Air Plan Approval; WA; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide and 2015 Ozone Standards, 31421-31423 [2020-10853]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 26, 2020 / Proposed Rules
List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9
Wine.
Proposed Regulatory Amendment
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, TTB proposes to amend title
27, chapter I, part 9, Code of Federal
Regulations, as follows:
PART 9—AMERICAN VITICULTURAL
AREAS
1. The authority citation for part 9
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205.
BILLING CODE 4810–31–P
2. Subpart C is amended by adding
§ 9.____to read as follows:
§ 9.____Palos Verdes Peninsula.
(a) Name. The name of the viticultural
area described in this section is ‘‘Palos
Verdes Peninsula’’. For purposes of part
4 of this chapter, ‘‘Palos Verdes
Peninsula’’ is a term of viticultural
significance.
(b) Approved maps. The three United
States Geological Survey (USGS)
1:24,000 scale topographic maps used to
determine the boundary of the Palos
Verdes Peninsula viticultural area are
titled:
(1) Redondo Beach, CA, 1996;
(2) Torrance, Calif., 1964
(photorevised 1981); and
(3) San Pedro Calif., 1964
(photorevised 1981).
(c) Boundary. The Palos Verdes
Peninsula viticultural area is located in
the southwestern coastal region of Los
Angeles County, and contains the cities
of Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills,
Rolling Hills Estates, and Rancho Palos
Verdes, California. The boundary of the
Palos Verdes Peninsula viticultural area
is as described below:
(1) The beginning point is on the
Redondo Beach map at the intersection
of the Pacific Ocean and the Torrance
corporate boundary at Malaga Cove,
R14W/T4S; then
(2) From the beginning point, proceed
east, then generally southeast, along the
Torrance corporate boundary, crossing
onto the Torrance map, to the
intersection of the Lomita corporate
boundary, R14W/T4S; then
(3) Proceed generally southeast along
the Lomita corporate boundary to the
intersection with Western Ave, R14W/
T4S; then
(4) Proceed south along Western Ave,
crossing onto the San Pedro map, to the
intersection of the Los Angeles city
boundary, R14W/T5S; then
(5) Proceed west, then generally
south, then southwest along the Los
■
18:27 May 22, 2020
Signed:
Mary G. Ryan,
Acting Administrator.
Approved:
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, (Tax, Trade, and
Tariff Policy).
[FR Doc. 2020–10363 Filed 5–22–20; 8:45 am]
Subpart C—Approved American
Viticultural Areas
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Angeles city boundary to the
intersection with the Pacific Ocean at
Palos Verdes Peninsula Park, R14W/
T5S; then
(6) Proceed clockwise along the
Pacific coastline to return to the
beginning point.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R10–OAR–2019–0573, FRL–10009–
43–Region 10]
Air Plan Approval; WA; Infrastructure
Requirements for the 2010 Sulfur
Dioxide and 2015 Ozone Standards
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
Whenever a new or revised
National Ambient Air Quality Standard
(NAAQS) is promulgated, the Clean Air
Act (CAA) requires states to submit a
plan for the implementation,
maintenance, and enforcement of the
standard, commonly referred to as
infrastructure requirements. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is proposing to approve Washington
State Implementation Plan (SIP)
submissions as meeting specific
infrastructure requirements for the 2010
sulfur dioxide (SO2) and 2015 ozone
NAAQS.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received on
or before June 25, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R10–
OAR–2019–0573 at https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or removed from Regulations.gov.
The EPA may publish any comment
received to its public docket. Do not
submit electronically any information
you consider to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
DATES:
PO 00000
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31421
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://www.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff
Hunt, EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth
Avenue—Suite 155, Seattle, WA 98101,
at (206) 553–0256, or hunt.jeff@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document whenever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, it is
intended to refer to the EPA. This
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section is
arranged as follows:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Infrastructure Elements
III. The EPA Approach to Review of
Infrastructure SIP Submissions
IV. The EPA Evaluation
V. Proposed Action
VI. Statutory and Executive Orders Review
I. Background
On June 2, 2010, the EPA
promulgated a revised primary SO2
NAAQS at 75 parts per billion, based on
a three-year average of the annual 99th
percentile of one-hour daily maximum
concentrations (75 FR 35520). In 2015,
the EPA promulgated a revision to the
ozone NAAQS retaining the existing
form of the standard (three-year average
of the annual fourth-highest daily
maximum 8-hour average concentration)
but lowered the level of both the
primary and secondary standards from
0.075 to 0.070 parts per million (80 FR
65292, October 26, 2015). On September
30, 2019, and as supplemented on April
3, 2020, the Washington Department of
Ecology (Ecology) submitted SIP
revisions to meet certain 2010 SO2 and
2015 ozone NAAQS infrastructure
requirements. We note that Ecology
previously submitted a SIP revision on
February 7, 2018, addressing CAA
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) (interstate
transport prongs 1 and 2) for the 2010
SO2 and 2015 ozone NAAQS. We
approved the February 7, 2018, SIP
revision as meeting the CAA section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements for the
2015 ozone NAAQS on September 20,
2018 (83 FR 47568). We will address the
CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)
requirements for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS
in a separate action.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 26, 2020 / Proposed Rules
II. Infrastructure Elements
CAA section 110(a)(1) provides the
procedure and timing for SIP
submissions after a new or revised
NAAQS is promulgated. CAA section
110(a)(2) lists specific elements that
states must meet related to a newly
established or revised NAAQS. The EPA
has issued guidance to help states
address these requirements, most
recently on September 13, 2013 (2013
Guidance).1 The requirements, with
their corresponding CAA subsection, are
listed below:
• 110(a)(2)(A): Emission limits and
other control measures.
• 110(a)(2)(B): Ambient air quality
monitoring/data system.
• 110(a)(2)(C): Program for
enforcement of control measures.
• 110(a)(2)(D): Interstate transport.
• 110(a)(2)(E): Adequate resources.
• 110(a)(2)(F): Stationary source
monitoring system.
• 110(a)(2)(G): Emergency episodes.
• 110(a)(2)(H): Future SIP revisions.
• 110(a)(2)(I): Areas designated
nonattainment and applicable
requirements of part D.
• 110(a)(2)(J): Consultation with
government officials; public
notification; and Prevention of
Significant Deterioration and visibility
protection.
• 110(a)(2)(K): Air quality modeling/
data.
• 110(a)(2)(L): Permitting fees.
• 110(a)(2)(M): Consultation/
participation by affected local entities.
The EPA’s 2013 Guidance restated our
interpretation that two elements are not
governed by the three-year submission
deadline in CAA section 110(a)(1)
because SIPs incorporating necessary
local nonattainment area controls are
due on separate schedules, pursuant to
CAA section 172 and the various
pollutant-specific subparts 2 through 5
of part D. These are submissions
required by: (i) CAA section
110(a)(2)(C), to the extent that
subsection refers to a permit program as
required in part D, title I of the CAA,
and (ii) CAA section 110(a)(2)(I). As a
result, this action does not address CAA
section 110(a)(2)(C) with respect to
nonattainment new source review (NSR)
or CAA section 110(a)(2)(I). The EPA
has also determined that the CAA
section 110(a)(2)(J) provision on
visibility is not triggered by a new
NAAQS because the visibility
1 Stephen
D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards. ‘‘Guidance on
Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP)
Elements under Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2).’’ Memorandum to EPA Air Division
Directors, Regions 1 through 10, September 13,
2013.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:17 May 22, 2020
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requirements in part C, title I of the
CAA are not changed by a new NAAQS.
Ecology’s September 30, 2019
infrastructure SIP revision noted that it
did not contain a narrative for CAA
section 110(a)(2)(K) explaining that
additional rulemaking was necessary to
update Washington’s adoption by
reference of 40 CFR part 51, appendix
W for air quality modeling. On April 3,
2020, Ecology submitted a SIP revision
updating the narrative for CAA section
110(a)(2)(K) to reflect the EPA’s
approval of revisions to Chapters 173–
400 and 463–78 Washington
Administrative Code (WAC) with an
updated adoption by reference of
Federal regulations as of January 24,
2018, including the EPA’s most recent
update to 40 CFR part 51, appendix W.
See 85 FR 4233 (January 24, 2020) and
85 FR 10301 (February 24, 2020). Also,
as part of the September 2019
infrastructure SIP revision, Ecology’s
CAA section 110(a)(2)(A) narrative
included a cross reference to additional
SIP-strengthening regulations included
as an appendix for EPA approval.2
Ecology’s April 3, 2020 SIP revision
updated the narrative to clarify that the
current Federally-approved Washington
SIP meets all CAA section 110(a)(2)(A)
requirements and is not contingent on
the EPA’s approval of the SIPstrengthening rules. The EPA agrees that
the SIP-strengthening rules are severable
from the infrastructure certification and
can be addressed in a separate future
action.
With respect to CAA section
110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), and (J),
Ecology’s September 2019 infrastructure
SIP revision describes how Washington
relies on a narrow set of Federal
Implementation Plans (FIPs) in
implementing portions of the
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) and regional haze programs.3
Ecology’s infrastructure SIP revision
also notes that Washington is not
submitting replacements for these FIPs
at this time. The EPA’s 2013 Guidance
states, ‘‘In this situation, the EPA would
make a completeness finding that
extends only to the SIP elements
actually submitted by the air agency,
and a finding that other relevant
applicable elements were not submitted.
The EPA would be required to take
action only on the elements that were
submitted, within 12 months after those
2 See ‘‘state submittal_173–423 WA Register’’ and
‘‘state submittal_2010 SO2 and 2015 O3 Appendix
B Table’’ in the docket for this action.
3 See 40 CFR 52.2497, 40 CFR 52.2500, 40 CFR
52.2501, and 40 CFR 52.2502. Ecology’s April 3,
2020 SIP revision updated the narrative for CAA
section 110(a)(2)(A) and (K) only, with no revisions
for other infrastructure elements.
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elements have been determined to be
complete. The overall infrastructure SIP
would not be approvable with respect to
the elements that were not submitted,
and thus the EPA could only partially
approve the overall infrastructure SIP.’’
In accordance with the 2013
Guidance, we found that Ecology’s
September 2019 infrastructure SIP
submission was incomplete for the
portions addressing the infrastructure
elements in CAA section 110(a)(2)(C),
(D)(i)(II) (prong 3), (D)(ii), and (J)
relating to PSD, because Washington has
not fully addressed all requirements of
part C of title I of the CAA. We also
found the submission incomplete as to
element D(i)(II) (prong 4) relating to
interstate visibility transport. On
November 18, 2019, the EPA sent a
letter to Ecology notifying Washington
of this determination.4 With respect to
PSD, as a result of this incompleteness
finding, the EPA is not taking action on
the portions of section 110(a)(2)(C),
D(i)(II), (D)(ii), and (J) related to the PSD
FIP. The EPA recognizes, however, that
Washington has elected to comply with
the Federal requirements through joint
EPA and state implementation through
a FIP. Because Washington is already
subject to a FIP, Washington would not
have to take further action for continued
implementation of the PSD program.
With respect to prong 4 requirements
related to interstate visibility transport
under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II),
Washington does not have a fully
approved regional haze SIP typically
used to satisfy element D(i)(II) (prong 4)
relating to interstate visibility
transport.5 However, regional haze FIPs
are in place to fully address the
disapproved portions of the state’s SIP
for the period of the first long-term
strategy for regional haze. See 79 FR
33438 (June 11, 2014). As a result, and
as explained in more detail in the
technical support document (TSD) in
the docket for this action, the EPA finds
that the FIP obligations with respect to
prong 4 for the 2010 SO2 and 2015
ozone NAAQS are already satisfied, and
no further action is required.
The EPA does not anticipate any
adverse consequences to Washington as
a result of this incompleteness finding
for the PSD portions of CAA section
110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), and (J), or
the interstate visibility transport portion
of section 110(a)(D)(i)(II). Mandatory
sanctions would not apply to
Washington under CAA section 179
because PSD and regional haze SIP
4 See ‘‘completeness letter_Taylor, Kathy, WA
Department of Ecology_11.18.19’’ included in the
docket for this action.
5 See 2013 Guidance, page 33.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 26, 2020 / Proposed Rules
submissions are not required under title
I part D of the CAA, and in this instance
are not in response to a SIP call under
section 110(k)(5) of the CAA.
covered by the PSD FIP), (K), (L), and
(M).
III. The EPA Approach To Review of
Infrastructure SIP Submissions
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
CAA 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 proposed
action merely approves state law as
meeting Federal requirements and does
not impose additional requirements
beyond those imposed by state law. For
that reason, this proposed action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011);
• 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, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;
and
• Does not provide the EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
Due to ambiguity in some of the
language of CAA section 110(a)(2), the
EPA believes that it is appropriate to
interpret these provisions in the specific
context of taking action on
infrastructure SIP submissions. The EPA
has previously provided comprehensive
guidance on the application of these
provisions in the 2013 Guidance and
through regional actions on
infrastructure submissions.6 Unless
otherwise noted below, we are following
that existing approach in taking action
on these submissions. In addition, in the
context of taking action on such
infrastructure submissions, the EPA
evaluates the submitting state’s SIP for
facial compliance with statutory and
regulatory requirements, not for the
state’s implementation of its SIP.7 The
EPA has other authority to address any
issues concerning a state’s
implementation of the rules,
regulations, consent orders, etc. that
comprise its SIP.
IV. The EPA Evaluation
The EPA’s evaluation and rationale
for proposing action on Washington’s
September 30, 2019 and April 3, 2020
infrastructure SIP revisions are detailed
in the ‘‘Technical Support Document for
the EPA’s Proposed Rulemaking for the
Washington Implementation Plan
Revision for Meeting the Infrastructure
Requirements in the Clean Air Act’’
(TSD). The TSD is available in the
docket for this action.
V. Proposed Action
We are proposing to approve the
September 2019 and April 2020
Washington infrastructure SIP revisions
as meeting certain infrastructure
requirements for the 2010 SO2 and 2015
ozone NAAQS, specifically CAA section
110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C) (except for those
provisions covered by the PSD FIP),
(D)(i)(II) (except for those provisions
covered by the PSD and regional haze
FIPs), (D)(ii) (except for those provisions
covered by the PSD FIP), (E), (F), (G),
(H), (J) (except for those provisions
6 The EPA explains and elaborates on these
ambiguities and its approach to address them in its
September 13, 2013 Infrastructure SIP Guidance)
available in the docket for this action and at https://
www.epa.gov/air-quality-implementation-plans/
infrastructure-sip-requirements-and-guidance).
7 See U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
decision in Montana Environmental Information
Center v. EPA, No. 16–71933 (August 30, 2018).
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17:17 May 22, 2020
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VI. Statutory and Executive Orders
Review
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31423
The SIP is not approved to apply on
any Indian reservation land in
Washington except as specifically noted
below and is also not approved to apply
in any other area where the EPA or an
Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of
Indian country, the rule does not have
tribal implications as specified by
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), nor will it impose
substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt tribal law.
Washington’s SIP is approved to apply
on non-trust land within the exterior
boundaries of the Puyallup Indian
Reservation, also known as the 1873
Survey Area. Under the Puyallup Tribe
of Indians Settlement Act of 1989, 25
U.S.C. 1773, Congress explicitly
provided state and local agencies in
Washington authority over activities on
non-trust lands within the 1873 Survey
Area. Consistent with EPA policy, the
EPA provided a consultation
opportunity to the Puyallup Tribe in a
letter dated July 15, 2019.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: May 14, 2020.
Christopher Hladick,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2020–10853 Filed 5–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 60
[EPA–R06–OAR–2010–0580; FRL–10009–
48–Region 6]
New Source Performance Standards;
Delegation of Authority to Oklahoma
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of
delegation.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to update the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to
reflect Oklahoma’s current New Source
Performance Standards (NSPS)
delegation status and mailing address
for the Oklahoma Department of
Environmental Quality (ODEQ). The
ODEQ has submitted updated
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 26, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31421-31423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10853]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R10-OAR-2019-0573, FRL-10009-43-Region 10]
Air Plan Approval; WA; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2010
Sulfur Dioxide and 2015 Ozone Standards
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Whenever a new or revised National Ambient Air Quality
Standard (NAAQS) is promulgated, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires
states to submit a plan for the implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of the standard, commonly referred to as infrastructure
requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions as
meeting specific infrastructure requirements for the 2010 sulfur
dioxide (SO2) and 2015 ozone NAAQS.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 25, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R10-
OAR-2019-0573 at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions,
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Hunt, EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth
Avenue--Suite 155, Seattle, WA 98101, at (206) 553-0256, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, it is intended to refer to the EPA. This
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section is arranged as follows:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Infrastructure Elements
III. The EPA Approach to Review of Infrastructure SIP Submissions
IV. The EPA Evaluation
V. Proposed Action
VI. Statutory and Executive Orders Review
I. Background
On June 2, 2010, the EPA promulgated a revised primary
SO2 NAAQS at 75 parts per billion, based on a three-year
average of the annual 99th percentile of one-hour daily maximum
concentrations (75 FR 35520). In 2015, the EPA promulgated a revision
to the ozone NAAQS retaining the existing form of the standard (three-
year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average
concentration) but lowered the level of both the primary and secondary
standards from 0.075 to 0.070 parts per million (80 FR 65292, October
26, 2015). On September 30, 2019, and as supplemented on April 3, 2020,
the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) submitted SIP revisions
to meet certain 2010 SO2 and 2015 ozone NAAQS infrastructure
requirements. We note that Ecology previously submitted a SIP revision
on February 7, 2018, addressing CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)
(interstate transport prongs 1 and 2) for the 2010 SO2 and
2015 ozone NAAQS. We approved the February 7, 2018, SIP revision as
meeting the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements for the 2015
ozone NAAQS on September 20, 2018 (83 FR 47568). We will address the
CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements for the 2010 SO2
NAAQS in a separate action.
[[Page 31422]]
II. Infrastructure Elements
CAA section 110(a)(1) provides the procedure and timing for SIP
submissions after a new or revised NAAQS is promulgated. CAA section
110(a)(2) lists specific elements that states must meet related to a
newly established or revised NAAQS. The EPA has issued guidance to help
states address these requirements, most recently on September 13, 2013
(2013 Guidance).\1\ The requirements, with their corresponding CAA
subsection, are listed below:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards. ``Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation
Plan (SIP) Elements under Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2).'' Memorandum to EPA Air Division Directors, Regions 1
through 10, September 13, 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
110(a)(2)(A): Emission limits and other control measures.
110(a)(2)(B): Ambient air quality monitoring/data system.
110(a)(2)(C): Program for enforcement of control measures.
110(a)(2)(D): Interstate transport.
110(a)(2)(E): Adequate resources.
110(a)(2)(F): Stationary source monitoring system.
110(a)(2)(G): Emergency episodes.
110(a)(2)(H): Future SIP revisions.
110(a)(2)(I): Areas designated nonattainment and
applicable requirements of part D.
110(a)(2)(J): Consultation with government officials;
public notification; and Prevention of Significant Deterioration and
visibility protection.
110(a)(2)(K): Air quality modeling/data.
110(a)(2)(L): Permitting fees.
110(a)(2)(M): Consultation/participation by affected local
entities.
The EPA's 2013 Guidance restated our interpretation that two
elements are not governed by the three-year submission deadline in CAA
section 110(a)(1) because SIPs incorporating necessary local
nonattainment area controls are due on separate schedules, pursuant to
CAA section 172 and the various pollutant-specific subparts 2 through 5
of part D. These are submissions required by: (i) CAA section
110(a)(2)(C), to the extent that subsection refers to a permit program
as required in part D, title I of the CAA, and (ii) CAA section
110(a)(2)(I). As a result, this action does not address CAA section
110(a)(2)(C) with respect to nonattainment new source review (NSR) or
CAA section 110(a)(2)(I). The EPA has also determined that the CAA
section 110(a)(2)(J) provision on visibility is not triggered by a new
NAAQS because the visibility requirements in part C, title I of the CAA
are not changed by a new NAAQS.
Ecology's September 30, 2019 infrastructure SIP revision noted that
it did not contain a narrative for CAA section 110(a)(2)(K) explaining
that additional rulemaking was necessary to update Washington's
adoption by reference of 40 CFR part 51, appendix W for air quality
modeling. On April 3, 2020, Ecology submitted a SIP revision updating
the narrative for CAA section 110(a)(2)(K) to reflect the EPA's
approval of revisions to Chapters 173-400 and 463-78 Washington
Administrative Code (WAC) with an updated adoption by reference of
Federal regulations as of January 24, 2018, including the EPA's most
recent update to 40 CFR part 51, appendix W. See 85 FR 4233 (January
24, 2020) and 85 FR 10301 (February 24, 2020). Also, as part of the
September 2019 infrastructure SIP revision, Ecology's CAA section
110(a)(2)(A) narrative included a cross reference to additional SIP-
strengthening regulations included as an appendix for EPA approval.\2\
Ecology's April 3, 2020 SIP revision updated the narrative to clarify
that the current Federally-approved Washington SIP meets all CAA
section 110(a)(2)(A) requirements and is not contingent on the EPA's
approval of the SIP-strengthening rules. The EPA agrees that the SIP-
strengthening rules are severable from the infrastructure certification
and can be addressed in a separate future action.
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\2\ See ``state submittal_173-423 WA Register'' and ``state
submittal_2010 SO2 and 2015 O3 Appendix B Table'' in the
docket for this action.
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With respect to CAA section 110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), and
(J), Ecology's September 2019 infrastructure SIP revision describes how
Washington relies on a narrow set of Federal Implementation Plans
(FIPs) in implementing portions of the Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) and regional haze programs.\3\ Ecology's
infrastructure SIP revision also notes that Washington is not
submitting replacements for these FIPs at this time. The EPA's 2013
Guidance states, ``In this situation, the EPA would make a completeness
finding that extends only to the SIP elements actually submitted by the
air agency, and a finding that other relevant applicable elements were
not submitted. The EPA would be required to take action only on the
elements that were submitted, within 12 months after those elements
have been determined to be complete. The overall infrastructure SIP
would not be approvable with respect to the elements that were not
submitted, and thus the EPA could only partially approve the overall
infrastructure SIP.''
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\3\ See 40 CFR 52.2497, 40 CFR 52.2500, 40 CFR 52.2501, and 40
CFR 52.2502. Ecology's April 3, 2020 SIP revision updated the
narrative for CAA section 110(a)(2)(A) and (K) only, with no
revisions for other infrastructure elements.
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In accordance with the 2013 Guidance, we found that Ecology's
September 2019 infrastructure SIP submission was incomplete for the
portions addressing the infrastructure elements in CAA section
110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i)(II) (prong 3), (D)(ii), and (J) relating to PSD,
because Washington has not fully addressed all requirements of part C
of title I of the CAA. We also found the submission incomplete as to
element D(i)(II) (prong 4) relating to interstate visibility transport.
On November 18, 2019, the EPA sent a letter to Ecology notifying
Washington of this determination.\4\ With respect to PSD, as a result
of this incompleteness finding, the EPA is not taking action on the
portions of section 110(a)(2)(C), D(i)(II), (D)(ii), and (J) related to
the PSD FIP. The EPA recognizes, however, that Washington has elected
to comply with the Federal requirements through joint EPA and state
implementation through a FIP. Because Washington is already subject to
a FIP, Washington would not have to take further action for continued
implementation of the PSD program.
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\4\ See ``completeness letter_Taylor, Kathy, WA Department of
Ecology_11.18.19'' included in the docket for this action.
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With respect to prong 4 requirements related to interstate
visibility transport under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), Washington does
not have a fully approved regional haze SIP typically used to satisfy
element D(i)(II) (prong 4) relating to interstate visibility
transport.\5\ However, regional haze FIPs are in place to fully address
the disapproved portions of the state's SIP for the period of the first
long-term strategy for regional haze. See 79 FR 33438 (June 11, 2014).
As a result, and as explained in more detail in the technical support
document (TSD) in the docket for this action, the EPA finds that the
FIP obligations with respect to prong 4 for the 2010 SO2 and
2015 ozone NAAQS are already satisfied, and no further action is
required.
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\5\ See 2013 Guidance, page 33.
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The EPA does not anticipate any adverse consequences to Washington
as a result of this incompleteness finding for the PSD portions of CAA
section 110(a)(2)(C), (D)(i)(II), (D)(ii), and (J), or the interstate
visibility transport portion of section 110(a)(D)(i)(II). Mandatory
sanctions would not apply to Washington under CAA section 179 because
PSD and regional haze SIP
[[Page 31423]]
submissions are not required under title I part D of the CAA, and in
this instance are not in response to a SIP call under section 110(k)(5)
of the CAA.
III. The EPA Approach To Review of Infrastructure SIP Submissions
Due to ambiguity in some of the language of CAA section 110(a)(2),
the EPA believes that it is appropriate to interpret these provisions
in the specific context of taking action on infrastructure SIP
submissions. The EPA has previously provided comprehensive guidance on
the application of these provisions in the 2013 Guidance and through
regional actions on infrastructure submissions.\6\ Unless otherwise
noted below, we are following that existing approach in taking action
on these submissions. In addition, in the context of taking action on
such infrastructure submissions, the EPA evaluates the submitting
state's SIP for facial compliance with statutory and regulatory
requirements, not for the state's implementation of its SIP.\7\ The EPA
has other authority to address any issues concerning a state's
implementation of the rules, regulations, consent orders, etc. that
comprise its SIP.
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\6\ The EPA explains and elaborates on these ambiguities and its
approach to address them in its September 13, 2013 Infrastructure
SIP Guidance) available in the docket for this action and at https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-implementation-plans/infrastructure-sip-requirements-and-guidance).
\7\ See U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision in
Montana Environmental Information Center v. EPA, No. 16-71933
(August 30, 2018).
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IV. The EPA Evaluation
The EPA's evaluation and rationale for proposing action on
Washington's September 30, 2019 and April 3, 2020 infrastructure SIP
revisions are detailed in the ``Technical Support Document for the
EPA's Proposed Rulemaking for the Washington Implementation Plan
Revision for Meeting the Infrastructure Requirements in the Clean Air
Act'' (TSD). The TSD is available in the docket for this action.
V. Proposed Action
We are proposing to approve the September 2019 and April 2020
Washington infrastructure SIP revisions as meeting certain
infrastructure requirements for the 2010 SO2 and 2015 ozone
NAAQS, specifically CAA section 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C) (except for
those provisions covered by the PSD FIP), (D)(i)(II) (except for those
provisions covered by the PSD and regional haze FIPs), (D)(ii) (except
for those provisions covered by the PSD FIP), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J)
(except for those provisions covered by the PSD FIP), (K), (L), and
(M).
VI. Statutory and Executive Orders Review
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA 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
proposed action merely approves state law as meeting Federal
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21,
2011);
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, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the Clean Air Act; and
Does not provide the EPA with the discretionary authority
to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or
environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land in
Washington except as specifically noted below and is also not approved
to apply in any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe has
demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian
country, the rule does not have tribal implications as specified by
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it
impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal
law. Washington's SIP is approved to apply on non-trust land within the
exterior boundaries of the Puyallup Indian Reservation, also known as
the 1873 Survey Area. Under the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement
Act of 1989, 25 U.S.C. 1773, Congress explicitly provided state and
local agencies in Washington authority over activities on non-trust
lands within the 1873 Survey Area. Consistent with EPA policy, the EPA
provided a consultation opportunity to the Puyallup Tribe in a letter
dated July 15, 2019.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: May 14, 2020.
Christopher Hladick,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2020-10853 Filed 5-22-20; 8:45 am]
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