Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; The Washington County 2002 Base Year Inventory, 59156-59158 [2012-23698]
Download as PDF
59156
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Proposed Rules
business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE.,
Room 2A, Washington DC 20426.
36. From the Commission’s Home
Page on the Internet, this information is
available on eLibrary. The full text of
this document is available on eLibrary
in PDF and Microsoft Word format for
viewing, printing, and/or downloading.
To access this document in eLibrary,
type the docket number excluding the
last three digits of this document in the
docket number field.
37. User assistance is available for
eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site
during normal business hours from the
Commission’s Online Support at (202)
502–6652 (toll free at 1–866–208–3676)
or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov,
or the Public Reference Room at (202)
502–8371, TTY (202) 502–8659. Email
the Public Reference Room at
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.
By direction of the Commission.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–23647 Filed 9–25–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
21 CFR Part 514
[Docket No. FDA–2012–N–0447]
Antimicrobial Animal Drug Sales and
Distribution Reporting; Extension of
Comment Period
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
Advance notice of proposed
rulemaking; extension of comment
period.
ACTION:
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is extending the
comment period for the advance notice
of proposed rulemaking that appeared
in the Federal Register of July 27, 2012.
In the advance notice of proposed
rulemaking, FDA requested comments
regarding potential changes to its
regulations relating to records and
reports for approved antimicrobial new
animal drugs. The Agency is taking this
action in response to requests for an
extension to allow interested persons
additional time to submit comments.
DATES: The comment period for the
advance notice of proposed rulemaking
that published July 27, 2012 (77 FR
44177) is extended. Submit written or
electronic comments by November 26,
2012.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
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15:05 Sep 25, 2012
Jkt 226001
You may submit comments,
identified by Docket No. FDA–2012–N–
0447, by any of the following methods:
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Submissions
Submit electronic comments in the
following way:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Written Submissions
Submit written submissions in the
following ways:
• Fax: 301–827–6870.
• Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for
paper or CD–ROM submissions):
Division of Dockets Management (HFA–
305), Food and Drug Administration,
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville,
MD 20852.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the Agency name and
Docket No. FDA–2012–N–0447 for this
rulemaking. All comments received may
be posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. For
additional information on submitting
comments, see the ‘‘Request for
Comments’’ heading of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and insert the
docket number, found in brackets in the
heading of this document, into the
‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts
and/or go to the Division of Dockets
Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm.
1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal
Bataller, Center for Veterinary Medicine
(HFV–210), Food and Drug
Administration, 7519 Standish Pl.,
Rockville, MD 20855, 240–276–9062,
email: neal.bataller@fda.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In the Federal Register of July 27,
2012 (77 FR 44177), FDA published an
advance notice of proposed rulemaking
with a 60-day comment period to
request comments regarding potential
changes to its regulations relating to
records and reports for approved new
animal drugs. FDA is considering
revisions to this regulation to
incorporate the requirements of section
105 of the Animal Drug User Fee
Amendments of 2008 (ADUFA 105).
The Agency is also seeking public
comment on how best to compile and
present the summary information as
directed by ADUFA 105, and on
alternative methods available to the
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Agency for obtaining additional data
and information about the extent of
antimicrobial drug use in foodproducing animals.
The Agency has received requests for
a 60-day extension of the comment
period for the advance notice of
proposed rulemaking. The requests
conveyed concern that the current 60day comment period does not allow
sufficient time to develop a meaningful
or thoughtful response to the advance
notice of proposed rulemaking.
FDA has considered the requests and
is extending the comment period for the
advance notice of proposed rulemaking
for 60 days, until November 26, 2012.
The Agency believes that a 60-day
extension allows adequate time for
interested persons to submit comments
without significantly delaying
rulemaking on these important issues.
II. Request for Comments
Interested persons may submit either
written comments regarding this
document to the Division of Dockets
Management (see ADDRESSES) or
electronic comments to https://
www.regulations.gov. It is only
necessary to send one set of comments.
Identify comments with the docket
number found in brackets in the
heading of this document. Received
comments may be seen in the Division
of Dockets Management between 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and
will be posted to the docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.
Dated: September 20, 2012.
Leslie Kux,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012–23740 Filed 9–21–12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4160–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R03–OAR–2010–0154; FRL–9732–8]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans;
Maryland; The Washington County
2002 Base Year Inventory
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is proposing to approve
the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 2002
base year emissions inventory portion of
the State of Maryland State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision
submitted by the State of Maryland,
through the Maryland Department of the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\26SEP1.SGM
26SEP1
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Proposed Rules
Environment (MDE), on June 6, 2008 for
Washington County, Maryland. The
emissions inventory is part of
Maryland’s June 6, 2008 SIP revision
that was submitted to meet
nonattainment requirements related to
the Washington County nonattainment
area (hereafter referred to as Washington
County Area or Area) for Maryland’s
1997 PM2.5 National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) SIP. EPA is
proposing to approve the 2002 base year
PM2.5 emissions inventory for
Washington County submitted by MDE
in accordance with the requirements of
the Clean Air Act (CAA).
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before October 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID Number EPA–
R03–OAR–2010–0154 by one of the
following methods:
A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
B. Email: mastro.donna@epa.gov.
C. Mail: EPA–R03–OAR–2010–0154,
Donna Mastro, Acting Associate
Director, Office of Air Program
Planning, Mailcode 3AP30, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previouslylisted EPA Region III address. Such
deliveries are only accepted during the
Docket’s normal hours of operation, and
special arrangements should be made
for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–R03–OAR–2010–
0154. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change, and may be
made available online at
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through www.regulations.gov
or email. The www.regulations.gov Web
site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system,
which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless
you provide it in the body of your
comment. If you send an email
comment directly to EPA without going
through www.regulations.gov, your
email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public
docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:05 Sep 25, 2012
Jkt 226001
include your name and other contact
information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD–ROM
you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form
of encryption, and be free of any defects
or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the
electronic docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, i.e., 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 in www.regulations.gov or
in hard copy during normal business
hours at the Air Protection Division,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
Copies of the State submittal are
available at the Maryland Department of
the Environment, 1800 Washington
Boulevard, Suite 705, Baltimore,
Maryland 21230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Asrah Khadr, (215) 814–2071, or by
email at khadr.asrah@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Summary of SIP Revision
III. Proposed Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
Throughout this document, whenever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
EPA. On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38652),
EPA promulgated the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS, including an annual standard
of 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/
m3) based on a 3-year average of annual
mean PM2.5 concentrations, and a 24hour (or daily) standard of 65 mg/m3
based on a 3-year average of the 98th
percentile of 24-hour concentrations.
EPA established the standards based on
significant evidence and numerous
health studies demonstrating that
serious health effects are associated
with exposures to PM2.5.
Following promulgation of a new or
revised NAAQS, EPA is required by the
CAA to designate areas throughout the
United States as attaining or not
attaining the NAAQS; this designation
process is described in section 107(d)(1)
of the CAA. In 1999, EPA and state airquality agencies initiated the monitoring
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
59157
process for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS and,
by January 2001, established a complete
set of air-quality data. On January 5,
2005, EPA published initial air-quality
designations for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS
(70 FR 944), which became effective on
April 5, 2005, based on air-quality
monitoring data for calendar years
2001–03.
On April 14, 2005, EPA promulgated
a supplemental rule amending the
agency’s initial designations (70 FR
19844), with the same effective date
(April 5, 2005) as that which was
promulgated at 70 FR 944. As a result
of this supplemental rule, PM2.5
nonattainment designations are in effect
for 39 areas, comprising 208 counties
within 20 states (and the District of
Columbia) nationwide, with a combined
population of approximately 88 million.
The Washington County Area which is
the subject of this rulemaking was
included in the list of areas not attaining
the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS.
On June 6, 2008, the State of
Maryland submitted a revision to the
Maryland SIP (#08–05) to meet
nonattainment requirements for the
Washington County Area. On November
20, 2009 (74 FR 60199), EPA determined
that Maryland had attained the 1997
PM2.5 NAAQS in the Washington
County Area. That determination was
based upon quality assured, quality
controlled and certified ambient air
monitoring data that showed the Area
had monitored attainment of the 1997
PM2.5 NAAQS for the 2004–2006
monitoring period and that continued to
show attainment of the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS based on the 2005–2007 data.
The November 20, 2009 determination
suspended the requirements for
Maryland to submit an attainment
demonstration, associated reasonably
available control measures, a reasonable
further progress plan, contingency
measures, and other planning SIP
revisions related to attainment of the
standard for so long as the
nonattainment area continues to meet
the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. On February
29, 2012, MDE withdrew portions of the
June 6, 2008 Washington County,
Maryland 1997 PM2.5 SIP revisions
including the attainment plan, analysis
of reasonably available control
measures, attainment demonstration,
contingency plans and mobile source
budgets. To meet the requirements of
CAA section 172(c)(3), MDE did not
request the withdrawal of the 2002 base
year emission inventory portion of the
June 6, 2008 1997 PM2.5 SIP revision.
Section 172(c)(3) of the CAA requires
submission and approval of a
comprehensive, accurate, and current
inventory of actual emissions.
E:\FR\FM\26SEP1.SGM
26SEP1
59158
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Proposed Rules
II. Summary of SIP Revision
The 2002 base year emission
inventory submitted by MDE on June 6,
2008 for Washington County, Maryland
includes emissions estimates that cover
the general source categories of
stationary point sources, stationary
nonpoint sources, nonroad mobile
sources and onroad mobile sources. The
pollutants that comprise the inventory
are nitrogen oxides (NOX), volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), PM2.5,
coarse particles (PM10), ammonia (NH3),
and sulfur dioxide (SO2). EPA has
reviewed the results, procedures and
methodologies for the 2002 base year
emissions inventory submitted by MDE
for Washington County, Maryland. The
year 2002 was selected by MDE as the
base year for the emissions inventory
per 40 CFR 51.1008(b). A discussion of
the emissions inventory development as
well as the emissions inventory can be
found in the June 6, 2008 SIP submittal.
The CAA section 172(c)(3) emissions
inventory is developed by the
incorporation of data from multiple
sources. States were required to develop
and submit to EPA a triennial emissions
inventory according to the Consolidated
Emissions Reporting Rule (CERR) for all
source categories (i.e., point, area,
nonroad mobile and on-road mobile).
The 2002 emissions inventory was
based on data developed by MDE. The
data were developed according to
current EPA emissions inventory
guidance, ‘‘Emissions Inventory
Guidance for Implementation of Ozone
and Particulate Matter NAAQS and
Regional Haze Regulations,’’ August
2005. EPA agrees that the process used
to develop this emissions inventory is
adequate to meet the requirements of
CAA section 172(c)(3), the
implementing regulations, and EPA
guidance for emission inventories. More
information regarding the review of the
base year inventory can be found in the
technical support document (TSD) that
is located in this docket.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
III. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve the 2002
base year emissions inventory portion of
the SIP revision submitted by Maryland
through MDE on June 6, 2008 for
Washington County, Maryland. We have
made the determination that this action
is consistent with section 110 of the
CAA. EPA is soliciting public comments
on the issues discussed in this
document. These comments will be
considered before taking final action.
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15:05 Sep 25, 2012
Jkt 226001
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 proposes to approve state law as
meeting Federal requirements and does
not impose additional requirements
beyond those imposed by state law. For
that reason, this proposed action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have Federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this proposed rule,
pertaining to the PM2.5 2002 base year
emissions inventory portion of the
Washington County, Maryland June 6,
2008 SIP submittal, 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
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
state, and EPA notes that it will not
impose substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Nitrogen dioxide,
Particulate matter, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: August 30, 2012.
W.C. Early,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2012–23698 Filed 9–25–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
[Dockets No. FWS–R9–MB–2012–0028 and
FWS–R9–MB–2012–0038; FF09M21200–
123–FXMB1231099BPP0L2]
RINs 1018–AY61, 1018–AY66
Migratory Bird Hunting; Application for
Approval of Copper-Clad Iron Shot and
Fluoropolymer Shot Coatings as
Nontoxic for Waterfowl Hunting
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; availability of
draft environmental assessments.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, propose to approve
copper-clad iron shot and
fluoropolymer coatings for hunting
waterfowl and coots. We published a
notice of application for nontoxic shot
approval for copper-clad iron shot in the
Federal Register on June 20, 2012 (77
FR 36980), and one for the
fluoropolymer shot coatings on July 6,
2012 (77 FR 39983). Having completed
our review of the application materials
for both, we have concluded that neither
the shot nor the coatings are likely to
adversely affect fish, wildlife, or their
habitats.
SUMMARY:
Electronic comments on this
proposal via https://www.regulations.gov
must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern
time on October 26, 2012. Comments
submitted by mail must be postmarked
no later than October 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Document Availability. You
may view the application and our draft
environmental assessments by one of
the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket
No. FWS–R9–MB–2012–0028 for
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\26SEP1.SGM
26SEP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59156-59158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23698]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0154; FRL-9732-8]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Maryland; The Washington County 2002 Base Year Inventory
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve the fine particulate matter
(PM2.5) 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the
State of Maryland State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by
the State of Maryland, through the Maryland Department of the
[[Page 59157]]
Environment (MDE), on June 6, 2008 for Washington County, Maryland. The
emissions inventory is part of Maryland's June 6, 2008 SIP revision
that was submitted to meet nonattainment requirements related to the
Washington County nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as
Washington County Area or Area) for Maryland's 1997 PM2.5
National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) SIP. EPA is proposing to
approve the 2002 base year PM2.5 emissions inventory for
Washington County submitted by MDE in accordance with the requirements
of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2010-0154 by one of the following methods:
A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
B. Email: mastro.donna@epa.gov.
C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0154, Donna Mastro, Acting Associate
Director, Office of Air Program Planning, Mailcode 3AP30, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-
2010-0154. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change, and may be made available online
at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The
www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment
directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., 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 in www.regulations.gov or
in hard copy during normal business hours at the Air Protection
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State submittal
are available at the Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800
Washington Boulevard, Suite 705, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Asrah Khadr, (215) 814-2071, or by
email at khadr.asrah@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Summary of SIP Revision
III. Proposed Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
Throughout this document, whenever ``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' is
used, we mean EPA. On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38652), EPA promulgated the
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, including an annual standard of 15.0
micrograms per cubic meter ([micro]g/m\3\) based on a 3-year average of
annual mean PM2.5 concentrations, and a 24-hour (or daily)
standard of 65 [micro]g/m\3\ based on a 3-year average of the 98th
percentile of 24-hour concentrations. EPA established the standards
based on significant evidence and numerous health studies demonstrating
that serious health effects are associated with exposures to
PM2.5.
Following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, EPA is required
by the CAA to designate areas throughout the United States as attaining
or not attaining the NAAQS; this designation process is described in
section 107(d)(1) of the CAA. In 1999, EPA and state air-quality
agencies initiated the monitoring process for the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS and, by January 2001, established a complete set of air-quality
data. On January 5, 2005, EPA published initial air-quality
designations for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS (70 FR 944), which
became effective on April 5, 2005, based on air-quality monitoring data
for calendar years 2001-03.
On April 14, 2005, EPA promulgated a supplemental rule amending the
agency's initial designations (70 FR 19844), with the same effective
date (April 5, 2005) as that which was promulgated at 70 FR 944. As a
result of this supplemental rule, PM2.5 nonattainment
designations are in effect for 39 areas, comprising 208 counties within
20 states (and the District of Columbia) nationwide, with a combined
population of approximately 88 million. The Washington County Area
which is the subject of this rulemaking was included in the list of
areas not attaining the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS.
On June 6, 2008, the State of Maryland submitted a revision to the
Maryland SIP (08-05) to meet nonattainment requirements for
the Washington County Area. On November 20, 2009 (74 FR 60199), EPA
determined that Maryland had attained the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS
in the Washington County Area. That determination was based upon
quality assured, quality controlled and certified ambient air
monitoring data that showed the Area had monitored attainment of the
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS for the 2004-2006 monitoring period and
that continued to show attainment of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS
based on the 2005-2007 data. The November 20, 2009 determination
suspended the requirements for Maryland to submit an attainment
demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures, a
reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and other
planning SIP revisions related to attainment of the standard for so
long as the nonattainment area continues to meet the 1997
PM2.5 NAAQS. On February 29, 2012, MDE withdrew portions of
the June 6, 2008 Washington County, Maryland 1997 PM2.5 SIP
revisions including the attainment plan, analysis of reasonably
available control measures, attainment demonstration, contingency plans
and mobile source budgets. To meet the requirements of CAA section
172(c)(3), MDE did not request the withdrawal of the 2002 base year
emission inventory portion of the June 6, 2008 1997 PM2.5
SIP revision. Section 172(c)(3) of the CAA requires submission and
approval of a comprehensive, accurate, and current inventory of actual
emissions.
[[Page 59158]]
II. Summary of SIP Revision
The 2002 base year emission inventory submitted by MDE on June 6,
2008 for Washington County, Maryland includes emissions estimates that
cover the general source categories of stationary point sources,
stationary nonpoint sources, nonroad mobile sources and onroad mobile
sources. The pollutants that comprise the inventory are nitrogen oxides
(NOX), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PM2.5,
coarse particles (PM10), ammonia (NH3), and
sulfur dioxide (SO2). EPA has reviewed the results,
procedures and methodologies for the 2002 base year emissions inventory
submitted by MDE for Washington County, Maryland. The year 2002 was
selected by MDE as the base year for the emissions inventory per 40 CFR
51.1008(b). A discussion of the emissions inventory development as well
as the emissions inventory can be found in the June 6, 2008 SIP
submittal.
The CAA section 172(c)(3) emissions inventory is developed by the
incorporation of data from multiple sources. States were required to
develop and submit to EPA a triennial emissions inventory according to
the Consolidated Emissions Reporting Rule (CERR) for all source
categories (i.e., point, area, nonroad mobile and on-road mobile). The
2002 emissions inventory was based on data developed by MDE. The data
were developed according to current EPA emissions inventory guidance,
``Emissions Inventory Guidance for Implementation of Ozone and
Particulate Matter NAAQS and Regional Haze Regulations,'' August 2005.
EPA agrees that the process used to develop this emissions inventory is
adequate to meet the requirements of CAA section 172(c)(3), the
implementing regulations, and EPA guidance for emission inventories.
More information regarding the review of the base year inventory can be
found in the technical support document (TSD) that is located in this
docket.
III. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve the 2002 base year emissions inventory
portion of the SIP revision submitted by Maryland through MDE on June
6, 2008 for Washington County, Maryland. We have made the determination
that this action is consistent with section 110 of the CAA. EPA is
soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this document.
These comments will be considered before taking final action.
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 proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this proposed rule, pertaining to the PM2.5
2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the Washington County,
Maryland June 6, 2008 SIP submittal, does not have tribal implications
as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000),
because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in
the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen dioxide,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: August 30, 2012.
W.C. Early,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2012-23698 Filed 9-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P