Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Approval of Infrastructure State Implementation Plans for Specific National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 1133-1135 [2015-33198]
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1133
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 81, No. 6
Monday, January 11, 2016
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R10–OAR–2015–0813: FRL–9940–92–
Region 10]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Washington;
Removal of Obsolete Regulations
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to remove
outdated rules in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) for the State of
Washington because they are
unnecessary or obsolete. The EPA is
also proposing to clarify regulations to
reflect updated citations and more
recent air quality monitoring data.
These proposed actions make no
substantive changes to the State
Implementation Plan (SIP) and impose
no new requirements. In the Final Rules
section of this Federal Register, the EPA
is approving these determinations as a
direct final rule without prior proposal
because the Agency views this as a
noncontroversial action and anticipates
no adverse comments. A detailed
rationale for the approval is set forth in
the direct final rule. If no adverse
comments are received in response to
this action, no further activity is
contemplated. If the EPA receives
adverse comments, the direct final rule
will be withdrawn and all public
comments received will be addressed in
a subsequent final rule based on this
proposed rule. The EPA will not
institute a second comment period. Any
parties interested in commenting on this
action should do so at this time.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before February 10, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R10–
OAR–2015–0813, at https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
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SUMMARY:
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Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or removed from Regulations.gov.
The EPA may publish any comment
received to its public docket. Do not
submit electronically any information
you consider to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. The EPA will generally not
consider comments or comment
contents located outside of the primary
submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or
other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full
EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
Jeff
Hunt, EPA Region 10, (206) 553–0256,
hunt.jeff@epa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For
further information, please see the
information provided in the direct final
action, with the same title, that is
located in the ‘‘Rules and Regulations’’
section of this Federal Register. Please
note that if the EPA receives adverse
comment on an amendment, paragraph,
or section of this rule and if that
provision may be severed from the
remainder of the rule, the EPA may
adopt as final those provisions of the
rule that are not the subject of an
adverse comment.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Michelle L. Pirzadeh,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2015–33176 Filed 1–8–16; 8:45 am]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R03–OAR–2015–0539; FR–9940–85–
Region 3]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; West
Virginia; Prevention of Significant
Deterioration and Approval of
Infrastructure State Implementation
Plans for Specific National Ambient Air
Quality Standards
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a
State Implementation Plan (SIP)
revision submitted by the West Virginia
Department of Environmental Protection
(WVDEP) for the State of West Virginia
on June 3, 2015.
This revision pertains to West
Virginia’s Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) permit program
regulations for preconstruction
permitting requirements for major
sources. The revision includes a change
in West Virginia’s PSD regulations
related to emissions of fine particulate
matter (PM2.5). The State’s June 3, 2015
submittal satisfies its obligations
pursuant to an earlier rulemaking in
which EPA granted final conditional
approval of West Virginia’s PSD
implementing regulations. This action
also addresses specific infrastructure
program elements specified in Clean Air
Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2) necessary to
implement, maintain, and enforce the
national ambient air quality standards
(NAAQS). This action is being taken
under the CAA.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before February 10, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID Number EPA–
R03–OAR–2015–0539 by one of the
following methods:
A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
B. Email: campbell.dave@epa.gov.
C. Mail: EPA–R03–OAR–2015–0539,
Amy Johansen, Acting Associate
Director, Office of Permits and State
Programs, Mailcode 3AP10, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 6 / Monday, January 11, 2016 / Proposed Rules
Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previouslylisted EPA Region III address. Such
deliveries are only accepted during the
Docket’s normal hours of operation, and
special arrangements should be made
for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID No. EPA–R03–OAR–2015–
0539. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change, and may be
made available online at
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through www.regulations.gov
or email. The www.regulations.gov Web
site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system,
which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless
you provide it in the body of your
comment. If you send an email
comment directly to EPA without going
through www.regulations.gov, your
email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public
docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact
information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD–ROM
you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification,
EPA may not be able to consider your
comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form
of encryption, and be free of any defects
or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the
electronic docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically in www.regulations.gov or
in hard copy during normal business
hours at the Air Protection Division,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
Copies of the State submittals are
available at the West Virginia
Department of Environmental
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Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601
57th Street SE., Charleston, West
Virginia 25304.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Paul Wentworth, (215) 814–2183, or by
email at Wentworth.paul@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The WVDEP submitted a SIP revision
to EPA on June 3, 2015. This SIP
revision request, if approved, would
revise West Virginia’s currentlyapproved PSD program by amending
Series 14 under Title 45 of West
Virginia Code of State Rules (45CSR14).
West Virginia is amending 45CSR14 in
response to changes EPA made to the
NAAQS for PM2.5 that affect certain
aspects of the PSD program
requirements.
On May 16, 2008, EPA promulgated a
rule to implement the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS, including changes to the New
Source Review (NSR) program (the 2008
NSR PM2.5 Rule). See 73 FR 28321. The
2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule revised the NSR
program requirements to establish the
framework for implementing
preconstruction permit review for the
PM2.5 NAAQS in both attainment and
nonattainment areas.1 The 2008 NSR
PM2.5 rule: (1) Required NSR permits to
address directly emitted PM2.5 and
precursor pollutants; (2) established
significant emission rates for direct
PM2.5 and precursor pollutants (sulfur
dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen
(NOX)); (3) required states to account for
gases that condense to form particles
(condensables) in PM2.5 emission limits;
and (4) established certain PSD program
requirements. EPA’s NSR requirements
specific to PM2.5 have been subject to
litigation in the United States Court of
Appeal for the D.C. Circuit and to some
subsequent revisions by EPA. For a
detailed discussion of the NSR
requirements for PM2.5 as relevant to
this rulemaking for West Virginia’s PSD
provisions, see EPA’s analysis and
discussion in Technical Support
Document; State of West Virginia, West
Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection; Division of Air Quality;
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) SIP Revision Request (the WV
PSD TSD) which is included in the
docket for this proposed action (EPA–
R03–OAR–2015–0539) and is available
online at www.regulations.gov.
In an earlier rulemaking action, EPA
granted final condition approval of
revisions to 45CSR14 made by West
Virginia to address requirements of the
CAA, 40 CFR 51.166 and the 2008 NSR
1 The PSD permitting program is the NSR permit
program in areas attaining a particular NAAQS.
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PM2.5 Rule. See 80 FR 36483 (June 25,
2015). EPA’s conditional approval was
based upon West Virginia’s commitment
to include in its PSD regulations at
45CSR14 a significant monitoring
concentration (SMC) of zero micrograms
per cubic meter for PM2.5 to be
consistent with federal PSD
requirements. Id. EPA provided a
detailed discussion of the changes West
Virginia made to its PSD regulations in
45CSR14 to be consistent with the
federal PSD program at 40 CFR 51.166
and the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule in our
proposed conditional approval of West
Virginia’s June 6, 2012 and July 1, 2014
SIP submissions (the 2012 and 2014
submissions) which contained several
revisions to 45 CSR14. See 80 FR 16612
(March 30, 2015). West Virginia’s June
3, 2015 SIP submittal that is the subject
of this action includes an amended
45CSR14 for West Virginia’s PSD
program that was revised to include the
PM2.5 SMC at zero micrograms per cubic
meter and to address the deficiency
noted in EPA’s proposed conditional
approval of 45CSR14. Id. With its June
3, 2015 submittal, West Virginia has
made all of the changes to its PSD
implementing regulations necessary to
address PM2.5 as prescribed by the CAA,
40 CFR 51.166, and the 2008 NSR PM2.5
Rule.
In this action, EPA is also proposing
to approve several of West Virginia’s
infrastructure SIPs as meeting PSD
elements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA
for the 1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS,
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead
and ozone NAAQS, and the 2010
nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and SO2
NAAQS.
II. Summary of SIP Revision and EPA
Analysis
A. Summary of SIP Revision
The SIP revision submitted by
WVDEP on June 3, 2015 pertains to
revisions to its PSD permit program
regulations at 45CSR14–16.7.c that
establish a SMC value of zero
micrograms per cubic meter for PM2.5.
B. EPA Analysis
EPA finds the revisions to 45CSR14
contained in the June 3, 2015 submittal
are consistent with the federal PSD
program in the CAA and in 40 CFR
51.166(i)(5)(i)(c) pertaining specifically
to the SMC for PM2.5. The WV PSD TSD
contains EPA’s detailed discussion and
analysis of the June 3, 2015 submittal
and how it meets requirements for a
PM2.5 SMC specifically and the
requirements of 40 CFR 51.166 and the
2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule in general. The
WV PSD TSD is included in the docket
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for this proposed action (EPA–R03–
OAR–2015–0539) and is available
online at www.regulations.gov.
Because this submission fulfills the
commitment made by West Virginia in
the final conditional approval of West
Virginia’s earlier submittals of revisions
to 45CSR14 (i.e., the 2012 and 2014
submissions), EPA proposes full
approval of West Virginia’s PSD
regulations at 45CSR14 in its entirety as
45CSR14 meets requirements in the
CAA and its implementing regulations
and proposes to remove the prior
conditional approval. See 80 FR 36483
(final conditional approval of the 2012
and 2014 submissions of revisions to
45CSR14).
Similarly, because West Virginia’s
regulations at 45CSR14 fully meet the
federal requirements for PSD in the
CAA and in 40 CFR 51.166 as discussed
in the WV PSD TSD, EPA also finds that
West Virginia’s PSD program addresses
specific PSD-related portions of
infrastructure program elements in
section 110(a)(2) of the CAA for the
1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead and ozone
NAAQS, and the 2010 NO2 and SO2
NAAQS. Thus, EPA proposes to
approve several of West Virginia’s SIP
submissions as addressing PSD
requirements in section 110(a)(2) of the
CAA for these NAAQS. The WV PSD
TSD contains a detailed discussion of
the relevant West Virginia infrastructure
SIP submissions, EPA’s prior
rulemaking action on those
infrastructure SIPs, and EPA’s rationale
for finding those SIP submittals address
PSD elements of section 110(a)(2) for the
1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead and ozone
NAAQS, and the 2010 NO2 and SO2
NAAQS.2 EPA is soliciting public
comments on the issues discussed in
this document. These comments will be
considered before taking final action.
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III. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve West
Virginia’s June 3, 2015 SIP submittal
containing revised PSD permit program
implementation regulations at 45CSR14.
In a previous rulemaking action, EPA
evaluated 45CSR14 and found the
provisions are consistent with the
federal PSD permit program
requirements at 40 CFR 51.166 with the
exception of West Virginia’s omission of
a PM2.5 SMC at zero micrograms per
cubic meter. See 80 FR 36483. With the
June 3, 2015 SIP submittal of the revised
2 As mentioned previously, the WV PSD TSD is
included in the docket for this proposed action
(EPA–R03–OAR–2015–0539) and is available online
at www.regulations.gov.
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West Virginia PSD regulations at
45CSR14 which now contain the PM2.5
SMC, West Virginia’s PSD regulations
are consistent with federal PSD
requirements. EPA proposes to remove
the conditional approval of the 2012
and 2014 submissions and fully approve
45CSR14. EPA is also proposing to
determine that West Virginia’s
infrastructure SIP submittals for the
1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead and ozone
NAAQS, and the 2010 NO2 and SO2
NAAQS meet PSD related requirements
in section 110(a)(2) of the CAA. Finally,
EPA proposes to remove the prior
narrow disapproval of the West Virginia
infrastructure SIPs for the 1997 ozone
and PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS, and the 2008 lead and ozone
NAAQS for not addressing fully all PSD
requirements for section 110(a)(2) of the
CAA.
IV. Incorporation by Reference
In this proposed action, 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 West
Virginia regulations at 45CSR14
regarding the PSD permitting
requirements as discussed in section III
of this preamble. The EPA has made,
and will continue to make, these
documents generally available
electronically through
www.regulations.com and/or in hard
copy at the appropriate EPA office (see
the ADDRESSES section of this preamble
for more information).
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
CAA and applicable Federal regulations.
42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,
EPA’s role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the CAA. Accordingly, this action
merely approves state law as meeting
Federal requirements and does not
impose additional requirements beyond
those imposed by state law. For that
reason, this proposed action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993);
• does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
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• is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• does not have Federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this proposed rule,
relating to West Virginia’s PSD program
and to several West Virginia
infrastructure SIPs, does not have tribal
implications as specified by Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000), because the SIP is not approved
to apply in Indian country located in the
state, and EPA notes that it will not
impose substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Carbon monoxide,
Intergovernmental relations, Lead,
Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Shawn M. Garvin,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2015–33198 Filed 1–8–16; 8:45 am]
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1133-1135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33198]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2015-0539; FR-9940-85-Region 3]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
West Virginia; Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Approval of
Infrastructure State Implementation Plans for Specific National Ambient
Air Quality Standards
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) for the
State of West Virginia on June 3, 2015.
This revision pertains to West Virginia's Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) permit program regulations for preconstruction
permitting requirements for major sources. The revision includes a
change in West Virginia's PSD regulations related to emissions of fine
particulate matter (PM2.5). The State's June 3, 2015
submittal satisfies its obligations pursuant to an earlier rulemaking
in which EPA granted final conditional approval of West Virginia's PSD
implementing regulations. This action also addresses specific
infrastructure program elements specified in Clean Air Act (CAA)
section 110(a)(2) necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This action is being
taken under the CAA.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 10,
2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2015-0539 by one of the following methods:
A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
B. Email: campbell.dave@epa.gov.
C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2015-0539, Amy Johansen, Acting Associate
Director, Office of Permits and State Programs, Mailcode 3AP10, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
[[Page 1134]]
Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-
2015-0539. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change, and may be made available online
at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The
www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment
directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or
in hard copy during normal business hours at the Air Protection
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State
submittals are available at the West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601 57th Street SE.,
Charleston, West Virginia 25304.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Wentworth, (215) 814-2183, or
by email at Wentworth.paul@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The WVDEP submitted a SIP revision to EPA on June 3, 2015. This SIP
revision request, if approved, would revise West Virginia's currently-
approved PSD program by amending Series 14 under Title 45 of West
Virginia Code of State Rules (45CSR14). West Virginia is amending
45CSR14 in response to changes EPA made to the NAAQS for
PM2.5 that affect certain aspects of the PSD program
requirements.
On May 16, 2008, EPA promulgated a rule to implement the 1997
PM2.5 NAAQS, including changes to the New Source Review
(NSR) program (the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule). See 73 FR 28321.
The 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule revised the NSR program requirements
to establish the framework for implementing preconstruction permit
review for the PM2.5 NAAQS in both attainment and
nonattainment areas.\1\ The 2008 NSR PM2.5 rule: (1)
Required NSR permits to address directly emitted PM2.5 and
precursor pollutants; (2) established significant emission rates for
direct PM2.5 and precursor pollutants (sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX)); (3) required
states to account for gases that condense to form particles
(condensables) in PM2.5 emission limits; and (4) established
certain PSD program requirements. EPA's NSR requirements specific to
PM2.5 have been subject to litigation in the United States
Court of Appeal for the D.C. Circuit and to some subsequent revisions
by EPA. For a detailed discussion of the NSR requirements for
PM2.5 as relevant to this rulemaking for West Virginia's PSD
provisions, see EPA's analysis and discussion in Technical Support
Document; State of West Virginia, West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection; Division of Air Quality; Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD) SIP Revision Request (the WV PSD TSD)
which is included in the docket for this proposed action (EPA-R03-OAR-
2015-0539) and is available online at www.regulations.gov.
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\1\ The PSD permitting program is the NSR permit program in
areas attaining a particular NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In an earlier rulemaking action, EPA granted final condition
approval of revisions to 45CSR14 made by West Virginia to address
requirements of the CAA, 40 CFR 51.166 and the 2008 NSR
PM2.5 Rule. See 80 FR 36483 (June 25, 2015). EPA's
conditional approval was based upon West Virginia's commitment to
include in its PSD regulations at 45CSR14 a significant monitoring
concentration (SMC) of zero micrograms per cubic meter for
PM2.5 to be consistent with federal PSD requirements. Id.
EPA provided a detailed discussion of the changes West Virginia made to
its PSD regulations in 45CSR14 to be consistent with the federal PSD
program at 40 CFR 51.166 and the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule in our
proposed conditional approval of West Virginia's June 6, 2012 and July
1, 2014 SIP submissions (the 2012 and 2014 submissions) which contained
several revisions to 45 CSR14. See 80 FR 16612 (March 30, 2015). West
Virginia's June 3, 2015 SIP submittal that is the subject of this
action includes an amended 45CSR14 for West Virginia's PSD program that
was revised to include the PM2.5 SMC at zero micrograms per
cubic meter and to address the deficiency noted in EPA's proposed
conditional approval of 45CSR14. Id. With its June 3, 2015 submittal,
West Virginia has made all of the changes to its PSD implementing
regulations necessary to address PM2.5 as prescribed by the
CAA, 40 CFR 51.166, and the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule.
In this action, EPA is also proposing to approve several of West
Virginia's infrastructure SIPs as meeting PSD elements of section
110(a)(2) of the CAA for the 1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS, the
2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead and ozone NAAQS, and the
2010 nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and SO2 NAAQS.
II. Summary of SIP Revision and EPA Analysis
A. Summary of SIP Revision
The SIP revision submitted by WVDEP on June 3, 2015 pertains to
revisions to its PSD permit program regulations at 45CSR14-16.7.c that
establish a SMC value of zero micrograms per cubic meter for
PM2.5.
B. EPA Analysis
EPA finds the revisions to 45CSR14 contained in the June 3, 2015
submittal are consistent with the federal PSD program in the CAA and in
40 CFR 51.166(i)(5)(i)(c) pertaining specifically to the SMC for
PM2.5. The WV PSD TSD contains EPA's detailed discussion and
analysis of the June 3, 2015 submittal and how it meets requirements
for a PM2.5 SMC specifically and the requirements of 40 CFR
51.166 and the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule in general. The WV PSD
TSD is included in the docket
[[Page 1135]]
for this proposed action (EPA-R03-OAR-2015-0539) and is available
online at www.regulations.gov.
Because this submission fulfills the commitment made by West
Virginia in the final conditional approval of West Virginia's earlier
submittals of revisions to 45CSR14 (i.e., the 2012 and 2014
submissions), EPA proposes full approval of West Virginia's PSD
regulations at 45CSR14 in its entirety as 45CSR14 meets requirements in
the CAA and its implementing regulations and proposes to remove the
prior conditional approval. See 80 FR 36483 (final conditional approval
of the 2012 and 2014 submissions of revisions to 45CSR14).
Similarly, because West Virginia's regulations at 45CSR14 fully
meet the federal requirements for PSD in the CAA and in 40 CFR 51.166
as discussed in the WV PSD TSD, EPA also finds that West Virginia's PSD
program addresses specific PSD-related portions of infrastructure
program elements in section 110(a)(2) of the CAA for the 1997 ozone and
PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead
and ozone NAAQS, and the 2010 NO2 and SO2 NAAQS.
Thus, EPA proposes to approve several of West Virginia's SIP
submissions as addressing PSD requirements in section 110(a)(2) of the
CAA for these NAAQS. The WV PSD TSD contains a detailed discussion of
the relevant West Virginia infrastructure SIP submissions, EPA's prior
rulemaking action on those infrastructure SIPs, and EPA's rationale for
finding those SIP submittals address PSD elements of section 110(a)(2)
for the 1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead and ozone NAAQS, and the 2010
NO2 and SO2 NAAQS.\2\ EPA is soliciting public
comments on the issues discussed in this document. These comments will
be considered before taking final action.
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\2\ As mentioned previously, the WV PSD TSD is included in the
docket for this proposed action (EPA-R03-OAR-2015-0539) and is
available online at www.regulations.gov.
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III. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve West Virginia's June 3, 2015 SIP
submittal containing revised PSD permit program implementation
regulations at 45CSR14. In a previous rulemaking action, EPA evaluated
45CSR14 and found the provisions are consistent with the federal PSD
permit program requirements at 40 CFR 51.166 with the exception of West
Virginia's omission of a PM2.5 SMC at zero micrograms per
cubic meter. See 80 FR 36483. With the June 3, 2015 SIP submittal of
the revised West Virginia PSD regulations at 45CSR14 which now contain
the PM2.5 SMC, West Virginia's PSD regulations are
consistent with federal PSD requirements. EPA proposes to remove the
conditional approval of the 2012 and 2014 submissions and fully approve
45CSR14. EPA is also proposing to determine that West Virginia's
infrastructure SIP submittals for the 1997 ozone and PM2.5
NAAQS, the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2008 lead and ozone NAAQS,
and the 2010 NO2 and SO2 NAAQS meet PSD related
requirements in section 110(a)(2) of the CAA. Finally, EPA proposes to
remove the prior narrow disapproval of the West Virginia infrastructure
SIPs for the 1997 ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS, the 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS, and the 2008 lead and ozone NAAQS for not
addressing fully all PSD requirements for section 110(a)(2) of the CAA.
IV. Incorporation by Reference
In this proposed action, 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 West Virginia regulations at 45CSR14
regarding the PSD permitting requirements as discussed in section III
of this preamble. The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these
documents generally available electronically through
www.regulations.com and/or in hard copy at the appropriate EPA office
(see the ADDRESSES section of this preamble for more information).
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state
law. For that reason, this proposed action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this proposed rule, relating to West Virginia's PSD
program and to several West Virginia infrastructure SIPs, does not have
tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian
country located in the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose
substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Carbon monoxide, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: December 21, 2015.
Shawn M. Garvin,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2015-33198 Filed 1-8-16; 8:45 am]
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