Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Clean Air Action Plan and Attainment Demonstration for the Northeast Texas Early Action Compact Area; Agreed Orders Regarding Control of Air Pollution for the Northeast Texas Area, 25794-25798 [05-9720]
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25794
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(vi) Grading or storing at any specified
location in Morrow or Umatilla
Counties in the State of Oregon; or
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(2) Shipments of potatoes for the
purposes specified in paragraphs
(d)(1)(i) through (vii) of this section
shall be exempt from the inspection
requirements specified in paragraph (g)
of this section, except that shipments
pursuant to paragraph (d)(1)(vi) of this
section shall comply with the
inspection requirements of paragraph
(e)(2) of this section. Shipments
specified in paragraphs (d)(1)(i), (ii),
(iii), (v) and (vii) of this section shall be
exempt from assessment requirements
as specified in § 946.248 and established
pursuant to § 946.41.
(e) * * *
(2) Handlers desiring to ship potatoes
for grading or storing to any specified
location in Morrow or Umatilla
Counties in the State of Oregon shall:
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(3) * * *
(iii) Upon request by the committee,
furnish reports, or cause reports to be
furnished, for each shipment pursuant
to the applicable Special Purpose
Certificate;
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(6) Handlers diverting potatoes to
livestock feed are not required to apply
for a Special Purpose Certificate nor
report such shipments to the committee.
(7) Each handler desiring to make
shipments of potatoes for charity shall:
(i) First apply to the committee for,
and obtain, a Special Purpose Certificate
for the purpose of making shipments for
charity: Provided, That shipments for
charity of 1,000 pounds or less are
exempt from the application and
reporting requirements: And provided
further, That potatoes previously
graded, assessed, and inspected in
preparation for shipment to the fresh
market are exempt from the application
and reporting requirements.
(ii) Each handler shipping potatoes to
charity must inform the recipient that
the potatoes cannot be resold or
otherwise placed in commercial market
channels.
(8) Each handler making shipments of
seed potatoes shall furnish, at the
request of the committee, reports on the
total volume of seed potatoes handled.
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(g) * * *
(1) Except when relieved by
paragraphs (d) or (f) of this section, no
person may handle any potatoes unless
a Federal-State Inspection Notesheet or
certificate covering them has been
issued by an authorized representative
of the Federal-State Inspection Service
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and the document is valid at the time of
shipment.
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Dated: May 11, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 05–9696 Filed 5–13–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[R06–OAR–2005–TX–0009; FRL–7912–6]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; Texas;
Clean Air Action Plan and Attainment
Demonstration for the Northeast Texas
Early Action Compact Area; Agreed
Orders Regarding Control of Air
Pollution for the Northeast Texas Area
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve
Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP)
revisions submitted by the State on July
18, 2002 and December 6, 2004.
Approval will incorporate the following
changes into the SIP: The Clean Air
Action Plan (CAAP) and the related
attainment demonstration of the 8-hour
ozone standard for the Northeast Texas
Early Action Compact (EAC) area and
Agreed Orders regarding control of air
pollution for the Northeast Texas area.
We are proposing approval pursuant to
sections 110 and 116 of the Federal
Clean Air Act (CAA). The revisions will
contribute to improvement in air quality
and continued attainment of the
national ambient air quality standards
(NAAQS) for ozone in Northeast Texas.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before June 15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Regional Materials in
EDocket (RME) ID No. R06–OAR–2005–
TX–0009, by one of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• Agency Web site: https://
docket.epa.gov/rmepub/. Regional
Materials in EDocket (RME), EPA’s
electronic public docket and comment
system, is EPA’s preferred method for
receiving comments. Once in the
system, select ‘‘quick search,’’ then key
in the appropriate RME Docket
identification number. Follow the
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online instructions for submitting
comments.
• EPA Region 6 ‘‘Contact Us’’ Web
site: https://epa.gov/region6/
r6coment.htm. Please click on ‘‘6PD’’
(Multimedia) and select ‘‘Air’’ before
submitting comments.
• E-mail: Mr. Thomas Diggs at
diggs.thomas@epa.gov. Please also send
a copy by e-mail to the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section below.
• Fax: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air
Planning Section (6PD–L), at fax
number 214–665–7263.
• Mail: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air
Planning Section (6PD–L),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445
Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas
75202–2733.
• Hand or Courier Delivery: Mr.
Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air Planning
Section (6PD–L), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue,
Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733.
Such deliveries are accepted only
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
weekdays except for legal holidays.
Special arrangements should be made
for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
RME ID No. R06–OAR–2005–TX–0009.
EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
file without change and may be made
available online at https://
docket.epa.gov/rmepub/, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
the disclosure of which is restricted by
statute. Do not submit information
through Regional Materials in EDocket
(RME), regulations.gov or e-mail if you
believe that it is CBI or otherwise
protected from disclosure. The EPA
RME Web site and the Federal
regulations.gov Web site are
‘‘anonymous access’’ systems, 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 e-mail comment directly
to EPA without going through RME or
regulations.gov, your e-mail address
will be automatically captured and
included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public file 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.
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Electronic files should avoid the use of
special characters and any form of
encryption, and should be free of any
defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the
electronic docket are listed in the
Regional Materials in EDocket (RME)
index at https://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
i.e., CBI 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 materials relevant to
this rulemaking are available either
electronically in RME or in the official
file, which is available at the Air
Planning Section (6PD–L),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445
Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas
75202–2733. The file will be made
available by appointment for public
inspection in the Region 6 FOIA Review
Room between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. weekdays except for legal
holidays. Contact the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
paragraph below or Mr. Bill Deese at
214–665–7253 to make an appointment.
If possible, please make the
appointment at least two working days
in advance of your visit. There will be
a 15 cents per page fee for making
photocopies of documents. On the day
of the visit, please check in at the EPA
Region 6 reception area at 1445 Ross
Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas.
The State submittal is also available
for public inspection at the State Air
Agency listed below during official
business hours by appointment:
Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality, Office of Air Quality, 12124
Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas 78753.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl
Young, Air Planning Section (6PD–L),
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700,
Dallas, Texas 75202–2733, telephone
214–665–6645; fax number 214–665–
7263; e-mail address
young.carl@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document, wherever
‘‘we’’ ‘‘us’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
the EPA.
Outline
I. What Action Is EPA Proposing?
II. What Is an EAC?
III. What Is a SIP?
IV. What Is the Content of the Northeast
Texas EAC Attainment Demonstration?
V. Why Are We Proposing To Approve This
EAC SIP Submittal?
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VI. What Measures Are Included in This EAC
SIP Submittal?
VII. What Happens if the Area Does Not Meet
the EAC Milestones?
VIII. What Do the Agreed Orders Require?
IX. Proposed Action
X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What Action Is EPA Proposing?
We are proposing to approve two
revisions to the Texas SIP that pertain
to Northeast Texas under sections 110
and 116 of the CAA as a strengthening
of the SIP. One revision was submitted
by the State to EPA on December 6,
2004, in accordance with the area’s
EAC. This revision incorporates the
CAAP and the related attainment
demonstration of the 8-hour ozone
standard for the Northeast Texas EAC
area. The Northeast Texas EAC area
includes Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, Smith,
and Upshur Counties. On December 20,
2002, a coalition of local stakeholder
groups known as North East Texas Air
Care (NETAC), including
representatives from the EAC Counties,
the Cities of Gilmer, Henderson, Kilgore,
Longview, Marshall, and Tyler, and the
East Texas Council of Governments
(ETCOG), signed an EAC with the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) and EPA. The purpose of the
EAC was to develop and implement a
CAAP that identifies and implements
emission reductions necessary to
demonstrate attainment of the 8-hour
ozone standard by 2007 and maintain
the standard in the region through at
least 2012. The EAC includes
milestones that tracks implementation
of the CAAP. On April 15, 2004, EPA
designated the Northeast Texas EAC
area as attainment for the 8-hour ozone
standard. See 69 FR 23858.
The second revision was submitted by
the State to EPA on July 18, 2002. The
revision includes Agreed Orders
between TCEQ (formerly Texas Natural
Resources Conservation Commission)
and (1) American Electric Power
Company (AEP), (2) TXU Generation
Company LP (TXU) and (3) Eastman
Chemical Company adopted by the State
as emission reduction measures to
facilitate attainment of the 1-hour ozone
standard. An Agreed Order is an
enforceable agreement between a
regulated entity and a government
regulator. The Agreed Orders require
control of nitrogen oxide emissions
which contribute to the formation of
ozone in the Northeast Texas area. Our
approval of the Agreed Orders into the
Texas SIP would make them federally
enforceable.
II. What Is an EAC?
The EAC program was developed to
allow communities an opportunity to
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meet the new stricter 8-hour ozone
standard sooner than the CAA requires
for reducing ground level ozone. The
EAC program was designed for areas
that approach or monitor exceedances of
the 8-hour ozone standard, but are in
attainment for the 1-hour ozone
standard. Areas that adopted EACs must
establish a CAAP, meet other
established milestones, and attain the 8hour ozone standard by December 31,
2007. The compact is a voluntary
agreement between local communities,
State and Tribal air quality officials, and
EPA which allows States and local
entities to make decisions that will
accelerate meeting the new 8-hour
ozone standard using locally tailored
pollution controls instead of Federally
mandated control measures. Early
planning and early implementation of
control measures that improve air
quality will likely accelerate protection
of public health. The EPA believes the
EAC program provides an incentive for
early planning, early implementation,
and early reductions of air emissions in
the affected areas, thus leading to an
expeditious attainment and
maintenance of the 8-hour ozone
standard.
Communities with EACs will have
plans in place to reduce air pollution at
least two years earlier than required by
the CAA. In December 2002, a number
of States submitted compact agreements
pledging to reduce emissions earlier
than required for compliance with the 8hour ozone standard. These States and
local communities had to meet specific
criteria, and agreed to meet certain
milestones for development and
implementation of the compact. States
with communities participating in the
EAC program had to submit
implementation plans for meeting the 8hour ozone standard by December 31,
2004, rather than June 15, 2007, the
deadline for all other areas not meeting
the 8-hour standard. The EAC program
required communities to develop and
implement air pollution control
strategies, account for emissions growth,
and demonstrate their attainment and
maintenance of the 8-hour ozone
standard. For more information on the
EAC program see section V of our
December 16, 2003 publication entitled
‘‘Deferral of Effective Date of
Nonattainment Designations for 8-hour
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for Early Action Compact
Areas’’ (68 FR 70108).
On April 15, 2004, EPA designated all
areas for the 8-hour ozone standard.
EPA designated the Northeast Texas
EAC area as attainment for the 8-hour
ozone standard. The EPA deferred the
effective date of nonattainment
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designations for other EAC areas that
were violating the 8-hour standard, but
continue to meet the compact
milestones. We announced the details of
this deferral on April 15, 2004 as part
of the Clean Air Rules of 2004. See our
April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23858),
publication entitled ‘‘Air Quality
Designations and Classifications for the
8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standards; Early Action
Compact Areas with Deferred Effective
Dates.’’
III. What Is a SIP?
A SIP is a set of air pollution
regulations and control strategies
developed by the state, to ensure that
the state meets the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These
ambient standards are established under
section 109 of the CAA and they
currently address six criteria pollutants:
Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
ozone, lead, particulate matter, and
sulfur dioxide. The SIP is required by
section 110 of the CAA. These SIPs can
be extensive, containing state
regulations or other enforceable
documents and supporting information
such as emission inventories,
monitoring networks, and modeling
demonstrations.
IV. What Is the Content of the Northeast
Texas EAC Attainment Demonstration?
In support of this proposal, ETCOG
conducted an ozone photochemical
modeling study developed for the
Northeast Texas EAC area. The
photochemical modeling attainment
demonstration includes: (1) Analyses
which estimate whether selected
emissions reductions will result in
ambient concentrations that meet the 8hour ozone standard in the Northeast
Texas EAC area and (2) an identified set
of measures which will result in the
required emissions reductions. See our
Technical Support Document (TSD) for
a description of the control measures.
The demonstration incorporates the
effects of population and industry
growth as well as national and statewide
control measures or programs required
to be in place by 2007 and 2012. The
modeled attainment test is passed if all
resulting predicted future design values
are less than 85 parts per billion (ppb).
The design value is the three year
average of the annual fourth highest 8hour ozone readings. The attainment
demonstration for the Northeast Texas
area was supported by results of
photochemical modeling and technical
documentation. The modeling study
demonstrates that the 8-hour ozone
standard will continue to be attained by
2007 and maintained through 2012. The
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modeling analyses were further
supported by some of the weight of
evidence analyses that were evaluated
for the Northeast Texas area.
We believe this study meets our
modeling requirements and guidelines,
including such items as the base year
inventory development, the growth rate
projections, and the performance of the
model. See our TSD for more
information about this modeling study,
the weight of evidence analyses, and our
evaluation of these items. The modeling
submitted in support of this proposal
demonstrates that the Northeast Texas
EAC area will be in attainment with the
8-hour ozone NAAQS in 2007. The
attainment demonstration modeling
results for the Northeast Texas EAC area
predict a maximum ozone design value
of 81 ppb for 2007, which is well below
the 8-hour ozone limit of 85 ppb. See
section VI of this document for a list of
local control measures that were not
included in the modeling study, but will
be implemented within the Northeast
Texas EAC area.
V. Why Are We Proposing To Approve
This EAC SIP Submittal?
We are proposing to approve this EAC
SIP submittal because implementation
of the requirements in this EAC will
help ensure the Northeast Texas EAC
area’s compliance with the 8-hour ozone
standard by December 31, 2007 and
maintenance of that standard through
2012. We have determined that the
CAAP control measures included in the
attainment demonstration are
quantified, surplus, permanent, and, if
approved, will be federally enforceable
SIP revisions. We have reviewed the
CAAP and the attainment
demonstration and determined that they
are consistent with the requirements of
the CAA, EPA’s policy, and the EAC
protocol. Our TSD contains detailed
information concerning this proposed
rulemaking action.
VI. What Measures Are Included in
This EAC SIP Submittal?
The modeled attainment
demonstration includes state and
national emission reduction control
measures. See the Modeling TSD for
details. The CAAP incorporated into the
Northeast Texas EAC SIP also includes:
(1) Two local control measures to
reduce VOC emissions for the Eastman
Chemical Company and the Huntsman
Chemical Company plants in Longview,
Texas and (2) a number of local control
measures that were not included in the
modeled attainment demonstration.
These measures are in addition to any
reductions necessary to demonstrate
attainment with the 8-hour ozone
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standard by 2007. Local control
measures included in the Northeast
Texas EAC SIP submittal are being
implemented to ensure nitrogen oxide
and volatile organic compound (VOC)
emission reductions. Emissions of these
chemicals can react with sunlight to
form ozone. All of these control
measures are being implemented as
called for in the EAC.
Two local control measures which are
enforceable through TCEQ air permits
are enhanced leak detection and repair
programs to control VOC emissions for
the Eastman Chemical Company and the
Huntsman Chemical Company plants in
Longview, Texas. The Eastman
Chemical Company program is
enforceable under Texas Voluntary
Emissions Reduction Permits 47007,
48588, and 48590. The Huntsman
Chemical Company program is
enforceable under Texas Flexible Plantwide Applicability Limit Permit 18105.
These programs should reduce highly
reactive VOC emissions by 0.63 tons per
day for the Eastman Chemical Company
plant and 0.08 tons per day for the
Huntsman Chemical Company plant.
Copies of these permits may be obtained
from TCEQ.
Local control measures that were not
included in the modeled attainment
demonstration, but which are being
implemented to lower emissions in the
area are: (1) Implementation of the
Texas Emissions Reduction Plan
(TERP), (2) use of 18 lower emitting
propane light heavy-duty vans
purchased in 2003 and 2004, (3) a
public education and ozone awareness
program and (4) energy efficiency
programs for the Cities of Longview,
Marshall, and Tyler.
TERP is a set of incentive programs
aimed at improving air quality in Texas.
TERP provides funding to offset the
incremental costs of projects associated
with reducing nitrogen oxide emissions
from high-emitting internal combustion
engines. Projects in the Northeast Texas
EAC area are eligible for TERP funding.
Texas has allocated funding for up to
1.5 tons per day of nitrogen oxide
reductions in the Northeast Texas EAC
area by 2007.
Eighteen new lower emitting propane
heavy-duty vans were purchased in
2003 and 2004 for the ETCOG Rural
Transportation Program, the City of
Longview, and Tyler Transit. Use of
these vans will reduce VOC and
nitrogen oxide emissions.
ETCOG is implementing a public
education and ozone awareness program
for the Northeast Texas area. The
purpose of the program is to encourage
practices that reduce emissions that lead
to ozone formation. It includes: (1) An
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ozone watch and warning
communications network, (2) a NETAC
Web site (https://www.netac.org), (3)
school programs and teacher training
and (4) distribution of public
information and educational materials.
The Cities of Longview, Marshall, and
Tyler are implementing energy
efficiency programs. These programs
can reduce the demand for electricity
and thus reduce emissions from electric
generating power plants.
EPA has determined that the control
measures included in the attainment
demonstration are consistent with the
requirements of the EPA Protocol for
EAC control strategies in that the
measures are specific, quantified,
permanent, and, if approved by EPA,
will be federally enforceable SIP
revisions. In accordance with the EAC,
the signatories will review all EAC
activities and report results in their
semi-annual reports. The control
measures in the CAAP approved
through this SIP revision will provide
reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOX) and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
which are precursors to and aid in the
formation of ozone, in the Northeast
Texas EAC area.
Finally, per the EAC protocol, an
emissions inventory was developed for
the year 2012. The 2012 inventory show
that anthropogenic emissions of both
nitrogen oxides and VOCs decrease from
2007 to 2012, as the result of locally
implemented control measures and
Federal emissions control programs for
vehicles. This decrease in emissions is
additional evidence that the Northeast
Texas EAC area will maintain the 8hour ozone standard through 2012.
VII. What Happens if the Area Does Not
Meet the EAC Milestones?
On April 15, 2004 EPA designated the
Northeast Texas EAC area as attainment
for the 8-hour ozone standard. We
believe the local and State signatories of
the EAC area will continue to meet their
commitments to reduce ozone pollution.
The EAC signatories are required to
review all CAAP commitments and
report progress in semi-annual reports
beginning in June 2005. The semiannual report will provide a description
of whether the area continues to
implement its control measures, the
emissions reductions being achieved by
the control measures, and the
improvements in air quality that are
being made. The report will track and
document, at a minimum, control
strategy implementation and results,
monitoring data and future plans.
Ongoing, updated emissions inventories
and modeling analyses will be included
as they become available. After each
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semi-annual review, additional control
measures may be considered and, if
necessary, adopted through revisions to
the SIP.
The measures outlined in the
submittal provide sufficient information
for us to conclude that the Northeast
Texas EAC area will complete each EAC
milestone and the actions agreed upon
in the CAAP. However, one of the
principles of the EAC protocol is to
provide safeguards to return areas to
traditional SIP requirements should an
area fail to comply with the terms of the
compact. If a milestone is missed and
the area is still in attainment of the 8hour ozone standard, we would take
action to propose and promulgate a
finding of failure to meet the milestone,
but the ozone attainment designation
and approved SIP elements would
remain in effect. If the area has a
violation of the 8-hour standard and a
milestone is missed, we would also
consider factors in section 107(d)(3)(A)
of the Act in deciding whether to
redesignate the area as nonattainment
for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. See 69 FR
23858, 23871.
VIII. What Do the Agreed Orders
Require?
In 2001 Texas and NETAC developed
an early SIP to facilitate attainment of
the 1-hour ozone standard in Northeast
Texas. They worked with AEP, TXU,
and Eastman Chemical Company to
develop Agreed Orders to require
reductions of nitrogen oxide emissions.
Our approval of the Agreed Orders into
the Texas SIP would make them
federally enforceable.
The Agreed Order for AEP, (Agreed
Order 2001–0878–RUL), requires the
company to limit nitrogen oxide
emissions at their Knox Lee, Pirkey, and
Wilkes electric generating plants. These
plants are located in Gregg, Harrison,
and Cass Counties, respectively. The
Agreed Order calls for the company to
implement several projects to reduce
nitrogen oxide emissions. It specifies 30
day rolling average nitrogen oxide
emission rates to be achieved at Knox
Lee Plant Unit number 5, Wilkes Plant
Unit numbers 2 and 3, and the Pirkey
Plant. ‘‘Thirty day rolling average’’
means an average, calculated for each
day that fuel is combusted in a unit, of
all the hourly emissions data for the
preceding 30 days that fuel was
combusted in the unit. A nitrogen oxide
emission rate of 0.18 pounds per million
British Thermal Units (lb/mmBtu) will
be achieved at Knox Lee Plant Unit
number 5. Wilkes Plant Unit numbers 2
and 3 will each achieve a nitrogen oxide
emission rate of 0.17 lb/mmBtu. The
Pirkey Plant will achieve a nitrogen
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25797
oxide emission rate of 0.22 lb/mmBtu.
As an alternative to achieving the
reductions at the Knox Lee and Wilkes
plants, AEP is allowed to achieve
equivalent reductions at the Pirkey
plant, in excess of the 30 day rolling
average nitrogen oxide emission rate of
0.22 lb/mmBtu. As an alternative to
completing any of the projects to
achieve the nitrogen oxide emission
reductions AEP may propose to the
State projects that would achieve
equivalent emissions reductions.
Additionally, as an alternative to
achieving the nitrogen oxide emission
reductions at the Wilkes and Knox Lee
plants, AEP may propose to the State
projects that would achieve equivalent
emissions reductions at the Pirkey
Plant. TCEQ will evaluate alternative
proposals under 30 TAC Chapter 115,
Subchapter J. This process requires
public notification of proposals and was
approved by EPA on May 22, 1997 (62
FR 27964).
The Agreed Order for TXU, (Agreed
Order 2001–0879–RUL), requires TXU
to limit nitrogen oxide emissions at
their Martin Lake and Monticello
electric generating plants. These plants
are located in Rusk and Titus Counties,
respectively. The Agreed Order calls for
the company to operate low nitrogen
oxide technology on the three primary
generating units at each plant in order
to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. It
specifies that operation of the three
primary generating units at each plant
will achieve a 30 day rolling average
nitrogen oxide emission rate of 0.2 lb/
mmBtu. As an alternative to operating
the low nitrogen oxide technology and
achieving the nitrogen oxide emission
reductions on the three primary
generating units at each plant the
company may propose to the State
alternative projects that would achieve
equivalent emissions reductions. TCEQ
will evaluate alternative proposals
under 30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter
J.
The Agreed Order for Eastman
Chemical Company, (Agreed Order
2001–0880–RUL), requires the company
to make changes that will reduce
nitrogen oxide emissions at their
chemical and plastics manufacturing
plant in Longview, Texas. The Agreed
Order specifies that the company will:
(1) Shut down one cooling tower engine,
(2) commit one older natural gas fired
engine to serve only in a back-up service
capacity, restrict its operation to 2,190
hours annually and track its operating
time, (3) shut down five older natural
gas fired engines, (4) shut down ten gas
reformer furnaces and (5) shut down
two synthesis gas heaters. In order to restart any facility that was shut down
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 93 / Monday, May 16, 2005 / Proposed Rules
under this agreement, Eastman may
propose to the State one or more
alternative projects that would achieve
equivalent emissions reductions. TCEQ
will evaluate alternative proposals
under 30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter
J.
IX. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve revisions
to the Texas SIP pertaining to the
Northeast Texas area. These revisions
pertain to (1) the CAAP for the
Northeast Texas EAC area and the
related attainment demonstration of the
8-hour ozone standard for the EAC area
and (2) Agreed Orders regarding control
of air pollution for the Northeast Texas
area. The revisions will contribute to
improvement in air quality and
continued attainment of the NAAQS for
ozone in Northeast Texas. We have
evaluated the State’s submittal and have
determined that it meets the applicable
requirements of the CAA and EPA air
quality regulations, and is consistent
with EPA policy and the EAC protocol.
X. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993), this proposed
action is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ and therefore is not subject to
review by the Office of Management and
Budget. For this reason and because this
action will not have a significant,
adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy, this action
is also not subject to Executive Order
13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations
That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001). This proposed action merely
proposes to approve state law as
meeting Federal requirements and
imposes no additional requirements
beyond those imposed by state law.
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies
that this proposed rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule
proposes to approve pre-existing
requirements under state law and does
not impose any additional enforceable
duty beyond that required by state law,
it 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).
This proposed rule also does not have
tribal implications because it will not
have a substantial direct effect on one or
more Indian tribes, on the relationship
between the Federal Government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
VerDate jul<14>2003
14:20 May 13, 2005
Jkt 205001
power and responsibilities between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes,
as specified by Executive Order 13175
(65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This
action also does not have federalism
implications because it does not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999). This action merely
proposes to approve a state rule
implementing a Federal standard, and
does not alter the relationship or the
distribution of power and
responsibilities established in the Clean
Air Act. This proposed rule also is not
subject to Executive Order 13045
‘‘Protection of Children from
Environmental Health Risks and Safety
Risks’’ (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997),
because it is not economically
significant.
In reviewing SIP submissions under
the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C.
272 note), EPA’s role is to approve state
actions, provided that they meet the
criteria of the Clean Air Act. In this
context, in the absence of a prior
existing requirement for the State to use
voluntary consensus standards (VCS),
EPA has no authority to disapprove a
SIP submission for failure to use VCS.
It would thus be inconsistent with
applicable law for EPA, when it reviews
a SIP submission, to use VCS in place
of a SIP submission that otherwise
satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air
Act. Thus, the requirements of section
12(d) of the National Technology
Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995
do not apply. This proposed rule does
not impose an information collection
burden under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Intergovernmental
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Volatile organic
compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: May 6, 2005.
Richard E. Greene,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 05–9720 Filed 5–13–05; 8:45 am]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 271
[FRL–7909–4]
Idaho: Proposed Authorization of State
Hazardous Waste Management
Program Revision
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Idaho has applied to EPA for
final authorization of certain changes to
its hazardous waste program under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA). EPA has reviewed Idaho’s
application, has preliminarily
determined that these changes satisfy all
requirements needed to qualify for final
authorization, and is proposing to
authorize the state’s changes.
DATES: Comments on this proposed rule
must be received in writing by June 15,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Jeff Hunt, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 10, Office of
Waste and Chemicals (WCM–122), 1200
Sixth Ave., Seattle, Washington 98101,
or via e-mail to hunt.jeff@epa.gov. You
can view and copy Idaho’s application
during normal business hours at the
following addresses: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10, Office of Waste and
Chemicals, 1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle,
Washington, contact: Jeff Hunt, phone
number: (206) 553–0256; or Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality,
1410 N. Hilton, Boise, Idaho, contact:
John Brueck, phone number (208) 373–
0458.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff
Hunt, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 10, Office of Waste and
Chemicals (WCM–122), 1200 Sixth
Ave., Seattle, Washington 98101, phone
number: (206) 553–0256, e-mail:
hunt.jeff@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Why Are Revisions to State
Programs Necessary?
States which have received final
authorization from EPA under RCRA
section 3006(b), 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), must
maintain a hazardous waste program
that is equivalent to, consistent with,
and no less stringent than the Federal
program. As the Federal program
changes, states must change their
programs and ask EPA to authorize the
changes. Changes to state programs may
be necessary when Federal or State
statutory or regulatory authority is
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25794-25798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9720]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[R06-OAR-2005-TX-0009; FRL-7912-6]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Texas; Clean Air Action Plan and Attainment Demonstration for the
Northeast Texas Early Action Compact Area; Agreed Orders Regarding
Control of Air Pollution for the Northeast Texas Area
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve Texas State Implementation Plan
(SIP) revisions submitted by the State on July 18, 2002 and December 6,
2004. Approval will incorporate the following changes into the SIP: The
Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) and the related attainment demonstration
of the 8-hour ozone standard for the Northeast Texas Early Action
Compact (EAC) area and Agreed Orders regarding control of air pollution
for the Northeast Texas area. We are proposing approval pursuant to
sections 110 and 116 of the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA). The revisions
will contribute to improvement in air quality and continued attainment
of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone in
Northeast Texas.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before June 15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Regional Materials in
EDocket (RME) ID No. R06-OAR-2005-TX-0009, by one of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
Agency Web site: https://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/. Regional
Materials in EDocket (RME), EPA's electronic public docket and comment
system, is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. Once in the
system, select ``quick search,'' then key in the appropriate RME Docket
identification number. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
EPA Region 6 ``Contact Us'' Web site: https://epa.gov/
region6/r6coment.htm. Please click on ``6PD'' (Multimedia) and select
``Air'' before submitting comments.
E-mail: Mr. Thomas Diggs at diggs.thomas@epa.gov. Please
also send a copy by e-mail to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section below.
Fax: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), at fax number 214-665-7263.
Mail: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200,
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
Hand or Courier Delivery: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air
Planning Section (6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross
Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. Such deliveries are
accepted only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays except
for legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries
of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to RME ID No. R06-OAR-2005-TX-
0009. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in
the public file without change and may be made available online at
https://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information the
disclosure of which is restricted by statute. Do not submit information
through Regional Materials in EDocket (RME), regulations.gov or e-mail
if you believe that it is CBI or otherwise protected from disclosure.
The EPA RME Web site and the Federal regulations.gov Web site are
``anonymous access'' systems, 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 e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through RME or regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public file 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.
[[Page 25795]]
Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters and any
form of encryption, and should be free of any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the
Regional Materials in EDocket (RME) index at https://docket.epa.gov/
rmepub/. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly
available, i.e., CBI 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 materials relevant to this
rulemaking are available either electronically in RME or in the
official file, which is available at the Air Planning Section (6PD-L),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas,
Texas 75202-2733. The file will be made available by appointment for
public inspection in the Region 6 FOIA Review Room between the hours of
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays except for legal holidays. Contact the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT paragraph below or
Mr. Bill Deese at 214-665-7253 to make an appointment. If possible,
please make the appointment at least two working days in advance of
your visit. There will be a 15 cents per page fee for making
photocopies of documents. On the day of the visit, please check in at
the EPA Region 6 reception area at 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas,
Texas.
The State submittal is also available for public inspection at the
State Air Agency listed below during official business hours by
appointment:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality,
12124 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas 78753.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Young, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite
700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone 214-665-6645; fax number 214-
665-7263; e-mail address young.carl@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, wherever ``we''
``us'' or ``our'' is used, we mean the EPA.
Outline
I. What Action Is EPA Proposing?
II. What Is an EAC?
III. What Is a SIP?
IV. What Is the Content of the Northeast Texas EAC Attainment
Demonstration?
V. Why Are We Proposing To Approve This EAC SIP Submittal?
VI. What Measures Are Included in This EAC SIP Submittal?
VII. What Happens if the Area Does Not Meet the EAC Milestones?
VIII. What Do the Agreed Orders Require?
IX. Proposed Action
X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What Action Is EPA Proposing?
We are proposing to approve two revisions to the Texas SIP that
pertain to Northeast Texas under sections 110 and 116 of the CAA as a
strengthening of the SIP. One revision was submitted by the State to
EPA on December 6, 2004, in accordance with the area's EAC. This
revision incorporates the CAAP and the related attainment demonstration
of the 8-hour ozone standard for the Northeast Texas EAC area. The
Northeast Texas EAC area includes Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, Smith, and
Upshur Counties. On December 20, 2002, a coalition of local stakeholder
groups known as North East Texas Air Care (NETAC), including
representatives from the EAC Counties, the Cities of Gilmer, Henderson,
Kilgore, Longview, Marshall, and Tyler, and the East Texas Council of
Governments (ETCOG), signed an EAC with the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and EPA. The purpose of the EAC was to
develop and implement a CAAP that identifies and implements emission
reductions necessary to demonstrate attainment of the 8-hour ozone
standard by 2007 and maintain the standard in the region through at
least 2012. The EAC includes milestones that tracks implementation of
the CAAP. On April 15, 2004, EPA designated the Northeast Texas EAC
area as attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. See 69 FR 23858.
The second revision was submitted by the State to EPA on July 18,
2002. The revision includes Agreed Orders between TCEQ (formerly Texas
Natural Resources Conservation Commission) and (1) American Electric
Power Company (AEP), (2) TXU Generation Company LP (TXU) and (3)
Eastman Chemical Company adopted by the State as emission reduction
measures to facilitate attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard. An
Agreed Order is an enforceable agreement between a regulated entity and
a government regulator. The Agreed Orders require control of nitrogen
oxide emissions which contribute to the formation of ozone in the
Northeast Texas area. Our approval of the Agreed Orders into the Texas
SIP would make them federally enforceable.
II. What Is an EAC?
The EAC program was developed to allow communities an opportunity
to meet the new stricter 8-hour ozone standard sooner than the CAA
requires for reducing ground level ozone. The EAC program was designed
for areas that approach or monitor exceedances of the 8-hour ozone
standard, but are in attainment for the 1-hour ozone standard. Areas
that adopted EACs must establish a CAAP, meet other established
milestones, and attain the 8-hour ozone standard by December 31, 2007.
The compact is a voluntary agreement between local communities, State
and Tribal air quality officials, and EPA which allows States and local
entities to make decisions that will accelerate meeting the new 8-hour
ozone standard using locally tailored pollution controls instead of
Federally mandated control measures. Early planning and early
implementation of control measures that improve air quality will likely
accelerate protection of public health. The EPA believes the EAC
program provides an incentive for early planning, early implementation,
and early reductions of air emissions in the affected areas, thus
leading to an expeditious attainment and maintenance of the 8-hour
ozone standard.
Communities with EACs will have plans in place to reduce air
pollution at least two years earlier than required by the CAA. In
December 2002, a number of States submitted compact agreements pledging
to reduce emissions earlier than required for compliance with the 8-
hour ozone standard. These States and local communities had to meet
specific criteria, and agreed to meet certain milestones for
development and implementation of the compact. States with communities
participating in the EAC program had to submit implementation plans for
meeting the 8-hour ozone standard by December 31, 2004, rather than
June 15, 2007, the deadline for all other areas not meeting the 8-hour
standard. The EAC program required communities to develop and implement
air pollution control strategies, account for emissions growth, and
demonstrate their attainment and maintenance of the 8-hour ozone
standard. For more information on the EAC program see section V of our
December 16, 2003 publication entitled ``Deferral of Effective Date of
Nonattainment Designations for 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for Early Action Compact Areas'' (68 FR 70108).
On April 15, 2004, EPA designated all areas for the 8-hour ozone
standard. EPA designated the Northeast Texas EAC area as attainment for
the 8-hour ozone standard. The EPA deferred the effective date of
nonattainment
[[Page 25796]]
designations for other EAC areas that were violating the 8-hour
standard, but continue to meet the compact milestones. We announced the
details of this deferral on April 15, 2004 as part of the Clean Air
Rules of 2004. See our April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23858), publication
entitled ``Air Quality Designations and Classifications for the 8-Hour
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Early Action Compact
Areas with Deferred Effective Dates.''
III. What Is a SIP?
A SIP is a set of air pollution regulations and control strategies
developed by the state, to ensure that the state meets the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These ambient standards are
established under section 109 of the CAA and they currently address six
criteria pollutants: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, lead,
particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. The SIP is required by section
110 of the CAA. These SIPs can be extensive, containing state
regulations or other enforceable documents and supporting information
such as emission inventories, monitoring networks, and modeling
demonstrations.
IV. What Is the Content of the Northeast Texas EAC Attainment
Demonstration?
In support of this proposal, ETCOG conducted an ozone photochemical
modeling study developed for the Northeast Texas EAC area. The
photochemical modeling attainment demonstration includes: (1) Analyses
which estimate whether selected emissions reductions will result in
ambient concentrations that meet the 8-hour ozone standard in the
Northeast Texas EAC area and (2) an identified set of measures which
will result in the required emissions reductions. See our Technical
Support Document (TSD) for a description of the control measures. The
demonstration incorporates the effects of population and industry
growth as well as national and statewide control measures or programs
required to be in place by 2007 and 2012. The modeled attainment test
is passed if all resulting predicted future design values are less than
85 parts per billion (ppb). The design value is the three year average
of the annual fourth highest 8-hour ozone readings. The attainment
demonstration for the Northeast Texas area was supported by results of
photochemical modeling and technical documentation. The modeling study
demonstrates that the 8-hour ozone standard will continue to be
attained by 2007 and maintained through 2012. The modeling analyses
were further supported by some of the weight of evidence analyses that
were evaluated for the Northeast Texas area.
We believe this study meets our modeling requirements and
guidelines, including such items as the base year inventory
development, the growth rate projections, and the performance of the
model. See our TSD for more information about this modeling study, the
weight of evidence analyses, and our evaluation of these items. The
modeling submitted in support of this proposal demonstrates that the
Northeast Texas EAC area will be in attainment with the 8-hour ozone
NAAQS in 2007. The attainment demonstration modeling results for the
Northeast Texas EAC area predict a maximum ozone design value of 81 ppb
for 2007, which is well below the 8-hour ozone limit of 85 ppb. See
section VI of this document for a list of local control measures that
were not included in the modeling study, but will be implemented within
the Northeast Texas EAC area.
V. Why Are We Proposing To Approve This EAC SIP Submittal?
We are proposing to approve this EAC SIP submittal because
implementation of the requirements in this EAC will help ensure the
Northeast Texas EAC area's compliance with the 8-hour ozone standard by
December 31, 2007 and maintenance of that standard through 2012. We
have determined that the CAAP control measures included in the
attainment demonstration are quantified, surplus, permanent, and, if
approved, will be federally enforceable SIP revisions. We have reviewed
the CAAP and the attainment demonstration and determined that they are
consistent with the requirements of the CAA, EPA's policy, and the EAC
protocol. Our TSD contains detailed information concerning this
proposed rulemaking action.
VI. What Measures Are Included in This EAC SIP Submittal?
The modeled attainment demonstration includes state and national
emission reduction control measures. See the Modeling TSD for details.
The CAAP incorporated into the Northeast Texas EAC SIP also includes:
(1) Two local control measures to reduce VOC emissions for the Eastman
Chemical Company and the Huntsman Chemical Company plants in Longview,
Texas and (2) a number of local control measures that were not included
in the modeled attainment demonstration. These measures are in addition
to any reductions necessary to demonstrate attainment with the 8-hour
ozone standard by 2007. Local control measures included in the
Northeast Texas EAC SIP submittal are being implemented to ensure
nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission reductions.
Emissions of these chemicals can react with sunlight to form ozone. All
of these control measures are being implemented as called for in the
EAC.
Two local control measures which are enforceable through TCEQ air
permits are enhanced leak detection and repair programs to control VOC
emissions for the Eastman Chemical Company and the Huntsman Chemical
Company plants in Longview, Texas. The Eastman Chemical Company program
is enforceable under Texas Voluntary Emissions Reduction Permits 47007,
48588, and 48590. The Huntsman Chemical Company program is enforceable
under Texas Flexible Plant-wide Applicability Limit Permit 18105. These
programs should reduce highly reactive VOC emissions by 0.63 tons per
day for the Eastman Chemical Company plant and 0.08 tons per day for
the Huntsman Chemical Company plant. Copies of these permits may be
obtained from TCEQ.
Local control measures that were not included in the modeled
attainment demonstration, but which are being implemented to lower
emissions in the area are: (1) Implementation of the Texas Emissions
Reduction Plan (TERP), (2) use of 18 lower emitting propane light
heavy-duty vans purchased in 2003 and 2004, (3) a public education and
ozone awareness program and (4) energy efficiency programs for the
Cities of Longview, Marshall, and Tyler.
TERP is a set of incentive programs aimed at improving air quality
in Texas. TERP provides funding to offset the incremental costs of
projects associated with reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from high-
emitting internal combustion engines. Projects in the Northeast Texas
EAC area are eligible for TERP funding. Texas has allocated funding for
up to 1.5 tons per day of nitrogen oxide reductions in the Northeast
Texas EAC area by 2007.
Eighteen new lower emitting propane heavy-duty vans were purchased
in 2003 and 2004 for the ETCOG Rural Transportation Program, the City
of Longview, and Tyler Transit. Use of these vans will reduce VOC and
nitrogen oxide emissions.
ETCOG is implementing a public education and ozone awareness
program for the Northeast Texas area. The purpose of the program is to
encourage practices that reduce emissions that lead to ozone formation.
It includes: (1) An
[[Page 25797]]
ozone watch and warning communications network, (2) a NETAC Web site
(https://www.netac.org), (3) school programs and teacher training and
(4) distribution of public information and educational materials.
The Cities of Longview, Marshall, and Tyler are implementing energy
efficiency programs. These programs can reduce the demand for
electricity and thus reduce emissions from electric generating power
plants.
EPA has determined that the control measures included in the
attainment demonstration are consistent with the requirements of the
EPA Protocol for EAC control strategies in that the measures are
specific, quantified, permanent, and, if approved by EPA, will be
federally enforceable SIP revisions. In accordance with the EAC, the
signatories will review all EAC activities and report results in their
semi-annual reports. The control measures in the CAAP approved through
this SIP revision will provide reductions in nitrogen oxides
(NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are
precursors to and aid in the formation of ozone, in the Northeast Texas
EAC area.
Finally, per the EAC protocol, an emissions inventory was developed
for the year 2012. The 2012 inventory show that anthropogenic emissions
of both nitrogen oxides and VOCs decrease from 2007 to 2012, as the
result of locally implemented control measures and Federal emissions
control programs for vehicles. This decrease in emissions is additional
evidence that the Northeast Texas EAC area will maintain the 8-hour
ozone standard through 2012.
VII. What Happens if the Area Does Not Meet the EAC Milestones?
On April 15, 2004 EPA designated the Northeast Texas EAC area as
attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. We believe the local and
State signatories of the EAC area will continue to meet their
commitments to reduce ozone pollution. The EAC signatories are required
to review all CAAP commitments and report progress in semi-annual
reports beginning in June 2005. The semi-annual report will provide a
description of whether the area continues to implement its control
measures, the emissions reductions being achieved by the control
measures, and the improvements in air quality that are being made. The
report will track and document, at a minimum, control strategy
implementation and results, monitoring data and future plans. Ongoing,
updated emissions inventories and modeling analyses will be included as
they become available. After each semi-annual review, additional
control measures may be considered and, if necessary, adopted through
revisions to the SIP.
The measures outlined in the submittal provide sufficient
information for us to conclude that the Northeast Texas EAC area will
complete each EAC milestone and the actions agreed upon in the CAAP.
However, one of the principles of the EAC protocol is to provide
safeguards to return areas to traditional SIP requirements should an
area fail to comply with the terms of the compact. If a milestone is
missed and the area is still in attainment of the 8-hour ozone
standard, we would take action to propose and promulgate a finding of
failure to meet the milestone, but the ozone attainment designation and
approved SIP elements would remain in effect. If the area has a
violation of the 8-hour standard and a milestone is missed, we would
also consider factors in section 107(d)(3)(A) of the Act in deciding
whether to redesignate the area as nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone
NAAQS. See 69 FR 23858, 23871.
VIII. What Do the Agreed Orders Require?
In 2001 Texas and NETAC developed an early SIP to facilitate
attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard in Northeast Texas. They worked
with AEP, TXU, and Eastman Chemical Company to develop Agreed Orders to
require reductions of nitrogen oxide emissions. Our approval of the
Agreed Orders into the Texas SIP would make them federally enforceable.
The Agreed Order for AEP, (Agreed Order 2001-0878-RUL), requires
the company to limit nitrogen oxide emissions at their Knox Lee,
Pirkey, and Wilkes electric generating plants. These plants are located
in Gregg, Harrison, and Cass Counties, respectively. The Agreed Order
calls for the company to implement several projects to reduce nitrogen
oxide emissions. It specifies 30 day rolling average nitrogen oxide
emission rates to be achieved at Knox Lee Plant Unit number 5, Wilkes
Plant Unit numbers 2 and 3, and the Pirkey Plant. ``Thirty day rolling
average'' means an average, calculated for each day that fuel is
combusted in a unit, of all the hourly emissions data for the preceding
30 days that fuel was combusted in the unit. A nitrogen oxide emission
rate of 0.18 pounds per million British Thermal Units (lb/mmBtu) will
be achieved at Knox Lee Plant Unit number 5. Wilkes Plant Unit numbers
2 and 3 will each achieve a nitrogen oxide emission rate of 0.17 lb/
mmBtu. The Pirkey Plant will achieve a nitrogen oxide emission rate of
0.22 lb/mmBtu. As an alternative to achieving the reductions at the
Knox Lee and Wilkes plants, AEP is allowed to achieve equivalent
reductions at the Pirkey plant, in excess of the 30 day rolling average
nitrogen oxide emission rate of 0.22 lb/mmBtu. As an alternative to
completing any of the projects to achieve the nitrogen oxide emission
reductions AEP may propose to the State projects that would achieve
equivalent emissions reductions. Additionally, as an alternative to
achieving the nitrogen oxide emission reductions at the Wilkes and Knox
Lee plants, AEP may propose to the State projects that would achieve
equivalent emissions reductions at the Pirkey Plant. TCEQ will evaluate
alternative proposals under 30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter J. This
process requires public notification of proposals and was approved by
EPA on May 22, 1997 (62 FR 27964).
The Agreed Order for TXU, (Agreed Order 2001-0879-RUL), requires
TXU to limit nitrogen oxide emissions at their Martin Lake and
Monticello electric generating plants. These plants are located in Rusk
and Titus Counties, respectively. The Agreed Order calls for the
company to operate low nitrogen oxide technology on the three primary
generating units at each plant in order to reduce nitrogen oxide
emissions. It specifies that operation of the three primary generating
units at each plant will achieve a 30 day rolling average nitrogen
oxide emission rate of 0.2 lb/mmBtu. As an alternative to operating the
low nitrogen oxide technology and achieving the nitrogen oxide emission
reductions on the three primary generating units at each plant the
company may propose to the State alternative projects that would
achieve equivalent emissions reductions. TCEQ will evaluate alternative
proposals under 30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter J.
The Agreed Order for Eastman Chemical Company, (Agreed Order 2001-
0880-RUL), requires the company to make changes that will reduce
nitrogen oxide emissions at their chemical and plastics manufacturing
plant in Longview, Texas. The Agreed Order specifies that the company
will: (1) Shut down one cooling tower engine, (2) commit one older
natural gas fired engine to serve only in a back-up service capacity,
restrict its operation to 2,190 hours annually and track its operating
time, (3) shut down five older natural gas fired engines, (4) shut down
ten gas reformer furnaces and (5) shut down two synthesis gas heaters.
In order to re-start any facility that was shut down
[[Page 25798]]
under this agreement, Eastman may propose to the State one or more
alternative projects that would achieve equivalent emissions
reductions. TCEQ will evaluate alternative proposals under 30 TAC
Chapter 115, Subchapter J.
IX. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas SIP pertaining
to the Northeast Texas area. These revisions pertain to (1) the CAAP
for the Northeast Texas EAC area and the related attainment
demonstration of the 8-hour ozone standard for the EAC area and (2)
Agreed Orders regarding control of air pollution for the Northeast
Texas area. The revisions will contribute to improvement in air quality
and continued attainment of the NAAQS for ozone in Northeast Texas. We
have evaluated the State's submittal and have determined that it meets
the applicable requirements of the CAA and EPA air quality regulations,
and is consistent with EPA policy and the EAC protocol.
X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this
proposed action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and
therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and
Budget. For this reason and because this action will not have a
significant, adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of
energy, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This
proposed action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal
requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that
this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule proposes to approve pre-
existing requirements under state law and does not impose any
additional enforceable duty beyond that required by state law, it 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).
This proposed rule also does not have tribal implications because
it will not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian
tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian
tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between
the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not
have federalism implications because it does not have substantial
direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified
in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action
merely proposes to approve a state rule implementing a Federal
standard, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of
power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act. This
proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 ``Protection
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.
In reviewing SIP submissions under the National Technology Transfer
and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note), EPA's role is to
approve state actions, provided that they meet the criteria of the
Clean Air Act. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing
requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS),
EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use
VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it
reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that
otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the
requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 do not apply. This proposed rule does not
impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: May 6, 2005.
Richard E. Greene,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 05-9720 Filed 5-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P