Outer Continental Shelf Air Regulations Consistency Update for Alaska, 9180-9185 [E9-4465]
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9180
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 3, 2009 / Proposed Rules
and the public and the environment
while reactor vessels are in a
containment building in a controlled
environment with a trained team of
operators, inspectors, and maintenance
staff.
The petitioner suggests that the NRC
regulations be amended as follows:
(1) Prohibit dry storage cask systems
that do not meet NRC certification
requirements from being produced
under what the petitioner states is
industry pressure to ‘‘accept-as-is.’’
(2) Base certification of casks on code
requirements to include design criteria
and technical specifications on a 100year timeframe instead of the current
20-year design specification that the
petitioner views as inadequate. The
petitioner also suggests that the NRC
conduct a regulatory review of an indepth technical evaluation for public
comment at the 20 year CoC reapproval
interval to address cask deterioration
issues.
(3) Approve a method for dry cask
transfer capacity as part of the original
ISFSI certification process and
construction license that will allow for
immediate and safe maintenance on a
faulty or failing cask. The petitioner
states that stored irradiated fuel in dry
casks approaches approximately 400
degrees Fahrenheit while the irradiated
waste storage pool water is kept at 100
degrees Fahrenheit. The petitioner
subsequently asserts that the resubmersion of dry casks and resultant
steam flash threaten workers, and may
thermally shock the irradiated nuclear
fuel rods. The petitioner also states that
the ability to perform maintenance
safely should be a regulatory priority
and that procedures to act promptly in
an emergency situation and safely
transfer spent fuel must be outlined in
NRC regulations.
(4) Ensure that dry casks are qualified
for transport at the time of onsite storage
approval certification. The petitioner
states that transport capacity of
shipment offsite must be required if an
environmental emergency occurs or for
security purposes to an alternative
storage location or repository as part of
the approval criteria. The petitioner
suggests that Chapter 1 of the NRC’s
Standard Review Plan (NUREG 1567)
should clearly define the transport
requirements in §§ 72.122(i), 72.236(h),
and 72.236(m).
(5) Specify that the most current
ASME codes and standards be adopted
for all spent fuel storage containers with
no exceptions. The petitioner states that
the NRC should no longer issue
‘‘justifications and compensatory
measures’’ for ASME codes or allow the
industry to design or manufacture casks
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that conform to safety regulations to
‘‘the maximum extent practical’’ instead
of actual ASME Code requirements. The
petitioner also states that ASME Code
requirements should be enforced
unconditionally, with no exceptions or
exemptions.
(6) Require ASME code stamping for
fabrication, which would specify that an
ASME-certified nuclear inspector, who
is independent from the manufacturer
and vendor, must be onsite at the
fabrication plant. The petitioner also
suggests that code stamping activities be
subject to unannounced NRC
inspections.
(7) Require that all fabrication
materials be supplied by ASMEapproved material suppliers who are
certificate holders. The petitioner is
concerned that if a supplier who is not
certified is used, material certification
under the NG/NF–2130 ASME standard
is not possible and means that material
traceability is not achieved.
(8) Require that the current ASME
Codes and standards for conservative
heat treatment and light tightness are
adopted and enforced.
(9) Require a safe and secure hot cell
transfer station coupled with an
auxiliary pool to be built as part of an
upgraded ISFSI certification and
licensing process. The petitioner states
that the licensee must have a dry cask
transfer capability for maintenance and
during emergency situations after
decommissioning for as long as the
spent fuel remains on site.
(10) Require real-time heat and
radiation monitoring at ISFSIs at all
nuclear power plant sites and storage
facilities that are not located at reactor
sites maintained by the utilities and that
the monitoring data be transmitted in
real-time to affected State health, safety,
and environmental regulators.
(11) Require what the petitioner
describes as ‘‘Hardened Onsite Storage’’
to fortify ISFSIs and dry casks from
terrorist attacks. The petitioner cites a
study by the National Academy of
Sciences entitled, ‘‘Safety and Security
of Commercial Nuclear Fuel Storage,’’
supported by the NRC (Grant No. NRC–
04–04–067). According to the petitioner,
this study states that the NRC should
upgrade the requirements in 10 CFR
Part 72 for dry casks, specifically to
improve resistance to terrorist attacks.
The petitioner also quotes from a paper
describing the potential of terrorist
attacks on dry casks by Gordon
Thompson, the Director of the Institute
for Resource and Security, entitled,
‘‘Assessing Risks of Potential Malicious
Actions at Commercial Nuclear
Facilities: A Case of a Proposed ISFSI at
Diablo Canyon Site’’ (June 27, 2007):
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‘‘the dry cask storage modules used at
ISFSIs are not designed to resist attack.
At all recently established ISFSIs in the
USA, spent fuel is contained in metal
canisters with a wall thickness of about
1.6 cm. Each canister is surrounded by
a concrete over pack, but the over pack
is penetrated by channels that allow
cooling of the canister by convective
flow of air. Attackers gaining access to
an ISFSI could employ readily available
skills and explosives to penetrate a
canister in a manner that allows free
flow to the spent fuel, and could use
incendiary devices to initiate burning of
fuel cladding, leading to a release of
radioactive material to the atmosphere.’’
(12) Establish funding to conduct
ongoing studies to evaluate the effects of
age-related material degradation on dry
casks and to assess the structural
integrity of the casks and fuel cladding.
The petitioner has stated that these
studies would gather the data necessary
for the management of future damage
and to determine design specifications
for future irradiated nuclear waste
storage.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day
of February 2009.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. E9–4444 Filed 3–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 55
[EPA–R10–OAR–2009–0111; FRL–8777–6]
Outer Continental Shelf Air
Regulations Consistency Update for
Alaska
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule-consistency
update.
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to update a
portion of the Outer Continental Shelf
(‘‘OCS’’) Air Regulations. Requirements
applying to OCS sources located within
25 miles of States’ seaward boundaries
must be updated periodically to remain
consistent with the requirements of the
corresponding onshore area (‘‘COA’’), as
mandated by the Clean Air Act (‘‘the
Act’’). The portion of the OCS air
regulations that is being updated
pertains to the requirements for OCS
sources in the State of Alaska. The
intended effect of approving the OCS
requirements for the State of Alaska is
to regulate emissions from OCS sources
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 3, 2009 / Proposed Rules
in accordance with the requirements
onshore. The change to the existing
requirements discussed below is
proposed to be incorporated by
reference into the Code of Federal
Regulations and is listed in the
appendix to the OCS air regulations.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before April 2, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID Number EPA–
R10–OAR–2009–0111, by one of the
following methods:
A. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments;
B. E-Mail: greaves.natasha@epa.gov;
C. Mail: Natasha Greaves, Federal and
Delegated Air Programs Unit, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite
900, Mail Stop: AWT–107, Seattle, WA
98101;
D. Hand Delivery: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 10, Attn:
Natasha Greaves (AWT–107), 1200 Sixth
Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101, 9th
Floor. Such deliveries are only accepted
during normal hours of operation, and
special arrangements should be made
for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–R10–OAR–2009–
0111. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be
made available online at https://
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 https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
https://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 https://
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
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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
https://www.regulations.gov index.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., CBI or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy
during normal business hours at the
Office of Air, Waste and Toxics, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle,
Washington 98101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Natasha Greaves, Federal and Delegated
Air Programs Unit, Office of Air, Waste,
and Toxics, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200
Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, Mail Stop:
AWT–107, Seattle, WA 98101;
telephone number: (206) 553–7079; email address: greaves.natasha@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background Information
Why Is EPA Taking This Action?
II. EPA’s Evaluation
What Criteria Were Used To Evaluate Rules
Submitted To Update 40 CFR Part 55?
III. Administrative Requirements
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Coordination
With Indian Tribal Governments
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
I. Background Information
Why Is EPA Taking This Action?
On September 4, 1992, EPA
promulgated 40 CFR part 55,1 which
established requirements to control air
1 The reader may refer to the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, December 5, 1991 (56 FR 63774), and
the preamble to the final rule promulgated
September 4, 1992 (57 FR 40792) for further
background and information on the OCS
regulations.
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pollution from OCS sources in order to
attain and maintain federal and state
ambient air quality standards and to
comply with the provisions of part C of
title I of the Act. Part 55 applies to all
OCS sources offshore of the States
except those located in the Gulf of
Mexico west of 87.5 degrees longitude.
Section 328 of the Act requires that for
such sources located within 25 miles of
a State’s seaward boundary, the
requirements shall be the same as would
be applicable if the sources were located
in the COA. Because the OCS
requirements are based on onshore
requirements, and onshore requirements
may change, section 328(a)(1) requires
that EPA update the OCS requirements
as necessary to maintain consistency
with onshore requirements.
Pursuant to § 55.12 of the OCS rule,
consistency reviews will occur (1) at
least annually; (2) upon receipt of a
Notice of Intent under § 55.4; or (3)
when a state or local agency submits a
rule to EPA to be considered for
incorporation by reference in part 55.
This proposed action is being taken in
response to the submittal of a Notice of
Intent on January 9, 2009 by Shell
Offshore, Inc. of Houston, Texas. Public
comments received in writing within 30
days of publication of this proposed rule
will be considered by EPA before
publishing a final rule.
Section 328(a) of the Act requires that
EPA establish requirements to control
air pollution from OCS sources located
within 25 miles of States’ seaward
boundaries that are the same as onshore
requirements. To comply with this
statutory mandate, EPA must
incorporate applicable onshore rules
into part 55 as they exist onshore. This
limits EPA’s flexibility in deciding
which requirements will be
incorporated into part 55 and prevents
EPA from making substantive changes
to the requirements it incorporates. As
a result, EPA may be incorporating rules
into part 55 that do not conform to all
of EPA’s state implementation plan
(‘‘SIP’’) guidance or certain
requirements of the Act.
Consistency updates may result in the
inclusion of state or local rules or
regulations into part 55, even though the
same rules may ultimately be
disapproved for inclusion as part of the
SIP. Inclusion in the OCS rule does not
imply that a rule meets the requirements
of the Act for SIP approval, nor does it
imply that the rule will be approved by
EPA for inclusion in the SIP.
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II. EPA’s Evaluation
What Criteria Were Used To Evaluate
Rules Submitted To Update 40 CFR Part
55?
In updating 40 CFR part 55, EPA
reviewed the rules submitted for
inclusion in part 55 to ensure that they
are rationally related to the attainment
or maintenance of federal or state
ambient air quality standards or part C
of title I of the Act, that they are not
designed expressly to prevent
exploration and development of the
OCS and that they are applicable to OCS
sources. 40 CFR 55.1. EPA has also
evaluated the rules to ensure they are
not arbitrary or capricious. 40 CFR 55.12
(e). In addition, EPA has excluded
administrative or procedural rules,2 and
requirements that regulate toxics which
are not related to the attainment and
maintenance of federal and state
ambient air quality standards.
III. Administrative Requirements
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A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735 (October 4, 1993)), the Agency
must determine whether the regulatory
action is ‘‘significant’’ and therefore
subject to Office of Management and
Budget (‘‘OMB’’) review and the
requirements of the Executive Order.
The Order defines ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ as one that is likely
to result in a rule that may:
(1) Have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the
economy, a sector of the economy,
productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees,
or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
set forth in the Executive Order.
This action is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under the terms of
Executive Order 12866 and is therefore
2 Each COA which has been delegated the
authority to implement and enforce part 55, will
use its administrative and procedural rules as
onshore. However, in those instances where EPA
has not delegated authority to implement and
enforce part 55, as in Alaska, EPA will use its own
administrative and procedural requirements to
implement the substantive requirements. See 40
CFR 55.14 (c)(4).
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not subject to OMB Review. This rule
implements requirements specifically
and explicitly set forth by the Congress
in section 328 of the Clean Air Act,
without the exercise of any policy
discretion by EPA. These OCS rules
already apply in the COA, and EPA has
no evidence to suggest that these OCS
rules have created an adverse material
effect. As required by section 328 of the
Clean Air Act, this action simply
updates the existing OCS requirements
to make them consistent with rules in
the COA.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The OMB has approved the
information collection requirements
contained in 40 CFR part 55, and by
extension this update to the rules, under
the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
and has assigned OMB control number
2060–0249. The OMB Notice of Action
is dated January 15, 2009. The approval
expires January 31, 2012.
OMB’s Notice of Action dated January
15, 2007 indicated that the, the annual
public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for collection of information
under 40 CFR part 55 is estimated to
average 112 hours per response. Burden
means the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to
generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal
agency. This includes the time needed
to review instructions; develop, acquire,
install, and utilize technology and
systems for the purposes of collecting,
validating, and verifying information,
processing and maintaining
information, and disclosing and
providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and are
identified on the form and/or
instrument, if applicable.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act
(‘‘RFA’’) generally requires an agency to
conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis
of any rule subject to notice and
comment rulemaking requirements
unless the agency certifies that the rule
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will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Small entities include small
businesses, small not-for-profit
enterprises, and small governmental
jurisdictions.
This rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. This rule
implements requirements specifically
and explicitly set forth by the Congress
in section 328 of the Clean Air Act,
without the exercise of any policy
discretion by EPA. These OCS rules
already apply in the COA, and EPA has
no evidence to suggest that these OCS
rules have had a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. As required by section 328 of
the Clean Air Act, this action simply
updates the existing OCS requirements
to make them consistent with rules in
the COA. Therefore, I certify that this
action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (‘‘UMRA’’), Public
Law 104–4, establishes requirements for
Federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on State, local,
and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
EPA generally must prepare a written
statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules
with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures to State, local,
and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or to the private sector, of $100 million
of more in any one year.
Before promulgating an EPA rule for
which a written statement is needed,
section 205 of the UMRA generally
requires EPA to identify and consider a
reasonable number of regulatory
alternatives and adopt the least costly,
most cost-effective or least burdensome
alternative that achieves the objectives
of the rule. The provisions of section
205 do not apply when they are
inconsistent with applicable law.
Moreover, section 205 allows EPA to
adopt an alternative other than the least
costly, most cost-effective or least
burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final
rule an explanation why that alternative
was not adopted.
Before EPA establishes any regulatory
requirements that may significantly or
uniquely affect small governments,
including tribal governments, it must
have developed under section 203 of the
UMRA a small government agency plan.
The plan must provide for notifying
potentially affected small governments,
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enabling officials of affected small
governments to have meaningful and
timely input in the development of EPA
regulatory proposals with significant
Federal intergovernmental mandates,
and informing, educating, and advising
small governments on compliance with
the regulatory requirements.
Today’s proposed rule contains no
Federal mandates (under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for
State, local, or tribal governments or the
private sector that may result in
expenditures of $100 million or more
for State, local, or tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or to the private sector in
any one year. This rule implements
requirements specifically and explicitly
set forth by the Congress in section 328
of the Clean Air Act without the
exercise of any policy discretion by
EPA. These OCS rules already apply in
the COA, and EPA has no evidence to
suggest that these OCS rules have
created an adverse material effect. As
required by section 328 of the Clean Air
Act, this action simply updates the
existing OCS requirements to make
them consistent with rules in the COA.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Orders 13132, entitled
‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255 (August 10,
1999)), requires EPA to develop an
accountable process to ensure
‘‘meaningful and timely input by State
and local officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have federalism
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have
federalism implications’’ is defined in
the Executive Order to include
regulations that have ‘‘substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and
the States, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government.’’
This proposed rule does not have
federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132. This rule
implements requirements specifically
and explicitly set forth by the Congress
in section 328 of the Clean Air Act,
without the exercise of any policy
discretion by EPA. As required by
section 328 of the Clean Air Act, this
rule simply updates the existing OCS
rules to make them consistent with
current COA requirements. This rule
does not amend the existing provisions
within 40 CFR part 55 enabling
delegation of OCS regulations to a COA,
and this rule does not require the COA
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to implement the OCS rules. Thus,
Executive Order 13132 does not apply
to this rule.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132,
and consistent with EPA policy to
promote communications between EPA
and State and local governments, EPA
specifically solicits comments on this
proposed rule from State and local
officials.
F. Executive Order 13175: Coordination
With Indian Tribal Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled
‘‘Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR
67249 (November 9, 2000)), requires
EPA to develop an accountable process
to ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input
by tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have tribal
implications.’’ This rule 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
and thus does not have ‘‘tribal
implications,’’ within the meaning of
Executive Order 13175. This rule
implements requirements specifically
and explicitly set forth by the Congress
in section 328 of the Clean Air Act,
without the exercise of any policy
discretion by EPA. As required by
section 328 of the Clean Air Act, this
rule simply updates the existing OCS
rules to make them consistent with
current COA requirements. In addition,
this rule does not impose substantial
direct compliance costs on tribal
governments, nor preempt tribal law.
Consultation with Indian tribes is
therefore not required under Executive
Order 13175. Nonetheless, in the spirit
of Executive Order 13175 and consistent
with EPA policy to promote
communications between EPA and
tribes, EPA specifically solicits
comments on this proposed rule from
tribal officials.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045: ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885
(April 23, 1997)), applies to any rule
that: (1) is determined to be
‘‘economically significant’’ as defined
under Executive Order 12866, and (2)
concerns an environmental health or
safety risk that EPA has reason to
believe may have a disproportionate
effect on children. If the regulatory
action meets both criteria, the Agency
must evaluate the environmental health
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or safety effects of the planned rule on
children, and explain why the planned
regulation is preferable to other
potentially effective and reasonably
feasible alternatives considered by the
Agency.
This proposed rule is not subject to
Executive Order 13045 because it is not
economically significant as defined in
Executive Order 12866. In addition, the
Agency does not have reason to believe
the environmental health or safety risks
addressed by this action present a
disproportional risk to children.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This proposed rule is not subject to
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ [66 FR 28355 (May
22, 2001)] because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law
104–113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note)
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus
standards in its regulatory activities
unless to do so would be inconsistent
with applicable laws or otherwise
impractical. Voluntary consensus
standards are technical standards (e.g.,
materials specifications, test methods,
sampling procedures, and business
practices) that are developed or adopted
by voluntary consensus standards
bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to
provide Congress, through OMB,
explanations when the Agency decided
not to use available and applicable
voluntary consensus standards.
As discussed above, this rule
implements requirements specifically
and explicitly set forth by the Congress
in section 328 of the Clean Air Act,
without the exercise of any policy
discretion by EPA. As required by
section 328 of the Clean Air Act, this
rule simply updates the existing OCS
rules to make them consistent with
current COA requirements. In the
absence of a prior existing requirement
for the state to use voluntary consensus
standards and in light of the fact that
EPA is required to make the OCS rules
consistent with current COA
requirements, it would be inconsistent
with applicable law for EPA to use
voluntary consensus standards in this
action. Therefore, EPA is not
considering the use of any voluntary
consensus standards. EPA welcomes
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comments on this aspect of the
proposed rulemaking and, specifically,
invites the public to identify potentially
applicable voluntary consensus
standards and to explain why such
standards should be used in this
regulation.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 55
Environmental protection,
Administrative practice and procedures,
Air pollution control, Hydrocarbons,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen
dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Outer
Continental Shelf, Ozone, Particulate
matter, Permits, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides.
Dated: February 20, 2009.
Michelle L. Pirzadeh,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
Title 40, chapter I of the Code of
Federal Regulations, is proposed to be
amended as follows:
PART 55—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 55
continues to read as follows:
Authority: Section 328 of the Act (42
U.S.C. 7401, et seq.) as amended by Public
Law 101–549.
2. Section 55.14 is amended by
revising paragraph (e)(2)(i)(A) to read as
follows:
§ 55.14 Requirements that apply to OCS
sources located within 25 miles of States’
seaward boundaries, by State.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
(2) * * *
(i) * * *
(A) State of Alaska Requirements
Applicable to OCS Sources, November
9, 2008.
*
*
*
*
*
3. Appendix A to CFR part 55 is
amended by revising paragraph (a)(1)
under the heading ‘‘Alaska’’ to read as
follows:
Appendix A to Part 55—Listing of State
and Local Requirements Incorporated
by Reference Into Part 55, by State
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS
*
*
*
*
*
Alaska
(a) * * *
(1) The following State of Alaska
requirements are applicable to OCS Sources,
December 3, 2005, Alaska Administrative
Code—Department of Environmental
Conservation. The following sections of Title
18, Chapter 50:
Article 1. Ambient Air Quality Management
18 AAC 50.005. Purpose and Applicability of
Chapter (effective 1/18/97)
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:19 Mar 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
18 AAC 50.010. Ambient Air Quality
Standards (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.015. Air Quality Designations,
Classification, and Control Regions
(effective 1/18/97) except (d)(2)
Table 1. Air Quality Classifications
18 AAC 50.020. Baseline Dates and
Maximum Allowable Increases (effective 1/
18/97)
Table 2. Baseline Dates
Table 3. Maximum Allowable Increases
18 AAC 50.025. Visibility and Other Special
Protection Areas (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.030. State Air Quality Control
Plan (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.035. Documents, Procedures, and
Methods Adopted by Reference (effective
1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.040. Federal Standards Adopted
by Reference (effective 1/18/97) except
(a)(H), (a)(I). (a)(N) through (a)(P), (a)(R)
through (a)(U), (a)(W), (a)(Y), (a)(AA),
(a)(CC) through (a)(EE), (a)(II)(a)(KK), (c)(4),
(c)(5), (c)(12), (c)(14) through (c)(16),
(c)(18), (c)(20), (c)(25), (c)(26) through
(c)(29), (c)(30), (c)(31) and (g)
18 AAC 50.045. Prohibitions (effective 1/18/
97)
18 AAC 50.050. Incinerator Emissions
Standards (effective 1/18/97)
Table 4. Particulate Matter Standards for
Incinerators
18 AAC 50.055. Industrial Processes and
Fuel-Burning Equipment (effective 1/18/
97) except (a)(3) through (a)(9), (b)(2)(A),
(b)(4) through (b)(6), (e) and (f)
18 AAC 50.065. Open Burning (effective 1/
18/97)
18 AAC 50.070. Marine Vessel Visible
Emission Standards (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.075. Wood-Fired Heating Device
Visible Emission Standards (effective 1/18/
97)
18 AAC 50.080. Ice Fog Standards (effective
1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.085. Volatile Liquid Storage Tank
Emission Standards (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.090. Volatile Liquid Loading
Racks and Delivery Tank Emission
Standards (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.100. Nonroad Engines (effective
10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.110. Air Pollution Prohibited
(effective 5/26/72)
Table 6. Concentrations Triggering an Air
Episode
18 AAC 50.260. Guidance for Best Available
Retrofit Technology under the Regional
Haze Rule (effective 12/30/07)
Article 2. Program Administration
18 AAC 50.200. Information Requests
(effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.201. Ambient Air Quality
Investigation (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.205. Certification (effective 1/18/
97)
18 AAC 50.215. Ambient Air Quality
Analysis Methods (effective 1/18/97)
Table 5. Significant Impact Levels (SILs)
18 AAC 50.220. Enforceable Test Methods
(effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.225. Owner-Requested Limits
(effective 1/18/97) except (c) through (g)
18 AAC 50.230. Preapproved Emission
Limits (effective 1/18/97) except (d)
18 AAC 50.235. Unavoidable Emergencies
and Malfunctions (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.240. Excess Emissions (effective
1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.245. Air Episodes and Advisories
(effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.502. Minor Permits for Air
Quality Protection (effective 10/1/04)
except (b)(1) through (b)(3), (b)(5), (d)(1)
and (d)(2)
18 AAC 50.508. Minor Permits Requested by
the Owner or Operator (effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.509. Construction of a Pollution
Control Project without a Permit (effective
10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.540. Minor Permit: Application
(effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.542. Minor Permit: Review and
Issuance (effective 10/1/04) except (a),
(b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (d)
18 AAC 50.544. Minor Permits: Content
(effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.546. Minor Permits: Revisions
(effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.560. General Minor Permits
(effective 10/1/04) except (b)
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4700
Article 3. Major Stationary Source Permits
18 AAC 50.301. Permit Continuity (effective
10/1/04) except (b)
18 AAC 50.302. Construction Permits
(effective 10/01/04)
18 AAC 50.306. Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) Permits (effective 10/
01/04) except (c)(2) and (e)
18 AAC 50.311. Nonattainment Area Major
Stationary Source Permits (effective 10/01/
04) except (c)
18 AAC 50.316. Preconstruction Review for
Construction or Reconstruction of a Major
Source of Hazardous Air Pollutants
(effective 10/01/04) except (c)
18 AAC 50.321. Case-By-Case Maximum
Achievable Control Technology (effective
12/01/04)
18 AAC 50.326. Title V Operating Permits
(effective 10/01/04) except (c)(1), (h), (i)(3),
(j)(5), (j)(6), (k)(1)(k)(3), (k)(5), and (k)(6)
18 AAC 50.345. Construction, Minor and
Operating Permits: Standard Permit
Conditions (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.346. Construction and Operating
Permits: Other Permit Conditions (effective
10/01/04)
Table 7. Standard Operating Permit
Condition
Article 4. User Fees
18 AAC 50.400. Permit Administration Fees
(effective 1/18/97) except (c)(1) through
(c)(3), (c)(6), (k)(3) and (m)(3)
18 AAC 50.403. Negotiated Service
Agreements (effective 1/29/05)
18 AAC 50.405. Transition Process for Permit
Fees (effective 1/29/05)
18 AAC 50.410. Emission Fees (effective 1/
18/97)
18 AAC 50.499. Definition for User Fee
Requirements (effective 1/29/05)
Article 5. Minor Permits
E:\FR\FM\03MRP1.SGM
03MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 3, 2009 / Proposed Rules
Article 9. General Provisions
18 AAC 50.990. Definitions (effective 1/18/
97)
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. E9–4465 Filed 3–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[DA 08–2088; MB Docket No. 08–149; RM–
11475]
Television Broadcasting Services;
Columbus, GA
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Dismissal.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Commission, at the
request of petitioner Georgia Public
Telecommunications Commission
(‘‘GPTC’’), permittee of noncommercial
educational station WJSP–DT, DTV
channel *23, Columbus, Georgia,
dismisses GPTC’s pending petition for
rulemaking to substitute DTV channel
*11 for post-transition DTV channel *23
at Columbus.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adrienne Y. Denysyk, Media Bureau,
(202) 418–1600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
synopsis of the Commission’s Order,
MB Docket No. 08–149, adopted
September 10, 2008, and released
September 10, 2008. The full text of this
document is available for public
inspection and copying during normal
business hours in the FCC’s Reference
Information Center at Portals II, CY–
A257, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20554. This document
will also be available via ECFS (https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/). (Documents
will be available electronically in ASCII,
Word 97, and/or Adobe Acrobat.) This
document may be purchased from the
Commission’s duplicating contractor,
Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th
Street, SW., Room CY–B402,
Washington, DC 20554, telephone 1–
800–478–3160 or via e-mail https://
www.BCPIWEB.com. To request this
document in accessible formats
(computer diskettes, large print, audio
recording, and Braille), send an e-mail
to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the
Commission’s Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)
418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432
(TTY). This document does not contain
information collection requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, Public Law 104–13. In addition,
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:19 Mar 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
therefore, it does not contain any
information collection burden ‘‘for
small business concerns with fewer than
25 employees,’’ pursuant to the Small
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002,
Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4). Provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to
this proceeding.
This document is not subject to the
Congressional Review Act. (The
Commission, is, therefore, not required
to submit a copy of this Order to the
Government Accountability Office,
pursuant to the Congressional Review
Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A) since this
proposed rule is dismissed, herein.)
Federal Communications Commission.
Clay C. Pendarvis,
Associate Chief, Video Division, Media
Bureau.
[FR Doc. E9–4486 Filed 3–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[DA 09–409; MB Docket No. 08–233; RM–
11505]
Television Broadcasting Services;
Waco, TX
AGENCY: Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Dismissal.
SUMMARY: The Commission, at the
request of petitioner Comcorp of Texas
License Corp. (‘‘Comcorp’’), the
permittee of post-transition DTV
channel 44, Waco, Texas, dismisses
Comcorp’s pending petition for
rulemaking to substitute DTV channel
25 for post-transition DTV channel 44 at
Waco.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adrienne Y. Denysyk, Media Bureau,
(202) 418–1600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
synopsis of the Commission’s Order,
MB Docket No. 08–233, adopted
February 19, 2009, and released
February 20, 2009. The full text of this
document is available for public
inspection and copying during normal
business hours in the FCC’s Reference
Information Center at Portals II, CY–
A257, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC, 20554. This document
will also be available via ECFS (https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ ). (Documents
will be available electronically in ASCII,
Word 97, and/or Adobe Acrobat.) This
document may be purchased from the
Commission’s duplicating contractor,
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
9185
Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th
Street, SW., Room CY-B402,
Washington, DC 20554, telephone 1–
800–478–3160 or via e-mail https://
www.BCPIWEB.com. To request this
document in accessible formats
(computer diskettes, large print, audio
recording, and Braille), send an e-mail
to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the
Commission’s Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)
418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432
(TTY). This document does not contain
information collection requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, Public Law 104–13. In addition,
therefore, it does not contain any
information collection burden ‘‘for
small business concerns with fewer than
25 employees,’’ pursuant to the Small
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002,
Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4). Provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to
this proceeding.
This document is not subject to the
Congressional Review Act. (The
Commission, is, therefore, not required
to submit a copy of this Order to the
Government Accountability Office,
pursuant to the Congressional Review
Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A) since this
proposed rule is dismissed, herein.)
Federal Communications Commission.
Clay C. Pendarvis
Associate Chief, Video Division, Media
Bureau.
[FR Doc. E9–4484 Filed 3–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
49 CFR Parts 531 and 533
[Docket No. NHTSA–2009–0042]
Passenger Car Average Fuel Economy
Standards—Model Years 2008–2020;
Light Truck Average Fuel Economy
Standards—Model Years 2008–2020;
Request for Product Plan Information
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Request for comments.
SUMMARY: The purpose of this request
for comments is to acquire new and
updated information regarding vehicle
manufacturers’ future product plans to
assist the agency in assessing what
corporate average fuel economy (CAFE)
standards should be established for
model years 2012 through 2016
E:\FR\FM\03MRP1.SGM
03MRP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9180-9185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4465]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 55
[EPA-R10-OAR-2009-0111; FRL-8777-6]
Outer Continental Shelf Air Regulations Consistency Update for
Alaska
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule-consistency update.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to update a portion of the Outer Continental
Shelf (``OCS'') Air Regulations. Requirements applying to OCS sources
located within 25 miles of States' seaward boundaries must be updated
periodically to remain consistent with the requirements of the
corresponding onshore area (``COA''), as mandated by the Clean Air Act
(``the Act''). The portion of the OCS air regulations that is being
updated pertains to the requirements for OCS sources in the State of
Alaska. The intended effect of approving the OCS requirements for the
State of Alaska is to regulate emissions from OCS sources
[[Page 9181]]
in accordance with the requirements onshore. The change to the existing
requirements discussed below is proposed to be incorporated by
reference into the Code of Federal Regulations and is listed in the
appendix to the OCS air regulations.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 2, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R10-OAR-2009-0111, by one of the following methods:
A. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting comments;
B. E-Mail: greaves.natasha@epa.gov;
C. Mail: Natasha Greaves, Federal and Delegated Air Programs Unit,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue,
Suite 900, Mail Stop: AWT-107, Seattle, WA 98101;
D. Hand Delivery: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10,
Attn: Natasha Greaves (AWT-107), 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington
98101, 9th Floor. Such deliveries are only accepted during normal hours
of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R10-OAR-
2009-0111. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
https://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 https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://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 https://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
https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy during normal business hours at the
Office of Air, Waste and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natasha Greaves, Federal and Delegated
Air Programs Unit, Office of Air, Waste, and Toxics, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, Mail Stop:
AWT-107, Seattle, WA 98101; telephone number: (206) 553-7079; e-mail
address: greaves.natasha@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background Information
Why Is EPA Taking This Action?
II. EPA's Evaluation
What Criteria Were Used To Evaluate Rules Submitted To Update 40
CFR Part 55?
III. Administrative Requirements
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
I. Background Information
Why Is EPA Taking This Action?
On September 4, 1992, EPA promulgated 40 CFR part 55,\1\ which
established requirements to control air pollution from OCS sources in
order to attain and maintain federal and state ambient air quality
standards and to comply with the provisions of part C of title I of the
Act. Part 55 applies to all OCS sources offshore of the States except
those located in the Gulf of Mexico west of 87.5 degrees longitude.
Section 328 of the Act requires that for such sources located within 25
miles of a State's seaward boundary, the requirements shall be the same
as would be applicable if the sources were located in the COA. Because
the OCS requirements are based on onshore requirements, and onshore
requirements may change, section 328(a)(1) requires that EPA update the
OCS requirements as necessary to maintain consistency with onshore
requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The reader may refer to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
December 5, 1991 (56 FR 63774), and the preamble to the final rule
promulgated September 4, 1992 (57 FR 40792) for further background
and information on the OCS regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to Sec. 55.12 of the OCS rule, consistency reviews will
occur (1) at least annually; (2) upon receipt of a Notice of Intent
under Sec. 55.4; or (3) when a state or local agency submits a rule to
EPA to be considered for incorporation by reference in part 55. This
proposed action is being taken in response to the submittal of a Notice
of Intent on January 9, 2009 by Shell Offshore, Inc. of Houston, Texas.
Public comments received in writing within 30 days of publication of
this proposed rule will be considered by EPA before publishing a final
rule.
Section 328(a) of the Act requires that EPA establish requirements
to control air pollution from OCS sources located within 25 miles of
States' seaward boundaries that are the same as onshore requirements.
To comply with this statutory mandate, EPA must incorporate applicable
onshore rules into part 55 as they exist onshore. This limits EPA's
flexibility in deciding which requirements will be incorporated into
part 55 and prevents EPA from making substantive changes to the
requirements it incorporates. As a result, EPA may be incorporating
rules into part 55 that do not conform to all of EPA's state
implementation plan (``SIP'') guidance or certain requirements of the
Act.
Consistency updates may result in the inclusion of state or local
rules or regulations into part 55, even though the same rules may
ultimately be disapproved for inclusion as part of the SIP. Inclusion
in the OCS rule does not imply that a rule meets the requirements of
the Act for SIP approval, nor does it imply that the rule will be
approved by EPA for inclusion in the SIP.
[[Page 9182]]
II. EPA's Evaluation
What Criteria Were Used To Evaluate Rules Submitted To Update 40 CFR
Part 55?
In updating 40 CFR part 55, EPA reviewed the rules submitted for
inclusion in part 55 to ensure that they are rationally related to the
attainment or maintenance of federal or state ambient air quality
standards or part C of title I of the Act, that they are not designed
expressly to prevent exploration and development of the OCS and that
they are applicable to OCS sources. 40 CFR 55.1. EPA has also evaluated
the rules to ensure they are not arbitrary or capricious. 40 CFR 55.12
(e). In addition, EPA has excluded administrative or procedural
rules,\2\ and requirements that regulate toxics which are not related
to the attainment and maintenance of federal and state ambient air
quality standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Each COA which has been delegated the authority to implement
and enforce part 55, will use its administrative and procedural
rules as onshore. However, in those instances where EPA has not
delegated authority to implement and enforce part 55, as in Alaska,
EPA will use its own administrative and procedural requirements to
implement the substantive requirements. See 40 CFR 55.14 (c)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Administrative Requirements
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735 (October 4, 1993)), the
Agency must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant''
and therefore subject to Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'')
review and the requirements of the Executive Order. The Order defines
``significant regulatory action'' as one that is likely to result in a
rule that may:
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public
health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in
the Executive Order.
This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of Executive Order 12866 and is therefore not subject to OMB
Review. This rule implements requirements specifically and explicitly
set forth by the Congress in section 328 of the Clean Air Act, without
the exercise of any policy discretion by EPA. These OCS rules already
apply in the COA, and EPA has no evidence to suggest that these OCS
rules have created an adverse material effect. As required by section
328 of the Clean Air Act, this action simply updates the existing OCS
requirements to make them consistent with rules in the COA.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
The OMB has approved the information collection requirements
contained in 40 CFR part 55, and by extension this update to the rules,
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq. and has assigned OMB control number 2060-0249. The OMB Notice of
Action is dated January 15, 2009. The approval expires January 31,
2012.
OMB's Notice of Action dated January 15, 2007 indicated that the,
the annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for collection of
information under 40 CFR part 55 is estimated to average 112 hours per
response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and are identified on
the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA'') generally requires an
agency to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject
to notice and comment rulemaking requirements unless the agency
certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small
businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, and small governmental
jurisdictions.
This rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. This rule implements requirements
specifically and explicitly set forth by the Congress in section 328 of
the Clean Air Act, without the exercise of any policy discretion by
EPA. These OCS rules already apply in the COA, and EPA has no evidence
to suggest that these OCS rules have had a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities. As required by section 328
of the Clean Air Act, this action simply updates the existing OCS
requirements to make them consistent with rules in the COA. Therefore,
I certify that this action will not have a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (``UMRA''),
Public Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to
assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and
tribal governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the
UMRA, EPA generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-
benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal
mandates'' that may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100
million of more in any one year.
Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement is
needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify and
consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt the
least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative that
achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of section 205 do
not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover,
section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other than the least
costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final rule an explanation why that
alternative was not adopted.
Before EPA establishes any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed under section 203 of the UMRA a
small government agency plan. The plan must provide for notifying
potentially affected small governments,
[[Page 9183]]
enabling officials of affected small governments to have meaningful and
timely input in the development of EPA regulatory proposals with
significant Federal intergovernmental mandates, and informing,
educating, and advising small governments on compliance with the
regulatory requirements.
Today's proposed rule contains no Federal mandates (under the
regulatory provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local, or
tribal governments or the private sector that may result in
expenditures of $100 million or more for State, local, or tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector in any one
year. This rule implements requirements specifically and explicitly set
forth by the Congress in section 328 of the Clean Air Act without the
exercise of any policy discretion by EPA. These OCS rules already apply
in the COA, and EPA has no evidence to suggest that these OCS rules
have created an adverse material effect. As required by section 328 of
the Clean Air Act, this action simply updates the existing OCS
requirements to make them consistent with rules in the COA.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Orders 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255
(August 10, 1999)), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to
ensure ``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in
the development of regulatory policies that have federalism
implications.'' ``Policies that have federalism implications'' is
defined in the Executive Order to include regulations that have
``substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.''
This proposed rule does not have federalism implications. It will
not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government,
as specified in Executive Order 13132. This rule implements
requirements specifically and explicitly set forth by the Congress in
section 328 of the Clean Air Act, without the exercise of any policy
discretion by EPA. As required by section 328 of the Clean Air Act,
this rule simply updates the existing OCS rules to make them consistent
with current COA requirements. This rule does not amend the existing
provisions within 40 CFR part 55 enabling delegation of OCS regulations
to a COA, and this rule does not require the COA to implement the OCS
rules. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this rule.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132, and consistent with EPA
policy to promote communications between EPA and State and local
governments, EPA specifically solicits comments on this proposed rule
from State and local officials.
F. Executive Order 13175: Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249 (November 9, 2000)),
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory
policies that have tribal implications.'' This rule 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 and thus does not have ``tribal
implications,'' within the meaning of Executive Order 13175. This rule
implements requirements specifically and explicitly set forth by the
Congress in section 328 of the Clean Air Act, without the exercise of
any policy discretion by EPA. As required by section 328 of the Clean
Air Act, this rule simply updates the existing OCS rules to make them
consistent with current COA requirements. In addition, this rule does
not impose substantial direct compliance costs on tribal governments,
nor preempt tribal law. Consultation with Indian tribes is therefore
not required under Executive Order 13175. Nonetheless, in the spirit of
Executive Order 13175 and consistent with EPA policy to promote
communications between EPA and tribes, EPA specifically solicits
comments on this proposed rule from tribal officials.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045: ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885 (April 23, 1997)), applies
to any rule that: (1) is determined to be ``economically significant''
as defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe may
have a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action
meets both criteria, the Agency must evaluate the environmental health
or safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain why the
planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and
reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the Agency.
This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because
it is not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866.
In addition, the Agency does not have reason to believe the
environmental health or safety risks addressed by this action present a
disproportional risk to children.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use
This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' [66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)] because it
is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law 104-113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note)
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable laws
or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by
voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decided not to use
available and applicable voluntary consensus standards.
As discussed above, this rule implements requirements specifically
and explicitly set forth by the Congress in section 328 of the Clean
Air Act, without the exercise of any policy discretion by EPA. As
required by section 328 of the Clean Air Act, this rule simply updates
the existing OCS rules to make them consistent with current COA
requirements. In the absence of a prior existing requirement for the
state to use voluntary consensus standards and in light of the fact
that EPA is required to make the OCS rules consistent with current COA
requirements, it would be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA to
use voluntary consensus standards in this action. Therefore, EPA is not
considering the use of any voluntary consensus standards. EPA welcomes
[[Page 9184]]
comments on this aspect of the proposed rulemaking and, specifically,
invites the public to identify potentially applicable voluntary
consensus standards and to explain why such standards should be used in
this regulation.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 55
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedures,
Air pollution control, Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Outer
Continental Shelf, Ozone, Particulate matter, Permits, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides.
Dated: February 20, 2009.
Michelle L. Pirzadeh,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
Title 40, chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations, is proposed
to be amended as follows:
PART 55--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 55 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Section 328 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.) as
amended by Public Law 101-549.
2. Section 55.14 is amended by revising paragraph (e)(2)(i)(A) to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.14 Requirements that apply to OCS sources located within 25
miles of States' seaward boundaries, by State.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(2) * * *
(i) * * *
(A) State of Alaska Requirements Applicable to OCS Sources,
November 9, 2008.
* * * * *
3. Appendix A to CFR part 55 is amended by revising paragraph
(a)(1) under the heading ``Alaska'' to read as follows:
Appendix A to Part 55--Listing of State and Local Requirements
Incorporated by Reference Into Part 55, by State
* * * * *
Alaska
(a) * * *
(1) The following State of Alaska requirements are applicable to
OCS Sources, December 3, 2005, Alaska Administrative Code--
Department of Environmental Conservation. The following sections of
Title 18, Chapter 50:
Article 1. Ambient Air Quality Management
18 AAC 50.005. Purpose and Applicability of Chapter (effective 1/18/
97)
18 AAC 50.010. Ambient Air Quality Standards (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.015. Air Quality Designations, Classification, and Control
Regions (effective 1/18/97) except (d)(2)
Table 1. Air Quality Classifications
18 AAC 50.020. Baseline Dates and Maximum Allowable Increases
(effective 1/18/97)
Table 2. Baseline Dates
Table 3. Maximum Allowable Increases
18 AAC 50.025. Visibility and Other Special Protection Areas
(effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.030. State Air Quality Control Plan (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.035. Documents, Procedures, and Methods Adopted by
Reference (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.040. Federal Standards Adopted by Reference (effective 1/
18/97) except (a)(H), (a)(I). (a)(N) through (a)(P), (a)(R) through
(a)(U), (a)(W), (a)(Y), (a)(AA), (a)(CC) through (a)(EE),
(a)(II)(a)(KK), (c)(4), (c)(5), (c)(12), (c)(14) through (c)(16),
(c)(18), (c)(20), (c)(25), (c)(26) through (c)(29), (c)(30), (c)(31)
and (g)
18 AAC 50.045. Prohibitions (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.050. Incinerator Emissions Standards (effective 1/18/97)
Table 4. Particulate Matter Standards for Incinerators
18 AAC 50.055. Industrial Processes and Fuel-Burning Equipment
(effective 1/18/97) except (a)(3) through (a)(9), (b)(2)(A), (b)(4)
through (b)(6), (e) and (f)
18 AAC 50.065. Open Burning (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.070. Marine Vessel Visible Emission Standards (effective
1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.075. Wood-Fired Heating Device Visible Emission Standards
(effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.080. Ice Fog Standards (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.085. Volatile Liquid Storage Tank Emission Standards
(effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.090. Volatile Liquid Loading Racks and Delivery Tank
Emission Standards (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.100. Nonroad Engines (effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.110. Air Pollution Prohibited (effective 5/26/72)
Article 2. Program Administration
18 AAC 50.200. Information Requests (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.201. Ambient Air Quality Investigation (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.205. Certification (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.215. Ambient Air Quality Analysis Methods (effective 1/18/
97)
Table 5. Significant Impact Levels (SILs)
18 AAC 50.220. Enforceable Test Methods (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.225. Owner-Requested Limits (effective 1/18/97) except (c)
through (g)
18 AAC 50.230. Preapproved Emission Limits (effective 1/18/97)
except (d)
18 AAC 50.235. Unavoidable Emergencies and Malfunctions (effective
1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.240. Excess Emissions (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.245. Air Episodes and Advisories (effective 1/18/97)
Table 6. Concentrations Triggering an Air Episode
18 AAC 50.260. Guidance for Best Available Retrofit Technology under
the Regional Haze Rule (effective 12/30/07)
Article 3. Major Stationary Source Permits
18 AAC 50.301. Permit Continuity (effective 10/1/04) except (b)
18 AAC 50.302. Construction Permits (effective 10/01/04)
18 AAC 50.306. Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permits
(effective 10/01/04) except (c)(2) and (e)
18 AAC 50.311. Nonattainment Area Major Stationary Source Permits
(effective 10/01/04) except (c)
18 AAC 50.316. Preconstruction Review for Construction or
Reconstruction of a Major Source of Hazardous Air Pollutants
(effective 10/01/04) except (c)
18 AAC 50.321. Case-By-Case Maximum Achievable Control Technology
(effective 12/01/04)
18 AAC 50.326. Title V Operating Permits (effective 10/01/04) except
(c)(1), (h), (i)(3), (j)(5), (j)(6), (k)(1)(k)(3), (k)(5), and
(k)(6)
18 AAC 50.345. Construction, Minor and Operating Permits: Standard
Permit Conditions (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.346. Construction and Operating Permits: Other Permit
Conditions (effective 10/01/04)
Table 7. Standard Operating Permit Condition
Article 4. User Fees
18 AAC 50.400. Permit Administration Fees (effective 1/18/97) except
(c)(1) through (c)(3), (c)(6), (k)(3) and (m)(3)
18 AAC 50.403. Negotiated Service Agreements (effective 1/29/05)
18 AAC 50.405. Transition Process for Permit Fees (effective 1/29/
05)
18 AAC 50.410. Emission Fees (effective 1/18/97)
18 AAC 50.499. Definition for User Fee Requirements (effective 1/29/
05)
Article 5. Minor Permits
18 AAC 50.502. Minor Permits for Air Quality Protection (effective
10/1/04) except (b)(1) through (b)(3), (b)(5), (d)(1) and (d)(2)
18 AAC 50.508. Minor Permits Requested by the Owner or Operator
(effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.509. Construction of a Pollution Control Project without a
Permit (effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.540. Minor Permit: Application (effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.542. Minor Permit: Review and Issuance (effective 10/1/04)
except (a), (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (d)
18 AAC 50.544. Minor Permits: Content (effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.546. Minor Permits: Revisions (effective 10/1/04)
18 AAC 50.560. General Minor Permits (effective 10/1/04) except (b)
[[Page 9185]]
Article 9. General Provisions
18 AAC 50.990. Definitions (effective 1/18/97)
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E9-4465 Filed 3-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P