Air Plan Approval; Washington; Northwest Clean Air Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) that were submitted by the Washington Department of Ecology (E...
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) that were submitted by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) in coordination with the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA). This revision updates certain NWCAA regulations currently in the SIP, removes obsolete regulations, and approves a subset of updated Ecology regulations to apply in NWCAA's jurisdiction.
DATES:
This final rule is effective July 15, 2020.
ADDRESSES:
The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-R10-OAR-2020-0108. All documents in the docket are listed on the
www.regulations.gov
website. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available,
e.g.,
Confidential Business Information or other information the disclosure of which is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available at
www.regulations.gov,
or please contact the person listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section for additional availability information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeff Hunt, EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue—Suite 155, Seattle, WA 98101, at (206) 553-0256, or
hunt.jeff@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document, wherever “we,” “us,” or “our” is used, it means the EPA.
I. Background
On March 24, 2020, we proposed to approve updates to certain NWCAA regulations currently in the SIP, remove obsolete regulations, and approve a subset of updated Ecology regulations to apply in NWCAA's jurisdiction (85 FR
( printed page 36155)
16599). The reasons for our proposed approval were stated in the proposed rule and will not be re-stated here. The public comment period for our proposed action ended on April 23, 2020. We received no comments. Therefore, we are finalizing our action as proposed.
II. Final Action
A. Regulations Approved and Incorporated by Reference Into the SIP
The EPA is approving and incorporating by reference into the Washington SIP at 40 CFR 52.2470(c)—
Table 5—Additional Regulations Approved for the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA) Jurisdiction,
the following NWCAA regulatory sections (effective date):
The EPA is also approving and incorporating by reference the following Chapter 173-400 Washington Administrative Code (WAC) sections submitted for approval to apply within NWCAA's jurisdiction (effective date):
Please see the amendatory text for more detailed information about the provisions submitted and approved in this action, including local agency corollaries which replace certain Chapter 173-400 WAC provisions and exclusions to our approval.
B. Approved But Not Incorporated by Reference Regulations
In addition to the regulations approved and incorporated by reference above in section II of this preamble, the EPA reviews and approves state and local clean air agency submissions to ensure they provide adequate enforcement authority and other general authority to implement and enforce the SIP. However, regulations describing such agency enforcement and other general authority are generally not incorporated by reference so as to avoid potential conflict with the EPA's independent authorities. Therefore, we are approving the following updates to NWCAA's general provisions for inclusion in 40 CFR 52.2470(e),
Table 1—Approved but Not Incorporated by Reference Regulations:
103, 105, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 120, 123, 124, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, and 303. We are also removing prior references to these provisions from 40 CFR 52.2470(c) because they are now included in 40 CFR 52.2470(e).
C. Regulations To Remove From the SIP
As discussed in the proposal for this action, we are removing from the SIP sections: 104, 106, 122, 130, 140, 145, 301, 302, 310, 322, 323, 400, 401, 410, 420, 422, and 424. We are also removing from the SIP any formerly approved WAC provisions which are replaced by local agency corollaries for facilities or actions subject to NWCAA's jurisdiction.
D. Scope of Proposed Action
This revision to the SIP applies specifically to the NWCAA jurisdiction incorporated into the SIP at 40 CFR 52.2470(c), Table 5. As discussed in our proposal, local air agency jurisdiction in Washington is generally defined on a geographic basis; however, there are exceptions. By statute, NWCAA does not have authority for sources under the jurisdiction of the Energy Facilities Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC). See Revised Code of Washington Chapter 80.50. Under the applicability provisions of WAC 173-405-012, 173-410-012, and 173-415-012, NWCAA also does not have jurisdiction for kraft pulp mills, sulfite pulping mills, and primary aluminum plants. For these sources, Ecology retains statewide, direct jurisdiction. Ecology and EFSEC also retain statewide, direct jurisdiction for issuing Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits. Therefore, the EPA is not approving into 40 CFR 52.2470(c), Table 5, those provisions of Chapter 173-400 WAC related to the PSD program. Specifically, these provisions are WAC 173-400-116 and WAC 173-400-700 through 173-400-750, which the EPA has already approved as applying state-wide under 40 CFR 52.2470(c), Tables 2 and 3.
Also, as described in our proposal for this action, jurisdiction to implement the visibility permitting program contained in WAC 173-400-117 varies depending on the situation. Ecology and EFSEC retain authority to implement WAC 173-400-117 as it relates to PSD permits. However, for facilities subject to major nonattainment new source review (NSR) under the applicability provisions of WAC 173-400-800, we are approving NWCAA's implementation of those parts of WAC 173-400-117 as they relate to major nonattainment NSR permits. Therefore, we are modifying the visibility protection Federal Implementation Plan contained in 40 CFR 52.2498 to reflect the approval of WAC 173-400-117 as it applies to implementation of the major nonattainment NSR program in NWCAA's jurisdiction.
Lastly, this SIP revision is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land in Washington and is also not approved to apply in any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
III. Incorporation by Reference
In this rule, the EPA is finalizing regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, we are finalizing the incorporation by reference as described in sections II.A. and II.C. of this preamble. The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these materials generally available through
www.regulations.gov
and at the EPA Region 10 Office (please contact the person identified in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this preamble for more information). Therefore, these materials have been approved by the EPA for inclusion in the SIP, have been incorporated by reference by the EPA into that plan, are fully federally-enforceable under sections 110 and 113 of the CAA as of the effective date of the final rulemaking of the EPA's approval, and will be incorporated by reference in the next update to the SIP compilation.[1]
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Review
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, the 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
( printed page 36156)
those imposed by State law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a “significant regulatory action” subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501et 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. 601et 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);
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 it does not address technical standards; and
Does not provide the EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, underExecutive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land in Washington except as specifically noted below and is also not approved to apply in any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801et seq.,
as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. The EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the
Federal Register
. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the
Federal Register
. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by August 14, 2020. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2)).
Table 5—Additional Regulations Approved for the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA) Jurisdiction
[Applicable in Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties, excluding facilities subject to Energy Facilities Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) jurisdiction; facilities subject to the Washington Department of Ecology's direct jurisdiction under Chapters 173-405, 173-410, and 173-415 Washington Administrative Code (WAC); Indian reservations; any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction; and the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting of facilities subject to the applicability sections of WAC 173-400-700.]
State/local
citation
Title/subject
State/local effective date
EPA approval date
Explanations
Northwest Clean Air Agency Regulations
General Provisions
100
Name of Agency
8/21/05
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
101
Short Title
8/21/05
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
102
Policy
8/21/05
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
Except provisions outside the scope of CAA section 110. Replaces WAC 173-400-010.
Except the definitions Toxic Air Pollutant, Odor, and Odor Source. Generally replaces WAC 173-400-030. However, for definitions not included in section 200, the WAC 173-400-030 definitions in the table below shall apply.
Control Procedures
300
New Source Review
5/12/19
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
Except subsections 300.8(C), 300.25, or any provisions related to the regulation of Toxic Air Pollutants. Replaces WAC 173-400-036, 173-400-110, 173-400-111, 173-400-113, and 173-400-560, except certain subsections of WAC 173-400-111 and 173-400-113 listed in the table below.
305
Public Involvement
5/12/19
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
Except provisions related to the regulation of Toxic Air Pollutants. Replaces WAC 173-400-171 and WAC 173-400-175, except subsection 173-400-171(6)(b).
320
Registration Program
5/12/19
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
Except subsection 320.3 and provisions related to the regulation of Toxic Air Pollutants or odor.
Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 173-400—General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
173-400-020
Applicability
12/29/12
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
173-400-025
Adoption of Federal Rules
9/16/18
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
Only as it applies to cross references in the WAC.
173-400-030
Definitions
9/16/18
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
Except: 173-400-030(6); 173-400-030(32); 173-400-030(38); 173-400-030(45); 173-400-030(83); 173-400-030(89); 173-400-030(96); 173-400-030(97); 173-400-030(100); 173-400-030(103); 173-400-030(104); or any definition included in NWCAA section 200.
9/20/93 version continues to be approved under the authority of CAA Section 112(l) with respect to Section 112 hazardous air pollutants. See the
Federal Register
of June 2, 1995.
Major Stationary Source and Major Modification in a Nonattainment Area
4/1/11
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
EPA did not review WAC 173-400-800 through 860 for consistency with the August 24, 2016 PM
2.5
implementation rule (see the
Federal Register
of August 24, 2016); nor does NWCAA have an obligation to submit rule revisions to address the 2016 PM
2.5
implementation rule at this time.
173-400-810
Major Stationary Source and Major Modification Definitions
7/1/16
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
173-400-820
Determining if a New Stationary Source or Modification to a Stationary Source is Subject to these Requirements
12/29/12
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
173-400-830
Permitting Requirements
7/1/16
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
173-400-840
Emission Offset Requirements
7/1/16
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
173-400-850
Actual Emissions Plantwide Applicability Limitation (PAL)
7/1/16
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
173-400-860
Public Involvement Procedures
4/1/11
6/15/20, [Insert
Federal Register
citation]
* * * * *
(e) * * *
Table 1—Approved But Not Incorporated by Reference Regulations
(1) Sources subject to the jurisdiction of local air authorities (except Benton Clean Air Agency, Northwest Clean Air Agency, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and Southwest Clean Air Agency);