Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Attainment Plan for the Idaho Portion of the Logan, Utah/Idaho PM2.5, 74741-74750 [2016-26016]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74741-74750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26016]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R10-OAR-2015-0067; FRL-9954-56-Region 10]


Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Attainment Plan for 
the Idaho Portion of the Logan, Utah/Idaho PM2.5 Nonattainment Area

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Franklin County, Idaho is a rural and sparsely populated 
county adjacent to Cache County, Utah. In 2009, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) designated Cache County, along with Franklin 
County, as part of the multi-state Logan, Utah-Idaho fine

[[Page 74742]]

particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area (Logan UT-ID). 
On December 14, 2012, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 
(IDEQ) submitted a State Implementation Plan (2012 SIP submittal) to 
address attainment planning requirements for the Idaho portion of the 
Logan UT-ID nonattainment area. On December 24, 2014, the IDEQ 
submitted a supplement to the 2012 SIP submission that included 
additional analysis (2014 amendment). The EPA has evaluated the 2012 
SIP submittal and 2014 amendment to determine whether the submissions 
meet the applicable Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements. Based on this 
evaluation, the EPA is proposing to approve certain provisions and 
disapprove other provisions of the 2012 SIP submittal and 2014 
amendment.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 28, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R10-
OAR-2015-0067 at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any 
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA 
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, 
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Hunt, Air Planning Unit, Office 
of Air and Waste (AWT-150), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 
1200 Sixth Ave, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101; telephone number: (206) 
553-0256; email address: hunt.jeff@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, wherever ``we'', 
``us'' or ``our'' are used, it is intended to refer to the EPA.

Table of Contents

I. Background for the EPA's Proposed Action
    A. History of the PM2.5 Standard
    B. Effect of the January 4, 2013 D.C. Circuit Decision Regarding 
PM2.5 Implementation Under Subpart 4
    C. CAA PM2.5 Nonattainment Area Requirements
II. Analysis of Idaho's Submittals
    Previously Approved Attainment Plan Elements
    A. Classifications
    B. Emissions Inventory
    C. Control Measures
    Attainment Plan Elements Proposed for Approval and Disapproval
    D. Attainment Date
    E. Attainment Demonstration and Modeling
    F. Characterization of Franklin County Air Shed
    G. Reasonably Available Control Measures/Reasonably Available 
Control Technology (RACM/RACT)
    H. Contingency Measures
    I. Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) and Quantitative Milestones
    Additional Elements
    J. Conformity Requirements
III. Proposed Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background for the EPA's Proposed Action

A. History of the PM2.5 Standard

    On July 18, 1997, the EPA established the 1997 PM2.5 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), including an annual 
standard of 15.0 [micro]g/m\3\ based on a 3-year average of annual mean 
PM2.5 concentrations, and a 24-hour (or daily) standard of 
65 [micro]g/m\3\ based on a 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 
24-hour concentrations (62 FR 38652). The EPA established the 1997 
PM2.5 NAAQS based on significant evidence and numerous 
health studies demonstrating the serious health effects associated with 
exposures to PM2.5. To provide guidance on the CAA 
requirements for state and tribal implementation plans to implement the 
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, the EPA promulgated the ``Final Clean Air 
Fine Particle Implementation Rule'' (72 FR 20586, April 25, 2007) 
(hereinafter, the ``2007 PM2.5 Implementation Rule'').
    On October 17, 2006, the EPA strengthened the 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS to 35 [micro]g/m\3\ and retained the level of 
the annual PM2.5 standard at 15.0 [micro]g/m\3\ (71 FR 
61144). Following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, the EPA is 
required by the CAA to promulgate designations for areas throughout the 
United States; this designation process is described in section 
107(d)(1) of the CAA. On November 13, 2009, the EPA designated areas as 
either attainment/unclassifiable or nonattainment with respect to the 
revised 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS (74 FR 58688). In that 
November 2009 action, the EPA designated Franklin County, Idaho, as 
part of the cross-state Logan UT-ID nonattainment for the 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS, requiring Idaho to prepare and submit an 
attainment plan to meet the revised 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The 
EPA included Franklin County in the nonattainment area due to Idaho 
emission sources, particularly motor vehicle commuter patterns, 
contributing to violations of the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS 
recorded at the Logan, Cache County, Utah monitor, based on 2006 to 
2008 ambient air quality data.
    On March 2, 2012, the EPA issued ``Implementation Guidance for the 
2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate (PM2.5) National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards (NAAQS)'' to provide guidance on the development of 
SIPs to demonstrate attainment with the revised 24-hour standard (March 
2012 Implementation Guidance). The March 2012 Implementation Guidance 
explained that the overall framework and policy approach of the 2007 
PM2.5 Implementation Rule provided effective and appropriate 
guidance on statutory requirements for the development of SIPs to 
attain the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Accordingly, the March 
2012 Implementation Guidance instructed states to rely on the 2007 
PM2.5 Implementation Rule in developing SIPs to demonstrate 
attainment with the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.

B. Effect of the January 4, 2013 D.C. Circuit Court Decision Regarding 
PM2.5 Implementation Under Subpart 4

    On January 4, 2013, the D.C. Circuit Court issued a decision in 
NRDC v. EPA, 706 F.3d 428, holding that the EPA erred in implementing 
the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS pursuant only to the general 
implementation requirements of subpart 1, part D of title I of the CAA, 
rather pursuant to the implementation requirements specific to 
particulate matter (PM10) in subpart 4, part D of title I of 
the CAA (``subpart 4''). The court reasoned that the plain meaning of 
the CAA requires implementation of the 1997 p.m.2.5 NAAQS under subpart 
4 because PM2.5 particles fall within the statutory 
definition of PM10 and thus implementation of the 
PM2.5 NAAQS is subject to the same statutory requirements as 
the PM10 NAAQS. The Court did not vacate the 2007 
PM2.5 Implementation Rule but remanded the rule with 
instructions for the EPA to promulgate new implementation regulations 
for the PM2.5 NAAQS in accordance with the requirements of 
subpart 4. On June 6, 2013, consistent with the Court's remand 
decision, the

[[Page 74743]]

EPA withdrew its March 2012 Implementation Guidance which relied on the 
2007 PM2.5 Implementation Rule to provide guidance for the 
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
    Prior to the January 4, 2013 Court decision, states had worked 
towards meeting the air quality goals of the 2006 PM2.5 
NAAQS in accordance with the EPA regulations and guidance derived from 
subpart 1 of Part D of Title I of the CAA. The EPA considered this 
history in issuing the PM2.5 Subpart 4 Nonattainment 
Classification and Deadline Rule (2014 Classification and Deadline 
Rule) (79 FR 31566, June 2, 2014) that identified the initial 
classification under subpart 4 for areas currently designated 
nonattainment for the 1997 and/or 2006 PM2.5 standards as 
Moderate. The final rule also established December 31, 2014 as the 
deadline for the states to submit any additional SIP elements related 
to attainment. On December 24, 2014, the IDEQ supplemented the 2012 SIP 
submission to address the Court's decision.

C. CAA PM2.5 Moderate Area Nonattainment Requirements

    With respect to the requirements for attainment plans, the EPA 
notes that the general nonattainment area planning requirements are 
found in subpart 1, and the Moderate area planning requirements for 
particulate matter are found in subpart 4. The EPA has a longstanding 
general guidance document that interprets the 1990 amendments to the 
CAA commonly referred to as the ``General Preamble'' (57 FR 13498, 
April 16, 1992). The General Preamble addresses the relationship 
between subpart 1 and subpart 4 requirements and provides 
recommendations to states for meeting statutory requirements for 
particulate matter nonattainment planning. Specifically, the General 
Preamble explains that requirements applicable to Moderate area 
nonattainment SIPs are set forth in subpart 4, but such SIPs must also 
meet the general nonattainment planning provisions in subpart 1, to the 
extent these provisions ``are not otherwise subsumed by, or integrally 
related to,'' the more specific subpart 4 requirements (57 FR 13538). 
In addition, on August 24, 2016, the EPA issued a final rule 
establishing requirements applicable to nonattainment areas for current 
and future PM2.5 NAAQS in response to the vacatur of the 
2007 implementation rule. Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards: State Implementation Plan Requirements, 81 FR 58010 
(August 24, 2016). While that rule is not effective until October 24, 
2016, the EPA considered the guidance contained in the final rule when 
evaluating the SIP submission at issue.
    The requirements of subpart 1 for attainment plans include: (i) The 
section 172(c)(1) requirements for reasonably available control 
measures (RACM), reasonably available control technology (RACT) and 
attainment demonstrations; (ii) the section 172(c)(2) requirement to 
demonstrate reasonable further progress (RFP); (iii) the section 
172(c)(3) requirement for emissions inventories; (iv) the section 
172(c)(5) requirements for a nonattainment new source review (NSR) 
permitting program; and (v) the section 172(c)(9) requirement for 
contingency measures.
    Several subpart 4 requirements for Moderate areas are comparable 
with subpart 1 requirements and include: (i) The section 189(a)(1)(A) 
NSR permit program requirements; (ii) the section 189(a)(1)(B) 
requirements for an attainment demonstration; (iii) the section 
189(a)(1)(C) requirements for RACM; and (iv) the section 189(c) 
requirements for RFP and quantitative milestones. In addition, under 
subpart 4 the Moderate area attainment date is no later than the end of 
the 6th calendar year after designation.
    The EPA has evaluated the 2012 SIP submittal and 2014 amendment to 
determine whether they meet the applicable Clean Air Act (CAA) 
requirements. Based on this evaluation, the EPA is proposing to approve 
certain provisions and disapprove other provisions of the 2012 SIP 
submittal and 2014 amendment.

II. Analysis of Idaho's Submittals

    The attainment plan elements that the IDEQ submitted for Franklin 
County included base year and attainment year emissions inventories 
that addressed direct particulate matter emissions and all particulate 
matter precursors, an analysis of RACM and RACT, contingency measures, 
and reasonable further progress addressed through the attainment 
demonstration. The attainment plan's strategy for controlling direct 
and precursor PM2.5 emissions relied primarily on a 
mandatory episodic woodstove curtailment program, the change-out of 
uncertified woodstoves, revised road sanding practices, and expected 
direct PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursor reductions from 
the Tier 2 Federal Motor Vehicle Emission Requirements (65 FR 6698, 
February 10, 2000).

Previously Approved Attainment Plan Elements

A. Classifications
    The applicable attainment planning requirements under subpart 4 
(section 189(a) and (b)) depend on whether the nonattainment area is 
classified as Moderate or Serious. In response to the Court's decision 
in NRDC v. EPA, the EPA finalized on June 2, 2014, initial 
classifications of all current 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 
nonattainment areas as Moderate (79 FR 31566). Thus, the IDEQ's 2012 
SIP submittal and the 2014 amendment for Franklin County is evaluated 
pursuant to the Moderate area requirements of subpart 4.
B. Emissions Inventory
    On May 14, 2014, we proposed approval of the baseline emissions 
inventory included as part of Idaho's 2012 submittal (79 FR 27543). The 
emissions inventory covered direct PM2.5 and precursors to 
the formation of PM2.5 (nitrogen oxides (NOX), 
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia (NH3), and sulfur 
dioxide (SO2)) to meet the comprehensive emissions inventory 
requirement of CAA section 172(c) for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 
NAAQS. We received no comments on our proposed rulemaking and finalized 
our approval on July 18, 2014 (79 FR 41904). We are not taking comments 
on the inventory as part of this action.
C. Control Measures
    The December 14, 2012 attainment plan submitted by the IDEQ 
included permanent and enforceable Franklin County, City of Clifton, 
City of Dayton, Franklin City, City of Oxford, City of Preston, and 
City of Weston ordinances implementing the mandatory woodstove 
curtailment and burn ban programs. The IDEQ's Air Quality Index (AQI) 
program supports the local jurisdictions by instituting mandatory burn 
bans for uncertified woodstoves when PM2.5 concentration 
levels are at or forecasted to reach 25.4 [micro]g/m\3\. Each of the 
adopted ordinances ban open burning of any kind during burn ban days, 
ban the sale or installation of non-EPA certified devices in new or 
existing buildings, and prohibit the construction of any building for 
which a solid fuel burning device is the sole source of heat. On March 
25, 2014, the EPA approved the ordinances submitted in the attainment 
plan because they provided important PM2.5 reductions in the 
nonattainment area and strengthened the Idaho SIP (79 FR 16201). By 
including these measures in the SIP, the State has made them permanent 
and enforceable. With the EPA's approval of these control

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measures on March 25, 2014, the measures have become federally 
enforceable. The EPA already provided notice and comment on the 
proposed approval of these ordinances into the SIP on December 26, 2013 
(78 FR 78315), and we are not taking comment on those provisions.
    In our March 25, 2014 action, the EPA also approved road sanding 
agreements between the IDEQ, Franklin County Road and Bridge, and the 
Idaho Transportation Department to reduce the contribution of primary 
PM2.5 from reentrained dust on paved roads. Although the 
road sanding agreements were expected to reduce emissions of 
PM2.5, we determined that the agreements were not directly 
enforceable. However, the road sanding agreements are similar to 
agreements previously approved by the EPA as voluntary measures in the 
Idaho SIP (70 FR 29247), and consistently implemented by the relevant 
state and county governments.\1\ Accordingly, the EPA approved the road 
sanding agreements as voluntary measures in accordance with existing 
guidance.\2\ Lastly, in the 2012 SIP submittal and 2014 amendment, the 
IDEQ also quantified the emission reduction benefits from three 
woodstove change-out programs conducted in 2006-2007, 2011-2012, and 
2013-2014 that replaced a total of 212 units, with annual estimated 
emissions reductions of 8.04 tons per year (tpy) PM2.5, 0.47 
tpy NOX, and 18.57 tpy VOC. Further details on these control 
measures can be found in the docket for this action as well as in the 
proposed and final Federal Register notices approving these measures 
(78 FR 78315 and 79 FR 16201). The EPA is not taking comment on these 
approved actions.
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    \1\ In a letter dated February 26, 2016, included in the docket 
for this action, the IDEQ included an update on the continued 
implementation of the road sanding agreement with Franklin County 
Road and Bridge.
    \2\ Incorporating Emerging and Voluntary Measures in a State 
Implementation Plan (Sept. 2004).
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Attainment Plan Elements Proposed for Approval and Disapproval

D. Attainment Date
    The CAA requirements of subpart 4 include a demonstration that a 
nonattainment area will meet applicable NAAQS within the timeframe 
provided in the statute (section 189(a)(1)(B)). For the 2006 
PM2.5 24-hour NAAQS, an attainment plan must show that a 
Moderate nonattainment area will attain the standard as expeditiously 
as practicable but no later than the end of the sixth calendar year 
after the area's designation, which in the case of Franklin County was 
December 31, 2015.
E. Attainment Demonstration and Modeling
    Section 189(a)(1)(B) requires that a Moderate area nonattainment 
plan contain either a demonstration that the plan will provide for 
attainment by the applicable attainment date, or a demonstration that 
attainment by such date is impracticable. Due to the multi-state nature 
of the shared Logan UT-ID air shed and the location of the violating 
monitor in Logan, Utah, the Utah Department of Air Quality (UDAQ) 
conducted the attainment demonstration for the entire nonattainment 
area with IDEQ's active participation. This attainment demonstration 
was included in Appendix D of IDEQ's 2012 SIP submittal. In response to 
the EPA's 2014 Classification and Deadline Rule, IDEQ again worked with 
the UDAQ to update the attainment demonstration with new modeling based 
on more recent emission inventory information. This updated modeling, 
cited in the 2014 amendment, demonstrated attainment by the subpart 4 
attainment date of December 31, 2015.
    The EPA is proposing to disapprove the attainment demonstration 
because the area did not, in fact, attain the NAAQS by December 31, 
2015.
F. Characterization of the Franklin County Air Shed
    In evaluating the 2012 SIP submission and 2014 amendment under the 
requirements of subpart 4, control of direct PM2.5 and 
precursors must be considered. According to CAA section 302(g) the term 
``air pollutant'' means any air pollution agent or combination of such 
agents, including any physical, chemical, biological, radioactive 
(including source material, special nuclear material, and by product 
material) substance or matter which is emitted into or otherwise enters 
the ambient air. Such term includes any precursors to the formation of 
any air pollutant, to the extent the Administrator has identified such 
precursor or precursors for the particular purpose for which the term 
``air pollutant'' is used. The provisions of subpart 4 do not define 
the term ``precursor'' for purposes of particulate matter, nor do they 
explicitly require the control of any specifically identified 
precursor. However, the EPA has long recognized the scientific basis 
for concluding that SO2, NOX, VOC, and ammonia 
are precursors to PM10 and to PM2.5 (81 FR 58018-
19).
    The EPA's interpretation of section 189(e) and section 172 
indicates that consideration of all precursors is necessary for 
PM2.5 attainment plans, and RACM/RACT requirements 
explicitly require the evaluation of available control measures for 
direct PM2.5 emissions and precursor emissions from 
stationary, area, and mobile sources in order to attain as 
expeditiously as practicable. Section 189(e) requires the control of 
appropriate precursors from major stationary sources, unless the 
Administrator determines that precursor emissions from such major 
stationary sources do not contribute significantly to nonattainment in 
the area.
    Subpart 4 expressly requires control of precursors from major 
stationary sources where direct PM from major sources is controlled 
unless certain conditions are met; however, other sources of precursors 
may also need to be controlled for the purposes of demonstrating 
attainment as expeditiously as practicable in a given area. Thus, the 
statute requires states with Moderate nonattainment areas to evaluate 
available control measures for all sources of direct PM2.5 
and PM2.5 precursor emissions to determine whether such 
measures are economically and technologically feasible, and to adopt 
all measures that are deemed reasonable and are necessary to 
demonstrate attainment as expeditiously as possible (e.g., all measures 
constituting RACM and RACT controls for sources located in the area). 
The EPA has interpreted subpart 4 to require control of precursors from 
all source categories in a given nonattainment area, unless there is a 
demonstration that controlling a precursor or precursors is not 
necessary for expeditious attainment of the NAAQS in the area.
    As discussed in the EPA's 1992 General Preamble, in the event that 
a state's attainment plan includes controls on major stationary sources 
for PM10 in order to achieve timely attainment in the area, 
section 189(e) requires controls of all PM10 precursors for 
major stationary sources located within the area, unless there is a 
showing that such sources do not contribute significantly to violations 
in the area (57 FR 13541). Thus, the EPA's interpretation of subpart 4 
requirements with respect to precursors in attainment plans for 
PM10 contemplates that states may develop attainment plans 
that regulate only those precursors that contribute significantly to 
nonattainment in the area in question, i.e., states may determine that 
only certain precursors need be regulated for attainment

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purposes. Id.; see also Assoc. of Irritated Residents v. EPA, et al., 
423 F.3d 989 (9th Cir. 2005). The EPA maintains that application of 
this same approach to PM2.5 precursors under subpart 4 is 
appropriate and reasonable (81 FR 58020-22).
    The General Preamble describes the assessment of precursors as 
specific to each nonattainment area, and acknowledges that the 
determination of precursor significance would likely vary based on the 
characteristics of the area-wide nonattainment problem. The General 
Preamble further provides that in making a determination regarding the 
significance of precursors, the EPA will rely on technical information 
presented in the state's submittal, including filter analysis, the 
relative contribution to overall nonattainment, the selected control 
strategies, as well as other relevant factors (57 FR 13541). The recent 
PM2.5 Implementation Rule also discusses the types of 
technical analyses that states may perform to demonstrate the 
significance or insignificance of a particular precursor. (81 FR 58020-
22); 40 CFR 51.1006.
    The IDEQ's 2012 SIP submittal contained a detailed analysis of the 
Logan UT-ID air shed (see Appendix A, Special Air Quality Studies, 
PM2.5 Saturation Studies--Utah State University). This study 
concluded that, ``the Cache Valley (Logan UT-ID) PM2.5 
nonattainment is somewhat uniquely a wintertime problem, when low 
lying, persistent radiation and subsidence inversions set up, trapping 
pollutants in the Valley for extended periods of time, thereby allowing 
photochemically-derived particulate material to become elevated. 
Chemical analysis by researchers at Utah's Division of Air Quality and 
Air Monitoring Center, as well as Utah State University, have shown 
that 50-95% of the PM2.5 collected at the Logan site is 
composed of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3).'' This 
secondary formation of ammonium nitrate is due in large part to 
NOX and VOC emissions from onroad motor vehicles combining 
with the abundant levels of ammonia from small cattle operations, 
agricultural fields, and natural and constructed wetlands in the 
greater air shed, both within and surrounding the nonattainment area. 
The study concluded that, ``based on measurements at the Logan 
location, the Valley's wintertime formation of ammonium nitrate was 
found to be limited by the availability of nitric acid 
(HNO3). Furthermore, the report stated that the Cache Valley 
was found to be NH3-rich by a factor of approximately two. 
Comparisons of wintertime ambient NH3 concentrations between 
the Valley's urban area (Logan) and a rural location (Amalga), showed 
the rural area averaged [ap]2.5 times the NH3 of the urban 
site.'' As a result of this analysis, all scientific precursors to 
PM2.5, including VOCs and ammonia, were considered as part 
of the 2012 SIP submittal and 2014 amendment.
G. Reasonably Available Control Technology/Reasonably Available Control 
Measures (RACT/RACM)
    The general SIP planning requirements for nonattainment areas under 
subpart 1 include section 172(c)(1), which requires implementation of 
all RACM (including RACT). The CAA section 172(c) indicates that what 
constitutes RACM or RACT is related to what is necessary for attainment 
in a given area, as the provision states that nonattainment plans shall 
provide for attainment of the NAAQS in the area covered by the 
attainment plan.
    The SIP requirements under subpart 4 likewise impose upon states an 
obligation to develop attainment plans that impose RACM and RACT on 
sources within a nonattainment area. Section 189(a)(1)(C) requires that 
states with areas classified as Moderate nonattainment areas must have 
SIP provisions to assure that RACM and RACT level controls are 
implemented by no later than four years after designation of the area. 
As with subpart 1, the terms RACM and RACT are not defined within 
subpart 4. Nor do the provisions of subpart 4 specify how states are to 
meet the RACM and RACT requirements. However, the EPA's longstanding 
guidance in the General Preamble provides recommendations for 
appropriate considerations for determining what control measures 
constitute RACM and RACT for purposes of meeting the statutory 
requirements of subpart 4.
    The EPA's guidance for RACM under subpart 4 in the General Preamble 
includes: (1) A list of some potential measures for states to consider; 
(2) a statement of the EPA's expectation that the state will provide a 
reasoned explanation for a decision not to adopt a particular control 
measure; (3) recognition that some control measures might be 
unreasonable because the emissions from the affected sources in the 
area are de minimis; (4) an emphasis on state evaluation of potential 
control measures for reasonableness, considering factors such as 
technological feasibility and the cost of control; and (5) 
encouragement that states evaluating potential control measures imposed 
upon municipal or other governmental entities also include 
consideration of the impacts on such entities, and the possibility of 
partial implementation when full implementation would be infeasible 
(e.g., phased implementation of measures such as road paving). 57 FR 
13540.
    With respect to RACT requirements, the EPA's existing guidance in 
the General Preamble: (1) Noted that RACT has historically been defined 
as ``the lowest emission limit that a source is capable of meeting by 
the application of control technology that is reasonably available 
considering technological and economic feasibility;'' (2) noted that 
RACT generally applies to stationary sources, both stack and fugitive 
emissions; (3) suggested that major stationary sources be the minimum 
starting point for a state's RACT analysis; and (4) recommended that 
states evaluate RACT not only for major stationary sources, but for 
other source categories as needed for attainment and considering the 
feasibility of controls. Id. at 13541
    For both RACM and RACT, the EPA notes that an overarching principle 
is that if a given control measure is not needed to attain the relevant 
NAAQS in a given area as expeditiously as practicable, then that 
control measure would not be required as RACM or RACT because it would 
not be reasonable to impose controls that are not in fact needed for 
attainment purposes. In making recommendations for the subpart 4 RACM 
and RACT requirements, the focus is upon the process to identify 
emissions sources, to evaluate potential emissions controls, and to 
impose those control measures that are reasonable and that are 
necessary to bring the area into attainment as expeditiously as 
practicable, but by no later than the attainment date for the area. The 
only exception is if the economically and technically feasible measures 
not necessary to attain by the outermost attainment date and adopted as 
RACT/RACM will collectively advance attainment by at least a year. If 
that is the case, the additional measures must be adopted.
    The new PM2.5 Implementation Rule adopts a process 
oriented analysis similar to the approaches set forth in the General 
Preamble and the remanded 2007 PM2.5 Implementation Rule (81 FR 58035-
47); 40 CFR 51.1009.
    Consistent with EPA guidance at the time, the IDEQ evaluated which 
measures would constitute RACM and RACT in Franklin County.
    1. The IDEQ evaluated the technical and economic feasibility of 
establishing a motor vehicle inspection and

[[Page 74746]]

maintenance (I&M) program for Franklin County (Appendix C of the 2012 
SIP submittal). Modeling conducted by the UDAQ, using the EPA's Motor 
Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) model, showed expected 
NOX reductions of 4.6% from implementing an I&M program 
generally. Projecting this anticipated NOX reduction to 
Franklin County's share of the overall Logan UT-ID motor vehicle fleet 
(approximately 10%) yields a potential NOX reduction benefit 
of 0.46% for the air shed. The IDEQ estimated the cost of establishing 
an I&M program for Franklin County based on an existing I&M station in 
Canyon County, Idaho (population 198,871 in 2013). The IDEQ then scaled 
the potential costs of this program to reflect the population of 
Franklin (12,854 in 2013). The IDEQ found that while some variable 
costs may be reduced, the annual fixed costs of keeping a basic I&M 
station operational remained quite high (total annual estimated cost 
would be approximately $300,000). The IDEQ calculated that dividing 
this annual cost by the expect NOX emissions reduction for 
Franklin County (15 tons per year) yields an estimated cost per ton of 
NOX reduced of at least $20,000 per ton. The IDEQ also 
calculated the cost per vehicle (approximately 8,574 vehicles) to be 
$70 per vehicle based on a two year inspection cycle. Given ongoing 
vehicle fleet turnover with newer, cleaner Tier 2 and 3 vehicles since 
the IDEQ's 2012 SIP submittal, these costs relative to expected 
NOX reductions have likely increased as the small percentage 
of pre-1996 motor vehicles most likely to fail an I&M test for 
NOX and VOC emissions are retired from the vehicle fleet. 
For these reasons, the IDEQ determined that a Franklin County I&M 
program was not a reasonable control approach based on factors 
including the cost of control and economic feasibility.
    2. As discussed above, the General Preamble suggests that major 
stationary sources be the minimum starting point for a state's RACT 
analysis and recommended that states evaluate RACT not only for major 
stationary sources, but for other source categories as needed for 
attainment and considering the feasibility of controls. In developing 
the emissions inventories underlying the 2012 SIP submittal and 2014 
amendment, the criteria of 40 CFR 51 for air emissions reporting 
requirements under the EPA's National Emissions Inventory (NEI) was 
used to establish a 100 tpy threshold for identifying stationary point 
sources. For Franklin County there are no point sources with the 
potential to emit 100 tpy of PM2.5 or any PM2.5 
plan precursor. As described in Appendix B of the IDEQ's 2012 SIP 
submittal, emissions from point sources under the EPA's NEI reporting 
threshold of 100 tpy were included in the area source base-year 
emissions inventory. For Franklin County, due to its rural nature and 
general lack of industrial base, emissions from these industrial and 
commercial source categories are generally insignificant compared to 
other source categories. For these reasons, the IDEQ considered RACT 
requirements satisfied for Franklin County.

                Table 1--Franklin County 2008 Winter Emissions Inventory in Tons per Episode Day
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Source category               PM2.5            NOX             SO2             VOC             NH3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture, crops, and                    0.008               0               0           2.763            4.65
 livestock......................
Gasoline, bulk, and stations....               0               0               0               0               0
Commercial cooking..............               0               0               0               0               0
Construction dust...............           0.014               0               0               0               0
Fuel combustion, industrial.....           0.006           0.087           0.061           0.001           0.002
Fuel combustion, commercial/               0.004            0.07           0.018           0.001               0
 institutional..................
Fuel combustion, residential non-          0.001           0.049           0.014           0.002           0.008
 wood...........................
Fuel combustion, residential                 0.1           0.009           0.002           0.138               0
 wood...........................
Miscellaneous Commercial/                  0.001           0.001               0               0           0.008
 Industrial Processes...........
Solvent, commercial and consumer               0               0               0            0.14               0
Solvent, commercial and                        0               0               0            0.26               0
 industrial.....................
Waste disposal..................               0               0               0           0.008               0
Mobile, emissions...............           0.028           0.711           0.004           0.498           0.008
Mobile, road dust...............           0.596               0               0               0               0
Nonroad mobile..................           0.035           0.428           0.009           0.636               0
Point sources...................               0               0               0               0               0
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................           0.793           1.355           0.108           4.447           4.676
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. As previously discussed in the Control Measures section, the 
IDEQ submitted road sanding agreements negotiated between the IDEQ, 
Franklin County Road and Bridge, and the Idaho Department of 
Transportation to reduce PM2.5 emissions from re-entrained 
road dust. In our March 25, 2014 final approval of the road sanding 
agreements as voluntary measures, we explained that the agreements were 
not directly enforceable and could not be considered as full control 
measures, with full emission reduction credit under the attainment 
demonstration.\3\ As part of the 2014 amendment, the IDEQ submitted 
revised road sanding agreements to address the EPA's enforceability 
concerns. While these revised road sanding agreements improve on 
potential enforceability, they still do not meet our enforceability 
criteria to be approved as full control measures meeting RACM 
requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Incorporating Emerging and Voluntary Measures in a State 
Implementation Plan (Sept. 2004).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. As previously discussed in the Control Measures section, the EPA 
approved the permanent and enforceable Franklin County, City of 
Clifton, City of Dayton, Franklin City, City of Oxford, City of 
Preston, and City of Weston ordinances implementing the mandatory 
woodstove curtailment and burn ban program (79 FR 16201, March 25, 
2014). The EPA is now proposing to determine that these ordinances 
already approved into the Idaho SIP satisfy our criteria for RACM under 
subpart 1 and subpart 4. The EPA also notes that because the ordinances 
banned the sale or installation of non-EPA certified devices in new or 
existing buildings in Franklin County jurisdictions, the three 
woodstove change-out programs conducted in 2006-2007, 2011-2012, and 
2013-2014, that replaced 212 units, can be considered to have 
permanent,

[[Page 74747]]

enforceable, and lasting emission reductions in the nonattainment area, 
estimated to be 8.04 tpy PM2.5, 0.47 tpy NOX, and 
18.57 tpy VOC.
    The EPA is proposing to approve the woodstove curtailment, device 
restrictions and burn ban control measures discussed above, and already 
incorporated into the SIP, as meeting the requirements of RACM. We are 
proposing to approve IDEQ's determination that an I&M program for 
Franklin County is not economically feasible under RACM. We are also 
proposing to approve IDEQ's determination that RACT controls are not 
necessary given the lack of stationary sources in the county.

Not Possible To Advance Attainment by One Year

    Under the attainment plan requirements, an area must implement all 
reasonable control measures that are not necessary to attain by the 
outermost attainment date, if such measures would advance the date of 
attainment by an estimated one year. At the time of the IDEQ's December 
24, 2014 amendment, the State and the EPA had access to monitoring data 
showing that it would not be possible to advance attainment by one year 
(December 31, 2014) due to expected 3-year average of 24-hour 
PM2.5 concentrations of 40 [mu]g/m\3\ at the Franklin 
monitor, and 45 [mu]g/m\3\ at the Logan, Utah monitor, based on 
preliminary 2012-2014 data. Therefore, we are proposing to approve 
IDEQ's determination that it was not possible to advance the attainment 
date by one-year and that they implemented all reasonable available 
control measures identified.

Precursors Addressed

    As discussed in the ``Characterization of the Franklin County Air 
Shed'' section above, secondary formation of ammonium nitrate 
(NH4NO3) is the most dominant source of 
PM2.5 in the valley (approximately 80% of the 
PM2.5). Due to the unique topography of being surrounded by 
steep mountain ranges approximately 3,000 to 5,000 feet above the Cache 
Valley floor, this air shed is particularly susceptible to wintertime 
inversion events. During these inversion events VOCs and NOX 
emissions (primarily from on-road motor vehicles) are trapped in a 
shallow layer of air with ammonia emissions (primarily from 
agricultural operations) to form ammonium nitrate. The 2012 submittal 
included the Utah State University Special Air Quality Studies which 
determined that the air shed was ammonia rich by a factor of 
approximately two. Modeled sensitivity runs, conducted by UDAQ in 
cooperation with IDEQ, also showed that significant reductions in the 
ammonia inventories would have little to no effect on predicted 
PM2.5 concentrations.\4\ As such, one of the most 
significant control measures for the area as a whole, was Utah's 
establishment of an I&M program to reduce NOX and VOCs from 
on-road motor vehicles. As discussed above, IDEQ also assessed the 
economic feasibility of establishing an I&M program to reduce 
NOX and VOCs, but found that the estimated $20,000+ per ton 
reduction of NOX renders the cost unreasonable and thus not 
RACM. IDEQ also considered other potential NOX controls such 
as controls for home heating of natural gas or distillate oil, but 
determined it was prohibitively expensive given the tiny proportion of 
the emissions inventory for those sources (see Table 1). The potential 
for VOC and SO2 reductions from Franklin County sources was 
similarly small. While the emissions inventory shows some potential for 
reducing VOC emission from commercial, consumer, and industrial 
solvents, IDEQ noted that many of these products are purchased in the 
more populous retail center in Logan, Utah. Therefore the Utah VOC 
controls for these products would have an air shed wide impact. Lastly, 
IDEQ notes that MOVES modeling conducted as part of the 2012 submittal, 
using a 2008 base year, predicted VOC emissions reductions from on-road 
mobile sources of 37% by January 1, 2015, due to fleet turnover with 
cleaner Tier 2 vehicles. IDEQ did assess potential SO2, 
NOX, VOC, and NH3 reductions from Idaho-specific 
control measures. However, due to the sparse population and generally 
small emissions inventories, the direct PM2.5 control 
measures discussed above (woodstoves and road sanding) were deemed as 
the only viable and economically feasible measures possible to impose 
as RACM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See page 17 of Cache Valley Air Quality Studies, included as 
Appendix A of IDEQ's 2012 SIP submission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Overall RACM Analysis

    IDEQ's analysis of potential control measures under RACM was 
informed by the emissions inventory for the area (see pages 23-29 of 
the 2012 submittal). As discussed above, many of the source categories 
in the Franklin County portion of the nonattainment area have 
negligible emissions due to the sparse population and rural nature of 
the county. IDEQ then analyzed the emissions inventory for 
SO2, NOX, VOC, NH3, and direct 
PM2.5, to determine possible control measures (see pages 38-
41). Pursuant to that analysis, IDEQ identified and established the 
mandatory woodstove curtailment program, burn ban, heating device 
restrictions and the woodstove change-out programs discussed above to 
satisfy the RACM requirement for the predominant emissions sources in 
the county, with estimated emission reductions greater than 0.13 tons 
per episode day. The IDEQ also determined reasonable measures beyond 
the Tier 2 Federal Motor Vehicle Emission Requirements, the diesel 
emission reduction program, the commuter bus service, and the Park-n-
Ride lots already in place for the area are not available for mobile 
emissions. The EPA has reviewed the comprehensive emissions inventory 
information, as summarized in Table 1. Based on the 2012 submittal and 
2014 amendment, the EPA proposes to find that IDEQ has satisfied the 
RACM requirement for the Idaho portion of the area.
H. Contingency Measures
    Contingency measures are additional measures to be implemented in 
the event that an area fails to attain a standard by its attainment 
date, or fails to meet Reasonable Further Progress (RFP). See CAA 
section 172(c)(9); 81 FR 58066. These measures must be fully adopted 
rules or control measures that take effect with minimal further action 
by the state or the EPA. Contingency measures should also contain 
trigger mechanisms and an implementation schedule. In addition, they 
should be measures not already included in the SIP control strategy, 
and should provide for emission reductions equivalent to one year of 
RFP.
    The EPA explained that the April 16, 1992 General Preamble provided 
the following guidance: ``States must show that their contingency 
measures can be implemented without further action on their part and 
with no additional rulemaking actions such as public hearings or 
legislative review. In general, EPA will expect all actions needed to 
affect full implementation of the measures to occur within 60 days 
after EPA notifies the State of its failure.'' (57 FR at 13512). The 
statute requires that contingency measures provide for additional 
emission reductions that are not relied on for RFP or attainment and 
that are not included in the demonstration. The purpose of contingency 
measures is to provide a cushion while the plan is being revised to 
meet the missed milestone and continue progress towards expeditious 
attainment. In other words, contingency

[[Page 74748]]

measures are intended to achieve reductions over and beyond those 
relied on in the attainment and RFP demonstrations.
    In its 2012 SIP submittal, the IDEQ relied on two sets of measures 
as contingency measures: Idaho control measures that had already been 
adopted and implemented but which were not included or accounted for in 
UDAQ's attainment demonstration modeling; and the contingency measures 
included in Utah's 2012 SIP submission. IDEQ asserted that such 
measures collectively would achieve emission reductions resulting in a 
0.2 [mu]g per year reduction, equaling one year's worth of emission 
reductions necessary to achieve RFP at the time of IDEQ's 2012 
submittal. While the IDEQ asserts that the 0.2 [mu]g per year reduction 
would occur, the reductions are not quantified in the UDAQ modeling. 
The EPA is therefore proposing to disapprove the IDEQ's contingency 
measure plan element.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ We also note that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently 
rejected EPA's interpretation of CAA section 172(c)(9) as allowing 
for early implementation of contingency measures. Bahr v. EPA, No. 
12-72327 (Sept. 12, 2016). The Court concluded that contingency 
measures must take effect at the time the area fails to make RFP or 
attain by the applicable attainment date, not before. Id.at 35-36. 
The IDEQ control measures, which have already been implemented, do 
not meet the standard for section 172(c)(9) contingency measures set 
out by the Bahr decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) and Quantitative Milestones
    For PM2.5 nonattainment areas, two statutory provisions 
apply regarding RFP and quantitative milestones. First, under subpart 
1, CAA section 172(c)(2) requires attainment plans to provide for RFP, 
which is defined in CAA section 171(l) as ``such annual incremental 
reductions in emissions of the relevant air pollutant as are required 
by [Part D of Title I] or may reasonably be required by the 
Administrator for the purpose of ensuring attainment of the applicable 
national ambient air quality standard by the applicable date.'' 
Reasonable further progress is a requirement to assure that states make 
steady, incremental progress toward attaining air quality standards, 
rather than deferring implementation of control measures and thereby 
emission reductions until sometime just before the date by which the 
standard is to be attained. Second, under subpart 4, CAA section 189(c) 
requires that attainment plan submissions have ``quantitative 
milestones which are to be achieved every 3 years until the area is 
redesignated to attainment and which demonstrate reasonable further 
progress . . . toward attainment by the applicable date.''
    The IDEQ's 2012 SIP submittal was developed to meet the subpart 1 
RFP requirements, and the 2014 amendment was intended to address the 
D.C. Circuit's determination that the subpart 4 requirements apply to 
PM2.5 NAAQS; however, the IDEQ submittals do not include 
quantitative milestones as required pursuant to section 189(c). 
Specifically, section 189(c) provides that an attainment plan must have 
quantitative milestones which are to be achieved every three years 
until the area is redesignated to attainment, and which demonstrate 
reasonable further progress toward attainment by the applicable 
attainment date.\6\ While the SIP submittals did identify one measure 
of RFP (i.e. that the area will attain by the attainment date), the SIP 
submittals do not adequately address the RFP requirement or provide 
specific quantitative milestone as required pursuant to section 189(c). 
For this reason, we propose to disapprove the SIP with respect to the 
RFP and quantitative milestones requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ The EPA's General Preamble and Addendum provide guidance 
interpreting the RFP and quantitative milestone requirements of 
subpart 4 and were available at the time IDEQ submitted the 2014 
addendum. See General Preamble, 57 FR 13539; Addendum, 59 FR 42015-
17. The EPA's guidance recommendations with respect to section 
189(c) include several relevant features: (1) That the control 
measures comprising the RFP should be implemented and in place to 
meet the milestone requirement; (2) that it is reasonable for the 
three year periods for milestones to run from the date that the 
attainment plan submission is due; and (3) that the precise form 
quantitative milestones should take is not specified and they may 
take whatever form would allow progress to be quantified or measured 
adequately. The guidance contains a partial list of potential 
approaches, including percent implementation of control strategies, 
percent compliance with implemented control measures, and adherence 
to a compliance schedule. See Addendum, 59 FR 42016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While the specific RFP and quantitative milestones requirements 
were not satisfied in the SIP submittals, the IDEQ's attainment plan 
did contain control measures that were implemented after the area was 
designated nonattainment. For example, the woodstove curtailment and 
burn ban ordinances were adopted and in place during the summer and 
fall of 2012. In addition, the woodstove change-out programs conducted 
in 2006-2007 and 2011-2012, had already commenced and achieved 
sustained and quantifiable emission reductions of 8.04 tons per year 
(tpy) PM2.5, 0.47 tpy NOX, and 18.57 tpy VOC. The 
IDEQ calculated the emissions reductions associated with the number of 
woodstoves exchanged in each of those years. In addition, the IDEQ 
quantified the estimated reduction in PM2.5 reentrained road 
dust emissions from the road sanding agreements effective July 16, 2012 
and October 25, 2012. The control measures in the IDEQ's attainment 
plan were in place and achieving reductions within three years of 
submission. The State relied upon these control measures, in addition 
to the Utah control measures, to provide the bulk of the emissions 
reductions projected to bring the area into attainment, and those 
measures were achieving reductions during the three years from the 
subpart 4 attainment plan submission date. However, the IDEQ's SIP 
submittal did not specify whether such measures were also included for 
the purposes of RFP and quantitative milestones. If properly accounted 
for and specified in the SIP submittal, such reductions might be 
sufficient to provide the necessary demonstration of RFP for use in a 
quantitative milestones report.
J. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget
    Section 176(c) of the CAA requires Federal actions in nonattainment 
and maintenance areas to ``conform to'' the goals of SIPs. This means 
that such actions will not cause or contribute to violations of a 
NAAQS, worsen the severity of an existing violation, or delay timely 
attainment of any NAAQS or any interim milestone. Actions involving 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or Federal Transit Administration 
(FTA) funding or approval are subject to the transportation conformity 
rule (40 CFR part 93, subpart A). Under this rule, metropolitan 
planning organizations (MPOs) in nonattainment and maintenance areas 
coordinate with state air quality and transportation agencies, the EPA, 
the FHWA, and the FTA to demonstrate that their long-range 
transportation plans and transportation improvement programs (TIPs) 
conform to applicable SIPs. This demonstration is typically determined 
by showing that estimated emissions from existing and planned highway 
and transit systems are less than or equal to the motor vehicle 
emissions budgets (budgets) contained in a SIP.
    For budgets to be approvable, they must meet, at a minimum, the 
EPA's adequacy criteria (40 CFR 93.118(e)(4)). One of the adequacy 
criteria requires that motor vehicle emissions budgets when considered 
together with all other emissions sources, are consistent with the 
applicable requirements for reasonable further progress, attainment or 
maintenance (40 CFR 93.118(e)(4)((iv)). In this case the applicable 
requirement is attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. 
The Cache Valley NAA failed to attain the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 
NAAQS by

[[Page 74749]]

December 31, 2014.\7\ Therefore, the submitted motor vehicle emissions 
budgets do not meet the aforementioned adequacy criterion. We are 
proposing to disapprove the submitted budgets consistent with our 
proposed disapproval of the attainment demonstration for the Idaho 
portion of the area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ December 31, 2014 is the attainment date associated with the 
motor vehicle emission budgets submitted as part of the 2012 
submittal. Although IDEQ did submit revised emissions and attainment 
year inventories as part of the 2014 supplement, IDEQ did not 
explicitly submit revised budgets for the Subpart 4 attainment date 
of December 31, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Consequences of a Disapproved SIP

    This section explains the consequences of a disapproval of a SIP 
under section 110(k) of the Act. The Act provides for the imposition of 
sanctions and the promulgation of a federal implementation plan (FIP) 
if a state fails to submit and the EPA approve a plan revision that 
corrects the deficiencies identified by the EPA in its disapproval.

The Act's Provisions for Sanctions

    If the EPA finalizes disapproval of a required SIP submission, such 
as an attainment plan submission, or a portion thereof, section 179(a) 
provides for the imposition of sanctions unless the deficiency is 
corrected within 18 months of the final rulemaking of disapproval. The 
first sanction would apply 18 months after the EPA disapproves the SIP. 
Under EPA's sanctions regulations, 40 CFR 52.31, the first sanction 
imposed at 18 months following a disapproval is 2:1 offsets for sources 
subject to the new source review requirements under section 173 of the 
Act. If the deficiency remains uncorrected at 24 months after the 
disapproval a second sanction is imposed consisting of a prohibition on 
the approval or funding of certain highway projects.\8\ The EPA also 
has authority under section 110(m) to impose sanctions on a broader 
area, but is not proposing to take such action in today's rulemaking. 
The imposition of sanctions is avoided or stopped by a final EPA 
rulemaking action finding that the state corrected the SIP deficiencies 
resulting in the disapproval.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ On April 1, 1996 the US Department of Transportation 
published a notice in the Federal Register describing the criteria 
to be used to determine which highway projects can be funded or 
approved during the time that the highway sanction is imposed in an 
area. (See 61 FR 14363)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Implementation Plan Provisions That Apply if a State Fails To 
Submit an Approvable Plan

    In addition to sanctions, if the EPA finds that a state failed to 
submit the required SIP revision or finalizes disapproval of the 
required SIP revision, or a portion thereof, the EPA must promulgate a 
FIP no later than 2 years from the date of the finding if the 
deficiency has not been corrected within that time period.

Ramifications Regarding Conformity

    One consequence if EPA finalizes disapproval of a control strategy 
SIP submission is a conformity freeze.\9\ If we finalize the 
disapproval of the attainment demonstration SIP without a protective 
finding, a conformity freeze will be in place as of the effective date 
of the disapproval (40 CFR 93.120(a)(2)). The Idaho portion of the 
Cache Valley NAA is a ``donut area'' as defined in the transportation 
conformity rule (40 CFR 93.101).\10\ As such, the Idaho portion of the 
area does not have a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and there 
is no long range transportation plan or TIP that would be subject to a 
freeze. However, the freeze does mean that no new projects in the Idaho 
portion of the Cache Valley NAA may be found to conform until another 
attainment demonstration SIP is submitted and the motor vehicle 
emissions budgets are found adequate or the attainment demonstration is 
approved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Control strategy SIP revisions as defined in the 
transportation conformity include reasonable further progress plans 
and attainment demonstrations (40 CFR 93.101).
    \10\ The Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization is responsible 
for transportation planning in a portion of Cache County, UT which 
is part of this nonattainment area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Proposed Action

    The EPA is proposing to approve the woodstove curtailment 
ordinances, burn ban, heating device restrictions and woodstove change-
out programs as meeting RACM requirements. However, for the reasons set 
forth above and because the area failed to attain by the December 31, 
2015 attainment date, we are proposing to determine that the IDEQ has 
not satisfied the attainment demonstration, the contingency measures, 
the RFP and quantitative milestone, and the motor vehicle emission 
budget requirements for the Franklin County portion of the Logan UT-ID 
area. As such, we are proposing to disapprove these elements.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable 
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in 
reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA's role is to approve state choices, 
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this 
action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and 
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state 
law. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     Does not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the Clean Air Act; and
     Does not provide the EPA with the discretionary authority 
to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or 
environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible 
methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
because the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land 
in Idaho or any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe has 
demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.


[[Page 74750]]


    Dated: October 18, 2016.
Dennis J. McLerran,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2016-26016 Filed 10-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P