Approval of Implementation Plans; Wisconsin; Clean Air Interstate Rule, 58542-58546 [E7-20165]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 16, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
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[FR Doc. E7–20340 Filed 10–15–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 97
[EPA–R05–OAR–2007–0405; FRL–8477–6]
Approval of Implementation Plans;
Wisconsin; Clean Air Interstate Rule
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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AGENCY:
SUMMARY: EPA is partially approving
and partially disapproving a revision to
the Wisconsin State Implementation
Plan (SIP) submitted on June 19, 2007.
The Wisconsin SIP revision was
proposed for partial approval and
partial disapproval on July 30, 2007. No
comments were received during the
comment period for the proposal. This
revision incorporates provisions related
to the implementation of EPA’s Clean
Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), promulgated
on May 12, 2005, and subsequently
revised on April 28, 2006, and
December 13, 2006, and the CAIR
Federal Implementation Plan (FIP)
which concerns sulfur dioxide (SO2),
oxides of nitrogen (NOX) annual, and
NOX ozone season emissions for the
State of Wisconsin, promulgated on
April 28, 2006, and subsequently
revised December 13, 2006. EPA is not
making any changes to the CAIR FIP,
but is, to the extent EPA approves
Wisconsin’s SIP revision, amending the
appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP
trading rules simply to note that
approval.
EPA is approving an abbreviated SIP
revision that addresses the methodology
to be used to allocate annual and ozone
season NOX allowances under the CAIR
FIP, except for allowances in the
compliance supplement pool. The
portions of Wisconsin’s submittal (those
associated with the compliance
supplement pool and Superior
Environmental Performance) that EPA is
disapproving are inconsistent with
CAIR and/or otherwise inappropriate to
include in a CAIR SIP and must,
therefore, be disapproved.
DATES: This final rule is effective on
October 16, 2007.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R05–OAR–2007–0405. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
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i.e., Confidential Business Information
(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 through
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77
West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago,
Illinois 60604. This facility is open from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding Federal holidays. We
recommend that you telephone Douglas
Aburano, Environmental Engineer, at
(312) 353–6960, before visiting the
Region 5 office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Douglas Aburano, Environmental
Engineer, Criteria Pollutant Section, Air
Programs Branch (AR–18J),
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353–6960,
aburano.douglas@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
II. Did Anyone Comment on the Proposed
Partial Approval and Partial
Disapproval?
III. What Are the General Requirements of
CAIR and the CAIR FIPs?
IV. Wisconsin’s CAIR SIP Submittal
A. Nature of Wisconsin’s Submittal
B. Summary of Wisconsin’s Rules
C. NOX Allowance Allocations
D. Allocation of Allowances from the
Compliance Supplement Pool (CSP)
E. Individual Opt-in Units
F. Additional Provision Found in
Wisconsin’s Abbreviated CAIR SIP
Submittal
V. Correction of Typographical Error in
Proposed Rule
VI. Final Action
VII. When Is This Action Effective?
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
CAIR SIP Partial Approval and Partial
Disapproval
EPA is partially approving and
partially disapproving a revision to
Wisconsin’s SIP, submitted on June 19,
2007, which modifies the application of
certain provisions of the CAIR FIP
concerning SO2, NOX annual and NOX
ozone season emissions. (As discussed
below, this less comprehensive CAIR
SIP is termed an abbreviated SIP.)
Wisconsin is subject to the CAIR FIP
that implements the CAIR requirements
by requiring certain EGUs to participate
in the EPA-administered Federal CAIR
SO2, NOX annual, and NOX ozone
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season cap-and-trade programs. The SIP
revision provides a methodology for
allocating NOX allowances for the NOX
annual and NOX ozone season trading
programs, instead of the Federal
allocation methodology otherwise
provided in the FIP. Consistent with the
flexibility provided in the FIP, these
provisions will be used to replace or
supplement, as appropriate, the
corresponding provisions in the CAIR
FIP for Wisconsin. EPA is not making
any changes to the CAIR FIP, but is, to
the extent EPA approves Wisconsin’s
SIP revision, amending the appropriate
appendices in the CAIR FIP trading
rules simply to note that approval.
EPA is disapproving certain separable
provisions of Wisconsin’s submittal.
These provisions include NR 432.04
‘‘compliance supplement pool’’ and NR
432.08 ‘‘superior environmental
performance.’’ NR 432.04 includes
provisions that are inconsistent with
CAIR. NR 432.08 would allow sources
to make voluntary reductions beyond
state and Federal requirements in
exchange for regulatory flexibility.
NR 432.04 contains the provisions
Wisconsin has adopted for distribution
of the CSP. Consistent with the
flexibility given to states in the FIP,
Wisconsin has chosen to modify the
provisions of the CAIR NOX annual FIP
concerning the allocation of allowances
from the CSP. Wisconsin has chosen to
distribute CSP allowances based on
early reduction credits or based on the
need to avoid undue risk to electric
reliability. The first methodology based
on early reduction credits essentially
mirrors the FIP’s early reduction credit
methodology.
The description in Wisconsin’s rule of
the second methodology based on need
is somewhat unclear. EPA interprets the
provision to require a demonstration
that a unit cannot avoid undue risk to
electric reliability if it keeps its
emissions in 2009 from exceeding its
2009 allowance allocation. Even if the
unit could obtain additional allowances
to cover emissions above its allocation,
and thereby comply with the
requirement to hold allowances
covering emissions, the unit would still
be eligible for CSP allowances. In
contrast, EPA’s CSP provisions in the
model rule, the FIP, and CAIR require
a demonstration that, without being
given CSP allowances, a unit cannot
avoid undue risk while keeping its 2009
emissions from exceeding all the
allowances it holds, both its 2009
allowance allocations and other
allowances it can obtain for compliance.
Thus, Wisconsin’s provision is
inconsistent with EPA’s CSP provisions.
Moreover, since Wisconsin’s entire CSP
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is available for units meeting either the
early reduction credit or the undue risk
criteria, the early reduction credit and
undue risk provisions cannot be
administered separately, and the
Wisconsin CSP must be administered by
a single agency. Consequently, EPA is
disapproving all of Wisconsin’s CSP
provisions. This portion of Wisconsin’s
SIP submittal is separable from the rest
of the submittal and can be disapproved
without compromising the integrity of
the portions we are approving.
NR 432.08 would grant regulatory
flexibility to sources that voluntarily
reduce emissions beyond what is
required under state and Federal
regulations. The scope of regulatory
flexibility provided by NR 432.08 is
ambiguous. To the extent this flexibility
relates to state-only regulatory
requirements, the regulatory provisions
are not appropriately included in a SIP.
To the extent this flexibility relates to
Federal requirements reflected in state
regulations, this type of flexibility is not
allowed under CAIR, and it is
inappropriate to simply assume that
other Federal requirements allow such
flexibility. Therefore, the regulatory
flexibility provisions cannot be
included in Wisconsin’s CAIR
abbreviated SIP revision and cannot be
approved.
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II. Did Anyone Comment on the
Proposed Partial Approval and Partial
Disapproval?
No comments were received during
the 30-day comment period on the
proposed partial approval and partial
disapproval that was published on July
30, 2007.
III. What Are the General Requirements
of CAIR and the CAIR FIPs?
CAIR establishes statewide emission
budgets for SO2 and NOX and is to be
implemented in two phases. The first
phase of NOX reductions starts in 2009
and continues through 2014, while the
first phase of SO2 reductions starts in
2010 and continues through 2014. The
second phase of reductions for both
NOX and SO2 starts in 2015 and
continues thereafter. CAIR requires
states to implement the budgets by
either: (1) Requiring EGUs to participate
in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade
programs; or, (2) adopting other control
measures of the state’s choosing and
demonstrating that such control
measures will result in compliance with
the applicable state SO2 and NOX
budgets.
The May 12, 2005, and April 28, 2006,
CAIR rules provide model rules that
states must adopt (with certain limited
changes, if desired), if they want to
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participate in the EPA-administered
trading programs. With two exceptions,
only states that choose to meet the
requirements of CAIR through methods
that exclusively regulate EGUs are
allowed to participate in the EPAadministered trading programs. One
exception is for states that adopt the
opt-in provisions of the model rules to
allow non-EGUs individually to opt into
the EPA-administered trading programs.
The other exception is for states that
include all non-EGUs from their NOX
SIP Call trading programs in their CAIR
NOX ozone season trading programs.
IV. Wisconsin’s CAIR SIP Submittal
A. Nature of Wisconsin’s Submittal
On June 19, 2007, Wisconsin
submitted a request to process their
rules for addressing CAIR requirements.
The rules became effective at the state
level on August 1, 2007. The Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
(WDNR) held hearings on these
proposed rules on October 10 and
October 12, 2006. The 30-day public
comment period for the proposed rules
ended on October 23, 2006.
B. Summary of Wisconsin’s Rules
The WDNR submitted Chapter NR 432
of the Wisconsin Administrative Code
Chapters Related to Air Pollution
Control, entitled ‘‘Allocation of Clean
Air Interstate Rule NOX Allowances’’ for
inclusion in the Wisconsin SIP. These
rules are designed to address the
requirements of the CAIR.
Chapter NR 432 includes eight
subparts:
1. NR 432.01 Applicability; purpose
2. NR 432.02 Definitions
3. NR 432.03 CAIR NOX allowance
allocation
4. NR 432.04 Compliance supplement
pool
5. NR 432.05 CAIR NOX ozone season
allowance allocation
6. NR 432.06 Timing requirements for
allocations of CAIR NOX allowances
and CAIR NOX ozone season
allowances
7. NR 432.07 CAIR renewable units
8. NR 432.08 Superior environmental
performance
A detailed description of the rule and its
subparts can be found in the proposed
partial approval/partial disapproval
published in the Federal Register on
July 30, 2007 (72 FR 41669).
C. NOX Allowance Allocations
The CAIR FIP provides States the
flexibility to establish a different NOX
allowance allocation methodology that
will be used to allocate allowances to
sources in the States if certain
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requirements are met. These
requirements relate to the timing of
submission of units, allocations to the
Administrator for recordation and the
total amount of allowances allocated for
each control period. In adopting
alternative NOX allowance allocation
methodologies, States have flexibility
with regard to:
1. The cost to recipients of the
allowances, which may be distributed
for free or auctioned;
2. The frequency of allocations;
3. The basis for allocating allowances,
which may be distributed, for example,
based on historical heat input or electric
and thermal output; and
4. The use of allowance set-asides
and, if used, their size.
Subchapter NR 432.01 entitled,
‘‘Applicability; purpose’’ consolidates
the applicability and purpose section for
both the annual and ozone season
trading programs. While the FIP already
contains an applicability section, the
state is required to adopt this section to
satisfy its own rulemaking
requirements. Wisconsin is adopting the
applicability section to apply only to the
allocation methodology in their rule but
this does not affect the applicability of
the CAIR FIP.
Subchapter NR 432.02 entitled,
‘‘Definitions’’ adopts many of the CAIR
FIP definitions but is rewritten in a
format to conform to the state’s
regulatory writing style requirements.
While the FIP already contains a
definitions section, the state is required
to adopt this section to satisfy its own
rulemaking requirements. Wisconsin is
adopting the definition section to apply
only to the allocation methodology in
their rule but this does not affect the
applicability of the CAIR FIP.
Additionally, WDNR has added
definitions not found in the CAIR FIP.
These definitions are included to
address the fact that Wisconsin’s rule
allocates allowances to renewable
energy sources, which the FIP does not
do, and to address the fact that
Wisconsin allocates allowances to
emitting sources based on energy output
rather than heat input. The CAIR FIP
uses a heat input based allocation
methodology.
Consistent with the flexibility given to
states in the CAIR FIP, Wisconsin has
chosen to replace the provisions of the
CAIR NOX annual FIP concerning the
allocation of NOX annual allowances
with its own methodology. NR 432.03
contains the provisions for the NOX
annual allowance distribution
methodology Wisconsin has adopted.
Wisconsin has chosen to distribute NOX
annual allowances based upon gross
electrical output. The CAIR FIP
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allocates allowances to NOX emitting
sources only, and issues allowances on
a fuel-weighted basis. Wisconsin’s rule
utilizes a different approach, which
allocates allowances to renewable
energy units, as well as NOX emitting
sources, and does not issue allowances
on a fuel-weighted basis. For units that
have operated for five or more
consecutive years, allocations are
determined based on the unit’s three
highest annual gross electrical outputs.
Wisconsin has created a new unit setaside for sources that have fewer than
five years of operating data. The new
unit set-aside is equal to seven percent
of the number of NOX annual
allocations that new unit can request
from the new unit set-aside and is
limited by the number of the unit’s total
tons of NOX emissions during the
calendar year immediately preceding
the calendar year of the request.
Updating of unit baselines for allocation
purposes occurs every five years
beginning in 2011. The initial allocation
of allowances for the years 2009–2014 is
set forth in NR 432.03.
In a similar manner, Wisconsin has
developed an ozone season NOX budget
consistent with the flexibility given to
states in the CAIR FIP. Wisconsin has
chosen to replace the provisions of the
CAIR NOX ozone season FIP concerning
the allocation of NOX annual allowances
with its own methodology. NR 432.05
contains the provisions for the NOX
ozone season allowance distribution
methodology that Wisconsin has
adopted. Wisconsin has chosen to
distribute NOX ozone season allowances
based upon gross electrical output. The
CAIR FIP allocates allowances to NOX
emitting sources only, and issues
allowances on a fuel-weighted basis.
Wisconsin’s rule uses a different
approach, which allocates allowances to
renewable energy units, as well as NOX
emitting sources, and does not issue
allowances on a fuel-weighted basis.
Under Wisconsin’s rule, the three
highest ozone season amounts of the
unit’s gross electrical output will be the
basis for determining that unit’s
allocations for units that have operated
for five or more consecutive years.
Additionally, Wisconsin has created a
new unit set-aside for sources that have
fewer than five years of operating data.
The new unit set-aside is equal to seven
percent of the total trading budget. The
number of NOX ozone season
allocations that a new unit can request
from the new unit set-aside is limited by
the number of that unit’s total tons of
NOX emissions during the ozone season
preceding the calendar year of the
request. Updating of unit baselines for
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allocation purposes occurs every five
years beginning in 2011. The initial
allocation of allowances for the years
2009–2014 is set forth in NR 432.05.
NR 432.06 describes the timing
requirements for allocating both NOX
annual allowances and NOX ozone
season allowances. These requirements
are consistent with the timing
requirements for allocating allowances
under an abbreviated SIP scenario found
in 40 CFR 51.123 and are, therefore,
being approved.
Since Wisconsin has chosen to
allocate both NOX annual and NOX
ozone season allowances to renewable
energy units, the state has adopted
provisions specifically for these sources.
These provisions are found in NR
432.07 which requires renewable units
to comply with the same trading
requirements that apply to the regulated
EGUs, such as designating an account
representative who represents the unit
in any trading activity, establishing
accounts for the NOX trading programs,
and the process for requesting NOX
allowances.
D. Allocation of NOX Allowances From
the Compliance Supplement Pool (CSP)
The CSP provides an incentive for
early reductions in NOX annual
emissions. The CSP consists of 200,000
CAIR NOX annual allowances for 2009
for the entire CAIR region, and a state’s
share of the CSP is based upon the
state’s share of the projected emission
reductions under CAIR. States may
distribute CSP allowances, one
allowance for each ton of early
reduction, to sources that make NOX
reductions during 2007 or 2008 beyond
what is required by any applicable state
or Federal emission limitation. States
also may distribute CSP allowances
based upon a demonstration of need for
an extension of the 2009 deadline for
implementing emission controls.
The CAIR NOX annual FIP establishes
specific methodologies for allocations of
CSP allowances. States may choose an
allowed, alternative CSP allocation
methodology to be used to allocate CSP
allowances to sources in those states.
See 40 CFR 51.123(p)(2) (requiring that
State CSP provisions be consistent with
the model rule at 40 CFR 96.143, the FIP
at 40 CFR 97.143, or CAIR at 40 CFR
51.123(e)(4)).
Consistent with the flexibility given to
states in the FIP, Wisconsin has chosen
to modify the provisions of the CAIR
NOX annual FIP concerning the
allocation of allowances from the CSP.
NR 432.04 contains the provisions
Wisconsin has adopted for distribution
of the CSP. Wisconsin has chosen to
distribute CSP allowances based on
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early reduction credits or based on the
need to avoid undue risk to electric
reliability. The first methodology based
on early reduction credits essentially
mirrors the FIP’s early reduction credit
methodology.
The description in Wisconsin’s rule of
the second methodology based on need
is somewhat unclear. EPA interprets the
provision to require a demonstration
that a unit cannot avoid undue risk to
electric reliability if it keeps its
emissions in 2009 from exceeding its
2009 allowance allocation. Even if the
unit could obtain additional allowances
to cover emissions above its allocation,
and thereby comply with the
requirement to hold allowances
covering emissions, the unit could be
given CSP allowances. In contrast,
EPA’s CSP provisions in the model rule,
the FIP, and CAIR require a
demonstration that, without being given
CSP allowances, a unit cannot avoid
undue risk while keeping its 2009
emissions from exceeding all the
allowances it holds, both its 2009
allowance allocations and other
allowances it can obtain for compliance.
Thus, Wisconsin’s provision is
inconsistent with EPA’s CSP provisions.
Moreover, since Wisconsin’s entire CSP
is available for units meeting either the
early reduction credit or the undue risk
criteria, the early reduction credit and
undue risk provisions cannot be
administered separately, and the
Wisconsin CSP must be administered by
a single agency. Consequently, EPA is
disapproving all of Wisconsin’s CSP
provisions. This portion of Wisconsin’s
SIP submittal is separable from the rest
of the submittal and can be disapproved
without compromising the integrity of
the portions we are approving.
In the absence of approved CSP
provisions in an abbreviated CAIR SIP,
the FIP provisions for the allocation of
CSP allowances continue to apply in
Wisconsin.
E. Individual Opt-in Units
The opt-in provisions allow for
certain non-EGUs (i.e., boilers,
combustion turbines, and other
stationary fossil-fuel-fired devices) that
do not meet the applicability criteria for
a CAIR trading program to participate
voluntarily in (i.e., opt into) the CAIR
trading program. A non-EGU may opt
into one or more of the CAIR trading
programs. In order to qualify to opt into
a CAIR trading program, a unit must
vent all emissions through a stack and
be able to meet monitoring,
recordkeeping, and recording
requirements of 40 CFR part 75. The
owners and operators seeking to opt a
unit into a CAIR trading program must
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apply for a CAIR opt-in permit. If the
unit is issued a CAIR opt-in permit, the
unit becomes a CAIR unit, is allocated
allowances, and must meet the same
allowance-holding and emissions
monitoring and reporting requirements
as other units subject to the CAIR
trading program. The opt-in provisions
provide for two methodologies for
allocating allowances for opt-in units,
one methodology that applies to opt-in
units in general and a second
methodology that allocates allowances
only to opt-in units that the owners and
operators intend to repower before
January 1, 2015.
States have several options
concerning the opt-in provisions. The
rules for each of the CAIR FIP trading
programs include opt-in provisions that
are essentially the same as those in the
respective CAIR SIP model rules, except
that the CAIR FIP opt-in provisions
become effective in a state only if the
state’s abbreviated SIP revision adopts
the opt-in provisions. The state may
adopt the opt-in provisions entirely or
may adopt them but exclude one of the
allowance allocation methodologies.
The state also has the option of not
adopting any opt-in provisions in the
abbreviated SIP revision and thereby
providing for the CAIR FIP trading
program to be implemented in the state
without the ability for units to opt into
the program.
Consistent with the flexibility given to
states in the FIP, Wisconsin has chosen
not to allow non-EGUs meeting certain
requirements to participate in the CAIR
NOX annual trading program, the CAIR
NOX ozone season trading program, or
the CAIR SO2 trading program.
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F. Additional Provision Found in
Wisconsin’s Abbreviated CAIR SIP
Submittal
There is an additional provision that
Wisconsin has submitted as part of the
abbreviated CAIR SIP.
NR 432.08 would allow sources to
make voluntary reductions beyond state
and Federal requirements in exchange
for regulatory flexibility. For the reasons
discussed above, we are disapproving
this portion of Wisconsin’s CAIR
abbreviated SIP. This portion is
separable from the rest of Wisconsin’s
SIP submittal and can be disapproved
without compromising the integrity of
the portions we are approving.
V. Correction of Typographical Error in
Proposed Rule
We would like to point out a
typographical error in the proposed
partial approval/partial disapproval
published on July 31, 2007 (72 FR
41669). In section, V. Analysis of
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Wisconsin’s CAIR SIP Submittal,
subsection C. State Budgets for
Allowance Allocations, we stated, ‘‘The
CAIR FIP established the budgets for
Wisconsin as * * * 17,987 tons for NOX
ozone season emissions for 2010–2014
* * *’’ We are correcting this to read,
‘‘The CAIR FIP established the budgets
for Wisconsin as * * * 17,987 tons for
NOX ozone season emissions for 2009–
2014 * * *’’ As stated earlier in that
same subsection NOX budgets, both
seasonal and annual, were developed
for the 2009–2014 period.
VI. Final Action
EPA is partially approving and
partially disapproving Wisconsin’s
abbreviated CAIR SIP revision
submitted on June 19, 2007. Wisconsin
is covered by the CAIR FIP, which
requires participation in the EPAadministered CAIR FIP cap-and-trade
programs for SO2, NOX annual, and NOX
ozone season emissions. Under this
abbreviated SIP revision and consistent
with the flexibility given to states in the
FIP, Wisconsin has adopted provisions
for allocating allowances under the
CAIR FIP NOX annual and NOX ozone
season trading programs. As provided
for in the CAIR FIP, these provisions in
the abbreviated SIP revision will replace
or supplement the corresponding
provisions of the CAIR FIP in
Wisconsin. These provisions in
Wisconsin’s abbreviated SIP revision
meet the applicable requirements in 40
CFR 51.123(p) and (ee), with regard to
NOX annual and NOX ozone season
emissions. EPA is not making any
changes to the CAIR FIP, but is, to the
extent EPA approves Wisconsin’s SIP
revision, amending the appropriate
appendices in the CAIR FIP trading
rules simply to note that approval.
Wisconsin’s submittal also contains
provisions that are inconsistent with
requirements concerning the CSP and
that grant unacceptable regulatory
flexibility to some sources. EPA is
disapproving these portions of
Wisconsin’s rule. We are able to
disapprove these specific portions of
Wisconsin’s submittal because they are
separable from the rest of Wisconsin’s
submittal and disapproving only these
parts has no effect on the rest of the
submittal that we are approving.
VII. When Is This Action Effective?
EPA finds that there is good cause for
this approval to become effective on
October 16, 2007, because a delayed
effective date is unnecessary due to the
nature of the approval, which allows the
State to make allocations under its CAIR
rules. The expedited effective date for
this action is authorized under both 5
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58545
U.S.C. 553(d)(1), which provides that
rule actions may become effective less
than 30 days after publication if the rule
‘‘grants or recognizes an exemption or
relieves a restriction’’ and section 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), which allows an
effective date less than 30 days after
publication ‘‘as otherwise provided by
the agency for good cause found and
published with the rule.’’
CAIR SIP approvals relieve states and
CAIR sources within states from being
subject to allowance allocation
provisions in the CAIR FIPs that
otherwise would apply to it, allowing
States to make their own allowance
allocations based on their SIP-approved
State rule. The relief from these
obligations is sufficient reason to allow
an expedited effective date of this rule
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1). In addition,
Wisconsin’s relief from these obligations
provides good cause to make this rule
effective October 16, 2007, pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). The purpose of the
30-day waiting period prescribed in 5
U.S.C. 553(d) is to give affected parties
a reasonable time to adjust their
behavior and prepare before the final
rule takes effect. Where, as here, the
final rule relieves obligations rather
than imposes obligations, affected
parties, such as the State of Wisconsin
and CAIR sources within the State, do
not need time to adjust and prepare
before the rule takes effect.
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993), this 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 approves
state law as meeting Federal
requirements and would impose no
additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. Accordingly, the
Administrator certifies that this rule
would 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
action approves pre-existing
requirements under state law and would
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).
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This rule also does not have tribal
implications because it would not have
a substantial direct effect on one or
more Indian tribes, on the relationship
between the Federal Government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes,
as specified by Executive Order 13175
(65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This
action also does not have Federalism
implications because it would not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999). This action merely
approves a State rule implementing a
Federal standard and amends the
appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP
trading rules to note that approval. It
does not alter the relationship or the
distribution of power and
responsibilities established in the Clean
Air Act. This rule also is not subject to
Executive Order 13045 ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997), because it would
approve 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 Clean Air Act. In this context, in the
absence of a prior existing requirement
for the state to use voluntary consensus
standards (VCS), EPA has no authority
to disapprove a SIP submission for
failure to use VCS. It would thus be
inconsistent with applicable law for
EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission,
to use VCS in place of a SIP submission
that otherwise satisfies the provisions of
the Clean Air Act. Thus, the
requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C.
272 note) do not apply. This rule would
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 97
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Electric utilities,
Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen
oxides, Ozone, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur dioxide.
1. * * *
Wisconsin
Dated: September 21, 2007.
Bharat Mathur,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
Appendix A to Subpart EEEE of Part
97—States With Approved State
Implementation Plan Revisions
Concerning Allocations
I
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with RULES
*
*
5. Appendix A to Subpart EEEE is
amended by adding the entry for
‘‘Wisconsin’’ in alphabetical order to
read as follows:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. E7–20165 Filed 10–15–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Subpart YY—Wisconsin
2. Section 52.2570 is amended by
adding paragraph (c)(116) to read as
follows:
I
§ 52.2570
Identification of plan.
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(116) A revision to the State
Implementation Plan (SIP) was
submitted by the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources on June 19, 2007.
This revision consists of regulations to
meet the requirements of the Clean Air
Interstate Rule.
(i) Incorporation by reference. The
following sections of the Wisconsin
Administrative Code are incorporated
by reference: NR 432.01 ‘‘Applicability;
purpose’’; NR 432.02 ‘‘Definitions’’; NR
432.03 ‘‘CAIR NOX allowance
allocation’’; NR 432.05 ‘‘CAIR NOX
ozone season allowance allocation’’; NR
432.06 ‘‘Timing requirements for
allocations of CAIR NOX allowances and
CAIR NOX ozone season allowances’’;
and NR 432.07 ‘‘CAIR renewable units’’,
as created and published in the
(Wisconsin) Register, July, 2007, No.
619, effective August 1, 2007.
*
*
*
*
*
I 40 CFR part 97 is amended as follows:
PART 97—[AMENDED]
3. The authority citation for part 97
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, 7403, 7410,
7426, 7601, and 7651, et seq.
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Electric utilities,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen
oxides, Ozone, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur dioxide.
Appendix A to Subpart EE of Part 97—
States With Approved State
Implementation Plan Revisions
Concerning Allocations
*
PO 00000
*
*
Frm 00078
*
Fmt 4700
*
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 97
[EPA–R05–OAR–2007–0390; FRL–8481–2]
*
I
Jkt 214001
*
Wisconsin
4. Appendix A to Subpart EE is
amended by adding the entry for
Wisconsin in alphabetical order under
paragraph 1. to read as follows:
16:19 Oct 15, 2007
*
I
*
PART 52—[AMENDED]
40 CFR Part 52
VerDate Aug<31>2005
*
Approval of Implementation Plans;
Ohio; Clean Air Interstate Rule
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: EPA is approving a revision to
the Ohio State Implementation Plan
(SIP) submitted on September 26, 2007.
Ohio initially submitted a SIP revision
on April 17, 2007, with a proposed rule
and then revised it and submitted a SIP
revision with a final rule on September
26, 2007. This SIP revision incorporates
provisions related to the
implementation of EPA’s Clean Air
Interstate Rule (CAIR), promulgated on
May 12, 2005, and subsequently revised
on April 28, 2006, and December 13,
2006, and the CAIR Federal
Implementation Plan (CAIR FIP)
concerning sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides
of nitrogen (NOX) annual, and NOX
ozone season emissions for the State of
Ohio, promulgated on April 28, 2006
and subsequently revised December 13,
2006. EPA is not making any changes to
the CAIR FIP, but is amending to the
extent EPA approves Ohio’s SIP
revision, the appropriate appendices in
the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to
note that approval.
The Ohio SIP revision that was
submitted on April 17, 2007, was a full
CAIR SIP revision. In a letter submitted
on September 26, 2007, Ohio requested
that EPA consider the September 26,
2007, submittal as two separate
submittals, i.e., as a full CAIR SIP and
as an abbreviated CAIR SIP. Ohio
requested that EPA act on specific
portions of the September 26, 2007,
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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 16, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58542-58546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20165]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 97
[EPA-R05-OAR-2007-0405; FRL-8477-6]
Approval of Implementation Plans; Wisconsin; Clean Air Interstate
Rule
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving a
revision to the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on
June 19, 2007. The Wisconsin SIP revision was proposed for partial
approval and partial disapproval on July 30, 2007. No comments were
received during the comment period for the proposal. This revision
incorporates provisions related to the implementation of EPA's Clean
Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), promulgated on May 12, 2005, and
subsequently revised on April 28, 2006, and December 13, 2006, and the
CAIR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) which concerns sulfur dioxide
(SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOX) annual, and
NOX ozone season emissions for the State of Wisconsin,
promulgated on April 28, 2006, and subsequently revised December 13,
2006. EPA is not making any changes to the CAIR FIP, but is, to the
extent EPA approves Wisconsin's SIP revision, amending the appropriate
appendices in the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to note that approval.
EPA is approving an abbreviated SIP revision that addresses the
methodology to be used to allocate annual and ozone season
NOX allowances under the CAIR FIP, except for allowances in
the compliance supplement pool. The portions of Wisconsin's submittal
(those associated with the compliance supplement pool and Superior
Environmental Performance) that EPA is disapproving are inconsistent
with CAIR and/or otherwise inappropriate to include in a CAIR SIP and
must, therefore, be disapproved.
DATES: This final rule is effective on October 16, 2007.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-R05-OAR-2007-0405. All documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business
Information (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 through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division,
77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
Federal holidays. We recommend that you telephone Douglas Aburano,
Environmental Engineer, at (312) 353-6960, before visiting the Region 5
office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Aburano, Environmental
Engineer, Criteria Pollutant Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J),
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-6960, aburano.douglas@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
II. Did Anyone Comment on the Proposed Partial Approval and Partial
Disapproval?
III. What Are the General Requirements of CAIR and the CAIR FIPs?
IV. Wisconsin's CAIR SIP Submittal
A. Nature of Wisconsin's Submittal
B. Summary of Wisconsin's Rules
C. NOX Allowance Allocations
D. Allocation of Allowances from the Compliance Supplement Pool
(CSP)
E. Individual Opt-in Units
F. Additional Provision Found in Wisconsin's Abbreviated CAIR
SIP Submittal
V. Correction of Typographical Error in Proposed Rule
VI. Final Action
VII. When Is This Action Effective?
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
CAIR SIP Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval
EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving a revision to
Wisconsin's SIP, submitted on June 19, 2007, which modifies the
application of certain provisions of the CAIR FIP concerning
SO2, NOX annual and NOX ozone season
emissions. (As discussed below, this less comprehensive CAIR SIP is
termed an abbreviated SIP.) Wisconsin is subject to the CAIR FIP that
implements the CAIR requirements by requiring certain EGUs to
participate in the EPA-administered Federal CAIR SO2,
NOX annual, and NOX ozone season cap-and-trade
programs. The SIP revision provides a methodology for allocating
NOX allowances for the NOX annual and
NOX ozone season trading programs, instead of the Federal
allocation methodology otherwise provided in the FIP. Consistent with
the flexibility provided in the FIP, these provisions will be used to
replace or supplement, as appropriate, the corresponding provisions in
the CAIR FIP for Wisconsin. EPA is not making any changes to the CAIR
FIP, but is, to the extent EPA approves Wisconsin's SIP revision,
amending the appropriate appendices in the CAIR FIP trading rules
simply to note that approval.
EPA is disapproving certain separable provisions of Wisconsin's
submittal. These provisions include NR 432.04 ``compliance supplement
pool'' and NR 432.08 ``superior environmental performance.'' NR 432.04
includes provisions that are inconsistent with CAIR. NR 432.08 would
allow sources to make voluntary reductions beyond state and Federal
requirements in exchange for regulatory flexibility.
NR 432.04 contains the provisions Wisconsin has adopted for
distribution of the CSP. Consistent with the flexibility given to
states in the FIP, Wisconsin has chosen to modify the provisions of the
CAIR NOX annual FIP concerning the allocation of allowances
from the CSP. Wisconsin has chosen to distribute CSP allowances based
on early reduction credits or based on the need to avoid undue risk to
electric reliability. The first methodology based on early reduction
credits essentially mirrors the FIP's early reduction credit
methodology.
The description in Wisconsin's rule of the second methodology based
on need is somewhat unclear. EPA interprets the provision to require a
demonstration that a unit cannot avoid undue risk to electric
reliability if it keeps its emissions in 2009 from exceeding its 2009
allowance allocation. Even if the unit could obtain additional
allowances to cover emissions above its allocation, and thereby comply
with the requirement to hold allowances covering emissions, the unit
would still be eligible for CSP allowances. In contrast, EPA's CSP
provisions in the model rule, the FIP, and CAIR require a demonstration
that, without being given CSP allowances, a unit cannot avoid undue
risk while keeping its 2009 emissions from exceeding all the allowances
it holds, both its 2009 allowance allocations and other allowances it
can obtain for compliance. Thus, Wisconsin's provision is inconsistent
with EPA's CSP provisions. Moreover, since Wisconsin's entire CSP
[[Page 58543]]
is available for units meeting either the early reduction credit or the
undue risk criteria, the early reduction credit and undue risk
provisions cannot be administered separately, and the Wisconsin CSP
must be administered by a single agency. Consequently, EPA is
disapproving all of Wisconsin's CSP provisions. This portion of
Wisconsin's SIP submittal is separable from the rest of the submittal
and can be disapproved without compromising the integrity of the
portions we are approving.
NR 432.08 would grant regulatory flexibility to sources that
voluntarily reduce emissions beyond what is required under state and
Federal regulations. The scope of regulatory flexibility provided by NR
432.08 is ambiguous. To the extent this flexibility relates to state-
only regulatory requirements, the regulatory provisions are not
appropriately included in a SIP. To the extent this flexibility relates
to Federal requirements reflected in state regulations, this type of
flexibility is not allowed under CAIR, and it is inappropriate to
simply assume that other Federal requirements allow such flexibility.
Therefore, the regulatory flexibility provisions cannot be included in
Wisconsin's CAIR abbreviated SIP revision and cannot be approved.
II. Did Anyone Comment on the Proposed Partial Approval and Partial
Disapproval?
No comments were received during the 30-day comment period on the
proposed partial approval and partial disapproval that was published on
July 30, 2007.
III. What Are the General Requirements of CAIR and the CAIR FIPs?
CAIR establishes statewide emission budgets for SO2 and
NOX and is to be implemented in two phases. The first phase
of NOX reductions starts in 2009 and continues through 2014,
while the first phase of SO2 reductions starts in 2010 and
continues through 2014. The second phase of reductions for both
NOX and SO2 starts in 2015 and continues
thereafter. CAIR requires states to implement the budgets by either:
(1) Requiring EGUs to participate in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade
programs; or, (2) adopting other control measures of the state's
choosing and demonstrating that such control measures will result in
compliance with the applicable state SO2 and NOX
budgets.
The May 12, 2005, and April 28, 2006, CAIR rules provide model
rules that states must adopt (with certain limited changes, if
desired), if they want to participate in the EPA-administered trading
programs. With two exceptions, only states that choose to meet the
requirements of CAIR through methods that exclusively regulate EGUs are
allowed to participate in the EPA-administered trading programs. One
exception is for states that adopt the opt-in provisions of the model
rules to allow non-EGUs individually to opt into the EPA-administered
trading programs. The other exception is for states that include all
non-EGUs from their NOX SIP Call trading programs in their
CAIR NOX ozone season trading programs.
IV. Wisconsin's CAIR SIP Submittal
A. Nature of Wisconsin's Submittal
On June 19, 2007, Wisconsin submitted a request to process their
rules for addressing CAIR requirements. The rules became effective at
the state level on August 1, 2007. The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (WDNR) held hearings on these proposed rules on October 10
and October 12, 2006. The 30-day public comment period for the proposed
rules ended on October 23, 2006.
B. Summary of Wisconsin's Rules
The WDNR submitted Chapter NR 432 of the Wisconsin Administrative
Code Chapters Related to Air Pollution Control, entitled ``Allocation
of Clean Air Interstate Rule NOX Allowances'' for inclusion
in the Wisconsin SIP. These rules are designed to address the
requirements of the CAIR.
Chapter NR 432 includes eight subparts:
1. NR 432.01 Applicability; purpose
2. NR 432.02 Definitions
3. NR 432.03 CAIR NOX allowance allocation
4. NR 432.04 Compliance supplement pool
5. NR 432.05 CAIR NOX ozone season allowance allocation
6. NR 432.06 Timing requirements for allocations of CAIR NOX
allowances and CAIR NOX ozone season allowances
7. NR 432.07 CAIR renewable units
8. NR 432.08 Superior environmental performance
A detailed description of the rule and its subparts can be found in the
proposed partial approval/partial disapproval published in the Federal
Register on July 30, 2007 (72 FR 41669).
C. NOX Allowance Allocations
The CAIR FIP provides States the flexibility to establish a
different NOX allowance allocation methodology that will be
used to allocate allowances to sources in the States if certain
requirements are met. These requirements relate to the timing of
submission of units, allocations to the Administrator for recordation
and the total amount of allowances allocated for each control period.
In adopting alternative NOX allowance allocation
methodologies, States have flexibility with regard to:
1. The cost to recipients of the allowances, which may be
distributed for free or auctioned;
2. The frequency of allocations;
3. The basis for allocating allowances, which may be distributed,
for example, based on historical heat input or electric and thermal
output; and
4. The use of allowance set-asides and, if used, their size.
Subchapter NR 432.01 entitled, ``Applicability; purpose''
consolidates the applicability and purpose section for both the annual
and ozone season trading programs. While the FIP already contains an
applicability section, the state is required to adopt this section to
satisfy its own rulemaking requirements. Wisconsin is adopting the
applicability section to apply only to the allocation methodology in
their rule but this does not affect the applicability of the CAIR FIP.
Subchapter NR 432.02 entitled, ``Definitions'' adopts many of the
CAIR FIP definitions but is rewritten in a format to conform to the
state's regulatory writing style requirements. While the FIP already
contains a definitions section, the state is required to adopt this
section to satisfy its own rulemaking requirements. Wisconsin is
adopting the definition section to apply only to the allocation
methodology in their rule but this does not affect the applicability of
the CAIR FIP. Additionally, WDNR has added definitions not found in the
CAIR FIP. These definitions are included to address the fact that
Wisconsin's rule allocates allowances to renewable energy sources,
which the FIP does not do, and to address the fact that Wisconsin
allocates allowances to emitting sources based on energy output rather
than heat input. The CAIR FIP uses a heat input based allocation
methodology.
Consistent with the flexibility given to states in the CAIR FIP,
Wisconsin has chosen to replace the provisions of the CAIR
NOX annual FIP concerning the allocation of NOX
annual allowances with its own methodology. NR 432.03 contains the
provisions for the NOX annual allowance distribution
methodology Wisconsin has adopted. Wisconsin has chosen to distribute
NOX annual allowances based upon gross electrical output.
The CAIR FIP
[[Page 58544]]
allocates allowances to NOX emitting sources only, and
issues allowances on a fuel-weighted basis. Wisconsin's rule utilizes a
different approach, which allocates allowances to renewable energy
units, as well as NOX emitting sources, and does not issue
allowances on a fuel-weighted basis. For units that have operated for
five or more consecutive years, allocations are determined based on the
unit's three highest annual gross electrical outputs. Wisconsin has
created a new unit set-aside for sources that have fewer than five
years of operating data. The new unit set-aside is equal to seven
percent of the number of NOX annual allocations that new
unit can request from the new unit set-aside and is limited by the
number of the unit's total tons of NOX emissions during the
calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year of the request.
Updating of unit baselines for allocation purposes occurs every five
years beginning in 2011. The initial allocation of allowances for the
years 2009-2014 is set forth in NR 432.03.
In a similar manner, Wisconsin has developed an ozone season
NOX budget consistent with the flexibility given to states
in the CAIR FIP. Wisconsin has chosen to replace the provisions of the
CAIR NOX ozone season FIP concerning the allocation of
NOX annual allowances with its own methodology. NR 432.05
contains the provisions for the NOX ozone season allowance
distribution methodology that Wisconsin has adopted. Wisconsin has
chosen to distribute NOX ozone season allowances based upon
gross electrical output. The CAIR FIP allocates allowances to
NOX emitting sources only, and issues allowances on a fuel-
weighted basis. Wisconsin's rule uses a different approach, which
allocates allowances to renewable energy units, as well as
NOX emitting sources, and does not issue allowances on a
fuel-weighted basis. Under Wisconsin's rule, the three highest ozone
season amounts of the unit's gross electrical output will be the basis
for determining that unit's allocations for units that have operated
for five or more consecutive years. Additionally, Wisconsin has created
a new unit set-aside for sources that have fewer than five years of
operating data. The new unit set-aside is equal to seven percent of the
total trading budget. The number of NOX ozone season
allocations that a new unit can request from the new unit set-aside is
limited by the number of that unit's total tons of NOX
emissions during the ozone season preceding the calendar year of the
request. Updating of unit baselines for allocation purposes occurs
every five years beginning in 2011. The initial allocation of
allowances for the years 2009-2014 is set forth in NR 432.05.
NR 432.06 describes the timing requirements for allocating both
NOX annual allowances and NOX ozone season
allowances. These requirements are consistent with the timing
requirements for allocating allowances under an abbreviated SIP
scenario found in 40 CFR 51.123 and are, therefore, being approved.
Since Wisconsin has chosen to allocate both NOX annual
and NOX ozone season allowances to renewable energy units,
the state has adopted provisions specifically for these sources. These
provisions are found in NR 432.07 which requires renewable units to
comply with the same trading requirements that apply to the regulated
EGUs, such as designating an account representative who represents the
unit in any trading activity, establishing accounts for the
NOX trading programs, and the process for requesting
NOX allowances.
D. Allocation of NOX Allowances From the Compliance
Supplement Pool (CSP)
The CSP provides an incentive for early reductions in
NOX annual emissions. The CSP consists of 200,000 CAIR
NOX annual allowances for 2009 for the entire CAIR region,
and a state's share of the CSP is based upon the state's share of the
projected emission reductions under CAIR. States may distribute CSP
allowances, one allowance for each ton of early reduction, to sources
that make NOX reductions during 2007 or 2008 beyond what is
required by any applicable state or Federal emission limitation. States
also may distribute CSP allowances based upon a demonstration of need
for an extension of the 2009 deadline for implementing emission
controls.
The CAIR NOX annual FIP establishes specific
methodologies for allocations of CSP allowances. States may choose an
allowed, alternative CSP allocation methodology to be used to allocate
CSP allowances to sources in those states. See 40 CFR 51.123(p)(2)
(requiring that State CSP provisions be consistent with the model rule
at 40 CFR 96.143, the FIP at 40 CFR 97.143, or CAIR at 40 CFR
51.123(e)(4)).
Consistent with the flexibility given to states in the FIP,
Wisconsin has chosen to modify the provisions of the CAIR
NOX annual FIP concerning the allocation of allowances from
the CSP. NR 432.04 contains the provisions Wisconsin has adopted for
distribution of the CSP. Wisconsin has chosen to distribute CSP
allowances based on early reduction credits or based on the need to
avoid undue risk to electric reliability. The first methodology based
on early reduction credits essentially mirrors the FIP's early
reduction credit methodology.
The description in Wisconsin's rule of the second methodology based
on need is somewhat unclear. EPA interprets the provision to require a
demonstration that a unit cannot avoid undue risk to electric
reliability if it keeps its emissions in 2009 from exceeding its 2009
allowance allocation. Even if the unit could obtain additional
allowances to cover emissions above its allocation, and thereby comply
with the requirement to hold allowances covering emissions, the unit
could be given CSP allowances. In contrast, EPA's CSP provisions in the
model rule, the FIP, and CAIR require a demonstration that, without
being given CSP allowances, a unit cannot avoid undue risk while
keeping its 2009 emissions from exceeding all the allowances it holds,
both its 2009 allowance allocations and other allowances it can obtain
for compliance. Thus, Wisconsin's provision is inconsistent with EPA's
CSP provisions. Moreover, since Wisconsin's entire CSP is available for
units meeting either the early reduction credit or the undue risk
criteria, the early reduction credit and undue risk provisions cannot
be administered separately, and the Wisconsin CSP must be administered
by a single agency. Consequently, EPA is disapproving all of
Wisconsin's CSP provisions. This portion of Wisconsin's SIP submittal
is separable from the rest of the submittal and can be disapproved
without compromising the integrity of the portions we are approving.
In the absence of approved CSP provisions in an abbreviated CAIR
SIP, the FIP provisions for the allocation of CSP allowances continue
to apply in Wisconsin.
E. Individual Opt-in Units
The opt-in provisions allow for certain non-EGUs (i.e., boilers,
combustion turbines, and other stationary fossil-fuel-fired devices)
that do not meet the applicability criteria for a CAIR trading program
to participate voluntarily in (i.e., opt into) the CAIR trading
program. A non-EGU may opt into one or more of the CAIR trading
programs. In order to qualify to opt into a CAIR trading program, a
unit must vent all emissions through a stack and be able to meet
monitoring, recordkeeping, and recording requirements of 40 CFR part
75. The owners and operators seeking to opt a unit into a CAIR trading
program must
[[Page 58545]]
apply for a CAIR opt-in permit. If the unit is issued a CAIR opt-in
permit, the unit becomes a CAIR unit, is allocated allowances, and must
meet the same allowance-holding and emissions monitoring and reporting
requirements as other units subject to the CAIR trading program. The
opt-in provisions provide for two methodologies for allocating
allowances for opt-in units, one methodology that applies to opt-in
units in general and a second methodology that allocates allowances
only to opt-in units that the owners and operators intend to repower
before January 1, 2015.
States have several options concerning the opt-in provisions. The
rules for each of the CAIR FIP trading programs include opt-in
provisions that are essentially the same as those in the respective
CAIR SIP model rules, except that the CAIR FIP opt-in provisions become
effective in a state only if the state's abbreviated SIP revision
adopts the opt-in provisions. The state may adopt the opt-in provisions
entirely or may adopt them but exclude one of the allowance allocation
methodologies. The state also has the option of not adopting any opt-in
provisions in the abbreviated SIP revision and thereby providing for
the CAIR FIP trading program to be implemented in the state without the
ability for units to opt into the program.
Consistent with the flexibility given to states in the FIP,
Wisconsin has chosen not to allow non-EGUs meeting certain requirements
to participate in the CAIR NOX annual trading program, the
CAIR NOX ozone season trading program, or the CAIR SO2
trading program.
F. Additional Provision Found in Wisconsin's Abbreviated CAIR SIP
Submittal
There is an additional provision that Wisconsin has submitted as
part of the abbreviated CAIR SIP.
NR 432.08 would allow sources to make voluntary reductions beyond
state and Federal requirements in exchange for regulatory flexibility.
For the reasons discussed above, we are disapproving this portion of
Wisconsin's CAIR abbreviated SIP. This portion is separable from the
rest of Wisconsin's SIP submittal and can be disapproved without
compromising the integrity of the portions we are approving.
V. Correction of Typographical Error in Proposed Rule
We would like to point out a typographical error in the proposed
partial approval/partial disapproval published on July 31, 2007 (72 FR
41669). In section, V. Analysis of Wisconsin's CAIR SIP Submittal,
subsection C. State Budgets for Allowance Allocations, we stated, ``The
CAIR FIP established the budgets for Wisconsin as * * * 17,987 tons for
NOX ozone season emissions for 2010-2014 * * *'' We are
correcting this to read, ``The CAIR FIP established the budgets for
Wisconsin as * * * 17,987 tons for NOX ozone season
emissions for 2009-2014 * * *'' As stated earlier in that same
subsection NOX budgets, both seasonal and annual, were
developed for the 2009-2014 period.
VI. Final Action
EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving Wisconsin's
abbreviated CAIR SIP revision submitted on June 19, 2007. Wisconsin is
covered by the CAIR FIP, which requires participation in the EPA-
administered CAIR FIP cap-and-trade programs for SO2,
NOX annual, and NOX ozone season emissions. Under
this abbreviated SIP revision and consistent with the flexibility given
to states in the FIP, Wisconsin has adopted provisions for allocating
allowances under the CAIR FIP NOX annual and NOX
ozone season trading programs. As provided for in the CAIR FIP, these
provisions in the abbreviated SIP revision will replace or supplement
the corresponding provisions of the CAIR FIP in Wisconsin. These
provisions in Wisconsin's abbreviated SIP revision meet the applicable
requirements in 40 CFR 51.123(p) and (ee), with regard to
NOX annual and NOX ozone season emissions. EPA is
not making any changes to the CAIR FIP, but is, to the extent EPA
approves Wisconsin's SIP revision, amending the appropriate appendices
in the CAIR FIP trading rules simply to note that approval.
Wisconsin's submittal also contains provisions that are
inconsistent with requirements concerning the CSP and that grant
unacceptable regulatory flexibility to some sources. EPA is
disapproving these portions of Wisconsin's rule. We are able to
disapprove these specific portions of Wisconsin's submittal because
they are separable from the rest of Wisconsin's submittal and
disapproving only these parts has no effect on the rest of the
submittal that we are approving.
VII. When Is This Action Effective?
EPA finds that there is good cause for this approval to become
effective on October 16, 2007, because a delayed effective date is
unnecessary due to the nature of the approval, which allows the State
to make allocations under its CAIR rules. The expedited effective date
for this action is authorized under both 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), which
provides that rule actions may become effective less than 30 days after
publication if the rule ``grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves
a restriction'' and section 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), which allows an
effective date less than 30 days after publication ``as otherwise
provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the
rule.''
CAIR SIP approvals relieve states and CAIR sources within states
from being subject to allowance allocation provisions in the CAIR FIPs
that otherwise would apply to it, allowing States to make their own
allowance allocations based on their SIP-approved State rule. The
relief from these obligations is sufficient reason to allow an
expedited effective date of this rule under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1). In
addition, Wisconsin's relief from these obligations provides good cause
to make this rule effective October 16, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3). The purpose of the 30-day waiting period prescribed in 5
U.S.C. 553(d) is to give affected parties a reasonable time to adjust
their behavior and prepare before the final rule takes effect. Where,
as here, the final rule relieves obligations rather than imposes
obligations, affected parties, such as the State of Wisconsin and CAIR
sources within the State, do not need time to adjust and prepare before
the rule takes effect.
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this
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 approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and would
impose no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law.
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule would 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 action approves pre-existing requirements under state law and
would 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).
[[Page 58546]]
This rule also does not have tribal implications because it would
not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal
Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism
implications because it would not have substantial direct effects on
the States, on the relationship between the national government and the
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64
FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action merely approves a State rule
implementing a Federal standard and amends the appropriate appendices
in the CAIR FIP trading rules to note that approval. It does not alter
the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities
established in the Clean Air Act. This rule also is not subject to
Executive Order 13045 ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because
it would approve 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 Clean Air Act. In
this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the
state to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority
to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be
inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP
submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise
satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements
of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. This rule would 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, Electric
utilities, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur dioxide.
40 CFR Part 97
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Electric
utilities, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
dioxide.
Dated: September 21, 2007.
Bharat Mathur,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
0
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart YY--Wisconsin
0
2. Section 52.2570 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(116) to read as
follows:
Sec. 52.2570 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(116) A revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) was
submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on June 19,
2007. This revision consists of regulations to meet the requirements of
the Clean Air Interstate Rule.
(i) Incorporation by reference. The following sections of the
Wisconsin Administrative Code are incorporated by reference: NR 432.01
``Applicability; purpose''; NR 432.02 ``Definitions''; NR 432.03 ``CAIR
NOX allowance allocation''; NR 432.05 ``CAIR NOX
ozone season allowance allocation''; NR 432.06 ``Timing requirements
for allocations of CAIR NOX allowances and CAIR
NOX ozone season allowances''; and NR 432.07 ``CAIR
renewable units'', as created and published in the (Wisconsin)
Register, July, 2007, No. 619, effective August 1, 2007.
* * * * *
0
40 CFR part 97 is amended as follows:
PART 97--[AMENDED]
0
3. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, 7403, 7410, 7426, 7601, and 7651, et
seq.
0
4. Appendix A to Subpart EE is amended by adding the entry for
Wisconsin in alphabetical order under paragraph 1. to read as follows:
Appendix A to Subpart EE of Part 97--States With Approved State
Implementation Plan Revisions Concerning Allocations
* * * * *
1. * * *
Wisconsin
* * * * *
0
5. Appendix A to Subpart EEEE is amended by adding the entry for
``Wisconsin'' in alphabetical order to read as follows:
Appendix A to Subpart EEEE of Part 97--States With Approved State
Implementation Plan Revisions Concerning Allocations
* * * * *
Wisconsin
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E7-20165 Filed 10-15-07; 8:45 am]
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