Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Ohio; Transportation Conformity, 11133-11136 [2015-04146]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 40 / Monday, March 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 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). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. Dated: February 11, 2015. V. Anne Heard, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4. 11133 Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Subpart Z—Mississippi 2. Section 52.1270(e) is amended by adding a new entry ‘‘110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards’’ at the end of the table to read as follows: ■ 40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows: PART 52—APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS § 52.1270 * 1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows: ■ Identification of plan. * * (e) * * * * * EPA-APPROVED MISSISSIPPI NON-REGULATORY PROVISIONS Applicable geographic or nonattainment area Name of non-regulatory SIP provision * 110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. * Mississippi ........ State submittal date/effective date Explanation * 3/2/2015 [Insert citation of publication]. * * * With the exception of sections: 110(a)(2)(C) and (J) concerning PSD permitting requirements; 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) and (II) (prongs 1 through 4) concerning interstate transport requirements; 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) concerning state board majority requirements respecting significant portion of income; and 110(a)(2)(J) concerning visibility requirements. 3. Section 52.1272 is amended by adding paragraph (b) to read as follows: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY § 52.1272 40 CFR Part 52 Register informing the public that the rule will not take effect. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R05– OAR–2014–0662, by one of the following methods: 1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. 2. Email: blakley.pamela@epa.gov. 3. Fax: (312) 692–2450. 4. Mail: Pamela Blakley, Chief, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR–18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. 5. Hand Delivery: Pamela Blakley, Chief, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR–18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Regional Office official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–R05–OAR–2014– 0662. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be ■ Approval status. 7/26/2012 * wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES * * * * (b) Disapproval. Submittal from the State of Mississippi, through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on May 29, 2012, and July 26, 2012, to address the Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) for the 2008 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards concerning state board majority requirements respecting significant portion of income. EPA is disapproving MDEQ’s submittal with respect to section 128(a)(1) because a majority of board members may still derive a significant portion of income from persons subject to permits or enforcement orders issued by the Mississippi Boards, therefore, its current SIP does not meet the section 128(a)(1) majority requirements respecting significant portion of income for the 2008 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. * EPA approval date [FR Doc. 2015–04140 Filed 2–27–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Feb 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 [EPA–R05–OAR–2014–0662; FRL–9923–45– Region 5] Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Ohio; Transportation Conformity Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Direct final rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving, under the Clean Air Act, a revision to Ohio’s transportation conformity state implementation plan (SIP) that meets EPA and United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. This revision brings Ohio’s transportation conformity SIP into compliance with the requirements of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU). DATES: This direct final rule will be effective May 1, 2015, unless EPA receives adverse comments by April 1, 2015. If adverse comments are received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02MRR1.SGM 02MRR1 wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES 11134 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 40 / Monday, March 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. We recommend that you telephone Anthony Maietta, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (312) 353–8777 before visiting the Region 5 office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Maietta, Environmental Protection Specialist, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR–18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353–8777, maietta.anthony@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Feb 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 EPA. This supplementary information section is arranged as follows: I. What is the background for this action? II. What is EPA’s analysis of the state’s submittal? III. What action is EPA taking? IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews. I. What is the background for this action? A transportation conformity SIP can be adopted as a state rule, a memorandum of understanding, or a memorandum of agreement. The appropriate form of the state transportation conformity procedures depends upon the requirements of local or state law, as long as the selected form complies with all Clean Air Act requirements for adoption, submission to EPA, and implementation of SIPs. EPA will accept state transportation conformity SIPs in any form provided the state can demonstrate to EPA’s satisfaction that, as a matter of state law, the state has adequate authority to compel compliance with the requirements of the conformity SIP. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) collaborated with the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, the Clark CountySpringfield Transportation Coordinating Committee, the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, EPA, the Erie Regional Planning Commission, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Kentucky-OhioWest Virginia Interstate Planning Commission, the Ohio-KentuckyIndiana Regional Council of Governments, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Licking County Area Transportation Study, the Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia Department of Transportation (the agencies listed in this paragraph are referenced as ‘‘Federal, state, and local agencies’’ throughout this document) to develop a transportation conformity SIP revision that meets EPA and DOT transportation conformity requirements resulting from passage of SAFETEA–LU. On August 20, 2014, the Ohio EPA submitted a request to EPA to revise the Ohio transportation conformity SIP to include procedures, roles, and PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 responsibilities for involved Federal, state agencies, and local agencies that must conduct transportation conformity planning and consultation. II. What is EPA’s analysis of the state’s submittal? A. Background For EPA approval, the submittal must address and give full legal effect to requirements laid out in three sections of title 40, part 93, subpart A of the Code of Federal Regulations: § 93.105, § 93.122(a)(4)(ii), and § 93.125(c). 40 CFR 93.105: Consultation Section 93.105 describes SIP requirements for interagency consultation (between Federal, state, and local agencies), conflict resolution, and public consultation. A transportation conformity SIP must include well defined interagency consultation procedures that define the roles and responsibilities for each participating agency. These consultation procedures must include provisions for circulating materials for comment before formal adoption, processes for convening consultation meetings, and processes for responding to significant comments of involved agencies. In addition, procedures for involved Federal, state, and local agencies must be included that address: • Evaluation and selection of an emissions model and associated methods and assumptions to be used in hot-spot and regional emissions analyses, including determining which minor arterials and other transportation projects should be considered regionally significant for purposes of regional emissions analyses. • Evaluation and selection of an emissions model, associated methods and assumptions, and projects to be included in determining conformity in isolated rural nonattainment and maintenance areas. • Evaluation of events that will trigger new conformity determinations. • Consultation on emissions analyses for transportation activities that cross metropolitan planning organization (MPO), nonattainment area, or air basin borders. • Determination of conformity of projects that might lie outside of a metropolitan planning area, but within a nonattainment area, if such a situation exists. • Disclosure of any regionally significant projects which are not FHWA or FTA projects to the MPO on a regular basis. • Interagency consultation on data collection efforts and regional E:\FR\FM\02MRR1.SGM 02MRR1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 40 / Monday, March 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations transportation model development by the MPO. • Provision of final documentation and supporting information to each agency after approval or adoption. • Resolution of conflicts among state agencies or between state agencies and an MPO. • Public consultation for affected agencies that make conformity determinations on transportation plans, programs, and projects consistent with the public consultation requirements listed in 23 CFR 450.316(a). wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES The Regulations at 40 CFR 93.122(a)(4)(ii) and 40 CFR 93.125(c): Written Commitments for Control and Mitigation Measures The regulation at 40 CFR 93.122(a)(4)(ii) provides that a transportation conformity SIP must contain provisions to ensure that any emission reduction credits from control measures that are not included in the SIP and that do not require a regulatory action in order to be implemented will not be included in a project level conformity determination unless the National Environmental Policy Act document includes written commitments from the appropriate entities to implement those control measures. These written commitments must be obtained by the initiating party prior to a conformity determination and the written commitments must be addressed by the initiating party. The regulation at 40 CFR 93.125(c) provides that a transportation conformity SIP must contain provisions that ensure project-level mitigation measures will be identified with written commitments if those mitigation measures are part of the conditions for making the project level conformity determination. The commitments must be included in the project design and scope used in the regional emissions analysis or project-level hot-spot analysis. The transportation conformity SIP revision submitted by the Ohio EPA on August 20, 2014, meets the requirements of 40 CFR 93.105, 93.122(a)(4)(ii), and 93.125(c) and therefore is approvable into the Ohio SIP. III. What action is EPA taking? EPA is approving a revision to Ohio’s transportation conformity SIP submitted by Ohio EPA on August 20, 2014. We are publishing this action without prior proposal because we view this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipate no adverse comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register publication, we VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Feb 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 are publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve the state plan if relevant adverse written comments are filed. This rule will be effective May 1, 2015 without further notice unless we receive relevant adverse written comments by April 1, 2015. If we receive such comments, we will withdraw this action before the effective date by publishing a subsequent document that will withdraw the final action. All public comments received will then be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed action. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. If we do not receive any comments, this action will be effective May 1, 2015. IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Clean Air Act 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 Clean Air Act. 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 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. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 11135 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 Clean Air Act; 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, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other area where 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. The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et 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. 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 Clean Air Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by May 1, 2015. 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. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of E:\FR\FM\02MRR1.SGM 02MRR1 11136 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 40 / Monday, March 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules section of today’s Federal Register, rather than file an immediate petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed rulemaking. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).) List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 PART 52—APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS 1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. 2. Section 52.1880 is amended by adding paragraph (u) to read as follows: ■ Control strategy; Particulate * * * * * (u) Approval—On August 20, 2014, the State of Ohio submitted a revision to their Particulate Matter State Implementation Plan. The submittal established transportation conformity ‘‘Conformity’’ criteria and procedures related to interagency consultation, and enforceability of certain transportation related control and mitigation measures. ■ 3. Section 52.1885 is amended by adding paragraph (ll) to read as follows: Control strategy; Ozone. wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES * * * * (ll) Approval—On August 20, 2014, the State of Ohio submitted a revision to their Ozone State Implementation Plan. The submittal established transportation conformity ‘‘Conformity’’ criteria and procedures related to interagency consultation, and enforceability of certain transportation related control and mitigation measures. [FR Doc. 2015–04146 Filed 2–27–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Feb 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; South Carolina; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the July 17, 2012, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, provided by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) for inclusion into the South Carolina SIP. This final rulemaking pertains to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) infrastructure requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ‘‘infrastructure’’ SIP. SC DHEC certified that the South Carolina SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in South Carolina (hereafter referred to as an ‘‘infrastructure SIP submission’’). With the exception of provisions pertaining to prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting, interstate transport, and visibility protection requirements, EPA is taking final action to approve South Carolina’s infrastructure SIP submission, provided to EPA on July 17, 2012, because it addresses the infrastructure elements for the 2008 8hour ozone NAAQS. DATES: This rule will be effective April 1, 2015. ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket Identification No. EPA–R04–OAR– 2012–0694. All documents in the docket are listed on the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure 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 SUMMARY: 40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows: * [EPA–R04–OAR–2012–0694; FRL–9923–56– Region 4] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. Dated: February 12, 2015. Susan Hedman, Regional Administrator, Region 5. § 52.1885 40 CFR Part 52 AGENCY: Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. § 52.1880 matter. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air Regulatory Management Section, (formerly the Regulatory Development Section), Air Planning and Implementation Branch, (formerly the Air Planning Branch), Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection. The Regional Office’s official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nacosta C. Ward, Air Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. The telephone number is (404) 562–9140. Ms. Ward can be reached via electronic mail at ward.nacosta@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Upon promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA require states to address basic SIP requirements, including emissions inventories, monitoring, and modeling to assure attainment and maintenance for that new NAAQS. Section 110(a) of the CAA generally requires states to make a SIP submission to meet applicable requirements in order to provide for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of a new or revised NAAQS within three years following the promulgation of such NAAQS, or within such shorter period as EPA may prescribe. These SIP submissions are commonly referred to as ‘‘infrastructure’’ SIP submissions. Section 110(a) imposes the obligation upon states to make an infrastructure SIP submission to EPA for a new or revised NAAQS, but the contents of that submission may vary depending upon the facts and circumstances. In particular, the data and analytical tools available at the time the state develops and submits the infrastructure SIP for a new or revised NAAQS affect the content of the submission. The contents of such infrastructure SIP submissions may also vary depending upon what provisions the state’s existing SIP already contains. In the case of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, states typically have met the basic program elements required in section 110(a)(2) through E:\FR\FM\02MRR1.SGM 02MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11133-11136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04146]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R05-OAR-2014-0662; FRL-9923-45-Region 5]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Ohio; Transportation Conformity

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving, under 
the Clean Air Act, a revision to Ohio's transportation conformity state 
implementation plan (SIP) that meets EPA and United States Department 
of Transportation (DOT) requirements. This revision brings Ohio's 
transportation conformity SIP into compliance with the requirements of 
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

DATES: This direct final rule will be effective May 1, 2015, unless EPA 
receives adverse comments by April 1, 2015. If adverse comments are 
received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule 
in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not 
take effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-
OAR-2014-0662, by one of the following methods:
    1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
    2. Email: blakley.pamela@epa.gov.
    3. Fax: (312) 692-2450.
    4. Mail: Pamela Blakley, Chief, Control Strategies Section, Air 
Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
    5. Hand Delivery: Pamela Blakley, Chief, Control Strategies 
Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such 
deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information. The Regional Office official hours of business are 
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal 
holidays.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-
2014-0662. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be

[[Page 11134]]

made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through 
www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without 
going through www.regulations.gov your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is open from 8:30 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. 
We recommend that you telephone Anthony Maietta, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, at (312) 353-8777 before visiting the Region 5 
office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Maietta, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch 
(AR-18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-8777, 
maietta.anthony@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This supplementary information 
section is arranged as follows:

I. What is the background for this action?
II. What is EPA's analysis of the state's submittal?
III. What action is EPA taking?
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews.

I. What is the background for this action?

    A transportation conformity SIP can be adopted as a state rule, a 
memorandum of understanding, or a memorandum of agreement. The 
appropriate form of the state transportation conformity procedures 
depends upon the requirements of local or state law, as long as the 
selected form complies with all Clean Air Act requirements for 
adoption, submission to EPA, and implementation of SIPs. EPA will 
accept state transportation conformity SIPs in any form provided the 
state can demonstrate to EPA's satisfaction that, as a matter of state 
law, the state has adequate authority to compel compliance with the 
requirements of the conformity SIP.
    The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) collaborated 
with the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, the Clark 
County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee, the Eastgate 
Regional Council of Governments, EPA, the Erie Regional Planning 
Commission, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal 
Transit Administration (FTA), the Indiana Department of Environmental 
Management, the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Kentucky-
Ohio-West Virginia Interstate Planning Commission, the Ohio-Kentucky-
Indiana Regional Council of Governments, the Ohio Department of 
Transportation, the Licking County Area Transportation Study, the Lima-
Allen County Regional Planning Commission, the Miami Valley Regional 
Planning Commission, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, the 
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, the Toledo Metropolitan 
Area Council of Governments, the West Virginia Department of 
Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia Department of 
Transportation (the agencies listed in this paragraph are referenced as 
``Federal, state, and local agencies'' throughout this document) to 
develop a transportation conformity SIP revision that meets EPA and DOT 
transportation conformity requirements resulting from passage of 
SAFETEA-LU.
    On August 20, 2014, the Ohio EPA submitted a request to EPA to 
revise the Ohio transportation conformity SIP to include procedures, 
roles, and responsibilities for involved Federal, state agencies, and 
local agencies that must conduct transportation conformity planning and 
consultation.

II. What is EPA's analysis of the state's submittal?

A. Background

    For EPA approval, the submittal must address and give full legal 
effect to requirements laid out in three sections of title 40, part 93, 
subpart A of the Code of Federal Regulations: Sec.  93.105, Sec.  
93.122(a)(4)(ii), and Sec.  93.125(c).
40 CFR 93.105: Consultation
    Section 93.105 describes SIP requirements for interagency 
consultation (between Federal, state, and local agencies), conflict 
resolution, and public consultation. A transportation conformity SIP 
must include well defined interagency consultation procedures that 
define the roles and responsibilities for each participating agency. 
These consultation procedures must include provisions for circulating 
materials for comment before formal adoption, processes for convening 
consultation meetings, and processes for responding to significant 
comments of involved agencies. In addition, procedures for involved 
Federal, state, and local agencies must be included that address:
     Evaluation and selection of an emissions model and 
associated methods and assumptions to be used in hot-spot and regional 
emissions analyses, including determining which minor arterials and 
other transportation projects should be considered regionally 
significant for purposes of regional emissions analyses.
     Evaluation and selection of an emissions model, associated 
methods and assumptions, and projects to be included in determining 
conformity in isolated rural nonattainment and maintenance areas.
     Evaluation of events that will trigger new conformity 
determinations.
     Consultation on emissions analyses for transportation 
activities that cross metropolitan planning organization (MPO), 
nonattainment area, or air basin borders.
     Determination of conformity of projects that might lie 
outside of a metropolitan planning area, but within a nonattainment 
area, if such a situation exists.
     Disclosure of any regionally significant projects which 
are not FHWA or FTA projects to the MPO on a regular basis.
     Interagency consultation on data collection efforts and 
regional

[[Page 11135]]

transportation model development by the MPO.
     Provision of final documentation and supporting 
information to each agency after approval or adoption.
     Resolution of conflicts among state agencies or between 
state agencies and an MPO.
     Public consultation for affected agencies that make 
conformity determinations on transportation plans, programs, and 
projects consistent with the public consultation requirements listed in 
23 CFR 450.316(a).
The Regulations at 40 CFR 93.122(a)(4)(ii) and 40 CFR 93.125(c): 
Written Commitments for Control and Mitigation Measures
    The regulation at 40 CFR 93.122(a)(4)(ii) provides that a 
transportation conformity SIP must contain provisions to ensure that 
any emission reduction credits from control measures that are not 
included in the SIP and that do not require a regulatory action in 
order to be implemented will not be included in a project level 
conformity determination unless the National Environmental Policy Act 
document includes written commitments from the appropriate entities to 
implement those control measures. These written commitments must be 
obtained by the initiating party prior to a conformity determination 
and the written commitments must be addressed by the initiating party.
    The regulation at 40 CFR 93.125(c) provides that a transportation 
conformity SIP must contain provisions that ensure project-level 
mitigation measures will be identified with written commitments if 
those mitigation measures are part of the conditions for making the 
project level conformity determination. The commitments must be 
included in the project design and scope used in the regional emissions 
analysis or project-level hot-spot analysis.
    The transportation conformity SIP revision submitted by the Ohio 
EPA on August 20, 2014, meets the requirements of 40 CFR 93.105, 
93.122(a)(4)(ii), and 93.125(c) and therefore is approvable into the 
Ohio SIP.

III. What action is EPA taking?

    EPA is approving a revision to Ohio's transportation conformity SIP 
submitted by Ohio EPA on August 20, 2014. We are publishing this action 
without prior proposal because we view this as a noncontroversial 
amendment and anticipate no adverse comments. However, in the proposed 
rules section of this Federal Register publication, we are publishing a 
separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve the state 
plan if relevant adverse written comments are filed. This rule will be 
effective May 1, 2015 without further notice unless we receive relevant 
adverse written comments by April 1, 2015. If we receive such comments, 
we will withdraw this action before the effective date by publishing a 
subsequent document that will withdraw the final action. All public 
comments received will then be addressed in a subsequent final rule 
based on the proposed action. EPA will not institute a second comment 
period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do 
so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an 
amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may 
be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those 
provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. 
If we do not receive any comments, this action will be effective May 1, 
2015.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a 
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Clean Air Act 
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 Clean Air Act. 
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 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. 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 Clean Air Act; 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, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian 
reservation land or in any other area where 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.
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et 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. 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 Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by May 1, 2015. 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. Parties with objections to this direct final 
rule are encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel 
notice of

[[Page 11136]]

proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules 
section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate 
petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can 
withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed 
rulemaking. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to 
enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen 
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: February 12, 2015.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. Section 52.1880 is amended by adding paragraph (u) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.1880  Control strategy; Particulate matter.

* * * * *
    (u) Approval--On August 20, 2014, the State of Ohio submitted a 
revision to their Particulate Matter State Implementation Plan. The 
submittal established transportation conformity ``Conformity'' criteria 
and procedures related to interagency consultation, and enforceability 
of certain transportation related control and mitigation measures.
0
3. Section 52.1885 is amended by adding paragraph (ll) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.1885  Control strategy; Ozone.

* * * * *
    (ll) Approval--On August 20, 2014, the State of Ohio submitted a 
revision to their Ozone State Implementation Plan. The submittal 
established transportation conformity ``Conformity'' criteria and 
procedures related to interagency consultation, and enforceability of 
certain transportation related control and mitigation measures.

[FR Doc. 2015-04146 Filed 2-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.