Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements To Address Interstate Transport for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS, 15200-15205 [2016-06438]

Download as PDF 15200 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules (d) A project description, including the timeframe within which the project is to be started and completed; (e) The terms and conditions of the agreement, including any reporting requirements; (f) All obligations of the parties; and (g) The signatures of appropriate individuals authorized to bind the applicant and BOEM. § 583.305 What is the effective date of an agreement? The agreement will become effective on the date when all parties to the agreement have signed it. § 583.306 How will BOEM enforce the agreement? (a) Failure to comply with any applicable law or any provision, term, or condition of the agreement may result in the termination of the agreement and/ or a referral to an appropriate Federal and/or State agency/agencies for enforcement. Termination of the agreement for noncompliance will be in the sole discretion of the Director. (b) The failure to comply in a timely and satisfactory manner with any provision, term or condition of the agreement may delay or prevent BOEM’s approval of future requests for use of OCS sand, gravel and shell resources on the part of the parties to the agreement. § 583.307 What is the term of the agreement? (a) An agreement will terminate upon the following, whichever occurs first: (1) The agreement expires by its own terms, unless the term is extended prior to expiration under § 583.309; (2) The project is terminated, as set forth in § 583.310; or (3) A party to the agreement notifies BOEM, in writing, that sufficient OCS sand, gravel and shell resources, up to the amount authorized in the agreement, have been obtained to complete the project. (b) Absent extraordinary circumstances, no agreement will be for a term longer than 5 years from its effective date. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS § 583.308 What debarment or suspension obligations apply to transactions and contracts related to a project? The parties to an agreement must ensure that all contracts and transactions related to an agreement issued under this part comply with 2 CFR part 180 and 2 CFR part 1400. § 583.309 What is the process for modifying the agreement? (a) Unless otherwise provided for in the agreement, the parties to the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 agreement may submit to BOEM a written request to extend, modify, or change an agreement. BOEM is under no obligation to extend an agreement and cannot be held liable for the consequences of the expiration of an agreement. With the exception of paragraph (b) of this section, any such requests must be made at least 180 days before the term of the agreement expires. BOEM will respond to the request for modification within 30 days of receipt and request any necessary information and evaluations to comply with 30 CFR 583.301. BOEM may approve the request, disapprove it, or approve it with modifications subject to the requirements of 30 CFR 583.301. (1) If BOEM approves a request to extend, modify or change an agreement, BOEM will draft an agreement modification for review by the parties to the agreement in the form of an amendment to the original agreement. The amendment will include: (i) The agreement number, as assigned by BOEM; (ii) The modification(s) agreed to; (iii) Any additional mitigation required; and (iv) The signatures of the parties to the agreement and BOEM. (2) If BOEM disapproves a request to extend, modify, or change an agreement, BOEM will inform the parties to the agreement of the reasons in writing. Parties to the agreement may ask the BOEM Director for reconsideration in accordance with 30 CFR 583.105. (b) By written request, for strictly minor modifications that do not change the substance of the project or the analyzed environmental effects of the project, including but not limited to, the change of a business address, the substitution of a different Federal, State or local government agency contact, or an extension of less than 30 days, parties to the agreement may memorialize the minor modification in a letter from BOEM to the parties indicating the request has been granted. § 583.310 When can the agreement be terminated? (a) The Director will terminate any agreement issued under this part upon proof that it was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been afforded to the parties of the agreement. (b) The Director may immediately suspend and subsequently terminate any agreement issued under this part when: (1) There is noncompliance with the agreement, pursuant to 30 CFR 583.306(a); or PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 (2) It is necessary for reasons of national security or defense; or (3) The Director determines that: (i) Continued activity under the agreement would cause serious harm or damage to natural resources; life (including human and wildlife); property; the marine, coastal, or human environment; or sites, structures, or objects of historical or archaeological significance; (ii) The threat of harm or damage will not disappear or decrease to an acceptable extent within a reasonable period of time; and (iii) The advantages of termination outweigh the advantages of continuing the agreement. (c) The Director will immediately notify the parties to the agreement of the suspension or termination. The Director will also mail a letter to the parties to the agreement at their record post office address with notice of any suspension or termination and the cause for such action. (d) In the event that BOEM terminates an agreement under this section, none of the parties to the agreement will be entitled to compensation as a result of expenses or lost revenues that may result from the termination. [FR Doc. 2016–06163 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA–R09–OAR–2015–0793; FRL–9944–08– Region 9] Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements To Address Interstate Transport for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on December 27, 2012, and supplemented on December 3, 2015, to address the interstate transport requirements of Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) section 110(a)(2)(D) with respect to the 2008 ozone (O3) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). We are proposing to approve the portion of the Arizona SIP pertaining to significant contribution to SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22MRP1.SGM 22MRP1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules nonattainment or interference with maintenance in another state and proposing to disapprove the portion of Arizona’s SIP pertaining to interstate transport visibility requirements. EPA’s rationale for proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove Arizona’s December 27, 2012 SIP revision and December 3, 2015 supplement is described in this notice. EPA previously took two separate actions on Arizona’s December 27, 2012 submittal, on July 14, 2015 and August 10, 2015. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action no later than June 7, 2016. Written comments must be received on or before April 21, 2016. DATES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R09– OAR–2015–0793 at https:// www.regulations.gov, or via email to Clancy.Maeve@epa.gov. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either manner of submission, 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, please contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For 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. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Maeve Clancy, EPA Region IX, (415) 947–4105, Clancy.Maeve@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, the terms ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to EPA. I. Background CAA sections 110(a)(1) and (2) require states to address basic SIP requirements to implement, maintain and enforce the NAAQS no later than three years after the promulgation of a new or revised standard. Section 110(a)(2) outlines the specific requirements that each state is required to address in this SIP submission that collectively constitute the ‘‘infrastructure’’ of a state’s air quality management program. SIP submittals that address these requirements are referred to as ‘‘infrastructure SIPs’’ (I–SIP). In particular, CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requires that each SIP for a new or revised NAAQS contain adequate provisions to prohibit any source or other type of emissions activity within the state from emitting air pollutants that will ‘‘contribute significantly to nonattainment’’ (prong 1) or ‘‘interfere with maintenance’’ (prong 2) of the applicable air quality standard in any other state. CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires SIP provisions that prevent interference with measures required to be included in the applicable implementation plan for any other State under part C to prevent significant deterioration of air quality (prong 3) or to protect visibility (prong 4). This action addresses the section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) requirements of prongs 1, 2 and 4 with respect to Arizona’s I–SIP submissions. On March 27, 2008, EPA issued a revised NAAQS for ozone.1 This action triggered a requirement for states to submit an I–SIP to address the applicable requirements of section 110(a)(2) within three years of issuance of the revised NAAQS. On September 13, 2013, EPA issued ‘‘Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),’’ which provides ‘‘advice on the development of infrastructure SIPs for the 2008 ozone NAAQS . . . as well as infrastructure SIPs for new or revised NAAQS promulgated in the future.’’ 2 EPA followed that guidance with an additional memo specific to 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) (prongs 1 and 2) requirements for the 2008 O3 standard on January 22, 2015 entitled, ‘‘Information on the Interstate Transport ‘‘Good Neighbor’’ Provision for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS Under CAA Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)’’ (2015 transport Table of Contents I. Background II. State Submittals III. EPA’s Assessment IV. Proposed Action V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 1 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone; Final Rule, 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). 2 Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, to Regional Air Division Directors, Regions 1–10 (September 13, 2013). PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 15201 memo).3 While this memo did not provide specific guidance to western states on interstate transport, it did contain preliminary modeling information for western states. This 2015 transport memo, following the approach used in EPA’s prior CrossState Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR),4 provided data identifying ozone monitoring sites that were projected to be in nonattainment or have maintenance problems for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in 2018. Also, EPA provided the projected contribution estimates from 2018 anthropogenic oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in each state to ozone concentrations at each of the projected sites. On August 4, 2015, EPA published a Federal Register Notice entitled, ‘‘Notice of Availability of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Updated Ozone Transport Modeling Data for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS.’’ 5 This Notice of Data Availability (NODA) is an update of the preliminary air quality modeling data that was released January 22, 2015. This NODA provided data identifying ozone monitoring sites that are projected to be nonattainment or have maintenance problems (following the CSAPR approach) for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in 2017.6 Also, EPA provided the projected ozone contribution estimates from 2017 anthropogenic NOX and VOC emissions in each state to ozone concentrations at each of the projected monitoring sites. The 2017 modeling released in the NODA was used to support EPA’s proposed update to CSAPR to address CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements with respect to the 2008 ozone NAAQS in the eastern U.S. (‘‘CSAPR Update Rule’’).7 CSAPR and its predecessor transport rules, the NOX SIP Call and CAIR, were designed to address the collective contributions from the 37 states in the eastern U.S. and ozone contribution information was not calculated to or from the 11 states in the western U.S. The proposed CSAPR Update Rule and the supportive 3 Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, to Regional Air Division Directors, Regions 1–10 (January 22, 2015). 4 Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, 76 FR 48208 (Aug. 8, 2011). 5 Notice of Availability of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Updated Ozone Transport Modeling Data for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), 80 FR 46271 (August 4, 2015). 6 The EPA adopted 2017 as the analytic year for the updated ozone modeling information. See 80 FR 46273. 7 Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS, 80 FR 75706 (December 3, 2015). E:\FR\FM\22MRP1.SGM 22MRP1 15202 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules modeling released in the NODA include data relevant to the West but did not evaluate potential interstate transport impacts in 11 western states, including Arizona. In this action, we are utilizing these data to evaluate the state’s submittals and any interstate transport obligations under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). EPA is obligated, pursuant to a judgement issued by the Northern District of California in Sierra Club vs. McCarthy, to take final action on 110(a)(2)(D) prongs 1, 2, and 4 of Arizona’s December 2012 SIP revision by June 7, 2016.8 In our July 2015 partial approval and partial disapproval of Arizona’s I–SIP submittals for the 2008 Pb and 2008 ozone NAAQS, for the I– SIP elements C, D, J, and K, EPA partially approved and partially disapproved the submittals for purposes of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) prong 3 and partially approved and partially disapproved the submittals for purposes of 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) (relating to CAA sections 115 and 126). We also stated our intention to propose action on the I–SIP for the 2008 ozone NAAQS 110(a)(2)(D)(i) prongs 1, 2, and 4 in a separate action.9 We subsequently took action on I–SIP elements A, B, E–H, L, and M for the 2008 Pb and 2008 ozone NAAQS in August 2015.10 II. State Submittals asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS On December 27, 2012, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) submitted its 2008 ozone NAAQS I–SIP (2012 submittal). This submittal briefly summarized the CAA requirements of sections 110(a)(2)(D)(i), 110(a)(2)(D)(ii), and EPA’s I–SIP action for the previous 1997 ozone NAAQS, but as to prongs 1, 2, and 4 did not identify or address any potential interstate transport impacts between Arizona and other states or interstate transport visibility requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. On December 3, 2015, ADEQ submitted a supplement to the 2012 submittal addressing 110(a)(2)(D)(i) prongs 1, 2, and 4.11 For 8 See Judgment, Sierra Club v. McCarthy, Case 4:14–cv–05091–YGR (N.D. Cal. May 15, 2015). 9 Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements for Lead and Ozone. 80 FR 40905 (July 14, 2015). 10 Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2008 Lead (Pb) and the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). 80 FR 47859 (August 10, 2015). 11 ‘‘Arizona State Implementation Plan Revisions for 2008 Ozone and 2010 Nitrogen Dioxide Under Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D) . . .’’ Signed December 3, 2015. And see email from Heidi Haggerty of ADEQ. ‘‘AZ 2015 Ozone Transport I– VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 the purposes of this action, we will refer to the supplemental submittal as the ‘‘2015 submittal.’’ The 2015 submittal represents ADEQ’s comprehensive analysis of ozone transport from Arizona to surrounding states and addresses potential interstate transport linkages between Arizona and the El Centro, CA and Los Angeles, CA nonattainment receptors that were identified in the 2015 ozone transport memo and the 2015 NODA. The 2015 submittal also addresses the requirements of prong 4 (interstate transport visibility requirements). In the 2015 submittal, ADEQ summarizes the state’s impact on downwind states. While Arizona’s impact on the El Centro and Los Angeles monitors is in each case above 1%, Arizona impacts only one of the seven projected nonattainment or maintenance receptors in the Los Angeles area, and contributes less than 1% to all other maintenance and nonattainment receptors. ADEQ further states that, ‘‘In eastern states, the EPA has chosen a 1% of the standard threshold as a significant contribution. However, Arizona considers the southwest to be different.’’ The state goes on to say that, ‘‘It is unclear at this point what threshold is significant for southwestern states.’’ EPA’s assessment of these statements is described in the next section. The submittal also summarizes sources of VOCs and NOX statewide, outlining the controls on anthropogenic emission sources with a focus on efforts to reduce NOX through controls implemented via Arizona’s Regional Haze SIP and EPA’s Regional Haze Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) and current and future Maricopa County stationary source controls in the Arizona SIP. For more information on Arizona’s source categories and emissions controls, please see the technical support document (TSD) associated with today’s proposed rulemaking. III. EPA’s Assessment 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) Prong 1 and Prong 2 EPA proposes to approve Arizona’s SIP submissions pertaining to CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), prongs 1 and 2, with respect to the 2008 ozone NAAQS. As explained below, EPA’s proposal is based on the state’s submission and EPA’s analysis of several factors and available data. To determine whether the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), prongs 1 and 2 requirement is satisfied, EPA first must determine whether a state’s emissions SIP Submittal Clarification.’’ Sent December 9, 2015. PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 will contribute significantly to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of a NAAQS in other states. If a state is determined not to make such contribution or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS, then EPA can conclude that the state’s SIP complies with the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In several prior federal rulemakings interpreting section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), EPA has evaluated whether a state will significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of a NAAQS by first identifying downwind receptors that are expected to have problems attaining or maintaining the NAAQS.12 EPA has then determined which upwind states contribute to these identified air quality problems in amounts sufficient to warrant further evaluation to determine if the state can make emission reductions to reduce its contribution. CSAPR and the proposed CSAPR Update used a screening threshold (1% of the NAAQS) to identify such contributing upwind states warranting further review and analysis. EPA’s NODA used air quality modeling to evaluate contributions from upwind states to downward receptors. Applying the methodology used in CSAPR, the NODA modeling information indicates that emissions from Arizona contribute amounts exceeding the CSAPR 1% threshold at two projected downwind nonattainment sites in El Centro, California, and Los Angeles, California.13 EPA notes that it disagrees with ADEQ’s contention that it is unclear what screening threshold is significant for southwestern states when addressing interstate transport contributions. EPA believes contribution from an individual state equal to or above 1% of the NAAQS could be considered significant where the collective contribution of emissions from one or more upwind states is responsible for a considerable portion of the downwind air quality problem regardless of where the receptor is geographically located.14 Accordingly, although EPA’s modeling indicates that emissions from 12 NO SIP Call, Final Rule, 63 FR 57371 (October X 27, 1998); Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), Final Rule, 70 FR 25172 (May 12, 2005); Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), Final Rule, 76 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011); CSAPR Update Rule, Proposed Rule, 80 FR 75706 (Dec. 3, 2015). 13 Data file with 2017 Ozone Contributions. Included in docket for: Notice of Availability of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Updated Ozone Transport Modeling Data for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), 80 FR 46271 (August 4, 2015). 14 EPA has previously noted there may be additional criteria to evaluate regarding collective contribution of transported air pollution at certain locations in the West. See footnotes 4 and 7. E:\FR\FM\22MRP1.SGM 22MRP1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules Arizona contribute above the 1% threshold to two projected downwind air quality problems, EPA examined several factors to determine whether Arizona should be considered to significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS at those sites, including the air quality and contribution modeling, receptor data, and the statewide measures reducing emissions of VOCs and NOX. EPA notes that no single piece of information is by itself dispositive of the issue for purposes of this analysis. Instead, EPA has considered the total weight of all the evidence taken together to evaluate whether Arizona significantly contributes to nonattainment or interferes with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in those areas. One such factor that EPA considers relevant to determining the nature of a projected receptor’s interstate transport problem is the magnitude of ozone attributable to transport from all upwind states collectively contributing to the air quality problem. In CSAPR and the CSAPR Update Rule, EPA used the 1% air quality threshold to identify linkages between upwind states and downwind maintenance receptors. States whose contributions to a specific receptor meet or exceed the threshold were considered to be linked to that receptor. The linked states’ emissions (and available emission reductions) were then analyzed further as a second step to EPA’s contribution analysis. States whose contributions to all receptors were below the 1% threshold did not require further evaluation to address interstate transport and we therefore found those states were determined to make insignificant contributions to downwind air quality. Therefore, the states below the threshold do not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS in other states. EPA used the 1% threshold in the East because prior analysis showed that, in general, nonattainment problems result from a combined impact of relatively small individual contributions from upwind states, along with contributions from in-state sources. EPA has observed that a relatively large portion of the air quality problem at most ozone nonattainment and maintenance receptors in the East is the result of the collective contribution from a number of upwind states. Specifically, EPA found the total upwind states’ contribution to ozone concentration (from linked and unlinked states) based on modeling for 2017 ranges from 17% to 67% to identified downwind air quality VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 problems in the East, with between 4 and 12 states each contributing above 1% to the downwind air quality problem.15 16 Thus, irrespective of the 1% air quality threshold in the East, EPA has found that the collective contributions from upwind states represent a large portion of the ozone concentrations at projected air quality problems. Further, in the East, EPA found that the 1% threshold is appropriate to capture a high percentage of the total pollution transport affecting downwind receptors. By comparison, according to EPA’s modeling, the total upwind (linked or unlinked) states’ contribution to ozone concentration at the projected nonattainment sites in El Centro, California and Los Angeles, California, is comparatively small, with only one state contributing above 1% to the downwind air quality problem. Arizona is the only state that contributes greater than the 1% threshold to the projected 2017 levels of the 2008 ozone NAAQS at the El Centro receptor. The total contribution from all states to the El Centro receptor is 4.4% of the total ozone concentration at this receptor. Arizona is also the only state that contributes greater than 1% to the projected 2017 levels of the 2008 ozone NAAQS at the Los Angeles receptor, and the total contribution from all states is 2.5% of the ozone concentration at this receptor. EPA believes that a 4.4% and 2.5% cumulative ozone contribution from all upwind states is negligible, particularly when compared to the relatively large contributions from upwind states in the East or in certain other areas of the West. For these reasons, EPA believes the emissions that result in transported ozone from upwind states have limited impacts on the projected air quality problems in El Centro, California and Los Angeles, California, and therefore should not be treated as receptors for purposes of determining the interstate transport obligations of upwind states under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). Additionally, EPA has evaluated the Arizona VOC and NOX emissions inventory and emissions projections and agrees that emissions will be decreasing over time. Given that emissions within the state are expected to decrease over time due to regional haze measures, Federal engine and fuel standards, and 15 The stated range is based on the highest nonattainment or maintenance receptor in each area. All nonattainment and maintenance receptors had upwind contributions of well over 17%, except for some receptors in Dallas and Houston. 16 Memo to Docket from EPA, Air Quality Policy Division. ‘‘Contribution Analysis of Receptors in the Updated CSAPR Proposal.’’ March 10, 2016. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 15203 other Federal, State, and local rules,17 EPA believes that the Arizona SIP contains adequate provisions to ensure that air emissions in Arizona do not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in California or any other state in the future. The modeling data show that Arizona contributes either less than 1% of the NAAQS to projected air quality problems in other states, or where it contributes above 1% of the NAAQS to a projected downwind air quality problem in California, EPA proposes to find, based on the overall weight of evidence, that these particular receptors are not significantly impacted by transported ozone from upwind states. Emissions reductions from Arizona are not necessary to address interstate transport because the total collective upwind state ozone contribution to these receptors is relatively low compared to the air quality problems typically addressed by the good neighbor provision. Additionally, Arizona has demonstrated that both VOC and NOX emissions are going down and will continue to go down. EPA therefore believes that Arizona’s contributions to downwind receptors in California are considered insignificant. EPA proposes to find that Arizona does not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in other states. 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) Prong 4 EPA believes that ozone precursor emissions of NOX may contribute to visibility impairment in Class I areas. EPA’s 2013 I–SIP guidance clarifies that a state can rely upon a fully EPAapproved Regional Haze SIP to satisfy the requirements of this sub-element. Arizona’s Regional Haze SIP shows that sources in Arizona impact visibility in Colorado (Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, La Garita Wilderness, and Weminuche Wilderness), New Mexico (Bandelier National Monument, San Pedro Parks Wilderness, Pecos Wilderness, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Reserve, and Gila Wilderness), and Utah (Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches 17 See TSD for details on other emissions control measures. E:\FR\FM\22MRP1.SGM 22MRP1 15204 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules National Park).18 Arizona’s Regional Haze SIP is not fully approved by EPA. Instead, Arizona’s 2012 and 2015 submittals rely, in part, on regulations imposed by FIPs to address visibility impairment in Class 1 Areas caused by NOX, SO2, and PM. These regulations include emission limits on the following facilities: Arizona Public Service Cholla Power Plant,19 Salt River Project Coronado Generating Station,20 Freeport McMoran Miami Smelter,21 ASARCO Hayden Smelter,22 Sundt Generating Station Unit 4,23 and Nelson Lime Plant Kilns 1 and 2.24 Emissions limits have been incorporated into the state SIP, replacing a previous FIP, at AEPCO Apache Station Units 1, 2, and 3.25 Because Arizona’s 2012 and 2015 submittals rely in part on FIPs to address interstate transport visibility requirements, they do not meet the requirements of prong 4 for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. However, because FIPs are already in place, no additional FIP obligation would be triggered by a final disapproval of this portion of Arizona’s infrastructure SIP. EPA will continue to work with Arizona to incorporate emission limits to address the requirements of the Regional Haze Rule into the Arizona SIP. For further discussion of our analysis of prong 4, please see the TSD associated with this proposal and in the docket for today’s rulemaking. IV. Proposed Action asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS EPA is proposing to approve Arizona’s SIP as meeting the interstate transport requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) prongs 1 and 2 for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA is proposing this approval based on the overall weight of evidence from information and analysis provided by Arizona, as well as the recent air quality modeling released in EPA’s August 4, 2015 NODA, and other data analysis that confirms that emissions from Arizona will not contribute significantly to nonattainment or interfere with 18 Arizona State Implementation Plan, Regional Haze Under Section 308 of the Federal Regional Haze Rule (January 2011), section 12.4.1. 19 FIP promulgated at 77 FR 72514 (December 5, 2012). 20 Id. 21 FIP promulgated at 79 FR 5240 (September 3, 2014). 22 Id. 23 Id. 24 Id. 25 SIP approval promulgated for Unit 1 and FIP promulgated for Units 2 and 3 at 77 FR 72511 (December 5, 2012). SIP revision for emissions limits for Unit 1 and SIP approval for Units 2 and 3 promulgated at 80 FR 19220 (April 10, 2015). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in California or any other state. EPA is proposing to disapprove Arizona’s SIP with respect to the interstate transport requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) prong 4 for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Because Arizona’s 2012 and 2015 submittals rely, in part, on FIPs to address interstate transport visibility requirements, they do not meet the requirements of this portion of CAA § 110(a)(2)(D) for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. However, because FIPs are already in place, no additional FIP obligation would be triggered by a final disapproval of this portion of Arizona’s infrastructure SIP. EPA will continue to work with Arizona to incorporate emission limits to address the requirements of the Regional Haze Rule into the Arizona SIP. V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Additional information about these statutes and Executive Orders can be found at https://www2.epa.gov/lawsregulations/laws-and-executive-orders. A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review This action is not a significant regulatory action and was therefore not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) This action does not impose an information collection burden under the PRA because this action does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) I certify that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. This action will not impose any requirements on small entities beyond those imposed by state law. D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531–1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. This action does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or tribal governments, or to the private sector, will result from this action. PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. F. Executive Order 13175: Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175, because the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction, and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action. G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks The EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those regulatory actions that concern environmental health or safety risks that the EPA has reason to believe may disproportionately affect children, per the definition of ‘‘covered regulatory action’’ in section 2–202 of the Executive Order. This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) Section 12(d) of the NTTAA directs the EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. The EPA believes that this action is not subject to the requirements of section 12(d) of the NTTAA because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the CAA. E:\FR\FM\22MRP1.SGM 22MRP1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Population The EPA lacks the discretionary authority to address environmental justice in this rulemaking. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Air pollution control, Approval and promulgation of implementation plans, Environmental protection, Incorporation by reference, Oxides of nitrogen, Ozone, and Volatile organic compounds. Dated: March 15, 2016. Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, Region IX. [FR Doc. 2016–06438 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Parts 52 [EPA–R04–OAR–2015–0798; FRL–9943–88– Region 4] Air Plan Disapprovals; MS; Prong 4– 2008 Ozone, 2010 NO2, SO2, and 2012 PM2.5 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to disapprove the visibility transport (prong 4) portions of revisions to the Mississippi State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) infrastructure SIP requirements for the 2008 8-hour Ozone, 2010 1-hour Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), 2010 1-hour Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and 2012 annual Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, commonly referred to as an ‘‘infrastructure SIP.’’ Specifically, EPA is proposing to disapprove the prong 4 portions of Mississippi’s May 29, 2012, 2008 8-hour Ozone infrastructure SIP submission; July 26, 2012, 2008 8-hour Ozone infrastructure SIP resubmission; February 28, 2013, 2010 1-hour NO2 infrastructure SIP submission; June 20, 2013, 2010 1-hour SO2 infrastructure SIP submission; and December 8, 2015, 2012 annual PM2.5 infrastructure SIP submission. All other applicable asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 infrastructure requirements for these SIP submissions have been or will be addressed in separate rulemakings. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 21, 2016. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R04– OAR–2015–0798 at https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. 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. 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Lakeman of the Air Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. Mr. Lakeman can be reached by telephone at (404) 562–9043 or via electronic mail at lakeman.sean@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background By statute, SIPs meeting the requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA are to be submitted by states within three years after promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS to provide for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the new or revised NAAQS. EPA has historically referred to these SIP submissions made for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ submissions. Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) require states to address basic SIP elements such as for monitoring, basic program requirements, and legal authority that are designed to assure attainment and maintenance of the newly established or PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 15205 revised NAAQS. More specifically, section 110(a)(1) provides the procedural and timing requirements for infrastructure SIPs. Section 110(a)(2) lists specific elements that states must meet for the infrastructure SIP requirements related to a newly established or revised NAAQS. The contents of an infrastructure SIP submission may vary depending upon the data and analytical tools available to the state, as well as the provisions already contained in the state’s implementation plan at the time in which the state develops and submits the submission for a new or revised NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)(D) has two components: 110(a)(2)(D)(i) and 110(a)(2)(D)(ii). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) includes four distinct components, commonly referred to as ‘‘prongs,’’ that must be addressed in infrastructure SIP submissions. The first two prongs, which are codified in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), are provisions that prohibit any source or other type of emissions activity in one state from contributing significantly to nonattainment of the NAAQS in another state (prong 1) and from interfering with maintenance of the NAAQS in another state (prong 2). The third and fourth prongs, which are codified in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), are provisions that prohibit emissions activity in one state from interfering with measures required to prevent significant deterioration of air quality in another state (prong 3) or from interfering with measures to protect visibility in another state (prong 4). Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) requires SIPs to include provisions insuring compliance with sections 115 and 126 of the Act, relating to interstate and international pollution abatement. Through this action, EPA is proposing to disapprove the prong 4 portions of Mississippi’s infrastructure SIP submissions for the 2008 8-hour Ozone, 2010 1-hour NO2, 2010 1-hour SO2, and 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. All other applicable infrastructure SIP requirements for these SIP submissions have been or will be addressed in separate rulemakings. A brief background regarding the NAAQS relevant to today’s proposal is provided below. For comprehensive information on these NAAQS, please refer to the Federal Register notices cited in the following subsections. a. 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS On March 12, 2008, EPA revised the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS to 0.075 parts per million. See 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). States were required to submit infrastructure SIP submissions for the E:\FR\FM\22MRP1.SGM 22MRP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15200-15205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06438]


=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R09-OAR-2015-0793; FRL-9944-08-Region 9]


Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality State 
Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements To Address 
Interstate Transport for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
partially approve and partially disapprove a State Implementation Plan 
(SIP) revision submitted by the Arizona Department of Environmental 
Quality on December 27, 2012, and supplemented on December 3, 2015, to 
address the interstate transport requirements of Clean Air Act (CAA or 
Act) section 110(a)(2)(D) with respect to the 2008 ozone 
(O3) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). We are 
proposing to approve the portion of the Arizona SIP pertaining to 
significant contribution to

[[Page 15201]]

nonattainment or interference with maintenance in another state and 
proposing to disapprove the portion of Arizona's SIP pertaining to 
interstate transport visibility requirements. EPA's rationale for 
proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove Arizona's 
December 27, 2012 SIP revision and December 3, 2015 supplement is 
described in this notice. EPA previously took two separate actions on 
Arizona's December 27, 2012 submittal, on July 14, 2015 and August 10, 
2015. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a 
final action no later than June 7, 2016.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
OAR-2015-0793 at https://www.regulations.gov, or via email to 
Clancy.Maeve@epa.gov. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either 
manner of submission, 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, please contact the person 
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maeve Clancy, EPA Region IX, (415) 
947-4105, Clancy.Maeve@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, the terms ``we,'' 
``us,'' and ``our'' refer to EPA.

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. State Submittals
III. EPA's Assessment
IV. Proposed Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

    CAA sections 110(a)(1) and (2) require states to address basic SIP 
requirements to implement, maintain and enforce the NAAQS no later than 
three years after the promulgation of a new or revised standard. 
Section 110(a)(2) outlines the specific requirements that each state is 
required to address in this SIP submission that collectively constitute 
the ``infrastructure'' of a state's air quality management program. SIP 
submittals that address these requirements are referred to as 
``infrastructure SIPs'' (I-SIP). In particular, CAA section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requires that each SIP for a new or revised NAAQS 
contain adequate provisions to prohibit any source or other type of 
emissions activity within the state from emitting air pollutants that 
will ``contribute significantly to nonattainment'' (prong 1) or 
``interfere with maintenance'' (prong 2) of the applicable air quality 
standard in any other state. CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires 
SIP provisions that prevent interference with measures required to be 
included in the applicable implementation plan for any other State 
under part C to prevent significant deterioration of air quality (prong 
3) or to protect visibility (prong 4). This action addresses the 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) requirements of prongs 1, 2 and 4 with respect 
to Arizona's I-SIP submissions.
    On March 27, 2008, EPA issued a revised NAAQS for ozone.\1\ This 
action triggered a requirement for states to submit an I-SIP to address 
the applicable requirements of section 110(a)(2) within three years of 
issuance of the revised NAAQS.
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    \1\ National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone; Final 
Rule, 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008).
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    On September 13, 2013, EPA issued ``Guidance on Infrastructure 
State Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 
110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),'' which provides ``advice on the development 
of infrastructure SIPs for the 2008 ozone NAAQS . . . as well as 
infrastructure SIPs for new or revised NAAQS promulgated in the 
future.'' \2\ EPA followed that guidance with an additional memo 
specific to 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) (prongs 1 and 2) requirements for the 
2008 O3 standard on January 22, 2015 entitled, ``Information 
on the Interstate Transport ``Good Neighbor'' Provision for the 2008 
Ozone NAAQS Under CAA Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)'' (2015 transport 
memo).\3\ While this memo did not provide specific guidance to western 
states on interstate transport, it did contain preliminary modeling 
information for western states. This 2015 transport memo, following the 
approach used in EPA's prior Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR),\4\ 
provided data identifying ozone monitoring sites that were projected to 
be in nonattainment or have maintenance problems for the 2008 ozone 
NAAQS in 2018. Also, EPA provided the projected contribution estimates 
from 2018 anthropogenic oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and 
volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in each state to ozone 
concentrations at each of the projected sites.
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    \2\ Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards, to Regional Air Division Directors, 
Regions 1-10 (September 13, 2013).
    \3\ Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards, to Regional Air Division Directors, 
Regions 1-10 (January 22, 2015).
    \4\ Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, 76 FR 48208 (Aug. 8, 2011).
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    On August 4, 2015, EPA published a Federal Register Notice 
entitled, ``Notice of Availability of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Updated Ozone Transport Modeling Data for the 2008 Ozone 
NAAQS.'' \5\ This Notice of Data Availability (NODA) is an update of 
the preliminary air quality modeling data that was released January 22, 
2015. This NODA provided data identifying ozone monitoring sites that 
are projected to be nonattainment or have maintenance problems 
(following the CSAPR approach) for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in 2017.\6\ 
Also, EPA provided the projected ozone contribution estimates from 2017 
anthropogenic NOX and VOC emissions in each state to ozone 
concentrations at each of the projected monitoring sites. The 2017 
modeling released in the NODA was used to support EPA's proposed update 
to CSAPR to address CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements with 
respect to the 2008 ozone NAAQS in the eastern U.S. (``CSAPR Update 
Rule'').\7\ CSAPR and its predecessor transport rules, the 
NOX SIP Call and CAIR, were designed to address the 
collective contributions from the 37 states in the eastern U.S. and 
ozone contribution information was not calculated to or from the 11 
states in the western U.S. The proposed CSAPR Update Rule and the 
supportive

[[Page 15202]]

modeling released in the NODA include data relevant to the West but did 
not evaluate potential interstate transport impacts in 11 western 
states, including Arizona. In this action, we are utilizing these data 
to evaluate the state's submittals and any interstate transport 
obligations under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I).
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    \5\ Notice of Availability of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Updated Ozone Transport Modeling Data for the 2008 Ozone 
National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), 80 FR 46271 (August 
4, 2015).
    \6\ The EPA adopted 2017 as the analytic year for the updated 
ozone modeling information. See 80 FR 46273.
    \7\ Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update for the 2008 Ozone 
NAAQS, 80 FR 75706 (December 3, 2015).
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    EPA is obligated, pursuant to a judgement issued by the Northern 
District of California in Sierra Club vs. McCarthy, to take final 
action on 110(a)(2)(D) prongs 1, 2, and 4 of Arizona's December 2012 
SIP revision by June 7, 2016.\8\ In our July 2015 partial approval and 
partial disapproval of Arizona's I-SIP submittals for the 2008 Pb and 
2008 ozone NAAQS, for the I-SIP elements C, D, J, and K, EPA partially 
approved and partially disapproved the submittals for purposes of 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) prong 3 and partially approved and partially 
disapproved the submittals for purposes of 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) (relating 
to CAA sections 115 and 126). We also stated our intention to propose 
action on the I-SIP for the 2008 ozone NAAQS 110(a)(2)(D)(i) prongs 1, 
2, and 4 in a separate action.\9\ We subsequently took action on I-SIP 
elements A, B, E-H, L, and M for the 2008 Pb and 2008 ozone NAAQS in 
August 2015.\10\
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    \8\ See Judgment, Sierra Club v. McCarthy, Case 4:14-cv-05091-
YGR (N.D. Cal. May 15, 2015).
    \9\ Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality 
State Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements for 
Lead and Ozone. 80 FR 40905 (July 14, 2015).
    \10\ Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; 
Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2008 Lead (Pb) and the 
2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). 80 
FR 47859 (August 10, 2015).
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II. State Submittals

    On December 27, 2012, the Arizona Department of Environmental 
Quality (ADEQ) submitted its 2008 ozone NAAQS I-SIP (2012 submittal). 
This submittal briefly summarized the CAA requirements of sections 
110(a)(2)(D)(i), 110(a)(2)(D)(ii), and EPA's I-SIP action for the 
previous 1997 ozone NAAQS, but as to prongs 1, 2, and 4 did not 
identify or address any potential interstate transport impacts between 
Arizona and other states or interstate transport visibility 
requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. On December 3, 2015, ADEQ 
submitted a supplement to the 2012 submittal addressing 110(a)(2)(D)(i) 
prongs 1, 2, and 4.\11\ For the purposes of this action, we will refer 
to the supplemental submittal as the ``2015 submittal.'' The 2015 
submittal represents ADEQ's comprehensive analysis of ozone transport 
from Arizona to surrounding states and addresses potential interstate 
transport linkages between Arizona and the El Centro, CA and Los 
Angeles, CA nonattainment receptors that were identified in the 2015 
ozone transport memo and the 2015 NODA. The 2015 submittal also 
addresses the requirements of prong 4 (interstate transport visibility 
requirements).
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    \11\ ``Arizona State Implementation Plan Revisions for 2008 
Ozone and 2010 Nitrogen Dioxide Under Clean Air Act Section 
110(a)(2)(D) . . .'' Signed December 3, 2015. And see email from 
Heidi Haggerty of ADEQ. ``AZ 2015 Ozone Transport I-SIP Submittal 
Clarification.'' Sent December 9, 2015.
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    In the 2015 submittal, ADEQ summarizes the state's impact on 
downwind states. While Arizona's impact on the El Centro and Los 
Angeles monitors is in each case above 1%, Arizona impacts only one of 
the seven projected nonattainment or maintenance receptors in the Los 
Angeles area, and contributes less than 1% to all other maintenance and 
nonattainment receptors. ADEQ further states that, ``In eastern states, 
the EPA has chosen a 1% of the standard threshold as a significant 
contribution. However, Arizona considers the southwest to be 
different.'' The state goes on to say that, ``It is unclear at this 
point what threshold is significant for southwestern states.'' EPA's 
assessment of these statements is described in the next section. The 
submittal also summarizes sources of VOCs and NOX statewide, 
outlining the controls on anthropogenic emission sources with a focus 
on efforts to reduce NOX through controls implemented via 
Arizona's Regional Haze SIP and EPA's Regional Haze Federal 
Implementation Plan (FIP) and current and future Maricopa County 
stationary source controls in the Arizona SIP. For more information on 
Arizona's source categories and emissions controls, please see the 
technical support document (TSD) associated with today's proposed 
rulemaking.

III. EPA's Assessment

110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) Prong 1 and Prong 2

    EPA proposes to approve Arizona's SIP submissions pertaining to CAA 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), prongs 1 and 2, with respect to the 2008 
ozone NAAQS. As explained below, EPA's proposal is based on the state's 
submission and EPA's analysis of several factors and available data.
    To determine whether the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), prongs 1 
and 2 requirement is satisfied, EPA first must determine whether a 
state's emissions will contribute significantly to nonattainment or 
interfere with maintenance of a NAAQS in other states. If a state is 
determined not to make such contribution or interfere with maintenance 
of the NAAQS, then EPA can conclude that the state's SIP complies with 
the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In several prior 
federal rulemakings interpreting section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), EPA has 
evaluated whether a state will significantly contribute to 
nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of a NAAQS by first 
identifying downwind receptors that are expected to have problems 
attaining or maintaining the NAAQS.\12\ EPA has then determined which 
upwind states contribute to these identified air quality problems in 
amounts sufficient to warrant further evaluation to determine if the 
state can make emission reductions to reduce its contribution. CSAPR 
and the proposed CSAPR Update used a screening threshold (1% of the 
NAAQS) to identify such contributing upwind states warranting further 
review and analysis. EPA's NODA used air quality modeling to evaluate 
contributions from upwind states to downward receptors. Applying the 
methodology used in CSAPR, the NODA modeling information indicates that 
emissions from Arizona contribute amounts exceeding the CSAPR 1% 
threshold at two projected downwind nonattainment sites in El Centro, 
California, and Los Angeles, California.\13\
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    \12\ NOX SIP Call, Final Rule, 63 FR 57371 (October 
27, 1998); Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), Final Rule, 70 FR 25172 
(May 12, 2005); Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), Final Rule, 
76 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011); CSAPR Update Rule, Proposed Rule, 80 
FR 75706 (Dec. 3, 2015).
    \13\ Data file with 2017 Ozone Contributions. Included in docket 
for: Notice of Availability of the Environmental Protection Agency's 
Updated Ozone Transport Modeling Data for the 2008 Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), 80 FR 46271 (August 4, 2015).
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    EPA notes that it disagrees with ADEQ's contention that it is 
unclear what screening threshold is significant for southwestern states 
when addressing interstate transport contributions. EPA believes 
contribution from an individual state equal to or above 1% of the NAAQS 
could be considered significant where the collective contribution of 
emissions from one or more upwind states is responsible for a 
considerable portion of the downwind air quality problem regardless of 
where the receptor is geographically located.\14\
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    \14\ EPA has previously noted there may be additional criteria 
to evaluate regarding collective contribution of transported air 
pollution at certain locations in the West. See footnotes 4 and 7.
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    Accordingly, although EPA's modeling indicates that emissions from

[[Page 15203]]

Arizona contribute above the 1% threshold to two projected downwind air 
quality problems, EPA examined several factors to determine whether 
Arizona should be considered to significantly contribute to 
nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS at those 
sites, including the air quality and contribution modeling, receptor 
data, and the statewide measures reducing emissions of VOCs and 
NOX. EPA notes that no single piece of information is by 
itself dispositive of the issue for purposes of this analysis. Instead, 
EPA has considered the total weight of all the evidence taken together 
to evaluate whether Arizona significantly contributes to nonattainment 
or interferes with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in those areas.
    One such factor that EPA considers relevant to determining the 
nature of a projected receptor's interstate transport problem is the 
magnitude of ozone attributable to transport from all upwind states 
collectively contributing to the air quality problem. In CSAPR and the 
CSAPR Update Rule, EPA used the 1% air quality threshold to identify 
linkages between upwind states and downwind maintenance receptors. 
States whose contributions to a specific receptor meet or exceed the 
threshold were considered to be linked to that receptor. The linked 
states' emissions (and available emission reductions) were then 
analyzed further as a second step to EPA's contribution analysis. 
States whose contributions to all receptors were below the 1% threshold 
did not require further evaluation to address interstate transport and 
we therefore found those states were determined to make insignificant 
contributions to downwind air quality. Therefore, the states below the 
threshold do not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere 
with maintenance of the NAAQS in other states. EPA used the 1% 
threshold in the East because prior analysis showed that, in general, 
nonattainment problems result from a combined impact of relatively 
small individual contributions from upwind states, along with 
contributions from in-state sources. EPA has observed that a relatively 
large portion of the air quality problem at most ozone nonattainment 
and maintenance receptors in the East is the result of the collective 
contribution from a number of upwind states.
    Specifically, EPA found the total upwind states' contribution to 
ozone concentration (from linked and unlinked states) based on modeling 
for 2017 ranges from 17% to 67% to identified downwind air quality 
problems in the East, with between 4 and 12 states each contributing 
above 1% to the downwind air quality problem.15 16 Thus, 
irrespective of the 1% air quality threshold in the East, EPA has found 
that the collective contributions from upwind states represent a large 
portion of the ozone concentrations at projected air quality problems. 
Further, in the East, EPA found that the 1% threshold is appropriate to 
capture a high percentage of the total pollution transport affecting 
downwind receptors. By comparison, according to EPA's modeling, the 
total upwind (linked or unlinked) states' contribution to ozone 
concentration at the projected nonattainment sites in El Centro, 
California and Los Angeles, California, is comparatively small, with 
only one state contributing above 1% to the downwind air quality 
problem.
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    \15\ The stated range is based on the highest nonattainment or 
maintenance receptor in each area. All nonattainment and maintenance 
receptors had upwind contributions of well over 17%, except for some 
receptors in Dallas and Houston.
    \16\ Memo to Docket from EPA, Air Quality Policy Division. 
``Contribution Analysis of Receptors in the Updated CSAPR 
Proposal.'' March 10, 2016.
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    Arizona is the only state that contributes greater than the 1% 
threshold to the projected 2017 levels of the 2008 ozone NAAQS at the 
El Centro receptor. The total contribution from all states to the El 
Centro receptor is 4.4% of the total ozone concentration at this 
receptor. Arizona is also the only state that contributes greater than 
1% to the projected 2017 levels of the 2008 ozone NAAQS at the Los 
Angeles receptor, and the total contribution from all states is 2.5% of 
the ozone concentration at this receptor. EPA believes that a 4.4% and 
2.5% cumulative ozone contribution from all upwind states is 
negligible, particularly when compared to the relatively large 
contributions from upwind states in the East or in certain other areas 
of the West. For these reasons, EPA believes the emissions that result 
in transported ozone from upwind states have limited impacts on the 
projected air quality problems in El Centro, California and Los 
Angeles, California, and therefore should not be treated as receptors 
for purposes of determining the interstate transport obligations of 
upwind states under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I).
    Additionally, EPA has evaluated the Arizona VOC and NOX 
emissions inventory and emissions projections and agrees that emissions 
will be decreasing over time. Given that emissions within the state are 
expected to decrease over time due to regional haze measures, Federal 
engine and fuel standards, and other Federal, State, and local 
rules,\17\ EPA believes that the Arizona SIP contains adequate 
provisions to ensure that air emissions in Arizona do not significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 
ozone NAAQS in California or any other state in the future.
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    \17\ See TSD for details on other emissions control measures.
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    The modeling data show that Arizona contributes either less than 1% 
of the NAAQS to projected air quality problems in other states, or 
where it contributes above 1% of the NAAQS to a projected downwind air 
quality problem in California, EPA proposes to find, based on the 
overall weight of evidence, that these particular receptors are not 
significantly impacted by transported ozone from upwind states. 
Emissions reductions from Arizona are not necessary to address 
interstate transport because the total collective upwind state ozone 
contribution to these receptors is relatively low compared to the air 
quality problems typically addressed by the good neighbor provision. 
Additionally, Arizona has demonstrated that both VOC and NOX 
emissions are going down and will continue to go down. EPA therefore 
believes that Arizona's contributions to downwind receptors in 
California are considered insignificant. EPA proposes to find that 
Arizona does not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere 
with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in other states.

110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) Prong 4

    EPA believes that ozone precursor emissions of NOX may 
contribute to visibility impairment in Class I areas. EPA's 2013 I-SIP 
guidance clarifies that a state can rely upon a fully EPA-approved 
Regional Haze SIP to satisfy the requirements of this sub-element. 
Arizona's Regional Haze SIP shows that sources in Arizona impact 
visibility in Colorado (Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Mesa Verde 
National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, La Garita 
Wilderness, and Weminuche Wilderness), New Mexico (Bandelier National 
Monument, San Pedro Parks Wilderness, Pecos Wilderness, Bosque del 
Apache National Wildlife Reserve, and Gila Wilderness), and Utah (Zion 
National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, 
Canyonlands National Park, and Arches

[[Page 15204]]

National Park).\18\ Arizona's Regional Haze SIP is not fully approved 
by EPA. Instead, Arizona's 2012 and 2015 submittals rely, in part, on 
regulations imposed by FIPs to address visibility impairment in Class 1 
Areas caused by NOX, SO2, and PM. These 
regulations include emission limits on the following facilities: 
Arizona Public Service Cholla Power Plant,\19\ Salt River Project 
Coronado Generating Station,\20\ Freeport McMoran Miami Smelter,\21\ 
ASARCO Hayden Smelter,\22\ Sundt Generating Station Unit 4,\23\ and 
Nelson Lime Plant Kilns 1 and 2.\24\ Emissions limits have been 
incorporated into the state SIP, replacing a previous FIP, at AEPCO 
Apache Station Units 1, 2, and 3.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Arizona State Implementation Plan, Regional Haze Under 
Section 308 of the Federal Regional Haze Rule (January 2011), 
section 12.4.1.
    \19\ FIP promulgated at 77 FR 72514 (December 5, 2012).
    \20\ Id.
    \21\ FIP promulgated at 79 FR 5240 (September 3, 2014).
    \22\ Id.
    \23\ Id.
    \24\ Id.
    \25\ SIP approval promulgated for Unit 1 and FIP promulgated for 
Units 2 and 3 at 77 FR 72511 (December 5, 2012). SIP revision for 
emissions limits for Unit 1 and SIP approval for Units 2 and 3 
promulgated at 80 FR 19220 (April 10, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because Arizona's 2012 and 2015 submittals rely in part on FIPs to 
address interstate transport visibility requirements, they do not meet 
the requirements of prong 4 for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. However, because 
FIPs are already in place, no additional FIP obligation would be 
triggered by a final disapproval of this portion of Arizona's 
infrastructure SIP. EPA will continue to work with Arizona to 
incorporate emission limits to address the requirements of the Regional 
Haze Rule into the Arizona SIP. For further discussion of our analysis 
of prong 4, please see the TSD associated with this proposal and in the 
docket for today's rulemaking.

IV. Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing to approve Arizona's SIP as meeting the interstate 
transport requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) prongs 1 and 2 
for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. EPA is proposing this approval based on the 
overall weight of evidence from information and analysis provided by 
Arizona, as well as the recent air quality modeling released in EPA's 
August 4, 2015 NODA, and other data analysis that confirms that 
emissions from Arizona will not contribute significantly to 
nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in 
California or any other state.
    EPA is proposing to disapprove Arizona's SIP with respect to the 
interstate transport requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) 
prong 4 for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Because Arizona's 2012 and 2015 
submittals rely, in part, on FIPs to address interstate transport 
visibility requirements, they do not meet the requirements of this 
portion of CAA Sec.  110(a)(2)(D) for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. However, 
because FIPs are already in place, no additional FIP obligation would 
be triggered by a final disapproval of this portion of Arizona's 
infrastructure SIP. EPA will continue to work with Arizona to 
incorporate emission limits to address the requirements of the Regional 
Haze Rule into the Arizona SIP.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Additional information about these statutes and Executive Orders 
can be found at https://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders.

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is not a significant regulatory action and was 
therefore not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose an information collection burden under 
the PRA because this action does not impose additional requirements 
beyond those imposed by state law.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. This 
action will not impose any requirements on small entities beyond those 
imposed by state law.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. This action does not impose additional requirements 
beyond those imposed by state law. Accordingly, no additional costs to 
State, local, or tribal governments, or to the private sector, will 
result from this action.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have 
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between 
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

F. Executive Order 13175: Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments

    This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in 
Executive Order 13175, because the SIP is not approved to apply on any 
Indian reservation land or in any other area where the EPA or an Indian 
tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction, and will not 
impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal 
law. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    The EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those 
regulatory actions that concern environmental health or safety risks 
that the EPA has reason to believe may disproportionately affect 
children, per the definition of ``covered regulatory action'' in 
section 2-202 of the Executive Order. This action is not subject to 
Executive Order 13045 because it does not impose additional 
requirements beyond those imposed by state law.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is 
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    Section 12(d) of the NTTAA directs the EPA to use voluntary 
consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would 
be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. The EPA 
believes that this action is not subject to the requirements of section 
12(d) of the NTTAA because application of those requirements would be 
inconsistent with the CAA.

[[Page 15205]]

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Population

    The EPA lacks the discretionary authority to address environmental 
justice in this rulemaking.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Air pollution control, Approval and promulgation of implementation 
plans, Environmental protection, Incorporation by reference, Oxides of 
nitrogen, Ozone, and Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: March 15, 2016.
Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2016-06438 Filed 3-21-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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