Air Plan Approval; Florida; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2010 Nitrogen Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standard, 47094-47103 [2016-17055]
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47094
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 20, 2016 / Proposed Rules
§ 14.627
Unfunded Mandates
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that
agencies prepare an assessment of
anticipated costs and benefits before
issuing any rule that may result in
expenditure by State, local, and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector, of $100 million or more
(adjusted annually for inflation) in any
one year. This proposed rule would
have no such effect on State, local, and
tribal governments, or on the private
sector.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
There are no Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance programs numbers
and titles associated with this proposed
rule.
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
designee, approved this document and
authorized Gina S. Farrisee, Deputy
Chief of Staff, to sign and submit the
document to the Office of the Federal
Register for publication electronically as
an official document of the Department
of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. Farrisee,
Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of
Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on July 14, 2016 for
publication.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 14
Administrative practice and
procedure, Claims, Courts, Foreign
relations, Government employees,
Lawyers, Legal services, Organization
and functions (Government agencies),
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Surety bonds, Trusts and
trustees, Veterans.
Dated: July 14, 2016.
Janet J. Coleman,
Chief, Office of Regulation Policy &
Management, Office of the Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, the Department of Veterans
Affairs proposes to amend 38 CFR part
14 as follows:
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1. The authority citation for part 14
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 2671–
2680; 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 512, 515, 5502, 5901–
5905; 28 CFR part 14, appendix to part 14,
unless otherwise noted.
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§ 14.628
Recognition of organizations.
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(b)(1) State organization. * * *
(2) Tribal organization. For the
purposes of 38 CFR 14.626 through
14.637, an organization that is a legally
established organization that is
primarily funded and controlled,
sanctioned, or chartered by one or more
tribal governments and that has a
primary purpose of serving the needs of
Native American veterans. Only one
tribal organization may be recognized
for each tribal government. If a tribal
organization is created and funded by
more than one tgovernment, the
approval of each tribal government must
be obtained prior to applying for VA
recognition. If one of the supporting
tribal governments withdraws from the
tribal organization, the tribal
organization must notify VA of the
withdrawal and certify that the tribal
organization continues to meet the
recognition requirements in paragraph
(d) of this section.
*
*
*
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*
§ 14.629
[Amended]
4. Amend § 14.629 by:
a. In paragraph (a)(2) introductory
text, removing ‘‘county veteran’s service
officer’’ and adding in its place ‘‘county
veterans’ service officer’’;
■ b. In paragraph (a)(2) introductory
text, adding ‘‘or tribal veterans’ service
officer’’ immediately following ‘‘county
veterans’ service officer’’; and
■ c. In paragraph (a)(2)(i), adding ‘‘or
tribal government’’ immediately
following ‘‘county’’.
■
■
2. Amend § 14.627 by adding
paragraph (r) to read as follows:
§ 14.635
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*
(r) Tribal government means the
Federally recognized governing body of
any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other
organized group or community,
including any Alaska Native village or
Regional or Village Corporation as
defined in or established pursuant to the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act,
which is recognized as eligible for the
special programs and services provided
by the United States to Indians because
of their status as Indians.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Amend § 14.628 by:
■ a. Redesignating paragraph (b) as
paragraph (b)(1) and adding paragraph
(b)(2); and
■ b. In the parenthetical at the end of
the section, removing ‘‘2900–0439’’ and
adding, in its place, 2900–XXXX’’.
The addition reads as follows:
■
PART 14—LEGAL SERVICES,
GENERAL COUNSEL, AND
MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS
■
Definitions.
*
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[Amended]
5. Amend § 14.635 by adding, in the
introductory paragraph, ‘‘or tribal’’
immediately following ‘‘State’’.
■
[FR Doc. 2016–17052 Filed 7–19–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R04–OAR–2014–0507; FRL–9949–30–
Region 4]
Air Plan Approval; Florida;
Infrastructure Requirements for the
2010 Nitrogen Dioxide National
Ambient Air Quality Standard
Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve
the State Implementation Plan (SIP)
submission, submitted by the State of
Florida, through the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection (FDEP), on
January 22, 2013, for inclusion into the
Florida SIP. This proposal pertains to
the infrastructure requirements of the
Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2010
1-hour nitrogen dioxide (NO2) national
ambient air quality standard (NAAQS).
The CAA requires that each state adopt
and submit a SIP for the
implementation, maintenance and
enforcement of each NAAQS
promulgated by EPA, which is
commonly referred to as an
‘‘infrastructure SIP submission.’’ FDEP
certified that the Florida SIP contains
provisions that ensure the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS is implemented, enforced,
and maintained in Florida. With the
exception of provisions pertaining to the
ambient air quality monitoring and data
system, prevention of significant
deterioration (PSD) permitting and
interstate transport provisions
pertaining to the contribution to
nonattainment or interference with
maintenance in other states, EPA is
proposing to find that Florida’s
infrastructure SIP submission, provided
to EPA on January 22, 2013, satisfies
certain required infrastructure elements
for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before August 19, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R04–
OAR–2014–0507 at https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Once submitted, comments cannot be
SUMMARY:
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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:
Richard Wong, 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. Wong
can be reached via electronic mail at
wong.richard@epa.gov or via telephone
at (404) 562–8726.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In this action, EPA is proposing to
approve Florida’s infrastructure SIP
submission for the applicable
requirements of the 2010 1-hour NO2
NAAQS, with the exception of the
ambient air quality monitoring and data
system requirements of section
110(a)(2)(B), the PSD permitting
requirements for major sources of
sections 110(a)(2)(C), prong 3 of D(i),
and (J) and the interstate transport
provisions pertaining to the
contribution to nonattainment or
interference with maintenance in other
states of prongs 1 and 2 of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i). On March 18, 2015, EPA
approved Florida’s January 22, 2013
infrastructure SIP submission regarding
the PSD permitting requirements for
major sources of sections 110(a)(2)(C),
prong 3 of D(i), and (J) for the 2010 1hour NO2 NAAQS. See 80 FR 14019.
Therefore, EPA is not proposing any
action today pertaining to sections
110(a)(2)(C), prong 3 of D(i), and (J).
Additionally, EPA is not proposing
action related to the ambient air quality
monitoring and data system of section
110(a)(2)(B) and prongs 1 and 2 of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). EPA will act on
these provisions in a separate action.
For the aspects of Florida’s submittal
proposed for approval today, EPA notes
that the Agency is not approving any
specific rule, but rather proposing that
Florida’s already approved SIP meets
certain CAA requirements.
I. Background and Overview
II. What elements are required under
sections 110(a)(1) and (2)?
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires
states to submit SIPs to provide for the
implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of a new or revised
NAAQS within three years following
the promulgation of such NAAQS, or
within such shorter period as EPA may
prescribe. Section 110(a) imposes the
obligation upon states to make a SIP
submission to EPA for a new or revised
NAAQS, but the contents of that
submission may vary depending upon
the facts and circumstances. In
particular, the data and analytical tools
available at the time the state develops
and submits the SIP for a new or revised
NAAQS affects the content of the
submission. The contents of such SIP
submissions may also vary depending
upon what provisions the state’s
existing SIP already contains. In the
case of the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS,
states typically have met the basic
program elements required in section
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On February 9, 2010, EPA published
a new 1-hour primary NAAQS for NO2
at a level of 100 parts per billion (ppb),
based on a 3-year average of the 98th
percentile of the yearly distribution of 1hour daily maximum concentrations.
See 75 FR 6474. Pursuant to section
110(a)(1) of the CAA, states are required
to submit SIPs meeting the requirements
of section 110(a)(2) within three years
after promulgation of a new or revised
NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2) requires
states to address basic SIP requirements,
including emissions inventories,
monitoring, and modeling to assure
attainment and maintenance of the
NAAQS. States were required to submit
such SIPs for the 2010 1-hour NO2
NAAQS to EPA no later than January
22, 2013.1
1 In these infrastructure SIP submissions States
generally certify evidence of compliance with
sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA through a
combination of state regulations and statutes, some
of which have been incorporated into the federallyapproved SIP. In addition, certain federallyapproved, non-SIP regulations may also be
appropriate for demonstrating compliance with
sections 110(a)(1) and (2). Throughout this
rulemaking, unless otherwise indicated, the term
‘‘Florida Administrative Code’’ or ‘‘F.A.C.’’
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indicates that the cited regulation has been
approved into Florida’s federally-approved SIP. The
term ‘‘Florida statute’’ or ‘‘F.S.’’ indicates cited
Florida state statutes, which are not a part of the
SIP unless otherwise indicated.
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110(a)(2) through earlier SIP
submissions in connection with
previous NAAQS.
More specifically, section 110(a)(1)
provides the procedural and timing
requirements for SIPs. Section 110(a)(2)
lists specific elements that states must
meet for ‘‘infrastructure’’ SIP
requirements related to a newly
established or revised NAAQS. As
mentioned above, these requirements
include SIP infrastructure elements
such as modeling, monitoring, and
emissions inventories that are designed
to assure attainment and maintenance of
the NAAQS. The requirements that are
the subject of this proposed rulemaking
are listed below and in EPA’s September
13, 2013, memorandum entitled
‘‘Guidance on Infrastructure State
Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements
under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1)
and (2).’’ 2
• 110(a)(2)(A): Emission Limits and
Other Control Measures
• 110(a)(2)(B): Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring/Data System
• 110(a)(2)(C): Programs for
Enforcement of Control Measures and
for Construction or Modification of
Stationary Sources 3
• 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) and (II): Interstate
Pollution Transport
• 110(a)(2)(D)(ii): Interstate Pollution
Abatement and International Air
Pollution
• 110(a)(2)(E): Adequate Resources and
Authority, Conflict of Interest, and
Oversight of Local Governments and
Regional Agencies
• 110(a)(2)(F): Stationary Source
Monitoring and Reporting
• 110(a)(2)(G): Emergency Powers
• 110(a)(2)(H): SIP revisions
• 110(a)(2)(I): Plan Revisions for
Nonattainment Areas 4
• 110(a)(2)(J): Consultation with
Government Officials, Public
Notification, and PSD and Visibility
Protection
2 Two elements identified in section 110(a)(2) are
not governed by the three year submission deadline
of section 110(a)(1) because SIPs incorporating
necessary local nonattainment area controls are not
due within three years after promulgation of a new
or revised NAAQS, but rather due at the time the
nonattainment area plan requirements are due
pursuant to section 172. These requirements are: (1)
Submissions required by section 110(a)(2)(C) to the
extent that subsection refers to a permit program as
required in part D Title I of the CAA; and (2)
submissions required by section 110(a)(2)(I) which
pertain to the nonattainment planning requirements
of part D, Title I of the CAA. Today’s proposed
rulemaking does not address infrastructure
elements related to section 110(a)(2)(I) or the
nonattainment planning requirements of
110(a)(2)(C).
3 This rulemaking only addresses requirements
for this element as they relate to attainment areas.
4 As mentioned above, this element is not
relevant to today’s proposed rulemaking.
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• 110(a)(2)(K): Air Quality Modeling
and Submission of Modeling Data
• 110(a)(2)(L): Permitting fees
• 110(a)(2)(M): Consultation and
Participation by Affected Local
Entities
III. What is EPA’s approach to the
review of infrastructure SIP
submissions?
EPA is acting upon the SIP
submission from Florida that addresses
the infrastructure requirements of CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) for the
2010 NO2 NAAQS. The requirement for
states to make a SIP submission of this
type arises out of CAA section 110(a)(1).
Pursuant to section 110(a)(1), states
must make SIP submissions ‘‘within 3
years (or such shorter period as the
Administrator may prescribe) after the
promulgation of a national primary
ambient air quality standard (or any
revision thereof),’’ and these SIP
submissions are to provide for the
‘‘implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement’’ of such NAAQS. The
statute directly imposes on states the
duty to make these SIP submissions,
and the requirement to make the
submissions is not conditioned upon
EPA’s taking any action other than
promulgating a new or revised NAAQS.
Section 110(a)(2) includes a list of
specific elements that ‘‘[e]ach such
plan’’ submission must address.
EPA has historically referred to these
SIP submissions made for the purpose
of satisfying the requirements of CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as
‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ submissions.
Although the term ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’
does not appear in the CAA, EPA uses
the term to distinguish this particular
type of SIP submission from
submissions that are intended to satisfy
other SIP requirements under the CAA,
such as ‘‘nonattainment SIP’’ or
‘‘attainment plan SIP’’ submissions to
address the nonattainment planning
requirements of part D of title I of the
CAA, ‘‘regional haze SIP’’ submissions
required by EPA rule to address the
visibility protection requirements of
CAA section 169A, and nonattainment
new source review permit program
submissions to address the permit
requirements of CAA, title I, part D.
Section 110(a)(1) addresses the timing
and general requirements for
infrastructure SIP submissions, and
section 110(a)(2) provides more details
concerning the required contents of
these submissions. The list of required
elements provided in section 110(a)(2)
contains a wide variety of disparate
provisions, some of which pertain to
required legal authority, some of which
pertain to required substantive program
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provisions, and some of which pertain
to requirements for both authority and
substantive program provisions.5 EPA
therefore believes that while the timing
requirement in section 110(a)(1) is
unambiguous, some of the other
statutory provisions are ambiguous. In
particular, EPA believes that the list of
required elements for infrastructure SIP
submissions provided in section
110(a)(2) contains ambiguities
concerning what is required for
inclusion in an infrastructure SIP
submission.
The following examples of
ambiguities illustrate the need for EPA
to interpret some section 110(a)(1) and
section 110(a)(2) requirements with
respect to infrastructure SIP
submissions for a given new or revised
NAAQS. One example of ambiguity is
that section 110(a)(2) requires that
‘‘each’’ SIP submission must meet the
list of requirements therein, while EPA
has long noted that this literal reading
of the statute is internally inconsistent
and would create a conflict with the
nonattainment provisions in part D of
title I of the Act, which specifically
address nonattainment SIP
requirements.6 Section 110(a)(2)(I)
pertains to nonattainment SIP
requirements and part D addresses
when attainment plan SIP submissions
to address nonattainment area
requirements are due. For example,
section 172(b) requires EPA to establish
a schedule for submission of such plans
for certain pollutants when the
Administrator promulgates the
designation of an area as nonattainment,
and section 107(d)(1)(B) allows up to
two years, or in some cases three years,
for such designations to be
promulgated.7 This ambiguity illustrates
that rather than apply all the stated
5 For example: Section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) provides
that states must provide assurances that they have
adequate legal authority under state and local law
to carry out the SIP; section 110(a)(2)(C) provides
that states must have a SIP-approved program to
address certain sources as required by part C of title
I of the CAA; and section 110(a)(2)(G) provides that
states must have legal authority to address
emergencies as well as contingency plans that are
triggered in the event of such emergencies.
6 See, e.g., ‘‘Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport
of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (Clean Air
Interstate Rule); Revisions to Acid Rain Program;
Revisions to the NOX SIP Call; Final Rule,’’ 70 FR
25162, at 25163–65 (May 12, 2005) (explaining
relationship between timing requirement of section
110(a)(2)(D) versus section 110(a)(2)(I)).
7 EPA notes that this ambiguity within section
110(a)(2) is heightened by the fact that various
subparts of part D set specific dates for submission
of certain types of SIP submissions in designated
nonattainment areas for various pollutants. Note,
e.g., that section 182(a)(1) provides specific dates
for submission of emissions inventories for the
ozone NAAQS. Some of these specific dates are
necessarily later than three years after promulgation
of the new or revised NAAQS.
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requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a
strict literal sense, EPA must determine
which provisions of section 110(a)(2)
are applicable for a particular
infrastructure SIP submission.
Another example of ambiguity within
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) with
respect to infrastructure SIPs pertains to
whether states must meet all of the
infrastructure SIP requirements in a
single SIP submission, and whether EPA
must act upon such SIP submission in
a single action. Although section
110(a)(1) directs states to submit ‘‘a
plan’’ to meet these requirements, EPA
interprets the CAA to allow states to
make multiple SIP submissions
separately addressing infrastructure SIP
elements for the same NAAQS. If states
elect to make such multiple SIP
submissions to meet the infrastructure
SIP requirements, EPA can elect to act
on such submissions either individually
or in a larger combined action.8
Similarly, EPA interprets the CAA to
allow it to take action on the individual
parts of one larger, comprehensive
infrastructure SIP submission for a
given NAAQS without concurrent
action on the entire submission. For
example, EPA has sometimes elected to
act at different times on various
elements and sub-elements of the same
infrastructure SIP submission.9
Ambiguities within sections 110(a)(1)
and 110(a)(2) may also arise with
respect to infrastructure SIP submission
requirements for different NAAQS.
Thus, EPA notes that not every element
of section 110(a)(2) would be relevant,
or as relevant, or relevant in the same
way, for each new or revised NAAQS.
The states’ attendant infrastructure SIP
submissions for each NAAQS therefore
8 See, e.g., ‘‘Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Revisions to
the New Source Review (NSR) State
Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment
New Source Review (NNSR) Permitting,’’ 78 FR
4339 (January 22, 2013) (EPA’s final action
approving the structural PSD elements of the New
Mexico SIP submitted by the State separately to
meet the requirements of EPA’s 2008 PM2.5 NSR
rule), and ‘‘Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; New Mexico;
Infrastructure and Interstate Transport
Requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS,’’ (78 FR
4337) (January 22, 2013) (EPA’s final action on the
infrastructure SIP for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS).
9 On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee,
through the Tennessee Department of Environment
and Conservation, made a SIP revision to EPA
demonstrating that the State meets the requirements
of sections 110(a)(1) and (2). EPA proposed action
for infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) on
January 23, 2012 (77 FR 3213) and took final action
on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 14976). On April 16,
2012 (77 FR 22533) and July 23, 2012 (77 FR
42997), EPA took separate proposed and final
actions on all other section 110(a)(2) infrastructure
SIP elements of Tennessee’s December 14, 2007
submittal.
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could be different. For example, the
monitoring requirements that a state
might need to meet in its infrastructure
SIP submission for purposes of section
110(a)(2)(B) could be very different for
different pollutants because the content
and scope of a state’s infrastructure SIP
submission to meet this element might
be very different for an entirely new
NAAQS than for a minor revision to an
existing NAAQS.10
EPA notes that interpretation of
section 110(a)(2) is also necessary when
EPA reviews other types of SIP
submissions required under the CAA.
Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP
submissions, EPA also has to identify
and interpret the relevant elements of
section 110(a)(2) that logically apply to
these other types of SIP submissions.
For example, section 172(c)(7) requires
that attainment plan SIP submissions
required by part D have to meet the
‘‘applicable requirements’’ of section
110(a)(2). Thus, for example, attainment
plan SIP submissions must meet the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A)
regarding enforceable emission limits
and control measures and section
110(a)(2)(E)(i) regarding air agency
resources and authority. By contrast, it
is clear that attainment plan SIP
submissions required by part D would
not need to meet the portion of section
110(a)(2)(C) that pertains to the PSD
program required in part C of title I of
the CAA, because PSD does not apply
to a pollutant for which an area is
designated nonattainment and thus
subject to part D planning requirements.
As this example illustrates, each type of
SIP submission may implicate some
elements of section 110(a)(2) but not
others.
Given the potential for ambiguity in
some of the statutory language of section
110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), EPA
believes that it is appropriate to
interpret the ambiguous portions of
section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2)
in the context of acting on a particular
SIP submission. In other words, EPA
assumes that Congress could not have
intended that each and every SIP
submission, regardless of the NAAQS in
question or the history of SIP
development for the relevant pollutant,
would meet each of the requirements, or
meet each of them in the same way.
Therefore, EPA has adopted an
approach under which it reviews
infrastructure SIP submissions against
the list of elements in section 110(a)(2),
10 For example, implementation of the 1997 PM
2.5
NAAQS required the deployment of a system of
new monitors to measure ambient levels of that new
indicator species for the new NAAQS.
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but only to the extent each element
applies for that particular NAAQS.
Historically, EPA has elected to use
guidance documents to make
recommendations to states for
infrastructure SIPs, in some cases
conveying needed interpretations on
newly arising issues and in some cases
conveying interpretations that have
already been developed and applied to
individual SIP submissions for
particular elements.11 EPA most
recently issued guidance for
infrastructure SIPs on September 13,
2013 (2013 Guidance).12 EPA developed
this document to provide states with upto-date guidance for infrastructure SIPs
for any new or revised NAAQS. Within
this guidance, EPA describes the duty of
states to make infrastructure SIP
submissions to meet basic structural SIP
requirements within three years of
promulgation of a new or revised
NAAQS. EPA also made
recommendations about many specific
subsections of section 110(a)(2) that are
relevant in the context of infrastructure
SIP submissions.13 The guidance also
discusses the substantively important
issues that are germane to certain
subsections of section 110(a)(2).
Significantly, EPA interprets sections
110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) such that
infrastructure SIP submissions need to
address certain issues and need not
address others. Accordingly, EPA
reviews each infrastructure SIP
submission for compliance with the
applicable statutory provisions of
section 110(a)(2), as appropriate.
As an example, section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)
is a required element of section
110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP
submissions. Under this element, a state
11 EPA notes, however, that nothing in the CAA
requires EPA to provide guidance or to promulgate
regulations for infrastructure SIP submissions. The
CAA directly applies to states and requires the
submission of infrastructure SIP submissions,
regardless of whether or not EPA provides guidance
or regulations pertaining to such submissions. EPA
elects to issue such guidance in order to assist
states, as appropriate.
12 ‘‘Guidance on Infrastructure State
Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean
Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2),’’
Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13,
2013.
13 EPA’s September 13, 2013, guidance did not
make recommendations with respect to
infrastructure SIP submissions to address section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). EPA issued the guidance shortly
after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the
D.C. Circuit decision in EME Homer City, 696 F.3d7
(D.C. Cir. 2012) which had interpreted the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In light of
the uncertainty created by ongoing litigation, EPA
elected not to provide additional guidance on the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that
time. As the guidance is neither binding nor
required by statute, whether EPA elects to provide
guidance on a particular section has no impact on
a state’s CAA obligations.
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must meet the substantive requirements
of section 128, which pertain to state
boards that approve permits or
enforcement orders and heads of
executive agencies with similar powers.
Thus, EPA reviews infrastructure SIP
submissions to ensure that the state’s
implementation plan appropriately
addresses the requirements of section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and section 128. The
2013 Guidance explains EPA’s
interpretation that there may be a
variety of ways by which states can
appropriately address these substantive
statutory requirements, depending on
the structure of an individual state’s
permitting or enforcement program (e.g.,
whether permits and enforcement
orders are approved by a multi-member
board or by a head of an executive
agency). However they are addressed by
the state, the substantive requirements
of section 128 are necessarily included
in EPA’s evaluation of infrastructure SIP
submissions because section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) explicitly requires that
the state satisfy the provisions of section
128.
As another example, EPA’s review of
infrastructure SIP submissions with
respect to the PSD program
requirements in sections 110(a)(2)(C),
(D)(i)(II), and (J) focuses upon the
structural PSD program requirements
contained in part C and EPA’s PSD
regulations. Structural PSD program
requirements include provisions
necessary for the PSD program to
address all regulated sources and NSR
pollutants, including GHGs. By contrast,
structural PSD program requirements do
not include provisions that are not
required under EPA’s regulations at 40
CFR 51.166 but are merely available as
an option for the state, such as the
option to provide grandfathering of
complete permit applications with
respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Accordingly, the latter optional
provisions are types of provisions EPA
considers irrelevant in the context of an
infrastructure SIP action.
For other section 110(a)(2) elements,
however, EPA’s review of a state’s
infrastructure SIP submission focuses
on assuring that the state’s
implementation plan meets basic
structural requirements. For example,
section 110(a)(2)(C) includes, inter alia,
the requirement that states have a
program to regulate minor new sources.
Thus, EPA evaluates whether the state
has an EPA-approved minor new source
review program and whether the
program addresses the pollutants
relevant to that NAAQS. In the context
of acting on an infrastructure SIP
submission, however, EPA does not
think it is necessary to conduct a review
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of each and every provision of a state’s
existing minor source program (i.e.,
already in the existing SIP) for
compliance with the requirements of the
CAA and EPA’s regulations that pertain
to such programs.
With respect to certain other issues,
EPA does not believe that an action on
a state’s infrastructure SIP submission is
necessarily the appropriate type of
action in which to address possible
deficiencies in a state’s existing SIP.
These issues include: (i) Existing
provisions related to excess emissions
from sources during periods of startup,
shutdown, or malfunction that may be
contrary to the CAA and EPA’s policies
addressing such excess emissions
(‘‘SSM’’); (ii) existing provisions related
to ‘‘director’s variance’’ or ‘‘director’s
discretion’’ that may be contrary to the
CAA because they purport to allow
revisions to SIP-approved emissions
limits while limiting public process or
not requiring further approval by EPA;
and (iii) existing provisions for PSD
programs that may be inconsistent with
current requirements of EPA’s ‘‘Final
NSR Improvement Rule,’’ 67 FR 80186
(December 31, 2002), as amended by 72
FR 32526 (June 13, 2007) (‘‘NSR
Reform’’). Thus, EPA believes it may
approve an infrastructure SIP
submission without scrutinizing the
totality of the existing SIP for such
potentially deficient provisions and may
approve the submission even if it is
aware of such existing provisions.14 It is
important to note that EPA’s approval of
a state’s infrastructure SIP submission
should not be construed as explicit or
implicit re-approval of any existing
potentially deficient provisions that
relate to the three specific issues just
described.
EPA’s approach to review of
infrastructure SIP submissions is to
identify the CAA requirements that are
logically applicable to that submission.
EPA believes that this approach to the
review of a particular infrastructure SIP
submission is appropriate, because it
would not be reasonable to read the
general requirements of section
110(a)(1) and the list of elements in
110(a)(2) as requiring review of each
and every provision of a state’s existing
SIP against all requirements in the CAA
and EPA regulations merely for
purposes of assuring that the state in
question has the basic structural
14 By contrast, EPA notes that if a state were to
include a new provision in an infrastructure SIP
submission that contained a legal deficiency, such
as a new exemption for excess emissions during
SSM events, then EPA would need to evaluate that
provision for compliance against the rubric of
applicable CAA requirements in the context of the
action on the infrastructure SIP.
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elements for a functioning SIP for a new
or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have
grown by accretion over the decades as
statutory and regulatory requirements
under the CAA have evolved, they may
include some outmoded provisions and
historical artifacts. These provisions,
while not fully up to date, nevertheless
may not pose a significant problem for
the purposes of ‘‘implementation,
maintenance, and enforcement’’ of a
new or revised NAAQS when EPA
evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure
SIP submission. EPA believes that a
better approach is for states and EPA to
focus attention on those elements of
section 110(a)(2) of the CAA most likely
to warrant a specific SIP revision due to
the promulgation of a new or revised
NAAQS or other factors.
For example, EPA’s 2013 Guidance
gives simpler recommendations with
respect to carbon monoxide than other
NAAQS pollutants to meet the visibility
requirements of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), because carbon
monoxide does not affect visibility. As
a result, an infrastructure SIP
submission for any future new or
revised NAAQS for carbon monoxide
need only state this fact in order to
address the visibility prong of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
Finally, EPA believes that its
approach with respect to infrastructure
SIP requirements is based on a
reasonable reading of sections 110(a)(1)
and 110(a)(2) because the CAA provides
other avenues and mechanisms to
address specific substantive deficiencies
in existing SIPs. These other statutory
tools allow EPA to take appropriately
tailored action, depending upon the
nature and severity of the alleged SIP
deficiency. Section 110(k)(5) authorizes
EPA to issue a ‘‘SIP call’’ whenever the
Agency determines that a state’s
implementation plan is substantially
inadequate to attain or maintain the
NAAQS, to mitigate interstate transport,
or to otherwise comply with the CAA.15
Section 110(k)(6) authorizes EPA to
correct errors in past actions, such as
past approvals of SIP submissions.16
15 For example, EPA issued a SIP call to Utah to
address specific existing SIP deficiencies related to
the treatment of excess emissions during SSM
events. See ‘‘Finding of Substantial Inadequacy of
Implementation Plan; Call for Utah State
Implementation Plan Revisions,’’ 74 FR 21639
(April 18, 2011).
16 EPA has used this authority to correct errors in
past actions on SIP submissions related to PSD
programs. See ‘‘Limitation of Approval of
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions
Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in
State Implementation Plans; Final Rule,’’ 75 FR
82536 (December 30, 2010). EPA has previously
used its authority under CAA section 110(k)(6) to
remove numerous other SIP provisions that the
Agency determined it had approved in error. See,
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Significantly, EPA’s determination that
an action on a state’s infrastructure SIP
submission is not the appropriate time
and place to address all potential
existing SIP deficiencies does not
preclude EPA’s subsequent reliance on
provisions in section 110(a)(2) as part of
the basis for action to correct those
deficiencies at a later time. For example,
although it may not be appropriate to
require a state to eliminate all existing
inappropriate director’s discretion
provisions in the course of acting on an
infrastructure SIP submission, EPA
believes that section 110(a)(2)(A) may be
among the statutory bases that EPA
relies upon in the course of addressing
such deficiency in a subsequent
action.17
IV. What is EPA’s analysis of how
Florida addressed the elements of the
sections 110(a)(1) and (2)
‘‘infrastructure’’ provisions?
Below is a discussion of the Florida
submission organized by each of the
sub-elements found in sections 110(a)(1)
and (2).
1. 110(a)(2)(A) Emission limits and
other control measures: Section
110(a)(2)(A) requires that each
implementation plan include
enforceable emission limitations and
other control measures, means, or
techniques (including economic
incentives such as fees, marketable
permits, and auctions of emissions
rights), as well as schedules and
timetables for compliance, as may be
necessary or appropriate to meet the
applicable requirements. There are
several regulations within Florida
Administrative Code (F.A.C.) relevant to
air quality control regulations which
include enforceable emission
limitations and other control measures.
Chapters 62–204, F.A.C., Air Pollution
Control Provisions; 62–210, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources—General
Requirements; 62–212, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources—Preconstruction
Review; 62–296, F.A.C., Stationary
Sources—Emissions Standards; and 62–
297, F.A.C., Stationary Sources—
Emissions Monitoring, establish
emission limits for NO2 and address the
e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62 FR 34641
(June 27, 1997) (corrections to American Samoa,
Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada SIPs); 69
FR 67062 (November 16, 2004) (corrections to
California SIP); and 74 FR 57051 (November 3,
2009) (corrections to Arizona and Nevada SIPs).
17 See, e.g., EPA’s disapproval of a SIP submission
from Colorado on the grounds that it would have
included a director’s discretion provision
inconsistent with CAA requirements, including
section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR 42342 at 42344
(July 21, 2010) (proposed disapproval of director’s
discretion provisions); 76 FR 4540 (Jan. 26, 2011)
(final disapproval of such provisions).
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required control measures, means and
techniques for compliance with the
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS respectively.
Additionally, the following sections of
the Florida Statutes provide FDEP the
authority to conduct certain actions in
support of this infrastructure element.
Section 403.061(9), Florida Statutes,
authorizes FDEP to ‘‘[a]dopt a
comprehensive program for the
prevention, control, and abatement of
pollution of the air . . . of the state,’’
and section 403.8055, Florida Statutes,
authorizes FDEP to ‘‘[a]dopt rules
substantively identical to regulations
adopted in the Federal Register by the
United States Environmental Protection
Agency pursuant to federal law . . .’’
EPA has made the preliminary
determination that the provisions
contained in these chapters satisfy
section 110(a)(2)(A) for the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS in the State.
In this action, EPA is not proposing to
approve or disapprove any existing
State provisions with regard to excess
emissions during start up, shut down,
and malfunction (SSM) of operations at
a facility. EPA believes that a number of
states have SSM provisions which are
contrary to the CAA and existing EPA
guidance, ‘‘State Implementation Plans:
Policy Regarding Excess Emissions
During Malfunctions, Startup, and
Shutdown’’ (September 20, 1999), and
the Agency is addressing such state
regulations in a separate action.18
Additionally, in this action, EPA is
not proposing to approve or disapprove
any existing State rules with regard to
director’s discretion or variance
provisions. EPA believes that a number
of states have such provisions which are
contrary to the CAA and existing EPA
guidance (52 FR 45109 (November 24,
1987)), and the Agency plans to take
action in the future to address such state
regulations. In the meantime, EPA
encourages any state having a director’s
discretion or variance provision which
is contrary to the CAA and EPA
guidance to take steps to correct the
deficiency as soon as possible.
2. 110(a)(2)(B) Ambient air quality
monitoring/data system: With respect to
Florida’s infrastructure SIP submission
related to the ambient air quality
monitoring and data system, EPA is not
proposing any action today regarding
these requirements and instead will act
18 On June 12, 2015, EPA published a final action
entitled, ‘‘State Implementation Plans: Response to
Petition for Rulemaking; Restatement and Update of
EPA’s SSM Policy Applicable to SIPs; Findings of
Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls to Amend
Provisions Applying to Excess Emissions During
Periods of Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction.’’
See 80 FR 33840.
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on this portion of the submission in a
separate action.
3. 110(a)(2)(C) Programs for
enforcement of control measures and for
construction or modification of
stationary sources: This element
consists of three sub-elements;
enforcement, state-wide regulation of
new and modified minor sources and
minor modifications of major sources;
and preconstruction permitting of major
sources and major modifications in
areas designated attainment or
unclassifiable for the subject NAAQS as
required by CAA title I part C (i.e., the
major source PSD program). As
discussed further below, in this action
EPA is only proposing to approve the
enforcement and the regulation of minor
sources and minor modifications
aspects of Florida’s section 110(a)(2)(C)
infrastructure SIP submission.
Enforcement: Florida cites to Section
403.061(6), Florida Statutes, which
requires FDEP to ‘‘[e]xercise general
supervision of the administration and
enforcement of the laws, rules, and
regulations pertaining to air and water
pollution.’’ Section 403.121, Florida
Statutes, authorizes FDEP to seek
judicial and administrative remedies,
including civil penalties, injunctive
relief, and criminal prosecution for
violations of any FDEP rule or permit.
These provisions provide FDEP with
authority for enforcement of NO2
emission limits and control measures.
Preconstruction PSD Permitting for
Major Sources: With respect to Florida’s
January 22, 2013, infrastructure SIP
submission related to the
preconstruction PSD permitting
requirements for major sources of
section 110(a)(2)(C), EPA took final
action to approve these provisions for
the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS on March
18, 2015. See 80 FR 14019.
Regulation of minor sources and
modifications: Section 110(a)(2)(C) also
requires the SIP to include provisions
that govern the minor source program
that regulates emissions of the 2010 1hour NO2 NAAQS. FDEP’s SIPapproved rule Chapters 62–204, F.A.C.,
Air Pollution Control Provisions, 62–
210, F.A.C., Stationary Sources—
General Requirements, 62–212, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources—Preconstruction
Review apply to minor sources and
minor modifications as well as major
stationary sources and modifications.
EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida’s SIP is
adequate for program enforcement of
control measures and regulation of
minor sources and modifications related
to the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
4. 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) and (II) Interstate
pollution transport: Section
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110(a)(2)(D)(i) has two components;
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) and 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
Each of these components have two
subparts resulting in 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 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
interfering with measures required to
prevent significant deterioration of air
quality in another state (‘‘prong 3’’), or
to protect visibility in another state
(‘‘prong 4’’).
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)—prongs 1 and 2:
EPA is not proposing any action in this
rulemaking related to the interstate
transport provisions pertaining to the
contribution to nonattainment or
interference with maintenance in other
states of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)
(prongs 1 and 2) because Florida’s 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS infrastructure
submission did not address prongs 1
and 2.
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)—prong 3: With
respect to Florida’s infrastructure SIP
submission related to the interstate
transport requirements for PSD of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) (prong 3), EPA
took final action to approve Florida’s
January 22, 2013, infrastructure SIP
submission regarding prong 3 of D(i) for
the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS on March
18, 2015. See 80 FR 14019.
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)—prong 4: Section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires that the SIP
contain adequate provisions to protect
visibility in other states. In its submittal,
Florida cited to EPA’s proposed
approval of the State’s regional haze
SIP, which EPA fully approved.19
Federal regulations require that a state’s
regional haze SIP contain a long-term
strategy to address regional haze
visibility impairment in each Class I
area within the state and each Class I
area outside the state that may be
affected by emissions from the state.20 A
state participating in a regional planning
process, such as Florida, must include
all measures needed to achieve its
apportionment of emissions reduction
obligations agreed upon through that
19 See 77 FR 71111 (November 29, 2012); 78 FR
53250 (August 29, 2013).
20 See 40 CFR 51.308(d).
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process.21 EPA’s approval of Florida’s
regional haze SIP therefore ensures that
emissions from Florida are not
interfering with measures to protect
visibility in other states, satisfying the
requirements of prong 4 of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) for the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS.22 Thus, EPA has made the
preliminary determination that Florida’s
infrastructure SIP submission for the
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS meets the
requirements of prong 4 of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
5. 110(a)(2)(D)(ii): Interstate Pollution
Abatement and International Air
Pollution: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii)
requires SIPs to include provisions
ensuring compliance with sections 115
and 126 of the Act, relating to interstate
and international pollution abatement.
Chapters 62–204, F.A.C., Air Pollution
Control Provisions ; 62–210, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources—General
Requirements, and 62–212, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources—Preconstruction
Review of the Florida SIP outlines how
Florida will notify neighboring states of
potential impacts from new or modified
sources. EPA is unaware of any pending
obligations for the State of Florida
pursuant to sections 115 or 126 of the
CAA. EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida’s SIP and
practices are adequate for insuring
compliance with the applicable
requirements relating to interstate and
international pollution abatement for
the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
6. 110(a)(2)(E) Adequate resources
and authority, conflict of interest, and
oversight of local governments and
regional agencies: Section 110(a)(2)(E)
requires that each implementation plan
21 See, e.g., 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3)(ii). Florida
participated in the Visibility Improvement State
and Tribal Association of the Southeast regional
planning organization, a collaborative effort of state
governments, tribal governments, and various
Federal agencies established to initiate and
coordinate activities associated with the
management of regional haze, visibility, and other
air quality issues in the Southeastern United States.
Member state and tribal governments included:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Virginia, West Virginia, and the Eastern Band of the
Cherokee Indians.
22 See EPA’s September 13, 2013, guidance
document entitled ‘‘Guidance on Infrastructure
State Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under
Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2)’’ at
pp. 32–35, available at: https://www.epa.gov/air/
urbanair/sipstatus/infrastructure.html; see also
memorandum from William T. Harnett, Director,
Air Quality Policy Division, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, to Regional Air Division
Directors, entitled ‘‘Guidance on SIP Elements
Required Under Sections 110(1)(1) and (2) for the
2006 24-Hour Fine Particle (PM2.5) National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
(September 25, 2009) at pp. 5–6, available at: https://
www.epa.gov/ttn/caaa/t1/memoranda/20090925_
harnett_pm25_sip_110a12.pdf.
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provide (i) necessary assurances that the
State will have adequate personnel,
funding, and authority under state law
to carry out its implementation plan, (ii)
that the State comply with the
requirements respecting State Boards
pursuant to section 128 of the Act, and
(iii) necessary assurances that, where
the State has relied on a local or
regional government, agency, or
instrumentality for the implementation
of any plan provision, the State has
responsibility for ensuring adequate
implementation of such plan provisions.
EPA is proposing to approve Florida’s
SIP as meeting the requirements of
section 110(a)(2)(E). EPA’s rationale for
today’s proposal respecting each
requirement of section 110(a)(2)(E) is
described in turn below.
In support of EPA’s proposal to
approve sub-elements 110(a)(2)(E)(i) and
(iii), FDEP’s infrastructure submission
demonstrates that FDEP is responsible
for promulgating rules and regulations
for the NAAQS, emissions standards,
general policies, a system of permits,
and fee schedules for the review of
plans, and other planning needs.
Section 403.061(2), Florida Statutes,
authorizes FDEP to ‘‘[h]ire only such
employees as may be necessary to
effectuate the responsibilities of the
department.’’ Section 403.061(4),
Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP to
‘‘[s]ecure necessary scientific, technical,
research, administrative, and
operational services by interagency
agreement, by contract, or otherwise.’’
Section 403.061(35), Florida Statutes,
authorizes FDEP to exercise the duties,
powers, and responsibilities required of
the state under the federal CAA. Section
403.182, Florida Statutes, authorizes
FDEP to approve local pollution control
programs, and provides for the State air
pollution control program administered
by FDEP to supersede a local program
if FDEP determines that an approved
local program is inadequate and the
locality fails to take the necessary
corrective actions. Section 320.03(6),
Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP to
establish an Air Pollution Control Trust
Fund and use a $1 fee on every motor
vehicle license registration sold in the
State for air pollution control purposes.
As evidence of the adequacy of FDEP’s
resources, EPA submitted a letter to
Florida on April 19, 2016, outlining
section 105 grant commitments and the
current status of these commitments for
fiscal year 2015. The letter EPA
submitted to Florida can be accessed at
www.regulations.gov using Docket ID
No. EPA–R04–OAR–2014–0507.
Annually, states update these grant
commitments based on current SIP
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requirements, air quality planning, and
applicable requirements related to the
NAAQS. Florida satisfactorily met all
commitments agreed to in the Air
Planning Agreement for fiscal year 2013,
therefore Florida’s grants were finalized.
EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida has adequate
resources and authority for
implementation of the 2010 1-hour NO2
NAAQS.
Section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) requires that
the state comply with section 128 of the
CAA. Section 128 requires that the SIP
provide: (1) The majority of members of
the state board or body which approves
permits or enforcement orders represent
the public interest and do not derive
any significant portion of their income
from persons subject to permitting or
enforcement orders under the CAA; and
(2) any potential conflicts of interest by
such board or body, or the head of an
executive agency with similar powers be
adequately disclosed.
For purposes of section 128(a)(1),
Florida has no boards or bodies with
authority over air pollution permits or
enforcement actions. Such matters are
instead handled by an appointed
Secretary. Appeals of final
administrative orders and permits are
available only through the judicial
appellate process described at Florida
Statute 120.68, F.S., Judicial review. As
such, a ‘‘board or body’’ is not
responsible for approving permits or
enforcement orders in Florida, and the
requirements of section 128(a)(1) are not
applicable.
Regarding section 128(a)(2), on July
30, 2012, EPA approved Florida statutes
into the SIP to comply with section 128
respecting state boards. See 77 FR
44485. Specifically, the following
provisions of Florida Statutes,
112.3143(4), F.S., Voting conflicts and
112.3144, F.S, Full and public
disclosure of financial interests were
incorporated into the SIP to satisfy the
conflict of interest provisions applicable
to the head of FDEP and all public
officers within the Department. EPA has
made the preliminary determination
that the State has adequately addressed
the requirements of section 128(a)(2),
and accordingly has met the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)
with respect to infrastructure SIP
requirements.
Therefore, EPA is proposing to
approve Florida’s infrastructure SIP
submission as meeting the requirements
of sub-elements 110(a)(2)(E)(i), (ii) and
(iii).
7. 110(a)(2)(F) Stationary source
monitoring and reporting: Section
110(a)(2)(F) requires SIPs to meet
applicable requirements addressing (i)
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the installation, maintenance, and
replacement of equipment, and the
implementation of other necessary
steps, by owners or operators of
stationary sources to monitor emissions
from such sources, (ii) periodic reports
on the nature and amounts of emissions
and emissions related data from such
sources, and (iii) correlation of such
reports by the state agency with any
emission limitations or standards
established pursuant to this section,
which reports shall be available at
reasonable times for public inspection.
FDEP’s infrastructure SIP submission
describes the establishment of
requirements for compliance testing by
emissions sampling and analysis, and
for emissions and operation monitoring
to ensure the quality of data in the State.
The Florida infrastructure SIP
submission also describes how the
major source and minor source emission
inventory programs collect emission
data throughout the State and ensure the
quality of such data. Florida meets these
requirements through Chapters 62–204,
62–210, 62–212, 62–296, and 62–297,
F.A.C., which require emissions
monitoring and reporting for activities
that contribute to NO2 concentrations in
the air, including requirements for the
installation, calibration, maintenance,
and operation of equipment for
continuously monitoring or recording
emissions, or provide authority for
FDEP to establish such emissions
monitoring and reporting requirements
through SIP-approved permits and
require reporting of NO2 emissions.
The following sections of the Florida
Statutes provide FDEP the authority to
conduct certain actions in support of
this infrastructure element. Section
403.061(13) authorizes FDEP to
‘‘[r]equire persons engaged in operations
which may result in pollution to file
reports which may contain . . . any
other such information as the
department shall prescribe . . .’’.
Section 403.8055 authorizes FDEP to
‘‘[a]dopt rules substantively identical to
regulations adopted in the Federal
Register by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency
pursuant to federal law. . . .’’
Section 90.401, Florida Statutes,
defines relevant evidence as evidence
tending to prove or disprove a material
fact. Section 90.402, Florida Statutes,
states that all relevant evidence is
admissible except as provided by law.
EPA is unaware of any provision
preventing the use of credible evidence
in the Florida SIP.23
23 ‘‘Credible Evidence’’ makes allowances for
owners and/or operators to utilize ‘‘any credible
evidence or information relevant’’ to demonstrate
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Additionally, Florida is required to
submit emissions data to EPA for
purposes of the National Emissions
Inventory (NEI). The NEI is EPA’s
central repository for air emissions data.
EPA published the Air Emissions
Reporting Rule (AERR) on December 5,
2008, which modified the requirements
for collecting and reporting air
emissions data (73 FR 76539). The
AERR shortened the time states had to
report emissions data from 17 to 12
months, giving states one calendar year
to submit emissions data. All states are
required to submit a comprehensive
emissions inventory every three years
and report emissions for certain larger
sources annually through EPA’s online
Emissions Inventory System. States
report emissions data for the six criteria
pollutants and the precursors that form
them—nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide,
ammonia, lead, carbon monoxide,
particulate matter, and volatile organic
compounds. Many states also
voluntarily report emissions of
hazardous air pollutants. Florida made
its latest update to the NEI on November
5, 2014. EPA compiles the emissions
data, supplementing it where necessary,
and releases it to the general public
through the Web site https://
www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/
eiinformation.html. EPA has made the
preliminary determination that Florida’s
SIP and practices are adequate for the
stationary source monitoring systems
related to the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
Accordingly, EPA is proposing to
approve Florida’s infrastructure SIP
submission with respect to section
110(a)(2)(F).
8. 110(a)(2)(G) Emergency powers:
This section requires that states
demonstrate authority comparable with
section 303 of the CAA and adequate
contingency plans to implement such
authority. Florida’s infrastructure SIP
submission identifies air pollution
emergency episodes and preplanned
abatement strategies as outlined in
Florida Statutes 403.131, Injunctive
relief, remedies, and 120.569(2)(n),
Decisions which affect substantial
interests. Section 403.131 authorizes
FDEP to enforce compliance with any
rule, regulation or permit, order, to
enjoin any violation specified in Section
403.061(1) or Florida Statutes. Section
403.061(1) authorizes injunctive relief to
prevent irreparable injury to the air,
waters, and property, including animal,
plant, and aquatic life, of the State and
compliance with applicable requirements if the
appropriate performance or compliance test had
been performed, for the purpose of submitting
compliance certification and can be used to
establish whether or not an owner or operator has
violated or is in violation of any rule or standard.
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to protect human health, safety, and
welfare caused or threatened by any
violation. Section 120.569(2)(n)
authorizes FDEP to issue emergency
orders to address immediate dangers to
public health, safety or welfare. These
statutes were submitted for inclusion
into the SIP to satisfy the requirements
of section 110(a)(2)(G) of the CAA and
were approved by EPA on July 30, 2012.
See 77 FR 44485. EPA has made the
preliminary determination that Florida’s
SIP and practices are adequate for
emergency powers related to the 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
9. 110(a)(2)(H) SIP revisions: Section
110(a)(2)(H), in summary, requires each
SIP to provide for revisions of such plan
(i) as may be necessary to take account
of revisions of such national primary or
secondary ambient air quality standard
or the availability of improved or more
expeditious methods of attaining such
standard, and (ii) whenever the
Administrator finds that the plan is
substantially inadequate to attain the
NAAQS or to otherwise comply with
any additional applicable requirements.
FDEP is responsible for adopting air
quality rules and revising SIPs as
needed to attain or maintain the
NAAQS in Florida. Florida Statutes
subsection 403.061(35) grants FDEP the
broad authority to implement the CAA;
also, subsection 403.061(9), F.S.,
authorizes FDEP to adopt a
comprehensive program for the
prevention, control, and abatement of
pollution of the air . . . of the state, and
from time to time review and modify
such programs as necessary. FDEP has
the ability and authority to respond to
calls for SIP revisions, and has provided
a number of SIP revisions over the years
for implementation of the NAAQS.
Florida does not have any
nonattainment areas for the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS but has made an
infrastructure submission for this
standard, which is the subject of this
rulemaking. EPA has made the
preliminary determination that Florida’s
SIP and practices adequately
demonstrate a commitment to provide
future SIP revisions related to the 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS when necessary.
10. 110(a)(2)(J) Consultation with
government officials, public
notification, and PSD and visibility
protection: EPA is proposing to approve
Florida’s infrastructure SIP submission
for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS with
respect to the general requirement in
section 110(a)(2)(J) to include a program
in the SIP that provides for meeting the
applicable consultation requirements of
section 121, the public notification
requirements of section 127; and
visibility protection requirements of
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part C of the Act. With respect to
Florida’s infrastructure SIP submission
related to the preconstruction PSD
permitting requirements of section
110(a)(2)(J), EPA took final action to
approve Florida’s January 22, 2013,
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS infrastructure
SIP for theses requirements on March
18, 2015. See 80 FR 14019. EPA’s
rationale for its proposed action
regarding applicable consultation
requirements of section 121, the public
notification requirements of section 127,
and visibility protection requirements is
described below.
Consultation with government
officials (121 consultation): Section
110(a)(2)(J) of the CAA requires states to
provide a process for consultation with
local governments, designated
organizations and federal land managers
(FLMs) carrying out NAAQS
implementation requirements pursuant
to section 121 relative to consultation.
Chapters 62–204, F.A.C., Air Pollution
Control Provisions, 62–210, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources—General
Requirements and 62–212, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources—Preconstruction
Review, as well as Florida’s Regional
Haze Implementation Plan (which
allows for consultation between
appropriate state, local, and tribal air
pollution control agencies as well as the
corresponding FLMs), provide for
consultation with government officials
whose jurisdictions might be affected by
SIP development activities. Florida
adopted state-wide consultation
procedures for the implementation of
transportation conformity.
Implementation of transportation
conformity as outlined in the
consultation procedures requires FDEP
to consult with federal, state and local
transportation and air quality agency
officials on the development of motor
vehicle emissions budgets for the SIP.
EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida’s SIP and
practices adequately demonstrate
consultation with government officials
related to the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS
when necessary.
Public notification (127 public
notification): Section 403.061(21),
Florida Statutes authorizes FDEP to
advise, consult cooperate, and enter into
agreements with other entities affected
by the provisions of this act, rules, or
policies of the department. Section
403.061(20) Florida Statues authorizes
FDEP to collect and disseminate
information relating to pollution. FDEP
has public notice mechanisms in place
to notify the public of NO2 and other
pollutant forecasting, including an air
quality monitoring Web site providing
alerts, https://www.dep.state.fl.us/air/
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air_quality/countyaqi.htm. EPA has
made the preliminary determination
that Florida’s SIP and practices
adequately demonstrate the State’s
ability to provide public notification
related to the 2010 NO2 NAAQS when
necessary.
Visibility protection: EPA’s 2013
Guidance notes that it does not treat the
visibility protection aspects of section
110(a)(2)(J) as applicable for purposes of
the infrastructure SIP approval process.
FDEP referenced its regional haze
program as germane to the visibility
component of section 110(a)(2)(J). EPA
recognizes that states are subject to
visibility protection and regional haze
program requirements under Part C of
the Act (which includes sections 169A
and 169B). However, there are no newly
applicable visibility protection
obligations after the promulgation of a
new or revised NAAQS. Thus, EPA has
determined that states do not need to
address the visibility component of
110(a)(2)(J) in infrastructure SIP
submittals so FDEP does not need to
rely on its regional haze program to
fulfill its obligations under section
110(a)(2)(J). As such, EPA has made the
preliminary determination that the
visibility protection element of section
110(a)(2)(J) is approvable and that
Florida does not need to rely on its
regional haze program for this element.
11. 110(a)(2)(K) Air quality modeling
and submission of modeling data:
Section 110(a)(2)(K) of the CAA requires
that SIPs provide for performing air
quality modeling so that effects on air
quality of emissions from NAAQS
pollutants can be predicted and
submission of such data to the EPA can
be made. Chapter 62–204.800, F.A.C.,
Federal Regulations Adopted by
Reference, incorporates by reference 40
CFR 52.21(l), which specifies that air
modeling be conducted in accordance
with 40 CFR part 51, Appendix W
‘‘Guideline on Air Quality Models.’’
Chapters 62–210 and 62–212 require use
of EPA approved modeling related to
NO2 concentrations in ambient air.
Florida Statute 403.061(13) authorizes
FDEP to require persons to file reports
which may contain information used for
modeling and 403.061(18) authorizes
FDEP to encourage and conduct studies
related to pollution. FDEP has the
technical capability to conduct or
review all air quality modeling
associated with the NSR program and
SIP related modeling, except photo
chemical grid modeling which is
contracted out. Additionally, Florida
supports a regional effort to coordinate
the development of emissions
inventories and conduct regional
modeling for NOX, which includes NO2.
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Taken as a whole, Florida’s air quality
regulations and statutes demonstrate
that FDEP has the authority to provide
relevant data for the purpose of
predicting the effect on ambient air
quality of the 1-hour NO2 NAAQS. EPA
has made the preliminary determination
that Florida’s SIP and practices
adequately demonstrate the State’s
ability to provide for air quality
modeling, along with analysis of the
associated data, related to the 2010 1hour NO2 NAAQS when necessary.
12. 110(a)(2)(L) Permitting fees: This
element necessitates that the SIP require
the owner or operator of each major
stationary source to pay to the
permitting authority, as a condition of
any permit required under the CAA, a
fee sufficient to cover (i) the reasonable
costs of reviewing and acting upon any
application for such a permit, and (ii) if
the owner or operator receives a permit
for such source, the reasonable costs of
implementing and enforcing the terms
and conditions of any such permit (not
including any court costs or other costs
associated with any enforcement
action), until such fee requirement is
superseded with respect to such sources
by the Administrator’s approval of a fee
program under title V.
Funding for review of PSD and NNSR
permits comes from a processing fee,
submitted by permit applicants,
required by paragraph 403.087(6)(a) of
the Florida Statute.
These regulations demonstrate that
Florida has the authority to provide
FDEP ensures this is sufficient for the
reasonable cost of reviewing and acting
upon PSD and NNSR permits.
Additionally, Florida has a fully
approved title V operating permit
program at Chapter 62–213.300 F.A.C.24
that covers the cost of implementation
and enforcement of PSD and NNSR
permits after they have been issued.
EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida’s SIP and
practices adequately provide for
permitting fees related to the 2010 NO2
NAAQS, when necessary. Accordingly,
EPA is proposing to approve Florida’s
infrastructure SIP submission with
respect to section 110(a)(2)(L).
13. 110(a)(2)(M) Consultation and
participation by affected local entities:
This element requires states to provide
for consultation and participation in SIP
development by local political
subdivisions affected by the SIP. Florida
statute 403.061(21) authorizes FDEP to
‘‘[a]dvise, consult, cooperate and enter
into agreements with other agencies of
24 Title V program regulations are federallyapproved but not incorporated into the federallyapproved SIP.
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the state, the Federal Government, other
states, interstate agencies, groups,
political subdivisions, and industries
affected by the provisions of this act,
rules, or policies of the department.’’
Furthermore, FDEP has demonstrated
consultation with, and participation by,
affected local entities through its work
with local political subdivisions during
the developing of its Transportation
Conformity SIP and Regional Haze
Implementation Plan. EPA has made the
preliminary determination that Florida’s
SIP and practices adequately
demonstrate consultation with affected
local entities related to the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS when necessary.
V. Proposed Action
With the exception of the elements
related to the ambient air quality
monitoring and data system of section
110(a)(2)(B), the PSD permitting
requirements for major sources of
sections 110(a)(2)(C), prong 3 of D(i),
and (J), and the interstate transport
provisions pertaining to the
contribution to nonattainment or
interference with maintenance in other
states of prongs 1 and 2 of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i), EPA is proposing to
approve Florida’s January 22, 2013, SIP
submission to incorporate provisions
into the Florida SIP to address
infrastructure requirements for the 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS. EPA is proposing
to approve portions of Florida’s
infrastructure submission for the 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS because this
submission is consistent with section
110 of the CAA.
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VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
Act and applicable federal regulations.
See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions,
EPA’s role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the CAA. Accordingly, this proposed
action merely approves 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 Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
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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).
The SIP is not approved to apply on
any Indian reservation land or in any
other area where EPA or an Indian tribe
has demonstrated that a tribe has
jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian
country, the rule does not have tribal
implications as specified by Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000), nor will it 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, Intergovernmental relations,
Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Volatile
organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: July 8, 2016.
Heather McTeer Toney,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2016–17055 Filed 7–19–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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47103
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R10–OAR–2016–0133, FRL–9949–33–
Region 10]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Alaska:
Infrastructure Requirements for the
2010 Nitrogen Dioxide and 2010 Sulfur
Dioxide Standards
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
Whenever a new or revised
National Ambient Air Quality Standard
(NAAQS) is promulgated, states must
submit a plan for the implementation,
maintenance and enforcement of such
standard, commonly referred to as
infrastructure requirements. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is proposing to approve the May 12,
2015 Alaska State Implementation Plan
(SIP) submission as meeting the
infrastructure requirements for the 2010
nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and 2010 sulfur
dioxide (SO2) NAAQS.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before August 19, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R10–
OAR–2016–0133, at https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or removed from https://
www.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
the disclosure of which 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.
Docket: All documents in the
electronic docket are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 20, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47094-47103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17055]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R04-OAR-2014-0507; FRL-9949-30-Region 4]
Air Plan Approval; Florida; Infrastructure Requirements for the
2010 Nitrogen Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standard
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, submitted by
the State of Florida, through the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP), on January 22, 2013, for inclusion into the Florida
SIP. This proposal pertains to the infrastructure requirements of the
Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2010 1-hour nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The CAA
requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation,
maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is
commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure SIP submission.'' FDEP
certified that the Florida SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in
Florida. With the exception of provisions pertaining to the ambient air
quality monitoring and data system, prevention of significant
deterioration (PSD) permitting and interstate transport provisions
pertaining to the contribution to nonattainment or interference with
maintenance in other states, EPA is proposing to find that Florida's
infrastructure SIP submission, provided to EPA on January 22, 2013,
satisfies certain required infrastructure elements for the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 19, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2014-0507 at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot
be
[[Page 47095]]
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: Richard Wong, 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. Wong can be reached via electronic mail at
wong.richard@epa.gov or via telephone at (404) 562-8726.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Overview
On February 9, 2010, EPA published a new 1-hour primary NAAQS for
NO2 at a level of 100 parts per billion (ppb), based on a 3-
year average of the 98th percentile of the yearly distribution of 1-
hour daily maximum concentrations. See 75 FR 6474. Pursuant to section
110(a)(1) of the CAA, states are required to submit SIPs meeting the
requirements of section 110(a)(2) within three years after promulgation
of a new or revised NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2) requires states to address
basic SIP requirements, including emissions inventories, monitoring,
and modeling to assure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. States
were required to submit such SIPs for the 2010 1-hour NO2
NAAQS to EPA no later than January 22, 2013.\1\
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\1\ In these infrastructure SIP submissions States generally
certify evidence of compliance with sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of
the CAA through a combination of state regulations and statutes,
some of which have been incorporated into the federally-approved
SIP. In addition, certain federally-approved, non-SIP regulations
may also be appropriate for demonstrating compliance with sections
110(a)(1) and (2). Throughout this rulemaking, unless otherwise
indicated, the term ``Florida Administrative Code'' or ``F.A.C.''
indicates that the cited regulation has been approved into Florida's
federally-approved SIP. The term ``Florida statute'' or ``F.S.''
indicates cited Florida state statutes, which are not a part of the
SIP unless otherwise indicated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this action, EPA is proposing to approve Florida's
infrastructure SIP submission for the applicable requirements of the
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS, with the exception of the ambient air
quality monitoring and data system requirements of section
110(a)(2)(B), the PSD permitting requirements for major sources of
sections 110(a)(2)(C), prong 3 of D(i), and (J) and the interstate
transport provisions pertaining to the contribution to nonattainment or
interference with maintenance in other states of prongs 1 and 2 of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). On March 18, 2015, EPA approved Florida's
January 22, 2013 infrastructure SIP submission regarding the PSD
permitting requirements for major sources of sections 110(a)(2)(C),
prong 3 of D(i), and (J) for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS. See
80 FR 14019. Therefore, EPA is not proposing any action today
pertaining to sections 110(a)(2)(C), prong 3 of D(i), and (J).
Additionally, EPA is not proposing action related to the ambient air
quality monitoring and data system of section 110(a)(2)(B) and prongs 1
and 2 of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). EPA will act on these provisions in a
separate action. For the aspects of Florida's submittal proposed for
approval today, EPA notes that the Agency is not approving any specific
rule, but rather proposing that Florida's already approved SIP meets
certain CAA requirements.
II. What elements are required under sections 110(a)(1) and (2)?
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires states to submit SIPs to provide
for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of a new or
revised NAAQS within three years following the promulgation of such
NAAQS, or within such shorter period as EPA may prescribe. Section
110(a) imposes the obligation upon states to make a SIP submission to
EPA for a new or revised NAAQS, but the contents of that submission may
vary depending upon the facts and circumstances. In particular, the
data and analytical tools available at the time the state develops and
submits the SIP for a new or revised NAAQS affects the content of the
submission. The contents of such SIP submissions may also vary
depending upon what provisions the state's existing SIP already
contains. In the case of the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS, states
typically have met the basic program elements required in section
110(a)(2) through earlier SIP submissions in connection with previous
NAAQS.
More specifically, section 110(a)(1) provides the procedural and
timing requirements for SIPs. Section 110(a)(2) lists specific elements
that states must meet for ``infrastructure'' SIP requirements related
to a newly established or revised NAAQS. As mentioned above, these
requirements include SIP infrastructure elements such as modeling,
monitoring, and emissions inventories that are designed to assure
attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. The requirements that are the
subject of this proposed rulemaking are listed below and in EPA's
September 13, 2013, memorandum entitled ``Guidance on Infrastructure
State Implementation Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean Air Act Sections
110(a)(1) and (2).'' \2\
\2\ Two elements identified in section 110(a)(2) are not
governed by the three year submission deadline of section 110(a)(1)
because SIPs incorporating necessary local nonattainment area
controls are not due within three years after promulgation of a new
or revised NAAQS, but rather due at the time the nonattainment area
plan requirements are due pursuant to section 172. These
requirements are: (1) Submissions required by section 110(a)(2)(C)
to the extent that subsection refers to a permit program as required
in part D Title I of the CAA; and (2) submissions required by
section 110(a)(2)(I) which pertain to the nonattainment planning
requirements of part D, Title I of the CAA. Today's proposed
rulemaking does not address infrastructure elements related to
section 110(a)(2)(I) or the nonattainment planning requirements of
110(a)(2)(C).
110(a)(2)(A): Emission Limits and Other Control Measures
110(a)(2)(B): Ambient Air Quality Monitoring/Data System
110(a)(2)(C): Programs for Enforcement of Control Measures and
for Construction or Modification of Stationary Sources \3\
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\3\ This rulemaking only addresses requirements for this element
as they relate to attainment areas.
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110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) and (II): Interstate Pollution Transport
110(a)(2)(D)(ii): Interstate Pollution Abatement and
International Air Pollution
110(a)(2)(E): Adequate Resources and Authority, Conflict of
Interest, and Oversight of Local Governments and Regional Agencies
110(a)(2)(F): Stationary Source Monitoring and Reporting
110(a)(2)(G): Emergency Powers
110(a)(2)(H): SIP revisions
110(a)(2)(I): Plan Revisions for Nonattainment Areas \4\
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\4\ As mentioned above, this element is not relevant to today's
proposed rulemaking.
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110(a)(2)(J): Consultation with Government Officials, Public
Notification, and PSD and Visibility Protection
[[Page 47096]]
110(a)(2)(K): Air Quality Modeling and Submission of Modeling
Data
110(a)(2)(L): Permitting fees
110(a)(2)(M): Consultation and Participation by Affected Local
Entities
III. What is EPA's approach to the review of infrastructure SIP
submissions?
EPA is acting upon the SIP submission from Florida that addresses
the infrastructure requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2)
for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS. The requirement for states to make a
SIP submission of this type arises out of CAA section 110(a)(1).
Pursuant to section 110(a)(1), states must make SIP submissions
``within 3 years (or such shorter period as the Administrator may
prescribe) after the promulgation of a national primary ambient air
quality standard (or any revision thereof),'' and these SIP submissions
are to provide for the ``implementation, maintenance, and enforcement''
of such NAAQS. The statute directly imposes on states the duty to make
these SIP submissions, and the requirement to make the submissions is
not conditioned upon EPA's taking any action other than promulgating a
new or revised NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2) includes a list of specific
elements that ``[e]ach such plan'' submission must address.
EPA has historically referred to these SIP submissions made for the
purpose of satisfying the requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) as ``infrastructure SIP'' submissions. Although the term
``infrastructure SIP'' does not appear in the CAA, EPA uses the term to
distinguish this particular type of SIP submission from submissions
that are intended to satisfy other SIP requirements under the CAA, such
as ``nonattainment SIP'' or ``attainment plan SIP'' submissions to
address the nonattainment planning requirements of part D of title I of
the CAA, ``regional haze SIP'' submissions required by EPA rule to
address the visibility protection requirements of CAA section 169A, and
nonattainment new source review permit program submissions to address
the permit requirements of CAA, title I, part D.
Section 110(a)(1) addresses the timing and general requirements for
infrastructure SIP submissions, and section 110(a)(2) provides more
details concerning the required contents of these submissions. The list
of required elements provided in section 110(a)(2) contains a wide
variety of disparate provisions, some of which pertain to required
legal authority, some of which pertain to required substantive program
provisions, and some of which pertain to requirements for both
authority and substantive program provisions.\5\ EPA therefore believes
that while the timing requirement in section 110(a)(1) is unambiguous,
some of the other statutory provisions are ambiguous. In particular,
EPA believes that the list of required elements for infrastructure SIP
submissions provided in section 110(a)(2) contains ambiguities
concerning what is required for inclusion in an infrastructure SIP
submission.
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\5\ For example: Section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) provides that states
must provide assurances that they have adequate legal authority
under state and local law to carry out the SIP; section 110(a)(2)(C)
provides that states must have a SIP-approved program to address
certain sources as required by part C of title I of the CAA; and
section 110(a)(2)(G) provides that states must have legal authority
to address emergencies as well as contingency plans that are
triggered in the event of such emergencies.
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The following examples of ambiguities illustrate the need for EPA
to interpret some section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2) requirements
with respect to infrastructure SIP submissions for a given new or
revised NAAQS. One example of ambiguity is that section 110(a)(2)
requires that ``each'' SIP submission must meet the list of
requirements therein, while EPA has long noted that this literal
reading of the statute is internally inconsistent and would create a
conflict with the nonattainment provisions in part D of title I of the
Act, which specifically address nonattainment SIP requirements.\6\
Section 110(a)(2)(I) pertains to nonattainment SIP requirements and
part D addresses when attainment plan SIP submissions to address
nonattainment area requirements are due. For example, section 172(b)
requires EPA to establish a schedule for submission of such plans for
certain pollutants when the Administrator promulgates the designation
of an area as nonattainment, and section 107(d)(1)(B) allows up to two
years, or in some cases three years, for such designations to be
promulgated.\7\ This ambiguity illustrates that rather than apply all
the stated requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a strict literal sense,
EPA must determine which provisions of section 110(a)(2) are applicable
for a particular infrastructure SIP submission.
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\6\ See, e.g., ``Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine
Particulate Matter and Ozone (Clean Air Interstate Rule); Revisions
to Acid Rain Program; Revisions to the NOX SIP Call;
Final Rule,'' 70 FR 25162, at 25163-65 (May 12, 2005) (explaining
relationship between timing requirement of section 110(a)(2)(D)
versus section 110(a)(2)(I)).
\7\ EPA notes that this ambiguity within section 110(a)(2) is
heightened by the fact that various subparts of part D set specific
dates for submission of certain types of SIP submissions in
designated nonattainment areas for various pollutants. Note, e.g.,
that section 182(a)(1) provides specific dates for submission of
emissions inventories for the ozone NAAQS. Some of these specific
dates are necessarily later than three years after promulgation of
the new or revised NAAQS.
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Another example of ambiguity within sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) with respect to infrastructure SIPs pertains to whether
states must meet all of the infrastructure SIP requirements in a single
SIP submission, and whether EPA must act upon such SIP submission in a
single action. Although section 110(a)(1) directs states to submit ``a
plan'' to meet these requirements, EPA interprets the CAA to allow
states to make multiple SIP submissions separately addressing
infrastructure SIP elements for the same NAAQS. If states elect to make
such multiple SIP submissions to meet the infrastructure SIP
requirements, EPA can elect to act on such submissions either
individually or in a larger combined action.\8\ Similarly, EPA
interprets the CAA to allow it to take action on the individual parts
of one larger, comprehensive infrastructure SIP submission for a given
NAAQS without concurrent action on the entire submission. For example,
EPA has sometimes elected to act at different times on various elements
and sub-elements of the same infrastructure SIP submission.\9\
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\8\ See, e.g., ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation
Plans; New Mexico; Revisions to the New Source Review (NSR) State
Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) Permitting,'' 78 FR
4339 (January 22, 2013) (EPA's final action approving the structural
PSD elements of the New Mexico SIP submitted by the State separately
to meet the requirements of EPA's 2008 PM2.5 NSR rule),
and ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
New Mexico; Infrastructure and Interstate Transport Requirements for
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS,'' (78 FR 4337) (January 22, 2013)
(EPA's final action on the infrastructure SIP for the 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS).
\9\ On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee, through the
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, made a SIP
revision to EPA demonstrating that the State meets the requirements
of sections 110(a)(1) and (2). EPA proposed action for
infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) on January 23, 2012 (77 FR
3213) and took final action on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 14976). On
April 16, 2012 (77 FR 22533) and July 23, 2012 (77 FR 42997), EPA
took separate proposed and final actions on all other section
110(a)(2) infrastructure SIP elements of Tennessee's December 14,
2007 submittal.
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Ambiguities within sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) may also arise
with respect to infrastructure SIP submission requirements for
different NAAQS. Thus, EPA notes that not every element of section
110(a)(2) would be relevant, or as relevant, or relevant in the same
way, for each new or revised NAAQS. The states' attendant
infrastructure SIP submissions for each NAAQS therefore
[[Page 47097]]
could be different. For example, the monitoring requirements that a
state might need to meet in its infrastructure SIP submission for
purposes of section 110(a)(2)(B) could be very different for different
pollutants because the content and scope of a state's infrastructure
SIP submission to meet this element might be very different for an
entirely new NAAQS than for a minor revision to an existing NAAQS.\10\
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\10\ For example, implementation of the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS required the deployment of a system of new monitors to measure
ambient levels of that new indicator species for the new NAAQS.
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EPA notes that interpretation of section 110(a)(2) is also
necessary when EPA reviews other types of SIP submissions required
under the CAA. Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP submissions, EPA
also has to identify and interpret the relevant elements of section
110(a)(2) that logically apply to these other types of SIP submissions.
For example, section 172(c)(7) requires that attainment plan SIP
submissions required by part D have to meet the ``applicable
requirements'' of section 110(a)(2). Thus, for example, attainment plan
SIP submissions must meet the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A)
regarding enforceable emission limits and control measures and section
110(a)(2)(E)(i) regarding air agency resources and authority. By
contrast, it is clear that attainment plan SIP submissions required by
part D would not need to meet the portion of section 110(a)(2)(C) that
pertains to the PSD program required in part C of title I of the CAA,
because PSD does not apply to a pollutant for which an area is
designated nonattainment and thus subject to part D planning
requirements. As this example illustrates, each type of SIP submission
may implicate some elements of section 110(a)(2) but not others.
Given the potential for ambiguity in some of the statutory language
of section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), EPA believes that it is
appropriate to interpret the ambiguous portions of section 110(a)(1)
and section 110(a)(2) in the context of acting on a particular SIP
submission. In other words, EPA assumes that Congress could not have
intended that each and every SIP submission, regardless of the NAAQS in
question or the history of SIP development for the relevant pollutant,
would meet each of the requirements, or meet each of them in the same
way. Therefore, EPA has adopted an approach under which it reviews
infrastructure SIP submissions against the list of elements in section
110(a)(2), but only to the extent each element applies for that
particular NAAQS.
Historically, EPA has elected to use guidance documents to make
recommendations to states for infrastructure SIPs, in some cases
conveying needed interpretations on newly arising issues and in some
cases conveying interpretations that have already been developed and
applied to individual SIP submissions for particular elements.\11\ EPA
most recently issued guidance for infrastructure SIPs on September 13,
2013 (2013 Guidance).\12\ EPA developed this document to provide states
with up-to-date guidance for infrastructure SIPs for any new or revised
NAAQS. Within this guidance, EPA describes the duty of states to make
infrastructure SIP submissions to meet basic structural SIP
requirements within three years of promulgation of a new or revised
NAAQS. EPA also made recommendations about many specific subsections of
section 110(a)(2) that are relevant in the context of infrastructure
SIP submissions.\13\ The guidance also discusses the substantively
important issues that are germane to certain subsections of section
110(a)(2). Significantly, EPA interprets sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) such that infrastructure SIP submissions need to address
certain issues and need not address others. Accordingly, EPA reviews
each infrastructure SIP submission for compliance with the applicable
statutory provisions of section 110(a)(2), as appropriate.
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\11\ EPA notes, however, that nothing in the CAA requires EPA to
provide guidance or to promulgate regulations for infrastructure SIP
submissions. The CAA directly applies to states and requires the
submission of infrastructure SIP submissions, regardless of whether
or not EPA provides guidance or regulations pertaining to such
submissions. EPA elects to issue such guidance in order to assist
states, as appropriate.
\12\ ``Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan
(SIP) Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2),'' Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, September 13, 2013.
\13\ EPA's September 13, 2013, guidance did not make
recommendations with respect to infrastructure SIP submissions to
address section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). EPA issued the guidance shortly
after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the D.C. Circuit
decision in EME Homer City, 696 F.3d7 (D.C. Cir. 2012) which had
interpreted the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In light
of the uncertainty created by ongoing litigation, EPA elected not to
provide additional guidance on the requirements of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that time. As the guidance is neither binding
nor required by statute, whether EPA elects to provide guidance on a
particular section has no impact on a state's CAA obligations.
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As an example, section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) is a required element of
section 110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP submissions. Under this
element, a state must meet the substantive requirements of section 128,
which pertain to state boards that approve permits or enforcement
orders and heads of executive agencies with similar powers. Thus, EPA
reviews infrastructure SIP submissions to ensure that the state's
implementation plan appropriately addresses the requirements of section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and section 128. The 2013 Guidance explains EPA's
interpretation that there may be a variety of ways by which states can
appropriately address these substantive statutory requirements,
depending on the structure of an individual state's permitting or
enforcement program (e.g., whether permits and enforcement orders are
approved by a multi-member board or by a head of an executive agency).
However they are addressed by the state, the substantive requirements
of section 128 are necessarily included in EPA's evaluation of
infrastructure SIP submissions because section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)
explicitly requires that the state satisfy the provisions of section
128.
As another example, EPA's review of infrastructure SIP submissions
with respect to the PSD program requirements in sections 110(a)(2)(C),
(D)(i)(II), and (J) focuses upon the structural PSD program
requirements contained in part C and EPA's PSD regulations. Structural
PSD program requirements include provisions necessary for the PSD
program to address all regulated sources and NSR pollutants, including
GHGs. By contrast, structural PSD program requirements do not include
provisions that are not required under EPA's regulations at 40 CFR
51.166 but are merely available as an option for the state, such as the
option to provide grandfathering of complete permit applications with
respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. Accordingly, the latter
optional provisions are types of provisions EPA considers irrelevant in
the context of an infrastructure SIP action.
For other section 110(a)(2) elements, however, EPA's review of a
state's infrastructure SIP submission focuses on assuring that the
state's implementation plan meets basic structural requirements. For
example, section 110(a)(2)(C) includes, inter alia, the requirement
that states have a program to regulate minor new sources. Thus, EPA
evaluates whether the state has an EPA-approved minor new source review
program and whether the program addresses the pollutants relevant to
that NAAQS. In the context of acting on an infrastructure SIP
submission, however, EPA does not think it is necessary to conduct a
review
[[Page 47098]]
of each and every provision of a state's existing minor source program
(i.e., already in the existing SIP) for compliance with the
requirements of the CAA and EPA's regulations that pertain to such
programs.
With respect to certain other issues, EPA does not believe that an
action on a state's infrastructure SIP submission is necessarily the
appropriate type of action in which to address possible deficiencies in
a state's existing SIP. These issues include: (i) Existing provisions
related to excess emissions from sources during periods of startup,
shutdown, or malfunction that may be contrary to the CAA and EPA's
policies addressing such excess emissions (``SSM''); (ii) existing
provisions related to ``director's variance'' or ``director's
discretion'' that may be contrary to the CAA because they purport to
allow revisions to SIP-approved emissions limits while limiting public
process or not requiring further approval by EPA; and (iii) existing
provisions for PSD programs that may be inconsistent with current
requirements of EPA's ``Final NSR Improvement Rule,'' 67 FR 80186
(December 31, 2002), as amended by 72 FR 32526 (June 13, 2007) (``NSR
Reform''). Thus, EPA believes it may approve an infrastructure SIP
submission without scrutinizing the totality of the existing SIP for
such potentially deficient provisions and may approve the submission
even if it is aware of such existing provisions.\14\ It is important to
note that EPA's approval of a state's infrastructure SIP submission
should not be construed as explicit or implicit re-approval of any
existing potentially deficient provisions that relate to the three
specific issues just described.
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\14\ By contrast, EPA notes that if a state were to include a
new provision in an infrastructure SIP submission that contained a
legal deficiency, such as a new exemption for excess emissions
during SSM events, then EPA would need to evaluate that provision
for compliance against the rubric of applicable CAA requirements in
the context of the action on the infrastructure SIP.
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EPA's approach to review of infrastructure SIP submissions is to
identify the CAA requirements that are logically applicable to that
submission. EPA believes that this approach to the review of a
particular infrastructure SIP submission is appropriate, because it
would not be reasonable to read the general requirements of section
110(a)(1) and the list of elements in 110(a)(2) as requiring review of
each and every provision of a state's existing SIP against all
requirements in the CAA and EPA regulations merely for purposes of
assuring that the state in question has the basic structural elements
for a functioning SIP for a new or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have
grown by accretion over the decades as statutory and regulatory
requirements under the CAA have evolved, they may include some outmoded
provisions and historical artifacts. These provisions, while not fully
up to date, nevertheless may not pose a significant problem for the
purposes of ``implementation, maintenance, and enforcement'' of a new
or revised NAAQS when EPA evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure SIP
submission. EPA believes that a better approach is for states and EPA
to focus attention on those elements of section 110(a)(2) of the CAA
most likely to warrant a specific SIP revision due to the promulgation
of a new or revised NAAQS or other factors.
For example, EPA's 2013 Guidance gives simpler recommendations with
respect to carbon monoxide than other NAAQS pollutants to meet the
visibility requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), because carbon
monoxide does not affect visibility. As a result, an infrastructure SIP
submission for any future new or revised NAAQS for carbon monoxide need
only state this fact in order to address the visibility prong of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
Finally, EPA believes that its approach with respect to
infrastructure SIP requirements is based on a reasonable reading of
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) because the CAA provides other avenues
and mechanisms to address specific substantive deficiencies in existing
SIPs. These other statutory tools allow EPA to take appropriately
tailored action, depending upon the nature and severity of the alleged
SIP deficiency. Section 110(k)(5) authorizes EPA to issue a ``SIP
call'' whenever the Agency determines that a state's implementation
plan is substantially inadequate to attain or maintain the NAAQS, to
mitigate interstate transport, or to otherwise comply with the CAA.\15\
Section 110(k)(6) authorizes EPA to correct errors in past actions,
such as past approvals of SIP submissions.\16\ Significantly, EPA's
determination that an action on a state's infrastructure SIP submission
is not the appropriate time and place to address all potential existing
SIP deficiencies does not preclude EPA's subsequent reliance on
provisions in section 110(a)(2) as part of the basis for action to
correct those deficiencies at a later time. For example, although it
may not be appropriate to require a state to eliminate all existing
inappropriate director's discretion provisions in the course of acting
on an infrastructure SIP submission, EPA believes that section
110(a)(2)(A) may be among the statutory bases that EPA relies upon in
the course of addressing such deficiency in a subsequent action.\17\
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\15\ For example, EPA issued a SIP call to Utah to address
specific existing SIP deficiencies related to the treatment of
excess emissions during SSM events. See ``Finding of Substantial
Inadequacy of Implementation Plan; Call for Utah State
Implementation Plan Revisions,'' 74 FR 21639 (April 18, 2011).
\16\ EPA has used this authority to correct errors in past
actions on SIP submissions related to PSD programs. See ``Limitation
of Approval of Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions
Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in State Implementation
Plans; Final Rule,'' 75 FR 82536 (December 30, 2010). EPA has
previously used its authority under CAA section 110(k)(6) to remove
numerous other SIP provisions that the Agency determined it had
approved in error. See, e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62 FR
34641 (June 27, 1997) (corrections to American Samoa, Arizona,
California, Hawaii, and Nevada SIPs); 69 FR 67062 (November 16,
2004) (corrections to California SIP); and 74 FR 57051 (November 3,
2009) (corrections to Arizona and Nevada SIPs).
\17\ See, e.g., EPA's disapproval of a SIP submission from
Colorado on the grounds that it would have included a director's
discretion provision inconsistent with CAA requirements, including
section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR 42342 at 42344 (July 21,
2010) (proposed disapproval of director's discretion provisions); 76
FR 4540 (Jan. 26, 2011) (final disapproval of such provisions).
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IV. What is EPA's analysis of how Florida addressed the elements of the
sections 110(a)(1) and (2) ``infrastructure'' provisions?
Below is a discussion of the Florida submission organized by each
of the sub-elements found in sections 110(a)(1) and (2).
1. 110(a)(2)(A) Emission limits and other control measures: Section
110(a)(2)(A) requires that each implementation plan include enforceable
emission limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques
(including economic incentives such as fees, marketable permits, and
auctions of emissions rights), as well as schedules and timetables for
compliance, as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the applicable
requirements. There are several regulations within Florida
Administrative Code (F.A.C.) relevant to air quality control
regulations which include enforceable emission limitations and other
control measures. Chapters 62-204, F.A.C., Air Pollution Control
Provisions; 62-210, F.A.C., Stationary Sources--General Requirements;
62-212, F.A.C., Stationary Sources--Preconstruction Review; 62-296,
F.A.C., Stationary Sources--Emissions Standards; and 62-297, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources--Emissions Monitoring, establish emission limits for
NO2 and address the
[[Page 47099]]
required control measures, means and techniques for compliance with the
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS respectively. Additionally, the
following sections of the Florida Statutes provide FDEP the authority
to conduct certain actions in support of this infrastructure element.
Section 403.061(9), Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP to ``[a]dopt a
comprehensive program for the prevention, control, and abatement of
pollution of the air . . . of the state,'' and section 403.8055,
Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP to ``[a]dopt rules substantively
identical to regulations adopted in the Federal Register by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to federal law . . .''
EPA has made the preliminary determination that the provisions
contained in these chapters satisfy section 110(a)(2)(A) for the 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS in the State.
In this action, EPA is not proposing to approve or disapprove any
existing State provisions with regard to excess emissions during start
up, shut down, and malfunction (SSM) of operations at a facility. EPA
believes that a number of states have SSM provisions which are contrary
to the CAA and existing EPA guidance, ``State Implementation Plans:
Policy Regarding Excess Emissions During Malfunctions, Startup, and
Shutdown'' (September 20, 1999), and the Agency is addressing such
state regulations in a separate action.\18\
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\18\ On June 12, 2015, EPA published a final action entitled,
``State Implementation Plans: Response to Petition for Rulemaking;
Restatement and Update of EPA's SSM Policy Applicable to SIPs;
Findings of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls to Amend
Provisions Applying to Excess Emissions During Periods of Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction.'' See 80 FR 33840.
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Additionally, in this action, EPA is not proposing to approve or
disapprove any existing State rules with regard to director's
discretion or variance provisions. EPA believes that a number of states
have such provisions which are contrary to the CAA and existing EPA
guidance (52 FR 45109 (November 24, 1987)), and the Agency plans to
take action in the future to address such state regulations. In the
meantime, EPA encourages any state having a director's discretion or
variance provision which is contrary to the CAA and EPA guidance to
take steps to correct the deficiency as soon as possible.
2. 110(a)(2)(B) Ambient air quality monitoring/data system: With
respect to Florida's infrastructure SIP submission related to the
ambient air quality monitoring and data system, EPA is not proposing
any action today regarding these requirements and instead will act on
this portion of the submission in a separate action.
3. 110(a)(2)(C) Programs for enforcement of control measures and
for construction or modification of stationary sources: This element
consists of three sub-elements; enforcement, state-wide regulation of
new and modified minor sources and minor modifications of major
sources; and preconstruction permitting of major sources and major
modifications in areas designated attainment or unclassifiable for the
subject NAAQS as required by CAA title I part C (i.e., the major source
PSD program). As discussed further below, in this action EPA is only
proposing to approve the enforcement and the regulation of minor
sources and minor modifications aspects of Florida's section
110(a)(2)(C) infrastructure SIP submission.
Enforcement: Florida cites to Section 403.061(6), Florida Statutes,
which requires FDEP to ``[e]xercise general supervision of the
administration and enforcement of the laws, rules, and regulations
pertaining to air and water pollution.'' Section 403.121, Florida
Statutes, authorizes FDEP to seek judicial and administrative remedies,
including civil penalties, injunctive relief, and criminal prosecution
for violations of any FDEP rule or permit. These provisions provide
FDEP with authority for enforcement of NO2 emission limits
and control measures.
Preconstruction PSD Permitting for Major Sources: With respect to
Florida's January 22, 2013, infrastructure SIP submission related to
the preconstruction PSD permitting requirements for major sources of
section 110(a)(2)(C), EPA took final action to approve these provisions
for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS on March 18, 2015. See 80 FR
14019.
Regulation of minor sources and modifications: Section 110(a)(2)(C)
also requires the SIP to include provisions that govern the minor
source program that regulates emissions of the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS. FDEP's SIP-approved rule Chapters 62-204, F.A.C.,
Air Pollution Control Provisions, 62-210, F.A.C., Stationary Sources--
General Requirements, 62-212, F.A.C., Stationary Sources--
Preconstruction Review apply to minor sources and minor modifications
as well as major stationary sources and modifications.
EPA has made the preliminary determination that Florida's SIP is
adequate for program enforcement of control measures and regulation of
minor sources and modifications related to the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS.
4. 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) and (II) Interstate pollution transport:
Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) has two components; 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) and
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II). Each of these components have two subparts
resulting in 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 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 interfering
with measures required to prevent significant deterioration of air
quality in another state (``prong 3''), or to protect visibility in
another state (``prong 4'').
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)--prongs 1 and 2: EPA is not proposing any action
in this rulemaking related to the interstate transport provisions
pertaining to the contribution to nonattainment or interference with
maintenance in other states of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) (prongs 1 and
2) because Florida's 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS infrastructure
submission did not address prongs 1 and 2.
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)--prong 3: With respect to Florida's
infrastructure SIP submission related to the interstate transport
requirements for PSD of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) (prong 3), EPA took
final action to approve Florida's January 22, 2013, infrastructure SIP
submission regarding prong 3 of D(i) for the 2010 1-hour NO2
NAAQS on March 18, 2015. See 80 FR 14019.
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)--prong 4: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires
that the SIP contain adequate provisions to protect visibility in other
states. In its submittal, Florida cited to EPA's proposed approval of
the State's regional haze SIP, which EPA fully approved.\19\ Federal
regulations require that a state's regional haze SIP contain a long-
term strategy to address regional haze visibility impairment in each
Class I area within the state and each Class I area outside the state
that may be affected by emissions from the state.\20\ A state
participating in a regional planning process, such as Florida, must
include all measures needed to achieve its apportionment of emissions
reduction obligations agreed upon through that
[[Page 47100]]
process.\21\ EPA's approval of Florida's regional haze SIP therefore
ensures that emissions from Florida are not interfering with measures
to protect visibility in other states, satisfying the requirements of
prong 4 of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) for the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS.\22\ Thus, EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida's infrastructure SIP submission for the 2010
1-hour NO2 NAAQS meets the requirements of prong 4 of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
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\19\ See 77 FR 71111 (November 29, 2012); 78 FR 53250 (August
29, 2013).
\20\ See 40 CFR 51.308(d).
\21\ See, e.g., 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3)(ii). Florida participated in
the Visibility Improvement State and Tribal Association of the
Southeast regional planning organization, a collaborative effort of
state governments, tribal governments, and various Federal agencies
established to initiate and coordinate activities associated with
the management of regional haze, visibility, and other air quality
issues in the Southeastern United States. Member state and tribal
governments included: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia,
West Virginia, and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.
\22\ See EPA's September 13, 2013, guidance document entitled
``Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP)
Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2)'' at
pp. 32-35, available at: https://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/sipstatus/infrastructure.html; see also memorandum from William T. Harnett,
Director, Air Quality Policy Division, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, to Regional Air Division Directors, entitled
``Guidance on SIP Elements Required Under Sections 110(1)(1) and (2)
for the 2006 24-Hour Fine Particle (PM2.5) National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (September 25, 2009) at pp. 5-
6, available at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/caaa/t1/memoranda/20090925_harnett_pm25_sip_110a12.pdf.
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5. 110(a)(2)(D)(ii): Interstate Pollution Abatement and
International Air Pollution: Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii) requires SIPs to
include provisions ensuring compliance with sections 115 and 126 of the
Act, relating to interstate and international pollution abatement.
Chapters 62-204, F.A.C., Air Pollution Control Provisions ; 62-210,
F.A.C., Stationary Sources--General Requirements, and 62-212, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources--Preconstruction Review of the Florida SIP outlines
how Florida will notify neighboring states of potential impacts from
new or modified sources. EPA is unaware of any pending obligations for
the State of Florida pursuant to sections 115 or 126 of the CAA. EPA
has made the preliminary determination that Florida's SIP and practices
are adequate for insuring compliance with the applicable requirements
relating to interstate and international pollution abatement for the
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
6. 110(a)(2)(E) Adequate resources and authority, conflict of
interest, and oversight of local governments and regional agencies:
Section 110(a)(2)(E) requires that each implementation plan provide (i)
necessary assurances that the State will have adequate personnel,
funding, and authority under state law to carry out its implementation
plan, (ii) that the State comply with the requirements respecting State
Boards pursuant to section 128 of the Act, and (iii) necessary
assurances that, where the State has relied on a local or regional
government, agency, or instrumentality for the implementation of any
plan provision, the State has responsibility for ensuring adequate
implementation of such plan provisions. EPA is proposing to approve
Florida's SIP as meeting the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E).
EPA's rationale for today's proposal respecting each requirement of
section 110(a)(2)(E) is described in turn below.
In support of EPA's proposal to approve sub-elements
110(a)(2)(E)(i) and (iii), FDEP's infrastructure submission
demonstrates that FDEP is responsible for promulgating rules and
regulations for the NAAQS, emissions standards, general policies, a
system of permits, and fee schedules for the review of plans, and other
planning needs. Section 403.061(2), Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP
to ``[h]ire only such employees as may be necessary to effectuate the
responsibilities of the department.'' Section 403.061(4), Florida
Statutes, authorizes FDEP to ``[s]ecure necessary scientific,
technical, research, administrative, and operational services by
interagency agreement, by contract, or otherwise.'' Section
403.061(35), Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP to exercise the duties,
powers, and responsibilities required of the state under the federal
CAA. Section 403.182, Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP to approve
local pollution control programs, and provides for the State air
pollution control program administered by FDEP to supersede a local
program if FDEP determines that an approved local program is inadequate
and the locality fails to take the necessary corrective actions.
Section 320.03(6), Florida Statutes, authorizes FDEP to establish an
Air Pollution Control Trust Fund and use a $1 fee on every motor
vehicle license registration sold in the State for air pollution
control purposes. As evidence of the adequacy of FDEP's resources, EPA
submitted a letter to Florida on April 19, 2016, outlining section 105
grant commitments and the current status of these commitments for
fiscal year 2015. The letter EPA submitted to Florida can be accessed
at www.regulations.gov using Docket ID No. EPA-R04-OAR-2014-0507.
Annually, states update these grant commitments based on current SIP
requirements, air quality planning, and applicable requirements related
to the NAAQS. Florida satisfactorily met all commitments agreed to in
the Air Planning Agreement for fiscal year 2013, therefore Florida's
grants were finalized. EPA has made the preliminary determination that
Florida has adequate resources and authority for implementation of the
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
Section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) requires that the state comply with
section 128 of the CAA. Section 128 requires that the SIP provide: (1)
The majority of members of the state board or body which approves
permits or enforcement orders represent the public interest and do not
derive any significant portion of their income from persons subject to
permitting or enforcement orders under the CAA; and (2) any potential
conflicts of interest by such board or body, or the head of an
executive agency with similar powers be adequately disclosed.
For purposes of section 128(a)(1), Florida has no boards or bodies
with authority over air pollution permits or enforcement actions. Such
matters are instead handled by an appointed Secretary. Appeals of final
administrative orders and permits are available only through the
judicial appellate process described at Florida Statute 120.68, F.S.,
Judicial review. As such, a ``board or body'' is not responsible for
approving permits or enforcement orders in Florida, and the
requirements of section 128(a)(1) are not applicable.
Regarding section 128(a)(2), on July 30, 2012, EPA approved Florida
statutes into the SIP to comply with section 128 respecting state
boards. See 77 FR 44485. Specifically, the following provisions of
Florida Statutes, 112.3143(4), F.S., Voting conflicts and 112.3144,
F.S, Full and public disclosure of financial interests were
incorporated into the SIP to satisfy the conflict of interest
provisions applicable to the head of FDEP and all public officers
within the Department. EPA has made the preliminary determination that
the State has adequately addressed the requirements of section
128(a)(2), and accordingly has met the requirements of section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) with respect to infrastructure SIP requirements.
Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve Florida's infrastructure SIP
submission as meeting the requirements of sub-elements 110(a)(2)(E)(i),
(ii) and (iii).
7. 110(a)(2)(F) Stationary source monitoring and reporting: Section
110(a)(2)(F) requires SIPs to meet applicable requirements addressing
(i)
[[Page 47101]]
the installation, maintenance, and replacement of equipment, and the
implementation of other necessary steps, by owners or operators of
stationary sources to monitor emissions from such sources, (ii)
periodic reports on the nature and amounts of emissions and emissions
related data from such sources, and (iii) correlation of such reports
by the state agency with any emission limitations or standards
established pursuant to this section, which reports shall be available
at reasonable times for public inspection. FDEP's infrastructure SIP
submission describes the establishment of requirements for compliance
testing by emissions sampling and analysis, and for emissions and
operation monitoring to ensure the quality of data in the State. The
Florida infrastructure SIP submission also describes how the major
source and minor source emission inventory programs collect emission
data throughout the State and ensure the quality of such data. Florida
meets these requirements through Chapters 62-204, 62-210, 62-212, 62-
296, and 62-297, F.A.C., which require emissions monitoring and
reporting for activities that contribute to NO2
concentrations in the air, including requirements for the installation,
calibration, maintenance, and operation of equipment for continuously
monitoring or recording emissions, or provide authority for FDEP to
establish such emissions monitoring and reporting requirements through
SIP-approved permits and require reporting of NO2 emissions.
The following sections of the Florida Statutes provide FDEP the
authority to conduct certain actions in support of this infrastructure
element. Section 403.061(13) authorizes FDEP to ``[r]equire persons
engaged in operations which may result in pollution to file reports
which may contain . . . any other such information as the department
shall prescribe . . .''. Section 403.8055 authorizes FDEP to ``[a]dopt
rules substantively identical to regulations adopted in the Federal
Register by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant
to federal law. . . .''
Section 90.401, Florida Statutes, defines relevant evidence as
evidence tending to prove or disprove a material fact. Section 90.402,
Florida Statutes, states that all relevant evidence is admissible
except as provided by law. EPA is unaware of any provision preventing
the use of credible evidence in the Florida SIP.\23\
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\23\ ``Credible Evidence'' makes allowances for owners and/or
operators to utilize ``any credible evidence or information
relevant'' to demonstrate compliance with applicable requirements if
the appropriate performance or compliance test had been performed,
for the purpose of submitting compliance certification and can be
used to establish whether or not an owner or operator has violated
or is in violation of any rule or standard.
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Additionally, Florida is required to submit emissions data to EPA
for purposes of the National Emissions Inventory (NEI). The NEI is
EPA's central repository for air emissions data. EPA published the Air
Emissions Reporting Rule (AERR) on December 5, 2008, which modified the
requirements for collecting and reporting air emissions data (73 FR
76539). The AERR shortened the time states had to report emissions data
from 17 to 12 months, giving states one calendar year to submit
emissions data. All states are required to submit a comprehensive
emissions inventory every three years and report emissions for certain
larger sources annually through EPA's online Emissions Inventory
System. States report emissions data for the six criteria pollutants
and the precursors that form them--nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide,
ammonia, lead, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile
organic compounds. Many states also voluntarily report emissions of
hazardous air pollutants. Florida made its latest update to the NEI on
November 5, 2014. EPA compiles the emissions data, supplementing it
where necessary, and releases it to the general public through the Web
site https://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/eiinformation.html. EPA has made the
preliminary determination that Florida's SIP and practices are adequate
for the stationary source monitoring systems related to the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS. Accordingly, EPA is proposing to approve
Florida's infrastructure SIP submission with respect to section
110(a)(2)(F).
8. 110(a)(2)(G) Emergency powers: This section requires that states
demonstrate authority comparable with section 303 of the CAA and
adequate contingency plans to implement such authority. Florida's
infrastructure SIP submission identifies air pollution emergency
episodes and preplanned abatement strategies as outlined in Florida
Statutes 403.131, Injunctive relief, remedies, and 120.569(2)(n),
Decisions which affect substantial interests. Section 403.131
authorizes FDEP to enforce compliance with any rule, regulation or
permit, order, to enjoin any violation specified in Section 403.061(1)
or Florida Statutes. Section 403.061(1) authorizes injunctive relief to
prevent irreparable injury to the air, waters, and property, including
animal, plant, and aquatic life, of the State and to protect human
health, safety, and welfare caused or threatened by any violation.
Section 120.569(2)(n) authorizes FDEP to issue emergency orders to
address immediate dangers to public health, safety or welfare. These
statutes were submitted for inclusion into the SIP to satisfy the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(G) of the CAA and were approved by
EPA on July 30, 2012. See 77 FR 44485. EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida's SIP and practices are adequate for
emergency powers related to the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.
9. 110(a)(2)(H) SIP revisions: Section 110(a)(2)(H), in summary,
requires each SIP to provide for revisions of such plan (i) as may be
necessary to take account of revisions of such national primary or
secondary ambient air quality standard or the availability of improved
or more expeditious methods of attaining such standard, and (ii)
whenever the Administrator finds that the plan is substantially
inadequate to attain the NAAQS or to otherwise comply with any
additional applicable requirements. FDEP is responsible for adopting
air quality rules and revising SIPs as needed to attain or maintain the
NAAQS in Florida. Florida Statutes subsection 403.061(35) grants FDEP
the broad authority to implement the CAA; also, subsection 403.061(9),
F.S., authorizes FDEP to adopt a comprehensive program for the
prevention, control, and abatement of pollution of the air . . . of the
state, and from time to time review and modify such programs as
necessary. FDEP has the ability and authority to respond to calls for
SIP revisions, and has provided a number of SIP revisions over the
years for implementation of the NAAQS. Florida does not have any
nonattainment areas for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS but has
made an infrastructure submission for this standard, which is the
subject of this rulemaking. EPA has made the preliminary determination
that Florida's SIP and practices adequately demonstrate a commitment to
provide future SIP revisions related to the 2010 1-hour NO2
NAAQS when necessary.
10. 110(a)(2)(J) Consultation with government officials, public
notification, and PSD and visibility protection: EPA is proposing to
approve Florida's infrastructure SIP submission for the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS with respect to the general requirement in section
110(a)(2)(J) to include a program in the SIP that provides for meeting
the applicable consultation requirements of section 121, the public
notification requirements of section 127; and visibility protection
requirements of
[[Page 47102]]
part C of the Act. With respect to Florida's infrastructure SIP
submission related to the preconstruction PSD permitting requirements
of section 110(a)(2)(J), EPA took final action to approve Florida's
January 22, 2013, 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS infrastructure SIP
for theses requirements on March 18, 2015. See 80 FR 14019. EPA's
rationale for its proposed action regarding applicable consultation
requirements of section 121, the public notification requirements of
section 127, and visibility protection requirements is described below.
Consultation with government officials (121 consultation): Section
110(a)(2)(J) of the CAA requires states to provide a process for
consultation with local governments, designated organizations and
federal land managers (FLMs) carrying out NAAQS implementation
requirements pursuant to section 121 relative to consultation. Chapters
62-204, F.A.C., Air Pollution Control Provisions, 62-210, F.A.C.,
Stationary Sources--General Requirements and 62-212, F.A.C., Stationary
Sources--Preconstruction Review, as well as Florida's Regional Haze
Implementation Plan (which allows for consultation between appropriate
state, local, and tribal air pollution control agencies as well as the
corresponding FLMs), provide for consultation with government officials
whose jurisdictions might be affected by SIP development activities.
Florida adopted state-wide consultation procedures for the
implementation of transportation conformity. Implementation of
transportation conformity as outlined in the consultation procedures
requires FDEP to consult with federal, state and local transportation
and air quality agency officials on the development of motor vehicle
emissions budgets for the SIP. EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida's SIP and practices adequately demonstrate
consultation with government officials related to the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS when necessary.
Public notification (127 public notification): Section 403.061(21),
Florida Statutes authorizes FDEP to advise, consult cooperate, and
enter into agreements with other entities affected by the provisions of
this act, rules, or policies of the department. Section 403.061(20)
Florida Statues authorizes FDEP to collect and disseminate information
relating to pollution. FDEP has public notice mechanisms in place to
notify the public of NO2 and other pollutant forecasting,
including an air quality monitoring Web site providing alerts, https://www.dep.state.fl.us/air/air_quality/countyaqi.htm. EPA has made the
preliminary determination that Florida's SIP and practices adequately
demonstrate the State's ability to provide public notification related
to the 2010 NO2 NAAQS when necessary.
Visibility protection: EPA's 2013 Guidance notes that it does not
treat the visibility protection aspects of section 110(a)(2)(J) as
applicable for purposes of the infrastructure SIP approval process.
FDEP referenced its regional haze program as germane to the visibility
component of section 110(a)(2)(J). EPA recognizes that states are
subject to visibility protection and regional haze program requirements
under Part C of the Act (which includes sections 169A and 169B).
However, there are no newly applicable visibility protection
obligations after the promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS. Thus, EPA
has determined that states do not need to address the visibility
component of 110(a)(2)(J) in infrastructure SIP submittals so FDEP does
not need to rely on its regional haze program to fulfill its
obligations under section 110(a)(2)(J). As such, EPA has made the
preliminary determination that the visibility protection element of
section 110(a)(2)(J) is approvable and that Florida does not need to
rely on its regional haze program for this element.
11. 110(a)(2)(K) Air quality modeling and submission of modeling
data: Section 110(a)(2)(K) of the CAA requires that SIPs provide for
performing air quality modeling so that effects on air quality of
emissions from NAAQS pollutants can be predicted and submission of such
data to the EPA can be made. Chapter 62-204.800, F.A.C., Federal
Regulations Adopted by Reference, incorporates by reference 40 CFR
52.21(l), which specifies that air modeling be conducted in accordance
with 40 CFR part 51, Appendix W ``Guideline on Air Quality Models.''
Chapters 62-210 and 62-212 require use of EPA approved modeling related
to NO2 concentrations in ambient air. Florida Statute
403.061(13) authorizes FDEP to require persons to file reports which
may contain information used for modeling and 403.061(18) authorizes
FDEP to encourage and conduct studies related to pollution. FDEP has
the technical capability to conduct or review all air quality modeling
associated with the NSR program and SIP related modeling, except photo
chemical grid modeling which is contracted out. Additionally, Florida
supports a regional effort to coordinate the development of emissions
inventories and conduct regional modeling for NOX, which
includes NO2. Taken as a whole, Florida's air quality
regulations and statutes demonstrate that FDEP has the authority to
provide relevant data for the purpose of predicting the effect on
ambient air quality of the 1-hour NO2 NAAQS. EPA has made
the preliminary determination that Florida's SIP and practices
adequately demonstrate the State's ability to provide for air quality
modeling, along with analysis of the associated data, related to the
2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS when necessary.
12. 110(a)(2)(L) Permitting fees: This element necessitates that
the SIP require the owner or operator of each major stationary source
to pay to the permitting authority, as a condition of any permit
required under the CAA, a fee sufficient to cover (i) the reasonable
costs of reviewing and acting upon any application for such a permit,
and (ii) if the owner or operator receives a permit for such source,
the reasonable costs of implementing and enforcing the terms and
conditions of any such permit (not including any court costs or other
costs associated with any enforcement action), until such fee
requirement is superseded with respect to such sources by the
Administrator's approval of a fee program under title V.
Funding for review of PSD and NNSR permits comes from a processing
fee, submitted by permit applicants, required by paragraph
403.087(6)(a) of the Florida Statute.
These regulations demonstrate that Florida has the authority to
provide FDEP ensures this is sufficient for the reasonable cost of
reviewing and acting upon PSD and NNSR permits. Additionally, Florida
has a fully approved title V operating permit program at Chapter 62-
213.300 F.A.C.\24\ that covers the cost of implementation and
enforcement of PSD and NNSR permits after they have been issued. EPA
has made the preliminary determination that Florida's SIP and practices
adequately provide for permitting fees related to the 2010
NO2 NAAQS, when necessary. Accordingly, EPA is proposing to
approve Florida's infrastructure SIP submission with respect to section
110(a)(2)(L).
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\24\ Title V program regulations are federally-approved but not
incorporated into the federally-approved SIP.
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13. 110(a)(2)(M) Consultation and participation by affected local
entities: This element requires states to provide for consultation and
participation in SIP development by local political subdivisions
affected by the SIP. Florida statute 403.061(21) authorizes FDEP to
``[a]dvise, consult, cooperate and enter into agreements with other
agencies of
[[Page 47103]]
the state, the Federal Government, other states, interstate agencies,
groups, political subdivisions, and industries affected by the
provisions of this act, rules, or policies of the department.''
Furthermore, FDEP has demonstrated consultation with, and participation
by, affected local entities through its work with local political
subdivisions during the developing of its Transportation Conformity SIP
and Regional Haze Implementation Plan. EPA has made the preliminary
determination that Florida's SIP and practices adequately demonstrate
consultation with affected local entities related to the 2010 1-hour
NO2 NAAQS when necessary.
V. Proposed Action
With the exception of the elements related to the ambient air
quality monitoring and data system of section 110(a)(2)(B), the PSD
permitting requirements for major sources of sections 110(a)(2)(C),
prong 3 of D(i), and (J), and the interstate transport provisions
pertaining to the contribution to nonattainment or interference with
maintenance in other states of prongs 1 and 2 of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i), EPA is proposing to approve Florida's January 22,
2013, SIP submission to incorporate provisions into the Florida SIP to
address infrastructure requirements for the 2010 1-hour NO2
NAAQS. EPA is proposing to approve portions of Florida's infrastructure
submission for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS because this
submission is consistent with section 110 of the CAA.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable
federal regulations. See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
proposed action merely approves 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 Orders 12866 (58
FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or
in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does
not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it 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, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: July 8, 2016.
Heather McTeer Toney,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2016-17055 Filed 7-19-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P