83_FR_12751 83 FR 12694 - Approval of California Air Plan Revisions; Butte County Air Quality Management District; Stationary Source Permits

83 FR 12694 - Approval of California Air Plan Revisions; Butte County Air Quality Management District; Stationary Source Permits

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 57 (March 23, 2018)

Page Range12694-12696
FR Document2018-06025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns the District's New Source Review (NSR) permitting program for new and modified sources of air pollution. We are proposing action on a local rule under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 57 (Friday, March 23, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12694-12696]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06025]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R09-OAR-2018-0120; FRL-9975-81--Region 9]


Approval of California Air Plan Revisions; Butte County Air 
Quality Management District; Stationary Source Permits

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a revision to the Butte County Air Quality Management District 
(BCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). 
This revision concerns the District's New Source Review (NSR) 
permitting program for new and modified sources of air pollution. We 
are proposing action on a local rule under the Clean Air Act as amended 
in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and 
plan to follow with a final action.

DATES: Any comments must arrive by April 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
OAR-2018-0120 at http://www.regulations.gov, or via email to T. Khoi 
Nguyen, at [email protected]. For comments submitted at 
Regulations.gov, follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be removed or edited 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 https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: T. Khoi Nguyen, EPA Region IX, (415) 
947-4120, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we,'' ``us'' and 
``our'' refer to the EPA.

Table of Contents

I. The State's Submittal
    A. What rule did the State submit?
    B. Are there other versions of this rule?
    C. What is the purpose of the submitted rule?
II. The EPA's Evaluation and Action
    A. How is the EPA evaluating the rule?
    B. Does the rule meet the evaluation criteria?
    C. Public Comment and Proposed Action
III. Incorporation by Reference
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. The State's Submittal

A. What rule did the State submit?

    Table 1 lists the rule addressed by this proposal with the dates 
that it was amended by the BCAQMD and submitted by the California Air 
Resources Board (CARB), which is the governor's designee for California 
SIP submittals.

                                             Table 1--Submitted Rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Local agency                 Rule No.               Rule title             Amended        Submitted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BCAQMD...........................  432...............  Federal New Source Review         3/23/17         6/12/17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On December 12, 2017, the submittal for the BCAQMD was deemed by 
operation of law to meet the completeness criteria in 40 CFR part 51 
Appendix V, which must be met before formal EPA review.

B. Are there other versions of this rule?

    On December 22, 2016, the EPA finalized a limited approval and 
limited disapproval of Rule 432. 81 FR 93820.

C. What is the purpose of the submitted rule?

    Section 110(a) of the CAA requires states to submit regulations 
that include a pre-construction permit program for certain new or 
modified stationary sources of pollutants, including a permit program 
as required by Part D of Title I of the CAA.
    The purpose of District Rule 432 is to implement a federal 
preconstruction permit program for new and modified minor sources of 
regulated NSR pollutants, and new and modified major sources of 
regulated NSR pollutants for which the area is designated 
nonattainment. BCAQMD is currently designated as a nonattainment area 
for the 2008 8-hr ozone and 2006 24-hr PM2.5 NAAQS. The rule 
revision further corrects a deficiency in which the EPA previously 
finalized a limited disapproval of Rule 432 because we determined that 
the rule does not fully satisfy 40 CFR 51.165(a)(13)'s requirements for 
regulation of PM2.5 precursors as it pertains to ammonia. We 
present our evaluation under the CAA and the EPA's regulations of the 
revised NSR rule submitted by CARB, as identified in Table 1, and 
provide our reasoning in general terms below and a more detailed 
analysis in our technical support document (TSD), which is available in 
the docket for the proposed rulemaking.

II. The EPA's Evaluation and Action

A. How is the EPA evaluating the rule?

    The submitted rule must meet the CAA's general requirements for 
SIPs and SIP revisions in CAA sections 110(a)(2), 110(l), and 193 as 
well as the applicable requirements contained in part D of title I of 
the Act (sections 172 and 173) for a nonattainment NSR permit program. 
In addition, the submitted rule must contain the applicable regulatory 
provisions of 40 CFR 51.160-51.165 and 40 CFR 51.307.
    Among other things, section 110 of the Act requires that SIP rules 
be enforceable and provides that the EPA

[[Page 12695]]

may not approve a SIP revision if it would interfere with any 
applicable requirements concerning attainment and reasonable further 
progress or any other requirement of the CAA. In addition, section 
110(a)(2) and section 110(l) of the Act require that each SIP or 
revision to a SIP submitted by a state must be adopted after reasonable 
notice and public hearing.
    Section 110(a)(2)(c) of the Act requires each SIP to include a 
permit program to regulate the modification and construction of any 
stationary source within the areas covered by the SIP as necessary to 
assure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. The EPA's regulations 
at 40 CFR 51.160-51.164 provide general programmatic requirements to 
implement this statutory mandate commonly referred to as the ``minor 
NSR'' or ``general NSR'' permit program. These NSR program regulations 
impose requirements for SIP approval of state and local programs that 
are more general in nature as compared to the specific statutory and 
regulatory requirements for nonattainment NSR permitting programs under 
Part D of title I of the Act.
    Part D of title I of the Act contains the general requirements for 
areas designated nonattainment for a NAAQS (section 172), including 
preconstruction permit requirements for new major sources and major 
modifications proposing to construct in nonattainment areas (section 
173).
    Additionally, 40 CFR 51.165 sets forth the EPA's regulatory 
requirements for SIP-approval of a nonattainment NSR permit program.
    The protection of visibility requirements that apply to New Source 
Review programs are contained in 40 CFR 51.307. This provision requires 
that certain actions be taken in consultation with the local Federal 
Land Manager if a new major source or major modification may have an 
impact on visibility in any mandatory Class I Federal Area.
    Section 110(l) of the Act prohibits the EPA from approving any SIP 
revisions that would interfere with any applicable requirement 
concerning attainment and reasonable further progress (RFP) or any 
other applicable requirement of the CAA. Section 193 of the Act, which 
only applies in nonattainment areas, prohibits the modification of a 
SIP-approved control requirement in effect before November 15, 1990, in 
any manner unless the modification insures equivalent or greater 
emission reductions of such air pollutant.
    The EPA has reviewed the submitted rule in accordance with the rule 
evaluation criteria described above. With respect to procedures, based 
on our review of the public process documentation included in the June 
12, 2017 submittal, we are proposing to approve the submitted rule in 
part because we have determined that the BCAQMD has provided sufficient 
evidence of public notice and opportunity for comment and public 
hearings prior to adoption and submittal of this rule, in accordance 
with the requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(2) and 110(l). The 
amendment of Rule 432 now also includes ammonia as a potential 
precursor to PM2.5, thus resolving the limited disapproval 
issue from the December 2016 action. Our TSD, which can be found in the 
docket for this rule, contains a more detailed discussion of the 
approval criteria.

C. Public Comment and Proposed Action

    As authorized in section 110(k)(3) of the Act, the EPA proposes to 
fully approve the submitted rule because it fulfills all relevant 
requirements. We will accept comments from the public on this proposal 
until April 23, 2018. If we take final action to approve the submitted 
rule, our final action will incorporate this rule into the federally-
enforceable SIP.

III. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, the 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, the EPA is proposing to incorporate by 
reference the BCAQMD rule described in Table 1 of this preamble. The 
EPA has made, and will continue to make, these materials available 
through www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region IX Office (please 
contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this preamble for more information).

IV. 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, the EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. 
Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to review 
by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58 
FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
     Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 
2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under 
Executive Order 12866.
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (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).
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General

[[Page 12696]]

of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action 
and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by May 22, 2018. Filing a 
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule 
does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of 
judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for 
judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness 
of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in 
proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, New Source Review, Particulate 
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.


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

     Dated: March 9, 2018.
Alexis Strauss,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2018-06025 Filed 3-22-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                               12694                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                 Dated: December 12, 2017.                                      Source Review (NSR) permitting                                contact the person identified in the FOR
                                               Eugene R. Peltola, Jr.                                           program for new and modified sources                          FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT     section.
                                               Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and                       of air pollution. We are proposing action                     For the full EPA public comment policy,
                                               Wildlife Service, Acting Chair, Federal                          on a local rule under the Clean Air Act                       information about CBI or multimedia
                                               Subsistence Board.                                               as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).                          submissions, and general guidance on
                                               Thomas Whitford,                                                 We are taking comments on this                                making effective comments, please visit
                                               Subsistence Program Leader, USDA—Forest                          proposal and plan to follow with a final                      https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
                                               Service.                                                         action.                                                       commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                                                                                DATES: Any comments must arrive by                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:         T.
                                                 Editorial Note: The Office of the Federal
                                               Register received this document on March                         April 23, 2018.                                               Khoi Nguyen, EPA Region IX, (415)
                                               19, 2018.                                                        ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                              947–4120, nguyen.thien@epa.gov.
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–05848 Filed 3–22–18; 8:45 am]                      identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R09–
                                                                                                                                                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                OAR–2018–0120 at http://
                                               BILLING CODE 3411–15–P; 4333–15–P
                                                                                                                www.regulations.gov, or via email to T.                       Throughout this document, ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us’’
                                                                                                                Khoi Nguyen, at nguyen.thien@epa.gov.                         and ‘‘our’’ refer to the EPA.
                                                                                                                For comments submitted at                                     Table of Contents
                                               ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                                                                                Regulations.gov, follow the online
                                               AGENCY                                                                                                                         I. The State’s Submittal
                                                                                                                instructions for submitting comments.                            A. What rule did the State submit?
                                               40 CFR Part 52                                                   Once submitted, comments cannot be                               B. Are there other versions of this rule?
                                                                                                                removed or edited from Regulations.gov.                          C. What is the purpose of the submitted
                                               [EPA–R09–OAR–2018–0120; FRL–9975–                                For either manner of submission, the                                rule?
                                               81—Region 9]                                                     EPA may publish any comment received                          II. The EPA’s Evaluation and Action
                                                                                                                to its public docket. Do not submit                              A. How is the EPA evaluating the rule?
                                               Approval of California Air Plan                                                                                                   B. Does the rule meet the evaluation
                                                                                                                electronically any information you
                                               Revisions; Butte County Air Quality                                                                                                  criteria?
                                                                                                                consider to be Confidential Business
                                               Management District; Stationary                                                                                                   C. Public Comment and Proposed Action
                                                                                                                Information (CBI) or other information
                                               Source Permits                                                                                                                 III. Incorporation by Reference
                                                                                                                whose disclosure is restricted by statute.                    IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                                               AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                                Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
                                               Agency (EPA).                                                    etc.) must be accompanied by a written                        I. The State’s Submittal
                                               ACTION: Proposed rule.                                           comment. The written comment is                               A. What rule did the State submit?
                                                                                                                considered the official comment and
                                               SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                          should include discussion of all points                         Table 1 lists the rule addressed by this
                                               Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a                           you wish to make. The EPA will                                proposal with the dates that it was
                                               revision to the Butte County Air Quality                         generally not consider comments or                            amended by the BCAQMD and
                                               Management District (BCAQMD)                                     comment contents located outside of the                       submitted by the California Air
                                               portion of the California State                                  primary submission (i.e., on the web,                         Resources Board (CARB), which is the
                                               Implementation Plan (SIP). This                                  cloud, or other file sharing system). For                     governor’s designee for California SIP
                                               revision concerns the District’s New                             additional submission methods, please                         submittals.

                                                                                                                        TABLE 1—SUBMITTED RULE
                                                          Local agency                       Rule No.                                           Rule title                                       Amended        Submitted

                                               BCAQMD ..................................    432 ...........   Federal New Source Review ......................................................      3/23/17          6/12/17



                                                 On December 12, 2017, the submittal                              The purpose of District Rule 432 is to                      reasoning in general terms below and a
                                               for the BCAQMD was deemed by                                     implement a federal preconstruction                           more detailed analysis in our technical
                                               operation of law to meet the                                     permit program for new and modified                           support document (TSD), which is
                                               completeness criteria in 40 CFR part 51                          minor sources of regulated NSR                                available in the docket for the proposed
                                               Appendix V, which must be met before                             pollutants, and new and modified major                        rulemaking.
                                               formal EPA review.                                               sources of regulated NSR pollutants for                       II. The EPA’s Evaluation and Action
                                                                                                                which the area is designated
                                               B. Are there other versions of this rule?                        nonattainment. BCAQMD is currently                            A. How is the EPA evaluating the rule?
                                                  On December 22, 2016, the EPA                                 designated as a nonattainment area for                          The submitted rule must meet the
                                               finalized a limited approval and limited                         the 2008 8-hr ozone and 2006 24-hr                            CAA’s general requirements for SIPs
                                               disapproval of Rule 432. 81 FR 93820.                            PM2.5 NAAQS. The rule revision further                        and SIP revisions in CAA sections
                                                                                                                corrects a deficiency in which the EPA                        110(a)(2), 110(l), and 193 as well as the
                                               C. What is the purpose of the submitted                          previously finalized a limited                                applicable requirements contained in
                                               rule?                                                            disapproval of Rule 432 because we                            part D of title I of the Act (sections 172
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                                                                                                                determined that the rule does not fully                       and 173) for a nonattainment NSR
                                                  Section 110(a) of the CAA requires                            satisfy 40 CFR 51.165(a)(13)’s                                permit program. In addition, the
                                               states to submit regulations that include                        requirements for regulation of PM2.5                          submitted rule must contain the
                                               a pre-construction permit program for                            precursors as it pertains to ammonia.                         applicable regulatory provisions of 40
                                               certain new or modified stationary                               We present our evaluation under the                           CFR 51.160–51.165 and 40 CFR 51.307.
                                               sources of pollutants, including a permit                        CAA and the EPA’s regulations of the                            Among other things, section 110 of
                                               program as required by Part D of Title                           revised NSR rule submitted by CARB, as                        the Act requires that SIP rules be
                                               I of the CAA.                                                    identified in Table 1, and provide our                        enforceable and provides that the EPA


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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                           12695

                                               may not approve a SIP revision if it                    evaluation criteria described above.                     • Is not a significant regulatory action
                                               would interfere with any applicable                     With respect to procedures, based on                  subject to review by the Office of
                                               requirements concerning attainment and                  our review of the public process                      Management and Budget under
                                               reasonable further progress or any other                documentation included in the June 12,                Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
                                               requirement of the CAA. In addition,                    2017 submittal, we are proposing to                   October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
                                               section 110(a)(2) and section 110(l) of                 approve the submitted rule in part                    January 21, 2011);
                                               the Act require that each SIP or revision               because we have determined that the                      • Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82
                                               to a SIP submitted by a state must be                   BCAQMD has provided sufficient                        FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory
                                               adopted after reasonable notice and                     evidence of public notice and                         action because SIP approvals are
                                               public hearing.                                         opportunity for comment and public                    exempted under Executive Order 12866.
                                                 Section 110(a)(2)(c) of the Act                       hearings prior to adoption and submittal                 • Does not impose an information
                                               requires each SIP to include a permit                   of this rule, in accordance with the                  collection burden under the provisions
                                               program to regulate the modification                    requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(2)                of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                               and construction of any stationary                      and 110(l). The amendment of Rule 432                 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
                                               source within the areas covered by the                  now also includes ammonia as a                           • Is certified as not having a
                                               SIP as necessary to assure attainment                   potential precursor to PM2.5, thus                    significant economic impact on a
                                               and maintenance of the NAAQS. The                       resolving the limited disapproval issue               substantial number of small entities
                                               EPA’s regulations at 40 CFR 51.160–                     from the December 2016 action. Our                    under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                               51.164 provide general programmatic                     TSD, which can be found in the docket                 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                                               requirements to implement this                          for this rule, contains a more detailed                  • Does not contain any unfunded
                                               statutory mandate commonly referred to                  discussion of the approval criteria.                  mandate or significantly or uniquely
                                               as the ‘‘minor NSR’’ or ‘‘general NSR’’                                                                       affect small governments, as described
                                               permit program. These NSR program                       C. Public Comment and Proposed                        in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                               regulations impose requirements for SIP                 Action                                                of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
                                               approval of state and local programs                      As authorized in section 110(k)(3) of                  • Does not have Federalism
                                               that are more general in nature as                      the Act, the EPA proposes to fully                    implications as specified in Executive
                                               compared to the specific statutory and                  approve the submitted rule because it                 Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                               regulatory requirements for                             fulfills all relevant requirements. We                1999);
                                               nonattainment NSR permitting                            will accept comments from the public                     • Is not an economically significant
                                               programs under Part D of title I of the                 on this proposal until April 23, 2018. If             regulatory action based on health or
                                               Act.                                                    we take final action to approve the                   safety risks subject to Executive Order
                                                 Part D of title I of the Act contains the             submitted rule, our final action will                 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
                                               general requirements for areas                          incorporate this rule into the federally-                • Is not a significant regulatory action
                                               designated nonattainment for a NAAQS                    enforceable SIP.                                      subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
                                               (section 172), including preconstruction                                                                      28355, May 22, 2001);
                                               permit requirements for new major                       III. Incorporation by Reference                          • Is not subject to requirements of
                                               sources and major modifications                            In this rule, the EPA is proposing to              Section 12(d) of the National
                                               proposing to construct in nonattainment                 include in a final EPA rule regulatory                Technology Transfer and Advancement
                                               areas (section 173).                                    text that includes incorporation by                   Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
                                                 Additionally, 40 CFR 51.165 sets forth                reference. In accordance with                         application of those requirements would
                                               the EPA’s regulatory requirements for                   requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is                be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;
                                               SIP-approval of a nonattainment NSR                     proposing to incorporate by reference                 and
                                               permit program.                                         the BCAQMD rule described in Table 1                     • Does not provide EPA with the
                                                 The protection of visibility                          of this preamble. The EPA has made,                   discretionary authority to address, as
                                               requirements that apply to New Source                   and will continue to make, these                      appropriate, disproportionate human
                                               Review programs are contained in 40                     materials available through                           health or environmental effects, using
                                               CFR 51.307. This provision requires that                www.regulations.gov and at the EPA                    practicable and legally permissible
                                               certain actions be taken in consultation                Region IX Office (please contact the                  methods, under Executive Order 12898
                                               with the local Federal Land Manager if                  person identified in the FOR FURTHER                  (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
                                               a new major source or major                             INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                      In addition, the SIP is not approved
                                               modification may have an impact on                      preamble for more information).                       to apply on any Indian reservation land
                                               visibility in any mandatory Class I                                                                           or in any other area where EPA or an
                                                                                                       IV. Statutory and Executive Order                     Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
                                               Federal Area.
                                                 Section 110(l) of the Act prohibits the               Reviews                                               tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of
                                               EPA from approving any SIP revisions                      Under the Clean Air Act, the                        Indian country, the rule does not have
                                               that would interfere with any applicable                Administrator is required to approve a                tribal implications and will not impose
                                               requirement concerning attainment and                   SIP submission that complies with the                 substantial direct costs on tribal
                                               reasonable further progress (RFP) or any                provisions of the Act and applicable                  governments or preempt tribal law as
                                               other applicable requirement of the                     Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k);               specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
                                               CAA. Section 193 of the Act, which                      40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP               FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
                                               only applies in nonattainment areas,                    submissions, the EPA’s role is to                        The Congressional Review Act, 5
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                                               prohibits the modification of a SIP-                    approve state choices, provided that                  U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
                                               approved control requirement in effect                  they meet the criteria of the Clean Air               Business Regulatory Enforcement
                                               before November 15, 1990, in any                        Act. Accordingly, this action merely                  Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
                                               manner unless the modification insures                  approves state law as meeting Federal                 that before a rule may take effect, the
                                               equivalent or greater emission                          requirements and does not impose                      agency promulgating the rule must
                                               reductions of such air pollutant.                       additional requirements beyond those                  submit a rule report, which includes a
                                                 The EPA has reviewed the submitted                    imposed by state law. For that reason,                copy of the rule, to each House of the
                                               rule in accordance with the rule                        this action:                                          Congress and to the Comptroller General


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                                               12696                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                               of the United States. EPA will submit a                 to enlist providers to assure beneficiary             I. Executive Summary and Background
                                               report containing this action and other                 access to covered care and services
                                                                                                                                                             A. Executive Summary
                                               required information to the U.S. Senate,                consistent with the statute. States have
                                               the U.S. House of Representatives, and                  raised concerns over the administrative               1. Purpose
                                               the Comptroller General of the United                   burden associated with the current                       Current regulations at 42 CFR
                                               States prior to publication of the rule in              requirements, particularly for states                 447.203(b) require states to develop and
                                               the Federal Register. A major rule                      with high rates of Medicaid managed                   submit to CMS an access monitoring
                                               cannot take effect until 60 days after it               care enrollment. This proposed rule                   review plan (AMRP) for Medicaid
                                               is published in the Federal Register.                   would provide burden relief and                       services provided through a fee-for-
                                               This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as                  address those concerns.                               service (FFS) delivery system. The
                                               defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).                             DATES: To be assured consideration,                   AMRP must be updated at least every 3
                                                  Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean                 comments must be received at one of                   years and address the following
                                               Air Act, petitions for judicial review of               the addresses provided below, no later                categories of Medicaid services: Primary
                                               this action must be filed in the United                 than 5 p.m. on May 22, 2018.                          care services (including those provided
                                               States Court of Appeals for the                                                                               by a physician, federally qualified
                                               appropriate circuit by May 22, 2018.                    ADDRESSES:   In commenting, please refer
                                                                                                                                                             health center (FQHC), clinic or dental
                                               Filing a petition for reconsideration by                to file code CMS–2406–P. Because of
                                                                                                                                                             care); physician specialist services (for
                                               the Administrator of this final rule does               staff and resource limitations, we cannot
                                                                                                                                                             example, cardiology, radiology,
                                               not affect the finality of this action for              accept comments by facsimile (FAX)
                                                                                                                                                             urology); behavioral health services
                                               the purposes of judicial review nor does                transmission.
                                                                                                                                                             (including mental health and substance
                                               it extend the time within which a                          Comments, including mass comment                   use disorder); pre- and post-natal
                                               petition for judicial review may be filed,              submissions, must be submitted in one                 obstetric services (including labor and
                                               and shall not postpone the effectiveness                of the following three ways (please                   delivery); and home health. The AMRP
                                               of such rule or action. This action may                 choose only one of the ways listed):                  must identify a data-driven process to
                                               not be challenged later in proceedings to                  1. Electronically. You may submit                  review access to care and address: The
                                               enforce its requirements. (See section                  electronic comments on this regulation                extent to which beneficiary needs are
                                               307(b)(2).)                                             to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow                 fully met; the availability of care
                                               List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52                      the ‘‘Submit a comment’’ instructions.                through enrolled providers; and changes
                                                                                                          2. By regular mail. You may mail                   in beneficiary service utilization.
                                                 Environmental protection, Air                         written comments to the following                     Additionally, when states reduce rates
                                               pollution control, Incorporation by                     address ONLY: Centers for Medicare &                  for other Medicaid services, they must
                                               reference, Intergovernmental relations,                 Medicaid Services, Department of                      add those services to the AMRP and
                                               New Source Review, Particulate matter,                  Health and Human Services, Attention:                 monitor the effects of the rate reductions
                                               Reporting and recordkeeping                             CMS–2406–P, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore,                 for 3 years. Section 447.204 requires
                                               requirements.                                           MD 21244–8016. Please allow sufficient                states to undertake a public process and
                                                  Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.                    time for mailed comments to be                        submit specific information regarding
                                                                                                       received before the close of the                      access to care when proposing to reduce
                                                 Dated: March 9, 2018.
                                                                                                       comment period.                                       or restructure Medicaid provider
                                               Alexis Strauss,                                                                                               payment rates. This proposed rule
                                                                                                          3. By express or overnight mail. You
                                               Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.               may send written comments to the                      would provide an exemption to the
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–06025 Filed 3–22–18; 8:45 am]             following address ONLY: Centers for                   regulatory requirements in
                                               BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                  Medicare & Medicaid Services,                         §§ 447.203(b)(1) through (6) and
                                                                                                       Department of Health and Human                        447.204(a) through (c) for states with
                                                                                                       Services, Attention: CMS–2406–P, Mail                 comprehensive, risk-based Medicaid
                                               DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                Stop C4–26–05, 7500 Security                          managed care enrollment rates above 85
                                               HUMAN SERVICES                                          Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.                  percent of the total covered population
                                                                                                          For information on viewing public                  under a state’s Medicaid program,
                                               Centers for Medicare & Medicaid                         comments, see the beginning of the                    including managed care comprehensive
                                               Services                                                                                                      risk contracts under a state’s section
                                                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
                                                                                                                                                             1115 Medicaid demonstration. The
                                               42 CFR Part 447                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      proposed rule would also provide an
                                                                                                       Jeremy Silanskis, (410) 786–1592,                     exemption to the regulatory
                                               [CMS–2406–P]                                            Jeremy.Silanskis@cms.hhs.gov.                         requirements in §§ 447.203(b)(6) and
                                               RIN 0938–AT41                                           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     Inspection             447.204(a) through (c) for states that
                                                                                                       of Public Comments: All comments                      submit state plan amendments (SPAs) to
                                               Medicaid Program; Methods for
                                                                                                       received before the close of the                      reduce rates or restructure payments
                                               Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid
                                                                                                       comment period are available for                      where the overall reduction is 4 percent
                                               Services—Exemptions for States With
                                                                                                       viewing by the public, including any                  or less of overall spending within the
                                               High Managed Care Penetration Rates
                                                                                                       personally identifiable or confidential               affected state plan service category for a
                                               and Rate Reduction Threshold
                                                                                                       business information that is included in              single state fiscal year (SFY) and 6
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                               AGENCY:  Centers for Medicare &                         a comment. We post all comments                       percent or less over 2 consecutive SFYs.
                                               Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.                           received before the close of the                      Additionally, the proposed rule would
                                               ACTION: Proposed rule.                                  comment period on the following                       modify the requirements in
                                                                                                       website as soon as possible after they                § 447.204(b)(2) so that, for SPAs that
                                               SUMMARY:    This proposed rule would                    have been received: http://                           reduce or restructure Medicaid payment
                                               amend the process for states to                         www.regulations.gov. Follow the search                rates, states would be required to submit
                                               document whether Medicaid payments                      instructions on that website to view                  to CMS an assurance that data indicates
                                               in fee-for-service systems are sufficient               public comments.                                      current access is consistent with


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Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:53:46
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:53:46
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.
DatesAny comments must arrive by April 23, 2018.
ContactT. Khoi Nguyen, EPA Region IX, (415) 947-4120, [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 12694 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations; New Source Review; Particulate Matter and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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