Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Removal of Reformulated Gasoline Oxygen Content Requirement and Revision of Commingling Prohibition To Address Non-Oxygenated Reformulated Gasoline, 8973-8986 [06-1612]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 22, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
(B) The retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer will be deemed in
compliance with the VOC minimum
standard where the retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer draws the tank
down as low as practicable before
receiving product of the other type into
the tank and receives only product of
the other type into the tank during the
ten-day period. Under this option, the
retailer or wholesale purchaserconsumer is not required to test the
gasoline at the end of the ten-day
period.
(iv) Nothing in paragraphs (a)(8)(ii) or
(iii) of this section shall preempt
existing State laws or regulations
regulating the combining of ethanolblended reformulated gasoline with
non-ethanol-blended reformulated
gasoline or prohibit a State from
adopting such laws or regulations in the
future.
*
*
*
*
*
(11) * * *
(iv) * * *
(D) Paragraphs (a)(11)(iv)(A) and (C)
of this section do not apply to gasoline
subject to the provisions in § 80.81.
*
*
*
*
*
I 4. Section 80.79 is amended by adding
paragraph (a)(5) and adding a sentence
at the end of paragraph (c)(1), to read as
follows:
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§ 80.79 Liability for violations of the
prohibited activities.
(a) * * *
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions in
paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this
section, for gasoline subject to the
provisions in § 80.81:
(i) Only a retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer shall be deemed in
violation for combining gasolines in a
manner that is in inconsistent with
§ 80.78(a)(8)(ii) or (iii), or for gasoline
which does not comply with the VOC
minimum standard under § 80.41 after
the retailer or wholesale purchaserconsumer combines or causes the
combining of compliant gasolines in a
manner inconsistent with
§ 80.78(a)(8)(ii) or (iii);
(ii) No person shall be deemed in
violation for gasoline which does not
comply with the VOC minimum
standard under § 80.41 where the noncompliance is solely due to the
combining of compliant gasolines by a
retailer or wholesale purchaserconsumer in a manner that is consistent
with § 80.78(a)(8)(ii) and (iii).
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(1) * * * For gasoline subject to the
provisions in § 80.81, a party is not
required to conduct periodic sampling
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applicable methodology specified in
§ 80.46, with regards to:
*
*
*
*
*
and testing to determine compliance
with the oxygen minimum standard.
*
*
*
*
*
I 5. Section 80.81 is amended by
revising paragraphs (d), (e)(3), and (h)(1)
introductory text, and removing and
reserving paragraph (e)(2) to read as
follows:
[FR Doc. 06–1613 Filed 2–21–06; 8:45 am]
§ 80.81 Enforcement exemptions for
California gasoline.
40 CFR Part 80
*
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2005–0170; FRL–8035–1]
*
*
*
*
(d) Any refiner or importer that
produces or imports gasoline that is
sold, intended for sale, or made
available for sale as a motor vehicle fuel
in the State of California subsequent to
March 1, 1996, shall demonstrate
compliance with the standards specified
in §§ 80.41 and 80.90 by excluding the
volume and properties of such gasoline
from all conventional gasoline and
reformulated gasoline that it produces
or imports that is not sold, intended for
sale, or made available for sale as a
motor vehicle fuel in the State of
California subsequent to such date. The
exemption provided in this section does
not exempt any refiner or importer from
demonstrating compliance with such
standards for all gasoline that it
produces or imports.
(e) * * *
(2) [Reserved]
(3)(i) Such exemption provisions shall
not apply to any refiner or importer of
California gasoline who has been
assessed a civil, criminal or
administrative penalty for a violation of
subpart D, E or F of this part or for a
violation of the California Phase 2
reformulated gasoline regulations set
forth in Title 13, California Code of
Regulations, sections 2260 et seq.,
effective 90 days after the date of final
agency or district court adjudication of
such penalty assessment.
(ii) Any refiner or importer subject to
the provisions of paragraph (e)(3)(i) of
this section may submit a petition to the
Administrator for relief, in whole or in
part, from the applicability of such
provisions, for good cause. Good cause
may include a showing that the
violation for which a penalty was
assessed was not a substantial violation
of the Federal California reformulated
gasoline regulations.
*
*
*
*
*
(h)(1) For the purposes of the batch
sampling and analysis requirements
contained in § 80.65(e)(1) and
§ 80.101(i)(1)(i)(A), any refiner or
importer of California gasoline may use
a sampling and/or analysis methodology
prescribed in Title 13, California Code
of Regulations, section 2260 et seq. (as
amended July 2, 1996), in lieu of any
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BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel
Additives: Removal of Reformulated
Gasoline Oxygen Content Requirement
and Revision of Commingling
Prohibition To Address NonOxygenated Reformulated Gasoline
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (Energy Act), Congress removed
the oxygen content requirement for
reformulated gasoline (RFG) in section
211(k) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). To
be consistent with the current CAA
section 211(k), this direct final rule
amends the fuels regulations to remove
the oxygen content requirement for
RFG. This rule also removes
requirements which were included in
the regulations to implement and ensure
compliance with the oxygen content
requirement. In addition, this rule
extends the current prohibition against
combining VOC-controlled RFG blended
with ethanol with VOC-controlled RFG
blended with any other type of
oxygenate from January 1 through
September 15, to also prohibit
combining VOC-controlled RFG blended
with ethanol with non-oxygenated VOCcontrolled RFG during that time period,
except in limited circumstances
authorized by the Act.
DATES: This rule is effective on May 5,
2006, or April 24, 2006, whichever is
later, without further notice unless we
receive adverse comment by March 24,
2006. If EPA receives adverse comment,
we will publish a timely withdrawal in
the Federal Register informing the
public that the portion of the final rule
on which adverse comment was
received will not take effect. Those
portions of the rule on which adverse
comment was not received will go into
effect on the effective date noted above.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2005–0170 by one of the following
methods:
1. https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
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2. E-mail: Group A–AND–R–
DOCKET@epa.gov. Attention Docket ID
No. OAR–2005–0170.
4. Mail: Air and Radiation Docket,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 6406J, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Please include a total of two copies. In
addition, please mail a copy of your
comments on the information collection
provisions to the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), Attn:
Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th St. NW.,
Washington, DC 20503.
5. Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1301
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room B102,
Mail Code 6102T, Washington, DC
20460. Such deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket’s normal
hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2005–
0170. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be
made available online at https://
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 https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
https://www.regulations.gov is an
‘‘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 https://
www.regulations.gov, your e-mail
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
Category
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Industry ......................
Industry ......................
Industry ......................
a North
NAICS
codes a
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. For additional information
about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
We are only taking comment on issues
related to the removal of the oxygen
requirement for RFG and associated
compliance requirements, and the
provisions regarding the combining of
ethanol blended RFG with nonoxygenated RFG and provisions for
retailers regarding the combining of
ethanol blended RFG with non-ethanol
blended RFG. Comments on any other
issues or provisions in the RFG
regulations are beyond the scope of this
rulemaking.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. 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,
will be publicly available only in hard
copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the Air and Radiation Docket, EPA/DC,
EPA West, Room B102, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the Air
and Radiation Docket is (202) 566–1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marilyn Bennett, Transportation and
Regional Programs Division, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality (6406J),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
SIC codes b
324110
422710
422720
484220
484230
2911
5171
5172
4212
4213
number: (202) 343–9624; fax number:
(202) 343–2803; e-mail address:
mbennett@epa.gov.
EPA is
publishing this rule without prior
proposal because we view this action to
be noncontroversial and anticipate no
adverse comment. However, in the
‘‘Proposed Rules’’ section of today’s
Federal Register publication, we are
publishing a separate document that
will serve as the proposal to adopt the
provisions in this Direct Final Rule if
adverse comments are filed. This rule is
effective on May 5, 2006, or April 24,
2006, whichever is later, without further
notice unless we receive adverse
comment by March 24, 2006. If EPA
receives adverse comment, we will
publish a timely withdrawal in the
Federal Register informing the public
that the portion of the rule on which
adverse comment was received will not
take effect. We will address all public
comments in a subsequent final rule
based on the proposed rule. We will not
institute a second comment period on
this action. Any parties interested in
commenting must do so at this time.
Any distinct amendment, paragraph, or
section of today’s rule for which we do
not receive adverse comment will
become effective on the date set out
above, notwithstanding any adverse
comment on any other distinct
amendment, paragraph, or section of
today’s rule.
EPA is also publishing today a direct
final rule that removes the oxygen
content requirement for RFG, and makes
associated changes in the fuels
regulations, for California only.
Although the California rule is similar
in effect to this one, it has an earlier
effective date.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does This Action Apply To Me?
Entities potentially affected by this
action include those involved with the
production and importation of
conventional gasoline motor fuel.
Regulated categories and entities
affected by this action include:
Examples of potentially regulated parties
Petroleum Refiners, Importers.
Gasoline Marketers and Distributors.
Gasoline Carriers.
American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Industrial Classification (SIC) system code.
b Standard
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This table is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
regulated by this action. This table lists
the types of entities that EPA is now
aware could be potentially regulated by
this action. Other types of entities not
listed in the table could also be
regulated. To determine whether your
entity is regulated by this action, you
should carefully examine the
applicability criteria of part 80, subparts
D, E and F of title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. If you have any
question regarding applicability of this
action to a particular entity, consult the
person in the preceding FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section above.
B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare
My Comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly
mark the part or all of the information
that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD ROM that
you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the
disk or CD ROM as CBI and then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD ROM the specific information that is
claimed as CBI). In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked
§ 80.2(ii) ...............................................
§§ 80.41(e) and (f) ................................
§ 80.41(o) ..............................................
§ 80.41(q) ..............................................
§ 80.65 heading ....................................
§ 80.65(c) ..............................................
§ 80.65(d) ..............................................
§ 80.65(h) ..............................................
§ 80.67(a) ..............................................
§ 80.67(b) ..............................................
§ 80.67(f) ...............................................
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§ 80.67(g) ..............................................
§ 80.67(h) ..............................................
13:17 Feb 21, 2006
C. Outline of This Preamble
I. General Information
II. Removal of the RFG Oxygen Content
Requirement
III. Combining Ethanol Blended RFG With
Non-Ethanol Blended RFG
IV. Environmental Effects of This Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
VI. Statutory Provisions and Legal Authority
II. Removal of the RFG Oxygen Content
Requirement
Section 211(k) of the 1990
Amendments to the CAA required
reformulated gasoline (RFG) to contain
oxygen in an amount that equals or
exceeds 2.0 weight percent. CAA
section 211(k)(2)(B). Accordingly, EPA’s
current regulations require RFG refiners,
importers and oxygenate blenders to
meet a 2.0 or greater weight percent
oxygen content standard. 40 CFR 80.41.
Recently, Congress passed legislation
which amended section 211(k) of the
CAA to remove the RFG oxygen
requirement.1 To be consistent with the
current CAA section 211(k), today’s rule
modifies the RFG regulations to remove
the oxygen standard in § 80.41.2
Today’s rule also modifies several
other sections of the RFG regulations
which contain provisions designed to
implement and ensure compliance with
the oxygen standard. The modifications
to the affected sections are listed in the
following table:
Removes oxygen in the definition of ‘‘reformulated gasoline credit.’’ With the removal of the oxygen standard, there is no basis for the generation of oxygen credits.
Removes the per-gallon and averaged oxygen standards for Phase II Complex Model RFG 3
Removes the provisions relating to oxygen survey failures. With the removal of the oxygen standard, oxygen surveys will no longer be needed.
Removes reference to § 80.41(o). Also removes reference to oxygenate blenders since oxygenate
blenders were subject only to adjusted standards in the case of an oxygen survey failure and not
any other survey failure.
Removes oxygenate blenders from the heading since oxygenate blenders were only responsible for
demonstrating compliance with the oxygen standard which has been removed.
Removes requirements relating to compliance with the oxygen standard which have been removed.
Removes the designation requirement relating to oxygen content, removes the RBOB designation
categories of ‘‘any oxygenate’’ and ‘‘ether only,’’ and adds a requirement for RBOB to be designated regarding the type and amount of oxygenate required to be added.
Removes the requirement for oxygenate blenders to comply with the audit requirements under subpart F since they will no longer be required to demonstrate compliance with the oxygen standard.
Removes the option to comply with the oxygen standard on average for oxygenate blenders since
there no longer is an oxygen standard. Also removes provisions for refiners and importers to use
gasoline that exceeds the average standard for oxygen to offset gasoline which does not achieve
the average standard for oxygen.
Removes requirements relating to oxygenate blenders who meet the oxygen standard on average
since there no longer is an oxygen standard.
Removes requirements relating to compliance with the oxygen standard on average since there no
longer is an oxygen standard.
Removes requirements relating to compliance calculations for meeting the oxygen standard on average, since there no longer is an oxygen standard. Also removes requirements relating to the
generation and use of oxygen credits.
Removes requirements relating to the transfer of oxygen credits.
1 Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109–
58 (HR6), section 1504(a), 119 STAT 594, 1076–
1077(2005).
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will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments.
When submitting comments, remember
to:
1. Identify the rulemaking by docket
number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal
Register date and page number).
2. Follow directions—The agency may
ask you to respond to specific questions
or organize comments by referencing a
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part
or section number.
3. Explain why you agree or disagree;
suggest alternatives and substitute
language for your requested changes.
4. Describe any assumptions and
provide any technical information and/
or data that you used.
5. If you estimate potential costs or
burdens, explain how you arrived at
your estimate in sufficient detail to
allow for it to be reproduced.
6. Provide specific examples to
illustrate your concerns, and suggest
alternatives.
7. Explain your views as clearly as
possible, avoiding the use of profanity
or personal threats.
8. Make sure to submit your
comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
3. Docket Copying Costs. You may be
charged a reasonable fee for
photocopying docket materials, as
provided in 40 CFR part 2.
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2 The RFG regulations were promulgated under
authority of CAA section 211(c) as well as CAA
section 211(k). The regulations were adopted under
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section 211(c) primarily for the purpose of applying
the preemption provisions in section 211(c)(4). See
59 FR 7809 (February 16, 1994.)
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§ 80.68(a) and (b) .................................
§ 80.68(c) ..............................................
§ 80.73 ..................................................
§ 80.74(c) ..............................................
§ 80.74(d) ..............................................
§ 80.75 heading and paragraph (a) .....
§ 80.75(f) ...............................................
§ 80.75(h) ..............................................
§ 80.75(i) ...............................................
§ 80.75(l) ...............................................
§ 80.75(m) .............................................
§ 80.75(n) ..............................................
§ 80.76(a) ..............................................
§ 80.77(g) ..............................................
§ 80.77(i) ...............................................
§ 80.78(a) ..............................................
§ 80.79 ..................................................
§ 80.81(b) ..............................................
§ 80.125(a), (c) and (d) ........................
§ 80.126(b) ............................................
§ 80.128(e) ............................................
§ 80.129 ................................................
§ 80.130(a) ............................................
§ 80.133(h) ............................................
§ 80.134 ................................................
Removes references to oxygenate blenders since, with the removal of the requirement for oxygen
survey, they are no longer subject to survey requirements. Also removes reference to oxygen regarding consequences of a failure to conduct a required survey.
Removes general survey requirements relating to oxygen surveys.
Clarifies the applicability of this section to oxygenate blenders.
Removes recordkeeping requirements for oxygenate blenders who comply with the oxygen standard
on average, since they no longer will be required to demonstrate compliance with an oxygen
standard. Also removes reference to ‘‘types’’ of credits, since there now is only one type of credit
(i.e., benzene.)
Revises this paragraph to clarify recordkeeping requirements for oxygenate blenders.
Removes reporting requirements for oxygenate blenders since they no longer will be required to
demonstrate compliance with an oxygen standard.
Removes requirement for submitting oxygen averaging reports since there no longer is a requirement to comply with the oxygen standard.
Removes credit transfer report requirements for oxygen credits, since oxygen credits will no longer
be generated.
Removes requirement for oxygenate blenders to submit a report identifying each covered area that
was supplied with averaged RFG, since they no longer will be required to demonstrate compliance with an oxygen standard.
Removes reporting requirement for oxygenate blenders who comply with the oxygen standard on a
per-gallon basis, since they are no longer required to demonstrate compliance with an oxygen
standard.
Removes requirement for oxygenate blenders to submit a report of the audit required under
§ 80.65(h), since oxygenate blenders will no longer be required to comply with the audit requirement.
Removes requirement for oxygenate blenders to have reports signed and certified, since they no
longer will be required to submit reports under this section.
Clarifies registration requirements for oxygenate blenders.
Removes product transfer documentation requirement for oxygen content.
Removes requirement for RBOB to be identified on product transfer documents as suitable for
blending with ‘‘any-oxygenate,’’ ‘‘ether-only,’’ since these categories have been removed.
Removes the prohibition against producing and marketing RFG that does not meet the oxygen minimum standard since the oxygen standard has been removed. Also removes requirements to meet
the oxygen minimum standard during transition from RBOB to RFG in a storage tank. (Today’s
rule also removes the provision in § 80.78(a)(1) regarding compliance with the maximum oxygen
standard in § 80.41 for simple model RFG. See footnote 3.)
Removes quality assurance requirement to test for compliance with the oxygen standard.
Removes exemptions for California gasoline survey and independent analysis requirements for oxygenate blenders since they are no longer subject to these requirements.
Removes attest engagement auditor requirements for oxygenate blenders, since they are no longer
required to conduct attest engagement audits.
Revises attest engagement definition of credit trading records to remove reference to oxygen credits.
Removes reference to RBOB designations of ‘‘any-oxygenate’’ and ‘‘ether-only’’ with regard to refiner and importer contracts with downstream oxygenate blenders, since these designations have
been removed from the regulations.
Removes and reserves this section which provided for alternative attest engagement procedures for
oxygenate blenders, since they are no longer required to conduct attest audits.
Removes requirement for a certified public accountant or an internal auditor certified by the Institute of Internal Auditors, Inc. to issue an attest engagement report to blenders, since they are no
longer required to conduct attest audits. Removes requirement for blenders to provide a copy of
the auditor’s report to EPA.
Removes references to ‘‘any-oxygenate’’ and ‘‘ether-only’’ RBOB under § 80.69(a)(8) since this section has been removed.
Removes this section which provides attest procedures for oxygenate blenders since they are no
longer required to conduct attest audits.
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Today’s rule also modifies the
provisions for downstream oxygenate
blending in § 80.69. Under the current
regulations, some refiners and importers
produce or import a product called
‘‘reformulated gasoline blendstock for
oxygenate blending,’’ or RBOB, which is
3 The regulations also include oxygen minimum
standards for simple model RFG and Phase I
complex Model RFG, and an oxygen maximum
standard for simple model RFG. See §§ 80.41(a)
through (d), and (g). These standards are no longer
in effect and today’s rule does not modify the
regulations to remove these standards or
compliance requirements relating to these
standards, except where such requirements are
included in provisions requiring other changes in
today’s rule.
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gasoline that becomes RFG upon the
addition of an oxygenate. The refiner or
importer of the RBOB determines the
type(s) and amount (or range of
amounts) of oxygenate that must be
added to the RBOB. The RBOB is then
transported to an oxygenate blender
downstream from the refiner or importer
who adds the type and amount of
oxygenate designated for the RBOB by
the refiner or importer. The RBOB
refiner or importer includes the
designated amount of oxygenate in its
emissions performance compliance
calculations for the RBOB, however, it
is the oxygenate blender who actually
adds the oxygenate to the RBOB to
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comply with the 2.0 weight percent
oxygen standard for the RFG that is
produced by blending oxygenate into
the RBOB. The regulations require
oxygenate blenders to conduct testing
for oxygen content to ensure that each
batch of RFG complies with the oxygen
standard. With the removal of the
oxygen standard, the current
requirement for oxygenate blenders to
conduct testing to ensure compliance
with the oxygen standard will no longer
be necessary. Accordingly, the
provisions for oxygenate blenders in
§ 80.69 have been modified to remove
the requirement for oxygenate blenders
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to test RFG for compliance with the
oxygen standard.
Although there will no longer be an
oxygen content requirement for RFG, we
believe that many refiners and importers
will want to continue to include
oxygenate blended downstream in their
emissions performance compliance
calculations. As a result, the category of
RBOB is being retained and RBOB
refiners and importers will be required
to comply with the contract and quality
assurance (QA) oversight requirements
in § 80.69 for any RBOB produced or
imported.4
Under the current regulations, RBOB
refiners and importers are required to
have a contract with the downstream
oxygenate blender and conduct QA
oversight testing of the oxygenate
blending operation to ensure that the
proper type and amount of oxygenate is
added downstream. § 80.69(a)(6) and
(7). The regulations also provide that, in
lieu of complying with these
requirements, a refiner or importer may
designate one of two generic categories
of oxygenates to be added to the RBOB,
and assume for purposes of its
emissions compliance calculations that
the minimum amount of oxygenate
needed to result in RFG containing 2.0
weight percent oxygen will be added
downstream. § 80.69(a)(8). RBOB refiner
or importer compliance with the
contract and oversight requirements is
not required in this situation because, as
discussed above, the oxygenate blender
has been required to meet the 2.0 weight
percent oxygen standard and conduct
testing designed to ensure that each
batch of RFG complies with the oxygen
standard.5 Where an RBOB refiner or
importer wishes to include a larger
amount of oxygenate in its compliance
calculations (i.e, an amount that would
result in RFG containing more than 2.0
weight percent oxygen), the refiner or
importer must comply with the contract
and oversight requirements in
§ 80.69(a)(6) and (7) to ensure that the
4 EPA is developing a rule which will allow
RBOB refiners and importers to use an alternative
method of quality assurance (QA) oversight of
downstream oxygenate blenders in lieu of the
contract and QA requirements in §§ 80.69(a)(6) and
(a)(7). This alternative method consists of a QA
sampling and testing survey program carried out by
an independent surveyor pursuant to a survey plan
approved by EPA. This alternative QA method is
available to RBOB refiners and importers under
enforcement discretion until the rule is
promulgated, or December 31, 2007, whichever is
earlier. See Letter to Edward H. Murphy,
Downstream General Manager, American Petroleum
Institute, dated December 22, 2005, from Grant Y.
Nakayama, Assistant Administrator, Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
5 For a discussion of the downstream oxygenate
blending requirements, see the preamble to the RFG
final rule at 59 FR 7770 (February 16, 1994).
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proper type and amount of oxygenate is
added.
Because oxygenate blenders will no
longer be conducting testing to ensure
compliance with the oxygen standard,
we believe that RBOB refiner or
importer compliance with the contract
and QA oversight requirements will be
necessary for RBOB designated to be
blended with any amount of oxygenate,
including an amount of oxygenate that
would result in RFG containing 2.0
weight percent (or less) oxygen. As a
result, today’s rule requires RBOB
refiners and importers to comply with
the contract and QA oversight
requirements in § 80.69 for any RBOB
produced or imported. This approach is
consistent with the oversight
requirements in § 80.101(d)(4) for
refiners and importers of conventional
gasoline who wish to include oxygen
added downstream from the refinery or
importer in anti-dumping emissions
compliance calculations.
Although oxygenate blenders will no
longer be subject to the oxygen standard
and associated testing requirements, we
believe that the current requirements for
oxygenate blenders to be registered with
EPA, to add the specific type(s) and
amount (or range of amounts) of
oxygenate designated for the RBOB, and
to maintain records of their blending
operation continue to be necessary in
order to ensure compliance with, and
facilitate enforcement of, the emissions
performance standards for the RFG
produced by blending oxygenate with
RBOB downstream. As a result, these
oxygenate blender requirements are
being retained.
The effective date for the removal of
the oxygen requirement will occur
during 2006.6 As a result, refiners,
importers and oxygenate blenders will
be subject to the oxygen standard for the
months in 2006 prior to the effective
date of this rule. The current regulations
allow parties to demonstrate compliance
either on a per-gallon basis or on an
annual average basis. Parties wishing to
base their compliance on the per-gallon
requirements, may formulate and sell
RFG without oxygen after the effective
date of the rule. EPA will interpret its
regulations regarding annual average as
follows. Parties may demonstrate
compliance based on the average oxygen
content of RFG during the months prior
to the effective date for the removal of
the oxygen content requirement. In
addition, any refiner, importer or
oxygenate blender who is unable to
meet the annual average oxygen
6 The effective date for this rule is May 5, 2006,
or 60 days from the date of publication of the rule
in the Federal Register, whichever is later.
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standard in 2006 based on the months
prior to the effective date for the
removal of the oxygen content standard
may include all of the oxygenated RFG
it produces or imports during 2006 in its
annual average compliance calculations.
III. Combining Ethanol Blended RFG
With Non-Ethanol Blended RFG
As discussed above, section 211(k)
required RFG to contain a minimum of
2.0 weight percent oxygen, and the
current fuels regulations reflect this
requirement. Refiners, importers and
oxygenate blenders have used different
oxygenates to meet this requirement.
RFG that contains ethanol must be
specially blended to account for the
RVP ‘‘boost’’ that ethanol provides, and
the consequent possibility of increased
VOC emissions. EPA’s existing
regulations prohibit the commingling of
ethanol-blended RFG with RFG
containing other oxygenates because the
non-ethanol RFG is typically not able to
be mixed with ethanol and still comply
with the VOC performance standards.
Since all RFG is currently required to
contain oxygen, the regulations do not
now contain a prohibition against
combining ethanol-blended RFG with
non-oxygenated RFG. With the removal
of the oxygen content requirement for
RFG, EPA expects that refiners and
importers will be producing some RFG
without oxygen and some with ethanol
or other oxygenates. Mixing ethanolblended RFG with non-oxygenated RFG
has the same potential to create an RVP
‘‘boost’’ for the non-oxygenated gasoline
as mixing ethanol-blended RFG with
RFG blended with other oxygenates.
This is of particular concern regarding
RFG because most refiners and
importers comply with the RFG VOC
emissions performance standard on an
annual average basis calculated at the
point of production or importation. All
downstream parties are prohibited from
marketing RFG which does not comply
with a less stringent downstream VOC
standard. However, even though the
combined gasoline may meet the
downstream VOC standard, combining
ethanol-blended RFG with nonoxygenated RFG may cause some
gasoline to have VOC emissions which
are higher on average than the gasoline
as produced or imported. Thus, today’s
rule extends the commingling
prohibition currently in the fuels
regulations to include a prohibition
against combining VOC-controlled
ethanol-blended RFG with VOCcontrolled non-oxygenated RFG during
the period January 1 through September
15, with one exception, described
below.
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The Energy Act contains a provision
which specifically addresses the
combining of ethanol-blended RFG with
non-ethanol-blended RFG.7 Under this
new provision, retail outlets are allowed
to sell non-ethanol-blended RFG which
has been combined with ethanolblended RFG under certain conditions.
First, each batch of gasoline to be
blended must have been ‘‘individually
certified as in compliance with
subsections (h) and (k) prior to being
blended.’’ Second, the retailer must
notify EPA prior to combining the
gasolines and identify the exact location
of the retail outlet and specific tank in
which the gasoline is to be combined.
Third, the retailer must retain, and,
upon request by EPA, make available for
inspection certifications accounting for
all gasoline at the retail outlet. Fourth,
retailers are prohibited from combining
VOC-controlled gasoline with non-VOCcontrolled gasoline between June 1 and
September 15. Retailers are also limited
with regard to the frequency in which
batches of non-ethanol-blended RFG
may be combined with ethanol-blended
RFG. Retailers may combine such
batches of RFG a maximum of two
periods between May 1 and September
15. Each period may be no more than
ten consecutive calendar days. Today’s
direct final rule implements this
provision of the Energy Act.
This new provision will typically be
used by retail outlets to change from the
use of RFG containing ethanol to RFG
not containing ethanol or vice versa.
(Such a change is usually referred to as
a ‘‘tank turnover.’’) Such blending can
result in additional VOC emissions,
perhaps resulting in gasoline that does
not comply with downstream VOC
standards. The Energy Act is unclear as
to when the gasoline in the tank where
blending occurs must be in compliance
with the downstream VOC standard.
EPA has already promulgated
regulations setting out a methodology
for making tank turnovers. 40 CFR
80.78(a)(10). EPA believes retailers and
wholesale purchaser-consumers should
have additional flexibility during the
time that they are converting their tanks
from one type of RFG to another, while
minimizing the time period during
which non-compliant gasoline is
present in their tanks and being sold.
Today’s changes provide additional
flexibility to the regulated parties by
interpreting the Energy Act to provide
retailers and wholesale purchaserconsumers with relief from compliance
with the downstream VOC standard
7 Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109–58
(HR6), section 1513, 119 STAT 594, 1088–1090
(2005).
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during the ten-day blending period, but
requiring that the gasoline in the tank
thereafter be in compliance or be
deemed in compliance with the
downstream VOC standard.
To provide assurance that gasoline is
in compliance with the downstream
VOC standard after the ten-day period,
today’s regulations provide that there be
two options available for retailers and
wholesale purchaser-consumers. Under
the first option, the retailer may add
both ethanol-blended RFG and nonethanol-blended RFG to the same tank
an unlimited number of times during
the ten-day period, but must test the
gasoline in the tank at the end of the
ten-day period to make sure that the
RFG is in compliance with the VOC
standard. Under the second option, the
retailer must draw the tank down as
much as practicable at the start of the
ten-day period, before RFG of another
type is added to the tank, and add only
RFG of one type to the tank during the
ten-day period. That is, the retailer may
not add both ethanol-blended RFG and
non-ethanol-blended RFG to the tank
during the ten-day period, but may add
only one of these types of RFG. EPA
believes that when retailers and
wholesale purchaser-consumers use this
second option it is likely that their
gasoline will comply with the
downstream VOC standard at the end of
the ten-day period, so that testing will
not be necessary. We also believe that
this approach is compatible with
current practices of most retailers and
wholesale purchaser-consumers, and
expect that most will find it preferable
to testing at the end of the ten-day
period.
The commingling provisions apply at
a retail level such that each retailer may
take advantage of a maximum of two
ten-day blending periods between May
1 and September 15 of each calendar
year. Thus, the options described above
would be available to each retail outlet
for each of two ten-day periods during
the VOC control period. During each
ten-day period the options are available
for all tanks at that retail outlet.
Regarding the requirement that each
batch of gasoline to be blended must
have been individually certified as in
compliance with subsections (h) and (k),
EPA notes that all gasoline in
compliance with RFG requirements is
deemed certified under section 211(k)
pursuant to § 80.40(a). Section 211(h)
addresses RVP requirements for
gasoline, but EPA does not have a
program to certify gasoline as in
compliance with this provision. For
purposes of the commingling exception
for retail outlets incorporated today in
§ 80.78(a)(8), EPA will deem gasoline
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that is in compliance with the
regulatory requirements implementing
section 211(h) to be certified under that
section. Regarding the requirement that
retailers retain and make available to
EPA upon request ‘‘certifications’’
accounting for all gasoline at the retail
outlet, EPA will deem this requirement
fulfilled where the retailer retains and
makes available to EPA, upon request,
the product transfer documentation
required under § 80.77 for all gasoline at
the retail outlet.
Under today’s direct final rule, the
provisions which allow retailers to sell
non-ethanol-blended RFG that has been
combined with ethanol-blended RFG
also apply to wholesale purchaserconsumers. Like retailers, wholesale
purchaser-consumers are parties who
dispense gasoline into vehicles, and
EPA interprets the Energy Act reference
to retailers as applying equally to them.
As a result, wholesale purchaserconsumers are treated in the same
manner as retailers under this rule. This
is consistent with the manner in which
wholesale purchaser-consumers have
been treated in the past under the fuels
regulations.
Most of the provisions of this rule are
necessary to implement amendments to
the Clean Air Act included in the
Energy Act that eliminate the RFG
oxygen content requirement and allow
limited commingling of ethanol-blended
and non-ethanol-blended RFG. The
extension of the general commingling
prohibition in the fuels regulations to
cover non-oxygenated RFG, and the
provisions requiring refiners and
importers to conduct oversight of
downstream blenders adding oxygen to
RBOB, are necessary because of the
Energy Act amendments, but are issued
pursuant to authority of CAA section
211(k). Both provisions extend current
programs to reflect the presence of nonoxygenated RFG, and are designed to
enhance environmental benefits of the
RFG program at reasonable cost to
regulated parties.
IV. Environmental Effects of This
Action
Little or no environmental impact is
anticipated to occur as a result of
today’s action to remove the oxygenate
requirement for RFG. The RFG
standards consist of content and
emission performance standards.
Refiners and importers will have to
continue to meet all the emission
performance standards for RFG whether
or not the RFG contains any oxygenate.
This includes both the VOC and NOX
emission performance standards, as well
as the air toxics emission performance
standards which were tightened in the
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mobile source air toxics (MSAT) rule in
2001.8 New MSAT standards currently
under development are anticipated to
achieve even greater air toxics emission
reductions.
We have analyzed the potential
impacts on emissions that could result
from removal of the oxygenate
requirement in the context of requests
for waivers of the Federal oxygen
requirement.9 We found that changes in
ethanol use could lead to small
increases in some emissions and small
decreases in others while still meeting
the RFG performance standards. These
potential impacts are associated with
the degree to which ethanol will
continue to be blended into RFG after
removal of the oxygen requirement. Past
analyses have projected significant use
of ethanol in RFG in California despite
removal of the oxygenate requirement.10
Given current gasoline prices and the
tightness in the gasoline market, the
favorable economics of ethanol
blending, a continuing concern over
MTBE use by refiners, the emission
performance standards still in place for
RFG, and the upcoming renewable fuels
mandate,11 we believe that ethanol will
continue to be used in RFG after the
oxygen requirement is removed, and
that as MTBE is phased out, it is likely
to be replaced with ethanol to a large
degree despite the removal of the
oxygenate requirement. As a result, we
believe that the removal of the
oxygenate mandate will have little or no
environmental impact in the near
future. We will be looking at the long
term effect of oxygenate use in the
context of the rulemaking to implement
the renewable fuels mandate.
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866, (58 FR
51735 (October 4, 1993)) the Agency
must determine whether the regulatory
action is ‘‘significant’’ and therefore
subject to OMB review and the
requirements of the Executive Order.
The Order defines ‘‘significant
8 66
FR 17230 (March 29, 2001).
e.g., California Oxygen Waiver Decision,
EPA420-S–05–005 (June 2005); Analysis of and
Action on New York Department of Conservation’s
Request for a Waiver of the Oxygen Content
Requirement in Federal Reformulated Gasoline,
EPA420–D–05–06 (June 2005).
10 Technical Support Document: Analysis of
California’s Request for Waiver of the Reformulated
Gasoline Oxygen Content Requirement for
California Covered Areas, EPA420–R–01–016 (June
2001).
11 Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109–
58 (HR6), section 1501, 119 STAT 594, 1067–1076,
(2005).
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9 See
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regulatory action’’ as one that is likely
to result in a rule that may:
(1) Have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the
economy, a sector of the economy,
productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees,
or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
set forth in the Executive Order.
It has been determined that this direct
final rule does not satisfy the criteria
stated above. As a result, this rule is not
a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under
the terms of Executive Order 12866 and
is therefore not subject to OMB review.
Today’s rule removes certain
requirements for all refiners, importers
and oxygenate blenders of RFG.
Although small additional compliance
costs may be incurred by some refiners
and importers as a result of this rule, on
balance, this rule is expected to greatly
reduce overall compliance costs for all
refiners, importers and oxygenate
blenders. This rule also provides
options for gasoline retailers to
commingle certain compliant gasolines
which otherwise would be prohibited
from being commingled. Although there
may be small compliance costs
associated with one of these options, we
believe that the additional flexibility
provided by this option will reduce
overall compliance costs for these
parties.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The modifications to the RFG
information collection requirements in
this rule have been submitted for
approval to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
The information collection
modifications are not enforceable until
OMB approves them.
This rule will have the effect of
reducing the burdens on certain
regulated parties under the reformulated
gasoline regulations. All parties
currently subject to the requirement to
submit an annual oxygen averaging
report will no longer be required to
submit such report, resulting in an
estimated total burden reduction of 100
hours and $6,500(100 parties × 1 report/
yr × 1 hr/report × $65/hr). Oxygenate
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8979
blenders currently subject to the
following requirements will no longer
be subject to these requirements and
associated burdens:
RFG batch reports: Total 2500 hours,
$162,500(25 blenders × 100 reports/yr ×
1 hr/report × $65/hr) plus $600,000 in
purchased services;
RFG annual report: Total 25 hours,
$1,625(25 blenders × 1 report/yr × 1 hr/
report × $65/hr);
RFG survey reports: Total 500 hours,
$32,500(25 blenders × 1 report/yr × 20
hrs/report × $65/hr) plus $1,200,000 for
purchased services;
RFG attest engagement reports: Total
3000 hours, $195,000(25 blenders × 1
report/yr × 120 hrs/report × $65/hr) plus
$250,000 for purchased services.
The estimated total reduction in
burdens for this rule is 6,125 hours and
$398,125, plus $2,050,000 in purchased
services.
Small testing costs may be associated
with one of the options for gasoline
retailers to commingle compliant
gasolines. However, these testing costs
are expected to be minimal and will be
greatly outweighed by the flexibility
provided by the option to commingle
compliant gasolines.
Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose
or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop,
acquire, install, and utilize technology
and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9. When
this ICR is approved by OMB, the
Agency will publish a technical
amendment to 40 CFR part 9 in the
Federal Register to display the OMB
control number for the approved
information collection requirements
contained in this direct final rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
generally requires an agency to prepare
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a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
rulemaking requirements under the
Administrative Procedures Act or any
other statute unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities
include small businesses, small
organizations, and small governmental
jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts
of today’s rule on small entities, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business
as defined by the Small Business
Administration’s regulations at 13 CFR
121.201; (2) a small governmental
jurisdiction that is a government of a
city, county, town, school district or
special district with a population of less
than 50,000; and (3) a small
organization that is any not-for-profit
enterprise which is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field.
After considering the economic
impacts of today’s rule on small entities,
I certify that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. In
determining whether a rule has a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, the
impact of concern is any significant
adverse economic impact on small
entities, since the primary purpose of
the regulatory flexibility analyses is to
identify and address regulatory
alternatives ‘‘which minimize any
significant economic impact of the
proposed rule on small entities.’’ 5
U.S.C. 603 and 604. Thus, an agency
may conclude that a rule will not have
a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities if
the rule relieves regulatory burden, or
otherwise has a positive economic effect
on all of the small entities subject to the
rule.
This direct final rule removes certain
requirements for all refiners, importers
and oxygenate blenders of RFG,
including small business refiners,
importers and oxygenate blenders.
Specifically, this rule removes the
burden on refiners, importers and
oxygenate blenders to comply with the
RFG oxygen requirement and associated
compliance requirements. Although in
certain situations some refiners and
importers, including some small refiners
and importers, may be required to
conduct additional oversight of
oxygenate blenders, we believe that the
relief from the burden of complying
with the oxygen requirement will more
than outweigh the burden of having to
conduct any additional oversight. This
rule also provides options for gasoline
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retailers, including small gasoline
retailers, to commingle certain
compliant gasolines which otherwise
would be prohibited from being
commingled. Although there may be
small compliance costs associated with
one of these options, we believe that the
additional flexibility provided by this
option will reduce overall compliance
costs for these parties. We have
therefore concluded that today’s direct
final rule will relieve regulatory burden
for all small entities subject to the RFG
regulations.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104–4, establishes requirements for
Federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on State, local,
and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
EPA generally must prepare a written
statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules
with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures to State, local,
and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or to the private sector, of $100 million
or more in any one year. Before
promulgating an EPA rule for which a
written statement is needed, section 205
of the UMRA generally requires EPA to
identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives and
adopt the least costly, most costeffective or least burdensome alternative
that achieves the objectives of the rule.
The provisions of section 205 do not
apply when they are inconsistent with
applicable law. Moreover, section 205
allows EPA to adopt an alternative other
than the least costly, most cost-effective
or least burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final
rule an explanation why that alternative
was not adopted. Before EPA establishes
any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed
under section 203 of the UMRA a small
government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments
to have meaningful and timely input in
the development of EPA regulatory
proposals with significant Federal
intergovernmental mandates, and
informing, educating, and advising
small governments on compliance with
the regulatory requirements.
Today’s direct final rule contains no
Federal mandates (under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for
State, local or tribal governments or the
private sector that will result in
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expenditures of $100 million or more.
This rule affects gasoline refiners,
importers and oxygenate blenders by
removing the oxygen content
requirement for RFG and associated
compliance requirements. This rule also
allows gasoline retailers an option to
commingle certain compliant gasolines
which otherwise would be prohibited
from being commingled. As a result, this
rule will have the overall effect of
reducing the burden of the RFG
regulations on these regulated parties.
Therefore, the requirements of the
Unfunded Mandates Act do not apply to
this action.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Order 13132, entitled
‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999), requires EPA to develop an
accountable process to ensure
‘‘meaningful and timely input by State
and local officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have federalism
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have
federalism implications’’ is defined in
the Executive Order to include
regulations that 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.’’
This direct final rule does not have
federalism implications. It will 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. This rule
removes the oxygen standard for RFG
and provides gasoline retailers the
option to commingle certain compliant
gasolines that otherwise would be
prohibited from being commingled. The
requirements of the rule will be
enforced by the Federal government at
the national level. Thus, Executive
Order 13132 does not apply to this rule.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled
‘‘Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR
67249, November 6, 2000), requires EPA
to develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have tribal
implications’’ is defined in the
Executive Order to include regulations
that have ‘‘substantial direct effects on
one or more Indian tribes, on the
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relationship between the Federal
government and the Indian tribes, or on
the distribution of power and
responsibilities between the Federal
government and Indian tribes.’’
This direct final rule does not have
tribal implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on tribal
governments, 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 in Executive Order 13175.
This rule applies to gasoline refiners
and importers who supply RFG, and to
other parties downstream in the
gasoline distribution system. Today’s
action contains certain modifications to
the Federal requirements for RFG, and
does not impose any enforceable duties
on communities of Indian tribal
governments. Thus, Executive Order
13175 does not apply to this rule.
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G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045: ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that:
(1) Is determined to be ‘‘economically
significant’’ as defined under Executive
Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that
EPA has reason to believe may have a
disproportionate effect on children. If
the regulatory action meets both criteria,
the Agency must evaluate the
environmental health or safety effects of
the planned rule on children, and
explain why the planned regulation is
preferable to other potentially effective
and reasonably feasible alternatives
considered by the Agency.
EPA interprets Executive Order 13045
as applying only to those regulatory
actions that are based on health or safety
risks, such that the analysis required
under the Order has the potential to
influence the regulation. This direct
final rule is not subject to Executive
Order 13045 because it is not
economically significant and does not
establish an environmental standard
intended to mitigate health or safety
risks.
H. Executive Order 13211: Acts That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This direct final rule is not an
economically ‘‘significant energy
action’’ as defined in Executive Order
13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations
That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355 (May
22, 2001)) because it does not have a
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significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy. This rule
eliminates the oxygen content
requirement for RFG and associated
compliance requirements. This change
will have the effect of reducing burdens
on suppliers of RFG, which, in turn,
may have a positive effect on gasoline
supplies. RFG refiners and blenders may
continue to use oxygenates at their
discretion where and when it is most
economical to do so. With the
implementation of the renewable fuels
standard also contained in the Energy
Act, the blending of ethanol, in
particular, into gasoline is expected to
increase considerably, not decrease.
Therefore, despite this action to remove
the oxygenate mandate in RFG, when
viewed in the context of companion
energy legislation, overall use of
oxygenates is expected to increase in the
future. This rule also allows gasoline
retailers to commingle certain compliant
gasolines which otherwise would be
prohibited from being commingled. This
also may have a positive effect on
gasoline supplies.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law
104–113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272
note) directs EPA to use voluntary
consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be
inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary
consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications,
test methods, sampling procedures, and
business practices) that are developed or
adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies. The NTTAA directs
EPA to provide Congress, through OMB,
explanations when the Agency decides
not to use available and applicable
voluntary consensus standards.
This direct final rule does not
establish new technical standards
within the meaning of the NTTAA.
Therefore, EPA did not consider the use
of any voluntary consensus standards.
J. Congressional Review Act
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 rule and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
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8981
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(a).
K. Clean Air Act Section 307(d)
This rule is subject to section 307(d)
of the CAA. Section 307(d)(7)(B)
provides that ‘‘[o]nly an objection to a
rule or procedure which was raised with
reasonable specificity during the period
for public comment (including any
public hearing) may be raised during
judicial review.’’ This section also
provides a mechanism for the EPA to
convene a proceeding for
reconsideration, ‘‘[i]f the person raising
an objection can demonstrate to the EPA
that it was impracticable to raise such
objection within [the period for public
comment] or if the grounds for such
objection arose after the period for
public comment (but within the time
specified for judicial review) and if such
objection is of central relevance to the
outcome of the rule.’’ Any person
seeking to make such a demonstration to
the EPA should submit a Petition for
Reconsideration to the Office of the
Administrator, U.S. EPA, Room 3000,
Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, with
a copy to both the person(s) listed in the
preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section, and the Director of the
Air and Radiation Law Office, Office of
General Counsel (Mail Code 2344A),
U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20004.
VI. Statutory Provisions and Legal
Authority
The statutory authority for the actions
in today’s direct final rule comes from
sections 211(c), 211(k) and 301(a) of the
CAA.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 80
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Fuel additives,
Gasoline, Motor vehicle pollution,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: February 14, 2006.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Administrator.
I
40 CFR part 80 is amended as follows:
PART 80—REGULATION OF FUELS
AND FUEL ADDITIVES
1. The authority citation for part 80
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7545 and
7601(a)).
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Subpart A—[Amended]
2. Section 80.2 is amended by revising
paragraph (ii) to read as follows:
I
§ 80.2
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
(ii) Reformulated gasoline credit
means the unit of measure for the paper
transfer of benzene content resulting
from reformulated gasoline which
contains less than 0.95 volume percent
benzene.
*
*
*
*
*
Subpart D—[Amended]
§ 80.65 General requirements for refiners
and importers.
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) Those standards and requirements
it designated under paragraph (d) of this
‘‘Oxygen content (percent, by
section for average compliance on an
weight) ............................................ ≥2.0’’; average basis over the applicable
averaging period.
I b. In the table in paragraph (f),
(2) [Reserved]
removing the entry
(3)(i) For each averaging period, and
separately for each parameter that may
‘‘Oxygen
content
(percent
by
be met either per-gallon or on average,
weight):
Standard ......................................
≥2.1 any refiner shall designate for each
Per-Gallon Minimum ................. ≥1.5’’ refinery, or any importer shall designate
its gasoline or RBOB as being subject to
I b. Removing and reserving paragraph
the standard applicable to that
(o); and
parameter on either a per-gallon or
I c. Revising paragraph (q) heading and
average basis. For any specific averaging
introductory text and (q)(1), with
paragraphs (o) and (q) to read as follows: period and parameter all batches of
gasoline or RBOB shall be designated as
§ 80.41 Standards and requirements for
being subject to the per-gallon standard,
compliance.
or all batches of gasoline and RBOB
*
*
*
*
*
shall be designated as being subject to
the average standard. For any specific
(o) [Reserved]
averaging period and parameter a refiner
for a refinery, or any importer may not
*
*
*
*
*
(q) Refineries and importers subject to designate certain batches as being
subject to the per-gallon standard and
adjusted standards. Standards for
others as being subject to the average
average compliance that are adjusted to
be more or less stringent by operation of standard.
(ii) In the event any refiner for a
paragraphs (k), (l) (m) or (n) of this
refinery, or any importer fails to meet
section apply to average reformulated
the requirements of paragraph (c)(3)(i) of
gasoline produced at each refinery or
this section and for a specific averaging
imported by each importer as follows:
period and parameter designates certain
(1) Adjusted standards for a covered
batches as being subject to the perarea apply to averaged reformulated
gasoline that is produced at a refinery if: gallon standard and others as being
subject to the average, all batches
(i) Any averaged reformulated
gasoline from that refinery supplied the produced or imported during the
averaging period that were designated as
covered area during any year a survey
being subject to the average standard
was conducted which gave rise to a
shall, ab initio, be redesignated as being
standards adjustment; or
subject to the per-gallon standard. This
(ii) Any averaged reformulated
redesignation shall apply regardless of
gasoline from that refinery supplies the
whether the batches in question met or
covered area during any year that the
failed to meet the per-gallon standard
standards are more stringent than the
for the parameter in question.
initial standards; unless
(iii) The refiner is able to show that
*
*
*
*
*
the volume of averaged reformulated
(d) * * *
(2) * * *
gasoline from a refinery that supplied
(v) * * *
the covered area during any years under
(D) [Reserved]
paragraphs (q)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section
*
*
*
*
*
was less than one percent of the
3. Section 80.41 is amended by:
a. In the table in paragraph (e),
removing the entry
I
I
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reformulated gasoline produced at the
refinery during that year, or 100,000
barrels, whichever is less.
*
*
*
*
*
I 4. Section 80.65 is amended by:
I a. Revising the heading;
I b. Revising paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) and
(c)(3), removing and reserving paragraph
(c)(2) and removing paragraph (c)(1)(iii);
I c. Revising paragraph (d)(2)(vi),
removing and reserving (d)(2)(v)(D); and
I d. Revising paragraph (h) to read as
follows:
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*
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(vi) In the case of RBOB, the gasoline
must be designated as RBOB and the
designation must include the type(s)
and amount(s) of oxygenate required to
be blended with the RBOB.
*
*
*
*
*
(3) Every batch of reformulated or
conventional gasoline or RBOB
produced or imported at each refinery
or import facility shall be assigned a
number (the ‘‘batch number’’),
consisting of the EPA-assigned refiner or
importer registration number, the EPA
facility registration number, the last two
digits of the year in which the batch was
produced, and a unique number for the
batch, beginning with the number one
for the first batch produced or imported
each calendar year and each subsequent
batch during the calendar year being
assigned the next sequential number
(e.g., 4321–54321–95–000001, 4321–
543321–95–000002, etc.)
*
*
*
*
*
(h) Compliance audits. Any refiner
and importer of any reformulated
gasoline or RBOB shall have the
reformulated gasoline and RBOB it
produced or imported during each
calendar year audited for compliance
with the requirements of this subpart D,
in accordance with the requirements of
subpart F, at the conclusion of each
calendar year.
*
*
*
*
*
I 5. Section 80.67 is amended by:
I a. Revising paragraphs (a)(1) and
(a)(2)(i)(A);
I b. Removing and reserving paragraph
(b)(3);
I c. Removing and reserving paragraph
(f);
I d. Revising paragraphs (g)
introductory text, (g)(3), (g)(5)
introductory text, (g)(6) introductory
text, and removing and reserving
paragraphs (g)(5)(i) and (g)(6)(i); and
I e. Revising paragraphs (h)(1)
introductory text, (h)(1)(iv), (h)(1)(v) and
(h)(3)(ii), and removing paragraphs
(h)(1)(vi), (h)(1)(vii) and (h)(1)(viii), to
read as follows:
§ 80.67
Compliance on average
*
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(1) Any refiner or importer that
complies with the compliance survey
requirements of § 80.68 has the option
of meeting the standards specified in
§ 80.41 for average compliance in
addition to the option of meeting the
standards specified in § 80.41 for pergallon compliance; any refiner or
importer that does not comply with the
survey requirements must meet the
standards specified in § 80.41 for pergallon compliance, and does not have
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 22, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
the option of meeting standards on
average.
(2)(i)(A) A refiner or importer that
produces or imports reformulated
gasoline that exceeds the average
standard for benzene (but not for other
parameters that have average standards)
may use such gasoline to offset
reformulated gasoline which does not
achieve this average standard, but only
if the reformulated gasoline that does
not achieve this average standard is sold
to ultimate consumers in the same
covered area as was the reformulated
gasoline which exceeds the average
standard; provided that:
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(3) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(f) [Reserved]
(g) * * * To determine compliance
with the averaged standards in § 80.41,
any refiner for each of its refineries at
which averaged reformulated gasoline
or RBOB is produced, and any importer
that imports averaged reformulated
gasoline or RBOB shall, for each
averaging period and for each portion of
gasoline for which standards must be
separately achieved, and for each
relevant standard, calculate:
*
*
*
*
*
(3) For the VOC, NOX, and toxics
emissions performance standards, the
actual totals must be equal to or greater
than the compliance totals to achieve
compliance.
*
*
*
*
*
(5) If the actual total for the benzene
standard is greater than the compliance
total, credits for this parameter must be
obtained from another refiner or
importer in order to achieve
compliance:
(i) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(6) If the actual total for the benzene
standard is less than the compliance
totals, credits for this parameter are
generated.
(i) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(h) * * *
(1) Compliance with the averaged
standards specified in § 80.41 for
benzene (but for no other standards or
requirements) may be achieved through
the transfer of benzene credits provided
that:
*
*
*
*
*
(iv) The credits are transferred, either
through inter-company or intracompany transfers, directly from the
refiner or importer that creates the
credits to the refiner or importer that
uses the credits to achieve compliance;
and
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13:17 Feb 21, 2006
Jkt 208001
(v) Benzene credits are not used to
achieve compliance with the maximum
benzene content standards in § 80.41.
*
*
*
*
*
(3) * * *
(ii) No refiner or importer may create,
report, or transfer improperly created
credits; and
*
*
*
*
*
I 6. Section 80.68 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a) introductory
text, (a)(3), (b) introductory text,
(b)(4)(i), (b)(4)(ii), (c)(3), (c)(4)(i), and
(c)(13)(v)(L), and removing and
reserving paragraph (c)(12) to read as
follows:
§ 80.68
Compliance surveys.
(a) * * * In order to satisfy the
compliance survey requirements, any
refiner or importer shall properly
conduct a program of compliance
surveys in accordance with a survey
program plan which has been approved
by the Administrator of EPA in each
covered area which is supplied with any
gasoline for which compliance is
achieved on average that is produced by
that refinery or imported by that
importer. Such approval shall be based
upon the survey program plan meeting
the following criteria:
*
*
*
*
*
(3) In the event that any refiner or
importer fails to properly carry out an
approved survey program, the refiner or
importer shall achieve compliance with
all applicable standards on a per-gallon
basis for the calendar year in which the
failure occurs, and may not achieve
compliance with any standard on an
average basis during this calendar year.
This requirement to achieve compliance
per-gallon shall apply ab initio to the
beginning of any calendar year in which
the failure occurs, regardless of when
during the year the failure occurs.
(b) * * * A refiner or importer shall
be deemed to have satisfied the
compliance survey requirements
described in paragraph (a) of this
section if a comprehensive program of
surveys is properly conducted in
accordance with a survey program plan
which has been approved by the
Administrator of EPA. Such approval
shall be based upon the survey program
plan meeting the following criteria:
*
*
*
*
*
(4) * * *
(i) Each refiner or importer who
supplied any reformulated gasoline or
RBOB to the covered area and who has
not satisfied the survey requirements
described in paragraph (a) of this
section shall be deemed to have failed
to carry out an approved survey
program; and
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8983
(ii) The covered area will be deemed
to have failed surveys for VOC and NOX
emissions performance, and survey
series for benzene and toxic and NOX
emissions performance.
(c) * * *
(3)(i) A VOC survey and a NOX survey
shall consist of any survey conducted
during the period June 1 through
September 15;
(ii) A sample of gasoline taken at a
retail outlet or wholesale purchaserconsumer facility that has within the
past 30 days commingled ethanol
blended reformulated gasoline with
non-ethanol blended reformulated
gasoline in accordance with the
provisions in § 80.78(a)(8) shall not be
used in a VOC survey required under
this section.
(4)(i) A toxics and benzene survey
series shall consist of all surveys
conducted in a single covered area
during a single calendar year.
*
*
*
*
*
(12) [Reserved]
(13) * * *
(v) * * *
(L) The average toxics emissions
reduction percentage for simple model
samples and the percentage for complex
model samples, the average benzene
percentage, and for each survey
conducted during the period June 1
through September 15, the average VOC
emissions reduction percentage for
simple model samples and the
percentage for complex model samples,
and the average NOX emissions
reduction percentage for all complex
model samples;
*
*
*
*
*
I 7. Section 80.69 is amended by:
I a. Revising paragraphs (a)(6)(ii) and
(iii), (a)(10) introductory text, removing
and reserving paragraphs (a)(8) and
(a)(9), and removing paragraph (a)(6)(iv);
I b. Revising paragraph (b);
I c. Removing and reserving paragraph
(c);
I d. Revising paragraph (d); and
I e. Revising paragraph (e), to read as
follows:
§ 80.69 Requirements for downstream
oxygenate blending.
*
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(6) * * *
(ii) Allow the refiner or importer to
conduct the quality assurance sampling
and testing required under this
paragraph (a); and
(iii) Stop selling any gasoline found
not to comply with the standards under
which the RBOB was produced or
imported.
*
*
*
*
*
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(8) [Reserved]
(9) [Reserved]
(10) Specify in the product transfer
documentation for the RBOB each
oxygenate type or types and amount or
range of amounts which, if blended with
the RBOB will result in reformulated
gasoline which:
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Requirements for oxygenate
blenders. For all RBOB received by any
oxygenate blender, the oxygenate
blender shall:
(1) Add oxygenate of the type(s) and
amount (or within the range of amounts)
specified in the product transfer
documents for the RBOB; and
(2) Meet the recordkeeping
requirements specified in § 80.74.
(c) [Reserved]
(d) Requirements for distributors
dispensing RBOB into trucks for
blending. Any distributor who
dispenses any RBOB into any truck
which delivers gasoline to retail outlets
or wholesale purchase-consumer
facilities, shall for such RBOB so
dispensed:
(1) Transfer the RBOB only to an
oxygenate blender who has registered
with the Administrator or EPA as such;
and
(2) Obtain from the oxygenate blender
the oxygenate blender’s EPA registration
number.
(e) Additional requirements for
oxygenate blenders who blend
oxygenate in trucks. Any oxygenate
blender who obtains any RBOB in any
gasoline delivery truck shall on each
occasion it obtains RBOB from a
distributor, supply the distributor with
the oxygenate blender’s EPA registration
number.
I 8. Section 80.73 is amended by
revising the introductory text to read as
follows:
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES
§ 80.73 Inability to produce conforming
gasoline in extraordinary circumstances.
In appropriate extreme and unusual
circumstances (e.g., natural disaster or
Act of God) which are clearly outside
the control of the refiner, importer, or
oxygenate blender and which could not
have been avoided by the exercise of
prudence, diligence, and due care, EPA
may permit a refiner, importer, or
oxygenate blender, for a brief period, to
distribute gasoline which does not meet
the requirements for reformulated
gasoline, or does not contain the type(s)
and amount(s) of oxygenate required
under § 80.69(b)(1), if:
*
*
*
*
*
I 9. Section 80.74 is amended by
revising paragraph (c) heading and
introductory text, (c)(2), and (d)
introductory text to read as follows:
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§ 80.74
Recordkeeping requirements.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) Refiners and importers of averaged
gasoline. In addition to other
requirements of this section, any refiner
or importer who produces or imports
any reformulated gasoline for which
compliance with one or more applicable
standard is determined on an average
shall maintain records containing the
following information:
*
*
*
*
*
(2) For any credits bought, sold,
traded or transferred pursuant to
§ 80.67(h), the dates of the transactions,
the names and EPA registration
numbers of the parties involved, and the
number of credits transferred.
(d) * * * Any oxygenate blender who
blends any oxygenate with any RBOB
shall, for each occasion such blending
occurs, maintain records containing the
following:
*
*
*
*
*
I 10. Section 80.75 is amended by
revising the introductory text, paragraph
(a) introductory text, (h), (i), (l), (m) and
(n)(2); and removing and reserving
paragraphs (a)(2)(vii) and (f) to read as
follows:
§ 80.75
Reporting requirements.
Any refiner or importer shall report as
specified in this section, and shall
report such other information as the
Administrator may require.
(a) * * * Any refiner or importer that
produces or imports any reformulated
gasoline or RBOB shall submit quarterly
reports to the Administrator for each
refinery at which such reformulated
gasoline or RBOB was produced and for
all such reformulated gasoline or RBOB
imported by each importer. The refiner
or importer shall include notification to
EPA of per-gallon versus average
election with the first quarterly reports
submitted each year.
*
*
*
*
*
(2) * * *
(vii) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(f) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(h) Credit transfer reports. As an
additional part of the fourth quarterly
report required by this section, any
refiner or importer shall, for each
refinery or importer, supply the
following information for any benzene
credits that are transferred from or to
another refinery or importer:
(1) The names, EPA-assigned
registration numbers and facility
identification numbers of the transferor
and transferee of the credits;
(2) The number(s) of credits that were
transferred; and
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(3) The date(s) of the transaction(s).
(i) Covered areas of gasoline use
report. Any refiner that produced any
reformulated gasoline that was to meet
any reformulated gasoline standard on
average (‘‘averaged reformulated
gasoline’’) shall, for each refinery at
which such averaged reformulated
gasoline was produced submit to the
Administrator, with the fourth quarterly
report, a report that contains the
identity of each covered area that was
supplied with any averaged
reformulated gasoline produced at each
refinery during the previous year.
*
*
*
*
*
(l) Reports for per-gallon compliance
gasoline. In the case of reformulated
gasoline or RBOB for which compliance
with each of the standards set forth in
§ 80.41 is achieved on a per-gallon basis,
the refiner or importer shall submit to
the Administrator, by the last day of
February of each year beginning in
1996, a report of the volume of each
designated reformulated gasoline or
RBOB produced or imported during the
previous calendar year for which
compliance is achieved on a per-gallon
basis, and a statement that each gallon
of this reformulated gasoline or RBOB
met the applicable standards.
(m) Reports of compliance audits.
Any refiner or importer shall cause to be
submitted to the Administrator, by May
31 of each year, the report of the
compliance audit required by § 80.65(h).
(n) * * *
(2) Signed and certified as correct by
the owner or a responsible corporate
officer of the refiner or importer.
I 11. Section 80.76 is amended by
revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 80.76 Registration of refiners, importers
or oxygenate blenders.
(a) Registration with the
Administrator of EPA is required for any
refiner and importer that produces or
imports any reformulated gasoline or
RBOB, and any oxygenate blender that
blends oxygenate into RBOB.
*
*
*
*
*
I 12. Section 80.77 is amended by
removing and reserving paragraph
(g)(2)(ii) and revising paragraph (i)(1) to
read as follows:
§ 80.77
Product transfer documentation.
*
*
*
*
*
(g) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(i) * * *
(1) The oxygenate type(s) and
amount(s) that are suitable for blending
with the RBOB;
*
*
*
*
*
E:\FR\FM\22FER1.SGM
22FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 22, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
13. Section 80.78 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a)(8) and
(a)(11)(iv), and removing and reserving
paragraph (a)(1)(ii) to read as follows:
I
§ 80.78 Controls and prohibitions on
reformulated gasoline.
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES
*
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) [Reserved]
*
*
*
*
*
(8)(i) No person may combine any
ethanol-blended VOC-controlled
reformulated gasoline with any nonethanol-blended VOC-controlled
reformulated gasoline during the period
January 1 through September 15, except
that:
(ii) Notwithstanding the prohibition
in paragraph (a)(8)(i), retailers and
wholesale purchaser-consumers may
combine at a retail outlet or wholesale
purchaser-consumer facility ethanolblended VOC-controlled reformulated
gasoline with non-ethanol-blended
VOC-controlled reformulated gasoline,
provided that the retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer:
(A) Combines only batches of
reformulated gasoline that have been
certified under this subpart;
(B) Notifies EPA prior to combining
the gasolines and identifies the exact
location of the retail outlet or wholesale
purchase-consumer facility and the
specific tank in which the gasolines will
be combined;
(C) Retains and, upon request by EPA,
makes available for inspection product
transfer documentation accounting for
all gasoline at the retail outlet or
wholesale purchaser-consumer facility;
and
(D) Does not combine any VOCcontrolled gasoline with any non-VOC
controlled gasoline between June 1 and
September 15 of each calendar year;
(iii) A retailer or wholesale purchaserconsumer may combine ethanolblended reformulated gasoline with
non-ethanol-blended reformulated
gasoline under paragraph (a)(8)(ii) of
this section a maximum of two periods
between May 1 and September 15 of
each calendar year, each such period to
extend for a period of no more than ten
consecutive calendar days. At the end of
the ten-day period, the gasoline must be
in compliance with the VOC minimum
standard under § 80.41.
(A) The retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer may demonstrate
compliance with the VOC minimum
standard by testing the gasoline at the
end of the ten-day period using the test
methods in § 80.46, where the test
results show that the gasoline meets the
VOC minimum standard. Under this
VerDate Aug<31>2005
13:17 Feb 21, 2006
Jkt 208001
option, the retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer may add both
ethanol-blended reformulated gasoline
and non-ethanol-blended reformulated
gasoline to the same tank an unlimited
number of times during the ten-day
period; or
(B) The retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer will be deemed in
compliance with the VOC minimum
standard where the retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer draws the tank
down as low as practicable before
receiving product of the other type into
the tank and receives only product of
the other type into the tank during the
ten-day period. Under this option, the
retailer or wholesale purchaserconsumer is not required to test the
gasoline at the end of the ten-day
period.
(iv) Nothing in paragraphs (a)(8)(ii) or
(iii) of this section shall preempt
existing State laws or regulations
regulating the combining of ethanolblended reformulated gasoline with
non-ethanol-blended reformulated
gasoline or prohibit a State from
adopting such laws or regulations in the
future.
*
*
*
*
*
(11) * * *
(iv) When transitioning from RBOB to
reformulated gasoline, the reformulated
gasoline must meet all applicable
standards that apply at the terminal
subsequent to any oxygenate blending;
*
*
*
*
*
14. Section 80.79 is amended by
adding paragraph (a)(5) and revising
paragraph (c)(1) to read as follows:
I
§ 80.79 Liability for violations of the
prohibited activities.
(a) * * *
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions in
paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this
section: (i) Only a retailer or wholesale
purchaser-consumer shall be deemed in
violation for combining gasolines in a
manner that is inconsistent with
§ 80.78(a)(8)(ii) or (iii), or for gasoline
which does not comply with the VOC
minimum standard under § 80.41 after
the retailer or wholesale purchaserconsumer combines or causes the
combining of compliant gasolines in a
manner inconsistent with
§ 80.78(a)(8)(ii) or (iii);
(ii) No person shall be deemed in
violation for gasoline which does not
comply with the VOC minimum
standard under § 80.41 where the noncompliance is solely due to the
combining of compliant gasolines by a
retailer or wholesale purchaser-
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
8985
consumer in a manner that is consistent
with § 80.78(a)(8)(ii) and (iii).
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(1) Of a periodic sampling and testing
program to determine if the applicable
maximum and/or minimum standards
for benzene, RVP, or VOC emission
performance are met.
*
*
*
*
*
I 15. Section 80.81 is amended by
revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) to
read as follows:
§ 80.81 Enforcement exemptions for
California gasoline.
*
*
*
*
*
(b)(1) Any refiner or importer of
gasoline that is sold, intended for sale,
or made available for sale as a motor
fuel in the State of California is, with
regard to such gasoline, exempt from the
compliance survey provisions contained
in § 80.68.
(2) Any refiner or importer of
California gasoline is, with regard to
such gasoline, exempt from the
independent analysis requirements
contained in § 80.65(f).
*
*
*
*
*
Subpart F—[Amended]
16. Section 80.125 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a), (c) and (d)
introductory text, to read as follows:
I
§ 80.125
Attest engagements.
(a) Any refiner and importer subject to
the requirements of this subpart F shall
engage an independent certified public
accountant, or firm of such accountants
(hereinafter referred to in this subpart F
as ‘‘CPA’’), to perform an agreed-upon
procedures attestation engagement of
the underlying documentation that
forms the basis of the reports required
by §§ 80.75 and 80.105.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) The CPA may complete the
requirements of this subpart F with the
assistance of internal auditors who are
employees or agents of the refiner or
importer, so long as such assistance is
in accordance with the Statements on
Standards for Attestation Engagements.
(d) Notwithstanding the requirements
of paragraph (a) of this section, any
refiner or importer may satisfy the
requirements of this subpart F if the
requirements of this subpart F are
completed by an auditor who is an
employee of the refiner or importer,
provided that such employee:
*
*
*
*
*
I 17. Section 80.126 is amended by
revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
E:\FR\FM\22FER1.SGM
22FER1
8986
§ 80.126
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 22, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Credit Trading Records. Credit
trading records shall include worksheets
and EPA reports showing actual and
complying totals for benzene; credit
calculation worksheets; contracts; letter
agreements; and invoices and other
documentation evidencing the transfer
of credits.
*
*
*
*
*
I 18. Section 80.128 is amended by
revising paragraph (e)(2) to read as
follows:
§ 80.128 Alternative agreed upon
procedures for refiners and importers.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
(2) Determine that the requisite
contract was in place with the
downstream blender designating the
required blending procedures;
*
*
*
*
*
I 19. Section 80.129 is removed and
reserved.
I 20. Section 80.130 is amended by
revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 80.130
Agreed upon procedures reports.
(a) Reports. (1) The CPA or CIA shall
issue to the refiner or importer a report
summarizing the procedures performed
in the findings in accordance with the
attest engagement or internal audit
performed in compliance with this
subpart.
(2) The refiner or importer shall
provide a copy of the auditor’s report to
the EPA within the time specified in
§ 80.75(m).
*
*
*
*
*
I 21. Section 80.133 is amended by
revising paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(4) to
read as follows:
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES
*
*
*
*
(h) * * *
(1) Obtain from the refiner or importer
the oxygenate type and volume, and
oxygen volume required to be hand
blended with the RBOB, in accordance
with § 80.69(a)(2).
*
*
*
*
*
(4) Perform the following procedures
for each batch report included in
paragraph (h)(4)(i)(B) of this section:
(i) Obtain and inspect a copy of the
executed contract with the downstream
oxygenate blender (or with an
intermediate owner), and confirm that
the contract:
(A) Was in effect at the time of the
corresponding RBOB transfer; and
(B) Allowed the company to sample
and test the reformulated gasoline made
by the blender.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
13:17 Feb 21, 2006
Jkt 208001
[FR Doc. 06–1612 Filed 2–21–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[DA 06–303, MB Docket No. 05–52, RM–
10300]
Digital Television Broadcast Service;
Johnstown and Jeannette, PA
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
§ 80.133 Agreed upon procedures for
refiners and importers.
*
(ii) Obtain a listing of RBOB blended
by downstream oxygenate blenders and
the refinery’s or importer’s oversight test
results, and select a representative
sample, in accordance with the
guidelines in § 80.127, from the listing
of test results and for each test selected
perform the following:
(A) Obtain the laboratory analysis for
the batch, and agree the type of
oxygenate used and the oxygenate
content appearing in the laboratory
analysis to the instructions stated on the
product transfer documents
corresponding to a RBOB receipt
immediately preceding the laboratory
analysis and used in producing the
reformulated gasoline batch selected
within the acceptable ranges set forth at
§ 80.65(e)(2)(i);
(B) Calculate the frequency of
sampling and testing or the volume
blended between the test selected and
the next test; and
(C) Agree the frequency of sampling
and testing or the volume blended
between the test selected and the next
test to the sampling and testing
frequency rates stated in § 80.69(a)(7).
*
*
*
*
*
I 22. Section 80.134 is removed.
The Commission, at the
request of Viacom Television Stations
Group of Pittsburgh, Inc., licensee of
station WNPA-DT, channel 30,
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, substitutes
DTV channel 49 for DTV channel 30 at
Johnstown and re-allots DTV channel 49
from Johnstown to Jeannette,
Pennsylvania. See 70 FR 10351, March
3, 2005. DTV channel 49 can be allotted
to Jeannette, Pennsylvania, in
compliance with the principle
community coverage requirements of
Section 73.625(a) at reference
coordinates 40–23–34 N. and 79–46–54
W. with a power of 437, HAAT of 301
meters and with a DTV service
population of 2851 thousand. Since the
community of Jeannette is located
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
within 400 kilometers of the U.S.Canadian border, concurrence from the
Canadian government has been obtained
for this allotment. With this action, this
proceeding is terminated.
DATES:
Effective April 3, 2006.
Pam
Blumenthal, Media Bureau, (202) 418–
1600.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
This is a
synopsis of the Commission’s Report
and Order, MB Docket No. 05–52,
adopted February 7, 2006, and released
February 15, 2006. The full text of this
document is available for public
inspection and copying during regular
business hours in the FCC Reference
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th
Street, SW., Room CY–A257,
Washington, DC. This document may
also be purchased from the
Commission’s duplicating contractor,
Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th
Street, SW., Room CY–B402,
Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 301–
816–2820, facsimile 301–816–0169, or
via-e-mail joshir@erols.com.
This document does not contain [new
or modified] information collection
requirements subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public
Law 104–13. In addition, therefore, it
does not contain any new or modified
‘‘information collection burden for
small business concerns with fewer than
25 employees,’’ pursuant to the Small
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002,
Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4).
The Commission will send a copy of
this Report & Order in a report to
Congress and the Government
Accountability Office pursuant to the
Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
Digital television broadcasting,
Television.
Part 73 of Title 47 of the Code of
Federal Regulations is amended as
follows:
I
PART 73—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 73
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334 and 336.
§ 73.622
[Amended]
2. Section 73.622(b), the Table of
Digital Television Allotments under
Pennsylvania, is amended by removing
DTV channel 30 at Johnstown and
adding Jeannette, DTV channel 49.
I
E:\FR\FM\22FER1.SGM
22FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8973-8986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1612]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 80
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0170; FRL-8035-1]
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Removal of Reformulated
Gasoline Oxygen Content Requirement and Revision of Commingling
Prohibition To Address Non-Oxygenated Reformulated Gasoline
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Energy Act), Congress
removed the oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline (RFG)
in section 211(k) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). To be consistent with the
current CAA section 211(k), this direct final rule amends the fuels
regulations to remove the oxygen content requirement for RFG. This rule
also removes requirements which were included in the regulations to
implement and ensure compliance with the oxygen content requirement. In
addition, this rule extends the current prohibition against combining
VOC-controlled RFG blended with ethanol with VOC-controlled RFG blended
with any other type of oxygenate from January 1 through September 15,
to also prohibit combining VOC-controlled RFG blended with ethanol with
non-oxygenated VOC-controlled RFG during that time period, except in
limited circumstances authorized by the Act.
DATES: This rule is effective on May 5, 2006, or April 24, 2006,
whichever is later, without further notice unless we receive adverse
comment by March 24, 2006. If EPA receives adverse comment, we will
publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the
public that the portion of the final rule on which adverse comment was
received will not take effect. Those portions of the rule on which
adverse comment was not received will go into effect on the effective
date noted above.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2005-0170 by one of the following methods:
1. https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
[[Page 8974]]
2. E-mail: Group A-AND-R-DOCKET@epa.gov. Attention Docket ID No.
OAR-2005-0170.
4. Mail: Air and Radiation Docket, Environmental Protection Agency,
Mailcode: 6406J, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Please include a total of two copies. In addition, please mail a copy
of your comments on the information collection provisions to the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Attn: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th St. NW., Washington, DC
20503.
5. Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room B102, Mail Code 6102T,
Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries are only accepted during the
Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be
made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2005-0170. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
https://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 https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov is an
``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 https://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail 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. For additional information about EPA's public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/
epahome/dockets.htm.
We are only taking comment on issues related to the removal of the
oxygen requirement for RFG and associated compliance requirements, and
the provisions regarding the combining of ethanol blended RFG with non-
oxygenated RFG and provisions for retailers regarding the combining of
ethanol blended RFG with non-ethanol blended RFG. Comments on any other
issues or provisions in the RFG regulations are beyond the scope of
this rulemaking.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. 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, will be publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket materials are available either
electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air
and Radiation Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the
telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Bennett, Transportation and
Regional Programs Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality
(6406J), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9624; fax
number: (202) 343-2803; e-mail address: mbennett@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is publishing this rule without prior
proposal because we view this action to be noncontroversial and
anticipate no adverse comment. However, in the ``Proposed Rules''
section of today's Federal Register publication, we are publishing a
separate document that will serve as the proposal to adopt the
provisions in this Direct Final Rule if adverse comments are filed.
This rule is effective on May 5, 2006, or April 24, 2006, whichever is
later, without further notice unless we receive adverse comment by
March 24, 2006. If EPA receives adverse comment, we will publish a
timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that the
portion of the rule on which adverse comment was received will not take
effect. We will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule
based on the proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment
period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so
at this time. Any distinct amendment, paragraph, or section of today's
rule for which we do not receive adverse comment will become effective
on the date set out above, notwithstanding any adverse comment on any
other distinct amendment, paragraph, or section of today's rule.
EPA is also publishing today a direct final rule that removes the
oxygen content requirement for RFG, and makes associated changes in the
fuels regulations, for California only. Although the California rule is
similar in effect to this one, it has an earlier effective date.
I. General Information
A. Does This Action Apply To Me?
Entities potentially affected by this action include those involved
with the production and importation of conventional gasoline motor
fuel. Regulated categories and entities affected by this action
include:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples of
NAICS codes SIC codes potentially
Category \a\ \b\ regulated
parties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry.................... 324110 2911 Petroleum
Refiners,
Importers.
Industry.................... 422710 5171 Gasoline
Marketers and
Distributors.
422720 5172 ................
Industry.................... 484220 4212 Gasoline
Carriers.
484230 4213 ................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
\b\ Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system code.
[[Page 8975]]
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this
action. This table lists the types of entities that EPA is now aware
could be potentially regulated by this action. Other types of entities
not listed in the table could also be regulated. To determine whether
your entity is regulated by this action, you should carefully examine
the applicability criteria of part 80, subparts D, E and F of title 40
of the Code of Federal Regulations. If you have any question regarding
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person
in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.
B. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk
or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM
as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI). In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments,
remember to:
1. Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
2. Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to specific
questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
3. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and
substitute language for your requested changes.
4. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information
and/or data that you used.
5. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be
reproduced.
6. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and
suggest alternatives.
7. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of
profanity or personal threats.
8. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline
identified.
3. Docket Copying Costs. You may be charged a reasonable fee for
photocopying docket materials, as provided in 40 CFR part 2.
C. Outline of This Preamble
I. General Information
II. Removal of the RFG Oxygen Content Requirement
III. Combining Ethanol Blended RFG With Non-Ethanol Blended RFG
IV. Environmental Effects of This Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
VI. Statutory Provisions and Legal Authority
II. Removal of the RFG Oxygen Content Requirement
Section 211(k) of the 1990 Amendments to the CAA required
reformulated gasoline (RFG) to contain oxygen in an amount that equals
or exceeds 2.0 weight percent. CAA section 211(k)(2)(B). Accordingly,
EPA's current regulations require RFG refiners, importers and oxygenate
blenders to meet a 2.0 or greater weight percent oxygen content
standard. 40 CFR 80.41. Recently, Congress passed legislation which
amended section 211(k) of the CAA to remove the RFG oxygen
requirement.\1\ To be consistent with the current CAA section 211(k),
today's rule modifies the RFG regulations to remove the oxygen standard
in Sec. 80.41.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109-58 (HR6),
section 1504(a), 119 STAT 594, 1076-1077(2005).
\2\ The RFG regulations were promulgated under authority of CAA
section 211(c) as well as CAA section 211(k). The regulations were
adopted under section 211(c) primarily for the purpose of applying
the preemption provisions in section 211(c)(4). See 59 FR 7809
(February 16, 1994.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's rule also modifies several other sections of the RFG
regulations which contain provisions designed to implement and ensure
compliance with the oxygen standard. The modifications to the affected
sections are listed in the following table:
Sec. 80.2(ii)................................. Removes oxygen in the
definition of
``reformulated
gasoline credit.''
With the removal of
the oxygen standard,
there is no basis for
the generation of
oxygen credits.
Sec. Sec. 80.41(e) and (f)................... Removes the per-gallon
and averaged oxygen
standards for Phase
II Complex Model RFG
\3\
Sec. 80.41(o)................................. Removes the provisions
relating to oxygen
survey failures. With
the removal of the
oxygen standard,
oxygen surveys will
no longer be needed.
Sec. 80.41(q)................................. Removes reference to
Sec. 80.41(o). Also
removes reference to
oxygenate blenders
since oxygenate
blenders were subject
only to adjusted
standards in the case
of an oxygen survey
failure and not any
other survey failure.
Sec. 80.65 heading............................ Removes oxygenate
blenders from the
heading since
oxygenate blenders
were only responsible
for demonstrating
compliance with the
oxygen standard which
has been removed.
Sec. 80.65(c)................................. Removes requirements
relating to
compliance with the
oxygen standard which
have been removed.
Sec. 80.65(d)................................. Removes the
designation
requirement relating
to oxygen content,
removes the RBOB
designation
categories of ``any
oxygenate'' and
``ether only,'' and
adds a requirement
for RBOB to be
designated regarding
the type and amount
of oxygenate required
to be added.
Sec. 80.65(h)................................. Removes the
requirement for
oxygenate blenders to
comply with the audit
requirements under
subpart F since they
will no longer be
required to
demonstrate
compliance with the
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.67(a)................................. Removes the option to
comply with the
oxygen standard on
average for oxygenate
blenders since there
no longer is an
oxygen standard. Also
removes provisions
for refiners and
importers to use
gasoline that exceeds
the average standard
for oxygen to offset
gasoline which does
not achieve the
average standard for
oxygen.
Sec. 80.67(b)................................. Removes requirements
relating to oxygenate
blenders who meet the
oxygen standard on
average since there
no longer is an
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.67(f)................................. Removes requirements
relating to
compliance with the
oxygen standard on
average since there
no longer is an
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.67(g)................................. Removes requirements
relating to
compliance
calculations for
meeting the oxygen
standard on average,
since there no longer
is an oxygen
standard. Also
removes requirements
relating to the
generation and use of
oxygen credits.
Sec. 80.67(h)................................. Removes requirements
relating to the
transfer of oxygen
credits.
[[Page 8976]]
Sec. 80.68(a) and (b)......................... Removes references to
oxygenate blenders
since, with the
removal of the
requirement for
oxygen survey, they
are no longer subject
to survey
requirements. Also
removes reference to
oxygen regarding
consequences of a
failure to conduct a
required survey.
Sec. 80.68(c)................................. Removes general survey
requirements relating
to oxygen surveys.
Sec. 80.73.................................... Clarifies the
applicability of this
section to oxygenate
blenders.
Sec. 80.74(c)................................. Removes recordkeeping
requirements for
oxygenate blenders
who comply with the
oxygen standard on
average, since they
no longer will be
required to
demonstrate
compliance with an
oxygen standard. Also
removes reference to
``types'' of credits,
since there now is
only one type of
credit (i.e.,
benzene.)
Sec. 80.74(d)................................. Revises this paragraph
to clarify
recordkeeping
requirements for
oxygenate blenders.
Sec. 80.75 heading and paragraph (a).......... Removes reporting
requirements for
oxygenate blenders
since they no longer
will be required to
demonstrate
compliance with an
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.75(f)................................. Removes requirement
for submitting oxygen
averaging reports
since there no longer
is a requirement to
comply with the
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.75(h)................................. Removes credit
transfer report
requirements for
oxygen credits, since
oxygen credits will
no longer be
generated.
Sec. 80.75(i)................................. Removes requirement
for oxygenate
blenders to submit a
report identifying
each covered area
that was supplied
with averaged RFG,
since they no longer
will be required to
demonstrate
compliance with an
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.75(l)................................. Removes reporting
requirement for
oxygenate blenders
who comply with the
oxygen standard on a
per-gallon basis,
since they are no
longer required to
demonstrate
compliance with an
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.75(m)................................. Removes requirement
for oxygenate
blenders to submit a
report of the audit
required under Sec.
80.65(h), since
oxygenate blenders
will no longer be
required to comply
with the audit
requirement.
Sec. 80.75(n)................................. Removes requirement
for oxygenate
blenders to have
reports signed and
certified, since they
no longer will be
required to submit
reports under this
section.
Sec. 80.76(a)................................. Clarifies registration
requirements for
oxygenate blenders.
Sec. 80.77(g)................................. Removes product
transfer
documentation
requirement for
oxygen content.
Sec. 80.77(i)................................. Removes requirement
for RBOB to be
identified on product
transfer documents as
suitable for blending
with ``any-
oxygenate,'' ``ether-
only,'' since these
categories have been
removed.
Sec. 80.78(a)................................. Removes the
prohibition against
producing and
marketing RFG that
does not meet the
oxygen minimum
standard since the
oxygen standard has
been removed. Also
removes requirements
to meet the oxygen
minimum standard
during transition
from RBOB to RFG in a
storage tank.
(Today's rule also
removes the provision
in Sec. 80.78(a)(1)
regarding compliance
with the maximum
oxygen standard in
Sec. 80.41 for
simple model RFG. See
footnote 3.)
Sec. 80.79.................................... Removes quality
assurance requirement
to test for
compliance with the
oxygen standard.
Sec. 80.81(b)................................. Removes exemptions for
California gasoline
survey and
independent analysis
requirements for
oxygenate blenders
since they are no
longer subject to
these requirements.
Sec. 80.125(a), (c) and (d)................... Removes attest
engagement auditor
requirements for
oxygenate blenders,
since they are no
longer required to
conduct attest
engagement audits.
Sec. 80.126(b)................................ Revises attest
engagement definition
of credit trading
records to remove
reference to oxygen
credits.
Sec. 80.128(e)................................ Removes reference to
RBOB designations of
``any-oxygenate'' and
``ether-only'' with
regard to refiner and
importer contracts
with downstream
oxygenate blenders,
since these
designations have
been removed from the
regulations.
Sec. 80.129................................... Removes and reserves
this section which
provided for
alternative attest
engagement procedures
for oxygenate
blenders, since they
are no longer
required to conduct
attest audits.
Sec. 80.130(a)................................ Removes requirement
for a certified
public accountant or
an internal auditor
certified by the
Institute of Internal
Auditors, Inc. to
issue an attest
engagement report to
blenders, since they
are no longer
required to conduct
attest audits.
Removes requirement
for blenders to
provide a copy of the
auditor's report to
EPA.
Sec. 80.133(h)................................ Removes references to
``any-oxygenate'' and
``ether-only'' RBOB
under Sec.
80.69(a)(8) since
this section has been
removed.
Sec. 80.134................................... Removes this section
which provides attest
procedures for
oxygenate blenders
since they are no
longer required to
conduct attest
audits.
Today's rule also modifies the provisions for downstream oxygenate
blending in Sec. 80.69. Under the current regulations, some refiners
and importers produce or import a product called ``reformulated
gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending,'' or RBOB, which is
gasoline that becomes RFG upon the addition of an oxygenate. The
refiner or importer of the RBOB determines the type(s) and amount (or
range of amounts) of oxygenate that must be added to the RBOB. The RBOB
is then transported to an oxygenate blender downstream from the refiner
or importer who adds the type and amount of oxygenate designated for
the RBOB by the refiner or importer. The RBOB refiner or importer
includes the designated amount of oxygenate in its emissions
performance compliance calculations for the RBOB, however, it is the
oxygenate blender who actually adds the oxygenate to the RBOB to comply
with the 2.0 weight percent oxygen standard for the RFG that is
produced by blending oxygenate into the RBOB. The regulations require
oxygenate blenders to conduct testing for oxygen content to ensure that
each batch of RFG complies with the oxygen standard. With the removal
of the oxygen standard, the current requirement for oxygenate blenders
to conduct testing to ensure compliance with the oxygen standard will
no longer be necessary. Accordingly, the provisions for oxygenate
blenders in Sec. 80.69 have been modified to remove the requirement
for oxygenate blenders
[[Page 8977]]
to test RFG for compliance with the oxygen standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The regulations also include oxygen minimum standards for
simple model RFG and Phase I complex Model RFG, and an oxygen
maximum standard for simple model RFG. See Sec. Sec. 80.41(a)
through (d), and (g). These standards are no longer in effect and
today's rule does not modify the regulations to remove these
standards or compliance requirements relating to these standards,
except where such requirements are included in provisions requiring
other changes in today's rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although there will no longer be an oxygen content requirement for
RFG, we believe that many refiners and importers will want to continue
to include oxygenate blended downstream in their emissions performance
compliance calculations. As a result, the category of RBOB is being
retained and RBOB refiners and importers will be required to comply
with the contract and quality assurance (QA) oversight requirements in
Sec. 80.69 for any RBOB produced or imported.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ EPA is developing a rule which will allow RBOB refiners and
importers to use an alternative method of quality assurance (QA)
oversight of downstream oxygenate blenders in lieu of the contract
and QA requirements in Sec. Sec. 80.69(a)(6) and (a)(7). This
alternative method consists of a QA sampling and testing survey
program carried out by an independent surveyor pursuant to a survey
plan approved by EPA. This alternative QA method is available to
RBOB refiners and importers under enforcement discretion until the
rule is promulgated, or December 31, 2007, whichever is earlier. See
Letter to Edward H. Murphy, Downstream General Manager, American
Petroleum Institute, dated December 22, 2005, from Grant Y.
Nakayama, Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the current regulations, RBOB refiners and importers are
required to have a contract with the downstream oxygenate blender and
conduct QA oversight testing of the oxygenate blending operation to
ensure that the proper type and amount of oxygenate is added
downstream. Sec. 80.69(a)(6) and (7). The regulations also provide
that, in lieu of complying with these requirements, a refiner or
importer may designate one of two generic categories of oxygenates to
be added to the RBOB, and assume for purposes of its emissions
compliance calculations that the minimum amount of oxygenate needed to
result in RFG containing 2.0 weight percent oxygen will be added
downstream. Sec. 80.69(a)(8). RBOB refiner or importer compliance with
the contract and oversight requirements is not required in this
situation because, as discussed above, the oxygenate blender has been
required to meet the 2.0 weight percent oxygen standard and conduct
testing designed to ensure that each batch of RFG complies with the
oxygen standard.\5\ Where an RBOB refiner or importer wishes to include
a larger amount of oxygenate in its compliance calculations (i.e, an
amount that would result in RFG containing more than 2.0 weight percent
oxygen), the refiner or importer must comply with the contract and
oversight requirements in Sec. 80.69(a)(6) and (7) to ensure that the
proper type and amount of oxygenate is added.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ For a discussion of the downstream oxygenate blending
requirements, see the preamble to the RFG final rule at 59 FR 7770
(February 16, 1994).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because oxygenate blenders will no longer be conducting testing to
ensure compliance with the oxygen standard, we believe that RBOB
refiner or importer compliance with the contract and QA oversight
requirements will be necessary for RBOB designated to be blended with
any amount of oxygenate, including an amount of oxygenate that would
result in RFG containing 2.0 weight percent (or less) oxygen. As a
result, today's rule requires RBOB refiners and importers to comply
with the contract and QA oversight requirements in Sec. 80.69 for any
RBOB produced or imported. This approach is consistent with the
oversight requirements in Sec. 80.101(d)(4) for refiners and importers
of conventional gasoline who wish to include oxygen added downstream
from the refinery or importer in anti-dumping emissions compliance
calculations.
Although oxygenate blenders will no longer be subject to the oxygen
standard and associated testing requirements, we believe that the
current requirements for oxygenate blenders to be registered with EPA,
to add the specific type(s) and amount (or range of amounts) of
oxygenate designated for the RBOB, and to maintain records of their
blending operation continue to be necessary in order to ensure
compliance with, and facilitate enforcement of, the emissions
performance standards for the RFG produced by blending oxygenate with
RBOB downstream. As a result, these oxygenate blender requirements are
being retained.
The effective date for the removal of the oxygen requirement will
occur during 2006.\6\ As a result, refiners, importers and oxygenate
blenders will be subject to the oxygen standard for the months in 2006
prior to the effective date of this rule. The current regulations allow
parties to demonstrate compliance either on a per-gallon basis or on an
annual average basis. Parties wishing to base their compliance on the
per-gallon requirements, may formulate and sell RFG without oxygen
after the effective date of the rule. EPA will interpret its
regulations regarding annual average as follows. Parties may
demonstrate compliance based on the average oxygen content of RFG
during the months prior to the effective date for the removal of the
oxygen content requirement. In addition, any refiner, importer or
oxygenate blender who is unable to meet the annual average oxygen
standard in 2006 based on the months prior to the effective date for
the removal of the oxygen content standard may include all of the
oxygenated RFG it produces or imports during 2006 in its annual average
compliance calculations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The effective date for this rule is May 5, 2006, or 60 days
from the date of publication of the rule in the Federal Register,
whichever is later.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Combining Ethanol Blended RFG With Non-Ethanol Blended RFG
As discussed above, section 211(k) required RFG to contain a
minimum of 2.0 weight percent oxygen, and the current fuels regulations
reflect this requirement. Refiners, importers and oxygenate blenders
have used different oxygenates to meet this requirement. RFG that
contains ethanol must be specially blended to account for the RVP
``boost'' that ethanol provides, and the consequent possibility of
increased VOC emissions. EPA's existing regulations prohibit the
commingling of ethanol-blended RFG with RFG containing other oxygenates
because the non-ethanol RFG is typically not able to be mixed with
ethanol and still comply with the VOC performance standards. Since all
RFG is currently required to contain oxygen, the regulations do not now
contain a prohibition against combining ethanol-blended RFG with non-
oxygenated RFG. With the removal of the oxygen content requirement for
RFG, EPA expects that refiners and importers will be producing some RFG
without oxygen and some with ethanol or other oxygenates. Mixing
ethanol-blended RFG with non-oxygenated RFG has the same potential to
create an RVP ``boost'' for the non-oxygenated gasoline as mixing
ethanol-blended RFG with RFG blended with other oxygenates. This is of
particular concern regarding RFG because most refiners and importers
comply with the RFG VOC emissions performance standard on an annual
average basis calculated at the point of production or importation. All
downstream parties are prohibited from marketing RFG which does not
comply with a less stringent downstream VOC standard. However, even
though the combined gasoline may meet the downstream VOC standard,
combining ethanol-blended RFG with non-oxygenated RFG may cause some
gasoline to have VOC emissions which are higher on average than the
gasoline as produced or imported. Thus, today's rule extends the
commingling prohibition currently in the fuels regulations to include a
prohibition against combining VOC-controlled ethanol-blended RFG with
VOC-controlled non-oxygenated RFG during the period January 1 through
September 15, with one exception, described below.
[[Page 8978]]
The Energy Act contains a provision which specifically addresses
the combining of ethanol-blended RFG with non-ethanol-blended RFG.\7\
Under this new provision, retail outlets are allowed to sell non-
ethanol-blended RFG which has been combined with ethanol-blended RFG
under certain conditions. First, each batch of gasoline to be blended
must have been ``individually certified as in compliance with
subsections (h) and (k) prior to being blended.'' Second, the retailer
must notify EPA prior to combining the gasolines and identify the exact
location of the retail outlet and specific tank in which the gasoline
is to be combined. Third, the retailer must retain, and, upon request
by EPA, make available for inspection certifications accounting for all
gasoline at the retail outlet. Fourth, retailers are prohibited from
combining VOC-controlled gasoline with non-VOC-controlled gasoline
between June 1 and September 15. Retailers are also limited with regard
to the frequency in which batches of non-ethanol-blended RFG may be
combined with ethanol-blended RFG. Retailers may combine such batches
of RFG a maximum of two periods between May 1 and September 15. Each
period may be no more than ten consecutive calendar days. Today's
direct final rule implements this provision of the Energy Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58 (HR6), section
1513, 119 STAT 594, 1088-1090 (2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This new provision will typically be used by retail outlets to
change from the use of RFG containing ethanol to RFG not containing
ethanol or vice versa. (Such a change is usually referred to as a
``tank turnover.'') Such blending can result in additional VOC
emissions, perhaps resulting in gasoline that does not comply with
downstream VOC standards. The Energy Act is unclear as to when the
gasoline in the tank where blending occurs must be in compliance with
the downstream VOC standard.
EPA has already promulgated regulations setting out a methodology
for making tank turnovers. 40 CFR 80.78(a)(10). EPA believes retailers
and wholesale purchaser-consumers should have additional flexibility
during the time that they are converting their tanks from one type of
RFG to another, while minimizing the time period during which non-
compliant gasoline is present in their tanks and being sold. Today's
changes provide additional flexibility to the regulated parties by
interpreting the Energy Act to provide retailers and wholesale
purchaser-consumers with relief from compliance with the downstream VOC
standard during the ten-day blending period, but requiring that the
gasoline in the tank thereafter be in compliance or be deemed in
compliance with the downstream VOC standard.
To provide assurance that gasoline is in compliance with the
downstream VOC standard after the ten-day period, today's regulations
provide that there be two options available for retailers and wholesale
purchaser-consumers. Under the first option, the retailer may add both
ethanol-blended RFG and non-ethanol-blended RFG to the same tank an
unlimited number of times during the ten-day period, but must test the
gasoline in the tank at the end of the ten-day period to make sure that
the RFG is in compliance with the VOC standard. Under the second
option, the retailer must draw the tank down as much as practicable at
the start of the ten-day period, before RFG of another type is added to
the tank, and add only RFG of one type to the tank during the ten-day
period. That is, the retailer may not add both ethanol-blended RFG and
non-ethanol-blended RFG to the tank during the ten-day period, but may
add only one of these types of RFG. EPA believes that when retailers
and wholesale purchaser-consumers use this second option it is likely
that their gasoline will comply with the downstream VOC standard at the
end of the ten-day period, so that testing will not be necessary. We
also believe that this approach is compatible with current practices of
most retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers, and expect that most
will find it preferable to testing at the end of the ten-day period.
The commingling provisions apply at a retail level such that each
retailer may take advantage of a maximum of two ten-day blending
periods between May 1 and September 15 of each calendar year. Thus, the
options described above would be available to each retail outlet for
each of two ten-day periods during the VOC control period. During each
ten-day period the options are available for all tanks at that retail
outlet.
Regarding the requirement that each batch of gasoline to be blended
must have been individually certified as in compliance with subsections
(h) and (k), EPA notes that all gasoline in compliance with RFG
requirements is deemed certified under section 211(k) pursuant to Sec.
80.40(a). Section 211(h) addresses RVP requirements for gasoline, but
EPA does not have a program to certify gasoline as in compliance with
this provision. For purposes of the commingling exception for retail
outlets incorporated today in Sec. 80.78(a)(8), EPA will deem gasoline
that is in compliance with the regulatory requirements implementing
section 211(h) to be certified under that section. Regarding the
requirement that retailers retain and make available to EPA upon
request ``certifications'' accounting for all gasoline at the retail
outlet, EPA will deem this requirement fulfilled where the retailer
retains and makes available to EPA, upon request, the product transfer
documentation required under Sec. 80.77 for all gasoline at the retail
outlet.
Under today's direct final rule, the provisions which allow
retailers to sell non-ethanol-blended RFG that has been combined with
ethanol-blended RFG also apply to wholesale purchaser-consumers. Like
retailers, wholesale purchaser-consumers are parties who dispense
gasoline into vehicles, and EPA interprets the Energy Act reference to
retailers as applying equally to them. As a result, wholesale
purchaser-consumers are treated in the same manner as retailers under
this rule. This is consistent with the manner in which wholesale
purchaser-consumers have been treated in the past under the fuels
regulations.
Most of the provisions of this rule are necessary to implement
amendments to the Clean Air Act included in the Energy Act that
eliminate the RFG oxygen content requirement and allow limited
commingling of ethanol-blended and non-ethanol-blended RFG. The
extension of the general commingling prohibition in the fuels
regulations to cover non-oxygenated RFG, and the provisions requiring
refiners and importers to conduct oversight of downstream blenders
adding oxygen to RBOB, are necessary because of the Energy Act
amendments, but are issued pursuant to authority of CAA section 211(k).
Both provisions extend current programs to reflect the presence of non-
oxygenated RFG, and are designed to enhance environmental benefits of
the RFG program at reasonable cost to regulated parties.
IV. Environmental Effects of This Action
Little or no environmental impact is anticipated to occur as a
result of today's action to remove the oxygenate requirement for RFG.
The RFG standards consist of content and emission performance
standards. Refiners and importers will have to continue to meet all the
emission performance standards for RFG whether or not the RFG contains
any oxygenate. This includes both the VOC and NOX emission
performance standards, as well as the air toxics emission performance
standards which were tightened in the
[[Page 8979]]
mobile source air toxics (MSAT) rule in 2001.\8\ New MSAT standards
currently under development are anticipated to achieve even greater air
toxics emission reductions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ 66 FR 17230 (March 29, 2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have analyzed the potential impacts on emissions that could
result from removal of the oxygenate requirement in the context of
requests for waivers of the Federal oxygen requirement.\9\ We found
that changes in ethanol use could lead to small increases in some
emissions and small decreases in others while still meeting the RFG
performance standards. These potential impacts are associated with the
degree to which ethanol will continue to be blended into RFG after
removal of the oxygen requirement. Past analyses have projected
significant use of ethanol in RFG in California despite removal of the
oxygenate requirement.\10\ Given current gasoline prices and the
tightness in the gasoline market, the favorable economics of ethanol
blending, a continuing concern over MTBE use by refiners, the emission
performance standards still in place for RFG, and the upcoming
renewable fuels mandate,\11\ we believe that ethanol will continue to
be used in RFG after the oxygen requirement is removed, and that as
MTBE is phased out, it is likely to be replaced with ethanol to a large
degree despite the removal of the oxygenate requirement. As a result,
we believe that the removal of the oxygenate mandate will have little
or no environmental impact in the near future. We will be looking at
the long term effect of oxygenate use in the context of the rulemaking
to implement the renewable fuels mandate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See e.g., California Oxygen Waiver Decision, EPA420-S-05-005
(June 2005); Analysis of and Action on New York Department of
Conservation's Request for a Waiver of the Oxygen Content
Requirement in Federal Reformulated Gasoline, EPA420-D-05-06 (June
2005).
\10\ Technical Support Document: Analysis of California's
Request for Waiver of the Reformulated Gasoline Oxygen Content
Requirement for California Covered Areas, EPA420-R-01-016 (June
2001).
\11\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109-58 (HR6),
section 1501, 119 STAT 594, 1067-1076, (2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866, (58 FR 51735 (October 4, 1993)) the
Agency must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant''
and therefore subject to OMB review and the requirements of the
Executive Order. The Order defines ``significant regulatory action'' as
one that is likely to result in a rule that may:
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public
health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in
the Executive Order.
It has been determined that this direct final rule does not satisfy
the criteria stated above. As a result, this rule is not a
``significant regulatory action'' under the terms of Executive Order
12866 and is therefore not subject to OMB review. Today's rule removes
certain requirements for all refiners, importers and oxygenate blenders
of RFG. Although small additional compliance costs may be incurred by
some refiners and importers as a result of this rule, on balance, this
rule is expected to greatly reduce overall compliance costs for all
refiners, importers and oxygenate blenders. This rule also provides
options for gasoline retailers to commingle certain compliant gasolines
which otherwise would be prohibited from being commingled. Although
there may be small compliance costs associated with one of these
options, we believe that the additional flexibility provided by this
option will reduce overall compliance costs for these parties.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The modifications to the RFG information collection requirements in
this rule have been submitted for approval to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq. The information collection modifications are not enforceable until
OMB approves them.
This rule will have the effect of reducing the burdens on certain
regulated parties under the reformulated gasoline regulations. All
parties currently subject to the requirement to submit an annual oxygen
averaging report will no longer be required to submit such report,
resulting in an estimated total burden reduction of 100 hours and
$6,500(100 parties x 1 report/yr x 1 hr/report x $65/hr). Oxygenate
blenders currently subject to the following requirements will no longer
be subject to these requirements and associated burdens:
RFG batch reports: Total 2500 hours, $162,500(25 blenders x 100
reports/yr x 1 hr/report x $65/hr) plus $600,000 in purchased services;
RFG annual report: Total 25 hours, $1,625(25 blenders x 1 report/yr
x 1 hr/report x $65/hr);
RFG survey reports: Total 500 hours, $32,500(25 blenders x 1
report/yr x 20 hrs/report x $65/hr) plus $1,200,000 for purchased
services;
RFG attest engagement reports: Total 3000 hours, $195,000(25
blenders x 1 report/yr x 120 hrs/report x $65/hr) plus $250,000 for
purchased services.
The estimated total reduction in burdens for this rule is 6,125
hours and $398,125, plus $2,050,000 in purchased services.
Small testing costs may be associated with one of the options for
gasoline retailers to commingle compliant gasolines. However, these
testing costs are expected to be minimal and will be greatly outweighed
by the flexibility provided by the option to commingle compliant
gasolines.
Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9. When this ICR is
approved by OMB, the Agency will publish a technical amendment to 40
CFR part 9 in the Federal Register to display the OMB control number
for the approved information collection requirements contained in this
direct final rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency
to prepare
[[Page 8980]]
a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and
comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedures Act
or any other statute unless the agency certifies that the rule will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Small entities include small businesses, small organizations,
and small gove
