Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans: Alaska, 13436-13441 [2010-3235]
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13436
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 54 / Monday, March 22, 2010 / Rules and Regulations
because it 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.
Energy Effects
We have analyzed this rule under
Executive Order 13211, Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use. We have
determined that it is not a ‘‘significant
energy action’’ under that order because
it is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’
under Executive Order 12866 and is not
likely to have a significant adverse effect
on the supply, distribution, or use of
energy. The Administrator of the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs
has not designated it as a significant
energy action. Therefore, it does not
require a Statement of Energy Effects
under Executive Order 13211.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with RULES
Technical Standards
The National Technology Transfer
and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use
voluntary consensus standards in their
regulatory activities unless the agency
provides Congress, through the Office of
Management and Budget, with an
explanation of why using these
standards would be inconsistent with
applicable law or otherwise impractical.
Voluntary consensus standards are
technical standards (e.g., specifications
of materials, performance, design, or
operation; test methods; sampling
procedures; and related management
systems practices) that are developed or
adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies.
This rule does not use technical
standards. Therefore, we did not
consider the use of voluntary consensus
standards.
Environment
We have analyzed this rule under
Department of Homeland Security
Management Directive 023–01 and
Commandant Instruction M16475.lD,
which guide the Coast Guard in
complying with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370f), and
have concluded this action is one of a
category of actions which do not
individually or cumulatively have a
significant effect on the human
environment. This rule is categorically
excluded, under figure 2–1, paragraph
(34)(g), of the Instruction because it
establishes a safety zone. An
environmental analysis checklist and a
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14:18 Mar 19, 2010
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categorical exclusion determination are
available in the docket where indicated
under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation
(water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Security measures,
Waterways.
■ For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33
CFR part 165 as follows:
PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION
AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS
1. The authority citation for part 165
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C.
Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195;
33 CFR 1.05–1, 6.04–1, 6.04–6, and 160.5;
Pub. L. 107–295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department
of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
■
2. Add § 165.837 to read as follows:
§ 165.836 Safety Zone; Invista Inc Facility
Docks, Victoria Barge Canal, Victoria,
Texas.
(a) Location. The following area is a
safety zone: All waters contained within
a 500-foot (152.5m) extension east and
west of the Invista Inc facility docks
while performing offloading operations.
(b) Enforcement Period. This rule will
be enforced for periods of 24–30 hours
twice a month, from the time the
oversized barge docks at the Invista Inc
facility until the vessel departs the
facility upon conclusion of its
offloading operations. The Captain of
the Port Corpus Christi will issue a
Broadcast Notice to Mariners before
beginning enforcement and upon
ceasing enforcement of the safety zone.
(c) Definitions. The following
definition applies to this section:
designated representative means any
commissioned, warrant, and petty
officers of the Coast Guard on board
Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary,
and local, state, and Federal law
enforcement vessels who have been
authorized to act on the behalf of the
Captain of the Port Corpus Christi.
(d) Regulations. (1) Persons desiring
to transit the area of the safety zone may
contact the Captain of the Port at
telephone number 1–361–939–6393, or
the barge on VHF Channel 16
(156.800MHz) to seek permission to
transit the area. If permission is granted,
all persons and vessels must comply
with the instructions of the Captain of
the Port or his or her designated
representative.
(2) All persons and vessels must
comply with the instructions of the
Coast Guard Captain of the Port or the
designated representative.
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(3) Upon being hailed by U.S. Coast
Guard patrol personnel by siren, radio,
flashing light, or other means the
operator of a vessel must proceed as
directed.
(4) The Coast Guard may be assisted
by other Federal, State, or local
agencies.
(5) In accordance with the general
regulations in 33 CFR part 165.23, no
person or vessel may enter or remain in
the zone described in paragraph (a) of
this section except for support vessels/
aircraft and support personnel, or other
vessels authorized by the Captain of the
Port Corpus Christi or his designated
representative.
(e) Penalties. Vessels or persons
violating this rule are subject to the
penalties set forth in 33 U.S.C. 1232 and
50 U.S.C. 192.
Dated: November 19, 2009.
R.J. Paulison,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the
Port Corpus Christi.
Editorial Note: This document was
received in the Office of the Federal Register
on March 16, 2010.
[FR Doc. 2010–6161 Filed 3–19–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[EPA–R10–OAR–2008–0690; FRL–9091–5]
Approval and Promulgation of State
Implementation Plans: Alaska
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The EPA is taking final action
to approve numerous revisions to
Alaska’s State Implementation Plan
(SIP) relating to the motor vehicle
inspection and maintenance (I/M)
program for the control of carbon
monoxide (CO) in Anchorage and
Fairbanks maintenance areas for CO.
The State of Alaska submitted three
revisions to the Alaska SIP: a March 29,
2002 submittal containing minor
revisions to the statewide I/M program;
a December 11, 2006 submittal
containing more substantial revisions to
the statewide I/M program; and a June
5, 2008 submittal containing major
revisions to the statewide I/M program
discontinuing the I/M program in
Fairbanks as an active control measure
in the SIP and shifting it to a
contingency measure. EPA is approving
these submittals because they satisfy the
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requirements of the Clean Air Act
(hereinafter the Act or CAA).
Also in this final action, EPA is
correcting a transcription error in the
boundary description for the Fairbanks
CO maintenance area under section
110(k)(6) of the Act.
DATES: This action is effective on April
21, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA–R10–OAR–
2008–0690. All documents in the docket
are listed on the https://
www.regulations.gov Web site. Although
listed in the index, some information
may not be publicly available, i.e.,
Confidential Business Information or
other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically through https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
EPA Region 10, Office of Air, Waste,
and Toxics (AWT–107), 1200 Sixth
Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101. The
EPA requests that you contact the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section to
schedule your inspection. The Regional
Office’s official hours of business are
Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30,
excluding Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina
Bonifacino, (206) 553–2970, or by e-mail
at bonifacino.gina@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document whenever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean the
EPA. Information is organized as
follows:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Comments Received During the EPA
Public Comment Period
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with RULES
I. Background
The EPA is approving revisions to
Alaska’s SIP related to the I/M program.
The I/M program is a control measure
for CO in the maintenance plans for the
Anchorage and Fairbanks areas that
were approved by EPA on June 23, 2004
(69 FR 34935) and July 27, 2004 (69 FR
44601). The State submitted proposed
revisions to the federally-approved SIP
to EPA in three separate submittals
dated March 29, 2002; December 11,
2006; and June 5, 2008. The March 29,
2002 submittal revises the statewide I/
M regulations to provide for electronic
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vehicle inspection renewal and to
remove the requirement for a paper
certificate to be maintained in the
vehicle; the 2006 submittal revises the
statewide I/M regulations to lengthen
the time period before which new
vehicles are required to obtain their first
certificate of inspection from two years
to four years. The June 5 submittal
discontinues implementation of the I/M
program for CO in the Fairbanks area.
Each of the submittals also contains
minor revisions that are administrative
in nature. In each submittal, Alaska (the
State) included a technical analysis
using EPA approved models and
methods to demonstrate that the
Fairbanks and Anchorage areas will
continue to maintain the CO standard,
and the revision will not interfere with
attainment of the remaining National
Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) including the 24-hour fine
particle (PM2.5) standard. Both the
Anchorage and Fairbanks areas have
been attaining the CO standards since
2001. On September 15, 2009, EPA
proposed to approve the State’s
submittals. 74 FR 47154. EPA proposed
to approve these submittals because
they meet the requirements of the Act.
For a more detailed discussion of the
background of this rulemaking, please
see EPA’s notice of proposed approval.
In this final action EPA is approving all
of the SIP modifications proposed in
Alaska’s above-mentioned 2002, 2006,
and 2008 submittals as originally
proposed.
II. Comments Received During the EPA
Public Comment Period
The following summarizes the issues
raised in comments on the EPA’s
proposed approval published on
September 15, 2009 (74 FR 47154), and
provides EPA’s responses to those
comments. All eight of the comments
received relate to EPA’s proposed action
approving the State’s 2008 submittal
discontinuing the I/M program for CO in
Fairbanks. EPA received a number of
comments that were generally critical of
the discontinuation of the I/M program
for CO in Fairbanks. These commenters
questioned the wisdom of discontinuing
a program that has a beneficial impact
on the community. As discussed in
greater detail below, many of these
issues fall outside of the scope of this
action. No comments were received on
the 2002 or the 2006 submittals
modifying the statewide I/M program
and those proposed modifications are
being finalized in this action as
originally proposed.
Comment: One commenter stated that
any increase in CO levels will be a
detriment to Fairbanks air quality.
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Response: Under section 110(l) of the
Act, the Administrator shall not approve
a revision to a plan if the revision would
interfere with any applicable
requirement concerning attainment and
reasonable further progress (as defined
in section 171), or any other applicable
requirement of the Act. In addition,
under section 175A of the Act, an
approved maintenance plan is required.
As stated in EPA’s September 15, 2009
proposed notice of approval of revisions
to Alaska’s CO SIP, including Alaska’s
revision to the CO maintenance plan for
Fairbanks, the State’s demonstration
shows that emissions projections
included in the State’s submittal
demonstrate that levels of CO will
decline from current levels through
2015 with the discontinuation of the I/
M program and that the State will
maintain the CO standard in Fairbanks
through 2015. The primary driver for
this decline in CO emissions is the
replacement of older, less clean burning
vehicles with newer, cleaner burning
vehicles.
Comment: A number of commenters
stated concerns about the effect of the
discontinuation of the Fairbanks I/M
program on PM2.5 in the area, and one
stated that the I/M program should not
be discontinued until all sources of
PM2.5 can be analyzed.
Response: The EPA is acting on the
State’s submission to revise the CO
maintenance plan for the Fairbanks area
to discontinue the I/M program
beginning in calendar year 2010. As
stated above, under section 110(l) of the
Act, the Administrator shall not approve
a revision to a plan if the revision would
interfere with any applicable
requirement concerning attainment and
reasonable further progress (as defined
in section 171), or any other applicable
requirement of the Act. This includes a
consideration of whether or not this
action will interfere with attainment of
the 2006 PM2.5 and CO NAAQS. In
addition, under section 175A of the Act,
the area will need to have an approved
maintenance plan. As stated in EPA’s
September 15, 2009 proposed notice of
approval of revisions to Alaska’s CO
SIP, the State’s demonstration shows
that without the Fairbanks I/M program,
PM2.5 emissions from mobile sources
will decline as compared to 2005 levels
and the area will continue to attain the
CO NAAQS through 2015.
The Fairbanks area was recently
designated as a nonattainment area for
2006 PM2.5 standard. 74 FR 58688,
November 13, 2009. As a result of the
nonattainment designation for the
Fairbanks area for PM2.5, the State is
required under section 172(b) of the Act
to develop and submit a State
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Implementation Plan within three years
from the effective date of the
designations that will demonstrate
attainment with the PM2.5 standard in
the Fairbanks area. Under section
172(c)(6) and 172(a)(2) of the Act, the
plan must contain a suite of control
measures that will be designed to
address the sources of PM2.5 and PM2.5
precursor emissions in the Fairbanks
area contributing to nonattainment in
the area and achieve attainment status
as expeditiously as practicable but
within 5 years of designation. This
submission will be due no later than
December 14, 2012. 74 FR 58688.
According to Alaska’s emissions
analysis using the EPA-approved mobile
source model, MOBILE6.2, emissions of
direct PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors are
generally projected to decline
substantially from 2005 levels through
2015 (the end of the modeling period).
Directly emitted PM2.5 emissions are
projected to decline by 66% during this
period according to MOBILE6.2 and this
rate of decline is unaffected by the
discontinuation of the I/M program.
EPA has promulgated regulations that
address how areas that have been
designated as nonattainment for the
PM2.5 NAAQS should address PM2.5
direct emissions and PM2.5 precursors in
implementation plans. See 40 CFR
51.1002(c). Contrary to the assertion of
the commenter, Alaska is not required
under these regulations to analyze ‘‘all
sources of PM2.5.’’ As explained in the
Federal Register Notice promulgating
the final PM2.5 Implementation Rule (72
FR 20586, April 25, 2007), EPA has
established requirements for PM2.5 State
Implementation Plans that take into
account the contributions of PM2.5
precursor emissions under area-specific
conditions. The rule represents an
approach that ‘‘requires sulfur dioxide to
be evaluated for control measures in all
areas, and describes general
presumptive policies for NOX,
ammonia, and VOC for all
nonattainment areas. The rule provides
a mechanism by which the State and/or
EPA can make an area-specific
demonstration to reverse the general
presumption for these three
precursors.’’1 72 FR 20589.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with RULES
1 The
State must address NOX as a PM2.5
attainment plan precursor and evaluate sources of
NOX emissions in the State for control measures,
unless the State and EPA provide an appropriate
technical demonstration for a specific area showing
that NOX emissions from sources in the State do not
significantly contribute to PM2.5 concentrations in
the nonattainment area. The State is not required
to address VOC as a PM2.5 attainment plan
precursor and evaluate sources of VOC emissions in
the State for control measures, unless the State
provides an appropriate technical demonstration for
a specific area showing that VOC emissions from
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For the reasons discussed below,
taking into consideration the Agency’s
policy position on determining whether
or not certain PM2.5 precursor emission
sources must be taken into
consideration when selecting control
measures, as well as the best available
data and modeling results regarding the
anticipated effects of the
discontinuation of the Fairbanks I/M
program, EPA concludes that the minor
changes in levels of certain PM2.5
precursor emissions in the Fairbanks
area will not interfere with the area’s
ability to attain the PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA
and Alaska have taken into
consideration the effect of potentially
discontinuing the Fairbanks I/M
program on several PM2.5 precursor
emissions: hydrocarbon (HC) (also
referred to as VOC), NOX, SOx, and
ammonia. Baseline emissions of direct
PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors are projected
to decline between 2005 and 2015
regardless of whether or not the I/M
program is in place. VOC levels are
projected to decline by 51% with the
I/M program and by 39% without the
I/M program. NOX levels are projected
to decline by 63% with the I/M program
and by 59% without the I/M program.
SOx levels are projected to almost
disappear after 2005 because of the
implementation of low sulfur gasoline
and diesel fuel requirements in urban
Alaskan areas. Ammonia is the only
pollutant that modeling projects to
increase from 2005 to 2015, but at a very
low level, (0.01 ton/day) and this is
attributable to growth in vehicle miles
traveled through that period. The
discontinuation of the I/M program will
not affect ammonia emissions. In light
of this information, EPA has concluded
that any potential ammonia
contributions to PM2.5 formation in the
Fairbanks area can not be attributed to
the discontinuation of the I/M program.
Direct PM2.5, SOx and ammonia
precursor PM2.5 emissions in the
Fairbanks area are expected to be
unaffected by the discontinuation of the
I/M program in Fairbanks, while HC and
NOX emissions are projected to change
slightly. The elimination of the I/M
program will slightly diminish the
sources in the State significantly contribute to PM2.5
concentrations in the nonattainment area, and such
demonstration is approved by EPA or the EPA
provides such a technical demonstration. The State
is not required to address ammonia as a PM2.5
attainment plan precursor and evaluate sources of
ammonia emissions from sources in the State for
control measures, unless the State provides an
appropriate technical demonstration for a specific
area showing that ammonia emissions from sources
in the State significantly contribute to PM2.5
concentrations in the nonattainment area, and such
demonstration is approved by EPA or the EPA
provides such a technical demonstration. See 40
CFR 51.1002(c)(1)–(4)
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reduction in NOX and HC emissions
predicted to occur between 2010 and
2015. EPA’s review of the available data
shows that the changes in emission rates
are projected to range between 0.10 and
0.17 tons/day for each of these
pollutants respectively. However, in the
absence of a demonstration that VOCs
are contributing significantly to PM2.5
nonattainment in an area, the state is
not required to develop a plan to control
VOC sources for the purposes of PM2.5
NAAQS attainment. See 40 CFR
51.1002(c)(3). EPA has no technical
basis to conclude that VOCs are a
significant contributor to PM2.5
nonattainment in Fairbanks.
Consequently, EPA has determined in
this instance that changes in VOC
emissions attributable to the
discontinuation of the I/M program will
not interfere with Alaska’s ability to
attain the PM2.5 NAAQS.
EPA’s PM2.5 NAAQS implementation
rule requires that PM2.5 nonattainment
areas address PM2.5 precursor NOX
emissions and evaluate sources of those
emissions in the state for control
measures, unless the state and EPA
provide an appropriate technical
demonstration for a specific area
showing that NOX emissions from
sources in the state do not significantly
contribute to PM2.5 concentrations in the
nonattainment area. Data in the
Technical Support Document for EPA’s
2006 24-hour PM2.5 designations
evidences a poor correlation between
NOX and PM2.5 formation in Fairbanks.
All available information regarding
PM2.5 precursor emissions in the
Fairbanks area supports EPA’s
determination in this instance that that
NOX emissions attributable to a
discontinuation of the I/M program
(estimated to be no more than 0.10 tons
per day) will not significantly contribute
to the formation of PM2.5 in the affected
area. Only a fraction of the .10 tons/day
of NOX would be converted to PM2.5.
Additionally, a speciation analysis of
2006–2008 PM2.5 monitoring data in
Fairbanks shows that on the 12 days
when the PM2.5 standard was exceeded
in 2006–2008 the average mass of nitrate
was 1.58 μg/m3. When this is adjusted
for ammonium, the value of ammonium
nitrate is 2.04 μg/m3. This is 4.4% of the
total average PM2.5 mass (46.69 μg/m3)
recorded on violation days. The twelve
days when the PM2.5 standard was
violated in 2006–2008 all occurred
during the winter months and the
technical data in the record indicate that
levels of PM2.5 above the 35 μg/m3 level
of the NAAQS were caused by increased
use of wood-burning stoves and home
heating oil. These data support EPA’s
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 54 / Monday, March 22, 2010 / Rules and Regulations
conclusion that the small increase in
precursor NOX emissions attributable to
the discontinuation of the I/M program
will not interfere with the ability of the
area to attain the PM2.5 NAAQS
standard.
Comment: One anonymous
commenter stated that the removal of
the I/M program will increase PM2.5 and
expressed concerns about discontinuing
the I/M program, contending that there
were high PM2.5 levels in the area and
citing data that shows unexplained
hotspots on Airport Road coupled with
the lack of study of mobile source
concentrations.
Response: The anonymous
commenter did not identify the source
or nature of the data which underlies
their comment and the basis for
concluding that there is a PM2.5 ‘‘hot
spot’’ on Airport Road in Fairbanks. EPA
is aware that the State has collected
preliminary screening data using
instantaneous mobile monitoring
around Fairbanks that shows elevated
concentrations of PM2.5 in the vicinity of
Airport Road. This data was collected to
yield preliminary information on the
location of elevated PM2.5
concentrations in the Fairbanks area. As
preliminary data, it has not undergone
quality assurance processes, nor was it
collected in accordance with EPAapproved methods. EPA believes that
this preliminary data is inconclusive
concerning the source(s) contributing to
elevated PM2.5 concentrations in that
area. Although the monitoring data
evidences an episodic elevated
concentration of PM2.5 in the Airport
Road area, we have no basis to
determine that these events constitute
exceedences or violations of the PM2.5
standard. Furthermore, this data does
not provide a foundation to conclude
that these elevated concentrations
around Airport Road are affiliated with
mobile sources that would be impacted
by the discontinuation of the I/M
program. As stated above, data collected
and submitted by the State using EPA
approved methods indicates that direct
PM2.5 will be unaffected by the
elimination of the I/M program in
Fairbanks, and the changes in NOX and
HC precursor emissions projected to
result from discontinuation of the I/M
program will not interfere with
attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS in
Fairbanks.
Comment: Several commenters
expressed concerns with heath risks
attributable to PM2.5 and questioned the
appropriateness of discontinuing the I/
M program because doing so would
eliminate the health-benefits of the
program.
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Response: Primary CO, PM2.5 and the
remaining criteria pollutant standards
are health-based standards set through
the process outlined in sections 108 and
109 of the Clean Air Act. Section
109(b)(1) defines a primary standard as
one ‘‘the attainment and maintenance of
which in the judgment of the
Administrator, based on such criteria
and allowing an adequate margin of
safety, are requisite to protect the public
health.’’ The State’s submittal
demonstrates that the discontinuation of
the I/M program in Fairbanks will not
interfere with attainment or
maintenance of the health-based
ambient air quality standard for PM2.5.
As discussed above, EPA expects that
Alaska will develop and submit for EPA
approval a SIP to achieve attainment
with the 24-hour PM2.5 standard in
accordance with the schedule
established by the Act.
Comment: One commenter stated that
the program should be expanded to
include diesel vehicles.
Response: The CAA established a
system of air quality management
whereby each state develops and
proposes, after reasonable notice and
public involvement processes, proposed
plans for the attainment or maintenance
of the NAAQS. In reviewing a state’s
proposed SIP amendment, EPA must
determine whether or not the proposed
amendment meets the requirements of
the Act. EPA is not empowered to alter
the scope of the regulatory regime
selected by the state to achieve or
maintain attainment with a national
ambient air quality standard unless it
finds the state’s proposed plan to be
deficient and elects to develop a Federal
Implementation Plan (FIP) in lieu of the
SIP. The State did not include any
provisions related to diesel vehicles in
its proposed SIP amendment. EPA is
acting on the State’s submission which
is limited in scope to revisions to the
existing SIP for CO. We have reviewed
the State’s submittal and found that it
meets the requirements of the Act.
Comment: One commenter expressed
concerns that without the I/M program
in place in Fairbanks, vehicles that were
registered as seasonally registered
vehicles prohibited from driving during
the winter under the I/M program
would be permitted on the road.
Another commenter stated that the I/M
program is needed to keep dirty vehicles
off of the road in the winter time.
Response: The State’s emission
projections include emissions from all
vehicles in the Fairbanks area including
those that qualify as seasonally
registered vehicles under the I/M
program. The State used these emission
projections in their demonstration of
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13439
attainment and maintenance which
shows that the discontinuation of the I/
M program (which includes the
discontinuation of seasonal prohibitions
for vehicles registered as seasonally
registered) will not interfere with
attainment or maintenance of the CO or
PM2.5 standards during the winter
season.
Comment: One commenter stated that
without the I/M program, maintenance
of cars will be put off until vehicles fail
to run.
Response: As discussed above, EPA is
taking this final action in accordance
with section 110 of the Act to verify that
the State’s proposed SIP modification
meets the requirements of the CAA and
that the proposed SIP modification will
continue to result in the maintenance of
attainment with the CO NAAQS. EPA
does not have the authority to add
provisions to the state program in this
action. Car maintenance standards of
the type raised by the commenter are
outside of the scope of this action when
they that do not have an impact on
maintenance or attainment of ambient
air quality standards.
Comment: Several commenters stated
that the program should not be
discontinued because the benefits of the
I/M program outweigh its costs.
Response: The Act does not require
EPA to conduct a cost-benefit analysis
when reviewing state-proposed
revisions to SIPs. The State must
demonstrate that the revision to the SIP
will not interfere with attainment or
maintenance of the health-based
standards. The State has demonstrated
that the discontinuation of the
Fairbanks I/M program will not interfere
with attainment or maintenance of the
NAAQS in that area, and is therefore
approvable by EPA without
consideration of whether the benefits
achieved by the program exceed its
costs.
III. Final Action
For the reasons provided above and in
our September 15, 2009 proposed rule,
we are approving Alaska’s 2002, 2006,
and 2008 SIP revisions, including the
discontinuation of the I/M program for
CO in the Fairbanks area beginning in
calendar year 2010. Also in this action,
EPA is correcting a transcription error in
the boundary description for the
Fairbanks CO maintenance area
contained in 40 CFR 81.302 under
section 110(k)(6) of the Act.
EPA is incorporating by reference the
following new and revised sections of
the Alaska Department of
Conservation’s air quality regulations:
18 AAC 50.030 Air Quality Control as
in effect May 15, 2008; 18 AAC 52
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Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Requirements for Motor Vehicles as in
effect May 15, 2008 and AO 2006–13, an
ordinance amending Anchorage
Municipal Code chapters 15.80 and
15.85 to comply with State I/M
regulations and to comply with DMV
Electronic Procedures January 24, 2006
and Chapters 15.80 and 15.85 of the
Anchorage Municipal Code.
IV. 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 the EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
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14:18 Mar 19, 2010
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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 the 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. The 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 May 21, 2010.
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
40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides.
40 CFR Part 81
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, National parks,
Wilderness areas.
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Dated: December 4, 2009.
Michelle L. Pirzadeh,
Acting Regional Administrator, EPA Region
10.
40 CFR parts 52 and 81 are amended
as follows:
■
PART 52—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart C—Alaska
2. Section 52.70 is amended by adding
paragraph (c)(37) to read as follows:
■
§ 52.70
Identification of plan.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(37) On March 29, 2002, December 11,
2006 and June 5, 2008 the Alaska
Department of Environmental
Conservation submitted revisions to the
SIP approved inspection and
maintenance program for Carbon
Monoxide. The SIP revisions meet the
requirements of the Clean Air Act.
(i) Incorporation by reference.
(A) The following new and revised
sections of ADEC’s air quality
regulations:
(1) 18 AAC 50.030 Air Quality Control
as in effect May 17, 2008.
(2) 18 AAC 52 Emissions Inspection
and Maintenance Requirements for
Motor Vehicles as in effect May 17,
2008.
(3) AO 2006–13 an ordinance
amending Anchorage Municipal Code
chapters 15.80 and 15.85 to comply
with State I/M regulations and to
comply with DMV Electronic
Procedures January 24, 2006 and
Chapters 15.80 and 15.85 of the
Anchorage Municipal Code as approved
February 14, 2006.
(ii) Additional material
(A) The following revised sections of
Alaska’s air quality regulations:
(1) State Air Quality Control Plan—
Vol. II Analysis of Problems, Control
Actions, Section II: Air Quality Program,
April 4, 2008
(2) State Air Quality Control Plan—
Vol. II Analysis of Problems, Control
Actions, Section III.A. Statewide Carbon
Monoxide Control Program, April 4,
2008
(3) State Air Quality Control Plan—
Vol. II Analysis of Problems, Control
Actions, Section III.C. Fairbanks
Transportation Control Program, April
4, 2008
(4) Amendments to State Air Quality
Control Plan, Vol. III Appendices
(Appendix III.A.2 and Appendix to
III.C.3), April 4, 2008
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 54 / Monday, March 22, 2010 / Rules and Regulations
(5) State Air Quality Control Plan—
Vol. II Analysis of Problems, Control
Actions, Section III.B. Anchorage
Transportation Control Program,
September 19, 2006
(6) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec
II, September 19, 2006
(7) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec
III.A, September 19, 2006
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
(8) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec
III.B, September 19, 2006
(9) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec
III.C, September 19, 2006
4. In § 81.302, the table entitled
‘‘Alaska—Carbon Monoxide’’ is
amended by revising the entry for
‘‘Fairbanks Area Fairbanks Election
District (part)’’ to read as follows:
■
PART 81—[AMENDED]
§ 81.302
3. The authority citation for Part 81
continues to read as follows:
■
*
*
Alaska.
*
*
*
ALASKA—CARBON MONOXIDE
Designation
Classification
Designated area
Date i
*
Fairbanks Area
*
*
Date 1
*
September 27,
2004.
*
*
*
Attainment.
Type
*
Type
*
Fairbanks Election District (part)
Fairbanks nonattainment area boundary:
1. Township 1 South, Range 1 West, Sections 2 through 23,
the portion of Section 1 west of the Fort Wainwright military
reservation boundary and the portions of Section 24 north of
the Old Richardson Highway and west of the military reservation boundary, also, Township 1 South, Range 2 West, Sections 13 and 24, the portion of Section 12 southwest of
Chena Pump Road and the portions of Sections 14 and 23
southeast of the Chena river. Also, Township 1 South, Range
1 East, Sections 7, 8, and 18 and the portion of Section 19
north of the Richardson Highway. (Fairbanks and Ft. Wainwright)
2. Township 2 South, Range 2 East, the portions of Sections 9
and 10 southwest of the Richardson Highway. (North Pole)
*
1 This
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2010–3235 Filed 3–19–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
49 CFR Part 395
Hours of Service; Limited 90-Day
Waiver for the Distribution of
Anhydrous Ammonia in Agricultural
Operations
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Grant of waiver.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with RULES
*
*
date is November 15, 1990, unless otherwise noted.
SUMMARY: FMCSA grants a limited 90day waiver from the Federal hours-ofservice (HOS) regulations for the
transportation of anhydrous ammonia
from any distribution point to a local
farm retailer or to the ultimate
consumer, and from a local farm retailer
to the ultimate consumer, as long as the
transportation takes place within a 100
air-mile radius of the retail or wholesale
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:18 Mar 19, 2010
Jkt 220001
distribution point. This waiver extends
the agricultural operations exemption
established by section 345 of the
National Highway System Designation
Act of 1995, as amended by the sections
4115 and 4130 of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation
Equity: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–
LU) to certain motor carriers engaged in
the distribution of anhydrous ammonia
during the 2010 spring planting season.
The Agency has determined that the
waiver would likely achieve a level of
safety that is equivalent to, or greater
than, the level that would be achieved
absent such exemption, based on the
terms and conditions imposed. This
waiver preempts inconsistent State and
local requirements applicable to
interstate commerce.
DATES: The waiver is effective March 22,
2010. The waiver expires on June 21,
2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas L. Yager, Chief, Driver and
Carrier Operations Division, Office of
Bus and Truck Standards and
Operations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave.,
SE., Washington, DC 20590.
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov. Phone (202)
366–4325.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Legal Basis
The Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (TEA–21) (Pub. L. 105–
178, 112 Stat. 107, June 9, 1998)
provides the Secretary of Transportation
(the Secretary) the authority to grant
waivers from any of the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)
issued under Chapter 313 of Title 49 of
the United States Code or 49 U.S.C.
31136, to a person(s) seeking regulatory
relief. (49 U.S.C. 31136, 31315(a)) The
Secretary must make a determination
that the waiver is in the public interest,
and that it is likely to achieve a level of
safety that is equivalent to, or greater
than, the level of safety that would be
obtained in the absence of the waiver.
Individual waivers may only be granted
to a person for a specific unique, nonemergency event, for a period up to
three months. TEA–21 authorizes the
Secretary to grant waivers without
requesting public comment, and
without providing public notice.
The Administrator of FMCSA has
been delegated authority under 49 CFR
E:\FR\FM\22MRR1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13436-13441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3235]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[EPA-R10-OAR-2008-0690; FRL-9091-5]
Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans: Alaska
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The EPA is taking final action to approve numerous revisions
to Alaska's State Implementation Plan (SIP) relating to the motor
vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for the control of
carbon monoxide (CO) in Anchorage and Fairbanks maintenance areas for
CO. The State of Alaska submitted three revisions to the Alaska SIP: a
March 29, 2002 submittal containing minor revisions to the statewide I/
M program; a December 11, 2006 submittal containing more substantial
revisions to the statewide I/M program; and a June 5, 2008 submittal
containing major revisions to the statewide I/M program discontinuing
the I/M program in Fairbanks as an active control measure in the SIP
and shifting it to a contingency measure. EPA is approving these
submittals because they satisfy the
[[Page 13437]]
requirements of the Clean Air Act (hereinafter the Act or CAA).
Also in this final action, EPA is correcting a transcription error
in the boundary description for the Fairbanks CO maintenance area under
section 110(k)(6) of the Act.
DATES: This action is effective on April 21, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under
Docket Identification No. EPA-R10-OAR-2008-0690. All documents in the
docket are listed on the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although
listed in the index, some information may not be publicly available,
i.e., Confidential Business Information or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically through https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at EPA Region 10, Office of Air,
Waste, and Toxics (AWT-107), 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington
98101. The EPA requests that you contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection. The
Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday,
8:30 to 4:30, excluding Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Bonifacino, (206) 553-2970, or by
e-mail at bonifacino.gina@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean the EPA. Information is organized
as follows:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Comments Received During the EPA Public Comment Period
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
The EPA is approving revisions to Alaska's SIP related to the I/M
program. The I/M program is a control measure for CO in the maintenance
plans for the Anchorage and Fairbanks areas that were approved by EPA
on June 23, 2004 (69 FR 34935) and July 27, 2004 (69 FR 44601). The
State submitted proposed revisions to the federally-approved SIP to EPA
in three separate submittals dated March 29, 2002; December 11, 2006;
and June 5, 2008. The March 29, 2002 submittal revises the statewide I/
M regulations to provide for electronic vehicle inspection renewal and
to remove the requirement for a paper certificate to be maintained in
the vehicle; the 2006 submittal revises the statewide I/M regulations
to lengthen the time period before which new vehicles are required to
obtain their first certificate of inspection from two years to four
years. The June 5 submittal discontinues implementation of the I/M
program for CO in the Fairbanks area. Each of the submittals also
contains minor revisions that are administrative in nature. In each
submittal, Alaska (the State) included a technical analysis using EPA
approved models and methods to demonstrate that the Fairbanks and
Anchorage areas will continue to maintain the CO standard, and the
revision will not interfere with attainment of the remaining National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) including the 24-hour fine
particle (PM2.5) standard. Both the Anchorage and Fairbanks
areas have been attaining the CO standards since 2001. On September 15,
2009, EPA proposed to approve the State's submittals. 74 FR 47154. EPA
proposed to approve these submittals because they meet the requirements
of the Act. For a more detailed discussion of the background of this
rulemaking, please see EPA's notice of proposed approval. In this final
action EPA is approving all of the SIP modifications proposed in
Alaska's above-mentioned 2002, 2006, and 2008 submittals as originally
proposed.
II. Comments Received During the EPA Public Comment Period
The following summarizes the issues raised in comments on the EPA's
proposed approval published on September 15, 2009 (74 FR 47154), and
provides EPA's responses to those comments. All eight of the comments
received relate to EPA's proposed action approving the State's 2008
submittal discontinuing the I/M program for CO in Fairbanks. EPA
received a number of comments that were generally critical of the
discontinuation of the I/M program for CO in Fairbanks. These
commenters questioned the wisdom of discontinuing a program that has a
beneficial impact on the community. As discussed in greater detail
below, many of these issues fall outside of the scope of this action.
No comments were received on the 2002 or the 2006 submittals modifying
the statewide I/M program and those proposed modifications are being
finalized in this action as originally proposed.
Comment: One commenter stated that any increase in CO levels will
be a detriment to Fairbanks air quality.
Response: Under section 110(l) of the Act, the Administrator shall
not approve a revision to a plan if the revision would interfere with
any applicable requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further
progress (as defined in section 171), or any other applicable
requirement of the Act. In addition, under section 175A of the Act, an
approved maintenance plan is required. As stated in EPA's September 15,
2009 proposed notice of approval of revisions to Alaska's CO SIP,
including Alaska's revision to the CO maintenance plan for Fairbanks,
the State's demonstration shows that emissions projections included in
the State's submittal demonstrate that levels of CO will decline from
current levels through 2015 with the discontinuation of the I/M program
and that the State will maintain the CO standard in Fairbanks through
2015. The primary driver for this decline in CO emissions is the
replacement of older, less clean burning vehicles with newer, cleaner
burning vehicles.
Comment: A number of commenters stated concerns about the effect of
the discontinuation of the Fairbanks I/M program on PM2.5 in
the area, and one stated that the I/M program should not be
discontinued until all sources of PM2.5 can be analyzed.
Response: The EPA is acting on the State's submission to revise the
CO maintenance plan for the Fairbanks area to discontinue the I/M
program beginning in calendar year 2010. As stated above, under section
110(l) of the Act, the Administrator shall not approve a revision to a
plan if the revision would interfere with any applicable requirement
concerning attainment and reasonable further progress (as defined in
section 171), or any other applicable requirement of the Act. This
includes a consideration of whether or not this action will interfere
with attainment of the 2006 PM2.5 and CO NAAQS. In addition,
under section 175A of the Act, the area will need to have an approved
maintenance plan. As stated in EPA's September 15, 2009 proposed notice
of approval of revisions to Alaska's CO SIP, the State's demonstration
shows that without the Fairbanks I/M program, PM2.5
emissions from mobile sources will decline as compared to 2005 levels
and the area will continue to attain the CO NAAQS through 2015.
The Fairbanks area was recently designated as a nonattainment area
for 2006 PM2.5 standard. 74 FR 58688, November 13, 2009. As
a result of the nonattainment designation for the Fairbanks area for
PM2.5, the State is required under section 172(b) of the Act
to develop and submit a State
[[Page 13438]]
Implementation Plan within three years from the effective date of the
designations that will demonstrate attainment with the PM2.5
standard in the Fairbanks area. Under section 172(c)(6) and 172(a)(2)
of the Act, the plan must contain a suite of control measures that will
be designed to address the sources of PM2.5 and
PM2.5 precursor emissions in the Fairbanks area contributing
to nonattainment in the area and achieve attainment status as
expeditiously as practicable but within 5 years of designation. This
submission will be due no later than December 14, 2012. 74 FR 58688.
According to Alaska's emissions analysis using the EPA-approved
mobile source model, MOBILE6.2, emissions of direct PM2.5
and PM2.5 precursors are generally projected to decline
substantially from 2005 levels through 2015 (the end of the modeling
period). Directly emitted PM2.5 emissions are projected to
decline by 66% during this period according to MOBILE6.2 and this rate
of decline is unaffected by the discontinuation of the I/M program.
EPA has promulgated regulations that address how areas that have
been designated as nonattainment for the PM2.5 NAAQS should
address PM2.5 direct emissions and PM2.5
precursors in implementation plans. See 40 CFR 51.1002(c). Contrary to
the assertion of the commenter, Alaska is not required under these
regulations to analyze ``all sources of PM2.5.'' As
explained in the Federal Register Notice promulgating the final
PM2.5 Implementation Rule (72 FR 20586, April 25, 2007), EPA
has established requirements for PM2.5 State Implementation
Plans that take into account the contributions of PM2.5
precursor emissions under area-specific conditions. The rule represents
an approach that ``requires sulfur dioxide to be evaluated for control
measures in all areas, and describes general presumptive policies for
NOX, ammonia, and VOC for all nonattainment areas. The rule
provides a mechanism by which the State and/or EPA can make an area-
specific demonstration to reverse the general presumption for these
three precursors.''\1\ 72 FR 20589.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The State must address NOX as a PM2.5
attainment plan precursor and evaluate sources of NOX
emissions in the State for control measures, unless the State and
EPA provide an appropriate technical demonstration for a specific
area showing that NOX emissions from sources in the State
do not significantly contribute to PM2.5 concentrations
in the nonattainment area. The State is not required to address VOC
as a PM2.5 attainment plan precursor and evaluate sources
of VOC emissions in the State for control measures, unless the State
provides an appropriate technical demonstration for a specific area
showing that VOC emissions from sources in the State significantly
contribute to PM2.5 concentrations in the nonattainment
area, and such demonstration is approved by EPA or the EPA provides
such a technical demonstration. The State is not required to address
ammonia as a PM2.5 attainment plan precursor and evaluate
sources of ammonia emissions from sources in the State for control
measures, unless the State provides an appropriate technical
demonstration for a specific area showing that ammonia emissions
from sources in the State significantly contribute to
PM2.5 concentrations in the nonattainment area, and such
demonstration is approved by EPA or the EPA provides such a
technical demonstration. See 40 CFR 51.1002(c)(1)-(4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the reasons discussed below, taking into consideration the
Agency's policy position on determining whether or not certain
PM2.5 precursor emission sources must be taken into
consideration when selecting control measures, as well as the best
available data and modeling results regarding the anticipated effects
of the discontinuation of the Fairbanks I/M program, EPA concludes that
the minor changes in levels of certain PM2.5 precursor
emissions in the Fairbanks area will not interfere with the area's
ability to attain the PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA and Alaska have taken
into consideration the effect of potentially discontinuing the
Fairbanks I/M program on several PM2.5 precursor emissions:
hydrocarbon (HC) (also referred to as VOC), NOX,
SOx, and ammonia. Baseline emissions of direct
PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors are projected to
decline between 2005 and 2015 regardless of whether or not the I/M
program is in place. VOC levels are projected to decline by 51% with
the I/M program and by 39% without the I/M program. NOX
levels are projected to decline by 63% with the I/M program and by 59%
without the I/M program. SOx levels are projected to almost
disappear after 2005 because of the implementation of low sulfur
gasoline and diesel fuel requirements in urban Alaskan areas. Ammonia
is the only pollutant that modeling projects to increase from 2005 to
2015, but at a very low level, (0.01 ton/day) and this is attributable
to growth in vehicle miles traveled through that period. The
discontinuation of the I/M program will not affect ammonia emissions.
In light of this information, EPA has concluded that any potential
ammonia contributions to PM2.5 formation in the Fairbanks
area can not be attributed to the discontinuation of the I/M program.
Direct PM2.5, SOx and ammonia precursor
PM2.5 emissions in the Fairbanks area are expected to be
unaffected by the discontinuation of the I/M program in Fairbanks,
while HC and NOX emissions are projected to change slightly.
The elimination of the I/M program will slightly diminish the reduction
in NOX and HC emissions predicted to occur between 2010 and
2015. EPA's review of the available data shows that the changes in
emission rates are projected to range between 0.10 and 0.17 tons/day
for each of these pollutants respectively. However, in the absence of a
demonstration that VOCs are contributing significantly to
PM2.5 nonattainment in an area, the state is not required to
develop a plan to control VOC sources for the purposes of
PM2.5 NAAQS attainment. See 40 CFR 51.1002(c)(3). EPA has no
technical basis to conclude that VOCs are a significant contributor to
PM2.5 nonattainment in Fairbanks. Consequently, EPA has
determined in this instance that changes in VOC emissions attributable
to the discontinuation of the I/M program will not interfere with
Alaska's ability to attain the PM2.5 NAAQS.
EPA's PM2.5 NAAQS implementation rule requires that
PM2.5 nonattainment areas address PM2.5 precursor
NOX emissions and evaluate sources of those emissions in the
state for control measures, unless the state and EPA provide an
appropriate technical demonstration for a specific area showing that
NOX emissions from sources in the state do not significantly
contribute to PM2.5 concentrations in the nonattainment
area. Data in the Technical Support Document for EPA's 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 designations evidences a poor correlation between
NOX and PM2.5 formation in Fairbanks. All
available information regarding PM2.5 precursor emissions in
the Fairbanks area supports EPA's determination in this instance that
that NOX emissions attributable to a discontinuation of the
I/M program (estimated to be no more than 0.10 tons per day) will not
significantly contribute to the formation of PM2.5 in the
affected area. Only a fraction of the .10 tons/day of NOX
would be converted to PM2.5. Additionally, a speciation
analysis of 2006-2008 PM2.5 monitoring data in Fairbanks
shows that on the 12 days when the PM2.5 standard was
exceeded in 2006-2008 the average mass of nitrate was 1.58 [mu]g/m3.
When this is adjusted for ammonium, the value of ammonium nitrate is
2.04 [mu]g/m3. This is 4.4% of the total average PM2.5 mass
(46.69 [mu]g/m3) recorded on violation days. The twelve days when the
PM2.5 standard was violated in 2006-2008 all occurred during
the winter months and the technical data in the record indicate that
levels of PM2.5 above the 35 [mu]g/m3 level of the NAAQS
were caused by increased use of wood-burning stoves and home heating
oil. These data support EPA's
[[Page 13439]]
conclusion that the small increase in precursor NOX
emissions attributable to the discontinuation of the I/M program will
not interfere with the ability of the area to attain the
PM2.5 NAAQS standard.
Comment: One anonymous commenter stated that the removal of the I/M
program will increase PM2.5 and expressed concerns about
discontinuing the I/M program, contending that there were high
PM2.5 levels in the area and citing data that shows
unexplained hotspots on Airport Road coupled with the lack of study of
mobile source concentrations.
Response: The anonymous commenter did not identify the source or
nature of the data which underlies their comment and the basis for
concluding that there is a PM2.5 ``hot spot'' on Airport
Road in Fairbanks. EPA is aware that the State has collected
preliminary screening data using instantaneous mobile monitoring around
Fairbanks that shows elevated concentrations of PM2.5 in the
vicinity of Airport Road. This data was collected to yield preliminary
information on the location of elevated PM2.5 concentrations
in the Fairbanks area. As preliminary data, it has not undergone
quality assurance processes, nor was it collected in accordance with
EPA-approved methods. EPA believes that this preliminary data is
inconclusive concerning the source(s) contributing to elevated
PM2.5 concentrations in that area. Although the monitoring
data evidences an episodic elevated concentration of PM2.5
in the Airport Road area, we have no basis to determine that these
events constitute exceedences or violations of the PM2.5
standard. Furthermore, this data does not provide a foundation to
conclude that these elevated concentrations around Airport Road are
affiliated with mobile sources that would be impacted by the
discontinuation of the I/M program. As stated above, data collected and
submitted by the State using EPA approved methods indicates that direct
PM2.5 will be unaffected by the elimination of the I/M
program in Fairbanks, and the changes in NOX and HC
precursor emissions projected to result from discontinuation of the I/M
program will not interfere with attainment of the PM2.5
NAAQS in Fairbanks.
Comment: Several commenters expressed concerns with heath risks
attributable to PM2.5 and questioned the appropriateness of
discontinuing the I/M program because doing so would eliminate the
health-benefits of the program.
Response: Primary CO, PM2.5 and the remaining criteria
pollutant standards are health-based standards set through the process
outlined in sections 108 and 109 of the Clean Air Act. Section
109(b)(1) defines a primary standard as one ``the attainment and
maintenance of which in the judgment of the Administrator, based on
such criteria and allowing an adequate margin of safety, are requisite
to protect the public health.'' The State's submittal demonstrates that
the discontinuation of the I/M program in Fairbanks will not interfere
with attainment or maintenance of the health-based ambient air quality
standard for PM2.5. As discussed above, EPA expects that
Alaska will develop and submit for EPA approval a SIP to achieve
attainment with the 24-hour PM2.5 standard in accordance
with the schedule established by the Act.
Comment: One commenter stated that the program should be expanded
to include diesel vehicles.
Response: The CAA established a system of air quality management
whereby each state develops and proposes, after reasonable notice and
public involvement processes, proposed plans for the attainment or
maintenance of the NAAQS. In reviewing a state's proposed SIP
amendment, EPA must determine whether or not the proposed amendment
meets the requirements of the Act. EPA is not empowered to alter the
scope of the regulatory regime selected by the state to achieve or
maintain attainment with a national ambient air quality standard unless
it finds the state's proposed plan to be deficient and elects to
develop a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) in lieu of the SIP. The
State did not include any provisions related to diesel vehicles in its
proposed SIP amendment. EPA is acting on the State's submission which
is limited in scope to revisions to the existing SIP for CO. We have
reviewed the State's submittal and found that it meets the requirements
of the Act.
Comment: One commenter expressed concerns that without the I/M
program in place in Fairbanks, vehicles that were registered as
seasonally registered vehicles prohibited from driving during the
winter under the I/M program would be permitted on the road. Another
commenter stated that the I/M program is needed to keep dirty vehicles
off of the road in the winter time.
Response: The State's emission projections include emissions from
all vehicles in the Fairbanks area including those that qualify as
seasonally registered vehicles under the I/M program. The State used
these emission projections in their demonstration of attainment and
maintenance which shows that the discontinuation of the I/M program
(which includes the discontinuation of seasonal prohibitions for
vehicles registered as seasonally registered) will not interfere with
attainment or maintenance of the CO or PM2.5 standards
during the winter season.
Comment: One commenter stated that without the I/M program,
maintenance of cars will be put off until vehicles fail to run.
Response: As discussed above, EPA is taking this final action in
accordance with section 110 of the Act to verify that the State's
proposed SIP modification meets the requirements of the CAA and that
the proposed SIP modification will continue to result in the
maintenance of attainment with the CO NAAQS. EPA does not have the
authority to add provisions to the state program in this action. Car
maintenance standards of the type raised by the commenter are outside
of the scope of this action when they that do not have an impact on
maintenance or attainment of ambient air quality standards.
Comment: Several commenters stated that the program should not be
discontinued because the benefits of the I/M program outweigh its
costs.
Response: The Act does not require EPA to conduct a cost-benefit
analysis when reviewing state-proposed revisions to SIPs. The State
must demonstrate that the revision to the SIP will not interfere with
attainment or maintenance of the health-based standards. The State has
demonstrated that the discontinuation of the Fairbanks I/M program will
not interfere with attainment or maintenance of the NAAQS in that area,
and is therefore approvable by EPA without consideration of whether the
benefits achieved by the program exceed its costs.
III. Final Action
For the reasons provided above and in our September 15, 2009
proposed rule, we are approving Alaska's 2002, 2006, and 2008 SIP
revisions, including the discontinuation of the I/M program for CO in
the Fairbanks area beginning in calendar year 2010. Also in this
action, EPA is correcting a transcription error in the boundary
description for the Fairbanks CO maintenance area contained in 40 CFR
81.302 under section 110(k)(6) of the Act.
EPA is incorporating by reference the following new and revised
sections of the Alaska Department of Conservation's air quality
regulations: 18 AAC 50.030 Air Quality Control as in effect May 15,
2008; 18 AAC 52
[[Page 13440]]
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Requirements for Motor Vehicles as
in effect May 15, 2008 and AO 2006-13, an ordinance amending Anchorage
Municipal Code chapters 15.80 and 15.85 to comply with State I/M
regulations and to comply with DMV Electronic Procedures January 24,
2006 and Chapters 15.80 and 15.85 of the Anchorage Municipal Code.
IV. 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 the 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 the 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. The 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 May 21, 2010. 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
40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides.
40 CFR Part 81
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, National parks,
Wilderness areas.
Dated: December 4, 2009.
Michelle L. Pirzadeh,
Acting Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10.
0
40 CFR parts 52 and 81 are 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 C--Alaska
0
2. Section 52.70 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(37) to read as
follows:
Sec. 52.70 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(37) On March 29, 2002, December 11, 2006 and June 5, 2008 the
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation submitted revisions to
the SIP approved inspection and maintenance program for Carbon
Monoxide. The SIP revisions meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act.
(i) Incorporation by reference.
(A) The following new and revised sections of ADEC's air quality
regulations:
(1) 18 AAC 50.030 Air Quality Control as in effect May 17, 2008.
(2) 18 AAC 52 Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Requirements for
Motor Vehicles as in effect May 17, 2008.
(3) AO 2006-13 an ordinance amending Anchorage Municipal Code
chapters 15.80 and 15.85 to comply with State I/M regulations and to
comply with DMV Electronic Procedures January 24, 2006 and Chapters
15.80 and 15.85 of the Anchorage Municipal Code as approved February
14, 2006.
(ii) Additional material
(A) The following revised sections of Alaska's air quality
regulations:
(1) State Air Quality Control Plan--Vol. II Analysis of Problems,
Control Actions, Section II: Air Quality Program, April 4, 2008
(2) State Air Quality Control Plan--Vol. II Analysis of Problems,
Control Actions, Section III.A. Statewide Carbon Monoxide Control
Program, April 4, 2008
(3) State Air Quality Control Plan--Vol. II Analysis of Problems,
Control Actions, Section III.C. Fairbanks Transportation Control
Program, April 4, 2008
(4) Amendments to State Air Quality Control Plan, Vol. III
Appendices (Appendix III.A.2 and Appendix to III.C.3), April 4, 2008
[[Page 13441]]
(5) State Air Quality Control Plan--Vol. II Analysis of Problems,
Control Actions, Section III.B. Anchorage Transportation Control
Program, September 19, 2006
(6) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec II, September 19, 2006
(7) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec III.A, September 19, 2006
(8) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec III.B, September 19, 2006
(9) Vol. III. Appendix to Vol. II, Sec III.C, September 19, 2006
PART 81--[AMENDED]
0
3. The authority citation for Part 81 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
0
4. In Sec. 81.302, the table entitled ``Alaska--Carbon Monoxide'' is
amended by revising the entry for ``Fairbanks Area Fairbanks Election
District (part)'' to read as follows:
Sec. 81.302 Alaska.
* * * * *
Alaska--Carbon Monoxide
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Designation Classification
Designated area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date \i\ Type Date \1\ Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Fairbanks Area September 27, 2004 Attainment........
Fairbanks Election District
(part)
Fairbanks nonattainment area
boundary:
1. Township 1 South, Range 1
West, Sections 2 through
23, the portion of Section
1 west of the Fort
Wainwright military
reservation boundary and
the portions of Section 24
north of the Old Richardson
Highway and west of the
military reservation
boundary, also, Township 1
South, Range 2 West,
Sections 13 and 24, the
portion of Section 12
southwest of Chena Pump
Road and the portions of
Sections 14 and 23
southeast of the Chena
river. Also, Township 1
South, Range 1 East,
Sections 7, 8, and 18 and
the portion of Section 19
north of the Richardson
Highway. (Fairbanks and Ft.
Wainwright)
2. Township 2 South, Range 2
East, the portions of
Sections 9 and 10 southwest
of the Richardson Highway.
(North Pole)
* * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This date is November 15, 1990, unless otherwise noted.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2010-3235 Filed 3-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P