Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Arkansas; Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule Revisions, 19596-19599 [2013-07391]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 2, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
(b) Prohibition of further grants. When
VA determines action will be taken to
recover grant funds from the grantee, the
grantee is then prohibited from receipt
of any further grant funds.
(Authority: Sec. 307, Pub. L. 111–163; 38
U.S.C. 501)
[FR Doc. 2013–07636 Filed 4–1–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R06–OAR–2012–0639; FRL–9795–4]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans;
Arkansas; Prevention of Significant
Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas
Tailoring Rule Revisions
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The EPA is taking final action
to approve two revisions to the
Arkansas State Implementation Plan
(SIP) submitted by the Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) to EPA on February 17, 2010,
and November 6, 2012. The February
17, 2010, SIP revision to the Arkansas
New Source Review (NSR) Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD) program
updates the Arkansas SIP to incorporate
by reference (IBR) requirements for the
federal PSD permitting program under
EPA’s November 29, 2005 Phase 2 8hour Ozone Implementation rule. The
November 6, 2012, SIP revision to the
Arkansas NSR PSD program provides
the state of Arkansas with the authority
to issue PSD permits governing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and
establishes appropriate emission
thresholds for determining which new
stationary sources and modifications to
existing stationary sources become
subject to Arkansas’s PSD permitting
requirements for their GHG emissions.
The November 6, 2012 SIP revision also
defers until July 21, 2014, application of
the PSD permitting requirements to
biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from
bioenergy and other biogenic stationary
sources. EPA is approving the February
17, 2010, and November 6, 2012, SIP
revisions to the Arkansas NSR PSD
permitting program as consistent with
federal requirements for PSD permitting.
As a result of this approval, EPA is
rescinding the GHG PSD Federal
Implementation Plan (FIP) for Arkansas
that was put in place on December 30,
2010, to ensure the availability of a
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SUMMARY:
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permitting authority for GHG permitting
in Arkansas. EPA is finalizing this
action under section 110 and part C of
the Act.
DATES: This final rule will be effective
May 2, 2013.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R06–OAR–2012–0639. All
documents in the docket are listed in
the https://www.regulations.gov index.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., Confidential Business Information
or other information the disclosure of
which is restricted by statute. Certain
other material, such as copyrighted
material, will be publicly available only
in hard copy. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the Air Permits Section (6PD–R),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445
Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas
75202–2733. The file will be made
available by appointment for public
inspection in the Region 6 FOIA Review
Room between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. weekdays except for legal
holidays. Contact the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
paragraph below or Mr. Bill Deese at
214–665–7253 to make an appointment.
If possible, please make the
appointment at least two working days
in advance of your visit. A 15 cent per
page fee will be charged for making
photocopies of documents. On the day
of the visit, please check in at the EPA
Region 6 reception area on the seventh
floor at 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700,
Dallas, Texas 75202–2733.
The State submittals related to this
SIP revision, and which are part of the
EPA docket, are also available for public
inspection at the Local Air Agency
listed below during official business
hours by appointment: Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality,
5301 Northshore Drive, North Little
Rock, Arkansas 72118–5317.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Mike Miller (6PD–R), Air Permits
Section, Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue
(6PD–R), Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75202–
2733. The telephone number is (214)
665–7550. Mr. Miller can also be
reached via electronic mail at
miller.michael@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document whenever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
EPA.
Table of Contents
I. What is the background for this action?
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II. What final action is EPA taking?
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What is the background for this
action?
The background for today’s final rule
and the EPA’s national actions
pertaining to GHGs is discussed in
detail in our January 11, 2013 proposal
(see 78 FR 2354). The comment period
was open for thirty days and no
comments were received.
II. What final action is EPA taking?
We are approving Arkansas’s
February 17, 2010 SIP submittal, which
updates the Arkansas SIP to incorporate
by reference (IBR) requirements for the
federal PSD permitting program under
EPA’s November 29, 2005 Phase 2 8hour Ozone Implementation rule.
We are also approving Arkansas’s
November 6, 2012, SIP submittal,
relating to PSD permitting requirements
for GHG-emitting sources in Arkansas.
Specifically, the SIP revision provides
the state of Arkansas with the authority
to issue PSD permits governing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and
establishes appropriate emission
thresholds for determining which new
stationary sources and modifications to
existing stationary sources become
subject to Arkansas’s PSD permitting
requirements for their GHG emissions.
The November 6, 2012, SIP revision also
defers until July 21, 2014, application of
the PSD permitting requirements to
biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from
bioenergy and other biogenic stationary
sources.
EPA has made the determination that
the February 17, 2010, and November 6,
2012, revisions to the Arkansas SIP for
PSD permitting are approvable because
the revisions were adopted and
submitted as SIP revisions in
accordance with the CAA and EPA
regulations regarding PSD permitting for
8-hour ozone and GHGs. We are taking
this final action today under section 110
and part C of the Act.
As explained in our January 11, 2013
proposal (see 78 FR 2354), as a result of
today’s action we are also rescinding the
GHG PSD FIP for Arkansas at 40 CFR
52.37(b)(2). Therefore, as of the effective
date of this final rule, the EPA will no
longer be the PSD permitting authority
for GHG-emitting sources in Arkansas.
III. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866—Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Regulatory Review
This action is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under the terms of
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will not impose any requirements on
small entities.
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and is therefore not
subject to review under Executive
Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011).
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B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. because this
SIP approval and FIP rescission under
section 110 and part C of the Clean Air
Act will not in-and-of itself create any
new information collection burdens but
simply transfers the permitting
authority from EPA to the State. Burden
is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b). Because
this final action does not impose an
information collection burden, the
Paperwork Reduction Act does not
apply.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
generally requires an agency to conduct
a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
rulemaking requirements unless the
agency certifies that the rule will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
Small entities include small businesses,
small not-for-profit enterprises, and
small governmental jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts
of today’s rule on small entities, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business
as defined by the Small Business
Administration’s (SBA) regulations at 13
CFR 121.201; (2) a small governmental
jurisdiction that is a government of a
city, county, town, school district or
special district with a population of less
than 50,000; and (3) a small
organization that is any not-for-profit
enterprise which is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field.
This rule will transfer the permitting
responsibility of GHG emissions from
EPA to the State of Arkansas. This final
rule will lead to permitting
requirements for certain sources of GHG
emissions; however these sources are
large emitters of GHGs and tend to be
large sources. Further, this rule will not
have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities
because SIP approvals under section
110 and part C of the Clean Air Act do
not create any new requirements but
simply approve requirements that the
States are already imposing. After
considering the economic impacts of
this rule on small entities, I certify that
this action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. This final rule
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D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This action contains no Federal
mandates under the provisions of Title
II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act of 1995 (UMRA), 2 U.S.C. 1531–
1538 for State, local, or tribal
governments or the private sector. This
action imposes no enforceable duty on
any State, local or tribal governments or
the private sector. Therefore, this action
is not subject to the requirements of
sections 202 or 205 of the UMRA.
This action is also not subject to the
requirements of section 203 of UMRA
because it contains no regulatory
requirements that might significantly or
uniquely affect small governments. This
action transfers permitting
responsibility of GHG emissions from
EPA to the State of Arkansas. Small
governments are not impacted.
E. Executive Order 13132—Federalism
This action does not have federalism
implications. It will not have substantial
direct effects on Arkansas, on the
relationship between the national
government and the State of Arkansas,
or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132. The CAA
specifies conditions under which states
may request, and EPA may approve
state implementation of CAA
requirements. This rulemaking approves
PSD permitting provisions in the state of
Arkansas for GHG emissions, and as a
consequence of the SIP approval,
simultaneously rescinds federal PSD
permitting responsibility for GHG
emissions in Arkansas. This rulemaking
is pursuant to the SIP approval and
requirements of the CAA. As such, this
final rule does not change the balance
of power between Arkansas and EPA as
provided for in the CAA. Thus,
Executive Order 13132 does not apply
to this action.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132,
and consistent with EPA policy to
promote communications between EPA
and State and local governments, EPA
specifically solicited comment on the
proposed action from State and local
officials. EPA received no comments
from state or local governments on this
rulemaking.
F. Executive Order 13175—Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This action does not have tribal
implications, as specified in Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000). In this action, EPA is not
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19597
addressing any Tribal Implementation
Plans. This action is limited to
Arkansas’s PSD SIP. Thus, Executive
Order 13175 does not apply to this
action.
G. Executive Order 13045—Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
EPA interprets EO 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997) as applying only
to those regulatory actions that concern
health or safety risks, such that the
analysis required under section 5–501 of
the EO has the potential to influence the
regulation. This action is not subject to
EO 13045 because EPA is approving
revisions to the Arkansas PSD SIP for
permitting of GHG emissions, as
authorized by the CAA.
H. Executive Order 13211—Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211 (66 FR 28355 (May 22,
2001)), because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law
104–113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note)
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus
standards in its regulatory activities
unless to do so would be inconsistent
with applicable law or otherwise
impractical. Voluntary consensus
standards are technical standards (e.g.,
materials specifications, test methods,
sampling procedures, and business
practices) that are developed or adopted
by voluntary consensus standards
bodies. NTTAA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through OMB, explanations
when the Agency decides not to use
available and applicable voluntary
consensus standards. This action does
not involved technical standards.
Therefore, EPA did not consider the use
of any voluntary consensus standards.
J. Executive Order 12898—Federal
Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations.
Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR
7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes federal
executive policy on environmental
justice. Its main provision directs
federal agencies, to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law, to
make environmental justice part of their
mission by identifying and addressing,
as appropriate, disproportionately high
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and adverse human health or
environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority
populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
EPA has determined that this final
rule will not have disproportionately
high and adverse human health or
environmental effects on minority or
low-income populations because it
increases the level of environmental
protection for all affected populations
without having any disproportionately
high and adverse human health or
environmental effects on any
population, including any minority or
low-income population. This rule
requires the State of Arkansas to assume
the responibiity for permitting GHG
emissions subject to PSD requirements.
This final rule approves the Arkansas
SIP as meeting Federal requirements for
GHG PSD permitting and imposes no
additional requirements beyond those
imposed by Arkansas law.
K. Congressional Review Act
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).
L. Petitions for Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean
Air Act, petitions for judicial review of
this action must be filed in the United
States Court of Appeals for the
appropriate circuit by June 3, 2013.
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).)
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: March 22, 2013.
Bob Perciasepe,
Acting Administrator.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart A—General Provisions
2. Section 52.37 is amended by
removing and reserving paragraph
(b)(2).
■
Subpart E—Arkansas
3. Section 52.170(c) is amended by
revising the entries for Sections 19.902,
19.903, and 19.904 under the first table
titled ‘‘EPA-Approved Regulations in
the Arkansas SIP’’.
The revisions read as follows:
■
§ 52.170
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
*
Identification of plan.
*
*
(c) * * *
*
*
EPA-APPROVED REGULATIONS IN THE ARKANSAS SIP
State citation
State submittal/effective
date
Title/subject
EPA approval date
Explanation
Regulation No. 19: Regulations of the Arkansas Plan of Implementation for Air Pollution Control
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Chapter 9: Prevention of Significant Deterioration
*
*
*
*
*
Reg 19.902 ..........................
Purposes ..............................................
1/25/2009 ............................
Reg 19.903 ..........................
Definitions ............................................
1/25/2009 ............................
Reg 19.904 ..........................
Adoption of Regulations ......................
11/18/2012 ..........................
*
*
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 2, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
[FR Doc. 2013–07391 Filed 4–1–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R06–OAR–2012–0100; FRL–9795–3]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Texas;
Reasonably Available Control
Technology for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The EPA is finalizing its
proposal to approve revisions to the
Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP)
for the Houston/Galveston/Brazoria
(HGB) 1997 8-Hour ozone
nonattainment Area (Area). The HGB
Area consists of Brazoria, Chambers,
Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty,
Montgomery and Waller counties.
Specifically, we are finalizing our
proposed approval of portions of two
revisions to the Texas SIP submitted by
the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as
meeting certain Reasonably Available
Control Technology (RACT)
requirements for Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC), and Oxides of
Nitrogen (NOX) in the HGB Area. We are
also finalizing our proposal to approve
the 2007 Voluntary Mobile Emission
Reduction Program (VMEP)
commitments for the HGB Area. This
action is in accordance with section 110
of the federal Clean Air Act (the Act,
CAA).
SUMMARY:
This rule will be effective on
May 2, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R06–OAR–2012–0100. 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,
e.g., 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 Air Planning Section (6PD–L),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445
Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas
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DATES:
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75202–2733. The file will be made
available by appointment for public
inspection in the Region 6 FOIA Review
Room between the hours of 8:30am and
4:30 p.m. weekdays except for legal
holidays. Contact the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
paragraph below to make an
appointment. If possible, please make
the appointment at least two working
days in advance of your visit. There will
be a 15 cent per page fee for making
photocopies of documents. On the day
of the visit, please check in at the EPA
Region 6 reception area at 1445 Ross
Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Alan Shar, Air Planning Section (6PD–
L), Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700,
Dallas, Texas 75202–2733, telephone
(214) 665–6691, fax (214) 665–7263,
email address shar.alan@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’
and ‘‘our’’ refer to EPA.
Outline
I. Background
A. What actions are we approving?
1. The June 13, 2007 submittal
2. The April 6, 2010 submittal
B. When did the public comment period
expire?
II. Evaluation
A. What are the public comments and
EPA’s response to them?
B. What is TCEQ’s approach and analysis
to RACT in the June 13, 2007 submittal?
C. What CTG source categories are we
addressing in this action?
D. Does the revision to 30 TAC Chapter 115
of the June 13, 2007 submittal meet
RACT for liquid storage sources in the
HGB Area?
E. Is Texas’ approach to major Non-CTG
sources for RACT determination in the
HGB Area acceptable?
F. Is Texas’ approach to RACT
determination for CTG source categories
based on the June 13, 2007 and April 6,
2010 submittals acceptable?
G. Is Texas’ approach to RACT
determination for NOX sources based on
the June 13, 2007 and April 6, 2010
submittals acceptable?
H. Is Texas’ approach to RACT
determination for VOC and NOX sources
based on the June 13, 2007 and April 6,
2010 submittals acceptable?
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
A. What actions are we approving?
In EPA’s September 19, 2012 (77 FR
58063) rulemaking action we proposed
to approve portions of revisions to the
Texas SIP submitted to EPA in two
separate letters dated June 13, 2007 and
April 6, 2010 from TCEQ. We are
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19599
finalizing our proposed approval as
described below.
1. The June 13, 2007 Submittal
We are finalizing our proposal to
approve the June 13, 2007 submittal,
sent to EPA from TCEQ, which in part,
included the Voluntary Mobile
Emission Reduction Program (VMEP)
commitments as strategies to
complement existing regulatory
programs through voluntary, nonregulatory changes in local
transportation activities or changes in
in-use vehicle and engine composition.
Economic incentive provisions are also
available in sections 182 and 108 of the
Act. Credits generated through VMEP
can be counted toward attainment and
maintenance of the NAAQS. Due to the
voluntary nature of this program, only
up to 3% of the total future year
emissions reductions required to attain
an appropriate NAAQS may be claimed
under the VMEP policy guidance.
In addition, the June 13, 2007
submittal included an analysis intended
to demonstrate RACT was being
implemented in the HGB Area as
required by the CAA (Appendix D of the
submittal).
2. The April 6, 2010 Submittal
Texas supplemented the RACT
analysis contained in the June 13, 2007
submittal as a part of the April 6, 2010
revision to the Texas SIP. We are
finalizing the proposal to find, based on
the analysis in Appendix D of the April
6, 2010 submittal, in conjunction with
the June 13, 2007 submission, that
Texas has met certain RACT
requirements under section 182(b).
Appendix D of the April 6, 2010
submittal is titled ‘‘Reasonably
Available Control Technology
Analysis.’’ See section B of the
September 19, 2012 (77 FR 58063)
proposal for more information on RACT
evaluation for the HGB Area.
B. When did the public comment period
expire?
The public comment period for the 77
FR 58063 proposed approval ended on
October 19, 2012, and we received
relevant comments from TCEQ and the
8-Hour Ozone SIP Coalition (the
Coalition) on this rulemaking action
during its comment period. See section
II below.
II. Evaluation
A. What are the public comments and
EPA’s response to them?
Comment: TCEQ and the Coalition
both expressed their support for the
September 19, 2012 (77 FR 58063)
rulemaking action. TCEQ stated that
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19596-19599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07391]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R06-OAR-2012-0639; FRL-9795-4]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Arkansas; Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas
Tailoring Rule Revisions
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The EPA is taking final action to approve two revisions to the
Arkansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to EPA on February 17, 2010,
and November 6, 2012. The February 17, 2010, SIP revision to the
Arkansas New Source Review (NSR) Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) program updates the Arkansas SIP to incorporate by
reference (IBR) requirements for the federal PSD permitting program
under EPA's November 29, 2005 Phase 2 8-hour Ozone Implementation rule.
The November 6, 2012, SIP revision to the Arkansas NSR PSD program
provides the state of Arkansas with the authority to issue PSD permits
governing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and establishes appropriate
emission thresholds for determining which new stationary sources and
modifications to existing stationary sources become subject to
Arkansas's PSD permitting requirements for their GHG emissions. The
November 6, 2012 SIP revision also defers until July 21, 2014,
application of the PSD permitting requirements to biogenic carbon
dioxide emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic stationary sources.
EPA is approving the February 17, 2010, and November 6, 2012, SIP
revisions to the Arkansas NSR PSD permitting program as consistent with
federal requirements for PSD permitting. As a result of this approval,
EPA is rescinding the GHG PSD Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for
Arkansas that was put in place on December 30, 2010, to ensure the
availability of a permitting authority for GHG permitting in Arkansas.
EPA is finalizing this action under section 110 and part C of the Act.
DATES: This final rule will be effective May 2, 2013.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-R06-OAR-2012-0639. All documents in the docket are listed in
the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index,
some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business
Information or other information the disclosure of which is restricted
by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will
be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air Permits Section (6PD-R),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas,
Texas 75202-2733. The file will be made available by appointment for
public inspection in the Region 6 FOIA Review Room between the hours of
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays except for legal holidays. Contact the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT paragraph below or
Mr. Bill Deese at 214-665-7253 to make an appointment. If possible,
please make the appointment at least two working days in advance of
your visit. A 15 cent per page fee will be charged for making
photocopies of documents. On the day of the visit, please check in at
the EPA Region 6 reception area on the seventh floor at 1445 Ross
Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
The State submittals related to this SIP revision, and which are
part of the EPA docket, are also available for public inspection at the
Local Air Agency listed below during official business hours by
appointment: Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, 5301
Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118-5317.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Miller (6PD-R), Air Permits
Section, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue
(6PD-R), Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75202-2733. The telephone number is
(214) 665-7550. Mr. Miller can also be reached via electronic mail at
miller.michael@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.
Table of Contents
I. What is the background for this action?
II. What final action is EPA taking?
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What is the background for this action?
The background for today's final rule and the EPA's national
actions pertaining to GHGs is discussed in detail in our January 11,
2013 proposal (see 78 FR 2354). The comment period was open for thirty
days and no comments were received.
II. What final action is EPA taking?
We are approving Arkansas's February 17, 2010 SIP submittal, which
updates the Arkansas SIP to incorporate by reference (IBR) requirements
for the federal PSD permitting program under EPA's November 29, 2005
Phase 2 8-hour Ozone Implementation rule.
We are also approving Arkansas's November 6, 2012, SIP submittal,
relating to PSD permitting requirements for GHG-emitting sources in
Arkansas. Specifically, the SIP revision provides the state of Arkansas
with the authority to issue PSD permits governing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions and establishes appropriate emission thresholds for
determining which new stationary sources and modifications to existing
stationary sources become subject to Arkansas's PSD permitting
requirements for their GHG emissions. The November 6, 2012, SIP
revision also defers until July 21, 2014, application of the PSD
permitting requirements to biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from
bioenergy and other biogenic stationary sources.
EPA has made the determination that the February 17, 2010, and
November 6, 2012, revisions to the Arkansas SIP for PSD permitting are
approvable because the revisions were adopted and submitted as SIP
revisions in accordance with the CAA and EPA regulations regarding PSD
permitting for 8-hour ozone and GHGs. We are taking this final action
today under section 110 and part C of the Act.
As explained in our January 11, 2013 proposal (see 78 FR 2354), as
a result of today's action we are also rescinding the GHG PSD FIP for
Arkansas at 40 CFR 52.37(b)(2). Therefore, as of the effective date of
this final rule, the EPA will no longer be the PSD permitting authority
for GHG-emitting sources in Arkansas.
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of
[[Page 19597]]
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and is therefore
not subject to review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR
3821, January 21, 2011).
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose an information collection burden under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
because this SIP approval and FIP rescission under section 110 and part
C of the Clean Air Act will not in-and-of itself create any new
information collection burdens but simply transfers the permitting
authority from EPA to the State. Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
Because this final action does not impose an information collection
burden, the Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency
to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to
notice and comment rulemaking requirements unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small
businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, and small governmental
jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts of today's rule on small
entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small business as defined
by the Small Business Administration's (SBA) regulations at 13 CFR
121.201; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of
a city, county, town, school district or special district with a
population of less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is
any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated
and is not dominant in its field.
This rule will transfer the permitting responsibility of GHG
emissions from EPA to the State of Arkansas. This final rule will lead
to permitting requirements for certain sources of GHG emissions;
however these sources are large emitters of GHGs and tend to be large
sources. Further, this rule will not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities because SIP approvals under
section 110 and part C of the Clean Air Act do not create any new
requirements but simply approve requirements that the States are
already imposing. After considering the economic impacts of this rule
on small entities, I certify that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
This final rule will not impose any requirements on small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This action contains no Federal mandates under the provisions of
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), 2 U.S.C.
1531-1538 for State, local, or tribal governments or the private
sector. This action imposes no enforceable duty on any State, local or
tribal governments or the private sector. Therefore, this action is not
subject to the requirements of sections 202 or 205 of the UMRA.
This action is also not subject to the requirements of section 203
of UMRA because it contains no regulatory requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This action
transfers permitting responsibility of GHG emissions from EPA to the
State of Arkansas. Small governments are not impacted.
E. Executive Order 13132--Federalism
This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on Arkansas, on the relationship between the
national government and the State of Arkansas, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government,
as specified in Executive Order 13132. The CAA specifies conditions
under which states may request, and EPA may approve state
implementation of CAA requirements. This rulemaking approves PSD
permitting provisions in the state of Arkansas for GHG emissions, and
as a consequence of the SIP approval, simultaneously rescinds federal
PSD permitting responsibility for GHG emissions in Arkansas. This
rulemaking is pursuant to the SIP approval and requirements of the CAA.
As such, this final rule does not change the balance of power between
Arkansas and EPA as provided for in the CAA. Thus, Executive Order
13132 does not apply to this action.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132, and consistent with EPA
policy to promote communications between EPA and State and local
governments, EPA specifically solicited comment on the proposed action
from State and local officials. EPA received no comments from state or
local governments on this rulemaking.
F. Executive Order 13175--Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). In this action,
EPA is not addressing any Tribal Implementation Plans. This action is
limited to Arkansas's PSD SIP. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not
apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045--Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
EPA interprets EO 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) as applying
only to those regulatory actions that concern health or safety risks,
such that the analysis required under section 5-501 of the EO has the
potential to influence the regulation. This action is not subject to EO
13045 because EPA is approving revisions to the Arkansas PSD SIP for
permitting of GHG emissions, as authorized by the CAA.
H. Executive Order 13211--Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355
(May 22, 2001)), because it is not a significant regulatory action
under Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law 104-113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note)
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling
procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by
voluntary consensus standards bodies. NTTAA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use
available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. This action
does not involved technical standards. Therefore, EPA did not consider
the use of any voluntary consensus standards.
J. Executive Order 12898--Federal Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.
Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision
directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high
[[Page 19598]]
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
EPA has determined that this final rule will not have
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority or low-income populations because it increases the
level of environmental protection for all affected populations without
having any disproportionately high and adverse human health or
environmental effects on any population, including any minority or low-
income population. This rule requires the State of Arkansas to assume
the responibiity for permitting GHG emissions subject to PSD
requirements. This final rule approves the Arkansas SIP as meeting
Federal requirements for GHG PSD permitting and imposes no additional
requirements beyond those imposed by Arkansas law.
K. Congressional Review Act
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).
L. Petitions for Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by June 3, 2013. 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, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: March 22, 2013.
Bob Perciasepe,
Acting Administrator.
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 A--General Provisions
0
2. Section 52.37 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph (b)(2).
Subpart E--Arkansas
0
3. Section 52.170(c) is amended by revising the entries for Sections
19.902, 19.903, and 19.904 under the first table titled ``EPA-Approved
Regulations in the Arkansas SIP''.
The revisions read as follows:
Sec. 52.170 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
EPA-Approved Regulations in the Arkansas SIP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State submittal/
State citation Title/subject effective date EPA approval date Explanation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation No. 19: Regulations of the Arkansas Plan of Implementation for Air Pollution Control
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 9: Prevention of Significant Deterioration
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reg 19.902...................... Purposes.......... 1/25/2009......... 4/2/13 [Insert FR ..................
page number where
document begins].
Reg 19.903...................... Definitions....... 1/25/2009......... 4/2/13 [Insert FR ..................
page number where
document begins].
Reg 19.904...................... Adoption of 11/18/2012........ 4/2/13 [Insert FR ..................
Regulations. page number where
document begins].
* * * * * * *
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[[Page 19599]]
[FR Doc. 2013-07391 Filed 4-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P