Air Plan Approval; Indiana; Revisions to Particulate Matter Rules; Vertellus, 59370-59372 [2022-21192]
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59370
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 189 / Friday, September 30, 2022 / Proposed Rules
place) for any given pair of origin/
destination 3-Digit or 5-Digit ZIP Codes
that can be selected by a dashboard
user; and
(2) The average time in which the
product was delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for any given pair
of origin/destination 3-Digit or 5-Digit
ZIP Codes to be selected by the
dashboard user.
(f) For Political mail:
(1) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for the Nation;
(2) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each Postal Administrative
Area;
(3) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each District;
(4) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each 5-Digit ZIP Code;
(5) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for the Nation;
(6) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each Postal
Administrative Area;
(7) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each District;
and
(8) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each 5-Digit
ZIP Code.
(g) For Election mail:
(1) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for the Nation;
(2) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each Postal Administrative
Area;
(3) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each District;
(4) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each 5-Digit ZIP Code;
(5) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for the Nation;
(6) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each Postal
Administrative Area;
(7) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each District;
and
(8) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each 5-Digit
ZIP Code.
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(h) For the First-Class Mail that the
Postal Service identifies as Single-Piece
Reply Mail:
(1) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for the Nation;
(2) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each Postal Administrative
Area;
(3) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each District;
(4) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each 5-Digit ZIP Code;
(5) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for the Nation;
(6) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each Postal
Administrative Area;
(7) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each District;
and
(8) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each 5-Digit
ZIP Code.
(i) For Nonprofit mail (within
Periodicals and USPS Marketing Mail
classes of mail):
(1) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for the Nation;
(2) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each Postal Administrative
Area;
(3) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each District;
(4) The on-time service performance
(as a percentage rounded to one decimal
place) for each 5-Digit ZIP Code;
(5) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for the Nation;
(6) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each Postal
Administrative Area;
(7) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each District;
and
(8) The average time in which the
mailpieces were delivered, measured by
actual delivery days, for each 5-Digit
ZIP Code.
(9) The point impact data for the top
ten root causes of on-time service
performance failures, at the Postal
Administrative Area and National
levels. ‘‘Point impact data’’ means the
number of percentage points by which
on-time performance decreased due to a
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specific root cause of failure.
Identification and a description of all
potential root causes of failure assigned
during the previous fiscal year and any
changes to the Postal Service’s
methodology for calculating point
impact data shall be included.
(j) For each Market Dominant product
and applicable service standard, the ontime service performance target
currently in effect, as well as the ontime service performance target for the
previous fiscal year.
(k) A summary of the methodology
used to group 5-Digit ZIP Codes into the
Postal Administrative Areas and
Districts with links to more detailed
explanations if applicable.
(l) An application that would allow a
dashboard user to initiate a query in
order to access, for each Market
Dominant product and applicable
service standard, the on-time service
performance (as a percentage rounded to
one decimal place) and average time in
which a mailpiece is delivered by
inputting the user’s street address, 5Digit ZIP Code, or post office box.
§ 3055.103 Format for data provided in the
Public Performance Dashboard.
(a) The results of a user-initiated
query and the data underlying the query
results should be exportable via a
machine-readable format, including but
not limited to a comma-separated data
file, an Excel spreadsheet, XML, or a
JSON file, and such data should be
made accessible to any person or entity
utilizing tools and methods designed to
facilitate access to and extraction of data
in bulk, such as an Application
Programming Interface (API).
(b) When there is a negative deviation
from service performance standards, the
dashboard should clearly indicate such
deviation from expected performance
and present the service performance
from the prior week and the same
period last year.
By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022–20829 Filed 9–29–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R05–OAR–2021–0640; FRL–10117–
01–R5]
Air Plan Approval; Indiana; Revisions
to Particulate Matter Rules; Vertellus
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 189 / Friday, September 30, 2022 / Proposed Rules
ACTION:
Proposed rule.
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a
revision to the Indiana particulate
matter State Implementation Plan (SIP)
for the Vertellus Agriculture and
Nutrition Specialties, LLC (Vertellus)
facility located in Indianapolis, Marion
County. Indiana submitted a request to
revise its particulate matter SIP to
incorporate site-specific updates to the
particulate matter emission limits for
Vertellus. The updates reflect revised
emission rates for particulate matter
resulting from process changes related
to control strategies for other pollutants.
The SIP submission requests also
remove units no longer in operation as
well as update language to reflect a
switch from petroleum oil to natural gas
for certain units. These site-specific SIP
submissions represent a decrease in
overall particulate matter emissions.
Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve
them as SIP-strengthening measures.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before October 31, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R05–
OAR–2021–0640 at https://
www.regulations.gov, or via email to
blakley.pamela@epa.gov. For comments
submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments
cannot be edited or removed from
Regulations.gov. For either manner of
submission, EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. EPA will generally not consider
comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e.
on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission
methods, please contact the person
identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the
full EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alisa Liu, Environmental Engineer,
Control Strategies Section, Air Programs
Branch (AR18J), Environmental
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SUMMARY:
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Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois
60604, (312) 353–3193, liu.alisa@
epa.gov. The EPA Region 5 office is
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding
Federal holidays and facility closures
due to COVID–19.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document whenever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
EPA.
I. Background
On September 16, 2021, the Indiana
Department of Environmental
Management (IDEM) submitted a
request to revise its particulate matter
SIP. On January 4, 2022, IDEM
submitted a supplemental letter and
technical support document with
supporting information. The requested
SIP revisions would incorporate updates
to Indiana’s particulate matter rules for
Vertellus at 326 Indiana Administrative
Code (IAC), Title 326, Article 6.5, Rule
6. Marion County, ‘‘Vertellus
Agriculture & Nutrition Specialties
LLC’’ (326 IAC 6.5–6–31), which
became effective on September 19, 2021.
(Indiana Rule LSA #19–82)
Vertellus is a chemical manufacturing
company that currently operates six
boilers, six heaters, and six furnaces at
their facility on Tibbs Avenue on the
southwest side of Indianapolis. The
facility is located within the Wayne
Township, Marion County portion of
the Indianapolis maintenance area for
the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO2)
National Ambient Air Quality Standard
(NAAQS). As part of its attainment
demonstration for the 2010 SO2
NAAQS, Indiana adopted new SO2
emissions limits at 326 IAC 7–4–
2.1(a)(4) that took effect on January 1,
2017. Compliance with the new SO2
limits necessitated process changes at
Vertellus that determined which units
were discontinued and which fuels
were burned, resulting in the need for
the adjustments to the particulate matter
emission limits at 326 IAC 6.5–6–31.
The particulate matter limits currently
in the SIP were established as part of the
attainment demonstration for the
Indianapolis, Indiana 2010 SO2
nonattainment area. By way of
background, the Indianapolis, Indiana
area consisting of Center, Perry and
Wayne Townships in Marion County
was designated nonattainment for the
2010 SO2 NAAQS under Subpart 107 of
the Clean Air Act (CAA) on July 25,
2013, when EPA made its initial
designations based upon air quality
monitoring data for calendar years
2009–2011. The area designation was
effective October 4, 2013. 78 FR 47191
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59371
(August 5, 2013). Within 18 months of
the effective date, i.e., by April 4, 2015,
Indiana was required under CAA
sections 191(a) and 192(a) to submit a
nonattainment SIP to EPA that
demonstrated that the Indianapolis area
would attain the NAAQS as
expeditiously as practicable, but no later
than 5 years from the effective date of
designation, which was October 4, 2018.
83 FR 4087 (August 15, 2018).
On October 2, 2015, Indiana
submitted an attainment plan for the
Indianapolis nonattainment area as a
revision to Indiana’s SIP for attaining
the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. The attainment
plan included an attainment
demonstration and technical support
document 1 prepared by IDEM that
addressed six sources of SO2 in Marion
County, including Vertellus. Using
dispersion modeling, Indiana
demonstrated that air quality meeting
the 2010 SO2 NAAQS would be attained
with revised SO2 emission limits for the
six sources, which Indiana adopted on
September 2, 2015 into 326 IAC 7–4–
2.1, including limits for Vertellus at 326
IAC 7–4–2.1(a)(4). The revised emission
limits took effect on January 1, 2017. On
March 11, 2019, EPA approved the SIP
revisions that Indiana submitted on
October 2, 2015 for attaining the 2010
SO2 NAAQS for the Indianapolis area.
84 FR 10692 (March 22, 2019).
On July 10, 2017, IDEM submitted a
redesignation request and maintenance
plan. On April 24, 2020, EPA
redesignated the Indianapolis area to
attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS and
approved the maintenance plan. 85 FR
30844 (May 21, 2020).
II. What has Indiana revised in 326 IAC
6.5–6–31?
On May 3, 2018, Vertellus requested
IDEM revise its particulate matter
emission limits at 326 IAC 6.5–6–31 for
its units that were impacted by the
revised SO2 emission limits at 326 IAC
7–4–2.1(a)(4). IDEM initiated a first
notice and comment period for
rulemaking to revise 326 IAC 6.5–6–31
on February 13, 2019, and published the
final rule on September 15, 2021. As
requested by Vertellus, IDEM’s revisions
changed the particulate matter emission
limits on several units where Vertellus
made process and fuel changes to
comply with the revised SO2 emission
limits. Additionally, the revisions
removed limits and references to units
1 August 2015, ‘‘1-Hour Sulfur Dioxide
Attainment Demonstration and Technical Support
Document for Central, West Central, and Southwest
Indiana Nonattainment Areas’’. Prepared by Indiana
Department of Environmental Management, Office
of Air Quality. EPA–R05–OAR–2015–0700–0003.
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at the facility that are no longer
operating or were demolished.
The revisions at 326 IAC 6.5–6–31
also updated existing language and
added new language related to the types
of fuel burned in certain units. Part of
Indiana’s SO2 control strategy in the
Indianapolis area was to restrict the
usage of petroleum oil burned at several
Vertellus units, so the adopted revisions
at 326 IAC 6.5–6–31 reflect a switch to
100 percent natural gas for certain units
and only natural gas or landfill gas for
certain other units. Compared to
petroleum oil, burning natural gas at
these units reduces SO2 emissions,
enables Vertellus to remain in
compliance with the new SO2 emission
limits, and ensures continued
attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
The process changes that determined
which units were discontinued and
which fuels were burned resulted in the
need for increases in particulate matter
mass and rate-based emission limits for
some of the Vertellus units and
decreases for other units.
III. What are the environmental effects
of this action?
This SIP revision will result in a
reduction in allowable particulate
matter annual mass emissions and have
a strengthening effect on the SIP by
reducing emission limits, switching
fuels to natural gas, reducing the
amount of landfill gas burned, and
removing allowable emissions listed for
units that are no longer used or were
demolished.
Vertellus projected that the rule
revisions will reduce particulate matter
emissions by 14.1 tons per year
compared to the emissions allowed
under Indiana’s current SIP. To address
section 110(l) of the CAA, the technical
support document details the decrease
in allowable particulate matter emission
from 38.0 to 23.9 tons per year as a
result of a decrease of 14.8 tons per year
total from twelve units offset by an
increase of 0.7 tons per year total from
4 units.
To demonstrate that any increase in
particulate emission limits allowed
under revised 326 IAC 6.5–6.31 would
still be protective of the NAAQS for
particulate matter less than 2.5 and 10
microns in diameter (PM2.5, PM10),
Indiana performed dispersion modeling
using AERMOD version 18081. Based
on a comparison of allowable
particulate matter emissions from the
current limits compared to the revised
limits, IDEM’s modeling showed
decreased emission concentrations at
each of the modeled receptors. EPA has
reviewed IDEM’s modeling and
projected emission reductions and finds
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that IDEM demonstrated that the SIP
revision will not have an adverse impact
on particulate matter air quality or
interfere with the attainment or
maintenance of the SO2 NAAQS in
accordance with section 110(l) of the
CAA.
IV. Public Comment and Hearings
Indiana offered two comment periods
on this proposed rule. The first was
from February 13, 2019, to March 15,
2019, and the second was from February
12, 2020, through March 13, 2020. No
comments were received during the first
or second comment period. Indiana also
held public hearings on November 18,
2020, and February 10, 2021, through an
online platform. No comments were
made during the hearings.
V. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is proposing to approve Indiana’s
September 16, 2021, request to revise its
particulate matter SIP because the
revised rule at 326 IAC 6.5–6–31
applicable to Vertellus strengthens the
SIP by reducing allowable particulate
matter emissions.
VI. Incorporation by Reference
In this proposed rule, EPA is
proposing to include in a final EPA rule
regulatory text that includes
incorporation by reference. In
accordance with requirements of 1 CFR
51.5, EPA is proposing to incorporate by
reference revisions to Indiana rule 326
IAC 6.5–6–31, effective September 20,
2021, discussed in section II of this
preamble. EPA has made, and will
continue to make, these documents
generally available through
www.regulations.gov and at the EPA
Region 5 Office (please contact the
person identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
preamble for more information).
VII. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
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,
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,
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
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).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Particulate matter, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides.
Dated: September 22, 2022.
Debra Shore,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2022–21192 Filed 9–29–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59370-59372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21192]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R05-OAR-2021-0640; FRL-10117-01-R5]
Air Plan Approval; Indiana; Revisions to Particulate Matter
Rules; Vertellus
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[[Page 59371]]
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve a revision to the Indiana particulate matter State
Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Vertellus Agriculture and Nutrition
Specialties, LLC (Vertellus) facility located in Indianapolis, Marion
County. Indiana submitted a request to revise its particulate matter
SIP to incorporate site-specific updates to the particulate matter
emission limits for Vertellus. The updates reflect revised emission
rates for particulate matter resulting from process changes related to
control strategies for other pollutants. The SIP submission requests
also remove units no longer in operation as well as update language to
reflect a switch from petroleum oil to natural gas for certain units.
These site-specific SIP submissions represent a decrease in overall
particulate matter emissions. Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve
them as SIP-strengthening measures.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 31, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-
OAR-2021-0640 at https://www.regulations.gov, or via email to
[email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov,
follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted,
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either
manner of submission, EPA may publish any comment received to its
public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you
consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of
the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the full
EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please
visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alisa Liu, Environmental Engineer,
Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR18J), Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago,
Illinois 60604, (312) 353-3193, [email protected]. The EPA Region 5
office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding Federal holidays and facility closures due to COVID-19.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.
I. Background
On September 16, 2021, the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management (IDEM) submitted a request to revise its particulate matter
SIP. On January 4, 2022, IDEM submitted a supplemental letter and
technical support document with supporting information. The requested
SIP revisions would incorporate updates to Indiana's particulate matter
rules for Vertellus at 326 Indiana Administrative Code (IAC), Title
326, Article 6.5, Rule 6. Marion County, ``Vertellus Agriculture &
Nutrition Specialties LLC'' (326 IAC 6.5-6-31), which became effective
on September 19, 2021. (Indiana Rule LSA #19-82)
Vertellus is a chemical manufacturing company that currently
operates six boilers, six heaters, and six furnaces at their facility
on Tibbs Avenue on the southwest side of Indianapolis. The facility is
located within the Wayne Township, Marion County portion of the
Indianapolis maintenance area for the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide
(SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). As part
of its attainment demonstration for the 2010 SO2 NAAQS,
Indiana adopted new SO2 emissions limits at 326 IAC 7-4-
2.1(a)(4) that took effect on January 1, 2017. Compliance with the new
SO2 limits necessitated process changes at Vertellus that
determined which units were discontinued and which fuels were burned,
resulting in the need for the adjustments to the particulate matter
emission limits at 326 IAC 6.5-6-31.
The particulate matter limits currently in the SIP were established
as part of the attainment demonstration for the Indianapolis, Indiana
2010 SO2 nonattainment area. By way of background, the
Indianapolis, Indiana area consisting of Center, Perry and Wayne
Townships in Marion County was designated nonattainment for the 2010
SO2 NAAQS under Subpart 107 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) on
July 25, 2013, when EPA made its initial designations based upon air
quality monitoring data for calendar years 2009-2011. The area
designation was effective October 4, 2013. 78 FR 47191 (August 5,
2013). Within 18 months of the effective date, i.e., by April 4, 2015,
Indiana was required under CAA sections 191(a) and 192(a) to submit a
nonattainment SIP to EPA that demonstrated that the Indianapolis area
would attain the NAAQS as expeditiously as practicable, but no later
than 5 years from the effective date of designation, which was October
4, 2018. 83 FR 4087 (August 15, 2018).
On October 2, 2015, Indiana submitted an attainment plan for the
Indianapolis nonattainment area as a revision to Indiana's SIP for
attaining the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. The attainment plan included
an attainment demonstration and technical support document \1\ prepared
by IDEM that addressed six sources of SO2 in Marion County,
including Vertellus. Using dispersion modeling, Indiana demonstrated
that air quality meeting the 2010 SO2 NAAQS would be
attained with revised SO2 emission limits for the six
sources, which Indiana adopted on September 2, 2015 into 326 IAC 7-4-
2.1, including limits for Vertellus at 326 IAC 7-4-2.1(a)(4). The
revised emission limits took effect on January 1, 2017. On March 11,
2019, EPA approved the SIP revisions that Indiana submitted on October
2, 2015 for attaining the 2010 SO2 NAAQS for the
Indianapolis area. 84 FR 10692 (March 22, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ August 2015, ``1-Hour Sulfur Dioxide Attainment
Demonstration and Technical Support Document for Central, West
Central, and Southwest Indiana Nonattainment Areas''. Prepared by
Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Office of Air
Quality. EPA-R05-OAR-2015-0700-0003.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On July 10, 2017, IDEM submitted a redesignation request and
maintenance plan. On April 24, 2020, EPA redesignated the Indianapolis
area to attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS and approved the
maintenance plan. 85 FR 30844 (May 21, 2020).
II. What has Indiana revised in 326 IAC 6.5-6-31?
On May 3, 2018, Vertellus requested IDEM revise its particulate
matter emission limits at 326 IAC 6.5-6-31 for its units that were
impacted by the revised SO2 emission limits at 326 IAC 7-4-
2.1(a)(4). IDEM initiated a first notice and comment period for
rulemaking to revise 326 IAC 6.5-6-31 on February 13, 2019, and
published the final rule on September 15, 2021. As requested by
Vertellus, IDEM's revisions changed the particulate matter emission
limits on several units where Vertellus made process and fuel changes
to comply with the revised SO2 emission limits.
Additionally, the revisions removed limits and references to units
[[Page 59372]]
at the facility that are no longer operating or were demolished.
The revisions at 326 IAC 6.5-6-31 also updated existing language
and added new language related to the types of fuel burned in certain
units. Part of Indiana's SO2 control strategy in the
Indianapolis area was to restrict the usage of petroleum oil burned at
several Vertellus units, so the adopted revisions at 326 IAC 6.5-6-31
reflect a switch to 100 percent natural gas for certain units and only
natural gas or landfill gas for certain other units. Compared to
petroleum oil, burning natural gas at these units reduces
SO2 emissions, enables Vertellus to remain in compliance
with the new SO2 emission limits, and ensures continued
attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. The process changes that
determined which units were discontinued and which fuels were burned
resulted in the need for increases in particulate matter mass and rate-
based emission limits for some of the Vertellus units and decreases for
other units.
III. What are the environmental effects of this action?
This SIP revision will result in a reduction in allowable
particulate matter annual mass emissions and have a strengthening
effect on the SIP by reducing emission limits, switching fuels to
natural gas, reducing the amount of landfill gas burned, and removing
allowable emissions listed for units that are no longer used or were
demolished.
Vertellus projected that the rule revisions will reduce particulate
matter emissions by 14.1 tons per year compared to the emissions
allowed under Indiana's current SIP. To address section 110(l) of the
CAA, the technical support document details the decrease in allowable
particulate matter emission from 38.0 to 23.9 tons per year as a result
of a decrease of 14.8 tons per year total from twelve units offset by
an increase of 0.7 tons per year total from 4 units.
To demonstrate that any increase in particulate emission limits
allowed under revised 326 IAC 6.5-6.31 would still be protective of the
NAAQS for particulate matter less than 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter
(PM2.5, PM10), Indiana performed dispersion
modeling using AERMOD version 18081. Based on a comparison of allowable
particulate matter emissions from the current limits compared to the
revised limits, IDEM's modeling showed decreased emission
concentrations at each of the modeled receptors. EPA has reviewed
IDEM's modeling and projected emission reductions and finds that IDEM
demonstrated that the SIP revision will not have an adverse impact on
particulate matter air quality or interfere with the attainment or
maintenance of the SO2 NAAQS in accordance with section
110(l) of the CAA.
IV. Public Comment and Hearings
Indiana offered two comment periods on this proposed rule. The
first was from February 13, 2019, to March 15, 2019, and the second was
from February 12, 2020, through March 13, 2020. No comments were
received during the first or second comment period. Indiana also held
public hearings on November 18, 2020, and February 10, 2021, through an
online platform. No comments were made during the hearings.
V. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is proposing to approve Indiana's September 16, 2021, request
to revise its particulate matter SIP because the revised rule at 326
IAC 6.5-6-31 applicable to Vertellus strengthens the SIP by reducing
allowable particulate matter emissions.
VI. Incorporation by Reference
In this proposed rule, EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA
rule regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In
accordance with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is proposing to
incorporate by reference revisions to Indiana rule 326 IAC 6.5-6-31,
effective September 20, 2021, discussed in section II of this preamble.
EPA has made, and will continue to make, these documents generally
available through www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region 5 Office
(please contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this preamble for more information).
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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, 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);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
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).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Particulate matter, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides.
Dated: September 22, 2022.
Debra Shore,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2022-21192 Filed 9-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P