Action To Ensure Authority To Issue Permits Under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Federal Implementation Plan for Jefferson County, KY, 2581-2589 [2011-768]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 10 / Friday, January 14, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
health or risk to safety that may
disproportionately affect children.
Indian Tribal Governments
This rule does not have tribal
implications under Executive Order
13175, Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments,
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.
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD 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
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18:18 Jan 13, 2011
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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. This rule
involves the establishment of a safety
zone.
An environmental analysis checklist
and a 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.T11–387 to read as
follows:
■
§ 165.T11–387 Safety Zone; Lake Mead
Intake Construction; Lake Mead, Boulder
City, NV
(a) Location. The limits of the safety
zone will include the navigable waters
of Lake Mead within a 1300 foot radius
of the construction vessels working on
Lake Mead Intake #3, located at
approximately 36°05′24″ N, 114°45′60″
W.
(b) Enforcement Period. This section
will be in effect from January 1, 2011
through June 30, 2011. The safety zone
will only be enforced during blasting
operations. Blasting operations will
occur weekly at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.,
Mondays through Thursdays, and at 8
a.m. on Fridays. The Coast Guard will
publish a Local Notice to Mariners
before the rule takes effect. The
construction crew will notify the public
via Broadcast Notice to Mariners at least
one hour prior to commencement of
each blasting operation. In the event
additional blasts are required due to the
needs of the construction company, the
public will be notified as soon as
practicable, but in no event less than
one hour prior to blasting. If blasting
concludes prior to the scheduled
termination time, the COTP will cease
enforcement of this safety zone and a
Broadcast Notice to Mariners will be
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issued to notify the public that
enforcement has ended.
(c) Definitions. The following
definitions apply to this section:
(1) Designated representative means
Commissioned, Warrant, or Petty
Officers of the Coast Guard, Coast Guard
Auxiliary, or local, state, and federal
law enforcement vessels who have been
authorized to act on the behalf of the
COTP.
(2) Unauthorized personnel and
vessels, means any civilian boats,
fishermen, divers, and swimmers.
(d) Regulations. (1) Entry into, transit
through or anchoring within this safety
zone is prohibited unless authorized by
the COTP San Diego or his designated
representative.
(2) Unauthorized personnel and
vessels wishing to transit through the
safety zone may request authorization to
do so from the COTP San Diego or his
designated representative using VHF–
FM Channel 16, or telephone number
(619) 278–7033.
(3) Vessels involved in construction
operations are allowed within the
confines of the established safety zone.
(4) All persons and vessels shall
comply with the instructions of the
Coast Guard COTP or his designated
representative.
(5) Upon being hailed by U.S. Coast
Guard or other official personnel by
siren, radio, flashing light, or other
means, the operator of a vessel shall
proceed as directed.
(6) The Coast Guard may be assisted
by other federal, state, or local agencies.
Dated: December 29, 2010.
P.J. Hill,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting
Captain of the Port San Diego.
[FR Doc. 2011–692 Filed 1–13–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0107; FRL–9253–3]
Action To Ensure Authority To Issue
Permits Under the Prevention of
Significant Deterioration Program to
Sources of Greenhouse Gas
Emissions: Federal Implementation
Plan for Jefferson County, KY
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is establishing a federal
implementation plan (FIP) to apply in
Jefferson County, Kentucky because the
SUMMARY:
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Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control
District (LMAPCD), through the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, has not
submitted by its established deadline of
January 1, 2011, a state implementation
plan (SIP) revision to apply their Clean
Air Act (CAA or Act) Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD) program
to sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
This action will ensure that a permitting
authority—EPA—is available in
Jefferson County, Kentucky to issue
preconstruction PSD permits to GHGemitting sources. This action is related
to EPA’s recent final rule, the GHG PSD
SIP Call, published on December 13,
2010, in which EPA made a finding of
substantial inadequacy and issued a SIP
call to LMAPCD because the SIP for
Jefferson County does not apply the PSD
program to GHG-emitting sources.
DATES: This action is effective on
January 14, 2011.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this rulemaking under Docket
ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0107. All
documents in the docket are listed in
the https://www.regulations.gov index.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., CBI or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, will be publicly
available only in hard copy. Publicly
available docket materials are available
either electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Air Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Public Reading Room is
(202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the Air Docket is (202) 566–
1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Cheryl Vetter, Air Quality Policy
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (C504–03),
Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;
telephone number: (919) 541–4391; fax
number: (919) 541–5509; e-mail
address: vetter.cheryl@epa.gov. For
more information on the LMAPCD or
Jefferson County, Kentucky, contact Ms.
Lynorae Benjamin, Chief, Regulatory
Development Section, Air Planning
Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics
Management Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. Ms.
Benjamin’s telephone number is (404)
562–9040; e-mail address: benjamin.
lynorae@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The entity affected by this rule is the
LMAPCD, which is the local permitting
authority 1 that has jurisdiction in
Jefferson County, Kentucky. The
LMAPCD was identified by EPA as not
having submitted a SIP revision that
would apply PSD requirements to GHGemitting sources by its SIP submittal
deadline of January 1, 2011. In the GHG
PSD SIP call,2 EPA determined that the
Jefferson County portion of the
Kentucky SIP is substantially
inadequate to achieve CAA
requirements because its PSD programs
do not apply to GHG-emitting sources.
EPA established the deadline after the
LMAPCD indicated that it would not
object to a deadline of January 1, 2011.
Entities potentially affected by this
rule also include sources in all industry
groups, which have a direct obligation
under the CAA to obtain a PSD permit
for GHGs for projects that meet the
applicability thresholds set forth in the
Tailoring Rule.3 This independent
obligation on sources is specific to PSD
and derives from CAA section 165(a).
Any source that is subject to a state PSD
air permitting regulation not structured
to apply to GHG-emitting sources will
rely on this rule to obtain a permit that
contains emission limitations that
conform to requirements under CAA
section 165(a). The majority of entities
potentially affected by this action are
expected to be in the following groups:
Industry group
NAICS a
Utilities (electric, natural gas, other systems) ...........................................................
Manufacturing (food, beverages, tobacco, textiles, leather) .....................................
Wood product, paper manufacturing ........................................................................
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing ............................................................
Chemical manufacturing ...........................................................................................
Rubber product manufacturing .................................................................................
Miscellaneous chemical products .............................................................................
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing .............................................................
Primary and fabricated metal manufacturing ............................................................
2211, 2212, 2213
311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316
321, 322
32411, 32412, 32419
3251, 3252, 3253, 3254, 3255, 3256, 3259
3261, 3262
32552, 32592, 32591, 325182, 32551
3271, 3272, 3273, 3274, 3279
3311, 3312, 3313, 3314, 3315, 3321, 3322, 3323, 3324,
3325, 3326, 3327, 3328, 3329
3331, 3332, 3333, 3334, 3335, 3336, 3339
3341, 3342, 3343, 3344, 3345, 4446
3351, 3352, 3353, 3359
3361, 3362, 3363, 3364, 3365, 3366, 3366, 3369
3371, 3372, 3379
3391, 3399
5622, 5629
6221, 6231, 6232, 6233, 6239
8122, 8123
8141
Not available. Codes only exist for private households, construction and leasing/sales industries.
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Machinery manufacturing ..........................................................................................
Computer and electronic products manufacturing ....................................................
Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing .............................
Transportation equipment manufacturing .................................................................
Furniture and related product manufacturing ...........................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ....................................................................................
Waste management and remediation .......................................................................
Hospitals/nursing and residential care facilities ........................................................
Personal and laundry services ..................................................................................
Residential/private households .................................................................................
Non-residential (commercial) ....................................................................................
a
North American Industry Classification System.
1 For convenience, we refer to ‘‘states’’ in this
rulemaking to collectively mean states and local
permitting authorities.
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2 Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits
under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Program to Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Finding of Substantial Inadequacy and SIP Call—
Final rule, 75 FR 77698 (December 13, 2010).
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3 Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title
V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule; Final Rule. 75 FR
31514 (June 3, 2010).
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B. How is the preamble organized?
The information presented in this
preamble is organized as follows:
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I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
B. How is the preamble organized?
II. Overview of Rulemaking
III. Final Action and Response to Comments
A Authority To Promulgate a FIP
B. Timing of GHG PSD FIP
C. Substance of GHG PSD FIP
D. Period for GHG PSD FIP To Remain in
Place
E. Primacy of SIP Process
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866—Regulatory
Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132—Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175—Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
G. Executive Order 13045—Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211—Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898—Federal Actions
to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
K. Determination Under Section 307(d)
L. Congressional Review Act
V. Judicial Review
VI. Statutory Authority
II. Overview of Rulemaking
In this rulemaking, EPA is
establishing a FIP, which we call the
GHG PSD FIP, or simply, the FIP, to
apply in Jefferson County, Kentucky
because the LMAPCD did not submit by
January 1, 2011, a corrective SIP
revision to apply their CAA PSD
program to sources of GHGs in Jefferson
County, Kentucky.4 This is the deadline
EPA established after the LMAPCD
indicated that it would not object to it,
to ensure that a permitting authority
would be in place soon after January 2,
2011, to facilitate issuance of PSD
permits for construction and
modification of sources. This action
does not relate to the rest of Kentucky,
as the Commonwealth, through the
Kentucky Energy and Environment
Cabinet (KEEC), submitted a corrective
SIP revision to address the remainder of
Kentucky on December 13, 2010. This
SIP revision was approved by EPA on
December 29, 2010 (75 FR 81868).
This preamble should be read in
conjunction with the preamble for the
4 The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control
District is the local agency that has jurisdiction over
sources in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
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proposed rulemaking for this action,
which we call the GHG PSD FIP
proposal or the FIP proposal; 5 and the
SIP Call rulemaking that is associated
with this rulemaking, including (i) the
proposed SIP Call rulemaking, which
we call the GHG PSD SIP Call proposal
or the SIP Call proposal, and which
accompanied the FIP proposal; 6 (ii) the
final SIP Call rulemaking, which we call
the GHG PSD SIP Call or the SIP Call;
and (iii) the GHG PSD FIP final rule
which covers seven states other than
Jefferson County, Kentucky.7
Background information for this
rulemaking is found in those
rulemakings and in the rulemakings
referenced therein and will not be
reiterated here.
By notices dated September 2, 2010,
EPA published as companion actions
the SIP Call proposal and the FIP
proposal. In the SIP Call proposal, EPA
proposed to find that 13 states with
EPA-approved SIP PSD programs are
substantially inadequate to meet CAA
requirements because they do not
appear to apply PSD requirements to
GHG-emitting sources. For each of these
states, EPA proposed to require the state
(through a SIP call) to revise its SIP as
necessary to correct such inadequacies.
In the FIP proposal, EPA proposed a FIP
to apply in any state that is unable to
submit, by its deadline, a corrective SIP
revision to apply the PSD program to
sources of GHGs. The FIP would
provide authority to EPA to issue PSD
permits for construction or modification
of appropriate GHG sources in the state.
On December 1, 2010, EPA
promulgated the GHG PSD SIP Call, and
EPA published it by notice dated
December 13, 2010.8 In the SIP call,
EPA finalized its finding that the SIPs
of 13 states (comprising 15 state and
local programs) are substantially
inadequate to meet CAA requirements
because they do not apply PSD
requirements to GHG-emitting sources.
In addition, EPA finalized a SIP Call for
5 Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits
under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Program to Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Federal Implementation Plan—Proposed rule, 75 FR
53883 (September 2, 2010).
6 Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits
under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Program to Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Finding of Substantial Inadequacy and SIP Call—
Proposed rule, 75 FR 53892 (September 2, 2010).
7 Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits
under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Program to Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Federal Implementation Plan—Final Rule, 75 FR
82246 (December 30, 2010).
8 Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits
Under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Program to Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Finding of Substantial Inadequacy and SIP Call—
Final Rule, 75 FR 77698 (December 13, 2010).
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each of these states, which required the
state to revise its SIP as necessary to
correct such inadequacies. Further, EPA
established a deadline for each state to
submit its corrective SIP revision. These
deadlines, which differed among the
states, ranged from December 22, 2010,
to December 1, 2011. The LMAPCD
requested a SIP deadline of January 1,
2011.
In a separate notice, EPA is also
issuing a finding under CAA section
110(c)(1)(A) that the LMAPCD ‘‘failed to
make [the] required submission’’ of the
corrective SIP call-mandated SIP
revision for Jefferson County, Kentucky
by its January 1, 2011 deadline. EPA
notified the LMAPCD of the finding by
letter. That letter is located in the docket
for this rulemaking.
III. Final Action and Response to
Comments
A. Authority To Promulgate a FIP
In this rulemaking, EPA is finalizing
the GHG PSD FIP as proposed for
Jefferson County, Kentucky. This
rulemaking does not relate to the
remainder of the Commonwealth as EPA
has already taken final action to approve
the Commonwealth’s corrective SIP for
all areas in Kentucky except for
Jefferson County. See 75 FR 81868.
The CAA authority for EPA to
promulgate a FIP is found in CAA
section 110(c)(1), which provides—
The Administrator shall promulgate a
Federal implementation plan at any time
within 2 years after the Administrator—(A)
finds that a State has failed to make a
required submission * * * unless the State
corrects the deficiency, and [EPA] approves
the plan or plan revision, before the
Administrator promulgates such [FIP].
As noted earlier in this preamble, EPA
is issuing a finding that the LMAPCD,
through the Commonwealth of
Kentucky, ‘‘failed to make [the] required
submission’’ of the corrective SIP Callmandated SIP revision by its January 1,
2011, deadline. Accordingly, under
CAA section 110(c)(1), EPA is required
to promulgate a FIP for Jefferson
County, Kentucky. It should be noted
that EPA specifically proposed the FIP
for Jefferson County, Kentucky.
We reiterate that the LMAPCD
indicated to EPA that it preferred that
EPA promulgate a FIP to take effect soon
after January 2, 2011—when sources in
the state become subject to PSD—rather
than wait to promulgate a FIP until a
later time. This is because the LMAPCD
wishes to assure that a permitting
authority for GHG-emitting sources is in
place in Jefferson County, Kentucky
should a permit be sought that requires
consideration of GHGs. The LMAPCD
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made this choice by indicating that they
did not object to EPA establishing a SIP
submittal date of January 1, 2011, when
EPA made clear in the proposed SIP
Call and FIP that if the state did not
submit the required SIP revision by that
date, then EPA would promulgate the
FIP the next day. 75 FR at 53904/2
(proposed SIP Call); id. at 53889/2
(proposed FIP). Although the LMAPCD
requested a later SIP deadline than the
earliest date (i.e., December 22, 2010),
they believe that this will only mean a
short delay in the availability of a
permitting authority for GHG-emitting
sources in their state, and that delay
will not adversely affect their sources.
In this rulemaking, EPA is not taking
final action to promulgate a FIP for any
of the other states beside Jefferson
County, Kentucky which EPA included
in the FIP proposal. This is because
each of the other states falls into one of
the following three categories: (1) EPA
did not finalize the SIP call for this
state; (2) EPA has already issued a FIP
for this state; 9 or (3) EPA did finalize
the SIP call but established a SIP
submittal deadline that has not yet
arrived. As EPA noted in the GHG FIP
signed on December 23, 2010, it
continues to be EPA’s intent that if any
of these other states does not submit the
required SIP revision by its deadline,
then EPA will immediately issue a
finding of failure to submit a required
SIP submission and immediately
promulgate a GHG PSD FIP for that
state.
In comments received, some
commenters stated, ‘‘Remarkably, EPA
states that it will also directly
promulgate a SIP call and FIP for any
states it has inadvertently omitted from
its notice of proposed rulemaking.’’
Although the commenters do not
elaborate upon this statement, they
seem to imply that it would be improper
for EPA to finalize a FIP for such states
because we did not provide adequate
notice and opportunity for comment.
This comment is not relevant to
Jefferson County, Kentucky, as the
proposed SIP call and FIP explicitly
name Jefferson County as an area that
may be included in the final SIP Call
and FIP. Furthermore, we disagree with
the commenters, and have discussed
9 On December 30, 2010, EPA published a notice
to promulgate a FIP for seven states that received
a SIP submittal deadline of December 22, 2010.
Based on information received from each of these
states during the public comment period, they
indicated that they would not object to this early
deadline for allowing a FIP to be put in place. These
seven states are: (1) Arizona: Both Pinal County and
Rest of State (excluding Maricopa County, Pima
County, and Indian Country); (2) Arkansas; (3)
Florida; (4) Idaho; (5) Kansas; (6) Oregon; and (7)
Wyoming.
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and responded to this comment in great
detail in the SIP Call, 75 FR at 77715–
16, and the December 30, 2010 FIP, 75
FR 82248.
B. Timing of GHG PSD FIP
In the GHG PSD FIP proposal, we
stated:
If any of the states for which we issue the
SIP Call does not meet its SIP submittal
deadline, we will immediately issue a
finding of failure to submit a required SIP
submission, under CAA section 110(c)(1)(A),
and immediately thereafter promulgate a FIP
for the state. This timing for FIP
promulgation is authorized under CAA
section 110(c)(1), which authorizes us to
promulgate a FIP ‘‘at any time within 2 years
after’’ finding a failure to submit a required
SIP submission. We intend to take these
actions immediately in order to minimize
any period of time during which largeremitting sources may be under an obligation
to obtain PSD permits for their GHGs when
they construct or modify, but no permitting
authority is authorized to issue those
permits.
75 FR at 53,889/2.
In this final rulemaking, we are
proceeding in the same manner that we
proposed, and for the same reasons.
That is, we are exercising our discretion
to promulgate the FIP for Jefferson
County ‘‘immediately in order to
minimize any period of time during
which larger-emitting sources may be
under an obligation to obtain PSD
permits for their GHGs when they
construct or modify, but no permitting
authority is authorized to issue those
permits.’’ 75 FR at 53889/2. We believe
that acting immediately is in the best
interests of the states and the regulated
community.
EPA received comments that the
process EPA has employed in this
action, which was to propose the FIP as
a companion rule to the proposed SIP
call, and then to finalize the FIP
immediately after making a finding that
a state has not submitted the required
SIP revision by its deadline, ‘‘is not how
CAA section 110 works or how Congress
intended it to work.’’ The commenter
added that—
[O]nly after a state has * * * failed to
[submit a SIP revision] after an applicable
period as specified in the CAA or EPA
regulations * * * and after EPA has made a
determination that the SIP revision is
deficient in one or more respects, may the
Agency step in to propose a FIP rule. And
only after taking that step could EPA then
proceed * * * [to take final action on the
FIP.] Notwithstanding EPA’s strained and
out-of-context emphasis on the isolated
sentence fragment, ‘‘at any time within,’’ the
very fact that the CAA affords EPA up to two
full years in which to complete the
cooperative task of considering whether a FIP
is needed and how such a plan should be
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fashioned, and the corollary fact that the Act
does not mandate any federal takeover in less
than two years, militate against EPA’s
approach here to FIP rulemaking. In
particular, those facts undermine EPA’s
assumption that it need not take the time to
develop a proposed plan specifically directed
at remedying identified deficiencies in a
given state submission, and to give states and
the regulated community a meaningful
opportunity to comment on a proposed FIP
that has been specifically developed to
address the individual needs and
circumstances of such a state. (Emphasis in
original.)
EPA disagrees with these comments.
As we stated in the proposed rule, CAA
section 110(c)(1)(A) authorizes EPA to
promulgate a FIP ‘‘at any time within 2
years after’’ finding a failure to submit
a required SIP revision. As we did in the
seven-state FIP issued on December 30,
2010, here we are promulgating the FIP
immediately because we wish to
minimize any disruption in permitting
for the larger GHG-emitting sources and
we are doing so after consultation with
the affected state. The LMAPCD told
EPA that they would not object to the
promulgation of a FIP at the earliest
possible date after January 1, 2011.
Without the FIP, Jefferson County,
Kentucky would be without an
approved program to issue PSD permits
for GHG-emitting sources until the
LMAPCD, through the Commonwealth
of Kentucky, submits, and EPA
approves, a SIP revision. The FIP
provides sources in Jefferson County,
Kentucky with an immediate
mechanism to obtain required permits
for construction and modification until
the revised SIP is approved.
As for commenters’ analysis of CAA
section 110(c), that provision, by its
terms, imposes no constraints on when
EPA may propose a FIP. This stands in
contrast to other CAA provisions that do
impose requirements for the timing of
proposals. See CAA sections
109(a)(1)(A), 111(b)(1)(B). In light of the
lack of constraints in CAA section
110(c), EPA was free to propose the FIP
at the same time that EPA proposed the
SIP call. We do not agree that the overall
construct of CAA section 110 imposes
the implicit constraints that the
commenter identifies.
Instead, what is important is that for
each of the 13 states for which EPA
specifically proposed the FIP, which
were the same as the ones for which
EPA proposed the SIP Call, the public
had adequate notice of the
circumstances under which EPA
proposed that the state would become
subject to the FIP. Those circumstances
were that if EPA finalized the SIP Call,
as proposed, for the state, and if the
state did not submit a SIP revision
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applying its PSD program to GHGemitting sources by the deadline, EPA
would establish a FIP for that state. In
fact, EPA did finalize the SIP call for all
but one of those 13 states and is now
finalizing the FIP for Jefferson County,
Kentucky. Further, EPA received
comments on the proposed FIP from
several states and/or industries located
in states for which EPA proposed the
FIP, which indicates that the FIP
proposal provided adequate notice. See,
e.g., comments identified in the
rulemaking docket as document
numbers 0084.1 (Texas), 0055.1
(Arkansas), 0066.1 (Texas Industry
Project), and 0109.1 (National Mining
Association).
Moreover, EPA was clear that for each
state subject to the SIP Call that did not
submit the required SIP revision by its
SIP submittal deadline, EPA would
immediately make a finding of failure to
submit and immediately promulgate a
FIP. EPA explained that this approach
was needed to assure the availability of
a permitting authority for sources in the
state.
Finally, each of the states and the
public in general had adequate notice of
the terms of the FIP as it would apply
in any state. Specifically, EPA indicated
that the FIP would apply PSD to GHGemitting sources at the Tailoring Rule
thresholds.
Therefore, the FIP proposal was clear
as to the circumstances under which
EPA proposed to promulgate a FIP, the
timing for the FIP, and the terms of the
FIP. Moreover, each of those three
things applied to each state that would
become subject to the SIP Call.
Accordingly, the FIP proposal did, in
fact, ‘‘give states and the regulated
community a meaningful opportunity to
comment on a proposed FIP that has
been specifically developed to address
the individual needs and circumstances
of such a state,’’ as the commenter
argues the FIP proposal needed to do.
Several commenters raised an
additional objection, which was that in
their view, EPA failed to comply with
the requirements of CAA section
307(d)(3) that (i) the proposed FIP
include a summary of ‘‘the factual data
on which the proposed rule is based’’
and ‘‘the major legal interpretations and
policy considerations underlying the
proposed rule’’; and (ii) ‘‘[a]ll data,
information, and documents * * * on
which the proposed rule relies shall be
included in the docket on the date of
publication of the proposed rule.’’
(Emphasis added by one of these
commenters.) One of these commenters
explained that (a) in the SIP Call
proposal, EPA had made a detailed
request that states provide information
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as to whether their state law authorized
the application of PSD to GHG-emitting
sources; (b) this detailed request
demonstrated that the proposal did not
establish the legal basis for the SIP Call;
and (c) as a result, the FIP proposal did
not include ‘‘information that is
essential to determining whether a FIP
for a given state is even appropriate and
justified.’’ (Emphasis in original.) This
commenter added—
Only after EPA has received such
information, and then taken the necessary
time to evaluate the information and to make
judgments as to whether or not a given state
has authority under its SIP and other
elements of state law to regulate GHGs under
the PSD program—i.e., the steps EPA would
have to take under CAA section 307(d)(3) to
provide to the public a meaningful
‘‘summary’’ of ‘‘the factual data on which the
proposed rule is based’’ and ‘‘the major legal
interpretations and policy considerations
underlying the proposed rule’’—may EPA
propose a FIP for any state that has been
determined to lack that authority. (Emphasis
in original.)
We disagree with this comment. The
preamble for the FIP proposal included
the CAA section 307(d)(3)-required
‘‘summary’’ of the factual basis and legal
interpretations. To reiterate, EPA
identified the states for which EPA was
proposing the FIP, 75 FR at 53886 and
table II–1 and 53889/1, and added that
EPA would subject other states to the
FIP if they, too, became subject to the
SIP call, id. 53886 and table II–2 and
53889/2; described the timing for the
FIP, id. 53889/2–3; described the
substance of the FIP, id. 53889/3–
53890/1; and explained that CAA
section 110(c)(1) provided the legal
basis, id. 53889/2. The purpose of the
CAA section 307(d)(3) requirements is
to provide the public with adequate
notice, and these statements did so by
making clear the circumstances under
which EPA was proposing to
promulgate a FIP and the timing and
substance of the proposed FIP.
It is true that for any state, whether
and when EPA would finalize the FIP
for any state depended on other factors,
including whether EPA would finalize
the SIP Call for that state, what deadline
EPA would establish, and whether the
state would submit its required
corrective SIP revision by that deadline.
But the FIP proposal put the public on
notice, with sufficient specificity, as to
EPA’s plan. In any event, any FIP is
necessarily dependent on other factors,
including state actions, including
submission of a revised SIP. Most
broadly, commenters’ approach—which
is that EPA cannot propose a FIP in
concert with a SIP call, but instead must
proceed in seriatim by completing the
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SIP call first and then proposing the
FIP—would result in lengthy delays in
the establishment of a permitting
authority to process GHG-emitting
sources’ PSD permit applications. As a
result, commenters’ approach could
well cause delays in these sources’
ability to undertake construction and
modification projects.
We included related comments and
responses in the Response to Comments
document for the seven-state FIP issued
on December 30, 2010,10 which is
applicable to this rule as well.
C. Substance of GHG PSD FIP
In the FIP proposal, we stated:
The proposed FIP constitutes the EPA
regulations found in 40 CFR 52.21, including
the PSD applicability provisions, with a
limitation to assure that, strictly for purposes
of this rulemaking, the FIP applies only to
GHGs. Under the PSD applicability
provisions in 40 CFR 52.21(b)(50), the PSD
program applies to sources that emit the
requisite amounts of any ‘‘regulated NSR
pollutant[s],’’ including any air pollutant
‘‘subject to regulation.’’ However, in states for
which EPA would promulgate a FIP to apply
PSD to GHG-emitting pollutants, the
approved SIP already applies PSD to other air
pollutants. To appropriately limit the scope
of the FIP, EPA proposes in this action to
amend 40 CFR 52.21(b)(50) to limit the
applicability provision to GHGs.
We propose this FIP because it would, to
the greatest extent possible, mirror EPA
regulations (as well as those of most of the
states). In addition, this FIP would readily
incorporate the phase-in approach for PSD
applicability to GHG sources that EPA has
developed in the Tailoring Rule and expects
to develop further through additional
rulemaking. As explained in the Tailoring
Rule, incorporating this phase-in approach—
including Steps 1 and 2 of the phase-in as
promulgated in the Tailoring Rule—can be
most readily accomplished through
interpretation of the terms in the definition
‘‘regulated NSR pollutant,’’ including the
term ‘‘subject to regulation.’’
In accordance with the Tailoring Rule,
* * * the FIP would apply in Step 1 of the
phase-in approach only to ‘‘anyway sources’’
(that is, sources undertaking construction or
modification projects that are required to
apply for PSD permits anyway due to their
non-GHG emissions and that emit GHGs in
the amount of at least 75,000 tpy on a CO2e
basis) and would apply in Step 2 of the
phase-in approach to both ‘‘anyway sources’’
and sources that meet the 100,000/75,000-tpy
threshold (that is, (i) sources that newly
construct and would not be subject to PSD
on account of their non-GHG emissions, but
that emit GHGs in the amount of at least
100,000 tpy CO2e, and (ii) existing sources
that emit GHGs in the amount of at least
100,000 tpy CO2e, that undertake
modifications that would not trigger PSD on
10 The Response to Comments document for the
seven-state FIP can be found in the docket for this
rulemaking at EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–0107–0157.
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the basis of their non-GHG emissions, but
that increase GHGs by at least 75,000 tpy
CO2e).
Under the FIP, with respect to permits for
‘‘anyway sources,’’ EPA will be responsible
for acting on permit applications for only the
GHG portion of the permit, and the state will
retain responsibility for the rest of the permit.
Likewise, with respect to permits for sources
that meet the 100,000/75,000-tpy threshold,
our preferred approach—for reasons of
consistency—is that EPA will be responsible
for acting on permit applications for only the
GHG portion of the permit, that the state
permitting authorities will be responsible for
the non-GHG portion of the permit, and EPA
will coordinate with the state permitting
authority as needed in order to fully cover
any non-GHG emissions that, for example,
are subject to BACT because they exceed the
significance levels. We recognize that
questions may arise as to whether the state
permitting authorities have authority to
permit non-GHG emissions; as a result, we
solicit comment on whether EPA should also
be the permitting authority for the non-GHG
portion of the permit for these latter sources.
We propose that the FIP consist of the
regulatory provisions included in 40 CFR
52.21, except that the applicability provision
would include a limitation so that it applies
for purposes of this rulemaking only to
GHGs.
75 FR 53889/3 to 53,890/1
We are finalizing the FIP as we
described it in the proposal, for the
same reasons that we indicated in the
proposal, all as quoted earlier in this
preamble.
State, industry, and environmental
commenters questioned how having
EPA issue the GHG portions of a permit
while allowing states under a FIP to
continue to be responsible for issuing
the non-GHG portions of a PSD permit
will work in practice. Commenters
raised concerns about the potential for
a source to be ‘‘faced with conflicting
requirements and the need to mediate
among permit engineers making BACT
decisions.’’
We appreciate the commenters’
concern. We well recognize that
dividing permitting responsibilities
between two authorities—EPA for GHGs
and the state for all other pollutants—
will require close coordination between
the two authorities to avoid duplication,
conflicting determinations, and delays.
We note that this situation is not
without precedent. In many instances in
the past, EPA has been the PSD
permitting authority but the state has
accepted a delegation for parts of the
PSD program, so that a source has had
to go to both the state and EPA for its
permit. In addition, all nonattainment
areas in the nation are in attainment or
are unclassifiable for at least one
pollutant, so that every nonattainment
area is also a PSD area. In some of these
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areas, the state is the permitting
authority for nonattainment new source
review (NSR) and EPA is the permitting
authority for PSD. As a result, there are
instances in which a new or modifying
source in such an area has needed a
nonattainment NSR permit from the
state and a PSD permit from EPA.
EPA is working expeditiously to
develop recommended approaches for
EPA regions and affected states—
including Jefferson County, Kentucky—
to use in addressing the shared
responsibility of issuing PSD permits for
GHG-emitting sources. In addition, as
discussed below, we intend for the GHG
PSD FIP to remain in place only as long
as necessary for states’ SIPs to be
approved. Moreover, in this interim
period, we intend to delegate permitting
responsibility to those states that are
able to implement it and that request it.
States that request and receive a
delegation will be responsible for
issuing both the GHG part and the nonGHG part of the permit, and that will
moot commenters’ concerns about split
permitting.
D. Period for GHG PSD FIP To Remain
in Place
In the FIP proposal, we stated our
intention to leave any promulgated FIP
in place for as short a period as possible,
and to process any corrective SIP
revision submitted by the state to fulfill
the requirements of the SIP call as
expeditiously as possible. Specifically,
we stated:
After we have promulgated a FIP, it must
remain in place until the state submits a SIP
revision and we approve that SIP revision.
CAA section 110(c)(1). Under the present
circumstances, we will act on a SIP revision
to apply the PSD program to GHG sources as
quickly as possible. Upon request of the state,
we will parallel-process the SIP submittal.
That is, if the state submits to us the draft SIP
submittal for which the state intends to hold
a hearing, we will propose the draft SIP
submittal for approval and open a comment
period during the same time as the state
hearing. If the SIP submittal that the state
ultimately submits to us is substantially
similar to the draft SIP submittal, we will
proceed to take final action without a further
proposal or comment period. If we approve
such a SIP revision, we will at the same time
rescind the FIP.
75 FR 53889/2–3.
We continue to have these same
intentions. Thus, we reaffirm our
intention to leave this GHG PSD FIP in
place only as long as is necessary for the
LMAPCD to submit and for EPA to
approve a SIP revision that includes
PSD permitting for GHG-emitting
sources. As discussed in more detail
later in this preamble, EPA continues to
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believe that the states should remain the
primary permitting authority.
E. Primacy of SIP Process
In the FIP proposal we stated,
This proposal [to promulgate a FIP] is
secondary to our overarching goal, which is
to assure that in every instance, it will be the
state that will be that permitting authority.
EPA continues to recognize that the states are
best suited to the task of permitting because
they and their sources have experience
working together in the state PSD program to
process permit applications. EPA seeks to
remain solely in its primary role of providing
guidance and acting as a resource for the
states as they make the various required
permitting decisions for GHG emissions.
Accordingly, beginning immediately we
intend to work closely with the states—as we
have already begun to do since earlier in the
year—to help them promptly develop and
submit to us their corrective SIP revisions
that extend their PSD program to GHGemitting sources. Moreover, we intend to
promptly act on their SIP submittals. Again,
EPA’s goal is to have each and every affected
state have in place the necessary permitting
authorities by the time businesses seeking
construction permits need to have their
applications processed and the permits
issued—and to achieve that outcome by
means of engaging with the states directly
through a concerted process of consultation
and support.
EPA is taking up the additional task of
proposing this FIP and the companion SIP
Call action only because the Agency believes
it is compelled to do so by the need to assure
businesses, to the maximum extent possible
and as promptly as possible, that a permitting
authority is available to process PSD permit
applications for GHG-emitting sources once
they become subject to PSD requirements on
January 2, 2011.
In order to provide that assurance, we are
obligated to recognize, as both states and the
regulated community already do, that there
may be circumstances in which states are
simply unable to develop and submit those
SIP revisions by January 2, 2011, or for some
period of time beyond that date. As a result,
absent further action by EPA, those states’
affected sources confront the risk that they
may have to put on hold their plans to
construct or modify, a risk that may have
adverse consequences for the economy.
Given these exigent circumstances, EPA
proposes this plan, within the limits of our
power, with the intent to make a back-up
permitting authority available—and to send a
signal of assurance expeditiously in order to
reduce uncertainty and thus facilitate
businesses’ planning. Within the design of
the CAA, it is EPA that must fill that role of
back-up permitting authority. This FIP and
the companion SIP Call action fulfill the
CAA requirements to establish EPA in that
role.
At the same time, we propose these actions
with the intent that states retain as much
discretion as possible in the hand of the
states. In the SIP Call rulemaking, EPA
proposes that states may choose the deadline
they consider reasonable for submission of
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their corrective SIP revision. If, under CAA
requirements, we are compelled to
promulgate a FIP, we invite the affected state
to accept a delegation of authority to
implement that FIP, so that it will still be the
state that processes the permit applications,
albeit operating under federal law. In
addition, if we are compelled to issue a FIP,
we intend to continue to work closely with
the state to assist in developing and
submitting for approval its corrective SIP
revision, so as to minimize the amount of
time that the FIP must remain in place.
75 FR at 53890/1–2.
In this rulemaking, we continue to
have the same intentions and for the
same reasons. Thus, we continue to
believe that this action is necessary to
ensure that sources in states with
inadequate SIPs can obtain the
necessary PSD permits for their GHG
emissions. We have worked closely with
states to establish reasonable deadlines
for submitting revised SIPs and are
finalizing this FIP based on the deadline
agreed to by the LMAPCD. We will
continue to work with states, including
the LMAPCD, as we have done
throughout the rulemaking process, to
assist in development and expedite
review of revised SIPs. In the meantime,
however, this FIP is necessary for
Jefferson County, Kentucky in order to
provide a permitting authority until an
adequate SIP is submitted and
approved.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866—Regulatory
Planning and Review
This action is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under the terms of
Executive Order (EO) 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993) and is therefore
not subject to review under the EO.
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B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose any new
information collection burden.
However, the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) has previously approved
the information collection requirements
contained in the existing regulations for
PSD (see, e.g., 40 CFR 52.21) and title
V (see 40 CFR parts 70 and 71) under
the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
and has assigned OMB control number
2060–0003 and OMB control number
2060–0336 respectively. The OMB
control numbers for EPA’s regulations
in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
generally requires an agency to prepare
a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
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rulemaking requirements under the
Administrative Procedure Act or any
other statute unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities
include small businesses, small
organizations, and small governmental
jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts
of this notice on small entities, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business
that is a small industrial entity as
defined in the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) size standards
(see 13 CFR 121.201); (2) a small
governmental jurisdiction that is a
government of a city, county, town,
school district, or special district with a
population of less than 50,000; or (3) a
small organization that is any not-forprofit enterprise that is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field.
Although this rule would lead to
federal permitting requirements for
certain sources, those sources are large
emitters of GHGs and tend to be large
sources. After considering the economic
impacts of this rule on small entities, I
certify that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
This final rule will not impose any
requirements on small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This action contains no federal
mandates under the provisions of Title
II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act of 1995 (UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531–
1538) for state, local or tribal
governments or the private section. The
action imposes no enforceable duty on
any state, local or tribal governments or
the private sector. This action merely
prescribes EPA’s action for an area that
did not meet its existing obligation for
PSD SIP submittal. Thus, this rule is not
subject to the requirements of sections
202 or 205 of UMRA.
This action is also not subject to the
requirements of section 203 of UMRA
because it contains no regulatory
requirements that might significantly or
uniquely affect small governments. This
action merely prescribes EPA’s action
for an area that did not meet its existing
obligation for PSD SIP submittal.
E. Executive Order 13132—Federalism
This action does not have federalism
implications. It will not have substantial
direct effects on the states, on the
relationship between the national
government and the states, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
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Executive Order 13132. This action
merely prescribes EPA’s action for an
area that did not meet its existing
obligation for GHG PSD SIP submittal.
Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not
apply to this action.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132,
and consistent with EPA policy to
promote communications between EPA
and state and local governments, EPA
specifically solicited comment on the
proposal for this action from state and
local officials.
F. Executive Order 13175—Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This action does not have tribal
implications, as specified in Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000). This action does not impose a FIP
in any tribal area. Thus, Executive Order
13175 does not apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045—Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
EPA interprets EO 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997) as applying only
to those regulatory actions that concern
health or safety risks, such that the
analysis required under section 5–501 of
the EO has the potential to influence the
regulation. This action is not subject to
EO 13045 because it merely prescribes
EPA’s action for an area that did not
meet its existing obligation for PSD SIP
submittal.
H. Executive Order 13211—Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This action is not a ‘‘significant energy
action’’ as defined in Executive Order
13211 (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)),
because it is not likely to have a
significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy. This
action merely prescribes EPA’s action
for an area that did not meet its existing
obligation for PSD SIP submittal.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law
104–113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note)
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus
standards in its regulatory activities
unless to do so would be inconsistent
with applicable law or otherwise
impractical. Voluntary consensus
standards are technical standards (e.g.,
materials specifications, test methods,
sampling procedures, and business
practices) that are developed or adopted
by voluntary consensus standards
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bodies. NTTAA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through OMB, explanations
when the Agency decides not to use
available and applicable voluntary
consensus standards.
This rulemaking does not involve
technical standards. Therefore, EPA did
not consider the use of any voluntary
consensus standards.
J. Executive Order 12898—Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994) establishes federal
executive policy on environmental
justice. Its main provision directs
federal agencies, to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law, to
make environmental justice part of their
mission by identifying and addressing,
as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or
environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority
populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
EPA has determined that this final
rule will not have disproportionately
high and adverse human health or
environmental effects on minority or
low-income populations because it does
not affect the level of protection
provided to human health or the
environment. This rule merely
prescribes EPA’s action for an area that
did not meet its existing obligation for
PSD SIP submittal.
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K. Determination Under Section 307(d)
Pursuant to section 307(d)(1)(B) of the
CAA, this action is subject to the
provisions of section 307(d). Section
307(d)(1)(B) provides that the provisions
of section 307(d) apply to ‘‘the
promulgation or revision of an
implementation plan by the
Administrator under section 110(c) of
this Act.’’
L. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
submit a rule report, which includes a
copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. EPA will submit a
report containing this rule and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A major rule
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
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is published in the Federal Register.
This action does not constitute a ‘‘major
rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Therefore, this action will be effective
January 14, 2011.
V. Judicial Review
Section 307(b)(1) of the CAA specifies
which Federal Courts of Appeal have
jurisdiction to hear petitions for review
of which final actions by EPA. This
section provides, in part, that petitions
for review must be filed in the Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit: (i) When the agency action
consists of ‘‘nationally applicable
regulations promulgated, or final actions
taken, by the Administrator,’’ or (ii)
when such action is locally or regionally
applicable, if ‘‘such action is based on a
determination of nationwide scope or
effect and if in taking such action the
Administrator finds and publishes that
such action is based on such a
determination.’’
This rule is nationally applicable
under CAA section 307(b)(1). It is
merely the next step in the suite of rules
addressing inadequacies in SIPs related
to 13 states’ failure to apply PSD to
GHG-emitting sources as the SIP Call,
the Finding of Failure to Submit issued
on December 29, 2010, and the FIP rule
issued on December 30, 2010. In
particular, this rule simply follows-up
on the FIP rule issued on December 30,
2010, which affected seven states that
chose the earliest possible deadline, and
takes the identical next step for Jefferson
County now that this area, too, has
missed its SIP Call deadline and is
subject to a Finding of Failure to
Submit, and FIP. The circumstances that
have led to this rulemaking are national
in scope and are substantially the same
for Jefferson County, Kentucky as they
were for each of the seven affected states
in the earlier FIP rule issued on
December 30, 2010. They include EPA’s
promulgation of nationally applicable
GHG requirements that, in conjunction
with the operation of the CAA PSD
provisions, have resulted in GHGemitting sources becoming subject to
PSD; as well as EPA’s finding of
substantial SIP inadequacy, imposition
of a SIP call, and establishment of a
deadline for SIP submittal. Moreover, in
this rule, EPA is applying the same
uniform principles for promulgating the
FIP for Jefferson County, Kentucky as it
did for each of the seven earlier-affected
states, concerning, e.g., timing (that is,
that EPA is promulgating the FIP for
each affected state immediately) and
scope (that is, that EPA is applying the
FIP for GHG-emitting sources). The FIP
for Jefferson County has substantially
the same, if not identical, terms as the
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Sfmt 4700
FIP for each affected state in the
December 30, 2010 rule. This
rulemaking action is supported by the
same single administrative record as the
earlier December 30, 2010 FIP rule, and
does not involve factual questions
unique to Jefferson County, Kentucky or
the LMAPCD. In addition, as stated
above, this rule is part of a single
approach to correcting certain
inadequacies in SIPs in multiple States
across the country, and in several
judicial circuits.
For similar reasons, this rule is based
on determinations of nationwide scope
or effect. For Jefferson County,
Kentucky, EPA is determining that it is
appropriate to promulgate the FIP
immediately and to apply it to GHGemitting sources, but not other sources,
in the same way it made the same
determination for the seven other states
in the earlier December 30, 2010 FIP
rule. These determinations are the same
for each of the states. The provisions of
this FIP are also substantially the same,
if not identical, to those for the seven
earlier affected states. Moreover, EPA is
making these determinations and
promulgating this action within the
context of nationwide rulemakings and
interpretation of the applicable CAA
provisions, as noted above.
Thus, under section 307(b)(1) of the
Act, judicial review of this final action
is available by filing of a petition for
review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit by
March 15, 2011. Any such judicial
review is limited to only those
objections that were raised with
reasonable specificity in timely
comments. Under section 307(b)(2) of
the Act, the requirements of this final
action may not be challenged later in
civil or criminal proceedings brought by
us to enforce these requirements.
VI. Statutory Authority
The statutory authority for this action
is provided by sections 110, 165, 301,
and 307(d)(1)(B) of the CAA as amended
(42 U.S.C. 7410, 7475, 7601, and
7407(d)(1)(B)). This action is subject to
section 307(d) of the CAA (42 U.S.C.
7407(d)).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Air pollution control, Carbon dioxide,
Carbon dioxide equivalents, Carbon
monoxide, Environmental protection,
Greenhouse gases, Hydrofluorocarbons,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Lead,
Methane, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrous
oxide, Ozone, Particulate matter,
Perfluorocarbons, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
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14JAR1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 10 / Friday, January 14, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
hexafluoride, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Dated: January 10, 2011.
Lisa P. Jackson,
Administrator.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, title 40, chapter I of the Code
of Federal Regulations is revised 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.
2. Section 52.37 is amended by
revising paragraph (b)(6) and adding
paragraph (b)(7) to read as follows:
§ 52.37 What are the requirements of the
Federal Implementation plans (FIPs) to
issue permits under the Prevention of
Significant Deterioration requirements to
sources that emit greenhouse gases?
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(6) Wyoming;
(7) Jefferson County, Kentucky.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2011–768 Filed 1–13–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Mississippi:
Prevention of Significant Deterioration;
Nitrogen Oxides as a Precursor to
Ozone; Correction
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule; correction and
clarification.
AGENCY:
EPA is publishing today’s
notice to correct the regulatory table in
the Code of Federal Regulations for
Mississippi’s state implementation plan
(SIP) to clarify that the version of
Mississippi’s Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) regulations
incorporated into Mississippi’s SIP on
and after the January 19, 2011, effective
date of the SIP revision approved by
EPA on December 20, 2010, will be the
version promulgated by the State on
October 28, 2010 (state-effective date
December 1, 2010), and approved by
EPA on December 29, 2010. This
version of Mississippi’s PSD regulations
includes both a SIP revision approved
by EPA on December 20, 2010, and a
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with RULES
17:19 Jan 13, 2011
Jkt 223001
On
November 28, 2007, Mississippi
submitted a SIP revision to EPA to
revise its SIP-approved PSD permitting
regulations to address the requirements
of the Ozone Implementation New
Source Review Update to include the
consideration of NOX as an ozone
precursor. Specifically, Mississippi’s
November 28, 2007, SIP revision made
changes to Mississippi’s air quality
regulations, APC–S–5—Regulations for
Prevention of Significant Deterioration,
to incorporate by reference the
provisions at 40 CFR 52.21 as amended
and promulgated as of June 15, 2007. On
December 20, 2010, EPA published a
final rule approving Mississippi’s
November 28, 2007, SIP revision
(following a proposal and receiving no
comments). See 75 FR 78300. According
to the December 20, 2010, action, the
effective date of EPA’s December 20,
2010, final rule approving Mississippi’s
November 28, 2007, SIP revision is
January 19, 2011. The January 19, 2011,
effective date is now being corrected
and clarified in today’s action. This is
necessary due to EPA taking final action
on two SIP revisions so closely in time
and to avoid any confusion regarding
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[EPA–R04–OAR–2009–0041–201058(c);
FRL–9250–4]
VerDate Mar<15>2010
This action is effective January
19, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the
documentation used in the action being
corrected are available for inspection
during normal business hours at the
following location: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth
Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303–
8960. The Regional Office’s official
hours of business are Monday through
Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding Federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Lynorae Benjamin, Chief, Regulatory
Development Section, Air Planning
Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics
Management Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. Ms.
Benjamin can be reached at 404–562–
9040, or via electronic mail at
benjamin.lynorae@epa.gov.
DATES:
■
SUMMARY:
SIP revision approved by EPA on
December 29, 2010. No new SIP
revisions are approved by today’s
notice. Today’s notice clarifies that the
revision identified in EPA’s December
20, 2010, final action (adding nitrogen
oxides (NOX) as a precursor to ozone for
PSD purposes) was included in the PSD
rules that were incorporated into the SIP
by EPA’s December 29, 2010, final
action regarding greenhouse gases
(GHGs).
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Fmt 4700
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2589
which SIP rules are in effect in
Mississippi.
On December 9, 2010, Mississippi
submitted another SIP revision to EPA
to revise its SIP-approved PSD
permitting regulations to establish
appropriate thresholds for determining
which new stationary sources and
modification projects become subject to
Mississippi’s PSD permitting
requirements for their GHG emissions.
Specifically, Mississippi’s December 9,
2010, SIP revision made further changes
to Mississippi’s air quality regulations,
APC–S–5—Regulations for Prevention
of Significant Deterioration, to
incorporate by reference the provisions
at 40 CFR 52.21 as amended and
promulgated as of September 13, 2010.
EPA published a final rule approving
Mississippi’s December 9, 2010, SIP
revision on December 29, 2010, and
used the ‘‘good cause’’ clause to make
the effective date of that final EPA
action January 2, 2011. See 75 FR 81858.
The Mississippi rules at issue in EPA’s
December 29, 2010, final action and
EPA’s December 20, 2010, final action
were different versions of the same
rules—thus resulting in potentially
conflicting effective dates. In today’s
action, EPA is clarifying that both
actions are final and that the rules in
effect per the December 29, 2010, action
are the rules that are approved into
Mississippi’s SIP and that are in effect
in Mississippi.
To clarify the rules in the SIP, as part
of today’s action, EPA is correcting the
regulatory table that identifies
Mississippi’s SIP to clarify which
version of Mississippi’s air quality
regulations related to PSD permitting
requirements will be in the SIP on and
after January 19, 2011. Specifically, EPA
is clarifying that it is not EPA’s intent
to supersede EPA’s approval of
Mississippi’s December 9, 2010, SIP
revision, with EPA’s approval of
Mississippi’s November 28, 2007, SIP
revision. Rather, the version of
Mississippi’s PSD regulations
incorporated into Mississippi’s SIP on
and after the January 19, 2011, effective
date of the SIP revisions approved by
EPA on December 20, 2010, will be the
version promulgated by the State on
October 28, 2010 (state-effective date
December 1, 2010), with the exception
of certain language identified in EPA’s
December 29, 2010, notice. This version
of Mississippi’s PSD regulations
includes both the SIP revision approved
by EPA on December 20, 2010, and the
SIP revision approved by EPA on
December 29, 2010. No new SIP
revisions are approved by today’s
action—this is simply a correction and
clarification due to potentially
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2581-2589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-768]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0107; FRL-9253-3]
Action To Ensure Authority To Issue Permits Under the Prevention
of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of Greenhouse Gas
Emissions: Federal Implementation Plan for Jefferson County, KY
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is establishing a federal implementation plan (FIP) to
apply in Jefferson County, Kentucky because the
[[Page 2582]]
Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (LMAPCD), through the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, has not submitted by its established deadline
of January 1, 2011, a state implementation plan (SIP) revision to apply
their Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) program to sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs). This
action will ensure that a permitting authority--EPA--is available in
Jefferson County, Kentucky to issue preconstruction PSD permits to GHG-
emitting sources. This action is related to EPA's recent final rule,
the GHG PSD SIP Call, published on December 13, 2010, in which EPA made
a finding of substantial inadequacy and issued a SIP call to LMAPCD
because the SIP for Jefferson County does not apply the PSD program to
GHG-emitting sources.
DATES: This action is effective on January 14, 2011.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this rulemaking under
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0107. All documents in the docket are
listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the
index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only
in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either
electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The
Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air
Docket is (202) 566-1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cheryl Vetter, Air Quality Policy
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (C504-03),
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;
telephone number: (919) 541-4391; fax number: (919) 541-5509; e-mail
address: vetter.cheryl@epa.gov. For more information on the LMAPCD or
Jefferson County, Kentucky, contact Ms. Lynorae Benjamin, Chief,
Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides
and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Ms.
Benjamin's telephone number is (404) 562-9040; e-mail address:
benjamin.lynorae@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
The entity affected by this rule is the LMAPCD, which is the local
permitting authority \1\ that has jurisdiction in Jefferson County,
Kentucky. The LMAPCD was identified by EPA as not having submitted a
SIP revision that would apply PSD requirements to GHG-emitting sources
by its SIP submittal deadline of January 1, 2011. In the GHG PSD SIP
call,\2\ EPA determined that the Jefferson County portion of the
Kentucky SIP is substantially inadequate to achieve CAA requirements
because its PSD programs do not apply to GHG-emitting sources. EPA
established the deadline after the LMAPCD indicated that it would not
object to a deadline of January 1, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For convenience, we refer to ``states'' in this rulemaking
to collectively mean states and local permitting authorities.
\2\ Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits under the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Finding of Substantial Inadequacy and SIP
Call--Final rule, 75 FR 77698 (December 13, 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entities potentially affected by this rule also include sources in
all industry groups, which have a direct obligation under the CAA to
obtain a PSD permit for GHGs for projects that meet the applicability
thresholds set forth in the Tailoring Rule.\3\ This independent
obligation on sources is specific to PSD and derives from CAA section
165(a). Any source that is subject to a state PSD air permitting
regulation not structured to apply to GHG-emitting sources will rely on
this rule to obtain a permit that contains emission limitations that
conform to requirements under CAA section 165(a). The majority of
entities potentially affected by this action are expected to be in the
following groups:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V
Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule; Final Rule. 75 FR 31514 (June 3,
2010).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry group NAICS \a\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utilities (electric, natural gas, other 2211, 2212, 2213
systems).
Manufacturing (food, beverages, tobacco, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316
textiles, leather).
Wood product, paper manufacturing......... 321, 322
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing. 32411, 32412, 32419
Chemical manufacturing.................... 3251, 3252, 3253, 3254,
3255, 3256, 3259
Rubber product manufacturing.............. 3261, 3262
Miscellaneous chemical products........... 32552, 32592, 32591, 325182,
32551
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing. 3271, 3272, 3273, 3274, 3279
Primary and fabricated metal manufacturing 3311, 3312, 3313, 3314,
3315, 3321, 3322, 3323,
3324, 3325, 3326, 3327,
3328, 3329
Machinery manufacturing................... 3331, 3332, 3333, 3334,
3335, 3336, 3339
Computer and electronic products 3341, 3342, 3343, 3344,
manufacturing. 3345, 4446
Electrical equipment, appliance, and 3351, 3352, 3353, 3359
component manufacturing.
Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 3361, 3362, 3363, 3364,
3365, 3366, 3366, 3369
Furniture and related product 3371, 3372, 3379
manufacturing.
Miscellaneous manufacturing............... 3391, 3399
Waste management and remediation.......... 5622, 5629
Hospitals/nursing and residential care 6221, 6231, 6232, 6233, 6239
facilities.
Personal and laundry services............. 8122, 8123
Residential/private households............ 8141
Non-residential (commercial).............. Not available. Codes only
exist for private
households, construction
and leasing/sales
industries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ North American Industry Classification System.
[[Page 2583]]
B. How is the preamble organized?
The information presented in this preamble is organized as follows:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
B. How is the preamble organized?
II. Overview of Rulemaking
III. Final Action and Response to Comments
A Authority To Promulgate a FIP
B. Timing of GHG PSD FIP
C. Substance of GHG PSD FIP
D. Period for GHG PSD FIP To Remain in Place
E. Primacy of SIP Process
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132--Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175--Consultation and Coordination With
Indian Tribal Governments
G. Executive Order 13045--Protection of Children From
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211--Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898--Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
K. Determination Under Section 307(d)
L. Congressional Review Act
V. Judicial Review
VI. Statutory Authority
II. Overview of Rulemaking
In this rulemaking, EPA is establishing a FIP, which we call the
GHG PSD FIP, or simply, the FIP, to apply in Jefferson County, Kentucky
because the LMAPCD did not submit by January 1, 2011, a corrective SIP
revision to apply their CAA PSD program to sources of GHGs in Jefferson
County, Kentucky.\4\ This is the deadline EPA established after the
LMAPCD indicated that it would not object to it, to ensure that a
permitting authority would be in place soon after January 2, 2011, to
facilitate issuance of PSD permits for construction and modification of
sources. This action does not relate to the rest of Kentucky, as the
Commonwealth, through the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
(KEEC), submitted a corrective SIP revision to address the remainder of
Kentucky on December 13, 2010. This SIP revision was approved by EPA on
December 29, 2010 (75 FR 81868).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District is the
local agency that has jurisdiction over sources in Jefferson County,
Kentucky.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This preamble should be read in conjunction with the preamble for
the proposed rulemaking for this action, which we call the GHG PSD FIP
proposal or the FIP proposal; \5\ and the SIP Call rulemaking that is
associated with this rulemaking, including (i) the proposed SIP Call
rulemaking, which we call the GHG PSD SIP Call proposal or the SIP Call
proposal, and which accompanied the FIP proposal; \6\ (ii) the final
SIP Call rulemaking, which we call the GHG PSD SIP Call or the SIP
Call; and (iii) the GHG PSD FIP final rule which covers seven states
other than Jefferson County, Kentucky.\7\ Background information for
this rulemaking is found in those rulemakings and in the rulemakings
referenced therein and will not be reiterated here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits under the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Federal Implementation Plan--Proposed
rule, 75 FR 53883 (September 2, 2010).
\6\ Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits under the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Finding of Substantial Inadequacy and SIP
Call--Proposed rule, 75 FR 53892 (September 2, 2010).
\7\ Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits under the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Federal Implementation Plan--Final Rule,
75 FR 82246 (December 30, 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
By notices dated September 2, 2010, EPA published as companion
actions the SIP Call proposal and the FIP proposal. In the SIP Call
proposal, EPA proposed to find that 13 states with EPA-approved SIP PSD
programs are substantially inadequate to meet CAA requirements because
they do not appear to apply PSD requirements to GHG-emitting sources.
For each of these states, EPA proposed to require the state (through a
SIP call) to revise its SIP as necessary to correct such inadequacies.
In the FIP proposal, EPA proposed a FIP to apply in any state that is
unable to submit, by its deadline, a corrective SIP revision to apply
the PSD program to sources of GHGs. The FIP would provide authority to
EPA to issue PSD permits for construction or modification of
appropriate GHG sources in the state.
On December 1, 2010, EPA promulgated the GHG PSD SIP Call, and EPA
published it by notice dated December 13, 2010.\8\ In the SIP call, EPA
finalized its finding that the SIPs of 13 states (comprising 15 state
and local programs) are substantially inadequate to meet CAA
requirements because they do not apply PSD requirements to GHG-emitting
sources. In addition, EPA finalized a SIP Call for each of these
states, which required the state to revise its SIP as necessary to
correct such inadequacies. Further, EPA established a deadline for each
state to submit its corrective SIP revision. These deadlines, which
differed among the states, ranged from December 22, 2010, to December
1, 2011. The LMAPCD requested a SIP deadline of January 1, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits Under the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Finding of Substantial Inadequacy and SIP
Call--Final Rule, 75 FR 77698 (December 13, 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a separate notice, EPA is also issuing a finding under CAA
section 110(c)(1)(A) that the LMAPCD ``failed to make [the] required
submission'' of the corrective SIP call-mandated SIP revision for
Jefferson County, Kentucky by its January 1, 2011 deadline. EPA
notified the LMAPCD of the finding by letter. That letter is located in
the docket for this rulemaking.
III. Final Action and Response to Comments
A. Authority To Promulgate a FIP
In this rulemaking, EPA is finalizing the GHG PSD FIP as proposed
for Jefferson County, Kentucky. This rulemaking does not relate to the
remainder of the Commonwealth as EPA has already taken final action to
approve the Commonwealth's corrective SIP for all areas in Kentucky
except for Jefferson County. See 75 FR 81868.
The CAA authority for EPA to promulgate a FIP is found in CAA
section 110(c)(1), which provides--
The Administrator shall promulgate a Federal implementation plan
at any time within 2 years after the Administrator--(A) finds that a
State has failed to make a required submission * * * unless the
State corrects the deficiency, and [EPA] approves the plan or plan
revision, before the Administrator promulgates such [FIP].
As noted earlier in this preamble, EPA is issuing a finding that
the LMAPCD, through the Commonwealth of Kentucky, ``failed to make
[the] required submission'' of the corrective SIP Call-mandated SIP
revision by its January 1, 2011, deadline. Accordingly, under CAA
section 110(c)(1), EPA is required to promulgate a FIP for Jefferson
County, Kentucky. It should be noted that EPA specifically proposed the
FIP for Jefferson County, Kentucky.
We reiterate that the LMAPCD indicated to EPA that it preferred
that EPA promulgate a FIP to take effect soon after January 2, 2011--
when sources in the state become subject to PSD--rather than wait to
promulgate a FIP until a later time. This is because the LMAPCD wishes
to assure that a permitting authority for GHG-emitting sources is in
place in Jefferson County, Kentucky should a permit be sought that
requires consideration of GHGs. The LMAPCD
[[Page 2584]]
made this choice by indicating that they did not object to EPA
establishing a SIP submittal date of January 1, 2011, when EPA made
clear in the proposed SIP Call and FIP that if the state did not submit
the required SIP revision by that date, then EPA would promulgate the
FIP the next day. 75 FR at 53904/2 (proposed SIP Call); id. at 53889/2
(proposed FIP). Although the LMAPCD requested a later SIP deadline than
the earliest date (i.e., December 22, 2010), they believe that this
will only mean a short delay in the availability of a permitting
authority for GHG-emitting sources in their state, and that delay will
not adversely affect their sources.
In this rulemaking, EPA is not taking final action to promulgate a
FIP for any of the other states beside Jefferson County, Kentucky which
EPA included in the FIP proposal. This is because each of the other
states falls into one of the following three categories: (1) EPA did
not finalize the SIP call for this state; (2) EPA has already issued a
FIP for this state; \9\ or (3) EPA did finalize the SIP call but
established a SIP submittal deadline that has not yet arrived. As EPA
noted in the GHG FIP signed on December 23, 2010, it continues to be
EPA's intent that if any of these other states does not submit the
required SIP revision by its deadline, then EPA will immediately issue
a finding of failure to submit a required SIP submission and
immediately promulgate a GHG PSD FIP for that state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ On December 30, 2010, EPA published a notice to promulgate a
FIP for seven states that received a SIP submittal deadline of
December 22, 2010. Based on information received from each of these
states during the public comment period, they indicated that they
would not object to this early deadline for allowing a FIP to be put
in place. These seven states are: (1) Arizona: Both Pinal County and
Rest of State (excluding Maricopa County, Pima County, and Indian
Country); (2) Arkansas; (3) Florida; (4) Idaho; (5) Kansas; (6)
Oregon; and (7) Wyoming.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In comments received, some commenters stated, ``Remarkably, EPA
states that it will also directly promulgate a SIP call and FIP for any
states it has inadvertently omitted from its notice of proposed
rulemaking.'' Although the commenters do not elaborate upon this
statement, they seem to imply that it would be improper for EPA to
finalize a FIP for such states because we did not provide adequate
notice and opportunity for comment.
This comment is not relevant to Jefferson County, Kentucky, as the
proposed SIP call and FIP explicitly name Jefferson County as an area
that may be included in the final SIP Call and FIP. Furthermore, we
disagree with the commenters, and have discussed and responded to this
comment in great detail in the SIP Call, 75 FR at 77715-16, and the
December 30, 2010 FIP, 75 FR 82248.
B. Timing of GHG PSD FIP
In the GHG PSD FIP proposal, we stated:
If any of the states for which we issue the SIP Call does not
meet its SIP submittal deadline, we will immediately issue a finding
of failure to submit a required SIP submission, under CAA section
110(c)(1)(A), and immediately thereafter promulgate a FIP for the
state. This timing for FIP promulgation is authorized under CAA
section 110(c)(1), which authorizes us to promulgate a FIP ``at any
time within 2 years after'' finding a failure to submit a required
SIP submission. We intend to take these actions immediately in order
to minimize any period of time during which larger-emitting sources
may be under an obligation to obtain PSD permits for their GHGs when
they construct or modify, but no permitting authority is authorized
to issue those permits.
75 FR at 53,889/2.
In this final rulemaking, we are proceeding in the same manner that
we proposed, and for the same reasons. That is, we are exercising our
discretion to promulgate the FIP for Jefferson County ``immediately in
order to minimize any period of time during which larger-emitting
sources may be under an obligation to obtain PSD permits for their GHGs
when they construct or modify, but no permitting authority is
authorized to issue those permits.'' 75 FR at 53889/2. We believe that
acting immediately is in the best interests of the states and the
regulated community.
EPA received comments that the process EPA has employed in this
action, which was to propose the FIP as a companion rule to the
proposed SIP call, and then to finalize the FIP immediately after
making a finding that a state has not submitted the required SIP
revision by its deadline, ``is not how CAA section 110 works or how
Congress intended it to work.'' The commenter added that--
[O]nly after a state has * * * failed to [submit a SIP revision]
after an applicable period as specified in the CAA or EPA
regulations * * * and after EPA has made a determination that the
SIP revision is deficient in one or more respects, may the Agency
step in to propose a FIP rule. And only after taking that step could
EPA then proceed * * * [to take final action on the FIP.]
Notwithstanding EPA's strained and out-of-context emphasis on the
isolated sentence fragment, ``at any time within,'' the very fact
that the CAA affords EPA up to two full years in which to complete
the cooperative task of considering whether a FIP is needed and how
such a plan should be fashioned, and the corollary fact that the Act
does not mandate any federal takeover in less than two years,
militate against EPA's approach here to FIP rulemaking. In
particular, those facts undermine EPA's assumption that it need not
take the time to develop a proposed plan specifically directed at
remedying identified deficiencies in a given state submission, and
to give states and the regulated community a meaningful opportunity
to comment on a proposed FIP that has been specifically developed to
address the individual needs and circumstances of such a state.
(Emphasis in original.)
EPA disagrees with these comments. As we stated in the proposed
rule, CAA section 110(c)(1)(A) authorizes EPA to promulgate a FIP ``at
any time within 2 years after'' finding a failure to submit a required
SIP revision. As we did in the seven-state FIP issued on December 30,
2010, here we are promulgating the FIP immediately because we wish to
minimize any disruption in permitting for the larger GHG-emitting
sources and we are doing so after consultation with the affected state.
The LMAPCD told EPA that they would not object to the promulgation of a
FIP at the earliest possible date after January 1, 2011. Without the
FIP, Jefferson County, Kentucky would be without an approved program to
issue PSD permits for GHG-emitting sources until the LMAPCD, through
the Commonwealth of Kentucky, submits, and EPA approves, a SIP
revision. The FIP provides sources in Jefferson County, Kentucky with
an immediate mechanism to obtain required permits for construction and
modification until the revised SIP is approved.
As for commenters' analysis of CAA section 110(c), that provision,
by its terms, imposes no constraints on when EPA may propose a FIP.
This stands in contrast to other CAA provisions that do impose
requirements for the timing of proposals. See CAA sections
109(a)(1)(A), 111(b)(1)(B). In light of the lack of constraints in CAA
section 110(c), EPA was free to propose the FIP at the same time that
EPA proposed the SIP call. We do not agree that the overall construct
of CAA section 110 imposes the implicit constraints that the commenter
identifies.
Instead, what is important is that for each of the 13 states for
which EPA specifically proposed the FIP, which were the same as the
ones for which EPA proposed the SIP Call, the public had adequate
notice of the circumstances under which EPA proposed that the state
would become subject to the FIP. Those circumstances were that if EPA
finalized the SIP Call, as proposed, for the state, and if the state
did not submit a SIP revision
[[Page 2585]]
applying its PSD program to GHG-emitting sources by the deadline, EPA
would establish a FIP for that state. In fact, EPA did finalize the SIP
call for all but one of those 13 states and is now finalizing the FIP
for Jefferson County, Kentucky. Further, EPA received comments on the
proposed FIP from several states and/or industries located in states
for which EPA proposed the FIP, which indicates that the FIP proposal
provided adequate notice. See, e.g., comments identified in the
rulemaking docket as document numbers 0084.1 (Texas), 0055.1
(Arkansas), 0066.1 (Texas Industry Project), and 0109.1 (National
Mining Association).
Moreover, EPA was clear that for each state subject to the SIP Call
that did not submit the required SIP revision by its SIP submittal
deadline, EPA would immediately make a finding of failure to submit and
immediately promulgate a FIP. EPA explained that this approach was
needed to assure the availability of a permitting authority for sources
in the state.
Finally, each of the states and the public in general had adequate
notice of the terms of the FIP as it would apply in any state.
Specifically, EPA indicated that the FIP would apply PSD to GHG-
emitting sources at the Tailoring Rule thresholds.
Therefore, the FIP proposal was clear as to the circumstances under
which EPA proposed to promulgate a FIP, the timing for the FIP, and the
terms of the FIP. Moreover, each of those three things applied to each
state that would become subject to the SIP Call. Accordingly, the FIP
proposal did, in fact, ``give states and the regulated community a
meaningful opportunity to comment on a proposed FIP that has been
specifically developed to address the individual needs and
circumstances of such a state,'' as the commenter argues the FIP
proposal needed to do.
Several commenters raised an additional objection, which was that
in their view, EPA failed to comply with the requirements of CAA
section 307(d)(3) that (i) the proposed FIP include a summary of ``the
factual data on which the proposed rule is based'' and ``the major
legal interpretations and policy considerations underlying the proposed
rule''; and (ii) ``[a]ll data, information, and documents * * * on
which the proposed rule relies shall be included in the docket on the
date of publication of the proposed rule.'' (Emphasis added by one of
these commenters.) One of these commenters explained that (a) in the
SIP Call proposal, EPA had made a detailed request that states provide
information as to whether their state law authorized the application of
PSD to GHG-emitting sources; (b) this detailed request demonstrated
that the proposal did not establish the legal basis for the SIP Call;
and (c) as a result, the FIP proposal did not include ``information
that is essential to determining whether a FIP for a given state is
even appropriate and justified.'' (Emphasis in original.) This
commenter added--
Only after EPA has received such information, and then taken the
necessary time to evaluate the information and to make judgments as
to whether or not a given state has authority under its SIP and
other elements of state law to regulate GHGs under the PSD program--
i.e., the steps EPA would have to take under CAA section 307(d)(3)
to provide to the public a meaningful ``summary'' of ``the factual
data on which the proposed rule is based'' and ``the major legal
interpretations and policy considerations underlying the proposed
rule''--may EPA propose a FIP for any state that has been determined
to lack that authority. (Emphasis in original.)
We disagree with this comment. The preamble for the FIP proposal
included the CAA section 307(d)(3)-required ``summary'' of the factual
basis and legal interpretations. To reiterate, EPA identified the
states for which EPA was proposing the FIP, 75 FR at 53886 and table
II-1 and 53889/1, and added that EPA would subject other states to the
FIP if they, too, became subject to the SIP call, id. 53886 and table
II-2 and 53889/2; described the timing for the FIP, id. 53889/2-3;
described the substance of the FIP, id. 53889/3-53890/1; and explained
that CAA section 110(c)(1) provided the legal basis, id. 53889/2. The
purpose of the CAA section 307(d)(3) requirements is to provide the
public with adequate notice, and these statements did so by making
clear the circumstances under which EPA was proposing to promulgate a
FIP and the timing and substance of the proposed FIP.
It is true that for any state, whether and when EPA would finalize
the FIP for any state depended on other factors, including whether EPA
would finalize the SIP Call for that state, what deadline EPA would
establish, and whether the state would submit its required corrective
SIP revision by that deadline. But the FIP proposal put the public on
notice, with sufficient specificity, as to EPA's plan. In any event,
any FIP is necessarily dependent on other factors, including state
actions, including submission of a revised SIP. Most broadly,
commenters' approach--which is that EPA cannot propose a FIP in concert
with a SIP call, but instead must proceed in seriatim by completing the
SIP call first and then proposing the FIP--would result in lengthy
delays in the establishment of a permitting authority to process GHG-
emitting sources' PSD permit applications. As a result, commenters'
approach could well cause delays in these sources' ability to undertake
construction and modification projects.
We included related comments and responses in the Response to
Comments document for the seven-state FIP issued on December 30,
2010,\10\ which is applicable to this rule as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ The Response to Comments document for the seven-state FIP
can be found in the docket for this rulemaking at EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-
0107-0157.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Substance of GHG PSD FIP
In the FIP proposal, we stated:
The proposed FIP constitutes the EPA regulations found in 40 CFR
52.21, including the PSD applicability provisions, with a limitation
to assure that, strictly for purposes of this rulemaking, the FIP
applies only to GHGs. Under the PSD applicability provisions in 40
CFR 52.21(b)(50), the PSD program applies to sources that emit the
requisite amounts of any ``regulated NSR pollutant[s],'' including
any air pollutant ``subject to regulation.'' However, in states for
which EPA would promulgate a FIP to apply PSD to GHG-emitting
pollutants, the approved SIP already applies PSD to other air
pollutants. To appropriately limit the scope of the FIP, EPA
proposes in this action to amend 40 CFR 52.21(b)(50) to limit the
applicability provision to GHGs.
We propose this FIP because it would, to the greatest extent
possible, mirror EPA regulations (as well as those of most of the
states). In addition, this FIP would readily incorporate the phase-
in approach for PSD applicability to GHG sources that EPA has
developed in the Tailoring Rule and expects to develop further
through additional rulemaking. As explained in the Tailoring Rule,
incorporating this phase-in approach--including Steps 1 and 2 of the
phase-in as promulgated in the Tailoring Rule--can be most readily
accomplished through interpretation of the terms in the definition
``regulated NSR pollutant,'' including the term ``subject to
regulation.''
In accordance with the Tailoring Rule, * * * the FIP would apply
in Step 1 of the phase-in approach only to ``anyway sources'' (that
is, sources undertaking construction or modification projects that
are required to apply for PSD permits anyway due to their non-GHG
emissions and that emit GHGs in the amount of at least 75,000 tpy on
a CO2e basis) and would apply in Step 2 of the phase-in
approach to both ``anyway sources'' and sources that meet the
100,000/75,000-tpy threshold (that is, (i) sources that newly
construct and would not be subject to PSD on account of their non-
GHG emissions, but that emit GHGs in the amount of at least 100,000
tpy CO2e, and (ii) existing sources that emit GHGs in the
amount of at least 100,000 tpy CO2e, that undertake
modifications that would not trigger PSD on
[[Page 2586]]
the basis of their non-GHG emissions, but that increase GHGs by at
least 75,000 tpy CO2e).
Under the FIP, with respect to permits for ``anyway sources,''
EPA will be responsible for acting on permit applications for only
the GHG portion of the permit, and the state will retain
responsibility for the rest of the permit. Likewise, with respect to
permits for sources that meet the 100,000/75,000-tpy threshold, our
preferred approach--for reasons of consistency--is that EPA will be
responsible for acting on permit applications for only the GHG
portion of the permit, that the state permitting authorities will be
responsible for the non-GHG portion of the permit, and EPA will
coordinate with the state permitting authority as needed in order to
fully cover any non-GHG emissions that, for example, are subject to
BACT because they exceed the significance levels. We recognize that
questions may arise as to whether the state permitting authorities
have authority to permit non-GHG emissions; as a result, we solicit
comment on whether EPA should also be the permitting authority for
the non-GHG portion of the permit for these latter sources.
We propose that the FIP consist of the regulatory provisions
included in 40 CFR 52.21, except that the applicability provision
would include a limitation so that it applies for purposes of this
rulemaking only to GHGs.
75 FR 53889/3 to 53,890/1
We are finalizing the FIP as we described it in the proposal, for
the same reasons that we indicated in the proposal, all as quoted
earlier in this preamble.
State, industry, and environmental commenters questioned how having
EPA issue the GHG portions of a permit while allowing states under a
FIP to continue to be responsible for issuing the non-GHG portions of a
PSD permit will work in practice. Commenters raised concerns about the
potential for a source to be ``faced with conflicting requirements and
the need to mediate among permit engineers making BACT decisions.''
We appreciate the commenters' concern. We well recognize that
dividing permitting responsibilities between two authorities--EPA for
GHGs and the state for all other pollutants--will require close
coordination between the two authorities to avoid duplication,
conflicting determinations, and delays. We note that this situation is
not without precedent. In many instances in the past, EPA has been the
PSD permitting authority but the state has accepted a delegation for
parts of the PSD program, so that a source has had to go to both the
state and EPA for its permit. In addition, all nonattainment areas in
the nation are in attainment or are unclassifiable for at least one
pollutant, so that every nonattainment area is also a PSD area. In some
of these areas, the state is the permitting authority for nonattainment
new source review (NSR) and EPA is the permitting authority for PSD. As
a result, there are instances in which a new or modifying source in
such an area has needed a nonattainment NSR permit from the state and a
PSD permit from EPA.
EPA is working expeditiously to develop recommended approaches for
EPA regions and affected states--including Jefferson County, Kentucky--
to use in addressing the shared responsibility of issuing PSD permits
for GHG-emitting sources. In addition, as discussed below, we intend
for the GHG PSD FIP to remain in place only as long as necessary for
states' SIPs to be approved. Moreover, in this interim period, we
intend to delegate permitting responsibility to those states that are
able to implement it and that request it. States that request and
receive a delegation will be responsible for issuing both the GHG part
and the non-GHG part of the permit, and that will moot commenters'
concerns about split permitting.
D. Period for GHG PSD FIP To Remain in Place
In the FIP proposal, we stated our intention to leave any
promulgated FIP in place for as short a period as possible, and to
process any corrective SIP revision submitted by the state to fulfill
the requirements of the SIP call as expeditiously as possible.
Specifically, we stated:
After we have promulgated a FIP, it must remain in place until
the state submits a SIP revision and we approve that SIP revision.
CAA section 110(c)(1). Under the present circumstances, we will act
on a SIP revision to apply the PSD program to GHG sources as quickly
as possible. Upon request of the state, we will parallel-process the
SIP submittal. That is, if the state submits to us the draft SIP
submittal for which the state intends to hold a hearing, we will
propose the draft SIP submittal for approval and open a comment
period during the same time as the state hearing. If the SIP
submittal that the state ultimately submits to us is substantially
similar to the draft SIP submittal, we will proceed to take final
action without a further proposal or comment period. If we approve
such a SIP revision, we will at the same time rescind the FIP.
75 FR 53889/2-3.
We continue to have these same intentions. Thus, we reaffirm our
intention to leave this GHG PSD FIP in place only as long as is
necessary for the LMAPCD to submit and for EPA to approve a SIP
revision that includes PSD permitting for GHG-emitting sources. As
discussed in more detail later in this preamble, EPA continues to
believe that the states should remain the primary permitting authority.
E. Primacy of SIP Process
In the FIP proposal we stated,
This proposal [to promulgate a FIP] is secondary to our
overarching goal, which is to assure that in every instance, it will
be the state that will be that permitting authority. EPA continues
to recognize that the states are best suited to the task of
permitting because they and their sources have experience working
together in the state PSD program to process permit applications.
EPA seeks to remain solely in its primary role of providing guidance
and acting as a resource for the states as they make the various
required permitting decisions for GHG emissions.
Accordingly, beginning immediately we intend to work closely
with the states--as we have already begun to do since earlier in the
year--to help them promptly develop and submit to us their
corrective SIP revisions that extend their PSD program to GHG-
emitting sources. Moreover, we intend to promptly act on their SIP
submittals. Again, EPA's goal is to have each and every affected
state have in place the necessary permitting authorities by the time
businesses seeking construction permits need to have their
applications processed and the permits issued--and to achieve that
outcome by means of engaging with the states directly through a
concerted process of consultation and support.
EPA is taking up the additional task of proposing this FIP and
the companion SIP Call action only because the Agency believes it is
compelled to do so by the need to assure businesses, to the maximum
extent possible and as promptly as possible, that a permitting
authority is available to process PSD permit applications for GHG-
emitting sources once they become subject to PSD requirements on
January 2, 2011.
In order to provide that assurance, we are obligated to
recognize, as both states and the regulated community already do,
that there may be circumstances in which states are simply unable to
develop and submit those SIP revisions by January 2, 2011, or for
some period of time beyond that date. As a result, absent further
action by EPA, those states' affected sources confront the risk that
they may have to put on hold their plans to construct or modify, a
risk that may have adverse consequences for the economy.
Given these exigent circumstances, EPA proposes this plan,
within the limits of our power, with the intent to make a back-up
permitting authority available--and to send a signal of assurance
expeditiously in order to reduce uncertainty and thus facilitate
businesses' planning. Within the design of the CAA, it is EPA that
must fill that role of back-up permitting authority. This FIP and
the companion SIP Call action fulfill the CAA requirements to
establish EPA in that role.
At the same time, we propose these actions with the intent that
states retain as much discretion as possible in the hand of the
states. In the SIP Call rulemaking, EPA proposes that states may
choose the deadline they consider reasonable for submission of
[[Page 2587]]
their corrective SIP revision. If, under CAA requirements, we are
compelled to promulgate a FIP, we invite the affected state to
accept a delegation of authority to implement that FIP, so that it
will still be the state that processes the permit applications,
albeit operating under federal law. In addition, if we are compelled
to issue a FIP, we intend to continue to work closely with the state
to assist in developing and submitting for approval its corrective
SIP revision, so as to minimize the amount of time that the FIP must
remain in place.
75 FR at 53890/1-2.
In this rulemaking, we continue to have the same intentions and for
the same reasons. Thus, we continue to believe that this action is
necessary to ensure that sources in states with inadequate SIPs can
obtain the necessary PSD permits for their GHG emissions. We have
worked closely with states to establish reasonable deadlines for
submitting revised SIPs and are finalizing this FIP based on the
deadline agreed to by the LMAPCD. We will continue to work with states,
including the LMAPCD, as we have done throughout the rulemaking
process, to assist in development and expedite review of revised SIPs.
In the meantime, however, this FIP is necessary for Jefferson County,
Kentucky in order to provide a permitting authority until an adequate
SIP is submitted and approved.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review
This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of Executive Order (EO) 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and
is therefore not subject to review under the EO.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose any new information collection burden.
However, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has previously
approved the information collection requirements contained in the
existing regulations for PSD (see, e.g., 40 CFR 52.21) and title V (see
40 CFR parts 70 and 71) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and has assigned OMB control number 2060-
0003 and OMB control number 2060-0336 respectively. The OMB control
numbers for EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency
to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to
notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative
Procedure Act or any other statute unless the agency certifies that the
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses,
small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts of this notice on small
entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small business that is a
small industrial entity as defined in the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) size standards (see 13 CFR 121.201); (2) a small
governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town,
school district, or special district with a population of less than
50,000; or (3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit
enterprise that is independently owned and operated and is not dominant
in its field.
Although this rule would lead to federal permitting requirements
for certain sources, those sources are large emitters of GHGs and tend
to be large sources. After considering the economic impacts of this
rule on small entities, I certify that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
This final rule will not impose any requirements on small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This action contains no federal mandates under the provisions of
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA, 2 U.S.C.
1531-1538) for state, local or tribal governments or the private
section. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any state, local or
tribal governments or the private sector. This action merely prescribes
EPA's action for an area that did not meet its existing obligation for
PSD SIP submittal. Thus, this rule is not subject to the requirements
of sections 202 or 205 of UMRA.
This action is also not subject to the requirements of section 203
of UMRA because it contains no regulatory requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This action merely
prescribes EPA's action for an area that did not meet its existing
obligation for PSD SIP submittal.
E. Executive Order 13132--Federalism
This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as
specified in Executive Order 13132. This action merely prescribes EPA's
action for an area that did not meet its existing obligation for GHG
PSD SIP submittal. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this
action.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132, and consistent with EPA
policy to promote communications between EPA and state and local
governments, EPA specifically solicited comment on the proposal for
this action from state and local officials.
F. Executive Order 13175--Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action does
not impose a FIP in any tribal area. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does
not apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045--Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
EPA interprets EO 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) as applying
only to those regulatory actions that concern health or safety risks,
such that the analysis required under section 5-501 of the EO has the
potential to influence the regulation. This action is not subject to EO
13045 because it merely prescribes EPA's action for an area that did
not meet its existing obligation for PSD SIP submittal.
H. Executive Order 13211--Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
This action is not a ``significant energy action'' as defined in
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)), because it is not
likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy. This action merely prescribes EPA's
action for an area that did not meet its existing obligation for PSD
SIP submittal.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law 104-113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note)
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by
voluntary consensus standards
[[Page 2588]]
bodies. NTTAA directs EPA to provide Congress, through OMB,
explanations when the Agency decides not to use available and
applicable voluntary consensus standards.
This rulemaking does not involve technical standards. Therefore,
EPA did not consider the use of any voluntary consensus standards.
J. Executive Order 12898--Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision
directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
EPA has determined that this final rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority or low-income populations because it does not
affect the level of protection provided to human health or the
environment. This rule merely prescribes EPA's action for an area that
did not meet its existing obligation for PSD SIP submittal.
K. Determination Under Section 307(d)
Pursuant to section 307(d)(1)(B) of the CAA, this action is subject
to the provisions of section 307(d). Section 307(d)(1)(B) provides that
the provisions of section 307(d) apply to ``the promulgation or
revision of an implementation plan by the Administrator under section
110(c) of this Act.''
L. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal
Register. This action does not constitute a ``major rule'' as defined
by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). Therefore, this action will be effective January
14, 2011.
V. Judicial Review
Section 307(b)(1) of the CAA specifies which Federal Courts of
Appeal have jurisdiction to hear petitions for review of which final
actions by EPA. This section provides, in part, that petitions for
review must be filed in the Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit: (i) When the agency action consists of ``nationally
applicable regulations promulgated, or final actions taken, by the
Administrator,'' or (ii) when such action is locally or regionally
applicable, if ``such action is based on a determination of nationwide
scope or effect and if in taking such action the Administrator finds
and publishes that such action is based on such a determination.''
This rule is nationally applicable under CAA section 307(b)(1). It
is merely the next step in the suite of rules addressing inadequacies
in SIPs related to 13 states' failure to apply PSD to GHG-emitting
sources as the SIP Call, the Finding of Failure to Submit issued on
December 29, 2010, and the FIP rule issued on December 30, 2010. In
particular, this rule simply follows-up on the FIP rule issued on
December 30, 2010, which affected seven states that chose the earliest
possible deadline, and takes the identical next step for Jefferson
County now that this area, too, has missed its SIP Call deadline and is
subject to a Finding of Failure to Submit, and FIP. The circumstances
that have led to this rulemaking are national in scope and are
substantially the same for Jefferson County, Kentucky as they were for
each of the seven affected states in the earlier FIP rule issued on
December 30, 2010. They include EPA's promulgation of nationally
applicable GHG requirements that, in conjunction with the operation of
the CAA PSD provisions, have resulted in GHG-emitting sources becoming
subject to PSD; as well as EPA's finding of substantial SIP inadequacy,
imposition of a SIP call, and establishment of a deadline for SIP
submittal. Moreover, in this rule, EPA is applying the same uniform
principles for promulgating the FIP for Jefferson County, Kentucky as
it did for each of the seven earlier-affected states, concerning, e.g.,
timing (that is, that EPA is promulgating the FIP for each affected
state immediately) and scope (that is, that EPA is applying the FIP for
GHG-emitting sources). The FIP for Jefferson County has substantially
the same, if not identical, terms as the FIP for each affected state in
the December 30, 2010 rule. This rulemaking action is supported by the
same single administrative record as the earlier December 30, 2010 FIP
rule, and does not involve factual questions unique to Jefferson
County, Kentucky or the LMAPCD. In addition, as stated above, this rule
is part of a single approach to correcting certain inadequacies in SIPs
in multiple States across the country, and in several judicial
circuits.
For similar reasons, this rule is based on determinations of
nationwide scope or effect. For Jefferson County, Kentucky, EPA is
determining that it is appropriate to promulgate the FIP immediately
and to apply it to GHG-emitting sources, but not other sources, in the
same way it made the same determination for the seven other states in
the earlier December 30, 2010 FIP rule. These determinations are the
same for each of the states. The provisions of this FIP are also
substantially the same, if not identical, to those for the seven
earlier affected states. Moreover, EPA is making these determinations
and promulgating this action within the context of nationwide
rulemakings and interpretation of the applicable CAA provisions, as
noted above.
Thus, under section 307(b)(1) of the Act, judicial review of this
final action is available by filing of a petition for review in the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by March 15,
2011. Any such judicial review is limited to only those objections that
were raised with reasonable specificity in timely comments. Under
section 307(b)(2) of the Act, the requirements of this final action may
not be challenged later in civil or criminal proceedings brought by us
to enforce these requirements.
VI. Statutory Authority
The statutory authority for this action is provided by sections
110, 165, 301, and 307(d)(1)(B) of the CAA as amended (42 U.S.C. 7410,
7475, 7601, and 7407(d)(1)(B)). This action is subject to section
307(d) of the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7407(d)).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Air pollution control, Carbon dioxide, Carbon dioxide equivalents,
Carbon monoxide, Environmental protection, Greenhouse gases,
Hydrofluorocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental
relations, Lead, Methane, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrous oxide, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Perfluorocarbons, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur
[[Page 2589]]
hexafluoride, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: January 10, 2011.
Lisa P. Jackson,
Administrator.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 40, chapter I of the
Code of Federal Regulations is revised 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.
0
2. Section 52.37 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(6) and adding
paragraph (b)(7) to read as follows:
Sec. 52.37 What are the requirements of the Federal Implementation
plans (FIPs) to issue permits under the Prevention of Significant
Deterioration requirements to sources that emit greenhouse gases?
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(6) Wyoming;
(7) Jefferson County, Kentucky.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2011-768 Filed 1-13-11; 8:45 am]
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