Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; South Dakota; Revisions to New Source Review Rules, 72617-72622 [E7-24717]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
(c) of this Ruling for calculating projected
actual emissions.
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6. A ‘‘reasonable possibility’’ under
paragraph IV.J of this Ruling occurs when the
owner or operator calculates the project to
result in either:
(i) A projected actual emissions increase of
at least 50 percent of the amount that is a
‘‘significant emissions increase,’’ as defined
under paragraph II.A.23 of this Ruling
(without reference to the amount that is a
significant net emissions increase), for the
regulated NSR pollutant; or
(ii) A projected actual emissions increase
that, added to the amount of emissions
excluded under paragraph II.A.24(ii)(c), sums
to at least 50 percent of the amount that is
a ‘‘significant emissions increase,’’ as defined
under paragraph II.A.23 of this Ruling
(without reference to the amount that is a
significant net emissions increase), for the
regulated NSR pollutant. For a project for
which a reasonable possibility occurs only
within the meaning of paragraph IV.J.6(ii) of
this Ruling, and not also within the meaning
of paragraph IV.J.6(i) of this Ruling, then
provisions IV.J.2 through IV.J.5 do not apply
to the project.
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(a) A projected actual emissions
increase of at least 50 percent of the
amount that is a ‘‘significant emissions
increase,’’ as defined under paragraph
(b)(40) of this section (without reference
to the amount that is a significant net
emissions increase), for the regulated
NSR pollutant; or
(b) A projected actual emissions
increase that, added to the amount of
emissions excluded under paragraph
(b)(41)(ii)(c) of this section, sums to at
least 50 percent of the amount that is a
‘‘significant emissions increase,’’ as
defined under paragraph (b)(40) of this
section (without reference to the amount
that is a significant net emissions
increase), for the regulated NSR
pollutant. For a project for which a
reasonable possibility occurs only
within the meaning of paragraph
(r)(6)(vi)(b) of this section, and not also
within the meaning of paragraph
(r)(6)(vi)(a) of this section, then
provisions (r)(6)(ii) through (v) do not
apply to the project.
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[FR Doc. E7–24714 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am]
PART 52—[AMENDED]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
5. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
I
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.
40 CFR Part 52
Subpart A—[Amended]
[EPA–R08–OAR–2006–0928; FRL–8509–4]
6. Section 52.21 is amended by
revising paragraph (r)(6) introductory
text and adding paragraph (r)(6)(vi) to
read as follows:
I
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plan; South
Dakota; Revisions to New Source
Review Rules
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§ 52.21 Prevention of significant
deterioration of air quality.
AGENCY:
(r) * * *
(6) Except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (r)(6)(vi)(b) of this section, the
provisions of this paragraph (r)(6) apply
with respect to any regulated NSR
pollutant emitted from projects at
existing emissions units at a major
stationary source (other than projects at
a source with a PAL) in circumstances
where there is a reasonable possibility,
within the meaning of paragraph
(r)(6)(vi) of this section, that a project
that is not a part of a major modification
may result in a significant emissions
increase of such pollutant, and the
owner or operator elects to use the
method specified in paragraphs
(b)(41)(ii)(a) through (c) of this section
for calculating projected actual
emissions.
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(vi) A ‘‘reasonable possibility’’ under
paragraph (r)(6) of this section occurs
when the owner or operator calculates
the project to result in either:
SUMMARY: EPA is approving revisions to
Chapter 74:36:09 of the South Dakota
Administrative Rules (Prevention of
Significant Deterioration) for
incorporation into the South Dakota
State Implementation Plan (SIP). South
Dakota adopted these rule revisions on
August 29, 2006 and May 14, 2007, and
submitted the requests for approval to
EPA on September 1, 2006 and June 28,
2007. One rule provision that EPA had
proposed to disapprove has been
corrected by South Dakota. Therefore,
EPA is also approving that provision.
South Dakota was granted delegation of
authority by EPA on July 6, 1994, to
implement and enforce the federal
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) permitting regulations. As part of
this final rule EPA is rescinding South
Dakota’s delegation of authority for
implementing the federal PSD
regulations. This action is being taken
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Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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under section 110 of the Clean Air Act
(CAA).
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is
effective January 22, 2008.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R08–OAR–2006–0928. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., Confidential Business Information
(CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the Air and Radiation Program,
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), Region 8, 1595 Wynkoop Street,
Denver, Colorado 80202–1129. EPA
requests that if at all possible, you
contact the individual listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to
view the hard copy of the docket. You
may view the hard copy of the docket
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m., excluding Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cindy Cody, Air and Radiation Program,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 8, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver,
Colorado 80202–1129, (303) 312–6228,
cody.cynthia@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Definitions
For the purpose of this document, we
are giving meaning to certain words or
initials as follows:
(i) The words or initials Act or CAA
mean or refer to the Clean Air Act,
unless the context indicates otherwise.
(ii) The words EPA, we, us or our
mean or refer to the United States
Environmental Protection Agency.
(iii) The initials SIP mean or refer to
State Implementation Plan.
(iv) The words State or South Dakota
mean the State of South Dakota, unless
the context indicates otherwise.
Table of Contents
I. What is being addressed in this document?
II. What are the changes that EPA is
approving?
III. What were the comments received and
EPA’s response?
IV. What action is EPA taking?
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What is being addressed in this
document?
Chapter 74:36:09 was submitted to
EPA for inclusion in the State
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Implementation Plan (SIP) by the South
Dakota Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) on September
1, 2006. Chapter 74:36:09 relates to the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) permit program of the State of
South Dakota. Revisions to Chapter
74:36:09 were adopted by the South
Dakota Board Interim Rules Committee
on August 29, 2006. EPA proposed on
February 1, 2007 (72 FR 4671) to
partially approve and partially
disapprove Chapter 74:36:09
(Prevention of Significant Deterioration)
of the Administrative Rules of South
Dakota under section 110 of the CAA.1
Comments were received on our
February 2007 proposal (see discussion
in section III. below). Subsequent to the
public comment period, South Dakota
revised 74:36:09:02, adopted May 14,
2007, to address EPA’s concern (see
Section II) and submitted the revised
provision to EPA on June 28, 2007. After
considering the comments received,
EPA is finalizing its approval of Chapter
74:36:09, including the now-corrected
provision that EPA had proposed to
disapprove. EPA is also rescinding its
delegation to South Dakota of the
federal PSD regulations.
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II. What are the changes that EPA is
approving?
EPA is approving a revision to South
Dakota’s SIP that incorporates by
reference the federal PSD requirements,
found at 40 CFR 52.21, into the State’s
SIP. The revision to the South Dakota
Administrative Rules Chapter 74:36:09
incorporates by reference the provisions
of 40 CFR 52.21, as they exist on July
1, 2005, with the exceptions noted
below.
South Dakota did not incorporate by
reference those sections of the federal
rules that do not apply to State activities
or are reserved for the Administrator of
the EPA. These sections are 40 CFR
52.21(a)(1) (plan disapproval), 52.21(q)
(public participation), 52.21(s)
(environmental impact statements),
52.21(t) (disputed permit or
redesignations), and 52.21(u)
(delegation of authority).
South Dakota did not incorporate by
reference provisions for Clean Units and
Pollution Control Project (PCPs). These
provisions were vacated by a June 24,
2005, ruling by the United States Court
of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit. References to Clean Units and
PCPs were removed by EPA from
Federal regulation on June 13, 2007 (see
1 Our proposal notice discusses EPA’s December
31, 2002 NSR Reform rules and the provisions that
have subsequently been clarified, and vacated and
remanded by the courts.
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72 FR 32526). In addition, South Dakota
did not incorporate by reference the
provisions for equipment replacement
(40 CFR 52.21(cc)), which were stayed
indefinitely by a court order on
December 24, 2003, and subsequently
vacated. See, New York v. EPA, 443 F.3d
880 (D.C. Cir. 2006). Therefore, the
following federal provisions found in 40
CFR 52.21 are not incorporated by
reference in Chapter 74:36:09: 40 CFR
52.21(x), 52.21(y), 52.21(z), 52.21(cc),
52.21(a)(2)(iv)(e), the second sentence of
52.21(a)(2)(iv)(f), 52.21(a)(2)(vi),
52.21(b)(2)(iii)(h), 52.21(b)(3)(iii)(b),
52.21(b)(3)(vi)(d), 52.21(b)(32),
52.21(b)(42), (b)(55), (b)(56), (b)(57),
(b)(58), and the phrase ‘‘other than
projects at a Clean Unit or at a source
with a PAL’’ in 40 CFR 52.21(r)(6).
The phrase ‘‘reasonable possibility’’
used in the federal rule at 40 CFR
52.21(r)(6) limits the recordkeeping
provisions to modifications at facilities
that use the actual-to-future-actual
methodology to calculate emissions
changes and that may have a
‘‘reasonable possibility’’ of a significant
emissions increase. The South Dakota
rule does incorporate by reference the
phrase ‘‘reasonable possibility’’ as it is
used at 40 CFR 52.21(r)(6). On March 8,
2007, EPA published a proposed rule in
response to the D.C. Circuit Court’s
remand of the recordkeeping provisions
of EPA’s 2002 NSR Reform Rules (see 72
FR 10445), but EPA has not yet made a
final decision with regard to the
remand. Therefore, EPA may need to
take further action on this portion of
South Dakota’s PSD rule. At this time,
however, South Dakota’s recordkeeping
provisions are as stringent as the federal
requirements, and are therefore,
approvable.
The South Dakota incorporation by
reference describes the circumstances in
which the term ‘‘Administrator’’
continues to mean the EPA
Administrator and when it means the
Secretary of the South Dakota DENR
instead. South Dakota rule
74:36:09:02(1) identifies the following
provisions in Chapter 74:36:09 where
the term ‘‘Administrator’’ continues to
mean the Administrator of EPA: 40 CFR
52.21(b)(17), 52.21(b)(37)(i),
52.21(b)(43), 52.21(b)(48)(ii)(c),
52.21(b)(50)(i), 52.21(g)(1) to 52.21(g)(6),
52.21(l)(2), and 52.21(p)(2). As
submitted on September 1, 2006, this
list did not include 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2),
and under South Dakota’s PSD rule, the
term ‘‘Administrator’’ in 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2) referred to the Secretary of
the DENR.
This was inconsistent with EPA’s
determination that 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2)
must still refer to the Administrator of
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EPA, and EPA proposed to disapprove
the incorporation by reference of 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2). On June 28, 2007, South
Dakota submitted to EPA a revision of
Chapter 74:36:09, effective June 13,
2007, that added 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2) to
the list of provisions in Chapter
74:36:09 where the term
‘‘Administrator’’ continues to mean the
Administrator of EPA. Therefore, EPA is
approving the incorporation by
reference of 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2) as part
of the approval of Chapter 74:36:09.
As noted above, South Dakota did not
incorporate by reference 40 CFR
52.21(q) (public participation). South
Dakota has instead incorporated by
reference 40 CFR 51.166(q) (public
participation) at 74:36:09:03. The
regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 are what
a SIP must contain for EPA to approve
a PSD permit program, and generally
mirror the federal PSD regulations at 40
CFR 52.21. In addition, South Dakota
added in 74:36:09:03 six additional
provisions that revise 40 CFR 51.166(q)
in order to make the PSD permit public
participation requirements specific to
South Dakota.
The requirements included in South
Dakota’s PSD program, as specified in
Chapter 74:36:09, are substantively the
same as the federal PSD provisions due
to South Dakota’s incorporation of the
federal rules by reference. EPA reviewed
the revisions South Dakota made to 40
CFR 52.21 and 40 CFR 51.166 noted
above and found them to be as stringent
as the federal rules. EPA has, therefore,
determined that the revisions are
consistent with the program
requirements for the preparation,
adoption, and submittal of
implementation plans for the Prevention
of Significant Deterioration of Air
Quality, as set forth at 40 CFR 51.166,
and are approvable as part of the South
Dakota SIP.
III. What were the comments received
and EPA’s response?
EPA received three comment letters
on our February 1, 2007 (72 FR 4671)
proposal. Two commenters supported,
and one commenter opposed, our
proposed action. We have considered
the comments received and we are
generally finalizing our action as
proposed. Following is a summary of
the comments.
A. Two commenters support the
inclusion of Chapter 74:36:09
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
into the South Dakota State
Implementation Plan.
Response: EPA acknowledges receipt
of the comments and agrees with the
commenters.
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B. One commenter submitted
comments opposing our proposed
partial approval and supporting our
proposed partial disapproval of the
inclusion of Chapter 74:36:09
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
into the South Dakota State
Implementation Plan.
1. The commenter stated that our
proposed approval ‘‘appears to be a
thinly-veiled attempt by the state to
rollback critical public health and
environmental safeguards in South
Dakota by substituting a delegated
program with a more lax stateadministered program’’ and that ‘‘the
proposed changes would eliminate the
public’s opportunity to obtain review of
a PSD permit by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s Environmental
Appeals Board and remove the
automatic stay provision that provides
the public with an opportunity to obtain
review of a permit before construction
commences.’’
Response: Federal regulations specify
the parameters that state-administered
programs must meet and these
regulations help ensure that public
health and safety safeguards remain in
place with the transition from a federal
to a state program. Regulations at 40
CFR 51.166 set forth the criteria for PSD
program approvals that EPA applies.
EPA has determined that South Dakota’s
PSD rules meet these criteria. As
discussed above, South Dakota’s rules
satisfy the public participation criteria
in 40 CFR 51.166(q). Since these
minimum criteria are satisfied, we have
no grounds to conclude that South
Dakota’s SIP approved program will be
less rigorous than the federal permitting
program that the State currently
administers through a delegation.
Although permits issued under SIP
approved programs are not subject to
appeal to EPA’s Environmental Appeals
Board, such actions are instead subject
to the opportunities for review and
appeal provided under state law. We
interpret the statute and regulations to
require at minimum an opportunity for
state judicial review of PSD permits.
See, 61 FR 1880, 1882 (Jan. 24, 1996).
South Dakota has specified procedures
for contesting a final PSD permit
determination and requesting an
administrative hearing at Chapter 74:09
of the South Dakota Administrative
Rules (Contested Case Procedure). These
procedures are referenced in 74:36:09:03
(Public participation). South Dakota law
also provides for the right to judicial
review of contested cases (SDCL 1–26–
30). We, thus, have no grounds to deny
PSD program approval based on the
nature of review of final permit
decisions under South Dakota law.
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2. The commenter stated that the
proposed approval ‘‘appears to be an
attempt to reduce U.S. EPA’s obligation
to protect endangered and threatened
species in South Dakota.’’ The
commenter noted that the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) applies to EPA’s
proposal to approve to South Dakota’s
PSD permit program such that EPA
‘‘must determine whether this proposed
action—approving major changes to the
South Dakota PSD permit program—
may affect any listed species’’ and
‘‘consult with the [U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service] prior to transferring air
permitting authority to the State of
South Dakota.’’ In addition, the
commenter stated that EPA ‘‘must
structure its approval * * * in such a
manner as to preserve the agency’s
duties to protect and restore listed
species and their habitat.’’
Response: EPA disagrees with the
commenter. EPA’s approval of the South
Dakota permitting program into the SIP
is not an attempt to reduce ESA
requirements in connection with PSD
permitting in the State. As a practical
matter, EPA has not carried out ESA
consultation requirements in its prior
approvals of PSD permitting programs
for other states. Moreover, under
relevant CAA provisions, states are
entitled to administer approved PSD
permitting programs, and EPA is
required to approve a state’s program
that satisfies applicable CAA
requirements. The CAA SIP approval
authority does not provide the Agency
with the discretion to refrain from
taking the action of approving the South
Dakota PSD permit program if it meets
all applicable CAA requirements.
Accordingly, and as confirmed by recent
Supreme Court precedent, the ESA
requirements cited in the comments do
not apply to EPA’s decision to approve
South Dakota’s PSD permitting program
into the SIP. See 50 CFR 402.03;
National Ass’n of Home Builders v.
Defenders of Wildlife, 127 S. Ct. 2518
(2007).
Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA generally
requires federal agencies to consult with
the relevant federal wildlife agencies to
ensure that actions they authorize, fund,
or carry out are not likely to jeopardize
the continued existence of federallylisted endangered or threatened species,
or result in the destruction or adverse
modification of designated critical
habitat of such species. 16 U.S.C.
1536(a)(2). In accordance with relevant
ESA implementing regulations, this
requirement applies only to actions in
which there is discretionary federal
involvement or control. 50 CFR 402.03.
In the Defenders of Wildlife case, the
Supreme Court examined these
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provisions in the context of EPA’s
decision to approve a state permitting
program under the Clean Water Act
(CWA). In that case, the Court held that
when a federal agency is required by
statute to undertake a particular action
once certain specified triggering events
have occurred, there is no relevant
agency discretion, and thus the
requirements of ESA section 7(a)(2) do
not apply. 127 S. Ct. at 2536.
With regard to EPA’s transfer of CWA
permitting authority to a state, the Court
found that because the relevant CWA
provision mandated that EPA ‘‘shall
approve’’ a state permitting program if
a list of CWA statutory criteria are met,
EPA lacked the discretion to deny a
transfer application that satisfied those
criteria. Id. at 2531–32. The Court also
found that the relevant CWA program
approval criteria did not include
consideration of endangered or
threatened species, and stated that
‘‘[n]othing in the text of [the relevant
CWA provision] authorizes EPA to
consider the protection of threatened or
endangered species as an end in itself
when evaluating [an] application’’ to
transfer a permitting program to a state.
Id. at 2537. Accordingly, the Court held
that the CWA required EPA to approve
the state’s permitting program if the
statutory criteria were met; those criteria
did not include the consideration of
ESA-protected species; and thus,
consistent with 50 CFR 402.03, the nondiscretionary action to transfer CWA
permitting authority to the state did not
trigger relevant ESA section 7
requirements.
Similar to the CWA program approval
provision at issue in Defenders of
Wildlife, section 110(k)(3) of the CAA
mandates that EPA ‘‘shall approve’’ a
SIP submittal that meets applicable
CAA requirements. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k)(3).
The CAA provides a list of SIP submittal
criteria in section 110. See 42 U.S.C.
7410(a)(2). With respect to SIP
submittals involving PSD permitting
program applications, the relevant
program approval criteria are found in
the general CAA provisions regarding
the PSD program, Title I, Part C, and
EPA’s relevant regulations
implementing those provisions, 40 CFR
51.166. See 42 U.S.C. 7410 (a)(2)(J).
As was the case with the CWA
requirements in Defenders of Wildlife,
the SIP requirements contained in
section 110 of the CAA do not include
protection of listed species, and neither
Title I, Part C of the CAA nor EPA’s PSD
implementing regulations explicitly
state that consideration of the impacts
on listed species is a required factor in
PSD permitting decisions. EPA has
interpreted sections 169(3) and
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165(e)(3)(B) of the CAA as providing
EPA with the relevant discretion to
carry out ESA section 7(a)(2) obligations
during its review of individual
applications for federally-issued PSD
permits under section 165. See, In re:
Indeck-Elwood, LLC, PSD Appeal No.
03–04 (EAB Sept. 27, 2006), slip. op at
108 (holding EPA has discretion to
consider impacts to listed species in
Best Available Control Technology and
soils and vegetation analysis). However,
the use of this discretion in individual
PSD permitting decisions does not
provide EPA similar discretion in its SIP
approval decisions under section 110.
In issuing individual PSD permits,
EPA is required to complete an
environmental impacts analysis in the
best available control technology
determination of CAA section 169(3)
and an additional impacts analysis,
including impacts on soils and
vegetation, under section 165(e)(3)(B) of
the CAA. In carrying out these analyses,
EPA has interpreted these provisions as
affording the Agency discretion to
determine whether listed species are
impacted by individual federal PSD
permitting decision. In contrast, EPA’s
action on state SIP submittals is
governed by section 110 of the CAA,
which unequivocally directs EPA to
approve state plans meeting applicable
CAA requirements. Section 110 does not
provide for similar impact analyses in
reviewing PSD SIP submittals. Thus,
although EPA’s approval of an
individual federal PSD permit and its
approval of a state PSD permitting
program both involve PSD, they are
entirely different actions arising under
different provisions of the CAA. An ESA
obligation triggered by one provision of
the statute—consideration of ESA in
individual federal PSD permitting
decisions—cannot be bootstrapped to
raise that obligation in another
provision—approval of a PSD SIP
submittal—that does not provide EPA
with similar discretion. See generally
Defenders of Wildlife (finding that while
EPA undertakes ESA consultation when
issuing individual federal NPDES
permits, it was not required to do so in
approving state NPDES permitting
programs). EPA recognizes that it
exercises some judgment when
evaluating whether a SIP submittal
meets specific statutory PSD criteria.
However, as the Supreme Court held in
Defenders of Wildlife, the use of such
judgment does not allow the Agency
‘‘the discretion to add another entirely
separate prerequisite’’—such as the ESA
section 7(a)(2) consultation
requirements—to the list of required
criteria EPA considers when
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determining whether it ‘‘shall approve’’
a state permitting program. 127 S. Ct. at
2537.
Applying the reasoning of Defenders
of Wildlife, ESA consultation
obligations do not apply to EPA’s
approval of South Dakota’s PSD permit
program, because the SIP approval
criteria contained in the CAA do not
provide EPA with the discretionary
authority to consider whether approval
of the State PSD permitting program
into the SIP may affect any listed
species. EPA has determined that the
State has submitted a SIP for a PSD
program that satisfies all of the
applicable SIP requirements contained
in section 110 of the CAA, as well as the
applicable PSD requirements found in
CAA Title I, Part C, and 40 CFR 51.166.
Thus, given this Supreme Court
precedent and applicable regulations,
see 50 CFR 402.03, EPA is without
discretion to disapprove or condition
the State’s program based on concerns
for listed species, and the ESA
requirements cited by the commenter
are thus inapplicable to this approval
action.
3. The commenter ‘‘supports U.S. EPA
disapproving SD’s attempt to have the
state conduct the necessary consultation
with a Federal Land Manager when a
proposed source may impact a class 1
area.’’
Response: EPA’s proposed
disapproval concerned only the narrow
issue of the Federal Land Manager’s
(FLM) responsibility to consult with the
EPA Administrator under 40 CFR
51.166(p)(2). See EPA’s February 1,
2007 Notice of Proposed Rule (72 FR
4673) for additional discussion of this
issue. On June 28, 2007, South Dakota
submitted to EPA a revision of Chapter
74:36:09, effective June 13, 2007, that
added 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2) to the list of
provisions incorporated in Chapter
74:36:09 where the term
‘‘Administrator’’ continues to mean the
Administrator of EPA. Therefore, in
South Dakota, an FLM will continue to
have the responsibility to consider, in
consultation with the EPA, whether a
proposed source or modification in
South Dakota will have an adverse
impact on air quality related values
(including visibility). This is consistent
with 40 CFR 51.166(p)(2).
EPA is approving the incorporation by
reference of 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2) as part
of the approval of Chapter 74:36:09.
However, the State will have the
responsibility to consider and respond
to the FLM’s analysis under the
procedures set forth in sections 40 CFR
52.21(p)(3)–(8). In accordance with 40
CFR 51.166(p)(3) and 165(d)(2)(C)(ii) of
the CAA, when there is no projected
PO 00000
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violation of the PSD increments, the
FLM bears the burden of demonstrating
to the satisfaction of the state permitting
authority that a project will have an
adverse impact on air quality related
values.
IV. What action is EPA taking?
We are approving the inclusion of
Administrative Rules of South Dakota,
Chapter 74:36:09, Prevention of
Significant Deterioration, into the South
Dakota SIP, including 74:36:09:02’s
incorporation of 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2).
Additionally, EPA is rescinding its
delegation of the PSD regulations to
South Dakota.
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993), this action is
not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and
therefore is not subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget. For
this reason, this action is also not
subject to Executive Order 13211,
‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001). This action merely approves
state law as meeting Federal
requirements and imposes no additional
requirements beyond those imposed by
state law. Accordingly, the
Administrator certifies that this rule
will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities under the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this
rule approves pre-existing requirements
under state law and does not impose
any additional enforceable duty beyond
that required by state law, it does not
contain any unfunded mandate or
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, as described in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104–4).
This rule also does not have tribal
implications because it will not have a
substantial direct effect on one or more
Indian tribes, on the relationship
between the Federal Government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes,
as specified by Executive Order 13175
(65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This
action also does not have Federalism
implications because it does not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999). This action merely
E:\FR\FM\21DER1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
approves a state rule implementing a
Federal standard, and does not alter the
relationship or the distribution of power
and responsibilities established in the
CAA. This rule also is not subject to
Executive Order 13045 ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997), because it approves a
state rule implementing a Federal
standard.
In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA’s
role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the CAA. In this context, in the absence
of a prior existing requirement for the
State to use voluntary consensus
standards (VCS), EPA has no authority
to disapprove a SIP submission for
failure to use VCS. It would thus be
inconsistent with applicable law for
EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission,
to use VCS in place of a SIP submission
that otherwise satisfies the provisions of
the CAA. Thus, the requirements of
section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not
apply. This rule does not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
State citation
*
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(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
petitions for judicial review of this
action must be filed in the United States
Court of Appeals for the appropriate
circuit by February 19, 2008. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the
Administrator of this final rule does not
affect the finality of this rule for the
purposes of judicial review nor does it
extend the time within which a petition
for judicial review may be filed, and
shall not postpone the effectiveness of
such rule or action. This action may not
be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section
307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Lead,
Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Dated: December 12, 2007.
Stephen S. Tuber,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 8.
40 CFR part 52 is amended to read as
follows:
I
PART 52—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart QQ—South Dakota
2. In § 52.2170, the table in paragraph
(c) is amended by adding a new entry
for chapter 74:36:09 after the existing
entry for 74:36:07 to read as follows:
I
74:36:09:01 .................
*
*
*
74:36:09 Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Applicability ..........................................................................
9/18/06
74:36:09:01.01 ............
Prevention of significant deterioration permit required ........
9/18/06
74:36:09:02 .................
Prevention of significant deterioration ..................................
6/13/07
74:36:09:03 .................
Public participation ...............................................................
9/18/06
*
EPA
approval date and citation1
State effective
date
Title/subject
*
*
*
*
*
Explanations
*
[Insert Federal Register page number
where the document begins and
date]
[Insert Federal Register page number
where the document begins and
date]
[Insert Federal Register page number
where the document begins and
date]
[Insert Federal Register page number
where the document begins and
date]
*
*
*
1
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with RULES
In order to determine the EPA effective date for a specific provision that is listed in this table, consult the Federal Register cited in this column for that particular provision.
3. Section 52.2178 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read
as follows and by deleting paragraph (c):
I
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:20 Dec 20, 2007
Jkt 214001
§ 52.2178
quality.
Significant deterioration of air
(a) The South Dakota plan, as
submitted, is approved as meeting the
requirements of part C, subpart 1 of the
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CAA, except that it does not apply to
sources proposing to construct on
Indian reservations;
(b) Regulations for preventing
significant deterioration of air quality.
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The provisions of § 52.21 except
paragraph (a)(1) are hereby incorporated
and made a part of the South Dakota
State implementation plan and are
applicable to proposed major stationary
sources or major modifications to be
located on Indian reservations.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. E7–24717 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2007–0029; FRL–8342–3]
I. General Information
Glufosinate-ammonium; Pesticide
Tolerance
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with RULES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This regulation modifies the
tolerances for the combined residues of
glufosinate-ammonium and its
metabolites expressed as butanoic acid
in or on raw agricultural commodities.
Bayer CropScience LLC requested this
revision under the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective
December 21, 2007. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before February 19, 2008 and must
be filed in accordance with the
instructions provided in 40 CFR part
178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under docket
identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2007–0029. To access the
electronic docket, go to https://
www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Advanced
Search,’’ then ‘‘Docket Search.’’ Insert
the docket ID number where indicated
and select the ‘‘Submit’’ button. Follow
the instructions on the regulations.gov
website to view the docket index or
access available documents. All
documents in the docket are listed in
the docket index available in
regulations.gov. Although listed in the
index, some information is not publicly
available, e.g., Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available in the electronic docket at
https://www.regulations.gov, or, if only
available in hard copy, at the OPP
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:20 Dec 20, 2007
Jkt 214001
Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S–
4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.),
2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The
Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket
Facility telephone number is (703) 305–
5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathryn V. Montague, Registration
Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone
number: (703) 305–1243; e-mail address:
montague.kathryn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are an agricultural
producer, food manufacturer, or
pesticide manufacturer. Potentially
affected entities may include, but are
not limited to those engaged in the
following activities:
• Crop production (NAICS code 111),
e.g., agricultural workers; greenhouse,
nursery, and floriculture workers;
farmers.
• Animal production (NAICS code
112), e.g., cattle ranchers and farmers,
dairy cattle farmers, livestock farmers.
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311), e.g., agricultural workers; farmers;
greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture
workers; ranchers; pesticide applicators.
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532), e.g., agricultural workers;
commercial applicators; farmers;
greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture
workers; residential users.
This listing is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather to provide a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
affected by this action. Other types of
entities not listed in this unit could also
be affected. The North American
Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes have been provided to
assist you and others in determining
whether this action might apply to
certain entities. If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of
this action to a particular entity, consult
the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How Can I Access Electronic Copies
of this Document?
In addition to accessing an electronic
copy of this Federal Register document
through the electronic docket at https://
www.regulations.gov, you may access
this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet
under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings at
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr. You may
also access a frequently updated
electronic version of EPA’s tolerance
regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through
the Government Printing Office’s pilot
e-CFR site at https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
ecfr.
C. Can I File an Objection or Hearing
Request?
Under section 408(g) of FFDCA, any
person may file an objection to any
aspect of this regulation and may also
request a hearing on those objections.
You must file your objection or request
a hearing on this regulation in
accordance with the instructions
provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, you must
identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2007–0029 in the subject line on
the first page of your submission. All
requests must be in writing, and must be
mailed or delivered to the Hearing Clerk
as required by 40 CFR part 178 on or
before February 19, 2008.
In addition to filing an objection or
hearing request with the Hearing Clerk
as described in 40 CFR part 178, please
submit a copy of the filing that does not
contain any CBI for inclusion in the
public docket that is described in
ADDRESSES. Information not marked
confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2
may be disclosed publicly by EPA
without prior notice. Submit this copy,
identified by docket ID number EPA–
HQ–OPP–2007–0029, by one of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001.
• Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental
Protection Agency, Rm. S–4400, One
Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S.
Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation 8:30 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. Special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket Facility telephone number is
(703) 305–5805.
II. Petition for Tolerance
In the Federal Register of February
28, 2007 (72 FR 9000) (FRL–8115–5),
EPA issued a notice pursuant to section
408(d)(3) of FFDCA, 21 U.S.C.
346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a
pesticide petition (PP 6F7161) by Bayer
CropScience LLC, 2 T.W. Alexander Dr.,
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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72617-72622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24717]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R08-OAR-2006-0928; FRL-8509-4]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan;
South Dakota; Revisions to New Source Review Rules
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is approving revisions to Chapter 74:36:09 of the South
Dakota Administrative Rules (Prevention of Significant Deterioration)
for incorporation into the South Dakota State Implementation Plan
(SIP). South Dakota adopted these rule revisions on August 29, 2006 and
May 14, 2007, and submitted the requests for approval to EPA on
September 1, 2006 and June 28, 2007. One rule provision that EPA had
proposed to disapprove has been corrected by South Dakota. Therefore,
EPA is also approving that provision. South Dakota was granted
delegation of authority by EPA on July 6, 1994, to implement and
enforce the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
permitting regulations. As part of this final rule EPA is rescinding
South Dakota's delegation of authority for implementing the federal PSD
regulations. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean
Air Act (CAA).
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective January 22, 2008.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-R08-OAR-2006-0928. All documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is
not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard
copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either
electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air
and Radiation Program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8,
1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202-1129. EPA requests that if
at all possible, you contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section to view the hard copy of the docket. You
may view the hard copy of the docket Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m., excluding Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Cody, Air and Radiation Program,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, 1595 Wynkoop Street,
Denver, Colorado 80202-1129, (303) 312-6228, cody.cynthia@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Definitions
For the purpose of this document, we are giving meaning to certain
words or initials as follows:
(i) The words or initials Act or CAA mean or refer to the Clean Air
Act, unless the context indicates otherwise.
(ii) The words EPA, we, us or our mean or refer to the United
States Environmental Protection Agency.
(iii) The initials SIP mean or refer to State Implementation Plan.
(iv) The words State or South Dakota mean the State of South
Dakota, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Table of Contents
I. What is being addressed in this document?
II. What are the changes that EPA is approving?
III. What were the comments received and EPA's response?
IV. What action is EPA taking?
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What is being addressed in this document?
Chapter 74:36:09 was submitted to EPA for inclusion in the State
[[Page 72618]]
Implementation Plan (SIP) by the South Dakota Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) on September 1, 2006. Chapter 74:36:09
relates to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit
program of the State of South Dakota. Revisions to Chapter 74:36:09
were adopted by the South Dakota Board Interim Rules Committee on
August 29, 2006. EPA proposed on February 1, 2007 (72 FR 4671) to
partially approve and partially disapprove Chapter 74:36:09 (Prevention
of Significant Deterioration) of the Administrative Rules of South
Dakota under section 110 of the CAA.\1\ Comments were received on our
February 2007 proposal (see discussion in section III. below).
Subsequent to the public comment period, South Dakota revised
74:36:09:02, adopted May 14, 2007, to address EPA's concern (see
Section II) and submitted the revised provision to EPA on June 28,
2007. After considering the comments received, EPA is finalizing its
approval of Chapter 74:36:09, including the now-corrected provision
that EPA had proposed to disapprove. EPA is also rescinding its
delegation to South Dakota of the federal PSD regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Our proposal notice discusses EPA's December 31, 2002 NSR
Reform rules and the provisions that have subsequently been
clarified, and vacated and remanded by the courts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. What are the changes that EPA is approving?
EPA is approving a revision to South Dakota's SIP that incorporates
by reference the federal PSD requirements, found at 40 CFR 52.21, into
the State's SIP. The revision to the South Dakota Administrative Rules
Chapter 74:36:09 incorporates by reference the provisions of 40 CFR
52.21, as they exist on July 1, 2005, with the exceptions noted below.
South Dakota did not incorporate by reference those sections of the
federal rules that do not apply to State activities or are reserved for
the Administrator of the EPA. These sections are 40 CFR 52.21(a)(1)
(plan disapproval), 52.21(q) (public participation), 52.21(s)
(environmental impact statements), 52.21(t) (disputed permit or
redesignations), and 52.21(u) (delegation of authority).
South Dakota did not incorporate by reference provisions for Clean
Units and Pollution Control Project (PCPs). These provisions were
vacated by a June 24, 2005, ruling by the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. References to Clean Units
and PCPs were removed by EPA from Federal regulation on June 13, 2007
(see 72 FR 32526). In addition, South Dakota did not incorporate by
reference the provisions for equipment replacement (40 CFR 52.21(cc)),
which were stayed indefinitely by a court order on December 24, 2003,
and subsequently vacated. See, New York v. EPA, 443 F.3d 880 (D.C. Cir.
2006). Therefore, the following federal provisions found in 40 CFR
52.21 are not incorporated by reference in Chapter 74:36:09: 40 CFR
52.21(x), 52.21(y), 52.21(z), 52.21(cc), 52.21(a)(2)(iv)(e), the second
sentence of 52.21(a)(2)(iv)(f), 52.21(a)(2)(vi), 52.21(b)(2)(iii)(h),
52.21(b)(3)(iii)(b), 52.21(b)(3)(vi)(d), 52.21(b)(32), 52.21(b)(42),
(b)(55), (b)(56), (b)(57), (b)(58), and the phrase ``other than
projects at a Clean Unit or at a source with a PAL'' in 40 CFR
52.21(r)(6).
The phrase ``reasonable possibility'' used in the federal rule at
40 CFR 52.21(r)(6) limits the recordkeeping provisions to modifications
at facilities that use the actual-to-future-actual methodology to
calculate emissions changes and that may have a ``reasonable
possibility'' of a significant emissions increase. The South Dakota
rule does incorporate by reference the phrase ``reasonable
possibility'' as it is used at 40 CFR 52.21(r)(6). On March 8, 2007,
EPA published a proposed rule in response to the D.C. Circuit Court's
remand of the recordkeeping provisions of EPA's 2002 NSR Reform Rules
(see 72 FR 10445), but EPA has not yet made a final decision with
regard to the remand. Therefore, EPA may need to take further action on
this portion of South Dakota's PSD rule. At this time, however, South
Dakota's recordkeeping provisions are as stringent as the federal
requirements, and are therefore, approvable.
The South Dakota incorporation by reference describes the
circumstances in which the term ``Administrator'' continues to mean the
EPA Administrator and when it means the Secretary of the South Dakota
DENR instead. South Dakota rule 74:36:09:02(1) identifies the following
provisions in Chapter 74:36:09 where the term ``Administrator''
continues to mean the Administrator of EPA: 40 CFR 52.21(b)(17),
52.21(b)(37)(i), 52.21(b)(43), 52.21(b)(48)(ii)(c), 52.21(b)(50)(i),
52.21(g)(1) to 52.21(g)(6), 52.21(l)(2), and 52.21(p)(2). As submitted
on September 1, 2006, this list did not include 40 CFR 52.21(p)(2), and
under South Dakota's PSD rule, the term ``Administrator'' in 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2) referred to the Secretary of the DENR.
This was inconsistent with EPA's determination that 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2) must still refer to the Administrator of EPA, and EPA
proposed to disapprove the incorporation by reference of 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2). On June 28, 2007, South Dakota submitted to EPA a revision
of Chapter 74:36:09, effective June 13, 2007, that added 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2) to the list of provisions in Chapter 74:36:09 where the
term ``Administrator'' continues to mean the Administrator of EPA.
Therefore, EPA is approving the incorporation by reference of 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2) as part of the approval of Chapter 74:36:09.
As noted above, South Dakota did not incorporate by reference 40
CFR 52.21(q) (public participation). South Dakota has instead
incorporated by reference 40 CFR 51.166(q) (public participation) at
74:36:09:03. The regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 are what a SIP must
contain for EPA to approve a PSD permit program, and generally mirror
the federal PSD regulations at 40 CFR 52.21. In addition, South Dakota
added in 74:36:09:03 six additional provisions that revise 40 CFR
51.166(q) in order to make the PSD permit public participation
requirements specific to South Dakota.
The requirements included in South Dakota's PSD program, as
specified in Chapter 74:36:09, are substantively the same as the
federal PSD provisions due to South Dakota's incorporation of the
federal rules by reference. EPA reviewed the revisions South Dakota
made to 40 CFR 52.21 and 40 CFR 51.166 noted above and found them to be
as stringent as the federal rules. EPA has, therefore, determined that
the revisions are consistent with the program requirements for the
preparation, adoption, and submittal of implementation plans for the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality, as set forth at
40 CFR 51.166, and are approvable as part of the South Dakota SIP.
III. What were the comments received and EPA's response?
EPA received three comment letters on our February 1, 2007 (72 FR
4671) proposal. Two commenters supported, and one commenter opposed,
our proposed action. We have considered the comments received and we
are generally finalizing our action as proposed. Following is a summary
of the comments.
A. Two commenters support the inclusion of Chapter 74:36:09
Prevention of Significant Deterioration into the South Dakota State
Implementation Plan.
Response: EPA acknowledges receipt of the comments and agrees with
the commenters.
[[Page 72619]]
B. One commenter submitted comments opposing our proposed partial
approval and supporting our proposed partial disapproval of the
inclusion of Chapter 74:36:09 Prevention of Significant Deterioration
into the South Dakota State Implementation Plan.
1. The commenter stated that our proposed approval ``appears to be
a thinly-veiled attempt by the state to rollback critical public health
and environmental safeguards in South Dakota by substituting a
delegated program with a more lax state-administered program'' and that
``the proposed changes would eliminate the public's opportunity to
obtain review of a PSD permit by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Environmental Appeals Board and remove the automatic stay
provision that provides the public with an opportunity to obtain review
of a permit before construction commences.''
Response: Federal regulations specify the parameters that state-
administered programs must meet and these regulations help ensure that
public health and safety safeguards remain in place with the transition
from a federal to a state program. Regulations at 40 CFR 51.166 set
forth the criteria for PSD program approvals that EPA applies. EPA has
determined that South Dakota's PSD rules meet these criteria. As
discussed above, South Dakota's rules satisfy the public participation
criteria in 40 CFR 51.166(q). Since these minimum criteria are
satisfied, we have no grounds to conclude that South Dakota's SIP
approved program will be less rigorous than the federal permitting
program that the State currently administers through a delegation.
Although permits issued under SIP approved programs are not subject
to appeal to EPA's Environmental Appeals Board, such actions are
instead subject to the opportunities for review and appeal provided
under state law. We interpret the statute and regulations to require at
minimum an opportunity for state judicial review of PSD permits. See,
61 FR 1880, 1882 (Jan. 24, 1996). South Dakota has specified procedures
for contesting a final PSD permit determination and requesting an
administrative hearing at Chapter 74:09 of the South Dakota
Administrative Rules (Contested Case Procedure). These procedures are
referenced in 74:36:09:03 (Public participation). South Dakota law also
provides for the right to judicial review of contested cases (SDCL 1-
26-30). We, thus, have no grounds to deny PSD program approval based on
the nature of review of final permit decisions under South Dakota law.
2. The commenter stated that the proposed approval ``appears to be
an attempt to reduce U.S. EPA's obligation to protect endangered and
threatened species in South Dakota.'' The commenter noted that the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) applies to EPA's proposal to approve to
South Dakota's PSD permit program such that EPA ``must determine
whether this proposed action--approving major changes to the South
Dakota PSD permit program--may affect any listed species'' and
``consult with the [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] prior to
transferring air permitting authority to the State of South Dakota.''
In addition, the commenter stated that EPA ``must structure its
approval * * * in such a manner as to preserve the agency's duties to
protect and restore listed species and their habitat.''
Response: EPA disagrees with the commenter. EPA's approval of the
South Dakota permitting program into the SIP is not an attempt to
reduce ESA requirements in connection with PSD permitting in the State.
As a practical matter, EPA has not carried out ESA consultation
requirements in its prior approvals of PSD permitting programs for
other states. Moreover, under relevant CAA provisions, states are
entitled to administer approved PSD permitting programs, and EPA is
required to approve a state's program that satisfies applicable CAA
requirements. The CAA SIP approval authority does not provide the
Agency with the discretion to refrain from taking the action of
approving the South Dakota PSD permit program if it meets all
applicable CAA requirements. Accordingly, and as confirmed by recent
Supreme Court precedent, the ESA requirements cited in the comments do
not apply to EPA's decision to approve South Dakota's PSD permitting
program into the SIP. See 50 CFR 402.03; National Ass'n of Home
Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife, 127 S. Ct. 2518 (2007).
Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA generally requires federal agencies to
consult with the relevant federal wildlife agencies to ensure that
actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize
the continued existence of federally-listed endangered or threatened
species, or result in the destruction or adverse modification of
designated critical habitat of such species. 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2). In
accordance with relevant ESA implementing regulations, this requirement
applies only to actions in which there is discretionary federal
involvement or control. 50 CFR 402.03. In the Defenders of Wildlife
case, the Supreme Court examined these provisions in the context of
EPA's decision to approve a state permitting program under the Clean
Water Act (CWA). In that case, the Court held that when a federal
agency is required by statute to undertake a particular action once
certain specified triggering events have occurred, there is no relevant
agency discretion, and thus the requirements of ESA section 7(a)(2) do
not apply. 127 S. Ct. at 2536.
With regard to EPA's transfer of CWA permitting authority to a
state, the Court found that because the relevant CWA provision mandated
that EPA ``shall approve'' a state permitting program if a list of CWA
statutory criteria are met, EPA lacked the discretion to deny a
transfer application that satisfied those criteria. Id. at 2531-32. The
Court also found that the relevant CWA program approval criteria did
not include consideration of endangered or threatened species, and
stated that ``[n]othing in the text of [the relevant CWA provision]
authorizes EPA to consider the protection of threatened or endangered
species as an end in itself when evaluating [an] application'' to
transfer a permitting program to a state. Id. at 2537. Accordingly, the
Court held that the CWA required EPA to approve the state's permitting
program if the statutory criteria were met; those criteria did not
include the consideration of ESA-protected species; and thus,
consistent with 50 CFR 402.03, the non-discretionary action to transfer
CWA permitting authority to the state did not trigger relevant ESA
section 7 requirements.
Similar to the CWA program approval provision at issue in Defenders
of Wildlife, section 110(k)(3) of the CAA mandates that EPA ``shall
approve'' a SIP submittal that meets applicable CAA requirements. 42
U.S.C. 7410(k)(3). The CAA provides a list of SIP submittal criteria in
section 110. See 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2). With respect to SIP submittals
involving PSD permitting program applications, the relevant program
approval criteria are found in the general CAA provisions regarding the
PSD program, Title I, Part C, and EPA's relevant regulations
implementing those provisions, 40 CFR 51.166. See 42 U.S.C. 7410
(a)(2)(J).
As was the case with the CWA requirements in Defenders of Wildlife,
the SIP requirements contained in section 110 of the CAA do not include
protection of listed species, and neither Title I, Part C of the CAA
nor EPA's PSD implementing regulations explicitly state that
consideration of the impacts on listed species is a required factor in
PSD permitting decisions. EPA has interpreted sections 169(3) and
[[Page 72620]]
165(e)(3)(B) of the CAA as providing EPA with the relevant discretion
to carry out ESA section 7(a)(2) obligations during its review of
individual applications for federally-issued PSD permits under section
165. See, In re: Indeck-Elwood, LLC, PSD Appeal No. 03-04 (EAB Sept.
27, 2006), slip. op at 108 (holding EPA has discretion to consider
impacts to listed species in Best Available Control Technology and
soils and vegetation analysis). However, the use of this discretion in
individual PSD permitting decisions does not provide EPA similar
discretion in its SIP approval decisions under section 110.
In issuing individual PSD permits, EPA is required to complete an
environmental impacts analysis in the best available control technology
determination of CAA section 169(3) and an additional impacts analysis,
including impacts on soils and vegetation, under section 165(e)(3)(B)
of the CAA. In carrying out these analyses, EPA has interpreted these
provisions as affording the Agency discretion to determine whether
listed species are impacted by individual federal PSD permitting
decision. In contrast, EPA's action on state SIP submittals is governed
by section 110 of the CAA, which unequivocally directs EPA to approve
state plans meeting applicable CAA requirements. Section 110 does not
provide for similar impact analyses in reviewing PSD SIP submittals.
Thus, although EPA's approval of an individual federal PSD permit and
its approval of a state PSD permitting program both involve PSD, they
are entirely different actions arising under different provisions of
the CAA. An ESA obligation triggered by one provision of the statute--
consideration of ESA in individual federal PSD permitting decisions--
cannot be bootstrapped to raise that obligation in another provision--
approval of a PSD SIP submittal--that does not provide EPA with similar
discretion. See generally Defenders of Wildlife (finding that while EPA
undertakes ESA consultation when issuing individual federal NPDES
permits, it was not required to do so in approving state NPDES
permitting programs). EPA recognizes that it exercises some judgment
when evaluating whether a SIP submittal meets specific statutory PSD
criteria. However, as the Supreme Court held in Defenders of Wildlife,
the use of such judgment does not allow the Agency ``the discretion to
add another entirely separate prerequisite''--such as the ESA section
7(a)(2) consultation requirements--to the list of required criteria EPA
considers when determining whether it ``shall approve'' a state
permitting program. 127 S. Ct. at 2537.
Applying the reasoning of Defenders of Wildlife, ESA consultation
obligations do not apply to EPA's approval of South Dakota's PSD permit
program, because the SIP approval criteria contained in the CAA do not
provide EPA with the discretionary authority to consider whether
approval of the State PSD permitting program into the SIP may affect
any listed species. EPA has determined that the State has submitted a
SIP for a PSD program that satisfies all of the applicable SIP
requirements contained in section 110 of the CAA, as well as the
applicable PSD requirements found in CAA Title I, Part C, and 40 CFR
51.166. Thus, given this Supreme Court precedent and applicable
regulations, see 50 CFR 402.03, EPA is without discretion to disapprove
or condition the State's program based on concerns for listed species,
and the ESA requirements cited by the commenter are thus inapplicable
to this approval action.
3. The commenter ``supports U.S. EPA disapproving SD's attempt to
have the state conduct the necessary consultation with a Federal Land
Manager when a proposed source may impact a class 1 area.''
Response: EPA's proposed disapproval concerned only the narrow
issue of the Federal Land Manager's (FLM) responsibility to consult
with the EPA Administrator under 40 CFR 51.166(p)(2). See EPA's
February 1, 2007 Notice of Proposed Rule (72 FR 4673) for additional
discussion of this issue. On June 28, 2007, South Dakota submitted to
EPA a revision of Chapter 74:36:09, effective June 13, 2007, that added
40 CFR 52.21(p)(2) to the list of provisions incorporated in Chapter
74:36:09 where the term ``Administrator'' continues to mean the
Administrator of EPA. Therefore, in South Dakota, an FLM will continue
to have the responsibility to consider, in consultation with the EPA,
whether a proposed source or modification in South Dakota will have an
adverse impact on air quality related values (including visibility).
This is consistent with 40 CFR 51.166(p)(2).
EPA is approving the incorporation by reference of 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2) as part of the approval of Chapter 74:36:09. However, the
State will have the responsibility to consider and respond to the FLM's
analysis under the procedures set forth in sections 40 CFR 52.21(p)(3)-
(8). In accordance with 40 CFR 51.166(p)(3) and 165(d)(2)(C)(ii) of the
CAA, when there is no projected violation of the PSD increments, the
FLM bears the burden of demonstrating to the satisfaction of the state
permitting authority that a project will have an adverse impact on air
quality related values.
IV. What action is EPA taking?
We are approving the inclusion of Administrative Rules of South
Dakota, Chapter 74:36:09, Prevention of Significant Deterioration, into
the South Dakota SIP, including 74:36:09:02's incorporation of 40 CFR
52.21(p)(2). Additionally, EPA is rescinding its delegation of the PSD
regulations to South Dakota.
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this
reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action
merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes
no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law.
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because
this rule approves pre-existing requirements under state law and does
not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by
state law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).
This rule also does not have tribal implications because it will
not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal
Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism
implications because it does not have substantial direct effects on the
States, on the relationship between the national government and the
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64
FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action merely
[[Page 72621]]
approves a state rule implementing a Federal standard, and does not
alter the relationship or the distribution of power and
responsibilities established in the CAA. This rule also is not subject
to Executive Order 13045 ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because
it approves a state rule implementing a Federal standard.
In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. In this
context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State
to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to
disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be
inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP
submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise
satisfies the provisions of the CAA. Thus, the requirements of section
12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995
(15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. This rule does not impose an
information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
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(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for
the appropriate circuit by February 19, 2008. Filing a petition for
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect
the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial review nor does
it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be
filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action.
This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its
requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: December 12, 2007.
Stephen S. Tuber,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 8.
0
40 CFR part 52 is amended to read as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart QQ--South Dakota
0
2. In Sec. 52.2170, the table in paragraph (c) is amended by adding a
new entry for chapter 74:36:09 after the existing entry for 74:36:07 to
read as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State EPA approval date and
State citation Title/subject effective date citation\1\ Explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
74:36:09 Prevention of Significant Deterioration
74:36:09:01...................... Applicability.......................... 9/18/06 [Insert Federal Register page
number where the document
begins and date]
74:36:09:01.01................... Prevention of significant deterioration 9/18/06 [Insert Federal Register page
permit required. number where the document
begins and date]
74:36:09:02...................... Prevention of significant deterioration 6/13/07 [Insert Federal Register page
number where the document
begins and date]
74:36:09:03...................... Public participation................... 9/18/06 [Insert Federal Register page
number where the document
begins and date]
* * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ In order to determine the EPA effective date for a specific provision that is listed in this table, consult the Federal Register cited in this
column for that particular provision.
0
3. Section 52.2178 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to
read as follows and by deleting paragraph (c):
Sec. 52.2178 Significant deterioration of air quality.
(a) The South Dakota plan, as submitted, is approved as meeting the
requirements of part C, subpart 1 of the CAA, except that it does not
apply to sources proposing to construct on Indian reservations;
(b) Regulations for preventing significant deterioration of air
quality.
[[Page 72622]]
The provisions of Sec. 52.21 except paragraph (a)(1) are hereby
incorporated and made a part of the South Dakota State implementation
plan and are applicable to proposed major stationary sources or major
modifications to be located on Indian reservations.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E7-24717 Filed 12-20-07; 8:45 am]
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