83_FR_31479 83 FR 31350 - Air Plan Approval; District of Columbia; State Implementation Plan for the Interstate Transport Requirements for the 2008 Ozone Standard

83 FR 31350 - Air Plan Approval; District of Columbia; State Implementation Plan for the Interstate Transport Requirements for the 2008 Ozone Standard

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 129 (July 5, 2018)

Page Range31350-31352
FR Document2018-14332

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a portion of the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the District of Columbia (the District) that pertains to the good neighbor and interstate transport requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The CAA's good neighbor provision requires EPA and states to address the interstate transport of air pollution that affects the ability of other states \1\ to attain and maintain the NAAQS. Specifically, the good neighbor provision requires each state in its SIP to prohibit emissions that will significantly contribute to nonattainment, or interfere with maintenance, of a NAAQS in another state. The District has submitted a SIP revision that addresses the good neighbor provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. In this action, EPA is proposing to approve the District's SIP as having adequate provisions to meet the requirements of the good neighbor provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in accordance with section 110 of the CAA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31350-31352]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14332]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0701; FRL-9980-33--Region 3]


Air Plan Approval; District of Columbia; State Implementation 
Plan for the Interstate Transport Requirements for the 2008 Ozone 
Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a portion of the state implementation plan (SIP) revision 
submitted by the District of Columbia (the District) that pertains to 
the good neighbor and interstate transport requirements of the Clean 
Air Act (CAA) for the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards 
(NAAQS). The CAA's good neighbor provision requires EPA and states to 
address the interstate transport of air pollution that affects the 
ability of other states \1\ to attain and maintain the NAAQS. 
Specifically, the good neighbor provision requires each state in its 
SIP to prohibit emissions that will significantly contribute to 
nonattainment, or interfere with maintenance, of a NAAQS in another 
state. The District has submitted a SIP revision that addresses the 
good neighbor provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. In this action, EPA 
is proposing to approve the District's SIP as having adequate 
provisions to meet the requirements of the good neighbor provision for 
the 2008 ozone NAAQS in accordance with section 110 of the CAA.
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    \1\ The term state has the same meaning as provided in CAA 
section 302(d) which specifically includes the District of Columbia.

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DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-
OAR-2014-0701 at http://www.regulations.gov, or via email to 
[email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either 
manner of submission, EPA may publish any comment received to its 
public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you 
consider to be confidential business information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia 
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written 
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and 
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, 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:  Ellen Schmitt, (215) 814-5787, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 13, 2014, the District Department of 
the Environment (DDOE) on behalf of the District submitted a revision 
to its SIP to satisfy the requirements of section 110(a)(2), including 
110(a)(2)(D)(i), of the CAA for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.

I. Background

    On March 12, 2008, EPA revised the levels of the primary and 
secondary ozone standards from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 
ppm (73 FR 16436). Ground level ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides 
(NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the 
presence of sunlight. NOX and VOCs are referred to as ozone 
precursors and are emitted by many types of pollution sources, 
including motor vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, and area 
wide sources, such as consumer products and lawn and garden equipment. 
Scientific evidence indicates that adverse public health effects occur 
following exposure to ozone. Section 110(a)(1) of the CAA requires 
states to submit, within three years after promulgation of a new or 
revised NAAQS, SIPs meeting the applicable elements of sections 
110(a)(2).\2\ Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) generally requires SIPs to 
contain adequate provisions to prohibit in-state emissions activities 
from having certain adverse air quality effects on other states due to 
interstate transport of air pollution. There are four prongs within 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA; section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) contains 
prongs 1 and 2, while section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) includes prongs 3 and 
4. Under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), also called the good neighbor 
provision, a state's SIP must contain adequate provisions to prohibit 
any source or other type of emissions activity within the state from 
emitting air pollutants that ``contribute significantly to 
nonattainment in, or interfere with maintenance by, any other state 
with respect to any such national primary or secondary ambient air 
quality standard.'' Under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA, EPA 
gives independent significance to the matter of nonattainment (prong 1) 
and to that of maintenance (prong 2). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) of 
the CAA requires SIPs to contain adequate provisions to prohibit 
emissions that will interfere with measures required to be included in 
the applicable implementation plan for any other state under part C to 
prevent significant deterioration of air quality (prong 3) or to 
protect visibility (prong 4). This proposed action addresses only 
prongs 1 and 2 of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i).\3\
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    \2\ SIP revisions that are intended to meet the requirements of 
section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA are often referred to as 
infrastructure SIPs and the elements under 110(a)(2) are referred to 
as infrastructure requirements.
    \3\ All the other infrastructure SIP elements for the District 
for the 2008 ozone NAAQS were addressed in a separate rulemaking. 
See 80 FR 19538 (May 13, 2015).
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    Through the development and implementation of several previous 
rulemakings,\4\ EPA, working in partnership with states, established 
the four-step interstate transport framework to address the 
requirements of the good neighbor provision for ozone NAAQS.\5\ The 
four steps are: Step 1--Identify downwind receptors that are expected 
to have problems attaining or maintaining the NAAQS; step 2--determine 
which upwind states contribute enough to these identified downwind air 
quality problems to warrant further review and analysis; step 3--
identify the emissions reductions necessary to prevent an identified 
upwind state from contributing significantly to those downwind air 
quality problems; and step 4--adopt permanent and

[[Page 31351]]

enforceable measures needed to achieve those emissions reductions.
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    \4\ NOX SIP Call. 63 FR 57356 (October 27, 1998); 
Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). 70 FR 25162 (May 12, 2005); Cross-
State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). 75 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011); and 
CSAPR Update. 81 FR 74504 (October 26, 2016).
    \5\ The four-step interstate framework has also been used to 
address requirements of the good neighbor provision for some 
previous particulate matter (PM) NAAQS.
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    The CAA gives EPA a backstop role to issue federal implementation 
plans (FIPs), as appropriate, for states that do not have good neighbor 
provisions approved in their SIP. To meet the Agency's backstop role 
for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, EPA finalized an update to the Cross-State 
Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) ozone season program by issuing CSAPR Update 
on September 7, 2016 (81 FR 74504). CSAPR Update addresses the 
summertime (May-September) transport of ozone pollution in the eastern 
United States that crosses state lines to help downwind states and 
communities meet and maintain the 2008 ozone NAAQS.\6\ CSAPR Update 
uses the same framework used by EPA in developing the original CSAPR, 
EPA's transport rule addressing the 1997 ozone NAAQS as well as the 
1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS.\7\
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    \6\ In CSAPR Update, EPA issued FIPs to address CAA section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i) obligations for 22 eastern states, not including the 
District.
    \7\ Key elements of the four-step interstate transport framework 
have been upheld by the Supreme Court in EPA v. EME Homer City 
Generation, L.P., 134 S. Ct. 1584 (2014).
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    In order to apply the first and second steps of the four-step 
interstate transport framework for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, EPA evaluated 
modeling projections for air quality monitoring sites in 2017 and 
considered current-at-the-time ozone monitoring data at these sites to 
identify receptors \8\ that are anticipated to have problems attaining 
or maintaining the 2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA then used air quality modeling 
to assess contributions from upwind states to these downwind receptors 
and evaluated the contributions relative to a screening threshold of 
one percent (1%) of the NAAQS. States with contributions that equaled 
or exceeded 1% of the NAAQS were identified as warranting further 
analysis for significant contribution to nonattainment or interference 
with maintenance. States with contributions below 1% of the NAAQS were 
considered to not significantly contribute to nonattainment or 
interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS in downwind states. In its 
CSAPR Update analysis for the final rule, EPA found that the District 
of Columbia did not contribute at or above the 1% threshold to any 
downwind nonattainment receptor, but did contribute at or above the 1% 
threshold to one downwind maintenance receptor in Harford County, 
Maryland (210251001). Because of the District's linkage to a 
maintenance receptor, EPA continued to step 3 of the four-step 
framework, where EPA's analysis found no electric generating units 
(EGUs) in the District of Columbia, with the result that the District 
has no potential to reduce NOX emissions from EGUs. At the 
time of CSAPR Update's final action, the District's June 13, 2014 SIP 
submission (addressing CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i), as well as all of 
110(a)(2)), was still pending before the Agency. Given the then-pending 
SIP, the District's lack of EGUs, and EPA's overall assessment that 
non-EGU controls were neither cost-effective nor feasible by the 2017 
implementation year for any states identified as linked to a downwind 
receptor, EPA did not issue FIP requirements for sources in the 
District as part of CSAPR Update. See 81 FR at 74553.
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    \8\ Within the CSAPR framework, the term ``receptor'' indicates 
a monitoring site. Under CSAPR Update, nonattainment receptors are 
downwind monitoring sites that are projected to have an average 
design value that exceed the NAAQS and that have a current monitored 
design value above the NAAQS, while maintenance receptors are 
downwind monitoring sites that are projected to have maximum design 
values that exceed the NAAQS.
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II. Summary of SIP Revision

    On June 13, 2014, the District, through the DDOE, submitted a SIP 
revision to satisfy the requirements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA 
for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. In this rulemaking action, EPA is approving 
the remaining portion of the District's June 13, 2014 submittal,\9\ 
which consists of prongs 1 and 2 found under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) 
of the CAA.
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    \9\ On April 13, 2015 (80 FR 19538), EPA approved portions of 
the District's June 13, 2014 submittal for the 2008 ozone NAAQS 
addressing the following: CAA section 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), 
(D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J), (K), (L), and (M). In 
that action, EPA stated it would take later action on the portion of 
the June 13, 2014 SIP submittal addressing section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA.
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    In its June 13, 2014 submittal, hereafter known simply as the 
submittal, the District identifies the implemented regulations within 
its SIP that limit NOX and/or VOC emissions from District 
sources. The District indicates that there are no EGUs \10\ or other 
large industrial sources of NOX emissions within the 
District. In the submittal, the District also included information on 
non-EGUs and mobile sources. Attachment A of the submittal lists the 
SIP-approved measures that help to reduce NOX and VOC 
emissions from non-EGU and mobile sources within the District. The 
submittal is available in the docket for this rulemaking and available 
online at www.regulations.gov, docket ID number EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0701. 
In the submittal, the District points out that it will continue to rely 
on federal measures to reduce NOX emissions from onroad and 
nonroad engines. The District states its sources are already well 
controlled, and states further reductions beyond the District's current 
SIP measures are not economically feasible.
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    \10\ The District's last remaining EGUs were decommissioned in 
2012, in part to meet permit requirements incorporated into the 
District's Regional Haze SIP. 77 FR 5191 (February 2, 2012).
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III. EPA Evaluation

    EPA evaluated the submittal for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, considering: 
Ozone precursor emissions; an analysis of District source sectors; and 
in-place controls and regulations. The District was not linked to any 
nonattainment receptors with respect to the 2008 ozone NAAQS, and EPA 
has therefore already concluded that the District of Columbia will not 
significantly contribute to the nonattainment of the 2008 ozone NAAQS 
in another state. EPA consequently proposes to approve prong 1 of the 
District's submittal with regard to the 2008 ozone NAAQS.
    However, for prong 2, because the District is among 11 states that 
were linked to the Harford County, Maryland maintenance receptor, EPA 
further evaluated emissions and sources in the District to determine if 
the District would interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS at the 
Harford receptor.
    To better understand the District's ozone precursor emissions, EPA 
compared the data from the two most recent National Emissions 
Inventories (NEIs). Both total VOC and NOX emissions were 
reduced between 2011 and 2014 and NOX emissions are expected 
to be reduced even further by 2017. For example, the total 
NOX emissions from within the District are projected to be 
6,052 tons per year (tpy) in 2017, down from 9,402 tpy in 2011, based 
on the CSAPR Update 2017 base case emissions inventory.\11\ A more 
detailed evaluation regarding District NOX emissions is 
provided in the technical support document (TSD) for this action, 
located in www.regulations.gov, docket ID number EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0701.
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    \11\ CSAPR Update final rule TSD ``Preparation of Emissions 
Inventories for the Version 6.3, 2011 Emissions Modeling Platform.'' 
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/2011v6_3_2017_emismod_tsd_aug2016_final.pdf.
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    In its review of the submittal, EPA also assessed the current 
NOX and VOC emission sources in the District. There are no 
remaining EGUs as the District's last remaining EGU was decommissioned 
in 2012. The District's two largest emitters of NOX, the 
U.S.

[[Page 31352]]

General Services Administration's Central Heating and Refrigeration 
Plant and the U.S. Capital Power Plant, are subject to federally 
enforceable emissions limits that have already resulted in significant 
emission reductions of NOX over the years as discussed in 
detail in EPA's TSD. Also discussed in the TSD, the District has a 
variety of other small non-EGU sources where emissions of 
NOX and/or VOC are controlled through the District's SIP-
approved regulations. These provisions and regulations include 
reasonably available control technology (RACT) for major stationary 
sources of NOX and VOCs, and rules that limit nonpoint 
source VOC emissions. An in-depth review of these provisions and 
regulations, in addition to further information regarding the specific 
sources found in the District and their emissions are discussed in the 
TSD for this notice, located in www.regulations.gov, docket ID number 
EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0701. In the TSD, EPA also analyzed the feasibility of 
additional control options for District sources and determined that the 
District's relatively small to medium size point sources are already 
well controlled under the District's SIP and that there may be limited 
NOX reduction cost-effectiveness in controlling these 
sources further in regards to interstate transport for the 2008 ozone 
NAAQS.
    Due to the District's small number of sources and the high cost of 
further reductions as discussed in the TSD, EPA is proposing to 
determine that the District's SIP, as presently approved, contains 
adequate measures to prevent District sources from interfering with 
maintenance in another state for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.

IV. Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing to approve the remaining portion of the June 13, 
2014 District of Columbia SIP revision that addresses prongs 1 and 2 of 
the interstate transport requirements for section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) 
for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in accordance with section 110 of the CAA for 
the reasons discussed in this rulemaking. EPA is soliciting public 
comments on the issues discussed in this document. These comments will 
be considered before taking final action.
    In 2015, EPA approved the following infrastructure elements or 
portions thereof from the June 13, 2014 submittal: CAA section 
110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J), 
(K), (L), and (M). 80 FR 19538 (April 13, 2015).

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable 
federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in 
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, 
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this 
action merely approves state law as meeting federal requirements and 
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state 
law. For that reason, this proposed action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 
2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under 
Executive Order 12866.
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     Does not have federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the CAA; and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, this proposed rule, addressing the District of 
Columbia's interstate transport obligations for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, 
does not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 
(65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to 
apply in Indian country located in the state, and EPA notes that it 
will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or 
preempt tribal law.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds.


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

    Dated: June 19, 2018.
Cosmo Servidio,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2018-14332 Filed 7-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                31350                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 129 / Thursday, July 5, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  Dated: June 21, 2018.                                  from Regulations.gov. For either manner                adequate provisions to prohibit in-state
                                                Cosmo Servidio,                                          of submission, EPA may publish any                     emissions activities from having certain
                                                Regional Administrator, Region III.                      comment received to its public docket.                 adverse air quality effects on other states
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–14333 Filed 7–3–18; 8:45 am]               Do not submit electronically any                       due to interstate transport of air
                                                BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                         information you consider to be                         pollution. There are four prongs within
                                                                                                         confidential business information (CBI)                section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA;
                                                                                                         or other information whose disclosure is               section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) contains prongs
                                                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                 restricted by statute. Multimedia                      1 and 2, while section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)
                                                AGENCY                                                   submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be               includes prongs 3 and 4. Under section
                                                                                                         accompanied by a written comment.                      110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), also called the good
                                                40 CFR Part 52                                           The written comment is considered the                  neighbor provision, a state’s SIP must
                                                [EPA–R03–OAR–2014–0701; FRL–9980–                        official comment and should include                    contain adequate provisions to prohibit
                                                33—Region 3]                                             discussion of all points you wish to                   any source or other type of emissions
                                                                                                         make. EPA will generally not consider                  activity within the state from emitting
                                                Air Plan Approval; District of                           comments or comment contents located                   air pollutants that ‘‘contribute
                                                Columbia; State Implementation Plan                      outside of the primary submission (i.e.                significantly to nonattainment in, or
                                                for the Interstate Transport                             on the web, cloud, or other file sharing               interfere with maintenance by, any
                                                Requirements for the 2008 Ozone                          system). For additional submission                     other state with respect to any such
                                                Standard                                                 methods, please contact the person                     national primary or secondary ambient
                                                                                                         identified in the FOR FURTHER                          air quality standard.’’ Under section
                                                AGENCY:  Environmental Protection                        INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the                   110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA, EPA gives
                                                Agency (EPA).                                            full EPA public comment policy,                        independent significance to the matter
                                                ACTION: Proposed rule.                                   information about CBI or multimedia                    of nonattainment (prong 1) and to that
                                                SUMMARY:    The Environmental Protection                 submissions, and general guidance on                   of maintenance (prong 2). Section
                                                Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a                   making effective comments, please visit                110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) of the CAA requires
                                                portion of the state implementation plan                 http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/                           SIPs to contain adequate provisions to
                                                (SIP) revision submitted by the District                 commenting-epa-dockets.                                prohibit emissions that will interfere
                                                of Columbia (the District) that pertains                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       with measures required to be included
                                                to the good neighbor and interstate                      Ellen Schmitt, (215) 814–5787, or by                   in the applicable implementation plan
                                                transport requirements of the Clean Air                  email at schmitt.ellen@epa.gov.                        for any other state under part C to
                                                Act (CAA) for the 2008 ozone national                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June                     prevent significant deterioration of air
                                                ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).                   13, 2014, the District Department of the               quality (prong 3) or to protect visibility
                                                The CAA’s good neighbor provision                        Environment (DDOE) on behalf of the                    (prong 4). This proposed action
                                                requires EPA and states to address the                   District submitted a revision to its SIP               addresses only prongs 1 and 2 of section
                                                interstate transport of air pollution that               to satisfy the requirements of section                 110(a)(2)(D)(i).3
                                                affects the ability of other states 1 to                 110(a)(2), including 110(a)(2)(D)(i), of                 Through the development and
                                                attain and maintain the NAAQS.                           the CAA for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.                      implementation of several previous
                                                Specifically, the good neighbor                          I. Background                                          rulemakings,4 EPA, working in
                                                provision requires each state in its SIP                                                                        partnership with states, established the
                                                to prohibit emissions that will                             On March 12, 2008, EPA revised the                  four-step interstate transport framework
                                                significantly contribute to                              levels of the primary and secondary                    to address the requirements of the good
                                                nonattainment, or interfere with                         ozone standards from 0.08 parts per                    neighbor provision for ozone NAAQS.5
                                                maintenance, of a NAAQS in another                       million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm (73 FR                      The four steps are: Step 1—Identify
                                                state. The District has submitted a SIP                  16436). Ground level ozone is formed                   downwind receptors that are expected
                                                revision that addresses the good                         when nitrogen oxides (NOX) and                         to have problems attaining or
                                                neighbor provision for the 2008 ozone                    volatile organic compounds (VOCs)                      maintaining the NAAQS; step 2—
                                                NAAQS. In this action, EPA is                            react in the presence of sunlight. NOX                 determine which upwind states
                                                proposing to approve the District’s SIP                  and VOCs are referred to as ozone                      contribute enough to these identified
                                                as having adequate provisions to meet                    precursors and are emitted by many                     downwind air quality problems to
                                                the requirements of the good neighbor                    types of pollution sources, including                  warrant further review and analysis;
                                                provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in                    motor vehicles, power plants, industrial               step 3—identify the emissions
                                                accordance with section 110 of the                       facilities, and area wide sources, such as             reductions necessary to prevent an
                                                CAA.                                                     consumer products and lawn and                         identified upwind state from
                                                                                                         garden equipment. Scientific evidence                  contributing significantly to those
                                                DATES: Written comments must be
                                                                                                         indicates that adverse public health                   downwind air quality problems; and
                                                received on or before August 6, 2018.
                                                                                                         effects occur following exposure to                    step 4—adopt permanent and
                                                ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                                                                         ozone. Section 110(a)(1) of the CAA
                                                identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R03–                     requires states to submit, within three                  3 All the other infrastructure SIP elements for the
                                                OAR–2014–0701 at http://                                 years after promulgation of a new or                   District for the 2008 ozone NAAQS were addressed
                                                www.regulations.gov, or via email to                     revised NAAQS, SIPs meeting the                        in a separate rulemaking. See 80 FR 19538 (May 13,
                                                spielberger.susan@epa.gov. For
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS1




                                                                                                         applicable elements of sections                        2015).
                                                comments submitted at Regulations.gov,                   110(a)(2).2 Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)
                                                                                                                                                                  4 NO SIP Call. 63 FR 57356 (October 27, 1998);
                                                                                                                                                                       X
                                                follow the online instructions for                                                                              Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). 70 FR 25162 (May
                                                                                                         generally requires SIPs to contain                     12, 2005); Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR).
                                                submitting comments. Once submitted,                                                                            75 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011); and CSAPR Update.
                                                comments cannot be edited or removed                       2 SIP revisions that are intended to meet the        81 FR 74504 (October 26, 2016).
                                                                                                         requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA     5 The four-step interstate framework has also been
                                                  1 The term state has the same meaning as               are often referred to as infrastructure SIPs and the   used to address requirements of the good neighbor
                                                provided in CAA section 302(d) which specifically        elements under 110(a)(2) are referred to as            provision for some previous particulate matter (PM)
                                                includes the District of Columbia.                       infrastructure requirements.                           NAAQS.



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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 129 / Thursday, July 5, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                         31351

                                                enforceable measures needed to achieve                   to any downwind nonattainment                                 www.regulations.gov, docket ID number
                                                those emissions reductions.                              receptor, but did contribute at or above                      EPA–R03–OAR–2014–0701. In the
                                                   The CAA gives EPA a backstop role to                  the 1% threshold to one downwind                              submittal, the District points out that it
                                                issue federal implementation plans                       maintenance receptor in Harford                               will continue to rely on federal
                                                (FIPs), as appropriate, for states that do               County, Maryland (210251001). Because                         measures to reduce NOX emissions from
                                                not have good neighbor provisions                        of the District’s linkage to a                                onroad and nonroad engines. The
                                                approved in their SIP. To meet the                       maintenance receptor, EPA continued to                        District states its sources are already
                                                Agency’s backstop role for the 2008                      step 3 of the four-step framework, where                      well controlled, and states further
                                                ozone NAAQS, EPA finalized an update                     EPA’s analysis found no electric                              reductions beyond the District’s current
                                                to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule                    generating units (EGUs) in the District of                    SIP measures are not economically
                                                (CSAPR) ozone season program by                          Columbia, with the result that the                            feasible.
                                                issuing CSAPR Update on September 7,                     District has no potential to reduce NOX
                                                2016 (81 FR 74504). CSAPR Update                                                                                       III. EPA Evaluation
                                                                                                         emissions from EGUs. At the time of
                                                addresses the summertime (May–                           CSAPR Update’s final action, the                                 EPA evaluated the submittal for the
                                                September) transport of ozone pollution                  District’s June 13, 2014 SIP submission                       2008 ozone NAAQS, considering: Ozone
                                                in the eastern United States that crosses                (addressing CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i),                      precursor emissions; an analysis of
                                                state lines to help downwind states and                  as well as all of 110(a)(2)), was still                       District source sectors; and in-place
                                                communities meet and maintain the                        pending before the Agency. Given the                          controls and regulations. The District
                                                2008 ozone NAAQS.6 CSAPR Update                          then-pending SIP, the District’s lack of                      was not linked to any nonattainment
                                                uses the same framework used by EPA                      EGUs, and EPA’s overall assessment                            receptors with respect to the 2008 ozone
                                                in developing the original CSAPR,                        that non-EGU controls were neither                            NAAQS, and EPA has therefore already
                                                EPA’s transport rule addressing the                      cost-effective nor feasible by the 2017                       concluded that the District of Columbia
                                                1997 ozone NAAQS as well as the 1997                     implementation year for any states                            will not significantly contribute to the
                                                and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5)                 identified as linked to a downwind                            nonattainment of the 2008 ozone
                                                NAAQS.7                                                  receptor, EPA did not issue FIP                               NAAQS in another state. EPA
                                                   In order to apply the first and second                requirements for sources in the District                      consequently proposes to approve prong
                                                steps of the four-step interstate transport              as part of CSAPR Update. See 81 FR at                         1 of the District’s submittal with regard
                                                framework for the 2008 ozone NAAQS,                      74553.                                                        to the 2008 ozone NAAQS.
                                                EPA evaluated modeling projections for                                                                                    However, for prong 2, because the
                                                air quality monitoring sites in 2017 and                 II. Summary of SIP Revision                                   District is among 11 states that were
                                                considered current-at-the-time ozone                        On June 13, 2014, the District,                            linked to the Harford County, Maryland
                                                monitoring data at these sites to identify               through the DDOE, submitted a SIP                             maintenance receptor, EPA further
                                                receptors 8 that are anticipated to have                 revision to satisfy the requirements of                       evaluated emissions and sources in the
                                                problems attaining or maintaining the                    section 110(a)(2) of the CAA for the                          District to determine if the District
                                                2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA then used air                      2008 ozone NAAQS. In this rulemaking                          would interfere with maintenance of the
                                                quality modeling to assess contributions                 action, EPA is approving the remaining                        NAAQS at the Harford receptor.
                                                from upwind states to these downwind                     portion of the District’s June 13, 2014                          To better understand the District’s
                                                receptors and evaluated the                              submittal,9 which consists of prongs 1                        ozone precursor emissions, EPA
                                                contributions relative to a screening                    and 2 found under section                                     compared the data from the two most
                                                threshold of one percent (1%) of the                     110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA.                                recent National Emissions Inventories
                                                NAAQS. States with contributions that                       In its June 13, 2014 submittal,                            (NEIs). Both total VOC and NOX
                                                equaled or exceeded 1% of the NAAQS                      hereafter known simply as the                                 emissions were reduced between 2011
                                                were identified as warranting further                    submittal, the District identifies the                        and 2014 and NOX emissions are
                                                analysis for significant contribution to                 implemented regulations within its SIP                        expected to be reduced even further by
                                                nonattainment or interference with                       that limit NOX and/or VOC emissions                           2017. For example, the total NOX
                                                maintenance. States with contributions                   from District sources. The District                           emissions from within the District are
                                                below 1% of the NAAQS were                               indicates that there are no EGUs 10 or                        projected to be 6,052 tons per year (tpy)
                                                considered to not significantly                          other large industrial sources of NOX                         in 2017, down from 9,402 tpy in 2011,
                                                contribute to nonattainment or interfere                 emissions within the District. In the                         based on the CSAPR Update 2017 base
                                                with maintenance of the NAAQS in                         submittal, the District also included                         case emissions inventory.11 A more
                                                downwind states. In its CSAPR Update                     information on non-EGUs and mobile                            detailed evaluation regarding District
                                                analysis for the final rule, EPA found                   sources. Attachment A of the submittal                        NOX emissions is provided in the
                                                that the District of Columbia did not                    lists the SIP-approved measures that                          technical support document (TSD) for
                                                contribute at or above the 1% threshold                  help to reduce NOX and VOC emissions                          this action, located in
                                                                                                         from non-EGU and mobile sources                               www.regulations.gov, docket ID number
                                                   6 In CSAPR Update, EPA issued FIPs to address
                                                                                                         within the District. The submittal is                         EPA–R03–OAR–2014–0701.
                                                CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) obligations for 22           available in the docket for this                                 In its review of the submittal, EPA
                                                eastern states, not including the District.
                                                   7 Key elements of the four-step interstate            rulemaking and available online at                            also assessed the current NOX and VOC
                                                transport framework have been upheld by the                                                                            emission sources in the District. There
                                                Supreme Court in EPA v. EME Homer City                     9 On April 13, 2015 (80 FR 19538), EPA approved             are no remaining EGUs as the District’s
                                                Generation, L.P., 134 S. Ct. 1584 (2014).                portions of the District’s June 13, 2014 submittal for        last remaining EGU was
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                                                   8 Within the CSAPR framework, the term                the 2008 ozone NAAQS addressing the following:
                                                                                                         CAA section 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii),
                                                                                                                                                                       decommissioned in 2012. The District’s
                                                ‘‘receptor’’ indicates a monitoring site. Under
                                                CSAPR Update, nonattainment receptors are                (E), (F), (G), (H), (J), (K), (L), and (M). In that action,   two largest emitters of NOX, the U.S.
                                                downwind monitoring sites that are projected to          EPA stated it would take later action on the portion
                                                have an average design value that exceed the             of the June 13, 2014 SIP submittal addressing                   11 CSAPR Update final rule TSD ‘‘Preparation of

                                                NAAQS and that have a current monitored design           section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA.                        Emissions Inventories for the Version 6.3, 2011
                                                value above the NAAQS, while maintenance                   10 The District’s last remaining EGUs were                  Emissions Modeling Platform.’’ https://
                                                receptors are downwind monitoring sites that are         decommissioned in 2012, in part to meet permit                www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/
                                                projected to have maximum design values that             requirements incorporated into the District’s                 documents/2011v6_3_2017_emismod_tsd_
                                                exceed the NAAQS.                                        Regional Haze SIP. 77 FR 5191 (February 2, 2012).             aug2016_final.pdf.



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                                                31352                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 129 / Thursday, July 5, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                General Services Administration’s                        V. Statutory and Executive Order                      tribal implications as specified by
                                                Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant                  Reviews                                               Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
                                                and the U.S. Capital Power Plant, are                       Under the CAA, the Administrator is                November 9, 2000), because the SIP is
                                                subject to federally enforceable                         required to approve a SIP submission                  not approved to apply in Indian country
                                                emissions limits that have already                       that complies with the provisions of the              located in the state, and EPA notes that
                                                resulted in significant emission                         CAA and applicable federal regulations.               it will not impose substantial direct
                                                reductions of NOX over the years as                      42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                   costs on tribal governments or preempt
                                                discussed in detail in EPA’s TSD. Also                   Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,                   tribal law.
                                                discussed in the TSD, the District has a                 EPA’s role is to approve state choices,               List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                                variety of other small non-EGU sources                   provided that they meet the criteria of
                                                where emissions of NOX and/or VOC are                                                                            Environmental protection, Air
                                                                                                         the CAA. Accordingly, this action                     pollution control, Incorporation by
                                                controlled through the District’s SIP-                   merely approves state law as meeting
                                                approved regulations. These provisions                                                                         reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
                                                                                                         federal requirements and does not                     Volatile organic compounds.
                                                and regulations include reasonably                       impose additional requirements beyond
                                                available control technology (RACT) for                  those imposed by state law. For that                    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                major stationary sources of NOX and                      reason, this proposed action:                           Dated: June 19, 2018.
                                                VOCs, and rules that limit nonpoint                         • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                Cosmo Servidio,
                                                source VOC emissions. An in-depth                        action’’ subject to review by the Office              Regional Administrator, Region III.
                                                review of these provisions and                           of Management and Budget under
                                                regulations, in addition to further                                                                            [FR Doc. 2018–14332 Filed 7–3–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                         Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
                                                information regarding the specific                                                                             BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                         October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
                                                sources found in the District and their                  January 21, 2011);
                                                emissions are discussed in the TSD for                      • Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82              ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                this notice, located in                                  FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory                 AGENCY
                                                www.regulations.gov, docket ID number                    action because SIP approvals are
                                                EPA–R03–OAR–2014–0701. In the TSD,                       exempted under Executive Order 12866.                 40 CFR Part 52
                                                EPA also analyzed the feasibility of                        • Does not impose an information
                                                additional control options for District                  collection burden under the provisions                [EPA–R03–OAR–2017–0441; FRL–9980–
                                                sources and determined that the                                                                                34—Region 3]
                                                                                                         of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
                                                District’s relatively small to medium                    U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                 Approval and Promulgation of Air
                                                size point sources are already well                         • Is certified as not having a                     Quality Implementation Plans;
                                                controlled under the District’s SIP and                  significant economic impact on a                      Maryland; Infrastructure Requirements
                                                that there may be limited NOX reduction                  substantial number of small entities                  for the 2012 Fine Particulate Matter
                                                cost-effectiveness in controlling these                  under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5               National Ambient Air Quality Standard
                                                sources further in regards to interstate                 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                                                transport for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.                         • Does not contain any unfunded                    AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                                   Due to the District’s small number of                 mandate or significantly or uniquely                  Agency (EPA).
                                                sources and the high cost of further                     affect small governments, as described                ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                reductions as discussed in the TSD, EPA                  in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                                                                                         of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);                              SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection
                                                is proposing to determine that the                                                                             Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a
                                                District’s SIP, as presently approved,                      • Does not have federalism
                                                                                                         implications as specified in Executive                state implementation plan (SIP)
                                                contains adequate measures to prevent                                                                          submission from Maryland addressing
                                                District sources from interfering with                   Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
                                                                                                         1999);                                                the infrastructure requirements of
                                                maintenance in another state for the                                                                           section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA)
                                                2008 ozone NAAQS.                                           • Is not an economically significant
                                                                                                         regulatory action based on health or                  for the 2012 annual fine particulate
                                                IV. Proposed Action                                      safety risks subject to Executive Order               matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air
                                                                                                         13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                  Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard).
                                                   EPA is proposing to approve the                          • Is not a significant regulatory action           The infrastructure requirements are
                                                remaining portion of the June 13, 2014                   subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR               designed to ensure that the structural
                                                District of Columbia SIP revision that                   28355, May 22, 2001);                                 components of each state’s air quality
                                                addresses prongs 1 and 2 of the                             • Is not subject to requirements of                management program are adequate to
                                                interstate transport requirements for                    section 12(d) of the National                         meet the state’s responsibilities under
                                                section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) for the 2008                  Technology Transfer and Advancement                   the CAA. EPA is proposing to approve
                                                ozone NAAQS in accordance with                           Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because              Maryland’s submittal addressing the
                                                section 110 of the CAA for the reasons                   application of those requirements would               infrastructure requirements for the 2012
                                                discussed in this rulemaking. EPA is                     be inconsistent with the CAA; and                     PM2.5 NAAQS in accordance with the
                                                soliciting public comments on the                           • Does not provide EPA with the                    requirements of section 110 of the CAA.
                                                issues discussed in this document.                       discretionary authority to address, as                DATES: Written comments must be
                                                These comments will be considered                        appropriate, disproportionate human                   received on or before August 6, 2018.
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                                                before taking final action.                              health or environmental effects, using                ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                   In 2015, EPA approved the following                   practicable and legally permissible                   identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R03–
                                                infrastructure elements or portions                      methods, under Executive Order 12898                  OAR–2017–0441 at http://
                                                thereof from the June 13, 2014                           (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                      www.regulations.gov, or via email to
                                                submittal: CAA section 110(a)(2)(A), (B),                   In addition, this proposed rule,                   spielberger.susan@epa.gov. For
                                                (C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J),       addressing the District of Columbia’s                 comments submitted at Regulations.gov,
                                                (K), (L), and (M). 80 FR 19538 (April 13,                interstate transport obligations for the              follow the online instructions for
                                                2015).                                                   2008 ozone NAAQS, does not have                       submitting comments. Once submitted,


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Document Created: 2018-07-03 23:39:45
Document Modified: 2018-07-03 23:39:45
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesWritten comments must be received on or before August 6, 2018.
ContactEllen Schmitt, (215) 814-5787, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 31350 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Incorporation by Reference; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone and Volatile Organic Compounds

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