Availability of Data on Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Allowances From New Unit Set-Asides for the 2015 Compliance Year, 30988-30990 [2015-13031]
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30988
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 104 / Monday, June 1, 2015 / Proposed Rules
IV. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is proposing to approve
grammatical changes made to ARM
17.8.102(1), and all revisions of
17.8.802(1)(c) and 17.8.822(9) from the
March 17, 2010 submittal. We propose
to approve November 22, 2011 revisions
to ARM 17.8.604(1)(a),17.8.610(2),
17.8.612(10) and (11), 17.8.613(8) and
(9), 17.8.614(8) and (9), 17.8.615(6) and
(7), and 17.8.763(3). We propose to
approve the September 19, 2014
submittal’s citations and references to
federal law and State rules superseding
and replacing all previous versions of
ARM 17.8.102(1)(a), 17.8.102(1)(b), and
17.8.102(1)(c). Previous submittals were
received on March 17, 2010 and August
1, 2011. We also propose to approve
language added to ARM 17.8.102(3) and
17.8.102(4)(a) through (d) from the
September 19, 2014 submittal. Our
action also provides notice that
language in ARM 17.8.102 was in effect
between January 16, 2010 and
publication of this notice. Finally, EPA
proposes to correct erroneous
amendatory instructions published in
the Federal Register on January 29,
2010 (75 FR 4698).
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
V. Statutory and Executive Orders
Review
In this rule, the EPA is proposing to
include in a final EPA rule regulatory
text that includes incorporation by
reference. In accordance with
requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is
proposing to incorporate by reference
the Administrative Rules of Montana
regarding citations and references to
federal and State laws and regulations;
open burning rules; air quality permits
appeal process; and revocation of air
quality permits discussed in section III,
EPA’s Review of the State of Montana’s
March 17, 2010; August 1, 2011;
November 22, 2011; and September 19,
2014 Submittals, and CFR Correction, of
this preamble. The EPA has made, and
will continue to make, these documents
generally available electronically
through www.regulations.gov and/or in
hard copy at the appropriate EPA office
(see the ADDRESSES section of this
preamble for more information).
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
Act and applicable federal regulations
(42 U.S.C. 7410(k), 40 CFR 52.02(a)).
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,
EPA’s role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the CAA. Accordingly, this proposed
action merely approves some state law
as meeting federal requirements and
disapproves other state law because it
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does not meet federal requirements; this
proposed action does not impose
additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. For that reason,
this proposed action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and,
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
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 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, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations,
Greenhouse gases, Lead, Nitrogen
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
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requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: May 13, 2015.
Shaun L. McGrath,
Regional Administrator, Region 8.
[FR Doc. 2015–13129 Filed 5–29–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 97
[FRL–9928–49–OAR]
Availability of Data on Allocations of
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
Allowances From New Unit Set-Asides
for the 2015 Compliance Year
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of data availability
(NODA).
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is providing notice of the
availability of preliminary calculations
of emission allowance allocations to
certain units under the Cross-State Air
Pollution Rule (CSAPR). Under the
CSAPR federal implementation plans
(FIPs), portions of each covered state’s
annual emissions budgets for each of the
four CSAPR emissions trading programs
are reserved for allocation to electricity
generating units that commenced
commercial operation on or after
January 1, 2010 (new units) and certain
other units not otherwise obtaining
allowance allocations under the FIPs.
The quantities of allowances allocated
to eligible units from each new unit setaside (NUSA) under the FIPs are
calculated in an annual one- or tworound allocation process. EPA has
completed preliminary calculations for
the first round of NUSA allowance
allocations for the 2015 compliance year
and has posted spreadsheets containing
the calculations on EPA’s Web site. EPA
will consider timely objections to the
preliminary calculations (including
objections concerning the identification
of units eligible for allocations) and will
promulgate a notice responding to any
such objections no later than August 1,
2015, the deadline for recording the
first-round allocations in sources’
Allowance Management System
accounts. This notice may concern
CSAPR-affected units in the following
states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 104 / Monday, June 1, 2015 / Proposed Rules
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin.
DATES: Objections to the information
referenced in this notice must be
received on or before July 1, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your objections via
email to CSAPR_NUSA@epa.gov.
Include ‘‘2015 NUSA allocations’’ in the
email subject line and include your
name, title, affiliation, address, phone
number, and email address in the body
of the email.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning this action should
be addressed to Robert Miller at (202)
343–9077 or miller.robertl@epa.gov or
Kenon Smith at (202) 343–9164 or
smith.kenon@epa.gov.
Under the
CSAPR FIPs, the mechanisms by which
initial allocations of emission
allowances are determined differ for
‘‘existing’’ and ‘‘new’’ units. For
‘‘existing’’ units—that is, units
commencing commercial operation
before January 1, 2010—the specific
amounts of CSAPR FIP allowance
allocations for all compliance years
have been established through
rulemaking. EPA has announced the
availability of spreadsheets showing the
CSAPR FIP allowance allocations to
existing units in previous notices.1
‘‘New’’ units—that is, units
commencing commercial operation on
or after January 1, 2010—as well as
certain older units that would not
otherwise obtain FIP allowance
allocations do not have pre-established
allowance allocations. Instead, the
CSAPR FIPs reserve a portion of each
state’s total annual emissions budget for
each CSAPR emissions trading program
as a new unit set-aside (NUSA) 2 and
establish an annual process for
allocating NUSA allowances to eligible
units. States with Indian country within
their borders have separate Indian
country NUSAs. The annual process for
allocating allowances from the NUSAs
and Indian country NUSAs to eligible
units is set forth in the CSAPR
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1 The latest spreadsheet of CSAPR FIP allowance
allocations to existing units, updated in 2014 to
reflect changes to CSAPR’s implementation
schedule but with allocation amounts unchanged
since June 2012, is available at https://www.epa.gov/
crossstaterule/actions.html. See Availability of Data
on Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
Allowances to Existing Electricity Generating Units,
79 FR 71674 (December 3, 2014).
2 The NUSA amounts range from two percent to
eight percent of the respective state budgets. The
variation in percentages reflects differences among
states in the quantities of emission allowances
projected to be required by known new units at the
time the budgets were set or amended.
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Jkt 235001
regulations at 40 CFR 97.411(b) and
97.412 (NOX Annual Trading Program),
97.511(b) and 97.512 (NOX Ozone
Season Trading Program), 97.611(b) and
97.612 (SO2 Group 1 Trading Program),
and 97.711(b) and 97.712 (SO2 Group 2
Trading Program). Each NUSA
allowance allocation process involves
up to two rounds of allocations to new
units followed by the allocation to
existing units of any allowances not
allocated to new units. EPA provides
public notice at certain points in the
process. This notice concerns
preliminary calculations for the first
round of NUSA allowance allocations
for the 2015 compliance year.3
The units eligible to receive firstround NUSA allocations are defined in
§§ 97.412(a)(1), 97.512(a)(1),
97.612(a)(1), and 97.712(a)(1).
Generally, eligible units include any
CSAPR–affected unit that has not been
allocated allowances as an existing unit
as well as certain units that have been
allocated allowances as existing units
but whose allocations have been
deducted or not recorded because of
corrections or multi-year breaks in
operations. EPA notes that a valid
allowance allocation may consist of zero
allowances; thus, an existing unit
specifically allocated zero allowances in
the spreadsheet of CSAPR FIP
allowance allocations to existing units is
generally ineligible to receive a NUSA
allowance allocation.
The quantity of allowances to be
allocated through the 2015 NUSA
allowance allocation process for each
state and emissions trading program is
generally the state’s 2015 emissions
budget less the sum of (1) the total of the
2015 CSAPR FIP allowance allocations
to existing units and (2) the amount of
the 2015 Indian country NUSA, if any.4
The amounts of NUSA allowances may
be increased in certain circumstances as
set forth in §§ 97.412(a)(2), 97.512(a)(2),
97.612(a)(2), and 97.712(a)(2).
The amounts of first-round allocations
to eligible units from each NUSA are
calculated according to the procedures
set forth in §§ 97.412(a)(3)–(7) and (12),
97.512(a)(3)–(7) and (12), 97.612(a)(3)–
(7) and (12), and 97.712(a)(3)–(7) and
(12). Generally, the procedures call for
each eligible unit to receive a first-round
2015 NUSA allocation equal to its 2014
emissions as reported under 40 CFR part
3 At this time, EPA is not aware of any unit
eligible for a first-round allocation from any Indian
country NUSA.
4 The quantities of allowances to be allocated
through the NUSA allowance allocation process
may differ slightly from the NUSA amounts set
forth in §§ 97.410(a), 97.510(a), 97.610(a), and
97.710(a) because of rounding in the spreadsheet of
CSAPR FIP allowance allocations to existing units.
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30989
75 unless the total of such allocations to
all eligible units would exceed the
amount of allowances in the NUSA, in
which case the allocations are reduced
on a pro-rata basis.5
EPA notes that an allocation or lack
of allocation of allowances to a given
EGU does not constitute a determination
that CSAPR does or does not apply to
the EGU. EPA also notes that allocations
are subject to potential correction.
The detailed unit-by-unit data and
preliminary allowance allocation
calculations are set forth in Excel
spreadsheets titled ‘‘CSAPR_NUSA_
2015_NOX_Annual_1st_Round_Prelim
_Data’’, ‘‘CSAPR_NUSA_2015
_NOX_OS_1st_Round_Prelim_Data’’,
and ‘‘CSAPR_NUSA_2015_SO2_1st
_Round_Prelim_Data,’’ available on
EPA’s Web site at https://www.epa.gov/
crossstaterule/actions.html. The three
spreadsheets show EPA’s initial
determinations of 2015 NUSA
allocations for new units subject to the
CSAPR NOX Annual, NOX Ozone
Season, and SO2 (Group 1 and Group 2)
trading programs, respectively. Each of
the spreadsheets contains a separate
worksheet for each state covered by that
program showing, for each unit
identified as eligible for a first-round
NUSA allocation, (1) the unit’s
emissions in the 2014 control period
(annual or ozone season as applicable),
(2) the maximum first-round 2015
NUSA allowance allocation for which
the unit is eligible (typically the unit’s
emissions in the 2014 control period),
(3) various adjustments to the unit’s
maximum allocation, many of which are
necessary only if the NUSA pool is
oversubscribed, and (4) the preliminary
calculation of the unit’s first-round 2015
NUSA allowance allocation.
Each state worksheet also contains a
summary showing (1) the quantity of
allowances initially available in that
state’s 2015 NUSA, (2) the sum of the
5 Subsequent allocations of any allowances
remaining in any 2015 NUSA after first-round
allocations will be addressed in future notices. Any
such allocations will be made according to the
procedures set forth in §§ 97.412(a)(9)–(10) and
(12), 97.512(a)(9)–(10) and (12), 97.612(a)(9)–(10)
and (12), and 97.712(a)(9)–(10) and (12). Generally,
new units that commenced commercial operations
in 2014 or 2015 will receive second-round 2015
NUSA allocations sufficient to bring the totals of
their first- and second-round allocations up to their
2015 emissions as reported under 40 CFR part 75
unless the total of such second-round allocations
for all eligible units would exceed the remaining
amount of allowances in the NUSA, in which case
the second-round allocations will be reduced on a
pro-rata basis. Any allowances remaining in any
NUSA after second-round allocations to new
units—along with any allowances remaining in any
corresponding Indian country NUSA—will be
allocated to the state’s existing units in proportion
to their respective 2015 CSAPR FIP allocations of
non-NUSA allowances.
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30990
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 104 / Monday, June 1, 2015 / Proposed Rules
first-round 2015 NUSA allowance
allocations that will be made to new
units in that state, assuming there are no
corrections to the data, and (3) the
quantity of allowances that would
remain in the 2015 NUSA for use in
second-round allocations to new units
(or ultimately for allocation to existing
units), again assuming there are no
corrections to the data.
Objections should be strictly limited
to the data and calculations upon which
the NUSA allowance allocations are
based and should be emailed to the
address identified in ADDRESSES.
Objections must include: (1) Precise
identification of the specific data and/or
calculations the commenter believes are
inaccurate, (2) new proposed data and/
or calculations upon which the
commenter believes EPA should rely
instead to determine allowance
allocations, and (3) the reasons why
EPA should rely on the commenter’s
proposed data and/or calculations and
not the data referenced in this notice.
Authority: 40 CFR 97.411(b), 97.511(b),
97.611(b), and 97.711(b).
Dated: May 22, 2015.
Reid P. Harvey,
Director, Clean Air Markets Division.
[FR Doc. 2015–13031 Filed 5–29–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2015–0030;
FF09E42000 156 FXES11130900000]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a
Petition To Remove the Bone Cave
Harvestman (Texella reyesi) From the
List of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition
finding.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce a
90-day finding on a petition to remove
the Bone Cave harvestman (Texella
reyesi) from the List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act). Based on our review, we
find that the petition does not present
substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the
petitioned action may be warranted.
Therefore, we are not initiating a status
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
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12:29 May 29, 2015
Jkt 235001
review in response to this petition.
However, we ask the public to submit to
us any new information that becomes
available concerning the status of, or
threats to, the Bone Cave harvestman or
its habitat at any time.
DATES: The finding announced in this
document was made on June 1, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the petition are
available in the docket associated with
this notice at https://
www.regulations.gov and at https://
fws.gov/southwest/es/austintexas/ or
upon request from the Field Supervisor
of the Austin Ecological Services Field
Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200,
Austin, TX 78758.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor,
Austin Ecological Services Field Office,
10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,
TX 78758; by telephone at 512–490–
0057; or by facsimile at 512–490–0974.
If you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD), please call the
Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Act requires
that we make a finding on whether a
petition to list, delist, or reclassify a
species presents substantial scientific or
commercial information indicating that
the petitioned action may be warranted.
We are to base this finding on
information provided in the petition,
supporting information submitted with
the petition, and information otherwise
available in our files. To the maximum
extent practicable, we are to make this
finding within 90 days of our receipt of
the petition and publish our notice of
the finding promptly in the Federal
Register.
Our standard for substantial scientific
or commercial information within the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) with
regard to a 90-day petition finding is
‘‘that amount of information that would
lead a reasonable person to believe that
the measure proposed in the petition
may be warranted’’ (50 CFR
424.14(b)(1)). If we find that substantial
scientific or commercial information
was presented, we are required to
promptly conduct a species status
review, which we subsequently
summarize in a 12-month finding.
Petition History
On June 2, 2014, we received a
petition from John Yearwood, Kathryn
Heidemann, Charles and Cheryl Shell,
the Walter Sidney Shell Management
Trust, the American Stewards of
Liberty, and Steven W. Carothers
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
requesting that we remove the
endangered Bone Cave harvestman from
the Federal lists of endangered and
threatened species. The petition clearly
identified itself as a petition and
included the requisite identification
information for the petitioners, as
required in 50 CFR 424.14(a). This
finding addresses the petition.
Previous Federal Actions
The Bone Cave harvestman was
originally listed as endangered on
September 16, 1988 (53 FR 36029). In an
August 18, 1993, Federal Register
document (58 FR 43818), the Service
gave the Bone Cave harvestman
protection under the Act as a separate
species. It had previously been listed as
endangered as a part of the Bee Creek
Cave harvestman (Texella reddelli),
which was subsequently re-classified
into two species, and this final rule set
forth technical corrections to ensure that
the species continued to receive
protection under the Act. On March 14,
1994, we published a 90-day finding (59
FR 11755) on a petition to delist the
Bone Cave harvestman in which we
found that the petition did not present
substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the
petitioned action may have been
warranted. A draft recovery plan was
available for public review and
comment on June 7, 1993, and a final
recovery plan was published on August
25, 1994 (Service 1994). On December 4,
2009, we completed a 5-year review of
the Bone Cave harvestman, which
recommended that the species remain
listed as endangered (Service 2009).
Species Information
For information on the biology and
life history of the Bone Cave
harvestman, see the final rule listing
this species (53 FR 36029), the
Endangered Karst Invertebrates
Recovery Plan for Travis and
Williamson Counties (Service 1994),
and the 5-year Status Review for the
Bone Cave Harvestman (Service 2009),
all posted at https://ecos.fws.gov/
speciesProfile/profile/
speciesProfile.action?spcode=J009. For
information on preserve design and
management for karst invertebrate
species conservation, see the Karst
Preserve Design Recommendations
(Service 2012) and the Karst Preserve
Management and Monitoring
Recommendations (Service 2014) posted
at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/
AustinTexas/ESA_Sp_KarstInverts.html.
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01JNP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30988-30990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13031]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 97
[FRL-9928-49-OAR]
Availability of Data on Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution
Rule Allowances From New Unit Set-Asides for the 2015 Compliance Year
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of data availability (NODA).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notice
of the availability of preliminary calculations of emission allowance
allocations to certain units under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
(CSAPR). Under the CSAPR federal implementation plans (FIPs), portions
of each covered state's annual emissions budgets for each of the four
CSAPR emissions trading programs are reserved for allocation to
electricity generating units that commenced commercial operation on or
after January 1, 2010 (new units) and certain other units not otherwise
obtaining allowance allocations under the FIPs. The quantities of
allowances allocated to eligible units from each new unit set-aside
(NUSA) under the FIPs are calculated in an annual one- or two-round
allocation process. EPA has completed preliminary calculations for the
first round of NUSA allowance allocations for the 2015 compliance year
and has posted spreadsheets containing the calculations on EPA's Web
site. EPA will consider timely objections to the preliminary
calculations (including objections concerning the identification of
units eligible for allocations) and will promulgate a notice responding
to any such objections no later than August 1, 2015, the deadline for
recording the first-round allocations in sources' Allowance Management
System accounts. This notice may concern CSAPR-affected units in the
following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New
[[Page 30989]]
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
DATES: Objections to the information referenced in this notice must be
received on or before July 1, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your objections via email to CSAPR_NUSA@epa.gov.
Include ``2015 NUSA allocations'' in the email subject line and include
your name, title, affiliation, address, phone number, and email address
in the body of the email.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning this action
should be addressed to Robert Miller at (202) 343-9077 or
miller.robertl@epa.gov or Kenon Smith at (202) 343-9164 or
smith.kenon@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the CSAPR FIPs, the mechanisms by
which initial allocations of emission allowances are determined differ
for ``existing'' and ``new'' units. For ``existing'' units--that is,
units commencing commercial operation before January 1, 2010--the
specific amounts of CSAPR FIP allowance allocations for all compliance
years have been established through rulemaking. EPA has announced the
availability of spreadsheets showing the CSAPR FIP allowance
allocations to existing units in previous notices.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The latest spreadsheet of CSAPR FIP allowance allocations to
existing units, updated in 2014 to reflect changes to CSAPR's
implementation schedule but with allocation amounts unchanged since
June 2012, is available at https://www.epa.gov/crossstaterule/actions.html. See Availability of Data on Allocations of Cross-State
Air Pollution Rule Allowances to Existing Electricity Generating
Units, 79 FR 71674 (December 3, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
``New'' units--that is, units commencing commercial operation on or
after January 1, 2010--as well as certain older units that would not
otherwise obtain FIP allowance allocations do not have pre-established
allowance allocations. Instead, the CSAPR FIPs reserve a portion of
each state's total annual emissions budget for each CSAPR emissions
trading program as a new unit set-aside (NUSA) \2\ and establish an
annual process for allocating NUSA allowances to eligible units. States
with Indian country within their borders have separate Indian country
NUSAs. The annual process for allocating allowances from the NUSAs and
Indian country NUSAs to eligible units is set forth in the CSAPR
regulations at 40 CFR 97.411(b) and 97.412 (NOX Annual
Trading Program), 97.511(b) and 97.512 (NOX Ozone Season
Trading Program), 97.611(b) and 97.612 (SO2 Group 1 Trading
Program), and 97.711(b) and 97.712 (SO2 Group 2 Trading
Program). Each NUSA allowance allocation process involves up to two
rounds of allocations to new units followed by the allocation to
existing units of any allowances not allocated to new units. EPA
provides public notice at certain points in the process. This notice
concerns preliminary calculations for the first round of NUSA allowance
allocations for the 2015 compliance year.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The NUSA amounts range from two percent to eight percent of
the respective state budgets. The variation in percentages reflects
differences among states in the quantities of emission allowances
projected to be required by known new units at the time the budgets
were set or amended.
\3\ At this time, EPA is not aware of any unit eligible for a
first-round allocation from any Indian country NUSA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The units eligible to receive first-round NUSA allocations are
defined in Sec. Sec. 97.412(a)(1), 97.512(a)(1), 97.612(a)(1), and
97.712(a)(1). Generally, eligible units include any CSAPR-affected unit
that has not been allocated allowances as an existing unit as well as
certain units that have been allocated allowances as existing units but
whose allocations have been deducted or not recorded because of
corrections or multi-year breaks in operations. EPA notes that a valid
allowance allocation may consist of zero allowances; thus, an existing
unit specifically allocated zero allowances in the spreadsheet of CSAPR
FIP allowance allocations to existing units is generally ineligible to
receive a NUSA allowance allocation.
The quantity of allowances to be allocated through the 2015 NUSA
allowance allocation process for each state and emissions trading
program is generally the state's 2015 emissions budget less the sum of
(1) the total of the 2015 CSAPR FIP allowance allocations to existing
units and (2) the amount of the 2015 Indian country NUSA, if any.\4\
The amounts of NUSA allowances may be increased in certain
circumstances as set forth in Sec. Sec. 97.412(a)(2), 97.512(a)(2),
97.612(a)(2), and 97.712(a)(2).
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\4\ The quantities of allowances to be allocated through the
NUSA allowance allocation process may differ slightly from the NUSA
amounts set forth in Sec. Sec. 97.410(a), 97.510(a), 97.610(a), and
97.710(a) because of rounding in the spreadsheet of CSAPR FIP
allowance allocations to existing units.
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The amounts of first-round allocations to eligible units from each
NUSA are calculated according to the procedures set forth in Sec. Sec.
97.412(a)(3)-(7) and (12), 97.512(a)(3)-(7) and (12), 97.612(a)(3)-(7)
and (12), and 97.712(a)(3)-(7) and (12). Generally, the procedures call
for each eligible unit to receive a first-round 2015 NUSA allocation
equal to its 2014 emissions as reported under 40 CFR part 75 unless the
total of such allocations to all eligible units would exceed the amount
of allowances in the NUSA, in which case the allocations are reduced on
a pro-rata basis.\5\
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\5\ Subsequent allocations of any allowances remaining in any
2015 NUSA after first-round allocations will be addressed in future
notices. Any such allocations will be made according to the
procedures set forth in Sec. Sec. 97.412(a)(9)-(10) and (12),
97.512(a)(9)-(10) and (12), 97.612(a)(9)-(10) and (12), and
97.712(a)(9)-(10) and (12). Generally, new units that commenced
commercial operations in 2014 or 2015 will receive second-round 2015
NUSA allocations sufficient to bring the totals of their first- and
second-round allocations up to their 2015 emissions as reported
under 40 CFR part 75 unless the total of such second-round
allocations for all eligible units would exceed the remaining amount
of allowances in the NUSA, in which case the second-round
allocations will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. Any allowances
remaining in any NUSA after second-round allocations to new units--
along with any allowances remaining in any corresponding Indian
country NUSA--will be allocated to the state's existing units in
proportion to their respective 2015 CSAPR FIP allocations of non-
NUSA allowances.
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EPA notes that an allocation or lack of allocation of allowances to
a given EGU does not constitute a determination that CSAPR does or does
not apply to the EGU. EPA also notes that allocations are subject to
potential correction.
The detailed unit-by-unit data and preliminary allowance allocation
calculations are set forth in Excel spreadsheets titled
``CSAPR_NUSA_2015_NOX_Annual_1st_Round_Prelim_Data'',
``CSAPR_NUSA_2015_NOX_OS_1st_Round_Prelim_Data'', and
``CSAPR_NUSA_2015_SO2_1st_Round_Prelim_Data,'' available on
EPA's Web site at https://www.epa.gov/crossstaterule/actions.html. The
three spreadsheets show EPA's initial determinations of 2015 NUSA
allocations for new units subject to the CSAPR NOX Annual,
NOX Ozone Season, and SO2 (Group 1 and Group 2)
trading programs, respectively. Each of the spreadsheets contains a
separate worksheet for each state covered by that program showing, for
each unit identified as eligible for a first-round NUSA allocation, (1)
the unit's emissions in the 2014 control period (annual or ozone season
as applicable), (2) the maximum first-round 2015 NUSA allowance
allocation for which the unit is eligible (typically the unit's
emissions in the 2014 control period), (3) various adjustments to the
unit's maximum allocation, many of which are necessary only if the NUSA
pool is oversubscribed, and (4) the preliminary calculation of the
unit's first-round 2015 NUSA allowance allocation.
Each state worksheet also contains a summary showing (1) the
quantity of allowances initially available in that state's 2015 NUSA,
(2) the sum of the
[[Page 30990]]
first-round 2015 NUSA allowance allocations that will be made to new
units in that state, assuming there are no corrections to the data, and
(3) the quantity of allowances that would remain in the 2015 NUSA for
use in second-round allocations to new units (or ultimately for
allocation to existing units), again assuming there are no corrections
to the data.
Objections should be strictly limited to the data and calculations
upon which the NUSA allowance allocations are based and should be
emailed to the address identified in ADDRESSES. Objections must
include: (1) Precise identification of the specific data and/or
calculations the commenter believes are inaccurate, (2) new proposed
data and/or calculations upon which the commenter believes EPA should
rely instead to determine allowance allocations, and (3) the reasons
why EPA should rely on the commenter's proposed data and/or
calculations and not the data referenced in this notice.
Authority: 40 CFR 97.411(b), 97.511(b), 97.611(b), and
97.711(b).
Dated: May 22, 2015.
Reid P. Harvey,
Director, Clean Air Markets Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-13031 Filed 5-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P