Air Plan Approval; New Mexico; City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County; New Source Review (NSR) Preconstruction Permitting Program, 2648-2654 [2020-00286]
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report containing this action and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A major rule
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
is published in the Federal Register.
This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
petitions for judicial review of this
action must be filed in the United States
Court of Appeals for the appropriate
circuit by March 16, 2020. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the
Administrator of this final rule does not
affect the finality of this action for the
purposes of judicial review nor does it
extend the time within which a petition
for judicial review may be filed, and
shall not postpone the effectiveness of
such rule or action. This action may not
be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. See section
307(b)(2).
PART 52—APPROVAL AND
PROMULGATION OF
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Ozone, Volatile organic compounds,
Nitrogen oxides.
Subpart L—Georgia
2. Section 52.570(c) is amended under
the heading Permits by revising the
entry for ‘‘391–3–1–.03(8)’’ to read as
follows:
■
Dated: January 2, 2020.
Blake M. Ashbee,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
§ 52.570
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, 40 CFR part 52 is amended as
follows:
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Identification of plan.
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(c) * * *
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EPA APPROVED GEORGIA REGULATIONS
State citation
State
effective
date
Title/subject
*
*
EPA approval date
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391–3–1–.03 ...........
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391–3–1–.03(8) ......
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Permit Requirements .....
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*
*
*
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R06–OAR–2018–0177; FRL–10003–
44–Region 6]
Air Plan Approval; New Mexico; City of
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County; New
Source Review (NSR) Preconstruction
Permitting Program
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the Clean Air Act
(CAA or the Act), the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is approving
revisions to the applicable New Source
Review (NSR) State Implementation
Plan (SIP) for the City of AlbuquerqueBernalillo County submitted on January
18, 2018, that includes supplemental
information provided on April 30, 2019.
The EPA is approving newly adopted
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SUMMARY:
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6/18/2018
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1/16/2020, [Insert citation of publication].
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[FR Doc. 2020–00326 Filed 1–15–20; 8:45 am]
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Permits
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Explanation
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Except paragraph (e), approved on 11/22/10 with
a state-effective date of 7/25/07.
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Minor New Source Review (MNSR)
permitting regulations which waive
specific permitting requirements for
certain sources and create new
procedures for authorizing construction
and modification of these sources.
DATES: This rule is effective on February
18, 2020.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R06–OAR–2018–0177. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the https://www.regulations.gov website.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., Confidential Business Information
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
is not placed on the internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy
form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically through https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the EPA Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm
Street, Dallas, Texas 75270.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick
Barrett, EPA Region 6 Office, Air
Permits Section, 1201 Elm Street,
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Dallas, TX 75270, 214–665–7227,
barrett.richard@epa.gov. To inspect the
hard copy materials, please schedule an
appointment with Rick Barrett or Mr.
Bill Deese at 214–665–7253.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’
and ‘‘our’’ means the EPA.
I. Background
The background for this action is
discussed in detail in our June 5, 2019
proposal (84 FR 26057). In that
document we proposed to approve
revisions to the City of AlbuquerqueBernalillo County SIP submitted on
January 18, 2018, including
supplemental information provided on
April 30, 2019. The revisions addressed
in our proposal included newly adopted
Minor New Source Review (MNSR)
permitting regulations which waive
specific permitting requirements for
certain sources and create new
procedures for authorizing construction
and modification of these sources. The
revisions created procedures which
allow owners and operators of eligible
gasoline dispensing facilities (GDF), and
emergency stationary reciprocating
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internal combustion engines (ES–RICE),
to apply for an Air Quality Notification
(AQN) rather than a construction
permit. The SIP action proposes no
change in emission levels or controls,
and will not result in an increase of
emissions or ambient concentration of
any compounds.
We received comments on the
proposal from several commenters. The
full text of the comment letters received
during the public comment period,
which closed on July 5, 2019, is
included in the publicly posted docket
associated with this action at
www.regulations.gov. The EPA provides
a summary of the comments received
and corresponding responses below.1
II. Responses to Comments
Comment: Several commenters stated
that before any decision is made on the
proposal, the City of Albuquerque
Environmental Health Department
(EHD) should come to their
communities and give the residents of
Albuquerque and Unincorporated
Bernalillo County, neighborhood
associations, coalitions, and interested
persons an opportunity to learn about
the proposal, participate in a discussion,
get questions answered, and express
concerns in a public meeting forum in
English and Spanish.
They further stated that the EHD did
not notify the residents of Albuquerque
and Unincorporated Bernalillo County
of their proposal; did not conduct any
public meetings with neighborhood
associations, coalitions or the public;
and did not post on their website their
proposal to EPA to approve revisions to
the applicable New Source Review
(NSR) State Implementation Plan (SIP)
for the City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo
County.
Response: EPA regulations require
that states must provide the public with
notice of plans or plan revisions,
opportunity to submit written
comments, and either automatically
hold a public hearing on the proposed
plan or revision or provide the public
with the opportunity to request such a
public hearing. See 40 CFR 51.102.
Notice should include making the
proposed plan or revision available for
public inspection in at least one
location in each region to which it will
apply. See 40 CFR 51.102(d)(2). A notice
of public hearing to consider the EHD
Petition for rulemaking was published
on September 26, 2017, in the New
Mexico Register and in the Albuquerque
Journal on the same day. See
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
1 Note that comments are grouped together into
categories to assist the reader.
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Air Board. The notice met all the
applicable Federal regulations. It
solicited written comments and
contained the date, place, and time of
the hearing. The notice also stated that
the public could obtain the reasoning
for EHD’s proposed rulemaking, the
rulemaking record of the EHD, and
drafts of the proposed regulatory
changes on EHD’s website.2
Additionally, the notice, which was
published in the New Mexico Register
and the Albuquerque Journal, provided
a link to the agenda for the hearing. As
noted in the public notices published in
the two local newspapers, on November
8, 2017, a public hearing was held in
accordance with State and local law and
the applicable public hearing
requirements. EHD considered all the
comments it received and discussed
these in its hearing testimony. Public
comments were made via letters, emails
and in testimony prior to, and during,
the November 8, 2017, hearing. See
Attachment C, 2. Public Comment, and
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board.
Furthermore, on May 30, 2017, before
the formal public notification discussed
above, EHD sent copies of a draft of the
proposed regulations to Albuquerque
and Bernalillo County neighborhood
associations; persons holding air quality
permits for GDF or ES–RICE; and
members of the community on the email
list-serve of the Air Board.3 EHD’s cover
letter invited these stakeholders to two
public comment meetings held on June
28, 2017, one held in the afternoon and
one in the evening. Four people
attended the afternoon meeting. No one
attended the evening meeting.4 EHD
received four written comments on its
draft regulations. An announcement of
the petition filing was distributed by
email to the list-serve of the Air Board
on August 29, 2017. This early
engagement is not required by the EPA
rules.
Under these circumstances we do not
agree with the commenters’ assertion
that EHD did not notify the residents of
Albuquerque and Unincorporated
Bernalillo County of their proposal, and
we do not agree that we should not
approve the plan revisions for a
purported lack of adequate notice or
opportunity to comment.
Comment: Several commenters stated
that they want EPA to disapprove the
2 See https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/air-qualitycontrol-board, at the link entitled ‘‘Library of
current Rulemaking Petitions and all related
documents.’’
3 See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air
Board.
4 See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air
Board.
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SIP revision because it does not respect
the basic human rights of residents of
Albuquerque to be treated with fairness,
decency, and respect, nor their basic
right to due process in the decisionmaking that affects their communities.
They requested that EPA remand the
proposed regulations back to
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air
Quality Control Board to amend its
request in order to address public
participation, public health, the locating
of multiple source emitters close to each
other, and address appeal rights.
Additionally, several commenters
stated that public participation should
not be considered a burden and
expressed concern about the long term
physical and emotional health effects of
the proposal, especially for the more
vulnerable members of the population—
the elderly and children. Commenters
claimed that EPA’s position is that since
Albuquerque is in compliance with the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS), public participation in Minor
New Source Review process is not
necessary, stating that such rationale is
not respectful of the community living
in this area that is subjected to the worst
air quality in the city and does not take
into consideration environmental justice
principles. They further allege that both
EPA and EHD failed to take public
health into consideration, and as a
consequence, the public will be affected
by emergency room visit costs, and
long-term health implications that affect
school and work attendance.
Response: The comments that pertain
to public participation have been
addressed in a response above. In short,
the EPA does not agree that there was
a failure to comply with the public
notice and comment-related provisions
of the Act or the relevant EPA
regulations and does not agree that the
revisions should be disapproved
because of the comments relating to an
asserted lack of public participation.
Regarding the commenters’ other
requests that EPA deny or remand the
EHD’s SIP revision, EPA is required to
approve a SIP revision if it meets all the
applicable Federal requirements. See
CAA 110(k)(3). As noted in our
proposal, in addition to the
preconstruction permitting program
requirements of CAA section
110(a)(2)(C) and 40 CFR 51.160 through
51.164, our evaluation must ensure that
the proposed plan revisions comply
with section 110(l) of the CAA, which
states that the EPA shall not approve a
revision of the SIP if it would interfere
with any applicable requirement
concerning attainment of the NAAQS,
reasonable further progress, or any other
applicable requirement of the Act. Thus,
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under CAA section 110(l), the proposed
MNSR SIP revision must not interfere
with attainment, reasonable further
progress, or any other applicable
requirement of the Act. The commenters
misstate and oversimplify EPA’s
position. It is not our position that
public participation in the Minor New
Source Review process is not necessary
because Albuquerque is in compliance
with the NAAQS. EPA’s statutory
responsibilities in reviewing a SIP are to
ensure it meets all the applicable
requirements of the Act and the
corresponding Federal regulations. CAA
section 110(a)(2)(C) requires regulation
of the modification or construction of
any stationary source within the areas
covered by the SIP as necessary to
assure that the NAAQS are achieved.
The minor NSR regulations found at 40
CFR 51.160 through 51.164 specify the
legally enforceable procedures and
requirements which are applicable to
state minor NSR programs. Federal
regulations allow states to identify the
types and sizes of facilities, buildings,
structures, or installations which will be
subject to review under the minor NSR
program. See 40 CFR 51.160(e). To
determine whether a specific source
type can be exempted from complying
with a state’s approved minor NSR
program, EPA must examine whether
the state has provided an adequate basis
that the exempt emissions do not need
to be reviewed to ensure attainment and
maintenance of the NAAQS in the
particular geographic areas covered by
the program because they are
inconsequential to attainment or
maintenance, considering the particular
air quality concerns in such areas. See
40 CFE 51.160(a) and (e) and CAA
section 110(l). Additionally, our
evaluation must ensure that the
submittal complies with section 110(l)
of the CAA before it can be approved
into the SIP.
Similar to the exemptions provided
for in EPA’s Tribal NSR Rule, EHD seeks
to exempt a small percentage of the total
emissions emitted within its jurisdiction
from minor NSR review. EPA estimates
that GDFs are responsible for only
0.28% of the total emissions of volatile
organic compounds (VOC) in
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County. This
percentage is not anticipated to change
with the approval of the SIP revision.
VOC emissions from GDF and ES–RICE
are federally regulated by the National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants (NESHAP) for GDF found in
40 CFR part 63, subpart CCCCCC; and
by the NESHAP for ES–RICE found in
40 CFR part 63, subpart ZZZZ. State
regulatory requirements for GDF and
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ES–RICE emissions of VOC are found at
State regulation 20.11.65 NMAC—
Volatile Organic Compounds. These
Federal and State regulations impose
emission limitations, management
practices, and testing and monitoring
requirements in order to demonstrate
compliance with those requirements.
For GDF with throughput of more
than 100,000 gallons per month, the
applicable Federal regulation (40 CFR
part 63, subpart CCCCCC) reduces
emissions by about 90% by requiring
the use of Stage I vapor control. While
smaller GDF are not required by Federal
regulations to use Stage I vapor control,
the Air Board’s regulations (20.11.65
NMAC—Volatile Organic Compounds)
requires most GDF with underground
storage tanks larger than 3000 gallons to
have Stage I vapor control. This
captures many of the GDF with
throughputs below 100,000 gallons per
month. As a result, between Federal and
local regulations, most GDF have
pollution controls that reduce their
emissions by about 90%. The only ones
that do not have these controls are the
very small GDF (typically small fleet
owners) with low throughput and
associated limited potential to emit
pollutants which are hazardous to
human health and wellbeing.
Regarding ES–RICE, the pollutants
which are emitted from ES–RICE and
may be relevant to NAAQS attainment
are: ozone, NO2, PM, CO and SO2. There
are approximately 445 ES–RICEs in the
County, and the applicable regulations
only permit them to operate during
emergencies, other than the few hours
which are necessary each year to test
and maintain the engines. See
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board. Because these emergency
generators operate very few hours a
year, their emissions are very low.
When applying EHD’s actual emission
inventory estimates of 24 hours per year
of operation, each ES–RICE will only
emit about 0.26 tons per year (tpy) of
combined pollutants.5
Emissions from these source
categories are low enough that it is
unlikely that such emissions would
have a meaningful impact on continued
NAAQS attainment. Moreover, the SIP
revisions do not change or eliminate any
of the controls required by NESHAP,
and the approval of these SIP revisions
does not obviate the need for GDF and
ES–RICE sources to comply with all
5 When using an assumed maximum of 500 hours
of operation per year for each ES–RICE, EPA has
previously concluded that a 500 hours per year
limit would result in combined pollutant (NO2, PM,
CO and SO2) emissions of 5.5 tons per year or less
from each ES–RICE. See 78 FR 15296 (March 11,
2013).
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applicable NESHAP requirements—
including emissions limitations. See
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board.
Concerning the public health
considerations mentioned by the
commenters, EPA was required by the
CAA to promulgate NAAQS for
pollutants which are considered
harmful to public health. The CAA
identifies two types of NAAQS—
primary and secondary. The primary
standards provide public health
protection, including the protection of
sensitive populations such as
asthmatics, children, and the elderly.
All areas within EHD’s jurisdiction are
currently in attainment for all NAAQS.
See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed
with Air Board, and 82 FR 29421 (June
29, 2017). The approval of this SIP
revision will not cause any degradation
of air quality, and EHD was legally
obligated to demonstrate this fact to the
EPA. Appendix V to 40 CFR part 51
requires that EHD submit to the EPA a
demonstration that will show
noninterference with the attainment of
the NAAQS under Section 110(1) of the
Clean Air Act. The Section 110(l)
demonstration submitted to EPA
showed that there will be no
degradation of air quality and that
Bernalillo County will continue its
attainment status of the NAAQS to
protect public health. See our proposal,
84 FR 26057, section III.C.
In their SIP submittal, EHD presented
NAAQS monitoring data for each
pollutant emitted by GDF and ES–RICE
showing the concentration of each in
the ambient air in the County compared
to the relevant Federal standard. The
data show the County area has been in
attainment for all the NAAQS for at
least the past ten years and has not been
in violation of any NAAQS since 1996.
The County has maintained attainment
for the NAAQS the entire time during
which Federal NESHAP emission
requirements for these source categories
have been in effect. EHD’s proposal will
not change those requirements, and
thus, would not result in an increase in
emissions. Review of the EHD NAAQS
monitoring data showed that
concentrations of most pollutants have
trended downward or remained steady
over at least the last ten years. These
trends support that the air quality is
improving overall in the County. See
our proposal, 84 FR 26057, section III.
C., and Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed
with Air Board. Therefore, we find that
EHD’s proposal will not interfere with
attainment of any NAAQS. See
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board.
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Based on these historical trends and
supporting air quality monitoring data
documenting air quality improvements
throughout the State, we believe the
proposed Minor NSR SIP revision meets
the requirements of CAA section 110(l),
and that the implementation of these
rules will not interfere with any
applicable requirement concerning
attainment, reasonable further progress,
maintaining PSD increment, or any
other applicable requirement of the
CAA.
Although qualifying GDFs and ES–
RICEs will now be exempt from the
Minor NSR program, EHD will post on
its website all Air Quality Notifications
(AQN) issued during the previous
month and all those issued that are
currently active. See 20.11.39.15 NMAC.
This information will include the name
and location of each facility. It will also
include information enabling members
of the public to contact EHD about any
AQN it has issued. Thus, the public will
have access to the information for any
GDF or ES–RICE that EHD has issued an
AQN. Comments regarding the locating
of multiple source emitters close to each
other are addressed in the last response
below.
Comment: Commenters stated that
this proposed change is the latest effort
to hinder public participation and
further stated that perhaps informing
the public, diligent review, and doing
the job that taxpayers have paid staff at
the Albuquerque Environmental Health
Department to do is too burdensome.
Response: As discussed, above, in
response to other comments, the EPA is
required to approve SIP revisions that
meet all applicable requirements, and
the EPA has determined that these
revisions meet such requirements. As
also discussed, above, the EPA has
determined that the submission reflects
satisfaction of the public participationrelated provisions of the Act and EPA’s
relevant regulations. In any event,
regarding the comments which stated
that the EHD approved the rule in order
to relieve its administrative burden,
EHD indicated that their proposed
regulations are needed to allow EHD
permitting staff to focus on permitting of
larger sources with more significant air
quality impacts, for which the
applicable regulatory scheme provides
more discretion and requires more
technical judgment than the regulations
that apply to GDF and ES–RICE. EHD
also stated that the process associated
with GDF permits has caused significant
opportunity costs for the EHD that are
not justified based on the amount of
emissions produced by GDF. See
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board.
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The EHD explained that GDF and ES–
RICE represent a minimal potential
contribution of pollutants to local air
quality compared to emissions from
other sources. Their experience has
shown that a majority of permitting staff
time has been devoted to managing the
process required by existing Part 41 (11–
20–41) for permit applications for these
less significant contributors. EHD said
that about 80% of their permit staff
resources are spent in permitting these
two source categories and devoting the
majority of an air quality agency’s
permitting resources to sources with
minimal impact on air quality is not a
wise use of resources. EHD has
determined that this imbalance in
resource allocation does not serve the
public interest because it distracts EHD
from a focus on larger facilities with
more potential to impact air quality,
and, as explained above, EPA is
required to approve all SIP revisions
that meet the applicable requirements.
Comment: Some commenters stated
that the proposed rule does not require
air dispersion modeling, referring to a
statement in EHD’s proposal that ‘‘the
department shall not require any part 39
source to submit air dispersion
modeling with its AQN application’’.
Response: As noted, above, in
response to other comments, VOC
emissions from GDF and ES–RICE are
inconsequential. Neither GDF nor ES–
RICE require air quality dispersion
modeling. GDFs emit VOCs in quantities
which do not require modeling because
their VOC emissions are less than the
EHD minor NSR threshold level of 10
lbs/hr or 25 tpy. Their VOC emissions
are modeled county-wide as an ozone
component to determine whether they
are in compliance with the ozone
NAAQS.
ES–RICEs do not require modeling
because of their infrequent and
unpredictable hours of operation. Air
quality dispersion modeling is done to
predict the impact of expected
emissions. The operation of an
emergency generator is inherently
unpredictable because it operates only
during emergencies except for the few
hours an engine must be operated
periodically to maintain the engine’s
functionality. Thus, the necessary input
to a model (the expected emissions)
cannot be accurately provided to the
modeler. Thus, modeling is not useful
for emergency engine operation.
Recently, the EHD entered into a new
contract with Sonoma Technology, Inc.
(STI) to prepare the Albuquerque/
Bernalillo County Ground-Level Ozone
Photochemical Modeling and Analysis.
This modeling study will emphasize
ozone source contribution analysis to:
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Identify source contributions from
mobile, industrial/stationary sources,
and biogenic emissions; evaluate
transport (international, interstate, and
intrastate) versus local emissions
contributions; evaluate events versus
local emissions contributions to ozone;
conduct VOC/NOx sensitivity analysis
of ozone levels in AlbuquerqueBernalillo; and address other scenarios.
This updated modeling will give EHD
the most recent scientific analysis based
on the most recent air quality
information with which to determine
what control strategies, if any, might be
appropriate to protect AlbuquerqueBernalillo County attainment with the
new 2015 ozone standard.
Comment: One commenter stated that
they oppose approval of the SIP revision
submitted by the EHD which waives
permitting requirements for GDF
because the EHD did not provide
adequate justification for its request in
2017. The commenter alleges that EPA
mischaracterizes the NAAQS ozone data
as trending downward when the values
appear to fluctuate. The commenter
further stated that it is possible that the
ozone data for 2017 and 2018 would
show increases, with levels exhibiting a
cyclic pattern and the same could be
said for nitrogen dioxide. The
commenter stated that there have been
at least two years of particulate matter
(PM10) violations within the last 10
years, and that the most recent (2016)
finding for sulphur dioxide shows a
secondary violation. Further, the
commenter claimed that the EPA staff
recommendation for approval is not
supported by adequate evidence.
Response: We do not agree with the
commenter that the EHD did not
provide adequate justification for its
proposal request. As explained above, in
order to determine whether a specific
source type can be exempted from
complying with a state’s approved
minor NSR program, EPA must examine
whether the state has provided an
adequate basis that the exempt
emissions do not need to be reviewed to
ensure attainment and maintenance of
the NAAQS in the particular geographic
areas covered by the program because
they are inconsequential to attainment
or maintenance, considering the
particular air quality concerns in such
areas. GDF and ES–RICE make up
62.2% of the 1088 authorized stationary
sources in Albuquerque-Bernalillo
County. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings
filed with Air Board. As we noted in our
proposed approval, the only pollutants
emitted from GDFs are VOC. The VOC
emitted from GDFs account for only
about 0.28% of the VOC in the entire
County. Each ES–RICE only emits about
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0.26 tpy of VOC, NO2, PM, CO and SO2
combined. Therefore, these sources
generate emissions that are
inconsequential to the area’s ability to
attain the NAAQS.
As noted, above, in response to other
comments, a majority of EHD permitting
staff time is spent on permits for GDF
and ES–RICE although, relatively, they
contribute very little to overall air
pollution, and EHD determined that
devoting most of its time to sources that
have an inconsequential impact on air
quality is not an effective use of public
resources. See Attachment C, 4.
Pleadings filed with Air Board. Further,
GDF or ES–RICE which are located at a
major source, or at a facility which
requires an air quality construction
permit because of other activities,
would not be eligible for an AQN.
The SIP revision imposes the same air
quality control requirements on GDF
and ES–RICE as is currently applied
through issuance of individualized
permits and contains compliance
mechanisms to assure that enforcement
actions can be brought against owners or
operators of these sources which receive
an AQN. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings
filed with Air Board. EHD’s proposal
will improve EHD’s permitting process
by allowing it to dedicate more time to
its larger and more complex air quality
sources where more discretion and
technical judgment are required. EHD’s
proposal does not result in any changes
to the existing substantive air quality
requirements for GDF and ES–RICE that
are governed by NESHAP. See
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board. As explained in a response
above, the SIP revision meets all Federal
requirements for minor new source
review and the requirements of section
110(l) of the Clean Air Act.
We disagree that we mischaracterized
the NAAQS ozone data. As we
discussed in our proposed approval,
compliance with the 8-hour ozone
standard has improved county-wide
with ozone pollutant concentrations
trending downward since the late
1980’s. See EPA’s Air Quality System
(AQS) database. As shown on Table 1 in
the proposal, the ozone concentration
has declined overall from 0.073 ppm in
2006 to 0.065 ppm in 2016. See our
proposal, 84 FR 26057, section III.C.,
page 26060. Further, local ambient
ozone levels have been in decline since
the 2010–2012 design value assessment
period, and ozone concentrations since
2006 have remained below the Federal
standard in effect at the time. EPA has
amended the ozone NAAQS over time,
lowering the concentration necessary for
attainment. In 1997, EPA set the
concentration at 0.084 parts per million.
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In 2008, EPA changed this to 0.075 parts
per million. In 2015, EPA changed it
again to 0.070 parts per million.
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County
have remained in continuous
compliance with each new standard
promulgated by EPA, and continue to be
in compliance for 2017 and 2018. See
https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/airquality-design-values.
With regard to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
levels, compliance with the 1-Year NO2
and 1-hour NO2 standards has improved
county-wide with NO2 pollutant
concentrations trending downward
since the late 1990’s. The NO2 levels
have remained relatively stable for the
last decade overall for both the 1-hour
and annual standards. As shown on
Table 2 in the proposal, the NO2
concentration has declined overall from
15.4 parts per billion (ppb) in 2006 to
10.4 ppb in 2016. At no time in that
period have levels exceeded either the
1-hour or annual standard. Rather,
levels have consistently remained well
below the ambient air concentrations
specified by the standard of 53 ppb.
Furthermore, ambient NO2 levels have
been in decline since the 2011–2012
design value assessment period, and
NO2 concentrations since 2006 have
remained well below the Federal
standard in effect. NO2 data from any
years post-2016 were not yet available
when the EHD proposed regulations
were finalized.
We disagree that there have been at
least two years of particulate matter
(PM10) violations within the past 10
years. The PM10 standard is not
expressed as a simple concentration.
Instead, EPA set a 24-hour
concentration of 150 micrograms per
cubic meter (mg/m3) and then
established that the standard would be
attained if the number of days per
calendar year with a 24-hour average
concentration above 150 mg/m3 is equal
to or less than one when averaged over
three calendar years. The two readings
greater than 150 mg/m3, when averaged
over three calendar years each, are
below the standard of 150 mg/m3. As
shown in Table 4, PM10 levels in the
County area (as measured by the second
highest 24-hour average per year) have
fluctuated between 102 mg/m3 and 153
mg/m3 over the last decade. Also, the
overall trend over the last decade is
relatively stable and has been below the
standard of 150 mg/m3 on average.
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County
have remained in attainment for the
PM10 standard for the entire period from
2006 to 2016 and have never been
designated as nonattainment prior to
that period, despite the dusty desert
environment in which the city and
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county are situated. See Attachment C,
4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
We disagree that the most recent
(2016) design value for the sulfur
dioxide (SO2) level shows a secondary
violation. Table 6 in our proposed
approval shows SO2 design values and
how they compare to the 1-hour primary
NAAQS standard, not the 3-hour
secondary standard. The maximum
permissible concentration under the 1hour primary standard is 75 parts per
billion (ppb). The maximum permissible
concentration under the 3-hour
secondary NAAQS standard is 0.5 parts
per million (ppm). As the design value
is only 6 ppb for the 1-hour NAAQS for
2016 and the previous 3 years are only
5 ppb each, the SO2 design values are
well below any violation of the primary
standard of 75 ppb or the secondary
standard of .5 ppm. Note that on Table
6 in our proposal, the design value for
each year is actually measured in ppb,
not in mg/m3 as shown.
Comment: Some commenters stated
that there is a failure to assess the effect
of the recently changed zoning and land
use ordinances of the City of
Albuquerque on where, and how many,
gasoline stations may be located near
and within residential areas.
Response: Neither the CAA nor the
corresponding Federal regulations
specifically require that EPA assess the
effect of local zoning and land use
ordinances when determining whether
to approve a minor NSR SIP revision.
Rather, EPA is required to ensure that
the revision complies with the
applicable requirements found in CAA
110(a)(2)(C), CAA 110(l), 40 CFR part
51, subpart I, 40 CFR part 51, subpart F,
and appendix V to 40 CFR part 51. We
have explained in the responses above,
and in our proposed rulemaking, how
the SIP revision meets the requirements
of CAA 110(a)(2)(C), CAA 110(l), 40 CFR
part 51, subpart I, 40 CFR part 51,
subpart F, and appendix V to 40 CFR
part 51. Appendix V to 40 CFR part 51
requires that states who submit SIP
revisions to EPA for approval provide
evidence that they have the necessary
legal authority under state law to adopt
and implement the plan. EHD provided
evidence of this authority. See
Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board.
III. Final Action
We are approving the revisions to the
City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County
Minor NSR program dated January 18,
2018 that includes supplemental
information provided on April 29, 2019
as proposed. The revisions were
adopted and submitted in accordance
with the requirements of the CAA and
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the EPA’s regulations regarding SIP
development at 40 CFR part 51.
Additionally, we have determined that
the submitted revisions to the City of
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Minor
NSR program are consistent with CAA
section 110(l), the EPA’s regulations at
40 CFR 51.160—51.164 and the
associated policy and guidance.
Therefore, under section 110 of the Act,
the EPA approves into the New Mexico
SIP for the City of AlbuquerqueBernalillo County the following
revisions adopted on November 8, 2017,
and submitted to the EPA on January 18,
2018:
• Addition of 20.11.39 NMAC
PERMIT WAIVERS AND AIR
QUALITY NOTIFICATIONS FOR
CERTAIN SOURCE CATEGORIES
• 20.11.39.1 NMAC Issuing Agency
• 20.11.39.2 NMAC Scope
• 20.11.39.3 NMAC Statutory
Authority
• 20.11.39.4 NMAC Duration
• 20.11.39.5 NMAC Effective Date
• 20.11.39.6 NMAC Objective
• 20.11.39.7 NMAC Definitions
• 20.11.39.8 NMAC Variances
• 20.11.39.9 NMAC Savings Clause
• 20.11.39.10 NMAC Severability
• 20.11.39.11 NMAC Documents
• 20.11.39.12 NMAC Permit Waivers
• 20.11.39.13 NMAC Requirements for
Source Categories to Which Part 39
Applies
• 20.11.39.14 NMAC Air Quality
Notification Application
• 20.11.39.15 NMAC AQN
Application Review
• 20.11.39.16 NMAC Transfer of Prior
Authorizations to AQNs
• 20.11.39.17 NMAC Compliance and
Enforcement
• 20.11.39.18 NMAC Amending and
Air Quality Notification
• 20.11.39.19 NMAC Fees
• 20.11.39.20 NMAC AQN
Cancellation
• 20.11.41 NMAC CONSTRUCTION
PERMITS
• 20.11.41.2(E)(2) NMAC Additional
Permit Requirements
• 20.11.41.2(G) NMAC Permissive
Waiver
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IV. Incorporation by Reference
In this rule, we are finalizing
regulatory text that includes
incorporation by reference. In
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1
CFR part 51, the revisions to the New
Mexico, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County
regulations, as described in the Final
Action section above, are requirements
incorporated by reference. We have
made, and will continue to make, these
materials generally available
electronically through
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16:46 Jan 15, 2020
Jkt 250001
www.regulations.gov and in hard copy
at the EPA Region 6 office (please
contact Rick Barrett for more
information).
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
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 Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011);
• Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82
FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory
action because SIP approvals are
exempted under Executive Order 12866;
• 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, 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).
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2653
In addition, 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 proposed rule does
not have tribal implications and will not
impose substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt tribal law as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
submit a rule report, which includes a
copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. EPA will submit a
report containing this action and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A major rule
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
is published in the Federal Register.
This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean
Air Act, petitions for judicial review of
this action must be filed in the United
States Court of Appeals for the
appropriate circuit by March 16, 2020.
Filing a petition for reconsideration by
the Administrator of this final rule does
not affect the finality of this action for
the purposes of judicial review, nor
does it extend the time within which a
petition for judicial review may be filed
and shall not postpone the effectiveness
of such rule or action. This action may
not be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. See section
307(b)(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Dated: December 23, 2019.
Kenley McQueen,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52—APPROVAL AND
PROMULGATION OF
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Bernalillo County, NM Regulations’’ is
amended by adding an entry in
alphanumerical order for ‘‘Part 39
(20.11.39 NMAC)’’ and revising the
Subpart GG—New Mexico
2. In § 52.1620(c), the second table
titled ‘‘EPA Approved Albuquerque/
■
entry for ‘‘Part 41 (20.11.41 NMAC)’’ to
read as follows:
§ 52.1620
*
Identification of plan.
*
*
(c) * * *
*
*
EPA-APPROVED ALBUQUERQUE/BERNALILLO COUNTY, NM REGULATIONS
State citation
EPA approval date
Explanation
*
*
Part 39 (20.11.39 NMAC) ........
*
Permit Waivers and Air Quality Notifications for Certain
Sources.
*
1/18/2018
*
1/16/2020, [Insert Federal
Register citation].
*
*
*
*
Part 41 (20.11.41 NMAC) ........
*
Construction Permits ..............
*
1/18/2018
*
1/16/2020, [Insert Federal
Register citation].
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2020–00286 Filed 1–15–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–0560; FRL–10002–21]
Fenhexamid; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of fenhexamid in
or on multiple commodities identified
and discussed later in this document.
Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR–
4) requested these tolerances under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective
January 16, 2020. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before March 16, 2020, and must
be filed in accordance with the
instructions provided in 40 CFR part
178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–0560, is
available at https://www.regulations.gov
or at the Office of Pesticide Programs
Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)
in the Environmental Protection Agency
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460–0001. The Public Reading Room
SUMMARY:
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State
approval/
effective
date
Title/subject
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:46 Jan 15, 2020
Jkt 250001
*
*
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the OPP
Docket is (703) 305–5805. Please review
the visitor instructions and additional
information about the docket available
at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
B. How can I get electronic access to
other related information?
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
C. How can I file an objection or hearing
request?
Michael Goodis, Registration Division
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC
20460–0001; main telephone number:
(703) 305–7090; email address:
RDFRNotices@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are an agricultural
producer, food manufacturer, or
pesticide manufacturer. The following
list of North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) codes is
not intended to be exhaustive, but rather
provides a guide to help readers
determine whether this document
applies to them. Potentially affected
entities may include:
• Crop production (NAICS code 111).
• Animal production (NAICS code
112).
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
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You may access a frequently updated
electronic version of EPA’s tolerance
regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through
the Government Publishing Office’s eCFR site at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/
text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/
Title40/40tab_02.tpl
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21
U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an
objection to any aspect of this regulation
and may also request a hearing on those
objections. You must file your objection
or request a hearing on this regulation
in accordance with the instructions
provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, you must
identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2018–0560 in the subject line on
the first page of your submission. All
objections and requests for a hearing
must be in writing and must be received
by the Hearing Clerk on or before March
16, 2020. Addresses for mail and hand
delivery of objections and hearing
requests are provided in 40 CFR
178.25(b). In addition to filing an
objection or hearing request with the
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR
part 178, please submit a copy of the
filing (excluding any Confidential
Business Information (CBI)) for
inclusion in the public docket.
Information not marked confidential
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be
disclosed publicly by EPA without prior
notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your
objection or hearing request, identified
by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–
E:\FR\FM\16JAR1.SGM
16JAR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2648-2654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00286]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R06-OAR-2018-0177; FRL-10003-44-Region 6]
Air Plan Approval; New Mexico; City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo
County; New Source Review (NSR) Preconstruction Permitting Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the
applicable New Source Review (NSR) State Implementation Plan (SIP) for
the City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County submitted on January 18,
2018, that includes supplemental information provided on April 30,
2019. The EPA is approving newly adopted Minor New Source Review (MNSR)
permitting regulations which waive specific permitting requirements for
certain sources and create new procedures for authorizing construction
and modification of these sources.
DATES: This rule is effective on February 18, 2020.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under
Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2018-0177. All documents in the docket are
listed on the https://www.regulations.gov website. Although listed in
the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g.,
Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure
is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted
material, is not placed on the internet and will be publicly available
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through https://www.regulations.gov or
in hard copy at the EPA Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas
75270.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Barrett, EPA Region 6 Office, Air
Permits Section, 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75270, 214-665-7227,
[email protected]. To inspect the hard copy materials, please
schedule an appointment with Rick Barrett or Mr. Bill Deese at 214-665-
7253.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' and
``our'' means the EPA.
I. Background
The background for this action is discussed in detail in our June
5, 2019 proposal (84 FR 26057). In that document we proposed to approve
revisions to the City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County SIP submitted on
January 18, 2018, including supplemental information provided on April
30, 2019. The revisions addressed in our proposal included newly
adopted Minor New Source Review (MNSR) permitting regulations which
waive specific permitting requirements for certain sources and create
new procedures for authorizing construction and modification of these
sources. The revisions created procedures which allow owners and
operators of eligible gasoline dispensing facilities (GDF), and
emergency stationary reciprocating
[[Page 2649]]
internal combustion engines (ES-RICE), to apply for an Air Quality
Notification (AQN) rather than a construction permit. The SIP action
proposes no change in emission levels or controls, and will not result
in an increase of emissions or ambient concentration of any compounds.
We received comments on the proposal from several commenters. The
full text of the comment letters received during the public comment
period, which closed on July 5, 2019, is included in the publicly
posted docket associated with this action at www.regulations.gov. The
EPA provides a summary of the comments received and corresponding
responses below.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Note that comments are grouped together into categories to
assist the reader.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Responses to Comments
Comment: Several commenters stated that before any decision is made
on the proposal, the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health
Department (EHD) should come to their communities and give the
residents of Albuquerque and Unincorporated Bernalillo County,
neighborhood associations, coalitions, and interested persons an
opportunity to learn about the proposal, participate in a discussion,
get questions answered, and express concerns in a public meeting forum
in English and Spanish.
They further stated that the EHD did not notify the residents of
Albuquerque and Unincorporated Bernalillo County of their proposal; did
not conduct any public meetings with neighborhood associations,
coalitions or the public; and did not post on their website their
proposal to EPA to approve revisions to the applicable New Source
Review (NSR) State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the City of
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County.
Response: EPA regulations require that states must provide the
public with notice of plans or plan revisions, opportunity to submit
written comments, and either automatically hold a public hearing on the
proposed plan or revision or provide the public with the opportunity to
request such a public hearing. See 40 CFR 51.102. Notice should include
making the proposed plan or revision available for public inspection in
at least one location in each region to which it will apply. See 40 CFR
51.102(d)(2). A notice of public hearing to consider the EHD Petition
for rulemaking was published on September 26, 2017, in the New Mexico
Register and in the Albuquerque Journal on the same day. See Attachment
C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board. The notice met all the applicable
Federal regulations. It solicited written comments and contained the
date, place, and time of the hearing. The notice also stated that the
public could obtain the reasoning for EHD's proposed rulemaking, the
rulemaking record of the EHD, and drafts of the proposed regulatory
changes on EHD's website.\2\ Additionally, the notice, which was
published in the New Mexico Register and the Albuquerque Journal,
provided a link to the agenda for the hearing. As noted in the public
notices published in the two local newspapers, on November 8, 2017, a
public hearing was held in accordance with State and local law and the
applicable public hearing requirements. EHD considered all the comments
it received and discussed these in its hearing testimony. Public
comments were made via letters, emails and in testimony prior to, and
during, the November 8, 2017, hearing. See Attachment C, 2. Public
Comment, and Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ See https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/air-quality-control-board, at the link entitled ``Library of current Rulemaking
Petitions and all related documents.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Furthermore, on May 30, 2017, before the formal public notification
discussed above, EHD sent copies of a draft of the proposed regulations
to Albuquerque and Bernalillo County neighborhood associations; persons
holding air quality permits for GDF or ES-RICE; and members of the
community on the email list-serve of the Air Board.\3\ EHD's cover
letter invited these stakeholders to two public comment meetings held
on June 28, 2017, one held in the afternoon and one in the evening.
Four people attended the afternoon meeting. No one attended the evening
meeting.\4\ EHD received four written comments on its draft
regulations. An announcement of the petition filing was distributed by
email to the list-serve of the Air Board on August 29, 2017. This early
engagement is not required by the EPA rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
\4\ See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under these circumstances we do not agree with the commenters'
assertion that EHD did not notify the residents of Albuquerque and
Unincorporated Bernalillo County of their proposal, and we do not agree
that we should not approve the plan revisions for a purported lack of
adequate notice or opportunity to comment.
Comment: Several commenters stated that they want EPA to disapprove
the SIP revision because it does not respect the basic human rights of
residents of Albuquerque to be treated with fairness, decency, and
respect, nor their basic right to due process in the decision-making
that affects their communities. They requested that EPA remand the
proposed regulations back to Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality
Control Board to amend its request in order to address public
participation, public health, the locating of multiple source emitters
close to each other, and address appeal rights.
Additionally, several commenters stated that public participation
should not be considered a burden and expressed concern about the long
term physical and emotional health effects of the proposal, especially
for the more vulnerable members of the population--the elderly and
children. Commenters claimed that EPA's position is that since
Albuquerque is in compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS), public participation in Minor New Source Review
process is not necessary, stating that such rationale is not respectful
of the community living in this area that is subjected to the worst air
quality in the city and does not take into consideration environmental
justice principles. They further allege that both EPA and EHD failed to
take public health into consideration, and as a consequence, the public
will be affected by emergency room visit costs, and long-term health
implications that affect school and work attendance.
Response: The comments that pertain to public participation have
been addressed in a response above. In short, the EPA does not agree
that there was a failure to comply with the public notice and comment-
related provisions of the Act or the relevant EPA regulations and does
not agree that the revisions should be disapproved because of the
comments relating to an asserted lack of public participation.
Regarding the commenters' other requests that EPA deny or remand the
EHD's SIP revision, EPA is required to approve a SIP revision if it
meets all the applicable Federal requirements. See CAA 110(k)(3). As
noted in our proposal, in addition to the preconstruction permitting
program requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(C) and 40 CFR 51.160
through 51.164, our evaluation must ensure that the proposed plan
revisions comply with section 110(l) of the CAA, which states that the
EPA shall not approve a revision of the SIP if it would interfere with
any applicable requirement concerning attainment of the NAAQS,
reasonable further progress, or any other applicable requirement of the
Act. Thus,
[[Page 2650]]
under CAA section 110(l), the proposed MNSR SIP revision must not
interfere with attainment, reasonable further progress, or any other
applicable requirement of the Act. The commenters misstate and
oversimplify EPA's position. It is not our position that public
participation in the Minor New Source Review process is not necessary
because Albuquerque is in compliance with the NAAQS. EPA's statutory
responsibilities in reviewing a SIP are to ensure it meets all the
applicable requirements of the Act and the corresponding Federal
regulations. CAA section 110(a)(2)(C) requires regulation of the
modification or construction of any stationary source within the areas
covered by the SIP as necessary to assure that the NAAQS are achieved.
The minor NSR regulations found at 40 CFR 51.160 through 51.164 specify
the legally enforceable procedures and requirements which are
applicable to state minor NSR programs. Federal regulations allow
states to identify the types and sizes of facilities, buildings,
structures, or installations which will be subject to review under the
minor NSR program. See 40 CFR 51.160(e). To determine whether a
specific source type can be exempted from complying with a state's
approved minor NSR program, EPA must examine whether the state has
provided an adequate basis that the exempt emissions do not need to be
reviewed to ensure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS in the
particular geographic areas covered by the program because they are
inconsequential to attainment or maintenance, considering the
particular air quality concerns in such areas. See 40 CFE 51.160(a) and
(e) and CAA section 110(l). Additionally, our evaluation must ensure
that the submittal complies with section 110(l) of the CAA before it
can be approved into the SIP.
Similar to the exemptions provided for in EPA's Tribal NSR Rule,
EHD seeks to exempt a small percentage of the total emissions emitted
within its jurisdiction from minor NSR review. EPA estimates that GDFs
are responsible for only 0.28% of the total emissions of volatile
organic compounds (VOC) in Albuquerque-Bernalillo County. This
percentage is not anticipated to change with the approval of the SIP
revision. VOC emissions from GDF and ES-RICE are federally regulated by
the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
for GDF found in 40 CFR part 63, subpart CCCCCC; and by the NESHAP for
ES-RICE found in 40 CFR part 63, subpart ZZZZ. State regulatory
requirements for GDF and ES-RICE emissions of VOC are found at State
regulation 20.11.65 NMAC--Volatile Organic Compounds. These Federal and
State regulations impose emission limitations, management practices,
and testing and monitoring requirements in order to demonstrate
compliance with those requirements.
For GDF with throughput of more than 100,000 gallons per month, the
applicable Federal regulation (40 CFR part 63, subpart CCCCCC) reduces
emissions by about 90% by requiring the use of Stage I vapor control.
While smaller GDF are not required by Federal regulations to use Stage
I vapor control, the Air Board's regulations (20.11.65 NMAC--Volatile
Organic Compounds) requires most GDF with underground storage tanks
larger than 3000 gallons to have Stage I vapor control. This captures
many of the GDF with throughputs below 100,000 gallons per month. As a
result, between Federal and local regulations, most GDF have pollution
controls that reduce their emissions by about 90%. The only ones that
do not have these controls are the very small GDF (typically small
fleet owners) with low throughput and associated limited potential to
emit pollutants which are hazardous to human health and wellbeing.
Regarding ES-RICE, the pollutants which are emitted from ES-RICE
and may be relevant to NAAQS attainment are: ozone, NO2, PM,
CO and SO2. There are approximately 445 ES-RICEs in the
County, and the applicable regulations only permit them to operate
during emergencies, other than the few hours which are necessary each
year to test and maintain the engines. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings
filed with Air Board. Because these emergency generators operate very
few hours a year, their emissions are very low. When applying EHD's
actual emission inventory estimates of 24 hours per year of operation,
each ES-RICE will only emit about 0.26 tons per year (tpy) of combined
pollutants.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ When using an assumed maximum of 500 hours of operation per
year for each ES-RICE, EPA has previously concluded that a 500 hours
per year limit would result in combined pollutant (NO2,
PM, CO and SO2) emissions of 5.5 tons per year or less
from each ES-RICE. See 78 FR 15296 (March 11, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emissions from these source categories are low enough that it is
unlikely that such emissions would have a meaningful impact on
continued NAAQS attainment. Moreover, the SIP revisions do not change
or eliminate any of the controls required by NESHAP, and the approval
of these SIP revisions does not obviate the need for GDF and ES-RICE
sources to comply with all applicable NESHAP requirements--including
emissions limitations. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air
Board.
Concerning the public health considerations mentioned by the
commenters, EPA was required by the CAA to promulgate NAAQS for
pollutants which are considered harmful to public health. The CAA
identifies two types of NAAQS--primary and secondary. The primary
standards provide public health protection, including the protection of
sensitive populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly.
All areas within EHD's jurisdiction are currently in attainment for all
NAAQS. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board, and 82 FR
29421 (June 29, 2017). The approval of this SIP revision will not cause
any degradation of air quality, and EHD was legally obligated to
demonstrate this fact to the EPA. Appendix V to 40 CFR part 51 requires
that EHD submit to the EPA a demonstration that will show
noninterference with the attainment of the NAAQS under Section 110(1)
of the Clean Air Act. The Section 110(l) demonstration submitted to EPA
showed that there will be no degradation of air quality and that
Bernalillo County will continue its attainment status of the NAAQS to
protect public health. See our proposal, 84 FR 26057, section III.C.
In their SIP submittal, EHD presented NAAQS monitoring data for
each pollutant emitted by GDF and ES-RICE showing the concentration of
each in the ambient air in the County compared to the relevant Federal
standard. The data show the County area has been in attainment for all
the NAAQS for at least the past ten years and has not been in violation
of any NAAQS since 1996. The County has maintained attainment for the
NAAQS the entire time during which Federal NESHAP emission requirements
for these source categories have been in effect. EHD's proposal will
not change those requirements, and thus, would not result in an
increase in emissions. Review of the EHD NAAQS monitoring data showed
that concentrations of most pollutants have trended downward or
remained steady over at least the last ten years. These trends support
that the air quality is improving overall in the County. See our
proposal, 84 FR 26057, section III. C., and Attachment C, 4. Pleadings
filed with Air Board. Therefore, we find that EHD's proposal will not
interfere with attainment of any NAAQS. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings
filed with Air Board.
[[Page 2651]]
Based on these historical trends and supporting air quality
monitoring data documenting air quality improvements throughout the
State, we believe the proposed Minor NSR SIP revision meets the
requirements of CAA section 110(l), and that the implementation of
these rules will not interfere with any applicable requirement
concerning attainment, reasonable further progress, maintaining PSD
increment, or any other applicable requirement of the CAA.
Although qualifying GDFs and ES-RICEs will now be exempt from the
Minor NSR program, EHD will post on its website all Air Quality
Notifications (AQN) issued during the previous month and all those
issued that are currently active. See 20.11.39.15 NMAC. This
information will include the name and location of each facility. It
will also include information enabling members of the public to contact
EHD about any AQN it has issued. Thus, the public will have access to
the information for any GDF or ES-RICE that EHD has issued an AQN.
Comments regarding the locating of multiple source emitters close to
each other are addressed in the last response below.
Comment: Commenters stated that this proposed change is the latest
effort to hinder public participation and further stated that perhaps
informing the public, diligent review, and doing the job that taxpayers
have paid staff at the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department to
do is too burdensome.
Response: As discussed, above, in response to other comments, the
EPA is required to approve SIP revisions that meet all applicable
requirements, and the EPA has determined that these revisions meet such
requirements. As also discussed, above, the EPA has determined that the
submission reflects satisfaction of the public participation-related
provisions of the Act and EPA's relevant regulations. In any event,
regarding the comments which stated that the EHD approved the rule in
order to relieve its administrative burden, EHD indicated that their
proposed regulations are needed to allow EHD permitting staff to focus
on permitting of larger sources with more significant air quality
impacts, for which the applicable regulatory scheme provides more
discretion and requires more technical judgment than the regulations
that apply to GDF and ES-RICE. EHD also stated that the process
associated with GDF permits has caused significant opportunity costs
for the EHD that are not justified based on the amount of emissions
produced by GDF. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
The EHD explained that GDF and ES-RICE represent a minimal
potential contribution of pollutants to local air quality compared to
emissions from other sources. Their experience has shown that a
majority of permitting staff time has been devoted to managing the
process required by existing Part 41 (11-20-41) for permit applications
for these less significant contributors. EHD said that about 80% of
their permit staff resources are spent in permitting these two source
categories and devoting the majority of an air quality agency's
permitting resources to sources with minimal impact on air quality is
not a wise use of resources. EHD has determined that this imbalance in
resource allocation does not serve the public interest because it
distracts EHD from a focus on larger facilities with more potential to
impact air quality, and, as explained above, EPA is required to approve
all SIP revisions that meet the applicable requirements.
Comment: Some commenters stated that the proposed rule does not
require air dispersion modeling, referring to a statement in EHD's
proposal that ``the department shall not require any part 39 source to
submit air dispersion modeling with its AQN application''.
Response: As noted, above, in response to other comments, VOC
emissions from GDF and ES-RICE are inconsequential. Neither GDF nor ES-
RICE require air quality dispersion modeling. GDFs emit VOCs in
quantities which do not require modeling because their VOC emissions
are less than the EHD minor NSR threshold level of 10 lbs/hr or 25 tpy.
Their VOC emissions are modeled county-wide as an ozone component to
determine whether they are in compliance with the ozone NAAQS.
ES-RICEs do not require modeling because of their infrequent and
unpredictable hours of operation. Air quality dispersion modeling is
done to predict the impact of expected emissions. The operation of an
emergency generator is inherently unpredictable because it operates
only during emergencies except for the few hours an engine must be
operated periodically to maintain the engine's functionality. Thus, the
necessary input to a model (the expected emissions) cannot be
accurately provided to the modeler. Thus, modeling is not useful for
emergency engine operation.
Recently, the EHD entered into a new contract with Sonoma
Technology, Inc. (STI) to prepare the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County
Ground-Level Ozone Photochemical Modeling and Analysis. This modeling
study will emphasize ozone source contribution analysis to: Identify
source contributions from mobile, industrial/stationary sources, and
biogenic emissions; evaluate transport (international, interstate, and
intrastate) versus local emissions contributions; evaluate events
versus local emissions contributions to ozone; conduct VOC/NOx
sensitivity analysis of ozone levels in Albuquerque-Bernalillo; and
address other scenarios. This updated modeling will give EHD the most
recent scientific analysis based on the most recent air quality
information with which to determine what control strategies, if any,
might be appropriate to protect Albuquerque-Bernalillo County
attainment with the new 2015 ozone standard.
Comment: One commenter stated that they oppose approval of the SIP
revision submitted by the EHD which waives permitting requirements for
GDF because the EHD did not provide adequate justification for its
request in 2017. The commenter alleges that EPA mischaracterizes the
NAAQS ozone data as trending downward when the values appear to
fluctuate. The commenter further stated that it is possible that the
ozone data for 2017 and 2018 would show increases, with levels
exhibiting a cyclic pattern and the same could be said for nitrogen
dioxide. The commenter stated that there have been at least two years
of particulate matter (PM10) violations within the last 10
years, and that the most recent (2016) finding for sulphur dioxide
shows a secondary violation. Further, the commenter claimed that the
EPA staff recommendation for approval is not supported by adequate
evidence.
Response: We do not agree with the commenter that the EHD did not
provide adequate justification for its proposal request. As explained
above, in order to determine whether a specific source type can be
exempted from complying with a state's approved minor NSR program, EPA
must examine whether the state has provided an adequate basis that the
exempt emissions do not need to be reviewed to ensure attainment and
maintenance of the NAAQS in the particular geographic areas covered by
the program because they are inconsequential to attainment or
maintenance, considering the particular air quality concerns in such
areas. GDF and ES-RICE make up 62.2% of the 1088 authorized stationary
sources in Albuquerque-Bernalillo County. See Attachment C, 4.
Pleadings filed with Air Board. As we noted in our proposed approval,
the only pollutants emitted from GDFs are VOC. The VOC emitted from
GDFs account for only about 0.28% of the VOC in the entire County. Each
ES-RICE only emits about
[[Page 2652]]
0.26 tpy of VOC, NO2, PM, CO and SO2 combined.
Therefore, these sources generate emissions that are inconsequential to
the area's ability to attain the NAAQS.
As noted, above, in response to other comments, a majority of EHD
permitting staff time is spent on permits for GDF and ES-RICE although,
relatively, they contribute very little to overall air pollution, and
EHD determined that devoting most of its time to sources that have an
inconsequential impact on air quality is not an effective use of public
resources. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
Further, GDF or ES-RICE which are located at a major source, or at a
facility which requires an air quality construction permit because of
other activities, would not be eligible for an AQN.
The SIP revision imposes the same air quality control requirements
on GDF and ES-RICE as is currently applied through issuance of
individualized permits and contains compliance mechanisms to assure
that enforcement actions can be brought against owners or operators of
these sources which receive an AQN. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings
filed with Air Board. EHD's proposal will improve EHD's permitting
process by allowing it to dedicate more time to its larger and more
complex air quality sources where more discretion and technical
judgment are required. EHD's proposal does not result in any changes to
the existing substantive air quality requirements for GDF and ES-RICE
that are governed by NESHAP. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with
Air Board. As explained in a response above, the SIP revision meets all
Federal requirements for minor new source review and the requirements
of section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act.
We disagree that we mischaracterized the NAAQS ozone data. As we
discussed in our proposed approval, compliance with the 8-hour ozone
standard has improved county-wide with ozone pollutant concentrations
trending downward since the late 1980's. See EPA's Air Quality System
(AQS) database. As shown on Table 1 in the proposal, the ozone
concentration has declined overall from 0.073 ppm in 2006 to 0.065 ppm
in 2016. See our proposal, 84 FR 26057, section III.C., page 26060.
Further, local ambient ozone levels have been in decline since the
2010-2012 design value assessment period, and ozone concentrations
since 2006 have remained below the Federal standard in effect at the
time. EPA has amended the ozone NAAQS over time, lowering the
concentration necessary for attainment. In 1997, EPA set the
concentration at 0.084 parts per million. In 2008, EPA changed this to
0.075 parts per million. In 2015, EPA changed it again to 0.070 parts
per million. Albuquerque and Bernalillo County have remained in
continuous compliance with each new standard promulgated by EPA, and
continue to be in compliance for 2017 and 2018. See https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-design-values.
With regard to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels, compliance
with the 1-Year NO2 and 1-hour NO2 standards has
improved county-wide with NO2 pollutant concentrations
trending downward since the late 1990's. The NO2 levels have
remained relatively stable for the last decade overall for both the 1-
hour and annual standards. As shown on Table 2 in the proposal, the
NO2 concentration has declined overall from 15.4 parts per
billion (ppb) in 2006 to 10.4 ppb in 2016. At no time in that period
have levels exceeded either the 1-hour or annual standard. Rather,
levels have consistently remained well below the ambient air
concentrations specified by the standard of 53 ppb. Furthermore,
ambient NO2 levels have been in decline since the 2011-2012
design value assessment period, and NO2 concentrations since
2006 have remained well below the Federal standard in effect.
NO2 data from any years post-2016 were not yet available
when the EHD proposed regulations were finalized.
We disagree that there have been at least two years of particulate
matter (PM10) violations within the past 10 years. The
PM10 standard is not expressed as a simple concentration.
Instead, EPA set a 24-hour concentration of 150 micrograms per cubic
meter (mg/m\3\) and then established that the standard would be
attained if the number of days per calendar year with a 24-hour average
concentration above 150 mg/m\3\ is equal to or less than one when
averaged over three calendar years. The two readings greater than 150
mg/m\3\, when averaged over three calendar years each, are below the
standard of 150 mg/m\3\. As shown in Table 4, PM10 levels in
the County area (as measured by the second highest 24-hour average per
year) have fluctuated between 102 mg/m\3\ and 153 mg/m\3\ over the last
decade. Also, the overall trend over the last decade is relatively
stable and has been below the standard of 150 mg/m\3\ on average.
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County have remained in attainment for the
PM10 standard for the entire period from 2006 to 2016 and
have never been designated as nonattainment prior to that period,
despite the dusty desert environment in which the city and county are
situated. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
We disagree that the most recent (2016) design value for the sulfur
dioxide (SO2) level shows a secondary violation. Table 6 in
our proposed approval shows SO2 design values and how they
compare to the 1-hour primary NAAQS standard, not the 3-hour secondary
standard. The maximum permissible concentration under the 1-hour
primary standard is 75 parts per billion (ppb). The maximum permissible
concentration under the 3-hour secondary NAAQS standard is 0.5 parts
per million (ppm). As the design value is only 6 ppb for the 1-hour
NAAQS for 2016 and the previous 3 years are only 5 ppb each, the
SO2 design values are well below any violation of the
primary standard of 75 ppb or the secondary standard of .5 ppm. Note
that on Table 6 in our proposal, the design value for each year is
actually measured in ppb, not in mg/m\3\ as shown.
Comment: Some commenters stated that there is a failure to assess
the effect of the recently changed zoning and land use ordinances of
the City of Albuquerque on where, and how many, gasoline stations may
be located near and within residential areas.
Response: Neither the CAA nor the corresponding Federal regulations
specifically require that EPA assess the effect of local zoning and
land use ordinances when determining whether to approve a minor NSR SIP
revision. Rather, EPA is required to ensure that the revision complies
with the applicable requirements found in CAA 110(a)(2)(C), CAA 110(l),
40 CFR part 51, subpart I, 40 CFR part 51, subpart F, and appendix V to
40 CFR part 51. We have explained in the responses above, and in our
proposed rulemaking, how the SIP revision meets the requirements of CAA
110(a)(2)(C), CAA 110(l), 40 CFR part 51, subpart I, 40 CFR part 51,
subpart F, and appendix V to 40 CFR part 51. Appendix V to 40 CFR part
51 requires that states who submit SIP revisions to EPA for approval
provide evidence that they have the necessary legal authority under
state law to adopt and implement the plan. EHD provided evidence of
this authority. See Attachment C, 4. Pleadings filed with Air Board.
III. Final Action
We are approving the revisions to the City of Albuquerque-
Bernalillo County Minor NSR program dated January 18, 2018 that
includes supplemental information provided on April 29, 2019 as
proposed. The revisions were adopted and submitted in accordance with
the requirements of the CAA and
[[Page 2653]]
the EPA's regulations regarding SIP development at 40 CFR part 51.
Additionally, we have determined that the submitted revisions to the
City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Minor NSR program are consistent
with CAA section 110(l), the EPA's regulations at 40 CFR 51.160--51.164
and the associated policy and guidance. Therefore, under section 110 of
the Act, the EPA approves into the New Mexico SIP for the City of
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County the following revisions adopted on
November 8, 2017, and submitted to the EPA on January 18, 2018:
Addition of 20.11.39 NMAC PERMIT WAIVERS AND AIR QUALITY
NOTIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN SOURCE CATEGORIES
20.11.39.1 NMAC Issuing Agency
20.11.39.2 NMAC Scope
20.11.39.3 NMAC Statutory Authority
20.11.39.4 NMAC Duration
20.11.39.5 NMAC Effective Date
20.11.39.6 NMAC Objective
20.11.39.7 NMAC Definitions
20.11.39.8 NMAC Variances
20.11.39.9 NMAC Savings Clause
20.11.39.10 NMAC Severability
20.11.39.11 NMAC Documents
20.11.39.12 NMAC Permit Waivers
20.11.39.13 NMAC Requirements for Source Categories to Which
Part 39 Applies
20.11.39.14 NMAC Air Quality Notification Application
20.11.39.15 NMAC AQN Application Review
20.11.39.16 NMAC Transfer of Prior Authorizations to AQNs
20.11.39.17 NMAC Compliance and Enforcement
20.11.39.18 NMAC Amending and Air Quality Notification
20.11.39.19 NMAC Fees
20.11.39.20 NMAC AQN Cancellation
20.11.41 NMAC CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
20.11.41.2(E)(2) NMAC Additional Permit Requirements
20.11.41.2(G) NMAC Permissive Waiver
IV. Incorporation by Reference
In this rule, we are finalizing regulatory text that includes
incorporation by reference. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1
CFR part 51, the revisions to the New Mexico, Albuquerque/Bernalillo
County regulations, as described in the Final Action section above, are
requirements incorporated by reference. We have made, and will continue
to make, these materials generally available electronically through
www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at the EPA Region 6 office (please
contact Rick Barrett for more information).
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the 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 Orders
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21,
2011);
Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2,
2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under
Executive Order 12866;
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, described in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, 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 proposed rule does not have tribal implications and will
not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt
tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November
9, 2000).
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by March 16, 2020. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule
does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of
judicial review, nor does it extend the time within which a petition
for judicial review may be filed and shall not postpone the
effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged
later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. See section
307(b)(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: December 23, 2019.
Kenley McQueen,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
[[Page 2654]]
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart GG--New Mexico
0
2. In Sec. 52.1620(c), the second table titled ``EPA Approved
Albuquerque/Bernalillo County, NM Regulations'' is amended by adding an
entry in alphanumerical order for ``Part 39 (20.11.39 NMAC)'' and
revising the entry for ``Part 41 (20.11.41 NMAC)'' to read as follows:
Sec. 52.1620 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
EPA-Approved Albuquerque/Bernalillo County, NM Regulations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State
approval/
State citation Title/subject effective EPA approval date Explanation
date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Part 39 (20.11.39 NMAC).......... Permit Waivers and 1/18/2018 1/16/2020, [Insert
Air Quality Federal Register
Notifications for citation].
Certain Sources.
* * * * * * *
Part 41 (20.11.41 NMAC).......... Construction Permits 1/18/2018 1/16/2020, [Insert
Federal Register
citation].
* * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2020-00286 Filed 1-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P