Revisions to Federal Implementation Plans To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone, 10350 [2012-3702]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3702]



Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 10350]]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 97

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0491; FRL-9632-9]
RIN 2060-AR35


Revisions to Federal Implementation Plans To Reduce Interstate 
Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing additional revisions to certain portions of 
the Transport Rule (Federal Implementation Plans: Interstate Transport 
of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone and Correction of SIP Approvals, 
published August 8, 2011). The final Transport Rule limits the 
interstate transport of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) 
and sulfur dioxide (SO2) that contribute harmful levels of 
fine particle matter and ozone in downwind states. After the final rule 
was published, it was brought to our attention that there are some 
incorrect data assumptions that affect a few states' budgets or new 
unit set-asides in the rule text. On October 14, 2011, EPA proposed 
revisions to the final Transport Rule based on this new information and 
sought comment on additional unit-level information addressing post-
combustion pollution control equipment and operational requirements 
necessitating non-economic generation of a unit. EPA is finalizing the 
earlier specifically proposed revisions in a separate action. EPA has 
reviewed the information provided in comments addressing the topics 
described above and proposes to determine that the unit-level 
adjustments described in the preamble to the direct final are merited.

DATES: Written comments must be received by March 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2009-0491, by mail to: Air and Radiation Docket and Information 
Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically or through hand delivery/courier by following 
the detailed instructions in the ADDRESSES section of the direct final 
rule published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabrielle Stevens, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Clean Air Markets Division, MC 6204J, Ariel Rios 
Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone 
(202) 343-9252, email at stevens.gabrielle@epa.gov. Electronic copies 
of this document can be accessed through the EPA Web site at: https://epa.gov/airmarkets.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document proposes to take action on 
certain portions of the Transport Rule. We finalized a rule to address 
discrepancies in unit-specific modeling assumptions that affect the 
proposed calculation of Transport Rule state budgets in Florida, 
Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Texas 
and Wisconsin, as well as new unit set-asides in Arkansas and Texas 
(see 76 FR 63860, October 14, 2011). We are issuing a direct final 
rule, in parallel with this proposal published elsewhere in this issue, 
based on comments received on the Revisions Rule proposal, to amend the 
August 8, 2011, final regulation (76 FR 48208) by correcting annual 
NOX budgets in Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Ohio, 
and Texas; ozone-season NOX budgets in Arkansas, Georgia, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas; 
SO2 budgets in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, New York, 
Ohio, and South Carolina; and new unit set-aside budgets in Arkansas, 
Louisiana, and Missouri.
    We have explained our reasons for this action in the preamble to 
the direct final rule. If we receive no significant adverse comment, on 
the direct final rule, EPA will withdraw the relevant portions of the 
rule and timely notice of the withdrawal will be published in the 
Federal Register. We would address all relevant public comments in any 
subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule.
    We do not intend to institute a second comment period on this 
action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. 
For further information, please see the information provided in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document.

    Dated: February 7, 2012.
Lisa P. Jackson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-3702 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P