83_FR_22328 83 FR 22235 - Air Plan Approval; California; Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District; Reclassification

83 FR 22235 - Air Plan Approval; California; Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District; Reclassification

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 93 (May 14, 2018)

Page Range22235-22238
FR Document2018-10217

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to grant a request by the State of California to reclassify the Eastern Kern County (``Eastern Kern'') nonattainment area from ``Moderate'' to ``Serious'' for the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). In connection with the reclassification, the EPA is proposing to establish a deadline of no later than 12 months from the effective date of reclassification for submittal of revisions to the Eastern Kern portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet certain additional requirements for Serious ozone nonattainment areas. The EPA has already received SIP revision submittals addressing most of the additional SIP requirements.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 93 (Monday, May 14, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22235-22238]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10217]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 81

[EPA-R09-OAR-2018-0223; FRL-9978-01-Region 9]


Air Plan Approval; California; Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control 
District; Reclassification

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) is proposing to grant a request by the State of California to 
reclassify the Eastern Kern County (``Eastern Kern'') nonattainment 
area from ``Moderate'' to ``Serious'' for the 2008 ozone national 
ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). In connection with the 
reclassification, the EPA is proposing to establish a deadline of no 
later than 12 months from the effective date of reclassification for 
submittal of revisions to the Eastern Kern portion of the California 
State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet certain additional requirements 
for Serious ozone nonattainment areas. The EPA has already received SIP 
revision submittals addressing most of the additional SIP requirements.

DATES: Any comments must arrive by June 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
OAR-2018-0223 at http://www.regulations.gov, or via email to Nancy 
Levin, at [email protected]. For comments submitted at 
Regulations.gov, follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.

[[Page 22236]]

Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from 
Regulations.gov. For either manner of submission, the EPA may publish 
any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically 
any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, please contact 
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. 
For the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Levin, EPA Region IX, (415) 972-
3848, [email protected].

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

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. State Request for Reclassification
III. Evaluation of Voluntary Reclassification Request
IV. Proposed Action and Public Comment
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

    The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to establish a NAAQS for 
certain pervasive pollutants that ``may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health and welfare'' and to develop a primary and 
secondary standard for each NAAQS. The primary standard is designed to 
protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, and the 
secondary standard is designed to protect public welfare and the 
environment. The EPA has set NAAQS for six common air pollutants, 
referred to as criteria pollutants, including ozone. The NAAQS 
represents the air quality levels an area must meet to comply with the 
CAA.
    Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms and is created by a 
chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOC) and oxides 
of nitrogen (NOX) in the atmosphere in the presence of 
sunlight. Ground-level ozone can harm human health and the environment. 
Ozone exposure has been associated with increased susceptibility to 
respiratory infections, medication use by asthmatics, doctor visits, 
and emergency department visits and hospital admissions for individuals 
with respiratory disease. Ozone exposure may also contribute to 
premature death, especially in people with heart and lung disease.
    In March 2008, the EPA strengthened the primary and secondary 
eight-hour ozone NAAQS from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm 
(``2008 ozone NAAQS''). 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008).\1\ In accordance 
with section 107(d) of the CAA, the EPA must designate an area 
``nonattainment'' if it is violating the NAAQS or if it is contributing 
to a violation of the NAAQS in a nearby area. With respect to the ozone 
NAAQS, the EPA further classifies nonattainment areas as ``Marginal,'' 
``Moderate,'' ``Serious,'' ``Severe,'' or ``Extreme,'' depending upon 
the ozone design value for an area.\2\ See CAA section 181(a)(1). As a 
general matter, higher classified ozone nonattainment areas are subject 
to a greater number of, and more stringent, SIP requirements than lower 
classified areas but are allowed more time to demonstrate attainment of 
the ozone NAAQS. See, generally, subpart 2 of part D of title I of the 
CAA. Depending upon the classification, states with ozone nonattainment 
areas are required under the CAA to develop and submit SIP revisions 
providing for, among other elements, a base year emissions inventory, 
new source review (NSR), implementation of reasonably available control 
technology (RACT), reasonable further progress (RFP), a demonstration 
of attainment, and contingency measures.
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    \1\ Today's proposed rule relates to classifications and SIP 
submittal obligations associated with the 2008 ozone NAAQS. In 2015, 
the EPA further tightened the 8-hour ozone NAAQS from 0.075 ppm to 
0.070 ppm (``2015 ozone NAAQS''). 80 FR 65292 (October 26, 2015). 
Designations, classifications and SIP obligations for the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS are being addressed separately from this action.
    \2\ For the 2008 ozone NAAQS, the design value at each 
monitoring site is the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour 
average ozone concentration, averaged over three years. The design 
value for an area is the highest design value among the monitoring 
sites.
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    Effective July 20, 2012, the EPA established initial air quality 
designations for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. The EPA designated and initially 
classified Eastern Kern \3\ as a Marginal nonattainment area for the 
2008 ozone NAAQS. 77 FR 30088 (May 21, 2012). For Marginal ozone 
nonattainment areas, the attainment date for the 2008 ozone NAAQS is as 
expeditious as practicable but not later than three years from the 
effective date of designation, i.e., no later than July 20, 2015. See 
40 CFR 51.1103(a).
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    \3\ Kern County is located in the southern-most portion of 
California's Central Valley. The western half of Kern County is part 
of the San Joaquin Valley air basin and is included within the San 
Joaquin Valley ozone nonattainment area. The eastern half of Kern 
County is part of the Mojave Desert air basin. The Eastern Kern 
ozone nonattainment area covers the eastern half of the county 
excluding Indian Wells Valley. For more detail on the boundaries of 
the Eastern Kern ozone nonattainment area, see the 2008 ozone table 
in 40 CFR 81.305.
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    Under CAA section 181(b)(2), the EPA is required to determine 
whether an area attained the ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment 
date, and in May 2016, the EPA found that Eastern Kern had failed to 
attain the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the applicable Marginal attainment date 
(i.e., by July 20, 2015) and reclassified the area as Moderate. 81 FR 
26697 (May 4, 2016). For Moderate ozone nonattainment areas, the 
attainment date is as expeditious as practicable but not later than 
July 20, 2018. See 40 CFR 51.1103(a). States with newly-reclassified 
Moderate ozone areas were required to submit SIP revisions meeting the 
applicable Moderate area requirements by January 1, 2017. 81 FR 26697 
(May 4, 2016).

II. State Request for Reclassification

    As described above, in 2016, the EPA reclassified the Eastern Kern 
2008 ozone nonattainment area to Moderate, and, in response to the 
reclassification, the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District 
(EKAPCD) began to develop an ozone plan meeting the applicable ozone 
nonattainment area requirements, such as an attainment demonstration. 
However, in light of the attainment demonstration needs for the area, 
the EKAPCD developed the ozone plan, titled Eastern Kern Air Pollution 
Control District 2017 Ozone Attainment Plan for the Federal 75 ppb 8-
Hour Ozone Standard (``Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone Plan''), to meet 
Serious, rather than Moderate, ozone nonattainment requirements. The 
Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone Plan includes a request to the California Air 
Resources Board (CARB) to formally submit a request to the EPA asking 
for voluntary reclassification of the Eastern Kern ozone nonattainment 
area from Moderate to Serious for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.\4\ On July 27, 
2017, the EKAPCD adopted the Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone Plan and 
transmitted the plan to CARB for approval and submittal to the EPA. 
Through Resolution 17-25 (dated September 28, 2017), CARB adopted the 
plan and the EKAPCD's request for voluntary

[[Page 22237]]

reclassification. Subsequently, on October 25, 2017, CARB submitted the 
Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone Plan to the EPA as a revision to the California 
SIP. CARB's October 25, 2017 SIP revision submittal constitutes a 
request for reclassification of the Eastern Kern ozone nonattainment 
area.
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    \4\ See page vi of the Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone Plan.
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III. Evaluation of Voluntary Reclassification Request

    Under the EPA's ozone implementation rule at 40 CFR 51.1103(b), a 
state may request, and the EPA must approve, a higher classification 
for any reason in accordance with CAA section 181(b)(3).\5\ We find 
that the plain language of CAA section 181(b)(3) and 40 CFR 51.1103(b) 
mandates that we approve voluntary reclassification requests, and thus, 
the EPA proposes in this action to grant CARB's request to reclassify 
the Eastern Kern nonattainment area from Moderate to Serious for the 
2008 ozone NAAQS. Upon the effective date of a final action granting 
the reclassification, the area will be required to attain the 2008 
ozone NAAQS as expeditiously as practicable, but not later than July 
20, 2021.
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    \5\ CAA section 181(b)(3) provides that the EPA shall grant the 
request of any state to reclassify an ozone nonattainment area to a 
higher classification.
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    By granting a state's request to reclassify an ozone nonattainment 
area to a higher classification, the EPA must address submittal 
deadlines for SIP requirements that have become applicable to an area 
as a result of its higher classification. Such SIP requirements include 
submittals that include provisions to require implementation of RACT 
for existing stationary sources and permits for new or modified 
stationary sources (i.e., NSR), and to provide for RFP, attainment and 
contingency measures. For areas reclassified from Moderate to Serious, 
the ``major source'' threshold for RACT and NSR purposes falls from 100 
tons per year of VOC or NOX to 50 tons per year of VOC or 
NOX.
    As noted above, in October 2017, CARB submitted the Eastern Kern 
2017 Ozone Plan to the EPA as a revision to the California SIP. We have 
reviewed the October 2017 submittal and find that it addresses the 
following Serious ozone area SIP requirements: Base year emissions 
inventory, emission statements, reasonably available control measure 
(RACM) demonstration, RFP, attainment demonstration and contingency 
measures.
    In addition, on August 9, 2017, CARB submitted the EKAPCD's 
Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) State Implementation 
Plan (SIP) for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
(NAAQS) (``Eastern Kern 2017 RACT SIP'') to the EPA as a revision to 
the California SIP. The Eastern Kern 2017 RACT SIP was developed to 
meet the RACT requirements for Serious ozone nonattainment areas in 
anticipation of submittal by CARB to the EPA of the voluntary 
reclassification request contained in the Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone 
Plan.\6\ We have reviewed the August 2017 SIP submittal and find that 
it addresses the following Serious ozone area RACT-related SIP 
requirements: VOC sources covered by a Control Technology Guidelines 
(CTG) document and non-CTG major sources of VOC. The Eastern Kern 2017 
RACT SIP does not fully address RACT requirements for non-CTG major 
sources of NOX.
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    \6\ See pages 9 and 10 of the Eastern Kern 2017 RACT SIP.
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    Upon review of the two SIP revision submittals described above, we 
find that all the SIP elements that apply to Eastern Kern as a Serious 
ozone nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone NAAQS have been addressed 
except for NSR and RACT for major sources of NOX. The EPA is 
proposing a schedule for additional SIP revisions for these two SIP 
elements of no later than 12 months from the effective date of 
reclassification.\7\
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    \7\ Upon the effective date of reclassification, we note that 
certain regulatory changes would occur automatically and do not 
require a SIP revision. For example, upon reclassification from 
Moderate to Serious, the applicability (or ``de minimis'') 
thresholds under our General Conformity rule (see 40 CFR part 93) 
would drop from 100 tons per year to 50 tons per year for VOC or 
NOX. See 40 CFR 93.153(b)(1). Under the General 
Conformity rule, federal agencies bear the responsibility of 
determining conformity of actions in nonattainment and maintenance 
areas that require Federal permits, approvals, or funding.
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IV. Proposed Action and Public Comment

    Pursuant to CAA section 181(b)(3) and 40 CFR 51.1103(b), the EPA is 
proposing to grant the reclassification request by the State of 
California for the Eastern Kern 2008 ozone nonattainment area from 
Moderate to Serious, and to change the ``California--2008 8-Hour Ozone 
NAAQS (Primary and secondary)'' table in 40 CFR 81.305 accordingly. In 
connection with the reclassification, the EPA is proposing to establish 
a deadline of no later than 12 months from the effective date of 
reclassification for submittal of revisions to the Eastern Kern portion 
of the SIP to meet the Serious area requirements for NSR and for RACT 
for major sources of NOX. The EPA is not proposing a SIP 
revision schedule for any Serious area SIP requirements for which SIP 
submittals have already been received. We will accept comments from the 
public on this proposal until June 13, 2018.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 
13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011), this proposed action is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget. Voluntary 
reclassifications under section 181(b)(3) of the CAA are based solely 
upon requests by the state, and the EPA is required under the CAA to 
grant them. This proposed action does not, in and of itself, impose any 
new requirements on any sector of the economy. In addition, because the 
statutory requirements are clearly defined with respect to the 
differently classified areas, and because those requirements are 
automatically triggered by classification, reclassification does not 
impose a materially adverse impact under Executive Order 12866. For 
these reasons, this proposed action is also not subject to Executive 
Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). 
Furthermore, this proposed action is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 
FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory action because actions such as 
reclassifications made at the request of a state are exempt under 
Executive Order 12866.
    In addition, I certify that this proposed rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). This 
proposed action does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly 
or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), because the EPA is 
required to grant requests by states for voluntary reclassifications 
and such reclassifications in and of themselves do not impose any 
federal intergovernmental mandate.
    Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000) requires the 
EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful and timely 
input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies 
that have tribal implications.'' ``Policies that have tribal 
implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations 
that have ``substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on 
the

[[Page 22238]]

relationship between the Federal government and Indian tribes, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
government and Indian tribes.'' There are no Indian reservation lands 
or other areas where the EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a 
tribe has jurisdiction within the Eastern Kern ozone nonattainment 
area, and thus, this proposed rule does not have tribal implications 
and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or 
preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175.
    This proposed action also does not have Federalism implications 
because it does 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, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, 
August 10, 1999). This proposed action does not alter the relationship 
or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the 
Clean Air Act.
    This proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045, 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because the EPA interprets 
Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those regulatory actions that 
concern health or safety risks, such that the analysis required under 
section 5-501 of the Executive Order has the potential to influence the 
regulation.
    Reclassification actions do not involve technical standards and 
thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology 
Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. 
This proposed rule does not impose an information collection burden 
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.).
    Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes 
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision 
directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and 
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission 
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high 
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs 
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income 
populations in the United States. This proposed reclassification action 
relates to ozone, a pollutant that is regional in nature, and is not 
the type of action that could result in the types of local impacts 
addressed in Executive Order 12898.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 81

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental 
relations, National parks, Ozone, Wilderness areas.

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

    Dated: May 1, 2018.
Alexis Strauss,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2018-10217 Filed 5-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 93 / Monday, May 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                  22235

                                               dispersion modeling) that would trigger                 V. Statutory and Executive Order                      Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
                                               a processing fee due by the applicant                   Reviews                                               tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of
                                               from $150.00 to $325.00 (33–15–23–                         Under the CAA, the Administrator is                Indian country, the rule does not have
                                               02.2); and (3) remove the option for an                 required to approve a SIP submission                  tribal implications and will not impose
                                               applicant to withdraw an application                    that complies with the provisions of the              substantial direct costs on tribal
                                               without paying any processing fees (33–                 Act and applicable federal regulations.               governments or preempt tribal law as
                                               15–23–02.2.b). CAA Section 110(a)(2)(E)                 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                   specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
                                               requires that a state implementation                    Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the               FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
                                               plan provide assurances that the state                  EPA’s role is to approve state choices,               List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                               will have, among other items, adequate                  provided that they meet the criteria of
                                               funding to carry out the implementation                                                                         Environmental protection, Air
                                                                                                       the CAA. Accordingly, this action                     pollution control, Incorporation by
                                               plan. As explained in a memo to                         merely proposes to approve state law as
                                               interested parties, increasing the                                                                            reference, Intergovernmental relations,
                                                                                                       meeting federal requirements and does                 Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter,
                                               application fee and the processing fee                  not impose additional requirements
                                               threshold as well as removing the                                                                             Sulfur oxides.
                                                                                                       beyond those imposed by state law. For
                                               option for an applicant to withdraw an                  that reason, this proposed action:                      Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                               application without paying processing                      • Is not a significant regulatory action             Dated: May 9, 2018.
                                               fees reflect both inflation and the                     subject to review by the Office of                    Douglas Benevento,
                                               increased complexity of permit to                       Management and Budget under
                                               construct applications, thereby ensuring                                                                      Regional Administrator, Region 8.
                                                                                                       Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,                  [FR Doc. 2018–10208 Filed 5–11–18; 8:45 am]
                                               the State has adequate funding to carry                 October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
                                               out the implementation plan.25 26                       January 21, 2011);
                                                                                                                                                             BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                               Therefore, we propose to approve these                     • Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82
                                               revisions.                                              FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory                 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                               III. The EPA’s Proposed Action                          action because SIP approvals are                      AGENCY
                                                                                                       exempted under Executive Order 12866;
                                                 In this action, the EPA is proposing to                  • Does not impose an information                   40 CFR Part 81
                                               approve SIP amendments to North                         collection burden under the provisions
                                               Dakota Air Pollution Control Rules,                                                                           [EPA–R09–OAR–2018–0223; FRL–9978–01–
                                                                                                       of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                                                                                                                                             Region 9]
                                               shown in Table 1, submitted by the                      U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
                                               State of North Dakota on January 28,                       • Is certified as not having a                     Air Plan Approval; California; Eastern
                                               2013 and November 11, 2016.                             significant economic impact on a                      Kern Air Pollution Control District;
                                                                                                       substantial number of small entities                  Reclassification
                                                  TABLE 1—LIST OF NORTH DAKOTA                         under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                                  AMENDMENTS THAT THE EPA IS                           U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                  AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                                  PROPOSING TO APPROVE                                    • Does not contain any unfunded                    Agency (EPA).
                                                                                                       mandate or significantly or uniquely                  ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                Amended Section in the January 28, 2013                affect small governments, as described
                                                                                                       in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                   SUMMARY:    Under the Clean Air Act, the
                                                   Submittal Proposed for Approval                                                                           Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
                                                                                                       of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
                                                                                                          • Does not have federalism                         is proposing to grant a request by the
                                               33–15–14–02.1.c.
                                                                                                       implications as specified in Executive                State of California to reclassify the
                                                 Amended Sections in the November 11,                  Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                  Eastern Kern County (‘‘Eastern Kern’’)
                                                 2016 Submittal Proposed for Approval                  1999);                                                nonattainment area from ‘‘Moderate’’ to
                                                                                                          • Is not an economically significant               ‘‘Serious’’ for the 2008 ozone national
                                               33–15–01–04.52, 33–15–14–02.1.c, 33–15–                 regulatory action based on health or                  ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
                                                 14–02.6.b(2), 33–15–14–03.5.a(1)(b), 33–                                                                    In connection with the reclassification,
                                                 15–14–03.5.a(1)(d), 33–15–14–03.9.a, 33–
                                                                                                       safety risks subject to Executive Order
                                                                                                       13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                  the EPA is proposing to establish a
                                                 15–14–03.9.b, 33–15–15–01.2, 33–15–20–                                                                      deadline of no later than 12 months
                                                 01.1, 33–15–20–01.2, 33–15–20–02.1, 33–                  • Is not a significant regulatory action
                                                                                                       subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR               from the effective date of reclassification
                                                 15–20–02.2, 33–15–20–03.1, 33–15–20–
                                                 03.2, 33–15–23–02.1, 33–15–23–02.2.                   28355, May 22, 2001);                                 for submittal of revisions to the Eastern
                                                                                                          • Is not subject to requirements of                Kern portion of the California State
                                                                                                       Section 12(d) of the National                         Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet
                                               IV. Incorporation by Reference
                                                                                                       Technology Transfer and Advancement                   certain additional requirements for
                                                 In this rule, the EPA is proposing to                 Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because              Serious ozone nonattainment areas. The
                                               include in a final EPA rule regulatory                  application of those requirements would               EPA has already received SIP revision
                                               text that includes incorporation by                     be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;               submittals addressing most of the
                                               reference. In accordance with                           and                                                   additional SIP requirements.
                                               requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is                     • Does not provide the EPA with the                DATES: Any comments must arrive by
                                               proposing to incorporate by reference                   discretionary authority to address, as                June 13, 2018.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                               the amendments described in section III.                appropriate, disproportionate human                   ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                               The EPA has made, and will continue                     health or environmental effects, using                identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R09–
                                               to make, these materials generally                      practicable and legally permissible                   OAR–2018–0223 at http://
                                               available through www.regulations.gov                   methods, under Executive Order 12898                  www.regulations.gov, or via email to
                                               and at the EPA Region 8 Office (please                  (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                      Nancy Levin, at levin.nancy@epa.gov.
                                               contact the person identified in the FOR                   In addition, the SIP is not proposed to            For comments submitted at
                                               FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of                  apply on any Indian reservation land or               Regulations.gov, follow the online
                                               this preamble for more information).                    in any other area where the EPA or an                 instructions for submitting comments.


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                                               22236                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 93 / Monday, May 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                               Once submitted, comments cannot be                      associated with increased susceptibility                Marginal nonattainment area for the
                                               edited or removed from Regulations.gov.                 to respiratory infections, medication use               2008 ozone NAAQS. 77 FR 30088 (May
                                               For either manner of submission, the                    by asthmatics, doctor visits, and                       21, 2012). For Marginal ozone
                                               EPA may publish any comment received                    emergency department visits and                         nonattainment areas, the attainment
                                               to its public docket. Do not submit                     hospital admissions for individuals with                date for the 2008 ozone NAAQS is as
                                               electronically any information you                      respiratory disease. Ozone exposure                     expeditious as practicable but not later
                                               consider to be Confidential Business                    may also contribute to premature death,                 than three years from the effective date
                                               Information (CBI) or other information                  especially in people with heart and lung                of designation, i.e., no later than July 20,
                                               whose disclosure is restricted by statute.              disease.                                                2015. See 40 CFR 51.1103(a).
                                               Multimedia submissions (audio, video,                      In March 2008, the EPA strengthened                     Under CAA section 181(b)(2), the EPA
                                               etc.) must be accompanied by a written                  the primary and secondary eight-hour                    is required to determine whether an area
                                               comment. The written comment is                         ozone NAAQS from 0.08 parts per                         attained the ozone NAAQS by the
                                               considered the official comment and                     million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm (‘‘2008                      applicable attainment date, and in May
                                               should include discussion of all points                 ozone NAAQS’’). 73 FR 16436 (March                      2016, the EPA found that Eastern Kern
                                               you wish to make. The EPA will                          27, 2008).1 In accordance with section                  had failed to attain the 2008 ozone
                                               generally not consider comments or                      107(d) of the CAA, the EPA must                         NAAQS by the applicable Marginal
                                               comment contents located outside of the                 designate an area ‘‘nonattainment’’ if it               attainment date (i.e., by July 20, 2015)
                                               primary submission (i.e., on the web,                   is violating the NAAQS or if it is                      and reclassified the area as Moderate. 81
                                               cloud, or other file sharing system). For               contributing to a violation of the                      FR 26697 (May 4, 2016). For Moderate
                                               additional submission methods, please                   NAAQS in a nearby area. With respect                    ozone nonattainment areas, the
                                               contact the person identified in the FOR                to the ozone NAAQS, the EPA further                     attainment date is as expeditious as
                                               FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.                    classifies nonattainment areas as                       practicable but not later than July 20,
                                               For the full EPA public comment policy,                 ‘‘Marginal,’’ ‘‘Moderate,’’ ‘‘Serious,’’                2018. See 40 CFR 51.1103(a). States
                                               information about CBI or multimedia                     ‘‘Severe,’’ or ‘‘Extreme,’’ depending                   with newly-reclassified Moderate ozone
                                               submissions, and general guidance on                    upon the ozone design value for an                      areas were required to submit SIP
                                               making effective comments, please visit                 area.2 See CAA section 181(a)(1). As a                  revisions meeting the applicable
                                               http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/                            general matter, higher classified ozone                 Moderate area requirements by January
                                               commenting-epa-dockets.                                 nonattainment areas are subject to a                    1, 2017. 81 FR 26697 (May 4, 2016).
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                       greater number of, and more stringent,
                                                                                                                                                               II. State Request for Reclassification
                                                                                                       SIP requirements than lower classified
                                               Nancy Levin, EPA Region IX, (415) 972–                                                                             As described above, in 2016, the EPA
                                                                                                       areas but are allowed more time to
                                               3848, levin.nancy@epa.gov.                                                                                      reclassified the Eastern Kern 2008 ozone
                                                                                                       demonstrate attainment of the ozone
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                                                                      nonattainment area to Moderate, and, in
                                                                                                       NAAQS. See, generally, subpart 2 of
                                               Throughout this document, ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us’’                part D of title I of the CAA. Depending                 response to the reclassification, the
                                               and ‘‘our’’ refer to the EPA.                           upon the classification, states with                    Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control
                                               Table of Contents                                       ozone nonattainment areas are required                  District (EKAPCD) began to develop an
                                                                                                       under the CAA to develop and submit                     ozone plan meeting the applicable
                                               I. Background                                                                                                   ozone nonattainment area requirements,
                                               II. State Request for Reclassification                  SIP revisions providing for, among other
                                                                                                       elements, a base year emissions                         such as an attainment demonstration.
                                               III. Evaluation of Voluntary Reclassification
                                                     Request                                           inventory, new source review (NSR),                     However, in light of the attainment
                                               IV. Proposed Action and Public Comment                  implementation of reasonably available                  demonstration needs for the area, the
                                               V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews                control technology (RACT), reasonable                   EKAPCD developed the ozone plan,
                                                                                                       further progress (RFP), a demonstration                 titled Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control
                                               I. Background                                                                                                   District 2017 Ozone Attainment Plan for
                                                                                                       of attainment, and contingency
                                                  The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the                 measures.                                               the Federal 75 ppb 8-Hour Ozone
                                               EPA to establish a NAAQS for certain                       Effective July 20, 2012, the EPA                     Standard (‘‘Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone
                                               pervasive pollutants that ‘‘may                         established initial air quality                         Plan’’), to meet Serious, rather than
                                               reasonably be anticipated to endanger                   designations for the 2008 ozone                         Moderate, ozone nonattainment
                                               public health and welfare’’ and to                      NAAQS. The EPA designated and                           requirements. The Eastern Kern 2017
                                               develop a primary and secondary                         initially classified Eastern Kern 3 as a                Ozone Plan includes a request to the
                                               standard for each NAAQS. The primary                                                                            California Air Resources Board (CARB)
                                               standard is designed to protect public                     1 Today’s proposed rule relates to classifications   to formally submit a request to the EPA
                                               health with an adequate margin of                       and SIP submittal obligations associated with the       asking for voluntary reclassification of
                                                                                                       2008 ozone NAAQS. In 2015, the EPA further              the Eastern Kern ozone nonattainment
                                               safety, and the secondary standard is                   tightened the 8-hour ozone NAAQS from 0.075 ppm
                                               designed to protect public welfare and                  to 0.070 ppm (‘‘2015 ozone NAAQS’’). 80 FR 65292        area from Moderate to Serious for the
                                               the environment. The EPA has set                        (October 26, 2015). Designations, classifications and   2008 ozone NAAQS.4 On July 27, 2017,
                                               NAAQS for six common air pollutants,                    SIP obligations for the 2015 ozone NAAQS are            the EKAPCD adopted the Eastern Kern
                                                                                                       being addressed separately from this action.            2017 Ozone Plan and transmitted the
                                               referred to as criteria pollutants,                        2 For the 2008 ozone NAAQS, the design value at
                                               including ozone. The NAAQS                              each monitoring site is the annual fourth-highest       plan to CARB for approval and
                                               represents the air quality levels an area               daily maximum 8-hour average ozone                      submittal to the EPA. Through
                                               must meet to comply with the CAA.                       concentration, averaged over three years. The           Resolution 17–25 (dated September 28,
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                                                  Ozone is a gas composed of three                     design value for an area is the highest design value    2017), CARB adopted the plan and the
                                                                                                       among the monitoring sites.
                                               oxygen atoms and is created by a                           3 Kern County is located in the southern-most
                                                                                                                                                               EKAPCD’s request for voluntary
                                               chemical reaction between volatile                      portion of California’s Central Valley. The western
                                               organic compounds (VOC) and oxides of                   half of Kern County is part of the San Joaquin          county excluding Indian Wells Valley. For more
                                               nitrogen (NOX) in the atmosphere in the                 Valley air basin and is included within the San         detail on the boundaries of the Eastern Kern ozone
                                                                                                       Joaquin Valley ozone nonattainment area. The            nonattainment area, see the 2008 ozone table in 40
                                               presence of sunlight. Ground-level                      eastern half of Kern County is part of the Mojave       CFR 81.305.
                                               ozone can harm human health and the                     Desert air basin. The Eastern Kern ozone                  4 See page vi of the Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone

                                               environment. Ozone exposure has been                    nonattainment area covers the eastern half of the       Plan.



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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 93 / Monday, May 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                             22237

                                               reclassification. Subsequently, on                      State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the                any Serious area SIP requirements for
                                               October 25, 2017, CARB submitted the                    2008 Ozone National Ambient Air                        which SIP submittals have already been
                                               Eastern Kern 2017 Ozone Plan to the                     Quality Standards (NAAQS) (‘‘Eastern                   received. We will accept comments
                                               EPA as a revision to the California SIP.                Kern 2017 RACT SIP’’) to the EPA as a                  from the public on this proposal until
                                               CARB’s October 25, 2017 SIP revision                    revision to the California SIP. The                    June 13, 2018.
                                               submittal constitutes a request for                     Eastern Kern 2017 RACT SIP was
                                                                                                                                                              V. Statutory and Executive Order
                                               reclassification of the Eastern Kern                    developed to meet the RACT
                                                                                                                                                              Reviews
                                               ozone nonattainment area.                               requirements for Serious ozone
                                                                                                       nonattainment areas in anticipation of                    Under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR
                                               III. Evaluation of Voluntary                            submittal by CARB to the EPA of the                    51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76
                                               Reclassification Request                                voluntary reclassification request                     FR 3821, January 21, 2011), this
                                                  Under the EPA’s ozone                                contained in the Eastern Kern 2017                     proposed action is not a ‘‘significant
                                               implementation rule at 40 CFR                           Ozone Plan.6 We have reviewed the                      regulatory action’’ and therefore is not
                                               51.1103(b), a state may request, and the                August 2017 SIP submittal and find that                subject to review by the Office of
                                               EPA must approve, a higher                              it addresses the following Serious ozone               Management and Budget. Voluntary
                                               classification for any reason in                        area RACT-related SIP requirements:                    reclassifications under section 181(b)(3)
                                               accordance with CAA section                             VOC sources covered by a Control                       of the CAA are based solely upon
                                               181(b)(3).5 We find that the plain                      Technology Guidelines (CTG) document                   requests by the state, and the EPA is
                                               language of CAA section 181(b)(3) and                   and non-CTG major sources of VOC.                      required under the CAA to grant them.
                                               40 CFR 51.1103(b) mandates that we                      The Eastern Kern 2017 RACT SIP does                    This proposed action does not, in and
                                               approve voluntary reclassification                      not fully address RACT requirements for                of itself, impose any new requirements
                                               requests, and thus, the EPA proposes in                 non-CTG major sources of NOX.                          on any sector of the economy. In
                                               this action to grant CARB’s request to                     Upon review of the two SIP revision                 addition, because the statutory
                                               reclassify the Eastern Kern                             submittals described above, we find that               requirements are clearly defined with
                                               nonattainment area from Moderate to                     all the SIP elements that apply to                     respect to the differently classified
                                               Serious for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.                       Eastern Kern as a Serious ozone                        areas, and because those requirements
                                               Upon the effective date of a final action               nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone                  are automatically triggered by
                                               granting the reclassification, the area                 NAAQS have been addressed except for                   classification, reclassification does not
                                               will be required to attain the 2008 ozone               NSR and RACT for major sources of                      impose a materially adverse impact
                                               NAAQS as expeditiously as practicable,                  NOX. The EPA is proposing a schedule                   under Executive Order 12866. For these
                                               but not later than July 20, 2021.                       for additional SIP revisions for these                 reasons, this proposed action is also not
                                                  By granting a state’s request to                     two SIP elements of no later than 12                   subject to Executive Order 13211,
                                               reclassify an ozone nonattainment area                  months from the effective date of                      ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That
                                               to a higher classification, the EPA must                reclassification.7                                     Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                               address submittal deadlines for SIP                                                                            Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
                                                                                                       IV. Proposed Action and Public                         22, 2001). Furthermore, this proposed
                                               requirements that have become                           Comment
                                               applicable to an area as a result of its                                                                       action is not an Executive Order 13771
                                               higher classification. Such SIP                           Pursuant to CAA section 181(b)(3)                    (82 FR 9339, February 2, 2017)
                                               requirements include submittals that                    and 40 CFR 51.1103(b), the EPA is                      regulatory action because actions such
                                               include provisions to require                           proposing to grant the reclassification                as reclassifications made at the request
                                               implementation of RACT for existing                     request by the State of California for the             of a state are exempt under Executive
                                               stationary sources and permits for new                  Eastern Kern 2008 ozone nonattainment                  Order 12866.
                                               or modified stationary sources (i.e.,                   area from Moderate to Serious, and to                     In addition, I certify that this
                                               NSR), and to provide for RFP,                           change the ‘‘California—2008 8-Hour                    proposed rule will not have a significant
                                               attainment and contingency measures.                    Ozone NAAQS (Primary and                               economic impact on a substantial
                                                                                                       secondary)’’ table in 40 CFR 81.305                    number of small entities under the
                                               For areas reclassified from Moderate to
                                                                                                       accordingly. In connection with the                    Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
                                               Serious, the ‘‘major source’’ threshold
                                                                                                       reclassification, the EPA is proposing to              et seq.). This proposed action does not
                                               for RACT and NSR purposes falls from
                                                                                                       establish a deadline of no later than 12               contain any unfunded mandate or
                                               100 tons per year of VOC or NOX to 50
                                                                                                       months from the effective date of                      significantly or uniquely affect small
                                               tons per year of VOC or NOX.
                                                  As noted above, in October 2017,                     reclassification for submittal of                      governments, as described in the
                                                                                                       revisions to the Eastern Kern portion of               Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
                                               CARB submitted the Eastern Kern 2017
                                                                                                       the SIP to meet the Serious area                       (Pub. L. 104–4), because the EPA is
                                               Ozone Plan to the EPA as a revision to
                                                                                                       requirements for NSR and for RACT for                  required to grant requests by states for
                                               the California SIP. We have reviewed
                                                                                                       major sources of NOX. The EPA is not                   voluntary reclassifications and such
                                               the October 2017 submittal and find that
                                                                                                       proposing a SIP revision schedule for                  reclassifications in and of themselves do
                                               it addresses the following Serious ozone
                                               area SIP requirements: Base year                                                                               not impose any federal
                                               emissions inventory, emission
                                                                                                         6 See pages 9 and 10 of the Eastern Kern 2017
                                                                                                                                                              intergovernmental mandate.
                                                                                                       RACT SIP.                                                 Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
                                               statements, reasonably available control                  7 Upon the effective date of reclassification, we
                                                                                                                                                              November 9, 2000) requires the EPA to
                                               measure (RACM) demonstration, RFP,                      note that certain regulatory changes would occur
                                                                                                       automatically and do not require a SIP revision. For   develop an accountable process to
                                               attainment demonstration and
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                                                                                                       example, upon reclassification from Moderate to        ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
                                               contingency measures.                                   Serious, the applicability (or ‘‘de minimis’’)
                                                  In addition, on August 9, 2017, CARB                                                                        tribal officials in the development of
                                                                                                       thresholds under our General Conformity rule (see
                                               submitted the EKAPCD’s Reasonably                       40 CFR part 93) would drop from 100 tons per year      regulatory policies that have tribal
                                               Available Control Technology (RACT)                     to 50 tons per year for VOC or NOX. See 40 CFR         implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have tribal
                                                                                                       93.153(b)(1). Under the General Conformity rule,       implications’’ is defined in the
                                                                                                       federal agencies bear the responsibility of
                                                 5 CAA section 181(b)(3) provides that the EPA         determining conformity of actions in nonattainment
                                                                                                                                                              Executive Order to include regulations
                                               shall grant the request of any state to reclassify an   and maintenance areas that require Federal permits,    that have ‘‘substantial direct effects on
                                               ozone nonattainment area to a higher classification.    approvals, or funding.                                 one or more Indian tribes, on the


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                                               22238                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 93 / Monday, May 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                               relationship between the Federal                        and responsibilities established in the               practicable and permitted by law, to
                                               government and Indian tribes, or on the                 Clean Air Act.                                        make environmental justice part of their
                                               distribution of power and                                  This proposed rule also is not subject             mission by identifying and addressing,
                                               responsibilities between the Federal                    to Executive Order 13045, ‘‘Protection of             as appropriate, disproportionately high
                                               government and Indian tribes.’’ There                   Children from Environmental Health                    and adverse human health or
                                               are no Indian reservation lands or other                Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,                environmental effects of their programs
                                               areas where the EPA or an Indian tribe                  April 23, 1997), because the EPA                      policies, and activities on minority
                                               has demonstrated that a tribe has                       interprets Executive Order 13045 as                   populations and low-income
                                                                                                       applying only to those regulatory                     populations in the United States. This
                                               jurisdiction within the Eastern Kern
                                                                                                       actions that concern health or safety                 proposed reclassification action relates
                                               ozone nonattainment area, and thus,
                                                                                                       risks, such that the analysis required                to ozone, a pollutant that is regional in
                                               this proposed rule does not have tribal                 under section 5–501 of the Executive
                                               implications and will not impose                                                                              nature, and is not the type of action that
                                                                                                       Order has the potential to influence the              could result in the types of local
                                               substantial direct costs on tribal                      regulation.                                           impacts addressed in Executive Order
                                               governments or preempt tribal law as                       Reclassification actions do not                    12898.
                                               specified by Executive Order 13175.                     involve technical standards and thus,
                                                 This proposed action also does not                    the requirements of section 12(d) of the              List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 81
                                               have Federalism implications because it                 National Technology Transfer and
                                                                                                       Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C.                      Environmental protection, Air
                                               does not have substantial direct effects                                                                      pollution control, Intergovernmental
                                               on the states, on the relationship                      272 note) do not apply. This proposed
                                                                                                       rule does not impose an information                   relations, National parks, Ozone,
                                               between the national government and                                                                           Wilderness areas.
                                               the states, or on the distribution of                   collection burden under the provisions
                                               power and responsibilities among the                    of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                  Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                                                                       (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).                               Dated: May 1, 2018.
                                               various levels of government, as                           Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,
                                               specified in Executive Order 13132 (64                  February 16, 1994) establishes federal                Alexis Strauss,
                                               FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This                        executive policy on environmental                     Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
                                               proposed action does not alter the                      justice. Its main provision directs                   [FR Doc. 2018–10217 Filed 5–11–18; 8:45 am]
                                               relationship or the distribution of power               federal agencies, to the greatest extent              BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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Document Created: 2018-05-12 01:11:08
Document Modified: 2018-05-12 01:11:08
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesAny comments must arrive by June 13, 2018.
ContactNancy Levin, EPA Region IX, (415) 972- 3848, [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 22235 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Intergovernmental Relations; National Parks; Ozone and Wilderness Areas

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