SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On October 13, 2005, the final Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) was published in the Federal Register (70 FR 59848) and codified as part 3 of title 40 of the CFR. CROMERR establishes electronic reporting as an acceptable regulatory alternative to paper reporting and establishes requirements to assure that electronic documents are as legally dependable as their paper counterparts. Subpart D of CROMERR requires that state, tribal or local government agencies that receive, or wish to begin receiving, electronic reports under their EPA-authorized programs must apply to EPA for a revision or modification of those programs and obtain EPA approval. Subpart D provides standards for such approvals based on consideration of the electronic document receiving systems that the state, tribe, or local government will use to implement the electronic reporting. Additionally, § 3.1000(b) through (e) of 40 CFR part 3, subpart D provides special procedures for program revisions and modifications to allow electronic reporting, to be used at the option of the state, tribe or local government in place of procedures available under existing program-specific authorization regulations. An application submitted under the subpart D procedures must show that the state, tribe or local government has sufficient legal authority to implement the electronic reporting components of the programs covered by the application and will use electronic document receiving systems that meet the applicable subpart D requirements.

On March 9, 2018, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) submitted an application titled “State and Local Emissions Inventory System” for revision to its EPA-approved program under title 40 CFR to allow new electronic reporting. EPA reviewed TDEC's request to revise its EPA-authorized Part 52—Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans program and, based on this review, EPA determined that the application met the standards for approval of authorized program revision set out in 40 CFR part 3, subpart D. In accordance with 40 CFR 3.1000(d), this notice of EPA's decision to approve Tennessee's request to revise/modify its Part 52—Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans program to allow electronic reporting ( printed page 20072) under 40 CFR parts 50-52 is being published in the Federal Register .

TDEC was notified of EPA's determination to approve its application with respect to the authorized program listed above.

83 FR 20071