Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of New Mexico; Infrastructure SIP Requirements for the 2008 Ozone and 2010 Nitrogen Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Affecting Visibility, 15963-15972 [2015-06932]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
for any or all of the prior 3 calendar
years, but no calendar year shall be
subject to audit more than once.
(c) Notice of intent to audit. The
Collective must file with the Copyright
Royalty Judges a notice of intent to audit
CPB and Covered Entities, which shall,
within 30 days of the filing of the
notice, publish in the Federal Register
a notice announcing such filing. The
notification of intent to audit shall be
served at the same time on CPB. Any
such audit shall be conducted by an
independent and Qualified Auditor
identified in the notice, and shall be
binding on all parties.
(d) Acquisition and retention of
report. CPB and Covered Entities shall
use commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain or to provide access to any
relevant books and records maintained
by third parties for the purpose of the
audit. The Collective shall retain the
report of the verification for a period of
not less than 3 years.
(e) Consultation. Before rendering a
written report to the Collective, except
where the auditor has a reasonable basis
to suspect fraud and disclosure would,
in the reasonable opinion of the auditor,
prejudice the investigation of such
suspected fraud, the auditor shall
review the tentative written findings of
the audit with the appropriate agent or
employee of CPB in order to remedy any
factual errors and clarify any issues
relating to the audit; provided that an
appropriate agent or employee of CPB
reasonably cooperates with the auditor
to remedy promptly any factual errors or
clarify any issues raised by the audit.
(f) Costs of the verification procedure.
The Collective shall pay the cost of the
verification procedure, unless it is
finally determined that there was an
underpayment of 10% or more, in
which case CPB shall, in addition to
paying the amount of any
underpayment, bear the reasonable costs
of the verification procedure.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
§ 380.36 Verification of royalty
distributions.
(a) General. This section prescribes
procedures by which any Copyright
Owner or Performer may verify the
royalty distributions made by the
Collective; provided, however, that
nothing contained in this section shall
apply to situations where a Copyright
Owner or Performer and the Collective
have agreed as to proper verification
methods.
(b) Frequency of verification. A
Copyright Owner or Performer may
conduct a single audit of the Collective
upon reasonable notice and during
reasonable business hours, during any
given calendar year, for any or all of the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:24 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
prior 3 calendar years, but no calendar
year shall be subject to audit more than
once.
(c) Notice of intent to audit. A
Copyright Owner or Performer must file
with the Copyright Royalty Judges a
notice of intent to audit the Collective,
which shall, within 30 days of the filing
of the notice, publish in the Federal
Register a notice announcing such
filing. The notification of intent to audit
shall be served at the same time on the
Collective. Any audit shall be
conducted by an independent and
Qualified Auditor identified in the
notice, and shall be binding on all
Copyright Owners and Performers.
(d) Acquisition and retention of
report. The Collective shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain or to provide access to any
relevant books and records maintained
by third parties for the purpose of the
audit. The Copyright Owner or
Performer requesting the verification
procedure shall retain the report of the
verification for a period of not less than
3 years.
(e) Consultation. Before rendering a
written report to a Copyright Owner or
Performer, except where the auditor has
a reasonable basis to suspect fraud and
disclosure would, in the reasonable
opinion of the auditor, prejudice the
investigation of such suspected fraud,
the auditor shall review the tentative
written findings of the audit with the
appropriate agent or employee of the
Collective in order to remedy any
factual errors and clarify any issues
relating to the audit; Provided that the
appropriate agent or employee of the
Collective reasonably cooperates with
the auditor to remedy promptly any
factual errors or clarify any issues raised
by the audit.
(f) Costs of the verification procedure.
The Copyright Owner or Performer
requesting the verification procedure
shall pay the cost of the procedure,
unless it is finally determined that there
was an underpayment of 10% or more,
in which case the Collective shall, in
addition to paying the amount of any
underpayment, bear the reasonable costs
of the verification procedure.
§ 380.37
Unclaimed funds.
If the Collective is unable to identify
or locate a Copyright Owner or
Performer who is entitled to receive a
royalty distribution under this subpart,
the Collective shall retain the required
payment in a segregated trust account
for a period of 3 years from the date of
distribution. No claim to such
distribution shall be valid after the
expiration of the 3-year period. After
expiration of this period, the Collective
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
15963
may apply the unclaimed funds to offset
any costs deductible under 17 U.S.C.
114(g)(3). The foregoing shall apply
notwithstanding the common law or
statutes of any State.
Dated: March 20, 2015.
Jesse M. Feder,
Copyright Royalty Judge.
[FR Doc. 2015–06896 Filed 3–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410–72–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R06–OAR–2014–0270; FRL–9925–12–
Region 6]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; State of
New Mexico; Infrastructure SIP
Requirements for the 2008 Ozone and
2010 Nitrogen Dioxide National
Ambient Air Quality Standards;
Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate
Matter Air Pollution Affecting Visibility
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve
elements of a State Implementation Plan
(SIP) submission from the State of New
Mexico addressing the applicable
requirements of Clean Air Act (CAA)
section 110 for the 2008 National
Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) for Ozone (O3) and the 2010
NAAQS for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),
both of which require that each state
adopt and submit a SIP to support
implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of each new or revised
NAAQS promulgated by EPA. These
SIPs are commonly referred to as
‘‘infrastructure’’ SIPs. The infrastructure
requirements are designed to ensure that
the structural components of each
state’s air quality management program
are adequate to meet the state’s
responsibilities under the CAA. EPA is
also proposing to find that the State of
New Mexico meets the 2006 fine
particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS
requirement pertaining to interstate
transport of air pollution and visibility
protection.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before April 27, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID Number EPA–
R06–OAR–2014–0270, by one of the
following methods:
• www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
15964
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
• Email: Ms. Sherry Fuerst at
fuerst.sherry@epa.gov.
• Mail or delivery: Mr. Guy
Donaldson, Chief, Air Planning Section
(6PD–L), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200,
Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Deliveries
are accepted only between the hours of
8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, and not on
legal holidays. Special arrangements
should be made for deliveries of boxed
information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–R06–OAR–2014–
0270. 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. For additional information
about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Docket: The index to the docket for
this action is available electronically at
www.regulations.gov and in hard copy
at EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue,
Suite 700, Dallas, Texas. While all
documents in the docket are listed in
the index, some information may be
publicly available only at the hard copy
location (e.g., copyrighted material), and
some may not be publicly available at
either location (e.g., CBI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Sherry Fuerst, (214) 665–6454,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
fuerst.sherry@epa.gov. To inspect the
hard copy materials, please schedule an
appointment with Ms. Fuerst or Mr. Bill
Deese at (214) 665–7253.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document, whenever
‘‘we’’, ‘‘us’’, or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Applicable Elements of Sections 110(a)(1)
and (2) Related to the 2008 O3 and 2010
NO2 NAAQS
III. EPA’s Evaluation of New Mexico’s 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS Infrastructure
Submissions
IV. EPA’s Evaluation of Interstate Transport
of Air Pollution and Visibility Protection
for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in New
Mexico’s SIP
V. Proposed Action
VI. Incorporation by Reference
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
EPA is proposing action on two SIP
submissions from New Mexico that
address the infrastructure requirements
of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and (a)(2).
The first action was submitted on
August 27, 2013 for the 2008 O3 NAAQS
and the second was submitted on March
12, 2014, for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS.
Pursuant to section 110(a)(1), states
must make SIP submissions ‘‘within 3
years (or such shorter period as the
Administrator may prescribe) after the
promulgation of a national primary
ambient air quality standard (or any
revision thereof),’’ and these SIP
submissions are to provide for the
‘‘implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement’’ of such NAAQS. Section
110(a)(2) includes a list of specific
elements that ‘‘[e]ach such plan’’
submission must address. EPA has
historically referred to these SIP
submissions made for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and (a)(2) as
‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ submissions.
One of the SIP requirements for new
or revised NAAQS is to provide
adequate provisions prohibiting
emissions which interfere with required
measures in any other State to protect
visibility (CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)). In a
June 12, 2009 SIP submittal, New
Mexico stated that they had satisfied the
SIP requirements of CAA 110(a) for the
PM2.5 NAAQS promulgated in 2006. The
other portions of the June 12, 2009 SIP
submittal were previously approved
(January 22, 2013, 78 FR 4337, July 9,
2013, 78 FR 40966). No action was taken
on the portion pertaining to CAA
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) and visibility
protection. We received additional SIP
submittals concerning visibility
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
protection on September 17, 2007, July
5, 2011, and November 5, 2013. On
November 27, 2012, we approved the
New Mexico Regional Haze SIP except
for the Best Available Retrofit
Technology (BART) determination for
the San Juan Generating Station (SJGS)
(77 FR 70693). On October 9, 2014, we
approved a revision to the New Mexico
Regional Haze SIP that addressed BART
for SJGS, making the emission
limitations federally enforceable on
SJGS through our SIP approval action,
and therefore because of the federally
enforceable provisions for SJGS, we also
were able to find that the New Mexico
SIP satisfies the requirements of CAA
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) with respect to
interstate transport of air pollution and
visibility protection for the 8-hour
ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS (79 FR 60985)
(the New Mexico Visibility Transport
SIP). Even though the State’s 2011 and
2013 submittals were not limited to the
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS for a Visibility SIP,
we overlooked the opportunity to
clearly address the 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)
requirement for visibility protection in
connection with the PM2.5 NAAQS
promulgated in 2006 (the 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS). We therefore are proposing to
find that the November 27, 2012 and
October 9, 2014 final SIP actions
pertaining to the interstate transport
requirement for visibility protection
meet the requirement for the 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS.
Additional information about EPA’s
review of the information New Mexico
presented in these SIP submittals, how
EPA reviews infrastructure SIPs and
effects of recent Supreme Court
decisions on these infrastructure SIPs
can be found in the Technical Support
Document, including Appendices A and
B.
II. Applicable Elements of Sections
110(a)(1) and (2) Related to the 2008 O3
and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
On March 27, 2008, EPA revised the
primary and secondary O3 NAAQS
(hereafter the 2008 O3 NAAQS).1 The
level of the primary (health-based)
standard was revised to 0.075 parts per
million (ppm) based on a 3-year average
of the fourth-highest maximum 8-hour
average concentration. EPA revised the
secondary standard for O3 making it
identical to the revised primary
standard. EPA also made a conforming
change to the Air Quality Index (AQI)
for O3, setting an AQI value of 100 equal
1 The previous O NAAQS were issued in 1997.
3
They established a primary standard of 0.08 ppm
not to be exceeded as determined by the 3-year
average of the annual fourth-highest daily
maximum 8-hour concentrations (62 FR 38856, July
18, 1997).
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
to 0.075 ppm, 8-hour average, and
making proportional changes to the AQI
values of 50, 150 and 200 measured as
O3 and not to be exceeded with an
averaging time of a rolling 3-month
period. (73 FR 16436).2
On February 9, 2010, based on its
review of the air quality criteria for
oxides of nitrogen and the primary
national ambient air quality standard
(hereafter the 2010 NO2 NAAQS) 3 for
oxides of nitrogen as measured by
nitrogen dioxide (NO2), EPA made
revisions to the primary NO2 NAAQS in
order to provide requisite protection of
public health. Specifically, EPA
established a new 1-hour standard at a
level of 100 ppb, based on the 3-year
average of the 98th percentile of the
yearly distribution of 1-hour daily
maximum concentrations, to
supplement the existing annual
standard. EPA also established
requirements for an NO2 monitoring
network that includes monitors at
locations where maximum NO2
concentrations are expected to occur,
including within 50 meters of major
roadways, as well as monitors sited to
measure the area-wide NO2
concentrations that occur more broadly
across communities. (75 FR 6474).4
For both the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2
NAAQS, states have to review and
revise, as appropriate, their existing
SIPs to ensure that they are adequate.
EPA issued guidance on September 13,
2013, addressing the infrastructure SIP
elements required under sections
110(a)(1) and (2) for most the NAAQS.5
EPA addresses these elements below in
Section III.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
III. EPA’s Evaluation of New Mexico’s
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
Infrastructure Submissions
On August 27, 2013 and March 12,
2014, the state of New Mexico sent a
2 Although the effective date of the Federal
Register notice for the final rule was May 27, 2008,
the rule was signed by the Administrator and
publicly disseminated on March 27, 2008.
Therefore, the deadline for submittal of
infrastructure SIPs for the 2008 O3 NAAQS was
March 27, 2011.
3 The previous NO NAAQS was issued in 1996.
2
It established a primary and secondary standards of
for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as 0.053 parts per
million (ppm) (100 micrograms per meter cubed (g/
m3)) annual arithmetic average. (61 FR 52852,
October 8, 1996).
4 Although the effective date of the Federal
Register notice for the final rule was April 12, 2010,
the rule was signed by the Administrator and
publicly disseminated on February 9, 2010.
Therefore, the deadline for submittal of
infrastructure SIPs for the 2008 NO2 NAAQS was
February 9, 2013.
5 ‘‘Guidance on Infrastructure State
Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean
Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),’’
Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13,
2013.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
letter signed by the Cabinet Secretary of
the New Mexico Environmental
Department to EPA demonstrating how
the existing New Mexico SIP met all the
requirements for the 2008 O3 NAAQS
and the 2010 NO2 NAAQS, respectively.
Public notice and public hearings were
provided by the State of New Mexico
when developing these SIP submissions.
These SIP submissions became
complete by operation of law on
February 27, 2014 and September 12,
2014, respectively. See CAA section
110(k)(1)(B).
EPA has an established procedure for
reviewing infrastructure SIPs. A
discussion of the CAA requirements and
EPA’s approach for reviewing
infrastructure SIPs is outlined in
Appendix A of the O3 and NO2
Technical Support Document.
(A) Emission limits and other control
measures: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(A)
requires SIPs to include enforceable
emission limits and other control
measures, means or techniques,
schedules for compliance and other
related matters as needed to implement,
maintain and enforce each of the
NAAQS.6
New Mexico’s Environmental
Improvement Act and Air Quality
Control Act authorize the New Mexico
Environment Department (NMED) to
regulate air quality and implement air
quality control regulations. Specifically,
the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act
delegates authority to the
Environmental Improvement Board
(EIB) to adopt, promulgate, publish,
amend and repeal regulations consistent
with the State’s Air Quality Control Act
to attain and maintain NAAQS and
prevent or abate air pollution (NMSA
1978, Section 74–2–5(B)). The Air
Quality Control Act also designates the
NMED as the State’s air pollution
control agency, and the Environmental
Improvement Act provides the NMED
with enforcement authority. These
statutes have been approved into the SIP
(see 44 FR 21019, April 9, 1979; revised
49 FR 44101, November 2, 1984; recodified and approved in 62 FR 50518,
September 26, 1997).
6 The specific nonattainment area plan
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(I) are subject to
the timing requirements of section 172, not the
timing requirement of section 110(a)(1). Thus,
section 110(a)(2)(A) does not require that states
submit regulations or emissions limits specifically
for attaining the 2008 O3 or NO2 NAAQS. Those SIP
provisions are due as part of each state’s attainment
plan, and will be addressed separately from the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A). In the context
of an infrastructure SIP, EPA is not evaluating the
existing SIP provisions for this purpose. Instead,
EPA is only evaluating whether the state’s SIP has
basic structural provisions for the implementation
of the NAAQS.
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
15965
NMED’s air quality rules and
standards are codified at Title 20
Environmental Protection, Chapter 2 Air
Quality (Statewide) of NMAC.
Numerous parts of the regulations
codified into Chapter 2 necessary for
implementing and enforcing the
NAAQS have been adopted into the SIP.
The approved SIP for New Mexico is
documented at 40 CFR 52.1620, Subpart
GG. The TSD for the action provides
additional information on specific rules
that have been adopted into the SIP.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submission or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that the New
Mexico SIP adequately addresses the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A) for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and
is proposing to approve this element of
the August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014
SIP submissions.
(B) Ambient air quality monitoring/
data system: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(B) requires SIPs to include
provisions to provide for establishment
and operation of ambient air quality
monitors, collection and analysis of
ambient air quality data, and making
these data available to EPA upon
request.
To address this element, the Air
Quality Act at NMSA 1978, section 74–
2–5 provides the enabling authority
necessary for the New Mexico EIB and
NMED to fulfill the requirements of
section 110(a)(2)(B). Along with their
other duties, the NMED collects air
monitoring data, quality-assures the
results, and reports the data.
Historically, EPA has promulgated
regulations in 40 CFR part 58 (Ambient
Air Quality Surveillance), indicating the
necessary data states need to collect and
submit as part of their SIPs. Monitoring
networks are designed to meet three
basic criteria: (a) Provide timely results
(b) provide results that verify
compliance with the NAAQS and (c) to
support research. For the 2008 O3
NAAQS, EPA regulations require that
states and, where appropriate, local
agencies must operate O3 monitoring
sites for various locations depending
upon area size (in terms of population
and geographic characteristics) and
typical peak concentrations (expressed
in percentages below, or near the O3
NAAQS).7 For the 2010 NO2 NAAQS,
EPA regulations require that state and,
where appropriate, local agencies must
operate a minimum number of required
NO2 monitoring sites as described in 40
7 40
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
CFR part 58 Appendix D 4.1.
26MRP1
15966
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
CFR part 58 Appendix D 4.3.1. Ambient
NO2 monitoring locations are broken
down into two types, near-road
monitoring stations and area wide
locations. Both monitoring location
types are based on population density.
As previously stated, these requirements
are contained in 40 CFR part 58
Appendix D. These requirements were
last revised on October 17, 2006 as part
of a comprehensive review of ambient
monitoring requirements for all criteria
pollutants. (See 71 FR 61236).
The New Mexico statewide air quality
surveillance network was approved into
the New Mexico SIP by EPA on August
6, 1981 (46 FR 40005). Furthermore,
New Mexico’s air quality surveillance
network undergoes recurrent annual
review by EPA, as required by 40 CFR
58.10. On July 15, 2013, NMED
submitted its 2013 Annual Air
Monitoring Network Plan (AAMNP) that
included ambient monitoring for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
EPA approved the 2013 AAMNP on
February 19, 2014.8 In addition, NMED
conducts a recurrent assessment of its
monitoring network every five years,
which includes an evaluation of the
need to conduct ambient monitoring for
O3 and NO2, as required by 40 CFR
58.10(d). The most recent of these 5-year
monitoring network assessments was
conducted by NMED and submitted in
June 2010, and was subsequently
approved by EPA.9 In evaluating the
need to perform ambient monitoring for
O3 and NO2 in its most recent 5-year
monitoring network assessment, NMED
concluded that monitors should be
upgraded to newer models for both O3
and NO2, which is part of their
continuing routine maintenance. NMED
will continue to evaluate the ambient
monitoring for O3 and NO2 every five
years when it performs its recurrent
ambient monitoring network
assessment.
NMED makes ambient monitoring
data available for public review on its
Web site, as well as on national Web
sites.10 The NMED Web site provides
the monitor locations and posts past and
current concentrations of criteria
pollutants measured in the State’s
network of monitors.11 The NMED
monitors that are not certified as
8 A copy of the 2013 AAMNP and EPA’s approval
letter are included in the docket for this proposed
rulemaking.
9 A copy of the 2010 5-year ambient monitoring
network assessment and EPA’s approval letter are
included in the docket for this proposed
rulemaking.
10 See https://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/
monitor/airmonitoringnetwork.html, https://
drdasnm1.alink.com/ and https://airnow.gov.
11 See https://air.nmenv.state.nm.us.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
meeting the federal requirements are
identified as ‘‘non-regulatory’’
monitors.12 The State submits air
monitoring data to EPA on a quarterly
basis and certifies the data annually.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that these
New Mexico SIPs meet the requirements
of section 110(a)(2)(B) for the 2008 O3
and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and is proposing
to approve these elements of the August
27, 2013 and March 12, 2014, SIP
submissions.
(C) Program for enforcement of
control measures (PSD, New Source
Review for nonattainment areas, and
construction and modification of all
stationary sources): The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(C) requires states to include
the following three elements in the SIP:
(1) A program providing for
enforcement of all SIP measures
described in section 110(a)(2)(A); (2) a
program for the regulation of the
modification and construction of
stationary sources as necessary to
protect the applicable NAAQS (i.e.,
state-wide permitting of minor sources);
and (3) a permit program to meet the
major source permitting requirements of
the CAA (for areas designated as
attainment or unclassifiable for the
NAAQS in question).13
(1) Enforcement of SIP Measures. The
New Mexico statutes provide authority
for the Environmental Improvement
Board and the NMED to enforce the
requirements of the Air Quality Act, and
any regulations, permits, or final
compliance orders issued under the
provisions of the Act. General
enforcement authority is provided by
NMSA 1978, section 74–1 and NMSA
1978, section 74–2, which addresses
general enforcement power;
investigation and remediation
agreements; civil and criminal penalties;
compliance orders and emergency cease
12 These include for example, special purpose
monitors (SPMs). Special purpose monitoring is
conducted on a frequent basis for a variety of
reasons: As a tool to supplement state ambient air
monitoring networks to obtain information on
where to locate permanent monitoring stations, to
provide additional data in support of pollutant
formation and transport analyses, or to assess air
quality in a particular location. These studies vary
in duration from being temporary sites needed only
during a portion of the year to long-term air
pollution studies over a large area.
13 As discussed in further detail below, this
infrastructure SIP rulemaking will not address the
New Mexico program for provisions related to
nonattainment areas, since EPA considers
evaluation of these provisions to be outside the
scope of infrastructure SIP actions.
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
and desist orders; civil actions; and a
field citation program.
The Environmental Improvement Act,
which has been approved into the SIP
(49 FR 44101, 64 FR 29255), authorizes
the creation of the Environmental
Improvement Board (NMSA 1978,
section 74–1–4); authorizes the EIB, the
NMED, and its Secretary to file lawsuits,
conduct investigations and enter into
remediation agreements, enforce rules,
regulations and orders promulgated by
the EIB, and collect civil penalties
(NMSA 1978, section 74–1–6); develop
and enforce rules and standards related
to protection of air quality (NMSA 1978,
sections 74–1–7 and 74–1–8); and issue
compliance orders and commence civil
actions in response to violations (NMSA
1978, section 74–1–10).
Likewise, the Air Quality Control Act
empowers the EIB and NMED to
institute legal proceedings to compel
compliance with the Air Quality Control
Act and any regulations of the EIB or
local air quality control agencies (NMSA
1978, section 74–2–5.1); issue
compliance orders, commence civil
actions, and issue field citations (NMSA
1978, section 74–2–12); assess civil
penalties for violations of the Act or
regulations promulgated under it or
permits issued (NMSA 1978, section
74–2–12.1); conduct inspections of
regulated entities (NMSA 1978, section
74–2–13); and pursue criminal
prosecutions (NMSA 1978, section74–
2–14). Additional enforcement
authorities and funding mechanisms are
provided by the Act at NMSA 1978,
section 74–2–15. These sections of the
Air Quality Control Act were adopted
into the SIP on November 2, 1984 (49
FR 44101).
NMED air quality standards and
regulations containing specific
enforcement provisions and adopted
into the SIP include: 20.2.7 NMAC
Excess Emissions (74 FR 46910) and
20.2.72 Construction Permits (38 FR
12702 and 62 FR 50514).
(2) Minor New Source Review. The
CAA Section 110(a)(2)(C) also requires
that the SIP include measures to
regulate construction and modification
of stationary sources to protect the
NAAQS. With respect to smaller
statewide minor sources Section
110(a)(2)(C) creates ‘‘a general duty on
States to include a program in their SIP
that regulates the modification and
construction of any stationary source as
necessary to assure that the NAAQS are
achieved (70 FR 71612 and 71677).’’
EPA provides states with discretion in
implementing their Minor NSR
programs (71 FR 48696 and 48700). The
‘‘considerably less detailed’’ regulations
for minor NSR are provided in 40 CFR
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
51.160 through 51.164. EPA has
determined that New Mexico’s Minor
NSR program adopted pursuant to
section 110(a)(2)(C) of the Act regulates
emissions of all regulated air
contaminants for which there is a
NAAQS (see 20.2.72.200 NMAC). New
Mexico’s Minor NSR permitting
requirements are found at 20.2.72
NMAC—Construction Permits and were
approved into the SIP on May 14, 1973
(38 FR 12702), with revisions approved
on September 26, 1997 (62 FR 50514),
June 13, 2012 (77 FR 35273), and March
11, 2013 (78 FR 15296).
In this action, EPA is proposing to
approve New Mexico’s infrastructure
SIPs for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2
standards with respect to the general
requirement in section 110(a)(2)(C) to
include a program in the SIP that
regulates the modification and
construction of any stationary source as
necessary to assure that the NAAQS are
achieved. However, EPA is not
proposing to approve or disapprove
New Mexico’s existing minor NSR
program to the extent that it may be
inconsistent with EPA’s regulations
governing this program. EPA has
maintained that the CAA does not
require that new infrastructure SIP
submissions correct any defects in
existing EPA-approved provisions of
minor NSR programs in order for EPA
to approve the infrastructure SIP for
element C (e.g., 76 FR 41076–41079).
EPA believes that a number of states
may have Minor NSR provisions that are
contrary to the existing EPA regulations
for this program. The statutory
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(C)
provide for considerable flexibility in
designing Minor NSR programs, and
EPA believes it may be time to revisit
the regulatory requirements for this
program to give the states an
appropriate level of flexibility to design
a program that meets their particular air
quality concerns, while assuring
reasonable consistency across the
country in protecting the NAAQS with
respect to new and modified minor
sources.
(3) Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) permit program.
New Mexico also has a program
approved by EPA as meeting the
requirements of Part C, relating to
prevention of significant deterioration of
air quality. In order to demonstrate that
New Mexico has met this sub-element,
this PSD program must cover
requirements not just for the 2008 O3
and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, but for all other
regulated NSR pollutants as well.
PSD programs apply in areas that are
meeting the NAAQS, referred to as areas
in attainment, and in areas for which
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
there is insufficient information to
designate as either attainment or
nonattainment, referred to as
unclassifiable areas. New Mexico’s PSD
program was conditionally approved
into the SIP on February 27, 1987 (52 FR
5964) and fully approved on August 15,
2011 (76 FR 41698). Revisions to New
Mexico’s PSD program were approved
into the SIP on August 21, 1990 (55 FR
34013), May 2, 1991 (56 FR 20137),
October 15, 1996 (61 FR 53639), March
10, 2003 (68 FR 11316), December 24,
2003 (68 FR 74483), September 5, 2007
(72 FR 50879), November 26, 2010 (75
FR 72688), July 20, 2011 (76 FR 43149),
June 13, 2012 (75 FR 72688), January 22,
2013 (78 FR 4339), and March 11, 2013
(78 FR 15296). Additionally, on June 11,
2009 and May 23, 2011, New Mexico
submitted modifications to revise the
state’s PSD and non-attainment new
source review (NNSR) permitting
regulations to address the permitting
requirements associated with the
NAAQS for 8-hour ozone and PM2.5,
respectively. EPA approved the portions
of the June 11, 2009 submittal
associated with implementing NOX as a
precursor (75 FR 72688) as necessary to
implement the 1997 ozone standard.
EPA approved the May 23, 2011,
revision in a Federal Register notice
published January 22, 2013, as these
elements are necessary for
implementation of the PM2.5 standard
(78 FR 4339).
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, with respect to the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(C) for
these NAAQS, EPA is proposing to
approve these elements of the August
27, 2013 and March 12, 2014
submissions.
(D) Interstate and international
transport: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(D)(i) includes four
requirements referred to as prongs 1
through 4. Prongs 1 and 2 are provided
at section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), and prongs 3
and 4 are provided at section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II). Section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requires SIPs to include
adequate provisions prohibiting any
source or other type of emissions
activity in one state from contributing
significantly to nonattainment (Prong 1)
or interfering with maintenance (Prong
2) of any NAAQS in another state.
Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires SIPs
to include adequate provisions
prohibiting any source or other type of
emissions activity in one state from
interfering with measures required of
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
15967
any other state to prevent significant
deterioration of air quality (Prong 3) or
to protect visibility (Prong 4).
With respect to prongs 1 and 2, New
Mexico elected to not make a submittal,
consistent with a court decision that
was relevant at the time (EME Homer
City Generation, L.P. v. E.P.A, 696 F.3d
7 (D.C. Cir. 2012)). This decision was
later reversed by the Supreme Court
(EPA v. EME Homer City Generation,
L.P., 134 S. Ct. 1584 (2014), reversing
696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir. 2012)). We expect
that New Mexico will make a SIP
submittal for prongs 1 and 2 at a later
time.
With respect to prong 3, as noted
above, the New Mexico PSD program
contains the necessary provisions to
meet the prevention of significant
deterioration element as required for
both the standards and has been
approved by EPA into the SIP.
With respect to prong 4, as noted
previously, on November 27, 2012, we
approved the New Mexico Regional
Haze SIP except for the BART
determination for SJGS. On October 9,
2014, we approved the BART
determination for SJGS and found that
the New Mexico SIP satisfies the
requirements of CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)
with respect to interstate transport of air
pollution and visibility protection.14
Finally, § 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) regards the
interstate pollution abatement
requirements of section 126 and the
international pollution requirements of
section 115. As stated above in Section
110(a)(2)(C) of the Infrastructure SIP,
New Mexico has a SIP-approved PSD
program which includes provisions that
satisfy the interstate pollution
abatement requirements of section 126
of the CAA. Section 115 of the CAA
authorizes EPA to require a state to
revise its SIP under certain conditions
to alleviate international transport into
another country. There are no final
findings under section 115 of the CAA
with respect to any air pollutant
generated in New Mexico. Therefore,
New Mexico has no obligations under
section 115. If there are future final
findings under section 115 of the CAA,
NMED will consult with EPA.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure
14 This prong 4 discussion pertains to the SIP
submittals for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 SIP
submittals. The prong 4 discussion for the 2006
PM2.5 SIP submittal is below.
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
15968
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
needed to address sections
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) (prongs 3 and 4), and
110(a)(2)(D)(ii) for the 2008 O3 and 2010
NO2 NAAQS and is proposing to
approve these portions of the August 27,
2013 and March 12, 2014, submissions.
We expect that at a later time New
Mexico will make a SIP submittal
addressing section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)
(prongs 1 and 2).
(E) Adequate authority, resources,
implementation, and oversight: The
CAA Section 110(a)(2)(E) requires that
SIPs provide for the following: (1)
Necessary assurances that the state (and
other entities within the state
responsible for implementing the SIP)
will have adequate personnel, funding,
and authority under state or local law to
implement the SIP, and that there are no
legal impediments to such
implementation; (2) requirements
relating to state boards, pursuant to
section 128 of the CAA; and (3)
necessary assurances that the state has
responsibility for ensuring adequate
implementation of any plan provision
for which it relies on local governments
or other entities to carry out that portion
of the plan.
With respect to adequacy of authority,
we have previously discussed New
Mexico’s statutory and regulatory
authority to implement the 2008 O3 and
2010 NO2 NAAQS. The Air Quality
Control Act at NMSA 1978, section 74–
2–5 provides the authority necessary to
carry out the SIP requirements as
referenced above in element A. The Act
provides the NMED with broad legal
authority to adopt emission standards
and compliance schedules applicable to
regulated entities, and to adopt emission
standards and limitations and any other
measures necessary for attainment and
maintenance of national standards. The
Act also provides the board adequate
legal authority to enforce applicable
laws, regulations, standards, and
compliance schedules, and seek
injunctive relief. In addition, § 74–2–5.1
of the Act provides the department legal
authority to enforce applicable laws,
regulations, standards, and compliance
schedules.
With respect to adequacy of resources,
NMED asserts that it has adequate
personnel to implement the SIP. The
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS describe
the regulations governing the various
functions of personnel within the Air
Quality Bureau, including the
administrative, technical support,
planning, enforcement, and permitting
functions of the program.
With respect to funding, the Air
Quality Control Act NMSA 1978,
section 74–2–7 requires NMED to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
establish an emissions fee schedule for
sources in order to fund the reasonable
costs of administering various air
pollution control programs and also
authorizes NMED to collect additional
fees necessary to cover reasonable costs
associated with processing of air permit
applications. The Act provides for the
deposit of the fees into various
subaccounts (e.g., the state’s air quality
permit fund for the Title V operating
permit program used for Title V
implementation activities; and various
subaccounts for local air quality
agencies). The NMED also receives
funding from general revenue funds and
EPA grants under, for example, sections
103 and 105 of the CAA, to finance air
quality programs. EPA conducts
periodic program reviews to ensure that
the state has adequate resources and
funding to, among other things,
implement the SIP.
With regard to the conflict of interest
provisions of Section 128 of the Act,
section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) requires that each
state SIP meet the requirements of
section 128, relating to representation
on state boards and conflicts of interest
by members of such boards. Section
128(a)(1) requires that any board or
body which approves permits or
enforcement orders under the CAA must
have at least a majority of members who
represent the public interest and do not
derive any ‘‘significant portion’’ of their
income from persons subject to permits
and enforcement orders under the CAA.
Section 128(a)(2) requires that members
of such a board or body, or the head of
an agency with similar powers,
adequately disclose any potential
conflicts of interest.
The Environmental Improvement Act
at NMSA 1978, section 74–1–4 provides
that the Environmental Improvement
Board contain at least a majority of
members who represent the public
interest and do not derive any
significant portion of their income from
persons subject to or who appear before
the board on issues related to the Clean
Air Act or Air Quality Control Act.
Furthermore, pursuant to state
regulations adopted by the Board, Board
members are required to recuse
themselves from rule-makings in which
their impartiality may reasonably be
questioned. (see 20.1.1.111 NMAC).
With respect to assurances that the
State has responsibility to implement
the SIP adequately when it authorizes
local or other agencies to carry out
portions of the plan, the Environmental
Improvement Act and the Air Quality
Control Act designate the NMED as the
primary air pollution control agency
‘‘for all purposes’’ of implementing the
requirements of the federal Clean Air
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Act and the New Mexico Air Quality
Control Act.
There is one local air quality control
agency that assumes jurisdiction for
local administration and enforcement of
Air Quality Control Act in New Mexico,
the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air
Quality Control Board, as authorized by
the NMSA 1978, section 74–2–4.
Pursuant to the New Mexico Air Quality
Control Act, the local air quality control
agency, within the boundaries of the
Albuquerque/Bernalillo County area, is
delegated all those functions delegated
to the Environmental Improvement
Board, with the exception of any
functions reserved exclusively for the
Environmental Improvement Board,
NMSA 1978, section 74–2–4(A)(1).
Further, The Air Quality Control Act,
grants the local air quality control
agency, within the boundaries of the
Albuquerque/Bernalillo County are, the
authority to perform all the duties
required of NMED and exert all of the
powers granted to NMED, except for
those powers and duties reserved
exclusively for the department, NMSA
1978, section 74–2–4(A)(2). However,
the NMED and the state Environmental
Improvement Board retain oversight
authority in the event the local authority
fails to act. EPA conducts reviews of the
local program activities in conjunction
with its oversight of the state program.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure
needed to address section 110(a)(2)(E)
for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve these
elements of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014 submissions.
(F) Stationary source monitoring
system: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(F)
requires states to establish a system to
monitor emissions from stationary
sources and to submit periodic emission
reports. Each SIP shall require the
installation, maintenance, and
replacement of equipment, and the
implementation of other necessary
steps, by owners or operators of
stationary sources, to monitor emissions
from such sources. The SIP shall also
require periodic reports on the nature
and amounts of emissions and
emissions-related data from such
sources, and requires that the state
correlate the source reports with
emission limitations or standards
established under the CAA. These
reports must be made available for
public inspection at reasonable times.
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
To address this element, the Air
Quality Control Act at NMSA 1978, 74–
2–5 authorizes the NMED to require
persons engaged in operations which
result in air pollution to monitor or test
emissions and to file reports containing
information relating to the nature and
amount of emissions. State regulations
pertaining to sampling and testing are
codified at 20.2.72 NMAC Construction
Permits, 20.2.70 NMAC Operating
Permits, and 20.2.79 NMAC Permits—
Nonattainment Areas, and requirements
for reporting of emissions inventories
are codified at 20.2.73 NMAC Notice of
Intent and Emission Inventory
Requirements. In addition, rules at
20.2.5 NMAC Source Surveillance,
establish general requirements for
maintaining records and reporting
emissions.
The NMED uses this information, in
addition to information obtained from
other sources, to track progress towards
maintaining the NAAQS, developing
control and maintenance strategies,
identifying sources and general
emission levels, and determining
compliance with emission regulations
and additional EPA requirements.
NMED makes this information available
to the public (20.2.5 NMAC Source
Surveillance). Provisions concerning the
handling of confidential data and
proprietary business information are
included in the general provisions
regulations at 20.2.1.115, Confidential
Business Information. These rules
specifically exclude from confidential
treatment any records concerning the
nature and amount of emissions
reported by sources.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure
needed to address section 110(a)(2)(F)
for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve this
element of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014, submissions.
(G) Emergency authority: The CAA
Section 110(a)(2)(G) requires SIPs to
provide for authority to address
activities causing imminent and
substantial endangerment to public
health or welfare or the environment
(comparable to the authorities provided
in section 303 of the CAA), and to
include contingency plans to implement
such authorities as necessary.
The Air Quality Control Act provides
NMED with authority to address
environmental emergencies, and NMED
has contingency plans to implement
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
emergency episode provisions in the
SIP.
Upon a finding that any owner/
operator is unreasonably affecting the
public health, safety or welfare, or the
health of animal or plant life, or
property, the New Mexico Air Quality
Control Act authorizes NMED to, after a
reasonable attempt to give notice,
declare a state of emergency and issue
without hearing an emergency special
order directing the owner/operator to
cease such pollution immediately
(NMSA 1978, § 74–7–10).
States also need to comply with the
Prevention of Air Pollution Emergency
Episode requirements of 40 CFR 51,
Subpart H. New Mexico promulgated
the ‘‘Air Pollution Episode Contingency
Plan for New Mexico,’’ which includes
contingency measures, and these
provisions were approved into the SIP
on August 21, 1990 (55 FR 34013).
Under Subpart H, Priority III Regions
are not required to have contingency
plans. For ozone, Priority III Regions are
those monitoring less than 195 mg/m3.
The 2010–2012 ozone ambient air
quality monitoring data for New Mexico
does not exceed 195 mg/m3. The ozone
levels have consistently remained below
this level and, furthermore, the State has
appropriate general emergency powers
to address ozone related episodes to
protect the environment and public
health. Additional information
regarding Section 110(a)(2)(G) can be
found in the TSD.
For NO2, Priority III areas are those
monitoring less than 60 ppb for an
annual arithmetic mean. The 2010–2012
NO2 ambient air quality monitoring data
for New Mexico does not exceed the 100
ppb 1-hour primary NAAQS or the 53
ppb annual primary and secondary
NAAQS nor does it exceed the 60 ppb
criteria level for Priority III areas. The
NO2 levels have consistently remained
below these levels and, furthermore, the
State has appropriate general emergency
powers to address NO2 related episodes
to protect the environment and public
health.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
those submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that the New
Mexico SIP adequately addresses
section 110(a)(2)(G) for the 2008 O3 and
2010 NO2 NAAQS and is proposing to
approve these elements of the August
27, 2013 and March 12, 2014,
submissions.
(H) Future SIP revisions: The CAA
Section 110(a)(2)(H) requires states to
have the authority to revise their SIPs in
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
15969
response to changes in the NAAQS,
availability of improved methods for
attaining the NAAQS, or in response to
an EPA finding that the SIP is
substantially inadequate to attain the
NAAQS.
New Mexico’s Environmental
Improvement Act and Air Quality
Control Act authorize the NMED as the
primary agency in the state concerned
with environmental protection and
enforcement of regulations, including
but not limited to air quality (see NMSA
1978, section 74–1 and NMSA 1978,
section 74–2). The Air Quality Control
Act gives the NMED the authority to
‘‘develop and present to the
Environmental Improvement Board a
plan for the control, regulation,
prevention or abatement of air pollution
. . .,’’ and authorizes the EIB to adopt
such a plan (see NMSA 1978, section
74–2–5.1(H) and NMSA 1978, section
74–2–5(B)(2)). The Act also authorizes
the New Mexico EIB to ‘‘adopt,
promulgate, publish, amend and repeal
regulations consistent with the Air
Quality Control Act to attain and
maintain the national ambient air
quality standards and prevent and abate
air pollution . . .’’ and the
Environmental Improvement Act
authorizes the NMED to enforce such
rules, regulations and orders
promulgated by the EIB (see NMSA
1978, section 74–2–5(B)(1) and NMSA
1978, section 74–1–6(F)). Furthermore,
the Air Quality Control Act requires the
NMED to, ‘‘. . . advise, consult,
contract with and cooperate with local
authorities, other states, the federal
government and other interested
persons or groups in regard to matters
of common interest in the field of air
quality control . . .’’ (see NMSA 1978,
section 74–2–5.2(B)).
Thus, New Mexico has the authority
to revise its SIP, as necessary, to account
for revisions of the NAAQS, to adopt
more effective methods of attaining the
NAAQS, and to respond to EPA SIP
calls. Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has adequate authority to
address section 110(a)(2)(H) for the 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and is
proposing to approve this element of the
August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014,
submissions.
(I) Nonattainment areas: The CAA
Section 110(a)(2)(I) requires that in the
case of a plan or plan revision for areas
designated as nonattainment areas,
states must meet applicable
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
15970
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
requirements of part D of the CAA,
relating to SIP requirements for
designated nonattainment areas.
As noted earlier, EPA does not expect
infrastructure SIP submissions to
address subsection (I). The specific SIP
submissions for designated
nonattainment areas, as required under
CAA title I, part D, are subject to
different submission schedules than
those for section 110 infrastructure
elements. Instead, EPA will take action
on part D attainment plan SIP
submissions through a separate
rulemaking process governed by the
requirements for nonattainment areas,
as described in part D. Additionally,
New Mexico presently does not contain
any non-attainment areas for O3 or NO2.
(J) Consultation with government
officials, public notification, PSD and
visibility protection: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(J) requires SIPs to meet the
applicable requirements of the following
CAA provisions: (1) Section 121,
relating to interagency consultation
regarding certain CAA requirements; (2)
section 127, relating to public
notification of NAAQS exceedances and
related issues; and (3) part C of the
CAA, relating to prevention of
significant deterioration of air quality
and visibility protection.
(1) With respect to interagency
consultation, the SIP should provide a
process for consultation with generalpurpose local governments, designated
organizations of elected officials of local
governments, and any Federal Land
Manager having authority over Federal
land to which the SIP applies. New
Mexico’s Air Quality Control Act
provides that ‘‘no regulations or
emission control requirement shall be
adopted until after a public hearing by
the environmental improvement board
or the local board’’ and that, ‘‘at the
hearing, the environmental
improvement board or the local board
shall allow all interested persons
reasonable opportunity to submit data,
views, or arguments orally or in writing
and to examine witnesses testifying at
the hearing’’ (see NMSA 1978, 74–2–
6(B) and (D)). In addition, the Air
Quality Control Act provides that the
NMED shall have the power and duty to
‘‘advise, consult, contract with and
cooperate with local authorities, other
states, the federal government and other
interested persons or groups in regard to
matters of common interest in the field
of air quality control . . .’’ (see 1978
74–2–5.2(B)). Furthermore, New
Mexico’s PSD rules at 20.2.74.400
NMAC mandate that the NMED shall
provide for public participation and
notification regarding permitting
applications to any other state or local
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
air pollution control agencies, local
government officials of the city or
county where the source will be located,
tribal authorities, and FLMs whose
lands may be affected by emissions from
the source or modification.
Additionally, the State’s PSD rules at
20.2.74.403 NMAC require the NMED to
consult with Federal Land Managers
(FLMs) regarding permit applications
for sources with the potential to impact
Class I Federal Areas (75 FR 72688 and
72 FR 50879). Finally, the State of New
Mexico has committed in the SIP to
consult continually with the FLMs on
the review and implementation of the
visibility program, and the State
recognizes the expertise of the FLMs in
monitoring and new source review
applicability analyses for visibility and
has agreed to notify the FMLs of any
advance notification or early
consultation with a major new or
modifying source prior to the
submission of the permit application (71
FR 4490). The State’s Transportation
Conformity rules at 20.2.99.116 through
20.2.99.124 NMAC provide procedures
for interagency consultation, resolution
of conflicts, and public notification (65
FR 14873 and 75 FR 21169).
(2) With respect to the requirements
for public notification in section 127 of
the CAA, the infrastructure SIP should
provide citations to regulations in the
SIP requiring the air agency to regularly
notify the public of instances or areas in
which any NAAQS are exceeded; advise
the public of the health hazard
associated with such exceedances; and
enhance public awareness of measures
that can prevent such exceedances and
of ways in which the public can
participate in the regulatory and other
efforts to improve air quality. Provisions
regarding public notification of
instances or areas in which any primary
NAAQS was exceeded were approved
into the New Mexico SIP on August 24,
1983 (48 FR 38466). In addition, as
discussed for infrastructure element B
above, the NMED air monitoring Web
site provides live air quality data for
each of the monitoring stations in New
Mexico.10 The Web site also provides
information on the health effects of
ozone, particulate matter, and other
criteria pollutants.
(3) Regarding the applicable
requirements of part C of the CAA,
relating to prevention of significant
deterioration of air quality and visibility
protection, as noted above under
infrastructure element C, the New
Mexico SIP meets the PSD
requirements. With respect to the
visibility component of section
110(a)(2)(J), EPA recognizes that states
are subject to visibility and regional
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
haze program requirements under part C
of the CAA, which includes sections
169A and 169B. However, when EPA
establishes or revises a NAAQS, these
visibility and regional haze
requirements under part C do not
change. Therefore, EPA believes that
there are no new visibility protection
requirements under part C as a result of
a revised NAAQS, and consequently
there are no newly applicable visibility
protection obligations pursuant to
infrastructure element J after the
promulgation of a new or revised
NAAQS.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submission for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
these submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has met the applicable
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(J) for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS in
the state and is therefore proposing to
approve this element of the August 27,
2013 and March 12, 2014, submissions.
(K) Air quality and modeling/data:
The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(K) requires
that SIPs provide for performing air
quality modeling, as prescribed by EPA,
to predict the effects on ambient air
quality of any emissions of any NAAQS
pollutant, and for submission of such
data to EPA upon request.
The NMED has the power and duty,
under the Air Quality Control Act to
‘‘develop facts and make investigations
and studies,’’ thereby providing for the
functions of environmental air quality
assessment (see NMSA 1978, 74–2–5).
Past modeling and emissions reductions
measures have been submitted by the
State and approved into the SIP. For
example, the air modeling and control
measures submitted within the
attainment demonstration for the San
Juan County Early Action Compact
Area, approved by EPA and adopted
into the SIP on August 17, 2005 (70 FR
48285). Additionally, New Mexico has
the ability to perform modeling for the
primary and secondary PM2.5 standards
and other criteria pollutant NAAQS on
a case-by-case permit basis consistent
with their SIP-approved PSD rules and
with EPA protocols on Air Quality
Models at 40 CFR part 51, Appendix W.
This section of the CAA also requires
that a SIP provide for the submission of
data related to such air quality modeling
to the EPA upon request. The New
Mexico Air Quality Control Act
authorizes and requires NMED to
cooperate with the federal government
and local authorities in regard to matters
of common interest in the field of air
quality control, thereby allowing the
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
agency to make such submissions to the
EPA (see NMSA 1978, 74–2–5.2(B)).
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
these submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure
needed to address section 110(a)(2)(K)
for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve this
element of the Aug 27, 2013 and March
12, 2014, submissions.
(L) Permitting Fees: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(L) requires SIPs to require
each major stationary source to pay
permitting fees to the permitting
authority, as a condition of any permit
required under the CAA, to cover the
cost of reviewing and acting upon any
application for such a permit, and, if the
permit is issued, the costs of
implementing and enforcing the terms
of the permit. The fee requirement
applies until a fee program established
by the state pursuant to Title V of the
CAA, relating to operating permits, is
approved by EPA.
The Air Quality Control Act provides
the EIB with the legal authority for
establishing an emission fee schedule
and a construction permit fee schedule
to recover the reasonable costs of acting
on permit applications, implementing,
and enforcing permits.15 New Mexico’s
fee schedule for construction permits is
codified at 20.2.75 NMAC, Construction
Permit Fees. These regulations
implement a fee schedule for all
preconstruction air permits issued by
NMED and were approved by EPA into
the SIP on September 16, 1991 (56 FR
32511) and November 25, 1997 (62 FR
50514).
In addition to preconstruction fees,
New Mexico also requires major sources
subject to the federal Title V operating
permit program to pay annual operating
permit fees. This operating permit fee
schedule is codified at 20.2.71 NMAC,
Operating Permit Emission Fees. Title V
operating permit programs and
associated fees legally are not part of the
SIP, but were approved by EPA on
November 26, 1996 (61 FR 60032) as
part of the New Mexico Title V Program
(see 40 CFR part 70, Appendix A).16
15 See Environmental Improvement Act,
Paragraph 4 of Subsection A of Section 74–1–8
NMSA 1978, and Air Quality Control Act, Chapter
74, Article 2 NMSA 1978, including specifically,
Paragraph 6 of Subsection B of Section 74–2–7
NMSA 1978.
16 As indicated in New Mexico’s 2008 O and
3
2010 NO2 infrastructure SIP submissions, NEMD’s
operating permit fees regulation was inadvertently
adopted into the SIP by EPA on November 25, 1997
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:13 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
EPA reviews the New Mexico Title V
program, including Title V fee structure,
separately from this proposed action.
Because the Title V program and
associated fees legally are not part of the
SIP, the infrastructure SIP action we are
proposing today does not preclude EPA
from taking future action regarding New
Mexico’s Title V permitting program
and associated fees.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
these submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(L) are
met and is proposing to approve this
element of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014 submissions.
(M) Consultation/participation by
affected local entities: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(M) requires SIPs to provide for
consultation and participation by local
political subdivisions affected by the
SIP.
New Mexico’s Air Quality Control Act
provides that, ‘‘no regulations or
emission control requirement shall be
adopted until after a public hearing by
the environmental improvement board
or the local board’’ and provides that,
‘‘at the hearing, the environmental
improvement board or the local board
shall allow all interested persons
reasonable opportunity to submit data,
views, or arguments orally or in writing
and to examine witnesses testifying at
the hearing’’ (see NMSA 1978, 74–2–
6(B) and (D)). In addition, the Air
Quality Control Act provides that the
NMED shall have the power and duty to
‘‘advise, consult, contract with and
cooperate with local authorities, other
states, the federal government and other
interested persons or groups in regard to
matters of common interest in the field
of air quality control . . .’’ (see NMSA
1978, 74–2–5.2(B)). The Act also
requires initiation of cooperative action
between local authorities and the
NMED, between one local authority and
another, or among any combination of
local authorities and the NMED for
control of air pollution in areas having
related air pollution problems that
overlap the boundaries of political
subdivisions; and entering into
agreements and compacts with
adjoining states and Indian tribes, where
appropriate. NMED has a long history of
successful cooperation with the local air
quality authority in Albuquerque/
(62 FR 50514). This regulation was removed from
the SIP by EPA in a subsequent action on July 15,
2011 (76 FR 41698).
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
15971
Bernalillo County and tribal
governments.
With regard to permitting actions,
New Mexico’s PSD regulations at
20.2.74.400 NMAC, approved into the
SIP on March 30, 1987 (52 FR 5964) and
December 16, 1996 (61 FR 53642),
mandate that the NMED shall provide
for public participation and notification
regarding permitting applications to any
other state or local air pollution control
agencies, local government officials of
the city or county where the source will
be located, and Federal Land Managers
whose lands may be affected by
emissions from the source or
modification. New Mexico’s
Transportation Conformity regulations
at 20.2.99.116 and 20.2.99.124 NMAC,
both approved into the SIP on April 23,
2010 (75 FR 21169), require that
interagency consultation and
opportunity for public involvement be
provided before making transportation
conformity determinations and before
adopting applicable SIP revisions on
transportation-related SIPs.
Based upon review of the state’s
infrastructure SIP submissions for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and
relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
the submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure
needed to address section 110(a)(2)(M)
for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve this
element of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014 submissions.
IV. EPA’s Evaluation of Interstate
Transport of Air Pollution and
Visibility Protection for the 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS in New Mexico’s SIP
One of the SIP requirements for new
or revised NAAQS is to provide
adequate provisions prohibiting
emissions which interfere with required
measures in any other State to protect
visibility (CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)). In a
June 12, 2009 SIP submittal, New
Mexico stated that they had satisfied the
SIP requirements of CAA 110(a) for the
PM2.5 NAAQS promulgated in 2006. The
other portions of the June 12, 2009 SIP
submittal were previously approved
(January 22, 2013, 78 FR 4337, July 9,
2013, 78 FR 40966). No action was taken
on the portion pertaining to CAA
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) and visibility
protection. As noted above, we
approved the New Mexico Regional
Haze SIP and found that the New
Mexico SIP satisfies the requirements of
CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) with respect to
interstate transport of air pollution and
visibility protection. (November 27,
2012, 77 FR 70693 and October 9, 2014,
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
15972
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 58 / Thursday, March 26, 2015 / Proposed Rules
79 FR 60985). In our rulemaking that
was finalized on October 9, 2014 we
overlooked an opportunity to act on a
portion of the June 12, 2009 SIP
submittal pertaining to interstate
transport of air pollution and visibility
protection. Because New Mexico has a
fully approved Regional Haze SIP and
Visibility Transport SIP, we propose to
approve this portion of the June 12,
2009 SIP submittal and find that New
Mexico meets the CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)
visibility protection requirement for the
2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
V. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve the
August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014,
infrastructure SIP submissions from
New Mexico, which address the
requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1)
and (2) as applicable to the 2008 O3 and
2010 NO2 NAAQS. Specifically, EPA is
proposing to approve the following
infrastructure elements, or portions
thereof: 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), (D)(i)(II),
(D)(ii), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J), (K), (L), and
(M). As discussed in applicable sections
of this rulemaking, EPA is not proposing
action on section 110(a)(2)(I)—
Nonattainment Area Plan or Plan
Revisions Under Part D, nor on the
visibility protection portion of section
110(a)(2)(J). Based upon review of the
state’s infrastructure SIP submissions
and relevant statutory and regulatory
authorities and provisions referenced in
these submissions or referenced in New
Mexico’s SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the infrastructure in place to
address all applicable required elements
of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) (except
otherwise noted) to ensure that the 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS are
implemented in the state.
We are also proposing to approve the
visibility protection portion of the June
12, 2009 SIP submittal and find that the
New Mexico Visibility SIP meets the
CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requirement for
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
VI. Incorporation by Reference
In this action, we are proposing to
include in a final rule regulatory text
that includes incorporation by
reference. In accordance with the
requirements of 1 CFR 51.4, we are
proposing to incorporate by reference
revisions to the New Mexico SIP
regulations as described in the Proposed
Action section above. We have made,
and will continue to make, these
documents generally available
electronically through
www.regulation.gov and/or in hard copy
at the appropriate EPA office (see the
ADDRESSES section of this preamble for
more information).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:24 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
VII. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the Clean Air Act, 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 Clean Air Act.
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 action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR3821,
January 21, 2011);
• 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).
The SIP is not approved to apply on
any Indian reservation land or in any
other area where EPA or an Indian tribe
has demonstrated that a tribe has
jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian
country, the proposed rule does not
have tribal implications and will not
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
impose substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt tribal law as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Interstate transport of pollution,
Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Visibility.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: March 13, 2015.
Ron Curry,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2015–06932 Filed 3–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300
[EPA–HQ–SFUND–2015–0136, 0137, 0138,
0139, 0140 and 0141; FRL 9924–31–OSWER]
National Priorities List
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Proposed rule.
The Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
(‘‘CERCLA’’ or ‘‘the Act’’), as amended,
requires that the National Oil and
Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (‘‘NCP’’) include a list
of national priorities among the known
releases or threatened releases of
hazardous substances, pollutants or
contaminants throughout the United
States. The National Priorities List
(‘‘NPL’’) constitutes this list. The NPL is
intended primarily to guide the
Environmental Protection Agency
(‘‘EPA’’ or ‘‘the agency’’) in determining
which sites warrant further
investigation. These further
investigations will allow the EPA to
assess the nature and extent of public
health and environmental risks
associated with the site and to
determine what CERCLA-financed
remedial action(s), if any, may be
appropriate. This rule proposes to add
six sites to the General Superfund
section of the NPL.
SUMMARY:
Comments regarding any of these
proposed listings must be submitted
(postmarked) on or before May 26, 2015.
DATES:
Identify the appropriate
docket number from the table below.
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\26MRP1.SGM
26MRP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15963-15972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06932]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R06-OAR-2014-0270; FRL-9925-12-Region 6]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
State of New Mexico; Infrastructure SIP Requirements for the 2008 Ozone
and 2010 Nitrogen Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards;
Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Affecting
Visibility
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve elements of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from
the State of New Mexico addressing the applicable requirements of Clean
Air Act (CAA) section 110 for the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone (O3) and the 2010 NAAQS for
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), both of which require that each
state adopt and submit a SIP to support implementation, maintenance,
and enforcement of each new or revised NAAQS promulgated by EPA. These
SIPs are commonly referred to as ``infrastructure'' SIPs. The
infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural
components of each state's air quality management program are adequate
to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA. EPA is also
proposing to find that the State of New Mexico meets the 2006 fine
particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS requirement pertaining to
interstate transport of air pollution and visibility protection.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 27, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R06-OAR-2014-0270, by one of the following methods:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions.
[[Page 15964]]
Email: Ms. Sherry Fuerst at fuerst.sherry@epa.gov.
Mail or delivery: Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief, Air Planning
Section (6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue,
Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. Deliveries are accepted only
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, and not on legal
holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed
information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-
2014-0270. 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. For additional
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Docket: The index to the docket for this action is available
electronically at www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at EPA Region 6,
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas. While all documents in the
docket are listed in the index, some information may be publicly
available only at the hard copy location (e.g., copyrighted material),
and some may not be publicly available at either location (e.g., CBI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sherry Fuerst, (214) 665-6454,
fuerst.sherry@epa.gov. To inspect the hard copy materials, please
schedule an appointment with Ms. Fuerst or Mr. Bill Deese at (214) 665-
7253.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, whenever ``we'',
``us'', or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Applicable Elements of Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) Related to the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
III. EPA's Evaluation of New Mexico's 2008 O3 and 2010
NO2 NAAQS Infrastructure Submissions
IV. EPA's Evaluation of Interstate Transport of Air Pollution and
Visibility Protection for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in New
Mexico's SIP
V. Proposed Action
VI. Incorporation by Reference
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
EPA is proposing action on two SIP submissions from New Mexico that
address the infrastructure requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and
(a)(2). The first action was submitted on August 27, 2013 for the 2008
O3 NAAQS and the second was submitted on March 12, 2014, for
the 2010 NO2 NAAQS. Pursuant to section 110(a)(1), states
must make SIP submissions ``within 3 years (or such shorter period as
the Administrator may prescribe) after the promulgation of a national
primary ambient air quality standard (or any revision thereof),'' and
these SIP submissions are to provide for the ``implementation,
maintenance, and enforcement'' of such NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)
includes a list of specific elements that ``[e]ach such plan''
submission must address. EPA has historically referred to these SIP
submissions made for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and (a)(2) as ``infrastructure SIP'' submissions.
One of the SIP requirements for new or revised NAAQS is to provide
adequate provisions prohibiting emissions which interfere with required
measures in any other State to protect visibility (CAA
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)). In a June 12, 2009 SIP submittal, New Mexico
stated that they had satisfied the SIP requirements of CAA 110(a) for
the PM2.5 NAAQS promulgated in 2006. The other portions of
the June 12, 2009 SIP submittal were previously approved (January 22,
2013, 78 FR 4337, July 9, 2013, 78 FR 40966). No action was taken on
the portion pertaining to CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) and visibility
protection. We received additional SIP submittals concerning visibility
protection on September 17, 2007, July 5, 2011, and November 5, 2013.
On November 27, 2012, we approved the New Mexico Regional Haze SIP
except for the Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) determination
for the San Juan Generating Station (SJGS) (77 FR 70693). On October 9,
2014, we approved a revision to the New Mexico Regional Haze SIP that
addressed BART for SJGS, making the emission limitations federally
enforceable on SJGS through our SIP approval action, and therefore
because of the federally enforceable provisions for SJGS, we also were
able to find that the New Mexico SIP satisfies the requirements of CAA
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) with respect to interstate transport of air
pollution and visibility protection for the 8-hour ozone and
PM2.5 NAAQS (79 FR 60985) (the New Mexico Visibility
Transport SIP). Even though the State's 2011 and 2013 submittals were
not limited to the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS for a Visibility SIP, we
overlooked the opportunity to clearly address the 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)
requirement for visibility protection in connection with the
PM2.5 NAAQS promulgated in 2006 (the 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS). We therefore are proposing to find that the November 27, 2012
and October 9, 2014 final SIP actions pertaining to the interstate
transport requirement for visibility protection meet the requirement
for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Additional information about EPA's review of the information New
Mexico presented in these SIP submittals, how EPA reviews
infrastructure SIPs and effects of recent Supreme Court decisions on
these infrastructure SIPs can be found in the Technical Support
Document, including Appendices A and B.
II. Applicable Elements of Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) Related to the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
On March 27, 2008, EPA revised the primary and secondary
O3 NAAQS (hereafter the 2008 O3 NAAQS).\1\ The
level of the primary (health-based) standard was revised to 0.075 parts
per million (ppm) based on a 3-year average of the fourth-highest
maximum 8-hour average concentration. EPA revised the secondary
standard for O3 making it identical to the revised primary standard.
EPA also made a conforming change to the Air Quality Index (AQI) for
O3, setting an AQI value of 100 equal
[[Page 15965]]
to 0.075 ppm, 8-hour average, and making proportional changes to the
AQI values of 50, 150 and 200 measured as O3 and not to be
exceeded with an averaging time of a rolling 3-month period. (73 FR
16436).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The previous O3 NAAQS were issued in 1997. They
established a primary standard of 0.08 ppm not to be exceeded as
determined by the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily
maximum 8-hour concentrations (62 FR 38856, July 18, 1997).
\2\ Although the effective date of the Federal Register notice
for the final rule was May 27, 2008, the rule was signed by the
Administrator and publicly disseminated on March 27, 2008.
Therefore, the deadline for submittal of infrastructure SIPs for the
2008 O3 NAAQS was March 27, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On February 9, 2010, based on its review of the air quality
criteria for oxides of nitrogen and the primary national ambient air
quality standard (hereafter the 2010 NO2 NAAQS) \3\ for
oxides of nitrogen as measured by nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
EPA made revisions to the primary NO2 NAAQS in order to
provide requisite protection of public health. Specifically, EPA
established a new 1-hour standard at a level of 100 ppb, based on the
3-year average of the 98th percentile of the yearly distribution of 1-
hour daily maximum concentrations, to supplement the existing annual
standard. EPA also established requirements for an NO2
monitoring network that includes monitors at locations where maximum
NO2 concentrations are expected to occur, including within
50 meters of major roadways, as well as monitors sited to measure the
area-wide NO2 concentrations that occur more broadly across
communities. (75 FR 6474).\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The previous NO2 NAAQS was issued in 1996. It
established a primary and secondary standards of for nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) as 0.053 parts per million (ppm) (100
micrograms per meter cubed (g/m\3\)) annual arithmetic average. (61
FR 52852, October 8, 1996).
\4\ Although the effective date of the Federal Register notice
for the final rule was April 12, 2010, the rule was signed by the
Administrator and publicly disseminated on February 9, 2010.
Therefore, the deadline for submittal of infrastructure SIPs for the
2008 NO2 NAAQS was February 9, 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For both the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS,
states have to review and revise, as appropriate, their existing SIPs
to ensure that they are adequate. EPA issued guidance on September 13,
2013, addressing the infrastructure SIP elements required under
sections 110(a)(1) and (2) for most the NAAQS.\5\ EPA addresses these
elements below in Section III.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ ``Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP)
Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),''
Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13, 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. EPA's Evaluation of New Mexico's 2008 O3 and 2010
NO2 NAAQS Infrastructure Submissions
On August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014, the state of New Mexico sent
a letter signed by the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico
Environmental Department to EPA demonstrating how the existing New
Mexico SIP met all the requirements for the 2008 O3 NAAQS
and the 2010 NO2 NAAQS, respectively. Public notice and
public hearings were provided by the State of New Mexico when
developing these SIP submissions. These SIP submissions became complete
by operation of law on February 27, 2014 and September 12, 2014,
respectively. See CAA section 110(k)(1)(B).
EPA has an established procedure for reviewing infrastructure SIPs.
A discussion of the CAA requirements and EPA's approach for reviewing
infrastructure SIPs is outlined in Appendix A of the O3 and
NO2 Technical Support Document.
(A) Emission limits and other control measures: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(A) requires SIPs to include enforceable emission limits and
other control measures, means or techniques, schedules for compliance
and other related matters as needed to implement, maintain and enforce
each of the NAAQS.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The specific nonattainment area plan requirements of section
110(a)(2)(I) are subject to the timing requirements of section 172,
not the timing requirement of section 110(a)(1). Thus, section
110(a)(2)(A) does not require that states submit regulations or
emissions limits specifically for attaining the 2008 O3
or NO2 NAAQS. Those SIP provisions are due as part of
each state's attainment plan, and will be addressed separately from
the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A). In the context of an
infrastructure SIP, EPA is not evaluating the existing SIP
provisions for this purpose. Instead, EPA is only evaluating whether
the state's SIP has basic structural provisions for the
implementation of the NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Mexico's Environmental Improvement Act and Air Quality Control
Act authorize the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to regulate
air quality and implement air quality control regulations.
Specifically, the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act delegates
authority to the Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) to adopt,
promulgate, publish, amend and repeal regulations consistent with the
State's Air Quality Control Act to attain and maintain NAAQS and
prevent or abate air pollution (NMSA 1978, Section 74-2-5(B)). The Air
Quality Control Act also designates the NMED as the State's air
pollution control agency, and the Environmental Improvement Act
provides the NMED with enforcement authority. These statutes have been
approved into the SIP (see 44 FR 21019, April 9, 1979; revised 49 FR
44101, November 2, 1984; re-codified and approved in 62 FR 50518,
September 26, 1997).
NMED's air quality rules and standards are codified at Title 20
Environmental Protection, Chapter 2 Air Quality (Statewide) of NMAC.
Numerous parts of the regulations codified into Chapter 2 necessary for
implementing and enforcing the NAAQS have been adopted into the SIP.
The approved SIP for New Mexico is documented at 40 CFR 52.1620,
Subpart GG. The TSD for the action provides additional information on
specific rules that have been adopted into the SIP.
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the
submission or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that the New
Mexico SIP adequately addresses the requirements of section
110(a)(2)(A) for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve this element of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014 SIP submissions.
(B) Ambient air quality monitoring/data system: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(B) requires SIPs to include provisions to provide for
establishment and operation of ambient air quality monitors, collection
and analysis of ambient air quality data, and making these data
available to EPA upon request.
To address this element, the Air Quality Act at NMSA 1978, section
74-2-5 provides the enabling authority necessary for the New Mexico EIB
and NMED to fulfill the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(B). Along
with their other duties, the NMED collects air monitoring data,
quality-assures the results, and reports the data.
Historically, EPA has promulgated regulations in 40 CFR part 58
(Ambient Air Quality Surveillance), indicating the necessary data
states need to collect and submit as part of their SIPs. Monitoring
networks are designed to meet three basic criteria: (a) Provide timely
results (b) provide results that verify compliance with the NAAQS and
(c) to support research. For the 2008 O3 NAAQS, EPA
regulations require that states and, where appropriate, local agencies
must operate O3 monitoring sites for various locations
depending upon area size (in terms of population and geographic
characteristics) and typical peak concentrations (expressed in
percentages below, or near the O3 NAAQS).\7\ For the 2010
NO2 NAAQS, EPA regulations require that state and, where
appropriate, local agencies must operate a minimum number of required
NO2 monitoring sites as described in 40
[[Page 15966]]
CFR part 58 Appendix D 4.3.1. Ambient NO2 monitoring
locations are broken down into two types, near-road monitoring stations
and area wide locations. Both monitoring location types are based on
population density. As previously stated, these requirements are
contained in 40 CFR part 58 Appendix D. These requirements were last
revised on October 17, 2006 as part of a comprehensive review of
ambient monitoring requirements for all criteria pollutants. (See 71 FR
61236).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ 40 CFR part 58 Appendix D 4.1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The New Mexico statewide air quality surveillance network was
approved into the New Mexico SIP by EPA on August 6, 1981 (46 FR
40005). Furthermore, New Mexico's air quality surveillance network
undergoes recurrent annual review by EPA, as required by 40 CFR 58.10.
On July 15, 2013, NMED submitted its 2013 Annual Air Monitoring Network
Plan (AAMNP) that included ambient monitoring for the 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and EPA approved the 2013
AAMNP on February 19, 2014.\8\ In addition, NMED conducts a recurrent
assessment of its monitoring network every five years, which includes
an evaluation of the need to conduct ambient monitoring for
O3 and NO2, as required by 40 CFR 58.10(d). The
most recent of these 5-year monitoring network assessments was
conducted by NMED and submitted in June 2010, and was subsequently
approved by EPA.\9\ In evaluating the need to perform ambient
monitoring for O3 and NO2 in its most recent 5-
year monitoring network assessment, NMED concluded that monitors should
be upgraded to newer models for both O3 and NO2,
which is part of their continuing routine maintenance. NMED will
continue to evaluate the ambient monitoring for O3 and
NO2 every five years when it performs its recurrent ambient
monitoring network assessment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ A copy of the 2013 AAMNP and EPA's approval letter are
included in the docket for this proposed rulemaking.
\9\ A copy of the 2010 5-year ambient monitoring network
assessment and EPA's approval letter are included in the docket for
this proposed rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NMED makes ambient monitoring data available for public review on
its Web site, as well as on national Web sites.\10\ The NMED Web site
provides the monitor locations and posts past and current
concentrations of criteria pollutants measured in the State's network
of monitors.\11\ The NMED monitors that are not certified as meeting
the federal requirements are identified as ``non-regulatory''
monitors.\12\ The State submits air monitoring data to EPA on a
quarterly basis and certifies the data annually.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ See https://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/monitor/airmonitoringnetwork.html, https://drdasnm1.alink.com/ and https://airnow.gov.
\11\ See https://air.nmenv.state.nm.us.
\12\ These include for example, special purpose monitors (SPMs).
Special purpose monitoring is conducted on a frequent basis for a
variety of reasons: As a tool to supplement state ambient air
monitoring networks to obtain information on where to locate
permanent monitoring stations, to provide additional data in support
of pollutant formation and transport analyses, or to assess air
quality in a particular location. These studies vary in duration
from being temporary sites needed only during a portion of the year
to long-term air pollution studies over a large area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that these
New Mexico SIPs meet the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(B) for the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and is proposing to
approve these elements of the August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014, SIP
submissions.
(C) Program for enforcement of control measures (PSD, New Source
Review for nonattainment areas, and construction and modification of
all stationary sources): The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(C) requires states
to include the following three elements in the SIP: (1) A program
providing for enforcement of all SIP measures described in section
110(a)(2)(A); (2) a program for the regulation of the modification and
construction of stationary sources as necessary to protect the
applicable NAAQS (i.e., state-wide permitting of minor sources); and
(3) a permit program to meet the major source permitting requirements
of the CAA (for areas designated as attainment or unclassifiable for
the NAAQS in question).\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ As discussed in further detail below, this infrastructure
SIP rulemaking will not address the New Mexico program for
provisions related to nonattainment areas, since EPA considers
evaluation of these provisions to be outside the scope of
infrastructure SIP actions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Enforcement of SIP Measures. The New Mexico statutes provide
authority for the Environmental Improvement Board and the NMED to
enforce the requirements of the Air Quality Act, and any regulations,
permits, or final compliance orders issued under the provisions of the
Act. General enforcement authority is provided by NMSA 1978, section
74-1 and NMSA 1978, section 74-2, which addresses general enforcement
power; investigation and remediation agreements; civil and criminal
penalties; compliance orders and emergency cease and desist orders;
civil actions; and a field citation program.
The Environmental Improvement Act, which has been approved into the
SIP (49 FR 44101, 64 FR 29255), authorizes the creation of the
Environmental Improvement Board (NMSA 1978, section 74-1-4); authorizes
the EIB, the NMED, and its Secretary to file lawsuits, conduct
investigations and enter into remediation agreements, enforce rules,
regulations and orders promulgated by the EIB, and collect civil
penalties (NMSA 1978, section 74-1-6); develop and enforce rules and
standards related to protection of air quality (NMSA 1978, sections 74-
1-7 and 74-1-8); and issue compliance orders and commence civil actions
in response to violations (NMSA 1978, section 74-1-10).
Likewise, the Air Quality Control Act empowers the EIB and NMED to
institute legal proceedings to compel compliance with the Air Quality
Control Act and any regulations of the EIB or local air quality control
agencies (NMSA 1978, section 74-2-5.1); issue compliance orders,
commence civil actions, and issue field citations (NMSA 1978, section
74-2-12); assess civil penalties for violations of the Act or
regulations promulgated under it or permits issued (NMSA 1978, section
74-2-12.1); conduct inspections of regulated entities (NMSA 1978,
section 74-2-13); and pursue criminal prosecutions (NMSA 1978,
section74-2-14). Additional enforcement authorities and funding
mechanisms are provided by the Act at NMSA 1978, section 74-2-15. These
sections of the Air Quality Control Act were adopted into the SIP on
November 2, 1984 (49 FR 44101).
NMED air quality standards and regulations containing specific
enforcement provisions and adopted into the SIP include: 20.2.7 NMAC
Excess Emissions (74 FR 46910) and 20.2.72 Construction Permits (38 FR
12702 and 62 FR 50514).
(2) Minor New Source Review. The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(C) also
requires that the SIP include measures to regulate construction and
modification of stationary sources to protect the NAAQS. With respect
to smaller statewide minor sources Section 110(a)(2)(C) creates ``a
general duty on States to include a program in their SIP that regulates
the modification and construction of any stationary source as necessary
to assure that the NAAQS are achieved (70 FR 71612 and 71677).'' EPA
provides states with discretion in implementing their Minor NSR
programs (71 FR 48696 and 48700). The ``considerably less detailed''
regulations for minor NSR are provided in 40 CFR
[[Page 15967]]
51.160 through 51.164. EPA has determined that New Mexico's Minor NSR
program adopted pursuant to section 110(a)(2)(C) of the Act regulates
emissions of all regulated air contaminants for which there is a NAAQS
(see 20.2.72.200 NMAC). New Mexico's Minor NSR permitting requirements
are found at 20.2.72 NMAC--Construction Permits and were approved into
the SIP on May 14, 1973 (38 FR 12702), with revisions approved on
September 26, 1997 (62 FR 50514), June 13, 2012 (77 FR 35273), and
March 11, 2013 (78 FR 15296).
In this action, EPA is proposing to approve New Mexico's
infrastructure SIPs for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2
standards with respect to the general requirement in section
110(a)(2)(C) to include a program in the SIP that regulates the
modification and construction of any stationary source as necessary to
assure that the NAAQS are achieved. However, EPA is not proposing to
approve or disapprove New Mexico's existing minor NSR program to the
extent that it may be inconsistent with EPA's regulations governing
this program. EPA has maintained that the CAA does not require that new
infrastructure SIP submissions correct any defects in existing EPA-
approved provisions of minor NSR programs in order for EPA to approve
the infrastructure SIP for element C (e.g., 76 FR 41076-41079). EPA
believes that a number of states may have Minor NSR provisions that are
contrary to the existing EPA regulations for this program. The
statutory requirements of section 110(a)(2)(C) provide for considerable
flexibility in designing Minor NSR programs, and EPA believes it may be
time to revisit the regulatory requirements for this program to give
the states an appropriate level of flexibility to design a program that
meets their particular air quality concerns, while assuring reasonable
consistency across the country in protecting the NAAQS with respect to
new and modified minor sources.
(3) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit program.
New Mexico also has a program approved by EPA as meeting the
requirements of Part C, relating to prevention of significant
deterioration of air quality. In order to demonstrate that New Mexico
has met this sub-element, this PSD program must cover requirements not
just for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, but for
all other regulated NSR pollutants as well.
PSD programs apply in areas that are meeting the NAAQS, referred to
as areas in attainment, and in areas for which there is insufficient
information to designate as either attainment or nonattainment,
referred to as unclassifiable areas. New Mexico's PSD program was
conditionally approved into the SIP on February 27, 1987 (52 FR 5964)
and fully approved on August 15, 2011 (76 FR 41698). Revisions to New
Mexico's PSD program were approved into the SIP on August 21, 1990 (55
FR 34013), May 2, 1991 (56 FR 20137), October 15, 1996 (61 FR 53639),
March 10, 2003 (68 FR 11316), December 24, 2003 (68 FR 74483),
September 5, 2007 (72 FR 50879), November 26, 2010 (75 FR 72688), July
20, 2011 (76 FR 43149), June 13, 2012 (75 FR 72688), January 22, 2013
(78 FR 4339), and March 11, 2013 (78 FR 15296). Additionally, on June
11, 2009 and May 23, 2011, New Mexico submitted modifications to revise
the state's PSD and non-attainment new source review (NNSR) permitting
regulations to address the permitting requirements associated with the
NAAQS for 8-hour ozone and PM2.5, respectively. EPA approved
the portions of the June 11, 2009 submittal associated with
implementing NOX as a precursor (75 FR 72688) as necessary
to implement the 1997 ozone standard. EPA approved the May 23, 2011,
revision in a Federal Register notice published January 22, 2013, as
these elements are necessary for implementation of the PM2.5
standard (78 FR 4339).
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, with respect to the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(C) for these NAAQS, EPA is proposing
to approve these elements of the August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014
submissions.
(D) Interstate and international transport: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(D)(i) includes four requirements referred to as prongs 1
through 4. Prongs 1 and 2 are provided at section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I),
and prongs 3 and 4 are provided at section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II). Section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requires SIPs to include adequate provisions
prohibiting any source or other type of emissions activity in one state
from contributing significantly to nonattainment (Prong 1) or
interfering with maintenance (Prong 2) of any NAAQS in another state.
Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires SIPs to include adequate
provisions prohibiting any source or other type of emissions activity
in one state from interfering with measures required of any other state
to prevent significant deterioration of air quality (Prong 3) or to
protect visibility (Prong 4).
With respect to prongs 1 and 2, New Mexico elected to not make a
submittal, consistent with a court decision that was relevant at the
time (EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. E.P.A, 696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir.
2012)). This decision was later reversed by the Supreme Court (EPA v.
EME Homer City Generation, L.P., 134 S. Ct. 1584 (2014), reversing 696
F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir. 2012)). We expect that New Mexico will make a SIP
submittal for prongs 1 and 2 at a later time.
With respect to prong 3, as noted above, the New Mexico PSD program
contains the necessary provisions to meet the prevention of significant
deterioration element as required for both the standards and has been
approved by EPA into the SIP.
With respect to prong 4, as noted previously, on November 27, 2012,
we approved the New Mexico Regional Haze SIP except for the BART
determination for SJGS. On October 9, 2014, we approved the BART
determination for SJGS and found that the New Mexico SIP satisfies the
requirements of CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) with respect to interstate
transport of air pollution and visibility protection.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ This prong 4 discussion pertains to the SIP submittals for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 SIP submittals. The
prong 4 discussion for the 2006 PM2.5 SIP submittal is
below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, Sec. 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) regards the interstate pollution
abatement requirements of section 126 and the international pollution
requirements of section 115. As stated above in Section 110(a)(2)(C) of
the Infrastructure SIP, New Mexico has a SIP-approved PSD program which
includes provisions that satisfy the interstate pollution abatement
requirements of section 126 of the CAA. Section 115 of the CAA
authorizes EPA to require a state to revise its SIP under certain
conditions to alleviate international transport into another country.
There are no final findings under section 115 of the CAA with respect
to any air pollutant generated in New Mexico. Therefore, New Mexico has
no obligations under section 115. If there are future final findings
under section 115 of the CAA, NMED will consult with EPA.
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure
[[Page 15968]]
needed to address sections 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) (prongs 3 and 4), and
110(a)(2)(D)(ii) for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2
NAAQS and is proposing to approve these portions of the August 27, 2013
and March 12, 2014, submissions. We expect that at a later time New
Mexico will make a SIP submittal addressing section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)
(prongs 1 and 2).
(E) Adequate authority, resources, implementation, and oversight:
The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(E) requires that SIPs provide for the
following: (1) Necessary assurances that the state (and other entities
within the state responsible for implementing the SIP) will have
adequate personnel, funding, and authority under state or local law to
implement the SIP, and that there are no legal impediments to such
implementation; (2) requirements relating to state boards, pursuant to
section 128 of the CAA; and (3) necessary assurances that the state has
responsibility for ensuring adequate implementation of any plan
provision for which it relies on local governments or other entities to
carry out that portion of the plan.
With respect to adequacy of authority, we have previously discussed
New Mexico's statutory and regulatory authority to implement the 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS. The Air Quality Control
Act at NMSA 1978, section 74-2-5 provides the authority necessary to
carry out the SIP requirements as referenced above in element A. The
Act provides the NMED with broad legal authority to adopt emission
standards and compliance schedules applicable to regulated entities,
and to adopt emission standards and limitations and any other measures
necessary for attainment and maintenance of national standards. The Act
also provides the board adequate legal authority to enforce applicable
laws, regulations, standards, and compliance schedules, and seek
injunctive relief. In addition, Sec. 74-2-5.1 of the Act provides the
department legal authority to enforce applicable laws, regulations,
standards, and compliance schedules.
With respect to adequacy of resources, NMED asserts that it has
adequate personnel to implement the SIP. The infrastructure SIP
submissions for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
describe the regulations governing the various functions of personnel
within the Air Quality Bureau, including the administrative, technical
support, planning, enforcement, and permitting functions of the
program.
With respect to funding, the Air Quality Control Act NMSA 1978,
section 74-2-7 requires NMED to establish an emissions fee schedule for
sources in order to fund the reasonable costs of administering various
air pollution control programs and also authorizes NMED to collect
additional fees necessary to cover reasonable costs associated with
processing of air permit applications. The Act provides for the deposit
of the fees into various subaccounts (e.g., the state's air quality
permit fund for the Title V operating permit program used for Title V
implementation activities; and various subaccounts for local air
quality agencies). The NMED also receives funding from general revenue
funds and EPA grants under, for example, sections 103 and 105 of the
CAA, to finance air quality programs. EPA conducts periodic program
reviews to ensure that the state has adequate resources and funding to,
among other things, implement the SIP.
With regard to the conflict of interest provisions of Section 128
of the Act, section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) requires that each state SIP meet
the requirements of section 128, relating to representation on state
boards and conflicts of interest by members of such boards. Section
128(a)(1) requires that any board or body which approves permits or
enforcement orders under the CAA must have at least a majority of
members who represent the public interest and do not derive any
``significant portion'' of their income from persons subject to permits
and enforcement orders under the CAA. Section 128(a)(2) requires that
members of such a board or body, or the head of an agency with similar
powers, adequately disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
The Environmental Improvement Act at NMSA 1978, section 74-1-4
provides that the Environmental Improvement Board contain at least a
majority of members who represent the public interest and do not derive
any significant portion of their income from persons subject to or who
appear before the board on issues related to the Clean Air Act or Air
Quality Control Act. Furthermore, pursuant to state regulations adopted
by the Board, Board members are required to recuse themselves from
rule-makings in which their impartiality may reasonably be questioned.
(see 20.1.1.111 NMAC).
With respect to assurances that the State has responsibility to
implement the SIP adequately when it authorizes local or other agencies
to carry out portions of the plan, the Environmental Improvement Act
and the Air Quality Control Act designate the NMED as the primary air
pollution control agency ``for all purposes'' of implementing the
requirements of the federal Clean Air Act and the New Mexico Air
Quality Control Act.
There is one local air quality control agency that assumes
jurisdiction for local administration and enforcement of Air Quality
Control Act in New Mexico, the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air
Quality Control Board, as authorized by the NMSA 1978, section 74-2-4.
Pursuant to the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act, the local air
quality control agency, within the boundaries of the Albuquerque/
Bernalillo County area, is delegated all those functions delegated to
the Environmental Improvement Board, with the exception of any
functions reserved exclusively for the Environmental Improvement Board,
NMSA 1978, section 74-2-4(A)(1). Further, The Air Quality Control Act,
grants the local air quality control agency, within the boundaries of
the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County are, the authority to perform all the
duties required of NMED and exert all of the powers granted to NMED,
except for those powers and duties reserved exclusively for the
department, NMSA 1978, section 74-2-4(A)(2). However, the NMED and the
state Environmental Improvement Board retain oversight authority in the
event the local authority fails to act. EPA conducts reviews of the
local program activities in conjunction with its oversight of the state
program.
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure needed to address section
110(a)(2)(E) for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve these elements of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014 submissions.
(F) Stationary source monitoring system: The CAA Section
110(a)(2)(F) requires states to establish a system to monitor emissions
from stationary sources and to submit periodic emission reports. Each
SIP shall require the installation, maintenance, and replacement of
equipment, and the implementation of other necessary steps, by owners
or operators of stationary sources, to monitor emissions from such
sources. The SIP shall also require periodic reports on the nature and
amounts of emissions and emissions-related data from such sources, and
requires that the state correlate the source reports with emission
limitations or standards established under the CAA. These reports must
be made available for public inspection at reasonable times.
[[Page 15969]]
To address this element, the Air Quality Control Act at NMSA 1978,
74-2-5 authorizes the NMED to require persons engaged in operations
which result in air pollution to monitor or test emissions and to file
reports containing information relating to the nature and amount of
emissions. State regulations pertaining to sampling and testing are
codified at 20.2.72 NMAC Construction Permits, 20.2.70 NMAC Operating
Permits, and 20.2.79 NMAC Permits--Nonattainment Areas, and
requirements for reporting of emissions inventories are codified at
20.2.73 NMAC Notice of Intent and Emission Inventory Requirements. In
addition, rules at 20.2.5 NMAC Source Surveillance, establish general
requirements for maintaining records and reporting emissions.
The NMED uses this information, in addition to information obtained
from other sources, to track progress towards maintaining the NAAQS,
developing control and maintenance strategies, identifying sources and
general emission levels, and determining compliance with emission
regulations and additional EPA requirements. NMED makes this
information available to the public (20.2.5 NMAC Source Surveillance).
Provisions concerning the handling of confidential data and proprietary
business information are included in the general provisions regulations
at 20.2.1.115, Confidential Business Information. These rules
specifically exclude from confidential treatment any records concerning
the nature and amount of emissions reported by sources.
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure needed to address section
110(a)(2)(F) for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve this element of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014, submissions.
(G) Emergency authority: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(G) requires SIPs
to provide for authority to address activities causing imminent and
substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment
(comparable to the authorities provided in section 303 of the CAA), and
to include contingency plans to implement such authorities as
necessary.
The Air Quality Control Act provides NMED with authority to address
environmental emergencies, and NMED has contingency plans to implement
emergency episode provisions in the SIP.
Upon a finding that any owner/operator is unreasonably affecting
the public health, safety or welfare, or the health of animal or plant
life, or property, the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act authorizes
NMED to, after a reasonable attempt to give notice, declare a state of
emergency and issue without hearing an emergency special order
directing the owner/operator to cease such pollution immediately (NMSA
1978, Sec. 74-7-10).
States also need to comply with the Prevention of Air Pollution
Emergency Episode requirements of 40 CFR 51, Subpart H. New Mexico
promulgated the ``Air Pollution Episode Contingency Plan for New
Mexico,'' which includes contingency measures, and these provisions
were approved into the SIP on August 21, 1990 (55 FR 34013). Under
Subpart H, Priority III Regions are not required to have contingency
plans. For ozone, Priority III Regions are those monitoring less than
195 [mu]g/m\3\. The 2010-2012 ozone ambient air quality monitoring data
for New Mexico does not exceed 195 [mu]g/m\3\. The ozone levels have
consistently remained below this level and, furthermore, the State has
appropriate general emergency powers to address ozone related episodes
to protect the environment and public health. Additional information
regarding Section 110(a)(2)(G) can be found in the TSD.
For NO2, Priority III areas are those monitoring less
than 60 ppb for an annual arithmetic mean. The 2010-2012 NO2
ambient air quality monitoring data for New Mexico does not exceed the
100 ppb 1-hour primary NAAQS or the 53 ppb annual primary and secondary
NAAQS nor does it exceed the 60 ppb criteria level for Priority III
areas. The NO2 levels have consistently remained below these
levels and, furthermore, the State has appropriate general emergency
powers to address NO2 related episodes to protect the
environment and public health.
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in those
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that the
New Mexico SIP adequately addresses section 110(a)(2)(G) for the 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and is proposing to approve
these elements of the August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014, submissions.
(H) Future SIP revisions: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(H) requires
states to have the authority to revise their SIPs in response to
changes in the NAAQS, availability of improved methods for attaining
the NAAQS, or in response to an EPA finding that the SIP is
substantially inadequate to attain the NAAQS.
New Mexico's Environmental Improvement Act and Air Quality Control
Act authorize the NMED as the primary agency in the state concerned
with environmental protection and enforcement of regulations, including
but not limited to air quality (see NMSA 1978, section 74-1 and NMSA
1978, section 74-2). The Air Quality Control Act gives the NMED the
authority to ``develop and present to the Environmental Improvement
Board a plan for the control, regulation, prevention or abatement of
air pollution . . .,'' and authorizes the EIB to adopt such a plan (see
NMSA 1978, section 74-2-5.1(H) and NMSA 1978, section 74-2-5(B)(2)).
The Act also authorizes the New Mexico EIB to ``adopt, promulgate,
publish, amend and repeal regulations consistent with the Air Quality
Control Act to attain and maintain the national ambient air quality
standards and prevent and abate air pollution . . .'' and the
Environmental Improvement Act authorizes the NMED to enforce such
rules, regulations and orders promulgated by the EIB (see NMSA 1978,
section 74-2-5(B)(1) and NMSA 1978, section 74-1-6(F)). Furthermore,
the Air Quality Control Act requires the NMED to, ``. . . advise,
consult, contract with and cooperate with local authorities, other
states, the federal government and other interested persons or groups
in regard to matters of common interest in the field of air quality
control . . .'' (see NMSA 1978, section 74-2-5.2(B)).
Thus, New Mexico has the authority to revise its SIP, as necessary,
to account for revisions of the NAAQS, to adopt more effective methods
of attaining the NAAQS, and to respond to EPA SIP calls. Based upon
review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for the 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant statutory and
regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the submissions or
referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New Mexico has
adequate authority to address section 110(a)(2)(H) for the 2008
O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS and is proposing to approve
this element of the August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014, submissions.
(I) Nonattainment areas: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(I) requires that
in the case of a plan or plan revision for areas designated as
nonattainment areas, states must meet applicable
[[Page 15970]]
requirements of part D of the CAA, relating to SIP requirements for
designated nonattainment areas.
As noted earlier, EPA does not expect infrastructure SIP
submissions to address subsection (I). The specific SIP submissions for
designated nonattainment areas, as required under CAA title I, part D,
are subject to different submission schedules than those for section
110 infrastructure elements. Instead, EPA will take action on part D
attainment plan SIP submissions through a separate rulemaking process
governed by the requirements for nonattainment areas, as described in
part D. Additionally, New Mexico presently does not contain any non-
attainment areas for O3 or NO2.
(J) Consultation with government officials, public notification,
PSD and visibility protection: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(J) requires
SIPs to meet the applicable requirements of the following CAA
provisions: (1) Section 121, relating to interagency consultation
regarding certain CAA requirements; (2) section 127, relating to public
notification of NAAQS exceedances and related issues; and (3) part C of
the CAA, relating to prevention of significant deterioration of air
quality and visibility protection.
(1) With respect to interagency consultation, the SIP should
provide a process for consultation with general-purpose local
governments, designated organizations of elected officials of local
governments, and any Federal Land Manager having authority over Federal
land to which the SIP applies. New Mexico's Air Quality Control Act
provides that ``no regulations or emission control requirement shall be
adopted until after a public hearing by the environmental improvement
board or the local board'' and that, ``at the hearing, the
environmental improvement board or the local board shall allow all
interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data, views, or
arguments orally or in writing and to examine witnesses testifying at
the hearing'' (see NMSA 1978, 74-2-6(B) and (D)). In addition, the Air
Quality Control Act provides that the NMED shall have the power and
duty to ``advise, consult, contract with and cooperate with local
authorities, other states, the federal government and other interested
persons or groups in regard to matters of common interest in the field
of air quality control . . .'' (see 1978 74-2-5.2(B)). Furthermore, New
Mexico's PSD rules at 20.2.74.400 NMAC mandate that the NMED shall
provide for public participation and notification regarding permitting
applications to any other state or local air pollution control
agencies, local government officials of the city or county where the
source will be located, tribal authorities, and FLMs whose lands may be
affected by emissions from the source or modification. Additionally,
the State's PSD rules at 20.2.74.403 NMAC require the NMED to consult
with Federal Land Managers (FLMs) regarding permit applications for
sources with the potential to impact Class I Federal Areas (75 FR 72688
and 72 FR 50879). Finally, the State of New Mexico has committed in the
SIP to consult continually with the FLMs on the review and
implementation of the visibility program, and the State recognizes the
expertise of the FLMs in monitoring and new source review applicability
analyses for visibility and has agreed to notify the FMLs of any
advance notification or early consultation with a major new or
modifying source prior to the submission of the permit application (71
FR 4490). The State's Transportation Conformity rules at 20.2.99.116
through 20.2.99.124 NMAC provide procedures for interagency
consultation, resolution of conflicts, and public notification (65 FR
14873 and 75 FR 21169).
(2) With respect to the requirements for public notification in
section 127 of the CAA, the infrastructure SIP should provide citations
to regulations in the SIP requiring the air agency to regularly notify
the public of instances or areas in which any NAAQS are exceeded;
advise the public of the health hazard associated with such
exceedances; and enhance public awareness of measures that can prevent
such exceedances and of ways in which the public can participate in the
regulatory and other efforts to improve air quality. Provisions
regarding public notification of instances or areas in which any
primary NAAQS was exceeded were approved into the New Mexico SIP on
August 24, 1983 (48 FR 38466). In addition, as discussed for
infrastructure element B above, the NMED air monitoring Web site
provides live air quality data for each of the monitoring stations in
New Mexico.\10\ The Web site also provides information on the health
effects of ozone, particulate matter, and other criteria pollutants.
(3) Regarding the applicable requirements of part C of the CAA,
relating to prevention of significant deterioration of air quality and
visibility protection, as noted above under infrastructure element C,
the New Mexico SIP meets the PSD requirements. With respect to the
visibility component of section 110(a)(2)(J), EPA recognizes that
states are subject to visibility and regional haze program requirements
under part C of the CAA, which includes sections 169A and 169B.
However, when EPA establishes or revises a NAAQS, these visibility and
regional haze requirements under part C do not change. Therefore, EPA
believes that there are no new visibility protection requirements under
part C as a result of a revised NAAQS, and consequently there are no
newly applicable visibility protection obligations pursuant to
infrastructure element J after the promulgation of a new or revised
NAAQS.
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submission for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in these
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has met the applicable requirements of section 110(a)(2)(J) for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS in the state and
is therefore proposing to approve this element of the August 27, 2013
and March 12, 2014, submissions.
(K) Air quality and modeling/data: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(K)
requires that SIPs provide for performing air quality modeling, as
prescribed by EPA, to predict the effects on ambient air quality of any
emissions of any NAAQS pollutant, and for submission of such data to
EPA upon request.
The NMED has the power and duty, under the Air Quality Control Act
to ``develop facts and make investigations and studies,'' thereby
providing for the functions of environmental air quality assessment
(see NMSA 1978, 74-2-5). Past modeling and emissions reductions
measures have been submitted by the State and approved into the SIP.
For example, the air modeling and control measures submitted within the
attainment demonstration for the San Juan County Early Action Compact
Area, approved by EPA and adopted into the SIP on August 17, 2005 (70
FR 48285). Additionally, New Mexico has the ability to perform modeling
for the primary and secondary PM2.5 standards and other
criteria pollutant NAAQS on a case-by-case permit basis consistent with
their SIP-approved PSD rules and with EPA protocols on Air Quality
Models at 40 CFR part 51, Appendix W.
This section of the CAA also requires that a SIP provide for the
submission of data related to such air quality modeling to the EPA upon
request. The New Mexico Air Quality Control Act authorizes and requires
NMED to cooperate with the federal government and local authorities in
regard to matters of common interest in the field of air quality
control, thereby allowing the
[[Page 15971]]
agency to make such submissions to the EPA (see NMSA 1978, 74-2-
5.2(B)).
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in these
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure needed to address section
110(a)(2)(K) for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve this element of the Aug 27, 2013 and March
12, 2014, submissions.
(L) Permitting Fees: The CAA Section 110(a)(2)(L) requires SIPs to
require each major stationary source to pay permitting fees to the
permitting authority, as a condition of any permit required under the
CAA, to cover the cost of reviewing and acting upon any application for
such a permit, and, if the permit is issued, the costs of implementing
and enforcing the terms of the permit. The fee requirement applies
until a fee program established by the state pursuant to Title V of the
CAA, relating to operating permits, is approved by EPA.
The Air Quality Control Act provides the EIB with the legal
authority for establishing an emission fee schedule and a construction
permit fee schedule to recover the reasonable costs of acting on permit
applications, implementing, and enforcing permits.\15\ New Mexico's fee
schedule for construction permits is codified at 20.2.75 NMAC,
Construction Permit Fees. These regulations implement a fee schedule
for all preconstruction air permits issued by NMED and were approved by
EPA into the SIP on September 16, 1991 (56 FR 32511) and November 25,
1997 (62 FR 50514).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ See Environmental Improvement Act, Paragraph 4 of
Subsection A of Section 74-1-8 NMSA 1978, and Air Quality Control
Act, Chapter 74, Article 2 NMSA 1978, including specifically,
Paragraph 6 of Subsection B of Section 74-2-7 NMSA 1978.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to preconstruction fees, New Mexico also requires major
sources subject to the federal Title V operating permit program to pay
annual operating permit fees. This operating permit fee schedule is
codified at 20.2.71 NMAC, Operating Permit Emission Fees. Title V
operating permit programs and associated fees legally are not part of
the SIP, but were approved by EPA on November 26, 1996 (61 FR 60032) as
part of the New Mexico Title V Program (see 40 CFR part 70, Appendix
A).\16\ EPA reviews the New Mexico Title V program, including Title V
fee structure, separately from this proposed action. Because the Title
V program and associated fees legally are not part of the SIP, the
infrastructure SIP action we are proposing today does not preclude EPA
from taking future action regarding New Mexico's Title V permitting
program and associated fees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ As indicated in New Mexico's 2008 O3 and 2010
NO2 infrastructure SIP submissions, NEMD's operating
permit fees regulation was inadvertently adopted into the SIP by EPA
on November 25, 1997 (62 FR 50514). This regulation was removed from
the SIP by EPA in a subsequent action on July 15, 2011 (76 FR
41698).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in these
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(L) are met and is proposing to
approve this element of the August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014
submissions.
(M) Consultation/participation by affected local entities: The CAA
Section 110(a)(2)(M) requires SIPs to provide for consultation and
participation by local political subdivisions affected by the SIP.
New Mexico's Air Quality Control Act provides that, ``no
regulations or emission control requirement shall be adopted until
after a public hearing by the environmental improvement board or the
local board'' and provides that, ``at the hearing, the environmental
improvement board or the local board shall allow all interested persons
reasonable opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments orally or in
writing and to examine witnesses testifying at the hearing'' (see NMSA
1978, 74-2-6(B) and (D)). In addition, the Air Quality Control Act
provides that the NMED shall have the power and duty to ``advise,
consult, contract with and cooperate with local authorities, other
states, the federal government and other interested persons or groups
in regard to matters of common interest in the field of air quality
control . . .'' (see NMSA 1978, 74-2-5.2(B)). The Act also requires
initiation of cooperative action between local authorities and the
NMED, between one local authority and another, or among any combination
of local authorities and the NMED for control of air pollution in areas
having related air pollution problems that overlap the boundaries of
political subdivisions; and entering into agreements and compacts with
adjoining states and Indian tribes, where appropriate. NMED has a long
history of successful cooperation with the local air quality authority
in Albuquerque/Bernalillo County and tribal governments.
With regard to permitting actions, New Mexico's PSD regulations at
20.2.74.400 NMAC, approved into the SIP on March 30, 1987 (52 FR 5964)
and December 16, 1996 (61 FR 53642), mandate that the NMED shall
provide for public participation and notification regarding permitting
applications to any other state or local air pollution control
agencies, local government officials of the city or county where the
source will be located, and Federal Land Managers whose lands may be
affected by emissions from the source or modification. New Mexico's
Transportation Conformity regulations at 20.2.99.116 and 20.2.99.124
NMAC, both approved into the SIP on April 23, 2010 (75 FR 21169),
require that interagency consultation and opportunity for public
involvement be provided before making transportation conformity
determinations and before adopting applicable SIP revisions on
transportation-related SIPs.
Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for
the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS, and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in the
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the adequate infrastructure needed to address section
110(a)(2)(M) for the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS
and is proposing to approve this element of the August 27, 2013 and
March 12, 2014 submissions.
IV. EPA's Evaluation of Interstate Transport of Air Pollution and
Visibility Protection for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in New
Mexico's SIP
One of the SIP requirements for new or revised NAAQS is to provide
adequate provisions prohibiting emissions which interfere with required
measures in any other State to protect visibility (CAA
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)). In a June 12, 2009 SIP submittal, New Mexico
stated that they had satisfied the SIP requirements of CAA 110(a) for
the PM2.5 NAAQS promulgated in 2006. The other portions of
the June 12, 2009 SIP submittal were previously approved (January 22,
2013, 78 FR 4337, July 9, 2013, 78 FR 40966). No action was taken on
the portion pertaining to CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) and visibility
protection. As noted above, we approved the New Mexico Regional Haze
SIP and found that the New Mexico SIP satisfies the requirements of CAA
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) with respect to interstate transport of air
pollution and visibility protection. (November 27, 2012, 77 FR 70693
and October 9, 2014,
[[Page 15972]]
79 FR 60985). In our rulemaking that was finalized on October 9, 2014
we overlooked an opportunity to act on a portion of the June 12, 2009
SIP submittal pertaining to interstate transport of air pollution and
visibility protection. Because New Mexico has a fully approved Regional
Haze SIP and Visibility Transport SIP, we propose to approve this
portion of the June 12, 2009 SIP submittal and find that New Mexico
meets the CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) visibility protection requirement for
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
V. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve the August 27, 2013 and March 12, 2014,
infrastructure SIP submissions from New Mexico, which address the
requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and (2) as applicable to the
2008 O3 and 2010 NO2 NAAQS. Specifically, EPA is
proposing to approve the following infrastructure elements, or portions
thereof: 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), (E), (F), (G),
(H), (J), (K), (L), and (M). As discussed in applicable sections of
this rulemaking, EPA is not proposing action on section 110(a)(2)(I)--
Nonattainment Area Plan or Plan Revisions Under Part D, nor on the
visibility protection portion of section 110(a)(2)(J). Based upon
review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions and relevant
statutory and regulatory authorities and provisions referenced in these
submissions or referenced in New Mexico's SIP, EPA believes that New
Mexico has the infrastructure in place to address all applicable
required elements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) (except otherwise
noted) to ensure that the 2008 O3 and 2010 NO2
NAAQS are implemented in the state.
We are also proposing to approve the visibility protection portion
of the June 12, 2009 SIP submittal and find that the New Mexico
Visibility SIP meets the CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requirement for the
2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.
VI. Incorporation by Reference
In this action, we are proposing to include in a final rule
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance
with the requirements of 1 CFR 51.4, we are proposing to incorporate by
reference revisions to the New Mexico SIP regulations as described in
the Proposed Action section above. We have made, and will continue to
make, these documents generally available electronically through
www.regulation.gov and/or in hard copy at the appropriate EPA office
(see the ADDRESSES section of this preamble for more information).
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the Clean Air Act, 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 Clean Air Act.
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
action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR3821, January 21,
2011);
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).
The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or
in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the proposed
rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial
direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified
by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Interstate transport of
pollution, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Visibility.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: March 13, 2015.
Ron Curry,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2015-06932 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P