Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; South Carolina: Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source Review; Fine Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Oxides as a Precursor to Ozone, 36875-36879 [2011-15633]
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circuit by August 22, 2011. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the
Administrator of this final rule does not
affect the finality of this action for the
purposes of judicial review nor does it
extend the time within which a petition
for judicial review may be filed, and
shall not postpone the effectiveness of
such rule or action. This action may not
be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section
307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
PART 52—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart L—Georgia
2. Section 52.582 is amended by
adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:
■
Control strategy: Ozone.
*
*
*
*
(d) Determination of attaining data.
EPA has determined, as of June 23,
2011, the Atlanta, Georgia
nonattainment area has attaining data
for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This
determination, in accordance with 40
CFR 51.918, suspends the requirements
for this area to submit an attainment
demonstration, associated reasonably
available control measures, a reasonable
further progress plan, contingency
measures, and other planning SIPs
related to attainment of the standard for
as long as this area continues to meet
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
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Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; South Carolina:
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
and Nonattainment New Source
Review; Fine Particulate Matter and
Nitrogen Oxides as a Precursor to
Ozone
EPA is taking final action to
approve three revisions to the South
Carolina State Implementation Plan
(SIP), submitted by the State of South
Carolina, through the South Carolina
Department of Health and
Environmental Control (SC DHEC), to
EPA on December 2, 2010, (for parallel
processing) and April 14, 2009, and
March 16, 2011. South Carolina
provided the final version of the
December 2, 2010, parallel processing
submittal on March 16, 2011. The SIP
revisions approved by this action
incorporate updates to South Carolina’s
air quality regulations under South
Carolina’s New Source Review (NSR)
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) and Nonattainment New Source
Review (NNSR) programs. First, the
revisions incorporate a PSD permitting
requirement promulgated in the 1997 8Hour Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Implementation Rule NSR Update Phase
II (hereafter referred to as the ‘‘Ozone
Implementation NSR Update or ‘‘Phase
II Rule’’). Second, the revisions
incorporate NSR provisions relating to
the fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
NAAQS as amended in EPA’s 2008 NSR
PM2.5 Implementation Rule (hereafter
referred to as the ‘‘NSR PM2.5 Rule’’).
Third, the revisions incorporate NNSR
requirements for calculating emissions
reductions that will be used as emission
offsets and ensures that those reductions
are surplus to other federal
requirements. As a result of the third
revision, EPA also is taking final action
to convert its conditional approval of
South Carolina’s NNSR permitting
program to full approval. EPA is
approving South Carolina’s March 16,
2011, and April 14, 2009, SIP revisions
because they are in accordance with the
Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
Additionally, EPA is responding to
adverse comments received on EPA’s
March 15, 2011, proposed approval of
SUMMARY:
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
[FR Doc. 2011–15616 Filed 6–22–11; 8:45 am]
[EPA–R04–OAR–2005–0004–201119; EPA–
R04–OAR–2010–0958–201119; FRL–9322–6]
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
Dated: June 9, 2011.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
*
40 CFR Part 52
AGENCY:
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Intergovernmental
relations, Incorporation by reference,
Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Volatile organic
compounds, Oxides of nitrogen.
§ 52.582
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
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36875
South Carolina’s December 2, 2010,
proposed SIP revision.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule will be
effective July 25, 2011.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA–R04–OAR–
2005–0004 and EPA–R04–OAR–2010–
0958. All documents in the docket are
listed on the https://www.regulations.gov
Web site. Although listed in the index,
some information is not publicly
available, i.e., Confidential Business
Information or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through
https://www.regulations.gov or in hard
copy at the 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. EPA
requests that if at all possible, you
contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to
schedule your inspection. The Regional
Office’s official hours of business are
Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30,
excluding federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information regarding the South
Carolina SIP, contact Ms. Twunjala
Bradley, 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.
Bradley’s telephone number is (404)
562–9352; e-mail address:
bradley.twunjala@epa.gov. For
information regarding NSR, contact Ms.
Yolanda Adams, Air Permits Section, at
the same address above. Ms. Adams’
telephone number is (404) 562–9214; email address: adams.yolanda@epa.gov.
For information regarding the Phase II
Rule, contact Ms. Jane Spann,
Regulatory Development Section, at the
same address above. Ms. Spann’s
telephone number is (404) 562–9029;
e-mail address: spann.jane@epa.gov.
For information regarding the PM2.5
NAAQS, contact Mr. Joel Huey,
Regulatory Development Section, at the
same address above. Mr. Huey’s
telephone number is (404) 562–9104;
e-mail address: huey.joel@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
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II. This Action
III. EPA’s Response to Comments
IV. Final Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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I. Background
EPA is taking final action on three
separate but related revisions to South
Carolina’s SIP—all pertaining to NSR.
South Carolina submitted the first two
proposed revisions to EPA for parallel
processing on December 2, 2010.
Specifically, South Carolina’s December
2, 2010, SIP submittal proposed to: (1)
Revise South Carolina’s PSD regulations
at Regulation 61–62.5, Standard No. 7—
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
to address a PSD permitting requirement
promulgated in the Phase II Rule, 70 FR
71612 (November 29, 2005); and (2)
incorporate NSR provisions at South
Carolina Regulation 61–62.5, Standard
No. 7—Prevention of Significant
Deterioration and 7.1—Nonattainment
New Source Review for PM2.5 as
amended in EPA’s NSR PM2.5 Rule, 73
FR 28321 (May 16, 2008). On March 15,
2011, EPA proposed approval of South
Carolina’s proposed December 2, 2010,
submission. See 76 FR 13962. This
action includes EPA’s response to
adverse comments received on the
portion of EPA’s March 15, 2011,
proposal pertaining to approval of South
Carolina’s proposed PM2.5 revisions.
South Carolina submitted the December
2, 2010, parallel processing SIP revision
in final form on March 16, 2011.
Additionally, South Carolina
submitted a third SIP revision on April
14, 2009, to address EPA’s conditional
approval of South Carolina’s NNSR
program. See 73 FR 31368 (June 2,
2008). On March 24, 2011, EPA
published a proposed rulemaking notice
to approve a portion of the changes
included in South Carolina’s April 14,
2009, submission, and to convert EPA’s
previous conditional approval of South
Carolina’s NNSR program to full
approval. See 76 FR 16593.
EPA is now taking final action to
approve the changes to South Carolina’s
NSR programs as noted in EPA’s March
15, 2011, and March 24, 2011, proposed
rulemakings. A summary of the
background for today’s final actions is
provided below. For more detail, please
refer to EPA’s proposed rulemakings at
76 FR 13962 (March 15, 2011), and 76
FR 16593 (March 24, 2011).
a. Phase II Rule
With regard to the 1997 8-hour ozone
NAAQS,1 EPA’s Phase II Rule, finalized
1 On July 18, 1997, EPA promulgated a revised 8hour ozone NAAQS of 0.08 parts per million—also
referred to as the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. On
April 30, 2004, EPA designated areas as attainment,
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on November 29, 2005, addressed NSR
permitting requirements and
specifically identified nitrogen oxides
(NOX) as an ozone precursor under the
NSR program. See 70 FR 71612. States
were required to provide SIP
submissions to address the Phase II Rule
requirements by June 15, 2007. On July
1, 2005, South Carolina submitted a SIP
revision to adopt the PSD and NNSR
provisions amended in the 2002 NSR
Reform rules.2 The SIP revision became
state-effective on June 24, 2005, and
adopted PSD and applicable NNSR
provisions at 40 CFR 51.165 and 51.166,
respectively. Also in the July 1, 2005
submittal, South Carolina recognized
NOX as an ozone precursor for NSR
permitting purposes by adopting
provisions into its SIP. At the time of
South Carolina’s NSR Reform SIP
submittal, the Phase II Rule had not
been finalized by EPA. However, South
Carolina had recognized NOX emissions
as an ozone precursor in its PSD
permitting practice. EPA took final
action to approve South Carolina’s NSR
Reform SIP revision as well as NOX as
a precursor provisions into the South
Carolina SIP on June 2, 2008. See 73 FR
31368.
To be consistent with federal NSR
permitting regulations, South Carolina’s
March 16, 2011, SIP revision
incorporates a NOX as ozone precursor
requirement for PSD that was not
included in South Carolina’s July 1,
2005, SIP submittal at Regulation 61–
62–5 Standard No. 7. Specifically, the
change addresses the inclusion of
‘‘nitrogen oxides’’ in the footnote at 61–
62.5(i)(5)(i) as amended at 40 CFR
51.166(i)(5)(i)(e). The provision at 40
CFR 51.166(i)(5)(i)(e) requires sources
with a net increase of 100 tons per year
or more of NOX to perform an ambient
impact analysis. Together, South
Carolina’s previously approved July 1,
2005, SIP revision (73 FR 31368) and
the March 16, 2011, SIP revision
addressed by this rulemaking
incorporate the Phase II Rule permitting
requirements pertaining to NOX as an
nonattainment and unclassifiable for the 1997 8hour ozone NAAQS. In addition, on April 30, 2004
as part of the framework to implement the 1997 8hour ozone NAAQS, EPA promulgated an
implementation rule in two phases (Phase I and II).
The Phase I Rule (effective on June 15, 2004),
provided the implementation requirements for
designating areas under subpart 1 and subpart 2 of
the CAA. See 69 FR 23857.
2 On December 31, 2002 (67 FR 80186), EPA
published final rule changes to 40 CFR parts 51 and
52, regarding the CAA’s PSD and NNSR programs.
On November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63021), EPA
published a notice of final action on the
reconsideration of the December 31, 2002, final rule
changes. The December 31, 2002, and the November
7, 2003, final actions are collectively referred to as
the ‘‘2002 NSR Reform Rules.’’
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ozone precursor into the South Carolina
SIP.
b. NSR PM2.5 Rule
With regard to the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS, EPA finalized a rule on May
16, 2008, including changes to the NSR
program. See 73 FR 28321. The 2008
NSR PM2.5 Rule revised the NSR
program requirements to establish the
framework for implementing
preconstruction permit review for the
PM2.5 NAAQS in both attainment and
nonattainment areas. States are required
to provide SIP submissions to address
the requirements for the 2008 NSR PM2.5
Rule by May 16, 2011. South Carolina’s
March 16, 2011, SIP revision addresses
these requirements.
c. Conversion of EPA’s Conditional
Approval of South Carolina’s NNSR
Program
In addition to approving South
Carolina’s NSR Reform SIP revision and
NOX as an ozone precursor provisions,
as mentioned in Section I.a. above,
EPA’s June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31368),
action conditionally approved South
Carolina Regulation 61–62.5, Standard
No. 7.1—Nonattainment New Source
Review for inclusion in the South
Carolina SIP. This regulation relates to
South Carolina’s NNSR permit program.
As part of the conditional approval,
South Carolina had twelve months from
the June 2, 2008, final conditional
approval to submit changes to its NNSR
program as described herein to be
consistent with EPA federal regulations.
On April 14, 2009, SC DHEC
submitted a revision to the SIP,
incorporating the corrections required
by EPA in the conditional approval.
Specifically, South Carolina revised
Regulation 61–62.5, Standard No. 7.1 to
include baseline provisions for
calculating emission reductions to be
used as offsets to meet the requirements
set out in 40 CFR 51.165(a)(3)(i) and
Appendix S, section IV.C. This revision
affects major stationary sources in South
Carolina that are subject to or
potentially subject to the NNSR
construction permit program. The
emission offsets provisions also specify
that the reductions must be surplus and
cannot be used for offsets if they are
otherwise required by the South
Carolina SIP or other federal standards,
such as New Source Performance
Standards and National Emissions
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants,
including the Maximum Achievable
Control Technology standards. Both of
these issues, which were specifically
identified in EPA’s June 2, 2008, final
conditional approval, were addressed in
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South Carolina’s April 14, 2009, SIP
revision.
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II. This Action
In two separate rulemakings, EPA
proposed action to approve changes to
South Carolina’s NSR program. First,
EPA proposed to approve South
Carolina’s March 16, 2011, SIP revision
addressing PSD and NNSR requirements
related to the implementation of the
PM2.5 NAAQS as well as adding a
provision of the PSD NOX as a precursor
requirements established in the Phase II
Rule (at 40 CFR 51.165 and 51.166). See
76 FR 13962 (March 15, 2011). These
revisions were necessary to update
South Carolina’s existing NSR program
at Regulation 61–62.5 Standards No. 7
and 7.1 to be consistent with current
federal NSR regulations. EPA has
determined that South Carolina’s March
16, 2011 SIP revision, which became
state-effective on February 25, 2011,
meets the requirements of the 2008 NSR
PM2.5 Rule and the Phase II Rule.
Further, EPA has determined that South
Carolina’s March 16, 2011, SIP revision
is consistent with section 110 of the
CAA.
Second, EPA proposed to approve
South Carolina’s April 14, 2009, SIP
revision 3 which consists of changes to
South Carolina Regulation 61–62.5,
Standard No. 7.1 entitled
‘‘Nonattainment New Source Review.’’
See 76 FR 16593 (March 24, 2011). EPA
received no comments on that proposal.
SC DHEC submitted this SIP revision in
response to EPA’s June 2, 2008 (73 FR
31368), final rule, which conditionally
approved South Carolina’s NNSR
program. EPA has determined that
South Carolina’s April 14, 2009, SIP
revision satisfies the conditions listed in
EPA’s June 2, 2008, conditional
approval, and today is taking final
action to convert its prior conditional
approval to full approval.
South Carolina’s April 14, 2009, SIP
revision also includes the removal of
provisions which existed in South
Carolina regulations that relate to
requirements that were vacated from the
federal program by the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit on June 24, 2005. The
3 In addition to changes to address the
conditional approval of South Carolina’s NNSR
program and minor administrative changes, South
Carolina’s April 14, 2009, SIP revision also includes
provisions in Regulation 61–62.5, Standards No. 7
and 7.1 to exclude facilities that produce ethanol
through a natural fermentation process (hereafter
referred to as the ‘‘Ethanol Rule’’) from the
definition of ‘‘chemical process plants’’ in the major
NSR permitting program. See 72 FR 24060 (May 1,
2007). At this time, EPA is not taking action on
South Carolina’s changes to its NSR program to
incorporate the provisions of the Ethanol Rule.
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provisions vacated from the federal
rules pertain to pollution control
projects (PCPs) and clean units (CUs).
Since these provisions were not
approved into South Carolina’s SIP, no
action is required by EPA.4 As a result
of the removal of the PCP and CU
provisions, South Carolina’s April 14,
2009, SIP revision also includes minor
administrative reference changes at
Regulation 61–62.5, Standard No. 7—
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
and Standard No. 7.1 Nonattainment
New Source Review for which EPA is
now taking final action today to include
in the South Carolina SIP.
Given that South Carolina’s April 14,
2009, SIP revision satisfies the
conditional approval requirements for
conversion to a full approval, the
conditional approval language at section
52.2119 of 40 CFR part 52, included in
EPA’s final conditional approval
published June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31368),
is no longer necessary. This action
removes the conditional approval
language relating to South Carolina’s
NNSR program from the CFR to reflect
that the program has been fully
approved. EPA is publishing this
rulemaking to remove § 52.2119 of 40
CFR part 52. As a consequence of the
changes to § 52.2119 of 40 CFR part 52,
this action also moves the existing
disapproval language pertaining to PCPs
and CUs at § 52.2119(c) to § 52.2122(e)
of 40 CFR part 52. In addition, this
action moves footnote 1 in § 52.2120(c)
to section 52.2122(d). Lastly, today’s
action corrects an inadvertent error
regarding the omission of Standard No.
7.1 entry from the table at § 52.2120(c).
EPA has determined that this last
change qualifies for the ‘‘good cause’’
exemption from public notice
requirements pursuant to section
553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative
Procedure Act. Specifically, public
notice and opportunity to comment on
EPA’s correction of the CFR table is
unnecessary because it neither alters the
meaning of the regulations at issue nor
otherwise affects EPA’s analysis of
South Carolina’s NSR and NNSR SIP
revisions.
III. EPA’s Response to Comments
EPA received one set of comments on
the March 15, 2011, proposed
rulemaking to approve South Carolina’s
proposed December 2, 2010, SIP
revision to adopt federal requirements
for NSR permitting set forth in the NSR
PM2.5 Implementation Rule and the
4 On June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31368), EPA
disapproved provisions in South Carolina’s PSD
and NNSR programs relating to PCP and CUs.
Therefore, these provisions were not approved into
South Carolina’s SIP.
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36877
Phase II Rule. A full set of the comments
provided by a single commenter is
provided in the Docket No. EPA–R04–
OAR–2010–0958 for this final action. A
summary of the comment and EPA’s
response is provided below.
Comment: The Commenter provided
EPA with an electronic copy of the EPA
final rulemaking entitled ‘‘Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD) for
Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5
Micrometers (PM2.5)—Increments,
Significant Impact Levels (SILs) and
Significant Monitoring Concentration
(SMC); Final Rule,’’ (hereafter referred
to as the PM2.5 Increments, SILs and
SMC Rule). See 75 FR 64864 (October
20, 2010). The Commenter states ‘‘the
South Carolina’s SIP should also
include the increment and significant
impact level and significant monitoring
concentrations in the attached final
rule.’’
Response: The requirements outlined
in EPA’s PM2.5 Increments, SILs and
SMC Rule are not relevant to EPA’s
March 15, 2011, proposed action and
today’s final action. Furthermore, the
deadline for South Carolina to submit a
SIP revision to adopt the requirements
set forth in EPA’s PM2.5 Increments,
SILs and SMC Rule has not yet passed.
Specifically, as promulgated in the
PM2.5 Increments, SILs and SMC Rule
and in accordance with section 166(b) of
the CAA, states are required to submit
a SIP revision to adopt the PM2.5
increments no later than 21 months
from the promulgation of the Rule, that
is, by July 20, 2012. See 75 FR at 64898.
EPA notes that while the PM2.5
increments are mandatory, the SILs and
SMC provisions are not mandatory but
in fact are elective tools that a state may
incorporate into its SIP at the state’s
discretion. Therefore, South Carolina
has additional time to revise its SIP to
incorporate the required PM2.5 PSD
increments and the elective SIL and
SMC provisions.
IV. Final Action
Pursuant to section 110 of the CAA,
EPA is taking final action to approve
South Carolina’s March 16, 2011, SIP
revisions adopting federal regulations
amended in the NSR PM2.5 Rule and the
Phase II Rule (recognizing NOX as an
ozone precursor) into the South
Carolina SIP. EPA is approving these
revisions into the South Carolina SIP
because they are consistent with section
110 of the CAA and its implementing
regulations.
In addition, EPA is also taking final
action to approve South Carolina’s April
14, 2009, SIP revision, which consists of
changes to South Carolina Regulation
61–62.5, Standard No. 7.1 entitled
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‘‘Nonattainment New Source Review.’’
SC DHEC submitted the April 14, 2009,
SIP revision in response to EPA’s June
2, 2008, rule (73 FR 31368), which
conditionally approved South Carolina’s
NNSR program as provided in the
State’s July 1, 2005, SIP revision. SC
DHEC has now satisfied the conditions
listed in EPA’s conditional approval.
Therefore, today’s final action also
converts EPA’s conditional approval of
South Carolina’s NNSR program to a full
approval. The April 14, 2009, SIP
revision is consistent with federal
regulations and in accordance with the
CAA. In addition, EPA is taking final
action to approve minor administrative
reference changes at South Carolina
Regulation 61–62.5 Standards No. 7 and
7.1 as a result of the removal of PCP and
CU provisions.
As mentioned above in Section II and
as a result of final approval of today’s
actions, this rulemaking makes the
following administrative corrections to
40 CFR part 52: (1) Removes the
conditional approval language at section
52.2119 to reflect that South Carolina’s
NNSR program has been fully approved;
(2) relocates the existing disapproval
language at section 52.2119(c) to section
52.2122(e) of 40 CFR part 52; and (3)
moves footnote 1 in section 52.2120(c)
to section 52.2122(d). Lastly, today’s
action also corrects an inadvertent error
regarding the omission of Standard No.
7.1 entry from the table at section
52.2120(c).
V. 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
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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).
EPA has also determined that this rule
does not have tribal implications as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because
there are no ‘‘substantial direct effects’’
on an Indian Tribe as a result of this
action. The Catawba Indian Nation
Reservation is located within the South
Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte
nonattainment area. EPA notes that the
proposal for this rule incorrectly stated
that the South Carolina SIP is not
approved to apply in Indian country
located in the state. However, pursuant
to the Catawba Indian Claims
Settlement Act, S.C. Code Ann. 27–16–
120, ‘‘all state and local environmental
laws and regulations apply to the
Catawba Indian Nation and Reservation
and are fully enforceable by all relevant
state and local agencies and
authorities.’’ Thus, the South Carolina
SIP does apply to the Catawba
Reservation. While this action revises
South Carolina’s existing NSR
permitting regulations in the SIP, EPA
has determined that these revisions will
not impose any 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
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submit a rule report, which includes a
copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. EPA will submit a
report containing this action and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A major rule
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
is published in the Federal Register.
This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
petitions for judicial review of this
action must be filed in the United States
Court of Appeals for the appropriate
circuit by August 22, 2011. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the
Administrator of this final rule does not
affect the finality of this action for the
purposes of judicial review nor does it
extend the time within which a petition
for judicial review may be filed, and
shall not postpone the effectiveness of
such rule or action. This action may not
be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section
307(b)(2).) For purposes of judicial
review, each of the three SIP revisions
approved by today’s action are severable
from one another.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements and
Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: June 9, 2011.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42.U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart PP—South Carolina
§ 52.2119
[Removed]
2. Section 52.2119 is removed.
3. Section 52.2120 (c) is amended
under Regulation No. 62.5 by revising
the entry for ‘‘Standard No. 7’’ and
adding an entry for ‘‘Standard No. 7.1’’
to read as follows:
■
■
§
*
52.2120 Identification of plan.
*
*
(c) * * *
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*
36879
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 121 / Thursday, June 23, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
State citation
State effective
date
Title/subject
*
Regulation No. 62.5 .........
*
*
Air Pollution Control Standards
*
Standard No. 7 .................
*
*
*
Prevention of Significant Deterioration1 .....................
*
2/25/2011
*
6/23/2011
Standard No. 7.1 ..............
Nonattainment New Source Review1 .........................
2/25/2011
6/23/2011
*
*
*
EPA approval
date
*
*
*
*
*
*
Federal Register notice
*
*
[Insert citation of publication].
[Insert citation of publication].
*
1 This
EPA action is approving revisions to the South Carolina SIP with the exception of the phrase ‘‘except ethanol production facilities producing ethanol by natural fermentation under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes 325193 or 312140,’’ as amended
in the Ethanol Rule. See 72 FR 24060 (May 1, 2007).
*
*
*
*
*
4. Section 52.2122 is amended by
adding paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as
follows:
■
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES
§ 52.2122
Approval status.
(d) Regulation 61–62.5 Standard No.
7—This regulation (submitted on July 1,
2005) includes two portions of EPA’s
2002 NSR Reform Rules that were
vacated by the D.C. Circuit Court—
Pollution Control Projects (PCPs) and
clean units. As a result, EPA is
disapproving all rules and/or rule
sections in the South Carolina PSD rules
referencing clean units or PCPs.
Specifically, the following South
Carolina rules are being disapproved:
(a)(2)(iv)(e); (a)(2)(iv)(f) (second
sentence only); (a)(2)(vi); (b)(12);
(b)(30)(iii)(h); (b)(34)(iii)(b);
(b)(34)(vi)(d); (b)(35); (r)(6)—only the
reference to the term ‘‘clean unit’’ is
being disapproved. The remainder of
this regulatory provision is being
approved); (r)(7)—only the reference to
the term ‘‘clean unit’’ is being
disapproved. The remainder of this
regulatory provision is being approved);
(x); (y) and (z).
(e) Regulation 61–62.5 Standard No.
7.1—EPA is disapproving two
provisions of South Carolina’s NNSR
program (submitted on July 1, 2005) that
relate to provisions that were vacated
from the federal program by the United
States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit on June 24, 2005.
The two provisions vacated from the
federal rules pertain to Pollution
Control Projects (PCPs) and clean units.
The PCP and clean unit references are
severable from the remainder of the
NNSR program. Specifically, the
following sections of South Carolina
Regulation 61–62.5 Standard No. 7.1 are
being disapproved: (b)(5); (b)(6)—
Second sentence only; (b)(8); (c)(4);
(c)(6)(C)(viii); (c)(8)(C)(iii); (c)(8)(E)(v);
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:03 Jun 22, 2011
Jkt 223001
(c)(10); (d)(1)(C)(ix); (d)(1)(C)(x); (d)(3)—
Only the reference to the term ‘‘clean
unit’’ is being disapproved. The
remainder of this regulatory provision is
being approved; (d)(4)—Only the
reference to the term ‘‘clean unit’’ is
being disapproved. The remainder of
this regulatory provision is being
approved; (f); (g) and (h). These
disapprovals were amended in 73 FR
31371, (June 2, 2008).
[FR Doc. 2011–15633 Filed 6–22–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 271
[FRL–9323–4]
Minnesota: Final Authorization of State
Hazardous Waste Management
Program Revision
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is granting Minnesota
final authorization of the changes to its
hazardous waste program under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA). The agency published a
proposed rule on January 14, 2011 and
provided for public comment. The
public comment period ended on
February 14, 2011. We received no
comments. No further opportunity for
comment will be provided. EPA has
determined that these changes satisfy all
requirements needed to qualify for final
authorization. We now make a final
decision to authorize Minnesota’s
changes through this final action.
DATES: The final authorization will be
effective on June 23, 2011.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket
SUMMARY:
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Identification No. EPA–R05–RCRA–
2010–0738. All documents in the docket
are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. Although
listed in the index, some of the
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 at
https://www.regulations.gov or in hard
copy. You may view and copy
Minnesota’s application from 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. at the following addresses:
U.S. EPA Region 5, LR–8J, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois,
contact: Gary Westefer (312) 886–7450;
or Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
520 Lafayette Road, North, St. Paul,
Minnesota 55515, contact: Nathan
Cooley (651) 757–2290.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary
Westefer, Minnesota Regulatory
Specialist, U.S. EPA Region 5, LR–8J, 77
West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago,
Illinois 60604, (312) 886–7450, e-mail
westefer.gary@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Why are revisions to state programs
necessary?
States which have received final
authorization from EPA under RCRA
section 3006(b), 42 U.S.C. 6926(b), must
maintain a hazardous waste program
that is equivalent to, consistent with,
and no less stringent than the Federal
program. As the Federal program
changes, States must change their
programs and request EPA to authorize
the changes. Changes to State programs
may be necessary when Federal or State
statutory or regulatory authority is
modified or when certain other changes
occur. Most commonly, States must
change their programs because of
E:\FR\FM\23JNR1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 121 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36875-36879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15633]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R04-OAR-2005-0004-201119; EPA-R04-OAR-2010-0958-201119; FRL-9322-
6]
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; South
Carolina: Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New
Source Review; Fine Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Oxides as a
Precursor to Ozone
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to approve three revisions to the
South Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the State
of South Carolina, through the South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control (SC DHEC), to EPA on December 2, 2010, (for
parallel processing) and April 14, 2009, and March 16, 2011. South
Carolina provided the final version of the December 2, 2010, parallel
processing submittal on March 16, 2011. The SIP revisions approved by
this action incorporate updates to South Carolina's air quality
regulations under South Carolina's New Source Review (NSR) Prevention
of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review
(NNSR) programs. First, the revisions incorporate a PSD permitting
requirement promulgated in the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) Implementation Rule NSR Update Phase II
(hereafter referred to as the ``Ozone Implementation NSR Update or
``Phase II Rule''). Second, the revisions incorporate NSR provisions
relating to the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS as
amended in EPA's 2008 NSR PM2.5 Implementation Rule
(hereafter referred to as the ``NSR PM2.5 Rule''). Third,
the revisions incorporate NNSR requirements for calculating emissions
reductions that will be used as emission offsets and ensures that those
reductions are surplus to other federal requirements. As a result of
the third revision, EPA also is taking final action to convert its
conditional approval of South Carolina's NNSR permitting program to
full approval. EPA is approving South Carolina's March 16, 2011, and
April 14, 2009, SIP revisions because they are in accordance with the
Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). Additionally, EPA is responding to adverse
comments received on EPA's March 15, 2011, proposed approval of South
Carolina's December 2, 2010, proposed SIP revision.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule will be effective July 25, 2011.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA-R04-OAR-2005-0004 and EPA-R04-OAR-2010-0958. All
documents in the docket are listed on the https://www.regulations.gov
Web site. Although listed in the index, some information is not
publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business Information or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet
and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly
available docket materials are available either electronically through
https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the 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. EPA requests that if
at all possible, you contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection. The Regional
Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to
4:30, excluding federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the South
Carolina SIP, contact Ms. Twunjala Bradley, 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. Bradley's telephone
number is (404) 562-9352; e-mail address: bradley.twunjala@epa.gov. For
information regarding NSR, contact Ms. Yolanda Adams, Air Permits
Section, at the same address above. Ms. Adams' telephone number is
(404) 562-9214; e-mail address: adams.yolanda@epa.gov. For information
regarding the Phase II Rule, contact Ms. Jane Spann, Regulatory
Development Section, at the same address above. Ms. Spann's telephone
number is (404) 562-9029; e-mail address: spann.jane@epa.gov. For
information regarding the PM2.5 NAAQS, contact Mr. Joel
Huey, Regulatory Development Section, at the same address above. Mr.
Huey's telephone number is (404) 562-9104; e-mail address:
huey.joel@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
[[Page 36876]]
II. This Action
III. EPA's Response to Comments
IV. Final Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
EPA is taking final action on three separate but related revisions
to South Carolina's SIP--all pertaining to NSR. South Carolina
submitted the first two proposed revisions to EPA for parallel
processing on December 2, 2010. Specifically, South Carolina's December
2, 2010, SIP submittal proposed to: (1) Revise South Carolina's PSD
regulations at Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 7--Prevention of
Significant Deterioration to address a PSD permitting requirement
promulgated in the Phase II Rule, 70 FR 71612 (November 29, 2005); and
(2) incorporate NSR provisions at South Carolina Regulation 61-62.5,
Standard No. 7--Prevention of Significant Deterioration and 7.1--
Nonattainment New Source Review for PM2.5 as amended in
EPA's NSR PM2.5 Rule, 73 FR 28321 (May 16, 2008). On March
15, 2011, EPA proposed approval of South Carolina's proposed December
2, 2010, submission. See 76 FR 13962. This action includes EPA's
response to adverse comments received on the portion of EPA's March 15,
2011, proposal pertaining to approval of South Carolina's proposed
PM2.5 revisions. South Carolina submitted the December 2,
2010, parallel processing SIP revision in final form on March 16, 2011.
Additionally, South Carolina submitted a third SIP revision on
April 14, 2009, to address EPA's conditional approval of South
Carolina's NNSR program. See 73 FR 31368 (June 2, 2008). On March 24,
2011, EPA published a proposed rulemaking notice to approve a portion
of the changes included in South Carolina's April 14, 2009, submission,
and to convert EPA's previous conditional approval of South Carolina's
NNSR program to full approval. See 76 FR 16593.
EPA is now taking final action to approve the changes to South
Carolina's NSR programs as noted in EPA's March 15, 2011, and March 24,
2011, proposed rulemakings. A summary of the background for today's
final actions is provided below. For more detail, please refer to EPA's
proposed rulemakings at 76 FR 13962 (March 15, 2011), and 76 FR 16593
(March 24, 2011).
a. Phase II Rule
With regard to the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS,\1\ EPA's Phase II Rule,
finalized on November 29, 2005, addressed NSR permitting requirements
and specifically identified nitrogen oxides (NOX) as an
ozone precursor under the NSR program. See 70 FR 71612. States were
required to provide SIP submissions to address the Phase II Rule
requirements by June 15, 2007. On July 1, 2005, South Carolina
submitted a SIP revision to adopt the PSD and NNSR provisions amended
in the 2002 NSR Reform rules.\2\ The SIP revision became state-
effective on June 24, 2005, and adopted PSD and applicable NNSR
provisions at 40 CFR 51.165 and 51.166, respectively. Also in the July
1, 2005 submittal, South Carolina recognized NOX as an ozone
precursor for NSR permitting purposes by adopting provisions into its
SIP. At the time of South Carolina's NSR Reform SIP submittal, the
Phase II Rule had not been finalized by EPA. However, South Carolina
had recognized NOX emissions as an ozone precursor in its
PSD permitting practice. EPA took final action to approve South
Carolina's NSR Reform SIP revision as well as NOX as a
precursor provisions into the South Carolina SIP on June 2, 2008. See
73 FR 31368.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ On July 18, 1997, EPA promulgated a revised 8-hour ozone
NAAQS of 0.08 parts per million--also referred to as the 1997 8-hour
ozone NAAQS. On April 30, 2004, EPA designated areas as attainment,
nonattainment and unclassifiable for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. In
addition, on April 30, 2004 as part of the framework to implement
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, EPA promulgated an implementation rule
in two phases (Phase I and II). The Phase I Rule (effective on June
15, 2004), provided the implementation requirements for designating
areas under subpart 1 and subpart 2 of the CAA. See 69 FR 23857.
\2\ On December 31, 2002 (67 FR 80186), EPA published final rule
changes to 40 CFR parts 51 and 52, regarding the CAA's PSD and NNSR
programs. On November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63021), EPA published a notice
of final action on the reconsideration of the December 31, 2002,
final rule changes. The December 31, 2002, and the November 7, 2003,
final actions are collectively referred to as the ``2002 NSR Reform
Rules.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be consistent with federal NSR permitting regulations, South
Carolina's March 16, 2011, SIP revision incorporates a NOX
as ozone precursor requirement for PSD that was not included in South
Carolina's July 1, 2005, SIP submittal at Regulation 61-62-5 Standard
No. 7. Specifically, the change addresses the inclusion of ``nitrogen
oxides'' in the footnote at 61-62.5(i)(5)(i) as amended at 40 CFR
51.166(i)(5)(i)(e). The provision at 40 CFR 51.166(i)(5)(i)(e) requires
sources with a net increase of 100 tons per year or more of
NOX to perform an ambient impact analysis. Together, South
Carolina's previously approved July 1, 2005, SIP revision (73 FR 31368)
and the March 16, 2011, SIP revision addressed by this rulemaking
incorporate the Phase II Rule permitting requirements pertaining to
NOX as an ozone precursor into the South Carolina SIP.
b. NSR PM2.5 Rule
With regard to the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, EPA finalized a
rule on May 16, 2008, including changes to the NSR program. See 73 FR
28321. The 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule revised the NSR program
requirements to establish the framework for implementing
preconstruction permit review for the PM2.5 NAAQS in both
attainment and nonattainment areas. States are required to provide SIP
submissions to address the requirements for the 2008 NSR
PM2.5 Rule by May 16, 2011. South Carolina's March 16, 2011,
SIP revision addresses these requirements.
c. Conversion of EPA's Conditional Approval of South Carolina's NNSR
Program
In addition to approving South Carolina's NSR Reform SIP revision
and NOX as an ozone precursor provisions, as mentioned in
Section I.a. above, EPA's June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31368), action
conditionally approved South Carolina Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No.
7.1--Nonattainment New Source Review for inclusion in the South
Carolina SIP. This regulation relates to South Carolina's NNSR permit
program. As part of the conditional approval, South Carolina had twelve
months from the June 2, 2008, final conditional approval to submit
changes to its NNSR program as described herein to be consistent with
EPA federal regulations.
On April 14, 2009, SC DHEC submitted a revision to the SIP,
incorporating the corrections required by EPA in the conditional
approval. Specifically, South Carolina revised Regulation 61-62.5,
Standard No. 7.1 to include baseline provisions for calculating
emission reductions to be used as offsets to meet the requirements set
out in 40 CFR 51.165(a)(3)(i) and Appendix S, section IV.C. This
revision affects major stationary sources in South Carolina that are
subject to or potentially subject to the NNSR construction permit
program. The emission offsets provisions also specify that the
reductions must be surplus and cannot be used for offsets if they are
otherwise required by the South Carolina SIP or other federal
standards, such as New Source Performance Standards and National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, including the Maximum
Achievable Control Technology standards. Both of these issues, which
were specifically identified in EPA's June 2, 2008, final conditional
approval, were addressed in
[[Page 36877]]
South Carolina's April 14, 2009, SIP revision.
II. This Action
In two separate rulemakings, EPA proposed action to approve changes
to South Carolina's NSR program. First, EPA proposed to approve South
Carolina's March 16, 2011, SIP revision addressing PSD and NNSR
requirements related to the implementation of the PM2.5
NAAQS as well as adding a provision of the PSD NOX as a
precursor requirements established in the Phase II Rule (at 40 CFR
51.165 and 51.166). See 76 FR 13962 (March 15, 2011). These revisions
were necessary to update South Carolina's existing NSR program at
Regulation 61-62.5 Standards No. 7 and 7.1 to be consistent with
current federal NSR regulations. EPA has determined that South
Carolina's March 16, 2011 SIP revision, which became state-effective on
February 25, 2011, meets the requirements of the 2008 NSR
PM2.5 Rule and the Phase II Rule. Further, EPA has
determined that South Carolina's March 16, 2011, SIP revision is
consistent with section 110 of the CAA.
Second, EPA proposed to approve South Carolina's April 14, 2009,
SIP revision \3\ which consists of changes to South Carolina Regulation
61-62.5, Standard No. 7.1 entitled ``Nonattainment New Source Review.''
See 76 FR 16593 (March 24, 2011). EPA received no comments on that
proposal. SC DHEC submitted this SIP revision in response to EPA's June
2, 2008 (73 FR 31368), final rule, which conditionally approved South
Carolina's NNSR program. EPA has determined that South Carolina's April
14, 2009, SIP revision satisfies the conditions listed in EPA's June 2,
2008, conditional approval, and today is taking final action to convert
its prior conditional approval to full approval.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ In addition to changes to address the conditional approval
of South Carolina's NNSR program and minor administrative changes,
South Carolina's April 14, 2009, SIP revision also includes
provisions in Regulation 61-62.5, Standards No. 7 and 7.1 to exclude
facilities that produce ethanol through a natural fermentation
process (hereafter referred to as the ``Ethanol Rule'') from the
definition of ``chemical process plants'' in the major NSR
permitting program. See 72 FR 24060 (May 1, 2007). At this time, EPA
is not taking action on South Carolina's changes to its NSR program
to incorporate the provisions of the Ethanol Rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Carolina's April 14, 2009, SIP revision also includes the
removal of provisions which existed in South Carolina regulations that
relate to requirements that were vacated from the federal program by
the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
on June 24, 2005. The provisions vacated from the federal rules pertain
to pollution control projects (PCPs) and clean units (CUs). Since these
provisions were not approved into South Carolina's SIP, no action is
required by EPA.\4\ As a result of the removal of the PCP and CU
provisions, South Carolina's April 14, 2009, SIP revision also includes
minor administrative reference changes at Regulation 61-62.5, Standard
No. 7--Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Standard No. 7.1
Nonattainment New Source Review for which EPA is now taking final
action today to include in the South Carolina SIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ On June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31368), EPA disapproved provisions in
South Carolina's PSD and NNSR programs relating to PCP and CUs.
Therefore, these provisions were not approved into South Carolina's
SIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Given that South Carolina's April 14, 2009, SIP revision satisfies
the conditional approval requirements for conversion to a full
approval, the conditional approval language at section 52.2119 of 40
CFR part 52, included in EPA's final conditional approval published
June 2, 2008 (73 FR 31368), is no longer necessary. This action removes
the conditional approval language relating to South Carolina's NNSR
program from the CFR to reflect that the program has been fully
approved. EPA is publishing this rulemaking to remove Sec. 52.2119 of
40 CFR part 52. As a consequence of the changes to Sec. 52.2119 of 40
CFR part 52, this action also moves the existing disapproval language
pertaining to PCPs and CUs at Sec. 52.2119(c) to Sec. 52.2122(e) of
40 CFR part 52. In addition, this action moves footnote 1 in Sec.
52.2120(c) to section 52.2122(d). Lastly, today's action corrects an
inadvertent error regarding the omission of Standard No. 7.1 entry from
the table at Sec. 52.2120(c). EPA has determined that this last change
qualifies for the ``good cause'' exemption from public notice
requirements pursuant to section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative
Procedure Act. Specifically, public notice and opportunity to comment
on EPA's correction of the CFR table is unnecessary because it neither
alters the meaning of the regulations at issue nor otherwise affects
EPA's analysis of South Carolina's NSR and NNSR SIP revisions.
III. EPA's Response to Comments
EPA received one set of comments on the March 15, 2011, proposed
rulemaking to approve South Carolina's proposed December 2, 2010, SIP
revision to adopt federal requirements for NSR permitting set forth in
the NSR PM2.5 Implementation Rule and the Phase II Rule. A
full set of the comments provided by a single commenter is provided in
the Docket No. EPA-R04-OAR-2010-0958 for this final action. A summary
of the comment and EPA's response is provided below.
Comment: The Commenter provided EPA with an electronic copy of the
EPA final rulemaking entitled ``Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) for Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5 Micrometers
(PM2.5)--Increments, Significant Impact Levels (SILs) and
Significant Monitoring Concentration (SMC); Final Rule,'' (hereafter
referred to as the PM2.5 Increments, SILs and SMC Rule). See
75 FR 64864 (October 20, 2010). The Commenter states ``the South
Carolina's SIP should also include the increment and significant impact
level and significant monitoring concentrations in the attached final
rule.''
Response: The requirements outlined in EPA's PM2.5
Increments, SILs and SMC Rule are not relevant to EPA's March 15, 2011,
proposed action and today's final action. Furthermore, the deadline for
South Carolina to submit a SIP revision to adopt the requirements set
forth in EPA's PM2.5 Increments, SILs and SMC Rule has not
yet passed. Specifically, as promulgated in the PM2.5
Increments, SILs and SMC Rule and in accordance with section 166(b) of
the CAA, states are required to submit a SIP revision to adopt the
PM2.5 increments no later than 21 months from the
promulgation of the Rule, that is, by July 20, 2012. See 75 FR at
64898. EPA notes that while the PM2.5 increments are
mandatory, the SILs and SMC provisions are not mandatory but in fact
are elective tools that a state may incorporate into its SIP at the
state's discretion. Therefore, South Carolina has additional time to
revise its SIP to incorporate the required PM2.5 PSD
increments and the elective SIL and SMC provisions.
IV. Final Action
Pursuant to section 110 of the CAA, EPA is taking final action to
approve South Carolina's March 16, 2011, SIP revisions adopting federal
regulations amended in the NSR PM2.5 Rule and the Phase II
Rule (recognizing NOX as an ozone precursor) into the South
Carolina SIP. EPA is approving these revisions into the South Carolina
SIP because they are consistent with section 110 of the CAA and its
implementing regulations.
In addition, EPA is also taking final action to approve South
Carolina's April 14, 2009, SIP revision, which consists of changes to
South Carolina Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 7.1 entitled
[[Page 36878]]
``Nonattainment New Source Review.'' SC DHEC submitted the April 14,
2009, SIP revision in response to EPA's June 2, 2008, rule (73 FR
31368), which conditionally approved South Carolina's NNSR program as
provided in the State's July 1, 2005, SIP revision. SC DHEC has now
satisfied the conditions listed in EPA's conditional approval.
Therefore, today's final action also converts EPA's conditional
approval of South Carolina's NNSR program to a full approval. The April
14, 2009, SIP revision is consistent with federal regulations and in
accordance with the CAA. In addition, EPA is taking final action to
approve minor administrative reference changes at South Carolina
Regulation 61-62.5 Standards No. 7 and 7.1 as a result of the removal
of PCP and CU provisions.
As mentioned above in Section II and as a result of final approval
of today's actions, this rulemaking makes the following administrative
corrections to 40 CFR part 52: (1) Removes the conditional approval
language at section 52.2119 to reflect that South Carolina's NNSR
program has been fully approved; (2) relocates the existing disapproval
language at section 52.2119(c) to section 52.2122(e) of 40 CFR part 52;
and (3) moves footnote 1 in section 52.2120(c) to section 52.2122(d).
Lastly, today's action also corrects an inadvertent error regarding the
omission of Standard No. 7.1 entry from the table at section
52.2120(c).
V. 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).
EPA has also determined that this rule does not have tribal
implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because there are no ``substantial direct effects''
on an Indian Tribe as a result of this action. The Catawba Indian
Nation Reservation is located within the South Carolina portion of the
bi-state Charlotte nonattainment area. EPA notes that the proposal for
this rule incorrectly stated that the South Carolina SIP is not
approved to apply in Indian country located in the state. However,
pursuant to the Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act, S.C. Code Ann.
27-16-120, ``all state and local environmental laws and regulations
apply to the Catawba Indian Nation and Reservation and are fully
enforceable by all relevant state and local agencies and authorities.''
Thus, the South Carolina SIP does apply to the Catawba Reservation.
While this action revises South Carolina's existing NSR permitting
regulations in the SIP, EPA has determined that these revisions will
not impose any substantial direct costs on tribal governments or
preempt tribal law.
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for
the appropriate circuit by August 22, 2011. Filing a petition for
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may
be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or
action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).) For purposes of
judicial review, each of the three SIP revisions approved by today's
action are severable from one another.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Ozone, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements and Volatile organic
compounds.
Dated: June 9, 2011.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42.U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart PP--South Carolina
Sec. 52.2119 [Removed]
0
2. Section 52.2119 is removed.
0
3. Section 52.2120 (c) is amended under Regulation No. 62.5 by revising
the entry for ``Standard No. 7'' and adding an entry for ``Standard No.
7.1'' to read as follows:
Sec. 52.2120 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
[[Page 36879]]
Air Pollution Control Regulations for South Carolina
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State EPA approval Federal Register
State citation Title/subject effective date date notice
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Regulation No. 62.5.............. Air Pollution Control
Standards
* * * * * * *
Standard No. 7................... Prevention of 2/25/2011 6/23/2011 [Insert citation of
Significant publication].
Deterioration\1\.
Standard No. 7.1................. Nonattainment New Source 2/25/2011 6/23/2011 [Insert citation of
Review\1\. publication].
* * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This EPA action is approving revisions to the South Carolina SIP with the exception of the phrase ``except
ethanol production facilities producing ethanol by natural fermentation under the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) codes 325193 or 312140,'' as amended in the Ethanol Rule. See 72 FR 24060 (May
1, 2007).
* * * * *
0
4. Section 52.2122 is amended by adding paragraphs (d) and (e) to read
as follows:
Sec. 52.2122 Approval status.
(d) Regulation 61-62.5 Standard No. 7--This regulation (submitted
on July 1, 2005) includes two portions of EPA's 2002 NSR Reform Rules
that were vacated by the D.C. Circuit Court--Pollution Control Projects
(PCPs) and clean units. As a result, EPA is disapproving all rules and/
or rule sections in the South Carolina PSD rules referencing clean
units or PCPs. Specifically, the following South Carolina rules are
being disapproved: (a)(2)(iv)(e); (a)(2)(iv)(f) (second sentence only);
(a)(2)(vi); (b)(12); (b)(30)(iii)(h); (b)(34)(iii)(b); (b)(34)(vi)(d);
(b)(35); (r)(6)--only the reference to the term ``clean unit'' is being
disapproved. The remainder of this regulatory provision is being
approved); (r)(7)--only the reference to the term ``clean unit'' is
being disapproved. The remainder of this regulatory provision is being
approved); (x); (y) and (z).
(e) Regulation 61-62.5 Standard No. 7.1--EPA is disapproving two
provisions of South Carolina's NNSR program (submitted on July 1, 2005)
that relate to provisions that were vacated from the federal program by
the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
on June 24, 2005. The two provisions vacated from the federal rules
pertain to Pollution Control Projects (PCPs) and clean units. The PCP
and clean unit references are severable from the remainder of the NNSR
program. Specifically, the following sections of South Carolina
Regulation 61-62.5 Standard No. 7.1 are being disapproved: (b)(5);
(b)(6)--Second sentence only; (b)(8); (c)(4); (c)(6)(C)(viii);
(c)(8)(C)(iii); (c)(8)(E)(v); (c)(10); (d)(1)(C)(ix); (d)(1)(C)(x);
(d)(3)--Only the reference to the term ``clean unit'' is being
disapproved. The remainder of this regulatory provision is being
approved; (d)(4)--Only the reference to the term ``clean unit'' is
being disapproved. The remainder of this regulatory provision is being
approved; (f); (g) and (h). These disapprovals were amended in 73 FR
31371, (June 2, 2008).
[FR Doc. 2011-15633 Filed 6-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P