Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana; Regional Haze, 34218-34221 [2012-13955]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 3
RIN 2900–AN64
Clothing Allowance; Correction
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Final rule; correcting
amendment.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) published a final rule on
November 16, 2011, amending its
adjudication regulations governing
eligibility for clothing allowances. VA
has since determined that certain
language added to the final rule could
be construed to impose a restriction that
VA did not intend. This document
corrects that error.
DATES: This correction is effective June
11, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Kniffen, Chief, Compensation Service,
Veterans Benefits Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC
20420, (202) 461–9725. This is not a
toll-free number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
February 2, 2011, VA published a
proposed rule (76 FR 5733) to revise 38
CFR 3.810 to clarify the circumstances
under which a veteran may be entitled
to more than one clothing allowance.
Proposed paragraph (a)(2)(ii) explained
that a veteran who uses more than one
prosthetic or orthopedic appliance or
medication would be eligible for a
clothing allowance for each such
appliance or medication if each
appliance or medication ‘‘[a]ffects a
distinct article of clothing or
outergarment.’’
On November 16, 2011, VA published
the final rule (76 FR 70883). In the final
rule, VA stated that it was revising
proposed paragraph (a)(2)(ii) in order to
‘‘clarify that the references to garments
or clothing in this regulation are to
types of garments, such as shirts, rather
than to individual garments, such as a
specific shirt’’ and to make clear that
‘‘more than one clothing allowance is
payable when more than one type of
article of clothing or outergarment is
affected.’’ The final rule revised
paragraph (a)(2)(ii) to state that a veteran
who uses more than one appliance or
medication would be eligible for a
clothing allowance for each such
appliance or medication if each
appliance or medication ‘‘[a]ffects more
than one type of article of clothing or
outergarment.’’
VA has determined that the language
of the final rule could be construed to
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SUMMARY:
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mean that each individual appliance or
medication used by a veteran must
affect more than one type of article of
clothing or outergarment in order to
qualify for a clothing allowance. As
explained in the final-rule notice,
however, VA did not intend to impose
such a requirement, but intended only
to clarify that each appliance or
medication must affect a distinct type of
article of clothing or outergarment, such
as shirts, in order to qualify for a
clothing allowance. Requiring each
appliance or medication to affect more
than one type of article of clothing or
outergarment would impose an
unintended restriction on eligibility for
the clothing allowance and would create
significant inconsistencies in VA’s
clothing-allowance regulation. To
correct this inadvertent error, VA is
amending 38 CFR 3.810(a)(2)(ii) by
replacing the words ‘‘more than one
type’’ with the words ‘‘a distinct type’’.
This change will make clear that an
appliance or medication only needs to
affect a distinct type of clothing or
outergarment in order to qualify for a
clothing allowance. This change does
not alter the intended meaning of the
regulation as explained in the proposed
rule and the final rule notice, but would
eliminate the potential for confusion or
misinterpretation created by the
ambiguous language included in the
final rule.
Pursuant to the Administrative
Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b), VA has
determined that notice and prior
opportunity for comment on this
correcting amendment are unnecessary
and contrary to public interest. As
stated above, this correction is needed
to accurately reflect the intent of the
final rule and codified regulation and
ensure that the inadvertent error does
not adversely affect claimants. We
previously provided public notice in the
Federal Register and considered public
comments on the proposed rule. See 76
FR 5733 and 76 FR 70883. VA’s intent
and interpretation of § 3.810(a)(2)(ii) has
not changed. This correction merely
ensures clarity of VA’s intent and
interpretation regarding the eligibility
for a clothing allowance. For these
reasons, VA has also determined
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) that there is
good cause to make this change effective
on the date of its publication.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 3
Administrative practice and
procedure, Claims, Disability benefits,
Health care, Pensions, Radioactive
materials, Veterans, Vietnam.
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Approved: June 6, 2012.
Robert C. McFetridge,
Direc tor, Regulation Policy and Management,
Office of the General Counsel, Department
of Veterans Affairs.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, 38 CFR part 3 is corrected by
making the following correcting
amendment:
PART 3—ADJUDICATION
Subpart A—Pension, Compensation,
and Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation
1. The authority citation for part 3,
subpart A continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), unless
otherwise noted.
2. Amend § 3.810(a)(2)(ii) by removing
‘‘more than one type’’ and adding, in its
place, ‘‘a distinct type’’.
■
[FR Doc. 2012–14108 Filed 6–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R05–OAR–2011–0080; FRL–9683–3]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana;
Regional Haze
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is finalizing a limited
approval of revisions to the Indiana
State Implementation Plan (SIP)
submitted by the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM) on
January 14, 2011, and March 10, 2011,
addressing regional haze for the first
implementation period that ends 2018.
This action is being taken in accordance
with the requirements of the Clean Air
Act (CAA) and EPA’s rules for states to
prevent and remedy future and existing
anthropogenic impairment of visibility
in mandatory Class I areas through a
regional haze program. As part of this
action, EPA is also approving limits for
the Alcoa facility that EPA finds satisfy
the requirements for best available
retrofit technology (BART).
DATES: This final rule is effective on July
11, 2012.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R05–OAR–2011–0080. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site.
Although listed in the index, some
SUMMARY:
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information is not publicly available,
i.e., Confidential Business Information
(CBI) 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
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77
West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago,
Illinois 60604. This facility is open from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding Federal holidays. We
recommend that you telephone Charles
Hatten, Environmental Engineer, at
(312) 886–6031 before visiting the
Region 5 office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charles Hatten, Environmental
Engineer, Control Strategies Section, Air
Programs Branch (AR–18J),
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886–6031,
hatten.charles@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
supplementary information section is
arranged as follows:
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I. Synopsis of Proposed Rule
II. Public Comments and EPA’s Responses
III. What action is EPA taking?
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Synopsis of Proposed Rule
Indiana submitted a plan to address
regional haze on January 14, 2011, and
supplemented it on March 10, 2011.
This plan was intended to address the
requirements in CAA section 169A, and
EPA’s Regional Haze Rule as codified at
40 CFR 51.308. This rule was
promulgated on July 1, 1999 (64 FR
35713). Further significant provisions
were promulgated on July 6, 2005,
providing further guidance on
provisions related to BART.
EPA proposed a limited approval of
Indiana’s submittal on January 26, 2012
(77 FR 3975). That action described the
nature of the regional haze problem and
the statutory and regulatory background
for EPA’s review of Indiana’s regional
haze plan. The proposal provided a
lengthy delineation of the requirements
that Indiana intended to meet, including
requirements for mandating BART,
consultation with other states in
establishing goals representing
reasonable further progress in mitigating
anthropogenic visibility impairment,
and adoption of limitations as necessary
to implement a long term strategy (LTS)
for reducing visibility impairment.
Indiana’s control strategy addresses the
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regional haze rule for the first
implementation period that ends 2018.
Of particular interest were EPA’s
findings regarding BART. Using
modeling performed by the Lake
Michigan Air Directors Consortium
(LADCO), Indiana identified one nonelectric generating unit (non-EGU)
source, Alcoa in Warrick County, as
having sufficient impact to warrant
being subject to a requirement
representing BART.
Indiana developed source-specific
limits to mandate BART for Alcoa to
comply with EPA’s regional haze rule.
These limits are adopted into regulation
326 of the Indiana Administrative Code
(IAC), Article 26, Rule 2, of which
include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
oxide (NOX), and particulate matter
(PM) emission limits applicable to the
Alcoa facility in Warrick County. In the
proposed rulemaking, EPA proposed to
conclude that the emission reductions
from 326 IAC 26–2 would suffice to
address the BART requirement for nonEGUs.
II. Public Comments and EPA’s
Responses
The publication of EPA’s proposed
rule on January 26, 2012 (77 FR 3975)
initiated a 30-day public comment
period that ended on February 27, 2012.
During the public comment period on
the proposed rulemaking on the Indiana
regional haze plan we received
comments from the United States Forest
Service (FS) and the United States
National Park Service (NPS). These
comments and EPA’s responses are
addressed in detail below.
Comment #1: FS continues to disagree
with the alternative BART scenario for
the Alcoa facility. FS believes that
emission reductions that could be used
for reasonable progress purposes should
not be creditable for alternative
measures/BART purposes. FS further
comments that requiring emission
controls for Boilers 2 and 3, which are
subject to BART, would be more
appropriate for reasonable progress
purposes instead of taking credit for
emission reductions from Boiler 1,
which is not subject to BART.
Response #1: As stated in 40 CFR
51.308(e)(2)(iv), the pertinent
requirement is that the emission
reductions of the alternative measure be
‘‘surplus to reductions resulting from
measures adopted to meet requirements
of the CAA as of the baseline date of the
SIP.’’ This point is explained in the
preamble of the BART guidelines. 70 FR
39143. Therefore, EPA finds the
reductions at Boiler 1 to be a creditable
part of Indiana’s alternative BART limits
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34219
in lieu of full BART control of boilers
2 and 3 and the potlines.
The BART guidelines state that
‘‘(2) The EPA does not believe that
anything in the CAA or relevant case
law prohibits a State from considering
emissions reductions required to meet
other CAA requirements when
determining whether source by source
BART controls are necessary to make
reasonable progress.’’ This rule further
states, ‘‘(3) * * * in lieu of BART
programs be based on emissions
reductions ‘surplus to reductions
resulting from measures adopted to
meet requirements as of the baseline
date of the SIP.’ The baseline date for
regional haze SIPs is 2002 * * *’’ 70 FR
39143.
Comment #2: For the Alcoa facility,
FS comments that there is no technical
reason that the controls for Boilers 2 and
3 cannot achieve 92 percent or greater
efficiency with wet Flue Gas
Desulfurization (FGD) to meet BART.
Response #2: EPA agrees with FS that
wet FGD emission control technology
commonly achieves a 92 percent or
higher emission reduction. Alcoa used
the 92 percent reduction level for the
BART analysis for Boilers 2 and 3.
However, Indiana is applying flexibility
authorized in the regional haze rule to
require less control of Boilers 2 and 3
than the control equipment can achieve,
requiring 90 percent control of these
Boilers, while requiring additional,
compensating control of Boiler 1, which
still results in an overall improvement
in visibility.
Comment #3: FS comments that the
increase in the sulfur content of coke for
the BART-subject potlines (#2–#6),
actually results in increased SO2
emissions with no control technology or
alternative to offset the increase. The FS
accepts that low sulfur coke may not be
available after 2013, but asserts that if
increased emissions from the facility
occur, then Alcoa should look for an
alternative to either control emissions
from the potlines or offset those
emissions if control technologies are too
expensive.
Response #3: The FS comment
appears to reflect a misunderstanding of
the situation. Indiana’s plan describes a
BART determination that reflects an
increase in sulfur content of coke used
in the potlines, but Indiana’s submittal
does not actually increase the SO2
emission limits that apply to these
units. EPA did not agree with Indiana’s
rationale for determining BART to
reflect an increase in potline emissions,
but EPA’s proposed, and now final,
approval of Indiana’s BART
determination for the potlines is based
on the fact that the actual SO2 limits in
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Indiana’s plan do not allow the SO2
emissions increase that the FS asserts to
be allowed by Indiana’s plan.
Comment #4: FS comments that
‘‘Indiana continues to disagree with the
need for a factor analysis of additional
NOX control technologies.’’ FS notes
Indiana’s comparison of its proposed
BART limits against new source
performance standards (NSPS) limits,
but finds that this comparison does not
address BART requirements in lieu of
conducting a full analysis of all feasible
control technologies.
Response #4: Alcoa in fact did
conduct a five factor BART analysis, as
required by the Indiana BART rule and
the BART guidelines. Alcoa identified
low NOX burners (LNB), LNB combined
with over-fire air, selective catalytic
reduction (SCR) and selective noncatalytic reduction (SNCR) systems as
feasible technologies to control NOX
from boilers. Alcoa concluded that SCR
and SNCR were not cost effective.
Indiana reached the same conclusions
regarding these controls, and EPA
agrees. Indiana set limits that are
significantly tighter than the NSPS, and
notes the state did not conduct a
complete and adequate analysis of
BART for the Alcoa facility.
Comment #5: NPS believes that EPA
should apply its economic incentive
policy to Indiana’s regional haze SIP in
accordance with policy stated in a letter
to Wisconsin regarding Wisconsin’s
regional haze SIP. NPS provides what it
considers to be quotes from EPA’s letter
that advise Wisconsin not to take credit
for various reductions that are or will be
required by other regulatory
requirements.
Response #5: EPA’s letter to
Wisconsin does not include the
statements that NPS attributes to EPA.
EPA finds the reductions that Indiana
takes credit for to be fully creditable.
The primary applicability of the
economic incentive policy to the
Wisconsin plan related to the question
of whether the baseline emissions of a
subsequently shutdown boiler should be
included in determining a limit on the
combined emissions of multiple boilers.
This situation does not apply in
Indiana, and so the actual comments in
EPA’s letter to Wisconsin are not
germane to Indiana.
III. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is finalizing the limited approval
of Indiana’s regional haze plan
submitted by IDEM on January 11, 2011,
and March 10, 2011, addressing regional
haze for the first implementation period.
The revisions seek to address CAA and
regional haze rule requirements for
states to remedy any existing
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anthropogenic and prevent future
impairment of visibility at Class I areas.
Indiana’s plan satisfies a number of
elements of the regional haze
requirements. Most notably, EPA
concludes that Indiana has satisfied the
requirements for BART in 40 CFR
51.308(e) for non-EGUs and for PM from
EGUs. Indiana’s plan identifies the Class
I areas that the state’s emissions affect.
Indiana demonstrates that the state has
consulted with other states as
appropriate in establishing reasonable
progress goals and identifying the
reductions need in Indiana to meet
those goals. For these reasons, and for
the SIP strengthening effect of Indiana’s
plan, EPA is granting limited approval
of Indiana’s plan.
In conjunction with the above actions,
EPA is approving regulation 326 IAC
26–2 for incorporation into the state
implementation plan. These limits on
Alcoa’s emissions of SO2, NOX, and PM
are state enforceable and, with this SIP
approval, are now Federally
enforceable. It should be noted that rule
326 IAC 26–2 contains an erroneous
citation, citing limits in 326 IAC 7–4–
10(a)(4) rather than 326 IAC 7–4–
10(a)(3). EPA nevertheless approves the
rule for several reasons: (1) The
pertinent limits are already an approved
part of Indiana’s SIP and are therefore
already enforceable; (2) the State’s
intent is clear; and (3) Indiana intends
to correct this reference.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
CAA 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.);
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• 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, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have
tribal implications as specified by
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because the SIP is
not approved to apply in Indian country
located in the state, and 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).
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 10, 2012. 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
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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
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides.
Subpart P—Indiana
2. Section 52.770 is amended by
adding a new entry at the end of the
table in paragraph (c) for ‘‘Article 26.
Regional Haze’’ and by adding a new
entry in alphabetical order in the table
in paragraph (e) for ‘‘Regional Haze
Plan’’ to read as follows:
■
Dated: May 29, 2012.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52—[AMENDED]
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter,
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
§ 52.770
*
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Identification of plan.
*
*
(c) * * *
*
*
EPA-APPROVED INDIANA REGULATIONS
Indiana citation
Indiana
effective date
*
*
*
EPA approval date
*
Subject
*
Notes
*
*
Article 26. Regional Haze
Rule 2. Best Available Retrofit Technology Emission Limitations
26–2–1 .........................................
Applicability ..................................
3/09/2011
26–2–2 .........................................
Alcoa emission limitations and
compliance methods.
3/09/2011
*
*
*
*
*
6/11/2012, [Insert page
number where the document begins].
6/11/2012, [Insert page
number where the document begins].
(e) * * *
EPA-APPROVED INDIANA NONREGULATORY AND QUASI-REGULATORY PROVISIONS
Title
Indiana date
EPA approval
*
*
Regional Haze Plan ............................
*
*
01/14/2011 and 03/10/2011 ............................
*
*
6/11/2012, [Insert page
number where the document begins].
*
*
*
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 81
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0476; FRL 9682–2]
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RIN 2060–AR56
Air Quality Designations for the 2008
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for Several Counties in
Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin;
Corrections to Inadvertent Errors in
Prior Designations
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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*
This rule completes the initial
air quality designations for the 2008
primary and secondary national ambient
air quality standards (NAAQS) for
ozone. On April 30, 2012, the EPA
promulgated the initial ozone air quality
designations for all areas in the United
States except for 12 counties in Illinois,
Indiana and Wisconsin, which the EPA
was still evaluating. This action
designates those counties. The EPA is
designating all or parts of 11 counties as
the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
nonattainment area. The EPA is
designating the remaining county and
parts of counties as unclassifiable/
attainment. The Chicago-Naperville, ILIN-WI nonattainment area is being
classified by operation of law as a
Marginal area according to the severity
of its air quality problem. This rule also
corrects inadvertent errors in the
SUMMARY:
[FR Doc. 2012–13955 Filed 6–8–12; 8:45 am]
AGENCY:
*
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Explanation
*
*
*
regulatory text regarding the designation
of three areas in the ozone designation
rule signed on April 30, 2012.
DATES: The effective date of this rule is
July 20, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0476. All
documents in the docket are listed in
the index at https://www.regulations.gov.
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 in the docket or in hard
copy at the Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West,
E:\FR\FM\11JNR1.SGM
11JNR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34218-34221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13955]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R05-OAR-2011-0080; FRL-9683-3]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Indiana; Regional Haze
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is finalizing a limited approval of revisions to the
Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Indiana
Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) on January 14, 2011, and
March 10, 2011, addressing regional haze for the first implementation
period that ends 2018. This action is being taken in accordance with
the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's rules for states
to prevent and remedy future and existing anthropogenic impairment of
visibility in mandatory Class I areas through a regional haze program.
As part of this action, EPA is also approving limits for the Alcoa
facility that EPA finds satisfy the requirements for best available
retrofit technology (BART).
DATES: This final rule is effective on July 11, 2012.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-R05-OAR-2011-0080. All documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some
[[Page 34219]]
information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business
Information (CBI) 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 www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division,
77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
Federal holidays. We recommend that you telephone Charles Hatten,
Environmental Engineer, at (312) 886-6031 before visiting the Region 5
office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Hatten, Environmental
Engineer, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J),
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-6031, hatten.charles@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This supplementary information section is
arranged as follows:
I. Synopsis of Proposed Rule
II. Public Comments and EPA's Responses
III. What action is EPA taking?
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Synopsis of Proposed Rule
Indiana submitted a plan to address regional haze on January 14,
2011, and supplemented it on March 10, 2011. This plan was intended to
address the requirements in CAA section 169A, and EPA's Regional Haze
Rule as codified at 40 CFR 51.308. This rule was promulgated on July 1,
1999 (64 FR 35713). Further significant provisions were promulgated on
July 6, 2005, providing further guidance on provisions related to BART.
EPA proposed a limited approval of Indiana's submittal on January
26, 2012 (77 FR 3975). That action described the nature of the regional
haze problem and the statutory and regulatory background for EPA's
review of Indiana's regional haze plan. The proposal provided a lengthy
delineation of the requirements that Indiana intended to meet,
including requirements for mandating BART, consultation with other
states in establishing goals representing reasonable further progress
in mitigating anthropogenic visibility impairment, and adoption of
limitations as necessary to implement a long term strategy (LTS) for
reducing visibility impairment. Indiana's control strategy addresses
the regional haze rule for the first implementation period that ends
2018.
Of particular interest were EPA's findings regarding BART. Using
modeling performed by the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium
(LADCO), Indiana identified one non-electric generating unit (non-EGU)
source, Alcoa in Warrick County, as having sufficient impact to warrant
being subject to a requirement representing BART.
Indiana developed source-specific limits to mandate BART for Alcoa
to comply with EPA's regional haze rule. These limits are adopted into
regulation 326 of the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC), Article 26,
Rule 2, of which include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
oxide (NOX), and particulate matter (PM) emission limits
applicable to the Alcoa facility in Warrick County. In the proposed
rulemaking, EPA proposed to conclude that the emission reductions from
326 IAC 26-2 would suffice to address the BART requirement for non-
EGUs.
II. Public Comments and EPA's Responses
The publication of EPA's proposed rule on January 26, 2012 (77 FR
3975) initiated a 30-day public comment period that ended on February
27, 2012. During the public comment period on the proposed rulemaking
on the Indiana regional haze plan we received comments from the United
States Forest Service (FS) and the United States National Park Service
(NPS). These comments and EPA's responses are addressed in detail
below.
Comment #1: FS continues to disagree with the alternative BART
scenario for the Alcoa facility. FS believes that emission reductions
that could be used for reasonable progress purposes should not be
creditable for alternative measures/BART purposes. FS further comments
that requiring emission controls for Boilers 2 and 3, which are subject
to BART, would be more appropriate for reasonable progress purposes
instead of taking credit for emission reductions from Boiler 1, which
is not subject to BART.
Response #1: As stated in 40 CFR 51.308(e)(2)(iv), the pertinent
requirement is that the emission reductions of the alternative measure
be ``surplus to reductions resulting from measures adopted to meet
requirements of the CAA as of the baseline date of the SIP.'' This
point is explained in the preamble of the BART guidelines. 70 FR 39143.
Therefore, EPA finds the reductions at Boiler 1 to be a creditable part
of Indiana's alternative BART limits in lieu of full BART control of
boilers 2 and 3 and the potlines.
The BART guidelines state that ``(2) The EPA does not believe that
anything in the CAA or relevant case law prohibits a State from
considering emissions reductions required to meet other CAA
requirements when determining whether source by source BART controls
are necessary to make reasonable progress.'' This rule further states,
``(3) * * * in lieu of BART programs be based on emissions reductions
`surplus to reductions resulting from measures adopted to meet
requirements as of the baseline date of the SIP.' The baseline date for
regional haze SIPs is 2002 * * *'' 70 FR 39143.
Comment #2: For the Alcoa facility, FS comments that there is no
technical reason that the controls for Boilers 2 and 3 cannot achieve
92 percent or greater efficiency with wet Flue Gas Desulfurization
(FGD) to meet BART.
Response #2: EPA agrees with FS that wet FGD emission control
technology commonly achieves a 92 percent or higher emission reduction.
Alcoa used the 92 percent reduction level for the BART analysis for
Boilers 2 and 3. However, Indiana is applying flexibility authorized in
the regional haze rule to require less control of Boilers 2 and 3 than
the control equipment can achieve, requiring 90 percent control of
these Boilers, while requiring additional, compensating control of
Boiler 1, which still results in an overall improvement in visibility.
Comment #3: FS comments that the increase in the sulfur content of
coke for the BART-subject potlines (2-6), actually
results in increased SO2 emissions with no control
technology or alternative to offset the increase. The FS accepts that
low sulfur coke may not be available after 2013, but asserts that if
increased emissions from the facility occur, then Alcoa should look for
an alternative to either control emissions from the potlines or offset
those emissions if control technologies are too expensive.
Response #3: The FS comment appears to reflect a misunderstanding
of the situation. Indiana's plan describes a BART determination that
reflects an increase in sulfur content of coke used in the potlines,
but Indiana's submittal does not actually increase the SO2
emission limits that apply to these units. EPA did not agree with
Indiana's rationale for determining BART to reflect an increase in
potline emissions, but EPA's proposed, and now final, approval of
Indiana's BART determination for the potlines is based on the fact that
the actual SO2 limits in
[[Page 34220]]
Indiana's plan do not allow the SO2 emissions increase that
the FS asserts to be allowed by Indiana's plan.
Comment #4: FS comments that ``Indiana continues to disagree with
the need for a factor analysis of additional NOX control
technologies.'' FS notes Indiana's comparison of its proposed BART
limits against new source performance standards (NSPS) limits, but
finds that this comparison does not address BART requirements in lieu
of conducting a full analysis of all feasible control technologies.
Response #4: Alcoa in fact did conduct a five factor BART analysis,
as required by the Indiana BART rule and the BART guidelines. Alcoa
identified low NOX burners (LNB), LNB combined with over-
fire air, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and selective non-
catalytic reduction (SNCR) systems as feasible technologies to control
NOX from boilers. Alcoa concluded that SCR and SNCR were not
cost effective. Indiana reached the same conclusions regarding these
controls, and EPA agrees. Indiana set limits that are significantly
tighter than the NSPS, and notes the state did not conduct a complete
and adequate analysis of BART for the Alcoa facility.
Comment #5: NPS believes that EPA should apply its economic
incentive policy to Indiana's regional haze SIP in accordance with
policy stated in a letter to Wisconsin regarding Wisconsin's regional
haze SIP. NPS provides what it considers to be quotes from EPA's letter
that advise Wisconsin not to take credit for various reductions that
are or will be required by other regulatory requirements.
Response #5: EPA's letter to Wisconsin does not include the
statements that NPS attributes to EPA. EPA finds the reductions that
Indiana takes credit for to be fully creditable. The primary
applicability of the economic incentive policy to the Wisconsin plan
related to the question of whether the baseline emissions of a
subsequently shutdown boiler should be included in determining a limit
on the combined emissions of multiple boilers. This situation does not
apply in Indiana, and so the actual comments in EPA's letter to
Wisconsin are not germane to Indiana.
III. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is finalizing the limited approval of Indiana's regional haze
plan submitted by IDEM on January 11, 2011, and March 10, 2011,
addressing regional haze for the first implementation period. The
revisions seek to address CAA and regional haze rule requirements for
states to remedy any existing anthropogenic and prevent future
impairment of visibility at Class I areas.
Indiana's plan satisfies a number of elements of the regional haze
requirements. Most notably, EPA concludes that Indiana has satisfied
the requirements for BART in 40 CFR 51.308(e) for non-EGUs and for PM
from EGUs. Indiana's plan identifies the Class I areas that the state's
emissions affect. Indiana demonstrates that the state has consulted
with other states as appropriate in establishing reasonable progress
goals and identifying the reductions need in Indiana to meet those
goals. For these reasons, and for the SIP strengthening effect of
Indiana's plan, EPA is granting limited approval of Indiana's plan.
In conjunction with the above actions, EPA is approving regulation
326 IAC 26-2 for incorporation into the state implementation plan.
These limits on Alcoa's emissions of SO2, NOX,
and PM are state enforceable and, with this SIP approval, are now
Federally enforceable. It should be noted that rule 326 IAC 26-2
contains an erroneous citation, citing limits in 326 IAC 7-4-10(a)(4)
rather than 326 IAC 7-4-10(a)(3). EPA nevertheless approves the rule
for several reasons: (1) The pertinent limits are already an approved
part of Indiana's SIP and are therefore already enforceable; (2) the
State's intent is clear; and (3) Indiana intends to correct this
reference.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA 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 Clean Air Act; 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, 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).
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 10, 2012. 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
[[Page 34221]]
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
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides.
Dated: May 29, 2012.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
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 P--Indiana
0
2. Section 52.770 is amended by adding a new entry at the end of the
table in paragraph (c) for ``Article 26. Regional Haze'' and by adding
a new entry in alphabetical order in the table in paragraph (e) for
``Regional Haze Plan'' to read as follows:
Sec. 52.770 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
EPA-Approved Indiana Regulations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indiana
Indiana citation Subject effective date EPA approval date Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article 26. Regional Haze
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2. Best Available Retrofit Technology Emission Limitations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26-2-1............................ Applicability........ 3/09/2011 6/11/2012, [Insert page number where .....................................
the document begins].
26-2-2............................ Alcoa emission 3/09/2011 6/11/2012, [Insert page number where .....................................
limitations and the document begins].
compliance methods.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
(e) * * *
EPA-Approved Indiana Nonregulatory and Quasi-Regulatory Provisions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title Indiana date EPA approval Explanation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Regional Haze Plan.................... 01/14/2011 and 03/10/2011 6/11/2012, [Insert page number where the .........................................
document begins].
* * * * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2012-13955 Filed 6-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P