Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, South Coast Air Quality Management District, 30896-30898 [2011-13239]
Download as PDF
30896
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 103 / Friday, May 27, 2011 / Proposed Rules
jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with PROPOSALS-1
additions as specified in Regulation 3,
Part A, Section VI.D.1.
Minor grammatical revisions made
throughout the revisions, as identified
above, are also being proposed for
approval.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
Act and applicable Federal regulations.
42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,
EPA’s role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the CAA. Accordingly, this action
merely approves state law as meeting
Federal requirements and does not
impose additional requirements beyond
those imposed by state law. For that
reason, this action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have Federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have
tribal implications as specified by
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:24 May 26, 2011
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November 9, 2000), because the SIP is
not approved to apply in Indian country
located in the state, and EPA notes that
it will not impose substantial direct
costs on tribal governments or preempt
tribal law.
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
submit a rule report, which includes a
copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. EPA will submit a
report containing this action and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A major rule
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
is published in the Federal Register.
This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by Reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Lead,
Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Dated: May 19, 2011.
Carol Rushin,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 8.
[FR Doc. 2011–13272 Filed 5–26–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R09–OAR–2011–0416; FRL–9312–4]
Revisions to the California State
Implementation Plan, South Coast Air
Quality Management District
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is proposing to approve
revisions to the South Coast Air Quality
Management District (SCAQMD) portion
of the California State Implementation
Plan (SIP). These revisions concern
oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and oxides of
sulfur (SOX) emissions from facilities
emitting 4 tons or more per year of NOX
or SOX in the year 1990 or any
subsequent year under the SCAQMD’s
Regional Clean Air Incentives Market
(RECLAIM) program. We are approving
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
a local rule that regulates these emission
sources under the Clean Air Act as
amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We
are taking comments on this proposal
and plan to follow with a final action.
DATES: Any comments must arrive by
June 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments,
identified by docket number EPA–R09–
OAR–2011–0416, by one of the
following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions.
2. E-mail: steckel.andrew@epa.gov.
3. Mail or deliver: Andrew Steckel
(Air–4), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street,
San Francisco, CA 94105–3901.
Instructions: All comments will be
included in the public docket without
change and may be made available
online at https://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Information that
you consider CBI or otherwise protected
should be clearly identified as such and
should not be submitted through
https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail.
https://www.regulations.gov is an
‘‘anonymous access’’ system, and EPA
will not know your identity or contact
information unless you provide it in the
body of your comment. If you send
e-mail directly to EPA, your e-mail
address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the public
comment. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment.
Docket: Generally, documents in the
docket for this action are available
electronically at https://
www.regulations.gov and in hard copy
at EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street,
San Francisco, California. While all
documents in the docket are listed at
https://www.regulations.gov, some
information may be publicly available
only at the hard copy location (e.g.,
copyrighted material, large maps), and
some may not be publicly available in
either location (e.g., CBI). To inspect the
hard copy materials, please schedule an
appointment during normal business
hours with the contact listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lily
Wong, EPA Region IX, (415) 947–4114,
wong.lily@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document, ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us’’
and ‘‘our’’ refer to EPA.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 103 / Friday, May 27, 2011 / Proposed Rules
B. Does the rule meet the evaluation
criteria?
C. Public Comment and Final Action
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Table of Contents
I. The State’s Submittal
A. What rule did the State submit?
B. Are there other versions of this rule?
C. What is the purpose of the submitted
rule revisions?
II. EPA’s Evaluation and Action
A. How is EPA evaluating the rule?
30897
I. The State’s Submittal
A. What rule did the State submit?
Table 1 lists the rule addressed by this
proposal with the date that it was
adopted by the local air agency and
submitted by the California Air
Resources Board (CARB).
TABLE 1—SUBMITTED RULE
Local agency
Rule No.
SCAQMD ......................................
Rule title
2002
On May 6, 2011, EPA determined that
the submittal for SCAQMD Rule 2002
met the completeness criteria in 40 CFR
Adopted
Submitted
Allocations for Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) and Oxides of
Sulfur (SOX).
11/05/10
04/05/11
Part 51 Appendix V, which must be met
before formal EPA review.
B. Are there other versions of this rule?
Table 2 lists the previous version of
this rule approved into the SIP.
TABLE 2—CURRENT SIP APPROVED VERSION OF RULE
Rule No.
Rule title
Adopted
Submitted
Approved FR citation
2002 .....................................
Allocations for Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) and
Oxides of Sulfur (SOX).
01/07/2005
12/21/2005
08/29/2006, 71 FR 51120
jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with PROPOSALS-1
C. What is the purpose of the submitted
rule revisions?
NOX helps produce ground-level
ozone, smog and particulate matter,
which harm human health and the
environment. Section 110(a) of the CAA
requires States to submit regulations
that control NOX emissions.
PM contributes to effects that are
harmful to human health and the
environment, including premature
mortality, aggravation of respiratory and
cardiovascular disease, decreased lung
function, visibility impairment, and
damage to vegetation and ecosystems.
PM2.5 can be emitted directly into the
atmosphere as a solid or liquid particle
(primary or direct PM2.5) or can be
formed in the atmosphere as a result of
various chemical reactions from
precursor emissions of NOX, sulfur
dioxide (SO2), volatile organic
compounds and ammonia (secondary
PM2.5). PM2.5 in the South Coast Air
Basin is overwhelmingly formed as a
secondary pollutant. (South Coast 2007
Air Quality Management Plan, page ES–
9). Therefore, the South Coast 2007
AQMP relies on reducing precursors to
PM2.5 and some directly-emitted PM2.5
rather than fugitive dust (PM10).
The RECLAIM program was initially
adopted by SCAQMD in October 1993.
The program established for many of the
largest NOX and SOX facilities in the
South Coast Air Basin a regional NOX
and a regional SOX emissions cap and
trade program, with the regional
emissions caps declining over time until
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:24 May 26, 2011
Jkt 223001
2003. The program was designed to
provide incentives for sources to reduce
emissions and advance pollution
control technologies by giving sources
added flexibility in meeting emission
reduction requirements. A NOX or SOX
RECLAIM Trading Credit (RTC) is a
limited authorization to emit one pound
of NOX or SOX during a specified one
year period. A RECLAIM source’s
emissions may not exceed its RTC
holding in any compliance year. A
RECLAIM source may comply with this
requirement by installing control
equipment, modifying their activities, or
purchasing RTCs from other facilities.
The primary purpose of the
amendments to Rule 2002 was to
achieve SOX emission reductions by
lowering the SOX emissions cap in the
SOX RECLAIM program. This is
accomplished by the calculation
procedures in the rule for lowering a
source’s SOX RTC holdings. EPA’s
technical support document (TSD) has
more information about this rule.
Rule 2002 submitted to EPA also
includes certain amendments to the rule
that occurred in 2005 that were not
previously approved by EPA. These
amendments lower a source’s NOX RTC
holdings and result in NOX emission
reductions. EPA’s TSD has more
information about these provisions.
Act), must require Reasonably Available
Control Technology (RACT) for each
category of sources covered by a Control
Techniques Guidelines (CTG) document
as well as each major source in
nonattainment areas (see sections
182(a)(2) and 182(f)), and must not relax
existing requirements (see sections
110(l) and 193). The SCAQMD regulates
an ozone nonattainment area (see 40
CFR part 81), so Rule 2002 must fulfill
RACT.
Guidance and policy documents that
we use to evaluate enforceability and
RACT requirements consistently
include the following:
1. ‘‘State Implementation Plans;
Nitrogen Oxides Supplement to the
General Preamble; Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 Implementation of
Title I; Proposed Rule,’’ (the NOX
Supplement), 57 FR 55620, November
25, 1992.
2. ‘‘Issues Relating to VOC Regulation
Cutpoints, Deficiencies, and
Deviations,’’ EPA, May 25, 1988 (the
Bluebook).
3. ‘‘Guidance Document for Correcting
Common VOC & Other Rule
Deficiencies,’’ EPA Region 9, August 21,
2001 (the Little Bluebook).
II. EPA’s Evaluation and Action
We believe this rule is consistent with
the relevant policy and guidance
regarding enforceability, RACT, and SIP
relaxations. The TSD has more
information on our evaluation.
A. How is EPA evaluating the rule?
Generally, SIP rules must be
enforceable (see section 110(a) of the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
B. Does the rule meet the evaluation
criteria?
E:\FR\FM\27MYP1.SGM
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30898
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 103 / Friday, May 27, 2011 / Proposed Rules
jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with PROPOSALS-1
C. Public Comment and Final Action
Because EPA believes the submitted
rule fulfills all relevant requirements,
we are proposing to fully approve it as
described in section 110(k)(3) of the Act.
We will accept comments from the
public on this proposal for the next 30
days. Unless we receive convincing new
information during the comment period,
we intend to publish a final approval
action that will incorporate this rule
into the federally enforceable SIP.
III. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the Clean Air Act, the
Administrator is required to approve a
SIP submission that complies with the
provisions of the Act and applicable
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k);
40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP
submissions, EPA’s role is to approve
State choices, provided that they meet
the criteria of the Clean Air Act.
Accordingly, this action merely
approves State law as meeting Federal
requirements and does not impose
additional requirements beyond those
imposed by State law. For that reason,
this action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have Federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;
and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:24 May 26, 2011
Jkt 223001
disproportionate human health or
environmental effects with practical,
appropriate, and legally permissible
methods under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have
tribal implications as specified by
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because the SIP is
not approved to apply in Indian country
located in the State, and EPA notes that
it will not impose substantial direct
costs on tribal governments or preempt
tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Intergovernmental
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: May 19, 2011.
Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2011–13239 Filed 5–26–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
49 CFR Part 23
[Docket No. OST–2011–0101]
RIN 2105–AE10
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise:
Program Improvements for Airport
Concessions
AGENCY:
Office of the Secretary (OST),
DOT.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM).
ACTION:
This notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) proposes
conforming amendments to the
Department of Transportation’s Airport
Concessions Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise (ACDBE) regulation,
consistent with recently issued
amendments in the Department’s
regulation for the disadvantaged
business enterprise (DBE) program in
highway, transit, and airport financial
assistance programs.
DATES: Comments on this proposed rule
must be received by July 26, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
(identified by the agency name and DOT
Docket ID Number OST–2011–0101) by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments.
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
• Mail: Docket Management Facility:
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
Instructions: You must include the
agency name (Office of the Secretary,
DOT) and Docket number (OST–2011–
0101) for this notice at the beginning of
your comments. You should submit two
copies of your comments if you submit
them by mail or courier. Note that all
comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov including any
personal information provided and will
be available to Internet users. You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477) or you may visit https://
DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
Docket: For Internet access to the
docket to read background documents
and comments received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov. Background
documents and comments received may
also be viewed at the U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave,
S.E., Docket Operations, M–30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert C. Ashby, Deputy Assistant
General Counsel for Regulation and
Enforcement, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590,
Room W94–302, 202–366–9310,
bob.ashby@dot.gov or Wilbur Barham,
Director National Airport Civil Rights
Policy and Compliance, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591, Room 1030,
202–385–6210, wilbur.barham@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
January 28, 2011, the Department
published a final rule establishing
several program improvements to the
Department’s DBE program rule (49 CFR
part 26) for financial assistance
programs (76 FR 5083). This NPRM
proposes conforming amendments to
the Department’s companion rule for the
ACDBE program (49 CFR part 23) for
several of the Part 26 amendments. The
rationales for the proposed conforming
changes to Part 23 are very similar to
E:\FR\FM\27MYP1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30896-30898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13239]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R09-OAR-2011-0416; FRL-9312-4]
Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, South
Coast Air Quality Management District
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the South Coast Air
Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State
Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern oxides of nitrogen
(NOX) and oxides of sulfur (SOX) emissions from
facilities emitting 4 tons or more per year of NOX or
SOX in the year 1990 or any subsequent year under the
SCAQMD's Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) program. We are
approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the
Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are taking
comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
DATES: Any comments must arrive by June 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments, identified by docket number EPA-R09-OAR-
2011-0416, by one of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the on-line instructions.
2. E-mail: steckel.andrew@epa.gov.
3. Mail or deliver: Andrew Steckel (Air-4), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA
94105-3901.
Instructions: All comments will be included in the public docket
without change and may be made available online at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes Confidential Business Information (CBI) or
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Information that you consider CBI or otherwise protected should be
clearly identified as such and should not be submitted through https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. https://www.regulations.gov is an
``anonymous access'' system, and EPA will not know your identity or
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send e-mail directly to EPA, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the public comment. If
EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot
contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your
comment.
Docket: Generally, documents in the docket for this action are
available electronically at https://www.regulations.gov and in hard copy
at EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California. While
all documents in the docket are listed at https://www.regulations.gov,
some information may be publicly available only at the hard copy
location (e.g., copyrighted material, large maps), and some may not be
publicly available in either location (e.g., CBI). To inspect the hard
copy materials, please schedule an appointment during normal business
hours with the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lily Wong, EPA Region IX, (415) 947-
4114, wong.lily@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we,'' ``us'' and
``our'' refer to EPA.
[[Page 30897]]
Table of Contents
I. The State's Submittal
A. What rule did the State submit?
B. Are there other versions of this rule?
C. What is the purpose of the submitted rule revisions?
II. EPA's Evaluation and Action
A. How is EPA evaluating the rule?
B. Does the rule meet the evaluation criteria?
C. Public Comment and Final Action
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. The State's Submittal
A. What rule did the State submit?
Table 1 lists the rule addressed by this proposal with the date
that it was adopted by the local air agency and submitted by the
California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Table 1--Submitted Rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local agency Rule No. Rule title Adopted Submitted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCAQMD............................... 2002 Allocations for Oxides 11/05/10 04/05/11
of Nitrogen (NOX) and
Oxides of Sulfur (SOX).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On May 6, 2011, EPA determined that the submittal for SCAQMD Rule
2002 met the completeness criteria in 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix V, which
must be met before formal EPA review.
B. Are there other versions of this rule?
Table 2 lists the previous version of this rule approved into the
SIP.
Table 2--Current SIP Approved Version of Rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule No. Rule title Adopted Submitted Approved FR citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002.......................... Allocations for 01/07/2005 12/21/2005 08/29/2006, 71 FR 51120
Oxides of
Nitrogen (NOX)
and Oxides of
Sulfur (SOX).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. What is the purpose of the submitted rule revisions?
NOX helps produce ground-level ozone, smog and
particulate matter, which harm human health and the environment.
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires States to submit regulations that
control NOX emissions.
PM contributes to effects that are harmful to human health and the
environment, including premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory
and cardiovascular disease, decreased lung function, visibility
impairment, and damage to vegetation and ecosystems. PM2.5
can be emitted directly into the atmosphere as a solid or liquid
particle (primary or direct PM2.5) or can be formed in the
atmosphere as a result of various chemical reactions from precursor
emissions of NOX, sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile
organic compounds and ammonia (secondary PM2.5).
PM2.5 in the South Coast Air Basin is overwhelmingly formed
as a secondary pollutant. (South Coast 2007 Air Quality Management
Plan, page ES-9). Therefore, the South Coast 2007 AQMP relies on
reducing precursors to PM2.5 and some directly-emitted
PM2.5 rather than fugitive dust (PM10).
The RECLAIM program was initially adopted by SCAQMD in October
1993. The program established for many of the largest NOX
and SOX facilities in the South Coast Air Basin a regional
NOX and a regional SOX emissions cap and trade
program, with the regional emissions caps declining over time until
2003. The program was designed to provide incentives for sources to
reduce emissions and advance pollution control technologies by giving
sources added flexibility in meeting emission reduction requirements. A
NOX or SOX RECLAIM Trading Credit (RTC) is a
limited authorization to emit one pound of NOX or
SOX during a specified one year period. A RECLAIM source's
emissions may not exceed its RTC holding in any compliance year. A
RECLAIM source may comply with this requirement by installing control
equipment, modifying their activities, or purchasing RTCs from other
facilities.
The primary purpose of the amendments to Rule 2002 was to achieve
SOX emission reductions by lowering the SOX
emissions cap in the SOX RECLAIM program. This is
accomplished by the calculation procedures in the rule for lowering a
source's SOX RTC holdings. EPA's technical support document
(TSD) has more information about this rule.
Rule 2002 submitted to EPA also includes certain amendments to the
rule that occurred in 2005 that were not previously approved by EPA.
These amendments lower a source's NOX RTC holdings and
result in NOX emission reductions. EPA's TSD has more
information about these provisions.
II. EPA's Evaluation and Action
A. How is EPA evaluating the rule?
Generally, SIP rules must be enforceable (see section 110(a) of the
Act), must require Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for
each category of sources covered by a Control Techniques Guidelines
(CTG) document as well as each major source in nonattainment areas (see
sections 182(a)(2) and 182(f)), and must not relax existing
requirements (see sections 110(l) and 193). The SCAQMD regulates an
ozone nonattainment area (see 40 CFR part 81), so Rule 2002 must
fulfill RACT.
Guidance and policy documents that we use to evaluate
enforceability and RACT requirements consistently include the
following:
1. ``State Implementation Plans; Nitrogen Oxides Supplement to the
General Preamble; Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Implementation of
Title I; Proposed Rule,'' (the NOX Supplement), 57 FR 55620,
November 25, 1992.
2. ``Issues Relating to VOC Regulation Cutpoints, Deficiencies, and
Deviations,'' EPA, May 25, 1988 (the Bluebook).
3. ``Guidance Document for Correcting Common VOC & Other Rule
Deficiencies,'' EPA Region 9, August 21, 2001 (the Little Bluebook).
B. Does the rule meet the evaluation criteria?
We believe this rule is consistent with the relevant policy and
guidance regarding enforceability, RACT, and SIP relaxations. The TSD
has more information on our evaluation.
[[Page 30898]]
C. Public Comment and Final Action
Because EPA believes the submitted rule fulfills all relevant
requirements, we are proposing to fully approve it as described in
section 110(k)(3) of the Act. We will accept comments from the public
on this proposal for the next 30 days. Unless we receive convincing new
information during the comment period, we intend to publish a final
approval action that will incorporate this rule into the federally
enforceable SIP.
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and
applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve State
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act.
Accordingly, this action merely approves State law as meeting Federal
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those
imposed by State law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the Clean Air Act; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address disproportionate human health or environmental effects with
practical, appropriate, and legally permissible methods under Executive
Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000),
because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in
the State, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: May 19, 2011.
Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2011-13239 Filed 5-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P