Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Mississippi; 110(a)(2)(G) Infrastructure Requirement for the 1997 and 2006 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 61279-61281 [2012-24628]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
(2) Infrastructure Requirements for the
2006 Fine Particulate Matter National
Ambient Air Quality Standards’’ at the
end of the table to read as follows:
§ 52.1270
*
61279
Identification of plan.
*
*
(e) * * *
*
*
EPA-APPROVED MISSISSIPPI NON-REGULATORY PROVISIONS
Applicable geographic or nonattainment area
Name of nonregulatory SIP provision
State submittal
date/effective
date
EPA approval date
Explanation
*
*
110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure Requirements for 1997 Fine Particulate Matter
National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure Requirements for 2006 Fine Particulate Matter
National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
*
Mississippi .............
*
12/7/2007
*
10/9/2012 [Insert citation of publication].
*
*
With the exception of sections
110(a)(2)(D)(i), 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and
110(a)(2)(G).
Mississippi .............
10/6/2009
10/9/2012 [Insert citation of publication].
With the exception of sections
110(a)(2)(D)(i), 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and
110(a)(2)(G).
[FR Doc. 2012–24631 Filed 10–5–12; 8:45 am]
DATES:
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R04–OAR–2012–0238; FRL–9738–6]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Mississippi;
110(a)(2)(G) Infrastructure
Requirement for the 1997 and 2006
Fine Particulate Matter National
Ambient Air Quality Standards
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is taking final action to
approve the State Implementation Plan
(SIP) revision, submitted by the
Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality, on July 26,
2012. This SIP revision was submitted
to address Clean Air Act (CAA or Act)
section 110(a)(2)(G). Specifically, EPA is
approving Mississippi’s July 26, 2012,
submission addressing section
110(a)(2)(G), of the CAA for both the
1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter
(PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of
the CAA requires that each state adopt
and submit a SIP for the
implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of each NAAQS
promulgated by the EPA, which is
commonly referred to as an
‘‘infrastructure’’ SIP. The subject of this
notice is limited to infrastructure
element 110(a)(2)(G). All other
applicable Mississippi infrastructure
elements are being addressed in a
separate rulemakings.
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SUMMARY:
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Effective Date: This rule will be
effective on November 8, 2012.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA–R04–OAR–
2012–0238. All documents in the docket
are listed on the 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
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:
Sean Lakeman, 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. The
telephone number is (404) 562–9043.
Mr. Lakeman can be reached via
electronic mail at
lakeman.sean@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
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II. This Action
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
Upon promulgation of a new or
revised NAAQS, sections 110(a)(1) and
(2) of the CAA require states to address
basic SIP requirements, including
emissions inventories, monitoring, and
modeling to assure attainment and
maintenance for that new NAAQS. On
July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38652), EPA
promulgated a new annual PM2.5
NAAQS and on October 17, 2006 (71 FR
61144), EPA promulgated a new 24-hour
NAAQS. On July 31, 2012, EPA
proposed to approve Mississippi’s
submission addressing section
110(a)(2)(G). A summary of the
background for today’s final action is
provided below. See EPA’s July 31,
2012, proposed rulemaking at 77 FR
45320 for more detail.
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires
states to submit SIPs to provide for the
implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of a new or revised
NAAQS within three years following
the promulgation of such NAAQS, or
within such shorter period as EPA may
prescribe. Section 110(a) imposes the
obligation upon states to make a SIP
submission to EPA for a new or revised
NAAQS, but the contents of that
submission may vary depending upon
the facts and circumstances. The data
and analytical tools available at the time
the state develops and submits the SIP
for a new or revised NAAQS affects the
content of the submission. The contents
of such SIP submissions may also vary
depending upon what provisions the
state’s existing SIP already contains. In
the case of the 1997 annual and 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, states typically
have met the basic program elements
required in section 110(a)(2) through
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earlier SIP submissions in connection
with previous PM NAAQS.
More specifically, section 110(a)(1)
provides the procedural and timing
requirements for SIPs. Section 110(a)(2)
lists specific elements that states must
meet for ‘‘infrastructure’’ SIP
requirements related to a newly
established or revised NAAQS. As
already mentioned, these requirements
include SIP infrastructure elements
such as modeling, monitoring, and
emissions inventories that are designed
to assure attainment and maintenance of
the NAAQS. However, EPA is only
addressing element 110(a)(2)(G) in this
action.
II. This Action
EPA is taking final action to approve
Mississippi’s infrastructure submission
as demonstrating that the State meets
the applicable requirements of section
110(a)(2)(G) of the CAA for the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that
each state adopt and submit a SIP for
the implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of each NAAQS
promulgated by the EPA, which is
commonly referred to as an
‘‘infrastructure’’ SIP. In a draft SIP
revision provided to EPA on July 13,
2012, for parallel processing,
Mississippi provided public notification
of its certification that the Mississippi
SIP contains provisions that ensure the
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS, as it relates to section
110(a)(2)(G), is implemented, enforced,
and maintained in Mississippi.
On July 31, 2012, EPA proposed to
approve Mississippi’s July 13, 2012,
draft SIP revision addressing section
110(a)(2)(G). EPA’s July 31, 2012 (77 FR
45320), proposed approval was
contingent upon Mississippi providing
EPA with a final SIP revision that was
not changed significantly from the July
13, 2012, draft SIP revision. Mississippi
provided its final SIP revision on July
26, 2012. There were no significant
changes made to the final submittal. All
other applicable Mississippi
infrastructure elements are being
addressed in a separate rulemakings.
EPA received one off-topic comment
on its July 31, 2012, proposed
rulemaking to approve Mississippi’s
July 13, 2012, draft SIP revision as
meeting the section 110(a)(2)(G)
requirements of the CAA for the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
The Commenter stated that EPA’s PM2.5
standard forces expensive mandates on
states and industry and the designation
process places a strain on local
resources and discourages economic
growth and EPA should withdraw the
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PM2.5 standard. Also, the Commenter
stated that EPA should consider public
interest prior to entering into consent
decrees.
This comment does not appear to be
related to the issues presented in the
proposed rulemaking, and instead,
appears related to a wholly separate
topic—promulgation of the PM NAAQS.
Promulgations of NAAQS involve
public comment opportunities, and that
would be the time to raise concerns
specific to a particular NAAQS.
Additionally, with regard to
Commenter’s general statement about
consent decrees, although it is not clear
to which specific consent decree
Commenter is referring, the CAA does
provide for opportunities for public
input regarding certain consent decrees.
EPA does not interpret these
comments as relevant to the topic of
EPA’s July 31, 2012, proposed action,
which proposed approval of
Mississippi’s draft SIP revision
pertaining to section 110(a)(2)(G)
infrastructure requirements for the
existing 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS. Instead, EPA interprets
these comments as being off-topic and
outside of the scope of today’s final
rulemaking.
Mississippi’s infrastructure
submission regarding section
110(a)(2)(G), provided to EPA on July
26, 2012, in final form, addressed the
110(a)(2)(G) requirements for the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
EPA has determined that Mississippi’s
July 26, 2012, submission is consistent
with section 110 of the CAA.
III. Final Action
As already described, Mississippi has
addressed section 110(a)(2)(G)
requirements pursuant to EPA’s October
2, 2007, guidance to ensure that 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS
are implemented, enforced, and
maintained in Mississippi. EPA is
taking final action to approve
Mississippi’s July 26, 2012, submission
for 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS because the submission is
consistent with section 110 of the CAA.
Today’s action is not approving any
specific rule, but rather making a
determination that Mississippi’s already
approved SIP meets certain CAA
requirements.
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
Act and applicable federal regulations.
42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,
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EPA’s role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the CAA. Accordingly, this action
merely approves state law as meeting
federal requirements and does not
impose additional requirements beyond
those imposed by state law. For that
reason, this action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have Federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have
tribal implications as specified by
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because the SIP is
not approved to apply in Indian
country, 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
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61281
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
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 December 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
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).
PART 52—APPROVAL AND
PROMULGATION OF
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
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, Volatile organic
compounds.
Subpart Z—Mississippi
2. Section 52.1270 paragraph (e), is
amended by adding a new entry for
‘‘110(a)(2)(G) Infrastructure
Requirement for the 1997 and 2006 Fine
Particulate Matter National Ambient Air
Quality Standards’’ at the end of the
table to read as follows:
■
Dated: September 25, 2012.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
§ 52.1270
*
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
Identification of plan.
*
*
(e) * * *
*
*
EPA-APPROVED MISSISSIPPI NON-REGULATORY PROVISIONS
Applicable geographic
or nonattainment area
Name of nonregulatory SIP provision
State submittal
date/effective
date
*
*
*
*
110(a)(2)(G) Infrastructure Requirement for the Mississippi ....................
1997 and 2006 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
[FR Doc. 2012–24628 Filed 10–5–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 80
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2012–0223; FRL 9733–3]
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel
Additives: Modifications to Renewable
Fuel Standard and Diesel Sulfur
Programs
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is issuing this direct final
rule to amend the definition of heating
oil in the Renewable Fuel Standard
(‘‘RFS’’ or ‘‘RFS2’’) program under
section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act. This
amendment will expand the scope of
renewable fuels that can generate
Renewable Identification Numbers
(RINs) as heating oil to include fuel oil
produced from qualifying renewable
biomass that will be used to generate
heat to warm buildings or other
facilities where people live, work,
recreate, or conduct other activities.
Fuel oils used to generate process heat,
power, or other functions will not be
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SUMMARY:
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EPA approval date
*
7/26/2012
*
10/9/2012 [Insert citation of publication].
included in the amended definition.
Producers or importers of fuel oil that
meets the amended definition of heating
oil will be allowed to generate RINs,
provided that the fuel oil meets the
other requirements specified in the RFS
regulations. This amendment will not
modify or limit fuel included in the
current definition of heating oil. EPA is
also amending the requirements under
EPA’s diesel sulfur program related to
the sulfur content of locomotive and
marine diesel fuel produced by transmix
processors. These amendments will
allow locomotive and marine diesel fuel
produced by transmix processors to
meet a maximum 500 parts per million
(ppm) sulfur standard provided that; the
fuel is used in older technology
locomotive and marine engines that do
not require 15 ppm sulfur diesel fuel,
the fuel is used outside of the Northeast
Mid-Atlantic Area, and the fuel is kept
segregated from other fuel. These
amendments will provide significant
regulatory relief for transmix processors
while having a neutral or net positive
environmental impact. EPA is also
amending the fuel marker requirements
for 500 ppm sulfur locomotive and
marine (LM) diesel fuel to address an
oversight in the original rulemaking
where the regulations failed to
incorporate provisions described in the
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Explanation
*
rulemaking preamble to allow for
solvent yellow 124 marker to transition
out of the distribution system.
DATES: This rule is effective on
December 10, 2012 without further
notice, unless EPA receives adverse
comment or a public hearing request by
November 8, 2012. If EPA receives a
timely adverse comment or a hearing
request on the rule or any specific
portion of this rule, we will publish a
withdrawal of the rule or a specific
portion of the rule in the Federal
Register informing the public that the
rule or portions of the rule with adverse
comment will not take effect. If a public
hearing is requested, we will publish a
notice in the Federal Register
announcing the date and location of the
hearing at least 14 days prior to the
hearing.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2012–0223, by one of the
following methods:
• www.regulations.gov: Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• Email: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov,
Attention Air and Radiation Docket ID
EPA–HQ–OAR–2012–0223.
• Fax: 731–214–4051.
• Mail: Air and Radiation Docket,
Docket No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2012–0223,
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61279-61281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24628]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0238; FRL-9738-6]
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Mississippi;
110(a)(2)(G) Infrastructure Requirement for the 1997 and 2006 Fine
Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to approve the State Implementation
Plan (SIP) revision, submitted by the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality, on July 26, 2012. This SIP revision was
submitted to address Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) section 110(a)(2)(G).
Specifically, EPA is approving Mississippi's July 26, 2012, submission
addressing section 110(a)(2)(G), of the CAA for both the 1997 and 2006
fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state
adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA, which is commonly
referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. The subject of this notice is
limited to infrastructure element 110(a)(2)(G). All other applicable
Mississippi infrastructure elements are being addressed in a separate
rulemakings.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule will be effective on November 8, 2012.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0238. All documents in the docket
are listed on the 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 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: Sean Lakeman, 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. The telephone number is (404)
562-9043. Mr. Lakeman can be reached via electronic mail at
lakeman.sean@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. This Action
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
Upon promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, sections 110(a)(1) and
(2) of the CAA require states to address basic SIP requirements,
including emissions inventories, monitoring, and modeling to assure
attainment and maintenance for that new NAAQS. On July 18, 1997 (62 FR
38652), EPA promulgated a new annual PM2.5 NAAQS and on
October 17, 2006 (71 FR 61144), EPA promulgated a new 24-hour NAAQS. On
July 31, 2012, EPA proposed to approve Mississippi's submission
addressing section 110(a)(2)(G). A summary of the background for
today's final action is provided below. See EPA's July 31, 2012,
proposed rulemaking at 77 FR 45320 for more detail.
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires states to submit SIPs to provide
for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of a new or
revised NAAQS within three years following the promulgation of such
NAAQS, or within such shorter period as EPA may prescribe. Section
110(a) imposes the obligation upon states to make a SIP submission to
EPA for a new or revised NAAQS, but the contents of that submission may
vary depending upon the facts and circumstances. The data and
analytical tools available at the time the state develops and submits
the SIP for a new or revised NAAQS affects the content of the
submission. The contents of such SIP submissions may also vary
depending upon what provisions the state's existing SIP already
contains. In the case of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS, states typically have met the basic program
elements required in section 110(a)(2) through
[[Page 61280]]
earlier SIP submissions in connection with previous PM NAAQS.
More specifically, section 110(a)(1) provides the procedural and
timing requirements for SIPs. Section 110(a)(2) lists specific elements
that states must meet for ``infrastructure'' SIP requirements related
to a newly established or revised NAAQS. As already mentioned, these
requirements include SIP infrastructure elements such as modeling,
monitoring, and emissions inventories that are designed to assure
attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. However, EPA is only
addressing element 110(a)(2)(G) in this action.
II. This Action
EPA is taking final action to approve Mississippi's infrastructure
submission as demonstrating that the State meets the applicable
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(G) of the CAA for the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Section 110(a) of the CAA requires
that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation,
maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA,
which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. In a draft
SIP revision provided to EPA on July 13, 2012, for parallel processing,
Mississippi provided public notification of its certification that the
Mississippi SIP contains provisions that ensure the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, as it relates to section
110(a)(2)(G), is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Mississippi.
On July 31, 2012, EPA proposed to approve Mississippi's July 13,
2012, draft SIP revision addressing section 110(a)(2)(G). EPA's July
31, 2012 (77 FR 45320), proposed approval was contingent upon
Mississippi providing EPA with a final SIP revision that was not
changed significantly from the July 13, 2012, draft SIP revision.
Mississippi provided its final SIP revision on July 26, 2012. There
were no significant changes made to the final submittal. All other
applicable Mississippi infrastructure elements are being addressed in a
separate rulemakings.
EPA received one off-topic comment on its July 31, 2012, proposed
rulemaking to approve Mississippi's July 13, 2012, draft SIP revision
as meeting the section 110(a)(2)(G) requirements of the CAA for the
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The Commenter
stated that EPA's PM2.5 standard forces expensive mandates
on states and industry and the designation process places a strain on
local resources and discourages economic growth and EPA should withdraw
the PM2.5 standard. Also, the Commenter stated that EPA
should consider public interest prior to entering into consent decrees.
This comment does not appear to be related to the issues presented
in the proposed rulemaking, and instead, appears related to a wholly
separate topic--promulgation of the PM NAAQS. Promulgations of NAAQS
involve public comment opportunities, and that would be the time to
raise concerns specific to a particular NAAQS. Additionally, with
regard to Commenter's general statement about consent decrees, although
it is not clear to which specific consent decree Commenter is
referring, the CAA does provide for opportunities for public input
regarding certain consent decrees.
EPA does not interpret these comments as relevant to the topic of
EPA's July 31, 2012, proposed action, which proposed approval of
Mississippi's draft SIP revision pertaining to section 110(a)(2)(G)
infrastructure requirements for the existing 1997 annual and 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Instead, EPA interprets these comments as
being off-topic and outside of the scope of today's final rulemaking.
Mississippi's infrastructure submission regarding section
110(a)(2)(G), provided to EPA on July 26, 2012, in final form,
addressed the 110(a)(2)(G) requirements for the 1997 annual and 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA has determined that Mississippi's
July 26, 2012, submission is consistent with section 110 of the CAA.
III. Final Action
As already described, Mississippi has addressed section
110(a)(2)(G) requirements pursuant to EPA's October 2, 2007, guidance
to ensure that 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS are
implemented, enforced, and maintained in Mississippi. EPA is taking
final action to approve Mississippi's July 26, 2012, submission for
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS because the
submission is consistent with section 110 of the CAA. Today's action is
not approving any specific rule, but rather making a determination that
Mississippi's already approved SIP meets certain CAA requirements.
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 Act and applicable
federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
action merely approves state law as meeting federal requirements and
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state
law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as specified
by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the
SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country, 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
[[Page 61281]]
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 December 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 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, Volatile organic
compounds.
Dated: September 25, 2012.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart Z--Mississippi
0
2. Section 52.1270 paragraph (e), is amended by adding a new entry for
``110(a)(2)(G) Infrastructure Requirement for the 1997 and 2006 Fine
Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards'' at the end
of the table to read as follows:
Sec. 52.1270 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
EPA-Approved Mississippi Non-Regulatory Provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicable State
Name of nonregulatory SIP geographic or submittal date/ EPA approval date Explanation
provision nonattainment area effective date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
110(a)(2)(G) Infrastructure Mississippi........ 7/26/2012 10/9/2012 [Insert ...................
Requirement for the 1997 and citation of
2006 Fine Particulate Matter publication].
National Ambient Air Quality
Standards.
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[FR Doc. 2012-24628 Filed 10-5-12; 8:45 am]
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