Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Redesignation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment and Approval of the Maintenance Plan and 2002 Base-Year Inventory, 54390-54402 [E7-18844]

Download as PDF yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS 54390 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it merely proposes to approve a state rule implementing a Federal requirement, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the CAA. This proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it approves a state rule implementing a Federal standard. In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA’s role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing this proposed rule, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. EPA has complied with Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by examining the takings implications of the rule in accordance with the ‘‘Attorney General’s Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk and Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings’’ issued under the executive order. This action proposing approval of Virginia’s CAIR budget trading program does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: September 19, 2007. William T. Wisniewski, Acting Regional Administrator, Region III. [FR Doc. E7–18849 Filed 9–24–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 [EPA–R03–OAR–2007–0605; FRL–8473–2] Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Redesignation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment and Approval of the Maintenance Plan and 2002 Base-Year Inventory Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve a redesignation request and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is requesting that the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre ozone nonattainment area (‘‘Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area’’ or ‘‘Area’’) be redesignated as attainment for the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area is comprised of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wyoming Counties. EPA is proposing to approve the ozone redesignation request for the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area. In conjunction with its redesignation request, the Commonwealth submitted a SIP revision consisting of a maintenance plan for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area that provides for continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years after redesignation. EPA is proposing to make a determination that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, based upon three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for 2004–2006. EPA’s proposed approval of the 8-hour ozone redesignation request is based on its determination that the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air Act. In addition, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has also submitted a 2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, and EPA is proposing to approve that inventory for the Area as a SIP revision. EPA is also providing PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 information on the status of its adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) that are identified in the maintenance plan for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area for purposes of transportation conformity, and is proposing to approve those MVEBs. EPA is proposing approval of the redesignation request, the maintenance plan, and 2002 base-year inventory SIP revisions in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 25, 2007. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA– R03–OAR–2007–0605 by one of the following methods: A. https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. B. E-mail: powers.marilyn@epa.gov. C. Mail: EPA–R03–OAR–2007–0605, Marilyn Powers, Acting Chief, Air Quality Planning Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. D. Hand Delivery: At the previouslylisted EPA Region III address. 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–R03–OAR–2007– 0605. 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 Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an 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 E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Docket: All documents in the electronic 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, is not placed on the Internet and 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 during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State submittal are available at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rehn, (215) 814–2176, or by e-mail at rehn.brian@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean EPA. Table of Contents yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS I. What Are the Clean Air Actions EPA Is Proposing To Take? II. What Is the Background for These Proposed Actions? III. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment? IV. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions? V. What Would Be the Effect of These Actions? VI. What Is EPA’s Analysis of the Commonwealth’s Request? VII. Are the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets Established and Identified in the Maintenance Plan for the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area Adequate and Approvable? VIII. Proposed Actions IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews I. What Are the Clean Air Actions EPA Is Proposing To Take? On June 12, 2007, the PADEP formally submitted a request to redesignate the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area from nonattainment to attainment of the 8hour NAAQS for ozone. Concurrently, Pennsylvania submitted a maintenance plan for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area as a SIP revision to ensure continued VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 attainment in the Area over the next 11 years. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area as a SIP revision. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area is comprised of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Wyoming Counties. It is currently designated a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. EPA is proposing to determine that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS and that it has met the requirements for redesignation pursuant to section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act. EPA is, therefore, proposing to approve the redesignation request to change the designation of the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to approve the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre maintenance plan as a SIP revision for the Area (such approval being one of the Clean Air Act criteria for redesignation to attainment status). The maintenance plan is designed to ensure continued attainment in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area for the next 11 years. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area as a SIP revision. Additionally, EPA is announcing its action on the adequacy process for the MVEBs identified in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre maintenance plan, and proposing to approve the MVEBs identified for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) for the Area for transportation conformity purposes. II. What Is the Background for These Proposed Actions? A. General Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly by sources. Rather, emissions of NOX and VOC react in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone. The air pollutants NOX and VOC are referred to as precursors of ozone. The Clean Air Act establishes a process for air quality management through the attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. On July 18, 1997, EPA promulgated a revised 8-hour ozone standard of 0.08 parts per million (ppm). This new standard is more stringent than the previous 1-hour standard. EPA designated, as nonattainment, any area violating the 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on the air quality data for the three years of 2001–2003. These were the most recent three years of data at the time EPA designated 8-hour areas. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was designated a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area in a Federal PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 54391 Register notice signed on April 15, 2004 and published on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23857), based on its exceedance of the 8-hour health-based standard for ozone during the years 2001–2003. On April 30, 2004, EPA issued a final rule (69 FR 23951, 23996) to revoke the 1-hour ozone NAAQS in the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area (as well as most other areas of the country), effective June 15, 2005. See 40 CFR 50.9(b); 69 FR at 23996 (April 30, 2004); 70 FR 44470 (August 3, 2005). However, on December 22, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated EPA’s Phase 1 Implementation Rule for the 8-hour Ozone Standard. (69 FR 23951, April 30, 2004). South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, 472 F.3d 882 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (hereafter ‘‘South Coast’’). On June 8, 2007, in South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, Docket No. 04–1201, in response to several petitions for rehearing, the D.C. Circuit clarified that the Phase 1 Rule was vacated only with regard to those parts of the rule that had been successfully challenged. Therefore, the Phase 1 Rule provisions related to classifications for areas currently classified under subpart 2 of Title I, part D of the Clean Air Act as 8-hour nonattainment areas, the 8-hour attainment dates and the timing for emissions reductions needed for attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS remain effective. The June 8 decision left intact the Court’s rejection of EPA’s reasons for implementing the 8-hour standard in certain nonattainment areas under Subpart 1 in lieu of subpart 2. By limiting the vacatur, the Court let stand EPA’s revocation of the 1-hour standard and those anti-backsliding provisions of the Phase 1 Rule that had not been successfully challenged. The June 8 decision reaffirmed the December 22, 2006 decision that EPA had improperly failed to retain measures required for 1hour nonattainment areas under the anti-backsliding provisions of the regulations: (1) Nonattainment area New Source Review (NSR) requirements based on an area’s 1-hour nonattainment classification; (2) Section 185 penalty fees for 1-hour severe or extreme nonattainment areas; and (3) measures to be implemented pursuant to section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the Clean Air Act, on the contingency of an area not making reasonable further progress toward attainment of the 1-hour NAAQS, or for failure to attain that NAAQS. In addition, the June 8 decision clarified that the Court’s reference to conformity requirements for anti-backsliding purposes was limited to requiring the continued use of 1-hour E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS 54392 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules motor vehicle emissions budgets until 8hour budgets were available for 8-hour conformity determinations, which is already required under EPA’s conformity regulations. The Court thus clarified that 1-hour conformity determinations are not required for antibacksliding purposes. Elsewhere in this document, mainly in section VI. B. ‘‘The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements Under Section 110 and Part D of the Clean Air Act and has a Fully Approved SIP Under Section 110(k) of the Clean Air Act,’’ EPA discusses its rationale why the decision in South Coast is not an impediment to redesignating the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area to attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The Clean Air Act, title I, Part D, contains two sets of provisions-subpart 1 and subpart 2 -that address planning and control requirements for nonattainment areas. Subpart 1 (which EPA refers to as ‘‘basic’’ nonattainment) contains general, less prescriptive requirements for nonattainment areas for any pollutant—including ozone— governed by a NAAQS. Subpart 2 (which EPA refers to as ‘‘classified’’ nonattainment) provides more specific requirements for ozone nonattainment areas. In 2004, the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area was classified a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area based on air quality monitoring data from 2001– 2003. Therefore, the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area is subject to the requirements of subpart 1 of Part D. Under 40 CFR part 50, the 8-hour ozone standard is attained when the 3year average of the annual fourthhighest daily maximum 8-hour average ambient air quality ozone concentrations is less than or equal to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is considered). See 69 FR 23857 (April 30, 2004) for further information. Ambient air quality monitoring data for the 3-year period must meet data completeness requirements. The data completeness requirements are met when the average percent of days with valid ambient monitoring data is greater than 90 percent, and no single year has less than 75 percent data completeness as determined in Appendix I of 40 CFR part 50. The ozone monitoring data indicates that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has a design value of 0.075 ppm for the 3-year period of 2004–2006, using complete, quality-assured data. Therefore, the ambient ozone data for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area indicates no violations of the 8-hour ozone standard. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 B. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area consists of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Wyoming Counties in Pennsylvania. Prior to its designation as an 8-hour ozone nonattainment area, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was a marginal 1-hour ozone nonattainment Area (which included Columbia County, in addition to those counties comprising the 8-hour ozone nonattainment area). Therefore, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was subject to requirements for marginal nonattainment areas pursuant to section 182(a) of the Clean Air Act. See 56 FR 56694 (November 6, 1991). EPA determined that the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre 1-hour ozone nonattainment Area had attained the 1hour ozone NAAQS by the November 15, 1993 attainment date (60 FR 3349, January 17, 1995). On June 12, 2007, the PADEP requested that the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area be redesignated to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. The redesignation request included three years of complete, quality-assured data for the period of 2004–2006, indicating that the 8-hour NAAQS for ozone had been achieved in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area. The data satisfies the Clean Air Act requirements that the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration (commonly referred to as the area’s design value), must be less than or equal to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is considered). Under the Clean Air Act, a nonattainment area may be redesignated if sufficient complete, quality-assured data is available to determine that the area attained the standard and the area meets the other Clean Air Act redesignation requirements set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E). III. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment? The Clean Air Act provides the requirements for redesignating a nonattainment area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E) allows for redesignation, providing that: (1) EPA determines that the area has attained the applicable NAAQS; (2) EPA has fully approved the applicable implementation plan for the area under section 110(k); (3) EPA determines that the improvement in air quality is due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from implementation of the applicable SIP and applicable Federal air pollutant control regulations and other permanent and enforceable reductions; PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 (4) EPA has fully approved a maintenance plan for the area as meeting the requirements of section 175A; and (5) The State containing such area has met all requirements applicable to the area under section 110 and Part D. EPA provided guidance on redesignations in the General Preamble for the Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act, on April 16, 1992 (57 FR 13498), and supplemented this guidance on April 28, 1992 (57 FR 18070). EPA has provided further guidance on processing redesignation requests in the following documents: • ‘‘Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Design Value Calculations,’’ Memorandum from Bill Laxton, June, 18, 1990; • ‘‘Maintenance Plans for Redesignation of Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Nonattainment Areas,’’ Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, April 30, 1992; • ‘‘Contingency Measures for Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Redesignations,’’ Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, June 1, 1992; • ‘‘Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, September 4, 1992; • ‘‘State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted in Response to Clean Air Act (Act) Deadlines,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992; • ‘‘Technical Support Documents (TSDs) for Redesignation Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nonattainment Areas,’’ Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, August 17, 1993; • ‘‘State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas Submitting Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on or after November 15, 1992,’’ Memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, September 17, 1993; • Memorandum from D. Kent Berry, Acting Director, Air Quality Management Division, to Air Division Directors, Regions 1–10, ‘‘Use of Actual Emissions in Maintenance Demonstrations for Ozone and CO Nonattainment Areas,’’ dated November 30, 1993; • ‘‘Part D New Source Review (Part D NSR) Requirements for Areas E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from Mary D. Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, October 14, 1994; and • ‘‘Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment Demonstration, and Related Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment Areas Meeting the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard,’’ Memorandum from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, May 10, 1995. IV. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions? On June 12, 2007, the PADEP requested redesignation of the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. On June 12, 2007, PADEP submitted a maintenance plan for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area as a SIP revision, to ensure continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS over the next 11 years, until 2018. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base-year inventory concurrently with its maintenance plan as a SIP revision. EPA has determined that the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area has attained the 8hour ozone standard and has met the requirements for redesignation set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E). V. What Would Be the Effect of These Actions? Approval of the redesignation request would change the official designation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8hour ozone NAAQS found at 40 CFR part 81. It would also incorporate into the Pennsylvania SIP a 2002 base-year inventory and a maintenance plan 54393 accordance with 40 CFR 50.10 and Appendix I of Part 50, based on three complete, consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring data. To attain this standard, the design value, which is the 3-year average of the fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations measured at each monitor, within the area, over each year must not exceed the ozone standard of 0.08 ppm. Based on the rounding convention described in 40 TABLE 1.—SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE CFR part 50, Appendix I, the standard MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS BUDG- is attained if the design value is 0.084 ETS, IN TONS PER SUMMER DAY ppm or below. The data must be collected and quality-assured in (TPSD) accordance with 40 CFR part 58, and recorded in the Air Quality System Year VOC NOX (AQS). The monitors generally should 2009 .......................... 25.2 48.3 have remained at the same location for 2018 .......................... 16.9 23.7 the duration of the monitoring period required for demonstrating attainment. VI. What Is EPA’s Analysis of the In the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Area, Commonwealth’s Request? there were four ozone monitors that measured ambient ozone air quality EPA is proposing to determine that between 2004 and 2006. Two of these the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard, and monitors are located in Lackawanna that all other redesignation criteria have County and two are in Luzerne County. been met. The following is a description As part of its redesignation request, Pennsylvania referenced ozone of how the PADEP’s June 12, 2007 monitoring data for the years 2004–2006 submittal satisfies the requirements of for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area. section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air This data has been quality assured and Act. is recorded in the AQS. The PADEP A. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Has uses the AQS as the permanent database Attained the 8-Hour NAAQS to maintain its data and quality assures EPA is proposing to determine that the data transfers and content for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has accuracy. The fourth-high 8-hour daily attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. For maximum concentrations for the period ozone, an area may be considered to be from 2004–2006, along with the threeattaining the 8-hour ozone NAAQS if year average, are summarized in Table there are no violations, as determined in 2. ensuring continued attainment of the 8hour ozone NAAQS in the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area for the next 11 years, until 2018. The maintenance plan includes contingency measures to remedy any future violations of the 8hour NAAQS (should they occur), and identifies the NOX and VOC MVEBs for transportation conformity purposes for the years 2009 and 2018. These MVEBs are displayed in the following table: TABLE 2.—SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE AREA FOURTH HIGHEST 8-HOUR AVERAGE VALUES (2004–2006) Annual 4th highest reading (ppm) Monitor/County/AIRS ID 2004 Wilson Fire Company Monitor, Lackawanna County, AQS ID 42–069–0101 ............................ City of Scranton Monitor, Luzerne County AQS ID 42–069–2006 ............................................. Nanticoke Monitor, Luzerne County AQS ID 42–079–1100 ....................................................... Wilkes-Barre Monitor, Luzerne County AQS ID 42–079–1101 ................................................... 2005 0.071 0.073 0.068 0.073 2006 0.080 0.080 0.074 0.081 0.071 0.070 0.064 0.073 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS The Area design value for the 3-year period 2004–2006 is 0.075 ppm (based on Wilkes-Barre Monitor/AQS ID 42–079–1101) The air quality data for 2004–2006 show that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has attained the standard with a design value of 0.075 ppm. The data collected at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area monitors satisfies the Clean Air Act requirement that the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration is less than or equal to 0.08 ppm. The PADEP’s request for VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 redesignation for the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area indicates that the data is complete and was quality assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In addition, as discussed below with respect to the maintenance plan, PADEP has committed to continue monitoring in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In summary, EPA has determined that the data submitted by Pennsylvania and data taken from AQS indicate that the PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. B. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements Under Section 110 and Part D of the Clean Air Act and Has a Fully Approved SIP Under Section 110(k) of the Clean Air Act EPA has determined that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has met all E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS 54394 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules SIP requirements applicable for purposes of this redesignation under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (General SIP Requirements) and that it meets all applicable SIP requirements under Part D of Title I of the Clean Air Act, in accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(v). In addition, EPA has determined that the SIP is fully approved with respect to all requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation in accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii). In making these proposed determinations, EPA ascertained which requirements are applicable to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area and determined that the applicable portions of the SIP meeting these requirements are fully approved under section 110(k) of the Clean Air Act. We note that SIPs must be fully approved only with respect to applicable requirements. The September 4, 1992 Calcagni memorandum (‘‘Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, September 4, 1992) describes EPA’s interpretation of section 107(d)(3)(E) with respect to the timing of applicable requirements. Under this interpretation, to qualify for redesignation, States requesting redesignation to attainment must meet only the relevant Clean Air Act requirements that came due prior to the submittal of a complete redesignation request. See also, Michael Shapiro memorandum, September 17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465–66 (March 7, 1995) (redesignation of Detroit-Ann Arbor). Applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act that come due subsequent to the area’s submittal of a complete redesignation request remain applicable until a redesignation is approved, but are not required as a prerequisite to redesignation. Section 175A(c) of the Clean Air Act. Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004). See also, 68 FR at 25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003) (redesignation of St. Louis). This section sets forth EPA’s views on the potential effect of the Court’s rulings on this proposed redesignation action. For the reasons set forth below, EPA does not believe that the Court’s rulings alters any requirements relevant to this redesignation action so as to preclude redesignation, and do not prevent EPA from proposing or ultimately finalizing this redesignation. EPA believes that the Court’s December 22, 2006 and June 8, 2007 decisions impose no impediment to moving forward with redesignation of this area to attainment, because even in light of the Court’s decisions, VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 redesignation is appropriate under the relevant redesignation provisions of the Clean Air Act and longstanding policies regarding redesignation requests. 1. Section 110 General SIP Requirements Section 110(a)(2) of Title I of the Clean Air Act delineates the general requirements for a SIP, which includes enforceable emissions limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques, provisions for the establishment and operation of appropriate devices necessary to collect data on ambient air quality, and programs to enforce the limitations. The general SIP elements and requirements set forth in section 110(a)(2) include, but are not limited to the following: • Submittal of a SIP that has been adopted by the State after reasonable public notice and hearing; • Provisions for establishment and operation of appropriate procedures needed to monitor ambient air quality; • Implementation of a source permit program; provisions for the implementation of part C requirements (Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)); • Provisions for the implementation of Part D requirements for New Source Review (NSR) permit programs; • Provisions for air pollution modeling; and • Provisions for public and local agency participation in planning and emission control rule development. Section 110(a)(2)(D) requires that SIPs contain certain measures to prevent sources in a state from significantly contributing to air quality problems in another State. To implement this provision, EPA has required certain states to establish programs to address transport of air pollutants in accordance with the NOx SIP Call, October 27, 1998 (63 FR 57356), amendments to the NOx SIP Call, May 14, 1999 (64 FR 26298) and March 2, 2000 (65 FR 11222), and the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), May 12, 2005 (70 FR 25162). However, the section 110(a)(2)(D) requirements for a State are not linked with a particular nonattainment area’s designation and classification in that State. EPA believes that the requirements linked with a particular nonattainment area’s designation and classifications are the relevant measures to evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request. The transport SIP submittal requirements, where applicable, continue to apply to a state regardless of the designation of any one particular area in the State. Thus, we do not believe that these requirements are applicable PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 requirements for purposes of redesignation. In addition, EPA believes that the other section 110 elements not connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with an area’s attainment status are not applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. The Scranton/WilkesBarre Area will still be subject to these requirements after it is redesignated. The section 110 and Part D requirements which are linked with a particular area’s designation and classification are the relevant measures to evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request. This policy is consistent with EPA’s existing policy on applicability of conformity (i.e., for redesignations) and oxygenated fuels requirement. See Reading, Pennsylvania, proposed and final rulemakings (61 FR 53174, October 10, 1996), (62 FR 24826, May 7, 1997); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio final rulemaking (61 FR 20458, May 7, 1996); and Tampa, Florida, final rulemaking (60 FR 62748, December 7, 1995). See also, the discussion on this issue in the Cincinnati redesignation (65 FR at 37890, June 19, 2000), and in the Pittsburgh redesignation (66 FR at 53099, October 19, 2001). Similarly, with respect to the NOx SIP Call rules, EPA noted in its Phase 1 Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS, that the NOx SIP Call rules are not ‘‘an’’ ‘applicable requirement’ for purposes of section 110(1) because the NOx rules apply regardless of an area’s attainment or nonattainment status for the 8-hour (or the 1-hour) NAAQS.’’ 69 FR 23951, 23983 (April 30, 2004). EPA believes that section 110 elements not linked to the area’s nonattainment status are not applicable for purposes of redesignation. As we explain later in this notice, no Part D requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation under the 8-hour standard became due for the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area prior to submission of the redesignation request 2. Part D Nonattainment Requirements Under the 8-Hour Standard Pursuant to an April 30, 2004, final rule (69 FR 23951), the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area was designated a basic nonattainment area under subpart 1 for the 8-hour ozone standard. Sections 172–176 of the Clean Air Act, found in subpart 1 of Part D, set forth the basic nonattainment requirements applicable to all nonattainment areas. Section 182 of the Clean Air Act, found in subpart 2 of Part D, establishes additional specific requirements depending on the area’s nonattainment classification. E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules With respect to the 8-hour standard, the court’s ruling rejected EPA’s reasons for classifying areas under subpart 1 for the 8-hour standard, and remanded that matter to the Agency. Consequently, it is possible that this area could, during a remand to EPA, be reclassified under subpart 2. Although any future decision by EPA to classify this area under subpart 2 might trigger additional future requirements for the area, EPA believes that this does not mean that redesignation of the area cannot now go forward. This belief is based upon (1) EPA’s longstanding policy of evaluating redesignation requests in accordance with the requirements due at the time the request is submitted; and, (2) consideration of the inequity of applying retroactively any requirements that might in the future be applied. First, at the time the redesignation request was submitted, the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area was classified under subpart 1 and was obligated to meet only subpart 1 requirements. Under EPA’s longstanding interpretation of section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act, to qualify for redesignation, states requesting redesignation to attainment must meet only the relevant SIP requirements that came due prior to the submittal of a complete redesignation request. See September 4, 1992 Calcagni memorandum (‘‘Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division). See also, Michael Shapiro Memorandum, September 17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465–66 (March 7, 1995) (Redesignation of Detroit-Ann Arbor). Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004), which upheld this interpretation. See 68 FR 25418, 25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003) (Redesignation of St. Louis). Moreover, it would be inequitable to retroactively apply any new SIP requirements that were not applicable at the time the request was submitted. The D.C. Circuit has recognized the inequity in such retroactive rulemaking, Sierra Club v. Whitman, 285 F. 3d 63 (D.C. Cir. 2002), in which the D.C. Circuit upheld a District Court’s ruling refusing to make retroactive an EPA determination of nonattainment that was past the statutory due date. Such a determination would have resulted in the imposition of additional requirements on the area. The Court stated: ‘‘Although EPA failed to make the nonattainment determination within the statutory time frame, Sierra Club’s proposed solution only makes the situation worse. Retroactive relief would VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 likely impose large costs on the States, which would face fines and suits for not implementing air pollution prevention plans in 1997, even though they were not on notice at the time.’’ Id. at 68. Similarly here it would be unfair to penalize the area by applying to it for purposes of redesignation additional SIP requirements under subpart 2 that were not in effect at the time it submitted its redesignation request. With respect to 8-hour subpart 2 requirements, if the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area initially had been classified under subpart 2, the first two Part D subpart 2 requirements applicable to the Area under section 182(a) of the Clean Air Act would be: A base-year inventory requirement pursuant to section 182(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act, and, the emissions statement requirement pursuant to section 182(a)(3)(B). As stated previously, these requirements are not yet due for purposes of redesignation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, but nevertheless, Pennsylvania already has in its approved SIP, an emissions statement rule for the 1-hour standard that covers all portions of the designated 8-hour nonattainment area and, that satisfies the emissions statement requirement for the 8-hour standard. See, 25 Pa. Code 135.21(a)(1), codified at 40 CFR 52.2020; 60 FR 2881, January 12, 1995. With respect to the base-year inventory requirement, in this notice of proposed rulemaking, EPA is proposing to approve the 2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, which was submitted on June 12, 2007, concurrently with its maintenance plan SIP revision. EPA is proposing to approve the 2002 base-year inventory as fulfilling the requirements of both section 182(a)(1) and section 172(c)(3) of the Clean Air Act. A detailed evaluation of Pennsylvania’s 2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area can be found in a Technical Support Document (TSD) prepared by EPA for this rulemaking. EPA has determined that the emission inventory and emissions statement requirements for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area have been satisfied. In addition to the fact that Part D requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation did not become due prior to submission of the redesignation request, EPA believes that the general conformity and NSR requirements do not require approval prior to redesignation. With respect to section 176, Conformity Requirements, section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act requires states to establish criteria and procedures to ensure that federally PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 54395 supported or funded projects conform to the air quality planning goals in the applicable SIP. The requirement to determine conformity applies to transportation plans, programs, and projects developed, funded or approved under Title 23 U.S.C. and the Federal Transit Act (‘‘transportation conformity’’) as well as to all other Federally supported or funded projects (‘‘general conformity’’). State conformity revisions must be consistent with Federal conformity regulations relating to consultation, enforcement and enforceability that the Clean Air Act required the EPA to promulgate. EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the conformity SIP requirements as not applying for purposes of evaluating the redesignation request under section 107(d) since State conformity rules are still required after redesignation and Federal conformity rules apply where State rules have not been approved. See, Wall v. EPA, 265 F. 3d 426, 438–440 (6th Cir. 2001), upholding this interpretation. See also, 60 FR 62748 (December 7, 1995). In the case of the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area, EPA has also determined that before being redesignated, the Area need not comply with the requirement that a NSR program be approved prior to redesignation. EPA has determined that areas being redesignated need not comply with the requirement that a NSR program be approved prior to redesignation, provided that the area demonstrates maintenance of the standard without Part D NSR in effect. The rationale for this position is described in a memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, dated October 14, 1994, entitled, ‘‘Part D NSR Requirements or Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment.’’ Normally, a State’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program will become effective in the area immediately upon redesignation to attainment. See the more detailed explanations in the following redesignation rulemakings: Detroit, MI (60 FR 12467–12468 (March 7, 1995); Cleveland-Akron-Lorrain, OH (61 FR 20458, 20469–70, May 7, 1996); Louisville, KY (66 FR 53665, 53669, October 23, 2001); Grand Rapids, MI (61 FR 31831, 31836–31837, June 21, 1996). In the case of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area the Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations in the Pennsylvania SIP (codified at 40 CFR 52.2020(c)(1)) explicitly apply the requirements for NSR in section 184 of the Clean Air Act to ozone attainment areas within the Ozone Transport Region (OTR). The OTR NSR requirements are more E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 54396 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS stringent than that required for a marginal or basic ozone nonattainment area. On October 19, 2001 (66 FR 53094), EPA fully approved Pennsylvania’s NSR SIP revision consisting of Pennsylvania’s Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations that cover the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area. EPA has also interpreted the section 184 OTR requirements, including the NSR program, as not being applicable for purposes of redesignation. The rationale for this is based on two considerations. First, the requirement to submit SIP revisions for the section 184 requirements continues to apply to areas in the OTR after redesignation to attainment. Therefore, the State remains obligated to have NSR, as well as reasonably available control technology (RACT), and Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance programs even after redesignation. Second, the section 184 control measures are region-wide requirements and do not apply to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area solely by virtue of the Area’s designation and classification. See 61 FR 53174, 53175– 53176 (October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826, 24830–32 (May 7, 1997). 3. Part D Nonattainment Area Requirements Under the 1-Hour Standard In its June 8, 2007 decision, the Court limited its vacatur so as to uphold those provisions of the anti-backsliding requirements that were not successfully challenged. Therefore the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area must meet the federal anti-backsliding requirements. See 40 CFR 51.900, et seq.; 70 FR 30592, 30604 (May 26, 2005), which apply by virtue of the Area’s classification for the 1hour ozone NAAQS. As set forth in more detail below, the Area must also address four additional anti-backsliding provisions identified by the Court in its decisions. The anti-backsliding provisions at 40 CFR 51.905(a)(1) prescribe 1-hour ozone NAAQS requirements that continue to apply after revocation of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS to former 1-hour ozone nonattainment areas. Section 51.905(a)(1)(i) provides that: ‘‘The area remains subject to the obligation to adopt and implement the applicable requirements as defined in section 51.900(f), except as provided in paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of paragraph (b) of this section.’’ Section 51.900(f), as amended by 70 FR 30592, 30604 (May 26, 2005), states that: Applicable requirements means for an area the following requirements to the extent such requirements applied to the area for the area’s classification under section 181(a)(1) of VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 the Clean Air Act for the 1-hour NAAQS at the time of designation for the 8-hour NAAQS. (1) Reasonably available control technology (RACT). (2) Inspection and maintenance programs (I/M). (3) Major source applicability cut-offs for purposes of RACT. (4) Rate of Progress (ROP) reductions. (5) Stage II vapor recovery. (6) Clean fuels fleet program under section 183(c)(4) of the Clean Air Act. (7) Clean fuels for boilers under section 182(e)(3) of the Clean Air Act. (8) Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) during heavy traffic hours as required by section 182(e)(4) of the Clean Air Act. (9) Enhanced (ambient) monitoring under section 182(c)(1) of the Clean Air Act. (10) Transportation control measures (TCMs) under section 182(c)(5) of the Clean Air Act. (11) Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) provisions of section 182(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act. (12) NOX requirements under section 182(f) of the Clean Air Act. (13) Attainment demonstration or alternative as provided under section 51.905(a)(1)(ii). Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.905(c), the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area is subject to the obligations set forth in 51.905(a) and 51.900(f). Prior to its designation as an 8-hour ozone nonattainment area, the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area was designated a marginal nonattainment area for the 1hour standard. With respect to the 1hour standard, the applicable requirements under the anti-backsliding provisions at 40 CFR 51.905(a)(1) for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area are limited to RACT and I/M programs specified in section 182(a) of the Clean Air Act and are discussed in the following paragraphs: Section 182(a)(2)(A) required SIP revisions to correct or amend RACT for sources in marginal areas, such as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, that were subject to control technique guidelines (CTGs) issued before November 15, 1990 pursuant to Clean Air Act section 108. On December 22, 1994, EPA fully approved into the Pennsylvania SIP all corrections required under section 182(a)(2)(A) of the Clean Air Act (59 FR 65971, December 22, 1994). EPA believes that this requirement applies only to marginal and higher classified areas under the 1-hour NAAQS pursuant to the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act; therefore, this is a onetime requirement. After an area has fulfilled the section 182(a)(2)(A) requirement for the 1-hour NAAQS, there is no requirement under the 8hour NAAQS. Section 182(a)(2)(B) relates to the savings clause for vehicle inspection PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 and maintenance (I/M). It requires marginal areas to adopt vehicle I/M programs. This provision was not applicable to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area because this area did not have, and was not required to have, an I/M program before November 15, 1990. In addition the Court held that EPA should have retained four additional measures in its anti-backsliding provisions: (1) Nonattainment area NSR; (2) Section 185 penalty fees; (3) contingency measures under section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the Clean Air Act; and (4) 1-hour motor vehicle emission budgets that were yet not replaced by 8-hour emissions budgets. These requirements are addressed below: With respect to NSR, EPA has determined that areas being redesignated need not have an approved nonattainment New Source Review program, for the same reasons discussed previously with respect to the applicable Part D requirement for the 8hour standard. The section 185 penalty fee requirement was not applicable in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 1-hour marginal nonattainment area. With respect to the requirement for submission of contingency measures for the 1-hour standard, section 182(a) does not require contingency measures for marginal areas. The conformity portion of the Court’s ruling does not impact the redesignation request for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area except to the extent that the Court in its June 8 decision clarified that for those areas with 1-hour MVEBs, antibacksliding requires that those 1-hour budgets must be used for 8-hour conformity determinations until replaced by 8-hour budgets. To meet this requirement, conformity determinations in such areas must comply with the applicable requirements of EPA’s conformity regulations at 40 CFR part 93. The court clarified that 1-hour conformity determinations are not required for antibacksliding purposes. Thus EPA has concluded that the area has met all requirements applicable for redesignation under the 1-hour standard. 4. Transport Region Requirements All areas in the Ozone Transport Region (OTR), both attainment and nonattainment, are subject to additional control requirements under section 184 for the purpose of reducing interstate transport of emissions that may contribute to downwind ozone nonattainment. The section 184 requirements include RACT, NSR, E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules enhanced vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M), and Stage II vapor recovery or a comparable measure. In the case of the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area, which is located in the OTR, nonattainment NSR will continue to be applicable after redesignation. On October 19, 2001, EPA approved the 1hour NSR SIP revision for the Area. See 66 FR 53094 (October 19, 2001). EPA has also interpreted the section 184 OTR requirements, including NSR, as not being applicable for purposes of redesignation. Reading, PA Redesignation, 61 FR 53174, (October 10, 1996), 62 FR 24826 (May 7, 1997). The rationale for this is based on two considerations. First, the requirement to submit SIP revisions for the section 184 requirements continues to apply to areas in the OTR after redesignation to attainment. Therefore, the Commonwealth remains obligated to have NSR, as well as RACT, and I/M even after redesignation. Second, the section 184 control measures are regionwide requirements and do not apply to the area by virtue of the area’s nonattainment designation and classification, and thus are properly considered not relevant to an action changing an area’s designation. See 61 FR 53174, 53175–6 (October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826, 24830–32 (May 7, 1997). 5. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Has a Fully Approved SIP for Purposes of Redesignation EPA has fully approved the Pennsylvania SIP for the purposes of this redesignation. EPA may rely on prior SIP approvals in approving a redesignation request. Calcagni Memo, p. 3; Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Alliance v. Browner, 144 F. 3d 984, 989– 90 (6th Cir. 1998), Wall v. EPA, 265 F. 3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001), plus any 54397 additional measures it may approve in conjunction with a redesignation action. See 68 FR at 25425 (May 12, 2003) and citations therein. C. The Air Quality Improvement in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Is Due to Permanent and Enforceable Reductions in Emissions Resulting From Implementation of the SIP and Applicable Federal Air Pollution Control Regulations and Other Permanent and Enforceable Reductions EPA believes that the Commonwealth has demonstrated that the observed air quality improvement in the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area is due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from implementation of the SIP, Federal measures, and other Stateadopted measures. Emissions reductions attributable to these rules are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3.—TOTAL VOC AND NOX EMISSIONS FOR 2002 AND 2004 IN TONS PER SUMMER DAY (TPSD) Year Point* Nonroad mobile Area Highway mobile Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 2002 ..................................................................................... 2004 ..................................................................................... Difference (2002–04) ........................................................... 4.6 3.8 ¥0.8 36.0 35.3 ¥0.7 36.6 31.6 ¥5.0 19.0 18.9 ¥0.1 96.2 89.6 ¥6.6 3.8 3.9 +0.1 74.4 66.1 ¥8.3 11.3 10.9 ¥0.4 97.9 87.9 ¥10.0 Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) 2002 ..................................................................................... 2004 ..................................................................................... Difference (2002–04) ........................................................... 8.4 7.0 ¥1.4 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS * The stationary point source emissions shown do not include banked emissions reduction credits (ERCs) for sources listed in Technical Appendix A–4 to Pennsylvania’s SIP submission. The banked ERCs include the following: Æ MACtac, Scranton Facility—0.20 tpsd VOC. Æ Proctor & Gamble, Hehoopany—1.70 tpsd VOC and 0.73 tpsd NOX. Æ TECHNEGLAS, Pittston—2.11 tpsd VOC and 0.09 tpsd NOX. Æ Thomson No. 1, Dunmore—0.15 tpsd VOC and 0.02 tpsd NOX. Æ Williams Generation, Hazelton Cogeneration—2.61 tpsd NOX. Between 2002 and 2004, VOC emissions decreased by 6.6 tpsd from 96.2 tpsd to 89.6 tpsd. NOX emissions decreased over the same period by 10.0 tpsd from 97.9 tpsd to 87.9 tpsd. EPA believes that permanent and enforceable emissions reductions are the cause of the long-term improvement in ozone levels and are the cause of the Area achieving attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard. These reductions, as well as anticipated future reductions, are due to the following permanent and enforceable measures. 1. Stationary Point Sources Federal NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August 21, 2001) VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 2. Stationary Area Sources Solvent Cleaning (68 FR 2206, January 16, 2003) Portable Fuel Containers (69 FR 70893, December 8, 2004) 3. Highway Vehicle Sources Federal Motor Vehicle Control Programs (FMVCP) —Tier 1 (56 FR 25724, June 5, 1991) —Tier 2 (65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000) —Heavy-duty Engine and Vehicle Standards (62 FR 54694, October 21, 1997, and 65 FR 59896, October 6, 2000) National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program (64 FR 72564, December 28, 1999) PA Vehicle Emission Inspection/ Maintenance Program & Changes to Vehicle Safety Inspection Program in PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 non-I/M Counties (70 FR 58313, October 6, 2005) 4. Non-Road Sources Non-road Diesel (69 FR 38958, June 29, 2004) D. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Has a Fully Approvable Maintenance Plan Pursuant to Section 175A of the Clean Air Act In conjunction with its request to redesignate the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ozone nonattainment Area to attainment status, Pennsylvania submitted a SIP revision to provide for maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Area for at least 11 years after redesignation. The Commonwealth is requesting that EPA approve this SIP revision as meeting the requirement of Clean Air E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 54398 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules Act section 175A. Once approved, the maintenance plan for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS will ensure that the SIP for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act regarding maintenance of the applicable 8-hour ozone standard. What Is Required in a Maintenance Plan? Section 175 of the Clean Air Act sets forth the elements of a maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of the applicable NAAQS for at least 10 years after approval of a redesignation of an area to attainment. Eight years after the redesignation, the Commonwealth must submit a revised maintenance plan demonstrating that attainment will continue to be maintained for the 10 years following the initial 10-year period. To address the possibility of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must contain such contingency measures, with a schedule for implementation, as EPA deems necessary to assure prompt correction of any future 8-hour ozone violations. Section 175A of the Clean Air Act sets forth the elements of a maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. The Calcagni memorandum dated September 4, 1992, provides additional guidance on the content of a maintenance plan. An ozone maintenance plan should address the following provisions: (a) An attainment emissions inventory; (b) A maintenance demonstration; (c) A monitoring network; (d) Verification of continued attainment; and (e) A contingency plan. Analysis of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Maintenance Plan (a) Attainment inventory—An attainment inventory includes the emissions during the time period associated with the monitoring data showing attainment. PADEP determined that the appropriate attainment inventory year is 2004. That year establishes a reasonable year within the three-year block of 2004–2006 as a baseline and accounts for reductions attributable to implementation of the Clean Air Act requirements to date. The 2004 inventory is consistent with EPA guidance and is based on actual ‘‘typical summer day’’ emissions of VOC and NOX during 2004 and consists of a list of sources and their associated emissions. The 2002 and 2004 point source data was compiled from actual sources. Pennsylvania requires owners and operators of larger facilities to submit annual production figures and emission calculations each year. Throughput data are multiplied by emission factors from Factor Information Retrieval (FIRE) Data Systems and EPA’s publication series AP–42, and are based on Source Classification Codes (SCC). The 2002 area source data was compiled using county-level activity data, from census numbers, from county numbers, etc. The 2004 area source data was projected from the 2002 inventory using temporal allocations provided by the MidAtlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA). The on-road mobile source inventories for 2002 and 2004 were compiled using MOBILE6.2 and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) estimates for VMT. The PADEP has provided detailed data summaries to document the calculations of mobile on-road VOC and NOX emissions for 2002, as well as for the projection years of 2004, 2009, and 2018 (shown in Tables 5 and 6 below). The 2002 and 2004 emissions for the majority of non-road emission source categories were estimated using the EPA NONROAD 2005 model. The NONROAD model calculates emissions for diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gasoline, and compressed natural gasfueled non-road equipment types and includes growth factors. The NONROAD model does not estimate emissions from locomotives or aircraft. For 2002 and 2004 locomotive emissions, the PADEP projected emissions from a 1999 survey using national fuel consumption information and EPA emission and conversion factors. Emissions from commercial aircraft for 2002 and 2004 are estimated using EPA-approved Emissions & Dispersion Modeling System (EDMS) 4.20, the latest version available at the time the inventory was prepared. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre International Airport (AVP) accounts for all commercial air traffic in the area. Small aircraft emissions were calculated using small airport statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration’s APO Terminal Area Forecast Report and the Web site https://www.airnav.com. More detailed information on the compilation of the 2002, 2004, 2009, and 2018 inventories can found in the Technical Appendices, which are part of the June 12, 2007 state submittal. (b) Maintenance Demonstration—On June 12, 2007, the PADEP submitted a maintenance plan as required by section 175A of the Clean Air Act. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area maintenance plan shows maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS by demonstrating that current and future emissions of VOC and NOX remain at or below the attainment year 2004 emissions levels throughout the Area through the year 2018. A maintenance demonstration need not be based on modeling. See Wall v. EPA, supra; Sierra Club v. EPA, supra. See also, 66 FR at 53099–53100; 68 FR at 25430–32. Tables 4 and 5 specify the VOC and NOX emissions for the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area for 2004, 2009, and 2018. The PADEP chose 2009 as an interim year in the maintenance demonstration period to demonstrate that the VOC and NOX emissions are not projected to increase above the 2004 attainment level during the time of the maintenance period. TABLE 4.—TOTAL VOC EMISSIONS FOR 2004–2018 (TPSD) Source category 2004 2009 2018 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS Point ............................................................................................................................................. Area ............................................................................................................................................. Highway Mobile ........................................................................................................................... Nonroad Mobile ........................................................................................................................... 3.8 35.3 31.6 18.9 4.6 33.7 2.2 16.5 5.9 36.3 16.9 13.2 Total ...................................................................................................................................... 89.6 80.0 72.3 VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules 54399 TABLE 5.—TOTAL NOX EMISSIONS FOR 2004–2018 (TPSD) Source category 2004 2009 2018 7.0 3.9 66.1 10.9 9.3 4.1 48.3 8.9 10.4 4.4 23.7 5.6 Total ...................................................................................................................................... yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS Point ............................................................................................................................................. Area ............................................................................................................................................. Highway Mobile ........................................................................................................................... Nonroad Mobile ........................................................................................................................... 87.9 70.6 44.1 Additionally, the following programs are either effective or due to become effective and will further contribute to the maintenance demonstration of the 8hour ozone NAAQS: • The Clean Air Interstate Rule (71 FR 25328, April 28, 2006). • The Federal NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August 21, 2001). • Portable Fuel Containers Rule (69 FR 70893, December 8, 2004). • Consumer Products Rule (69 FR 70895, December 8, 2004). • Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings (69 FR 68080, November 23, 2004). • Federal Light-duty Highway Vehicle Control Program (FMVCP)— Tier 1/Tier 2 Emissions Standards (Model Year 1994/2004); (Tier 1—56 FR 25724, June 5, 1991); (Tier 2—65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000). • Federal Heavy-duty Diesel Highway Engine Standards (Model Year 2004/ 2007)/Low-Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel Standards (2006); (66 FR 5002, January 18, 2001). • Federal Nonroad Engine Emission Standards (Model Year 2008) and Nonroad Diesel Fuel 2007); (69 FR 38958, June 29, 2004). • NLEV/PA Clean Vehicle Program (54 FR 72564, December 28, 1999). • PA Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Program and Changes to Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for Non-I/M Counties (70 FR 58313, October 6, 2005). Based on the comparison of the projected emissions and the attainment year emissions along with the additional measures, EPA concludes that PADEP has successfully demonstrated that the 8-hour ozone standard should be maintained in the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area. (c) Monitoring Network—There are four ozone monitors (located in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties) that were used to support the Commonwealth’s ozone maintenance plan for the Scranton/Wilkes/Barre area. The Commonwealth has committed to continue to operate its monitoring network in accordance with 40 CFR part 58, with no reduction in the number of sites. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 (d) Verification of Continued Attainment—In addition to maintaining the key elements of its regulatory program, the Commonwealth will track the attainment status of the ozone NAAQS in the Area by reviewing air quality and emissions data during the maintenance period. The Commonwealth will perform an annual evaluation of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) data and emissions reported from stationary sources, and compare them to the assumptions about these factors used in the maintenance plan. The Commonwealth will also evaluate the periodic (every three years) emission inventories prepared under EPA’s Consolidated Emission Reporting Regulation (40 CFR 51, subpart A) to see if they exceed the attainment year inventory (2004) by more than 10 percent. The PADEP will also continue to operate the existing ozone monitoring station in the Area pursuant to 40 CFR part 58 throughout the maintenance period and submit quality-assured ozone data to EPA through the AQS system. Section 175A(b) of the Clean Air Act states that eight years following redesignation of the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area, PADEP will be required to submit a second maintenance plan that will ensure attainment through 2028. PADEP has made that commitment to meet the requirement section 175A(b). (e) The Maintenance Plan’s Contingency Measures—The contingency plan provisions are designed to promptly correct a violation of the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. Section 175A of the Clean Air Act requires that a maintenance plan include such contingency measures as EPA deems necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth will promptly correct a violation of the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. The maintenance plan should identify the events that would ‘‘trigger’’ the adoption and implementation of a contingency measure(s), the contingency measure(s) that would be adopted and implemented, and the schedule indicating the time frame by which the state would adopt and implement the measure(s). PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 The ability of the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area to stay in compliance with the 8-hour ozone standard after redesignation depends upon VOC and NOX emissions in the Area remaining at or below 2004 levels. The Commonwealth’s maintenance plan projects VOC and NOX emissions to decrease and stay below 2004 levels through the year 2018. The Commonwealth’s maintenance plan outlines the procedures for the adoption and implementation of contingency measures to further reduce emissions should a violation occur. Contingency measures will be considered if for two consecutive years the fourth highest 8-hour ozone concentration at any Scranton/WilkesBarre Area monitor is above 84 ppb. If this trigger point occurs, the Commonwealth will evaluate whether additional local emission control measures should be implemented in order to prevent a violation of the air quality standard. PADEP will also analyze the conditions leading to the excessive ozone levels and evaluate which measures might be most effective in correcting the excessive ozone levels. PADEP will also analyze the potential emissions effect of Federal, state and local measures that have been adopted but not yet implemented at the time the excessive ozone levels occurred. PADEP will then begin the process of implementing any selected measures. Contingency measures will also be considered in the event that a violation of the 8-hour ozone standard occurs at any Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area monitor. In the event of a violation of the 8-hour ozone standard, PADEP will adopt additional emissions reduction measures as expeditiously as practicable in accordance with the implementation schedule listed later in this notice and in the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act in order to return the Area to attainment with the standard. Contingency measures to be considered for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area will include, but not be limited to the following: Regulatory measures: —Additional controls on consumer products. E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 54400 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules —Additional controls on portable fuel containers. Non-Regulatory measures: —Voluntary diesel engine ‘‘chip reflash’’ (installation software to correct the defeat device option on certain heavy-duty diesel engines). —Diesel retrofits, including replacement, repowering or alternative fuel use, for public or private local on-road or off-road fleets. —Idling reduction technology for Class 2 yard locomotives. —Idling reduction technologies or strategies for truck stops, warehouses and other freight handling facilities. —Accelerated turnover of lawn and garden equipment, especially commercial equipment, including promotion of electric equipment. —Additional promotion of alternative fuel (e.g., biodiesel) for home heating and agricultural use. The plan sets forth a process to have regulatory contingency measures in effect within 19 months of the trigger. The plan also lays out a process to implement non-regulatory contingency measures within 12–24 months of the trigger. VII. Are the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets Established and Identified in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Maintenance Plan Adequate and Approvable? yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS A. What Are the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets? Under the Clean Air Act, States are required to submit, at various times, control strategy SIPs and maintenance plans in ozone areas. These control strategy SIPs (i.e., reasonable further progress SIPs and attainment demonstration SIPs) and maintenance plans identify and establish MVEBs for certain criteria pollutants and/or their precursors to address pollution from onroad mobile sources. In the maintenance plan, the MVEBs are termed ‘‘on-road mobile source emission budgets.’’ Pursuant to 40 CFR part 93 and 51.112, MVEBs must be established in an ozone maintenance plan. An MVEB is the portion of the total allowable emissions that is allocated to highway and transit vehicle use and emissions. An MVEB serves as a ceiling on emissions from an area’s planned transportation system. The MVEB concept is further explained in the preamble to the November 24, 1993, transportation conformity rule (58 FR 62188). The preamble also describes how to establish and revise the MVEBs in control strategy SIPs and maintenance plans. Under section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act, new transportation projects, such as the construction of new highways, must ‘‘conform’’ to (i.e., be consistent with) the part of a State’s air quality plan that addresses pollution from cars and trucks. ‘‘Conformity’’ to the SIP means that transportation activities will not cause new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of or reasonable progress towards the NAAQS. If a transportation plan does not ‘‘conform,’’ most new projects that would expand the capacity of roadways cannot go forward. Regulations at 40 CFR part 93 set forth EPA policy, criteria, and procedures for demonstrating and ensuring conformity of such transportation activities to a SIP. When reviewing submitted ‘‘control strategy’’ SIPs or maintenance plans containing MVEBs, EPA must affirmatively find the MVEB contained therein ‘‘adequate’’ for use in determining transportation conformity. After EPA affirmatively finds the submitted MVEB is adequate for transportation conformity purposes, the MVEB can be used by state and federal agencies in determining whether proposed transportation projects ‘‘conform’’ to the SIP as required by section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act. EPA’s substantive criteria for determining ‘‘adequacy’’ of a MVEB are set out in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). EPA’s process for determining ‘‘adequacy’’ consists of three basic steps: public notification of a SIP submission, a public comment period, and EPA’s adequacy finding. This process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP MVEBs was initially outlined in EPA’s May 14, 1999 guidance, ‘‘Conformity Guidance on Implementation of March 2, 1999, Conformity Court Decision.’’ This guidance was finalized in the Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments for the ‘‘New 8-Hour Ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing Areas; Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments—Response to Court Decision and Additional Rule Change’’ on July 1, 2004 (69 FR 40004). EPA consults this guidance and follows this rulemaking in making its adequacy determinations. The MVEBS for the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area are listed in Table 1 for 2009 and 2018. Table 1 presents the projected emissions for the on-road mobile sources plus any portion of the safety margin allocated to the MVEBs (safety margin allocation for 2009 and 2018 only). These emission budgets, when approved by EPA, must be used for transportation conformity determinations. B. What Is a Safety Margin? A ‘‘safety margin’’ is the difference between the attainment level of emissions (from all sources) and the projected level of emissions (from all sources) in the maintenance plan. The attainment level of emissions is the level of emissions during one of the years in which the area met the NAAQS. The following example is for the 2018 safety margin: the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area first attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS during the 2002 to 2004 time period. The Commonwealth used 2004 as the year to determine attainment levels of emissions for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area. The total emissions from point, area, on-road mobile, and nonroad mobile sources in 2004 equaled 89.6 tpsd of VOC and 87.9 tpsd of NOX. The PADEP projects total emissions for the year 2018 to be 72.3 tpsd of VOC and 44.1 tpsd of NOX from all sources in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. The safety margin for 2018 would be the difference between these amounts, or 17.3 tpsd of VOC and 43.8 tpsd of NOX. The emissions up to the level of the attainment year including the safety margins are projected to maintain the area’s air quality consistent with the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The safety margin is the extra emissions reduction below the attainment levels that can be allocated for emissions by various sources as long as the total emission levels are maintained at or below the attainment levels. Table 6 shows the safety margins for the 2009 and 2018 years. TABLE 6.—SAFETY MARGINS FOR SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE (2009 & 2018) VOC emissions (tpsd) Inventory year 2004 Attainment ....................................................................................................................................................... 2009 Interim ............................................................................................................................................................. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 89.6 80.0 NOX emissions (tpsd) 87.9 70.6 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules 54401 TABLE 6.—SAFETY MARGINS FOR SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE (2009 & 2018)—Continued VOC emissions (tpsd) Inventory year 2009 2004 2018 2018 Safety Margin ................................................................................................................................................. Attainment ....................................................................................................................................................... Final ................................................................................................................................................................ Safety Margin ................................................................................................................................................. The PADEP allocated 1.85 tpsd VOC and 1.4 tpsd NOX of the 2009 safety margin to the 2009 interim VOC projected on-road mobile source emissions projection and the 2009 interim NOX projected on-road mobile source emissions projection to arrive at the 2009 MVEBs. For the 2018 MVEBs, the PADEP allocated 2.6 tpsd VOC and 2.1 tpsd NOX from the 2018 safety margins to arrive at the 2018 MVEBs. Once allocated to the mobile source NOX emissions (tpsd) 9.6 89.6 72.3 17.3 17.3 87.9 44.1 43.8 budgets these portions of the safety margins are no longer available, and may no longer be allocated to any other source category. Table 7 shows the final 2009 and 2018 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area MVEBs. TABLE 7.—FINAL MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSION BUDGETS FOR SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE AREA* (2009 & 2018) VOC emissions (tpsd) Inventory year 2009 2009 2009 2018 2018 2018 Projected On road Emissions ......................................................................................................................... Safety Margin Allocated to MVEBs ................................................................................................................ MVEBs ............................................................................................................................................................ Projected On road Emissions ......................................................................................................................... Safety Margin Allocated to MVEBs ................................................................................................................ MVEBs ............................................................................................................................................................ NOX emissions (tpsd) 23.3 1.85 25.2 14.3 2.6 16.9 46.9 1.40 48.3 21.6 2.1 23.7 *PA DEP calculates MVEBS using kilograms per summer day, and also lists the values in tons per summer day, rounded to 3 significant digits. This appears to make the totals in the table incorrect, but is merely the result of the rounded tpsd values. C. Why Are the MVEBs Approvable? The 2009 and 2018 MVEBs for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area are approvable because the MVEBs for VOCs and NOX continue to maintain the total emissions at or below the attainment year inventory levels as required by the transportation conformity regulations. yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS D. What Is the Adequacy and Approval Process for MVEBs in the Maintenance Plan? The MVEBs for the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area maintenance plan are being posted to EPA’s conformity Web site concurrently with this proposal. The public comment period will end at the same time as the public comment period for this proposed rule. In this case, EPA is concurrently processing the Clean Air Action on the maintenance plan and the adequacy process for the MVEBs contained therein. In this proposed rule, EPA is proposing to find the MVEBs adequate and EPA is proposing to approve the MVEBs as part of the maintenance plan. The MVEBs cannot be used for transportation conformity until the maintenance plan and associated MVEBs are approved in a final Federal Register notice, or EPA otherwise finds the budgets adequate in a separate action following the comment period. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 If EPA receives adverse written comments with respect to the proposed approval of the Area’s MVEBs, or any other aspect of our proposed approval of this updated maintenance plan, we will respond to the comments on the MVEBs in our final action or proceed with the adequacy process as a separate action. Our action on the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area MVEBs will also be announced on EPA’s conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/ stateresources/transconf/index.htm (from there, click on ‘‘Adequacy Review of SIP Submissions’’). VIII. Proposed Actions EPA is proposing to determine that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to approve the redesignation of the Scranton/WilkesBarre Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA has evaluated Pennsylvania’s redesignation request and determined that it meets the redesignation criteria set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act. EPA believes that the redesignation request and monitoring data demonstrate that the Area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard. The final approval of this redesignation request would change the designation of the Scranton/Wilkes- PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Barre Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA is also proposing to approve the associated maintenance plan for the Area, submitted on June 12, 2007, as a revision to the Pennsylvania SIP. EPA is proposing to approve the maintenance plan for the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area because it meets the requirements of section 175A as described previously in this notice. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area, and the MVEBs submitted by Pennsylvania for the Area in conjunction with its redesignation request. EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this document. These comments will be considered before taking final action. IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this proposed action is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)). This action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1 yshivers on PROD1PC62 with PROPOSALS 54402 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. Redesignation of an area to attainment under section 107(d)(3)(e) of the Clean Air Act does not impose any new requirements on small entities. Redesignation is an action that affects the status of a geographical area and does not impose any new regulatory requirements on sources. Redesignation of an area to attainment under section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act does not impose any new requirements on small entities. Redesignation is an action that affects the status of a geographical area and does not impose any new regulatory requirements on sources. Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule proposes to approve pre-existing requirements under state law and does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by state law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4). Because this action affects the status of a geographical area or allows the state to avoid adopting or implementing other requirements and because this action does not impose any new requirements on sources, this proposed rule also does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it merely proposes to approve a state rule implementing a Federal requirement, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act. This proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it approves a state rule implementing a Federal standard. In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA’s role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:19 Sep 24, 2007 Jkt 211001 the Clean Air Act. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Redesignation is an action that affects the status of a geographical area and does not impose any new requirements on sources. Thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing this proposed rule, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. EPA has complied with Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by examining the takings implications of the rule in accordance with the ‘‘Attorney General’s Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk and Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings’’ issued under the executive order. This rule, proposing to approve the redesignation of the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, the associated maintenance plan, the 2002 base-year inventory, and the MVEBs identified in the maintenance plan, does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). List of Subjects 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. 40 CFR Part 81 Air pollution control, National parks, Wilderness areas. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: September 14, 2007. Donald S. Welsh, Regional Administrator, Region III. [FR Doc. E7–18844 Filed 9–24–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 49 CFR Part 571 [Docket No. NHTSA–2007–28710] RIN 2127–AK02 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Occupant Crash Protection National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). AGENCY: SUMMARY: NHTSA is proposing to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ‘‘Occupant crash protection,’’ to update the child restraint systems (CRSs) listed in Appendix A of the standard. The CRSs in Appendix A are used by NHTSA to test advanced air bag suppression or low risk deployment systems, to ensure that the air bag systems pose no reasonable safety risk to infants and small children in the real world. The amendments proposed today would replace some CRSs listed in Appendix A with CRSs that are more representative of the CRS fleet currently on the market. The agency proposes to delete six existing CRSs and to add five new CRSs. Since the appendix has not been revised since 2003, NHTSA also seeks comment on whether seven other CRSs in the appendix should be replaced with CRSs with essentially the same features but more recently produced. DATES: You should submit comments early enough to ensure that Docket Management receives them not later than October 25, 2007. If adopted, most of the amendments would be effective for the next model year introduced one year after the publication of a final rule. Optional early compliance would be permitted. See discussion under ‘‘Proposed Compliance Dates’’ section in the preamble of this NPRM. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket ID Number 28710] by any of the following methods: If filing comments by September 27, 2007, please use: • Web Site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Department of Transportation Docket Management System electronic docket site. No electronic submissions will be accepted between September 28, 2007, and October 1, 2007. If filing comments on or after October 1, 2007, use: E:\FR\FM\25SEP1.SGM 25SEP1

Agencies

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54390-54402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18844]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[EPA-R03-OAR-2007-0605; FRL-8473-2]

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Pennsylvania; Redesignation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8-Hour Ozone
Nonattainment Area to Attainment and Approval of the Maintenance Plan
and 2002 Base-Year Inventory

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve a redesignation request and State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
(PADEP) is requesting that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ozone
nonattainment area (``Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area'' or ``Area'') be
redesignated as attainment for the 8-hour ozone national ambient air
quality standard (NAAQS). The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area is comprised
of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wyoming Counties. EPA is proposing
to approve the ozone redesignation request for the Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre Area. In conjunction with its redesignation request, the
Commonwealth submitted a SIP revision consisting of a maintenance plan
for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area that provides for continued
attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years after
redesignation. EPA is proposing to make a determination that the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, based
upon three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality
monitoring data for 2004-2006. EPA's proposed approval of the 8-hour
ozone redesignation request is based on its determination that the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has met the criteria for redesignation to
attainment specified in the Clean Air Act. In addition, the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has also submitted a 2002 base-year
inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, and EPA is proposing to
approve that inventory for the Area as a SIP revision. EPA is also
providing information on the status of its adequacy determination for
the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) that are identified in the
maintenance plan for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area for purposes of
transportation conformity, and is proposing to approve those MVEBs. EPA
is proposing approval of the redesignation request, the maintenance
plan, and 2002 base-year inventory SIP revisions in accordance with the
requirements of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 25, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2007-0605 by one of the following methods:
A. https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
B. E-mail: powers.marilyn@epa.gov.
C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2007-0605, Marilyn Powers, Acting Chief, Air
Quality Planning Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address.
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-R03-OAR-
2007-0605. 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 Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an 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

[[Page 54391]]

cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot
contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your
comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters,
any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the electronic 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, is not placed on the Internet and 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 during normal business hours at the
Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region
III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the
State submittal are available at the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468,
400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rehn, (215) 814-2176, or by e-
mail at rehn.brian@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.

Table of Contents

I. What Are the Clean Air Actions EPA Is Proposing To Take?
II. What Is the Background for These Proposed Actions?
III. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment?
IV. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions?
V. What Would Be the Effect of These Actions?
VI. What Is EPA's Analysis of the Commonwealth's Request?
VII. Are the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets Established and
Identified in the Maintenance Plan for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Area Adequate and Approvable?
VIII. Proposed Actions
IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What Are the Clean Air Actions EPA Is Proposing To Take?

On June 12, 2007, the PADEP formally submitted a request to
redesignate the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area from nonattainment to
attainment of the 8-hour NAAQS for ozone. Concurrently, Pennsylvania
submitted a maintenance plan for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area as a
SIP revision to ensure continued attainment in the Area over the next
11 years. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base-year inventory for the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area as a SIP revision. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Area is comprised of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Wyoming Counties.
It is currently designated a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. EPA
is proposing to determine that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has
attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS and that it has met the requirements
for redesignation pursuant to section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air
Act. EPA is, therefore, proposing to approve the redesignation request
to change the designation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area from
nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also
proposing to approve the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre maintenance plan as a
SIP revision for the Area (such approval being one of the Clean Air Act
criteria for redesignation to attainment status). The maintenance plan
is designed to ensure continued attainment in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Area for the next 11 years. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2002
base-year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area as a SIP
revision. Additionally, EPA is announcing its action on the adequacy
process for the MVEBs identified in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
maintenance plan, and proposing to approve the MVEBs identified for
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX)
for the Area for transportation conformity purposes.

II. What Is the Background for These Proposed Actions?

A. General

Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly by sources. Rather,
emissions of NOX and VOC react in the presence of sunlight
to form ground-level ozone. The air pollutants NOX and VOC
are referred to as precursors of ozone. The Clean Air Act establishes a
process for air quality management through the attainment and
maintenance of the NAAQS.
On July 18, 1997, EPA promulgated a revised 8-hour ozone standard
of 0.08 parts per million (ppm). This new standard is more stringent
than the previous 1-hour standard. EPA designated, as nonattainment,
any area violating the 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on the air quality data
for the three years of 2001-2003. These were the most recent three
years of data at the time EPA designated 8-hour areas. The Scranton/
Wilkes-Barre Area was designated a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment
area in a Federal Register notice signed on April 15, 2004 and
published on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23857), based on its exceedance of
the 8-hour health-based standard for ozone during the years 2001-2003.
On April 30, 2004, EPA issued a final rule (69 FR 23951, 23996) to
revoke the 1-hour ozone NAAQS in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area (as
well as most other areas of the country), effective June 15, 2005. See
40 CFR 50.9(b); 69 FR at 23996 (April 30, 2004); 70 FR 44470 (August 3,
2005).
However, on December 22, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit vacated EPA's Phase 1 Implementation Rule
for the 8-hour Ozone Standard. (69 FR 23951, April 30, 2004). South
Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, 472 F.3d 882 (D.C. Cir.
2006) (hereafter ``South Coast''). On June 8, 2007, in South Coast Air
Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, Docket No. 04-1201, in response to
several petitions for rehearing, the D.C. Circuit clarified that the
Phase 1 Rule was vacated only with regard to those parts of the rule
that had been successfully challenged. Therefore, the Phase 1 Rule
provisions related to classifications for areas currently classified
under subpart 2 of Title I, part D of the Clean Air Act as 8-hour
nonattainment areas, the 8-hour attainment dates and the timing for
emissions reductions needed for attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS
remain effective. The June 8 decision left intact the Court's rejection
of EPA's reasons for implementing the 8-hour standard in certain
nonattainment areas under Subpart 1 in lieu of subpart 2. By limiting
the vacatur, the Court let stand EPA's revocation of the 1-hour
standard and those anti-backsliding provisions of the Phase 1 Rule that
had not been successfully challenged. The June 8 decision reaffirmed
the December 22, 2006 decision that EPA had improperly failed to retain
measures required for 1-hour nonattainment areas under the anti-
backsliding provisions of the regulations: (1) Nonattainment area New
Source Review (NSR) requirements based on an area's 1-hour
nonattainment classification; (2) Section 185 penalty fees for 1-hour
severe or extreme nonattainment areas; and (3) measures to be
implemented pursuant to section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the Clean Air
Act, on the contingency of an area not making reasonable further
progress toward attainment of the 1-hour NAAQS, or for failure to
attain that NAAQS. In addition, the June 8 decision clarified that the
Court's reference to conformity requirements for anti-backsliding
purposes was limited to requiring the continued use of 1-hour

[[Page 54392]]

motor vehicle emissions budgets until 8-hour budgets were available for
8-hour conformity determinations, which is already required under EPA's
conformity regulations. The Court thus clarified that 1-hour conformity
determinations are not required for anti-backsliding purposes.
Elsewhere in this document, mainly in section VI. B. ``The Scranton/
Wilkes-Barre Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements Under Section 110
and Part D of the Clean Air Act and has a Fully Approved SIP Under
Section 110(k) of the Clean Air Act,'' EPA discusses its rationale why
the decision in South Coast is not an impediment to redesignating the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area to attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
The Clean Air Act, title I, Part D, contains two sets of
provisions-subpart 1 and subpart 2 -that address planning and control
requirements for nonattainment areas. Subpart 1 (which EPA refers to as
``basic'' nonattainment) contains general, less prescriptive
requirements for nonattainment areas for any pollutant--including
ozone--governed by a NAAQS. Subpart 2 (which EPA refers to as
``classified'' nonattainment) provides more specific requirements for
ozone nonattainment areas. In 2004, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was
classified a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area based on air quality
monitoring data from 2001-2003. Therefore, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Area is subject to the requirements of subpart 1 of Part D.
Under 40 CFR part 50, the 8-hour ozone standard is attained when
the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour
average ambient air quality ozone concentrations is less than or equal
to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is considered). See 69 FR
23857 (April 30, 2004) for further information. Ambient air quality
monitoring data for the 3-year period must meet data completeness
requirements. The data completeness requirements are met when the
average percent of days with valid ambient monitoring data is greater
than 90 percent, and no single year has less than 75 percent data
completeness as determined in Appendix I of 40 CFR part 50. The ozone
monitoring data indicates that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has a
design value of 0.075 ppm for the 3-year period of 2004-2006, using
complete, quality-assured data. Therefore, the ambient ozone data for
the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area indicates no violations of the 8-hour
ozone standard.

B. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area consists of Lackawanna, Luzerne,
Monroe, and Wyoming Counties in Pennsylvania. Prior to its designation
as an 8-hour ozone nonattainment area, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area
was a marginal 1-hour ozone nonattainment Area (which included Columbia
County, in addition to those counties comprising the 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area). Therefore, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was
subject to requirements for marginal nonattainment areas pursuant to
section 182(a) of the Clean Air Act. See 56 FR 56694 (November 6,
1991). EPA determined that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 1-hour ozone
nonattainment Area had attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS by the November
15, 1993 attainment date (60 FR 3349, January 17, 1995).
On June 12, 2007, the PADEP requested that the Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre Area be redesignated to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard.
The redesignation request included three years of complete, quality-
assured data for the period of 2004-2006, indicating that the 8-hour
NAAQS for ozone had been achieved in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area.
The data satisfies the Clean Air Act requirements that the 3-year
average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone
concentration (commonly referred to as the area's design value), must
be less than or equal to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is
considered). Under the Clean Air Act, a nonattainment area may be
redesignated if sufficient complete, quality-assured data is available
to determine that the area attained the standard and the area meets the
other Clean Air Act redesignation requirements set forth in section
107(d)(3)(E).

III. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment?

The Clean Air Act provides the requirements for redesignating a
nonattainment area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E)
allows for redesignation, providing that:
(1) EPA determines that the area has attained the applicable NAAQS;
(2) EPA has fully approved the applicable implementation plan for
the area under section 110(k);
(3) EPA determines that the improvement in air quality is due to
permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from
implementation of the applicable SIP and applicable Federal air
pollutant control regulations and other permanent and enforceable
reductions;
(4) EPA has fully approved a maintenance plan for the area as
meeting the requirements of section 175A; and
(5) The State containing such area has met all requirements
applicable to the area under section 110 and Part D.
EPA provided guidance on redesignations in the General Preamble for
the Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act, on April 16, 1992
(57 FR 13498), and supplemented this guidance on April 28, 1992 (57 FR
18070). EPA has provided further guidance on processing redesignation
requests in the following documents:
``Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Design Value Calculations,''
Memorandum from Bill Laxton, June, 18, 1990;
``Maintenance Plans for Redesignation of Ozone and Carbon
Monoxide Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief,
Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, April 30, 1992;
``Contingency Measures for Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Redesignations,'' Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon
Monoxide Programs Branch, June 1, 1992;
``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas
to Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality
Management Division, September 4, 1992;
``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted in
Response to Clean Air Act (Act) Deadlines,'' Memorandum from John
Calcagni Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992;
``Technical Support Documents (TSDs) for Redesignation
Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from
G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, August 17,
1993;
``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas
Submitting Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and
Carbon Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on
or after November 15, 1992,'' Memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, September 17,
1993;
Memorandum from D. Kent Berry, Acting Director, Air
Quality Management Division, to Air Division Directors, Regions 1-10,
``Use of Actual Emissions in Maintenance Demonstrations for Ozone and
CO Nonattainment Areas,'' dated November 30, 1993;
``Part D New Source Review (Part D NSR) Requirements for
Areas

[[Page 54393]]

Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,'' Memorandum from Mary D.
Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, October 14,
1994; and
``Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment Demonstration,
and Related Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment Areas Meeting the
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard,'' Memorandum from John S.
Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, May 10,
1995.

IV. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions?

On June 12, 2007, the PADEP requested redesignation of the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard.
On June 12, 2007, PADEP submitted a maintenance plan for the Scranton/
Wilkes-Barre Area as a SIP revision, to ensure continued attainment of
the 8-hour ozone NAAQS over the next 11 years, until 2018. PADEP also
submitted a 2002 base-year inventory concurrently with its maintenance
plan as a SIP revision. EPA has determined that the Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre Area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard and has met the
requirements for redesignation set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E).

V. What Would Be the Effect of These Actions?

Approval of the redesignation request would change the official
designation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area from nonattainment to
attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS found at 40 CFR part 81. It would
also incorporate into the Pennsylvania SIP a 2002 base-year inventory
and a maintenance plan ensuring continued attainment of the 8-hour
ozone NAAQS in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area for the next 11 years,
until 2018. The maintenance plan includes contingency measures to
remedy any future violations of the 8-hour NAAQS (should they occur),
and identifies the NOX and VOC MVEBs for transportation conformity
purposes for the years 2009 and 2018. These MVEBs are displayed in the
following table:

Table 1.--Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets, in Tons
per Summer Day (tpsd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year VOC NOX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009............................................. 25.2 48.3
2018.............................................. 16.9 23.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. What Is EPA's Analysis of the Commonwealth's Request?

EPA is proposing to determine that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area
has attained the 8-hour ozone standard, and that all other
redesignation criteria have been met. The following is a description of
how the PADEP's June 12, 2007 submittal satisfies the requirements of
section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act.

A. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Has Attained the 8-Hour NAAQS

EPA is proposing to determine that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area
has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. For ozone, an area may be
considered to be attaining the 8-hour ozone NAAQS if there are no
violations, as determined in accordance with 40 CFR 50.10 and Appendix
I of Part 50, based on three complete, consecutive calendar years of
quality-assured air quality monitoring data. To attain this standard,
the design value, which is the 3-year average of the fourth-highest
daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations measured at each
monitor, within the area, over each year must not exceed the ozone
standard of 0.08 ppm. Based on the rounding convention described in 40
CFR part 50, Appendix I, the standard is attained if the design value
is 0.084 ppm or below. The data must be collected and quality-assured
in accordance with 40 CFR part 58, and recorded in the Air Quality
System (AQS). The monitors generally should have remained at the same
location for the duration of the monitoring period required for
demonstrating attainment.
In the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Area, there were four ozone monitors
that measured ambient ozone air quality between 2004 and 2006. Two of
these monitors are located in Lackawanna County and two are in Luzerne
County. As part of its redesignation request, Pennsylvania referenced
ozone monitoring data for the years 2004-2006 for the Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre Area. This data has been quality assured and is recorded in the
AQS. The PADEP uses the AQS as the permanent database to maintain its
data and quality assures the data transfers and content for accuracy.
The fourth-high 8-hour daily maximum concentrations for the period from
2004-2006, along with the three-year average, are summarized in Table
2.

Table 2.--Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Fourth Highest 8-Hour Average Values (2004-2006)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual 4th highest reading (ppm)
Monitor/County/AIRS ID -----------------------------------------------
2004 2005 2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilson Fire Company Monitor, Lackawanna County, AQS ID 42-069- 0.071 0.080 0.071
0101...........................................................
City of Scranton Monitor, Luzerne County AQS ID 42-069-2006..... 0.073 0.080 0.070
Nanticoke Monitor, Luzerne County AQS ID 42-079-1100............ 0.068 0.074 0.064
Wilkes-Barre Monitor, Luzerne County AQS ID 42-079-1101......... 0.073 0.081 0.073
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Area design value for the 3-year period 2004-2006 is 0.075 ppm (based on Wilkes-Barre Monitor/AQS ID 42-079-
1101)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The air quality data for 2004-2006 show that the Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre Area has attained the standard with a design value of 0.075 ppm.
The data collected at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area monitors satisfies
the Clean Air Act requirement that the 3-year average of the annual
fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration is less
than or equal to 0.08 ppm. The PADEP's request for redesignation for
the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area indicates that the data is complete and
was quality assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In addition, as
discussed below with respect to the maintenance plan, PADEP has
committed to continue monitoring in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In
summary, EPA has determined that the data submitted by Pennsylvania and
data taken from AQS indicate that the Area has attained the 8-hour
ozone NAAQS.

B. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements
Under Section 110 and Part D of the Clean Air Act and Has a Fully
Approved SIP Under Section 110(k) of the Clean Air Act

EPA has determined that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area has met all

[[Page 54394]]

SIP requirements applicable for purposes of this redesignation under
section 110 of the Clean Air Act (General SIP Requirements) and that it
meets all applicable SIP requirements under Part D of Title I of the
Clean Air Act, in accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(v). In addition,
EPA has determined that the SIP is fully approved with respect to all
requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation in accordance
with section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii). In making these proposed determinations,
EPA ascertained which requirements are applicable to the Scranton/
Wilkes-Barre Area and determined that the applicable portions of the
SIP meeting these requirements are fully approved under section 110(k)
of the Clean Air Act. We note that SIPs must be fully approved only
with respect to applicable requirements.
The September 4, 1992 Calcagni memorandum (``Procedures for
Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,'' Memorandum
from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division,
September 4, 1992) describes EPA's interpretation of section
107(d)(3)(E) with respect to the timing of applicable requirements.
Under this interpretation, to qualify for redesignation, States
requesting redesignation to attainment must meet only the relevant
Clean Air Act requirements that came due prior to the submittal of a
complete redesignation request. See also, Michael Shapiro memorandum,
September 17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465-66 (March 7, 1995)
(redesignation of Detroit-Ann Arbor). Applicable requirements of the
Clean Air Act that come due subsequent to the area's submittal of a
complete redesignation request remain applicable until a redesignation
is approved, but are not required as a prerequisite to redesignation.
Section 175A(c) of the Clean Air Act. Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537
(7th Cir. 2004). See also, 68 FR at 25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003)
(redesignation of St. Louis).
This section sets forth EPA's views on the potential effect of the
Court's rulings on this proposed redesignation action. For the reasons
set forth below, EPA does not believe that the Court's rulings alters
any requirements relevant to this redesignation action so as to
preclude redesignation, and do not prevent EPA from proposing or
ultimately finalizing this redesignation. EPA believes that the Court's
December 22, 2006 and June 8, 2007 decisions impose no impediment to
moving forward with redesignation of this area to attainment, because
even in light of the Court's decisions, redesignation is appropriate
under the relevant redesignation provisions of the Clean Air Act and
longstanding policies regarding redesignation requests.
1. Section 110 General SIP Requirements
Section 110(a)(2) of Title I of the Clean Air Act delineates the
general requirements for a SIP, which includes enforceable emissions
limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques,
provisions for the establishment and operation of appropriate devices
necessary to collect data on ambient air quality, and programs to
enforce the limitations. The general SIP elements and requirements set
forth in section 110(a)(2) include, but are not limited to the
following:
Submittal of a SIP that has been adopted by the State
after reasonable public notice and hearing;
Provisions for establishment and operation of appropriate
procedures needed to monitor ambient air quality;
Implementation of a source permit program; provisions for
the implementation of part C requirements (Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD));
Provisions for the implementation of Part D requirements
for New Source Review (NSR) permit programs;
Provisions for air pollution modeling; and
Provisions for public and local agency participation in
planning and emission control rule development.
Section 110(a)(2)(D) requires that SIPs contain certain measures to
prevent sources in a state from significantly contributing to air
quality problems in another State. To implement this provision, EPA has
required certain states to establish programs to address transport of
air pollutants in accordance with the NOx SIP Call, October 27, 1998
(63 FR 57356), amendments to the NOx SIP Call, May 14, 1999 (64 FR
26298) and March 2, 2000 (65 FR 11222), and the Clean Air Interstate
Rule (CAIR), May 12, 2005 (70 FR 25162). However, the section
110(a)(2)(D) requirements for a State are not linked with a particular
nonattainment area's designation and classification in that State. EPA
believes that the requirements linked with a particular nonattainment
area's designation and classifications are the relevant measures to
evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request. The transport SIP
submittal requirements, where applicable, continue to apply to a state
regardless of the designation of any one particular area in the State.
Thus, we do not believe that these requirements are applicable
requirements for purposes of redesignation.
In addition, EPA believes that the other section 110 elements not
connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with an
area's attainment status are not applicable requirements for purposes
of redesignation. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area will still be subject
to these requirements after it is redesignated. The section 110 and
Part D requirements which are linked with a particular area's
designation and classification are the relevant measures to evaluate in
reviewing a redesignation request. This policy is consistent with EPA's
existing policy on applicability of conformity (i.e., for
redesignations) and oxygenated fuels requirement. See Reading,
Pennsylvania, proposed and final rulemakings (61 FR 53174, October 10,
1996), (62 FR 24826, May 7, 1997); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio final
rulemaking (61 FR 20458, May 7, 1996); and Tampa, Florida, final
rulemaking (60 FR 62748, December 7, 1995). See also, the discussion on
this issue in the Cincinnati redesignation (65 FR at 37890, June 19,
2000), and in the Pittsburgh redesignation (66 FR at 53099, October 19,
2001). Similarly, with respect to the NOx SIP Call rules, EPA noted in
its Phase 1 Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS, that the
NOx SIP Call rules are not ``an'' `applicable requirement' for purposes
of section 110(1) because the NOx rules apply regardless of an area's
attainment or nonattainment status for the 8-hour (or the 1-hour)
NAAQS.'' 69 FR 23951, 23983 (April 30, 2004).
EPA believes that section 110 elements not linked to the area's
nonattainment status are not applicable for purposes of redesignation.
As we explain later in this notice, no Part D requirements applicable
for purposes of redesignation under the 8-hour standard became due for
the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area prior to submission of the redesignation
request
2. Part D Nonattainment Requirements Under the 8-Hour Standard
Pursuant to an April 30, 2004, final rule (69 FR 23951), the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was designated a basic nonattainment area
under subpart 1 for the 8-hour ozone standard. Sections 172-176 of the
Clean Air Act, found in subpart 1 of Part D, set forth the basic
nonattainment requirements applicable to all nonattainment areas.
Section 182 of the Clean Air Act, found in subpart 2 of Part D,
establishes additional specific requirements depending on the area's
nonattainment classification.

[[Page 54395]]

With respect to the 8-hour standard, the court's ruling rejected
EPA's reasons for classifying areas under subpart 1 for the 8-hour
standard, and remanded that matter to the Agency.
Consequently, it is possible that this area could, during a remand
to EPA, be reclassified under subpart 2. Although any future decision
by EPA to classify this area under subpart 2 might trigger additional
future requirements for the area, EPA believes that this does not mean
that redesignation of the area cannot now go forward. This belief is
based upon (1) EPA's longstanding policy of evaluating redesignation
requests in accordance with the requirements due at the time the
request is submitted; and, (2) consideration of the inequity of
applying retroactively any requirements that might in the future be
applied.
First, at the time the redesignation request was submitted, the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was classified under subpart 1 and was
obligated to meet only subpart 1 requirements. Under EPA's longstanding
interpretation of section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act, to qualify
for redesignation, states requesting redesignation to attainment must
meet only the relevant SIP requirements that came due prior to the
submittal of a complete redesignation request. See September 4, 1992
Calcagni memorandum (``Procedures for Processing Requests to
Redesignate Areas to Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni,
Director, Air Quality Management Division). See also, Michael Shapiro
Memorandum, September 17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465-66 (March 7,
1995) (Redesignation of Detroit-Ann Arbor). Sierra Club v. EPA, 375
F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004), which upheld this interpretation. See 68 FR
25418, 25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003) (Redesignation of St. Louis).
Moreover, it would be inequitable to retroactively apply any new
SIP requirements that were not applicable at the time the request was
submitted. The D.C. Circuit has recognized the inequity in such
retroactive rulemaking, Sierra Club v. Whitman, 285 F. 3d 63 (D.C. Cir.
2002), in which the D.C. Circuit upheld a District Court's ruling
refusing to make retroactive an EPA determination of nonattainment that
was past the statutory due date. Such a determination would have
resulted in the imposition of additional requirements on the area. The
Court stated: ``Although EPA failed to make the nonattainment
determination within the statutory time frame, Sierra Club's proposed
solution only makes the situation worse. Retroactive relief would
likely impose large costs on the States, which would face fines and
suits for not implementing air pollution prevention plans in 1997, even
though they were not on notice at the time.'' Id. at 68. Similarly here
it would be unfair to penalize the area by applying to it for purposes
of redesignation additional SIP requirements under subpart 2 that were
not in effect at the time it submitted its redesignation request.
With respect to 8-hour subpart 2 requirements, if the Scranton/
Wilkes-Barre Area initially had been classified under subpart 2, the
first two Part D subpart 2 requirements applicable to the Area under
section 182(a) of the Clean Air Act would be: A base-year inventory
requirement pursuant to section 182(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act, and,
the emissions statement requirement pursuant to section 182(a)(3)(B).
As stated previously, these requirements are not yet due for
purposes of redesignation of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, but
nevertheless, Pennsylvania already has in its approved SIP, an
emissions statement rule for the 1-hour standard that covers all
portions of the designated 8-hour nonattainment area and, that
satisfies the emissions statement requirement for the 8-hour standard.
See, 25 Pa. Code 135.21(a)(1), codified at 40 CFR 52.2020; 60 FR 2881,
January 12, 1995. With respect to the base-year inventory requirement,
in this notice of proposed rulemaking, EPA is proposing to approve the
2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, which was
submitted on June 12, 2007, concurrently with its maintenance plan SIP
revision. EPA is proposing to approve the 2002 base-year inventory as
fulfilling the requirements of both section 182(a)(1) and section
172(c)(3) of the Clean Air Act. A detailed evaluation of Pennsylvania's
2002 base-year inventory for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area can be
found in a Technical Support Document (TSD) prepared by EPA for this
rulemaking. EPA has determined that the emission inventory and
emissions statement requirements for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area
have been satisfied.
In addition to the fact that Part D requirements applicable for
purposes of redesignation did not become due prior to submission of the
redesignation request, EPA believes that the general conformity and NSR
requirements do not require approval prior to redesignation.
With respect to section 176, Conformity Requirements, section
176(c) of the Clean Air Act requires states to establish criteria and
procedures to ensure that federally supported or funded projects
conform to the air quality planning goals in the applicable SIP. The
requirement to determine conformity applies to transportation plans,
programs, and projects developed, funded or approved under Title 23
U.S.C. and the Federal Transit Act (``transportation conformity'') as
well as to all other Federally supported or funded projects (``general
conformity''). State conformity revisions must be consistent with
Federal conformity regulations relating to consultation, enforcement
and enforceability that the Clean Air Act required the EPA to
promulgate. EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the conformity
SIP requirements as not applying for purposes of evaluating the
redesignation request under section 107(d) since State conformity rules
are still required after redesignation and Federal conformity rules
apply where State rules have not been approved. See, Wall v. EPA, 265
F. 3d 426, 438-440 (6th Cir. 2001), upholding this interpretation. See
also, 60 FR 62748 (December 7, 1995).
In the case of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, EPA has also
determined that before being redesignated, the Area need not comply
with the requirement that a NSR program be approved prior to
redesignation. EPA has determined that areas being redesignated need
not comply with the requirement that a NSR program be approved prior to
redesignation, provided that the area demonstrates maintenance of the
standard without Part D NSR in effect. The rationale for this position
is described in a memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator
for Air and Radiation, dated October 14, 1994, entitled, ``Part D NSR
Requirements or Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment.''
Normally, a State's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
program will become effective in the area immediately upon
redesignation to attainment. See the more detailed explanations in the
following redesignation rulemakings: Detroit, MI (60 FR 12467-12468
(March 7, 1995); Cleveland-Akron-Lorrain, OH (61 FR 20458, 20469-70,
May 7, 1996); Louisville, KY (66 FR 53665, 53669, October 23, 2001);
Grand Rapids, MI (61 FR 31831, 31836-31837, June 21, 1996). In the case
of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area the Chapter 127 Part D NSR
regulations in the Pennsylvania SIP (codified at 40 CFR 52.2020(c)(1))
explicitly apply the requirements for NSR in section 184 of the Clean
Air Act to ozone attainment areas within the Ozone Transport Region
(OTR). The OTR NSR requirements are more

[[Page 54396]]

stringent than that required for a marginal or basic ozone
nonattainment area. On October 19, 2001 (66 FR 53094), EPA fully
approved Pennsylvania's NSR SIP revision consisting of Pennsylvania's
Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations that cover the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Area.
EPA has also interpreted the section 184 OTR requirements,
including the NSR program, as not being applicable for purposes of
redesignation. The rationale for this is based on two considerations.
First, the requirement to submit SIP revisions for the section 184
requirements continues to apply to areas in the OTR after redesignation
to attainment. Therefore, the State remains obligated to have NSR, as
well as reasonably available control technology (RACT), and Vehicle
Inspection and Maintenance programs even after redesignation. Second,
the section 184 control measures are region-wide requirements and do
not apply to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area solely by virtue of the
Area's designation and classification. See 61 FR 53174, 53175-53176
(October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826, 24830-32 (May 7, 1997).
3. Part D Nonattainment Area Requirements Under the 1-Hour Standard
In its June 8, 2007 decision, the Court limited its vacatur so as
to uphold those provisions of the anti-backsliding requirements that
were not successfully challenged. Therefore the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Area must meet the federal anti-backsliding requirements. See 40 CFR
51.900, et seq.; 70 FR 30592, 30604 (May 26, 2005), which apply by
virtue of the Area's classification for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. As set
forth in more detail below, the Area must also address four additional
anti-backsliding provisions identified by the Court in its decisions.
The anti-backsliding provisions at 40 CFR 51.905(a)(1) prescribe 1-
hour ozone NAAQS requirements that continue to apply after revocation
of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS to former 1-hour ozone nonattainment areas.
Section 51.905(a)(1)(i) provides that: ``The area remains subject to
the obligation to adopt and implement the applicable requirements as
defined in section 51.900(f), except as provided in paragraph
(a)(1)(iii) of paragraph (b) of this section.''
Section 51.900(f), as amended by 70 FR 30592, 30604 (May 26, 2005),
states that:

Applicable requirements means for an area the following
requirements to the extent such requirements applied to the area for
the area's classification under section 181(a)(1) of the Clean Air
Act for the 1-hour NAAQS at the time of designation for the 8-hour
NAAQS.
(1) Reasonably available control technology (RACT).
(2) Inspection and maintenance programs (I/M).
(3) Major source applicability cut-offs for purposes of RACT.
(4) Rate of Progress (ROP) reductions.
(5) Stage II vapor recovery.
(6) Clean fuels fleet program under section 183(c)(4) of the
Clean Air Act.
(7) Clean fuels for boilers under section 182(e)(3) of the Clean
Air Act.
(8) Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) during heavy traffic
hours as required by section 182(e)(4) of the Clean Air Act.
(9) Enhanced (ambient) monitoring under section 182(c)(1) of the
Clean Air Act.
(10) Transportation control measures (TCMs) under section
182(c)(5) of the Clean Air Act.
(11) Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) provisions of section
182(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act.
(12) NOX requirements under section 182(f) of the
Clean Air Act.
(13) Attainment demonstration or alternative as provided under
section 51.905(a)(1)(ii).

Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.905(c), the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area is
subject to the obligations set forth in 51.905(a) and 51.900(f).
Prior to its designation as an 8-hour ozone nonattainment area, the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area was designated a marginal nonattainment area
for the 1-hour standard. With respect to the 1-hour standard, the
applicable requirements under the anti-backsliding provisions at 40 CFR
51.905(a)(1) for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area are limited to RACT and
I/M programs specified in section 182(a) of the Clean Air Act and are
discussed in the following paragraphs:
Section 182(a)(2)(A) required SIP revisions to correct or amend
RACT for sources in marginal areas, such as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Area, that were subject to control technique guidelines (CTGs) issued
before November 15, 1990 pursuant to Clean Air Act section 108. On
December 22, 1994, EPA fully approved into the Pennsylvania SIP all
corrections required under section 182(a)(2)(A) of the Clean Air Act
(59 FR 65971, December 22, 1994). EPA believes that this requirement
applies only to marginal and higher classified areas under the 1-hour
NAAQS pursuant to the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act; therefore,
this is a one-time requirement. After an area has fulfilled the section
182(a)(2)(A) requirement for the 1-hour NAAQS, there is no requirement
under the 8-hour NAAQS.
Section 182(a)(2)(B) relates to the savings clause for vehicle
inspection and maintenance (I/M). It requires marginal areas to adopt
vehicle I/M programs. This provision was not applicable to the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area because this area did not have, and was not
required to have, an I/M program before November 15, 1990.
In addition the Court held that EPA should have retained four
additional measures in its anti-backsliding provisions: (1)
Nonattainment area NSR; (2) Section 185 penalty fees; (3) contingency
measures under section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the Clean Air Act; and
(4) 1-hour motor vehicle emission budgets that were yet not replaced by
8-hour emissions budgets. These requirements are addressed below:
With respect to NSR, EPA has determined that areas being
redesignated need not have an approved nonattainment New Source Review
program, for the same reasons discussed previously with respect to the
applicable Part D requirement for the 8-hour standard.
The section 185 penalty fee requirement was not applicable in the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 1-hour marginal nonattainment area.
With respect to the requirement for submission of contingency
measures for the 1-hour standard, section 182(a) does not require
contingency measures for marginal areas.
The conformity portion of the Court's ruling does not impact the
redesignation request for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area except to the
extent that the Court in its June 8 decision clarified that for those
areas with 1-hour MVEBs, anti-backsliding requires that those 1-hour
budgets must be used for 8-hour conformity determinations until
replaced by 8-hour budgets. To meet this requirement, conformity
determinations in such areas must comply with the applicable
requirements of EPA's conformity regulations at 40 CFR part 93. The
court clarified that 1-hour conformity determinations are not required
for anti-backsliding purposes.
Thus EPA has concluded that the area has met all requirements
applicable for redesignation under the 1-hour standard.
4. Transport Region Requirements
All areas in the Ozone Transport Region (OTR), both attainment and
nonattainment, are subject to additional control requirements under
section 184 for the purpose of reducing interstate transport of
emissions that may contribute to downwind ozone nonattainment. The
section 184 requirements include RACT, NSR,

[[Page 54397]]

enhanced vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M), and Stage II vapor
recovery or a comparable measure.
In the case of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, which is located in
the OTR, nonattainment NSR will continue to be applicable after
redesignation. On October 19, 2001, EPA approved the 1-hour NSR SIP
revision for the Area. See 66 FR 53094 (October 19, 2001).
EPA has also interpreted the section 184 OTR requirements,
including NSR, as not being applicable for purposes of redesignation.
Reading, PA Redesignation, 61 FR 53174, (October 10, 1996), 62 FR 24826
(May 7, 1997). The rationale for this is based on two considerations.
First, the requirement to submit SIP revisions for the section 184
requirements continues to apply to areas in the OTR after redesignation
to attainment. Therefore, the Commonwealth remains obligated to have
NSR, as well as RACT, and I/M even after redesignation. Second, the
section 184 control measures are region-wide requirements and do not
apply to the area by virtue of the area's nonattainment designation and
classification, and thus are properly considered not relevant to an
action changing an area's designation. See 61 FR 53174, 53175-6
(October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826, 24830-32 (May 7, 1997).
5. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Has a Fully Approved SIP for Purposes of
Redesignation
EPA has fully approved the Pennsylvania SIP for the purposes of
this redesignation. EPA may rely on prior SIP approvals in approving a
redesignation request. Calcagni Memo, p. 3; Southwestern Pennsylvania
Growth Alliance v. Browner, 144 F. 3d 984, 989-90 (6th Cir. 1998), Wall
v. EPA, 265 F. 3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001), plus any additional measures it
may approve in conjunction with a redesignation action. See 68 FR at
25425 (May 12, 2003) and citations therein.

C. The Air Quality Improvement in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Is Due
to Permanent and Enforceable Reductions in Emissions Resulting From
Implementation of the SIP and Applicable Federal Air Pollution Control
Regulations and Other Permanent and Enforceable Reductions

EPA believes that the Commonwealth has demonstrated that the
observed air quality improvement in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area is
due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from
implementation of the SIP, Federal measures, and other State-adopted
measures. Emissions reductions attributable to these rules are shown in
Table 3.

Table 3.--Total VOC and NOX Emissions for 2002 and 2004 in Tons per Summer Day (tpsd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonroad Highway
Year Point* Area mobile mobile Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002............................ 4.6 36.0 36.6 19.0 96.2
2004............................ 3.8 35.3 31.6 18.9 89.6
Difference (2002-04)............ -0.8 -0.7 -5.0 -0.1 -6.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nitrogen Oxides (NOX)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002............................ 8.4 3.8 74.4 11.3 97.9
2004............................ 7.0 3.9 66.1 10.9 87.9
Difference (2002-04)............ -1.4 +0.1 -8.3 -0.4 -10.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The stationary point source emissions shown do not include banked emissions reduction credits (ERCs) for
sources listed in Technical Appendix A-4 to Pennsylvania's SIP submission.
The banked ERCs include the following:
[cir] MACtac, Scranton Facility--0.20 tpsd VOC.
[cir] Proctor & Gamble, Hehoopany--1.70 tpsd VOC and 0.73 tpsd NOX.
[cir] TECHNEGLAS, Pittston--2.11 tpsd VOC and 0.09 tpsd NOX.
[cir] Thomson No. 1, Dunmore--0.15 tpsd VOC and 0.02 tpsd NOX.
[cir] Williams Generation, Hazelton Cogeneration--2.61 tpsd NOX.

Between 2002 and 2004, VOC emissions decreased by 6.6 tpsd from
96.2 tpsd to 89.6 tpsd. NOX emissions decreased over the
same period by 10.0 tpsd from 97.9 tpsd to 87.9 tpsd. EPA believes that
permanent and enforceable emissions reductions are the cause of the
long-term improvement in ozone levels and are the cause of the Area
achieving attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard. These reductions, as
well as anticipated future reductions, are due to the following
permanent and enforceable measures.
1. Stationary Point Sources
Federal NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August 21, 2001)
2. Stationary Area Sources
Solvent Cleaning (68 FR 2206, January 16, 2003)
Portable Fuel Containers (69 FR 70893, December 8, 2004)
3. Highway Vehicle Sources
Federal Motor Vehicle Control Programs (FMVCP)
--Tier 1 (56 FR 25724, June 5, 1991)
--Tier 2 (65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000)
--Heavy-duty Engine and Vehicle Standards (62 FR 54694, October 21,
1997, and 65 FR 59896, October 6, 2000)
National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program (64 FR 72564, December 28,
1999)
PA Vehicle Emission Inspection/Maintenance Program & Changes to Vehicle
Safety Inspection Program in non-I/M Counties (70 FR 58313, October 6,
2005)
4. Non-Road Sources
Non-road Diesel (69 FR 38958, June 29, 2004)

D. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Has a Fully Approvable Maintenance
Plan Pursuant to Section 175A of the Clean Air Act

In conjunction with its request to redesignate the Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre ozone nonattainment Area to attainment status, Pennsylvania
submitted a SIP revision to provide for maintenance of the 8-hour ozone
NAAQS in the Area for at least 11 years after redesignation. The
Commonwealth is requesting that EPA approve this SIP revision as
meeting the requirement of Clean Air

[[Page 54398]]

Act section 175A. Once approved, the maintenance plan for the 8-hour
ozone NAAQS will ensure that the SIP for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area
meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act regarding maintenance of
the applicable 8-hour ozone standard.
What Is Required in a Maintenance Plan?
Section 175 of the Clean Air Act sets forth the elements of a
maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to
attainment. Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued
attainment of the applicable NAAQS for at least 10 years after approval
of a redesignation of an area to attainment. Eight years after the
redesignation, the Commonwealth must submit a revised maintenance plan
demonstrating that attainment will continue to be maintained for the 10
years following the initial 10-year period. To address the possibility
of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must contain such
contingency measures, with a schedule for implementation, as EPA deems
necessary to assure prompt correction of any future 8-hour ozone
violations. Section 175A of the Clean Air Act sets forth the elements
of a maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from
nonattainment to attainment. The Calcagni memorandum dated September 4,
1992, provides additional guidance on the content of a maintenance
plan. An ozone maintenance plan should address the following
provisions:
(a) An attainment emissions inventory;
(b) A maintenance demonstration;
(c) A monitoring network;
(d) Verification of continued attainment; and
(e) A contingency plan.
Analysis of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area Maintenance Plan
(a) Attainment inventory--An attainment inventory includes the
emissions during the time period associated with the monitoring data
showing attainment. PADEP determined that the appropriate attainment
inventory year is 2004. That year establishes a reasonable year within
the three-year block of 2004-2006 as a baseline and accounts for
reductions attributable to implementation of the Clean Air Act
requirements to date. The 2004 inventory is consistent with EPA
guidance and is based on actual ``typical summer day'' emissions of VOC
and NOX during 2004 and consists of a list of sources and
their associated emissions.
The 2002 and 2004 point source data was compiled from actual
sources. Pennsylvania requires owners and operators of larger
facilities to submit annual production figures and emission
calculations each year. Throughput data are multiplied by emission
factors from Factor Information Retrieval (FIRE) Data Systems and EPA's
publication series AP-42, and are based on Source Classification Codes
(SCC). The 2002 area source data was compiled using county-level
activity data, from census numbers, from county numbers, etc. The 2004
area source data was projected from the 2002 inventory using temporal
allocations provided by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management
Association (MARAMA).
The on-road mobile source inventories for 2002 and 2004 were
compiled using MOBILE6.2 and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
(PENNDOT) estimates for VMT. The PADEP has provided detailed data
summaries to document the calculations of mobile on-road VOC and
NOX emissions for 2002, as well as for the projection years
of 2004, 2009, and 2018 (shown in Tables 5 and 6 below).
The 2002 and 2004 emissions for the majority of non-road emission
source categories were estimated using the EPA NONROAD 2005 model. The
NONROAD model calculates emissions for diesel, gasoline, liquefied
petroleum gasoline, and compressed natural gas-fueled non-road
equipment types and includes growth factors. The NONROAD model does not
estimate emissions from locomotives or aircraft. For 2002 and 2004
locomotive emissions, the PADEP projected emissions from a 1999 survey
using national fuel consumption information and EPA emission and
conversion factors. Emissions from commercial aircraft for 2002 and
2004 are estimated using EPA-approved Emissions & Dispersion Modeling
System (EDMS) 4.20, the latest version available at the time the
inventory was prepared. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre International Airport
(AVP) accounts for all commercial air traffic in the area. Small
aircraft emissions were calculated using small airport statistics from
the Federal Aviation Administration's APO Terminal Area Forecast Report
and the Web site https://www.airnav.com.
More detailed information on the compilation of the 2002, 2004,
2009, and 2018 inventories can found in the Technical Appendices, which
are part of the June 12, 2007 state submittal.
(b) Maintenance Demonstration--On June 12, 2007, the PADEP
submitted a maintenance plan as required by section 175A of the Clean
Air Act. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area maintenance plan shows
maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS by demonstrating that current and
future emissions of VOC and NOX remain at or below the
attainment year 2004 emissions levels throughout the Area through the
year 2018. A maintenance demonstration need not be based on modeling.
See Wall v. EPA, supra; Sierra Club v. EPA, supra. See also, 66 FR at
53099-53100; 68 FR at 25430-32.
Tables 4 and 5 specify the VOC and NOX emissions for the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area for 2004, 2009, and 2018. The PADEP chose
2009 as an interim year in the maintenance demonstration period to
demonstrate that the VOC and NOX emissions are not projected
to increase above the 2004 attainment level during the time of the
maintenance period.

Table 4.--Total VOC Emissions for 2004-2018 (tpsd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source category 2004 2009 2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point........................................................... 3.8 4.6 5.9
Area............................................................ 35.3 33.7 36.3
Highway Mobile.................................................. 31.6 2.2 16.9
Nonroad Mobile.................................................. 18.9 16.5 13.2
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 89.6 80.0 72.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 54399]]

Table 5.--Total NOX Emissions for 2004-2018 (tpsd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source category 2004 2009 2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point........................................................... 7.0 9.3 10.4
Area............................................................ 3.9 4.1 4.4
Highway Mobile.................................................. 66.1 48.3 23.7
Nonroad Mobile.................................................. 10.9 8.9 5.6
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 87.9 70.6 44.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additionally, the following programs are either effective or due to
become effective and will further contribute to the maintenance
demonstration of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS:
The Clean Air Interstate Rule (71 FR 25328, April 28,
2006).
The Federal NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August
21, 2001).
Portable Fuel Containers Rule (69 FR 70893, December 8,
2004).
Consumer Products Rule (69 FR 70895, December 8, 2004).
Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings
(69 FR 68080, November 23, 2004).
Federal Light-duty Highway Vehicle Control Program
(FMVCP)--Tier 1/Tier 2 Emissions Standards (Model Year 1994/2004);
(Tier 1--56 FR 25724, June 5, 1991); (Tier 2--65 FR 6698, February 10,
2000).
Federal Heavy-duty Diesel Highway Engine Standards (Model
Year 2004/2007)/Low-Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel Standards (2006); (66 FR
5002, January 18, 2001).
Federal Nonroad Engine Emission Standards

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