83_FR_20864 83 FR 20775 - Amendments to Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air Emissions From True Minor Sources in Indian Country in the Oil and Natural Gas Production and Natural Gas Processing Segments of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector

83 FR 20775 - Amendments to Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air Emissions From True Minor Sources in Indian Country in the Oil and Natural Gas Production and Natural Gas Processing Segments of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 89 (May 8, 2018)

Page Range20775-20786
FR Document2018-09652

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing three amendments to the existing National Oil and Natural Gas Federal Implementation Plan (National O&NG FIP) that applies to new true minor sources and minor modifications at existing true minor sources in the oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and natural gas sector that are locating or expanding in Indian reservations or in other areas of Indian country over which an Indian tribe, or the EPA, has demonstrated the tribe's jurisdiction. The National O&NG FIP, which includes a mechanism for authorizing construction of true minor new and modified oil and natural gas sources, satisfies the minor source permitting requirement under the ``Federal Minor New Source Review (NSR) Program in Indian Country'' (referred to as the ``Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule''). We are proposing two amendments to apply the National O&NG FIP to the Uintah and Ouray Reservation (U&O Reservation) portion of the intended Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. We are also proposing a minor technical correction to fix a typographical error in a provision in the National O&NG FIP.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20775-20786]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09652]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 49

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0606; FRL-9977-68-OAR]
RIN 2060-AT96


Amendments to Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air 
Emissions From True Minor Sources in Indian Country in the Oil and 
Natural Gas Production and Natural Gas Processing Segments of the Oil 
and Natural Gas Sector

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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[[Page 20776]]

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing three 
amendments to the existing National Oil and Natural Gas Federal 
Implementation Plan (National O&NG FIP) that applies to new true minor 
sources and minor modifications at existing true minor sources in the 
oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing segments of 
the oil and natural gas sector that are locating or expanding in Indian 
reservations or in other areas of Indian country over which an Indian 
tribe, or the EPA, has demonstrated the tribe's jurisdiction. The 
National O&NG FIP, which includes a mechanism for authorizing 
construction of true minor new and modified oil and natural gas 
sources, satisfies the minor source permitting requirement under the 
``Federal Minor New Source Review (NSR) Program in Indian Country'' 
(referred to as the ``Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule''). We are 
proposing two amendments to apply the National O&NG FIP to the Uintah 
and Ouray Reservation (U&O Reservation) portion of the intended Uinta 
Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. We are also proposing a minor technical 
correction to fix a typographical error in a provision in the National 
O&NG FIP.

DATES: 
    Public hearing. A public hearing will be held May 30, 2018, at the 
EPA's Region 8 offices at 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202. Please 
refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional 
information on the hearing.
    Comments. The EPA must receive comments on this proposed action no 
later than July 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    Public hearing. The hearing will be held at the EPA's Region 8 
offices at 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202. The hearing will 
convene at 9:00 a.m. (local time). The EPA will end the hearing two 
hours after the last registered speaker has concluded their comments 
but no later than 4:00 p.m. (local time). There will be a lunch break 
from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (local time).
    Because the hearing is being held at a United States government 
facility, individuals planning to attend must plan for enough time to 
enter the facility. All visitors must ensure they have a valid photo ID 
and must pass through security screening, comparable to screening at an 
airport, they will sign in and obtain a visitor pass. No large signs, 
cameras, banners and/or weapons will be allowed in to the facility.
    Docket. The EPA has established a docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0606, at http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. the EPA may 
publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit 
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, 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: Mr. Christopher Stoneman, Outreach and 
Information Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (C-
304-01), Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North 
Carolina, 27711, telephone number (919) 541-0823, facsimile number 
(919) 541-0072, email address: stoneman.chris@epa.gov.
    Public hearing. The EPA will begin pre-registering speakers for the 
hearing upon publication of this document in the Federal Register. If 
you would like to speak at the public hearing, please register using 
the online registration form available at: https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry. You may also 
register by contacting Tonya Blatcher at (919) 541-1929 or by email at 
blatcher.tonya@epa.gov. To register to speak, we request the following 
information: The time you wish to speak, name, affiliation, email 
address, and telephone number. If you register to speak online, you do 
not need to call. If you require reasonable accommodations, such as the 
service of a translator, please let us know as soon as possible, but no 
later than May 22, 2018.
    The last day to pre-register to register to speak at the hearing 
will be Tuesday, May 25, 2018. On May 28, 2018, the EPA will post a 
general agenda for the hearing that will list pre-registered speakers 
in approximate order. The general agenda will be posted at https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry. The 
EPA will make every effort to follow the schedule as closely as 
possible on the day of the hearing; however, please plan for the 
hearing to run either ahead of schedule or behind schedule. 
Additionally, requests to speak will be taken the day of the hearing at 
the hearing registration desk. The EPA will make every effort to 
accommodate all speakers who arrive and register, although preferences 
on speaking times may not be able to be fulfilled.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public hearing. Each commenter will have 5 
minutes to provide oral testimony. The EPA encourages commenters to 
provide the EPA with a copy of their oral testimony electronically (via 
email) or in hard copy form.
    The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, 
but will not respond to the presentations at that time. Written 
statements and supporting information submitted during the comment 
period will be considered with the same weight as oral comments and 
supporting information presented at the public hearing. Commenters 
should notify Tonya Blatcher at (919) 541-1929 or by email at 
blatcher.tonya@epa.gov if they will need specific equipment, or if 
there are other special needs related to providing comments at the 
hearings. Verbatim transcripts of the hearings and written statements 
will be included in the docket for the rulemaking.
    Please note that any updates made to any aspect of the hearing will 
be posted online at https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry. While the EPA expects the hearing to go 
forward as set forth above, please monitor our website or contact Tonya 
Blatcher at (919) 541-1929 or by email at blatcher.tonya@epa.gov to 
determine if there are any updates. The EPA does not intend to publish 
a document in the Federal Register announcing updates.
    The EPA will not provide audiovisual equipment for presentations 
unless we receive special requests in advance. Commenters should notify 
Tonya Blatcher when they pre-register to speak that they will need 
specific equipment. If you require the service of a translator or 
special accommodations such as audio description, please pre-register 
for the hearing and describe your needs by May 22, 2018. We may not be 
able to arrange for accommodations without advance notice.
    The information presented in this preamble is organized as follows:

I. General Information

[[Page 20777]]

    A. What entities are potentially affected by this action?
    B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related 
information?
II. Purpose of this Proposed Action
    A. Overview
    B. Authority for Proposed Action
    C. Rationale for Proposed Action
III. Background
    A. FIPs Under the Indian Country Minor NSR Rule
    B. Uinta Basin Air Quality and Intended Nonattainment 
Designation
IV. Summary of Proposed Amendments
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
    A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and 
Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
    B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulations and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs
    C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
    D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
    E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
    F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
    G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
    I. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use
    J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)
    K. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations

I. General Information

A. What entities are potentially affected by this action?

    Entities potentially affected by this proposal include the Ute 
Indian Tribe,\1\ as well as new and modified true minor sources that 
are in the oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing 
segments of the oil and natural gas sector and are on Indian country 
\2\ lands within the U&O Reservation. All of the Ute Indian Tribe 
Indian country lands of which the EPA is aware are located within the 
exterior boundaries of the Reservation, and these amendments will apply 
to all such lands. To the extent that there are Ute Indian Tribe 
dependent Indian communities under 18 U.S.C. 1151(b) or allotted lands 
under 18 U.S.C. 1151(c) that are located outside the exterior 
boundaries of the Reservation, those lands will not be covered by these 
amendments.\3\ In addition, this proposed rule will not apply to any 
sources not on Indian country lands, including any areas within the 
exterior boundaries of the Reservation that are not Indian country 
lands.\4\
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    \1\ The Ute Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe 
organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, with a 
Constitution and By-Laws adopted by the Tribe on December 19, 1936, 
and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on January 19, 1937. 
See Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from 
the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, 82 FR 4915 (January 17, 
2017); 48 Stat. 984, 25 U.S.C. 5123 (IRA); Constitution and By-Laws 
of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, 
available at https://www.loc.gov/law/help/american-indian-consts/PDF/37026342.pdf.
    \2\ Indian country is defined at 18 U.S.C. 1151 as: (a) All land 
within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction 
of the United States Government, notwithstanding the issuance of any 
patent, and, including rights-of-way running through the 
reservation, (b) all dependent Indian communities within the borders 
of the United States whether within the original or subsequently 
acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits 
of a state, and (c) all Indian allotments, the Indian titles to 
which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running 
through the same.
    \3\ Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), lands held in trust for the 
use of an Indian tribe are reservation lands within the definition 
at 18 U.S.C. 1151(a), regardless of whether the land is formally 
designated as a reservation. See Indian Tribes: Air Quality Planning 
and Management, 63 FR 7254, 7258 (1998) (``Tribal Authority Rule''); 
Arizona Pub. Serv. Co. v. EPA, 211 F.3d 1280, 1285-86 (D.C. Cir. 
2000). The EPA's references in this FIP to Indian country lands 
within the exterior boundaries of the U&O Reservation include any 
such tribal trust lands that may be acquired by the Ute Indian 
Tribe. In addition, in 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. 
Circuit addressed EPA's authority to promulgate a FIP establishing 
certain CAA permitting programs in Indian country. Oklahoma Dept. of 
Environmental Quality v. EPA, 740 F. 3d 185 (D.C. Cir. 2014). In 
that case, the court recognized the EPA's authority to promulgate a 
FIP to directly administer CAA programs on Indian reservations, but 
invalidated the FIP at issue as applied to non-reservation areas of 
Indian country in the absence of a demonstration of an Indian 
tribe's jurisdiction over such non-reservation area. Because the 
current proposed rule would apply only on Indian country lands that 
are within the exterior boundaries of the U&O Reservation, i.e., on 
Reservation lands, it is unaffected by the Oklahoma court decision.
    \4\ As a result of a series of federal court decisions, there 
are some areas within the exterior boundaries of the Uintah and 
Ouray Indian Reservation that are not Indian country lands. See Ute 
Indian Tribe v. Utah, 521 F. Supp. 1072 (D. Utah 1981); Ute Indian 
Tribe v. Utah, 716 F.2d 1298 (10th Cir. 1983); Ute Indian Tribe v. 
Utah, 773 F.2d 1087 (10th Cir. 1985) (en banc), cert. denied, 479 
U.S. 994 (1986); Hagen v. Utah, 510 U.S. 399 (1994); Ute Indian 
Tribe v. Utah, 935 F. Supp. 1473 (D. Utah 1996); Ute Indian Tribe v. 
Utah, 114 F.3d 1513 (10th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1107 
(1998); Ute Indian Tribe v. Utah, 790 F.3d 1000 (10th Cir. 2015), 
cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 1451 (2016); and Ute Indian Tribe v. Myton, 
835 F.3d 1255 (10th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2328 
(2017).

           Table 1--Source Categories Affected by This Action
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                                                  Examples of regulated
       Industry category         NAICS code \a\  entities/description of
                                                    industry category
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Oil and Natural Gas Production/           21111  Exploration for crude
 Operations.                                      petroleum and natural
                                                  gas; drilling,
                                                  completing, and
                                                  equipping wells;
                                                  operation of
                                                  separators, emulsion
                                                  breakers, desilting
                                                  equipment, and field
                                                  gathering lines for
                                                  crude petroleum and
                                                  natural gas; and all
                                                  other activities in
                                                  the preparation of oil
                                                  and natural gas up to
                                                  the point of shipment
                                                  from the producing
                                                  property.
                                                 Production of crude
                                                  petroleum, the mining
                                                  and extraction of oil
                                                  from oil shale and oil
                                                  sands, the production
                                                  of natural gas, sulfur
                                                  recovery from natural
                                                  gas, and the recovery
                                                  of hydrocarbon liquids
                                                  from oil and natural
                                                  gas field gases.
Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas          211111  Exploration,
 Extraction.                                      development and/or the
                                                  production of
                                                  petroleum or natural
                                                  gas from wells in
                                                  which the hydrocarbons
                                                  will initially flow or
                                                  can be produced using
                                                  normal pumping
                                                  techniques or
                                                  production of crude
                                                  petroleum from surface
                                                  shales or tar sands or
                                                  from reservoirs in
                                                  which the hydrocarbons
                                                  are semisolids.
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction..          211112  Recovery of liquid
                                                  hydrocarbons from oil
                                                  and natural gas field
                                                  gases; and sulfur
                                                  recovery from natural
                                                  gas.
Drilling Oil and Natural Gas             213111  Drilling oil and
 Wells.                                           natural gas wells for
                                                  others on a contract
                                                  or fee basis,
                                                  including spudding in,
                                                  drilling in,
                                                  redrilling, and
                                                  directional drilling.

[[Page 20778]]

 
Support Activities for Oil and           213112  Performing support
 Natural Gas Operations.                          activities on a
                                                  contract or fee basis
                                                  for oil and natural
                                                  gas operations (except
                                                  site preparation and
                                                  related construction
                                                  activities) such as
                                                  exploration (except
                                                  geophysical surveying
                                                  and mapping);
                                                  excavating slush pits
                                                  and cellars, well
                                                  surveying; running,
                                                  cutting, and pulling
                                                  casings, tubes, and
                                                  rods; cementing wells,
                                                  shooting wells;
                                                  perforating well
                                                  casings; acidizing and
                                                  chemically treating
                                                  wells; and cleaning
                                                  out, bailing, and
                                                  swabbing wells.
Engines (Spark Ignition and               22111  Provision of electric
 Compression Ignition) for                        power to support oil
 Electric Power Generation.                       and natural gas
                                                  production where
                                                  access to the electric
                                                  grid is unavailable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ North American Industry Classification System.

    This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be potentially affected 
by this action. To determine whether your facility could be affected by 
this action, you should examine the applicability criteria in the 
Federal Minor NSR Program in Indian Country and the National O&NG FIP 
(40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49153 and 49.101, respectively). 
If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to 
a particular entity, contact the appropriate person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related 
information?

    In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of 
this final rule will also be available on the World Wide Web. Following 
signature by the EPA Administrator, a copy of this final rule will be 
posted in the regulations and standards section of our NSR home page 
located at http://www.epa.gov/nsr and on the tribal NSR page at https://www.epa.gov/tribal-air/tribal-minor-new-source-review.

II. Purpose of This Proposed Action

A. Overview

    In this action, the EPA is proposing to exercise its authority, in 
accordance with section 110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA and under sections 
301(a) and 301(d)(4) of the CAA and 40 CFR 49.11 by amending the 
National O&NG FIP \5\ to extend it to eligible true minor oil and 
natural gas sources in the Indian country portion of the intended Uinta 
Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, which includes making it available as a 
mechanism for authorizing construction in that area. (The Indian 
country lands within the Uinta Basin to which these amendments would 
apply are on the U&O Reservation.)
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    \5\ ``Federal Implementation Plan for True Minor Sources in 
Indian Country in the Oil and Natural Gas Production and Natural Gas 
Processing Segments of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector; Amendments to 
the Federal Minor New Source Review Program in Indian Country to 
Address Requirements for True Minor Sources in the Oil and Natural 
Gas Sector,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 81 FR 35943, 
June 3, 2016, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
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    The National O&NG FIP provides a mechanism for authorizing 
construction for eligible true minor oil and natural gas sources 
wishing to locate or expand in areas of Indian country designated as 
attainment, unclassifiable and attainment/unclassifiable. The counties 
in the Uinta Basin are currently designated as unclassifiable with 
respect to the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
(NAAQS) \6\ and, as such, owners/operators of eligible oil and natural 
gas sources on Indian country lands within the U&O Reservation have 
been utilizing the National O&NG FIP's streamlined approach to satisfy 
permitting requirements since August 2, 2016, when the FIP became 
effective. However, the EPA has announced its intention to designate 
portions of the Uinta Basin, including the U&O Reservation, as 
nonattainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS.7 8
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    \6\ ``Air Quality Designations for the 2008 Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards; Implementation of the 2008 National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Nonattainment Area 
Classifications Approach, Attainment Deadlines and Revocation of the 
1997 Ozone Standards for Transportation Conformity Purposes,'' U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 77 FR 30087, May 21, 2012, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-21/pdf/2012-11618.pdf.
    \7\ The EPA intends to make final designation determinations for 
the areas of the country addressed by the EPA responses to state and 
tribal area boundary recommendations (which cover the Uinta Basin 
region) no earlier than 120 days from the date (December 21, 2017) 
the EPA notified states and tribes of the agency's intended 
designations.
    \8\ ``EPA Responses to Certain State Designation Recommendations 
for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Notice of 
Availability and Public Comment Period,'' U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 83 FR 651, January 5, 2018, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-01-05/pdf/2018-00024.pdf.
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    The Uinta Basin is a petroleum producing system that contains 
thousands of active oil and natural gas wells, and existing oil and 
natural gas production activity is the primary source of the emissions 
of concern for air quality: volatile organic compounds (VOC) and 
nitrogen oxides (NOX), ozone precursors that react to form 
ozone in the presence of sunlight and widespread snow cover. The Uinta 
Basin's air quality problem is wintertime ozone caused by these 
existing sources' emissions. However, because the agency is under a 
court order to finalize the Basin's designation with respect to the 
2015 ozone NAAQS by April 30, 2018,\9\ and because the agency intends 
to designate some portions of the Basin as nonattainment, including 
portions of the U&O Reservation, under the National O&G FIP, in its 
current form, the Indian country portions of the Basin (U&O 
Reservation) will fall out of that FIP's coverage. Thus, the area will 
lack a streamlined mechanism to authorize construction of true minor 
new and modified oil and natural gas sources. This will immediately 
cause a disparity in the regulatory landscape facing such activity in 
the affected area, as compared to all other areas of Indian country 
that will remain covered by the FIP--even though the Basin's air 
quality problem that drives the impending nonattainment designation 
will not manifest until the winter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ In re Ozone Designation Litigation, No. 17-cv-06900-HSG 
(N.D. Cal. March 12, 2018).
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    With this proposed action, the EPA is proposing to ensure that the 
National O&NG FIP's requirements to comply with eight federal rules 
(and the mechanism for authorizing construction) will continue to apply 
on the U&O Reservation, recognizing that the geographically limited 
extension of the National O&NG FIP to the area is occurring while the 
EPA moves quickly to complete a separate rulemaking to

[[Page 20779]]

further address the air quality problem on the U&O Reservation.
    The separate EPA rulemaking \10\ addressing air quality is a 
reservation-specific FIP action that will contain requirements to 
reduce ozone-forming emissions from new, modified and existing oil and 
natural gas sources on Indian country lands within the U&O Reservation. 
The rulemaking will seek to achieve three goals for the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin: (1) Clean air; (2) continued, uninterrupted 
development of the oil and natural gas resources; and (3) consistent 
CAA regulatory requirements between Indian country lands within the U&O 
Reservation and lands under state of Utah jurisdiction. Through that 
rulemaking, the EPA will address the Uinta Basin's particular situation 
in an area-specific manner; this proposal today seeks to bridge the gap 
in authority that the nonattainment designation will cause during the 
interim period where the designation will be in place, but the 
environmental needs requiring area-specific treatment have not yet 
materialized.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The rulemaking is listed on the Office of Management and 
Budget's Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. For 
more information, go to: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201710&RIN=2008-AA03. In the Agenda, the 
rulemaking appears as: ``Federal Implementation Plan for Oil and 
Natural Gas Sources; Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Utah.''
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B. Authority for Proposed Action

    CAA section 110(a)(2)(C) is part of the foundation for the minor 
NSR program, and it requires states to submit plans that include 
programs for the regulation of ``the modification and construction of 
any stationary source.'' \11\ CAA section 110(c) authorizes the EPA to 
promulgate a Federal implementation plan in the absence of a 
satisfactory state plan. CAA section 301(a) generally authorizes the 
EPA to prescribe regulations as are necessary to carry out its 
functions under the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Section 110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA requires state plans to 
include ``a program to provide for the . . . regulation of the 
modification and construction of any stationary source within the 
areas covered by the plan as necessary to assure that national 
ambient air quality standards are achieved, including a permit 
program as required in parts C and D of this subchapter.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 301(d) of the CAA authorizes the EPA to treat Indian tribes 
in the same manner as states and directs the EPA to promulgate 
regulations specifying those provisions of the CAA for which such 
treatment is appropriate. (CAA sections 301(d)(1) and (2)). It also 
authorizes the EPA, in circumstances in which the EPA determines that 
the treatment of Indian tribes as identical to states is inappropriate 
or administratively infeasible, to provide by regulation other means by 
which the EPA will directly administer the CAA. (CAA section 
301(d)(4)). Acting principally pursuant to that authority, on February 
12, 1998,\12\ the EPA promulgated what we refer to as the Tribal 
Authority Rule (TAR). (40 CFR 49.1-49.11). In the TAR, we determined 
that it was appropriate to treat tribes in the same manner as states 
for all CAA and regulatory purposes except a list of specified CAA 
provisions and implementing regulations thereunder. (40 CFR 49.4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ ``Indian Tribes: Air Quality Planning and Management,'' 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 63 FR 7254, February 12, 1998, 
http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-3451.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The TAR preamble clarified that by including CAA section 110(c)(1) 
on the Sec.  49.4 ``exception'' list, ``EPA is not relieved of its 
general obligation under the CAA to ensure the protection of air 
quality throughout the nation, including throughout Indian country.'' 
The preamble confirmed that the ``EPA will continue to be subject to 
the basic requirement to issue a FIP for affected tribal areas within 
some reasonable time.'' \13\ The TAR includes a provision that provides 
the EPA the authority to promulgate a Federal implementation plan in 
the absence of a satisfactory tribal plan. (40 CFR 49.11(a)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See CAA section 301(a) and 63 FR 7254, 7265, February 12, 
1998, http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-3451.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On August 21, 2006, the EPA proposed the regulation: ``Review of 
New Sources and Modifications in Indian Country'' (commonly referred to 
as the Federal Indian Country NSR rule).\14\ With this proposed 
regulation, the EPA proposed to protect air quality in Indian country, 
as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151, by establishing a FIP program to 
regulate, among other matters, the modification and construction of 
minor stationary sources consistent with the authorities and 
requirements of sections 301 and 110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA. We refer to 
this part of the Federal Indian Country NSR rule as the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule. Under the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR 
rule, we proposed to provide a mechanism for issuing pre-construction 
permits for the construction of new minor sources and certain 
modifications of major and minor sources in Indian country. We 
promulgated a final rule on July 1, 2011,\15\ and the rule became 
effective on August 30, 2011. The Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule 
applies to new and modified minor stationary sources and to minor 
modifications at existing major stationary sources located in Indian 
country where there is no EPA-approved program in place for all new and 
modified minor sources and minor modifications at major sources located 
in areas covered by the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ ``Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian 
Country,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 71 FR 48696, August 
21, 2006, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2006-08-21/pdf/06-6926.pdf.
    \15\ ``Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian 
Country,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 76 FR 38748, July 
1, 2011, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-01/pdf/2011-14981.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tribes can elect to develop and implement their own EPA-approved 
program under the TAR,\16\ but they are not required to do so.\17\ In 
the absence of an approved program, the EPA implements this program. 
Alternatively, tribes can take delegation of the program from the EPA 
to assist the EPA with administration of the federal program, including 
acting as the Reviewing Authority for the EPA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ To obtain eligibility to develop and implement an EPA-
approved plan, under the TAR a tribe must meet four requirements: 
(1) be a federally recognized tribe, (2) have a functioning 
government, (3) have the legal authority and (4) have the capacity 
to run the program. For more information, see 63 FR 7254, February 
12, 1998, http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-3451.pdf.
    \17\ Under tribal law, tribes may also be able to establish 
permit fees under a tribal permitting program, as do most states.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule, initially 
beginning September 2, 2014,\18\ any new stationary source, that will 
emit, or will have the potential to emit, a regulated NSR pollutant in 
amounts that will be: (a) Equal to or greater than the minor NSR 
thresholds established in the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule; 
but (b) less than the amount that would qualify the source as a major 
source or a major modification for purposes of the Prevention of 
Significant Deterioration (PSD) or nonattainment major NSR programs, 
must apply for and obtain a minor NSR permit before beginning 
construction of the new source. Likewise, any existing stationary 
source (minor or major) must apply for and obtain a minor NSR permit 
before beginning construction (a physical or operational change) that 
will increase the allowable emissions of the stationary source by more 
than the specified threshold amounts, if the change does not otherwise 
trigger the permitting requirements of the PSD or

[[Page 20780]]

nonattainment major NSR program(s).\19\ The Federal Indian Country 
Minor NSR rule also created a framework for the EPA to streamline the 
issuance of pre-construction permits to true minor sources by using 
general permits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ For true minor sources in the oil and natural gas sector, 
this date was extended twice. The final date of October 3, 2016, was 
included in the National O&NG FIP.
    \19\ A source may, however, be subject to certain monitoring, 
recordkeeping and reporting (MRR) requirements under the major NSR 
programs, if the change has a reasonable possibility of resulting in 
a major modification. A source may be subject to both the Federal 
Indian Country Minor NSR rule and the reasonable possibility MRR 
requirements of the major NSR program(s).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In promulgating the National O&NG FIP we determined that it was 
appropriate to promulgate a FIP to remedy an existing regulatory gap 
with respect to oil and natural gas production and natural gas 
processing operations in areas covered by the Federal Indian Country 
Minor NSR rule where there is no EPA-approved plan in place. The 
authority that underlies and supports the National O&NG FIP (as well as 
the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR FIP) also authorizes this proposed 
action, which simply would amend the National O&NG FIP. In summary, 
just as we had the authority to establish the National O&NG FIP, we 
believe that we have authority under the CAA (sections 301(a), 
301(d)(4) and 110(a)(2)(C)) and regulatory authority under the TAR (40 
CFR 49.1-49.11) to carry out this action and extend the applicability 
of the National O&NG FIP to the Indian country portion of the Uinta 
Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. As described above, the CAA provides 
broad authority to manage air resources throughout Indian country, 
regardless of area designation under the CAA. This is well established 
authority and we have exercised it on many occasions, including to 
regulate activity in areas of Indian country designated nonattainment. 
Foremost, the Agency is responsible for ensuring that NAAQS are 
achieved throughout Indian country and to implement CAA programs in 
Indian country that tribal governments do not elect to implement. This 
proposed action is consistent with and supported by our successful use 
of these authorities in these prior actions.
    Finally, in light of the intended, pending final designation of 
nonattainment for the Uinta Basin for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, this action 
is consistent with the CAA general provisions for nonattainment areas 
in CAA sections 172(b) and 172(c), which include references to CAA 
section 110(a)(2), as well as the major source nonattainment NSR 
permitting program in CAA section 173. This proposed action is 
consistent with CAA section 110(a)(2)(C), which requires that 
implementation plans include programs for all areas (attainment and 
nonattainment) that provide for the regulation of the modification and 
construction of any stationary source ``as necessary to assure that 
national ambient air quality standards are achieved'' for the reasons 
discussed elsewhere in this document. In addition, CAA sections 172 and 
173 provide that programs relating to permits to construct for major 
sources should take into consideration emissions from existing sources, 
as well as new or modified sources that ``are not major emitting 
facilities,'' i.e., new or modified minor sources. Thus, the emissions 
from minor sources covered by this action would be considered in CAA 
section 173 major source permitting actions in the intended Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area, though they are not directly subject to 
regulation under CAA sections 172 and 173.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ The Federal Indian Country NSR rule also provides for major 
source permitting in nonattainment areas in Indian country. See 76 
FR 38748, July 1, 2011, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-01/pdf/2011-14981.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Rationale for Proposed Action

    In the preamble to the final National O&NG FIP, we made clear that 
we could extend the geographic coverage of the FIP to nonattainment 
areas, provided that we also addressed existing, new and modified 
sources in a separate, reservation-specific FIP. We stated the need to 
develop area-specific plans if and when areas of Indian country become 
nonattainment. Further, we specifically noted concern about the air 
quality problem in the Uinta Basin and indicated our intent to propose 
a separate reservation-specific FIP to address the issue.
    The extension of the National O&NG FIP proposed in this document 
will, if finalized, provide coverage under the National O&NG FIP for 
Indian country portion of the intended Uinta basin Ozone Nonattainment 
Area after EPA's intended designation of portions of the Uinta Basin as 
being in nonattainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS, which the EPA intends 
to issue by April 30, 2018. We indicated in the preamble to the final 
National O&NG FIP that we intended ``to potentially apply the national 
FIP's requirements as appropriate to nonattainment areas where the EPA 
has established a separate, area-specific FIP.''\21\ The EPA does 
intend to do just that for the Indian country portion of the intended 
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, but in the meantime we are 
proposing this action. The agency believes that this approach is 
reasonable in light of the following considerations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See 81 FR 35943, 35946, June 3, 2016, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    First, as noted above, the EPA is moving quickly to undertake a 
separate rulemaking to establish a U&O Reservation-specific FIP for the 
area. We intend to complete this other action--the U&O Reservation-
specific FIP--before the start of the 2018-2019 winter ozone season in 
the Uinta Basin. Our intent is for the FIP to contain VOC emissions 
control requirements that will apply to existing, new and modified 
minor oil and natural gas sources on the U&O Reservation. Our intent is 
for some of those requirements (i.e., VOC requirements on new and 
modified minor sources) to apply before the start of the 2018-2019 
winter ozone season on the U&O Reservation, by which time we expect the 
final U&O Reservation-specific FIP to be effective with the 
requirements on existing oil and natural gas minor sources to follow. 
It should also be noted that preliminary monitoring data from the 
current 2017-2018 winter ozone season from across the region show 
values well below the 2015 ozone NAAQS.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See spreadsheet titled: ``Uinta Basin Ozone Data, Dec. 
2017-Feb. 2018,'' Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0606.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the relatively short, initial period of time before a U&O 
Reservation-specific FIP is in place during which the National O&NG FIP 
will apply to the U&O Reservation (as part of the expected Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area), will be before the Uinta Basin winter ozone 
season. As noted above, the Uinta Basin does not have a summertime 
ozone air quality problem. We are, therefore, confident that--with this 
action--the eight emissions standards that apply to oil and natural gas 
sources under the National O&NG FIP will continue to be adequately 
protective of air quality in the U&O Reservation while we complete the 
separate rulemaking to establish a U&O Reservation-specific FIP, all of 
which we expect to occur before the start of the 2018-2019 winter ozone 
season in the Uinta Basin.
    Finally, the two-part approach we are taking is similar to the 
process that occurs under the CAA when an area within a state is 
designated nonattainment: A plan addressing the air quality problem is 
not due to the EPA until a period of time after an area is designated 
nonattainment. Thus, the approach we are presenting here, we believe, 
is reasonable.

[[Page 20781]]

    We also believe that this action--along with the EPA's related, 
forthcoming action to reduce oil and natural gas source emissions in 
the area--will address the air quality problem on the U&O Reservation, 
while maintaining a mechanism for authorizing construction that helps 
ensure continued oil and natural gas production on the U&O Reservation 
in compliance with the eight federal rules that apply to true minor oil 
and natural gas sources under the FIP.\23\ Based on feedback from Ute 
Indian Tribe leadership, continued oil and natural gas production is 
important for the maintenance of the local tribal economy, as the Ute 
Indian Tribe is dependent upon oil and natural gas revenue for its 
economic prosperity. Because the action we propose today will avoid 
disruption of that activity during the period before the wintertime 
ozone problem manifests, while the EPA works to promulgate an area-
specific protective measure to address that problem, the agency 
believes this course of action will appropriately protect the Basin's 
environment without causing unnecessary disruption to its economy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ This includes the EPA's New Source Performance Standards 
(NSPS) for oil and natural gas sources (40 CFR part 60, subpart 
OOOO) with affected facilities that commenced construction, 
modification or reconstruction after August 23, 2011. The standard 
includes emissions standards for VOC and sulfur dioxide 
(SO2) from a number of units, including storage tanks, 
compressors, and pneumatic controllers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We are proposing that the extension of the National O&NG FIP to 
eligible true minor oil and natural gas sources in the Indian country 
portion of the intended Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area be 
permanent. However, we also are seeking comment on whether, instead, it 
should be temporary and expire before the onset of the 2018-2019 ozone 
season. We seek comment on whether the extension should be temporary, 
in light of the facts surrounding the Uinta Basin's situation as 
described above and with respect to: (1) This proposed action, (2) its 
impending nonattainment designation, and (3) the forthcoming area-
specific FIP.
    In particular, we seek comment on how the EPA can protect air 
quality on the U&O Reservation and ensure continued oil and natural gas 
development under two general scenarios. In the first scenario, we 
finalize the extension as permanent, as proposed, but we do not 
complete the U&O Reservation-specific FIP by the start of the 2018-2019 
Uinta Basin winter ozone season. A concern may be that continuing to 
allow the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area to be covered by the 
National O&NG FIP in the absence of any emissions reductions that may 
be associated with the U&O Reservation-specific FIP. We seek comment 
relating to this scenario, including on what the Agency could do in 
this action, when finalized, to mitigate possible impacts.
    In another scenario, we, instead finalize the extension as 
temporary and we set it to expire at the end of calendar year 2018, 
say, but we do not complete the U&O Reservation-specific FIP by the 
start of the 2018-2019 Uinta Basin winter ozone season. Here, the 
concern would be the effect on oil and natural gas activity on the U&O 
Reservation, if the area loses coverage under the National O&NG FIP. In 
the absence of other measures, sources in the Indian country portion of 
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area (the U&O Reservation) would need 
to obtain source-specific minor source permits in order to construct 
and operate. Oil and natural gas owners and operators in the U&O 
reservation and the Ute Indian Tribe have significant concerns about 
delays associated with this type of permitting. As noted above, the Ute 
Indian Tribe relies on revenue from oil and natural gas activity for 
its livelihood and has expressed concerns about the lengthier 
timeframes associated with EPA approvals under source-specific 
permitting. We seek comment relating to this scenario, including on 
what the Agency could do to mitigate possible impacts.

III. Background

A. FIPs Under the Indian Country Minor NSR Rule

1. Federal Indian Country Minor NSR Rule
    As noted above, CAA section 301(d)(4) authorizes the EPA to issue 
regulations directly administering, in Indian country, provisions of 
the Act. Exercising its authority, including its authority under 
301(d)(4), the EPA promulgated the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR 
rule, a type of FIP. We identified a regulatory gap that could have the 
effect of adversely impacting air quality due to the lack of approved 
minor NSR permit programs to regulate construction of new and modified 
minor sources and minor modifications of major sources in areas covered 
by the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule. The EPA promulgated the 
FIP to ensure that air resources are protected by establishing a 
preconstruction permitting program to regulate emission increases 
resulting from construction and modification activities that are not 
already regulated by the major NSR permitting programs.
2. National O&NG FIP
    Following the issuance of the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR FIP, 
EPA proposed the National O&NG FIP.\24\ Because there were no currently 
approved TIPs specifically applying to the issuance of general permits 
with respect to the reduction of emissions related to oil and natural 
gas production facilities, we proposed a FIP to protect air quality in 
areas covered by the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule. The 
National O&NG FIP was published in final form on June 3, 2016.\25\ The 
National O&NG FIP adopted legally and practicably enforceable 
requirements to control and reduce air emissions from oil and natural 
gas production.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ ``Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian 
Country: Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air Emissions from 
True Minor Sources Engaged in Oil and Natural Gas Production in 
Indian Country,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 80 FR 56553, 
September 18, 2005, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-21025.pdf.
    \25\ See 81 FR 35943, 35946, June 3, 2016, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The National O&NG FIP was developed to protect air quality in 
Indian country due to the impact of new true minor sources and minor 
modifications at existing true minor sources in the oil and natural gas 
production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and natural 
gas sector that are locating or expanding in an Indian reservation or 
in another area of Indian country over which a tribe, or the EPA, has 
demonstrated that the tribe has jurisdiction. The FIP applies to new 
and modified true minor sources that are located or expanding in such 
areas of Indian country designated as attainment, unclassifiable or 
attainment/unclassifiable. It currently does not apply to new and 
modified true minor sources that are located or expanding in such areas 
of Indian country designated nonattainment. However, this action 
proposes to extend the National O&NG FIP's geographic coverage to the 
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. The FIP does not apply to minor 
modification of major sources; such sources are required to obtain a 
source-specific permit prior to beginning construction, per the Federal 
Indian Country Minor NSR rule.
    The National O&NG FIP fulfills the EPA's obligation under the 
Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule to issue minor source NSR pre-
construction permits to oil and natural gas sources. The National O&NG 
FIP provides a streamlined, alternative approach that

[[Page 20782]]

fulfills the permitting requirement, while also ensuring air quality 
protection through requirements that are unambiguous and legally and 
practicably enforceable. The FIP approach is also transparent to the 
public: It is clear to the public what requirements will apply. The FIP 
reduces burden for sources and the Reviewing Authority and minimizes 
potential delays in new construction due to compliance with the minor 
NSR permitting obligation. True minor sources in the oil and natural 
gas production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and 
natural gas sector are required to comply with the FIP instead of 
obtaining a source-specific minor source permit, unless a source 
chooses to opt out of the FIP and to obtain a source-specific minor NSR 
permit instead.
    Under the FIP, we require owners/operators of oil and natural gas 
production facilities and natural gas processing plants to comply with 
eight federal standards to reduce emissions of VOC, NOX, 
SO2, particulate matter (PM, PM10, 
PM2.5), hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide and various sulfur 
compounds from the following units/processes in the oil and natural gas 
production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and natural 
gas sector: Compression ignition and spark ignition engines; process 
heaters; combustion turbines; fuel storage tanks; glycol dehydrators; 
completion of hydraulically fractured oil and natural gas wells; 
reciprocating and centrifugal compressors (except those located at well 
sites); pneumatic controllers; pneumatic pumps; storage vessels; and 
fugitive emissions from well sites, compressor stations and natural gas 
processing plants. The oil and natural gas FIP requires compliance with 
five NSPS and three national emission standards for hazardous air 
pollutants (NESHAP).\26\ These regulations are listed in Table 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Though this FIP only addresses new and modified true minor 
sources, it is important to note that NESHAPs not only apply to new 
sources but to existing sources as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The eight regulations and the provisions of each that are included 
in the oil and natural gas FIP are discussed in more detail in this 
section. The FIP's requirements include emission standards (that 
contain emission limitations), monitoring, testing, recordkeeping and 
reporting. For purposes of the National O&NG FIP, true minor sources 
must comply with these standards, as they currently exist or as amended 
in the future, except for those provisions that we specifically exclude 
under the National O&NG FIP (unless the source opts out of the FIP and 
obtains a source-specific permit or is otherwise required to obtain a 
source-specific permit by the Reviewing Authority). Sources subject to 
the National O&NG FIP would be subject to any future changes to the 
eight underlying EPA standards only if they undergo a future minor 
modification as a true minor source and would otherwise be subject to 
those future changes. (The National O&NG FIP does not change the 
applicability of the specified standards, nor does it relieve sources 
subject to the standards from complying with them, independently of the 
National O&NG FIP.)

          Table 2--Eight Federal Rules Included in the Oil and Natural Gas FIP for Indian Country \27\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Potentially
                                                           affected sources
                                                            in the oil and
                                                             natural gas
                                                            production and
       40 CFR part and subpart         Title of subpart      natural gas                   Location
                                                              processing
                                                           segments of the
                                                           oil and natural
                                                              gas sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 CFR part 63, subpart DDDDD.......  National Emission   Process heaters..  http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                       Standards for                          idx?SID=9f31077f895e9cb417f5386519
                                       Hazardous Air                          941a47&mc=true&node=sp40.14.63.ddd
                                       Pollutants for                         dd&rgn=div6.
                                       Major Sources:
                                       Industrial,
                                       Commercial, and
                                       Institutional
                                       Boilers and
                                       Process Heaters.
40 CFR part 63, subpart ZZZZ........  Subpart ZZZZ--      Reciprocating      http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                       National            Internal           idx?c=ecfr;rgn=div6;view=text;node
                                       Emissions           Combustion         =40%3A14.0.1.1.1.1;idno=40;sid=e94
                                       Standards for       Engines.           dcfde4a04b27290c445a56e635e58;cc=e
                                       Hazardous Air                          cfr.
                                       Pollutants for
                                       Stationary
                                       Reciprocating
                                       Internal
                                       Combustion
                                       Engines.
40 CFR part 60, subpart IIII........  Standards of        Compression        http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                       Performance for     Ignition           idx?SID=9f31077f895e9cb417f5386519
                                       Stationary          Internal           941a47&mc=true&node=sp40.7.60.iiii
                                       Compression         Combustion         &rgn=div6.
                                       Ignition Internal   Engines.
                                       Combustion
                                       Engines.
40 CFR part 60, subpart JJJJ........  Standards of        Spark Ignition     http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                       Performance for     Internal           idx?SID=9f31077f895e9cb417f5386519
                                       Stationary Spark    Combustion         941a47&mc=true&node=sp40.7.60.jjjj
                                       Ignition Internal   Engines.           &rgn=div6.
                                       Combustion
                                       Engines.
40 CFR part 60, subpart Kb..........  Standards of        Fuel Storage       http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                       Performance for     Tanks.             idx?SID=9f31077f895e9cb417f5386519
                                       Volatile Organic                       941a47&mc=true&node=sp40.7.60.k_0b
                                       Liquid Storage                         &rgn=div6.
                                       Vessels
                                       (Including
                                       Petroleum Liquid
                                       Storage Vessels)
                                       for Which
                                       Construction,
                                       Reconstruction,
                                       or Modification
                                       Commenced After
                                       July 23, 1984.
40 CFR part 60, subpart OOOOa.......  Standards of        Storage Vessels,   https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-
                                       Performance for     Pneumatic          pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-
                                       Crude Oil and       Controllers,       industry/actions-and-notices-about-
                                       Natural Gas         Compressors        oil-and-natural-gas.
                                       Facilities for      (Reciprocating
                                       which               and
                                       Construction,       Centrifugal),
                                       Modification, or    Hydraulically
                                       Reconstruction      Fractured Oil
                                       Commenced after     and Natural Gas
                                       September 18,       Well
                                       2015.               Completions,
                                                           Pneumatic Pumps
                                                           and Fugitive
                                                           Emissions from
                                                           Well Sites and
                                                           Compressor
                                                           Stations.
40 CFR part 63, subpart HH..........  National Emission   Glycol             http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                       Standards for       Dehydrators.       idx?SID=9f31077f895e9cb417f5386519
                                       Hazardous Air                          941a47&mc=true&node=sp40.11.63.hh&
                                       Pollutants from                        rgn=div6.
                                       Oil and Natural
                                       Gas Production
                                       Facilities.

[[Page 20783]]

 
40 CFR part 60, subpart KKKK........  Standards of        Combustion         http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                       Performance for     Turbines.          idx?SID=4090b6cf5eea5cb67940a80906
                                       New Stationary                         ff09a2&mc=true&node=sp40.7.60.kkkk
                                       Combustion                             &rgn=div6.
                                       Turbines.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. National O&NG FIP and Areas of Comment the EPA Received Relevant to 
This Action
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ Three of the eight rules are NESHAPs. Our basis for 
requiring compliance with NESHAPs in this rule that is designed to 
fulfill requirements of the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule is 
to address emissions of criteria pollutants. The requirements from 
the NESHAPs are included because they effectively control emissions 
of all VOC, not just those that are also hazardous air pollutants. 
VOC is an NSR-regulated pollutant of concern in the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the response to comments section of the preamble to the final 
rule establishing the National O&NG FIP, we addressed some issues that 
are related to this proposed action.\28\ We provided that the FIP does 
not apply in a nonattainment area, but that it could, if we addressed 
existing sources in such an area.\29\ We stated that, parallel to 
designating such an area is designated as nonattainment, we would 
promulgate an area-specific FIP for existing sources if we determine 
that it is ``necessary or appropriate'' to do so pursuant to the 
TAR.\30\ We received comments concerning extending the geographic reach 
of the National O&NG FIP to nonattainment areas. Commenters were 
concerned with how permitting requirements would be satisfied in such 
areas during the transition period between the time an area is 
designated as nonattainment and the time a separate, area-specific FIP 
to control emissions adequately in such a nonattainment area is in 
place. The Uinta Basin was given as an example of where the absence of 
a streamlined means to satisfy permitting requirements during this 
transition period could pose problems. In response to the comments, we 
stated our intent to potentially apply the National O&NG FIP's 
requirements as appropriate to nonattainment areas, where the EPA has 
established a separate, area-specific FIP. As discussed earlier, our 
proposed approach here is slightly different, in that the extension of 
the National O&NG FIP to the Uinta Basin nonattainment area may precede 
the separate, area-specific FIP for that area. However, our plan is for 
the separate, area-specific FIP to be in place before the next winter 
ozone season. Because, as discussed above, ozone problems in the Uinta 
Basin are limited to the winter season, we believe this approach is 
appropriately protective of air quality, without unduly impeding oil 
and natural gas activity in Indian Country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 81 FR 35943, June 3, 2016, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
    \29\ In the preamble to the final National O&NG FIP we also 
indicated as a general matter--and not in response to comments--that 
new and modified sources also need to be addressed in reservation-
specific FIPs (in addition to existing sources) when considering 
whether to extend the geographic coverage of the National O&NG FIP 
to nonattainment area. 81 FR 35943, 35964, 35968, June 3, 2016, 
https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
    \30\ 63 FR 7254, February 12, 1998, http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-3451.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, we received comments recommending that we add 
monitoring and modeling requirements to the National O&NG FIP. Our 
response to those comments included a discussion about the state of air 
quality in areas of Indian country with oil and natural gas activity. 
With respect to air quality in areas of Indian country with oil and 
natural gas development, we noted in June 2016 when we promulgated the 
National O&NG FIP that we were not seeing widespread air quality 
problems in Indian country due to oil and natural gas activity. We 
mentioned in June 2016 that, in all of Indian country, only two 
counties in the Uinta Basin (including land within the U&O Reservation) 
had air quality problems due to oil and natural gas activity. That is 
still the case and is discussed further in Section III.C. We had (and 
still have) sufficient concerns about the air quality impacts from 
existing sources in that area that we intend to soon propose a separate 
reservation-specific FIP, which, as noted above, is expected to be in 
place before next winter's ozone season.

B. Uinta Basin Air Quality and Intended Nonattainment Designation

    On October 1, 2015, the EPA promulgated revised primary and 
secondary ozone NAAQS.\31\ The EPA strengthened both standards to a 
level of 0.070 parts per million (ppm). In accordance with section 
107(d) of the CAA, whenever the EPA establishes a new or revised NAAQS, 
the EPA must promulgate designations for all areas of the country for 
that NAAQS. The EPA must complete this process within 2 years of 
promulgating the NAAQS, unless the Administrator has insufficient 
information to make the initial designations decisions in that time 
frame. In such circumstances, the EPA may take up to 1 additional year 
to complete the designations. Under CAA section 107(d), states were 
required to submit area designation recommendations to the EPA for the 
2015 ozone NAAQS no later than 1 year following promulgation of the 
standards (i.e., by October 1, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ ``National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone,'' U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 80 FR 65292, October 26, 2015, 
https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-10-26/pdf/2015-26594.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On September 29, 2016, the state of Utah provided designation 
recommendations for counties in Utah based on air quality data from 
2013-2015. The state recommended a designation of nonattainment for 
townships in the counties of Duchesne and Uintah under state air 
jurisdiction that are at and below the 6,000-ft elevation. On February 
26, 2018, the state of Utah provided further input on the nonattainment 
boundaries. On September 27, 2016, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah 
and Ouray Reservation recommended that the Indian country area at an 
unspecified distance around the Ouray ozone monitor in the Uinta Basin 
be designated as nonattainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on air 
quality data from 2013-2015. However, the Tribe recommended a 
designation of attainment for all of Indian country in the Uinta Basin, 
assuming the EPA concurs with an exceptional event package submitted to 
the agency (by the Tribe) covering two days in June 2015.
    On December 20, 2017, in our response to the state and tribal 
designation boundary recommendations, we indicated our intent to modify 
the state's and tribe's recommendations for the Uinta Basin area. We 
provided the intended

[[Page 20784]]

boundary in a Technical Support Document.\32\ In short, the EPA's 
boundary for the intended nonattainment area for the Uinta Basin 
includes both state and Indian country lands within portions of 
Duchesne and Uintah Counties. A comment period followed the EPA's 
statement on its intended nonattainment boundaries for the Uinta Basin 
and other areas.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Utah: Northern Wasatch Front, Southern Wasatch Front, and 
Uinta Basin Intended Area Designations for the 2015 Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards Technical Support Document (TSD),'' 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 20, 2017, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/ut_120d_tsd.pdf.
    \33\ 83 FR 651, January 5, 2018, https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-01-05/pdf/2018-00024.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Summary of Proposed Amendments

    This action proposes to amend the National O&NG FIP to extend its 
application to eligible true minor oil and natural gas sources in the 
Indian country portion of the intended Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment 
Area, which includes its mechanism for authorizing construction. We 
also are proposing to make a technical correction to fix a 
typographical error in Sec.  49.101(c).
    First, this action proposes to add a new subparagraph to the CFR, 
to be codified at Sec.  49.101(e). In the new subparagraph, we are 
proposing to narrowly extend the geographic scope of the National O&NG 
FIP to cover eligible true minor oil and natural gas sources wishing to 
locate or expand in the Indian country portion (U&O Reservation) of the 
intended Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area.\34\ This proposed 
extension of coverage to this one nonattainment area does not alter the 
FIP's current geographic coverage of attainment, unclassifiable and 
attainment/unclassifiable areas with regard to the rest of Indian 
country across the nation. The proposed, geographically limited 
extension is in addition to the current coverage. Under this proposed 
amendment, true minor oil and natural gas sources in the oil and 
natural gas production and natural gas processing segments of the oil 
and natural gas sector wishing to locate or expand in the Indian 
country portion of the intended Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area 
would also have to meet the criteria under Sec.  49.101(b)(1) to 
qualify, except for Sec.  49.101(b)(1)(v). Section 49.101(b)(1)(v) 
contains the requirement governing the primary geographic scope of the 
FIP and not its limited extension to the intended Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area, and, thus, would not be relevant for such sources. 
In other words, the new paragraph Sec.  49.101(e) would displace 
existing Sec.  49.101(b)(1)(v) for Indian country within the intended 
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area--and only for that area of Indian 
country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ Utah: Northern Wasatch Front, Southern Wasatch Front, and 
Uinta Basin Intended Area Designations for the 2015 Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards Technical Support Document (TSD),'' 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 20, 2017, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/ut_120d_tsd.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To accomplish this extension, it is also necessary to define the 
boundaries of the intended Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area to 
which the National O&G FIP would apply if the EPA finalizes this 
proposed rule. To accomplish this, the EPA proposes to incorporate the 
boundaries for the intended nonattainment area for the Uinta Basin, or 
areas within the Uinta Basin, as defined at 40 CFR part 81, 
Designations of Areas for Air Quality Purposes.\35\ The regulatory and 
other processes that have occurred within and outside the EPA and 
between the EPA and state and tribal governments govern the development 
and final decision on the boundaries for the intended Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area and not this action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, this action proposes a technical correction to Sec.  
49.101(c), which currently reads: ``When must I comply with Sec. Sec.  
49.101 through 49.105? You must comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 
49.101 on or after October 3, 2016.'' This provision is supposed to 
reference Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105, as the title indicates. We 
are proposing to correct it to read: ``When must I comply with 
Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105? You must comply with Sec. Sec.  
49.101 through 49.105 on or after October 3, 2016.'' The EPA believes 
that this is a correction of a self-evident scrivener's error and does 
not constitute a substantive change of the existing regulatory 
provision.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is not a significant regulatory action and was, 
therefore, not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review.

B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulations and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs

    This action is expected to be an Executive Order 13771 deregulatory 
action. This proposed rule is expected to provide meaningful burden 
reduction by extending the streamlined authorization-to-construct 
method for true minor new and modified oil and natural gas sources. The 
streamlined authorization, which was established by the EPA in 2016, 
reduces the resource burden on the permitting authority and regulated 
community associated with submitting and reviewing permit applications 
for these sources in attainment and unclassifiable areas. This action 
proposes to extend the streamlined authorization to the intended Uinta 
Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose any new information collection burden 
under the PRA. OMB has previously approved the information collection 
activities contained in the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule and 
has assigned OMB control number 2060-0003.\36\ This action amends the 
National O&NG FIP which provides a mechanism for authorizing 
construction for true minor sources in the oil and natural gas 
production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and natural 
gas sector locating or located in areas covered by the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule to satisfy the requirements of that rule other 
than by obtaining a source-specific minor source permit. Because it 
substitutes for a source-specific permit, which would contain 
information collection activities covered by the Information Collection 
Request for Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule issued in July 2011, 
neither the proposed amendments nor the National O&NG FIP impose any 
new obligations or enforceable duties on any state, local or tribal 
government or the private sector. In fact, the proposed amendments 
would have the effect of reducing paperwork burden on sources wishing 
to locate or expand in the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin as 
the amendments provide an alternative to source-specific permitting for 
such sources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ Since the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule was 
promulgated, the Information Collection Request has been renewed and 
approved by OMB twice. The most recent approval extended the ICR 
until October 31, 2020. The ICR covers the activities of the 
National O&NG FIP. For more information, go to: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201702-2060-005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. In 
making this

[[Page 20785]]

determination, the impact of concern is any significant adverse 
economic impact on small entities. An agency may certify that a rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities if the rule relieves regulatory burden, has no net 
burden or otherwise has a positive economic effect on the small 
entities subject to the rule. The EPA analyzed the impact on small 
entities of streamlined permitting under the Federal Indian Country 
Minor NSR rule \37\ and determined that it would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. (By allowing 
sources to avoid having to obtain source-specific permits, this 
proposed action also would relieve regulatory burden.) This action 
merely implements a particular aspect of the Federal Indian Country 
Minor NSR rule. We have, therefore, concluded that this action will 
have no net regulatory burden for all directly regulated small 
entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ ``Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian 
Country,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 76 FR 38748, July 
1, 2011, https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/07/01/2011-14981/review-of-new-sources-and-modifications-in-indian-country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandates, as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any state, 
local or tribal government or the private sector. It simply modifies 
one option for sources to comply with the Federal Indian Country Minor 
NSR rule. The Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule itself, not this 
proposed action, imposes the obligation that true minor sources in 
areas covered by the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule obtain a 
minor source NSR permit prior to commencing construction. This proposed 
action merely applies the National O&NG FIP to the U&O Reservation as 
part of the Uinta Basin Nonattainment Area, which includes a 
streamlined mechanism for authorizing construction for meeting the 
obligation of the Federal Indian Country minor NSR rule.

F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It would not 
have substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship 
between the national government and the states, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action has tribal implications. However, it will neither 
impose substantial direct compliance costs on federally recognized 
tribal governments, nor preempt tribal law. Consistent with the EPA 
Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (May 4, 
2011),\38\ the EPA offered consultation on the concerns addressed in 
this proposed action, which include the lack of a streamlined 
permitting for the U&O Reservation should the area be designated 
nonattainment. The EPA conducted outreach on the issues addressed by 
the previous rule via ongoing monthly meetings with tribal 
environmental professionals in the development of the past proposed 
action,\39\ and further as follows via: (1) Tribal consultation with 
the Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee on July 22, 2015; December 17, 
2016; November 13, 2017; and March 22, 2018, regarding options that the 
EPA considered in addressing the Uinta Basin air quality concerns; (2) 
stakeholder meetings where the Tribe was included and participated in 
emissions contributions discussions specific to the EPA's strategy for 
addressing the Uinta Basin air quality concerns; (3) ongoing 
stakeholder working group meetings; and (4) tribally-convened 
stakeholder meetings on March 22, 2017, and June 1-2, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ For more information, go to: https://www.epa.gov/tribal/epa-policy-consultation-and-coordination-indian-tribes.
    \39\ These monthly meetings are general in nature, dealing with 
many air-related topics, and are not specific to this proposed 
action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This action reflects tribal concerns about, and priorities for, 
developing a streamlined approach for permitting true minor sources in 
the oil and natural gas sector in areas covered by the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule in the intended Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment 
Area. As these amendments, if finalized, are implemented, we will 
continue to provide regular outreach to tribes to ensure we address 
issues concerning the FIP if and when they arise. The EPA is available 
for consultation with any interested tribe.

H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is 
not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866, and 
because the EPA does not believe the environmental health or safety 
risks addressed by this action present a disproportionate risk to 
children.

I. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is 
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This action does not involve technical standards.

K. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    As discussed in Section II.B, we believe that this action is 
reasonable in light of our intended, separate rulemaking to establish a 
reservation-specific FIP and the expected short period of time before 
these requirements would apply. Therefore, the EPA believes the 
amendments in this action will not have potential disproportionately 
high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority, 
low-income or indigenous populations. Through these amendments, we 
seek: (1) To extend geographically the National O&NG FIP and its 
mechanism for authorizing construction that effectively provides a 
streamlined method for implementing a pre-construction permitting 
program for true minor sources in the oil and natural gas sector in 
areas covered by the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule, and (2) to 
pursue an approach that enables a streamlined process, which helps 
promote economic development by minimizing delays in new construction.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 49

    Environmental protection, Administrative practices and procedures, 
Air pollution control, Indians, Indians--law, Indians--tribal 
government, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Dated: April 30, 2018.
E. Scott Pruitt,
Administrator.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 40 CFR part 49 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

[[Page 20786]]

PART 49--INDIAN COUNTRY: AIR QUALITY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 49 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart C--General Federal Implementation Plan Provisions

0
2. In Sec.  49.101:
0
a. Revise paragraph (c).
0
b. Add paragraph (e).
    The revision and addition read as follows:


Sec.  49.101  Introduction.

* * * * *
    (c) When must I comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105? You 
must comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105 on or after October 
3, 2016.
* * * * *
    (e) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1)(v), oil and natural gas 
sources located in the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area are subject to Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105 
(except for paragraph (b)(1)(v)), provided subparagraphs (b)(1)(i)-(iv) 
are also satisfied.
0
3. In Sec.  49.102, add the definition ``Uinta Basin ozone 
nonattainment area'' in alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  49.102  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Uinta Basin ozone nonattainment area means the nonattainment area 
for the Uinta Basin, or such parts or areas of the Uinta Basin, as it 
is or may hereafter be defined at 40 CFR part 81, Designations of Areas 
for Air Quality Purposes.

[FR Doc. 2018-09652 Filed 5-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                  20775

                                                  2018, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:       Mr.            The primary purpose of the public
                                                  EST.                                                    Ben Owens, Chief, Pittsburgh Field                    hearing is to obtain your comments on
                                                  ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,                     Division, Telephone: (412) 937–2827.                  the proposed rule so that we can
                                                  identified by ‘‘PA–166–FOR; Docket ID:                  Email: bowens@osmre.gov.                              prepare a complete and objective
                                                  OSM–2017–0008’’, by either of the                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March                   analysis of the proposal. Those wishing
                                                  following two methods:                                  12, 2018, we published a proposed rule                to provide oral testimony need to
                                                     • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://                that would revise the Pennsylvania                    register between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
                                                  www.regulations.gov. The proposed rule                  program. By letter dated August 4, 2017               at the hearing location. Other attendees
                                                  has been assigned Docket ID: OSM–                       (Administrative Record No. PA 899.00),                are not required to register. Written
                                                  2017–0008. If you would like to submit                  Pennsylvania sent us an amendment to                  testimony will also be accepted. The
                                                  comments through the Federal                            its program under SMCRA (30 U.S.C.                    hearing officer will conduct the hearing
                                                  eRulemaking Portal, go to http://                       1201 et seq.). The Pennsylvania General               and receive the comments submitted.
                                                  www.regulations.gov and follow the                      Assembly recently amended the                         Comments submitted during the hearing
                                                  instructions.                                           BMSLCA to include language clarifying                 will be responded to in the preamble to
                                                     • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Mr.                    the circumstances where a finding of                  the final rule, not at the hearing. We
                                                  Ben Owens, Chief, Pittsburgh Field                      presumptive evidence of pollution is                  appreciate all comments, but those most
                                                  Division, Office of Surface Mining                      not warranted under the                               useful and likely to influence decisions
                                                  Reclamation and Enforcement, Three                      Commonwealth’s Clean Streams Law.                     on the final rule will be those that either
                                                  Parkway Center, Second Floor,                              A. By way of State Bill 624,                       involve personal experience or include
                                                  Pittsburgh, PA 15220.                                   Pennsylvania proposes additional                      citations to, and analyses of, the Surface
                                                     Instructions: For detailed instructions              language to the BMSLCA, Section 5(i)                  Mining Control and Reclamation Act of
                                                  on submitting comments and additional                   that states: ‘‘In a permit application to             1977, its legislative history, its
                                                  information on the rulemaking process,                  conduct bituminous coal mining                        implementing regulations, case law,
                                                  see III. Public Comment Procedures in                   operations, subject to this act, planned              other State or Federal laws and
                                                  the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section                   subsidence in a predictable and                       regulations, data, technical literature, or
                                                  of the proposed rule published on                       controlled manner which is not                        relevant publications.
                                                  March 12, 2018.                                         predicted to result in the permanent                     At the hearing, a court reporter will
                                                     Public Hearing: The public hearing                   disruption of premining existing or                   record and make a written record of the
                                                  will be held at the Double Tree by                      designated uses of surface waters of the              statements presented. This written
                                                  Hilton Pittsburgh-Green Tree, 500                       Commonwealth shall not be considered                  record will be made part of the
                                                  Mansfield Avenue, Pittsburgh,                           presumptive evidence that the proposed                administrative record for the rule. If you
                                                  Pennsylvania 15205; phone number:                       bituminous coal mining operations have                have a written copy of your testimony,
                                                  412–922–8400, on Tuesday, May 1,                        the potential to cause pollution as                   we encourage you to give us a copy. It
                                                  2018, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST.                  defined in section 1 of the act of June               will assist the court reporter in
                                                  Those wishing to provide oral testimony                 22, 1937 (Pub. L. 1987, No. 394), known               preparing the written record. Any
                                                  need to register between 5:00 p.m. and                  as ‘‘The Clean Streams Law’’.                         disabled individual who needs
                                                  5:30 p.m.                                                  B. Further, Pennsylvania proposes                  reasonable accommodation to attend the
                                                     Docket: For access to the docket to                  additional language to BMSLCA,                        public hearing is encouraged to contact
                                                  review copies of the Pennsylvania                       Section 5(j) as follows: ‘‘The provisions             the person listed under FOR FURTHER
                                                  regulations, the relevant amendment, a                  of subsection (i) shall only apply if: (1)            INFORMATION CONTACT.
                                                  listing of any scheduled public hearings,               A person submits an application to
                                                  and all written comments received in                    conduct bituminous mining operations                    Dated: April 5, 2018.
                                                  response to this document, you must go                  subject to this act to the department that            Thomas D. Shope,
                                                  to the address listed below during                      provides for the restoration of the                   Regional Director, Appalachian Region .
                                                  normal business hours, Monday through                   premining range of flows and                          [FR Doc. 2018–09767 Filed 5–7–18; 8:45 am]
                                                  Friday, excluding holidays. You may                     restoration of premining biological                   BILLING CODE 4310–05–P
                                                  receive one free copy of the amendment                  communities in any waters of this
                                                  by contacting OSMRE’s Pittsburgh Field                  Commonwealth predicted to be
                                                  Division; or the full text of the program               adversely affected by subsidence. The
                                                                                                                                                                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                  amendment is available at                               restoration shall be consistent with the
                                                  www.regulations.gov.                                                                                          AGENCY
                                                                                                          premining existing and designated uses
                                                     In addition, you may review a copy of                of the waters of this Commonwealth;                   40 CFR Part 49
                                                  the amendment during regular business                   and (2) the application is approved by
                                                  hours at one of the following locations:                the department.’’                                     [EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–0606; FRL–9977–68–
                                                     Mr. Ben Owens, Chief, Pittsburgh                        During the initial comment period,                 OAR]
                                                  Field Division, Office of Surface Mining                (Administrative Record Number PA
                                                  Reclamation and Enforcement,                            899.05), we received multiple citizen                 RIN 2060–AT96
                                                  Appalachian Regional Office, 3 Parkway                  requests to extend the comment period
                                                  Center, Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA                                                                          Amendments to Federal
                                                                                                          and to hold a public hearing on the
                                                  15220, Telephone: (412) 937–2827,                                                                             Implementation Plan for Managing Air
                                                                                                          amendment. We are reopening the
                                                  Email: bowens@osmre.gov.                                public comment period to afford the                   Emissions From True Minor Sources in
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                     Mr. William Allen, Chief, Permitting                 public more time to comment on the                    Indian Country in the Oil and Natural
                                                  and Compliance, Bureau of Mining and                    amendment and to allow enough time to                 Gas Production and Natural Gas
                                                  Reclamation, Pennsylvania Department                    schedule and hold the hearing. The                    Processing Segments of the Oil and
                                                  of Environmental Protection, Rachel                     date, time and location for the public                Natural Gas Sector
                                                  Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box                  hearing may be found under DATES and                  AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                                  8461, Harrisburg, PA 17105–8461,                        ADDRESSES.                                            Agency (EPA).
                                                  Telephone: (717) 783–9580, E-Mail:                         The hearing will be open to anyone
                                                                                                                                                                ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                  wallen@pa.gov.                                          who would like to attend and/or testify.


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:44 May 07, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00038   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\08MYP1.SGM   08MYP1


                                                  20776                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection                No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–0606, at                          www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-
                                                  Agency (EPA) is proposing three                         http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the                oil-and-natural-gas-industry. The EPA
                                                  amendments to the existing National Oil                 online instructions for submitting                    will make every effort to follow the
                                                  and Natural Gas Federal                                 comments. Once submitted, comments                    schedule as closely as possible on the
                                                  Implementation Plan (National O&NG                      cannot be edited or removed from                      day of the hearing; however, please plan
                                                  FIP) that applies to new true minor                     Regulations.gov. the EPA may publish                  for the hearing to run either ahead of
                                                  sources and minor modifications at                      any comment received to its public                    schedule or behind schedule.
                                                  existing true minor sources in the oil                  docket. Do not submit electronically any              Additionally, requests to speak will be
                                                  and natural gas production and natural                  information you consider to be                        taken the day of the hearing at the
                                                  gas processing segments of the oil and                  Confidential Business Information (CBI)               hearing registration desk. The EPA will
                                                  natural gas sector that are locating or                 or other information whose disclosure is              make every effort to accommodate all
                                                  expanding in Indian reservations or in                  restricted by statute. Multimedia                     speakers who arrive and register,
                                                  other areas of Indian country over                      submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be              although preferences on speaking times
                                                  which an Indian tribe, or the EPA, has                  accompanied by a written comment.                     may not be able to be fulfilled.
                                                  demonstrated the tribe’s jurisdiction.                  The written comment is considered the                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public
                                                  The National O&NG FIP, which                            official comment and should include                   hearing. Each commenter will have 5
                                                  includes a mechanism for authorizing                    discussion of all points you wish to                  minutes to provide oral testimony. The
                                                  construction of true minor new and                      make. The EPA will generally not                      EPA encourages commenters to provide
                                                  modified oil and natural gas sources,                   consider comments or comment                          the EPA with a copy of their oral
                                                  satisfies the minor source permitting                   contents located outside of the primary               testimony electronically (via email) or
                                                  requirement under the ‘‘Federal Minor                   submission (i.e., on the Web, Cloud, or               in hard copy form.
                                                  New Source Review (NSR) Program in                      other file sharing system). For
                                                                                                                                                                   The EPA may ask clarifying questions
                                                  Indian Country’’ (referred to as the                    additional submission methods, the full
                                                                                                                                                                during the oral presentations, but will
                                                  ‘‘Federal Indian Country Minor NSR                      EPA public comment policy,
                                                                                                                                                                not respond to the presentations at that
                                                  rule’’). We are proposing two                           information about CBI or multimedia
                                                                                                                                                                time. Written statements and supporting
                                                  amendments to apply the National                        submissions, and general guidance on
                                                                                                                                                                information submitted during the
                                                  O&NG FIP to the Uintah and Ouray                        making effective comments, please visit
                                                                                                                                                                comment period will be considered
                                                  Reservation (U&O Reservation) portion                   https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
                                                                                                                                                                with the same weight as oral comments
                                                  of the intended Uinta Basin Ozone                       commenting-epa-dockets.
                                                                                                                                                                and supporting information presented at
                                                  Nonattainment Area. We are also                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.                  the public hearing. Commenters should
                                                  proposing a minor technical correction                  Christopher Stoneman, Outreach and                    notify Tonya Blatcher at (919) 541–1929
                                                  to fix a typographical error in a                       Information Division, Office of Air                   or by email at blatcher.tonya@epa.gov if
                                                  provision in the National O&NG FIP.                     Quality Planning and Standards (C–                    they will need specific equipment, or if
                                                  DATES:                                                  304–01), Environmental Protection                     there are other special needs related to
                                                     Public hearing. A public hearing will                Agency, Research Triangle Park, North                 providing comments at the hearings.
                                                  be held May 30, 2018, at the EPA’s                      Carolina, 27711, telephone number                     Verbatim transcripts of the hearings and
                                                  Region 8 offices at 1595 Wynkoop                        (919) 541–0823, facsimile number (919)                written statements will be included in
                                                  Street, Denver, CO 80202. Please refer to               541–0072, email address:                              the docket for the rulemaking.
                                                  the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section                   stoneman.chris@epa.gov.                                  Please note that any updates made to
                                                  for additional information on the                          Public hearing. The EPA will begin                 any aspect of the hearing will be posted
                                                  hearing.                                                pre-registering speakers for the hearing              online at https://www.epa.gov/
                                                     Comments. The EPA must receive                       upon publication of this document in                  controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-
                                                  comments on this proposed action no                     the Federal Register. If you would like               natural-gas-industry. While the EPA
                                                  later than July 2, 2018.                                to speak at the public hearing, please                expects the hearing to go forward as set
                                                  ADDRESSES:                                              register using the online registration                forth above, please monitor our website
                                                     Public hearing. The hearing will be                  form available at: https://www.epa.gov/               or contact Tonya Blatcher at (919) 541–
                                                  held at the EPA’s Region 8 offices at                   controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-                    1929 or by email at blatcher.tonya@
                                                  1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO                         natural-gas-industry. You may also                    epa.gov to determine if there are any
                                                  80202. The hearing will convene at 9:00                 register by contacting Tonya Blatcher at              updates. The EPA does not intend to
                                                  a.m. (local time). The EPA will end the                 (919) 541–1929 or by email at                         publish a document in the Federal
                                                  hearing two hours after the last                        blatcher.tonya@epa.gov. To register to                Register announcing updates.
                                                  registered speaker has concluded their                  speak, we request the following
                                                                                                          information: The time you wish to                        The EPA will not provide audiovisual
                                                  comments but no later than 4:00 p.m.
                                                                                                          speak, name, affiliation, email address,              equipment for presentations unless we
                                                  (local time). There will be a lunch break
                                                                                                          and telephone number. If you register to              receive special requests in advance.
                                                  from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (local time).
                                                                                                          speak online, you do not need to call.                Commenters should notify Tonya
                                                     Because the hearing is being held at
                                                                                                          If you require reasonable                             Blatcher when they pre-register to speak
                                                  a United States government facility,
                                                                                                          accommodations, such as the service of                that they will need specific equipment.
                                                  individuals planning to attend must
                                                                                                          a translator, please let us know as soon              If you require the service of a translator
                                                  plan for enough time to enter the
                                                                                                          as possible, but no later than May 22,                or special accommodations such as
                                                  facility. All visitors must ensure they
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                                                                                                          2018.                                                 audio description, please pre-register for
                                                  have a valid photo ID and must pass
                                                                                                             The last day to pre-register to register           the hearing and describe your needs by
                                                  through security screening, comparable
                                                                                                          to speak at the hearing will be Tuesday,              May 22, 2018. We may not be able to
                                                  to screening at an airport, they will sign
                                                                                                          May 25, 2018. On May 28, 2018, the                    arrange for accommodations without
                                                  in and obtain a visitor pass. No large
                                                                                                          EPA will post a general agenda for the                advance notice.
                                                  signs, cameras, banners and/or weapons
                                                  will be allowed in to the facility.                     hearing that will list pre-registered                    The information presented in this
                                                     Docket. The EPA has established a                    speakers in approximate order. The                    preamble is organized as follows:
                                                  docket for this action under Docket ID                  general agenda will be posted at https://             I. General Information



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                                   20777

                                                     A. What entities are potentially affected by                    F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism                       sources that are in the oil and natural
                                                        this action?                                                 G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation                     gas production and natural gas
                                                     B. Where can I get a copy of this document                         and Coordination With Indian Tribal                     processing segments of the oil and
                                                        and other related information?                                  Governments
                                                  II. Purpose of this Proposed Action                                                                                           natural gas sector and are on Indian
                                                                                                                     H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
                                                     A. Overview                                                        Children From Environmental Health                      country 2 lands within the U&O
                                                     B. Authority for Proposed Action                                   Risks and Safety Risks                                  Reservation. All of the Ute Indian Tribe
                                                     C. Rationale for Proposed Action                                I. Executive Order 13211: Actions                          Indian country lands of which the EPA
                                                  III. Background                                                       Concerning Regulations That                             is aware are located within the exterior
                                                     A. FIPs Under the Indian Country Minor                             Significantly Affect Energy Supply,                     boundaries of the Reservation, and these
                                                        NSR Rule                                                        Distribution or Use                                     amendments will apply to all such
                                                     B. Uinta Basin Air Quality and Intended                         J. National Technology Transfer and
                                                        Nonattainment Designation
                                                                                                                                                                                lands. To the extent that there are Ute
                                                                                                                        Advancement Act (NTTAA)                                 Indian Tribe dependent Indian
                                                  IV. Summary of Proposed Amendments                                 K. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
                                                  V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews                                                                                      communities under 18 U.S.C. 1151(b) or
                                                                                                                        To Address Environmental Justice in
                                                     A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory                               Minority Populations and Low-Income                     allotted lands under 18 U.S.C. 1151(c)
                                                        Planning and Review and Executive                               Populations                                             that are located outside the exterior
                                                        Order 13563: Improving Regulation and                                                                                   boundaries of the Reservation, those
                                                        Regulatory Review                                         I. General Information                                        lands will not be covered by these
                                                     B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing                                                                                         amendments.3 In addition, this
                                                        Regulations and Controlling Regulatory                    A. What entities are potentially affected
                                                        Costs                                                     by this action?                                               proposed rule will not apply to any
                                                     C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)                                                                                           sources not on Indian country lands,
                                                     D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)                            Entities potentially affected by this                       including any areas within the exterior
                                                     E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                              proposal include the Ute Indian Tribe,1                       boundaries of the Reservation that are
                                                        (UMRA)                                                    as well as new and modified true minor                        not Indian country lands.4

                                                                                                  TABLE 1—SOURCE CATEGORIES AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION
                                                                                Industry category                                        NAICS code a           Examples of regulated entities/description of industry category

                                                  Oil and Natural Gas Production/Operations ...............................                        21111        Exploration for crude petroleum and natural gas; drilling, com-
                                                                                                                                                                  pleting, and equipping wells; operation of separators, emul-
                                                                                                                                                                  sion breakers, desilting equipment, and field gathering lines
                                                                                                                                                                  for crude petroleum and natural gas; and all other activities
                                                                                                                                                                  in the preparation of oil and natural gas up to the point of
                                                                                                                                                                  shipment from the producing property.
                                                                                                                                                                Production of crude petroleum, the mining and extraction of oil
                                                                                                                                                                  from oil shale and oil sands, the production of natural gas,
                                                                                                                                                                  sulfur recovery from natural gas, and the recovery of hydro-
                                                                                                                                                                  carbon liquids from oil and natural gas field gases.
                                                  Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction ............................                          211111       Exploration, development and/or the production of petroleum
                                                                                                                                                                  or natural gas from wells in which the hydrocarbons will ini-
                                                                                                                                                                  tially flow or can be produced using normal pumping tech-
                                                                                                                                                                  niques or production of crude petroleum from surface
                                                                                                                                                                  shales or tar sands or from reservoirs in which the hydro-
                                                                                                                                                                  carbons are semisolids.
                                                  Natural Gas Liquid Extraction .....................................................              211112       Recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from oil and natural gas field
                                                                                                                                                                  gases; and sulfur recovery from natural gas.
                                                  Drilling Oil and Natural Gas Wells ..............................................                213111       Drilling oil and natural gas wells for others on a contract or fee
                                                                                                                                                                  basis, including spudding in, drilling in, redrilling, and direc-
                                                                                                                                                                  tional drilling.


                                                     1 The Ute Indian Tribe is a federally recognized             extinguished, including rights-of-way running                 in the absence of a demonstration of an Indian
                                                  tribe organized under the Indian Reorganization Act             through the same.                                             tribe’s jurisdiction over such non-reservation area.
                                                  of 1934, with a Constitution and By-Laws adopted                  3 Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), lands held in              Because the current proposed rule would apply
                                                  by the Tribe on December 19, 1936, and approved                 trust for the use of an Indian tribe are reservation          only on Indian country lands that are within the
                                                  by the Secretary of the Interior on January 19, 1937.           lands within the definition at 18 U.S.C. 1151(a),             exterior boundaries of the U&O Reservation, i.e., on
                                                  See Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to                  regardless of whether the land is formally                    Reservation lands, it is unaffected by the Oklahoma
                                                  Receive Services from the United States Bureau of               designated as a reservation. See Indian Tribes: Air           court decision.
                                                  Indian Affairs, 82 FR 4915 (January 17, 2017); 48               Quality Planning and Management, 63 FR 7254,                     4 As a result of a series of federal court decisions,
                                                  Stat. 984, 25 U.S.C. 5123 (IRA); Constitution and               7258 (1998) (‘‘Tribal Authority Rule’’); Arizona Pub.         there are some areas within the exterior boundaries
                                                  By-Laws of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and               Serv. Co. v. EPA, 211 F.3d 1280, 1285–86 (D.C. Cir.
                                                  Ouray Reservation, available at https://                                                                                      of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation that are
                                                                                                                  2000). The EPA’s references in this FIP to Indian
                                                  www.loc.gov/law/help/american-indian-consts/                                                                                  not Indian country lands. See Ute Indian Tribe v.
                                                                                                                  country lands within the exterior boundaries of the
                                                  PDF/37026342.pdf.                                               U&O Reservation include any such tribal trust lands           Utah, 521 F. Supp. 1072 (D. Utah 1981); Ute Indian
                                                                                                                                                                                Tribe v. Utah, 716 F.2d 1298 (10th Cir. 1983); Ute
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                                                     2 Indian country is defined at 18 U.S.C. 1151 as:            that may be acquired by the Ute Indian Tribe. In
                                                  (a) All land within the limits of any Indian                    addition, in 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the          Indian Tribe v. Utah, 773 F.2d 1087 (10th Cir. 1985)
                                                  reservation under the jurisdiction of the United                D.C. Circuit addressed EPA’s authority to                     (en banc), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 994 (1986); Hagen
                                                  States Government, notwithstanding the issuance of              promulgate a FIP establishing certain CAA                     v. Utah, 510 U.S. 399 (1994); Ute Indian Tribe v.
                                                  any patent, and, including rights-of-way running                permitting programs in Indian country. Oklahoma               Utah, 935 F. Supp. 1473 (D. Utah 1996); Ute Indian
                                                  through the reservation, (b) all dependent Indian               Dept. of Environmental Quality v. EPA, 740 F. 3d              Tribe v. Utah, 114 F.3d 1513 (10th Cir. 1997), cert.
                                                  communities within the borders of the United                    185 (D.C. Cir. 2014). In that case, the court                 denied, 522 U.S. 1107 (1998); Ute Indian Tribe v.
                                                  States whether within the original or subsequently              recognized the EPA’s authority to promulgate a FIP            Utah, 790 F.3d 1000 (10th Cir. 2015), cert. denied,
                                                  acquired territory thereof, and whether within or               to directly administer CAA programs on Indian                 136 S. Ct. 1451 (2016); and Ute Indian Tribe v.
                                                  without the limits of a state, and (c) all Indian               reservations, but invalidated the FIP at issue as             Myton, 835 F.3d 1255 (10th Cir. 2016), cert. denied,
                                                  allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been            applied to non-reservation areas of Indian country            137 S. Ct. 2328 (2017).



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                                                  20778                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                                                   TABLE 1—SOURCE CATEGORIES AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION—Continued
                                                                            Industry category                                 NAICS code a           Examples of regulated entities/description of industry category

                                                  Support Activities for Oil and Natural Gas Operations ...............                 213112       Performing support activities on a contract or fee basis for oil
                                                                                                                                                       and natural gas operations (except site preparation and re-
                                                                                                                                                       lated construction activities) such as exploration (except
                                                                                                                                                       geophysical surveying and mapping); excavating slush pits
                                                                                                                                                       and cellars, well surveying; running, cutting, and pulling cas-
                                                                                                                                                       ings, tubes, and rods; cementing wells, shooting wells; per-
                                                                                                                                                       forating well casings; acidizing and chemically treating
                                                                                                                                                       wells; and cleaning out, bailing, and swabbing wells.
                                                  Engines (Spark Ignition and Compression Ignition) for Electric                        22111        Provision of electric power to support oil and natural gas pro-
                                                    Power Generation.                                                                                  duction where access to the electric grid is unavailable.
                                                     a North   American Industry Classification System.


                                                    This list is not intended to be                        country portion of the intended Uinta                        The Uinta Basin is a petroleum
                                                  exhaustive, but rather provides a guide                  Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area,                           producing system that contains
                                                  for readers regarding entities likely to be              which includes making it available as a                   thousands of active oil and natural gas
                                                  potentially affected by this action. To                  mechanism for authorizing construction                    wells, and existing oil and natural gas
                                                  determine whether your facility could                    in that area. (The Indian country lands                   production activity is the primary
                                                  be affected by this action, you should                   within the Uinta Basin to which these                     source of the emissions of concern for
                                                  examine the applicability criteria in the                amendments would apply are on the                         air quality: volatile organic compounds
                                                  Federal Minor NSR Program in Indian                      U&O Reservation.)                                         (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), ozone
                                                  Country and the National O&NG FIP (40                                                                              precursors that react to form ozone in
                                                                                                              The National O&NG FIP provides a
                                                  Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)                                                                                  the presence of sunlight and widespread
                                                                                                           mechanism for authorizing construction
                                                  49153 and 49.101, respectively). If you                                                                            snow cover. The Uinta Basin’s air
                                                                                                           for eligible true minor oil and natural
                                                  have any questions regarding the                                                                                   quality problem is wintertime ozone
                                                                                                           gas sources wishing to locate or expand
                                                  applicability of this action to a                                                                                  caused by these existing sources’
                                                                                                           in areas of Indian country designated as                  emissions. However, because the agency
                                                  particular entity, contact the appropriate               attainment, unclassifiable and
                                                  person listed in the FOR FURTHER                                                                                   is under a court order to finalize the
                                                                                                           attainment/unclassifiable. The counties                   Basin’s designation with respect to the
                                                  INFORMATION CONTACT section.
                                                                                                           in the Uinta Basin are currently                          2015 ozone NAAQS by April 30, 2018,9
                                                  B. Where can I get a copy of this                        designated as unclassifiable with                         and because the agency intends to
                                                  document and other related                               respect to the 2008 ozone National                        designate some portions of the Basin as
                                                  information?                                             Ambient Air Quality Standards                             nonattainment, including portions of
                                                    In addition to being available in the                  (NAAQS) 6 and, as such, owners/                           the U&O Reservation, under the
                                                  docket, an electronic copy of this final                 operators of eligible oil and natural gas                 National O&G FIP, in its current form,
                                                  rule will also be available on the World                 sources on Indian country lands within                    the Indian country portions of the Basin
                                                  Wide Web. Following signature by the                     the U&O Reservation have been utilizing                   (U&O Reservation) will fall out of that
                                                  EPA Administrator, a copy of this final                  the National O&NG FIP’s streamlined                       FIP’s coverage. Thus, the area will lack
                                                  rule will be posted in the regulations                   approach to satisfy permitting                            a streamlined mechanism to authorize
                                                  and standards section of our NSR home                    requirements since August 2, 2016,                        construction of true minor new and
                                                  page located at http://www.epa.gov/nsr                   when the FIP became effective.                            modified oil and natural gas sources.
                                                  and on the tribal NSR page at https://                   However, the EPA has announced its                        This will immediately cause a disparity
                                                  www.epa.gov/tribal-air/tribal-minor-                     intention to designate portions of the                    in the regulatory landscape facing such
                                                  new-source-review.                                       Uinta Basin, including the U&O                            activity in the affected area, as
                                                                                                           Reservation, as nonattainment for the                     compared to all other areas of Indian
                                                  II. Purpose of This Proposed Action                      2015 ozone NAAQS.7 8                                      country that will remain covered by the
                                                  A. Overview                                                6 ‘‘Air Quality Designations for the 2008 Ozone
                                                                                                                                                                     FIP—even though the Basin’s air quality
                                                    In this action, the EPA is proposing to                National Ambient Air Quality Standards;
                                                                                                                                                                     problem that drives the impending
                                                  exercise its authority, in accordance                    Implementation of the 2008 National Ambient Air           nonattainment designation will not
                                                  with section 110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA
                                                                                                           Quality Standards for Ozone: Nonattainment Area           manifest until the winter.
                                                                                                           Classifications Approach, Attainment Deadlines               With this proposed action, the EPA is
                                                  and under sections 301(a) and 301(d)(4)                  and Revocation of the 1997 Ozone Standards for
                                                                                                                                                                     proposing to ensure that the National
                                                  of the CAA and 40 CFR 49.11 by                           Transportation Conformity Purposes,’’ U.S.
                                                                                                           Environmental Protection Agency, 77 FR 30087,             O&NG FIP’s requirements to comply
                                                  amending the National O&NG FIP 5 to
                                                                                                           May 21, 2012, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-           with eight federal rules (and the
                                                  extend it to eligible true minor oil and                 2012-05-21/pdf/2012-11618.pdf.                            mechanism for authorizing
                                                  natural gas sources in the Indian                          7 The EPA intends to make final designation
                                                                                                                                                                     construction) will continue to apply on
                                                                                                           determinations for the areas of the country
                                                    5 ‘‘Federal Implementation Plan for True Minor         addressed by the EPA responses to state and tribal        the U&O Reservation, recognizing that
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                                                  Sources in Indian Country in the Oil and Natural         area boundary recommendations (which cover the            the geographically limited extension of
                                                  Gas Production and Natural Gas Processing                Uinta Basin region) no earlier than 120 days from         the National O&NG FIP to the area is
                                                  Segments of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector;              the date (December 21, 2017) the EPA notified             occurring while the EPA moves quickly
                                                  Amendments to the Federal Minor New Source               states and tribes of the agency’s intended
                                                  Review Program in Indian Country to Address              designations.                                             to complete a separate rulemaking to
                                                  Requirements for True Minor Sources in the Oil and         8 ‘‘EPA Responses to Certain State Designation

                                                  Natural Gas Sector,’’ U.S. Environmental Protection      Recommendations for the 2015 Ozone National               January 5, 2018, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-
                                                  Agency, 81 FR 35943, June 3, 2016, https://              Ambient Air Quality Standards: Notice of                  2018-01-05/pdf/2018-00024.pdf.
                                                  www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-            Availability and Public Comment Period,’’ U.S.              9 In re Ozone Designation Litigation, No. 17–cv–

                                                  11969.pdf.                                               Environmental Protection Agency, 83 FR 651,               06900–HSG (N.D. Cal. March 12, 2018).



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                   20779

                                                  further address the air quality problem                 states is inappropriate or                            2011,15 and the rule became effective on
                                                  on the U&O Reservation.                                 administratively infeasible, to provide               August 30, 2011. The Federal Indian
                                                    The separate EPA rulemaking 10                        by regulation other means by which the                Country Minor NSR rule applies to new
                                                  addressing air quality is a reservation-                EPA will directly administer the CAA.                 and modified minor stationary sources
                                                  specific FIP action that will contain                   (CAA section 301(d)(4)). Acting                       and to minor modifications at existing
                                                  requirements to reduce ozone-forming                    principally pursuant to that authority,               major stationary sources located in
                                                  emissions from new, modified and                        on February 12, 1998,12 the EPA                       Indian country where there is no EPA-
                                                  existing oil and natural gas sources on                 promulgated what we refer to as the                   approved program in place for all new
                                                  Indian country lands within the U&O                     Tribal Authority Rule (TAR). (40 CFR                  and modified minor sources and minor
                                                  Reservation. The rulemaking will seek                   49.1–49.11). In the TAR, we determined                modifications at major sources located
                                                  to achieve three goals for the Indian                   that it was appropriate to treat tribes in            in areas covered by the Federal Indian
                                                  country portion of the Uinta Basin: (1)                 the same manner as states for all CAA                 Country Minor NSR rule.
                                                  Clean air; (2) continued, uninterrupted                 and regulatory purposes except a list of                 Tribes can elect to develop and
                                                  development of the oil and natural gas                  specified CAA provisions and                          implement their own EPA-approved
                                                  resources; and (3) consistent CAA                       implementing regulations thereunder.                  program under the TAR,16 but they are
                                                  regulatory requirements between Indian                  (40 CFR 49.4).                                        not required to do so.17 In the absence
                                                  country lands within the U&O                               The TAR preamble clarified that by                 of an approved program, the EPA
                                                  Reservation and lands under state of                    including CAA section 110(c)(1) on the                implements this program. Alternatively,
                                                  Utah jurisdiction. Through that                         § 49.4 ‘‘exception’’ list, ‘‘EPA is not               tribes can take delegation of the program
                                                  rulemaking, the EPA will address the                    relieved of its general obligation under              from the EPA to assist the EPA with
                                                  Uinta Basin’s particular situation in an                the CAA to ensure the protection of air               administration of the federal program,
                                                  area-specific manner; this proposal                     quality throughout the nation, including              including acting as the Reviewing
                                                  today seeks to bridge the gap in                        throughout Indian country.’’ The                      Authority for the EPA.
                                                  authority that the nonattainment                        preamble confirmed that the ‘‘EPA will                   Under the Federal Indian Country
                                                  designation will cause during the                       continue to be subject to the basic                   Minor NSR rule, initially beginning
                                                  interim period where the designation                    requirement to issue a FIP for affected               September 2, 2014,18 any new stationary
                                                  will be in place, but the environmental                 tribal areas within some reasonable                   source, that will emit, or will have the
                                                  needs requiring area-specific treatment                 time.’’ 13 The TAR includes a provision               potential to emit, a regulated NSR
                                                  have not yet materialized.                              that provides the EPA the authority to                pollutant in amounts that will be: (a)
                                                                                                          promulgate a Federal implementation                   Equal to or greater than the minor NSR
                                                  B. Authority for Proposed Action
                                                                                                          plan in the absence of a satisfactory                 thresholds established in the Federal
                                                     CAA section 110(a)(2)(C) is part of the              tribal plan. (40 CFR 49.11(a)).
                                                  foundation for the minor NSR program,                                                                         Indian Country Minor NSR rule; but (b)
                                                                                                             On August 21, 2006, the EPA
                                                  and it requires states to submit plans                                                                        less than the amount that would qualify
                                                                                                          proposed the regulation: ‘‘Review of
                                                  that include programs for the regulation                                                                      the source as a major source or a major
                                                                                                          New Sources and Modifications in
                                                  of ‘‘the modification and construction of                                                                     modification for purposes of the
                                                                                                          Indian Country’’ (commonly referred to
                                                  any stationary source.’’ 11 CAA section                                                                       Prevention of Significant Deterioration
                                                                                                          as the Federal Indian Country NSR
                                                  110(c) authorizes the EPA to promulgate                                                                       (PSD) or nonattainment major NSR
                                                                                                          rule).14 With this proposed regulation,
                                                  a Federal implementation plan in the                                                                          programs, must apply for and obtain a
                                                                                                          the EPA proposed to protect air quality
                                                  absence of a satisfactory state plan. CAA                                                                     minor NSR permit before beginning
                                                                                                          in Indian country, as defined in 18
                                                  section 301(a) generally authorizes the                                                                       construction of the new source.
                                                                                                          U.S.C. 1151, by establishing a FIP
                                                  EPA to prescribe regulations as are                                                                           Likewise, any existing stationary source
                                                                                                          program to regulate, among other
                                                  necessary to carry out its functions                                                                          (minor or major) must apply for and
                                                                                                          matters, the modification and
                                                  under the Act.                                                                                                obtain a minor NSR permit before
                                                                                                          construction of minor stationary sources
                                                     Section 301(d) of the CAA authorizes                                                                       beginning construction (a physical or
                                                                                                          consistent with the authorities and
                                                  the EPA to treat Indian tribes in the                                                                         operational change) that will increase
                                                                                                          requirements of sections 301 and
                                                  same manner as states and directs the                                                                         the allowable emissions of the
                                                                                                          110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA. We refer to this
                                                  EPA to promulgate regulations                                                                                 stationary source by more than the
                                                                                                          part of the Federal Indian Country NSR
                                                  specifying those provisions of the CAA                                                                        specified threshold amounts, if the
                                                                                                          rule as the Federal Indian Country
                                                  for which such treatment is appropriate.                                                                      change does not otherwise trigger the
                                                                                                          Minor NSR rule. Under the Federal
                                                  (CAA sections 301(d)(1) and (2)). It also                                                                     permitting requirements of the PSD or
                                                                                                          Indian Country Minor NSR rule, we
                                                  authorizes the EPA, in circumstances in                 proposed to provide a mechanism for                     15 ‘‘Review of New Sources and Modifications in
                                                  which the EPA determines that the                       issuing pre-construction permits for the              Indian Country,’’ U.S. Environmental Protection
                                                  treatment of Indian tribes as identical to              construction of new minor sources and                 Agency, 76 FR 38748, July 1, 2011, https://
                                                                                                          certain modifications of major and                    www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-01/pdf/2011-
                                                     10 The rulemaking is listed on the Office of                                                               14981.pdf.
                                                                                                          minor sources in Indian country. We                     16 To obtain eligibility to develop and implement
                                                  Management and Budget’s Unified Agenda of
                                                  Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. For more
                                                                                                          promulgated a final rule on July 1,                   an EPA-approved plan, under the TAR a tribe must
                                                  information, go to: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/                                                           meet four requirements: (1) be a federally
                                                                                                            12 ‘‘Indian Tribes: Air Quality Planning and        recognized tribe, (2) have a functioning government,
                                                  do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201710&RIN=2008-
                                                  AA03. In the Agenda, the rulemaking appears as:         Management,’’ U.S. Environmental Protection           (3) have the legal authority and (4) have the
                                                  ‘‘Federal Implementation Plan for Oil and Natural       Agency, 63 FR 7254, February 12, 1998, http://        capacity to run the program. For more information,
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                                                  Gas Sources; Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation        www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-           see 63 FR 7254, February 12, 1998, http://
                                                  in Utah.’’                                              3451.pdf.                                             www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-
                                                     11 Section 110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA requires state      13 See CAA section 301(a) and 63 FR 7254, 7265,     3451.pdf.
                                                  plans to include ‘‘a program to provide for the . . .   February 12, 1998, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/        17 Under tribal law, tribes may also be able to

                                                  regulation of the modification and construction of      FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-3451.                            establish permit fees under a tribal permitting
                                                  any stationary source within the areas covered by         14 ‘‘Review of New Sources and Modifications in     program, as do most states.
                                                  the plan as necessary to assure that national           Indian Country,’’ U.S. Environmental Protection         18 For true minor sources in the oil and natural

                                                  ambient air quality standards are achieved,             Agency, 71 FR 48696, August 21, 2006, https://        gas sector, this date was extended twice. The final
                                                  including a permit program as required in parts C       www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2006-08-21/pdf/06-           date of October 3, 2016, was included in the
                                                  and D of this subchapter.’’                             6926.pdf.                                             National O&NG FIP.



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                                                  20780                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  nonattainment major NSR program(s).19                   implementation plans include programs                 Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, but in
                                                  The Federal Indian Country Minor NSR                    for all areas (attainment and                         the meantime we are proposing this
                                                  rule also created a framework for the                   nonattainment) that provide for the                   action. The agency believes that this
                                                  EPA to streamline the issuance of pre-                  regulation of the modification and                    approach is reasonable in light of the
                                                  construction permits to true minor                      construction of any stationary source                 following considerations.
                                                  sources by using general permits.                       ‘‘as necessary to assure that national                   First, as noted above, the EPA is
                                                    In promulgating the National O&NG                     ambient air quality standards are                     moving quickly to undertake a separate
                                                  FIP we determined that it was                           achieved’’ for the reasons discussed                  rulemaking to establish a U&O
                                                  appropriate to promulgate a FIP to                      elsewhere in this document. In addition,              Reservation-specific FIP for the area. We
                                                  remedy an existing regulatory gap with                  CAA sections 172 and 173 provide that                 intend to complete this other action—
                                                  respect to oil and natural gas production               programs relating to permits to                       the U&O Reservation-specific FIP—
                                                  and natural gas processing operations in                construct for major sources should take               before the start of the 2018–2019 winter
                                                  areas covered by the Federal Indian                     into consideration emissions from                     ozone season in the Uinta Basin. Our
                                                  Country Minor NSR rule where there is                   existing sources, as well as new or                   intent is for the FIP to contain VOC
                                                  no EPA-approved plan in place. The                      modified sources that ‘‘are not major                 emissions control requirements that will
                                                  authority that underlies and supports                   emitting facilities,’’ i.e., new or                   apply to existing, new and modified
                                                  the National O&NG FIP (as well as the                   modified minor sources. Thus, the                     minor oil and natural gas sources on the
                                                  Federal Indian Country Minor NSR FIP)                   emissions from minor sources covered                  U&O Reservation. Our intent is for some
                                                  also authorizes this proposed action,                   by this action would be considered in                 of those requirements (i.e., VOC
                                                  which simply would amend the                            CAA section 173 major source                          requirements on new and modified
                                                  National O&NG FIP. In summary, just as                  permitting actions in the intended Uinta              minor sources) to apply before the start
                                                  we had the authority to establish the                   Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area,                       of the 2018–2019 winter ozone season
                                                  National O&NG FIP, we believe that we                   though they are not directly subject to               on the U&O Reservation, by which time
                                                  have authority under the CAA (sections                  regulation under CAA sections 172 and                 we expect the final U&O Reservation-
                                                  301(a), 301(d)(4) and 110(a)(2)(C)) and                 173.20                                                specific FIP to be effective with the
                                                  regulatory authority under the TAR (40                                                                        requirements on existing oil and natural
                                                  CFR 49.1–49.11) to carry out this action                C. Rationale for Proposed Action
                                                                                                                                                                gas minor sources to follow. It should
                                                  and extend the applicability of the                        In the preamble to the final National
                                                                                                                                                                also be noted that preliminary
                                                  National O&NG FIP to the Indian                         O&NG FIP, we made clear that we could
                                                                                                                                                                monitoring data from the current 2017–
                                                  country portion of the Uinta Basin                      extend the geographic coverage of the
                                                                                                                                                                2018 winter ozone season from across
                                                  Ozone Nonattainment Area. As                            FIP to nonattainment areas, provided
                                                                                                                                                                the region show values well below the
                                                  described above, the CAA provides                       that we also addressed existing, new
                                                                                                                                                                2015 ozone NAAQS.22
                                                  broad authority to manage air resources                 and modified sources in a separate,
                                                  throughout Indian country, regardless of                reservation-specific FIP. We stated the                  Second, the relatively short, initial
                                                  area designation under the CAA. This is                 need to develop area-specific plans if                period of time before a U&O
                                                  well established authority and we have                  and when areas of Indian country                      Reservation-specific FIP is in place
                                                  exercised it on many occasions,                         become nonattainment. Further, we                     during which the National O&NG FIP
                                                  including to regulate activity in areas of              specifically noted concern about the air              will apply to the U&O Reservation (as
                                                  Indian country designated                               quality problem in the Uinta Basin and                part of the expected Uinta Basin Ozone
                                                  nonattainment. Foremost, the Agency is                  indicated our intent to propose a                     Nonattainment Area), will be before the
                                                  responsible for ensuring that NAAQS                     separate reservation-specific FIP to                  Uinta Basin winter ozone season. As
                                                  are achieved throughout Indian country                  address the issue.                                    noted above, the Uinta Basin does not
                                                  and to implement CAA programs in                           The extension of the National O&NG                 have a summertime ozone air quality
                                                  Indian country that tribal governments                  FIP proposed in this document will, if                problem. We are, therefore, confident
                                                  do not elect to implement. This                         finalized, provide coverage under the                 that—with this action—the eight
                                                  proposed action is consistent with and                  National O&NG FIP for Indian country                  emissions standards that apply to oil
                                                  supported by our successful use of these                portion of the intended Uinta basin                   and natural gas sources under the
                                                  authorities in these prior actions.                     Ozone Nonattainment Area after EPA’s                  National O&NG FIP will continue to be
                                                    Finally, in light of the intended,                    intended designation of portions of the               adequately protective of air quality in
                                                  pending final designation of                            Uinta Basin as being in nonattainment                 the U&O Reservation while we complete
                                                  nonattainment for the Uinta Basin for                   of the 2015 ozone NAAQS, which the                    the separate rulemaking to establish a
                                                  the 2015 ozone NAAQS, this action is                    EPA intends to issue by April 30, 2018.               U&O Reservation-specific FIP, all of
                                                  consistent with the CAA general                         We indicated in the preamble to the                   which we expect to occur before the
                                                  provisions for nonattainment areas in                   final National O&NG FIP that we                       start of the 2018–2019 winter ozone
                                                  CAA sections 172(b) and 172(c), which                   intended ‘‘to potentially apply the                   season in the Uinta Basin.
                                                  include references to CAA section                       national FIP’s requirements as                           Finally, the two-part approach we are
                                                  110(a)(2), as well as the major source                  appropriate to nonattainment areas                    taking is similar to the process that
                                                  nonattainment NSR permitting program                    where the EPA has established a                       occurs under the CAA when an area
                                                  in CAA section 173. This proposed                       separate, area-specific FIP.’’21 The EPA              within a state is designated
                                                  action is consistent with CAA section                   does intend to do just that for the Indian            nonattainment: A plan addressing the
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                                                  110(a)(2)(C), which requires that                       country portion of the intended Uinta                 air quality problem is not due to the
                                                                                                                                                                EPA until a period of time after an area
                                                    19 A source may, however, be subject to certain         20 The Federal Indian Country NSR rule also         is designated nonattainment. Thus, the
                                                  monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting (MRR)           provides for major source permitting in               approach we are presenting here, we
                                                  requirements under the major NSR programs, if the       nonattainment areas in Indian country. See 76 FR
                                                                                                          38748, July 1, 2011, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/
                                                                                                                                                                believe, is reasonable.
                                                  change has a reasonable possibility of resulting in
                                                  a major modification. A source may be subject to        FR-2011-07-01/pdf/2011-14981.pdf.
                                                  both the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule            21 See 81 FR 35943, 35946, June 3, 2016, https://     22 See spreadsheet titled: ‘‘Uinta Basin Ozone

                                                  and the reasonable possibility MRR requirements of      www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-         Data, Dec. 2017-Feb. 2018,’’ Docket No. EPA–HQ–
                                                  the major NSR program(s).                               11969.pdf.                                            OAR–2014–0606.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                   20781

                                                     We also believe that this action—                    Ozone Nonattainment Area to be                        already regulated by the major NSR
                                                  along with the EPA’s related,                           covered by the National O&NG FIP in                   permitting programs.
                                                  forthcoming action to reduce oil and                    the absence of any emissions reductions
                                                                                                                                                                2. National O&NG FIP
                                                  natural gas source emissions in the                     that may be associated with the U&O
                                                  area—will address the air quality                       Reservation-specific FIP. We seek                        Following the issuance of the Federal
                                                  problem on the U&O Reservation, while                   comment relating to this scenario,                    Indian Country Minor NSR FIP, EPA
                                                  maintaining a mechanism for                             including on what the Agency could do                 proposed the National O&NG FIP.24
                                                  authorizing construction that helps                     in this action, when finalized, to                    Because there were no currently
                                                  ensure continued oil and natural gas                    mitigate possible impacts.                            approved TIPs specifically applying to
                                                  production on the U&O Reservation in                       In another scenario, we, instead                   the issuance of general permits with
                                                  compliance with the eight federal rules                 finalize the extension as temporary and               respect to the reduction of emissions
                                                  that apply to true minor oil and natural                we set it to expire at the end of calendar            related to oil and natural gas production
                                                  gas sources under the FIP.23 Based on                   year 2018, say, but we do not complete                facilities, we proposed a FIP to protect
                                                  feedback from Ute Indian Tribe                          the U&O Reservation-specific FIP by the               air quality in areas covered by the
                                                  leadership, continued oil and natural                   start of the 2018–2019 Uinta Basin                    Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule.
                                                  gas production is important for the                     winter ozone season. Here, the concern                The National O&NG FIP was published
                                                  maintenance of the local tribal                         would be the effect on oil and natural                in final form on June 3, 2016.25 The
                                                  economy, as the Ute Indian Tribe is                     gas activity on the U&O Reservation, if               National O&NG FIP adopted legally and
                                                  dependent upon oil and natural gas                      the area loses coverage under the                     practicably enforceable requirements to
                                                  revenue for its economic prosperity.                    National O&NG FIP. In the absence of                  control and reduce air emissions from
                                                  Because the action we propose today                     other measures, sources in the Indian                 oil and natural gas production.
                                                  will avoid disruption of that activity                  country portion of Uinta Basin Ozone                     The National O&NG FIP was
                                                                                                          Nonattainment Area (the U&O                           developed to protect air quality in
                                                  during the period before the wintertime
                                                                                                          Reservation) would need to obtain                     Indian country due to the impact of new
                                                  ozone problem manifests, while the EPA
                                                                                                          source-specific minor source permits in               true minor sources and minor
                                                  works to promulgate an area-specific
                                                                                                          order to construct and operate. Oil and               modifications at existing true minor
                                                  protective measure to address that
                                                                                                          natural gas owners and operators in the               sources in the oil and natural gas
                                                  problem, the agency believes this course
                                                                                                          U&O reservation and the Ute Indian                    production and natural gas processing
                                                  of action will appropriately protect the
                                                                                                          Tribe have significant concerns about                 segments of the oil and natural gas
                                                  Basin’s environment without causing
                                                                                                          delays associated with this type of                   sector that are locating or expanding in
                                                  unnecessary disruption to its economy.
                                                                                                          permitting. As noted above, the Ute                   an Indian reservation or in another area
                                                     We are proposing that the extension
                                                                                                          Indian Tribe relies on revenue from oil               of Indian country over which a tribe, or
                                                  of the National O&NG FIP to eligible
                                                                                                          and natural gas activity for its livelihood           the EPA, has demonstrated that the tribe
                                                  true minor oil and natural gas sources
                                                                                                          and has expressed concerns about the                  has jurisdiction. The FIP applies to new
                                                  in the Indian country portion of the
                                                                                                          lengthier timeframes associated with                  and modified true minor sources that
                                                  intended Uinta Basin Ozone
                                                                                                          EPA approvals under source-specific                   are located or expanding in such areas
                                                  Nonattainment Area be permanent.
                                                                                                          permitting. We seek comment relating to               of Indian country designated as
                                                  However, we also are seeking comment
                                                                                                          this scenario, including on what the                  attainment, unclassifiable or attainment/
                                                  on whether, instead, it should be
                                                                                                          Agency could do to mitigate possible                  unclassifiable. It currently does not
                                                  temporary and expire before the onset of
                                                                                                          impacts.                                              apply to new and modified true minor
                                                  the 2018–2019 ozone season. We seek                                                                           sources that are located or expanding in
                                                  comment on whether the extension                        III. Background                                       such areas of Indian country designated
                                                  should be temporary, in light of the facts                                                                    nonattainment. However, this action
                                                  surrounding the Uinta Basin’s situation                 A. FIPs Under the Indian Country Minor
                                                                                                          NSR Rule                                              proposes to extend the National O&NG
                                                  as described above and with respect to:                                                                       FIP’s geographic coverage to the Uinta
                                                  (1) This proposed action, (2) its                       1. Federal Indian Country Minor NSR                   Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. The
                                                  impending nonattainment designation,                    Rule                                                  FIP does not apply to minor
                                                  and (3) the forthcoming area-specific                      As noted above, CAA section                        modification of major sources; such
                                                  FIP.                                                    301(d)(4) authorizes the EPA to issue                 sources are required to obtain a source-
                                                     In particular, we seek comment on                    regulations directly administering, in                specific permit prior to beginning
                                                  how the EPA can protect air quality on                  Indian country, provisions of the Act.                construction, per the Federal Indian
                                                  the U&O Reservation and ensure                          Exercising its authority, including its               Country Minor NSR rule.
                                                  continued oil and natural gas                           authority under 301(d)(4), the EPA                       The National O&NG FIP fulfills the
                                                  development under two general                           promulgated the Federal Indian Country                EPA’s obligation under the Federal
                                                  scenarios. In the first scenario, we                    Minor NSR rule, a type of FIP. We                     Indian Country Minor NSR rule to issue
                                                  finalize the extension as permanent, as                 identified a regulatory gap that could                minor source NSR pre-construction
                                                  proposed, but we do not complete the                    have the effect of adversely impacting                permits to oil and natural gas sources.
                                                  U&O Reservation-specific FIP by the                     air quality due to the lack of approved               The National O&NG FIP provides a
                                                  start of the 2018–2019 Uinta Basin                      minor NSR permit programs to regulate                 streamlined, alternative approach that
                                                  winter ozone season. A concern may be                   construction of new and modified minor
                                                  that continuing to allow the Uinta Basin                sources and minor modifications of                      24 ‘‘Review of New Sources and Modifications in
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                                                                                                          major sources in areas covered by the                 Indian Country: Federal Implementation Plan for
                                                     23 This includes the EPA’s New Source                                                                      Managing Air Emissions from True Minor Sources
                                                  Performance Standards (NSPS) for oil and natural
                                                                                                          Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule.                Engaged in Oil and Natural Gas Production in
                                                  gas sources (40 CFR part 60, subpart OOOO) with         The EPA promulgated the FIP to ensure                 Indian Country,’’ U.S. Environmental Protection
                                                  affected facilities that commenced construction,        that air resources are protected by                   Agency, 80 FR 56553, September 18, 2005, https://
                                                  modification or reconstruction after August 23,         establishing a preconstruction                        www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-
                                                  2011. The standard includes emissions standards                                                               21025.pdf.
                                                  for VOC and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from a number
                                                                                                          permitting program to regulate emission                 25 See 81 FR 35943, 35946, June 3, 2016, https://

                                                  of units, including storage tanks, compressors, and     increases resulting from construction                 www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-
                                                  pneumatic controllers.                                  and modification activities that are not              11969.pdf.



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                                                  20782                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  fulfills the permitting requirement,                       PM10, PM2.5), hydrogen sulfide, carbon                              standards (that contain emission
                                                  while also ensuring air quality                            monoxide and various sulfur                                         limitations), monitoring, testing,
                                                  protection through requirements that are                   compounds from the following units/                                 recordkeeping and reporting. For
                                                  unambiguous and legally and                                processes in the oil and natural gas                                purposes of the National O&NG FIP,
                                                  practicably enforceable. The FIP                           production and natural gas processing                               true minor sources must comply with
                                                  approach is also transparent to the                        segments of the oil and natural gas                                 these standards, as they currently exist
                                                  public: It is clear to the public what                     sector: Compression ignition and spark                              or as amended in the future, except for
                                                  requirements will apply. The FIP                           ignition engines; process heaters;                                  those provisions that we specifically
                                                  reduces burden for sources and the                         combustion turbines; fuel storage tanks;                            exclude under the National O&NG FIP
                                                  Reviewing Authority and minimizes                          glycol dehydrators; completion of
                                                                                                                                                                                 (unless the source opts out of the FIP
                                                  potential delays in new construction                       hydraulically fractured oil and natural
                                                                                                                                                                                 and obtains a source-specific permit or
                                                  due to compliance with the minor NSR                       gas wells; reciprocating and centrifugal
                                                  permitting obligation. True minor                          compressors (except those located at                                is otherwise required to obtain a source-
                                                  sources in the oil and natural gas                         well sites); pneumatic controllers;                                 specific permit by the Reviewing
                                                  production and natural gas processing                      pneumatic pumps; storage vessels; and                               Authority). Sources subject to the
                                                  segments of the oil and natural gas                        fugitive emissions from well sites,                                 National O&NG FIP would be subject to
                                                  sector are required to comply with the                     compressor stations and natural gas                                 any future changes to the eight
                                                  FIP instead of obtaining a source-                         processing plants. The oil and natural                              underlying EPA standards only if they
                                                  specific minor source permit, unless a                     gas FIP requires compliance with five                               undergo a future minor modification as
                                                  source chooses to opt out of the FIP and                   NSPS and three national emission                                    a true minor source and would
                                                  to obtain a source-specific minor NSR                      standards for hazardous air pollutants                              otherwise be subject to those future
                                                  permit instead.                                            (NESHAP).26 These regulations are                                   changes. (The National O&NG FIP does
                                                    Under the FIP, we require owners/                        listed in Table 2.                                                  not change the applicability of the
                                                  operators of oil and natural gas                              The eight regulations and the                                    specified standards, nor does it relieve
                                                  production facilities and natural gas                      provisions of each that are included in                             sources subject to the standards from
                                                  processing plants to comply with eight                     the oil and natural gas FIP are discussed                           complying with them, independently of
                                                  federal standards to reduce emissions of                   in more detail in this section. The FIP’s                           the National O&NG FIP.)
                                                  VOC, NOX, SO2, particulate matter (PM,                     requirements include emission
                                                              TABLE 2—EIGHT FEDERAL RULES INCLUDED IN THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS FIP FOR INDIAN COUNTRY 27
                                                                                                                                            Potentially affected sources in the oil and nat-
                                                      40 CFR part and subpart                           Title of subpart                   ural gas production and natural gas processing                                 Location
                                                                                                                                             segments of the oil and natural gas sector

                                                  40 CFR part 63, subpart               National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air      Process heaters ................................................   http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                                    DDDDD.                                Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial,                                                                              idx?SID=9f31077f
                                                                                          Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and                                                                              895e9cb417f53865
                                                                                          Process Heaters.                                                                                                       19941a47&mc=true&node=
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 sp40.14.63.ddddd&rgn=div6.
                                                  40 CFR part 63, subpart ZZZZ ..       Subpart ZZZZ—National Emissions Standards          Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines .....                    http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                                                                          for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Stationary                                                                            idx?c=ecfr;rgn=div6;view=
                                                                                          Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines.                                                                             text;node=40%3A14.0.1.1.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 1.1;idno=40;sid=e94dcfde4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 a04b27290c445a56e
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 635e58;cc=ecfr.
                                                  40 CFR part 60, subpart IIII ......   Standards of Performance for Stationary Com-       Compression Ignition Internal Combustion En-                       http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                                                                          pression Ignition Internal Combustion En-          gines.                                                              idx?SID=9f31077f895e
                                                                                          gines.                                                                                                                 9cb417f5386519941a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 47&mc=true&node=
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 sp40.7.60.iiii&rgn=div6.
                                                  40 CFR part 60, subpart JJJJ ...      Standards of Performance for Stationary Spark      Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines .....                   http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                                                                          Ignition Internal Combustion Engines.                                                                                  idx?SID=9f31077f895e
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 9cb417f5386519941a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 47&mc=true&node=
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 sp40.7.60.jjjj&rgn=div6.
                                                  40 CFR part 60, subpart Kb ......     Standards of Performance for Volatile Organic      Fuel Storage Tanks ...........................................     http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                                                                          Liquid Storage Vessels (Including Petroleum                                                                            idx?SID=9f31077f895e
                                                                                          Liquid Storage Vessels) for Which Construc-                                                                            9cb417f5386519941a
                                                                                          tion, Reconstruction, or Modification Com-                                                                             47&mc=true&node=
                                                                                          menced After July 23, 1984.                                                                                            sp40.7.60.k_0b&rgn=div6.
                                                  40 CFR part 60, subpart               Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and         Storage Vessels, Pneumatic Controllers, Com-                       https://www.epa.gov/controlling-
                                                    OOOOa.                                Natural Gas Facilities for which Construction,     pressors (Reciprocating and Centrifugal),                           air-pollution-oil-and-natural-
                                                                                          Modification, or Reconstruction Commenced          Hydraulically Fractured Oil and Natural Gas                         gas-industry/actions-and-no-
                                                                                          after September 18, 2015.                          Well Completions, Pneumatic Pumps and                               tices-about-oil-and-natural-
                                                                                                                                             Fugitive Emissions from Well Sites and                              gas.
                                                                                                                                             Compressor Stations.
                                                  40 CFR part 63, subpart HH .....      National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air      Glycol Dehydrators ............................................    http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
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                                                                                         Pollutants from Oil and Natural Gas Produc-                                                                             idx?SID=9f31077f895e9cb
                                                                                         tion Facilities.                                                                                                        417f5386519941a47&mc=
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 true&node=sp40.11.63.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 hh&rgn=div6.




                                                   26 Though this FIP only addresses new and                 that NESHAPs not only apply to new sources but
                                                  modified true minor sources, it is important to note       to existing sources as well.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                                      20783

                                                     TABLE 2—EIGHT FEDERAL RULES INCLUDED IN THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS FIP FOR INDIAN COUNTRY 27—Continued
                                                                                                                                        Potentially affected sources in the oil and nat-
                                                      40 CFR part and subpart                        Title of subpart                  ural gas production and natural gas processing                             Location
                                                                                                                                         segments of the oil and natural gas sector

                                                  40 CFR part 60, subpart KKKK      Standards of Performance for New Stationary        Combustion Turbines ........................................   http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-
                                                                                      Combustion Turbines.                                                                                               idx?SID=4090b6cf5eea
                                                                                                                                                                                                         5cb67940a80906ff09a
                                                                                                                                                                                                         2&mc=true&node=sp40.7.60.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         kkkk&rgn=div6.



                                                  3. National O&NG FIP and Areas of                       to the comments, we stated our intent to                        strengthened both standards to a level of
                                                  Comment the EPA Received Relevant to                    potentially apply the National O&NG                             0.070 parts per million (ppm). In
                                                  This Action                                             FIP’s requirements as appropriate to                            accordance with section 107(d) of the
                                                     In the response to comments section                  nonattainment areas, where the EPA has                          CAA, whenever the EPA establishes a
                                                  of the preamble to the final rule                       established a separate, area-specific FIP.                      new or revised NAAQS, the EPA must
                                                  establishing the National O&NG FIP, we                  As discussed earlier, our proposed                              promulgate designations for all areas of
                                                  addressed some issues that are related to               approach here is slightly different, in                         the country for that NAAQS. The EPA
                                                  this proposed action.28 We provided                     that the extension of the National O&NG                         must complete this process within 2
                                                  that the FIP does not apply in a                        FIP to the Uinta Basin nonattainment                            years of promulgating the NAAQS,
                                                  nonattainment area, but that it could, if               area may precede the separate, area-                            unless the Administrator has
                                                  we addressed existing sources in such                   specific FIP for that area. However, our                        insufficient information to make the
                                                  an area.29 We stated that, parallel to                  plan is for the separate, area-specific FIP                     initial designations decisions in that
                                                  designating such an area is designated                  to be in place before the next winter                           time frame. In such circumstances, the
                                                  as nonattainment, we would promulgate                   ozone season. Because, as discussed                             EPA may take up to 1 additional year to
                                                  an area-specific FIP for existing sources               above, ozone problems in the Uinta                              complete the designations. Under CAA
                                                  if we determine that it is ‘‘necessary or               Basin are limited to the winter season,                         section 107(d), states were required to
                                                  appropriate’’ to do so pursuant to the                  we believe this approach is                                     submit area designation
                                                  TAR.30 We received comments                             appropriately protective of air quality,                        recommendations to the EPA for the
                                                  concerning extending the geographic                     without unduly impeding oil and                                 2015 ozone NAAQS no later than 1 year
                                                  reach of the National O&NG FIP to                       natural gas activity in Indian Country.                         following promulgation of the standards
                                                  nonattainment areas. Commenters were                       In addition, we received comments                            (i.e., by October 1, 2016).
                                                  concerned with how permitting                                                                                              On September 29, 2016, the state of
                                                                                                          recommending that we add monitoring
                                                  requirements would be satisfied in such                                                                                 Utah provided designation
                                                                                                          and modeling requirements to the
                                                  areas during the transition period                                                                                      recommendations for counties in Utah
                                                                                                          National O&NG FIP. Our response to
                                                  between the time an area is designated                                                                                  based on air quality data from 2013–
                                                                                                          those comments included a discussion                            2015. The state recommended a
                                                  as nonattainment and the time a                         about the state of air quality in areas of
                                                  separate, area-specific FIP to control                                                                                  designation of nonattainment for
                                                                                                          Indian country with oil and natural gas                         townships in the counties of Duchesne
                                                  emissions adequately in such a                          activity. With respect to air quality in
                                                  nonattainment area is in place. The                                                                                     and Uintah under state air jurisdiction
                                                                                                          areas of Indian country with oil and                            that are at and below the 6,000-ft
                                                  Uinta Basin was given as an example of                  natural gas development, we noted in
                                                  where the absence of a streamlined                                                                                      elevation. On February 26, 2018, the
                                                                                                          June 2016 when we promulgated the                               state of Utah provided further input on
                                                  means to satisfy permitting                             National O&NG FIP that we were not
                                                  requirements during this transition                                                                                     the nonattainment boundaries. On
                                                                                                          seeing widespread air quality problems                          September 27, 2016, the Ute Indian
                                                  period could pose problems. In response                 in Indian country due to oil and natural                        Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray
                                                                                                          gas activity. We mentioned in June 2016                         Reservation recommended that the
                                                    27 Three of the eight rules are NESHAPs. Our
                                                                                                          that, in all of Indian country, only two                        Indian country area at an unspecified
                                                  basis for requiring compliance with NESHAPs in
                                                  this rule that is designed to fulfill requirements of   counties in the Uinta Basin (including                          distance around the Ouray ozone
                                                  the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule is to         land within the U&O Reservation) had                            monitor in the Uinta Basin be
                                                  address emissions of criteria pollutants. The           air quality problems due to oil and                             designated as nonattainment for the
                                                  requirements from the NESHAPs are included              natural gas activity. That is still the case
                                                  because they effectively control emissions of all                                                                       2015 ozone NAAQS based on air quality
                                                  VOC, not just those that are also hazardous air         and is discussed further in Section III.C.                      data from 2013–2015. However, the
                                                  pollutants. VOC is an NSR-regulated pollutant of        We had (and still have) sufficient                              Tribe recommended a designation of
                                                  concern in the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR         concerns about the air quality impacts                          attainment for all of Indian country in
                                                  rule.                                                   from existing sources in that area that
                                                    28 81 FR 35943, June 3, 2016, https://                                                                                the Uinta Basin, assuming the EPA
                                                  www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-
                                                                                                          we intend to soon propose a separate                            concurs with an exceptional event
                                                  11969.pdf.                                              reservation-specific FIP, which, as noted                       package submitted to the agency (by the
                                                    29 In the preamble to the final National O&NG FIP     above, is expected to be in place before                        Tribe) covering two days in June 2015.
                                                  we also indicated as a general matter—and not in        next winter’s ozone season.                                        On December 20, 2017, in our
                                                  response to comments—that new and modified
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                                                  sources also need to be addressed in reservation-       B. Uinta Basin Air Quality and Intended                         response to the state and tribal
                                                  specific FIPs (in addition to existing sources) when    Nonattainment Designation                                       designation boundary
                                                  considering whether to extend the geographic                                                                            recommendations, we indicated our
                                                  coverage of the National O&NG FIP to                      On October 1, 2015, the EPA                                   intent to modify the state’s and tribe’s
                                                  nonattainment area. 81 FR 35943, 35964, 35968,
                                                  June 3, 2016, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR–
                                                                                                          promulgated revised primary and                                 recommendations for the Uinta Basin
                                                  2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.                          secondary ozone NAAQS.31 The EPA                                area. We provided the intended
                                                    30 63 FR 7254, February 12, 1998, http://

                                                  www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-              31 ‘‘National Ambient Air Quality Standards for                FR 65292, October 26, 2015, https://www.gpo.gov/
                                                  3451.pdf.                                               Ozone,’’ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 80               fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-10-26/pdf/2015-26594.pdf.



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                                                  20784                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  boundary in a Technical Support                         qualify, except for § 49.101(b)(1)(v).                action. This proposed rule is expected
                                                  Document.32 In short, the EPA’s                         Section 49.101(b)(1)(v) contains the                  to provide meaningful burden reduction
                                                  boundary for the intended                               requirement governing the primary                     by extending the streamlined
                                                  nonattainment area for the Uinta Basin                  geographic scope of the FIP and not its               authorization-to-construct method for
                                                  includes both state and Indian country                  limited extension to the intended Uinta               true minor new and modified oil and
                                                  lands within portions of Duchesne and                   Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, and,                  natural gas sources. The streamlined
                                                  Uintah Counties. A comment period                       thus, would not be relevant for such                  authorization, which was established by
                                                  followed the EPA’s statement on its                     sources. In other words, the new                      the EPA in 2016, reduces the resource
                                                  intended nonattainment boundaries for                   paragraph § 49.101(e) would displace                  burden on the permitting authority and
                                                  the Uinta Basin and other areas.33                      existing § 49.101(b)(1)(v) for Indian                 regulated community associated with
                                                                                                          country within the intended Uinta Basin               submitting and reviewing permit
                                                  IV. Summary of Proposed Amendments
                                                                                                          Ozone Nonattainment Area—and only                     applications for these sources in
                                                     This action proposes to amend the                    for that area of Indian country.                      attainment and unclassifiable areas.
                                                  National O&NG FIP to extend its                            To accomplish this extension, it is                This action proposes to extend the
                                                  application to eligible true minor oil                  also necessary to define the boundaries               streamlined authorization to the
                                                  and natural gas sources in the Indian                   of the intended Uinta Basin Ozone                     intended Uinta Basin Ozone
                                                  country portion of the intended Uinta                   Nonattainment Area to which the                       Nonattainment Area.
                                                  Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area,                         National O&G FIP would apply if the
                                                  which includes its mechanism for                        EPA finalizes this proposed rule. To                  C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
                                                  authorizing construction. We also are                   accomplish this, the EPA proposes to                     This action does not impose any new
                                                  proposing to make a technical                           incorporate the boundaries for the                    information collection burden under the
                                                  correction to fix a typographical error in              intended nonattainment area for the                   PRA. OMB has previously approved the
                                                  § 49.101(c).                                            Uinta Basin, or areas within the Uinta                information collection activities
                                                     First, this action proposes to add a                 Basin, as defined at 40 CFR part 81,                  contained in the Federal Indian Country
                                                  new subparagraph to the CFR, to be                      Designations of Areas for Air Quality                 Minor NSR rule and has assigned OMB
                                                  codified at § 49.101(e). In the new                     Purposes.35 The regulatory and other                  control number 2060–0003.36 This
                                                  subparagraph, we are proposing to                       processes that have occurred within and               action amends the National O&NG FIP
                                                  narrowly extend the geographic scope of                 outside the EPA and between the EPA                   which provides a mechanism for
                                                  the National O&NG FIP to cover eligible                 and state and tribal governments govern               authorizing construction for true minor
                                                  true minor oil and natural gas sources                  the development and final decision on                 sources in the oil and natural gas
                                                  wishing to locate or expand in the                      the boundaries for the intended Uinta                 production and natural gas processing
                                                  Indian country portion (U&O                             Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area and                    segments of the oil and natural gas
                                                  Reservation) of the intended Uinta Basin                not this action.                                      sector locating or located in areas
                                                  Ozone Nonattainment Area.34 This                           Second, this action proposes a                     covered by the Federal Indian Country
                                                  proposed extension of coverage to this                  technical correction to § 49.101(c),                  Minor NSR rule to satisfy the
                                                  one nonattainment area does not alter                   which currently reads: ‘‘When must I                  requirements of that rule other than by
                                                  the FIP’s current geographic coverage of                comply with §§ 49.101 through 49.105?                 obtaining a source-specific minor source
                                                  attainment, unclassifiable and                          You must comply with §§ 49.101                        permit. Because it substitutes for a
                                                  attainment/unclassifiable areas with                    through 49.101 on or after October 3,                 source-specific permit, which would
                                                  regard to the rest of Indian country                    2016.’’ This provision is supposed to                 contain information collection activities
                                                  across the nation. The proposed,                        reference §§ 49.101 through 49.105, as                covered by the Information Collection
                                                  geographically limited extension is in                  the title indicates. We are proposing to              Request for Federal Indian Country
                                                  addition to the current coverage. Under                 correct it to read: ‘‘When must I comply              Minor NSR rule issued in July 2011,
                                                  this proposed amendment, true minor                     with §§ 49.101 through 49.105? You                    neither the proposed amendments nor
                                                  oil and natural gas sources in the oil and              must comply with §§ 49.101 through                    the National O&NG FIP impose any new
                                                  natural gas production and natural gas                  49.105 on or after October 3, 2016.’’ The             obligations or enforceable duties on any
                                                  processing segments of the oil and                      EPA believes that this is a correction of             state, local or tribal government or the
                                                  natural gas sector wishing to locate or                 a self-evident scrivener’s error and does             private sector. In fact, the proposed
                                                  expand in the Indian country portion of                 not constitute a substantive change of                amendments would have the effect of
                                                  the intended Uinta Basin Ozone                          the existing regulatory provision.                    reducing paperwork burden on sources
                                                  Nonattainment Area would also have to                   V. Statutory and Executive Order                      wishing to locate or expand in the
                                                  meet the criteria under § 49.101(b)(1) to               Reviews                                               Indian country portion of the Uinta
                                                                                                                                                                Basin as the amendments provide an
                                                    32 Utah: Northern Wasatch Front, Southern             A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
                                                                                                                                                                alternative to source-specific permitting
                                                  Wasatch Front, and Uinta Basin Intended Area            Planning and Review and Executive
                                                                                                                                                                for such sources.
                                                  Designations for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient        Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
                                                  Air Quality Standards Technical Support Document        Regulatory Review                                     D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
                                                  (TSD),’’ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
                                                  December 20, 2017, https://www.epa.gov/sites/             This action is not a significant                       I certify that this action will not have
                                                  production/files/2018-01/documents/ut_120d_             regulatory action and was, therefore, not             a significant economic impact on a
                                                  tsd.pdf.
                                                    33 83 FR 651, January 5, 2018, https://
                                                                                                          submitted to the Office of Management                 substantial number of small entities
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                                                  www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-01-05/pdf/2018-           and Budget (OMB) for review.                          under the RFA. In making this
                                                  00024.pdf.
                                                    34 Utah: Northern Wasatch Front, Southern
                                                                                                          B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing                      36 Since the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR

                                                  Wasatch Front, and Uinta Basin Intended Area            Regulations and Controlling Regulatory                rule was promulgated, the Information Collection
                                                  Designations for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient        Costs                                                 Request has been renewed and approved by OMB
                                                  Air Quality Standards Technical Support Document                                                              twice. The most recent approval extended the ICR
                                                  (TSD),’’ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
                                                                                                            This action is expected to be an                    until October 31, 2020. The ICR covers the activities
                                                  December 20, 2017, https://www.epa.gov/sites/           Executive Order 13771 deregulatory                    of the National O&NG FIP. For more information,
                                                  production/files/2018-01/documents/ut_120d_                                                                   go to: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
                                                  tsd.pdf.                                                 35 Ibid.                                             PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201702-2060-005.



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                            20785

                                                  determination, the impact of concern is                 G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation                health or safety risks addressed by this
                                                  any significant adverse economic                        and Coordination With Indian Tribal                   action present a disproportionate risk to
                                                  impact on small entities. An agency may                 Governments                                           children.
                                                  certify that a rule will not have a                        This action has tribal implications.
                                                  significant economic impact on a                                                                              I. Executive Order 13211: Actions
                                                                                                          However, it will neither impose                       Concerning Regulations That
                                                  substantial number of small entities if                 substantial direct compliance costs on
                                                  the rule relieves regulatory burden, has                                                                      Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                                                                                          federally recognized tribal governments,              Distribution or Use
                                                  no net burden or otherwise has a                        nor preempt tribal law. Consistent with
                                                  positive economic effect on the small                   the EPA Policy on Consultation and
                                                  entities subject to the rule. The EPA                                                                           This action is not subject to Executive
                                                                                                          Coordination with Indian Tribes (May 4,               Order 13211, because it is not a
                                                  analyzed the impact on small entities of                2011),38 the EPA offered consultation on
                                                  streamlined permitting under the                                                                              significant regulatory action under
                                                                                                          the concerns addressed in this proposed               Executive Order 12866.
                                                  Federal Indian Country Minor NSR
                                                                                                          action, which include the lack of a
                                                  rule 37 and determined that it would not                                                                      J. National Technology Transfer and
                                                                                                          streamlined permitting for the U&O
                                                  have a significant economic impact on                                                                         Advancement Act (NTTAA)
                                                                                                          Reservation should the area be
                                                  a substantial number of small entities.
                                                                                                          designated nonattainment. The EPA
                                                  (By allowing sources to avoid having to                                                                         This action does not involve technical
                                                                                                          conducted outreach on the issues
                                                  obtain source-specific permits, this                                                                          standards.
                                                                                                          addressed by the previous rule via
                                                  proposed action also would relieve
                                                                                                          ongoing monthly meetings with tribal                  K. Executive Order 12898: Federal
                                                  regulatory burden.) This action merely
                                                                                                          environmental professionals in the                    Actions To Address Environmental
                                                  implements a particular aspect of the
                                                  Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule.                  development of the past proposed                      Justice in Minority Populations and
                                                  We have, therefore, concluded that this                 action,39 and further as follows via: (1)             Low-Income Populations
                                                  action will have no net regulatory                      Tribal consultation with the Ute Indian
                                                  burden for all directly regulated small                 Tribe Business Committee on July 22,                     As discussed in Section II.B, we
                                                  entities.                                               2015; December 17, 2016; November 13,                 believe that this action is reasonable in
                                                                                                          2017; and March 22, 2018, regarding                   light of our intended, separate
                                                  E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                         options that the EPA considered in                    rulemaking to establish a reservation-
                                                  (UMRA)                                                  addressing the Uinta Basin air quality                specific FIP and the expected short
                                                     This action does not contain any                     concerns; (2) stakeholder meetings                    period of time before these requirements
                                                  unfunded mandates, as described in                      where the Tribe was included and                      would apply. Therefore, the EPA
                                                  UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531–1538, and does                      participated in emissions contributions               believes the amendments in this action
                                                  not significantly or uniquely affect small              discussions specific to the EPA’s                     will not have potential
                                                  governments. The action imposes no                      strategy for addressing the Uinta Basin               disproportionately high and adverse
                                                  enforceable duty on any state, local or                 air quality concerns; (3) ongoing                     human health or environmental effects
                                                  tribal government or the private sector.                stakeholder working group meetings;                   on minority, low-income or indigenous
                                                  It simply modifies one option for                       and (4) tribally-convened stakeholder                 populations. Through these
                                                  sources to comply with the Federal                      meetings on March 22, 2017, and June
                                                                                                                                                                amendments, we seek: (1) To extend
                                                  Indian Country Minor NSR rule. The                      1–2, 2017.
                                                                                                                                                                geographically the National O&NG FIP
                                                  Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule                      This action reflects tribal concerns
                                                                                                          about, and priorities for, developing a               and its mechanism for authorizing
                                                  itself, not this proposed action, imposes                                                                     construction that effectively provides a
                                                  the obligation that true minor sources in               streamlined approach for permitting
                                                                                                          true minor sources in the oil and natural             streamlined method for implementing a
                                                  areas covered by the Federal Indian
                                                                                                          gas sector in areas covered by the                    pre-construction permitting program for
                                                  Country Minor NSR rule obtain a minor
                                                                                                          Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule                 true minor sources in the oil and natural
                                                  source NSR permit prior to commencing
                                                  construction. This proposed action                      in the intended Uinta Basin Ozone                     gas sector in areas covered by the
                                                  merely applies the National O&NG FIP                    Nonattainment Area. As these                          Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule,
                                                  to the U&O Reservation as part of the                   amendments, if finalized, are                         and (2) to pursue an approach that
                                                  Uinta Basin Nonattainment Area, which                   implemented, we will continue to                      enables a streamlined process, which
                                                  includes a streamlined mechanism for                    provide regular outreach to tribes to                 helps promote economic development
                                                  authorizing construction for meeting the                ensure we address issues concerning the               by minimizing delays in new
                                                  obligation of the Federal Indian Country                FIP if and when they arise. The EPA is                construction.
                                                  minor NSR rule.                                         available for consultation with any
                                                                                                                                                                List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 49
                                                                                                          interested tribe.
                                                  F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
                                                                                                          H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of                 Environmental protection,
                                                    This action does not have federalism                                                                        Administrative practices and
                                                                                                          Children From Environmental Health
                                                  implications. It would not have                                                                               procedures, Air pollution control,
                                                                                                          Risks and Safety Risks
                                                  substantial direct effects on the states,                                                                     Indians, Indians—law, Indians—tribal
                                                  on the relationship between the national                  This action is not subject to Executive
                                                                                                                                                                government, Intergovernmental
                                                  government and the states, or on the                    Order 13045 because it is not
                                                                                                                                                                relations, Reporting and recordkeeping
                                                  distribution of power and                               economically significant as defined in
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                                                                                                                                                                requirements.
                                                  responsibilities among the various                      Executive Order 12866, and because the
                                                  levels of government.                                   EPA does not believe the environmental                  Dated: April 30, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                                E. Scott Pruitt,
                                                    37 ‘‘Review of New Sources and Modifications in         38 For more information, go to: https://
                                                                                                                                                                Administrator.
                                                  Indian Country,’’ U.S. Environmental Protection         www.epa.gov/tribal/epa-policy-consultation-and-
                                                  Agency, 76 FR 38748, July 1, 2011, https://             coordination-indian-tribes.
                                                                                                                                                                  For the reasons set forth in the
                                                  www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/07/01/2011-         39 These monthly meetings are general in nature,

                                                  14981/review-of-new-sources-and-modifications-in-       dealing with many air-related topics, and are not     preamble, 40 CFR part 49 is proposed to
                                                  indian-country.                                         specific to this proposed action.                     be amended as follows:


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                                                  20786                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  PART 49—INDIAN COUNTRY: AIR                             § 49.101   Introduction.                              ■ 3. In § 49.102, add the definition
                                                  QUALITY PLANNING AND                                    *     *      *     *    *                             ‘‘Uinta Basin ozone nonattainment area’’
                                                  MANAGEMENT                                                (c) When must I comply with                         in alphabetical order to read as follows:
                                                                                                          §§ 49.101 through 49.105? You must                    § 49.102   Definitions.
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 49                 comply with §§ 49.101 through 49.105
                                                  continues to read as follows:                           on or after October 3, 2016.                          *     *    *     *     *
                                                      Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.                  *     *      *     *    *                               Uinta Basin ozone nonattainment
                                                                                                            (e) Notwithstanding paragraph                       area means the nonattainment area for
                                                  Subpart C—General Federal                                                                                     the Uinta Basin, or such parts or areas
                                                  Implementation Plan Provisions                          (b)(1)(v), oil and natural gas sources
                                                                                                          located in the Indian country portion of              of the Uinta Basin, as it is or may
                                                  ■ 2. In § 49.101:                                       the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment                   hereafter be defined at 40 CFR part 81,
                                                  ■ a. Revise paragraph (c).                              Area are subject to §§ 49.101 through                 Designations of Areas for Air Quality
                                                  ■ b. Add paragraph (e).                                 49.105 (except for paragraph (b)(1)(v)),              Purposes.
                                                    The revision and addition read as                     provided subparagraphs (b)(1)(i)–(iv) are             [FR Doc. 2018–09652 Filed 5–7–18; 8:45 am]
                                                  follows:                                                also satisfied.                                       BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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Document Created: 2018-05-08 01:32:31
Document Modified: 2018-05-08 01:32:31
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.
DatesPublic hearing. A public hearing will be held May 30, 2018, at the EPA's Region 8 offices at 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202. Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional information on the hearing.
ContactMr. Christopher Stoneman, Outreach and Information Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (C- 304-01), Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, telephone number (919) 541-0823, facsimile number
FR Citation83 FR 20775 
RIN Number2060-AT96
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Administrative Practices and Procedures; Air Pollution Control; Indians; Indians-Law; Indians-Tribal Government; Intergovernmental Relations and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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