Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Modification of Baselines for Gasoline Produced or Imported for Use in Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. Territories, 60570-60583 [E7-21061]
Download as PDF
60570
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE III.—DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY—PART 63 NESHAP—REGION 7—Continued
State of
owa
Subpart
Source category
KKKKK ...
Clay Ceramics Manufacturing.
Asphalt Processing
and Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing.
Flexible Poly-urethane Foam Fabrication Operation.
Hydrochloric Acid
Production.
Engine Test Cells/
Stands.
Friction Materials
Manufacturing Facilities.
Taconite Iron Ore
Processing.
Refractory Products
Manufacturing.
Primary Magnesium
Refining.
LLLLL .....
MMMMM
NNNNN ..
PPPPP ...
QQQQQ
RRRRR ..
SSSSS ...
TTTTT ....
06/30/05
08/30/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
02/16/06
08/23/06
07/01/05
06/15/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
07/01/03
12/14/04
10/25/06
04/04/07
02/16/06
08/23/06
02/16/06
08/23/06
07/01/05
06/15/07
07/01/05
06/15/07
07/01/05
06/15/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
07/01/03
12/14/04
07/01/03
12/14/04
02/16/06
08/23/06
02/16/06
08/23/06
02/16/06
08/23/06
07/01/05
06/15/07
07/01/05
06/15/07
07/01/05
06/15/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
06/30/05
08/30/07
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 80
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0010 FRL–8487–2]
RIN 2060–AK02
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel
Additives: Modification of Baselines
for Gasoline Produced or Imported for
Use in Hawaii, Alaska and U.S.
Territories
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
City of
Omaha
07/01/03
12/14/04
07/01/03
12/14/04
Dated: October 16, 2007.
Cecilia Tapia,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 7.
[FR Doc. E7–21065 Filed 10–24–07; 8:45 am]
SUMMARY: This final rule allows refiners
and importers who produce or import
conventional gasoline for use in Alaska,
Jkt 214001
LincolnLancaster
ounty
State of
ebraska
07/01/05
06/15/07
07/01/05
06/15/07
Authority: This notice is issued under the
authority of sections 101, 110, 112, and 301
of the CAA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401,
7410, 7412, and 7601).
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
State of
Missouri
02/16/06
08/23/06
02/16/06
08/23/06
Summary of This Action
All sources subject to the
requirements of 40 CFR parts 60, 61,
and 63 are also subject to the equivalent
requirements of the above-mentioned
state or local agencies.
This notice informs the public of
delegations to the above-mentioned
agencies of the above-referenced Federal
regulations.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
State of
Kansas
Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands the option
to change the way in which they
calculate emissions from such gasoline
for purposes of establishing their
conventional gasoline anti-dumping and
toxics performance baselines and
determining compliance with their
baselines.
Specifically, this final rule allows
refiners and importers of gasoline sold
for use in these areas to petition EPA to
modify their baselines to replace the
anti-dumping statutory baseline with
the single seasonal statutory baseline
that is most appropriate to the regional
climate, and to use the seasonal
component of the Complex Model that
is most appropriate to the regional
climate to calculate individual baselines
and annual average emissions. The rule
allows refiners and importers to petition
EPA to use the summer statutory
baseline and the summer Complex
Model for all baseline and compliance
calculations for conventional gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and
allows refiners and importers to petition
EPA to use the winter statutory baseline
and the winter Complex Model for all
baseline and compliance calculations
for conventional gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska. EPA is
taking this action to address certain
inconsistencies in the fuels regulations
which may have significant unintended
negative impacts on refiners and
importers who produce or import
gasoline for these areas.
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
07/01/03
12/14/04
This final rule is effective on
November 26, 2007.
DATES:
EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR–2003–0010. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the https://www.regulations.gov web site.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., CBI or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, 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
https://www.regulations.gov or in hard
copy at the Air and Radiation Docket,
EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the Air
and Radiation Docket is (202) 566–1742.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marilyn Bennett, Transportation and
Regional Programs Division, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality (6406J),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 343–9624; fax number:
(202) 343–2803; e-mail address:
bennett.marilyn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
I. General Information
A. Does This Action Apply to Me?
Entities potentially affected by this
action include those involved with the
NAICS
codes a
Category
Industry ........................................
a North
60571
production and importation of
conventional gasoline motor fuel.
Regulated categories and entities
affected by this action include:
SIC
codes b
324110
2911
Examples of potentially regulated parties
Petroleum Refiners, Importers.
American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Industrial Classification (SIC) system code.
b Standard
This table is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
regulated by this action. This table lists
the types of entities that EPA is now
aware could be potentially regulated by
this action. Other types of entities not
listed in the table could also be
regulated. To determine whether your
entity is regulated by this action, you
should carefully examine the
applicability criteria of Part 80, subparts
D, E, F and J of title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. If you have any
question regarding applicability of this
action to a particular entity, consult the
person in the preceding FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section above.
B. Outline of This Preamble
I. General Information
II. Anti-Dumping Compliance
III. Mobile Source Air Toxics Rule (MSAT)
Compliance
IV. Comments on the NPRM
V. Final Rule
VI. Environmental Effects of This Action
VII. Public Participation
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
IX. Statutory Provisions and Legal Authority
II. Anti-Dumping Compliance
A. Background
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
1. The Anti-Dumping Requirements
Section 211(k) of the Clean Air Act
(‘‘CAA’’ or ‘‘Act’’) requires EPA to
establish standards for cleaner burning
reformulated gasoline (RFG) to be used
in specified ozone nonattainment areas.
The Act also requires EPA to establish
requirements for non-RFG, or
conventional gasoline, designed to
prevent refiners from ‘‘dumping’’ into
conventional gasoline the dirty gasoline
components that are removed when
RFG is produced. The requirements for
conventional gasoline are called ‘‘antidumping’’ requirements. To be in
compliance with these requirements,
the exhaust toxics and nitrogen oxides
(NOX) emissions performance of a
refinery’s or importer’s conventional
gasoline must be no dirtier than the
refinery’s or importer’s 1990 exhaust
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
toxics and NOX emissions performance,
on an annual average basis.
The anti-dumping regulations require
refiners to calculate the exhaust toxics
and NOX emissions performance of
gasoline using a predictive model,
called the Complex Model. See 40 CFR
80.45. The Complex Model has a
summer version and a winter version.1
For the same fuel composition (based on
those fuel parameters evaluated in the
Complex Model), the winter Complex
Model predicts significantly higher
emissions of exhaust toxics and NOX
than the summer Complex Model, on a
mg/mile basis.
The anti-dumping regulations require
refineries and importers of conventional
gasoline to comply with an established
baseline for exhaust toxics and NOX.
The baseline is either an ‘‘individual
baseline’’ or the ‘‘anti-dumping
statutory baseline.’’ An individual
baseline is based on the average
performance of the gasoline that the
individual refinery or importer
produced or imported during the
calendar year 1990. The anti-dumping
statutory baseline is based on the
average quality of gasoline sold
throughout the United States during
1990. The anti-dumping statutory
baseline applies to refineries and
importers that are unable to calculate an
individual baseline based on 1990
gasoline performance. If a refinery or
importer has an individual baseline,
gasoline production during a given
annual averaging period, up to the
refinery’s or importer’s 1990 production
or import volume, must be no ‘‘dirtier’’
than the refinery’s or importer’s
individual 1990 baseline for exhaust
toxics and NOX. Gasoline produced or
1 The summer Complex Model is based on data
reflecting the performance of gasoline sold in the
summer; i.e., gasoline with lower RVP to comply
with volatility requirements at 40 CFR 80.27 and
which is typical of summer climatic conditions.
The winter Complex Model is a modified version
of the summer model which sets the RVP at 8.7 psi
and adjusts for winter climate conditions. A
detailed discussion of the development of the
summer and winter versions of the Complex Model
is included in the Final Regulatory Impact Analysis
for Reformulated Gasoline (December 13, 1993).
Public Docket No. A–92–12.
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
imported during the annual averaging
period in excess of the refinery’s or
importer’s 1990 gasoline production or
import volume must be no dirtier than
the anti-dumping statutory baseline for
exhaust toxics and NOX. For refineries
and importers that do not have an
individual baseline, all gasoline
produced or imported during the annual
averaging period must meet the antidumping statutory baseline for exhaust
toxics and NOX.
To comply with the anti-dumping
requirements, each refinery and
importer must evaluate the overall
quality of the conventional gasoline that
it produces or imports during each
annual averaging period and compare it
to the refinery’s or importer’s baseline
(individual 1990 baseline or antidumping statutory baseline, as
appropriate). So long as the
conventional gasoline produced or
imported has overall emissions, as
calculated by the Complex Model, that
are no worse than the performance
reflected in the refinery’s or importer’s
baseline, the refinery or importer is in
compliance with EPA’s anti-dumping
requirements.
The anti-dumping statutory baseline
includes both summertime and
wintertime seasonal components. The
anti-dumping statutory baseline, which
approximates the average emissions of
gasoline sold in the U.S. in 1990, is the
volume-weighted average of the
summertime and wintertime 1990
baseline gasoline emissions, as
calculated using the appropriate
seasonal version of the Complex Model.
See 59 FR 7793 (February 16, 1994).2
2. Calculating Individual Baselines and
Annual Average Emissions
A refinery’s or importer’s individual
1990 baseline is calculated using the
summer version of the Complex Model
to assess the performance of the
refinery’s or importer’s 1990 summer
gasoline and the winter version of the
Complex Model to assess the
2 For a discussion of the methodology used in
determining the anti-dumping statutory baseline,
see 56 FR 31179 (July 9, 1991).
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
60572
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
performance of the refinery’s or
importer’s 1990 winter gasoline. For
purposes of these calculations, the
regulations consider summer gasoline to
be gasoline that is subject to EPA’s
volatility requirements, and winter
gasoline to be gasoline that is not
subject to EPA’s volatility requirements.
40 CFR 80.91(e)(2)(ii)(A). Gasoline sold
in Alaska and Hawaii, and in the
territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands, is not subject to the volatility
requirements. See CAA Section
211(h)(5).3 Thus, for purposes of
calculating a refinery’s or importer’s
individual 1990 baseline emissions,
none of the gasoline produced or
imported for use in these areas is
summer gasoline under the current
regulations. As a result, all of the
gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas was evaluated using the
winter Complex Model for purposes of
calculating individual 1990 baseline
emissions.
Similarly, to determine annual
average emissions for compliance
purposes, each year refineries and
importers calculate emissions from their
summer gasoline using the summer
Complex Model and emissions from
their winter gasoline using the winter
Complex Model. For purposes of
calculating annual average emissions,
the regulations specify that summer
gasoline is gasoline that meets the
volatility requirements and winter
gasoline is gasoline that does not meet
the volatility requirements. 40 CFR
80.101(g)(5) and (g)(6). Because gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands is not subject to the volatility
requirements, refineries and importers
currently are required to evaluate all of
their gasoline produced or imported for
use in these areas during the annual
averaging period using the winter
Complex Model.4
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
3 The
U.S. territories of Guam, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
and American Samoa also are not subject to the
volatility requirements pursuant to CAA section
211(h)(5); however, these territories have received
exemptions from the anti-dumping requirements.
See 61 FR 53854 (October 16, 1996)(Guam); 62 FR
63853 (December 3, 1997)(Northern Mariana
Islands); 65 FR 71067 (November 29,
2000)(American Samoa). Gasoline produced or
imported for use in Guam, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa
is also exempt from the Mobile Source Air Toxics
requirements. See 40 CFR 80.820(d). As a result,
gasoline produced or imported for use in these
areas is not affected by today’s rule.
4 Pursuant to a rulemaking on June 9, 1999 (64 FR
30904), refiners and importers who have Puerto
Rico gasoline, or Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
gasoline, in their individual baseline are allowed to
petition EPA to replace the winter Complex Model
with the summer Complex Model for anti-dumping
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
As discussed above, refiners and
importers must provide gasoline that
complies with their individual antidumping baseline up to their 1990
baseline volume, after which any excess
volumes must comply with the antidumping statutory baseline.5 Refiners
and importers without an individual
baseline must comply with the antidumping statutory baseline for all of the
conventional gasoline they produce or
import during each annual averaging
period.6 This general approach to
compliance applies to both refiners and
importers of gasoline sold in the
continental U.S. and refiners and
importers of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
B. Need for Action
As discussed above, under the antidumping regulations, gasoline produced
or imported in excess of a refinery’s or
importer’s 1990 baseline volume during
the annual averaging period must
comply with the anti-dumping statutory
baseline. All gasoline produced or
imported during each annual averaging
period by refineries and importers who
are unable to establish an individual
baseline also must comply with the antidumping statutory baseline. In most
cases, use of the anti-dumping statutory
baseline is an appropriate and necessary
tool to ensure that conventional gasoline
quality does not degrade in comparison
to the average quality of gasoline sold in
1990. However, for gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands that
is subject to the anti-dumping statutory
baseline, the current anti-dumping
requirements can result in an
inconsistent application of EPA’s
seasonal Complex Models.
As discussed above, the anti-dumping
statutory baseline is an estimate of the
average quality of all 1990 gasoline.
baseline and compliance calculations. See 40 CFR
80.93(d) and 80.101(f)(4)(iii) and (g)(1)(ii)(B).
5 For refineries and importers with individual
1990 baselines who produce gasoline volumes in
excess of their 1990 volume during an averaging
period, the regulations require the use of a specified
‘‘compliance baseline’’ equation. 40 CFR 80.101(f).
In general, this equation adjusts the refinery’s or
importer’s individual baseline to reflect the
parameter values of the statutory baseline for that
volume of the refinery’s or importer’s total annual
gasoline production which is in excess of the
refinery’s or importer’s 1990 baseline volume. This
adjusted compliance baseline then is the refinery’s
or importer’s anti-dumping standard for that annual
averaging period, and the annual average emissions
from all conventional gasoline produced by that
refinery or importer during the annual averaging
period must meet that standard.
6 Since most importers are unable to establish an
individual 1990 baseline, importers generally are
required to comply with the anti-dumping statutory
baseline.
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
This estimate was calculated using the
summer Complex Model to evaluate
‘‘summer’’ gasoline and the winter
Complex Model for all other gasoline.
Similarly, for compliance purposes,
summer conventional gasoline sold in
the continental United States is
evaluated using the summer Complex
Model, and all other conventional
gasoline is evaluated using the winter
Complex Model. Thus, for conventional
gasoline subject to the anti-dumping
statutory baseline that is sold in the
continental U.S., we expect there to be
general agreement between the seasonal
models used to develop the baseline and
the seasonal models used to evaluate
annual compliance. Application of the
anti-dumping statutory baseline for such
gasoline provides reasonable assurance
that the quality of the conventional
gasoline will not degrade relative to the
average quality of gasoline in 1990.
Like gasoline produced or imported
for use in the continental United States,
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands in excess of the refinery’s
or importer’s 1990 baseline volume of
gasoline, and all gasoline produced or
imported for use in these areas by a
refiner or importer who does not have
an individual baseline must comply
with the anti-dumping statutory
baseline. However, since the annual
emissions performance of all gasoline
produced or imported for use in these
areas must be evaluated using only the
winter Complex Model, for these areas
there is not an agreement between the
seasonal models reflected in the
statutory baseline (which, as discussed
above, was developed using both the
summer and winter seasonal models)
and the seasonal model used for
calculating annual compliance.7
Because the winter Complex Model
predicts higher emissions than the
summer Complex Model, in these
situations, the refinery or importer is
required to comply with a standard that,
in effect, is more stringent than
intended. That is, the refiner or importer
must produce or import gasoline that is
actually cleaner than the average
gasoline produced or imported for use
7 Gasoline produced or imported for Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands was
evaluated using only the winter Complex Model for
purposes of calculating a refinery’s or importer’s
individual 1990 baseline. Since annual production
or imports for these areas is also evaluated using the
winter Complex Model, there is a general agreement
between the seasonal model used to develop the
baseline and the seasonal model used to calculate
annual emissions for gasoline production or
imports up to the refinery’s or importer’s individual
1990 baseline volume of gasoline produced or
imported for these areas.
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
in 1990.8 This unintended result can
have a significant adverse economic
effect on those refineries and importers
whose baselines include gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands and who have increased the
volume of gasoline that they produce or
import for these areas above their 1990
baseline volumes of gasoline produced
or imported for these areas, and those
refineries and importers who are subject
to the anti-dumping statutory baseline
for all of their gasoline.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
C. NPRM
In the NPRM, EPA proposed to correct
this inconsistency in the anti-dumping
regulations by allowing gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands to be compared to a baseline that
is seasonally consistent with the
compliance model that is used for
purposes of compliance evaluation.
Specifically, EPA proposed the
following changes for refiners and
importers who produce or import
conventional gasoline for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands.
First, EPA proposed to allow refiners
and importers to petition EPA to change
their baselines such that any gasoline
produced or imported for use in these
areas that is currently subject to the
anti-dumping statutory baseline instead
would be subject to the single seasonal
component of the anti-dumping
statutory baseline that agrees with the
single seasonal model used for
compliance. This approach alleviates
the current inconsistency (as described
above) by more accurately comparing
the performance of the refiner’s or
importer’s average 1990 gasoline with
gasoline currently produced.
Second, EPA proposed that any
refiner or importer for whom a petition
to change its baseline has been
approved must use the single seasonal
statutory baseline that is most
appropriate to the regional climate for
8 Because the winter Complex Model predicts
higher emissions for exhaust toxics and NOX than
the summer Complex Model, the average emissions
of gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands during
an annual averaging period, which is evaluated
using only the winter Complex Model, will appear
to have higher emissions than that same gasoline
would appear to have if evaluated using the
summer Complex Model for some of the volume of
gasoline. If, for example, gasoline produced or
imported for use in these areas has properties
identical to the properties of anti-dumping baseline
gasoline, that gasoline (as evaluated using only the
winter Complex Model) will appear to have higher
emissions than anti-dumping baseline gasoline, and
would be deemed out of compliance with the antidumping statutory baseline emissions standard.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
any gasoline that is not subject to an
individual 1990 baseline, and use the
seasonal component of the Complex
Model that is most appropriate to the
regional climate for calculating both
1990 individual baseline emissions and
annual average emissions. Thus, refiners
and importers with an approved
petition that produce or import gasoline
for use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands would use the summer
statutory baseline component for any
gasoline not subject to an individual
baseline, and use the summer Complex
Model for purposes of calculating 1990
individual baseline and annual average
emissions. Refiners and importers with
an approved petition that produce or
import gasoline for use in Alaska would
use the winter statutory baseline for any
gasoline not subject to an individual
baseline, and use the winter Complex
Model for purposes of calculating 1990
individual baseline and annual average
emissions. A discussion of the rationale
for these seasonal determinations is
contained in the preamble to the NPRM.
See 70 FR 646 (January 4, 2005).
Under this approach, refiners and
importers of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands would need to
establish a separate individual 1990
baseline for gasoline produced or
imported for use in these areas using
only the summer Complex Model.
Gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas would be required to
comply with this new individual
baseline for gasoline up to the refinery’s
or importer’s 1990 baseline volume of
gasoline produced or imported for these
areas. Gasoline production or imports in
excess of the refinery’s or importer’s
1990 baseline volume would be subject
to only the summer component of the
statutory baseline. In the case of refiners
and importers with an individual 1990
baseline which does not include any
gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas, any gasoline produced or
imported for use in these areas during
the annual averaging period would be
subject to the refinery’s or importer’s
individual summer 1990 baseline, and
the summer Complex Model would be
used for all compliance calculations.
Such gasoline will not be considered in
determining whether a refiner or
importer has produced or imported any
incremental gasoline volumes above the
refinery’s or importer’s 1990 baseline
volume.
Similarly, refiners and importers of
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska would need to establish a
separate individual 1990 baseline for
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska using only the winter
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
60573
Complex Model. Gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska would be
required to comply with this individual
baseline up to the refinery’s or
importer’s 1990 baseline volume of
Alaska gasoline. Gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska in excess of
the refinery’s or importer’s 1990
baseline volume of Alaska gasoline
would be subject to only the winter
component of the statutory baseline.
Refiners and importers of gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska
would continue to use the winter
Complex Model for all compliance
calculations for Alaska gasoline. In the
case of refineries and importers with an
individual 1990 baseline that does not
include any gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska, any gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska
during the annual averaging period
would be subject to the refinery’s or
importer’s individual winter 1990
baseline, and the winter Complex Model
would be used for all compliance
calculations. Such gasoline will not be
considered in determining whether a
refiner or importer has produced or
imported any incremental gasoline
volumes above the refinery’s or
importer’s 1990 baseline volume.
To implement the changes described
above, EPA proposed to modify the
individual baseline submission
provisions at § 80.93(d) to allow
refineries and importers that produce or
import gasoline for use in Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands the
option to petition EPA to recalculate the
emissions of their 1990 conventional
gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas using the summer
Complex Model.9 For refiners and
importers who produced or imported
gasoline in 1990 for use in both the
continental U.S. and an affected area,
this would require the calculation of a
separate 1990 individual baseline for
gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas, and recalculation of the
refiner’s or importer’s current antidumping baseline (which would
continue to be used for compliance
9 As discussed in footnote 4 above, in a final rule
dated June 9, 1999 (64 FR 30904), EPA modified the
anti-dumping regulations to allow refiners and
importers who have Puerto Rico gasoline, or Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands gasoline, in their 1990
baseline to petition EPA to replace the winter
Complex Model with the summer Complex Model
for purposes of compliance calculations. Today’s
rule does not substantively change the provisions
for Puerto Rico gasoline promulgated on June 9,
1999. Rather, today’s rule extends the use of the
summer only Complex Model to Puerto Rico
gasoline produced or imported by refiners and
importers that do not have individual baselines and
those that have an individual baseline but do not
have any Puerto Rico gasoline, or Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands gasoline, in their baselines.
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
60574
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
purposes for gasoline produced or
imported for other areas) to reflect the
subtraction of baseline gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.10 As
discussed above, under the current
regulations, the winter Complex Model
is required to be used to evaluate Alaska
gasoline for purposes of establishing the
individual 1990 baseline and for
determining annual average compliance.
Since the winter Complex Model is the
appropriate seasonal model for Alaska,
we did not propose to change this
requirement, however, we did propose
to clarify this requirement in the
baseline submission provisions in
§ 80.93(d). Under the proposal, refiners
and importers who produced or
imported gasoline in 1990 for use in
both the continental U.S. and Alaska
would be required to calculate a
separate baseline for Alaska gasoline
and recalculate their current antidumping baseline for use with other
gasoline to reflect the subtraction of
1990 baseline Alaska gasoline. EPA also
proposed to revise the anti-dumping
compliance baseline provisions at
§ 80.101(f)(3) and (f)(4)(iii). EPA
proposed a new (f)(3) which establishes
compliance baselines for refiners and
importers with 1990 individual
baselines that did not include any
gasoline produced or imported for use
in the affected areas. As discussed
above, for these refiners and importers,
any conventional gasoline produced or
imported for use in the affected areas
would be subject to the refiner’s or
importer’s appropriate seasonal
individual baseline. EPA proposed to
revise § 80.101(f)(4)(iii) to provide
equations for calculating a compliance
baseline for refiners and importers with
individual 1990 baselines that have
approved petitions and that produce or
import gasoline for use in one or more
of the affected areas.
The proposed modifications of the
baseline submission provisions at
§ 80.93(d) also would allow refiners and
importers currently subject to the antidumping statutory baseline for all of
their gasoline (i.e., parties without a
1990 individual baseline) the option to
10 For refineries and importers with individual
baselines that produce or import gasoline for the
continental U.S. as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico or the Virgin Islands, the approach in today’s
rule likely would result in a reduction of the total
volume of gasoline that currently would be subject
to the anti-dumping statutory baseline, since
gasoline produced or imported for Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands in excess of the
refinery’s or importer’s baseline volume of gasoline
for these areas would no longer be included in the
volume of gasoline subject to the anti-dumping
statutory baseline. This may have an impact on the
refinery’s or importer’s compliance baseline for the
annual averaging period.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
petition EPA to change their baseline to
only the summer component of the
statutory baseline for any conventional
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands, and the winter component of
the statutory baseline for any
conventional gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska. EPA
proposed to modify § 80.101(f)(2) to
require such refiners and importers to
comply with the summer statutory
baseline component for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and
the winter statutory baseline component
for gasoline produced or imported for
use in Alaska. In addition, EPA
proposed to modify § 80.101(g)(1) to
require refiners and importers with
approved petitions under § 80.93(d) to
evaluate all of their gasoline produced
or imported for use in Hawaii, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands during the
annual averaging period using only the
summer Complex Model, and clarify
that gasoline produced or imported for
use in Alaska during the annual
averaging period must be evaluated
using only the winter Complex Model.
A refiner or importer that produces or
imports gasoline for Alaska and also for
Hawaii and/or Puerto Rico and/or the
Virgin Islands, and that wishes to
change its baseline for all of these areas,
would submit separate petitions, one for
Alaska gasoline under § 80.93(d)(1) and
one for Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands gasoline under
§ 80.93(d)(2). In this case, the refiner or
importer would have two separate
baselines, one for gasoline produced or
imported for Alaska, and one for
gasoline produced or imported for
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands. Such refiner or importer would
also have another separate baseline for
any gasoline produced or imported for
the continental United States.
In addition to the proposed changes to
the anti-dumping regulations discussed
above, EPA proposed conforming
changes to §§ 80.91(e)(2)(ii)(A), and
80.101(g)(2) and (g)(6) to clarify the
summer/winter distinction with regard
to gasoline produced or imported for
use in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands.
EPA proposed that the changes would
be optional for any refiner or importer
that produces or imports gasoline
intended for use in Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and
would be limited to those refiners and
importers that petition the Agency for
these changes. However, EPA proposed
that a refiner or importer that changes
from the anti-dumping statutory
baseline to a single statutory baseline
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
component must use the appropriate
seasonal statutory baseline component
and must use it for all gasoline
produced or imported for use in any of
the areas subject to this rule. Such
refiner or importer must use the
appropriate seasonal Complex Model for
all future calculations. For example, an
importer of Puerto Rico gasoline that
petitions EPA to change from the antidumping statutory baseline to a single
seasonal statutory baseline component
must change to the summer statutory
baseline component and must use the
summer Complex Model for all future
calculations for Puerto Rico gasoline
and also for any gasoline the importer
imports into Hawaii and/or the Virgin
Islands. Refiners and importers with
approved petitions whose 1990
individual baselines include gasoline
produced or imported for these areas
would be required to recalculate their
individual baselines, as described
above, and submit the new baselines
with their petition.
EPA proposed to require refiners and
importers that change their baseline in
accordance with the proposed rule to
retain documents which substantiate
that gasoline complying with the new
baseline, in fact, was produced or
imported for use in the affected area.
EPA proposed that refiners and
importers of gasoline produced or
imported for use in the affected areas
who do not petition EPA to change their
baselines would continue to be subject
to their current baselines and would
continue to use the Complex Model that
is required for calculating emissions
under the current regulations.
III. Mobile Source Air Toxics Rule
(MSAT) Compliance
A. Background
The Mobile Source Air Toxics
(MSAT) rule published on March 29,
2001, contains provisions which require
refiners and importers to determine a
baseline and compliance value for air
toxics. See 40 CFR part 80, subpart J. A
refiner, for each refinery, and an
importer must identify the appropriate
toxics performance baseline for its
conventional gasoline and its
reformulated gasoline. The refiner or
importer must then demonstrate
compliance with each applicable
baseline on an annual average basis
using the Complex Model.
Under the MSAT toxics performance
rule, refiners, for each refinery, and
importers are required to produce or
import gasoline that is no dirtier than
the gasoline they produced or imported
during the baseline period, 1998
through 2000. Accordingly, refiners and
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
importers are required to establish an
individual toxics baseline, separately for
RFG and conventional gasoline, based
on the average toxics performance of
their gasoline during the baseline
period. Refiners and importers are also
required to establish a total baseline
volume based on their volume of
gasoline production during the baseline
period. If a refinery or importer did not
have sufficient production or imports
during the baseline period to calculate
an average toxics performance for their
gasoline, they are subject to a default
toxic baseline established by EPA.
Refineries or importers subject to the
default baseline do not have an MSAT
baseline volume.
Compliance with the MSAT toxics
performance requirements is
determined on an annual average basis.
The gasoline produced or imported
during the annual averaging period can
be no more polluting than the refiner’s
or importer’s baseline level for that type
of gasoline (RFG or conventional). For
RFG, total toxics emissions are
evaluated, and toxics performance is
reported as a percent reduction from the
statutory baseline. For conventional
gasoline, only exhaust toxics emissions
are evaluated, and toxics performance is
reported in mg/mile. Any volume
produced or imported in excess of a
refiner’s or importer’s individual
baseline volume can be no more
polluting than the RFG toxics standard,
or the refiner’s or importer’s
conventional gasoline anti-dumping
toxics baseline level, as applicable.
B. NPRM
EPA proposed to modify the MSAT
toxics performance requirements in a
manner that is consistent with the
changes that were proposed for the
conventional gasoline anti-dumping
program. The changes to the MSAT
requirements are necessary because,
generally, the MSAT toxics performance
provisions applicable to conventional
gasoline are of the same form as the
anti-dumping provisions, and because
such changes are needed to maintain
agreement between methods used to
establish baselines and those used to
evaluate gasoline performance for
purposes of compliance. Thus, we
proposed to require a refiner or importer
that submits a petition under the antidumping program as described in the
NPRM to also petition for a separate or
modified MSAT baseline applicable to
gasoline produced or imported into
Alaska and/or Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands.
EPA proposed the following MSAT
baseline and compliance determinations
for refiners and importers who submit
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
petitions under this rule for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska
and/or Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands.
Affected parties who did not produce
or import any gasoline during the
baseline period (1998–2000), may
petition EPA to have the appropriate
seasonal MSAT conventional gasoline
default baseline for gasoline produced
or imported for use in Alaska and/or
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin
Islands, and use the appropriate
seasonal version of the Complex Model
for evaluating gasoline produced or
imported for these areas. Such parties
would be subject to the annual MSAT
conventional gasoline default baseline
for all other gasoline produced or
imported (i.e., gasoline for use in the
continental U.S.)
Affected parties who produced
gasoline during the baseline period, but
who did not produce or import gasoline
for Alaska and/or Hawaii, Puerto Rico,
or the Virgin Islands during the baseline
period, may petition EPA to have the
appropriate individual refinery or
importer conventional gasoline seasonal
MSAT baseline for these areas, and
evaluate any gasoline produced or
imported for use in these areas using the
appropriate seasonal Complex Model.
Such gasoline will not be considered in
determining whether a refiner or
importer has produced or imported any
incremental gasoline volumes above the
refiner’s or importer’s MSAT baseline
volume.
Affected parties who only produced
or imported gasoline for Alaska and/or
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin
Islands during the baseline period may
petition EPA for a revised MSAT
baseline using the appropriate seasonal
version of the Complex Model, and use
the appropriate seasonal version of the
Complex Model for all compliance
determinations for such gasoline.
Gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas up to the refiner’s or
importer’s MSAT baseline volume
would be subject to the refiner’s or
importer’s seasonally appropriate MSAT
baseline. Any incremental volumes
above the baseline volume would be
subject to the refiner’s or importer’s
appropriate seasonal anti-dumping
baseline. Any gasoline produced or
imported for use in the continental U.S.
would be subject to the annual MSAT
conventional gasoline default baseline.
Affected parties who produced or
imported gasoline during the baseline
period for use in the continental U.S.
and for use in Alaska and/or Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands may
petition EPA to have a separate,
seasonally appropriate MSAT baseline
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
60575
and a separate MSAT baseline volume
for gasoline produced or imported for
use in Alaska and/or Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Such
refiners or importers must then use the
appropriate seasonal component of the
Complex Model to evaluate gasoline
sold in these areas. Additionally, such
refiners must establish a separate annual
baseline and baseline volume for all
other gasoline, which must be evaluated
using the annual Complex Model.
Under the current regulations, refiners
and importers who produce or import
gasoline for use in Alaska, and/or
Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the Virgin
Islands who are subject to the MSAT
default baseline are, in fact, required to
produce or import gasoline that is
cleaner than the national annual average
during the MSAT baseline period. This
is because the MSAT default baseline
was determined using both seasonal
components of the Complex Model,
while parties in the affected areas are
required to evaluate their gasoline using
only the winter Complex Model (which,
as discussed above, gives higher
emission values for the same gasoline
than if the gasoline were evaluated
using both seasonal components of the
model). EPA proposed to correct this
inconsistency while continuing to
require such parties to produce or
import gasoline that is no more
polluting than the average gasoline
during the MSAT baseline period, as
required under the MSAT rule.
Similarly, parties with individual
MSAT baselines will continue to meet
the requirements under the MSAT rule
for gasoline produced or imported up to
their baseline volume, without being
required to produce or import gasoline
that is cleaner than their average
gasoline during the MSAT baseline
period.
For parties with an individual MSAT
baseline who produce or import
gasoline in excess of their MSAT
baseline volume, the MSAT regulations
require the excess volume to meet the
refiner’s or importer’s standard under
the anti-dumping rule (i.e., excess
volume may not be more polluting than
the refiner’s or importer’s individual
anti-dumping baseline level). Therefore,
EPA proposed that gasoline produced or
imported in excess of the MSAT
baseline volume be subject to the antidumping baseline that is established for
purposes of anti-dumping compliance
under today’s rule.
To implement the changes described
above, EPA proposed appropriate
modifications to §§ 80.825, 80.850,
80.855, 80.910 and 80.915 of subpart J.
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
60576
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
IV. Comments on the NPRM
Comments on the NPRM were
generally very favorable. One
commenter suggested that we clarify the
regulations regarding the effective date
for petitions granted under the rule, and
that we clarify whether there is a
deadline for submitting a petition. In the
NPRM we proposed that the baseline
and compliance method changes in
today’s rule would become effective
beginning with the annual averaging
period in which a refiner’s or importer’s
petition is granted. As a result, a
petition may be submitted at any time
during an annual averaging period.
Once a petition is granted, the new
method for determining compliance
with the anti-dumping and air toxics
requirements will apply beginning with
the annual averaging period in which
the petition was granted, and will
continue to apply in each annual
averaging period thereafter. As
discussed in the NPRM, once a petition
has been granted, the refinery or
importer will not be able to revert back
to its original baseline. The new
baseline will apply to the refinery
regardless of ownership; i.e., if a
refinery obtains a new baseline under
today’s rule, the new baseline will apply
to the refinery even if the refinery is
subsequently sold to another refiner. We
have added language in the final rule to
clarify when a petition may be
submitted and the effective date of an
approved petition.
Another commenter believes that the
default toxics baselines in § 80.855(b)(2)
(i.e., the seasonal default toxics
baselines applicable to parties with
approved petitions under § 80.93(d))
should apply only to refiners that
submit petitions under § 80.93(d) after
this rule is finalized. A refiner who
previously received approval to use the
summer Complex Model under
§ 80.93(d), and who was unable to
establish an individual toxics baseline
under the MSAT rule, currently is
subject to the conventional gasoline
MSAT default toxics baseline. The rule
as proposed would apply a more
stringent default toxics baseline (i.e.,
seasonal default baseline) to such a
refiner, which, the commenter believes,
would impose a burden on the refiner
that was not anticipated at the time the
refiner applied for use of the summer
Complex Model under § 80.93(d).
The default baselines in § 80.855(b)(2)
are the average seasonal toxics levels
during the MSAT baseline years
calculated using the appropriate
seasonal Complex Model. As discussed
above, where a refiner uses a seasonal
Complex Model for annual average
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
compliance calculations, we believe it is
appropriate for the refiner to also be
subject to the appropriate seasonal
default baseline. A refiner with a
previously approved baseline change
under § 80.93(d) (which as noted above
applies to refiners who produce gasoline
for use in Puerto Rico) uses the summer
Complex Model for calculating its
annual average toxics emissions.
Therefore, we believe it is appropriate
for the summer MSAT default baseline
in § 80.855(b)(2)(ii) to apply to such a
refiner. However, since refiners with
previously approved petitions under
§ 80.93(d) have been using the
conventional gasoline default toxics
baseline under the current regulations,
we believe that the summer default
baseline in § 80.855(b)(2)(ii) should only
apply to such refiners prospectively,
and that such refiners should be
afforded the opportunity to withdraw
their petitions under § 80.93(d). As a
result, we have included provisions in
the final rule which specify that the
appropriate seasonal default toxics
baseline would apply to any refiner
with a previously approved petition
under § 80.93(d) beginning with the
2008 annual averaging period, and that
any such refiner may petition EPA to
withdraw approval of its petition under
§ 80.93(d) beginning with the 2008
annual averaging period. Although these
provisions were not included in the
NPRM, we believe they are necessary in
order to clarify the application of the
provisions in § 80.855(b)(2) with regard
to parties with previously approved
petitions, and are a logical outgrowth of
the proposal to apply the seasonal
default toxics baselines in § 80.855(b)(2)
to any refiner with a previously
approved petition under § 80.93(d).
Another commenter suggested that we
clarify that a refiner or importer that
produces or imports gasoline for Alaska
and also for Hawaii, and/or Puerto Rico
and/or the Virgin Islands would have
two separate baselines and baseline
volumes under today’s rule, one for
gasoline produced or imported for
Alaska, and one for gasoline produced
or imported for Hawaii, Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands. We have added
language to clarify this in today’s final
rule.
One commenter suggested that we
clarify the requirements for new
refineries or importers in the final rule.
As discussed above, the rule provides
an alternative to the existing regulatory
baseline and compliance requirements
for gasoline produced or imported for
use in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands. Any new refinery or
importer (which would not have an
individual anti-dumping or MSAT
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
baseline) would be subject to the antidumping statutory and MSAT default
baselines, unless the refiner or importer
petitions EPA under the provisions of
today’s rule to have the appropriate
seasonal anti-dumping and MSAT
baselines and seasonal Complex Model
apply. We have added a provision to
clarify the regulations in this regard.
One commenter requested that we
make certain references to § 80.93(d) in
the regulations more specific with
regard to the subparagraphs being
referenced. We have made these
changes in today’s final rule.
V. Final Rule
With the exceptions noted above and
minor editorial changes, today’s rule
finalizes the provisions in the NPRM as
proposed.
Although the current anti-dumping
and MSAT toxics performance
requirements will be superseded by
more stringent mobile source emissions
controls by 2011, we believe it is
appropriate to provide this relief to the
affected parties at this time in order to
address the inequity caused by the
inconsistencies in the current
regulations and to avoid any gasoline
supply problems that may result from
this inequity.
VI. Environmental Effects of This
Action
As discussed in the NPRM, we believe
that allowing refiners and importers to
change their baselines in accordance
with today’s rule will not undermine
the environmental goals of the antidumping program (i.e., to ensure that
conventional gasoline will be no dirtier
than 1990 gasoline), or the MSAT toxics
performance rule (i.e., to ensure that
gasoline, RFG and conventional, will be
no dirtier than gasoline during the
MSAT baseline years.) The changes in
today’s rule will not result in gasoline
with exhaust toxics or NOX emissions
that are greater than conventional
gasoline in these areas, or nationwide,
compared to 1990 levels, or toxics
emissions that are greater than gasoline
in these areas, or nationwide, compared
to the MSAT baseline years. Today’s
rule provides an alternative compliance
method for refiners and importers who,
under the current regulations, are
required to produce or import gasoline
for use in the affected areas that is
actually cleaner than that required
under the anti-dumping and MSAT
programs. As a result, even if all of these
affected parties choose the new
compliance method, the goals of the
anti-dumping and MSAT programs
would be met. To the extent that parties
choose to retain their current
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
compliance method, there would
continue to be an added environmental
benefit above and beyond that
specifically required to meet the goals of
these programs.
VII. Public Participation
In the NPRM, we requested comment
on the need to take this action and the
proposed changes to the regulations. We
have reviewed and considered all
comments. The comments and EPA’s
responses to the comments are
discussed above.
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
This action is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under the terms of
Executive Order (EO) 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993) and is therefore
not subject to review under the EO.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection
requirements in this rule will be
submitted for approval to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under
the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq. The information collection
requirements are not enforceable until
OMB approves them.
This final rule addresses certain
adverse impacts on refiners and
importers of conventional gasoline
under the current fuels regulations, and
provides refiners and importers with
additional flexibility to comply with the
regulations. The flexibility afforded
under this rule is optional. Modest
information collection requirements in
the form of a one-time only petition to
EPA and minimal recordkeeping
requirements are required of those
refiners who wish to avail themselves of
the flexibility provided in this rule.
The estimated hour burden for this
rule is 20 hours per petition. The
estimated number of petitions is 10. The
estimated cost burden for the petition is
$70 per hour. The total estimated cost
for each respondent is $1,400. The total
estimated cost for all respondents is
$14,000. We do not anticipate that any
burdens will be associated with the
additional recordkeeping requirements,
since the information required to be
retained normally is included on
business documents retained by refiners
and importers.
Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose
or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
60577
acquire, install, and utilize technology
and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9. When
this ICR is approved by OMB, the
Agency will publish a technical
amendment to 40 CFR part 9 in the
Federal Register to display the OMB
control number for the approved
information collection requirements
contained in this final rule.
identify and address regulatory
alternatives ‘‘which minimize any
significant economic impact of the
proposed rule on small entities.’’ 5
U.S.C. Sections 603 and 604. Thus, an
agency may conclude that a rule will
not have a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities
if the rule relieves regulatory burden, or
otherwise has a positive economic effect
on all of the small entities subject to the
rule.
This final rule provides provisions
intended to address existing adverse
economic impacts of the current rule on
certain refiners and importers while
continuing to promote successful
implementation of the requirements for
conventional gasoline. Specifically, this
rule provides all affected refiners and
importers, including small refiners and
importers, options for evaluating the
emissions of conventional gasoline,
which will have the effect of relieving
regulatory burden. We have therefore
concluded that today’s final rule will
relieve regulatory burden for all affected
small entities.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
generally requires an agency to prepare
a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
rulemaking requirements under the
Administrative Procedure Act or any
other statute unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities
include small businesses, small
organizations, and small governmental
jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts
of today’s rule on small entities, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business
as defined by the Small Business
Administration’s regulations at 13 CFR
121.201; (2) a small governmental
jurisdiction that is a government of a
city, county, town, school district or
special district with a population of less
than 50,000; and (3) a small
organization that is any not-for-profit
enterprise which is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field.
After considering the economic
impacts of today’s final rule on small
entities, I certify that this action will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
In determining whether a rule has a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, the
impact of concern is any significant
adverse economic impact on small
entities, since the primary purpose of
the regulatory flexibility analyses is to
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104–4, establishes requirements for
Federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on State, local,
and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
EPA generally must prepare a written
statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules
with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures to State, local,
and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or to the private sector, of $100 million
or more in any one year. Before
promulgating an EPA rule for which a
written statement is needed, section 205
of the UMRA generally requires EPA to
identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives and
adopt the least costly, most costeffective or least burdensome alternative
that achieves the objectives of the rule.
The provisions of section 205 do not
apply when they are inconsistent with
applicable law. Moreover, section 205
allows EPA to adopt an alternative other
than the least costly, most cost-effective
or least burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final
rule an explanation why that alternative
was not adopted. Before EPA establishes
any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed
under section 203 of the UMRA a small
government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
60578
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments
to have meaningful and timely input in
the development of EPA regulatory
proposals with significant Federal
intergovernmental mandates, and
informing, educating, and advising
small governments on compliance with
the regulatory requirements.
Today’s final rule contains no Federal
mandates (under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for
State, local or tribal governments or the
private sector. EPA has determined that
this rule does not contain a Federal
mandate that may result in expenditures
of $100 million or more for State, local,
and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or the private sector in any one year that
will result in expenditures of $100
million or more. This rule affects
gasoline refiners and importers of
conventional gasoline by providing
optional provisions for evaluating the
emissions of conventional gasoline in
certain situations. This rule will have
the effect of reducing the burden of the
conventional gasoline regulations on
these regulated parties. Thus, today’s
rule is not subject to the requirements
of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Order 13132, entitled
‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999), requires EPA to develop an
accountable process to ensure
‘‘meaningful and timely input by State
and local officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have federalism
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have
federalism implications’’ is defined in
the Executive Order to include
regulations that have ‘‘substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and
the States, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government.’’
This final rule does not have
federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132. This rule
provides options for evaluating the
emissions of conventional gasoline. The
requirements of the rule will be
enforced by the federal government at
the national level. Thus, Executive
Order 13132 does not apply to this rule.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled
‘‘Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR
67249, November 6, 2000), requires EPA
to develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal
implications. This final rule does not
have tribal implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on tribal
governments, on the relationship
between the Federal government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal government and Indian tribes,
as specified in Executive Order 13175.
Today’s action finalizes certain
modifications to the federal
requirements for conventional gasoline,
and does not impose any enforceable
duties on communities of Indian tribal
governments. Thus, Executive Order
13175 does not apply to this rule.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045: ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that:
(1) Is determined to be ‘‘economically
significant’’ as defined under Executive
Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that
EPA has reason to believe may have a
disproportionate effect on children. If
the regulatory action meets both criteria,
the Agency must evaluate the
environmental health or safety effects of
the planned rule on children, and
explain why the planned regulation is
preferable to other potentially effective
and reasonably feasible alternatives
considered by the Agency.
EPA interprets Executive Order 13045
as applying only to those regulatory
actions that are based on health or safety
risks, such that the analysis required
under section 5–501 of the Order has
the potential to influence the regulation.
This final rule is not subject to
Executive Order 13045 because it is not
economically significant and does not
establish an environmental standard
intended to mitigate health or safety
risks.
H. Executive Order 13211: Acts That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This final rule is not subject to
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations That
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355 (May
22, 2001)) because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
As noted in the proposed rule,
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law No.
104–113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272
note) directs EPA to use voluntary
consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be
inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary
consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications,
test methods, sampling procedures, and
business practices) that are developed or
adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies. The NTTAA directs
EPA to provide Congress, through OMB,
explanations when the Agency decides
not to use available and applicable
voluntary consensus standards.
This rulemaking does not involve
technical standards. Therefore, EPA did
not consider the use of any voluntary
consensus standards.
J. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
Business regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
submit a rule report, which includes a
copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. EPA will submit a
report containing this rule and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A ‘‘major rule’’
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
is published in the Federal Register.
This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(a). This rule
will be effective on November 26, 2007.
K. Clean Air Act Section 307(d)
This rule is subject to Section 307(d)
of the CAA. Section 307(d)(7)(B)
provides that ‘‘[o]nly an objection to a
rule or procedure which was raised with
reasonable specificity during the period
for public comment (including any
public hearing) may be raised during
judicial review.’’ This section also
provides a mechanism for the EPA to
convene a proceeding for
reconsideration, ‘‘[i]f the person raising
an objection can demonstrate to the EPA
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
that it was impracticable to raise such
objection within [the period for public
comment] or if the grounds for such
objection arose after the period for
public comment (but within the time
specified for judicial review) and if such
objection is of central relevance to the
outcome of the rule.’’ Any person
seeking to make such a demonstration to
the EPA should submit a Petition for
Reconsideration to the Office of the
Administrator, U.S. EPA, Room 3000,
Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, with
a copy to both the person(s) listed in the
preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section, and the Director of the
Air and Radiation Law Office, Office of
General Counsel (Mail Code 2344A),
U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20004.
IX. Statutory Provisions and Legal
Authority
The statutory authority for the actions
finalized today comes from section
211(c) and (k) of the CAA (42 U.S.C.
7545(c) and (k)), which allows us to
regulate fuels that either contribute to
air pollution which endangers public
health or welfare or which impairs
emission control equipment. Additional
support for the procedural aspects of the
fuels controls in today’s final rule,
including the petition requirement,
comes from sections 114(a) and 301(a)
of the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7414(a) and
7601(a)). Today’s action is a final
rulemaking under section 307(d) of the
CAA (42 U.S.C. 7607(d)).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 80
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Fuel additives,
Gasoline, Motor vehicle pollution,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: October 18, 2007.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Administrator.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, part 80 of title 40 Chapter I
of the Code of Federal Regulations is
amended as follows:
I
PART 80—REGULATION OF FUEL
AND FUEL ADDITIVES
1. The authority citation for part 80
continues to read as follows:
I
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7545, and
7601(a).
Subpart E—[Amended]
2. Section 80.91 is amended by
revising paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A) to read as
follows:
I
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
§ 80.91
Individual baseline determination.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) * * *
(A)(1) All gasoline produced to meet
EPA’s 1990 summertime volatility
requirements shall be considered
summer gasoline. All other gasoline
shall be considered winter gasoline,
except:
(2) Gasoline produced or imported for
use in Hawaii, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands that
is subject to an approved petition under
§ 80.93(d)(2) shall be considered
summer gasoline for purposes of
paragraph (e) of this section.
*
*
*
*
*
I 3. Section 80.93 is amended by
revising paragraph (d) to read as
follows:
§ 80.93 Individual baseline submission
and approval.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) Requirements for a petition
applicable to gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands. (1)(i) Any refiner for any
refinery or importer with gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska
in its individual 1990 baseline may
petition EPA to establish a separate
1990 baseline for gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska using the
winter Complex Model, and to use the
winter statutory baseline values under
§ 80.91(c)(5) for any gasoline produced
or imported for use in Alaska which is
in excess of the refinery’s or importer’s
1990 volume of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska for purposes
of determining the refinery’s or
importer’s compliance baseline under
§ 80.101(f)(4).
(ii) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer with an individual 1990
baseline which did not include any
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska in 1990 may petition EPA to
establish the refinery’s or importer’s
winter baseline values as the
compliance baseline under § 80.101(f)(3)
for gasoline which the refiner or
importer produces or imports for use in
Alaska.
(iii) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer subject only to the antidumping statutory baseline under
§ 80.91(c)(5) may petition EPA to have
the winter statutory baseline values
under § 80.91(c)(5) apply instead for
purposes of determining the refinery’s
or importer’s compliance baseline under
§ 80.101(f)(2) for gasoline which the
refiner or importer produces or imports
for use in Alaska.
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
60579
(2)(i) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer with gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, and/or the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and/or
the Virgin Islands in its individual 1990
baseline may petition EPA to establish
a separate 1990 baseline for gasoline
produced or imported for use in these
areas using the summer Complex
Model, and to use the summer statutory
baseline values under § 80.91(c)(5) for
any gasoline produced or imported for
use in these areas in excess of the
refinery’s or importer’s 1990 volume of
gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas, for purposes of
determining the refinery’s or importer’s
compliance baseline under
§ 80.101(f)(4).
(ii) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer with an individual 1990
baseline which did not include any
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Hawaii, and/or the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and/or the Virgin Islands in
1990 may petition EPA to establish the
refinery’s or importer’s summer baseline
values as the compliance baseline under
§ 80.101(f)(3) for gasoline which the
refiner or importer produces or imports
for use in these areas.
(iii) Any refiner or importer subject
only to the anti-dumping statutory
baseline under § 80.91(c)(5) may
petition EPA to have the summer
statutory baseline values under
§ 80.91(c)(5) apply instead for purposes
of determining the refinery’s or
importer’s compliance baseline under
§ 80.101(f)(2) for gasoline which the
refiner or importer produces or imports
for use in Hawaii, and/or the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and/or
the Virgin Islands.
(iv) Any petition submitted in
accordance with paragraphs (d)(2)(i),
(d)(2)(ii) or (d)(2)(iii) of this section
shall apply to gasoline produced or
imported for use in all of the areas
specified in the operative paragraphs.
(3) A petition under paragraphs (d)(1)
or (d)(2) of this section must include the
following:
(i) Identification of the refiner and
refinery or importer;
(ii) EPA company and facility
registration numbers issued under
§ 80.76;
(iii) Identification of a contact person;
and
(iv) For petitions submitted under
paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (d)(2)(i) of this
section:
(A) Revised 1990 individual baseline
determination wherein the baseline for
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska has been evaluated using the
winter Complex Model, or gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
60580
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
and/or the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and/or the Virgin Islands has been
evaluated using the summer Complex
Model, as applicable, with the
calculations clearly and fully described
and displayed; and
(B) Revised 1990 individual baseline
determination for gasoline in the
refinery’s or importer’s original
individual 1990 baseline which was not
produced or imported for use in Alaska,
and/or Hawaii, and/or the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and/or
the Virgin Islands, as applicable, with
the calculations clearly and fully
described and displayed.
(C) Baseline auditor agreement with
the revised baseline values.
(4) For U.S. Postal delivery, the
petition shall be sent to: Attn: RFG
Program, Mailstop 6406J, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460. For commercial
delivery: Attn: RFG Program, 6th Floor
(202–343–9038), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1310 L St., NW.,
Washington, DC 20005.
(5) EPA reserves the right to request
additional information. If such
information is not forthcoming in a
timely manner, the petition will not be
approved.
(6) A petition under this section may
be submitted at any time during the
annual averaging period. The baseline
and compliance methods approved in a
petition submitted under paragraph (d)
of this section shall apply beginning
with the annual averaging period in
which the petition was approved and
shall continue to apply in each annual
averaging period thereafter. Once a
petition has been approved under this
section, the refiner or importer may not
revert back to its original baseline.
(7) A refiner for any refinery or
importer with an approved petition
under paragraph (d)(1) of this section
and an approved petition under
paragraph (d)(2) of this section will be
subject to a separate baseline and
baseline volume for its gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska,
and a separate baseline and baseline
volume for its gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands.
(8)(i) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer must have an approved
petition under paragraph (d)(1) of this
section in order to use the seasonal
baseline and seasonal Complex Model,
as provided in paragraph (d)(1) of this
section, for gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
(ii) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer must have an approved
petition under paragraph (d)(2) of this
section in order to use the seasonal
baseline and seasonal Complex Model,
as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this
section, for gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands.
(iii) Any new refiner or importer
without an individual anti-dumping
baseline shall be subject to the annual
average anti-dumping statutory baseline
under § 80.91(c)(5) unless the refiner or
importer petitions for and receives
approval of use of a seasonal baseline
and seasonal Complex Model under this
section.
(9)(i) The provisions of this paragraph
(d) shall apply to any refiner, for any
refinery, or importer that received
approval of a petition under this
paragraph (d) prior to November 26,
2007 beginning with the 2008 annual
averaging period.
(ii) Any refiner, for any refinery, or
importer that received approval of a
petition under paragraph (d) of this
section prior to November 26, 2007 may
petition EPA to withdraw such
approval. Such petition must be
submitted to EPA by December 31,
2007. A withdrawal of approval under
this paragraph is effective beginning
with the 2008 annual averaging period
and shall remain in effect in each
annual averaging period thereafter.
(iii) A refiner or importer with an
approved withdrawal under paragraph
(d)(9)(i) of this section will be subject to
the baseline which was in effect prior to
the effective date of the refiner’s or
importer’s approved petition under this
paragraph (d). Once a refiner or
importer receives approval of a
withdrawal of a petition under
paragraph (d)(9)(i) of this section the
refiner or importer is ineligible to
receive approval of a change in baseline
under this section.
I 4. Section 80.101 is amended by:
I a. Revising paragraph (f)(2);
I b. Adding paragraph (f)(3);
I c. Revising paragraph (f)(4)(iii);
I d. Revising paragraph (g)(1)(ii)(B), and
adding paragraph (g)(1)(ii)(C);
I e. Revising paragraph (g)(2)
introductory text, (g)(2)(i), and (g)(6), to
read as follows:
§ 80.101 Standards applicable to refiners
and importers.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) * * *
(2)(i) In the case of any refiner for any
refinery or importer for whom the anti-
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
dumping statutory baseline applies
under § 80.91, the anti-dumping
statutory baseline for each parameter or
emissions performance shall be the
compliance baseline for that refinery or
importer.
(ii) In the case of any refiner for any
refinery or importer that has received
approval of a petition submitted under
§ 80.93(d)(1)(iii), the compliance
baseline for each emissions performance
for that refinery or importer for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska
shall be the winter statutory baseline
value under § 80.45(b)(3), Table 5.
(iii) In the case of any refiner for any
refinery or importer that has received
approval of a petition submitted under
§ 80.93(d)(2)(iii), the compliance
baseline for each emissions performance
for that refinery or importer for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and/
or the Virgin Islands shall be:
(A) The summer statutory baseline
value under § 80.45(b)(3), Table 5 for
NOX.
(B) The summer statutory baseline
value under § 80.45(b)(3), Table 5 for
Toxics less the corresponding value for
Benzene under § 80.45(b)(3), Table 4.
(3)(i) In the case of any refiner for any
refinery or importer that has received
approval of a petition submitted under
§ 80.93(d)(1)(ii), the compliance
baseline for each emissions performance
for that refinery or importer for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska
shall be the refinery’s or importer’s
winter baseline value determined under
§ 80.91.
(ii) In the case of any refiner for any
refinery or importer that has received
approval of a petition submitted under
§ 80.93(d)(2)(ii), the compliance
baseline for each emissions performance
for that refinery or importer for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and/
or the Virgin Islands shall be the
refinery’s or importer’s summer baseline
value determined under § 80.91.
(4) * * *
(iii) Any refiner or importer with an
individual baseline that has received
approval of a petition submitted under
§ 80.93(d) and has produced or
imported gasoline for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, or the Virgin Islands must
calculate the compliance baseline for
each parameter or emissions
performance as follows:
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
CBi
60581
CBi, 1 × V1 + CBi, 2 × V2 + CBi, 3 × ( V3 − Vr )
( V1 + V2 + V3 − Vr )
If Vj ≥ V1990j > 0:
V1990 j
V1990 j
CBi, j = Bi, j ×
+ DBi, j × 1 −
V
Vj
j
(g) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) * * *
(B) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer that has received EPA approval
of a petition submitted in accordance
with the provisions of § 80.93(d)(1) must
use the applicable winter complex
model under § 80.45, using an RVP of
8.7 psi, to evaluate its averaging period
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska.
(C) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer that has received EPA approval
of a petition submitted in accordance
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
with the provisions of § 80.93(d)(2) must
use the applicable summer complex
model under § 80.45 to evaluate its
averaging period gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands.
(2) In the case of any refiner or
importer subject to the anti-dumping
statutory baseline, the summer statutory
baseline and/or the winter statutory
baseline, the refiner or importer shall
determine compliance using the
following methodology:
(i) Calculate the compliance total for
the averaging period for sulfur, T–90,
olefins, exhaust benzene emissions,
exhaust toxics and exhaust NOX
emissions, as applicable, based upon the
anti-dumping statutory baseline value,
the summer statutory baseline value, or
the winter statutory baseline value, as
applicable, for that parameter using the
formula specified at 80.67.
*
*
*
*
*
(6)(i) The emissions performance of
gasoline that has an RVP greater than
the RVP required under § 80.27 (‘‘winter
gasoline’’) shall be determined using the
applicable winter complex model under
§ 80.45, using an RVP of 8.7 psi for
compliance calculation purposes under
this subpart E.
(ii) Except as provided in paragraph
(g)(1)(ii) of this section, the emissions
performance of gasoline produced or
imported for use in areas that are not
subject to the requirements of § 80.27
shall be determined using the applicable
winter complex model under § 80.45,
using an RVP of 8.7 psi for compliance
calculation purposes under this subpart
E.
*
*
*
*
*
I 5. Section 80.104 is amended by
adding paragraph (a)(2)(xiii) to read as
follows:
§ 80.104
Recordkeeping requirements.
*
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(2) * * *
(xiii) In the case of gasoline subject to
an approved petition under § 80.93(d),
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
documents that reflect that the gasoline
was produced or imported for use in
Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as
applicable.
*
*
*
*
*
Subpart J—[Amended]
6. Section 80.825 is amended by
revising paragraph (c)(2) to read as
follows:
I
§ 80.825 How is the refinery or importer
annual average toxics value determined?
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(2) (i) The toxics value, Ti, of each
batch of conventional gasoline, and the
annual average toxics value, Ta, for
conventional gasoline under this
subpart are in milligrams per mile (mg/
mile) and volumes are in gallons.
(ii) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer that has received EPA approval
of a petition submitted in accordance
with the provisions of § 80.93(d) shall
determine the toxics value, Ti, of each
batch of conventional gasoline produced
or imported for use in Alaska, and/or
Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands in
accordance with § 80.101(g)(1)(ii).
*
*
*
*
*
I 7. Section 80.850 is amended by
revising paragraph (c) and adding
paragraph (d) to read as follows:
§ 80.850 How is the compliance baseline
determined?
*
*
*
*
*
(c) Any refiner for any refinery or
importer with an approved antidumping baseline under § 80.93(d) for
gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska, and/or Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands, and for which a
conventional gasoline baseline toxics
value for such gasoline can be
determined according to § 80.915(b)(1),
shall determine its compliance baseline
applicable to such gasoline according to
the following equation:
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
ER25OC07.001
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
Where:
CBi = The compliance baseline for parameter
or emissions performance i
CBi,j = The compliance baseline for parameter
or emissions performance i applicable to
the conventional gasoline in production
volume Vj
j is a subscript identifying a portion of
gasoline and RBOB produced or imported as
follows:
j=1: Conventional gasoline supplied to
Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands, if gasoline
supplied to these areas is covered by a
petition for a separate baseline.
j=2: Conventional gasoline supplied to
Alaska, if gasoline supplied to this area
is covered by a petition for a separate
baseline.
j=3: Conventional gasoline, reformulated
gasoline, RBOB and California gasoline
produced or imported by a refiner or
importer, and not included in portions 1
or 2.
Vj = The averaging period volume for portion
j.
Vr = The volume of reformulated gasoline,
RBOB and California gasoline included
in V3.
Bi,j = The refiner/importer’s individual
baseline for parameter or emissions
performance i applicable to the
conventional gasoline in portion j, or the
applicable statutory baseline if assigned
in lieu of an individual baseline.
DBi,j = The statutory baseline for parameter
or emissions performance i applicable to
the conventional gasoline in portion j
(i.e., the annual or seasonal statutory
baseline).
V1990j = The 1990 baseline volume applicable
to portion j.
ER25OC07.000
If Vj < V1990j or V1990j = 0: CBi,j = Bi,j
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
TBase × VBase + TExist × VInc + TSBase × VSBase + TSExist × VSInc + TWBase × VWBase + TWExist × VWInc
VBase + VInc + VSBase + VSInc + VWBase + VWInc
e
Where:
TCBase = Compliance baseline toxics value.
TBase = Baseline toxics value for the refinery
or importer, calculated according to
§ 80.915(b)(1) for all gasoline except
gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
VBase = Baseline volume for the refinery or
importer, calculated according to
§ 80.915(b)(2) for all gasoline except
gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
TExist = The refinery’s or importer’s antidumping compliance baseline value for
exhaust toxics, in mg/mi, per § 80.101(f)
for all gasoline except gasoline produced
or imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands.
VInc = Volume of gasoline produced or
imported, excluding the volume of
gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
during the averaging period, which is in
excess of VBase.
TSBase = Baseline toxics value for the refinery
or importer, calculated according to
§ 80.915(e)(2)(i) for gasoline produce or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands.
VSBase = Baseline volume for the refinery or
importer, calculated according to
§ 80.915(e)(2)(ii) for gasoline produce or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands.
TSExist = The refinery’s or importer’s antidumping compliance baseline value for
exhaust toxics, in mg/mi, per § 80.101(f)
for gasoline produce or imported for use
in Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
VSInc = Volume of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands during the averaging
period which is in excess of VSBase.
TWBase = Baseline toxics value for the refinery
or importer, calculated according to
§ 80.915(e)(1)(i) for gasoline produce or
imported for use in Alaska.
VWBase = Baseline volume for the refinery or
importer, calculated according to
§ 80.915(e)(1)(ii) for gasoline produce or
imported for use in Alaska.
TWExist = The refinery’s or importer’s antidumping compliance baseline value for
exhaust toxics, in mg/mi, per § 80.101(f)
for gasoline produce or imported for use
in Alaska.
VWInc = Volume of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska during the
averaging period which is in excess of
VWBase.
(d) If the refinery or importer
produced less gasoline during the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:10 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
compliance period than its applicable
baseline volume, the value of Vinc, VSInc
or VWInc, as applicable, will be zero.
I 8. Section 80.855 is amended by
adding paragraph (b)(2) to read as
follows:
(2) A refiner or importer shall submit
an application to EPA for the purposes
of this subpart simultaneously with the
submission of a petition under
§ 80.93(d).
*
*
*
*
*
§ 80.855 What is the compliance baseline
for refineries or importers with insufficient
data?
I
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2)(i) A refinery or importer that has
an approved anti-dumping baseline
under § 80.93(d) for gasoline produced
or imported for use in Alaska, and that
cannot determine an applicable toxics
value according to paragraph (b)(1) of
this section, shall have the following as
its compliance baseline for the purposes
of this subpart: 110.72 mg/mile.
(ii) A refinery or importer that has an
approved anti-dumping baseline under
§ 80.93(d) for gasoline produce or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands and that cannot
determine an applicable toxics value
according to paragraph (b)(1) of this
section, shall have the following as its
compliance baseline for the purposes of
this subpart: 77.82 mg/mile.
(iii) The provisions of this paragraph
(b)(2) shall apply to any refiner, for any
refinery, or importer that received
approval of a petition under § 80.93(d)
prior to November 26, 2007 beginning
with the 2008 annual averaging period.
(iv) Any new refiner or importer
without a toxics baseline that produces
or imports gasoline for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico or the Virgin Islands shall be
subject to the applicable toxics default
baseline under paragraph (b)(1) of this
section unless the refiner or importer
petitions for and receives approval of
use of a seasonal baseline and seasonal
Complex Model under § 80.93(d).
*
*
*
*
*
I 9. Section 80.910 is amended by
revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
§ 80.910 How does a refiner or importer
apply for a toxics baseline?
(a)(1) A refiner or importer shall
submit an application to EPA which
includes the information required under
paragraph (c) of this section no later
than June 30, 2001, or 3 months prior
to the first introduction of gasoline into
commerce from the refinery or by the
importer, whichever is later.
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
10. Section 80.915 is amended by
redesignating paragraphs (e) through (h)
as paragraphs (f) through (i) and adding
new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
§ 80.915 How are the baseline toxics value
and baseline toxics volume determined?
*
*
*
*
*
(e)(1)(i) A refiner or importer which is
approved for a petition submitted under
§ 80.910(a)(2) for gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska shall
calculate the applicable toxics baseline
value using the following equation:
n
∑(V × T )
i
TWBase =
i =1
n
∑ Vi
i
+M
i =1
Where:
TWBase = Baseline toxics value for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska.
Vi = Volume of gasoline batch i produced or
imported for use in Alaska between
January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2000,
inclusive.
Ti = Toxics value of gasoline batch i
produced or imported for use in Alaska
between January 1, 1998 and December
31, 2000, inclusive.
i = Individual batch of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska between
January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2000,
inclusive.
n = Total number of batches of gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska
between January 1, 1998 and December
31, 2000, inclusive.
M = Compliance margin.
(ii) The baseline volume associated
with the baseline value calculated in
paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section shall
be calculated using the methodology in
paragraph (b)(2) of this section for the
gasoline described in paragraph (e)(1)(i)
of this section.
(2)(i) A refiner or importer which is
approved for a petition submitted under
§ 80.910(a)(2) for gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands shall calculate the
applicable toxics baseline value using
the following equation:
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
ER25OC07.003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
TCBase =
ER25OC07.002
60582
n
∑(V × T )
i
TSBase =
i
i =1
n
∑ Vi
+M
i =1
Where:
TSBase = Baseline toxics value for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands.
Vi = Volume of gasoline batch i produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands between January 1, 1998
and December 31, 2000, inclusive.
Ti= Toxics value of gasoline batch i produced
or imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands between January 1, 1998
and December 31, 2000, inclusive.
i = Individual batch of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands between January 1, 1998
and December 31, 2000, inclusive.
n = Total number of batches of gasoline
produced or imported for use in Hawaii,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands between January 1,
1998 and December 31, 2000, inclusive.
M = Compliance margin.
(ii) The baseline volume associated
with the baseline value calculated in
paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section shall
be calculated using the methodology in
paragraph (b)(2) of this section for the
gasoline described in paragraph (e)(2)(i)
of this section.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. E7–21061 Filed 10–24–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 229
[Docket No. 071018614–7615–01]
RIN 0648–XD56
Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental
to Commercial Fishing Operations;
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction
Plan
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator
for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces
temporary restrictions consistent with
the requirements of the Atlantic Large
Whale Take Reduction Plan’s
(ALWTRP) implementing regulations.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:10 Oct 24, 2007
Jkt 214001
These regulations apply to lobster trap/
pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in
an area totaling approximately 2,305
nm2 (7,905 km2), south of Portland,
Maine, for 15 days. The purpose of this
action is to provide protection to an
aggregation of northern right whales
(right whales).
DATES: Effective beginning at 0001 hours
October 27, 2007, through 2400 hours
November 10, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed and
final Dynamic Area Management (DAM)
rules, Environmental Assessments
(EAs), Atlantic Large Whale Take
Reduction Team (ALWTRT) meeting
summaries, and progress reports on
implementation of the ALWTRP may
also be obtained by writing Diane
Borggaard, NMFS/Northeast Region,
One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Diane Borggaard, NMFS/Northeast
Region, 978–281–9300 x6503; or Kristy
Long, NMFS, Office of Protected
Resources, 301–713–2322.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
Several of the background documents
for the ALWTRP and the take reduction
planning process can be downloaded
from the ALWTRP web site at https://
www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/.
Background
The ALWTRP was developed
pursuant to section 118 of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to
reduce the incidental mortality and
serious injury of three endangered
species of whales (right, fin, and
humpback) due to incidental interaction
with commercial fishing activities. In
addition, the measures identified in the
ALWTRP would provide conservation
benefits to a fourth species (minke),
which are neither listed as endangered
nor threatened under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). The ALWTRP,
implemented through regulations
codified at 50 CFR 229.32, relies on a
combination of fishing gear
modifications and time/area closures to
reduce the risk of whales becoming
entangled in commercial fishing gear
(and potentially suffering serious injury
or mortality as a result).
On January 9, 2002, NMFS published
the final rule to implement the
ALWTRP’s DAM program (67 FR 1133).
On August 26, 2003, NMFS amended
the regulations by publishing a final
rule, which specifically identified gear
modifications that may be allowed in a
DAM zone (68 FR 51195). The DAM
program provides specific authority for
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
60583
NMFS to restrict temporarily on an
expedited basis the use of lobster trap/
pot and anchored gillnet fishing gear in
areas north of 40° N. lat. to protect right
whales. Under the DAM program,
NMFS may: (1) require the removal of
all lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet
fishing gear for a 15-day period; (2)
allow lobster trap/pot and anchored
gillnet fishing within a DAM zone with
gear modifications determined by NMFS
to sufficiently reduce the risk of
entanglement; and/or (3) issue an alert
to fishermen requesting the voluntary
removal of all lobster trap/pot and
anchored gillnet gear for a 15-day period
and asking fishermen not to set any
additional gear in the DAM zone during
the 15-day period.
A DAM zone is triggered when NMFS
receives a reliable report from a
qualified individual of three or more
right whales sighted within an area (75
nm2 (139 km2)) such that right whale
density is equal to or greater than 0.04
right whales per nm2 (1.85 km2). A
qualified individual is an individual
ascertained by NMFS to be reasonably
able, through training or experience, to
identify a right whale. Such individuals
include, but are not limited to, NMFS
staff, U.S. Coast Guard and Navy
personnel trained in whale
identification, scientific research survey
personnel, whale watch operators and
naturalists, and mariners trained in
whale species identification through
disentanglement training or some other
training program deemed adequate by
NMFS. A reliable report would be a
credible right whale sighting.
On October 16, 2007, an aerial survey
reported and aggregation of seven right
whales in the proximity of 43°05′ N
latitude and 69°56′ W longitude. The
position lies approximately 50nm south
of Portland, Maine. After conducting an
investigation, NMFS ascertained that
the report came from a qualified
individual and determined that the
report was reliable. Thus, NMFS has
received a reliable report from a
qualified individual of the requisite
right whale density to trigger the DAM
provisions of the ALWTRP.
Once a DAM zone is triggered, NMFS
determines whether to impose
restrictions on fishing and/or fishing
gear in the zone. This determination is
based on the following factors,
including but not limited to: the
location of the DAM zone with respect
to other fishery closure areas, weather
conditions as they relate to the safety of
human life at sea, the type and amount
of gear already present in the area, and
a review of recent right whale
entanglement and mortality data.
E:\FR\FM\25OCR1.SGM
25OCR1
ER25OC07.004
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 206 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60570-60583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21061]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 80
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0010 FRL-8487-2]
RIN 2060-AK02
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Modification of Baselines
for Gasoline Produced or Imported for Use in Hawaii, Alaska and U.S.
Territories
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This final rule allows refiners and importers who produce or
import conventional gasoline for use in Alaska, Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands the option to change
the way in which they calculate emissions from such gasoline for
purposes of establishing their conventional gasoline anti-dumping and
toxics performance baselines and determining compliance with their
baselines.
Specifically, this final rule allows refiners and importers of
gasoline sold for use in these areas to petition EPA to modify their
baselines to replace the anti-dumping statutory baseline with the
single seasonal statutory baseline that is most appropriate to the
regional climate, and to use the seasonal component of the Complex
Model that is most appropriate to the regional climate to calculate
individual baselines and annual average emissions. The rule allows
refiners and importers to petition EPA to use the summer statutory
baseline and the summer Complex Model for all baseline and compliance
calculations for conventional gasoline produced or imported for use in
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and allows refiners and
importers to petition EPA to use the winter statutory baseline and the
winter Complex Model for all baseline and compliance calculations for
conventional gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska. EPA is
taking this action to address certain inconsistencies in the fuels
regulations which may have significant unintended negative impacts on
refiners and importers who produce or import gasoline for these areas.
DATES: This final rule is effective on November 26, 2007.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0010. All documents in the docket are listed on the
https://www.regulations.gov web site. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, 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 https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air and Radiation Docket,
EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the
Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Bennett, Transportation and
Regional Programs Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality
(6406J), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9624; fax
number: (202) 343-2803; e-mail address: bennett.marilyn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 60571]]
I. General Information
A. Does This Action Apply to Me?
Entities potentially affected by this action include those involved
with the production and importation of conventional gasoline motor
fuel. Regulated categories and entities affected by this action
include:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples of
Category NAICS SIC codes potentially
codes \a\ \b\ regulated parties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry.................... 324110 2911 Petroleum Refiners,
Importers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
\b\ Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system code.
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this
action. This table lists the types of entities that EPA is now aware
could be potentially regulated by this action. Other types of entities
not listed in the table could also be regulated. To determine whether
your entity is regulated by this action, you should carefully examine
the applicability criteria of Part 80, subparts D, E, F and J of title
40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. If you have any question
regarding applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult
the person in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
above.
B. Outline of This Preamble
I. General Information
II. Anti-Dumping Compliance
III. Mobile Source Air Toxics Rule (MSAT) Compliance
IV. Comments on the NPRM
V. Final Rule
VI. Environmental Effects of This Action
VII. Public Participation
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
IX. Statutory Provisions and Legal Authority
II. Anti-Dumping Compliance
A. Background
1. The Anti-Dumping Requirements
Section 211(k) of the Clean Air Act (``CAA'' or ``Act'') requires
EPA to establish standards for cleaner burning reformulated gasoline
(RFG) to be used in specified ozone nonattainment areas. The Act also
requires EPA to establish requirements for non-RFG, or conventional
gasoline, designed to prevent refiners from ``dumping'' into
conventional gasoline the dirty gasoline components that are removed
when RFG is produced. The requirements for conventional gasoline are
called ``anti-dumping'' requirements. To be in compliance with these
requirements, the exhaust toxics and nitrogen oxides (NOX)
emissions performance of a refinery's or importer's conventional
gasoline must be no dirtier than the refinery's or importer's 1990
exhaust toxics and NOX emissions performance, on an annual
average basis.
The anti-dumping regulations require refiners to calculate the
exhaust toxics and NOX emissions performance of gasoline
using a predictive model, called the Complex Model. See 40 CFR 80.45.
The Complex Model has a summer version and a winter version.\1\ For the
same fuel composition (based on those fuel parameters evaluated in the
Complex Model), the winter Complex Model predicts significantly higher
emissions of exhaust toxics and NOX than the summer Complex
Model, on a mg/mile basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The summer Complex Model is based on data reflecting the
performance of gasoline sold in the summer; i.e., gasoline with
lower RVP to comply with volatility requirements at 40 CFR 80.27 and
which is typical of summer climatic conditions. The winter Complex
Model is a modified version of the summer model which sets the RVP
at 8.7 psi and adjusts for winter climate conditions. A detailed
discussion of the development of the summer and winter versions of
the Complex Model is included in the Final Regulatory Impact
Analysis for Reformulated Gasoline (December 13, 1993). Public
Docket No. A-92-12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The anti-dumping regulations require refineries and importers of
conventional gasoline to comply with an established baseline for
exhaust toxics and NOX. The baseline is either an
``individual baseline'' or the ``anti-dumping statutory baseline.'' An
individual baseline is based on the average performance of the gasoline
that the individual refinery or importer produced or imported during
the calendar year 1990. The anti-dumping statutory baseline is based on
the average quality of gasoline sold throughout the United States
during 1990. The anti-dumping statutory baseline applies to refineries
and importers that are unable to calculate an individual baseline based
on 1990 gasoline performance. If a refinery or importer has an
individual baseline, gasoline production during a given annual
averaging period, up to the refinery's or importer's 1990 production or
import volume, must be no ``dirtier'' than the refinery's or importer's
individual 1990 baseline for exhaust toxics and NOX.
Gasoline produced or imported during the annual averaging period in
excess of the refinery's or importer's 1990 gasoline production or
import volume must be no dirtier than the anti-dumping statutory
baseline for exhaust toxics and NOX. For refineries and
importers that do not have an individual baseline, all gasoline
produced or imported during the annual averaging period must meet the
anti-dumping statutory baseline for exhaust toxics and NOX.
To comply with the anti-dumping requirements, each refinery and
importer must evaluate the overall quality of the conventional gasoline
that it produces or imports during each annual averaging period and
compare it to the refinery's or importer's baseline (individual 1990
baseline or anti-dumping statutory baseline, as appropriate). So long
as the conventional gasoline produced or imported has overall
emissions, as calculated by the Complex Model, that are no worse than
the performance reflected in the refinery's or importer's baseline, the
refinery or importer is in compliance with EPA's anti-dumping
requirements.
The anti-dumping statutory baseline includes both summertime and
wintertime seasonal components. The anti-dumping statutory baseline,
which approximates the average emissions of gasoline sold in the U.S.
in 1990, is the volume-weighted average of the summertime and
wintertime 1990 baseline gasoline emissions, as calculated using the
appropriate seasonal version of the Complex Model. See 59 FR 7793
(February 16, 1994).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ For a discussion of the methodology used in determining the
anti-dumping statutory baseline, see 56 FR 31179 (July 9, 1991).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Calculating Individual Baselines and Annual Average Emissions
A refinery's or importer's individual 1990 baseline is calculated
using the summer version of the Complex Model to assess the performance
of the refinery's or importer's 1990 summer gasoline and the winter
version of the Complex Model to assess the
[[Page 60572]]
performance of the refinery's or importer's 1990 winter gasoline. For
purposes of these calculations, the regulations consider summer
gasoline to be gasoline that is subject to EPA's volatility
requirements, and winter gasoline to be gasoline that is not subject to
EPA's volatility requirements. 40 CFR 80.91(e)(2)(ii)(A). Gasoline sold
in Alaska and Hawaii, and in the territories of Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands, is not subject to the volatility requirements. See CAA
Section 211(h)(5).\3\ Thus, for purposes of calculating a refinery's or
importer's individual 1990 baseline emissions, none of the gasoline
produced or imported for use in these areas is summer gasoline under
the current regulations. As a result, all of the gasoline produced or
imported for use in these areas was evaluated using the winter Complex
Model for purposes of calculating individual 1990 baseline emissions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa also are not subject to
the volatility requirements pursuant to CAA section 211(h)(5);
however, these territories have received exemptions from the anti-
dumping requirements. See 61 FR 53854 (October 16, 1996)(Guam); 62
FR 63853 (December 3, 1997)(Northern Mariana Islands); 65 FR 71067
(November 29, 2000)(American Samoa). Gasoline produced or imported
for use in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
and American Samoa is also exempt from the Mobile Source Air Toxics
requirements. See 40 CFR 80.820(d). As a result, gasoline produced
or imported for use in these areas is not affected by today's rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Similarly, to determine annual average emissions for compliance
purposes, each year refineries and importers calculate emissions from
their summer gasoline using the summer Complex Model and emissions from
their winter gasoline using the winter Complex Model. For purposes of
calculating annual average emissions, the regulations specify that
summer gasoline is gasoline that meets the volatility requirements and
winter gasoline is gasoline that does not meet the volatility
requirements. 40 CFR 80.101(g)(5) and (g)(6). Because gasoline produced
or imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands is not subject to the volatility requirements, refineries and
importers currently are required to evaluate all of their gasoline
produced or imported for use in these areas during the annual averaging
period using the winter Complex Model.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Pursuant to a rulemaking on June 9, 1999 (64 FR 30904),
refiners and importers who have Puerto Rico gasoline, or Puerto Rico
and Virgin Islands gasoline, in their individual baseline are
allowed to petition EPA to replace the winter Complex Model with the
summer Complex Model for anti-dumping baseline and compliance
calculations. See 40 CFR 80.93(d) and 80.101(f)(4)(iii) and
(g)(1)(ii)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed above, refiners and importers must provide gasoline
that complies with their individual anti-dumping baseline up to their
1990 baseline volume, after which any excess volumes must comply with
the anti-dumping statutory baseline.\5\ Refiners and importers without
an individual baseline must comply with the anti-dumping statutory
baseline for all of the conventional gasoline they produce or import
during each annual averaging period.\6\ This general approach to
compliance applies to both refiners and importers of gasoline sold in
the continental U.S. and refiners and importers of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ For refineries and importers with individual 1990 baselines
who produce gasoline volumes in excess of their 1990 volume during
an averaging period, the regulations require the use of a specified
``compliance baseline'' equation. 40 CFR 80.101(f). In general, this
equation adjusts the refinery's or importer's individual baseline to
reflect the parameter values of the statutory baseline for that
volume of the refinery's or importer's total annual gasoline
production which is in excess of the refinery's or importer's 1990
baseline volume. This adjusted compliance baseline then is the
refinery's or importer's anti-dumping standard for that annual
averaging period, and the annual average emissions from all
conventional gasoline produced by that refinery or importer during
the annual averaging period must meet that standard.
\6\ Since most importers are unable to establish an individual
1990 baseline, importers generally are required to comply with the
anti-dumping statutory baseline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Need for Action
As discussed above, under the anti-dumping regulations, gasoline
produced or imported in excess of a refinery's or importer's 1990
baseline volume during the annual averaging period must comply with the
anti-dumping statutory baseline. All gasoline produced or imported
during each annual averaging period by refineries and importers who are
unable to establish an individual baseline also must comply with the
anti-dumping statutory baseline. In most cases, use of the anti-dumping
statutory baseline is an appropriate and necessary tool to ensure that
conventional gasoline quality does not degrade in comparison to the
average quality of gasoline sold in 1990. However, for gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands that is subject to the anti-dumping statutory baseline,
the current anti-dumping requirements can result in an inconsistent
application of EPA's seasonal Complex Models.
As discussed above, the anti-dumping statutory baseline is an
estimate of the average quality of all 1990 gasoline. This estimate was
calculated using the summer Complex Model to evaluate ``summer''
gasoline and the winter Complex Model for all other gasoline.
Similarly, for compliance purposes, summer conventional gasoline sold
in the continental United States is evaluated using the summer Complex
Model, and all other conventional gasoline is evaluated using the
winter Complex Model. Thus, for conventional gasoline subject to the
anti-dumping statutory baseline that is sold in the continental U.S.,
we expect there to be general agreement between the seasonal models
used to develop the baseline and the seasonal models used to evaluate
annual compliance. Application of the anti-dumping statutory baseline
for such gasoline provides reasonable assurance that the quality of the
conventional gasoline will not degrade relative to the average quality
of gasoline in 1990.
Like gasoline produced or imported for use in the continental
United States, gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in excess of the refinery's or
importer's 1990 baseline volume of gasoline, and all gasoline produced
or imported for use in these areas by a refiner or importer who does
not have an individual baseline must comply with the anti-dumping
statutory baseline. However, since the annual emissions performance of
all gasoline produced or imported for use in these areas must be
evaluated using only the winter Complex Model, for these areas there is
not an agreement between the seasonal models reflected in the statutory
baseline (which, as discussed above, was developed using both the
summer and winter seasonal models) and the seasonal model used for
calculating annual compliance.\7\ Because the winter Complex Model
predicts higher emissions than the summer Complex Model, in these
situations, the refinery or importer is required to comply with a
standard that, in effect, is more stringent than intended. That is, the
refiner or importer must produce or import gasoline that is actually
cleaner than the average gasoline produced or imported for use
[[Page 60573]]
in 1990.\8\ This unintended result can have a significant adverse
economic effect on those refineries and importers whose baselines
include gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands and who have increased the volume of
gasoline that they produce or import for these areas above their 1990
baseline volumes of gasoline produced or imported for these areas, and
those refineries and importers who are subject to the anti-dumping
statutory baseline for all of their gasoline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Gasoline produced or imported for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands was evaluated using only the winter
Complex Model for purposes of calculating a refinery's or importer's
individual 1990 baseline. Since annual production or imports for
these areas is also evaluated using the winter Complex Model, there
is a general agreement between the seasonal model used to develop
the baseline and the seasonal model used to calculate annual
emissions for gasoline production or imports up to the refinery's or
importer's individual 1990 baseline volume of gasoline produced or
imported for these areas.
\8\ Because the winter Complex Model predicts higher emissions
for exhaust toxics and NOX than the summer Complex Model,
the average emissions of gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands during an annual
averaging period, which is evaluated using only the winter Complex
Model, will appear to have higher emissions than that same gasoline
would appear to have if evaluated using the summer Complex Model for
some of the volume of gasoline. If, for example, gasoline produced
or imported for use in these areas has properties identical to the
properties of anti-dumping baseline gasoline, that gasoline (as
evaluated using only the winter Complex Model) will appear to have
higher emissions than anti-dumping baseline gasoline, and would be
deemed out of compliance with the anti-dumping statutory baseline
emissions standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. NPRM
In the NPRM, EPA proposed to correct this inconsistency in the
anti-dumping regulations by allowing gasoline produced or imported for
use in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to be
compared to a baseline that is seasonally consistent with the
compliance model that is used for purposes of compliance evaluation.
Specifically, EPA proposed the following changes for refiners and
importers who produce or import conventional gasoline for use in
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
First, EPA proposed to allow refiners and importers to petition EPA
to change their baselines such that any gasoline produced or imported
for use in these areas that is currently subject to the anti-dumping
statutory baseline instead would be subject to the single seasonal
component of the anti-dumping statutory baseline that agrees with the
single seasonal model used for compliance. This approach alleviates the
current inconsistency (as described above) by more accurately comparing
the performance of the refiner's or importer's average 1990 gasoline
with gasoline currently produced.
Second, EPA proposed that any refiner or importer for whom a
petition to change its baseline has been approved must use the single
seasonal statutory baseline that is most appropriate to the regional
climate for any gasoline that is not subject to an individual 1990
baseline, and use the seasonal component of the Complex Model that is
most appropriate to the regional climate for calculating both 1990
individual baseline emissions and annual average emissions. Thus,
refiners and importers with an approved petition that produce or import
gasoline for use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands would
use the summer statutory baseline component for any gasoline not
subject to an individual baseline, and use the summer Complex Model for
purposes of calculating 1990 individual baseline and annual average
emissions. Refiners and importers with an approved petition that
produce or import gasoline for use in Alaska would use the winter
statutory baseline for any gasoline not subject to an individual
baseline, and use the winter Complex Model for purposes of calculating
1990 individual baseline and annual average emissions. A discussion of
the rationale for these seasonal determinations is contained in the
preamble to the NPRM. See 70 FR 646 (January 4, 2005).
Under this approach, refiners and importers of gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands would
need to establish a separate individual 1990 baseline for gasoline
produced or imported for use in these areas using only the summer
Complex Model. Gasoline produced or imported for use in these areas
would be required to comply with this new individual baseline for
gasoline up to the refinery's or importer's 1990 baseline volume of
gasoline produced or imported for these areas. Gasoline production or
imports in excess of the refinery's or importer's 1990 baseline volume
would be subject to only the summer component of the statutory
baseline. In the case of refiners and importers with an individual 1990
baseline which does not include any gasoline produced or imported for
use in these areas, any gasoline produced or imported for use in these
areas during the annual averaging period would be subject to the
refinery's or importer's individual summer 1990 baseline, and the
summer Complex Model would be used for all compliance calculations.
Such gasoline will not be considered in determining whether a refiner
or importer has produced or imported any incremental gasoline volumes
above the refinery's or importer's 1990 baseline volume.
Similarly, refiners and importers of gasoline produced or imported
for use in Alaska would need to establish a separate individual 1990
baseline for gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska using only
the winter Complex Model. Gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska would be required to comply with this individual baseline up to
the refinery's or importer's 1990 baseline volume of Alaska gasoline.
Gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska in excess of the
refinery's or importer's 1990 baseline volume of Alaska gasoline would
be subject to only the winter component of the statutory baseline.
Refiners and importers of gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska would continue to use the winter Complex Model for all
compliance calculations for Alaska gasoline. In the case of refineries
and importers with an individual 1990 baseline that does not include
any gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska, any gasoline
produced or imported for use in Alaska during the annual averaging
period would be subject to the refinery's or importer's individual
winter 1990 baseline, and the winter Complex Model would be used for
all compliance calculations. Such gasoline will not be considered in
determining whether a refiner or importer has produced or imported any
incremental gasoline volumes above the refinery's or importer's 1990
baseline volume.
To implement the changes described above, EPA proposed to modify
the individual baseline submission provisions at Sec. 80.93(d) to
allow refineries and importers that produce or import gasoline for use
in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands the option to petition
EPA to recalculate the emissions of their 1990 conventional gasoline
produced or imported for use in these areas using the summer Complex
Model.\9\ For refiners and importers who produced or imported gasoline
in 1990 for use in both the continental U.S. and an affected area, this
would require the calculation of a separate 1990 individual baseline
for gasoline produced or imported for use in these areas, and
recalculation of the refiner's or importer's current anti-dumping
baseline (which would continue to be used for compliance
[[Page 60574]]
purposes for gasoline produced or imported for other areas) to reflect
the subtraction of baseline gasoline produced or imported for use in
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.\10\ As discussed above,
under the current regulations, the winter Complex Model is required to
be used to evaluate Alaska gasoline for purposes of establishing the
individual 1990 baseline and for determining annual average compliance.
Since the winter Complex Model is the appropriate seasonal model for
Alaska, we did not propose to change this requirement, however, we did
propose to clarify this requirement in the baseline submission
provisions in Sec. 80.93(d). Under the proposal, refiners and
importers who produced or imported gasoline in 1990 for use in both the
continental U.S. and Alaska would be required to calculate a separate
baseline for Alaska gasoline and recalculate their current anti-dumping
baseline for use with other gasoline to reflect the subtraction of 1990
baseline Alaska gasoline. EPA also proposed to revise the anti-dumping
compliance baseline provisions at Sec. 80.101(f)(3) and (f)(4)(iii).
EPA proposed a new (f)(3) which establishes compliance baselines for
refiners and importers with 1990 individual baselines that did not
include any gasoline produced or imported for use in the affected
areas. As discussed above, for these refiners and importers, any
conventional gasoline produced or imported for use in the affected
areas would be subject to the refiner's or importer's appropriate
seasonal individual baseline. EPA proposed to revise Sec.
80.101(f)(4)(iii) to provide equations for calculating a compliance
baseline for refiners and importers with individual 1990 baselines that
have approved petitions and that produce or import gasoline for use in
one or more of the affected areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ As discussed in footnote 4 above, in a final rule dated June
9, 1999 (64 FR 30904), EPA modified the anti-dumping regulations to
allow refiners and importers who have Puerto Rico gasoline, or
Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands gasoline, in their 1990 baseline to
petition EPA to replace the winter Complex Model with the summer
Complex Model for purposes of compliance calculations. Today's rule
does not substantively change the provisions for Puerto Rico
gasoline promulgated on June 9, 1999. Rather, today's rule extends
the use of the summer only Complex Model to Puerto Rico gasoline
produced or imported by refiners and importers that do not have
individual baselines and those that have an individual baseline but
do not have any Puerto Rico gasoline, or Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands gasoline, in their baselines.
\10\ For refineries and importers with individual baselines that
produce or import gasoline for the continental U.S. as well as
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands, the approach in
today's rule likely would result in a reduction of the total volume
of gasoline that currently would be subject to the anti-dumping
statutory baseline, since gasoline produced or imported for Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands in excess of the
refinery's or importer's baseline volume of gasoline for these areas
would no longer be included in the volume of gasoline subject to the
anti-dumping statutory baseline. This may have an impact on the
refinery's or importer's compliance baseline for the annual
averaging period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed modifications of the baseline submission provisions at
Sec. 80.93(d) also would allow refiners and importers currently
subject to the anti-dumping statutory baseline for all of their
gasoline (i.e., parties without a 1990 individual baseline) the option
to petition EPA to change their baseline to only the summer component
of the statutory baseline for any conventional gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the
winter component of the statutory baseline for any conventional
gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska. EPA proposed to modify
Sec. 80.101(f)(2) to require such refiners and importers to comply
with the summer statutory baseline component for gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the
winter statutory baseline component for gasoline produced or imported
for use in Alaska. In addition, EPA proposed to modify Sec.
80.101(g)(1) to require refiners and importers with approved petitions
under Sec. 80.93(d) to evaluate all of their gasoline produced or
imported for use in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands during
the annual averaging period using only the summer Complex Model, and
clarify that gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska during the
annual averaging period must be evaluated using only the winter Complex
Model.
A refiner or importer that produces or imports gasoline for Alaska
and also for Hawaii and/or Puerto Rico and/or the Virgin Islands, and
that wishes to change its baseline for all of these areas, would submit
separate petitions, one for Alaska gasoline under Sec. 80.93(d)(1) and
one for Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands gasoline under Sec.
80.93(d)(2). In this case, the refiner or importer would have two
separate baselines, one for gasoline produced or imported for Alaska,
and one for gasoline produced or imported for Hawaii, Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands. Such refiner or importer would also have another
separate baseline for any gasoline produced or imported for the
continental United States.
In addition to the proposed changes to the anti-dumping regulations
discussed above, EPA proposed conforming changes to Sec. Sec.
80.91(e)(2)(ii)(A), and 80.101(g)(2) and (g)(6) to clarify the summer/
winter distinction with regard to gasoline produced or imported for use
in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
EPA proposed that the changes would be optional for any refiner or
importer that produces or imports gasoline intended for use in Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and would be limited to
those refiners and importers that petition the Agency for these
changes. However, EPA proposed that a refiner or importer that changes
from the anti-dumping statutory baseline to a single statutory baseline
component must use the appropriate seasonal statutory baseline
component and must use it for all gasoline produced or imported for use
in any of the areas subject to this rule. Such refiner or importer must
use the appropriate seasonal Complex Model for all future calculations.
For example, an importer of Puerto Rico gasoline that petitions EPA to
change from the anti-dumping statutory baseline to a single seasonal
statutory baseline component must change to the summer statutory
baseline component and must use the summer Complex Model for all future
calculations for Puerto Rico gasoline and also for any gasoline the
importer imports into Hawaii and/or the Virgin Islands. Refiners and
importers with approved petitions whose 1990 individual baselines
include gasoline produced or imported for these areas would be required
to recalculate their individual baselines, as described above, and
submit the new baselines with their petition.
EPA proposed to require refiners and importers that change their
baseline in accordance with the proposed rule to retain documents which
substantiate that gasoline complying with the new baseline, in fact,
was produced or imported for use in the affected area.
EPA proposed that refiners and importers of gasoline produced or
imported for use in the affected areas who do not petition EPA to
change their baselines would continue to be subject to their current
baselines and would continue to use the Complex Model that is required
for calculating emissions under the current regulations.
III. Mobile Source Air Toxics Rule (MSAT) Compliance
A. Background
The Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) rule published on March 29,
2001, contains provisions which require refiners and importers to
determine a baseline and compliance value for air toxics. See 40 CFR
part 80, subpart J. A refiner, for each refinery, and an importer must
identify the appropriate toxics performance baseline for its
conventional gasoline and its reformulated gasoline. The refiner or
importer must then demonstrate compliance with each applicable baseline
on an annual average basis using the Complex Model.
Under the MSAT toxics performance rule, refiners, for each
refinery, and importers are required to produce or import gasoline that
is no dirtier than the gasoline they produced or imported during the
baseline period, 1998 through 2000. Accordingly, refiners and
[[Page 60575]]
importers are required to establish an individual toxics baseline,
separately for RFG and conventional gasoline, based on the average
toxics performance of their gasoline during the baseline period.
Refiners and importers are also required to establish a total baseline
volume based on their volume of gasoline production during the baseline
period. If a refinery or importer did not have sufficient production or
imports during the baseline period to calculate an average toxics
performance for their gasoline, they are subject to a default toxic
baseline established by EPA. Refineries or importers subject to the
default baseline do not have an MSAT baseline volume.
Compliance with the MSAT toxics performance requirements is
determined on an annual average basis. The gasoline produced or
imported during the annual averaging period can be no more polluting
than the refiner's or importer's baseline level for that type of
gasoline (RFG or conventional). For RFG, total toxics emissions are
evaluated, and toxics performance is reported as a percent reduction
from the statutory baseline. For conventional gasoline, only exhaust
toxics emissions are evaluated, and toxics performance is reported in
mg/mile. Any volume produced or imported in excess of a refiner's or
importer's individual baseline volume can be no more polluting than the
RFG toxics standard, or the refiner's or importer's conventional
gasoline anti-dumping toxics baseline level, as applicable.
B. NPRM
EPA proposed to modify the MSAT toxics performance requirements in
a manner that is consistent with the changes that were proposed for the
conventional gasoline anti-dumping program. The changes to the MSAT
requirements are necessary because, generally, the MSAT toxics
performance provisions applicable to conventional gasoline are of the
same form as the anti-dumping provisions, and because such changes are
needed to maintain agreement between methods used to establish
baselines and those used to evaluate gasoline performance for purposes
of compliance. Thus, we proposed to require a refiner or importer that
submits a petition under the anti-dumping program as described in the
NPRM to also petition for a separate or modified MSAT baseline
applicable to gasoline produced or imported into Alaska and/or Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
EPA proposed the following MSAT baseline and compliance
determinations for refiners and importers who submit petitions under
this rule for gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska and/or
Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Affected parties who did not produce or import any gasoline during
the baseline period (1998-2000), may petition EPA to have the
appropriate seasonal MSAT conventional gasoline default baseline for
gasoline produced or imported for use in Alaska and/or Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and use the appropriate seasonal version
of the Complex Model for evaluating gasoline produced or imported for
these areas. Such parties would be subject to the annual MSAT
conventional gasoline default baseline for all other gasoline produced
or imported (i.e., gasoline for use in the continental U.S.)
Affected parties who produced gasoline during the baseline period,
but who did not produce or import gasoline for Alaska and/or Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands during the baseline period, may
petition EPA to have the appropriate individual refinery or importer
conventional gasoline seasonal MSAT baseline for these areas, and
evaluate any gasoline produced or imported for use in these areas using
the appropriate seasonal Complex Model. Such gasoline will not be
considered in determining whether a refiner or importer has produced or
imported any incremental gasoline volumes above the refiner's or
importer's MSAT baseline volume.
Affected parties who only produced or imported gasoline for Alaska
and/or Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands during the baseline
period may petition EPA for a revised MSAT baseline using the
appropriate seasonal version of the Complex Model, and use the
appropriate seasonal version of the Complex Model for all compliance
determinations for such gasoline. Gasoline produced or imported for use
in these areas up to the refiner's or importer's MSAT baseline volume
would be subject to the refiner's or importer's seasonally appropriate
MSAT baseline. Any incremental volumes above the baseline volume would
be subject to the refiner's or importer's appropriate seasonal anti-
dumping baseline. Any gasoline produced or imported for use in the
continental U.S. would be subject to the annual MSAT conventional
gasoline default baseline.
Affected parties who produced or imported gasoline during the
baseline period for use in the continental U.S. and for use in Alaska
and/or Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands may petition EPA to
have a separate, seasonally appropriate MSAT baseline and a separate
MSAT baseline volume for gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska and/or Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Such
refiners or importers must then use the appropriate seasonal component
of the Complex Model to evaluate gasoline sold in these areas.
Additionally, such refiners must establish a separate annual baseline
and baseline volume for all other gasoline, which must be evaluated
using the annual Complex Model.
Under the current regulations, refiners and importers who produce
or import gasoline for use in Alaska, and/or Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the
Virgin Islands who are subject to the MSAT default baseline are, in
fact, required to produce or import gasoline that is cleaner than the
national annual average during the MSAT baseline period. This is
because the MSAT default baseline was determined using both seasonal
components of the Complex Model, while parties in the affected areas
are required to evaluate their gasoline using only the winter Complex
Model (which, as discussed above, gives higher emission values for the
same gasoline than if the gasoline were evaluated using both seasonal
components of the model). EPA proposed to correct this inconsistency
while continuing to require such parties to produce or import gasoline
that is no more polluting than the average gasoline during the MSAT
baseline period, as required under the MSAT rule. Similarly, parties
with individual MSAT baselines will continue to meet the requirements
under the MSAT rule for gasoline produced or imported up to their
baseline volume, without being required to produce or import gasoline
that is cleaner than their average gasoline during the MSAT baseline
period.
For parties with an individual MSAT baseline who produce or import
gasoline in excess of their MSAT baseline volume, the MSAT regulations
require the excess volume to meet the refiner's or importer's standard
under the anti-dumping rule (i.e., excess volume may not be more
polluting than the refiner's or importer's individual anti-dumping
baseline level). Therefore, EPA proposed that gasoline produced or
imported in excess of the MSAT baseline volume be subject to the anti-
dumping baseline that is established for purposes of anti-dumping
compliance under today's rule.
To implement the changes described above, EPA proposed appropriate
modifications to Sec. Sec. 80.825, 80.850, 80.855, 80.910 and 80.915
of subpart J.
[[Page 60576]]
IV. Comments on the NPRM
Comments on the NPRM were generally very favorable. One commenter
suggested that we clarify the regulations regarding the effective date
for petitions granted under the rule, and that we clarify whether there
is a deadline for submitting a petition. In the NPRM we proposed that
the baseline and compliance method changes in today's rule would become
effective beginning with the annual averaging period in which a
refiner's or importer's petition is granted. As a result, a petition
may be submitted at any time during an annual averaging period. Once a
petition is granted, the new method for determining compliance with the
anti-dumping and air toxics requirements will apply beginning with the
annual averaging period in which the petition was granted, and will
continue to apply in each annual averaging period thereafter. As
discussed in the NPRM, once a petition has been granted, the refinery
or importer will not be able to revert back to its original baseline.
The new baseline will apply to the refinery regardless of ownership;
i.e., if a refinery obtains a new baseline under today's rule, the new
baseline will apply to the refinery even if the refinery is
subsequently sold to another refiner. We have added language in the
final rule to clarify when a petition may be submitted and the
effective date of an approved petition.
Another commenter believes that the default toxics baselines in
Sec. 80.855(b)(2) (i.e., the seasonal default toxics baselines
applicable to parties with approved petitions under Sec. 80.93(d))
should apply only to refiners that submit petitions under Sec.
80.93(d) after this rule is finalized. A refiner who previously
received approval to use the summer Complex Model under Sec. 80.93(d),
and who was unable to establish an individual toxics baseline under the
MSAT rule, currently is subject to the conventional gasoline MSAT
default toxics baseline. The rule as proposed would apply a more
stringent default toxics baseline (i.e., seasonal default baseline) to
such a refiner, which, the commenter believes, would impose a burden on
the refiner that was not anticipated at the time the refiner applied
for use of the summer Complex Model under Sec. 80.93(d).
The default baselines in Sec. 80.855(b)(2) are the average
seasonal toxics levels during the MSAT baseline years calculated using
the appropriate seasonal Complex Model. As discussed above, where a
refiner uses a seasonal Complex Model for annual average compliance
calculations, we believe it is appropriate for the refiner to also be
subject to the appropriate seasonal default baseline. A refiner with a
previously approved baseline change under Sec. 80.93(d) (which as
noted above applies to refiners who produce gasoline for use in Puerto
Rico) uses the summer Complex Model for calculating its annual average
toxics emissions. Therefore, we believe it is appropriate for the
summer MSAT default baseline in Sec. 80.855(b)(2)(ii) to apply to such
a refiner. However, since refiners with previously approved petitions
under Sec. 80.93(d) have been using the conventional gasoline default
toxics baseline under the current regulations, we believe that the
summer default baseline in Sec. 80.855(b)(2)(ii) should only apply to
such refiners prospectively, and that such refiners should be afforded
the opportunity to withdraw their petitions under Sec. 80.93(d). As a
result, we have included provisions in the final rule which specify
that the appropriate seasonal default toxics baseline would apply to
any refiner with a previously approved petition under Sec. 80.93(d)
beginning with the 2008 annual averaging period, and that any such
refiner may petition EPA to withdraw approval of its petition under
Sec. 80.93(d) beginning with the 2008 annual averaging period.
Although these provisions were not included in the NPRM, we believe
they are necessary in order to clarify the application of the
provisions in Sec. 80.855(b)(2) with regard to parties with previously
approved petitions, and are a logical outgrowth of the proposal to
apply the seasonal default toxics baselines in Sec. 80.855(b)(2) to
any refiner with a previously approved petition under Sec. 80.93(d).
Another commenter suggested that we clarify that a refiner or
importer that produces or imports gasoline for Alaska and also for
Hawaii, and/or Puerto Rico and/or the Virgin Islands would have two
separate baselines and baseline volumes under today's rule, one for
gasoline produced or imported for Alaska, and one for gasoline produced
or imported for Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. We have
added language to clarify this in today's final rule.
One commenter suggested that we clarify the requirements for new
refineries or importers in the final rule. As discussed above, the rule
provides an alternative to the existing regulatory baseline and
compliance requirements for gasoline produced or imported for use in
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Any new refinery or
importer (which would not have an individual anti-dumping or MSAT
baseline) would be subject to the anti-dumping statutory and MSAT
default baselines, unless the refiner or importer petitions EPA under
the provisions of today's rule to have the appropriate seasonal anti-
dumping and MSAT baselines and seasonal Complex Model apply. We have
added a provision to clarify the regulations in this regard.
One commenter requested that we make certain references to Sec.
80.93(d) in the regulations more specific with regard to the
subparagraphs being referenced. We have made these changes in today's
final rule.
V. Final Rule
With the exceptions noted above and minor editorial changes,
today's rule finalizes the provisions in the NPRM as proposed.
Although the current anti-dumping and MSAT toxics performance
requirements will be superseded by more stringent mobile source
emissions controls by 2011, we believe it is appropriate to provide
this relief to the affected parties at this time in order to address
the inequity caused by the inconsistencies in the current regulations
and to avoid any gasoline supply problems that may result from this
inequity.
VI. Environmental Effects of This Action
As discussed in the NPRM, we believe that allowing refiners and
importers to change their baselines in accordance with today's rule
will not undermine the environmental goals of the anti-dumping program
(i.e., to ensure that conventional gasoline will be no dirtier than
1990 gasoline), or the MSAT toxics performance rule (i.e., to ensure
that gasoline, RFG and conventional, will be no dirtier than gasoline
during the MSAT baseline years.) The changes in today's rule will not
result in gasoline with exhaust toxics or NOX emissions that
are greater than conventional gasoline in these areas, or nationwide,
compared to 1990 levels, or toxics emissions that are greater than
gasoline in these areas, or nationwide, compared to the MSAT baseline
years. Today's rule provides an alternative compliance method for
refiners and importers who, under the current regulations, are required
to produce or import gasoline for use in the affected areas that is
actually cleaner than that required under the anti-dumping and MSAT
programs. As a result, even if all of these affected parties choose the
new compliance method, the goals of the anti-dumping and MSAT programs
would be met. To the extent that parties choose to retain their current
[[Page 60577]]
compliance method, there would continue to be an added environmental
benefit above and beyond that specifically required to meet the goals
of these programs.
VII. Public Participation
In the NPRM, we requested comment on the need to take this action
and the proposed changes to the regulations. We have reviewed and
considered all comments. The comments and EPA's responses to the
comments are discussed above.
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of Executive Order (EO) 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and
is therefore not subject to review under the EO.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection requirements in this rule will be
submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The
information collection requirements are not enforceable until OMB
approves them.
This final rule addresses certain adverse impacts on refiners and
importers of conventional gasoline under the current fuels regulations,
and provides refiners and importers with additional flexibility to
comply with the regulations. The flexibility afforded under this rule
is optional. Modest information collection requirements in the form of
a one-time only petition to EPA and minimal recordkeeping requirements
are required of those refiners who wish to avail themselves of the
flexibility provided in this rule.
The estimated hour burden for this rule is 20 hours per petition.
The estimated number of petitions is 10. The estimated cost burden for
the petition is $70 per hour. The total estimated cost for each
respondent is $1,400. The total estimated cost for all respondents is
$14,000. We do not anticipate that any burdens will be associated with
the additional recordkeeping requirements, since the information
required to be retained normally is included on business documents
retained by refiners and importers.
Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9. When this ICR is
approved by OMB, the Agency will publish a technical amendment to 40
CFR part 9 in the Federal Register to display the OMB control number
for the approved information collection requirements contained in this
final rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency
to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to
notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative
Procedure Act or any other statute unless the agency certifies that the
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses,
small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts of today's rule on small
entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small business as defined
by the Small Business Administration's regulations at 13 CFR 121.201;
(2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city,
county, town, school district or special district with a population of
less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is any not-for-
profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field.
After considering the economic impacts of today's final rule on
small entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. In
determining whether a rule has a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, the impact of concern is any
significant adverse economic impact on small entities, since the
primary purpose of the regulatory flexibility analyses is to identify
and address regulatory alternatives ``which minimize any significant
economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities.'' 5 U.S.C.
Sections 603 and 604. Thus, an agency may conclude that a rule will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities if the rule relieves regulatory burden, or otherwise has a
positive economic effect on all of the small entities subject to the
rule.
This final rule provides provisions intended to address existing
adverse economic impacts of the current rule on certain refiners and
importers while continuing to promote successful implementation of the
requirements for conventional gasoline. Specifically, this rule
provides all affected refiners and importers, including small refiners
and importers, options for evaluating the emissions of conventional
gasoline, which will have the effect of relieving regulatory burden. We
have therefore concluded that today's final rule will relieve
regulatory burden for all affected small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, EPA
generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that
may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any
one year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement
is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify
and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt
the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative
that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of section 205
do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover,
section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other than the least
costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final rule an explanation why that
alternative was not adopted. Before EPA establishes any regulatory
requirements that may significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal governments, it must have developed under
section 203 of the UMRA a small government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
[[Page 60578]]
affected small governments, enabling officials of affected small
governments to have meaningful and timely input in the development of
EPA regulatory proposals with significant Federal intergovernmental
mandates, and informing, educating, and advising small governments on
compliance with the regulatory requirements.
Today's final rule contains no Federal mandates (under the
regulatory provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local or
tribal governments or the private sector. EPA has determined that this
rule does not contain a Federal mandate that may result in expenditures
of $100 million or more for State, local, and tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or the private sector in any one year that will result
in expenditures of $100 million or more. This rule affects gasoline
refiners and importers of conventional gasoline by providing optional
provisions for evaluating the emissions of conventional gasoline in
certain situations. This rule will have the effect of reducing the
burden of the conventional gasoline regulations on these regulated
parties. Thus, today's rule is not subject to the requirements of
sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.''
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the
Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.''
This final rule does not have federalism implications. It will not
have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government,
as specified in Executive Order 13132. This rule provides options for
evaluating the emissions of conventional gasoline. The requirements of
the rule will be enforced by the federal government at the national
level. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this rule.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000),
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory
policies that have tribal implications. This final rule does not have
tribal implications. It will not have substantial direct effects on
tribal governments, on the relationship between the Federal government
and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities
between the Federal government and Indian tribes, as specified in
Executive Order 13175. Today's action finalizes certain modifications
to the federal requirements for conventional gasoline, and does not
impose any enforceable duties on communities of Indian tribal
governments. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045: ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies
to any rule that: (1) Is determined to be ``economically significant''
as defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe may
have a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action
meets both criteria, the Agency must evaluate the environmental health
or safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain why the
planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and
reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the Agency.
EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those
regulatory actions that are based on health or safety risks, such that
the analysis required under section 5-501 of the Order has the
potential to influence the regulation. This final rule is not subject
to Executive Order 13045 because it is not economically significant and
does not establish an environmental standard intended to mitigate
health or safety risks.
H. Executive Order 13211: Acts That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This final rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)) because it is not a
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
As noted in the proposed rule, Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law
No. 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs EPA to use
voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do
so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical.
Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., materials
specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business
practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to provide Congress, through
OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use available and
applicable voluntary consensus standards.
This rulemaking does not involve technical standards. Therefore,
EPA did not consider the use of any voluntary consensus standards.
J. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provide