Air Plan Approval; New Mexico; Excess Emissions, 59373-59376 [2022-21246]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 189 / Friday, September 30, 2022 / Proposed Rules
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R06–OAR–2016–0676; FRL–10186–
01–R6]
Air Plan Approval; New Mexico;
Excess Emissions
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the Federal Clean
Air Act (CAA, the Act), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is proposing to approve a State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision from
the New Mexico Environment
Department (NMED) submitted on
October 13, 2016. The submittal is in
response to EPA’s national SIP call on
June 12, 2015, concerning excess
emissions during periods of Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunction (SSM). The
submittal requests the removal of the
provisions identified in the 2015 SIP
call from the New Mexico SIP. EPA is
proposing to approve the SIP revision
and proposing to determine that such
SIP revision corrects the deficiency
identified in the June 12, 2015 SIP call.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before October 31, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket No. EPA–R06–
OAR–2016–0676 at https://
www.regulations.gov or via email to
Shar.alan@epa.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or removed from Regulations.gov.
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, please
contact Mr. Alan Shar, (214) 665–6691,
Shar.alan@epa.gov. For 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-epadockets.
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SUMMARY:
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Docket: The index to the docket for
this action is available electronically at
www.regulations.gov and in hard copy
at the EPA Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm
Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75270.
While all documents in the docket are
listed in the index, some information
may be publicly available only at the
hard copy location (e.g., copyrighted
material), and some may not be publicly
available at either location (e.g., CBI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Alan Shar, Regional Haze and SO2
Section, EPA Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm
Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75270,
(214) 665–6691, Shar.alan@epa.gov. Out
of an abundance of caution for members
of the public and our staff, the EPA
Region 6 office may be closed to the
public to reduce the risk of transmitting
COVID–19. We encourage the public to
submit comments via https://
www.regulations.gov, as there will be a
delay in processing mail and no courier
or hand deliveries will be accepted.
Please call or email the contact listed
above if you need alternative access to
material indexed but not provided in
the docket.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’
and ‘‘our’’ means the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Background
A. EPA’s 2015 SIP Action
B. New Mexico’s Part 7 Excess Emissions
II. Analysis of SIP Submission
III. Proposed Action
IV. Environmental Justice Considerations
V. Incorporation by Reference
VI. Statutory and Executive Orders Review
I. Background
A. EPA’s 2015 SIP Action
On February 22, 2013, EPA issued a
Federal Register notice of proposed
rulemaking action outlining EPA’s
policy at the time with respect to SIP
provisions related to periods of SSM.
EPA analyzed specific SSM SIP
provisions and explained how each one
either did or did not comply with the
CAA with regard to excess emission
events.1 For each SIP provision that
EPA determined to be inconsistent with
the CAA, EPA proposed to find that the
existing SIP provision was substantially
inadequate to meet CAA requirements
and thus proposed to issue a SIP call
under CAA section 110(k)(5). On
September 17, 2014, EPA issued a
document supplementing and revising
1 State Implementation Plans: Response to
Petition for Rulemaking; Findings of Substantial
Inadequacy; and SIP Calls To Amend Provisions
Applying to Excess Emissions During Periods of
Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction, (78 FR 12460)
Feb. 22, 2013.
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what the Agency had previously
proposed on February 22, 2013, in light
of a D.C. Circuit decision that
determined the CAA precludes
authority of EPA to create affirmative
defense provisions.2 EPA outlined its
updated policy that affirmative defense
SIP provisions are not consistent with
CAA requirements. EPA proposed in the
supplemental proposal document to
apply its revised interpretation of the
Act to specific affirmative defense SIP
provisions and proposed SIP calls for
those provisions where appropriate (79
FR 55920, September 17, 2014).
On June 12, 2015, pursuant to CAA
section 110(k)(5), EPA finalized ‘‘State
Implementation Plans: Response to
Petition for Rulemaking; Restatement
and Update of EPA’s SSM Policy
Applicable to SIPs; Findings of
Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls
To Amend Provisions Applying to
Excess Emissions During Periods of
Startup, Shutdown and Malfunction,’’
(80 FR 33839, June 12, 2015), hereafter
referred to as the ‘‘2015 SSM SIP
Action.’’ The 2015 SSM SIP Action
clarified, restated, and updated EPA’s
interpretation that SSM exemption and
affirmative defense SIP provisions are
inconsistent with CAA requirements.
The 2015 SSM SIP Action found that
certain SIP provisions in 36 states were
substantially inadequate to meet CAA
requirements and issued a SIP call to
those states to submit SIP revisions to
address the inadequacies. EPA
established an 18-month deadline by
which the affected states had to submit
such SIP revisions. States, including
New Mexico, were required to submit
corrective revisions to their SIPs in
response to the SIP calls by November
22, 2016.
EPA issued a Memorandum in
October 2020 (2020 Memorandum),
which stated that certain provisions
governing SSM periods in SIPs could be
viewed as consistent with CAA
requirements.3 Importantly, the 2020
Memorandum stated that it ‘‘did not
alter in any way the determinations
made in the 2015 SSM SIP Action that
identified specific state SIP provisions
that were substantially inadequate to
meet the requirements of the Act.’’
Accordingly, the 2020 Memorandum
2 The term affirmative defense means, in the
context of an enforcement proceeding, a response
or defense put forward by a defendant, regarding
which the defendant has the burden of proof, and
the merits of which are independently and
objectively evaluated in a judicial or administrative
proceeding.
3 October 9, 2020, Memorandum ‘‘Inclusion of
Provisions Governing Periods of Startup,
Shutdown, and Malfunctions in State
Implementation Plans,’’ from Andrew R. Wheeler,
Administrator.
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had no direct impact on the SIP call
issued to New Mexico in 2015. The
2020 Memorandum did, however,
indicate EPA’s intent at the time to
review SIP calls that were issued in the
2015 SSM SIP Action to determine
whether EPA should maintain, modify,
or withdraw particular SIP calls through
future agency actions.
On September 30, 2021, EPA’s Deputy
Administrator withdrew the 2020
Memorandum and announced EPA’s
return to the policy articulated in the
2015 SSM SIP Action (2021
Memorandum).4 As articulated in the
2021 Memorandum, SIP provisions that
contain exemptions or affirmative
defense provisions are not consistent
with CAA requirements and, therefore,
generally are not approvable if
contained in a SIP submission. This
policy approach is intended to ensure
that all communities and populations,
including populations overburdened by
air pollution, receive the full health and
environmental protections provided by
the CAA.5 The 2021 Memorandum also
retracted the prior statement from the
2020 Memorandum of EPA’s plans to
review and potentially modify or
withdraw particular SIP calls. That
statement no longer reflects EPA’s
intent. EPA intends to implement the
principles laid out in the 2015 SSM SIP
Action as the agency takes action on SIP
submissions, including this SIP
submittal provided in response to the
2015 SIP call.
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B. New Mexico’s Part 7 Excess
Emissions
New Mexico Administrative Code
(NMAC), Title 20 Environmental
Protection, Chapter 2 Air Quality
(Statewide), Part 7 Excess Emissions
(20.2.7 NMAC) was approved by EPA
into the New Mexico SIP on September
14, 2009 (74 FR 46910) and became
federally effective on November 13,
2009.
As a part of EPA’s 2015 SSM SIP
Action, EPA made a finding that certain
provisions in Part 7—namely, 20.2.7.111
NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC, and
20.2.7.113 NMAC of the New Mexico
SIP—are substantially inadequate to
meet CAA requirements, and thus
issued a SIP call with respect to these
provisions because these provisions
provide for an affirmative defense.6
4 September
30, 2021, Memorandum ‘‘Withdrawal
of the October 9, 2020, Memorandum Addressing
Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunctions in State
Implementation Plans and Implementation of the
Prior Policy,’’ from Janet McCabe, Deputy
Administrator.
5 Section J, June 12, 2015 (80 FR 33985).
6 See Affected States in EPA Region VI, section
IX.G.4, June 12, 2015 (80 FR 33968).
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Although not part of the finding in the
2015 SIP call, removal of 20.2.7.111
NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC, and
20.2.7.113 NMAC from the New Mexico
SIP would render 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC,
20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC, 20.2.7.115
NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC no longer
operative or problematic for SIP
compliance purposes because they refer
to or cross-reference the substantially
inadequate provisions of 20.2.7 NMAC.7
II. Analysis of SIP Submission
In response to EPA’s June 12, 2015
SIP call, NMED requested by letter
dated October 13, 2016,8 that EPA
approve removal of 20.2.7.111 NMAC,
20.2.7.112 NMAC and 20.2.7.113 NMAC
found by EPA’s June 12, 2015 SIP call
to be substantially inadequate to meet
CAA requirements. The removal of
these provisions from the New Mexico
SIP eliminates the affirmative defense
provisions identified in the June 12,
2015 SIP call. In addition, NMED
requested that 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC,
20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC, 20.2.7.115
NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC be
removed from the New Mexico SIP as
well. EPA believes that removal of these
seven provisions from the New Mexico
SIP will not affect the adequacy of the
remaining portions of the New Mexico
SIP.
Although certain provisions of Part 7
(20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC,
20.2.7.113 NMAC, 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC,
20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC, 20.2.7.115
NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC) are being
proposed for removal from the EPAapproved New Mexico SIP, NMED
intends to retain Part 7 in its entirety as
a matter of state law, outside of the SIP,
as a ‘‘state-only’’ rule. It is EPA’s
position that the ‘‘state-only’’ measure
will apply only to the state’s own
enforcement personnel and not to EPA
or to others.9 Since these provisions are
only applicable to the State air agency,
EPA’s view is that the provisions need
7 More specifically, removal of 20.2.7.111 NMAC,
20.2.7.112 NMAC, and 20.2.7.113 NMAC from the
SIP will render 20.2.7.6(B) (concerning establishing
criteria to claim an affirmative defense);
20.2.7.110(B)(15) (concerning extension of
notification report deadline upon receipt of written
request from the owner or operator); 20.2.7.115
NMAC (concerning review of the department’s
determinations under sections 111, 112, and 113);
and 20.2.7.116 NMAC (concerning future
enforcement action) no longer operative or
problematic for SIP compliance purposes as they
are interrelated and refer to or cross-reference the
substantially inadequate provisions of Part 7—being
proposed for removal from the SIP in response to
June 12, 2015 SIP call Action—and EPA concurs
with the State action and recommends that these
provisions be removed from the SIP as well.
8 Attachment A, October 13, 2016, submittal letter
from NMED Cabinet Secretary to EPA Region 6
Regional Administrator.
9 June 12, 2015 (80 FR 33958).
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not be included within the SIP. Thus,
EPA does not object to states or local air
agencies that elect to revise their SIPs
‘‘to remove these provisions to avoid
any unnecessary confusion.’’ 10
The submittal also includes an
analysis to demonstrate compliance
with section 110(l) of the Act.11
Elimination of the above-mentioned
provisions of Part 7 from the New
Mexico SIP is not expected to lead to
any emissions increase. We do not
believe the proposed revisions would
interfere with attainment and reasonable
further progress, or any applicable
requirement of the CAA. Thus, we find
that EPA’s approval would be consistent
with section 110(l). Consequently, we
are proposing to approve the removal of
the above-referenced provisions of Part
7 Excess Emissions from the New
Mexico SIP. 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; however, in light
of Oklahoma Dept. of Environmental
Quality v. EPA, 740 F.3d 185 (D.C. Cir.
2014), the SIP applies to non-reservation
Indian allotments within the State.
III. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve a
revision to the New Mexico SIP
submitted on October 13, 2016, in
response to EPA’s national SIP call of
June 12, 2015, concerning excess
emissions during periods of SSM. More
specifically, we are proposing to
approve the removal of 20.2.7.111
NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC, 20.2.7.113
NMAC, 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC,
20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC, 20.2.7.115
NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC of Part 7
Excess Emissions from the New Mexico
SIP. We are proposing to approve these
revisions in accordance with section
110 of the Act. EPA is further proposing
to determine that such SIP revisions
correct the deficiencies identified in the
June 12, 2015 SIP call with respect to
the New Mexico SIP. EPA is not
reopening the 2015 SSM SIP Action and
is only taking comment on whether the
proposed SIP revisions are consistent
with CAA requirements and whether
they addresses the substantial
inadequacy in the specific provisions
identified in the 2015 SSM SIP Action.
IV. Environmental Justice
Considerations
Executive Order 12898 (Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
10 June
12, 2015 (80 FR 33958).
11–14 of the SIP submittal, Docket ID No.
EPA–R06–OAR–2016–0676.
11 Pages
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Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629,
Feb. 16, 1994) directs federal agencies to
identify and address
‘‘disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects’’
of their actions on minority populations
and low-income populations to the
greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law. EPA defines
environmental justice (EJ) as ‘‘the fair
treatment and meaningful involvement
of all people regardless of race, color,
national origin, or income with respect
to the development, implementation,
and enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies.’’ EPA further
defines the term fair treatment to mean
that ‘‘no group of people should bear a
disproportionate burden of
environmental harms and risks,
including those resulting from the
negative environmental consequences of
industrial, governmental, and
commercial operations or programs and
policies.’’ 12 EPA is providing additional
analysis of environmental justice
associated with this action for the
purpose of providing information to the
public.
EPA reviewed demographic data,
which provides an assessment of
individual demographic groups of the
populations living within New
Mexico.13 EPA then compared the data
to the national average for each of the
demographic groups. The results of the
demographic analysis indicate that, for
populations within New Mexico, the
percent people of color (persons who
reported their race as a category other
than White alone (not Hispanic or
Latino)) is significantly higher than the
national average (64.1 percent versus
31.7 percent). The percent of the state
population that is Hispanic or Latino is
higher than the national averages (50.1
percent versus 18.9 percent) and the
percent of the population that is
American Indian/Alaska Native is also
higher than the national average (11.2
percent versus 1.3 percent). The percent
of people living below the poverty level
in New Mexico is higher than the
national average (16.8 percent versus
11.4 percent). The percent of people in
New Mexico over age 25 with a high
school diploma is lower than the
national average (86.5 percent versus
88.5 percent), and the percent with a
Bachelor’s degree or higher is also
slightly lower than the national average
(28.1 percent versus 32.9 percent).
Communities in close proximity to
and/or downwind of industrial sources
may be subject to disproportionate
12 https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/
learn-about-environmental-justice.
13 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NM?.
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environmental impacts of excess
emissions. Short- and/or long-term
exposure to air pollution has been
associated with a wide range of human
health effects including increased
respiratory symptoms, hospitalization
for heart or lung diseases, and even
premature death. Excess emissions
during periods of SSM can be
considerably higher than emissions
under normal steady-state operations.
As to all population groups within the
State of New Mexico, we believe that
this proposed action will be beneficial
and may reduce impacts as explained
below. As discussed earlier in this
notice, this rulemaking, if finalized as
proposed, would result in the removal
of the provisions in the New Mexico SIP
applicable to all counties in the State,
except Bernalillo County, that provide
sources emitting pollutants in excess of
otherwise allowable amounts with the
opportunity to assert an affirmative
defense to violations involving excess
emissions during SSM events. Removal
of such impermissible affirmative
defense provisions from the SIP is
necessary to preserve the enforcement
structure of the CAA, the jurisdiction of
courts to adjudicate questions of
liability and remedies in judicial
enforcement actions, and the potential
for enforcement by the EPA and other
parties under the citizen suit provision
as an effective deterrent to violations. If
finalized as proposed, this action is
intended to ensure that overburdened
communities and affected populations
across the State and downwind areas
receive the full human health and
environmental protection provided by
the CAA. We therefore propose to
determine that this rule, if finalized,
will not have disproportionately high or
adverse human health or environmental
effects on communities with
environmental justice concerns.
V. Incorporation by Reference
In this action, we are proposing to
include in a final rule regulatory text
that includes incorporation by
reference. In accordance with the
requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, we are
proposing to remove 20.2.7.111 NMAC,
20.2.7.112 NMAC, 20.2.7.113 NMAC,
20.2.7.6(B) NMAC, 20.2.7.110(B)(15)
NMAC, 20.2.7.115 NMAC, and
20.2.7.116 NMAC of Part 7 Excess
Emissions from the New Mexico SIP, as
described in the Proposed Action
section above. EPA has made, and will
continue to make, these documents
generally available electronically
through www.regulations.gov and in
hard copy at the EPA Region 6 office.
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VI. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the Act, 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,
EPA’s role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the Act. Accordingly, this action merely
proposes to approve state law as
meeting Federal requirements and does
not impose additional requirements
beyond those imposed by state law. For
that reason, this action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) 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 Act; 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
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governments or preempt tribal law as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000). However,
in light of Oklahoma Dept. of
Environmental Quality v. EPA, 740 F.3d
185 (D.C. Cir. 2014), this proposed rule,
if finalized as proposed, will apply to
non-reservation Indian allotments
within the state and, therefore, has tribal
implications as specified in E.O. 13175.
This action will neither impose
substantial direct compliance costs on
federally recognized tribal governments,
nor preempt tribal law. This action will
not impose substantial direct
compliance costs on federally
recognized tribal governments because
no actions will be required of tribal
governments. This action will also not
preempt tribal law as no tribe in New
Mexico implements a Tribal
Implementation Program under the
CAA. Consistent with the EPA Policy on
Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribes (May 4, 2011), EPA has
offered consultation to tribal
governments that may be affected by
this action.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate
matter, Sulfur dioxide, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Volatile
organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: September 26, 2022.
Earthea Nance,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2022–21246 Filed 9–29–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 62
[EPA–R06–OAR–2022–0546; FRL–10189–
01–R6]
Approval and Promulgation of State
Air Quality Plans for Designated
Facilities and Pollutants; Arkansas;
Control of Emissions From Existing
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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AGENCY:
Pursuant to the Federal Clean
Air Act (CAA or the Act), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is proposing to approve the CAA section
111(d) state plan submitted by the State
SUMMARY:
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of Arkansas for sources subject to the
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfills
Emission Guidelines (EG). The Arkansas
MSW landfills plan was submitted to
fulfill the state’s obligations under CAA
section 111(d) to implement and enforce
the requirements under the MSW
Landfills EG. The EPA is proposing to
approve the state plan and amend the
agency regulations in accordance with
the requirements of the CAA.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before October 31, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket No. EPA–R06–
OAR–2022–0546, at https://
www.regulations.gov or via email to
ruan-lei.karolina@epa.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, please
contact Karolina Ruan Lei, (214) 665–
7346, ruan-lei.karolina@epa.gov. For 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.
Docket: The index to the docket for
this action is available electronically at
www.regulations.gov. While all
documents in the docket are listed in
the index, some information may not be
publicly available due to docket file size
restrictions or content (e.g., CBI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karolina Ruan Lei, EPA Region 6 Office,
Air and Radiation Division—State
Planning and Implementation Branch,
(214) 665–7346, ruan-lei.karolina@
epa.gov. Out of an abundance of caution
for members of the public and our staff,
the EPA Region 6 office may be closed
to the public to reduce the risk of
transmitting COVID–19. We encourage
the public to submit comments via
https://www.regulations.gov, as there
will be a delay in processing mail and
no courier or hand deliveries will be
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accepted. Please call or email the
contact listed above if you need
alternative access to material indexed
but not provided in the docket.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document wherever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
the EPA.
I. Background
Section 111 of the CAA, ‘‘Standards of
Performance for New Stationary
Sources,’’ directs the EPA to establish
emission standards for stationary
sources of air pollution that could
potentially endanger public health or
welfare. These standards are referred to
as New Source Performance Standards
(NSPS). Section 111(d) addresses the
process by which the EPA and states
regulate standards of performance for
existing sources. When NSPS are
promulgated for new sources, section
111(d) and EPA regulations require that
the EPA publish an Emission Guideline
(EG) to regulate the same pollutants
from existing facilities. While NSPS are
directly applicable to new sources, EG
for existing sources (designated
facilities) are intended for states to use
to develop a state plan to submit to the
EPA.
State plan submittal and revisions
under CAA section 111(d) must be
consistent with the applicable EG and
the requirements of 40 CFR part 60,
subpart B, and part 62, subpart A. The
regulations at 40 CFR part 60, subpart B,
contain general provisions applicable to
the adoption and submittal of state
plans under CAA section 111(d).
Additionally, 40 CFR part 62, subpart A,
provides the procedural framework by
which the EPA will approve or
disapprove such plans submitted by a
state. Once approved by the EPA, the
state plan becomes federally
enforceable. If a state does not submit an
approvable state plan to the EPA, the
EPA is responsible for developing,
implementing, and enforcing a federal
plan.
The MSW landfills NSPS for new
landfills and EG for existing landfills
were first promulgated by EPA on
March 12, 1996, in 40 CFR part 60,
subparts WWW and Cc, respectively (61
FR 9905). On August 29, 2016, the EPA
finalized revisions to the MSW landfills
NSPS and EG in 40 CFR part 60,
subparts XXX and Cf, respectively (81
FR 59332; 81 FR 59313). The 2016 EG
revision updates the control
requirements and monitoring, reporting,
and recordkeeping provisions for
existing MSW landfill sources.
The current MSW landfills EG, found
at 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cf, concerns
the regulation of landfill gas and its
E:\FR\FM\30SEP1.SGM
30SEP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59373-59376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21246]
[[Page 59373]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R06-OAR-2016-0676; FRL-10186-01-R6]
Air Plan Approval; New Mexico; Excess Emissions
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA, the Act), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision from the New Mexico Environment
Department (NMED) submitted on October 13, 2016. The submittal is in
response to EPA's national SIP call on June 12, 2015, concerning excess
emissions during periods of Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction (SSM).
The submittal requests the removal of the provisions identified in the
2015 SIP call from the New Mexico SIP. EPA is proposing to approve the
SIP revision and proposing to determine that such SIP revision corrects
the deficiency identified in the June 12, 2015 SIP call.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 31, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket No. EPA-R06-OAR-
2016-0676 at https://www.regulations.gov or via email to
[email protected]. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from
Regulations.gov. 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, please contact Mr. Alan Shar, (214) 665-
6691, [email protected]. For 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.
Docket: The index to the docket for this action is available
electronically at www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at the EPA
Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75270. While
all documents in the docket are listed in the index, some information
may be publicly available only at the hard copy location (e.g.,
copyrighted material), and some may not be publicly available at either
location (e.g., CBI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Shar, Regional Haze and
SO2 Section, EPA Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm Street, Suite
500, Dallas, Texas 75270, (214) 665-6691, [email protected]. Out of an
abundance of caution for members of the public and our staff, the EPA
Region 6 office may be closed to the public to reduce the risk of
transmitting COVID-19. We encourage the public to submit comments via
https://www.regulations.gov, as there will be a delay in processing
mail and no courier or hand deliveries will be accepted. Please call or
email the contact listed above if you need alternative access to
material indexed but not provided in the docket.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' and
``our'' means the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Background
A. EPA's 2015 SIP Action
B. New Mexico's Part 7 Excess Emissions
II. Analysis of SIP Submission
III. Proposed Action
IV. Environmental Justice Considerations
V. Incorporation by Reference
VI. Statutory and Executive Orders Review
I. Background
A. EPA's 2015 SIP Action
On February 22, 2013, EPA issued a Federal Register notice of
proposed rulemaking action outlining EPA's policy at the time with
respect to SIP provisions related to periods of SSM. EPA analyzed
specific SSM SIP provisions and explained how each one either did or
did not comply with the CAA with regard to excess emission events.\1\
For each SIP provision that EPA determined to be inconsistent with the
CAA, EPA proposed to find that the existing SIP provision was
substantially inadequate to meet CAA requirements and thus proposed to
issue a SIP call under CAA section 110(k)(5). On September 17, 2014,
EPA issued a document supplementing and revising what the Agency had
previously proposed on February 22, 2013, in light of a D.C. Circuit
decision that determined the CAA precludes authority of EPA to create
affirmative defense provisions.\2\ EPA outlined its updated policy that
affirmative defense SIP provisions are not consistent with CAA
requirements. EPA proposed in the supplemental proposal document to
apply its revised interpretation of the Act to specific affirmative
defense SIP provisions and proposed SIP calls for those provisions
where appropriate (79 FR 55920, September 17, 2014).
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\1\ State Implementation Plans: Response to Petition for
Rulemaking; Findings of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls To
Amend Provisions Applying to Excess Emissions During Periods of
Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction, (78 FR 12460) Feb. 22, 2013.
\2\ The term affirmative defense means, in the context of an
enforcement proceeding, a response or defense put forward by a
defendant, regarding which the defendant has the burden of proof,
and the merits of which are independently and objectively evaluated
in a judicial or administrative proceeding.
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On June 12, 2015, pursuant to CAA section 110(k)(5), EPA finalized
``State Implementation Plans: Response to Petition for Rulemaking;
Restatement and Update of EPA's SSM Policy Applicable to SIPs; Findings
of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls To Amend Provisions Applying
to Excess Emissions During Periods of Startup, Shutdown and
Malfunction,'' (80 FR 33839, June 12, 2015), hereafter referred to as
the ``2015 SSM SIP Action.'' The 2015 SSM SIP Action clarified,
restated, and updated EPA's interpretation that SSM exemption and
affirmative defense SIP provisions are inconsistent with CAA
requirements. The 2015 SSM SIP Action found that certain SIP provisions
in 36 states were substantially inadequate to meet CAA requirements and
issued a SIP call to those states to submit SIP revisions to address
the inadequacies. EPA established an 18-month deadline by which the
affected states had to submit such SIP revisions. States, including New
Mexico, were required to submit corrective revisions to their SIPs in
response to the SIP calls by November 22, 2016.
EPA issued a Memorandum in October 2020 (2020 Memorandum), which
stated that certain provisions governing SSM periods in SIPs could be
viewed as consistent with CAA requirements.\3\ Importantly, the 2020
Memorandum stated that it ``did not alter in any way the determinations
made in the 2015 SSM SIP Action that identified specific state SIP
provisions that were substantially inadequate to meet the requirements
of the Act.'' Accordingly, the 2020 Memorandum
[[Page 59374]]
had no direct impact on the SIP call issued to New Mexico in 2015. The
2020 Memorandum did, however, indicate EPA's intent at the time to
review SIP calls that were issued in the 2015 SSM SIP Action to
determine whether EPA should maintain, modify, or withdraw particular
SIP calls through future agency actions.
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\3\ October 9, 2020, Memorandum ``Inclusion of Provisions
Governing Periods of Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunctions in State
Implementation Plans,'' from Andrew R. Wheeler, Administrator.
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On September 30, 2021, EPA's Deputy Administrator withdrew the 2020
Memorandum and announced EPA's return to the policy articulated in the
2015 SSM SIP Action (2021 Memorandum).\4\ As articulated in the 2021
Memorandum, SIP provisions that contain exemptions or affirmative
defense provisions are not consistent with CAA requirements and,
therefore, generally are not approvable if contained in a SIP
submission. This policy approach is intended to ensure that all
communities and populations, including populations overburdened by air
pollution, receive the full health and environmental protections
provided by the CAA.\5\ The 2021 Memorandum also retracted the prior
statement from the 2020 Memorandum of EPA's plans to review and
potentially modify or withdraw particular SIP calls. That statement no
longer reflects EPA's intent. EPA intends to implement the principles
laid out in the 2015 SSM SIP Action as the agency takes action on SIP
submissions, including this SIP submittal provided in response to the
2015 SIP call.
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\4\ September 30, 2021, Memorandum ``Withdrawal of the October
9, 2020, Memorandum Addressing Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunctions
in State Implementation Plans and Implementation of the Prior
Policy,'' from Janet McCabe, Deputy Administrator.
\5\ Section J, June 12, 2015 (80 FR 33985).
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B. New Mexico's Part 7 Excess Emissions
New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), Title 20 Environmental
Protection, Chapter 2 Air Quality (Statewide), Part 7 Excess Emissions
(20.2.7 NMAC) was approved by EPA into the New Mexico SIP on September
14, 2009 (74 FR 46910) and became federally effective on November 13,
2009.
As a part of EPA's 2015 SSM SIP Action, EPA made a finding that
certain provisions in Part 7--namely, 20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC,
and 20.2.7.113 NMAC of the New Mexico SIP--are substantially inadequate
to meet CAA requirements, and thus issued a SIP call with respect to
these provisions because these provisions provide for an affirmative
defense.\6\ Although not part of the finding in the 2015 SIP call,
removal of 20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC, and 20.2.7.113 NMAC from
the New Mexico SIP would render 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC, 20.2.7.110(B)(15)
NMAC, 20.2.7.115 NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC no longer operative or
problematic for SIP compliance purposes because they refer to or cross-
reference the substantially inadequate provisions of 20.2.7 NMAC.\7\
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\6\ See Affected States in EPA Region VI, section IX.G.4, June
12, 2015 (80 FR 33968).
\7\ More specifically, removal of 20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112
NMAC, and 20.2.7.113 NMAC from the SIP will render 20.2.7.6(B)
(concerning establishing criteria to claim an affirmative defense);
20.2.7.110(B)(15) (concerning extension of notification report
deadline upon receipt of written request from the owner or
operator); 20.2.7.115 NMAC (concerning review of the department's
determinations under sections 111, 112, and 113); and 20.2.7.116
NMAC (concerning future enforcement action) no longer operative or
problematic for SIP compliance purposes as they are interrelated and
refer to or cross-reference the substantially inadequate provisions
of Part 7--being proposed for removal from the SIP in response to
June 12, 2015 SIP call Action--and EPA concurs with the State action
and recommends that these provisions be removed from the SIP as
well.
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II. Analysis of SIP Submission
In response to EPA's June 12, 2015 SIP call, NMED requested by
letter dated October 13, 2016,\8\ that EPA approve removal of
20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC and 20.2.7.113 NMAC found by EPA's
June 12, 2015 SIP call to be substantially inadequate to meet CAA
requirements. The removal of these provisions from the New Mexico SIP
eliminates the affirmative defense provisions identified in the June
12, 2015 SIP call. In addition, NMED requested that 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC,
20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC, 20.2.7.115 NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC be removed
from the New Mexico SIP as well. EPA believes that removal of these
seven provisions from the New Mexico SIP will not affect the adequacy
of the remaining portions of the New Mexico SIP.
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\8\ Attachment A, October 13, 2016, submittal letter from NMED
Cabinet Secretary to EPA Region 6 Regional Administrator.
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Although certain provisions of Part 7 (20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112
NMAC, 20.2.7.113 NMAC, 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC, 20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC,
20.2.7.115 NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC) are being proposed for removal
from the EPA-approved New Mexico SIP, NMED intends to retain Part 7 in
its entirety as a matter of state law, outside of the SIP, as a
``state-only'' rule. It is EPA's position that the ``state-only''
measure will apply only to the state's own enforcement personnel and
not to EPA or to others.\9\ Since these provisions are only applicable
to the State air agency, EPA's view is that the provisions need not be
included within the SIP. Thus, EPA does not object to states or local
air agencies that elect to revise their SIPs ``to remove these
provisions to avoid any unnecessary confusion.'' \10\
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\9\ June 12, 2015 (80 FR 33958).
\10\ June 12, 2015 (80 FR 33958).
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The submittal also includes an analysis to demonstrate compliance
with section 110(l) of the Act.\11\ Elimination of the above-mentioned
provisions of Part 7 from the New Mexico SIP is not expected to lead to
any emissions increase. We do not believe the proposed revisions would
interfere with attainment and reasonable further progress, or any
applicable requirement of the CAA. Thus, we find that EPA's approval
would be consistent with section 110(l). Consequently, we are proposing
to approve the removal of the above-referenced provisions of Part 7
Excess Emissions from the New Mexico SIP. 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;
however, in light of Oklahoma Dept. of Environmental Quality v. EPA,
740 F.3d 185 (D.C. Cir. 2014), the SIP applies to non-reservation
Indian allotments within the State.
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\11\ Pages 11-14 of the SIP submittal, Docket ID No. EPA-R06-
OAR-2016-0676.
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III. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the New Mexico SIP
submitted on October 13, 2016, in response to EPA's national SIP call
of June 12, 2015, concerning excess emissions during periods of SSM.
More specifically, we are proposing to approve the removal of
20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC, 20.2.7.113 NMAC, 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC,
20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC, 20.2.7.115 NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC of Part 7
Excess Emissions from the New Mexico SIP. We are proposing to approve
these revisions in accordance with section 110 of the Act. EPA is
further proposing to determine that such SIP revisions correct the
deficiencies identified in the June 12, 2015 SIP call with respect to
the New Mexico SIP. EPA is not reopening the 2015 SSM SIP Action and is
only taking comment on whether the proposed SIP revisions are
consistent with CAA requirements and whether they addresses the
substantial inadequacy in the specific provisions identified in the
2015 SSM SIP Action.
IV. Environmental Justice Considerations
Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
[[Page 59375]]
Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629, Feb. 16, 1994) directs federal
agencies to identify and address ``disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects'' of their actions on minority
populations and low-income populations to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law. EPA defines environmental justice
(EJ) as ``the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people
regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to
the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies.'' EPA further defines the term fair
treatment to mean that ``no group of people should bear a
disproportionate burden of environmental harms and risks, including
those resulting from the negative environmental consequences of
industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or programs and
policies.'' \12\ EPA is providing additional analysis of environmental
justice associated with this action for the purpose of providing
information to the public.
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\12\ https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/learn-about-environmental-justice.
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EPA reviewed demographic data, which provides an assessment of
individual demographic groups of the populations living within New
Mexico.\13\ EPA then compared the data to the national average for each
of the demographic groups. The results of the demographic analysis
indicate that, for populations within New Mexico, the percent people of
color (persons who reported their race as a category other than White
alone (not Hispanic or Latino)) is significantly higher than the
national average (64.1 percent versus 31.7 percent). The percent of the
state population that is Hispanic or Latino is higher than the national
averages (50.1 percent versus 18.9 percent) and the percent of the
population that is American Indian/Alaska Native is also higher than
the national average (11.2 percent versus 1.3 percent). The percent of
people living below the poverty level in New Mexico is higher than the
national average (16.8 percent versus 11.4 percent). The percent of
people in New Mexico over age 25 with a high school diploma is lower
than the national average (86.5 percent versus 88.5 percent), and the
percent with a Bachelor's degree or higher is also slightly lower than
the national average (28.1 percent versus 32.9 percent).
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\13\ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NM?.
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Communities in close proximity to and/or downwind of industrial
sources may be subject to disproportionate environmental impacts of
excess emissions. Short- and/or long-term exposure to air pollution has
been associated with a wide range of human health effects including
increased respiratory symptoms, hospitalization for heart or lung
diseases, and even premature death. Excess emissions during periods of
SSM can be considerably higher than emissions under normal steady-state
operations.
As to all population groups within the State of New Mexico, we
believe that this proposed action will be beneficial and may reduce
impacts as explained below. As discussed earlier in this notice, this
rulemaking, if finalized as proposed, would result in the removal of
the provisions in the New Mexico SIP applicable to all counties in the
State, except Bernalillo County, that provide sources emitting
pollutants in excess of otherwise allowable amounts with the
opportunity to assert an affirmative defense to violations involving
excess emissions during SSM events. Removal of such impermissible
affirmative defense provisions from the SIP is necessary to preserve
the enforcement structure of the CAA, the jurisdiction of courts to
adjudicate questions of liability and remedies in judicial enforcement
actions, and the potential for enforcement by the EPA and other parties
under the citizen suit provision as an effective deterrent to
violations. If finalized as proposed, this action is intended to ensure
that overburdened communities and affected populations across the State
and downwind areas receive the full human health and environmental
protection provided by the CAA. We therefore propose to determine that
this rule, if finalized, will not have disproportionately high or
adverse human health or environmental effects on communities with
environmental justice concerns.
V. Incorporation by Reference
In this action, we are proposing to include in a final rule
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance
with the requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, we are proposing to remove
20.2.7.111 NMAC, 20.2.7.112 NMAC, 20.2.7.113 NMAC, 20.2.7.6(B) NMAC,
20.2.7.110(B)(15) NMAC, 20.2.7.115 NMAC, and 20.2.7.116 NMAC of Part 7
Excess Emissions from the New Mexico SIP, as described in the Proposed
Action section above. EPA has made, and will continue to make, these
documents generally available electronically through
www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at the EPA Region 6 office.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the Act, 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, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the Act. Accordingly, this
action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) 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 Act; 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
[[Page 59376]]
governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175
(65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). However, in light of Oklahoma Dept. of
Environmental Quality v. EPA, 740 F.3d 185 (D.C. Cir. 2014), this
proposed rule, if finalized as proposed, will apply to non-reservation
Indian allotments within the state and, therefore, has tribal
implications as specified in E.O. 13175. This action will neither
impose substantial direct compliance costs on federally recognized
tribal governments, nor preempt tribal law. This action will not impose
substantial direct compliance costs on federally recognized tribal
governments because no actions will be required of tribal governments.
This action will also not preempt tribal law as no tribe in New Mexico
implements a Tribal Implementation Program under the CAA. Consistent
with the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes
(May 4, 2011), EPA has offered consultation to tribal governments that
may be affected by this action.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Sulfur dioxide, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: September 26, 2022.
Earthea Nance,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2022-21246 Filed 9-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P