to measured PM2.5 levels. All monitors                  downward trend in local and upwind                    Emissions projections show continuing
                                                  in Allegheny County have a regional                     emissions reductions, the expected
                                                  component, with the Liberty monitor                     continued downward trend in emissions                   10 Connecticut’s PM
                                                                                                                                                                                      2.5 design values for all

                                                  most strongly influenced by local                                                                             ambient monitors from 2004–2006 through 2013–
                                                                                                          between 2017 and 2021, and the                        2015 are available on Table 6 of the 2015 Design
                                                  sources. This is confirmed by the fact                                                                        Value Report at https://19january2017
                                                  that annual average measured                             9 http://www.achd.net/air/pubs/SIPs/SO _2010_
                                                                                                                                                 2              snapshot.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-design-
                                                  concentrations at the Liberty monitor                   NAAQS_SIP_9-14-2017.pdf.                              values_.html.



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00037   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                  11940                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  maintenance of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS                     and proposes to determine that                        SIP was approved by EPA on July 10,
                                                  in Connecticut and the nearby states.                   Connecticut will not significantly                    2014 (79 FR 39322). Accordingly, EPA
                                                  Connecticut’s technical analysis also                   contribute to nonattainment or interfere              proposes that Connecticut has met the
                                                  refers to emissions projections through                 with maintenance of the 2006 or 2012                  visibility protection requirements of
                                                  2025 for the southwestern portion of                    PM2.5 NAAQS in any other state.                       110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) for the 2012 PM2.5
                                                  Connection, the area that historically                  Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve                NAAQS.
                                                  has had the highest monitored PM2.5                     the August 2011 and December 2015
                                                                                                                                                                Sub-Element 4: Section
                                                  levels. These projections were part of                  infrastructure SIP submissions from
                                                                                                                                                                110(a)(2)(D)(ii)—Interstate Pollution
                                                  the state’s 10-year (ending in 2025)                    Connecticut addressing prongs 1 and 2
                                                                                                                                                                Abatement
                                                  maintenance plan for the 1997 annual                    of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) for the
                                                  and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS that                       2006 and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS,                               This sub-element requires each SIP to
                                                  was approved by EPA on September 24,                    respectively.                                         contain provisions requiring compliance
                                                  2013. See 78 FR 58467. In southwestern                                                                        with requirements of section 126
                                                                                                          Sub-Element 2: Section                                relating to interstate pollution
                                                  Connecticut, emissions of PM2.5, NOX                    110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)—PSD (Prong 3)
                                                  and SO2 were projected to decrease by                                                                         abatement. Section 126(a) requires new
                                                  22%, 52% and 43%, respectively,                           To prevent significant deterioration of             or modified sources to notify
                                                  between 2007 and 2025, and similar                      air quality, this sub-element requires                neighboring states of potential impacts
                                                  levels of reductions were projected for                 SIPs to include provisions that prohibit              from the source. The statute does not
                                                  the rest of the state. This technical                   any source or other type of emissions                 specify the method by which the source
                                                  analysis is supported by additional                     activity in one state from interfering                should provide the notification. States
                                                  indications that the state’s air quality is             with measures that are required in any                with SIP-approved PSD programs must
                                                  improving and emissions are falling,                    other state’s SIP under Part C of the                 have a provision requiring such
                                                  including certified annual PM2.5                        CAA. One way for a state to meet this                 notification by new or modified sources.
                                                  monitor values recorded since                           requirement, specifically with respect to                EPA approved revisions to
                                                  Connecticut’s 2015 submittal, with the                  in-state sources and pollutants that are              Connecticut’s PSD program on July 24,
                                                  highest value in 2015 being 9.9 mg/m3 at                subject to PSD permitting, is through a               2015 (80 FR 43960), including the
                                                  a monitor in Hartford and the highest                   comprehensive PSD permitting program                  element pertaining to notification to
                                                  value in 2016 being 9.4 mg/m3 at a                      that applies to all regulated NSR                     neighboring states of the issuance of
                                                  monitor in Bridgeport, with further                     pollutants and that satisfies the                     PSD permits. Therefore, we propose to
                                                                                                          requirements of EPA’s PSD                             approve Connecticut’s compliance with
                                                  statewide declines indicated by 2017
                                                                                                          implementation rules. For in-state                    the infrastructure SIP requirements of
                                                  preliminary results.11 In addition, as
                                                                                                          sources not subject to PSD, this                      section 126(a) with respect to the 2012
                                                  reported in EPA’s Clean Air Markets
                                                                                                          requirement can be satisfied through an               PM2.5 NAAQS. Connecticut has no
                                                  Program database, actual ozone-season
                                                                                                          approved NNSR program with respect to                 obligations under any other provision of
                                                  NOX emissions from EGUs in
                                                                                                          any previous NAAQS.                                   section 126.
                                                  Connecticut from 2011 through 2017 fell                   Connecticut updated RCSA Section
                                                  from 858 to 430 tons, a 50-percent drop.                22a–174–3a(k) and 3a(i) effective April               Sub-Element 5: Section
                                                     Second, Connecticut’s sources are                    2014. EPA approved these changes on                   110(a)(2)(D)(ii)—International Pollution
                                                  well-controlled. Connecticut’s 2015                     July 24, 2015 (80 FR 43960). These                    Abatement
                                                  submission indicates that the SIP                       regulations contain provisions for how                  This sub-element requires each SIP to
                                                  contains the following major                            the state must treat and control sources              contain provisions requiring compliance
                                                  requirements related to the interstate                  in nonattainment areas, consistent with               with the applicable requirements of
                                                  transport of pollution: RCSA section                    40 CFR 51.165, or appendix S to 40 CFR                section 115 relating to international
                                                  22a–174–2a (NSR program, including                      51.                                                   pollution abatement. Connecticut does
                                                  notification of nearby states of major                                                                        not have any pending obligations under
                                                  source permits and modifications),                      Sub-Element 3: Section
                                                                                                                                                                section 115 for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  RCSA section 22a–174–3a (PSD and                        110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)—Visibility Protection
                                                                                                                                                                Therefore, EPA is proposing that
                                                  NSR requirements, including modeling                    (Prong 4)
                                                                                                                                                                Connecticut has met the applicable
                                                  to that ensure new and modified sources                   With regard to applicable                           infrastructure SIP requirements of
                                                  do not cause or contribute to PSD or                    requirements for visibility protection of             section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) related to section
                                                  NAAQS issues in nearby states). These                   section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), states are               115 of the CAA (international pollution
                                                  rules were approved by EPA on July 24,                  subject to visibility and regional-haze               abatement) for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  2015, and became effective on                           program requirements under part C of
                                                  September 22, 2015. See 80 FR 43960.                    the CAA (which includes sections 169A                 E. Section 110(a)(2)(E)—Adequate
                                                     It should also be noted that                         and 169B). The 2009 guidance, 2011                    Resources
                                                  Connecticut is not in the CSAPR                         guidance, and 2013 guidance                             This section requires each state to
                                                  program because EPA analyses show                       recommend that these requirements can                 provide for personnel, funding, and
                                                  that the state no longer emits ozone-                   be satisfied by an approved SIP                       legal authority under state law to carry
                                                  season NOX at a level that contributes                  addressing reasonably attributable                    out its SIP and related issues. In
                                                  significantly to non-attainment or                      visibility impairment, if required, or an             addition, Section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)
                                                  interferes with maintenance of the 1997                 approved SIP addressing regional haze.                requires each state to comply with the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in any other                       A fully approved regional haze SIP                    requirements with respect to state
                                                  state.                                                  meeting the requirements of 40 CFR                    boards under section 128. Finally,
                                                     For the reasons explained herein, EPA                51.308 will ensure that emissions from                section 110(a)(2)(E)(iii) requires that,
                                                  agrees with Connecticut’s conclusions                   sources under an air agency’s                         where a state relies upon local or
                                                    11 24-hour and annual PM
                                                                                                          jurisdiction are not interfering with                 regional governments or agencies for the
                                                                              2.5 monitor values for
                                                  individual monitoring sites throughout Connecticut
                                                                                                          measures required to be included in                   implementation of its SIP provisions,
                                                  are available at https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-       other air agencies’ plans to protect                  the state retain responsibility for
                                                  quality-data/monitor-values-report.                     visibility. Connecticut’s Regional Haze               ensuring implementation of SIP


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00038   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                              11941

                                                  obligations with respect to relevant                    responsibilities as prescribed in the                 availability of information) emissions
                                                  NAAQS. However, this sub-element                        laws of’’ Connecticut.                                data are to be available to the public and
                                                  does not apply to this action because                     Connecticut submitted CGS § 1–85 for                are not entitled to protection as a trade
                                                  Connecticut does not rely upon local or                 incorporation into the SIP on December                secret. See 37 FR 23085 (October 28,
                                                  regional governments or agencies for the                28, 2012, with its infrastructure SIP for             1972). EPA recognizes that Connecticut
                                                  implementation of its SIP provisions.                   the 2008 ozone NAAQS. We approved                     routinely collects information on air
                                                                                                          this statute into the Connecticut SIP on              emissions from its industrial sources
                                                  Sub-Element 1: Adequate Personnel,                      June 3, 2016 (81 FR 35636). Therefore,                and makes this information available to
                                                  Funding, and Legal Authority Under                      Connecticut has met the applicable                    the public. In addition, RCSA § 22a–
                                                  State Law To Carry Out Its SIP, and                     infrastructure SIP requirements for this              174–10 requires that emission data
                                                  Related Issues                                          section of 110(a)(2)(E) for the 2012 PM2.5            made public by CT DEEP shall be
                                                    Connecticut, through its infrastructure               NAAQS.                                                presented in such a manner as to show
                                                  SIP submittal, has documented that its                                                                        the relationship (or correlation) between
                                                  air agency has authority and resources                  F. Section 110(a)(2)(F)—Stationary
                                                                                                          Source Monitoring System                              measured emissions and the applicable
                                                  to carry out its SIP obligations. CGS                                                                         emission limitations or standards, as
                                                  § 22a–171 authorizes the CT DEEP                          States must establish a system to                   required by CAA § 110(a)(2)(F)(iii).
                                                  Commissioner to enforce the state’s air                 monitor emissions from stationary                       Therefore, EPA proposes that
                                                  laws, accept and administer grants, and                 sources and submit periodic emissions                 Connecticut has met the infrastructure
                                                  exercise incidental powers necessary to                 reports. Each plan shall also require the             SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(F)
                                                  carry out the law. The Connecticut SIP,                 installation, maintenance, and                        with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  as originally submitted on March 3,                     replacement of equipment, and the
                                                  1972, and subsequently amended,                         implementation of other necessary                     G. Section 110(a)(2)(G)—Emergency
                                                  provides additional descriptions of the                 steps, by owners or operators of                      Powers
                                                  organizations, staffing, funding and                    stationary sources to monitor emissions                  This section requires that a plan
                                                  physical resources necessary to carry                   from such sources. The state plan shall               provide for state authority analogous to
                                                  out the plan. EPA proposes that                         also require periodic reports on the                  that provided to the EPA Administrator
                                                  Connecticut has met the infrastructure                  nature and amounts of emissions and                   in section 303 of the CAA, and adequate
                                                  SIP requirements of this portion of                     emissions-related data from such                      contingency plans to implement such
                                                  section 110(a)(2)(E) with respect to the                sources, and correlation of such reports              authority. Section 303 of the CAA
                                                  2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                                       by each state agency with any emission                provides authority to the EPA
                                                                                                          limitations or standards established                  Administrator to seek a court order to
                                                  Sub-Element 2: State Board                              pursuant to this chapter. Lastly, the                 restrain any source from causing or
                                                  Requirements Under Section 128 of the                   reports shall be available at reasonable              contributing to emissions that present
                                                  CAA                                                     times for public inspection.                          an ‘‘imminent and substantial
                                                    Section 110(a)(2)(E) also requires each                 CGS § 22a–6(a)(5) authorizes the                    endangerment to public health or
                                                  SIP to contain provisions that comply                   Commissioner to enter at all reasonable               welfare, or the environment.’’ Section
                                                  with the state board requirements of                    times, any public or private property                 303 further authorizes the Administrator
                                                  section 128 of the CAA. That provision                  (except a private residence) to                       to issue ‘‘such orders as may be
                                                  contains two explicit requirements: (1)                 investigate possible violations of any                necessary to protect public health or
                                                  That any board or body which approves                   statute, regulation, order or permit.                 welfare or the environment’’ in the
                                                  permits or enforcement orders under                     Additionally, CGS § 22a–174 authorizes                event that ‘‘it is not practicable to assure
                                                  this chapter shall have at least a                      the Commissioner to require periodic                  prompt protection . . . by
                                                  majority of members who represent the                   inspection of sources of air pollution                commencement of such civil action.’’
                                                  public interest and do not derive any                   and to require any person to maintain,                   Connecticut’s submittal notes that
                                                  significant portion of their income from                and to submit to CT DEEP, certain                     CGS § 22a–181 (Emergency action)
                                                  persons subject to permits and                          records relating to air pollution or to the           authorizes the Commissioner of the CT
                                                  enforcement orders under this chapter,                  operation of facilities designed to abate             DEEP to issue an order requiring any
                                                  and (2) that any potential conflicts of                 air pollution. For monitoring possible                person to immediately reduce or
                                                  interest by members of such board or                    air violations, CT DEEP implements                    discontinue air pollution as required to
                                                  body or the head of an executive agency                 RCSA § 22a–174–4 (Source monitoring,                  protect the public health or safety. In
                                                  with similar powers be adequately                       record keeping and reporting) to require              addition, in a letter dated August 5,
                                                  disclosed.                                              the installation, maintenance, and use of             2015, Connecticut specified that CGS
                                                    In Connecticut, no board or body                      emissions monitoring devices and to                   § 22a–7 grants the Commissioner the
                                                  approves permits or enforcement orders;                 require periodic reporting to the                     authority, whenever he finds ‘‘that any
                                                  these are approved by the Commissioner                  Commissioner of the nature and extent                 person is causing, engaging in or
                                                  of CT DEEP. Thus, Connecticut is                        of the emissions. Section 22a–174–4 has               maintaining, or is about to cause, engage
                                                  subject only to the requirements of                     been approved into the SIP. See 79 FR                 in or maintain, any condition or activity
                                                  paragraph (a)(2) of section 128 of the                  41427 (July 16, 2014). Additionally, CT               which, in his judgment, will result in or
                                                  CAA. Infrastructure SIPs submitted by                   DEEP implements RCSA § 22a–175–5                      is likely to result in imminent and
                                                  Connecticut include descriptions of                     (Methods for sampling, emissions                      substantial damage to the environment,
                                                  conflict-of-interest provisions in CGS                  testing, sample analysis, and reporting),             or to public health within the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  § 1–85, which applies to all state                      which provides, among other things,                   jurisdiction of the commissioner under
                                                  employees and public officials. Section                 specific test methods to be used to                   the provisions of chapter . . . 446c [Air
                                                  1–85 prevents the Commissioner from                     demonstrate compliance with various                   Pollution Control] . . . [to] issue a cease
                                                  acting on a matter in which the                         aspects of Connecticut’s air regulations,             and desist order in writing to such
                                                  Commissioner has an interest that is ‘‘in               and this rule has also been approved                  person to discontinue, abate or alleviate
                                                  substantial conflict with the proper                    into the SIP. See 46 FR 43418                         such condition or activity.’’ This section
                                                  discharge of his duties or employment                   (December 19, 1980). Furthermore,                     further provides the Commissioner with
                                                  in the public interest and of his                       under RCSA § 22a–174–10 (Public                       the authority to seek a court ‘‘to enjoin


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00039   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                  11942                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  any person from violating a cease and                   Advisory through the normal NWS                       industries and any other affected groups
                                                  desist order issued pursuant to                         weather alert system.                                 in matters relating to air quality.
                                                  [§ 22a–7] and to compel compliance                        Therefore, EPA proposes that                        Additionally, CGS § 22a–171, which
                                                  with such order.’’                                      Connecticut through the combination of                was approved into Connecticut’s SIP (81
                                                     We propose to find that RCSA § 22a–                  statutes and regulations discussed                    FR 35636; June 3, 2016), directs the
                                                  174–6, along with CGS § 22a–181,                        above, and participation in EPA’s                     Commissioner to initiate and supervise
                                                  provide for authority comparable to that                AirNow program, has met the applicable                state-wide programs of air pollution
                                                  in section 303.                                         infrastructure SIP requirements of                    control education and to adopt, amend,
                                                     Section 110(a)(2)(G) requires a state to             section 110(a)(2)(G) with respect to the              repeal and enforce air regulations.
                                                  submit for EPA approval a contingency                   2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                                       Furthermore, RCSA § 22a–174–2a,
                                                  plan to implement the air agency’s                                                                            which has been approved into
                                                                                                          H. Section 110(a)(2)(H)—Future SIP
                                                  emergency episode authority for any Air                                                                       Connecticut’s SIP (80 FR 43960; July 24,
                                                                                                          Revisions
                                                  Quality Control Region (AQCR) within                                                                          2015), directs CT DEEP to notify
                                                  the state that is classified as Priority I,               This section requires that a state’s SIP            relevant municipal officials and FLMs,
                                                  IA, or II for certain pollutants, See 40                provide for revision from time to time                among others, of tentative
                                                  CFR 51.150. This requirement may be                     as may be necessary to take account of                determinations by CT DEEP with
                                                  satisfied by submitting a plan that meets               changes in the NAAQS or availability of               respect to certain permits.
                                                  the applicable requirements of 40 CFR                   improved methods for attaining the                      EPA proposes that Connecticut has
                                                  part 51, subpart H (40 CFR 51.150                       NAAQS and whenever the EPA finds                      met the infrastructure SIP requirements
                                                  through 51.153) (‘‘Prevention of Air                    that the SIP is substantially inadequate.             of this portion of section 110(a)(2)(J)
                                                  Pollution Emergency Episodes’’) for the                   Connecticut certifies that its SIP may              with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  relevant NAAQS, and, indeed,                            be revised should EPA find that it is
                                                                                                          substantially inadequate to attain a                  Sub-Element 2: Public Notification
                                                  Connecticut has ‘‘Air pollution
                                                                                                          standard or to comply with any                          Section 110(a)(2)(J) also requires
                                                  emergency episode procedures’’ at
                                                                                                          additional requirements under the CAA                 states to notify the public if NAAQS are
                                                  RCSA § 22a–174–6 that EPA has
                                                                                                          and notes that CGS § 22a–174(d) grants                exceeded in an area, advise the public
                                                  previously evaluated and approved as
                                                                                                          the Commissioner all incidental powers                of health hazards associated with
                                                  satisfying the requirements of Section
                                                                                                          necessary to control and prohibit air                 exceedances, and enhance public
                                                  110(a)(2)(G) in the context of SOX and
                                                                                                          pollution. EPA proposes that                          awareness of measures that can be taken
                                                  ozone. See 81 FR 35636 (June 3, 2016);
                                                                                                          Connecticut has met the infrastructure                to prevent exceedances and of ways in
                                                  80 FR 54471 (Sept. 10, 2015). PM2.5,
                                                                                                          SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(H)              which the public can participate in
                                                  however, is not explicitly included in
                                                                                                          with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                 regulatory and other efforts to improve
                                                  the contingency plan requirements of 40
                                                                                                                                                                air quality.
                                                  CFR part 51, subpart H, and, thus, a                    I. Section 110(a)(2)(I)—Nonattainment                   As part of the fulfillment of CGS
                                                  contingency plan satisfying the                         Area Plan or Plan Revisions Under                     § 22a–171 (Duties of Commissioner of
                                                  provisions of subpart H is not required.                Part D                                                Energy and Environmental Protection),
                                                  For PM2.5, EPA’s 2009 guidance                             The CAA requires that each plan or                 Connecticut issues press releases and
                                                  recommends instead that states develop                  plan revision for an area designated as               posts warnings on its website advising
                                                  emergency episode plans for any area                    a nonattainment area meet the                         people what they can do to help prevent
                                                  that has monitored and recorded 24-                     applicable requirements of part D of the              NAAQS exceedances and avoid adverse
                                                  hour PM2.5 levels greater than 140 mg/m3                CAA. Part D relates to nonattainment                  health effects on poor air quality days.
                                                  since 2006. EPA’s review of                             areas. EPA has determined that section                Connecticut is also an active partner in
                                                  Connecticut’s certified air quality data                110(a)(2)(I) is not applicable to the                 EPA’s AirNow and Enviroflash air
                                                  in EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS)                       infrastructure SIP process. Instead, EPA              quality alert programs. In addition, in
                                                  indicates that the highest 24-hour PM2.5                takes action on part D attainment plans               2014, Connecticut revised CGS § 4–168
                                                  level recorded since 2006 was 57.5 mg/                  through separate processes.                           to require that state regulations be
                                                  m3, which was recorded at a monitor in                                                                        submitted through the state’s e-
                                                  Bridgeport on January 1, 2011. And, as                  J. Section 110(a)(2)(J)—Consultation
                                                                                                                                                                regulations system, thus creating an
                                                  noted earlier, Connecticut has general                  With Government Officials; Public
                                                                                                                                                                additional way for the public to access
                                                  authority to order a source to reduce or                Notifications; Prevention of Significant
                                                                                                                                                                any changes to state regulations.
                                                  discontinue air pollution as required to                Deterioration; Visibility Protection                    EPA proposes that Connecticut has
                                                  protect the public health or safety or the                 The evaluation of the submission                   met the infrastructure SIP requirements
                                                  environment.                                            from Connecticut with respect to the                  of this portion of section 110(a)(2)(J)
                                                     Connecticut also, as a matter of                     requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(J)              with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  practice, posts on the internet daily                   is described below.
                                                  forecasted ozone and fine particle levels                                                                     Sub-Element 3: PSD
                                                  through the EPA AirNow and EPA                          Sub-Element 1: Consultation With                        States must meet applicable
                                                  EnviroFlash systems. Information                        Government Officials                                  requirements of section 110(a)(2)(C)
                                                  regarding these two systems is available                  States must provide a process for                   related to PSD. Connecticut’s PSD
                                                  on EPA’s website at www.airnow.gov.                     consultation with local governments                   program in the context of infrastructure
                                                  Notices are sent out to EnviroFlash                     and Federal Land Managers (FLMs)                      SIPs has already been discussed in the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  participants when levels are forecast to                carrying out NAAQS implementation                     paragraphs addressing sections
                                                  exceed the current 8-hour ozone or 24-                  requirements.                                         110(a)(2)(C) and 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) and
                                                  hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, when                       CGS § 22a–171 (Duties of                            satisfies the requirements of EPA’s PSD
                                                  levels are expected to exceed the ozone                 Commissioner of Energy and                            implementation rules.
                                                  or PM2.5 NAAQS in Connecticut, the                      Environmental Protection) directs the                   We are proposing to approve the
                                                  media are alerted via a press release,                  Commissioner to consult with agencies                 revisions to Connecticut’s PSD program
                                                  and the National Weather Service                        of the United States, agencies of the                 that were submitted on October 18, 2017
                                                  (NWS) is alerted to issue an Air Quality                state, political subdivisions and                     regarding PSD requirements to treat


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:06 Mar 16, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00040   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM   19MRP1


                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                                                               11943

                                                  NOX as a precursor to ozone and to                                          also cites RCSA section 22a–174–3a(i),                                      M. Section 110(a)(2)(M)—Consultation/
                                                  establish a minor source baseline date                                      which authorizes the commissioner to                                        Participation by Affected Local Entities
                                                  for PM2.5 emissions. Consequently, we                                       request any owner or operator to submit
                                                  are proposing to approve the PSD sub-                                       an ambient air-quality impact analysis                                         To satisfy Element M, states must
                                                  element of section 110(a)(2)(J) for the                                     using applicable air quality models and                                     consult with, and allow participation
                                                  2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, consistent with the                                       modeling protocols approved by the                                          from, local political subdivisions
                                                  actions we are proposing for sections                                       commissioner. CT DEEP updated RCSA                                          affected by the SIP. Connecticut’s
                                                  110(a)(2)(C) and 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).                                       Section 22a–174–3a(i), effective April                                      infrastructure submittal references CGS
                                                                                                                              2014, and EPA published a direct final                                      § 4–168 (Notice prior to action on
                                                  Sub-Element 4: Visibility Protection                                                                                                                    regulations), which provides a public
                                                                                                                              rule approving these updates on July 24,
                                                     With regard to the applicable                                            2015. See FR 80 FR 43960.                                                   participation process for all
                                                  requirements for visibility protection,                                       The state also collaborates with the                                      stakeholders that includes a minimum
                                                  states are subject to visibility and                                        Ozone Transport Commission (OTC)                                            of a 30-day comment period and an
                                                  regional haze program requirements                                          and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air                                           opportunity for public hearing for all
                                                  under part C of the CAA (which                                              Management Association and EPA in                                           SIP-related actions.
                                                  includes sections 169A and 169B). In                                        order to perform large-scale urban air                                         Connecticut also notes that monthly
                                                  the event of the establishment of a new                                     shed modeling for ozone and PM, if                                          meetings of the State Implementation
                                                  NAAQS, however, the visibility and                                          necessary. EPA proposes that                                                Plan Revision Advisory Committee
                                                  regional haze program requirements                                          Connecticut has met the infrastructure                                      provide an additional forum for
                                                  under part C do not change. Thus, as                                        SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(K)                                    consultation and participation by the
                                                  noted in EPA’s 2013 guidance, we find                                       with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                                       public and other stakeholders on air-
                                                  that there is no new visibility obligation                                                                                                              quality-related topics.
                                                                                                                              L. Section 110(a)(2)(L)—Permitting Fees
                                                  ‘‘triggered’’ under section 110(a)(2)(J)                                                                                                                   EPA proposes that Connecticut has
                                                  when a new NAAQS becomes effective.                                            This section requires SIPs to mandate
                                                                                                                              that each major stationary source pay                                       met the infrastructure SIP requirements
                                                  In other words, the visibility protection                                                                                                               of section 110(a)(2)(M) with respect to
                                                  requirements of section 110(a)(2)(J) are                                    permitting fees to cover the cost of
                                                                                                                              reviewing, approving, implementing,                                         the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
                                                  not germane to infrastructure SIPs for
                                                  the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                                                       and enforcing a permit.                                                     N. Connecticut Statute Submitted for
                                                                                                                                 EPA’s full approval of Connecticut’s                                     Incorporation Into the SIP
                                                  K. Section 110(a)(2)(K)—Air Quality                                         Title V program became effective on
                                                  Modeling/Data                                                               May 31, 2002. See 67 FR 31966 (May 13,                                        Connecticut’s December 14, 2015,
                                                     To satisfy Element K, the state air                                      2002). To gain this approval,                                               infrastructure SIP submittal for the 2012
                                                  agency must demonstrate that it has the                                     Connecticut demonstrated the ability to                                     PM2.5 NAAQS included a revision of
                                                  authority to perform air quality                                            collect sufficient fees to run the                                          CGS § 16a–21a, ‘‘Sulfur content of home
                                                  modeling to predict effects on air                                          program. CGS § 22a–174(g) directs the                                       heating oil and off-road diesel fuel.
                                                  quality of emissions of any NAAQS                                           Commissioner of CT DEEP to require the                                      Suspension of requirements for
                                                  pollutant and submission of such data                                       payment of a fee sufficient to cover the                                    emergency’’ (see discussion under
                                                  to EPA upon request.                                                        reasonable cost of reviewing and acting                                     element A), EPA is proposing to
                                                     In its submittal, Connecticut indicates                                  upon an application for, and monitoring                                     approve revisions to CGS § 16a–21a into
                                                  that CGS § 22a–5 (Duties and powers of                                      compliance with, any state or federal                                       the Connecticut SIP.
                                                  commissioner) implicitly authorizes the                                     permit, license, registration, order, or                                    IV. Proposed Action
                                                  Commissioner of the CT DEEP to                                              certificate. CT DEEP implements this
                                                  perform air quality modeling to predict                                     directive through state regulations at                                        EPA is proposing to approve the
                                                  effects on air quality of emissions of any                                  RCSA §§ 22a–174–26 and 22a–174–33,                                          elements of the infrastructure SIP
                                                  NAAQS pollutant and to submit such                                          which contain specific requirements                                         submitted by Connecticut on December
                                                  data to EPA upon request. Connecticut                                       related to permit fees, including fees for                                  14, 2015, for the 2012 PM2.5, NAAQS.
                                                  reviews the potential impact of major                                       Title V sources. EPA proposes that                                          Specifically, EPA’s proposed action
                                                  sources consistent with 40 CFR part 51,                                     Connecticut has met the infrastructure                                      regarding each infrastructure SIP
                                                  appendix W, ‘‘Guidelines on Air Quality                                     SIP requirements of section 110(a)(2)(L)                                    requirement are contained in Table 1
                                                  Models.’’ In its submittal, Connecticut                                     with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.                                       below.

                                                        TABLE 1—PROPOSED ACTION ON CONNECTICUT’S INFRASTRUCTURE SIP SUBMITTAL FOR THE 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
                                                                                                                                              Element                                                                                                      2012 PM2.5

                                                  (A): Emission limits and other control measures ................................................................................................................................                            A
                                                  (B): Ambient air quality monitoring and data system ..........................................................................................................................                              A
                                                  (C)1: Enforcement of SIP measures ...................................................................................................................................................                       A
                                                  (C)2: PSD program for major sources and major modifications .........................................................................................................                                       A
                                                  (C)3: PSD program for minor sources and minor modifications .........................................................................................................                                       A
                                                  (D)1: Contribute to nonattainment/interfere with maintenance of NAAQS .........................................................................................                                             A
                                                  (D)2: PSD ............................................................................................................................................................................................      A
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  (D)3: Visibility Protection .....................................................................................................................................................................           A
                                                  (D)4: Interstate Pollution Abatement ...................................................................................................................................................                    A
                                                  (D)5: International Pollution Abatement ..............................................................................................................................................                      A
                                                  (E)1: Adequate resources ...................................................................................................................................................................                A
                                                  (E)2: State boards ...............................................................................................................................................................................          A
                                                  (E)3: Necessary assurances with respect to local agencies ..............................................................................................................                                    NA
                                                  (F): Stationary source monitoring system ...........................................................................................................................................                        A
                                                  (G): Emergency power ........................................................................................................................................................................               A
                                                  (H): Future SIP revisions .....................................................................................................................................................................             A



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014         16:06 Mar 16, 2018          Jkt 244001      PO 00000        Frm 00041        Fmt 4702      Sfmt 4702       E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM               19MRP1


                                                  11944                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                      TABLE 1—PROPOSED ACTION ON CONNECTICUT’S INFRASTRUCTURE SIP SUBMITTAL FOR THE 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS—
                                                                                                  Continued
                                                                                                                                               Element                                                                                                      2012 PM2.5

                                                  (I): Nonattainment area plan or plan revisions under part D ..............................................................................................................                                    +
                                                  (J)1: Consultation with government officials .......................................................................................................................................                          A
                                                  (J)2: Public notification ........................................................................................................................................................................            A
                                                  (J)3: PSD .............................................................................................................................................................................................       A
                                                  (J)4: Visibility protection ......................................................................................................................................................................            +
                                                  (K): Air quality modeling and data ......................................................................................................................................................                     A
                                                  (L): Permitting fees ..............................................................................................................................................................................           A
                                                  (M): Consultation and participation by affected local entities .............................................................................................................                                  A
                                                     In the above table, the key is as follows: A, Approve. NA, Not applicable. +, Not germane to infrastructure SIPs.


                                                     EPA also is proposing to approve the                                     SIP submission that complies with the                                        appropriate, disproportionate human
                                                  transport provisions (Element (D)1 in                                       provisions of the Act and applicable                                         health or environmental effects, using
                                                  Table 1) of Connecticut’s August 2011                                       Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k);                                      practicable and legally permissible
                                                  infrastructure SIP submittal for the 2006                                   40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP                                      methods, under Executive Order 12898
                                                  PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, EPA is                                            submissions, EPA’s role is to approve                                        (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
                                                  proposing to approve, and incorporate                                       state choices, provided that they meet                                          In addition, the SIP is not approved
                                                  into the Connecticut SIP, the following                                     the criteria of the Clean Air Act.                                           to apply on any Indian reservation land
                                                  Connecticut statute, which was                                              Accordingly, this proposed action                                            or in any other area where EPA or an
                                                  included for approval in Connecticut’s                                      merely approves state law as meeting                                         Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
                                                  infrastructure SIP submittal:                                               Federal requirements and does not                                            tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of
                                                     Revisions to CGS § 16a–21a, Sulfur                                       impose additional requirements beyond                                        Indian country, the rule does not have
                                                  content of home heating oil and off-road                                    those imposed by state law. For that                                         tribal implications and will not impose
                                                  diesel fuel. Suspension of requirements                                     reason, this proposed action:                                                substantial direct costs on tribal
                                                  for emergency, effective July 1, 2015.                                         • Is not a significant regulatory action                                  governments or preempt tribal law as
                                                     EPA is also proposing to approve                                         subject to review by the Office of                                           specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
                                                  revisions to the PSD permit program                                         Management and Budget under                                                  FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
                                                  pertaining to treating NOX as a                                             Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
                                                                                                                                                                                                           List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                                  precursor to ozone and establishing a                                       October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
                                                  minor source baseline date for PM2.5.                                       January 21, 2011);                                                             Environmental protection, Air
                                                     EPA is soliciting public comments on                                        • Does not impose an information                                          pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
                                                  the issues discussed in this proposal or                                    collection burden under the provisions                                       Incorporation by reference,
                                                  on other relevant matters. These                                            of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                                           Intergovernmental relations, Lead,
                                                  comments will be considered before                                          U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                                        Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate
                                                  EPA takes final action. Interested parties                                     • Is certified as not having a                                            matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
                                                  may participate in the Federal                                              significant economic impact on a                                             requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
                                                  rulemaking procedure by submitting                                          substantial number of small entities                                         organic compounds.
                                                  comments to this proposed rule by                                           under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                                        Dated: March 8, 2018.
                                                  following the instructions listed in the                                    U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                                         Alexandra Dapolito Dunn,
                                                  ADDRESSES section of this Federal                                              • Does not contain any unfunded
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1.
                                                  Register.                                                                   mandate or significantly or uniquely
                                                                                                                                                                                                           [FR Doc. 2018–05318 Filed 3–16–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                              affect small governments, as described
                                                  V. Incorporation by Reference                                               in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                                          BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

                                                    In this rule, EPA is proposing to                                         of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
                                                  include in a final EPA rule regulatory                                         • Does not have Federalism
                                                                                                                                                                                                           ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                  text that includes incorporation by                                         implications as specified in Executive
                                                                                                                                                                                                           AGENCY
                                                  reference. In accordance with                                               Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                                  requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is                                          1999);                                                                       40 CFR Part 52
                                                  proposing to incorporate by reference                                          • Is not an economically significant
                                                  the Connecticut statute referenced in                                       regulatory action based on health or                                         [EPA–R09–OAR–2017–0760; FRL–9975–
                                                  Section IV above. The EPA has made,                                         safety risks subject to Executive Order                                      61—Region 9]
                                                  and will continue to make, these                                            13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Approval of California Air Plan
                                                  documents generally available                                                  • Is not a significant regulatory action
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Revisions, Antelope Valley Air Quality
                                                  electronically through https://                                             subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Management District
                                                  www.regulations.gov and at the EPA                                          28355, May 22, 2001);
                                                  New England Region 1 Office (please                                            • Is not subject to requirements of                                       AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  contact the person identified in the FOR                                    Section 12(d) of the National                                                Agency (EPA).
                                                  FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of                                      Technology Transfer and Advancement                                          ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                  this preamble for more information).                                        Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
                                                                                                                              application of those requirements would                                      SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection
                                                  VI. Statutory and Executive Order                                           be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;                                      Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a
                                                  Reviews                                                                     and                                                                          revision to the Antelope Valley Air
                                                   Under the Clean Air Act, the                                                  • Does not provide EPA with the                                           Quality Management District
                                                  Administrator is required to approve a                                      discretionary authority to address, as                                       (AVAQMD) portion of the California


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014         16:06 Mar 16, 2018          Jkt 244001       PO 00000       Frm 00042        Fmt 4702       Sfmt 4702       E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM               19MRP1



Document Created: 2018-03-17 04:25:12
Document Modified: 2018-03-17 04:25:12
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesWritten comments must be received on or before April 18, 2018.
ContactAlison C. Simcox, Air Quality Unit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square--Suite 100 (Mail code OEP05-2), Boston, MA 02109-- 3912, tel. (617) 918-1684; [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 11933 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Carbon Monoxide; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; Lead; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Sulfur Oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds

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