Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Redesignation of the Clearfield/Indiana 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment and Approval of the Maintenance Plan and 2002 Base-Year Inventory, 42731-42743 [E8-16639]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules implement the section 185 penalty fees program. In addition, because the area has attained the one-hour ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date, the area is not subject to the requirement to implement contingency measures for failure to attain the one-hour ozone NAAQS by its attainment date. Since the area has met its attainment deadline, even if the area subsequently lapses into nonattainment, it would not be required to implement the contingency measures for failure to attain the one-hour ozone NAAQS by its attainment date. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS IV. What Is EPA Proposing? Based upon EPA’s review of the air quality data for the 3-year period 2003 to 2005, EPA is proposing to determine that the New Jersey portion of the Philadelphia severe one-hour ozone nonattainment area attained the onehour ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of November 15, 2005. EPA also proposes to find that this area is not subject to the imposition of the section 185 penalty fees and will not need to implement contingency measures, which were required to be implemented only if the area did not attain the one-hour standard by the attainment date. V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this proposed action is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action proposes to make a determination based on air quality data, and would, if finalized, result in the suspension of certain Federal requirements. 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 proposes to make a determination based on air quality data, and would, if finalized, result in the suspension of certain Federal requirements, 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 proposed 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 VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 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 proposed 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), because it merely proposes to make a determination based on air quality data and would, if finalized, result in the suspension of certain Federal requirements, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act. This proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 ‘‘Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it proposes to determine that air quality in the affected area is meeting Federal standards. 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 because it would be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when determining the attainment status of an area, to use voluntary consensus standards in place of promulgated air quality standards and monitoring procedures that otherwise satisfy the provisions of the Clean Air Act. This proposed 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.) Under Executive Order 12898, EPA finds that this rule involves a proposed determination of attainment based on air quality data and will not have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on any communities in the area, including minority and low-income communities. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. PO 00000 Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Frm 00008 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 42731 Dated: July 8, 2008. Alan J. Steinberg, Regional Administrator, Region 2. [FR Doc. E8–16836 Filed 7–22–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 [EPA–R03–OAR–2007–0624; FRL–8694–9] Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Redesignation of the Clearfield/Indiana 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment and Approval of the Maintenance Plan and 2002 Base-Year Inventory Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve a redesignation request and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is requesting that the Clearfield and Indiana Counties ozone nonattainment area (Clearfield/Indiana Area) be redesignated as attainment for the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). EPA is proposing to approve the ozone redesignation request for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area. In conjunction with its redesignation request, PADEP submitted a SIP revision consisting of a maintenance plan for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area that provides for continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years after redesignation. EPA is proposing to make a determination that the Clearfield/ Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, based upon three years of complete quality-assured ambient air quality ozone monitoring data for 2004– 2006. EPA’s proposed approval of the 8-hour ozone redesignation request is based on its determination that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition, PADEP submitted a 2002 baseyear inventory for the Clearfield/Indiana Area which EPA is proposing to approve as a SIP revision. EPA is also providing information on the status of its adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) that are identified in the Clearfield/Indiana Area maintenance plan for purposes of transportation conformity, which EPA is also E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS 42732 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules proposing to approve. EPA is proposing approval of the redesignation request, the maintenance plan, the 2002 baseyear inventory, and the MVEBs SIP revisions in accordance with the requirements of the CAA. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 22, 2008. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA– R03–OAR–2007–0624 by one of the following methods: A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. B. E-mail: fernandez.cristina@epa.gov. C. Mail: EPA–R03–OAR–2007–0624, Cristina Fernandez, Branch Chief, Air Quality Planning Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. D. Hand Delivery: At the previouslylisted EPA Region III address. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–R03–OAR–2007– 0624. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change, and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State submittal are available at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Becoat, (215) 814–2036, or by email at becoat.gregory@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean EPA. Table of Contents I. What Are the Actions EPA Is Proposing To Take? II. What Is the Background for These Proposed Actions? III. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment? IV. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions? V. What Would Be the Effect of These Actions? VI. What Is EPA’s Analysis of the State’s Request? VII. Are the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets Established and Identified in the Maintenance Plan for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area Adequate and Approvable? VIII. Proposed Action IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews I. What Are the Actions EPA Is Proposing To Take? On June 14, 2007, PADEP formally submitted a request to redesignate the Clearfield/Indiana Area from nonattainment to attainment of the 8hour NAAQS for ozone. Concurrently, PADEP submitted a maintenance plan for the Clearfield/Indiana Area as a SIP revision to ensure continued attainment for at least 10 years after redesignation. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base-year inventory as a SIP revision. On May 23, 2008, PADEP formally submitted a revision to the June 14, 2007 submittal encompassing two changes. First, PADEP submitted a new methodology PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 that projects future emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX ) from electric generating units (EGUs) to replace the former methodology submitted on June 14, 2007. Second, PADEP separated the MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area into separate MVEBs for Clearfield County and Indiana County, to replace the MVEBs established in the June 14, 2007 submittal. The Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated a subpart 1 or a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area in a final rule published on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23858), based upon its exceedance of the 8-hour health-based standard for ozone during the years 2001–2003. EPA is proposing to determine that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS and that it has met the requirements for redesignation pursuant to section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act. EPA is, therefore, proposing to approve the redesignation request to change the designation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to approve the Clearfield/ Indiana Area maintenance plan as a SIP revision. The maintenance plan is designed to ensure continued attainment in the Clearfield/Indiana Area for the next ten years. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2002 base-year inventory for the Clearfield/Indiana Area as a SIP revision. Additionally, EPA is announcing its action on the adequacy process for the MVEBs identified in the Clearfield/Indiana Area maintenance plan, and proposing to approve the MVEBs identified for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and NOX for transportation conformity purposes. II. What Is the Background for These Proposed Actions? A. General Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly by sources. Rather, emissions of NOX and VOC react in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone. The air pollutants NOX and VOC are referred to as precursors of ozone. The CAA establishes a process for air quality management through the attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. On July 18, 1997, EPA promulgated a revised 8-hour ozone standard of 0.08 parts per million (ppm). This standard is more stringent than the previous 1hour ozone standard. EPA designated, as nonattainment, any area violating the 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on the air quality data for the three years of 2001– 2003. These were the most recent three years of data at the time EPA designated E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules 8-hour areas. The Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated as basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment status in a Federal Register notice published on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23858), based on its exceedance of the 8-hour health-based standard for ozone during the years 2001–2003. On April 30, 2004, EPA issued a final rule (69 FR 23951, 23996) to revoke the 1-hour ozone NAAQS in the Clearfield/ Indiana Area (as well as most other areas of the country) effective June 15, 2005. See, 40 CFR 50.9(b); 69 FR at 23966 (April 30, 2004); 70 FR 44470 (August 3, 2005). However, on December 22, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated EPA’s Phase 1 Implementation Rule for the 8-hour Ozone Standard. (69 FR 23951, April 30, 2004). South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, 472 F.3d 882 (D.C. Cir. 2006). On June 8, 2007, in South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, Docket No. 04–1201, in response to several petitions for rehearing, the D.C. Circuit clarified that the Phase 1 Rule was vacated only with regard to those parts of the rule that had been successfully challenged. Therefore, the Phase 1 Rule provisions related to classifications for areas currently classified under subpart 2 of Title I, Part D of the CAA as 8-hour nonattainment areas, the 8-hour attainment dates and the timing for emissions reductions needed for attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS remain effective. The June 8 decision left intact the Court’s rejection of EPA’s reasons for implementing the 8-hour standard in certain nonattainment areas under subpart 1 in lieu of subpart 2. By limiting the vacatur, the Court let stand EPA’s revocation of the 1-hour standard and those anti-backsliding provisions of the Phase 1 Rule that had not been successfully challenged. The June 8 decision reaffirmed the December 22, 2006 decision that EPA had improperly failed to retain measures required for 1hour nonattainment areas under the anti-backsliding provisions of the regulations: (1) Nonattainment area New Source Review (NSR) requirements based on an area’s 1-hour nonattainment classification; (2) section 185 penalty fees for 1-hour severe or extreme nonattainment areas; and (3) measures to be implemented pursuant to section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the CAA, on the contingency of an area not making reasonable further progress toward attainment of the 1-hour NAAQS, or for failure to attain that NAAQS. In addition, the June 8 decision clarified that the Court’s reference to conformity requirements for anti-backsliding VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 purposes was limited to requiring the continued use of 1-hour motor vehicle emissions budgets until 8-hour budgets were available for 8-hour conformity determinations, which is already required under EPA’s conformity regulations. The Court thus clarified that 1-hour conformity determinations are not required for anti-backsliding purposes. The Court upheld EPA’s authority to revoke the 1-hour standard provided there were adequate anti-backsliding provisions. EPA discusses its rationale why the decision in South Coast is not an impediment to redesignating the Clearfield/Indiana Area to attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS elsewhere in this document. The CAA, Title I, Part D, contains two sets of provisions—subpart 1 and subpart 2—that address planning and control requirements for nonattainment areas. Subpart 1 (which EPA refers to as ‘‘basic’’ nonattainment) contains general, less prescriptive requirements for nonattainment areas for any pollutant—including ozone—governed by a NAAQS. Subpart 2 (which EPA refers to as ‘‘classified’’ nonattainment) provides more specific requirements for ozone nonattainment areas. In 2004, Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area based upon air quality monitoring data from 2001–2003, and therefore, is subject to the requirements of subpart 1 of Part D. Under 40 CFR part 50, the 8-hour ozone standard is attained when the 3year average of the annual fourthhighest daily maximum 8-hour average ambient air quality ozone concentration is less than or equal to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is considered). See 69 FR 23858 (April 30, 2004) for further information. Ambient air quality monitoring data for the 3year period must meet data completeness requirements. The data completeness requirements are met when the average percent of days with valid ambient monitoring data is greater than 90 percent, and no single year has less than 75 percent data completeness as determined in Appendix I of 40 CFR part 50. The ozone monitoring data from the 3-year period of 2004–2006 indicates that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has a design value of 0.077 ppm. Therefore, the ambient ozone data for the Clearfield/Indiana Area indicates no violations of the 8-hour ozone standard. B. The Clearfield/Indiana Area The Clearfield/Indiana Area consists of Clearfield and Indiana Counties in Pennsylvania. Prior to its designation as an 8-hour ozone nonattainment area, the PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 42733 Clearfield/Indiana Area was an attainment/unclassifiable area for the 1hour ozone nonattainment NAAQS. See 56 FR 56694 (November 6, 1991). On June 14, 2007, PADEP requested that the Clearfield/Indiana Area be redesignated to attainment for the 8hour ozone standard. The redesignation request included 3 years of complete, quality-assured data for the period of 2004–2006, indicating that the 8-hour NAAQS for ozone had been achieved in the Clearfield/Indiana Area. The data satisfies the CAA requirements when the 3-year average of the annual fourthhighest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration (commonly referred to as the area’s design value) is less than or equal to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is considered). Under the CAA, a nonattainment area may be redesignated if sufficient complete, quality-assured data is available to determine that the area has attained the standard and the area meets the other CAA redesignation requirements set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E). III. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment? The CAA provides the requirements for redesignating a nonattainment area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA allows for redesignation, providing that: (1) EPA determines that the area has attained the applicable NAAQS; (2) EPA has fully approved the applicable implementation plan for the area under section 110(k); (3) EPA determines that the improvement in air quality is due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from implementation of the applicable SIP and applicable Federal air pollutant control regulations and other permanent and enforceable reductions; (4) EPA has fully approved a maintenance plan for the area as meeting the requirements of section 175A; and (5) The State containing such area has met all requirements applicable to the area under section 110 and Part D. EPA provided guidance on redesignation in the General Preamble for the Implementation of Title I of the CAA Amendments of 1990, on April 16, 1992 (57 FR 13498), and supplemented this guidance on April 28, 1992 (57 FR 18070). EPA has provided further guidance on processing redesignation requests in the following documents: • ‘‘Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Design Value Calculations’’, Memorandum from Bill Laxton, June 18, 1990; E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 42734 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules • ‘‘Maintenance Plans for Redesignation of Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Nonattainment Areas,’’ Memorandum from G. T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, April 30, 1992; • ‘‘Contingency Measures for Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Redesignations,’’ Memorandum from G. T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, June 1, 1992; • ‘‘Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, September 4, 1992; • ‘‘State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted in Response to Clean Air Act (CAA) Deadlines,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992; • ‘‘Technical Support Documents (TSDs) for Redesignation Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nonattainment Areas,’’ Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, August 17, 1993; • ‘‘State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas Submitting Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) On or After November 15, 1992,’’ Memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, September 17, 1993; • Memorandum from D. Kent Berry, Acting Director, Air Quality Management Division, to Air Division Directors, Regions 1–10, ‘‘Use of Actual Emissions in Maintenance Demonstrations for Ozone and CO Nonattainment Areas,’’ dated November 30, 1993; • ‘‘Part D New Source Review (Part D NSR) Requirements for Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from Mary D. Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, October 14, 1994; and • ‘‘Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment Demonstration, and Related Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment Areas Meeting the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard,’’ Memorandum from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, May 10, 1995. IV. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions? On June 14, 2007, PADEP requested redesignation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. Simultaneously, PADEP submitted a maintenance plan for the Clearfield/Indiana Area as a SIP revision to ensure continued attainment at least 10 years after redesignation. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base-year inventory as a SIP revision. On May 23, 2008, PADEP formally submitted a SIP revision encompassing two changes. First, PADEP submitted a new methodology that projects future emissions of NOX from EGUs to replace the former methodology submitted on June 14, 2007. Second, PADEP separated the MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area into separate MVEBs for Clearfield County and Indiana County, to replace the MVEBs established in the June 14, 2007 submittal. EPA has determined that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-Hour Ozone Standard and has met the requirements for redesignation set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E). V. What Would Be the Effect of These Actions? Approval of the redesignation request would change the designation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS found at 40 CFR part 81. It would also incorporate into the Pennsylvania SIP a 2002 base-year inventory and a maintenance plan ensuring continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Clearfield/ Indiana Area for the next 10 years. The maintenance plan includes contingency measures to remedy any future violations of the 8-hour NAAQS (should they occur), and identifies the MVEBs for NOX and VOC for transportation conformity purposes for the years 2009 and 2018. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in conjunction with state Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs), are responsible for making timely transportation conformity determinations. The Clearfield/Indiana Area contains one MPO and one RPO. The MPO is the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission for Indiana County, and the RPO is the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission for Clearfield County. Pennsylvania has established separate motor vehicle emission budgets for each MPO/RPO for their respective portion of the Clearfield/Indiana Area. EPA’s transportation conformity regulations (40 CFR 93.124(d)) allow a SIP to establish motor vehicle budgets for each MPO/RPO if a nonattainment area includes more than one MPO/RPO. These motor vehicle emissions budgets displayed in the following table reflect the changes made in the May 23, 2008 SIP revision: TABLE 1A.—CLEARFIELD/INDIANA MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS BUDGETS NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RPO (CLEARFIELD COUNTY PORTION OF THE AREA), IN TONS PER SUMMER DAY (TPD) Year VOC NOX 2009 2018 4.11 2.71 11.44 5.14 TABLE 1B.—CLEARFIELD/INDIANA MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS BUDGETS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION MPO (INDIANA COUNTY PORTION OF THE AREA), IN TONS PER SUMMER DAY (TPD) pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS Year NOX 2009 2018 VerDate Aug<31>2005 VOC 3.06 1.92 4.85 2.40 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules VI. What Is EPA’s Analysis of the State’s Request? EPA is proposing to determine that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard, and that all other redesignation criteria have been met. The following is a description of how PADEP’s June 14, 2007 and May 23, 2008 submittals satisfy the requirements of section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. along with the three-year average, are summarized in Table 2 for the monitor that has three complete and consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring data. TABLE 2.—CLEARFIELD/INDIANA AREA FOURTH HIGHEST 8-HOUR AVERAGE VALUES; CLEARFIELD COUNTY MONITOR, AQS ID 42–033–4000 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS A. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has Attained the 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS Year Annual 4th high reading (ppm) EPA is proposing to determine that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. For ozone, an area attains the 8-hour ozone NAAQS if there are no violations based on three complete and consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring data, as determined in accordance with 40 CFR 50.10 and Appendix I of part 50. To attain this standard, the design value, which is the three average of the fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations, measured at each monitor within the area over each year must not exceed the ozone standard of 0.08 ppm. Based on the rounding convention described in 40 CFR part 50, Appendix I, the standard is attained if the design value is 0.084 ppm or below. The data must be collected and qualityassured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58, and recorded in the Air Quality System (AQS). The monitors generally should have remained at the same location for the duration of the monitoring period required for demonstrating attainment. In the Clearfield/Indiana Area, there are two ozone monitors, one in Clearfield County (AQS# 42–033–4000) and another in Indiana County (AQS # 42–063–004). At the time of the June 14, 2007 submittal, the Indiana County monitor, had only two years, 2005 and 2006, of quality assured data available. Since the standard requires an average concentration of three years, the air quality status of the Indiana County monitoring site could not be determined using only two years, 2005 and 2006, of ambient data. As part of its redesignation request, Pennsylvania submitted the ozone monitoring data for the Clearfield County monitor for the years 2004–2006 (the most recent three years of data available as of the time of the redesignation request) for the Clearfield/Indiana Area. This data has been quality assured and is recorded in AQS. PADEP uses AQS as the permanent database to maintain its quality assured data. The fourth-highest 8-hour daily maximum concentrations, 2004 2005 2006 0.074 0.086 0.072 VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 The average for the 3-year period 2004 through 2006 is 0.077 ppm. The air quality data for 2004–2006 show that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the standard with a design value of 0.077 ppm. The data collected at the Clearfield/Indiana Area monitor satisfies the CAA requirement that the three-year average of the annual fourthhighest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration is less than or equal to 0.08 ppm. PADEP’s request for redesignation for the Clearfield/Indiana Area indicates that the data was quality assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In addition, with respect to the maintenance plan, PADEP has committed to continue monitoring in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In summary, EPA has determined that the data submitted by Pennsylvania and confirmed from AQS indicates that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. B. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements Under Section 110 and Part D of the CAA and Has a Fully Approved SIP Under Section 110(k) of the CAA EPA has determined that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has met all SIP requirements applicable for purposes of this redesignation under section 110 of the CAA (General SIP Requirements) and that it meets all applicable SIP requirements under Part D of Title I of the CAA, in accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(v). In addition, EPA has determined that the SIP is fully approved with respect to all requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation in accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii). In making these proposed determinations, EPA ascertained what requirements are applicable to the area and determined that the applicable portions of the SIP meeting these requirements are fully approved under section 110(k) of the PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 42735 CAA. We note that SIPs must be fully approved only with respect to applicable requirements. The September 4, 1992 Calcagni memorandum (‘‘Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, September 4, 1992) describes EPA’s interpretation of section 107(d)(3)(E) with respect to the timing of applicable requirements. Under this interpretation, to qualify for redesignation, States requesting redesignation to attainment must meet only the relevant CAA requirements that come due prior to the submittal of a complete redesignation request. See also, Michael Shapiro memorandum, September 17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465–12466, (March 7, 1995) (redesignation of Detroit-Ann Arbor). Applicable requirements of the CAA that come due subsequent to the area’s submittal of a complete redesignation request remain applicable until a redesignation is approved, but are not required as a prerequisite to redesignation. Section 175A(c) of the CAA. Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004). See also, 68 FR 25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003) (redesignation of St. Louis). This section also sets forth EPA’s views on the potential effect of the Court’s rulings on this proposed redesignation action. For the reasons set forth below, EPA does not believe that the Court’s rulings alter any requirements relevant to this redesignation action so as to preclude redesignation, and do not prevent EPA from proposing or ultimately finalizing this redesignation. EPA believes that the Court’s December 22, 2006 and June 8, 2007 decisions impose no impediment to moving forward with redesignation of this area to attainment, because even in light of the Court’s decisions, redesignation is appropriate under the relevant redesignation provisions of the CAA and longstanding policies regarding redesignation requests. 1. Section 110 General SIP Requirements Section 110(a)(2) of Title I of the CAA delineates the general requirements for a SIP, which include enforceable emissions limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques, provisions for the establishment and operation of appropriate devices necessary to collect data on ambient air quality, and programs to enforce the limitations. The general SIP elements and requirements set forth in section 110(a)(2) includes, but are not limited to, the following: E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS 42736 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules • Submittal of a SIP that has been adopted by the State after reasonable public notice and hearing; • Provisions for establishment and operation of appropriate procedures needed to monitor ambient air quality; • Implementation of a source permit program; provisions for the implementation of Part C requirement (Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)); • Provisions for the implementation of Part D requirements for New Source Review (NSR) permit programs; • Provisions for air pollution modeling; and • Provisions for public and local agency participation in planning and emission control rule development. Section 110(a)(2)(D) requires that SIPs contain certain measures to prevent sources in a State from significantly contributing to air quality problems in another State. To implement this provision, EPA has required certain States to establish programs to address transport of air pollutants in accordance with the NOX SIP Call, October 27, 1998 (63 FR 57356), amendments to the NOX SIP Call, May 14, 1999 (64 FR 26298) and March 2, 2000 (65 FR 11222), and the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), May 12, 2005 (70 FR 25162). However, the section 110(a)(2)(D) requirements for a State are not linked with a particular nonattainment area’s designation and classification in that State. EPA believes that the requirements linked with a particular nonattainment area’s designation and classifications are the relevant measures to evaluate while reviewing a redesignation request. The transport SIP submittal requirements, where applicable, continue to apply to a State regardless of the designation of any one particular area in the State. Thus, we do not believe that these requirements are applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. In addition, EPA believes that the other section 110 elements not connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with an area’s attainment status are not applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. The Clearfield/Indiana Area will still be subject to these requirements after it is redesignated. The section 110 and Part D requirements, which are linked with a particular area’s designation and classification, are the relevant measures to evaluate while reviewing a redesignation request. This policy is consistent with EPA’s existing policy on applicability of conformity (i.e., for redesignations) and oxygenated fuels requirement. See, Reading, VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 Pennsylvania, proposed and final rulemakings (61 FR 53174–53176, October 10, 1996), (62 FR 24816, May 7, 1997); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio, final rulemaking (61 FR 20458, May 7, 1996); and Tampa, Florida, final rulemaking (60 FR 62748, December 7, 1995). See also, the discussion on this issue in the Cincinnati redesignation (65 FR at 37890, June 19, 2000), and in the Pittsburgh redesignation (66 FR at 50399, October 19, 2001). Similarly, with respect to the NOX SIP Call rules, EPA noted in its Phase 1 Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS, that the NOX SIP Call rules are not ‘‘an applicable requirement for purposes of section 110(l) because the NOX rules apply regardless of an area’s attainment or nonattainment status for the 8-hour (or the 1-hour) NAAQS.’’ 69 FR 23951, 23983 (April 30, 2004). EPA believes that section 110 elements not linked to the area’s nonattainment status are not applicable for purposes of redesignation. Any section 110 requirements that are linked to the Part D requirements for 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas are not yet due, because no Part D requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation under the 8-hour standard were due prior to submission of the redesignation request. Because the Pennsylvania SIP satisfies all of the applicable general SIP elements and requirements set forth in section 110(a)(2), EPA concludes that Pennsylvania has satisfied the criterion of section 107(d)(3)(E) regarding section 110 of the CAA. 2. Part D Nonattainment Area Requirements Under the 1-Hour and 8Hour Standards The Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated a basic nonattainment area for the 8-hour ozone standard. Sections 172–176 of the CAA, found in subpart 1 of Part D, set forth the basic nonattainment requirements for all nonattainment areas. As discussed previously, because the Clearfield/ Indiana Area was designated unclassifiable/attainment under the 1hour standard, and was never designated nonattainment for the 1-hour standard, there are no outstanding 1hour nonattainment area requirements it would be required to meet. Thus, we find that the Court’s ruling does not result in any additional 1-hour requirements for purposes of redesignation. With respect to the 8-hour standard, EPA notes that the Court’s ruling rejected EPA’s reasons for classifying areas under subpart 1 for the 8-hour standard, and remanded that matter to PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 the Agency. Consequently, it is possible that this area could, during a remand to EPA, be reclassified under subpart 2. Although any future decision by EPA to classify this area under subpart 2 might trigger additional future requirements for the area, EPA believes that this does not mean that redesignation of the area cannot now go forward. This belief is based upon (1) EPA’s longstanding policy of evaluating requirements in accordance with the requirements due at the time the request is submitted; and (2) consideration of the inequity of applying retroactively any requirements that might in the future be applied. At the time the redesignation request was submitted, the Clearfield/Indiana Area was classified under subpart 1 and was obligated to meet subpart 1 requirements. Under EPA’s longstanding interpretation of section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA, to qualify for redesignation, states requesting redesignation to attainment must meet only the relevant SIP requirements that came due prior to the submittal of a complete redesignation request. September 4, 1992 Calcagni memorandum (‘‘Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,’’ Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division). See also, Michael Shapiro Memorandum, September 17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465–66 (March 7, 1995) (Redesignation of Detroit-Ann Arbor); Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004) (which upheld this interpretation); 68 FR 25418, 25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003) (redesignation of St. Louis). Moreover, it would be inequitable to retroactively apply any new SIP requirements that were not applicable at the time the request was submitted. The DC Circuit recognized the inequity in such retroactive rulemaking. See, Sierra Club v. Whitman, 285 F. 3d 63 (DC Cir. 2002), in which the DC Circuit upheld a District Court’s ruling refusing to make retroactive an EPA determination of nonattainment that was past the statutory due date. Such a determination would have resulted in the imposition of additional requirements on the area. The Court stated: ‘‘Although EPA failed to make the nonattainment determination within the statutory time frame, Sierra Club’s proposed solution only makes the situation worse. Retroactive relief would likely impose large costs on the States, which would face fines and suits for not implementing air pollution prevention plan in 1997, even though they were not on notice at the time.’’ Id. at 68. Similarly, here it would be unfair to E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules penalize the area by applying to it for purposes of redesignation additional SIP requirements under subpart 2 that were not in effect at the time it submitted its redesignation request. With respect to the 8-hour standard, EPA proposes to determine that Pennsylvania’s SIP meets all applicable SIP requirements under Part D of the CAA, because no 8-hour ozone standard Part D requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation became due prior to submission of the redesignation request for the Clearfield/Indiana Area. Because the Commonwealth submitted a complete redesignation request for the Clearfield/Indiana Area prior to the deadline for any submissions required under the 8-hour standard, we have determined that the Part D requirements do not apply to the Clearfield/Indiana Area for the purposes of redesignation. In addition to the fact that no Part D requirements applicable under the 8hour standard became due prior to submission of the redesignation request, EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the general conformity and NSR requirements of Part D as not requiring approval prior to redesignation. With respect to section 176, Conformity Requirements, section 176(c) of the CAA requires States to establish criteria and procedures to ensure that Federally supported or funded projects conform to the air quality planning goals in the applicable SIP. The requirement to determine conformity applies to transportation plans, programs, and projects developed, funded or approved under Title 23 U.S.C. and the Federal Transit Act \ (‘‘transportation conformity’’) as well as to all other Federally supported or funded projects \(‘‘general conformity’’). State conformity revisions must be consistent with Federal conformity regulations relating to consultation, enforcement and enforceability that the CAA required EPA to promulgate. EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the conformity SIP requirements as not applying for purposes of evaluating the redesignation request under section 107(d) since State conformity rules are still required after redesignation and Federal conformity rules apply where State rules have not been approved. See, Wall v. EPA, 265 F. 3d 426, 438–440 (6th Cir. 2001), upholding this interpretation. See also, 60 FR 62748 (December 7, 1995). In the case of the Clearfield/Indiana Area, EPA has also determined that before being redesignated, the Clearfield/Indiana Area need not comply with the requirement that a NSR program be approved prior to VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 redesignation. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s preconstruction permitting program regulations in Chapter 127.200–217 of the Pennsylvania Code (approved into the SIP at 40 CFR 52.2020(c)), apply only to ozone nonattainment area sources that are located in areas classified as marginal or worse, i.e. , to subpart 2 nonattainment areas. Pennsylvania’s NSR regulations do not apply to sources in nonattainment areas classified as basic nonattainment under subpart 1. Consequently, sources in the Clearfield/ Indiana Area are subject to Part D NSR requirements of Appendix S to 40 CFR part 51, pursuant to 40 CFR 52.24(k). Appendix S of 40 CFR part 51 contains the preconstruction permitting program that applies to major stationary sources in nonattainment areas lacking an approved Part D NSR program. Appendix S applies during the interim period after EPA designates an area as nonattainment, but before EPA approves revisions to a SIP to implement the Part D NSR requirements for that pollutant. See, 70 FR 71618 (November 29, 2005). The Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations in the Pennsylvania SIP explicitly apply to attainment areas within the Ozone Transport Region (OTR). See, Chapter 127 in 40 CFR 52.2020(c)(1); See, 66 FR 53094, October 19, 2001. Therefore, after the Clearfield/Indiana Area is redesignated to attainment, sources in the Clearfield/Indiana Area will be subject to Part D NSR applicable under the permitting regulations in Chapter 127, because the Clearfield/Indiana Area is located in the OTR. All areas in the OTR, both attainment and nonattainment, are subject to additional control requirements under section 184 for the purpose of reducing interstate transport of emissions that may contribute to downwind ozone nonattainment. The section 184 requirements include reasonably available control technology (RACT), NSR, enhanced vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M), and Stage II vapor recovery or a comparable measure. EPA has also interpreted the section 184 OTR requirements, including the NSR program, as not being applicable for purposes of redesignation. The rationale for this is based on two considerations. First, the requirement to submit SIP revisions for the section 184 requirements continues to apply to areas in the OTR after redesignation to attainment. Therefore, the State remains obligated to have NSR, as well as RACT, even after redesignation. Second, the section 184 control measures are regionwide requirements and do not apply to the Clearfield/Indiana Area by virtue of the area’s designation and classification, PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 42737 and thus are properly considered not relevant to an action changing an area’s designation. See, 61 FR 53174, 53175– 53176 (October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826, 24830–24832 (May 7, 1997). In the case of Clearfield/Indiana Area, which is located in the OTR, nonattainment NSR will continue to be applicable after redesignation. On October 19, 2001 (66 FR 53094), EPA fully approved the 1-hour Pennsylvania’s NSR SIP revision consisting of Pennsylvania’s Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations that cover the Clearfield/Indiana Area. The Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations in the Pennsylvania SIP explicitly apply the requirements for NSR of section 184 of the CAA to attainment areas within the OTR. 3. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has a Fully Approved SIP for the Purposes of Redesignation EPA has fully approved the Pennsylvania SIP for the purposes of redesignation. EPA may rely on prior SIP approvals in approving a redesignation request. Calcagni Memo, p. 3; Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Alliance v. Browner, 144 F. 3d 984, 989– 90 (6th Cir. 1998); Wall v. EPA, 265 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001), plus any additional measures it may approve in conjunction with a redesignation action. See also, 68 FR at 25425 (May 12, 2003) and citations therein. The Clearfield/Indiana Area was a 1-hour attainment/ unclassifiable area at the time of its designation as a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23857). Because the Clearfield/ Indiana Area was a 1-hour attainment/ unclassifiable area, there are no previous Part D SIP submittal requirements. Also, no Part D submittal requirements have come due prior to the submittal of the 8-hour maintenance plan for the area. Therefore, all Part D submittal requirements have been fulfilled. Because there are no outstanding SIP submission requirements applicable for the purposes of redesignation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area, the applicable implementation plan satisfies all pertinent SIP requirements. As indicated previously, EPA believes that the section 110 elements not connected with Part D nonattainment plan submissions and not linked to the area’s nonattainment status are not applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. EPA also believes that no 8-hour Part D requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation have yet become due for the Clearfield/Indiana Area, and therefore they need not be E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 42738 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules approved into the SIP prior to redesignation. C. The Air Quality Improvement in the Clearfield/Indiana Area Is Due to Permanent and Enforceable Reductions in Emissions Resulting From Implementation of the SIP and Applicable Federal Air Pollution Control Regulations and Other Permanent and Enforceable Reductions quality improvement in the Clearfield/ Indiana Area is due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from implementation of the SIP, Federal measures, and other Stateadopted measures. Emissions reductions attributable to these rules are shown in Table 3. EPA believes that the Commonwealth has demonstrated that the observed air TABLE 3.—TOTAL VOC AND NOX EMISSIONS FOR 2002 AND 2004 IN TONS PER SUMMER DAY (TPD) Year Point Area Mobile Nonroad Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Year 2002 ............................................................................ Year 2004 ............................................................................ Diff. (02–04) ......................................................................... 1.2 1.2 0.0 9.5 9.2 ¥0.3 10.8 9.4 ¥1.4 3.6 3.4 ¥0.2 25.1 23.2 ¥1.9 1.0 1.0 0.0 25.1 22.2 ¥2.9 4.5 4.2 ¥0.3 174.8 156.7 ¥18.1 Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Year 2002 ............................................................................ Year 2004 ............................................................................ Diff. (02–04) ......................................................................... Between 2002 and 2004, VOC emissions were reduced by 1.9 tpd, and NOX emissions were reduced by 18.1 tpd. These reductions and anticipated future reductions are due to the following permanent and enforceable measures implemented or in the process of being implemented in the Clearfield/ Indiana Area: 1. Stationary Point Sources NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August 21, 2001). 2. Stationary Area Sources Solvent Cleaning (68 FR 2206, January 16, 2003). Portable Fuel Containers (69 FR 70893, December 8, 2004). 3. Highway Vehicle Sources pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS Federal Motor Vehicle Control Programs (FMVCP) —Tier 1 (56 FR 25724, June 5, 1991). —Tier 2 (65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000). Heavy Duty Engines and Vehicles Standards (62 FR 54694, October 21, 1997 and 65 FR 59896, October 6, 2000). National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) (64 FR 72564, December 28, 1999). Vehicle Safety Inspection Program (70 FR 58313, October 6, 2005). 4. Nonroad Sources Nonroad Diesel Engine and Fuel (69 FR 38958, June 29, 2004) EPA believes that permanent and enforceable emissions reductions are the cause of the long-term improvement in ozone levels and are the cause of the VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 144.2 129.3 ¥14.9 Clearfield/Indiana Area achieving attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard. D. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has a Fully Approved Maintenance Plan Pursuant to Section 175A of the CAA In conjunction with its request to redesignate the Clearfield/Indiana Area to attainment status, Pennsylvania submitted a SIP revision to provide for maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Clearfield/Indiana Area for at least 10 years after redesignation. Pennsylvania is requesting that EPA approve this SIP revision as meeting the requirement of section 175A of the CAA. Once approved, the maintenance plan for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS will ensure that the SIP for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area meets the requirements of the CAA regarding maintenance of the applicable 8-hour ozone standard. What Is Required in a Maintenance Plan? Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of the applicable NAAQS for at least 10 years after approval of a redesignation of an area to attainment. Eight years after the redesignation, the State must submit a revised maintenance plan demonstrating that attainment will continue to be maintained for the next 10-year period following the initial 10year period. To address the possibility PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must contain such contingency measures, with a schedule for implementation, as EPA deems necessary to assure prompt correction of any future 8-hour ozone violations. Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. The Calcagni memo provides additional guidance on the content of a maintenance plan. An ozone maintenance plan should address the following provisions: (1) An attainment emissions inventory; (2) A maintenance demonstration; (3) A monitoring network; (4) Verification of continued attainment; and (5) A contingency plan. Analysis of the Clearfield/Indiana Area Maintenance Plan (a) Attainment Inventory—An attainment inventory includes the emissions during the time period associated with the monitoring data showing attainment. An attainment inventory year of 2004 was used for the Clearfield/Indiana Area since it is a reasonable year within the 3-year block of 2004–2006 and accounts for reductions attributable to implementation of the CAA requirements to date. The 2004 inventory is consistent with EPA guidance and is based on actual ‘‘typical summer day’’ emissions of VOC and NOX during 2004 and consists of a list E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 42739 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules of sources and their associated emissions. PADEP prepared comprehensive VOC and NOX emissions inventories for the Clearfield/Indiana Area, including point, area, mobile on-road, and mobile non-road sources for a base-year of 2002. To develop the NOX and VOC baseyear emissions inventories, PADEP used the following approaches and sources of data: (i) Point source emissions— Pennsylvania requires owners and operators of larger facilities to submit annual production figures and emission calculations each year. Throughput data are multiplied by emission factors from Factor Information Retrieval (FIRE) Data System and EPA’s publication series AP–42 and are based on Source Classification Code (SCC). Each process has at least one SCC assigned to it. If the owners and operators of facilities provide more accurate emission data based upon other factors, these emission estimates supersede those calculated using SCC codes. (ii) Area source emissions—Area source emissions are generally estimated by multiplying an emission factor by some known indicator or collective activity for each area source category at the county level. Pennsylvania estimates emissions from area sources using emission factors and SCC codes in a method similar to that used for stationary point sources. Emission factors may also be derived from research and guidance documents if those documents are more accurate than FIRE and AP–42 factors. Throughput estimates are derived from county-level activity data, by apportioning national and statewide activity data to counties, from census numbers, and from county employee numbers. County employee numbers are based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes to establish that those numbers are specific to the industry covered. (iii) On-road mobile sources—PADEP employs an emissions estimation methodology that uses current EPAapproved highway vehicle emission model, MOBILE 6.2, to estimate highway vehicle emissions. The Clearfield/Indiana Area highway vehicle emissions in 2004 were estimated using MOBILE 6.2 and PENNDOT estimates of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by vehicle type and roadway type. (iv) Mobile nonroad emissions—The 2002 and 2004 emissions for the majority of nonroad emission source categories were estimated using the EPA NONROAD 2005 model. The NONROAD model estimates emissions for diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gasoline, and compressed natural gasfueled nonroad equipment types and includes growth factors. The NONROAD model does not estimate emissions from aircraft or locomotives. For 2002 and 2004 locomotive emissions, PADEP projected emissions from a 1999 survey using national fuel information and EPA emission and conversion factors. There are no commercial aircraft operations in Clearfield and Indiana counties. For 2002 and 2004 aircraft emissions, PADEP estimated emissions using small aircraft operation statistics from www.airnav.com, and emission factors and operational characteristics in the EPA-approved model, Emissions and Dispersion Modeling System (EDMS). The 2004 attainment year VOC and NOX emissions for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area are summarized along with the 2009 and 2018 projected emissions for this area in Tables 4 and 5, which show the demonstration of maintenance for this area. EPA has concluded that Pennsylvania has adequately derived and documented the 2004 attainment year VOC and NOX emissions for this area. (b) Maintenance Demonstration—On June 14, 2007, PADEP submitted a maintenance plan as required by section 175A of the CAA. The Clearfield/ Indiana Area plan shows maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS by demonstrating that current and future emissions of VOC and NOX remain at or below the attainment year 2004 emissions levels throughout the Clearfield/Indiana Area through the year 2018. A maintenance demonstration need not be based on modeling. See, Wall v. EPA, supra; Sierra Club v. EPA, supra. See also, 66 FR at 53099–53100; 68 FR at 25430–32. Tables 4 and 5 specify the VOC and NOX emissions for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area for 2004, 2009, and 2018. Table 5 reflects the new methodology used to project future emissions of NOX from EGUs, submitted on May 23, 2008. PADEP chose 2009 as an interim year in the 10-year maintenance demonstration period to demonstrate that the VOC and NOX emissions are not projected to increase above the 2004 attainment level during the time of the 10-year maintenance period. TABLE 4.—TOTAL VOC EMISSIONS FOR 2004–2018 (Tons per summer day) Source Category 2004 2009 2018 Stationary Point Sources ............................................................................................................. Stationary Area Sources .............................................................................................................. Highway Vehicles ........................................................................................................................ Nonroad Engines/Vehicles .......................................................................................................... 1.2 9.2 9.4 3.4 1.3 8.4 7.2 2.8 1.5 8.6 4.7 2.3 Total ...................................................................................................................................... 23.2 19.7 17.1 TABLE 5.—TOTAL NOX EMISSIONS 2004–2018 (Tons per summer day) pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS Source Category 2004 2009 2018 Stationary Point Sources ............................................................................................................. Stationary Area Sources .............................................................................................................. Highway Vehicles ........................................................................................................................ Nonroad Engines/Vehicles .......................................................................................................... 129.3 1.0 22.2 4.2 89.2 1.1 16.3 3.5 79.1 1.1 7.6 2.4 Total ...................................................................................................................................... 156.7 110.1 90.2 VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS 42740 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules The following programs are either effective or due to become effective and will further contribute to the maintenance demonstration of the 8hour ozone NAAQS: 1. Pennsylvania’s Portable Fuel Containers (69 FR 70893, December 8, 2004) 2. Pennsylvania’s Consumer Products (69 FR 70895, December 8, 2004) 3. Pennsylvania’s Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings (69 FR 68080, November 23, 2004) 4. NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August 21, 2001) 5. Federal Clean Air Interstate Rule (71 FR 25328, April 28, 2006) 6. FMVCP for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks and cleaner gasoline (2009 and 2018 fleet)—Tier 1 and Tier 2 (56 FR 25724, June 5, 1991 and 65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000) 7. NLEV Program, which includes the Pennsylvania’s Clean Vehicle Program for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks (69 FR 72564, December 28, 1999)—proposed amendments to move the implementation to model year (MY) 2008 8. Heavy duty diesel on-road (2004/ 2007) and low-sulfur on-road (2006) (66 FR 5002, January 18, 2001) 9. Vehicles Safety Inspection Program (70 FR 58313, October 6, 2005) 10. Non-road emissions standards (2008) and off-road diesel fuel (2007/ 2010) (69 FR 38958, June 29, 2004) Based upon the comparison of the projected emissions and the attainment year emissions along with the additional measures, EPA concludes that PADEP has successfully demonstrated that the 8-hour ozone standard should be maintained in the Clearfield/Indiana Area. (c) Monitoring Network—There are currently two monitors measuring ozone in the Clearfield/Indiana Area. Pennsylvania will continue to operate its current air quality monitors in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. (d) Verification of Continued Attainment—The Commonwealth will track the attainment status of the ozone NAAQS in the Clearfield/Indiana Area by reviewing air quality and emissions during the maintenance period. The Commonwealth will perform an annual evaluation of two key factors, VMT data and emissions reported from stationary sources, and compare them to the assumptions about these factors used in the maintenance plan. The Commonwealth will also evaluate the periodic (every three years) emission inventories prepared under EPA’s Consolidated Emission Reporting Regulation (40 CFR part 51, Subpart A) to see if the area exceeds the attainment VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 year inventory (2004) by more than 10 percent. Based on these evaluations, the Commonwealth will consider whether any further emission control measures should be implemented. (e) The Maintenance Plan’s Contingency Measures—The contingency plan provisions are designed to promptly correct a violation of the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. Section 175A of the CAA requires that a maintenance plan include such contingency measures as EPA deems necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth will promptly correct a violation of the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. The maintenance plan should identify the events that would ‘‘trigger’’ the adoption and implementation of a contingency measure(s), the contingency measure(s) that would be adopted and implemented, and the schedule indicating the time frame by which the state would adopt and implement the measure(s). The ability of the Clearfield/Indiana Area to stay in compliance with the 8hour ozone standard after redesignation depends upon VOC and NOX emissions in the area remaining at or below 2004 levels. The Commonwealth’s maintenance plan projects VOC and NOX emissions to decrease and stay below 2004 levels through the year 2018. The Commonwealth’s maintenance plan outlines the procedures for the adoption and implementation of contingency measures to further reduce emissions should a violation occur. Contingency measures will be considered if for two consecutive years the fourth highest eight-hour ozone concentrations at the Clearfield/Indiana Area monitor are above 84 ppb. If this trigger point occurs, the Commonwealth will evaluate whether additional local emission control measures should be implemented in order to prevent a violation of the air quality standard. PADEP will analyze the conditions leading to the excessive ozone levels and evaluate what measures might be most effective in correcting the excessive ozone levels. PADEP will also analyze the potential emissions effect of Federal, state and local measures that have been adopted but not yet implemented at the time excessive ozone levels occurred. PADEP will then begin the process of implementing any selected measures. Contingency measures will be considered in the event that a violation of the 8-hour ozone standard occurs at the Clearfield/Indiana Area monitors. In the event of a violation of the 8-hour ozone standard, contingency measures PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 will be adopted in order to return the area to attainment with the standard. Contingency measures to be considered for the Clearfield/Indiana Area will include, but not be limited to the following: Non-regulatory measures: —Voluntary diesel engine ‘‘chip reflash’’—installation software to correct the defeat device option on certain heavy duty diesel engines. —Diesel retrofit, including replacement, repowering or alternative fuel use, for public or private local onroad or offroad fleets. —Idling reduction technology for Class 2 yard locomotives. —Idling reduction technologies or strategies for truck stops, warehouses and other freight-handling facilities. —Accelerated turnover of lawn and garden equipment, especially commercial equipment, including promotion of electric equipment. —Additional promotion of alternative fuel (e.g., biodiesel) for home heating and agricultural use. Regulatory measures: —Additional controls on consumer products —Additional controls on portable fuel containers The plan lays out a process to have any regulatory contingency measures in effect within 19 months of the trigger. The plan also lays out a process to implement the non-regulatory contingency measures within 12–24 months of the trigger. VII. Are the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets Established and Identified in the Maintenance Plan for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area Adequate and Approvable? A. What Are the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets? Under the CAA, States are required to submit, at various times, control strategy SIPs and maintenance plans in ozone areas. These control strategy SIPs (i.e., Reasonable Further Progress SIPs and attainment demonstration SIPs) and maintenance plans identify and establish MVEBs for certain criteria pollutants and/or their precursors to address pollution from on-road mobile sources. Pursuant to 40 CFR part 93 and 51.112, MVEBs must be established in an ozone maintenance plan. A MVEB is the portion of the total allowable emissions that is allocated to highway and transit vehicle use and emissions. A MVEB serves as a ceiling on emissions from an area’s planned transportation system. The MVEB concept is further explained in the preamble to the November 24, 1993, transportation E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules conformity rule (58 FR 62188). The preamble also describes how to establish and revise the MVEBs in control strategy SIPs and maintenance plans. Under section 176(c) of the CAA, new transportation projects, such as the construction of new highways, must ‘‘conform’’ to (i.e., be consistent with) the part of the State’s air quality plan that addresses pollution from cars and trucks. ‘‘Conformity’’ to the SIP means that transportation activities will not cause new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of or reasonable progress towards the NAAQS. If a transportation plan does not ‘‘conform,’’ most new projects that would expand the capacity of roadways cannot go forward. Regulations at 40 CFR part 93 set forth EPA policy, criteria, and procedures for demonstrating and ensuring conformity of such transportation activities to a SIP. When reviewing submitted ‘‘control strategy’’ SIPs or maintenance plans containing MVEBs, EPA must affirmatively find the MVEB budget contained therein ‘‘adequate’’ for use in determining transportation conformity. After EPA affirmatively finds the submitted MVEB is adequate for transportation conformity purposes, that MVEB can be used by State and Federal agencies in determining whether proposed transportation projects ‘‘conform’’ to the SIP as required by section 176(c) of the CAA. EPA’s substantive criteria for determining ‘‘adequacy’’ of a MVEB are set out in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). EPA’s process for determining ‘‘adequacy’’ consists of three basic steps: public notification of a SIP submission, a public comment period, and EPA’s adequacy finding. This process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP MVEBs was initially outlined in EPA’s May 14, 1999 guidance, ‘‘Conformity Guidance on Implementation of March 2, 1999, Conformity Court Decision.’’ This guidance was finalized in the Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments for the ‘‘New 8-Hour Ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing Areas; Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments—Response to Court Decision and Additional Rule Change’’ on July 1, 2004 (69 FR 40004). EPA consults this guidance and follows this rulemaking in making its adequacy determinations. The MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area are listed in Table 1 for 2009 and 2018. Table 1 presents the projected emissions for the on-road mobile sources plus any portion of the safety margin allocated to the MVEBs (safety margin allocation for 2009 and 2018 only). These emission budgets, when approved by EPA, must be used for transportation conformity determinations. B. What Is a Safety Margin? A ‘‘safety margin’’ is the difference between the attainment level of 42741 emissions (from all sources) and the projected level of emissions (from all sources) in the maintenance plan. The attainment level of emissions is the level of emissions during one of the years in which the area met the NAAQS. The following example is for the 2018 safety margin: the Clearfield/Indiana Area first attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS during the 2002 to 2004 time period. The Commonwealth used 2004 as the year to determine attainment levels of emissions for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area. The total emissions from point, area, mobile on-road, and mobile non-road sources in 2004 for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area equaled 23.2 tpd of VOC and 156.7 tpd of NOX . The PADEP projected total emissions out to the year 2018 of 17.1 tpd of VOC and 90.2 tpd of NOX from all sources in the Clearfield/Indiana Area. The safety margin for 2018 would be the difference between these amounts, or 6.1 tpd of VOC and 66.5 tpd of NOX . The emissions up to the level of the attainment year, including the safety margins, are projected to maintain the area’s air quality consistent with the 8hour ozone NAAQS. The safety margin is the extra emissions reduction below the attainment levels that can be allocated for emissions by various sources as long as the total emission levels are maintained at or below the attainment levels. Table 6 shows the safety margins for the 2009 and 2018 years. TABLE 6.—SAFETY MARGINS FOR CLEARFIELD/INDIANA AREA TONS PER SUMMER DAY (TPD) (2009 & 2018) VOC emissions (tpd) Inventory year 2004 2009 2009 2004 2018 2018 Attainment ....................................................................................................................................................... Interim ............................................................................................................................................................. Safety Margin ................................................................................................................................................. Attainment ....................................................................................................................................................... Final ................................................................................................................................................................ Safety Margin ................................................................................................................................................. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission RPO MVEB (Clearfield County) The PADEP allocated 0.24 tpd of VOC and 0.33 tpd of NOX of the 2009 safety margin to the interim VOC projected onroad mobile source emissions and the 2009 interim NOX projected on-road mobile source emissions to arrive at the 2009 MVEB to be allocated to the Clearfield County portion of the Area covered by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission RPO. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 The PADEP also allocated 0.34 tpd of VOC and 0.38 tpd of NOX of the 2018 safety margins to arrive at the 2018 MVEBs to be allocated to the Clearfield County portion of the Area covered by the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission RPO. Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission MPO MVEB (Indiana County) The PADEP allocated 0.24 tpd of VOC and 0.36 tpd of NOX of the 2009 safety margin to the interim VOC projected onroad mobile source emissions and the PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 23.2 19.7 3.5 23.2 17.1 6.1 NOX emissions (tpd) 156.7 110.1 46.6 156.7 90.2 66.5 2009 interim NOX projected on-road mobile source emissions to arrive at the 2009 MVEB to be allocated to the Indiana County portion of the Area covered by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission MPO. The PADEP also allocated 0.34 tpd of VOC and 0.41 tpd of NOX of the 2018 safety margins to arrive at the 2018 MVEBs to be allocated to the Indiana County portion of the Area covered by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission MPO. Once allocated to the mobile source budgets these portions of the safety E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 42742 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules margins are no longer available, and may no longer be allocated to any other source category. Tables 7 and 8 show the final 2009 and 2018 MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area, including the portion of the each total MVEB that has been allocated to the Clearfield County portion of the Area (served by the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission RPO) and for the Indiana County portion of the Area (served by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission MPO) and reflect the changes made in the May 23, 2008 SIP revision: TABLE 7.—MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSION BUDGETS FOR THE CLEARFIELD COUNTY PORTION OF THE CLEARFIELD/INDIANA AREA (2009 & 2018)* NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RPO VOC Emissions (tpd) Inventory year 2009 2009 2009 2018 2018 2018 Projected On Road (Highway) Emissions ...................................................................................................... Safety Margin Allocated to MVEBs ................................................................................................................ MVEBs ............................................................................................................................................................ Projected On Road (Highway) Emissions ...................................................................................................... Safety Margin Allocated to MVEBs ................................................................................................................ MVEBs ............................................................................................................................................................ 3.87 0.24 4.11 2.37 0.34 2.71 NOX Emissions (tpd) 11.11 0.33 11.44 4.76 0.38 5.14 * PADEP calculates MVEBs using kilograms per summer day, and converts the values to tons per summer day for informational purposes. This may appear to make the totals in the table incorrect, but is merely the result of the rounded tpd values. TABLE 8.—MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSION BUDGETS FOR THE INDIANA COUNTY PORTION OF THE CLEARFIELD/INDIANA AREA (2009 & 2018) * SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION MPO VOC Emissions (tpd) Inventory year 2009 2009 2009 2018 2018 2018 Projected On Road (Highway) Emissions ...................................................................................................... Safety Margin Allocated to MVEBs ................................................................................................................ MVEBs ............................................................................................................................................................ Projected On Road (Highway) Emissions ...................................................................................................... Safety Margin Allocated to MVEBs ................................................................................................................ MVEBs ............................................................................................................................................................ 2.82 0.24 3.06 1.58 0.34 1.92 NOX Emissions (tpd) 4.49 0.36 4.85 1.99 0.41 2.40 * PADEP calculates MVEBs using kilograms per summer day, and converts the values to tons per summer day for informational purposes. This may appear to make the totals in the table incorrect, but is merely the result of the rounded tpd values. C. Why Are the MVEBs Approvable? The 2009 and 2018 MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area are approvable because the MVEBs for NOX and VOC, including the allocated safety margins, continue to maintain the total emissions at or below the attainment year inventory levels as required by the transportation conformity regulations. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS D. What Is the Adequacy and Approval Process for the MVEBs in the Clearfield/ Indiana Area Maintenance Plan? The MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area maintenance plan are being posted to EPA’s conformity Web site concurrent with this proposal. The public comment period will end at the same time as the public comment period for this proposed rule. In this case, EPA is concurrently processing the action on the maintenance plan and the adequacy process for the MVEBs contained therein. In this proposed rule, EPA is proposing to find the MVEBs adequate and also proposing to approve the MVEBs as part of the maintenance plan. The MVEBs cannot be used for transportation conformity until the maintenance plan update and associated MVEBs are approved in a final Federal Register notice, or EPA otherwise finds VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 the budgets adequate in a separate action following the comment period. If EPA receives adverse written comments with respect to the proposed approval of the Clearfield/Indiana Area MVEBs, or any other aspect of our proposed approval of this updated maintenance plan, we will respond to the comments on the MVEBs in our final action or proceed with the adequacy process as a separate action. Our action on the Clearfield/Indiana Area MVEBs will also be announced on EPA’s conformity Web site: http: // www.epa.gov.otaq/stateresources/ transconf/index.htm (once there, click on ‘‘Adequacy Review of SIP Submissions’’). VIII. Proposed Actions EPA is proposing to determine that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to approve the redesignation of the Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA has evaluated Pennsylvania’s redesignation request and determined that it meets the redesignation criteria set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Act. EPA believes that the redesignation request and monitoring data demonstrate that the PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard. The final approval of this redesignation request would change the designation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA is also proposing to approve the associated maintenance plan for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area as a revision to the Pennsylvania SIP, submitted on June 14, 2007. EPA is also proposing to approve the May 23, 2008 submittal that replaces the former methodology for projecting future emissions of NOX from EGUs, as well as the MVEBs submitted on June 14, 2007. EPA is proposing to approve the maintenance plan for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area because it meets the requirements of section 175A as described previously in this notice. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2002 base-year inventory for the Clearfield/ Indiana Area, submitted by PADEP on June 14, 2007 and a supplemental submittal on May 23, 2008. Finally, EPA is proposing to approve the MVEBs submitted by Pennsylvania for the Clearfield/Indiana Area in conjunction with its redesignation request. EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this document. These comments will be considered before taking final action. E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 23, 2008 / Proposed Rules IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this proposed action is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)). This action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. Redesignation of an area to attainment under section 107(d)(3)(e) of the Act does not impose any new requirements on small entities. Redesignation is an action that affects the status of a geographical area and does not impose any new regulatory requirements on sources. Redesignation of an area to attainment under section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Act does not impose any new requirements on small entities. Redesignation is an action that affects the status of a geographical area and does not impose any new regulatory requirements on sources. Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule proposes to approve pre-existing requirements under state law and does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by state law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4). Because this action affects the status of a geographical area or allows the state to avoid adopting or implementing other requirements and because this action does not impose any new requirements on sources, this proposed rule also does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it merely VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:30 Jul 22, 2008 Jkt 214001 proposes to approve a state rule implementing a Federal requirement, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Act. This proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it approves a state rule implementing a Federal standard. In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA’s role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Act. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Act. Redesignation is an action that affects the status of a geographical area and does not impose any new requirements on sources. Thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing this proposed rule, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. EPA has complied with Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by examining the takings implications of the rule in accordance with the ‘‘Attorney General’s Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk and Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings’’ issued under the executive order. This rule, proposing to approve the redesignation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, the associated maintenance plan, the 2002 base-year inventory, and the MVEBs identified in the maintenance plan, does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). List of Subjects 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 42743 40 CFR Part 81 Air pollution control, National parks, Wilderness areas. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: July 9, 2008. Donald S. Welsh, Regional Administrator, Region III. [FR Doc. E8–16639 Filed 7–22–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 42 CFR Parts 5 and 51c RIN 0906–AA44 Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS. AGENCY: ACTION: Proposed rule; status. SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) received many substantive comments on the proposed rule and will consider these comments carefully. Based on a preliminary review of the comments, it appears that HRSA will need to make a number of changes in the proposed rule. Instead of issuing a final regulation as the next step, HHS will issue a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for further review and public comment prior to issuing a final rule. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy Jordan, 301–594–0197. On February 29, 2008, HHS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, ‘‘Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas’’ (73 FR 11232). The initial notice provided a 60-day comment period. Due to the level of interest in the proposed rule, two 30day extensions of the comment period were published in the Federal Register, one on April 21, 2008 (73 FR 21300) and the second on June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31418). The latest comment period closed on June 30, 2008. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: July 17, 2008. Elizabeth M. Duke, Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration. [FR Doc. E8–16831 Filed 7–22–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165–15–P E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42731-42743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16639]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[EPA-R03-OAR-2007-0624; FRL-8694-9]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

[[Page 42732]]

proposing to approve. EPA is proposing approval of the redesignation 
request, the maintenance plan, the 2002 base-year inventory, and the 
MVEBs SIP revisions in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2007-0624 by one of the following methods:
    A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
    B. E-mail: fernandez.cristina@epa.gov.
    C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2007-0624, Cristina Fernandez, Branch Chief, 
Air Quality Planning Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania 19103.
    D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address. 
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-
2007-0624. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change, and may be made available online 
at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to 
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. 
The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, 
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information 
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, 
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part 
of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available 
on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends 
that you include your name and other contact information in the body of 
your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read 
your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic 
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of 
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be 
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket 
materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or 
in hard copy during normal business hours at the Air Protection 
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch 
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State submittal 
are available at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 
Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market Street, 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Becoat, (215) 814-2036, or by 
e-mail at becoat.gregory@epa.gov.

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

Table of Contents

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

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

    On June 14, 2007, PADEP formally submitted a request to redesignate 
the Clearfield/Indiana Area from nonattainment to attainment of the 8-
hour NAAQS for ozone. Concurrently, PADEP submitted a maintenance plan 
for the Clearfield/Indiana Area as a SIP revision to ensure continued 
attainment for at least 10 years after redesignation. PADEP also 
submitted a 2002 base-year inventory as a SIP revision. On May 23, 
2008, PADEP formally submitted a revision to the June 14, 2007 
submittal encompassing two changes. First, PADEP submitted a new 
methodology that projects future emissions of nitrogen oxides 
(NOX ) from electric generating units (EGUs) to replace the 
former methodology submitted on June 14, 2007. Second, PADEP separated 
the MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area into separate MVEBs for 
Clearfield County and Indiana County, to replace the MVEBs established 
in the June 14, 2007 submittal.
    The Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated a subpart 1 or a basic 
8-hour ozone nonattainment area in a final rule published on April 30, 
2004 (69 FR 23858), based upon its exceedance of the 8-hour health-
based standard for ozone during the years 2001-2003. EPA is proposing 
to determine that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS and that it has met the requirements for redesignation 
pursuant to section 107(d)(3)(E) of the Clean Air Act. EPA is, 
therefore, proposing to approve the redesignation request to change the 
designation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area from nonattainment to 
attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to approve 
the Clearfield/Indiana Area maintenance plan as a SIP revision. The 
maintenance plan is designed to ensure continued attainment in the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area for the next ten years. EPA is also proposing 
to approve the 2002 base-year inventory for the Clearfield/Indiana Area 
as a SIP revision. Additionally, EPA is announcing its action on the 
adequacy process for the MVEBs identified in the Clearfield/Indiana 
Area maintenance plan, and proposing to approve the MVEBs identified 
for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and NOX for 
transportation conformity purposes.

II. What Is the Background for These Proposed Actions?

A. General

    Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly by sources. Rather, 
emissions of NOX and VOC react in the presence of sunlight 
to form ground-level ozone. The air pollutants NOX and VOC 
are referred to as precursors of ozone. The CAA establishes a process 
for air quality management through the attainment and maintenance of 
the NAAQS.
    On July 18, 1997, EPA promulgated a revised 8-hour ozone standard 
of 0.08 parts per million (ppm). This standard is more stringent than 
the previous 1-hour ozone standard. EPA designated, as nonattainment, 
any area violating the 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on the air quality data 
for the three years of 2001-2003. These were the most recent three 
years of data at the time EPA designated

[[Page 42733]]

8-hour areas. The Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated as basic 8-
hour ozone nonattainment status in a Federal Register notice published 
on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23858), based on its exceedance of the 8-hour 
health-based standard for ozone during the years 2001-2003.
    On April 30, 2004, EPA issued a final rule (69 FR 23951, 23996) to 
revoke the 1-hour ozone NAAQS in the Clearfield/Indiana Area (as well 
as most other areas of the country) effective June 15, 2005. See, 40 
CFR 50.9(b); 69 FR at 23966 (April 30, 2004); 70 FR 44470 (August 3, 
2005).
    However, on December 22, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 
District of Columbia Circuit vacated EPA's Phase 1 Implementation Rule 
for the 8-hour Ozone Standard. (69 FR 23951, April 30, 2004). South 
Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, 472 F.3d 882 (D.C. Cir. 
2006). On June 8, 2007, in South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. 
EPA, Docket No. 04-1201, in response to several petitions for 
rehearing, the D.C. Circuit clarified that the Phase 1 Rule was vacated 
only with regard to those parts of the rule that had been successfully 
challenged. Therefore, the Phase 1 Rule provisions related to 
classifications for areas currently classified under subpart 2 of Title 
I, Part D of the CAA as 8-hour nonattainment areas, the 8-hour 
attainment dates and the timing for emissions reductions needed for 
attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS remain effective.
    The June 8 decision left intact the Court's rejection of EPA's 
reasons for implementing the 8-hour standard in certain nonattainment 
areas under subpart 1 in lieu of subpart 2. By limiting the vacatur, 
the Court let stand EPA's revocation of the 1-hour standard and those 
anti-backsliding provisions of the Phase 1 Rule that had not been 
successfully challenged. The June 8 decision reaffirmed the December 
22, 2006 decision that EPA had improperly failed to retain measures 
required for 1-hour nonattainment areas under the anti-backsliding 
provisions of the regulations: (1) Nonattainment area New Source Review 
(NSR) requirements based on an area's 1-hour nonattainment 
classification; (2) section 185 penalty fees for 1-hour severe or 
extreme nonattainment areas; and (3) measures to be implemented 
pursuant to section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the CAA, on the 
contingency of an area not making reasonable further progress toward 
attainment of the 1-hour NAAQS, or for failure to attain that NAAQS. In 
addition, the June 8 decision clarified that the Court's reference to 
conformity requirements for anti-backsliding purposes was limited to 
requiring the continued use of 1-hour motor vehicle emissions budgets 
until 8-hour budgets were available for 8-hour conformity 
determinations, which is already required under EPA's conformity 
regulations. The Court thus clarified that 1-hour conformity 
determinations are not required for anti-backsliding purposes.
    The Court upheld EPA's authority to revoke the 1-hour standard 
provided there were adequate anti-backsliding provisions. EPA discusses 
its rationale why the decision in South Coast is not an impediment to 
redesignating the Clearfield/Indiana Area to attainment of the 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS elsewhere in this document.
    The CAA, Title I, Part D, contains two sets of provisions--subpart 
1 and subpart 2--that address planning and control requirements for 
nonattainment areas. Subpart 1 (which EPA refers to as ``basic'' 
nonattainment) contains general, less prescriptive requirements for 
nonattainment areas for any pollutant--including ozone--governed by a 
NAAQS. Subpart 2 (which EPA refers to as ``classified'' nonattainment) 
provides more specific requirements for ozone nonattainment areas. In 
2004, Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated a basic 8-hour ozone 
nonattainment area based upon air quality monitoring data from 2001-
2003, and therefore, is subject to the requirements of subpart 1 of 
Part D.
    Under 40 CFR part 50, the 8-hour ozone standard is attained when 
the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour 
average ambient air quality ozone concentration is less than or equal 
to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is considered). See 69 FR 
23858 (April 30, 2004) for further information. Ambient air quality 
monitoring data for the 3-year period must meet data completeness 
requirements. The data completeness requirements are met when the 
average percent of days with valid ambient monitoring data is greater 
than 90 percent, and no single year has less than 75 percent data 
completeness as determined in Appendix I of 40 CFR part 50. The ozone 
monitoring data from the 3-year period of 2004-2006 indicates that the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area has a design value of 0.077 ppm. Therefore, the 
ambient ozone data for the Clearfield/Indiana Area indicates no 
violations of the 8-hour ozone standard.

B. The Clearfield/Indiana Area

    The Clearfield/Indiana Area consists of Clearfield and Indiana 
Counties in Pennsylvania. Prior to its designation as an 8-hour ozone 
nonattainment area, the Clearfield/Indiana Area was an attainment/
unclassifiable area for the 1-hour ozone nonattainment NAAQS. See 56 FR 
56694 (November 6, 1991).
    On June 14, 2007, PADEP requested that the Clearfield/Indiana Area 
be redesignated to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. The 
redesignation request included 3 years of complete, quality-assured 
data for the period of 2004-2006, indicating that the 8-hour NAAQS for 
ozone had been achieved in the Clearfield/Indiana Area. The data 
satisfies the CAA requirements when the 3-year average of the annual 
fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration 
(commonly referred to as the area's design value) is less than or equal 
to 0.08 ppm (i.e., 0.084 ppm when rounding is considered). Under the 
CAA, a nonattainment area may be redesignated if sufficient complete, 
quality-assured data is available to determine that the area has 
attained the standard and the area meets the other CAA redesignation 
requirements set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E).

III. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment?

    The CAA provides the requirements for redesignating a nonattainment 
area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA 
allows for redesignation, providing that:
    (1) EPA determines that the area has attained the applicable NAAQS;
    (2) EPA has fully approved the applicable implementation plan for 
the area under section 110(k);
    (3) EPA determines that the improvement in air quality is due to 
permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from 
implementation of the applicable SIP and applicable Federal air 
pollutant control regulations and other permanent and enforceable 
reductions;
    (4) EPA has fully approved a maintenance plan for the area as 
meeting the requirements of section 175A; and
    (5) The State containing such area has met all requirements 
applicable to the area under section 110 and Part D.
    EPA provided guidance on redesignation in the General Preamble for 
the Implementation of Title I of the CAA Amendments of 1990, on April 
16, 1992 (57 FR 13498), and supplemented this guidance on April 28, 
1992 (57 FR 18070). EPA has provided further guidance on processing 
redesignation requests in the following documents:
     ``Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Design Value Calculations'', 
Memorandum from Bill Laxton, June 18, 1990;

[[Page 42734]]

     ``Maintenance Plans for Redesignation of Ozone and Carbon 
Monoxide Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from G. T. Helms, Chief, 
Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, April 30, 1992;
     ``Contingency Measures for Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) 
Redesignations,'' Memorandum from G. T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon 
Monoxide Programs Branch, June 1, 1992;
     ``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas 
to Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality 
Management Division, September 4, 1992;
     ``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted in 
Response to Clean Air Act (CAA) Deadlines,'' Memorandum from John 
Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992;
     ``Technical Support Documents (TSDs) for Redesignation 
Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from 
G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, August 17, 
1993;
     ``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas 
Submitting Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and 
Carbon Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) On 
or After November 15, 1992,'' Memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro, 
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, September 17, 
1993;
     Memorandum from D. Kent Berry, Acting Director, Air 
Quality Management Division, to Air Division Directors, Regions 1-10, 
``Use of Actual Emissions in Maintenance Demonstrations for Ozone and 
CO Nonattainment Areas,'' dated November 30, 1993;
     ``Part D New Source Review (Part D NSR) Requirements for 
Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,'' Memorandum from Mary D. 
Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, October 14, 
1994; and
     ``Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment Demonstration, 
and Related Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment Areas Meeting the 
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard,'' Memorandum from John S. 
Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, May 10, 
1995.

IV. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions?

    On June 14, 2007, PADEP requested redesignation of the Clearfield/
Indiana Area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. 
Simultaneously, PADEP submitted a maintenance plan for the Clearfield/
Indiana Area as a SIP revision to ensure continued attainment at least 
10 years after redesignation. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base-year 
inventory as a SIP revision. On May 23, 2008, PADEP formally submitted 
a SIP revision encompassing two changes. First, PADEP submitted a new 
methodology that projects future emissions of NOX from EGUs 
to replace the former methodology submitted on June 14, 2007. Second, 
PADEP separated the MVEBs for the Clearfield/Indiana Area into separate 
MVEBs for Clearfield County and Indiana County, to replace the MVEBs 
established in the June 14, 2007 submittal. EPA has determined that the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area has attained the 8-Hour Ozone Standard and has 
met the requirements for redesignation set forth in section 
107(d)(3)(E).

V. What Would Be the Effect of These Actions?

    Approval of the redesignation request would change the designation 
of the Clearfield/Indiana Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 
8-hour ozone NAAQS found at 40 CFR part 81. It would also incorporate 
into the Pennsylvania SIP a 2002 base-year inventory and a maintenance 
plan ensuring continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area for the next 10 years. The maintenance plan 
includes contingency measures to remedy any future violations of the 8-
hour NAAQS (should they occur), and identifies the MVEBs for 
NOX and VOC for transportation conformity purposes for the 
years 2009 and 2018.
    Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and the Pennsylvania 
Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in conjunction with state Rural 
Planning Organizations (RPOs), are responsible for making timely 
transportation conformity determinations. The Clearfield/Indiana Area 
contains one MPO and one RPO. The MPO is the Southwestern Pennsylvania 
Commission for Indiana County, and the RPO is the North Central PA 
Regional Planning and Development Commission for Clearfield County. 
Pennsylvania has established separate motor vehicle emission budgets 
for each MPO/RPO for their respective portion of the Clearfield/Indiana 
Area. EPA's transportation conformity regulations (40 CFR 93.124(d)) 
allow a SIP to establish motor vehicle budgets for each MPO/RPO if a 
nonattainment area includes more than one MPO/RPO.
    These motor vehicle emissions budgets displayed in the following 
table reflect the changes made in the May 23, 2008 SIP revision:

   Table 1a.--Clearfield/Indiana Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets North
  Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission RPO
  (Clearfield County portion of the Area), in Tons per Summer Day (tpd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Year                     VOC                      NOX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              2009                     4.11                    11.44
              2018                     2.71                     5.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Table 1b.--Clearfield/Indiana Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets
 Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission MPO (Indiana County portion of the
                   Area), in Tons per Summer Day (tpd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Year                     VOC                      NOX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              2009                     3.06                     4.85
              2018                     1.92                     2.40
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 42735]]

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

    EPA is proposing to determine that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has 
attained the 8-hour ozone standard, and that all other redesignation 
criteria have been met. The following is a description of how PADEP's 
June 14, 2007 and May 23, 2008 submittals satisfy the requirements of 
section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA.

A. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has Attained the 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS

    EPA is proposing to determine that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has 
attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. For ozone, an area attains the 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS if there are no violations based on three complete and 
consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring 
data, as determined in accordance with 40 CFR 50.10 and Appendix I of 
part 50. To attain this standard, the design value, which is the three 
average of the fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone 
concentrations, measured at each monitor within the area over each year 
must not exceed the ozone standard of 0.08 ppm. Based on the rounding 
convention described in 40 CFR part 50, Appendix I, the standard is 
attained if the design value is 0.084 ppm or below. The data must be 
collected and quality-assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58, and 
recorded in the Air Quality System (AQS). The monitors generally should 
have remained at the same location for the duration of the monitoring 
period required for demonstrating attainment.
    In the Clearfield/Indiana Area, there are two ozone monitors, one 
in Clearfield County (AQS 42-033-4000) and another in Indiana 
County (AQS  42-063-004). At the time of the June 14, 2007 
submittal, the Indiana County monitor, had only two years, 2005 and 
2006, of quality assured data available. Since the standard requires an 
average concentration of three years, the air quality status of the 
Indiana County monitoring site could not be determined using only two 
years, 2005 and 2006, of ambient data. As part of its redesignation 
request, Pennsylvania submitted the ozone monitoring data for the 
Clearfield County monitor for the years 2004-2006 (the most recent 
three years of data available as of the time of the redesignation 
request) for the Clearfield/Indiana Area. This data has been quality 
assured and is recorded in AQS. PADEP uses AQS as the permanent 
database to maintain its quality assured data. The fourth-highest 8-
hour daily maximum concentrations, along with the three-year average, 
are summarized in Table 2 for the monitor that has three complete and 
consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring 
data.

 Table 2.--Clearfield/Indiana Area Fourth Highest 8-Hour Average Values;
              Clearfield County Monitor, AQS ID 42-033-4000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Year                    Annual 4th high reading (ppm)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    2004                                0.074
                    2005                                0.086
                    2006                                0.072
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The average for the 3-year period 2004 through 2006 is 0.077 ppm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The air quality data for 2004-2006 show that the Clearfield/Indiana 
Area has attained the standard with a design value of 0.077 ppm. The 
data collected at the Clearfield/Indiana Area monitor satisfies the CAA 
requirement that the three-year average of the annual fourth-highest 
daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration is less than or equal 
to 0.08 ppm. PADEP's request for redesignation for the Clearfield/
Indiana Area indicates that the data was quality assured in accordance 
with 40 CFR part 58. In addition, with respect to the maintenance plan, 
PADEP has committed to continue monitoring in accordance with 40 CFR 
part 58. In summary, EPA has determined that the data submitted by 
Pennsylvania and confirmed from AQS indicates that the Clearfield/
Indiana Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.

B. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements 
Under Section 110 and Part D of the CAA and Has a Fully Approved SIP 
Under Section 110(k) of the CAA

    EPA has determined that the Clearfield/Indiana Area has met all SIP 
requirements applicable for purposes of this redesignation under 
section 110 of the CAA (General SIP Requirements) and that it meets all 
applicable SIP requirements under Part D of Title I of the CAA, in 
accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(v). In addition, EPA has 
determined that the SIP is fully approved with respect to all 
requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation in accordance 
with section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii). In making these proposed determinations, 
EPA ascertained what requirements are applicable to the area and 
determined that the applicable portions of the SIP meeting these 
requirements are fully approved under section 110(k) of the CAA. We 
note that SIPs must be fully approved only with respect to applicable 
requirements.
    The September 4, 1992 Calcagni memorandum (``Procedures for 
Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,'' Memorandum 
from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, 
September 4, 1992) describes EPA's interpretation of section 
107(d)(3)(E) with respect to the timing of applicable requirements. 
Under this interpretation, to qualify for redesignation, States 
requesting redesignation to attainment must meet only the relevant CAA 
requirements that come due prior to the submittal of a complete 
redesignation request. See also, Michael Shapiro memorandum, September 
17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465-12466, (March 7, 1995) (redesignation 
of Detroit-Ann Arbor). Applicable requirements of the CAA that come due 
subsequent to the area's submittal of a complete redesignation request 
remain applicable until a redesignation is approved, but are not 
required as a prerequisite to redesignation. Section 175A(c) of the 
CAA. Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004). See also, 68 FR 
25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003) (redesignation of St. Louis).
    This section also sets forth EPA's views on the potential effect of 
the Court's rulings on this proposed redesignation action. For the 
reasons set forth below, EPA does not believe that the Court's rulings 
alter any requirements relevant to this redesignation action so as to 
preclude redesignation, and do not prevent EPA from proposing or 
ultimately finalizing this redesignation. EPA believes that the Court's 
December 22, 2006 and June 8, 2007 decisions impose no impediment to 
moving forward with redesignation of this area to attainment, because 
even in light of the Court's decisions, redesignation is appropriate 
under the relevant redesignation provisions of the CAA and longstanding 
policies regarding redesignation requests.
1. Section 110 General SIP Requirements
    Section 110(a)(2) of Title I of the CAA delineates the general 
requirements for a SIP, which include enforceable emissions limitations 
and other control measures, means, or techniques, provisions for the 
establishment and operation of appropriate devices necessary to collect 
data on ambient air quality, and programs to enforce the limitations. 
The general SIP elements and requirements set forth in section 
110(a)(2) includes, but are not limited to, the following:

[[Page 42736]]

     Submittal of a SIP that has been adopted by the State 
after reasonable public notice and hearing;
     Provisions for establishment and operation of appropriate 
procedures needed to monitor ambient air quality;
     Implementation of a source permit program; provisions for 
the implementation of Part C requirement (Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration (PSD));
     Provisions for the implementation of Part D requirements 
for New Source Review (NSR) permit programs;
     Provisions for air pollution modeling; and
     Provisions for public and local agency participation in 
planning and emission control rule development.
    Section 110(a)(2)(D) requires that SIPs contain certain measures to 
prevent sources in a State from significantly contributing to air 
quality problems in another State. To implement this provision, EPA has 
required certain States to establish programs to address transport of 
air pollutants in accordance with the NOX SIP Call, October 
27, 1998 (63 FR 57356), amendments to the NOX SIP Call, May 
14, 1999 (64 FR 26298) and March 2, 2000 (65 FR 11222), and the Clean 
Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), May 12, 2005 (70 FR 25162). However, the 
section 110(a)(2)(D) requirements for a State are not linked with a 
particular nonattainment area's designation and classification in that 
State. EPA believes that the requirements linked with a particular 
nonattainment area's designation and classifications are the relevant 
measures to evaluate while reviewing a redesignation request. The 
transport SIP submittal requirements, where applicable, continue to 
apply to a State regardless of the designation of any one particular 
area in the State. Thus, we do not believe that these requirements are 
applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation.
    In addition, EPA believes that the other section 110 elements not 
connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with an 
area's attainment status are not applicable requirements for purposes 
of redesignation. The Clearfield/Indiana Area will still be subject to 
these requirements after it is redesignated. The section 110 and Part D 
requirements, which are linked with a particular area's designation and 
classification, are the relevant measures to evaluate while reviewing a 
redesignation request. This policy is consistent with EPA's existing 
policy on applicability of conformity (i.e., for redesignations) and 
oxygenated fuels requirement. See, Reading, Pennsylvania, proposed and 
final rulemakings (61 FR 53174-53176, October 10, 1996), (62 FR 24816, 
May 7, 1997); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio, final rulemaking (61 FR 
20458, May 7, 1996); and Tampa, Florida, final rulemaking (60 FR 62748, 
December 7, 1995). See also, the discussion on this issue in the 
Cincinnati redesignation (65 FR at 37890, June 19, 2000), and in the 
Pittsburgh redesignation (66 FR at 50399, October 19, 2001). Similarly, 
with respect to the NOX SIP Call rules, EPA noted in its 
Phase 1 Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS, that the 
NOX SIP Call rules are not ``an applicable requirement for 
purposes of section 110(l) because the NOX rules apply 
regardless of an area's attainment or nonattainment status for the 8-
hour (or the 1-hour) NAAQS.'' 69 FR 23951, 23983 (April 30, 2004).
    EPA believes that section 110 elements not linked to the area's 
nonattainment status are not applicable for purposes of redesignation. 
Any section 110 requirements that are linked to the Part D requirements 
for 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas are not yet due, because no Part D 
requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation under the 8-hour 
standard were due prior to submission of the redesignation request.
    Because the Pennsylvania SIP satisfies all of the applicable 
general SIP elements and requirements set forth in section 110(a)(2), 
EPA concludes that Pennsylvania has satisfied the criterion of section 
107(d)(3)(E) regarding section 110 of the CAA.
2. Part D Nonattainment Area Requirements Under the 1-Hour and 8-Hour 
Standards
    The Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated a basic nonattainment 
area for the 8-hour ozone standard. Sections 172-176 of the CAA, found 
in subpart 1 of Part D, set forth the basic nonattainment requirements 
for all nonattainment areas. As discussed previously, because the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area was designated unclassifiable/attainment under 
the 1-hour standard, and was never designated nonattainment for the 1-
hour standard, there are no outstanding 1-hour nonattainment area 
requirements it would be required to meet. Thus, we find that the 
Court's ruling does not result in any additional 1-hour requirements 
for purposes of redesignation.
    With respect to the 8-hour standard, EPA notes that the Court's 
ruling rejected EPA's reasons for classifying areas under subpart 1 for 
the 8-hour standard, and remanded that matter to the Agency. 
Consequently, it is possible that this area could, during a remand to 
EPA, be reclassified under subpart 2. Although any future decision by 
EPA to classify this area under subpart 2 might trigger additional 
future requirements for the area, EPA believes that this does not mean 
that redesignation of the area cannot now go forward. This belief is 
based upon (1) EPA's longstanding policy of evaluating requirements in 
accordance with the requirements due at the time the request is 
submitted; and (2) consideration of the inequity of applying 
retroactively any requirements that might in the future be applied.
    At the time the redesignation request was submitted, the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area was classified under subpart 1 and was 
obligated to meet subpart 1 requirements. Under EPA's longstanding 
interpretation of section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA, to qualify for 
redesignation, states requesting redesignation to attainment must meet 
only the relevant SIP requirements that came due prior to the submittal 
of a complete redesignation request. September 4, 1992 Calcagni 
memorandum (``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas 
to Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality 
Management Division). See also, Michael Shapiro Memorandum, September 
17, 1993, and 60 FR 12459, 12465-66 (March 7, 1995) (Redesignation of 
Detroit-Ann Arbor); Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004) 
(which upheld this interpretation); 68 FR 25418, 25424, 25427 (May 12, 
2003) (redesignation of St. Louis).
    Moreover, it would be inequitable to retroactively apply any new 
SIP requirements that were not applicable at the time the request was 
submitted. The DC Circuit recognized the inequity in such retroactive 
rulemaking. See, Sierra Club v. Whitman, 285 F. 3d 63 (DC Cir. 2002), 
in which the DC Circuit upheld a District Court's ruling refusing to 
make retroactive an EPA determination of nonattainment that was past 
the statutory due date. Such a determination would have resulted in the 
imposition of additional requirements on the area. The Court stated: 
``Although EPA failed to make the nonattainment determination within 
the statutory time frame, Sierra Club's proposed solution only makes 
the situation worse. Retroactive relief would likely impose large costs 
on the States, which would face fines and suits for not implementing 
air pollution prevention plan in 1997, even though they were not on 
notice at the time.'' Id. at 68. Similarly, here it would be unfair to

[[Page 42737]]

penalize the area by applying to it for purposes of redesignation 
additional SIP requirements under subpart 2 that were not in effect at 
the time it submitted its redesignation request.
    With respect to the 8-hour standard, EPA proposes to determine that 
Pennsylvania's SIP meets all applicable SIP requirements under Part D 
of the CAA, because no 8-hour ozone standard Part D requirements 
applicable for purposes of redesignation became due prior to submission 
of the redesignation request for the Clearfield/Indiana Area. Because 
the Commonwealth submitted a complete redesignation request for the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area prior to the deadline for any submissions 
required under the 8-hour standard, we have determined that the Part D 
requirements do not apply to the Clearfield/Indiana Area for the 
purposes of redesignation.
    In addition to the fact that no Part D requirements applicable 
under the 8-hour standard became due prior to submission of the 
redesignation request, EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the 
general conformity and NSR requirements of Part D as not requiring 
approval prior to redesignation.
    With respect to section 176, Conformity Requirements, section 
176(c) of the CAA requires States to establish criteria and procedures 
to ensure that Federally supported or funded projects conform to the 
air quality planning goals in the applicable SIP. The requirement to 
determine conformity applies to transportation plans, programs, and 
projects developed, funded or approved under Title 23 U.S.C. and the 
Federal Transit Act [bs] (``transportation 
conformity'') as well as to all other Federally supported or funded 
projects [bs](``general conformity''). State 
conformity revisions must be consistent with Federal conformity 
regulations relating to consultation, enforcement and enforceability 
that the CAA required EPA to promulgate.
    EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the conformity SIP 
requirements as not applying for purposes of evaluating the 
redesignation request under section 107(d) since State conformity rules 
are still required after redesignation and Federal conformity rules 
apply where State rules have not been approved. See, Wall v. EPA, 265 
F. 3d 426, 438-440 (6th Cir. 2001), upholding this interpretation. See 
also, 60 FR 62748 (December 7, 1995).
    In the case of the Clearfield/Indiana Area, EPA has also determined 
that before being redesignated, the Clearfield/Indiana Area need not 
comply with the requirement that a NSR program be approved prior to 
redesignation. Additionally, Pennsylvania's preconstruction permitting 
program regulations in Chapter 127.200-217 of the Pennsylvania Code 
(approved into the SIP at 40 CFR 52.2020(c)), apply only to ozone 
nonattainment area sources that are located in areas classified as 
marginal or worse, i.e. , to subpart 2 nonattainment areas. 
Pennsylvania's NSR regulations do not apply to sources in nonattainment 
areas classified as basic nonattainment under subpart 1. Consequently, 
sources in the Clearfield/Indiana Area are subject to Part D NSR 
requirements of Appendix S to 40 CFR part 51, pursuant to 40 CFR 
52.24(k). Appendix S of 40 CFR part 51 contains the preconstruction 
permitting program that applies to major stationary sources in 
nonattainment areas lacking an approved Part D NSR program. Appendix S 
applies during the interim period after EPA designates an area as 
nonattainment, but before EPA approves revisions to a SIP to implement 
the Part D NSR requirements for that pollutant. See, 70 FR 71618 
(November 29, 2005). The Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations in the 
Pennsylvania SIP explicitly apply to attainment areas within the Ozone 
Transport Region (OTR). See, Chapter 127 in 40 CFR 52.2020(c)(1); See, 
66 FR 53094, October 19, 2001. Therefore, after the Clearfield/Indiana 
Area is redesignated to attainment, sources in the Clearfield/Indiana 
Area will be subject to Part D NSR applicable under the permitting 
regulations in Chapter 127, because the Clearfield/Indiana Area is 
located in the OTR.
    All areas in the OTR, both attainment and nonattainment, are 
subject to additional control requirements under section 184 for the 
purpose of reducing interstate transport of emissions that may 
contribute to downwind ozone nonattainment. The section 184 
requirements include reasonably available control technology (RACT), 
NSR, enhanced vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M), and Stage II 
vapor recovery or a comparable measure.
    EPA has also interpreted the section 184 OTR requirements, 
including the NSR program, as not being applicable for purposes of 
redesignation. The rationale for this is based on two considerations. 
First, the requirement to submit SIP revisions for the section 184 
requirements continues to apply to areas in the OTR after redesignation 
to attainment. Therefore, the State remains obligated to have NSR, as 
well as RACT, even after redesignation. Second, the section 184 control 
measures are region-wide requirements and do not apply to the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area by virtue of the area's designation and 
classification, and thus are properly considered not relevant to an 
action changing an area's designation. See, 61 FR 53174, 53175-53176 
(October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826, 24830-24832 (May 7, 1997).
    In the case of Clearfield/Indiana Area, which is located in the 
OTR, nonattainment NSR will continue to be applicable after 
redesignation. On October 19, 2001 (66 FR 53094), EPA fully approved 
the 1-hour Pennsylvania's NSR SIP revision consisting of Pennsylvania's 
Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations that cover the Clearfield/Indiana 
Area. The Chapter 127 Part D NSR regulations in the Pennsylvania SIP 
explicitly apply the requirements for NSR of section 184 of the CAA to 
attainment areas within the OTR.
3. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has a Fully Approved SIP for the 
Purposes of Redesignation
    EPA has fully approved the Pennsylvania SIP for the purposes of 
redesignation. EPA may rely on prior SIP approvals in approving a 
redesignation request. Calcagni Memo, p. 3; Southwestern Pennsylvania 
Growth Alliance v. Browner, 144 F. 3d 984, 989-90 (6th Cir. 1998); Wall 
v. EPA, 265 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001), plus any additional measures it 
may approve in conjunction with a redesignation action. See also, 68 FR 
at 25425 (May 12, 2003) and citations therein. The Clearfield/Indiana 
Area was a 1-hour attainment/unclassifiable area at the time of its 
designation as a basic 8-hour ozone nonattainment area on April 30, 
2004 (69 FR 23857). Because the Clearfield/Indiana Area was a 1-hour 
attainment/unclassifiable area, there are no previous Part D SIP 
submittal requirements. Also, no Part D submittal requirements have 
come due prior to the submittal of the 8-hour maintenance plan for the 
area. Therefore, all Part D submittal requirements have been fulfilled. 
Because there are no outstanding SIP submission requirements applicable 
for the purposes of redesignation of the Clearfield/Indiana Area, the 
applicable implementation plan satisfies all pertinent SIP 
requirements. As indicated previously, EPA believes that the section 
110 elements not connected with Part D nonattainment plan submissions 
and not linked to the area's nonattainment status are not applicable 
requirements for purposes of redesignation. EPA also believes that no 
8-hour Part D requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation 
have yet become due for the Clearfield/Indiana Area, and therefore they 
need not be

[[Page 42738]]

approved into the SIP prior to redesignation.

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

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

              Table 3.--Total VOC and NOX Emissions for 2002 and 2004 in Tons per Summer Day (tpd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Year                     Point           Area           Mobile          Nonroad          Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 2002.......................             1.2             9.5            10.8             3.6            25.1
Year 2004.......................             1.2             9.2             9.4             3.4            23.2
Diff. (02-04)...................             0.0            -0.3            -1.4            -0.2            -1.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Nitrogen Oxides (NOX)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 2002.......................           144.2             1.0            25.1             4.5           174.8
Year 2004.......................           129.3             1.0            22.2             4.2           156.7
Diff. (02-04)...................           -14.9             0.0            -2.9            -0.3           -18.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Between 2002 and 2004, VOC emissions were reduced by 1.9 tpd, and 
NOX emissions were reduced by 18.1 tpd. These reductions and 
anticipated future reductions are due to the following permanent and 
enforceable measures implemented or in the process of being implemented 
in the Clearfield/Indiana Area:
1. Stationary Point Sources
NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August 21, 2001).
2. Stationary Area Sources
Solvent Cleaning (68 FR 2206, January 16, 2003).
Portable Fuel Containers (69 FR 70893, December 8, 2004).
3. Highway Vehicle Sources
Federal Motor Vehicle Control Programs (FMVCP)
    --Tier 1 (56 FR 25724, June 5, 1991).
    --Tier 2 (65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000).
Heavy Duty Engines and Vehicles Standards (62 FR 54694, October 21, 
1997 and 65 FR 59896, October 6, 2000).
National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) (64 FR 72564, December 28, 1999).
Vehicle Safety Inspection Program (70 FR 58313, October 6, 2005).
4. Nonroad Sources
Nonroad Diesel Engine and Fuel (69 FR 38958, June 29, 2004)
    EPA believes that permanent and enforceable emissions reductions 
are the cause of the long-term improvement in ozone levels and are the 
cause of the Clearfield/Indiana Area achieving attainment of the 8-hour 
ozone standard.

D. The Clearfield/Indiana Area Has a Fully Approved Maintenance Plan 
Pursuant to Section 175A of the CAA

    In conjunction with its request to redesignate the Clearfield/
Indiana Area to attainment status, Pennsylvania submitted a SIP 
revision to provide for maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area for at least 10 years after redesignation. 
Pennsylvania is requesting that EPA approve this SIP revision as 
meeting the requirement of section 175A of the CAA. Once approved, the 
maintenance plan for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS will ensure that the SIP 
for the Clearfield/Indiana Area meets the requirements of the CAA 
regarding maintenance of the applicable 8-hour ozone standard.
What Is Required in a Maintenance Plan?
    Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a maintenance 
plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. 
Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of 
the applicable NAAQS for at least 10 years after approval of a 
redesignation of an area to attainment. Eight years after the 
redesignation, the State must submit a revised maintenance plan 
demonstrating that attainment will continue to be maintained for the 
next 10-year period following the initial 10-year period. To address 
the possibility of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must 
contain such contingency measures, with a schedule for implementation, 
as EPA deems necessary to assure prompt correction of any future 8-hour 
ozone violations. Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a 
maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to 
attainment. The Calcagni memo provides additional guidance on the 
content of a maintenance plan. An ozone maintenance plan should address 
the following provisions:
    (1) An attainment emissions inventory;
    (2) A maintenance demonstration;
    (3) A monitoring network;
    (4) Verification of continued attainment; and
    (5) A contingency plan.
Analysis of the Clearfield/Indiana Area Maintenance Plan
    (a) Attainment Inventory--An attainment inventory includes the 
emissions during the time period associated with the monitoring data 
showing attainment. An attainment inventory year of 2004 was used for 
the Clearfield/Indiana Area since it is a reasonable year within the 3-
year block of 2004-2006 and accounts for reductions attributable to 
implementation of the CAA requirements to date. The 2004 inventory is 
consistent with EPA guidance and is based on actual ``typical summer 
day'' emissions of VOC and NOX during 2004 and consists of a 
list

[[Page 42739]]

of sources and their associated emissions.
    PADEP prepared comprehensive VOC and NOX emissions 
inventories for the Clearfield/Indiana Area, including point, area, 
mobile on-road, and mobile non-road sources for a base-year of 2002.
    To develop the NOX and VOC base-year emissions 
inventories, PADEP used the following approaches and sources of data:
    (i) Point source emissions--Pennsylvania requires owners and 
operators of larger facilities to submit annual production figures and 
emission calculations each year. Throughput data are multiplied by 
emission factors from Factor Information Retrieval (FIRE) Data System 
and EPA's publication series AP-42 and are based on Source 
Classification Code (SCC). Each process has at least one SCC assigned 
to it. If the owners and operators of facilities provide more accurate 
emission data based upon other factors, these emission estimates 
supersede those calculated using SCC codes.
    (ii) Area source emissions--Area source emissions are generally 
estimated by multiplying an emission factor by some known indicator or 
collective activity for each area source category at the county level. 
Pennsylvania estimates emissions from area sources using emission 
factors and SCC codes in a method similar to that used for stationary 
point sources. Emission factors may also be derived from research and 
guidance documents if those documents are more accurate than FIRE and 
AP-42 factors. Throughput estimates are derived from county-level 
activity data, by apportioning national and statewide activity data to 
counties, from census numbers, and from county employee numbers. County 
employee numbers are based upon North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) codes to establish that those numbers are specific to 
the industry covered.
    (iii) On-road mobile sources--PADEP employs an emissions estimation 
methodology that uses current EPA-approved highway vehicle emission 
model, MOBILE 6.2, to estimate highway vehicle emissions. The 
Clearfield/Indiana Area highway vehicle emissions in 2004 were 
estimated using MOBILE 6.2 and PENNDOT estimates of vehicle miles 
traveled (VMT) by vehicle type and roadway type.
    (iv) Mobile nonroad emissions--The 2002 and 2004 emissions for the 
majority of nonroad emission source categories were estimated using the 
EPA NONROAD 2005 model. The NONROAD model estimates emissions for 
diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gasoline, and compressed natural 
gas-fueled nonroad equipment types and includes growth factors. The 
NONROAD model does not estimate emissions from aircraft or locomotives. 
For 2002 and 2004 locomotive emissions, PADEP projected emissions from 
a 1999 survey using national fuel information and EPA emission and 
conversion factors. There are no commercial aircraft operations in 
Clearfield and Indiana counties. For 2002 and 2004 aircraft emissions, 
PADEP estimated emissions using small aircraft operation statistics 
from www.airnav.com, and emission factors and operational 
characteristics in the EPA-approved model, Emissions and Dispersion 
Modeling System (EDMS).
    The 2004 attainment year VOC and NOX emissions for the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area are summarized along with the 2009 and 2018 
projected emissions for this area in Tables 4 and 5, which show the 
demonstration of maintenance for this area. EPA has concluded that 
Pennsylvania has adequately derived and documented the 2004 attainment 
year VOC and NOX emissions for this area.
    (b) Maintenance Demonstration--On June 14, 2007, PADEP submitted a 
maintenance plan as required by section 175A of the CAA. The 
Clearfield/Indiana Area plan shows maintenance of the 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS by demonstrating that current and future emissions of VOC and 
NOX remain at or below the attainment year 2004 emissions 
levels throughout the Clearfield/Indiana Area through the year 2018. A 
maintenance demonstration need not be based on modeling. See, Wall v. 
EPA, supra; Sierra Club v. EPA, supra. See also, 66 FR at 53099-53100; 
68 FR at 25430-32.
    Tables 4 and 5 specify the VOC and NOX emissions for the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area for 2004, 2009, and 2018. Table 5 reflects the 
new methodology used to project future emissions of NOX from 
EGUs, submitted on May 23, 2008. PADEP chose 2009 as an interim year in 
the 10-year maintenance demonstration period to demonstrate that the 
VOC and NOX emissions are not projected to increase above 
the 2004 attainment level during the time of the 10-year maintenance 
period.

                                   Table 4.--Total VOC Emissions for 2004-2018
                                              (Tons per summer day)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Source Category                               2004            2009            2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stationary Point Sources........................................             1.2             1.3             1.5
Stationary Area Sources.........................................             9.2             8.4             8.6
Highway Vehicles................................................             9.4             7.2             4.7
Nonroad Engines/Vehicles........................................             3.4             2.8             2.3
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................            23.2            19.7            17.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                     Table 5.--Total NOX Emissions 2004-2018
                                              (Tons per summer day)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Source Category                               2004            2009            2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stationary Point Sources........................................           129.3            89.2            79.1
Stationary Area Sources.........................................             1.0             1.1             1.1
Highway Vehicles................................................            22.2            16.3             7.6
Nonroad Engines/Vehicles........................................             4.2             3.5             2.4
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           156.7           110.1            90.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 42740]]

    The following programs are either effective or due to become 
effective and will further contribute to the maintenance demonstration 
of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS:
    1. Pennsylvania's Portable Fuel Containers (69 FR 70893, December 
8, 2004)
    2. Pennsylvania's Consumer Products (69 FR 70895, December 8, 2004)
    3. Pennsylvania's Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) 
Coatings (69 FR 68080, November 23, 2004)
    4. NOX SIP Call (66 FR 43795, August 21, 2001)
    5. Federal Clean Air Interstate Rule (71 FR 25328, April 28, 2006)
    6. FMVCP for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks and cleaner 
gasoline (2009 and 2018 fleet)--Tier 1 and Tier 2 (56 FR 25724, June 5, 
1991 and 65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000)
    7. NLEV Program, which includes the Pennsylvania's Clean Vehicle 
Program for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks (69 FR 72564, 
December 28, 1999)--proposed amendments to move the implementation to 
model year (MY) 2008
    8. Heavy duty diesel on-road (2004/2007) and low-sulfur on-road 
(2006) (66 FR 5002, January 18, 2001)
    9. Vehicles Safety Inspection Program (70 FR 58313, October 6, 
2005)
    10. Non-road emissions standards (2008) and off-road diesel fuel 
(2007/2010) (69 FR 38958, June 29, 2004)
    Based upon the comparison of the projected emissions and the 
attainment year emissions along with the additional measures, EPA 
concludes that PADEP has successfully demonstrated that the 8-hour 
ozone standard should be maintained in the Clearfield/Indiana Area.
    (c) Monitoring Network--There are currently two monitors measuring 
ozone in the Clearfield/Indiana Area. Pennsylvania will continue to 
operate its current air quality monitors in accordance with 40 CFR part 
58.
    (d) Verification of Continued Attainment--The Commonwealth will 
track the attainment status of the ozone NAAQS in the Clearfield/
Indiana Area by reviewing air quality and emissions during the 
maintenance period. The Commonwealth will perform an annual evaluation 
of two key factors, VMT data and emissions reported from stationary 
sources, and compare them to the assumptions about these factors used 
in the maintenance plan. The Commonwealth will also evaluate the 
periodic (every three years) emission inventories prepared under EPA's 
Consolidated Emission Reporting Regulation (40 CFR part 51, Subpart A) 
to see if the area exceeds the attainment year inventory (2004) by more 
than 10 percent. Based on these evaluations, the Commonwealth will 
consider whether any further emission control measures should be 
implemented.
    (e) The Maintenance Plan's Contingency Measures--The contingency 
plan provisions are designed to promptly correct a violation of the 
NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. Section 175A of the CAA requires 
that a maintenance plan include such contingency measures as EPA deems 
necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth will promptly correct a 
violation of the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. The maintenance 
plan should identify the events that would ``trigger'' the adoption and 
implementation of a contingency measure(s), the contingency measure(s) 
that would be adopted and implemented, and the schedule indicating the 
time frame by which the state would adopt and implement the measure(s).
    The ability of the Clearfield/Indiana Area to stay in compliance 
with the 8-hour ozone standard after redesignation depends upon VOC and 
NOX emissions in the area remaining at or below 2004 levels. 
The Commonwealth's maintenance plan projects VOC and NOX 
emissions to decrease and stay below 2004 levels through the year 2018. 
The Commonwealth's maintenance plan outlines the procedures for the 
adoption and implementation of contingency measures to further reduce 
emissions should a violation occur.
    Contingency measures will be considered if for two consecutive 
years the fourth highest eight-hour ozone concentrations at the 
Clearfield/Indiana Area monitor are above 84 ppb. If this trigger point 
occurs, the Commonwealth will evaluate whether additional local 
emission control measures should be implemented in order to prevent a 
violation of the air quality standard. PADEP will analyze the 
conditions leading to the excessive ozone levels and evaluate what 
measures might be most effective in correcting the excessive ozone 
levels. PADEP will also analyze the potential emissions effect of 
Federal, state and local measures that have been adopted but not yet 
implemented at the time excessive ozone levels occurred. PADEP will 
then begin the process of implementing any selected measures.
    Contingency measures will be considered in the event that a 
violation of the 8-hour ozone standard occurs at the Clearfield/Indiana 
Area monitors. In the event of a violation of the 8-hour ozone 
standard, contingency measures will be adopted in order to return the 
area to attainment with the standard. Contingency measures to be 
considered for the Clearfield/Indiana Area will include, but not be 
limited to the following:
    Non-regulatory measures:
--Voluntary diesel engine ``chip reflash''--installation software to 
correct the defeat device option on certain heavy duty diesel engines.
--Diesel retrofit, including replacement, repowering or alternative 
fuel use, for public or private local onroad or offroad fleets.
--Idling reduction technology for Class 2 yard locomotives.
--Idling reduction techno
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