Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Alabama Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source Review, 23957-23959 [E8-9481]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 85 / Thursday, May 1, 2008 / Rules and Regulations
(2) Fees will not be charged if the total
amount to process your request is
$30.00 or less.
(b) Criteria for estimating cost of
computerized records:
(1) Costs for processing a data request
will be calculated using the full cost
method as referenced in § 204.5.
(2) Itemized listing of operations
required to process the job will be
maintained (i.e., time for central
processing unit, input/output remote
terminal, storage, plotters, printing,
tape/disk mounting, etc.) with
associated costs.
(3) Mailing costs for services (DHL,
Express Mail, etc.) when request
specifically specifies a means more
expensive than first class mail.
Dated: April 24, 2008.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer,
Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. E8–9377 Filed 4–30–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R04–OAR–2007–0532–200810, FRL–
8560–2]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Alabama
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
and Nonattainment New Source
Review
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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AGENCY:
SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to
approve revisions to the Alabama State
Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by
the State of Alabama on June 16, 2006.
The SIP revisions modify Alabama’s
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD regulations in the Alabama SIP to
address changes to the federal New
Source Review (NSR) regulations, which
were promulgated by EPA on December
31, 2002, and reconsidered with minor
changes on November 7, 2003
(commonly referred to as the ‘‘2002 NSR
Reform Rules’’). EPA proposed approval
of these revisions on January 24, 2008;
no comments were received on that
proposal. The revisions include
provisions for baseline emissions
calculations, an actual-to-projectedactual methodology for calculating
emissions changes, options for
plantwide applicability limits, and
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements.
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15:05 Apr 30, 2008
Jkt 214001
Effective Date: This rule will be
effective June 2, 2008.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA–R04–OAR–
2007–0532. 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, i.e., Confidential
Business Information 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 Regulatory Development Section,
Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and
Toxics Management Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. EPA
requests that if at all possible, you
contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to
schedule your inspection. The Regional
Office’s official hours of business are
Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30,
excluding federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information regarding the Alabama State
Implementation Plan, contact Ms. Stacy
Harder, Regulatory Development
Section, Air Planning Branch, Air,
Pesticides and Toxics Management
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street,
SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. The
telephone number is (404) 562–9042.
Ms. Harder can also be reached via
electronic mail at harder.stacy@epa.gov.
For information regarding New Source
Review, contact Ms. Gracy R. Danois,
Air Permits Section, at the same address
above. The telephone number is (404)
562–9119. Ms. Danois can also be
reached via electronic mail at
danois.gracy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Table of Contents
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
II. What Is the Background for This Action?
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
EPA is taking final action to approve
revisions to the Alabama SIP, which
includes changes to Alabama’s NSR
program. On June 16, 2006, the State of
Alabama, through the Alabama
Department of Environmental
Management (ADEM) submitted
revisions to the Alabama SIP.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
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23957
Specifically, the SIP revisions include
changes to ADEM Administrative Code
(AAC) Division 3 (Air Division), Chapter
14, entitled ‘‘Air Permits.’’ ADEM
submitted these revisions in response to
EPA’s December 31, 2002, revisions to
the federal NSR program. EPA is now
approving these SIP revisions with the
exception of the requirements found in
Rule 335–3–14–.04(2)(w)1, the portion
of the definition of ‘‘significant’’ that
establishes a significance threshold of
100 tons for all NSR regulated
pollutants for which there is not a listed
significant amount. On December 3,
2007, Alabama requested this portion of
the definition not be approved in to the
SIP. Notably, the June 16, 2006,
submittal also addressed the Clean Air
Interstate Rule which EPA has already
addressed in a separate action (October
1, 2007, 72 FR 55659).
On January 24, 2008 (73 FR 4133),
EPA published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPR) in the Federal
Register, proposing to approve the
Alabama SIP revisions regarding its NSR
program. The January 24, 2008, NPR
provides additional information about
the proposed Alabama SIP revisions and
the rationale for this final action. The
public comment period for the proposed
action ended on February 25, 2008. No
comments were received on EPA’s
proposed action. EPA is now taking
final action to approve the SIP revisions
submitted by ADEM on June 16, 2006.
II. What Is the Background for This
Action?
On December 31, 2002 (67 FR 80186),
EPA published final rule changes to 40
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts
51 and 52, regarding the Clean Air Act
(CAA), PSD and NNSR programs. On
November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63021), EPA
published a notice of final action on its
reconsideration of the 2002 rules. On
June 13, 2007 (72 FR 32526), EPA took
final action to revise the 2002 NSR
Reform Rules to exclude the clean units
and Pollution Control Project (PCP)
provisions that were vacated by the
United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit (D.C.
Circuit Court) on June 24, 2005. The
purpose of this action regarding the
Alabama SIP is to approve the SIP
submittal from the State of Alabama
incorporating rule changes consistent
with EPA’s 2002 NSR Reform Rules.
The June 24, 2005, DC Circuit Court
decision also involved a remand of the
recordkeeping provisions of the 2002
NSR Reform Rules. On December 14,
2007, EPA issued a final rulemaking in
response to the DC Circuit’s remand
establishing that ‘‘reasonable
possibility’’ applies where source
E:\FR\FM\01MYR1.SGM
01MYR1
23958
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 85 / Thursday, May 1, 2008 / Rules and Regulations
emissions equal or exceed 50% of the
CAA NSR significance levels for any
pollutant. The rule was published in the
Federal Register on December 21, 2007
(72 FR 72607). For further information,
see, https://www.epa.gov/nsr.
The ‘‘reasonable possibility’’ standard
identifies, for sources and reviewing
authorities, the circumstances under
which a major stationary source
undergoing a modification that does not
trigger major NSR must keep records.
Alabama’s SIP revisions are approvable
at this time because the Alabama rules
are substantially the same as the current
federal rules and EPA’s interpretation of
the reasonable possibility standard did
not result in any actual changes to the
corresponding federal rule.
As is discussed in greater detail in the
NPR, EPA reviewed the SIP revisions
and determined that they were at least
as stringent as the federal NSR program.
Therefore, Alabama’s revisions are
consistent with the federal NSR
regulations published December 31,
2002 (67 FR 80186) and November 7,
2003 (68 FR 63021), with the one
exception noted earlier regarding AAC
Rule 335–3–14–.04(2)(w)1 which is no
longer a part of the current SIP
submittal. As a result, the SIP revisions
are approvable pursuant to the CAA.
The January 24, 2008, NPR and the
docket for this action provide more
details about the SIP revisions being
approved and the rationale for EPA’s
final action. For additional information
on EPA’s 2002 NSR Reform Rules, see
67 FR 80186 (December 31, 2002), and
https://www.epa.gov/nsr.
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III. Final Action
EPA is taking final action to approve
changes to Alabama’s Rule 335–3–14–
.04, with the exception of 335–3–
14.04(2)(w)1, as submitted by ADEM on
June 16, 2006, as revisions to the
Alabama SIP.
IV. 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
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15:05 Apr 30, 2008
Jkt 214001
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 final 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
(59 FR 22951, 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
approves state and local rules
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.).
PO 00000
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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 June 30, 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: April 17, 2008.
Russell L. Wright, Jr.,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
I
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
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 B—Alabama
2. Section 52.50(c) is amended by
revising the entry for ‘‘Section 335–3–
14.04’’ to read as follows:
I
§ 52.50
*
Identification of plan.
*
*
(c) * * *
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*
23959
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 85 / Thursday, May 1, 2008 / Rules and Regulations
State citation
State effective
date
Title/subject
*
*
*
*
*
Chapter 335–3–14
*
Section 335–3–14–.04
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. E8–9481 Filed 4–30–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0314; FRL–8559–9]
Extension of Deadline for Action on
Section 126 Petition From Warrick
County, IN, and the Town of Newburgh,
IN
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with RULES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The EPA is extending by 6
months the deadline for EPA to take
action on a petition submitted by
Warrick County, Indiana and the Town
of Newburgh, Indiana under section 126
of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The petition
requests that EPA make a finding that a
power plant (Cash Creek) proposed to be
built in Henderson County, Kentucky
will emit air pollutants that will
significantly contribute to Warrick
County and Newburgh, Indiana’s
nonattainment with the national
ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)
for ozone and fine particulate matter, or
will significantly interfere with Warrick
County and Newburgh, Indiana’s ability
to maintain its attainment of those
standards. The petition requests that
EPA establish emission limitations for
the proposed power plant as a result of
those findings. Under the CAA, EPA is
authorized to grant a time extension for
responding to the petition if EPA
determines that the extension is
necessary, among other things, to meet
the purposes of the CAA’s rulemaking
requirements. By this action, EPA is
making that determination.
DATES: This action is effective on April
24, 2008.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this rulemaking under Docket
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:38 Apr 30, 2008
Jkt 214001
*
*
07/11/2006
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
This is a procedural action to extend
the deadline for EPA to respond to a
petition from Warrick County, Indiana
and the Town of Newburgh, Indiana
filed under CAA section 126. EPA
received the section 126 petition on
March 6, 2008. The petition requests
that EPA make a finding that the Cash
Frm 00021
Fmt 4700
*
*
*
05/01/2008 [Insert ciEPA is not approving
tation of publication].
Section 335–3–
14.04(2)(w)1.
*
ID number EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0314.
All documents in the docket are listed
in the https://www.regulations.gov index.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., confidential business information
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.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the EPA Docket Center 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 EPA Docket Center is
(202) 566–1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general information and policy
questions, contact Carla Oldham, Air
Quality Planning Division, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, mail
code C539–04, Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone
number: 919–541–3347; fax number:
919–541–0824; e-mail address:
oldham.carla@epa.gov. For legal
questions contact Steven Silverman,
U.S. EPA, Office of General Counsel,
Mail Code 2344A, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460,
telephone (202) 564–5523, e-mail at
silverman.steven@epa.gov.
PO 00000
*
Explanation
Air Permits
*
*
*
Air Permits Authorizing Construction in Clean Air
Areas (Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD)).
*
EPA approval date
Sfmt 4700
*
*
Creek power plant proposed to be built
in Henderson County, Kentucky will
emit air pollutants that will significantly
contribute to Warrick County and
Newburgh, Indiana’s nonattainment
with the NAAQS for ozone and fine
particulate matter or will significantly
interfere with Warrick County and
Newburgh, Indiana’s ability to maintain
its attainment of those standards. The
petition requests that EPA establish
emission limitations for the proposed
power plant as a result of those findings.
Section 126(b) authorizes States or
political subdivisions to petition EPA to
find that a major source or group of
stationary sources in upwind states
emits or would emit any air pollutant in
violation of the prohibition of section
110(a)(2)(D), by contributing
significantly to nonattainment or
maintenance problems in downwind
states. If EPA makes such a finding, EPA
is authorized to establish Federal
emissions limits for the sources which
so contribute.
Under section 126(b), EPA must make
the finding requested in the petition, or
must deny the petition, within 60 days
of its receipt. Under section 126(c), any
existing sources for which EPA makes
the requested finding must cease
operations within 3 months of the
finding, except that those sources may
continue to operate if they comply with
emission limitations and compliance
schedules that EPA may provide to
bring about compliance with the
applicable requirements.
Section 126(b) further provides that
EPA must allow a public hearing for the
petition. EPA(s action under section 126
is also subject to the procedural
requirements of CAA section 307(d). See
section 307(d)(1)(N). One of these
requirements is notice-and-comment
rulemaking, under section 307(d)(3).
In addition, section 307(d)(10)
provides for a time extension, under
certain circumstances, for rulemaking
subject to section 307(d). Specifically,
section 307(d)(10) provides:
E:\FR\FM\01MYR1.SGM
01MYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 85 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23957-23959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9481]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R04-OAR-2007-0532-200810, FRL-8560-2]
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Alabama
Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source
Review
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to approve revisions to the Alabama
State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Alabama on
June 16, 2006. The SIP revisions modify Alabama's Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD regulations in the Alabama SIP to
address changes to the federal New Source Review (NSR) regulations,
which were promulgated by EPA on December 31, 2002, and reconsidered
with minor changes on November 7, 2003 (commonly referred to as the
``2002 NSR Reform Rules''). EPA proposed approval of these revisions on
January 24, 2008; no comments were received on that proposal. The
revisions include provisions for baseline emissions calculations, an
actual-to-projected-actual methodology for calculating emissions
changes, options for plantwide applicability limits, and recordkeeping
and reporting requirements.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule will be effective June 2, 2008.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA-R04-OAR-2007-0532. 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, i.e.,
Confidential Business Information 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 Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning
Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. EPA requests that if at all possible, you
contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section to schedule your inspection. The Regional Office's official
hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding
federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the Alabama
State Implementation Plan, contact Ms. Stacy Harder, Regulatory
Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number
is (404) 562-9042. Ms. Harder can also be reached via electronic mail
at harder.stacy@epa.gov. For information regarding New Source Review,
contact Ms. Gracy R. Danois, Air Permits Section, at the same address
above. The telephone number is (404) 562-9119. Ms. Danois can also be
reached via electronic mail at danois.gracy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
II. What Is the Background for This Action?
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
EPA is taking final action to approve revisions to the Alabama SIP,
which includes changes to Alabama's NSR program. On June 16, 2006, the
State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental
Management (ADEM) submitted revisions to the Alabama SIP. Specifically,
the SIP revisions include changes to ADEM Administrative Code (AAC)
Division 3 (Air Division), Chapter 14, entitled ``Air Permits.'' ADEM
submitted these revisions in response to EPA's December 31, 2002,
revisions to the federal NSR program. EPA is now approving these SIP
revisions with the exception of the requirements found in Rule 335-3-
14-.04(2)(w)1, the portion of the definition of ``significant'' that
establishes a significance threshold of 100 tons for all NSR regulated
pollutants for which there is not a listed significant amount. On
December 3, 2007, Alabama requested this portion of the definition not
be approved in to the SIP. Notably, the June 16, 2006, submittal also
addressed the Clean Air Interstate Rule which EPA has already addressed
in a separate action (October 1, 2007, 72 FR 55659).
On January 24, 2008 (73 FR 4133), EPA published a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPR) in the Federal Register, proposing to approve
the Alabama SIP revisions regarding its NSR program. The January 24,
2008, NPR provides additional information about the proposed Alabama
SIP revisions and the rationale for this final action. The public
comment period for the proposed action ended on February 25, 2008. No
comments were received on EPA's proposed action. EPA is now taking
final action to approve the SIP revisions submitted by ADEM on June 16,
2006.
II. What Is the Background for This Action?
On December 31, 2002 (67 FR 80186), EPA published final rule
changes to 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 51 and 52,
regarding the Clean Air Act (CAA), PSD and NNSR programs. On November
7, 2003 (68 FR 63021), EPA published a notice of final action on its
reconsideration of the 2002 rules. On June 13, 2007 (72 FR 32526), EPA
took final action to revise the 2002 NSR Reform Rules to exclude the
clean units and Pollution Control Project (PCP) provisions that were
vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit Court) on June 24, 2005. The purpose of
this action regarding the Alabama SIP is to approve the SIP submittal
from the State of Alabama incorporating rule changes consistent with
EPA's 2002 NSR Reform Rules.
The June 24, 2005, DC Circuit Court decision also involved a remand
of the recordkeeping provisions of the 2002 NSR Reform Rules. On
December 14, 2007, EPA issued a final rulemaking in response to the DC
Circuit's remand establishing that ``reasonable possibility'' applies
where source
[[Page 23958]]
emissions equal or exceed 50% of the CAA NSR significance levels for
any pollutant. The rule was published in the Federal Register on
December 21, 2007 (72 FR 72607). For further information, see, https://
www.epa.gov/nsr.
The ``reasonable possibility'' standard identifies, for sources and
reviewing authorities, the circumstances under which a major stationary
source undergoing a modification that does not trigger major NSR must
keep records. Alabama's SIP revisions are approvable at this time
because the Alabama rules are substantially the same as the current
federal rules and EPA's interpretation of the reasonable possibility
standard did not result in any actual changes to the corresponding
federal rule.
As is discussed in greater detail in the NPR, EPA reviewed the SIP
revisions and determined that they were at least as stringent as the
federal NSR program. Therefore, Alabama's revisions are consistent with
the federal NSR regulations published December 31, 2002 (67 FR 80186)
and November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63021), with the one exception noted
earlier regarding AAC Rule 335-3-14-.04(2)(w)1 which is no longer a
part of the current SIP submittal. As a result, the SIP revisions are
approvable pursuant to the CAA.
The January 24, 2008, NPR and the docket for this action provide
more details about the SIP revisions being approved and the rationale
for EPA's final action. For additional information on EPA's 2002 NSR
Reform Rules, see 67 FR 80186 (December 31, 2002), and https://
www.epa.gov/nsr.
III. Final Action
EPA is taking final action to approve changes to Alabama's Rule
335-3-14-.04, with the exception of 335-3-14.04(2)(w)1, as submitted by
ADEM on June 16, 2006, as revisions to the Alabama SIP.
IV. 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 final 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 (59 FR 22951, 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 approves state and local rules 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 June 30, 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: April 17, 2008.
Russell L. Wright, Jr.,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
0
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart B--Alabama
0
2. Section 52.50(c) is amended by revising the entry for ``Section 335-
3-14.04'' to read as follows:
Sec. 52.50 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
[[Page 23959]]
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State
State citation Title/subject effective date EPA approval date Explanation
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* * * * * * *
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Chapter 335-3-14 Air Permits
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* * * * * * *
Section 335-3-14-.04................ Air Permits Authorizing 07/11/2006 05/01/2008 [Insert citation of EPA is not approving Section 335-3-
Construction in Clean publication]. 14.04(2)(w)1.
Air Areas (Prevention
of Significant
Deterioration (PSD)).
* * * * * * *
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* * * * *
[FR Doc. E8-9481 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P