Public Hearing for and Extension of Comment Period on Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides, 28843-28844 [2018-13325]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2018 / Notices that LLNG neither wished to move forward with its proposed LNG export facility nor to maintain its FTA authorization.19 DOE/FE therefore vacated LLNG’s FTA authorization under NGA section 16, but it did so without objection by LLNG and without prejudice to LLNG, should LLNG wish to seek an export LNG authorization in the future.20 The LLNG proceeding was a highly unusual scenario where all evidence indicated that the company was no longer pursuing its proposed LNG export project and had, in fact, ceased to exist as a commercial operation. In vacating LLNG’s FTA order without prejudice, DOE responded appropriately in both implementing its statutory authority under NGA section 16 and in upholding the integrity of its natural gas regulatory program under 10 CFR part 590. amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 II. DOE/FE Policy on Non-FTA Export Authorizations Potential importers of U.S. LNG and financiers of LNG export projects (collectively, interested stakeholders) have expressed concern about DOE/FE rescinding one or more non-FTA export authorizations in the future. In raising this concern, they point to the language in the existing non-FTA authorizations (quoted above) in which DOE/FE has observed its authority under NGA section 16 to ‘‘make, amend, and rescind such [export] orders . . . as it may find necessary or appropriate . . . .’’ Citing DOE/FE’s language, they have asked what potential ‘‘developments’’ in the U.S. LNG market could rise to the level of ‘‘such significant consequence as to put the public interest at risk’’—such that DOE would unilaterally rescind one or more non-FTA export authorizations or take other action to protect the public interest under NGA section 3(a). As a preliminary matter, DOE/FE wishes to allay concerns about the security of existing (or future) non-FTA export authorizations. In this policy statement, DOE/FE affirms its commitment to all export authorizations issued under the NGA, including longterm authorizations approving the export of LNG to non-FTA countries. As indicated above, DOE/FE currently has issued 29 final non-FTA export authorizations, based on a thorough cause, in writing, why its authorization should not be vacated—to which LLNG never responded); Louisiana LNG Energy LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3482–A, at 3. 19 See Louisiana LNG Energy LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3482–A, at 3–4. 20 See id. at 4 (also dismissing LLNG’s pending non-FTA application without prejudice). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:22 Jun 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 consideration of the public interest under section 3(a) of the NGA. In each of these proceedings, DOE/FE reviewed a substantial administrative record addressing factors including economic impacts, international impacts, security of natural gas supply, and environmental impacts, among others. In granting each application, DOE/FE concluded that exports of U.S. LNG will generate net economic benefits to the broader U.S. economy and will provide energy security and environmental benefits to the global community (including emerging economies presently reliant upon more carbon intensive fuels).21 DOE/FE stands firmly behind these factual findings and legal conclusions— many of which have been challenged and upheld in federal court.22 Authorization holders, as well as any interested stakeholders, thus should have the utmost confidence in the validity of DOE/FE’s LNG export authorizations for the full term of each non-FTA order. Indeed, as noted above, DOE has never rescinded a non-FTA export authorization for any reason. DOE has vacated one FTA order under NGA section 16, but the circumstances of that proceeding were based solely on the inaction of the authorization holder.23 As a matter of law, DOE preserves its authority to take action as necessary or appropriate to carry out its duties under the NGA.24 However, DOE does not foresee a scenario where it would rescind one or more non-FTA authorizations. The United States government takes very seriously the investment-backed expectations of private parties subject to its regulatory jurisdiction. In particular, DOE understands the far-ranging economic investments and natural gas supply commitments associated with these authorizations over their full term— affecting both U.S. and global interests. DOE emphasizes that it remains committed to the durability and stability of the export authorizations it has granted under the NGA, as well as to supporting the approved export of U.S. natural gas around the world. 21 See, e.g., Eagle LNG Partners Jacksonville II LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4078, at 23–38. 22 In 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued four decisions upholding non-FTA export authorizations issued by DOE/FE under NGA section 3(a). See, e.g., Sierra Club vs. U.S. Dep’t of Energy, 867 F.3d 189; Sierra Club v. U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Nos. 16–1186, 16– 1252, 16–1253, 703 Fed. Appx. 1 (D.C. Cir. Nov. 1, 2017). 23 See supra at 4–5. 24 15 U.S.C. 717o. PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28843 Issued in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2018. Steven E. Winberg, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy. [FR Doc. 2018–13427 Filed 6–19–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2013–0566; FRL–9979–72– OAR] RIN 2060–AT68 Public Hearing for and Extension of Comment Period on Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of public hearing and extension of public comment period. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that a public hearing will be held on the EPA’s proposed decision in its ‘‘Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides,’’ which was published in the Federal Register on June 8, 2018 (83 FR 26752). The EPA is proposing to retain the existing standard without revision. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, in Washington, DC. The EPA is additionally announcing a 17-day extension of the comment period for this proposed decision. The original comment period was to end on July 23, 2018. The extended comment period will now close on August 9, 2018. DATES: The public hearing will be held on July 10, 2018, in Washington, DC (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on the public hearing). The comment period on the proposed decision announced in the Federal Register on June 8, 2018 (83 FR 26752), is extended. Comments must be received on or before August 9, 2018. ADDRESSES: Public Hearing. The July 10, 2018, public hearing will be held at the EPA, William Jefferson Clinton East Building, Room 1117, 1201 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. Identification is required. If your driver’s license is issued by America Samoa, you must present an additional form of identification to enter (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on this location). Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2013– 0566, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1 amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 28844 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2018 / Notices comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. 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. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https:// www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in https:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center Reading Room, William Jefferson Clinton West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The phone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to speak at the public hearing, please register using the online registration form available at: https:// www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/primarynational-ambient-air-quality-standardnaaqs-sulfur-dioxide or contact Ms. Regina Chappell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) (Mail Code C304–03), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone number: (919) 541–3650; fax number (919) 541–0942; email: chappell.regina@epa.gov, no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 6, 2018. If you have any questions relating to the public hearing, please contact Ms. Chappell. For further information concerning the review of the primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:22 Jun 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 for sulfur oxides, please contact Dr. Nicole Hagan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OAQPS (Mail Code C504–06), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541– 3153; fax number: (919) 541–5315; email: hagan.nicole@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA is reviewing the primary NAAQS for sulfur oxides as required under section 109 (42 U.S.C. 7409) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA’s proposed decision to retain the current primary NAAQS for sulfur oxides without revision was published in the Federal Register on June 8, 2018 (83 FR 26752). The Federal Register notice of the proposed decision specified a 45-day public comment period and indicated that a public hearing would be held during the public comment period if one was requested by June 15, 2018. On June 8, we received a request for a public hearing. In keeping with the schedule of this NAAQS review, which is governed by a consent decree, the date for the public hearing will be July 10, 2018. Further, consistent with CAA section 307(d)(5) (42 U.S.C. 7607(d)(5)), this notice additionally extends the public comment period by 17 days, until August 9, 2018. The public hearing will provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning the EPA’s proposed decision in the current review of the primary NAAQS for sulfur oxides. The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but will not respond to the presentations at that time. If you would like to present oral testimony at the hearing, please register using the online registration form available at: https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/ primary-national-ambient-air-qualitystandard-naaqs-sulfur-dioxide or notify Ms. Regina Chappell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OAQPS (Mail Code C304–03), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone number: (919) 541–3650; fax number (919) 541–0942; email: chappell.regina@ epa.gov, no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on July 6, 2018. Ms. Chappell will arrange a general time slot for you to speak. The EPA will make every effort to follow the schedule as closely as possible on the day of the hearing. Oral testimony will be limited to 5 minutes for each commenter. The EPA encourages commenters to provide the EPA with a copy of their oral testimony electronically (via email) or in hard copy form. Commenters should notify Ms. Chappell if they need specific translation services for non-English speaking commenters. PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The public hearing will convene at 9:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. ET or 2 hours after the last registered speaker has spoken, whichever is earlier. The EPA will make every effort to accommodate all individuals interested in providing oral testimony. A lunch break is scheduled from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. The hearing schedule, including the list of speakers, will be posted on the EPA’s website at https:// www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/primarynational-ambient-air-quality-standardnaaqs-sulfur-dioxide prior to the hearing. Verbatim transcripts of the hearing and written statements will be included in the docket for the action. This hearing will be held at a U.S. government facility. Individuals planning to attend the hearing should be prepared to show valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license, to the security staff in order to gain access to the meeting room. However, driver’s licenses from states and territories that do not comply with the REAL ID Act will not be accepted as identification. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, established new requirements for entering federal facilities. These requirements took effect on July 21, 2014. If your driver’s license is issued by American Samoa, you must present an alternative form of identification to enter the federal building where the public hearing will be held. Acceptable alternative forms of identification include: Federal employee badges, passports, enhanced driver’s licenses and military identification cards. For additional information for the status of your state regarding the REAL ID Act, go to https:// www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief. For additional information on building access and alternative forms of identification, go to https:// www.epa.gov/aboutepa/visiting-epaheadquarters. How can I get copies of this document and other related information? The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA– HQ–OAR–2013–0566 (available at https://www.regulations.gov). The EPA has also made available information related to the proposed action on the following website: https://www.epa.gov/ so2-pollution/primary-nationalambient-air-quality-standard-naaqssulfur-dioxide. Dated: June 15, 2018. Panagiotis Tsirigotis, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. [FR Doc. 2018–13325 Filed 6–20–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28843-28844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13325]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0566; FRL-9979-72-OAR]
RIN 2060-AT68


Public Hearing for and Extension of Comment Period on Review of 
the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur Oxides

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and extension of public comment 
period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that a 
public hearing will be held on the EPA's proposed decision in its 
``Review of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard for 
Sulfur Oxides,'' which was published in the Federal Register on June 8, 
2018 (83 FR 26752). The EPA is proposing to retain the existing 
standard without revision. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 
10, 2018, in Washington, DC. The EPA is additionally announcing a 17-
day extension of the comment period for this proposed decision. The 
original comment period was to end on July 23, 2018. The extended 
comment period will now close on August 9, 2018.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on July 10, 2018, in Washington, 
DC (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on the 
public hearing). The comment period on the proposed decision announced 
in the Federal Register on June 8, 2018 (83 FR 26752), is extended. 
Comments must be received on or before August 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Public Hearing. The July 10, 2018, public hearing will be 
held at the EPA, William Jefferson Clinton East Building, Room 1117, 
1201 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. Identification is 
required. If your driver's license is issued by America Samoa, you must 
present an additional form of identification to enter (see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on this location). 
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0566, 
to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online instructions for submitting

[[Page 28844]]

comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. 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.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center 
Reading Room, William Jefferson Clinton West Building, 1301 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Public Reading Room 
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The phone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 
566-1744.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to speak at the 
public hearing, please register using the online registration form 
available at: https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/primary-national-ambient-air-quality-standard-naaqs-sulfur-dioxide or contact Ms. Regina 
Chappell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards (OAQPS) (Mail Code C304-03), Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27711, telephone number: (919) 541-3650; fax number (919) 541-
0942; email: [email protected], no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time (ET) on July 6, 2018. If you have any questions relating to the 
public hearing, please contact Ms. Chappell.
    For further information concerning the review of the primary 
national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for sulfur oxides, please 
contact Dr. Nicole Hagan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OAQPS 
(Mail Code C504-06), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone 
number: (919) 541-3153; fax number: (919) 541-5315; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA is reviewing the primary NAAQS for 
sulfur oxides as required under section 109 (42 U.S.C. 7409) of the 
Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA's proposed decision to retain the current 
primary NAAQS for sulfur oxides without revision was published in the 
Federal Register on June 8, 2018 (83 FR 26752). The Federal Register 
notice of the proposed decision specified a 45-day public comment 
period and indicated that a public hearing would be held during the 
public comment period if one was requested by June 15, 2018. On June 8, 
we received a request for a public hearing. In keeping with the 
schedule of this NAAQS review, which is governed by a consent decree, 
the date for the public hearing will be July 10, 2018. Further, 
consistent with CAA section 307(d)(5) (42 U.S.C. 7607(d)(5)), this 
notice additionally extends the public comment period by 17 days, until 
August 9, 2018.
    The public hearing will provide interested parties the opportunity 
to present data, views, or arguments concerning the EPA's proposed 
decision in the current review of the primary NAAQS for sulfur oxides. 
The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but 
will not respond to the presentations at that time. If you would like 
to present oral testimony at the hearing, please register using the 
online registration form available at: https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/primary-national-ambient-air-quality-standard-naaqs-sulfur-dioxide or notify Ms. Regina Chappell, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, OAQPS (Mail Code C304-03), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, 
telephone number: (919) 541-3650; fax number (919) 541-0942; email: 
[email protected], no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on July 6, 2018. 
Ms. Chappell will arrange a general time slot for you to speak. The EPA 
will make every effort to follow the schedule as closely as possible on 
the day of the hearing. Oral testimony will be limited to 5 minutes for 
each commenter. The EPA encourages commenters to provide the EPA with a 
copy of their oral testimony electronically (via email) or in hard copy 
form. Commenters should notify Ms. Chappell if they need specific 
translation services for non-English speaking commenters.
    The public hearing will convene at 9:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. 
ET or 2 hours after the last registered speaker has spoken, whichever 
is earlier. The EPA will make every effort to accommodate all 
individuals interested in providing oral testimony. A lunch break is 
scheduled from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. The hearing schedule, 
including the list of speakers, will be posted on the EPA's website at 
https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/primary-national-ambient-air-quality-standard-naaqs-sulfur-dioxide prior to the hearing. Verbatim 
transcripts of the hearing and written statements will be included in 
the docket for the action.
    This hearing will be held at a U.S. government facility. 
Individuals planning to attend the hearing should be prepared to show 
valid picture identification, such as a driver's license, to the 
security staff in order to gain access to the meeting room. However, 
driver's licenses from states and territories that do not comply with 
the REAL ID Act will not be accepted as identification. The REAL ID 
Act, passed by Congress in 2005, established new requirements for 
entering federal facilities. These requirements took effect on July 21, 
2014. If your driver's license is issued by American Samoa, you must 
present an alternative form of identification to enter the federal 
building where the public hearing will be held. Acceptable alternative 
forms of identification include: Federal employee badges, passports, 
enhanced driver's licenses and military identification cards. For 
additional information for the status of your state regarding the REAL 
ID Act, go to https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief. For 
additional information on building access and alternative forms of 
identification, go to https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/visiting-epa-headquarters.

How can I get copies of this document and other related information?

    The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0566 (available at https://www.regulations.gov). 
The EPA has also made available information related to the proposed 
action on the following website: https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/primary-national-ambient-air-quality-standard-naaqs-sulfur-dioxide.

    Dated: June 15, 2018.
Panagiotis Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2018-13325 Filed 6-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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