Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Revisions to Particulate Matter Regulations, 19144-19147 [E9-9539]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 28, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19144-19147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9539]



[[Page 19144]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R06-OAR-2005-TX-0028; FRL-8897-3]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; 
Revisions to Particulate Matter Regulations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions for 
the state of Texas. These revisions revise and recodify regulations for 
control of particulate matter in the Texas SIP. This rulemaking action 
is being taken under section 110 of the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This rule is effective on May 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket 
No. EPA-R06-OAR-2005-TX-0028. All documents in the docket are listed on 
the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, 
some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other 
material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet 
and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly 
available docket materials are available either electronically through 
https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air Planning Section 
(6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. The file will be made available by 
appointment for public inspection in the Region 6 FOIA Review Room 
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays except for legal 
holidays. Contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT paragraph below or Mr. Bill Deese at 214-665-7253 to make an 
appointment. If possible, please make the appointment at least two 
working days in advance of your visit. There will be a fee of 15 cents 
per page for making photocopies of documents. On the day of the visit, 
please check in at the EPA Region 6 reception area at 1445 Ross Avenue, 
Suite 700, Dallas, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Kordzi, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 
700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone (214) 665-7186; fax number 
214-665-7263; e-mail address kordzi.joe@epa.gov.

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

Outline

I. What Is the Background?
    A. Recent History of the Changes to 30 TAC Chapter 111
    B. Recap of Our Previous 1999 Action on 30 TAC Chapter 111
II. What Action Is EPA Taking?
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What Is the Background?

A. Recent History of the Changes to 30 TAC Chapter 111

    On October 28, 1999, we proposed to approve (1) a recodification of 
and revisions to the regulations for the control of particulate matter 
into the Texas SIP, and (2) the removal of the Texas Air Control Board, 
Board Seal rule from the Texas SIP and requested public comments on our 
action (64 FR 58006). A simultaneous notice of direct final rulemaking 
was also published (64 FR 57983). However, on November 29, 1999, we 
received an adverse comment concerning our proposal to replace 30 TAC 
111.105.2, Ground Level Concentrations, with 30 TAC 111.155, Control of 
Air Pollution from Visible Emissions and Particulate Matter. We 
received no other comments on the direct final rulemaking. We therefore 
withdrew the particulate matter regulations' part of the direct final 
rulemaking action on December 17, 1999 (64 FR 70593) to consider how to 
address the comment. We finalized approval of the second portion of the 
NPR, i.e., the removal of the Board Seal rule from the Texas SIP, on 
March 30, 2005 (70 FR 16129) since there were no comments on our 
proposed approval.
    Since our proposed approval, we have been in discussions with TCEQ 
regarding planned modifications to Chapter 111. On June 16, 2006, we 
received a request from the TCEQ to remove from consideration its 
previous request to replace 30 TAC 111.105.2 with 30 TAC 111.155 and to 
revise the Texas SIP by removing 30 TAC 105.2. In part, because of this 
request, we are not finalizing our proposed approval of TAC 111.155. We 
are finalizing our approval of the remaining sections of TAC Chapter 
111 that we proposed approval of in 1999 as there were no comments on 
our proposed approval of these sections.

B. Recap of Our Previous 1999 Action on 30 TAC Chapter 111

    The following is a recap of the particulate matter portion of the 
October 28, 1999 proposed action. The State repealed all of its 
existing particulate matter regulations and replaced them in Chapter 
111, Sections 111.101 to 111.183, on June 16, 1989. The State revised 
the new sections in 1990, 1991 and 1993. We approved into the Texas SIP 
in 1994 and 1996 many of the new sections of Chapter 111, but not all 
of them. On August 21, 1996, the State made further formatting and 
reorganization changes by adding two Subchapters to Chapter 111, 
putting the open burning regulations under the new Subchapter B and all 
other sections into the new Subchapter A.
    We proposed in October 1999 to approve the sections of the 1989 
recodification of Chapter 111 and the 1990, 1991, and 1993 revisions 
that we had not previously approved. We also proposed to approve the 
1996 Subchapter additions and reorganization changes. We proposed to 
approve the new recodified Sections 111.121, 111.151, 111.153 (with 
some substantive revisions), 111.155, 111.171 (with the deletion of 
Figure 3), 111.173, 111.175, 111.181, and 111.183. We also proposed to 
approve the 1996 moving and recodification of Sections 111.101, 
111.103, 111.105, and 111.107 into a new Subchapter B as Sections 
111.201, 111.203 (adding new definitions for clarity), 111.205, 
111.207, 111.209 (clarifying the types of waste and allowing burning of 
diseased animal carcasses when burning is the most effective means to 
control the spread of disease), 111.211, 111.213 (adding new sampling 
and monitoring requirements), 111.215 (clarifying the burning cannot 
cause a nuisance condition or traffic hazard), 111.219, and 111.221. 
Furthermore, we proposed to approve the 1996 moving and recodification 
of all of the remaining sections in Chapter 111 into the new Subchapter 
A.
    Please refer to the 1999 Federal Registers for additional 
information concerning the nature of the proposed action to approve 
revisions and recodification to the particulate matter regulations.

II. What Action Is EPA Taking?

    We are approving revisions to Regulation I in the Texas SIP adopted 
by the TACB on June 16, 1989, and submitted to EPA on August 21, 1989, 
concerning Incineration, Emission Limits on Nonagricultural Processes 
(with the exception of Section 111.155), Emission Limits on 
Agricultural

[[Page 19145]]

Processes, Exemptions for Portable or Transient Operations, and the 
repeal of Section 111.92, Compliance Dates.
    We are also approving revisions, adopted by the Texas Natural 
Resources Commission (now TCEQ) March 29, 1995, and August 21, 1996, 
and submitted to EPA on July 12, 1995, and August 30, 1996, 
respectively. These revisions revise and move the Outdoor Burning 
sections of Regulation I into new Subchapter B, Outdoor Burning, and 
move the rest of the sections in Regulation I into new Subchapter A, 
Visible Emissions and Particulate Matter. This will bring the Texas 
particulate matter SIP more up to date in both format and substance and 
make the SIP more consistent with the State's rules which would enhance 
Federal enforcement.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a 
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and 
applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). 
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve State 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. 
Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     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);
     Does not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the Clean Air Act; and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

In addition, this rule does not have Tribal implications as specified 
by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the 
SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in the state, 
and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct costs on 
Tribal governments or preempt Tribal law.
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and 
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by June 29, 2009. Filing a 
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule 
does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of 
judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for 
judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness 
of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in 
proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Particulate matter, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 14, 2009.
Lawrence E. Starfield,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.

0
40 CFR Part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Subpart SS--Texas

0
2. The table in Sec.  52.2270(c) entitled ``EPA Approved Regulations in 
the Texas SIP'' is amended by revising the entries under Chapter 111 to 
read as follows:


Sec.  52.2270   Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                                    EPA-Approved Regulations in the Texas SIP
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                                                          State approval/
         State citation               Title/subject       submittal date   EPA approval date      Explanation
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                                                  * * * * * * *
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           Chapter 111 (Reg 1)--Control of Air Pollution from Visible Emissions and Particulate Matter
                             Subchapter A: Visible Emissions and Particulate Matter
                                          Division 1: Visible Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 111.111(a), (b)........  Requirements for              6/18/1993  5/8/1996, 61 FR
                                  Specified Sources.                       20732.
Section 111.111(c).............  Requirements for             10/25/1991  1/18/1994, 59 FR
                                  Specified Sources.                       2532.
Section 111.113................  Alternative Opacity           6/16/1989  5/8/1996, 61 FR
                                  Limitations.                             20732.
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[[Page 19146]]

 
                                            Division 2: Incineration
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Section 111.121................  Single-Chamber                6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Incineration.                            FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Division 4: Materials Handling, Construction, Roads, Streets, Alleys, and Parking Lots
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 111.141................  Geographic Areas of          10/25/1991  1/18/1994, 59 FR
                                  Application and Date                     02532.
                                  of Compliance.
Section 111.143................  Materials Handling.....       6/16/1989  1/18/1994, 59 FR
                                                                           02532.
Section 111.145................  Construction and             10/25/1991  1/18/1994, 59 FR
                                  Demolition.                              02532.
Section 111.147................  Roads, Streets, and          10/25/1991  1/18/1994, 59 FR
                                  Alleys.                                  02532.
Section 111.149................  Parking Lots...........       6/16/1989  1/18/1994, 59 FR
                                                                           02532.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Division 5: Emission Limits on Nonagricultural Processes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 111.151................  Allowable Emissions           6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Limits.                                  FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.153................  Emission Limits for           6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Steam Generators.                        FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Rule 105.2.....................  Ground Level                  1/26/1972  5/31/1972, 27 FR
                                  Concentrations.                          10842.
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                              Division 6: Emission Limits on Agricultural Processes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 111.171................  Emission Limits Based         6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  on Process Weight                        FR page number
                                  Method.                                  where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.173................  Emissions Limits Based        6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  on Alternate Method.                     FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.175................  Exemptions.............       6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                                                           FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Division 7: Exemptions for Portable or Transient Operations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 111.181................  Exemption Policy.......       6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                                                           FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.183................  Requirements for              6/16/1989  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Exemptions.                              FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Subchapter B: Outdoor Burning
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 111.201................  General Prohibitions...       8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                                                           FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.203................  Definitions............       8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                                                           FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.205................  Exceptions for Fire           8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Training.                                FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.207................  Exceptions for Fires          8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Used for Recreation,                     FR page number
                                  Ceremony, Cooking, and                   where document
                                  Warmth.                                  begins].
Section 111.209................  Exception for Disposal        8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Fires.                                   FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.211................  Exception for                 8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Prescribed Burn.                         FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].

[[Page 19147]]

 
Section 111.213................  Exception for                 8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Hydrocarbon Burning.                     FR page number
                                                                           where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.215................  Executive Director            8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Approval of Otherwise                    FR page number
                                  Prohibited Outdoor                       where document
                                  Burning.                                 begins].
Section 111.219................  General Requirements          8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  for Allowable Outdoor                    FR page number
                                  Burning.                                 where document
                                                                           begins].
Section 111.221................  Responsibility for            8/21/1996  4/28/2009 [Insert
                                  Consequences of                          FR page number
                                  Outdoor Burning.                         where document
                                                                           begins].
 
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[FR Doc. E9-9539 Filed 4-27-09; 8:45 am]
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