Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Michigan; Federal Implementation Plan for the Detroit Sulfur Dioxide Nonattainment Area, 61514-61531 [2022-21662]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 12, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
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on interest and payments on such loans
through May 1, 2022, and the Secretary
further extended the benefits until
August 31, 2022. Following these prior
announcements, on August 24, 2022,
the Secretary announced he was using
his authority under the HEROES Act to
modify the terms of the CARES Act to
extend the waiver on interest and
payments on such loans through
December 31, 2022.3
The Secretary extends those waivers
and modifications specified in the
December 11, 2020, Federal Register
document (85 FR 79856), that relate to
the payment and collection of, and
accumulation of interest on, Federal
student loans, through December 31,
2022. The Department further extends
the corresponding pause for FFEL loans
held by guaranty agencies, as discussed
in Dear Colleague Letter GEN–21–03,
through December 31, 2022.
Debt Discharge
Pursuant to the HEROES Act, 20
U.S.C. 1098bb(a)(1), the Secretary
modifies the provisions of: 20 U.S.C.
1087, which applies to the Direct Loan
Program under 20 U.S.C. 1087a and
1087e; 20 U.S.C. 1087dd(g); and 34 CFR
part 674, subpart D, and 34 CFR 682.402
and 685.212 to provide that,
notwithstanding any other statutory or
regulatory provision, the Department
will discharge the balance of a
borrower’s eligible loans up to a
maximum of: (a) $20,000 for borrowers
who received a Pell Grant and had an
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) below
$125,000 for an individual taxpayer or
below $250,000 for borrowers filing
jointly or as a Head of Household, or as
a qualifying widow(er) in either the
2020 or 2021 Federal tax year; or (b)
$10,000 for borrowers who did not
receive a Pell Grant and had an AGI on
a Federal tax return below $125,000 if
filed as an individual or below $250,000
if filed as a joint return or as a Head of
Household,4 or as a qualifying
widow(er) in either the 2020 or 2021
Federal tax year. This waiver is
applicable to borrowers with eligible
loans who apply by the deadline
established by the Secretary (to the
extent an application is required) and
who are determined to be eligible by the
Department. Borrowers who are eligible
for relief without applying will have the
option to opt out of the program.
Eligible loans include the following
categories of loans, provided they were
disbursed by June 30, 2022: Direct
3 https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-
Loans, FFEL loans held by the
Department or subject to collection by a
guaranty agency, and Perkins Loans
held by the Department.
Direct Consolidation loans disbursed
after June 30, 2022, and for which the
repaid loans were loans described in the
paragraph above, are also eligible for
relief. However, Direct Consolidation
loans disbursed after June 30, 2022, and
for which the repaid loans include a
FFEL loan not held by ED, are only
eligible for relief if the borrower
submitted an application to consolidate
such loans prior to September 29, 2022.
Accessible Format: On request to
Robin Moss, by telephone: (202) 453–
7106 or by email: robin.moss@ed.gov,
individuals with disabilities can obtain
this document in an accessible format.
The Department will provide the
requestor with an accessible format that
may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or
text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3
file, braille, large print, audiotape, or
compact disc, or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document:
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the document published in the Federal
Register. You may access the official
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(Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.032
Federal Family Education Loan
Program; 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan
Program; 84.063 and 84.268 William D.
Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.)
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1071,
1082, 1087a, 1087aa, Part F–1.
Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.
[FR Doc. 2022–22205 Filed 10–11–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
announcement.
4 Adjusted Gross Income is defined as in 26
Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) 61–62. Head of
Household is defined in 26 I.R.C. 2.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R05–OAR–2021–0536; FRL–9802–02–
R5]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans;
Michigan; Federal Implementation Plan
for the Detroit Sulfur Dioxide
Nonattainment Area
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is promulgating a Federal
Implementation Plan (FIP) for attaining
the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary
national ambient air quality standard
(NAAQS) for the Detroit SO2
nonattainment area. The FIP includes an
attainment demonstration and other
elements required under the Clean Air
Act (CAA). In addition to an attainment
demonstration, the FIP addresses the
requirement for meeting reasonable
further progress (RFP) toward
attainment of the NAAQS, reasonably
available control measures and
reasonably available control technology
(RACM/RACT), enforceable emission
limitations and control measures to
provide for NAAQS attainment, and
contingency measures. This action
supplements a prior action which found
that Michigan had satisfied emission
inventory and nonattainment new
source review (NSR) requirements for
this area but had not met requirements
for the elements addressed in the FIP.
The FIP provides for attainment of the
2010 primary SO2 NAAQS in the Detroit
SO2 nonattainment area and meets the
other applicable requirements under the
CAA.
DATES: This final rule is effective on
November 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R05–OAR–2021–0536. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov website.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
i.e., Confidential Business Information
(CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either through
www.regulations.gov or at the
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77
SUMMARY:
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West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago,
Illinois 60604. This facility 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. We
recommend that you telephone Abigail
Teener, Environmental Engineer, at
(312) 353–7314 before visiting the
Region 5 office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abigail Teener, Environmental
Engineer, Attainment Planning and
Maintenance Section, Air Programs
Branch (AR18J), Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois
60604, telephone number: (312) 353–
7314, email address: teener.abigail@
epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background Information
Following the promulgation in 2010
of a 1-hour primary SO2 NAAQS, on
August 5, 2013, EPA designated the
Detroit area within the State of
Michigan as nonattainment for this
NAAQS, in conjunction with
designating multiple areas in other
states as nonattainment (78 FR 47191).
For a number of nonattainment areas,
including the Detroit area, EPA
published an action on March 18, 2016,
effective April 18, 2016, finding that
Michigan and other pertinent states had
failed to submit the required SO2
nonattainment plan by the submittal
deadline (81 FR 14736). This finding
initiated a deadline under CAA section
179(a) for the potential imposition of 2to-1 NSR offset and Federal highway
funding sanctions. Additionally, under
CAA section 110(c), the finding
triggered a requirement that EPA
promulgate a FIP within two years of
the finding unless, by that time, (a) the
state had made the necessary complete
submittal, and (b) EPA had approved
the submittal as meeting applicable
requirements.
Michigan submitted the Detroit SO2
attainment plan on May 31, 2016, and
submitted associated final enforceable
measures on June 30, 2016. Michigan’s
submission of a complete attainment
plan terminated the deadlines for
imposing the 2-to-1 NSR offset sanctions
and Federal highway funds sanctions,
pursuant to 40 CFR 52.31(d)(5), but it
did not terminate EPA’s FIP obligation.
On March 19, 2021, EPA partially
approved and partially disapproved
Michigan’s SO2 plan as submitted in
2016 (86 FR 14827). EPA approved the
base-year emissions inventory and
affirmed that the NSR requirements for
the area had previously been met on
December 16, 2013 (78 FR 76064). EPA
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also approved the enforceable control
measures for two facilities. At that time,
EPA disapproved the attainment
demonstration, as well as the
requirements for meeting RFP toward
attainment of the NAAQS, RACM/
RACT, and contingency measures.
Additionally, EPA disapproved the
plan’s control measures for two facilities
as insufficient to demonstrate
attainment. These disapprovals
triggered new sanctions clocks under
CAA section 179(a).
As Michigan has not submitted an
approvable plan for the Detroit
nonattainment area, EPA published a
notice of proposed rulemaking on June
1, 2022, proposing a FIP for the Detroit
nonattainment area (87 FR 33095). EPA
proposed limits and associated
requirements for U.S. Steel (Ecorse and
Zug Island), EES Coke, Cleveland-Cliffs
Steel Corporation (formerly AK or
Severstal Steel), and Dearborn Industrial
Generation (DIG). EPA also proposed to
include in its analysis the Carmeuse
Lime emission limits specified in Permit
to Install 193–14A and the DTE Energy
(DTE) Trenton Channel emission limits
specified in Permit to Install 125–11C,
which had already been incorporated
into Michigan’s SIP.
EPA proposed to conclude that the
FIP meets the requirements set forth in
the CAA to provide for the Detroit area
to attain the SO2 NAAQS. Finally, EPA
proposed to conclude that the FIP
satisfies the other applicable
requirements for nonattainment areas,
including requirements for RACM/
RACT, RFP, and contingency measures.
The proposal supplemented the
previous action in which EPA
concluded that Michigan had met the
requirements for a suitable emissions
inventory and nonattainment NSR
program.
II. Public Comments
The comment period on the proposed
action described above closed on July
18, 2022. EPA held a virtual public
hearing on June 16, 2022. The transcript
of the public hearing is available in the
docket for this action. EPA received 14
written comments, seven of which were
supportive and seven of which were
adverse. EPA also received verbal
comments from four individuals at the
public hearing, all of which were
adverse or partially adverse comments.
The adverse comments are summarized
below along with EPA’s responses.
Comment: The commenters contend
that EPA’s modeling demonstration has
not correctly accounted for all the SO2
sources in the area as well as short-term
spikes in emissions. In particular, the
commenters suggest that EPA did not
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sufficiently account for the Marathon
Refinery emissions, as they were
calculated using maximum heat input
multiplied by emissions factors. The
commenters stated that emission factors,
particularly AP–42 emission factors, are
intended to calculate average emission
levels and are not appropriate for
calculating modeling inputs to address
the short-term SO2 NAAQS. The
commenters recommend EPA use
another method for calculating
Marathon Refinery emissions, such as
continuous emissions monitoring, stack
testing, vendor guarantees and stack
testing data from similar facilities,
material balance calculations, or optical
remote sensing.
Response: Section 8.2.2.b of EPA’s
Guideline on Air Quality Models
(appendix W to 40 CFR part 51)
(appendix W) requires regulatory
modeling of inert pollutants such as SO2
to use the emission input data given in
Table 8–1 of appendix W. For stationary
point sources subject to SIP emission
limit evaluation for compliance with
short-term standards such as the 1-hour
SO2 NAAQS, the modeled emission rate
is required to be based on the maximum
allowable emission limit or federally
enforceable permit limit, on actual or
design capacity of the point source
(whichever is greater) or federally
enforceable permit conditions, and on
continuous operation for all hours of
each time period under consideration.
As stated in the technical support
document (included in the docket for
this action), Marathon Refinery’s
emission units were modeled based on
maximum uncontrolled emissions—a
rate that is higher, and consequently
more conservative in avoiding
underestimation of emissions, than
would be a limited emission rate. The
maximum uncontrolled emission rates
for Marathon Refinery were determined
based on the maximum heat input of
each modeled point source and
emission factors derived from the
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and total
reduced sulfur (TRS) concentration of
the refinery fuel gas combusted in each
emission unit. The H2S/TRS
concentration of the fuel gas is a
representative source-specific
concentration that was used to
determine a source-specific emission
factor as opposed to an AP–42 emission
factor that may be determined based on
average emissions across different
facilities.
Additionally, the commenters
recommend different methods for
estimating short-term emissions instead
of using the source-specific emission
factor used in the modeling, including
continuous emissions monitoring, stack
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testing, vendor guarantees and stack
testing data from similar facilities,
material balance calculations, or optical
remote sensing. All of these methods
would be suitable for determining actual
emissions. However, EPA’s modeling
instead accounts for maximum
uncontrolled emissions, which are
higher and more conservative than
actual emissions, based on each
emission unit’s maximum capacity and
combusted fuel gas. Therefore, EPA
believes it has appropriately modeled
the emissions for Marathon Refinery.
Comment: Five commenters
commented on the background
concentration used in the model. Three
commenters believe that the background
concentration used in EPA’s modeling
analysis may be underestimated. To
avoid double-counting concentrations
associated with sources explicitly
modeled in the demonstration, EPA’s
background concentration calculation
was derived by removing wind
directions between 40 and 205 degrees,
which the commenters contend is
overly broad and eliminates the highest
concentrations that come from the
easterly winds. In particular, a
commenter states that Michigan’s
original background concentration
calculation approach excluded wind
directions between 40 and 180 degrees,
and then Michigan later changed its
approach, which EPA adopted, to
removing wind directions between 40
and 205 degrees without adequate
justification. A commenter suggests that
sources in Ohio, western Pennsylvania,
Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, eastern
Michigan, and Canada, some of which
are relatively close and emit much more
SO2 than the background sources that
EPA considers, should be included in
the background concentration. The
commenter states that although SO2
concentrations decline with distance,
they can still remain significant with
respect to the difference between the
maximum modeled concentration and
the NAAQS.
One commenter contends that the FIP
does not adequately justify the approach
for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area
given the large number of SO2 sources.
Additionally, the commenter points out
that EPA based its approach for
calculating background concentrations
on EPA guidance for calculating NOX
background concentrations, which may
not be appropriate for SO2.
The commenters also state that the
uncertainty of the background estimate
was not provided, and the fact that the
approach depends on the meteorological
and monitoring data used, the definition
of the wind sector, the wind sector
width, and year and seasons considered
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adds to this uncertainty. The
commenters also state that the error is
higher at lower concentrations, which
should be considered. The commenters
note that an accurate background
concentration calculation is critical
given that the maximum modeled
concentration is very close to the
NAAQS.
Additionally, one commenter alleges
that the meteorological data at the Allen
Park site is not representative due to
trees near the site that shelter the tower
because they exceed its height. The
commenter states that the wind
directions at Allen Park diverge from
other Michigan sites and recommend
that EPA use airport data instead.
The commenters recommend that
EPA perform trajectory analyses to
eliminate the possibility that
concentrations at the endpoints of the
exclusion are due to extreme
meteorology instead of stationary
sources, analyze different exclusion
ranges, and make conservative
assumptions to minimize modeling
uncertainties. One commenter
recommends that EPA model
background estimates using the largest
sources within 500 kilometers, use other
monitoring sites, which may include
using sites classified as ‘‘source’’ or
‘‘population’’ instead of ‘‘background’’
and/or deploying additional monitoring
sites, and use a meaningful margin of
error to account for model uncertainty
in the background concentration
analysis.
However, two commenters contend
that the background concentration that
EPA used was overly conservative and
reflects an overestimate of background
concentrations, as the maximum
background concentration used in the
model (11.9 parts per billion (ppb))
occurs around the 33-degree wind
direction, which is directly over a
source that was explicitly modeled in
the demonstration and near other
sources. One commenter points out that
the Trinity monitor, which is upstream
of these sources, recorded a
concentration of 0.7 ppb for the same
hour that was used for the maximum
background concentration.
Response: Sections 8.3.1.a and 8.3.3
of appendix W discusses that
background air quality should not
include the ambient impacts of the
project source under consideration.
Appendix W further states that nearby
sources that cause a significant
concentration gradient in the vicinity of
the source(s) under consideration for
emissions should not be included in the
background monitoring data and should
be explicitly modeled. The portion of
the background attributable to natural
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sources, other unidentified sources near
the project, and regional transport from
distant sources, both domestic and
international, can be represented by air
quality monitoring data. Per Table 8–1
of appendix W, these other sources
include both minor sources and distant
major sources. Section 8.3.2.b of
appendix W states that EPA
recommends the use of data from the
monitor closest to and upwind of the
project area. Section 8.3.2.c of appendix
W also discusses that there are cases in
which the current design value may not
be appropriate for use as a background
concentration, including situations with
a modifying source where the existing
facility is determined to impact the
ambient monitor. In these cases, the
background concentration can be
determined by excluding values when
the source in question is impacting the
monitor.
In the case of the analysis for the
Detroit SO2 nonattainment area, monitor
values from the Allen Park monitor
(AQS 26–163–0001) that occurred when
the wind directions were between 40
and 205 degrees were removed from the
calculations for the background
concentration. The Allen Park monitor
is on the western boundary of the
Detroit SO2 nonattainment area and is
upwind of the explicitly modeled
sources in the analysis due to
predominant southwesterly winds. The
directions between 40 and 205 were
chosen as concentrations from these
directions would be double counting the
impacts from the explicitly modeled
sources within the analysis. This
excludes all modeled sources to the
northeast (U.S. Steel, EES Coke,
Carmeuse Lime, Marathon Refinery,
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation, and
DIG) and modeled sources to the south
(DTE Trenton Channel and DTE
Monroe). Examining the meteorological
data collected from the Allen Park
monitor, the highest concentrations
measured at the monitor occur when the
winds are from the northeast, which
suggests that the monitor is being
impacted by SO2 emission sources from
the Detroit area that are already
included in the modeling analysis.
Section 8.3.2.c.i of appendix W
discusses that a 90-degree sector
downwind of the source(s) may be used
to determine the area of impact. In the
case of the Detroit nonattainment area,
EPA did not exclude 45 degrees to the
west of the northernmost sources. EPA
did exclude 45 degrees west of the
southern source that is farther from the
monitor and for which there would be
more plume spread by the time SO2
reaches the Allen Park monitor.
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SO2 is a localized, source-oriented
pollutant, as described in section III of
EPA’s final rule revising the SO2
NAAQS (75 FR 35520) and section
4.2.3.3 of appendix W. Section 8.3.3.d of
appendix W states that portions of the
background attributable to all other
sources (e.g., natural sources, minor and
distant major sources) should be
accounted for through use of ambient
monitoring data and determined by the
procedures found in section 8.3.2 in
keeping with eliminating or reducing
the source-oriented impacts from nearby
sources to avoid potential doublecounting of modeled and monitored
contributions. As section 8.3.3.d of
appendix W describes, background
concentrations inherently account for
the impacts of minor and distant major
sources with the use of appropriate
monitoring data. Due to the localized
nature of SO2, impacts from localized
sources are accounted for by either
explicitly modeling these as nearby
sources in the modeling analysis or
through ambient air monitoring data. As
localized sources were explicitly
modeled as nearby sources in the
analysis, and the referred guidance
above was followed, EPA disagrees with
the commenter that sources outside of
the nonattainment area should be
explicitly included in the background
concentration as these would already be
accounted for in the background
concentration.
EPA disagrees with the commenter
that the FIP does not adequately justify
the approach for the Detroit SO2
nonattainment area given the large
number of SO2 sources and that the
background calculations relied on EPA
guidance. Section 8.1 of EPA’s SO2
NAAQS Designations Modeling
Technical Assistance Document (TAD),
which was most recently updated in
August 2016, discusses how the
methodology for calculating NOX
background concentrations applies to
SO2. The TAD explains that the same
methodology for NOX is applicable to
SO2 designations modeling based on use
of the 99th percentile by hour of day
and season for background
concentration excluding periods when
the dominant source(s) are influencing
the monitored concentration.1
EPA agrees that an accurate
background concentration is critical.
EPA has accurately calculated
background concentrations from the
hourly monitoring data collected at the
Allen Park ambient air monitoring
1 See TAD, page 30. The TAD can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/technicalassistance-documents-implementing-2010-sulfurdioxide-standard.
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station based on guidance from EPA’s
TAD and appendix W. An uncertainty
analysis for background estimates is not
required for regulatory air dispersion
modeling analyses and therefore, was
not provided in the technical support
document for this action.
EPA disagrees that the meteorological
data at the Allen Park site is not
representative and that meteorological
data from the airport should be used
instead. The Allen Park monitoring site
is an NCore monitoring site for the state
of Michigan that also collects
meteorological data. When comparing
the wind roses of the Detroit
Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
(DTW) 2016–2020 wind data and the
Allen Park 2018–2020 wind data, the
wind roses are very similar in wind
direction frequency and wind speed
classes. One difference between the two
sites is the prevalence of winds from the
south/southwest (SSW), in which DTW
experiences more frequent SSW winds
than the Allen Park site. However, the
sites experience similar easterly winds.
As such, the trees near the Allen Park
monitoring site are not causing the wind
directions to diverge from the airport
site; therefore, the wind measurements
from the DTW airport should not be
used instead. EPA also verified with
Michigan that all monitors and
meteorological instruments at the Allen
Park monitoring site meet EPA’s siting
criteria. This monitoring site is subject
to EPA audits and siting criteria are
frequently checked and confirmed.
EPA disagrees that trajectory analyses
need to be performed and that different
exclusion ranges need to be examined.
Pollution roses from the Allen Park
monitor were examined by Michigan in
the development of the background
concentration. Pollution roses consider
hourly meteorological conditions and
ranges of wind directions in which SO2
concentrations impact the monitor site.
As was demonstrated by Michigan, the
range of exclusion used in the FIP
modeling analysis is acceptable as the
pollution rose demonstrates that the
Allen Park monitor was impacted by
explicitly modeled nearby sources in
this wind direction range. Therefore,
trajectory analyses are not required for
this analysis.
EPA disagrees with the commenter
that modeled background estimates
should be used to determine the
background concentrations for the
modeling analysis. Section 8.3.2.b of
appendix W states that in most cases,
EPA recommends using data from the
monitor closest to and upwind of the
project area. If several monitors are
available, preference should be given to
the monitor with characteristics that are
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most similar to the project area. The
Allen Park monitor was chosen as a
representative monitor for background
concentrations for the Detroit
nonattinment area due its location
within the SO2 nonattainment boundary
and prevailing southwest winds that
make the monitor upwind of Detroit.
EPA disagrees that the background
concentrations are overly conservative;
as explained above, EPA has followed
relevant EPA guidance in determining
background concentrations. EPA did
exclude SO2 concentrations from
northeast of the Allen Park monitor
based on data from the SO2 pollution
roses for the Allen Park monitor. These
excluded impacts from explicitly
modeled nearby sources in the modeling
analysis to prevent double-counting
impacts. EPA did not exclude 45
degrees to the west of the northernmost
sources for the background
concentration as plume spread from
these sources would not have as great of
an impact as more distant emission
sources. Therefore, the exclusion range
sufficiently excludes nearby sources in
the area.
Comment: Four commenters
commented on EPA’s usage of rural
dispersion coefficients as part of the
modeling analysis. EPA used rural
dispersion coefficients to characterize
three tall stacks in the modeling
analysis to better correlate the modeled
concentrations with modeling
concentrations at two monitors in the
Detroit nonattainment area. The
commenters state that the heat island
effect can cause higher concentrations
during the night, which is shown with
the urban coefficient option. The
commenters recommend additional
analysis to determine whether the SO2
temporal distribution at the monitors
can be extrapolated to the area of
maximum SO2 concentration near DTE
Trenton Channel.
The commenters raise concern that
the use of a rural dispersion coefficient
for stacks at EES Coke, DTE Monroe,
DTE River Rouge, and DTE Trenton
Channel leads to significantly lowered
predicted concentrations. The
commenters claim that EPA did not
properly document its model
performance evaluation to support the
claim that applying a rural dispersion
coefficient to the listed sources was the
most appropriate way to run the model.
The commenters state that if EPA had
properly applied an urban dispersion
coefficient to the sources, the area could
not model attainment.
Response: EPA agrees that the urban
heat island effect can in some cases
cause higher concentrations during the
night. However, as was demonstrated in
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the document entitled ‘‘Analysis of
Michigan Dispersion Coefficient Use’’
and the technical support document,
both included in the docket for this
action, this was not the case when
examining monitoring data in the
Detroit nonattainment area for the
Southwest High School and West
Windsor monitors. Monitoring data
from these monitors demonstrated that
peak monitored impacts occurred
during the daytime (between 12:00
p.m.–3:00 p.m.) instead of at night. As
described in the AERMOD
Implementation Guide,2 plumes from
tall buoyant stacks, transported over the
urban boundary layer at night, may be
unaffected by the urban enhanced
dispersion and may require special
consideration on a case-by-case basis.
The urban dispersion option in
AERMOD only applies to nighttime and
morning transition hours. Nighttime
hours would normally be stable if not
for the urban heat island effect, and the
morning transition hours right after
sunrise, when the atmosphere would
transition from stable to convective
conditions in a rural setting, might be
more convective in urban conditions.
Both monitored data at the Southwest
High School and West Windsor sites, as
well as modeled concentrations using
the rural option for these stacks, showed
peak concentrations outside of the
nighttime and morning transition hours,
which indicate the rural dispersion
option is more appropriate for this set
of stacks in this analysis.
EPA disagrees with the commenters
that EPA did not properly document the
model performance evaluation. Section
7.2.1.1.e of appendix W states that
model users should consult with the
appropriate reviewing authority and the
latest version of the AERMOD
Implementation Guide when evaluating
this situation. Further, Section 5.1 of the
AERMOD Implementation Guide states
that a more thorough case-specific
justification will be needed to support
excluding elevated sources from
application of the urban option.3 As
these guidance documents state, a casespecific justification needs to be
provided to support the exclusion of
these stacks from the urban option, and
the case-specific justification was
provided within the technical support
document as well as the document
‘‘Analysis of Michigan Dispersion
2 See AERMOD Implementation Guide, pages 19–
20, which can be found at https://gaftp.epa.gov/Air/
aqmg/SCRAM/models/preferred/aermod/aermod_
implementation_guide.pdf.
3 See the AERMOD Implementation Guide, page
20, which can be found at https://gaftp.epa.gov/Air/
aqmg/SCRAM/models/preferred/aermod/aermod_
implementation_guide.pdf.
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Coefficient Use,’’ which are both in the
docket for this action. These documents
demonstrated that the application of the
urban option to the tall stacks at EES
Coke, DTE Monroe, DTE River Rouge,
and DTE Trenton Channel resulted in
anomalously high concentrations due to
plume height limitations in the model.
As such, additional analysis is also not
warranted to determine if the temporal
distribution can be extrapolated to the
DTE Trenton facility.
Comment: The commenter raises
concern that the 50 kilometer distance
from the nonattainment area is an
inadequate cutoff for including major
point sources. The commenter states
that there are a number of large sources
just beyond this distance that are not
included in the background
concentration.
Response: EPA disagrees that the 50
kilometer distance from the
nonattainment area is an inadequate
cutoff for including major point sources.
EPA used the maximum distance (50
kilometers) from the nonattainment area
in its modeling analysis. Section 4.1.c of
appendix W explains that due to the
steady-state assumption, Gaussian
plume models are generally considered
applicable to distances less than 50
kilometers, beyond which, modeled
predictions of plume impact are likely
conservative. As such, AERMOD is not
recommended for use in far-field
(greater than 50 kilometers) dispersion
applications. Since SO2 is a sourceoriented pollutant and not considered a
regional pollutant for regulatory
purposes, it is not appropriate to model
beyond 50 kilometers. In this case, EPA
explicitly modeled DTE Monroe, a
source outside of the nonattainment
area, in addition to the sources within
the nonattainment area as a conservative
measure. Please also refer to the
responses above regarding background
concentrations, specifically the response
to comments about sources beyond 50
kilometers being included in the
modeling analysis and background
concentration.
Comment: The commenter states that
EPA’s modeling lacks transparency and
detail, as EPA did not provide sufficient
maps and tabular data, SO2 levels
throughout the nonattainment area, and
information pertaining to understanding
spatial and temporal exposure variation,
locations of impacts, critical
meteorological factors, culpable sources,
background levels, etc.
Response: EPA’s modeling analysis is
available in the technical support
document, which is included in the
docket for this action. In the technical
support document, EPA provided maps
of the areas of maximum concentration,
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as well as the modeling parameters used
in the area of analysis, including
background concentrations. As the focus
of this action is to demonstrate
attainment of the NAAQS, and the
technical support document
demonstrates that the areas of maximum
concentration are below the NAAQS,
EPA did not provide maps of SO2
concentrations throughout the
nonattainment area. However, EPA’s
modeling files are available to the
public upon request. The maximum
modeled concentration, including
background concentrations, was 73.6
ppb and occurred approximately 4
kilometers to the northwest of DTE
Trenton Channel’s facility. Other
modeled concentrations that were less
than the maximum modeled design
value at receptors in the nonattainment
area were 71.5 ppb to the northeast of
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation and
DIG, 73.2 ppb on the northern fenceline
of Zug Island (when U.S. Steel’s Zug
Island sources are in operation), and
68.7 ppb to the northeast of Carmeuse
Lime.
Comment: EPA received three
comments regarding the FIP’s margin of
safety and the health effects of SO2,
particularly for children in Detroit. The
commenters state that the FIP does not
provide an uncertainty analysis. The
commenters contend that as the
maximum modeled concentration is so
close to the NAAQS (73.4 ppb compared
to 75 ppb), the FIP does not provide any
margin of safety. The commenters state
that the model cannot be considered
conservative due to likely background
concentration underprediction, the use
of rural dispersion coefficients, and
longer-term average emission rates. The
commenters recommend that EPA either
validate the model using the monitoring
data from the SO2 monitoring sites in
the Detroit nonattainment area or set
limits that produce modeled SO2
concentrations well below the NAAQS.
The commenters argue that the
NAAQS itself is not protective, as a
health study of children in Detroit
shows that 1-hour maximum SO2
exposures were associated with
increased odds of respiratory symptoms,
even though the levels of SO2 that the
children were exposed to were generally
below the NAAQS. One commenter
states that children in Detroit have
breathing issues due to pollution that
cause them to miss school and cited a
study that shows Southwest Detroit has
some of the worst air pollution in the
country. The commenters note that
Detroit communities experience asthma
rates that are 1.5–3 times the national
average along with low rates of asthma
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controller utilization due to health care
access, poverty, and caregiver issues.
Response: As described further in
comment responses below, under
section 109 of the CAA, EPA sets
primary, or health-based, NAAQS for all
criteria pollutants to provide requisite
protection of public health, including
the health of at-risk populations, with
an adequate margin of safety. The health
effects information provided by the
commenters, which was addressed in
EPA’s promulgation of the 2010 SO2
NAAQS, is not in dispute in this
rulemaking, and EPA in this action is
not reopening the NAAQS itself which
was established to protect public health
with an adequate margin of safety. This
rulemaking instead addresses the
requirements needed for the Detroit area
to meet the NAAQS. However, EPA is
aware of the demographic data for the
Detroit nonattainment area, and that the
Detroit nonattainment area includes
communities that are pollutionburdened and underserved, and
environmental justice concerns are
addressed in comment responses below.
EPA disagrees that the model cannot
be considered conservative. In its
modeling analysis, EPA used the
maximum uncontrolled or maximum
allowable emission rates for all sources
in the Detroit nonattainment area. In
reality, it is extremely unlikely that all
sources would be operating at maximum
emission rates simultaneously.
Additionally, EPA’s method of
background concentration calculation,
use of rural dispersion coefficients, and
reliance on longer-term average
emission rates follow EPA guidance and
are appropriate for demonstrating
attainment of the NAAQS, as explained
in comment responses above and below.
Comment: Three commenters state
that a taller combined stack at U.S. Steel
will not significantly decrease SO2
concentrations that affect public health
in residential areas downwind of the
facility.
Response: While EPA acknowledges
that combining and raising the U.S.
Steel Boilerhouse 2 stack will only
decrease near-field SO2 concentrations
where current ambient concentrations
threaten the NAAQS, EPA is requiring
this stack construction in combination
with new limits at U.S. Steel, a facility
that has not previously had hourly SO2
limits. Both of these control
mechanisms are needed to ensure that
the SO2 concentrations in the Detroit
area, including those in residential areas
downwind of the facility, stay
permanently below the NAAQS and
result in protection of public health
with an adequate margin of safety.
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Comment: The commenters contend
that long-term average limits alone do
not provide for attainment of the onehour SO2 NAAQS, as 30-day average
limits allow sources to operate at higher
levels before and after shutdowns and
remove incentives for sources to avoid
malfunctions. The commenters believe
that a long-term average limit should
have supplemental limits governing the
magnitude and frequency of short-term
periods of emissions above the emission
rate at which the longer-term average
limit is set. Additionally, the
commenters contend that EPA’s use of
national average adjustment factors for
the DIG and Cleveland-Cliffs Steel
Corporation 24-hour average limits is
not justified.
Response: EPA disagrees with the
commenter’s statement that longer-term
average limits alone do not provide for
attainment of the 1-hour SO2 NAAQS.
EPA believes as a general matter that
properly set, longer-term average limits
are comparably effective in providing
for attainment of the 1-hour SO2
standard as are 1-hour limits. On April
23, 2014, EPA issued recommended
guidance for meeting the statutory
requirements in SO2 nonattainment
plans, in a document entitled,
‘‘Guidance for 1-Hour SO2
Nonattainment Area SIP Submissions’’
(2014 SO2 Guidance).4 EPA’s 2014 SO2
Guidance sets forth in detail the
reasoning supporting its conclusion that
the distribution of emissions that can be
expected in compliance with a properly
set longer-term average limit is likely to
yield overall air quality protection that
is as good as a corresponding hourly
emissions limit set at a level that
provides for attainment. EPA’s 2014 SO2
Guidance specifically addressed this
issue as it pertains to requirements for
attainment demonstrations for SO2
nonattainment areas under the 2010
NAAQS, especially with regard to the
use of appropriately set comparably
stringent limitations based on averaging
times as long as 30 days. EPA found that
a longer-term average limit which is
comparably stringent to a short-term
average limit is likely to yield
comparable air quality; and that the net
effect of allowing emissions variability
over time but requiring a lower average
emission level is that the resulting
worst-case air quality is likely to be
comparable to the worst-case air quality
resulting from the corresponding higher
short-term emission limit without
variability. See 2014 SO2 Guidance.
4 See https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/
2016-06/documents/20140423guidance_
nonattainment_sip.pdf.
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Any accounting of whether a 30-day
average limit provides for attainment
must consider factors reducing the
likelihood of hourly exceedances as
well as factors creating a risk of
additional exceedances. To facilitate
this analysis, EPA used the concept of
a critical emission value (CEV) for the
SO2-emitting facilities which are being
addressed in a nonattainment plan. The
CEV is the continuous 1-hour emission
rate which is expected to provide for the
average annual 99th percentile
maximum daily 1-hour concentration to
be at or below 75 ppb, which in a
typical year means that fewer than four
days have maximum hourly ambient
SO2 concentrations exceeding 75 ppb.
See 2014 SO2 Guidance. EPA recognizes
that a 30-day limit can allow occasions
in which emissions exceed the CEV, and
such occasions yield the possibility of
hourly exceedances occurring that
would not be expected if emissions
were always at the CEV. At the same
time, the establishment of the 30-day
average limit at a level below the CEV
means that emissions must routinely be
lower than they would be required to be
with a 1-hour emission limit at the CEV.
The proposed FIP provides an
illustrative example of the effect that
application of a limit with an averaging
time longer than one hour can have on
air quality.5 This example illustrates
both (1) the possibility of elevated
emissions (emissions above the CEV)
causing exceedances not expected with
emissions at or below the CEV and (2)
the possibility that the requirement for
routinely lower emissions would result
in avoiding exceedances that would be
expected with emissions at the CEV. In
this example, moving from a 1-hour
limit to a 30-day average limit results in
one day that exceeds 75 ppb that would
otherwise be below 75 ppb, one day that
is below 75 ppb that would otherwise be
above 75 ppb, and one day that is below
75 ppb that would otherwise be at 75
ppb. In net, the 99th percentile of the
30-day average limit scenario is lower
than that of the 1-hour limit scenario,
with a design value of 67.5 ppb rather
than 75 ppb. Stated more generally, this
example illustrates several points: (1)
The variations in emissions that are
accounted for with a longer-term
average limit can yield higher
concentrations on some days and lower
concentrations on other days, as
determined by the factors influencing
dispersion on each day, (2) one must
5 For the full discussion of the hypothetical
example, see the proposed FIP, June 1, 2022 (87 FR
33095) at page 33100 at https://
www.regulations.gov, Docket ID Number EPA–R05–
OAR–2021–0536.
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account for both possibilities, and (3)
accounting for both effects can yield the
conclusion that a properly set longerterm average limit can provide as good
or better air quality than allowing
constant emissions at a higher level. As
noted in the proposed FIP, and as
described in appendix B of the 2014 SO2
guidance, EPA expects that an emission
profile with a comparably stringent 30day average limit is likely to have a net
effect of having a lower number of
exceedances and better air quality than
an emissions profile with maximum
allowable emissions under a 1-hour
emission limit at the critical emission
value. Thus, EPA continues to assert
that appropriately set 30-day emission
limits can be protective of the 1-hour
SO2 standard.
The long-term average limits included
in the FIP are for a period of 30 days for
DTE Trenton Channel and 24 hours for
DIG and Cleveland-Cliffs Steel
Corporation. As stated above, EPA
posits that limits based on periods of as
long as 30 days (720 hours), determined
in accordance with EPA’s April 2014
guidance, can, in many cases, be
reasonably considered to provide for
attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
Since 30 days for DTE Trenton Channel
and 24 hours for DIG and ClevelandCliffs Steel Corporation are equal to or
well within, respectively, the period of
30 days, EPA has concluded that a limit
based on a period of 30 days for DTE
Trenton Channel and limits based on a
period of 24 hours for DIG and
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation
determined in accordance with EPA’s
April 2014 guidance can be reasonably
considered to provide for attainment.
While the longer-term averaging limits
allow occasions in which emissions
may be higher than the level that would
be allowed with the 1-hour limit, the
limits compensate by requiring average
emissions to be adequately lower than
the level that would otherwise have
been required by a 1-hour average limit.
As noted by the commenters, EPA’s
April 2014 guidance addresses the use
of supplemental short-term limits.
While supplemental limits can further
strengthen the justification for the use of
longer-term limits, they are not
necessary to provide for attainment of
the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. In this case, as
discussed further below, DTE Trenton
Channel has been permanently shut
down during the comment period for
this action, and DIG and ClevelandCliffs Steel Corporation are not the
primary contributors to the areas of
maximum modeled concentrations.
Therefore, EPA is not considering
supplemental limits for DTE Trenton
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Channel, DIG, or Cleveland-Cliffs at this
time.
Regarding the adjustment factors used
for the daily DIG and Cleveland-Cliffs
limits, EPA believes that the appendix
D ratios are acceptable adjustment
factors in this specific situation for use
in calculating a long-term average
emission limit when hourly SO2
emissions data are not available for use
in calculating source-specific emission
ratios. Although these daily limits are
included in the FIP, EPA is not relying
on emission reductions from either DIG
or Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation to
demonstrate attainment of the 2010 SO2
NAAQS. Rather, EPA has included
these limits in the FIP to ensure that
SO2 concentrations in the Detroit area
stay permanently below the NAAQS.
Since these sources are not the
controlling sources with respect to the
attainment demonstration, reliance on
the default adjustment factors to
account for the emissions variability
provides a suitable estimate in this
instance where no other data is
available.
For the reasons stated above and in
the proposed rule, EPA concludes that
the use of long-term average emission
limits for DTE Trenton Channel, DIG,
and Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation
is consistent with recommendations
discussed in EPA’s April 2014 guidance
and adequately protects against
violations of the 1-hour SO2 NAAQS.
Comment: The commenters disagree
with EPA’s interpretation of RACT for
SO2 as the control technology necessary
to achieve the NAAQS and point out
that RACT has been defined for other
pollutants as the lowest emission limit
that is reasonably available considering
technological and economic feasibility.
The commenters contend that the U.S.
Steel emission limits do not achieve a
reduction in SO2, as the maximum
allowable annual emissions, assuming
maximum operation for every hour in a
year, are higher than U.S. Steel’s past
annual emissions. The commenters
believe that EPA should consider
alternatives to the requirement for
combining and raising the U.S. Steel
Boilerhouse 2 stacks as well as complete
a RACT analysis considering
technological and economic feasibility
for U.S. Steel, DIG, Cleveland-Cliffs, and
EES Coke.
Response: Section 172 (c)(1) of the
CAA provides that ‘‘such plan shall
provide for the implementation of all
reasonably available control measures as
expeditiously as practicable (including
such reductions in emissions from
existing sources in the area as may be
obtained through the adoption, at a
minimum, of reasonably available
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control technology) and shall provide
for attainment of the national primary
ambient air quality standards.’’ EPA has
long defined RACT for SO2 as that
control technology which will achieve
the NAAQS within statutory
timeframes. See State Implementation
Plans; General Preamble for the
Implementation of Title I of the Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1990; Proposed
Rule, 57 FR 13498, 13547 (April 16,
1992) (General Preamble); see also, SO2
Guideline Document, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC
27711, EPA–452/R–94–008, February
1994 (SO2 Guideline), at 6–39. For most
criteria pollutants, RACT is control
technology that is reasonably available
considering technological and economic
feasibility. The definition of RACT for
SO2 is that control technology which is
necessary to achieve the NAAQS (40
CFR 51.100(o)). Since SO2 RACT is
already defined as the technology
necessary to achieve the SO2 NAAQS,
control technology which failed to
achieve the NAAQS would fail to be
SO2 RACT. EPA intends to continue
defining RACT for SO2 as that control
technology which will achieve the
NAAQS, as it has in numerous SIP
actions since promulgating the 2010
NAAQS. Here, the emission limits in
the FIP and previously approved into
the SIP provide for such NAAQS
attainment, as demonstrated by the
modeling. Consequently, under EPA’s
longstanding approach to SO2 RACT,
the CAA section 172(c)(1) RACM/RACT
requirement is met. CAA section
172(c)(6) also requires plans to include
enforceable emission limits and control
measures as may be necessary or
appropriate to provide for attainment.
The emission limits and associated
requirements included as part of the FIP
analysis show attainment of the 2010
SO2 NAAQS of 75 ppb, as the modeling
analysis, which is detailed in the
technical support document for this
action, shows a maximum concentration
of 73.6 ppb. Thus, further controls are
not necessary to satisfy the requirement
for RACT.6
As determined through air dispersion
modeling, emission limits and
associated requirements at the U.S.
Steel, EES Coke, DIG, Cleveland-Cliffs
Steel Corporation, DTE Trenton
6 See SO Guideline Document, U.S.
2
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle
Park, N.C. 27711, EPA–452/R–94–008, February
1994. See also EPA’s 2014 SO2 Nonattainment
Guidance; General Preamble for the Implementation
of Title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
at 57 FR 13498 (April 16, 1992).
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Channel, and Carmeuse Lime facilities
are needed to reach attainment in the
Detroit area. While EPA recognizes the
commenters’ concern that the annual
maximum emissions allowed under the
U.S. Steel limits set forth in the FIP are
larger than actual emissions in previous
years, EPA believes that setting limits at
U.S. Steel, a facility that has not
previously had hourly SO2 emission
limits, is critically important to ensuring
that SO2 concentrations in the Detroit
area stay permanently below the
NAAQS.
Comment: The commenters point out
that the FIP does not require
monitoring, recordkeeping, or reporting
from U.S. Steel No. 2 Baghouse or DIG
Flares 1 and 2.
Response: EPA notes that U.S. Steel
No. 2 Baghouse was mistakenly omitted
from 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(3)(ii) in the
proposed regulatory text and EPA has
updated 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(3)(ii) to
include U.S. Steel No. 2 Baghouse.
Recordkeeping and reporting for U.S.
Steel No. 2 Baghouse are required under
40 CFR 52.1189(b)(5)(ii) and 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(6)(ii), respectively. Regarding
compliance for DIG Flares 1 and 2, EPA
has added the requirement to 40 CFR
52.1189(e)(2) that the owner or operator
verify compliance with the limit for
Boilers 1, 2, 3 and Flares 1 and 2
(combined) by following the procedures
and methodologies contained in the
document entitled ‘‘Protocol for
Demonstrating Continuous Compliance
with the Emission Limitations of ROP
MI–ROP–N6631–2004’’ as set forth in its
operating permit (Permit MI–ROP–
N6631–2012a, modified June 28, 2016).
Comment: EPA received seven
comments regarding emissions
monitoring requirements. The
commenters believe that the FIP should
require all units, particularly at U.S.
Steel and DIG, to install a Continuous
Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) on
all units to monitor SO2 emissions
directly, which the commenters state
would be a much more accurate and
transparent way to monitor emissions
than what the proposed FIP requires.
The commenters state that it is unclear
as to why the FIP would require CEMS
to be installed at U.S. Steel Boilerhouse
2 but not at U.S. Steel Boilerhouse 1 and
why the FIP would require CEMS for
the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation
blast furnaces but not the U.S. Steel
blast furnaces. The commenters also
state that it is unclear as to why a
Predictive Emissions Monitoring System
(PEMS) is allowed in lieu of CEMS to
monitor DIG emissions. A commenter
states that CEMS are available and
commonly used and that it is
particularly important that SO2
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emissions are monitored closely as the
maximum modeled SO2 concentration is
very close to the NAAQS. The
commenters recommend that EPA
require CEMS to be installed at each
U.S. Steel and DIG unit, and that EPA
explain the choice of monitoring
technique if CEMS is not deemed
appropriate, considering regulatory
needs, monitoring technology costs, and
relative benefits of the monitoring
technique.
Response: With regard to DIG units,
the FIP requires compliance as set forth
in its operating permit (Permit MI–ROP–
N6631–2012a, modified June 28, 2016).
As described in the response above
regarding DIG Flares 1 and 2
compliance, EPA added additional
compliance language to 40 CFR
52.1189(e)(2). These compliance
mechanisms are currently in place and
work to sufficiently monitor hourly SO2
emissions at the DIG facility; therefore,
EPA is not requiring CEMS on the DIG
units at this time.
With regard to U.S. Steel units, the
FIP requires CEMS on Boilerhouse 2,
the highest-emitting unit at the facility,
as part of the new stack construction.
For the remaining U.S. Steel units, the
FIP requires the owner or operator to
calculate hourly SO2 emissions using all
raw material sulfur charged into each
affected emission unit and assumes 100
percent conversion of total sulfur to SO2
to be conservative. Aside from the U.S.
Steel boilerhouses, blast furnaces, and
the associated furnace flares, the other
emission limits for other U.S. Steel units
are very small (all less than 5 pounds
per hour (lbs/hr) and only one over 1
lbs/hr). Many large SO2 sources, such as
blast furnace stoves, blast furnace flares,
and (reheat) furnaces, combust blast
furnace gas and/or coke oven gas. These
gases are considered fuel for those units.
EPA believes that frequent fuel
sampling will provide sufficiently
accurate measurement of SO2 emissions.
Fuel sampling has historically been
used to determine emissions, and EPA
believes this method is acceptable here.
The FIP requires the owner or operator
of each applicable U.S. Steel unit to
submit a Compliance Assurance Plan
(CAP) for the unit that specifies
calculation methodology, procedures,
and inputs used in these calculations.
EPA expects that the procedures shall
include a fuel sampling schedule at a
frequency that captures any variation in
fuel sulfur content. Additionally, while
Boilerhouse 1 is not currently operating,
U.S. Steel has committed not to combust
coke oven gas at Boilerhouse 1 upon
restart, which is reflected in the
Boilerhouse 1 limit set forth in the FIP.
EPA concludes that the required CAPs,
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as well as the quarterly requirement to
submit calculated hourly SO2 emissions
to EPA, are sufficient for determining
compliance with the emission limits set
forth in the FIP. However, the
requirement of CAPs does not preclude
future requirements or installation of
CEMS on these units.
Comment: The commenters believe
that the requirement that U.S. Steel
submit a CAP for units that do not
require CEMS detailing the calculation
methodology, procedures, and inputs
that will be used for monitoring SO2
emissions is insufficient. The
commenters believe that U.S. Steel’s
CAPs should undergo public notice and
comment, but point out that this is not
possible as the plans are required to be
submitted after the effective date of the
FIP. Additionally, the commenters
pointed out that the FIP does not allow
EPA the authority to review, modify, or
reject a CAP, and that the CAP does not
require continuous monitoring.
Response: EPA disagrees with the
commenters’ position that the
requirement for U.S. Steel to submit
CAPs is insufficient. The public is not
an approving authority for CAPs, and
therefore, there is no requirement that
the owner or operator submit the CAPs
for public review and approval.
However, for transparency and ease in
accessibility, EPA will post the CAPs to
the Detroit SO2 FIP website at https://
www.epa.gov/mi/detroit-so2-federalimplementation-plan. Although the FIP
does not require EPA’s explicit approval
of CAPs, EPA has authority to enforce
the requirement to submit CAPs that
meet the requirements set forth in the
FIP. Failure to submit a CAP or
submission of a CAP that does not meet
the requirements set forth in the FIP
would be a violation of the FIP. The
owner or operator of the U.S. Steel
facility is required to maintain records
of hourly emissions calculated in
accordance with the CAP under 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(5)(ii) and to report these
hourly mass balance calculations, as
well as excess emissions, quarterly, and
no later than the 30th day following
each quarter under 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(6)(ii) and 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(6)(iv), respectively.
Comment: EPA received three
comments about idled units at U.S.
Steel. The commenters contend that
although the FIP requires that a CAP be
submitted for each idled U.S. Steel unit
under 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(4), the FIP
does not require U.S. Steel to comply
with emission limits or monitoring
requirements for idled units. One
commenter states that the community is
very concerned with the reopening of
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U.S. Steel and believes the FIP should
include limits for idled units.
Response: The FIP includes limits for
all units, regardless of operating status.
The idled units referenced in 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(4) each have limits under 40
CFR 52.1189(b)(1)(i). Additionally,
emissions from these units are required
to be monitored and reported under 40
CFR 52.1189(b)(3)(ii) and 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(6)(ii), respectively.
Comment: EPA received three
comments about contingency measures
in the FIP. The commenters disagree
with EPA’s interpretation of
contingency measures for SO2 to mean
that the State, or EPA in the case of a
FIP, has a comprehensive enforcement
program. The commenters suggest that
under CAA section 172(c)(9),
contingency measures must take effect
without further action by the State or
EPA, which would exclude enforcement
actions because an enforcement action
is further action. Additionally, the
commenters state that enforcement
actions are not ‘‘measures’’ as defined in
CAA section 110(a)(2), and that a
comprehensive enforcement program is
already required separately under CAA
section 110(a)(2). The commenters also
note that enforcement actions are not
reviewable under the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA), so citizens are not
able to enforce EPA’s proposed
contingency measures, and that EPA’s
reliance on enforcement actions is
contrary to the history of the CAA due
to their discretionary nature.
Additionally, the commenters allege
that authority to enforce the FIP does
not equate to a comprehensive
enforcement program, which the
commenters suggest would mean having
a schedule for determining whether
violations occurred and a binding
mechanism requiring EPA to take action
if they did occur. The commenters
suggest that a comprehensive
enforcement program could not be
called aggressive unless it went beyond
the basic enforcement requirements, for
example, increasing the basic
mandatory penalty scheme.
The commenters also point out that
contingency measures are intended to
address situations that cause an area to
fail to attain despite a valid attainment
demonstration and that there is no
specific measure in the proposed FIP
that would be activated in the case that
EPA’s analysis that the FIP will bring
the Detroit area into attainment is
incorrect. The commenters contend that
it is more likely that violations of the 1hour standard will occur with longerterm average limits in the FIP due to
short-term spikes in emissions at
sources that are still complying with
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their long-term average limits. The
commenters state that the fact that EPA
does not require a new SIP submittal for
determining whether an area has
attained the standard, even though
modeling parameters such as source
characteristics and background
concentrations could have changed, is
an additional issue if contingency
measures do not address failures to
attain despite valid attainment
demonstrations.
The commenters state that EPA failed
to include contingency measures in the
FIP regulatory text and recommend that
EPA incorporate alternative contingency
measures into the FIP, such as switching
to low-sulfur fuel, limiting operation
until the SIP is revised, limits that
automatically scale to adjust for
background concentrations, and
supplementary short-term limits for
longer-term average limits. The
commenters state that these suggested
contingency measures could be
promulgated as rules to take effect
without further action from EPA. The
commenters disagree that the
contingency measures language as
written in CAA section 172(c)(9) does
not apply to SO2 plans and was directed
at other pollutants such as ozone, as
Congress added specific contingency
measures language in the ozone
provisions but did not change the
general contingency measures
provisions in CAA section 172(c)(9).
The commenters argue that without
implementing alternative contingency
measures, EPA fails to make a good-faith
effort to comply with the terms of the
September 30, 2020, consent decree to
promulgate a FIP that complies with the
CAA.
Response: EPA disagrees with the
commenter that the contingency
measures are inadequate. Section
172(c)(9) of the CAA defines
contingency measures as such measures
in a nonattainment plan that are to be
implemented in the event that an area
fails to make RFP, or fails to attain the
NAAQS, by the applicable attainment
date. Contingency measures are to
become effective without further action
by the State or EPA, where the area has
failed to (1) achieve RFP or, (2) attain
the NAAQS by the statutory attainment
date for the affected area. These control
measures are to consist of other
available control measures that are not
included in the control strategy for the
attainment plan SIP for the affected
area.
However, EPA has long interpreted
the contingency measures requirement
for SO2 in light of the fact that SO2
presents special considerations. See,
General Preamble at 13547; see also,
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SO2 Guideline at 6–40—6–41, 2014
Guidance at 41–42. EPA interprets the
contingency measure provisions as
primarily directed at NAAQS
implementation which can be
undertaken on an areawide basis, such
as for ozone or particulate matter. EPA’s
policy for SO2 is different because, first,
for some of the other criteria pollutants,
the analytical tools for quantifying the
relationship between reductions in
precursor emissions and resulting air
quality improvements remain subject to
significant uncertainties, in contrast
with procedures for directly-emitted
pollutants such as SO2. Second,
emissions estimates and attainment
analyses for other criteria pollutants can
be strongly influenced by overly
optimistic assumptions about control
efficiency and rates of compliance for
many small sources. This is not the case
for SO2.
In contrast, the control efficiencies for
SO2 control measures are well
understood and are far less prone to
uncertainty. Since SO2 control measures
are by definition based on what is
directly and quantifiably necessary to
attain the SO2 NAAQS, it would be
unlikely for an area to implement the
necessary emission controls yet fail to
attain the NAAQS. Therefore, for SO2
programs, EPA has long explained that
‘‘contingency measures’’ can mean that
the air agency has a comprehensive
program to identify sources of violations
of the SO2 NAAQS and to undertake an
aggressive follow-up for compliance and
enforcement, including expedited
procedures for establishing enforceable
consent agreements pending the
adoption of a revised SIP. EPA believes
that this approach continues to be valid
for the implementation of contingency
measures to address the 2010 SO2
NAAQS, and consequently reiterated its
view in the preamble to the final 2010
NAAQS and has followed it in several
actions on SIPs implementing the 2010
NAAQS. See, e.g., Primary National
Ambient Air Quality Standard for Sulfur
Dioxide; Final Rule, 75 FR 35520, 35576
(June 22, 2010); Approval and
Promulgation of Air Quality
Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania;
Attainment Plan for the Warren County,
Pennsylvania Nonattainment Area for
the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide Primary
National Ambient Air Quality Standard;
Final Rule, 83 FR 51629, 51632–33;
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans;
Pennsylvania; Attainment Plan for the
Beaver, Pennsylvania Nonattainment
Area for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide
Primary National Ambient Air Quality
Standard; Final Rule, 84 FR 51988,
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51994–95. EPA therefore concludes that
EPA’s comprehensive enforcement
program, as discussed below, satisfies
the SO2 contingency measure
requirement.
The commenters listed several
options for specific contingency
measures. EPA acknowledges that one
or more of these options may be
appropriate in a specific situation, and
for a specific source, if the area fails to
achieve RFP or fails to attain the
NAAQS by the statutory attainment
date. However, in this situation, as
Detroit is a multisource area with
several emission units per facility,
requiring one or more of these measures
also may not be appropriate depending
on the cause of the potential violation,
which would need to be evaluated at the
time of occurrence. For example,
triggering a fuel-switch at one facility
may not bring the area into attainment
if the issue is caused by another facility
violating its limit. Similarly, limiting
operation of one facility may be
appropriate if EPA determines that the
subject facility is the cause of the
problem, but requiring additional
measures at other facilities may not be
warranted where the cause of the
NAAQS violation was non-compliance
by a different facility and where the
NAAQS violation can be most
efficiently remedied by bringing that
source into compliance with its
established emission limits. Likewise,
limiting operations at all SO2 facilities
in the area may not appropriately
address the issue due to the localized
nature of SO2 emissions and direct link
to a specific facility. Changing the limits
at all facilities from a longer-term limit
to a shorter-term limit similarly may
appropriately address the problem, but
this action also may not, and EPA
would evaluate appropriate measures if
and when an issue arises. These are
illustrative examples, and while not
exhaustive, highlight the need for EPA
to be able to respond appropriately in a
particular scenario due to the localized
nature of SO2 impacts. In any case
where the Detroit area fails to achieve
RFP or attain the NAAQS, EPA would
consider all viable solutions to address
the actual issue at a specific facility or
facilities and take appropriate
responsive action.
In accordance with longstanding
policy, EPA deems investigation and
enforcement authority for aggressive
follow-up for ensuring source
compliance an appropriate and
expeditious solution to any potential
violations.
As noted in the proposed rule, EPA’s
2014 SO2 guidance describes special
features of SO2 planning that influence
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the suitability of alternative means of
addressing the requirement in CAA
section 172(c)(9) for contingency
measures including a comprehensive
enforcement program. EPA has a
comprehensive enforcement program as
specified in section 113(a) of the CAA.
Under this program, EPA is authorized
to take enforcement actions to ensure
compliance with the CAA and the rules
and regulations promulgated under the
CAA. Such actions include the issuance
of an administrative order requiring
compliance with the applicable
implementation plan; the issuance of an
administrative order requiring the
payment of a civil penalty for past
violations; and the commencement of a
civil judicial action. Orders issued
under CAA section 113(a) require
subject entities to comply with the
requirements set forth in the order as
expeditiously as practicable, but in no
event longer than one year after the date
the order was issued. Issuance of any
such order does not prohibit EPA from
assessing any penalties. Under CAA
section 113(b), civil judicial
enforcement may require assessment of
penalties of up to $109,024 per day for
each violation.7 Additionally, under
CAA section 113(c), any person who
knowingly violates any requirement or
prohibition of an implementation plan
may be subject to criminal enforcement,
with penalties including fines and
imprisonment.
EPA’s enforcement program is capable
of prompt action to remedy compliance
issues. Additionally, enforcement in
communities with environmental justice
concerns is a priority for EPA. EPA’s
steps to advance environmental justice
through enforcement include increasing
the number of facility inspections in
overburdened communities, resolving
noncompliance through remedies with
tangible benefits, and increasing
engagement with communities about
enforcement cases that most directly
impact them.8 EPA also notes that under
CAA section 304, citizens may also
commence civil enforcement actions
against any person who is in violation
of an emission standard. See 42 U.S.C.
7604(a)(1), (f). Therefore, EPA believes
that EPA’s enforcement program by
itself suffices to meet CAA section
172(c)(9) requirements for SO2 as
interpreted in the 1992 General
Preamble, the SO2 Guideline, the 2010
SO2 NAAQS promulgation, the 2014
SO2 guidance, and in numerous
7 Pursuant to the Civil Monetary Penalty
Adjustment Rule, 87 FR 1676 (Jan. 12, 2022),
codified at 40 CFR 19.4.
8 See https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/
2021-04/documents/strengtheningen
forcementincommunitieswithejconcerns.pdf.
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61523
subsequent SIP actions. Finally, EPA
disagrees with the assertion that without
implementing alternative contingency
measures, EPA fails to make a good-faith
effort to comply with the terms of the
September 30, 2020, consent decree to
take final action to promulgate a FIP.
The consent decree properly imposes
only a September 30, 2022, deadline for
EPA to sign a notice of final rulemaking
to approve a revised SIP submission, to
promulgate a FIP, or to approve in part
a revised SIP submission and
promulgate a partial FIP for the Detroit
area addressing the elements of CAA
sections 172(c) and 192, but does not (as
it could not) impose any requirements
for how EPA might meet the statutory
elements.
Comment: EPA received eight
comments about environmental justice.
The commenters contend that while
EPA recognized that communities are
located in the Detroit nonattainment
area with environmental justice
concerns, EPA did not conduct a
meaningful analysis or adequately use
its discretionary authority to consider
environmental justice in development of
the FIP. The commenters state that EPA
did not follow Executive Order 12898,
which directs EPA to achieve
environmental justice to the greatest
extent practicable and permitted by law.
The commenters contend that EPA
should have considered alternatives to
its proposed plan and how the FIP
could provide the most benefit to
Detroit populations given the history of
industrial pollution and nonattainment
for multiple pollutants and the
environmental justice communities in
the Detroit nonattainment area, which
are demonstrated by EPA’s EJScreen as
well as other screening tools such as the
draft Climate and Economic Justice
Screening Tool and the Michigan EJ
screen map. The commenters also
believe that EPA should consider
actions that can be taken to
acknowledge and address the impacts of
the delay in bringing the Detroit area
into attainment, and ensure that any
future nonattainment is addressed
promptly, as well as more fully
acknowledge the burden that Detroit
community members of different
populations have faced due to
nonattainment. One commenter points
out that EPA’s conclusion that the FIP
will decrease pollution levels, which
will be beneficial to the environmental
justice populations in Detroit, does not
address the fact that it will not be more
beneficial to environmental justice
populations than others in the area nor
acknowledge the harm that previous
emissions in the area have caused the
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community. The commenters believe
that EPA only took steps to promulgate
a FIP as a result of a consent decree
arising from a 2021 civil action, as
EPA’s deadline to promulgate a FIP was
April 18, 2018, so the commenters
request that EPA explain the delay in
promulgating a FIP.
The commenters recommend that
EPA’s environmental justice analysis
address the presence of vulnerable
populations in the nonattainment area
and include an analysis of the FIP’s
impact on these vulnerable populations,
such as individuals with asthma,
particularly with respect to long-term
average emission limits. The
commenters note that the presence of
asthma in Detroit is extremely high as
compared to the rest of the state and
point to studies showing that vulnerable
populations may experience health
effects associated with SO2
concentrations below the NAAQS. The
commenters state that affected
populations of the nonattainment area
need assurance on plans for access to
healthcare, asthma treatment, and air
filtration. The commenters also request
a more detailed description of
aggressive enforcement measures EPA
will use and recommend that EPA
require all sources to install CEMS.
Response: While EPA appreciates the
commenters’ concerns and the issues
facing communities in the greater
Detroit area, in general EPA disagrees
with the commenters’ characterization
of EPA’s consideration of environmental
justice as it regards this action. EPA is
aware of the demographic data for the
Detroit nonattainment area, and that the
Detroit nonattainment area includes
communities that are pollutionburdened and underserved. In part for
this reason, EPA conducted outreach
beyond its obligations of notice-andcomment rulemaking as discussed in
the response to comments on EPA’s
outreach and comment process below.
Under section 109 of the CAA, EPA
sets primary, or health-based, NAAQS
for all criteria pollutants to provide
requisite protection of public health,
including the health of at-risk
populations, with an adequate margin of
safety. In EPA’s June 22, 2010,
rulemaking strengthening the SO2
NAAQS to the level of 75 ppb, EPA
provided a detailed rationale for the
Administrator’s determination that the
2010 SO2 NAAQS would be protective
of public health (75 FR 35520). This
rationale included explicit
consideration of protection for people,
including children, with asthma.
Specifically, the standard was based on
direct evidence of SO2-related effects in
controlled human exposure studies of
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exercising individuals with asthma, as
well as epidemiologic evidence of
associations between SO2
concentrations in ambient air and
respiratory-related emergency
department visits and hospitalizations.
Commenters reference Executive
Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16,
1994), which directs Federal agencies,
to the greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law, to identify and
address disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental
effects of their actions on minority and
low-income populations. Executive
Order 12898 is addressed in the
executive order section of this action.
With regard to environmental justice
considerations, to identify
environmental burdens and susceptible
populations in communities in the
Detroit nonattainment area, EPA
performed a screening-level analysis
using EPA’s EJ screening and mapping
tool (‘‘EJScreen’’).9 EPA prepared two
EJScreen reports covering buffer areas of
1- and 6-mile diameters around U.S.
Steel, which is the main facility
impacted by the FIP. Our screeninglevel analysis of the area strongly
suggests that communities within the
selected buffer areas bear a high overall
pollution burden as indicated by high
percentile values for particulate matter
and other environmental indicators, as
well as high percentiles of low income
and people of color. Specifically, the 6mile buffer included in the docket of
this rulemaking showed that the
percentage of low-income individuals is
almost twice the U.S. average. These
results highlight commenters’ concerns
of the pollution burdens that Detroit
community members of different
populations have faced.
Considering these results, EPA further
considered emission reductions
expected from the FIP and forthcoming
emission reduction measures that may
help to mitigate existing pollution
issues in the area. As explained in the
proposal, the proposed FIP regulatory
language includes new SO2 emission
limits throughout the U.S. Steel facility.
Additionally, the FIP includes several
new requirements for U.S. Steel’s
Boilerhouse 2, including the
requirement to combine and raise its
stacks to increase dispersion away from
the area, new limits, and installation of
a new CEMS. Further, EPA included the
DTE Trenton Channel permit as part of
the FIP analysis, which was scheduled
9 See documentation on EPA’s Environmental
Justice Screening and Mapping Tool at https://
www.epa.gov/ejscreen.
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to retire 10 11 at the time the proposed
FIP was published and has since shut
down as of June 19, 2022. Hence, the
FIP analysis included the permitted
(Permit to Install 125–11C) enforceable
SO2 limit of 5,907 lbs/hr on a 30-day
average basis applicable to DTE Trenton
Channel as a precautionary measure.
Actual emissions at DTE Trenton
Channel in recent years were 3,114,
3,754, and 885 tons per year (tpy) in
2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. In
Wayne County (the partial county
containing in the Detroit SO2
Nonattainment area), these reductions
would account for 25.2, 31.9 and 14.8
percent of SO2 emissions in 2018, 2019
and 2020, respectively. While EPA
recognizes the importance of assessing
impacts of our actions on potentially
overburdened communities, we believe
that the promulgation of the FIP will not
adversely affect disproportionally
impacted populations in the Detroit
nonattainment area. The purpose of the
FIP is to ensure attainment and
maintenance of the NAAQS, so
promulgation of this FIP is expected to
have a positive impact on the Detroit
nonattainment area as a whole, for all
populations in the Detroit
nonattainment area.
With regard to the delay in bringing
the area into attainment, Michigan and
EPA have faced several obstacles during
the attainment planning process,
beginning with the invalidation of
Michigan Administrative Code (MAC)
336.1430 (‘‘Rule 430’’) by the Michigan
Court of Claims on October 4, 2017. The
court held that, because Rule 430
contained enforceable limits for U.S.
Steel and the limits applied to a single
facility, Rule 430 failed the ‘‘general
applicability’’ requirement of
Michigan’s Administrative Procedures
Act, Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL)
24.201 et seq. The court expressly
declined to advise how the State could
properly impose emission limits on the
source at issue via other means but
noted elsewhere in the decision that the
state and other sources ‘‘agreed to revise
pertinent DEQ permits.’’ Since the time
of the designation, Michigan and EPA
have been working on an approvable
attainment plan and emission
reductions in the area. In addition, to
the extent that the State prefers to
proceed via generally applicable state
regulations rather than permits, EPA
expects that Michigan will draft future
rules to avoid the concerns raised by the
10 See https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2022/
coal-plants-retiring-with-millions-of-dollarsflowing-to-environmental-justice-communities.
11 See https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/
files/267-1_-_sierra_club_-_dte_separate_
agreement.pdf.
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court which resulted in invalid SO2
limits to avoid this issue going forward.
In 2016, Michigan submitted an SO2
attainment plan for the Detroit
nonattainment area, which included
limits for DTE Trenton Channel, DTE
River Rouge, Carmeuse Lime, and U.S.
Steel. While EPA was unable to approve
the 2016 attainment plan as a whole,
EPA did approve the limits for DTE
Trenton Channel and Carmeuse Lime
into Michigan’s SIP on March 19, 2021.
The compliance dates for DTE Trenton
Channel and Carmeuse Lime permits
were January 1, 2017, and October 1,
2018, respectively, and both facilities
have been in compliance since their
respective dates. In March 2020, a more
stringent interim limit for DTE River
Rouge became effective, and in May
2021 the facility shut down.
Although the FIP is based on
maximum allowable or uncontrolled
emissions, EPA also completed a model
run using actual emissions from 2015–
2017, which was used in EPA’s January
28, 2022, action to determine whether
the area attained the standard by the
attainment date (87 FR 4501). The
modeling was based on guidelines from
appendix W of 40 CFR part 51 and
EPA’s TAD that contained an
assessment of the air quality impacts
from the following sources: U.S. Steel
Ecorse, U.S. Steel Zug Island, EES Coke,
DTE River Rouge, DTE Trenton
Channel, Carmeuse Lime, DTE Monroe,
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation, DIG,
and Marathon Refinery. The modeling
demonstration included actual
emissions for DTE River Rouge, Trenton
Channel, and U.S. Steel, the source that
was determined to have the most
significant contribution to the maximum
NAAQS violations in the area. EPA
found that the areas with modeled SO2
concentrations above the NAAQS were
on and surrounding Zug Island in areas
that are not residential, while all the
monitors in the Detroit nonattainment
area showed values below the NAAQS.
The updated FIP analysis modeled
attainment of the NAAQS in the Detroit
nonattainment area after inclusion of
the new U.S. Steel emission limits
proposed in this FIP and the emission
reduction measures that have already
occurred since the finding of failure to
attain, including the previously
approved DTE Trenton Channel and
Carmeuse Lime emission limits and the
shutdown of DTE River Rouge. The
implementation of the FIP makes these
reductions, as well as the existing
emission limits at EES Coke, ClevelandCliffs Steel Corporation, and DIG,
permanent and enforceable and
provides protection for future
attainment. Further, as previously
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discussed, these reductions will be even
greater with the shutdown of DTE
Trenton Channel.
With regard to the enforcement
measures that EPA will use, as stated in
the proposed rule, options include the
issuance of an administrative order
requiring compliance with the
applicable implementation plan; the
issuance of an administrative order
requiring the payment of a civil penalty
for past violations; and the
commencement of a civil judicial
action. These options are explained
further in the response to the comment
above regarding contingency measures.
While the FIP does not require CEMS on
all units, as explained in the response
to comments about CEMS above, EPA is
confident that the FIP provides adequate
means of determining whether a
violation has occurred in order to take
appropriate enforcement action.
Comment: EPA received four
comments on EPA’s outreach and
comment process. The commenters
contend that the timeline between the
proposed rule publication date and the
public hearing and public hearing
registration deadline was not sufficient
and should have been closer to 30 or 45
days, similar to other EPA comment
periods. The commenters state that
while EPA is facing a tight deadline to
finalize the FIP, the tight timeline is
due, in part, to EPA’s delay in
responding to Michigan’s SIP.
The commenters also state that while
EPA held a meeting with various Detroit
environmental organizations and
community groups in March 2022, the
FIP was not the main focus of the
meeting and a more robust approach to
community outreach was needed,
particularly due to the high levels of
limited English proficiency (LEP)
persons living in the area. The
commenters give examples of ways that
EPA could have improved its public
outreach, including holding a
community meeting before the proposed
FIP was published, working with
community groups in the area to
distribute information, and providing
handouts about the FIP surrounding the
public hearing. One commenter believes
that EPA should engage with the public
as soon as new NAAQS are set and EPA
knows which areas area likely to fall
into nonattainment about the causes and
impacts of the nonattainment
designation and solutions being sought,
as well as after each delay to explain
why the delay occurred and how it will
be avoided in the future.
Additionally, the commenters state
that EPA only provided notice of the
hearing in the proposed rule published
in the Federal Register and did not
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61525
provide notice that was sufficiently
accessible on widely disseminated
platforms or reach out directly to the
community. In particular, the
commenters note that the proposed rule
was published in English with no
translation services available and that
translation services were not made
available for the public hearing, which
is of particular concern due to the
Spanish and Arabic speaking
communities in and surrounding the
nonattainment area. The commenters
note that while EPA did solicit requests
for translation services in the proposed
rule, this solicitation did not give LEP
persons meaningful access to translation
services as it was published in an
English-only document with a tight
deadline for submitting requests.
Therefore, the commenters suggest that
EPA should have proactively provided
Arabic and Spanish translation services
at the public hearing.
The commenters contend that EPA
did not meet its obligations under
Executive Order 13166 and EPA’s FY
2022–2026 Strategic Plan and has
subjected individuals to discrimination
by failing to proactively reach out to
LEP persons in and around the
nonattainment area due to the high
percentages of LEP persons in the area,
as shown in EJScreen analyses
completed by both commenters and
EPA. Additionally, the commenters
mention the Informal Resolution
Agreement that EPA entered with
Michigan, under which Michigan
developed an LEP Plan. The
commenters believe that EPA should
have followed the guidelines set
forward in this plan, which include
providing solicitations for translation
services in other languages besides
English and developing a strategy to
best engage with LEP individuals. The
commenters note that while EPA has
since translated a fact sheet into Arabic
and Spanish, these fact sheets were not
available at the beginning of the
comment period and EPA did not
release a plan on how to ensure the
documents would reach LEP persons.
Response: EPA appreciates the
commenters’ suggestions on how EPA
can improve its outreach and comment
process and will consider, as
appropriate, in future actions the
suggestions to extend the time between
proposal publication and public
hearing, engage earlier with the public,
and reach out to LEP communities
before the comment period. However,
EPA would like to highlight the
additional outreach efforts that EPA
made surrounding the FIP proposal
publication beyond its obligations of
notice-and-comment rulemaking.
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As the commenters note, EPA held a
meeting with representatives from the
City of Detroit, Michigan Environmental
Council, Great Lakes Environmental
Law Center (GLELC), Southwest Detroit
Environmental Vision, and the Ecology
Center regarding the FIP, including a
presentation by EPA and a roundtable
discussion with these stakeholders. EPA
disagrees that the FIP was not the main
topic of the meeting and has posted the
presentation and attendance list to the
docket for this action. Specifically, after
outlining a summary of the FIP
proposal, EPA requested feedback on
structuring future engagement with
stakeholders in Detroit.
In addition to communicating directly
with stakeholders, EPA issued a press
release on the day the proposed FIP was
published in the Federal Register.12 The
press release noted that EPA would be
accepting public comments on the
proposed FIP. EPA also created a
website for the FIP containing a
summary of the rule, as well as
information about how to register for the
public hearing or submit written
comments. The FIP was also highlighted
on EPA’s Region 5 web page.
With regard to translation services for
the public hearing, EPA solicited
requests in both the Federal Register
document as well as on the registration
web page for the public hearing. EPA
proactively arranged for interpretation
services to be available at the public
hearing in case the services were
requested by registered attendees;
however, no registered attendees
requested these services or any other
translation services.
During the public comment period,
EPA received a request from GLELC to
delay the public hearing, as GLELC
stated that EPA had not provided
adequate outreach to LEP communities.
Per the email exchange posted in the
docket for this action, EPA was unable
to delay the public hearing, but did
what was possible during the comment
period to address this request. As the
commenters note, EPA created a fact
sheet, which included information
about how to submit written comments,
during the comment period and
translated it into Spanish and Arabic.
EPA posted the fact sheets in the docket
for this action, on the FIP web page, and
on the general Spanish and Arabic EPA
web pages. EPA appreciates the
suggestions on how to reach out to LEP
communities more proactively for future
rulemakings.
12 https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-openspublic-comment-period-proposed-federal-planreduce-sulfur-dioxide-air.
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Comment: Two commenters argue
that EPA should develop maps and
other analyses that represent SO2
exposure within and outside of the
nonattainment area in conjunction with
maps illustrating cumulative impacts of
social, economic, and physical
environmental factors to show how SO2
concentrations add to cumulative
pollution impacts and to evaluate
environmental justice concerns.
Response: The focus of this action is
to ensure attainment of the SO2 NAAQS
within the nonattainment area. EPA has
no information suggesting that SO2
concentrations outside of the
nonattainment area boundary are above
the SO2 NAAQS, and EPA does not
believe that exposure maps within and
beyond the nonattainment are pertinent
to demonstrating how the control
measures and emissions limits in the
FIP provide for attainment of the SO2
NAAQS in the Detroit area.
Comment: The FIP includes two
separate limits for U.S. Steel
Boilerhouse 2 based on two different
operating scenarios. Two commenters
note that the FIP incorrectly states that
Boilerhouse 2 is the only U.S. Steel unit
operating under the scenario in which
Boilerhouse 2 has a limit of 750.00 lbs/
hr. The commenters point out that the
modeling analysis for this scenario
includes operation of the U.S. Steel
Ecorse sources, which include the Hot
Strip Mill, No. 2 Baghouse, Main Plant
Boiler No. 8, and Main Plant Boiler No.
9, in addition to Boilerhouse 2.
Response: EPA notes that the U.S.
Steel Ecorse sources were included in
the modeling analysis for the scenario in
which Boilerhouse 2 has a limit of 750
lbs/hr and were incorrectly excluded
from the scenario in the proposed rule.
EPA has updated 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(1)(ii) accordingly. The limits
for the U.S. Steel Ecorse sources are
shown in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1—U.S. STEEL ECORSE LIMITS
SO2 emission
limit
(lbs/hr)
Unit
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 1 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 2 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 3 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 4 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 5 ..........................
No. 2 Baghouse ....................
Main Plant Boiler No. 8 ........
Main Plant Boiler No. 9 ........
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0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
3.30
0.07
0.07
Comment: The proposed FIP includes
a requirement for the owner or operator
of the U.S. Steel facility to combine and
raise all five stacks from each
corresponding boiler at U.S. Steel
Boilerhouse 2 into a single larger stack.
Two commenters state that all five
Boilerhouse 2 boilers are not currently
in operation. The commenters request
that only stacks from the operating
boilers be required to be included in the
combined stack in order to reduce
capital, operating, and maintenance
costs. The commenters assert that if a
boiler begins operation at a later date, it
can be included in the stack at that time.
Response: EPA agrees that not
requiring any idled boiler stacks to be
added to the combined Boilerhouse 2
stack, so long as no SO2 is emitted from
Boilerhouse 2 except from the new stack
after the new stack construction is
required to be completed, would not
affect attainment of the NAAQS in the
Detroit area. Therefore, EPA is not
explicitly requiring that all Boilerhouse
2 boilers be added to the combined
stack, and EPA has updated 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(2)(i) accordingly. As set forth
in 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(2)(ii), beginning
two years after the effective date of the
FIP, no owner or operator shall emit SO2
from Boilerhouse 2, except from the
stack point at least 170 feet above
ground level.
Comment: EPA received two
comments about the U.S. Steel
Boilerhouse 2 stack construction
timeline. The commenters contend that
the two years allotted for construction of
the stack is not sufficient, as
construction cannot begin until
Michigan issues the construction
permit. The commenters state that at
least 15 months are needed to procure
materials and complete stack
construction, which would leave 9
months for Michigan to issue the
permit. The commenters allege that the
timeline is aggressive, given that the
completion is dependent on Michigan
acting quickly to issue the permit.
Response: EPA disagrees that the U.S.
Steel Boilerhouse 2 stack construction
timeline is insufficient. The
construction permit process was
considered as part of this timeline.
Michigan is aware of the construction
timeline, and the construction permit
for the Boilerhouse 2 stack construction
is a high priority for the State.
Additionally, Michigan is statutorily
required to process permit applications
within 240 days if public comment is
required and 180 days if public
comment is not required.13 This
13 See correspondence between EPA and
Michigan included in the docket for this action.
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comment did not provide any new
information on the project timeline, so
therefore, EPA is not extending the
timeline for the Boilerhouse 2 stack
construction.
Comment: The commenter states that
the community would like to know if
they will be notified if facilities reopen,
how they would be affected if facilities
have ownership changes, what kind of
assurance there is that Michigan will
not permit new sources in the area, and
EPA’s future commitment to the Detroit
area.
Response: The focus of this action is
to ensure attainment of the SO2 NAAQS
in the Detroit area. The requirements of
the FIP will continue to apply regardless
of any facility ownership change. If
there are changes to the Michigan SIP,
which includes the emission limits and
requirements set forth in the FIP, those
changes will be subject to public notice
and comment.
Comment: The commenter requests
that EPA explain how it will guarantee
that the FIP will attain and maintain the
SO2 NAAQS in light of the June 30,
2022, West Virginia v. EPA Supreme
Court ruling regarding EPA’s ability to
regulate carbon emissions.
Response: The attainment planning
requirements that the FIP addresses are
set forth in the CAA, and the June 30,
2022, Supreme Court ruling does not
affect this action. This action regulates
SO2 emissions, which the CAA
explicitly requires, and does not
regulate carbon emissions as such or
impose limits on greenhouse gas
emissions.
Comment: The commenter states that
industry should be held accountable for
the pollution that it emits, and that
industry and government do not provide
sufficiently transparent air quality data.
Response: This nonattainment plan
provides emission limits and
requirements for facilities in the Detroit
area and is protective of the SO2
NAAQS. A variety of air quality data
sources are available for the Detroit area,
including but not limited to design
value reports,14 ECHO,15 and AirNow.16
Comment: The commenter requests
that EPA minimize the cost and time
required to implement the FIP, as the
commenter states that a facility that is
not economically viable is less likely to
comply with limits.
Response: The FIP includes limits and
associated requirements needed to meet
14 See https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/air-qualitydesign-values#:∼:text=A%20design
%20value%20is%20a,50Exit
%20Exit%20EPA%20website.
15 See https://echo.epa.gov/resources/echo-data/
about-the-data.
16 See https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow.
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the NAAQS in the Detroit area.
Compliance with the requirements of
the FIP is not optional and is not
dependent on a facility’s economic
viability. As discussed further above in
the response to comments regarding
continency measures, EPA has a
comprehensive enforcement program as
specified in section 113 of the CAA.
Under this program, EPA is authorized
to take any action it deems necessary or
proper for the effective enforcement of
the CAA and the rules and regulations
promulgated under the CAA, including
the requirements set forth in the FIP.
Comment: The commenter states that
alleged deficiencies in the model cannot
be addressed by assuming DTE Trenton
Channel will be shut down, as there are
several model receptors with
concentrations that exceed 70 ppb.
Response: EPA’s FIP modeling
analysis does not assume the shutdown
of DTE Trenton Channel. Instead, the
FIP analysis includes the permitted
(Permit to Install 125–11C) enforceable
SO2 limit of 5,907 lbs/hr on a 30-day
average basis as a precautionary
measure. As described above,
particularly in the response to
comments regarding background
concentrations and dispersion
coefficients, EPA concludes that its
modeling analysis sufficiently
demonstrates attainment of the SO2
NAAQS of 75 ppb, even assuming
continued operation of DTE Trenton
Channel (which will not in fact operate).
Comment: The commenter points out
that the emission rate used for DTE
Trenton Channel in the model is higher
than the emission rate specified in the
proposed FIP (7,834 lbs/hr versus 7,661
lbs/hr).
Response: EPA notes the discrepancy
between the DTE Trenton Channel
emission rates in the proposed FIP and
in the model. As no other changes were
made to the model, EPA did not
remodel based on this error alone, since
the error resulted in a more conservative
design value. EPA believes that this
discrepancy has minimal impact on the
maximum modeled concentration, and
as it results in an overestimate, it does
not have any negative impact on human
health.
III. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is promulgating a FIP for
attaining the 2010 SO2 NAAQS for the
Detroit area and for meeting other
nonattainment area planning
requirements. In accordance with
section 172 of the CAA, this FIP
includes an attainment demonstration
for the Detroit area and addresses
requirements for RFP, RACT/RACM,
enforceable emission limitations and
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61527
control measures, and contingency
measures. EPA has previously
concluded that Michigan has addressed
the requirements for emissions
inventories for the Detroit area and
nonattainment area NSR.
The FIP is based on the Carmeuse
Lime emission limits specified in Permit
to Install 193–14A, the DTE Trenton
Channel emission limits specified in
Permit to Install 125–11C, and the U.S.
Steel, EES Coke, Cleveland-Cliffs Steel
Corporation, and DIG emission limits
specified in the regulatory language of
this FIP. The Carmeuse Lime and DTE
Trenton Channel permits have already
been approved into Michigan’s SIP that
is incorporated into 40 CFR part 52, so
EPA is not re-incorporating them into 40
CFR part 52 here.
EPA made changes to the regulatory
text that was included in the proposed
FIP under 40 CFR 52.1189 paragraphs
(b)(1)(ii), (b)(2)(i), (b)(3)(ii), and (e)(2)
due to public comments received. These
changes include updating the list of
sources that may operate under the
scenario in which U.S. Steel
Boilerhouse 2 has a limit of 750.00 lbs/
hr to include U.S. Steel Ecorse sources,
as included in EPA’s modeling analysis;
not explicitly requiring all Boilerhouse
2 boiler stacks to be merged and raised,
so long as no SO2 is emitted except from
the new stack beginning two years after
the effective date of the FIP; adding U.S.
Steel No. 2 Baghouse to the list of units
subject to monitoring requirements,
which previously was incorrectly
omitted; and adding language regarding
compliance for DIG Flares 1 and 2.
Additionally, EPA corrected a citation
error in the proposed regulatory text
under CFR 52.1189(b)(3)(iii).
This FIP satisfies EPA’s duty to
promulgate a FIP for the area under
CAA section 110(c) that resulted from
the previous finding of failure to submit.
However, it does not affect the sanctions
clock started under CAA section 179
resulting from EPA’s partial disapproval
of the prior SIP, which would be
terminated by an EPA rulemaking
approving a revised SIP. See 40 CFR
52.31.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Regulatory Review 13563
This action is exempt from review by
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), as it is not a rule of general
applicability. This action specifically
regulates four facilities in Detroit,
Michigan.
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B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act, a ‘‘collection
of information’’ is defined as a
requirement for ‘‘answers to . . .
identical reporting or recordkeeping
requirements imposed on ten or more
persons . . .’’ 44 U.S.C. 3502(3)(A).
Because the FIP applies to just four
facilities, the Paperwork Reduction Act
does not apply. See 5 CFR 1320(c).
Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose
or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop,
acquire, install, and utilize technology
and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The OMB
control numbers for our regulations in
40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
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C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
I certify that this action will not have
a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the RFA. This action will not
impose any requirements on small
entities. This action adds additional
controls to certain sources. None of
these sources are owned by small
entities, and therefore are not small
entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA)
This action does not contain any
unfunded mandate as described in
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531–1538, and does
not significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. The action imposes no
enforceable duty on any state, local or
tribal governments or the private sector.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
This action does not have federalism
implications. It will not have substantial
direct effects on the states, on the
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17:15 Oct 11, 2022
Jkt 259001
relationship between the national
government and the states, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This action does not have tribal
implications, as specified in Executive
Order 13175. It will not have substantial
direct effects on tribal governments.
Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not
apply to this action.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13045 because it is not
economically significant as defined in
Executive Order 12866, and because
EPA does not believe the environmental
health or safety risks addressed by this
action present a disproportionate risk to
children. To the extent this action will
limit SO2 emissions, the rule will have
a beneficial effect on children’s health
by reducing air pollution.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22,
2001), because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
This rulemaking does not involve
technical standards.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
EPA believes that this action does not
have disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority populations, lowincome populations and/or indigenous
peoples, as specified in Executive Order
12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
This final rule will improve local air
quality by reducing SO2 emissions in a
part of the Detroit metropolitan area that
includes a higher proportion of minority
and low-income populations compared
to the State or US averages.
Socioeconomic indicators such as low
income, unemployment rate and
percentage of people of color 17 were all
17 See https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/overviewdemographic-indicators-ejscreen for the definition
of each demographic indicator.
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at levels at least two times that of the
state-wide averages (in some cases two
to five times higher), within one to six
miles from facilities affected by this
action (see EJScreen analyses provided
in the docket for this action). These
populations, as well as all affected
populations in this area, will stand to
benefit from the increased level of
environmental protection with the
implementation of this rule.
K. Determination Under Section 307(d)
Pursuant to CAA section 307(d)(1)(B),
this action is subject to the requirements
of CAA section 307(d), as it promulgates
a FIP under CAA section 110(c).
L. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
This rule is exempt from the CRA
because it is a rule of particular
applicability.
M. Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
petitions for judicial review of this
action must be filed in the United States
Court of Appeals for the appropriate
circuit by December 12, 2022. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the
Administrator of this final rule does not
affect the finality of this action for the
purposes of judicial review, does not
extend the time within which a petition
for judicial review may be filed, and
shall not postpone the effectiveness of
such rule or action. This action may not
be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. See CAA
section 307(b)(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides.
Michael Regan,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, 40 CFR part 52 is amended as
follows:
PART 52—APPROVAL AND
PROMULGATION OF
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
2. Add § 52.1189 to subpart X to read
as follows:
■
§ 52.1189
(SO2).
Control strategy: Sulfur dioxide
(a) The plan submitted by the State on
May 31, 2016 to attain the 2010 1-hour
primary sulfur dioxide (SO2) national
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ambient air quality standard for the
Detroit SO2 nonattainment area does not
meet the requirements of Clean Air Act
(CAA) section 172 with respect to SO2
emissions from the U.S. Steel (Ecorse
and Zug Island), EES Coke, ClevelandCliffs Steel Corporation (formerly AK or
Severstal Steel), and Dearborn Industrial
Generation (DIG) facilities in the Detroit,
Michigan area. These requirements for
these four facilities are satisfied by
paragraphs (b)through(e) of this section,
respectively.
(b) This section addresses and
satisfies CAA section 172 requirements
for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area
by specifying the necessary emission
limits and other control measures
applicable to the U.S. Steel Ecorse and
Zug Island facilities. This section
applies to the owner(s) and operator(s)
of the facilities located at 1 Quality
Drive and 1300 Zug Island Road in
Detroit, Michigan. The requirements in
this section for the Hot Strip Mill Slab
Reheat Furnaces 1–5, No. 2 Baghouse,
Main Plant Boiler No. 8, and Main Plant
Boiler No. 9 apply to the owner and
operator of the U.S. Steel Ecorse facility,
and the requirements in this section for
Boilerhouse 1, Boilerhouse 2, A1 Blast
Furnace, B2 Blast Furnace, D4 Blast
Furnace, A/B Blast Furnace Flares, and
D Furnace Flare apply to the owner and
operator of the U.S. Steel Zug Island
facility.
(1) SO2 emission limits. (i) Beginning
on the effective date of the FIP, no
owner or operator shall emit SO2 from
the following units in excess of the
following limits:
TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(1)(i)
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Unit
Boilerhouse 1 (all stacks
combined) .........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 1 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 2 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 3 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 4 ..........................
Hot Strip Mill—Slab Reheat
Furnace 5 ..........................
No. 2 Baghouse ....................
Main Plant Boiler No. 8 ........
Main Plant Boiler No. 9 ........
A1 Blast Furnace ..................
B2 Blast Furnace ..................
D4 Blast Furnace ..................
A/B Blast Furnace Flares .....
D Furnace Flare ...................
SO2 emission
limit
(lbs/hr)
55.00
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
3.30
0.07
0.07
0.00
40.18
40.18
60.19
60.19
(ii) Beginning two years after the
effective date of the FIP, no owner or
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17:15 Oct 11, 2022
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operator shall emit SO2 from
Boilerhouse 2 in excess of the following
limits:
(A) Boilerhouse 2 shall emit less than
750.00 lbs/hr unless Boilerhouse 1, A1
Blast Furnace, B2 Blast Furnace, D4
Blast Furnace, A/B Blast Furnace Flares,
or D Furnace Flare is operating, in
which case it shall emit less than 81.00
lbs/hr.
(B) [Reserved]
(2) Stack restrictions and permit
requirements. (i) The owner or operator
shall construct a stack for Boilerhouse 2.
The stack emission point must be at
least 170 feet above ground level. The
owner or operator shall submit a
construction permit application for the
stack to the State of Michigan within 90
days of the effective date of the FIP.
Where any compliance obligation under
this section requires any other state or
local permits or approvals, the owner or
operator shall submit timely and
complete applications and take all other
actions necessary to obtain all such
permits or approvals.
(ii) Beginning two years after the
effective date of the FIP, no owner or
operator shall emit SO2 from
Boilerhouse 2, except from the stack
emission point at least 170 feet above
ground level.
(3) Monitoring requirements. (i) Not
later than two years after the effective
date of the FIP, the owner or operator
shall install and continuously operate
an SO2 continuous emission monitoring
system (CEMS) to measure SO2
emissions from Boilerhouse 2 in
conformance with 40 CFR part 60,
appendix F procedure 1.
(ii) The owner or operator shall
determine SO2 emissions from
Boilerhouse 1, Hot Strip Mill Slab
Reheat Furnaces 1–5, No. 2 Baghouse,
Main Plant Boiler No. 8, Main Plan
Boiler No. 9, A1 Blast Furnace, B2 Blast
Furnace, D4 Blast Furnace, A/B Blast
Furnace Flares, and D Furnace Flare
using mass balance calculations as
described in paragraph (b)(4) of this
section.
(iii) Within 180 days of the
installation of the CEMS specified in
paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, the
owner or operator shall perform an
initial compliance test for SO2
emissions from Boilerhouse 2 while the
boilerhouse is operating in accordance
with the applicable emission limit
during the period of testing identified in
paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section. The
initial compliance test shall be
performed using EPA Test Method 6 at
40 CFR part 60, appendix A–4.
(4) Compliance assurance plan. To
determine compliance with the limits in
paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the
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61529
owner or operator shall calculate hourly
SO2 emissions using all raw material
sulfur charged into each affected
emission unit and assume 100 percent
conversion of total sulfur to SO2. The
owner or operator shall implement a
compliance assurance plan (CAP) for all
units except Boilerhouse 2 and any
idled units that shall specify the
calculation methodology, procedures,
and inputs used in these calculations
and submit the plan to EPA within 30
days after the effective date of the FIP.
The owner or operator must submit a
list of idled units to EPA within 30 days
of the effective date of the FIP. The
owner or operator must submit a CAP
for any idled units prior to resuming
operations.
(5) Recordkeeping. The owner/
operator shall maintain the following
records continuously for five years
beginning on the effective date of the
FIP:
(i) All records of production for each
affected emission unit.
(ii) All records of hourly emissions
calculated in accordance with the CAP.
(iii) In accordance with paragraphs
(b)(3) of this section, all CEMS data,
including the date, place, and time of
sampling or measurement; parameters
sampled or measured; and results.
(iv) Records of quality assurance and
quality control activities for emission
monitoring systems including, but not
limited to, any records required by 40
CFR part 60, appendix F Procedure 1.
(v) Records of all major maintenance
activities performed on emission units,
air pollution control equipment, CEMS,
and other production measurement
devices.
(vi) Any other records required by the
Quality Assurance Requirements for Gas
Continuous Emission Monitoring
Systems Used for Compliance
Determination rule at 40 CFR part 60,
appendix F Procedure 1 or the National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants for Integrated Iron and Steel
Manufacturing Facilities rule at 40 CFR
part 63, subpart FFFFF.
(6) Reporting. Beginning on the
effective date of the FIP, all reports
under this section shall be submitted
quarterly to Compliance Tracker, Air
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 5, Mail Code AE–17J, 77
W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604–
3590.
(i) The owner or operator shall submit
a CAP in accordance with paragraph
(b)(4) of this section within 30 days of
the effective date of the FIP.
(ii) The owner or operator shall report
CEMS data and hourly mass balance
calculations quarterly in accordance
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with CEMS requirements in paragraph
(b)(3) of this section and the CAP
requirements set forth in paragraph
(b)(4) of this section no later than the
30th day following the end of each
calendar quarter.
(iii) The owner or operator shall
report the results of the initial
compliance test for the Boilerhouse 2
stack within 60 days of conducting the
test.
(iv) The owner or operator shall
submit quarterly excess emissions
reports for all units identified in
paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this
section no later than the 30th day
following the end of each calendar
quarter. Excess emissions means
emissions that exceed the emission
limits specified in paragraph (b)(1) of
this section. The reports shall include
the magnitude, date(s), and duration of
each period of excess emissions,
specific identification of each period of
excess emissions that occurs during all
periods of operation including startups,
shutdowns, and malfunctions of the
unit, the nature and cause of any
malfunction (if known), and the
corrective action taken, or preventative
measures adopted.
(v) The owner or operator of each unit
shall submit quarterly CEMS
performance reports, to include dates
and duration of each period during
which the CEMS was inoperative
(except for zero and span adjustments
and calibration checks), reason(s) why
the CEMS was inoperative and steps
taken to prevent recurrence, and any
CEMS repairs or adjustments no later
than the 30th day following the end of
each calendar quarter.
(vi) The owner or operator shall also
submit results of any CEMS
performance tests required by 40 CFR
part 60, appendix F, Procedure 1 (e.g.,
Relative Accuracy Test Audits, Relative
Accuracy Audits, and Cylinder Gas
Audits) no later than 30 days after the
test is performed.
(vii) When no excess emissions have
occurred or the CEMS has not been
inoperative, repaired, or adjusted during
the reporting period, such information
shall be stated in the quarterly reports
required by paragraphs (b)(6) of this
section.
(c) This section addresses and
satisfies CAA section 172 requirements
for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area
by specifying the necessary emission
limits and other control measures
applicable to the EES Coke facility. This
section applies to the owner and
operator of the facility located at 1400
Zug Island Road in Detroit, Michigan.
(1) SO2 emission limits. Beginning on
the effective date of the FIP, no owner
or operator shall emit SO2 from the
Underfire Combustion Stack EUCokeBattery in excess of 544.6 lbs/hr, as a 3-
hour average, and 2071 tons per year, on
a 12-month rolling basis as determined
at the end of each calendar month, and
0.702 pounds per 1000 standard cubic
feet of coke oven gas, as a 1-hour
average.
(2) Monitoring requirements. The
owner or operator shall maintain and
operate in a satisfactory manner a
device to monitor and record the SO2
emissions from the Underfire
Combustion Stack EUCoke-Battery on a
continuous basis. The owner or operator
shall use Continuous Emission Rate
Monitoring (CERM) data for determining
compliance with the hourly limit in
paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The
owner or operator shall operate the
CERM system in conformance with 40
CFR part 60, appendix F.
(d) This section addresses and
satisfies CAA section 172 requirements
for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area
by specifying the necessary emission
limits and other control measures
applicable to the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel
Corporation (formerly AK or Severstal
Steel) facility. This section applies to
the owner and operator of the facility
located at 4001 Miller Road in Dearborn,
Michigan.
(1) SO2 emission limits. Beginning on
the effective date of the FIP, no owner
or operator shall emit SO2 from the
following units in excess of the
following limits:
TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (d)(1)
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with RULES
Unit
SO2 emission limit
Time period/operating scenario
Calendar day average.
Calendar day average.
Calendar day average.
12-month rolling time period as
determined at the end of each
calendar month.
Calendar day average.
Calendar day average.
Calendar day average.
12-month rolling time period as
determined at the end of each
calendar month.
‘‘B’’
‘‘B’’
‘‘B’’
‘‘B’’
Blast
Blast
Blast
Blast
Furnace
Furnace
Furnace
Furnace
Baghouse Stack ........................................................
Stove Stack ...............................................................
Baghouse and Stove Stacks (combined) .................
Baghouse and Stove Stacks (combined) .................
71.9 lbs/hr ......................................
38.75 lbs/hr ....................................
77.8 lbs/hr ......................................
340 tons per year ..........................
‘‘C’’
‘‘C’’
‘‘C’’
‘‘C’’
Blast
Blast
Blast
Blast
Furnace
Furnace
Furnace
Furnace
Baghouse Stack ........................................................
Stove Stack ...............................................................
Baghouse and Stove Stacks (combined) .................
Baghouse and Stove Stacks (combined) .................
179.65 lbs/hr ..................................
193.6 lbs/hr ....................................
271.4 lbs/hr ....................................
1188 tons per year ........................
(2) Monitoring requirements. The
owner or operator shall maintain and
operate in a satisfactory manner a
device to monitor and record the SO2
emissions and flow from ‘‘B’’ Blast
Furnace and ‘‘C’’ Blast Furnace
Baghouse and Stove Stacks on a
continuous basis. The owner or operator
shall use CERM data for determining
compliance with the hourly limits in
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:15 Oct 11, 2022
Jkt 259001
paragraph (d)(1) of this section. The
owner or operator shall operate the
CERM system in conformance with 40
CFR part 60, appendix F.
(e) This section addresses and
satisfies CAA section 172 requirements
for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area
by specifying the necessary emission
limits and other control measures
applicable to the Dearborn Industrial
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Generation (DIG) facility. This section
applies to the owner and operator of the
facility located at 2400 Miller Road in
Dearborn, Michigan.
(1) SO2 emission limits. (i) Beginning
on the effective date of the FIP, no
owner or operator shall emit SO2 from
the following units in excess of the
following limits:
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61531
TABLE 3 TO PARAGRAPH (e)(1)(i)
Unit
Boilers
Boilers
Boilers
Boilers
1,
1,
1,
1,
2,
2,
2,
2,
and
and
and
and
3
3
3
3
(combined) ................................................................
(combined) ................................................................
and Flares 1 and 2 (combined) ................................
and Flares 1 and 2 (combined) ................................
(ii) [Reserved]
(2) Monitoring requirements. (i) The
owner or operator shall maintain and
operate in a satisfactory manner a
device to monitor and record the SO2
emissions from Boilers 1, 2, and 3 on a
continuous basis. Installation and
operation of each CEMS shall meet the
timelines, requirements and reporting
detailed in 40 CFR part 60, appendix F.
If the owner or operator chooses to use
a Predictive Emissions Monitoring
System (PEMS) in lieu of a CEMS to
monitor SO2 emissions, the permittee
shall follow the protocol delineated in
Performance Specification 16 in
appendix B of 40 CFR part 60.
(ii) The owner or operator shall verify
compliance with the emission limits for
Boilers 1, 2 and 3 and Flares 1 and 2
(combined) by following the procedures
and methodologies contained in the
document entitled ‘‘Protocol for
Demonstrating Continuous Compliance
with the Emission Limitations of ROP
MI–ROP–N6631–2004’’ dated May 31,
2011, or subsequent revisions to this
document approved by EPA.
[FR Doc. 2022–21662 Filed 10–11–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2021–0774; FRL–10239–01–
OCSPP]
Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Exemption From
the Requirement of a Tolerance
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with RULES
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Jkt 259001
Time period/operating scenario
420 lbs/hr .......................................
1839.6 tons per year .....................
840 lbs/hr .......................................
2947.7 tons per year .....................
Daily average.
12-month rolling time period.
Daily average.
12-month rolling time period as
determined at the end of each
calendar month.
(FFDCA), requesting an amendment to
an existing tolerance exemption. This
regulation eliminates the need to
establish a maximum permissible level
for residues of dimethyl sulfoxide for
pre-harvest applications.
DATES: This regulation is effective
October 12, 2022. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before December 12, 2022, and
must be filed in accordance with the
instructions provided in 40 CFR part
178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: The docket for this action,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2021–0774, is
available at https://www.regulations.gov
or at the Office of Pesticide Programs
Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)
in the Environmental Protection Agency
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460–0001. The Public Reading Room
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room and OPP Docket
is (202) 566–1744. For the latest status
information on EPA/DC services, docket
access, visit https://www.epa.gov/
dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marietta Echeverria, Registration
Division (7505T), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; main
telephone number: (202) 566–1030;
email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
This regulation establishes an
exemption from the requirement of a
tolerance for residues of dimethyl
sulfoxide (CAS Reg. No. 67–68–5) when
used as an inert ingredient (solvent, cosolvent), in pesticide formulations for
pre-harvest applications, including postemergence use. Exponent, Inc., on
behalf of Gaylord Chemical Company
submitted a petition to EPA under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
SUMMARY:
SO2 emission limit
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are an agricultural
producer, food manufacturer, or
pesticide manufacturer. The following
list of North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) codes is
not intended to be exhaustive, but rather
provides a guide to help readers
determine whether this document
applies to them. Potentially affected
entities may include:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
• Crop production (NAICS code 111).
• Animal production (NAICS code
112).
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
B. How can I get electronic access to
other related information?
You may access a frequently updated
electronic version of 40 CFR part 180
through the Office of the Federal
Register’s e-CFR site at https://
www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40.
C. How can I file an objection or hearing
request?
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21
U.S.C. 346a(g), any person may file an
objection to any aspect of this regulation
and may also request a hearing on those
objections. You must file your objection
or request a hearing on this regulation
in accordance with the instructions
provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, you must
identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2021–0774 in the subject line on
the first page of your submission. All
objections and requests for a hearing
must be in writing and must be received
by the Hearing Clerk on or before
December 12, 2022. Addresses for mail
and hand delivery of objections and
hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR
178.25(b), although the Office of the
Administrative Law Judges, which
houses the Hearing Clerk, encourages
parties to file objections and hearing
requests electronically. See https://
www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/202005/documents/2020-04-10_-_order_
urging_electronic_service_and_
filing.pdf.
In addition to filing an objection or
hearing request with the Hearing Clerk
as described in 40 CFR part 178, please
submit a copy of the filing (excluding
any Confidential Business Information
(CBI)) for inclusion in the public docket.
Information not marked confidential
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be
disclosed publicly by EPA without prior
notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your
objection or hearing request, identified
by docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–
E:\FR\FM\12OCR1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61514-61531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21662]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R05-OAR-2021-0536; FRL-9802-02-R5]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Michigan; Federal Implementation Plan for the Detroit Sulfur Dioxide
Nonattainment Area
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promulgating a
Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for attaining the 2010 sulfur dioxide
(SO2) primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS)
for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area. The FIP includes an
attainment demonstration and other elements required under the Clean
Air Act (CAA). In addition to an attainment demonstration, the FIP
addresses the requirement for meeting reasonable further progress (RFP)
toward attainment of the NAAQS, reasonably available control measures
and reasonably available control technology (RACM/RACT), enforceable
emission limitations and control measures to provide for NAAQS
attainment, and contingency measures. This action supplements a prior
action which found that Michigan had satisfied emission inventory and
nonattainment new source review (NSR) requirements for this area but
had not met requirements for the elements addressed in the FIP. The FIP
provides for attainment of the 2010 primary SO2 NAAQS in the
Detroit SO2 nonattainment area and meets the other
applicable requirements under the CAA.
DATES: This final rule is effective on November 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA-R05-OAR-2021-0536. All documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov website. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is
not placed on the internet and will be publicly available only in hard
copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either
through www.regulations.gov or at the Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77
[[Page 61515]]
West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility 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. We recommend that you
telephone Abigail Teener, Environmental Engineer, at (312) 353-7314
before visiting the Region 5 office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abigail Teener, Environmental
Engineer, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs
Branch (AR18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, telephone number: (312)
353-7314, email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background Information
Following the promulgation in 2010 of a 1-hour primary
SO2 NAAQS, on August 5, 2013, EPA designated the Detroit
area within the State of Michigan as nonattainment for this NAAQS, in
conjunction with designating multiple areas in other states as
nonattainment (78 FR 47191).
For a number of nonattainment areas, including the Detroit area,
EPA published an action on March 18, 2016, effective April 18, 2016,
finding that Michigan and other pertinent states had failed to submit
the required SO2 nonattainment plan by the submittal
deadline (81 FR 14736). This finding initiated a deadline under CAA
section 179(a) for the potential imposition of 2-to-1 NSR offset and
Federal highway funding sanctions. Additionally, under CAA section
110(c), the finding triggered a requirement that EPA promulgate a FIP
within two years of the finding unless, by that time, (a) the state had
made the necessary complete submittal, and (b) EPA had approved the
submittal as meeting applicable requirements.
Michigan submitted the Detroit SO2 attainment plan on
May 31, 2016, and submitted associated final enforceable measures on
June 30, 2016. Michigan's submission of a complete attainment plan
terminated the deadlines for imposing the 2-to-1 NSR offset sanctions
and Federal highway funds sanctions, pursuant to 40 CFR 52.31(d)(5),
but it did not terminate EPA's FIP obligation. On March 19, 2021, EPA
partially approved and partially disapproved Michigan's SO2
plan as submitted in 2016 (86 FR 14827). EPA approved the base-year
emissions inventory and affirmed that the NSR requirements for the area
had previously been met on December 16, 2013 (78 FR 76064). EPA also
approved the enforceable control measures for two facilities. At that
time, EPA disapproved the attainment demonstration, as well as the
requirements for meeting RFP toward attainment of the NAAQS, RACM/RACT,
and contingency measures. Additionally, EPA disapproved the plan's
control measures for two facilities as insufficient to demonstrate
attainment. These disapprovals triggered new sanctions clocks under CAA
section 179(a).
As Michigan has not submitted an approvable plan for the Detroit
nonattainment area, EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking on
June 1, 2022, proposing a FIP for the Detroit nonattainment area (87 FR
33095). EPA proposed limits and associated requirements for U.S. Steel
(Ecorse and Zug Island), EES Coke, Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation
(formerly AK or Severstal Steel), and Dearborn Industrial Generation
(DIG). EPA also proposed to include in its analysis the Carmeuse Lime
emission limits specified in Permit to Install 193-14A and the DTE
Energy (DTE) Trenton Channel emission limits specified in Permit to
Install 125-11C, which had already been incorporated into Michigan's
SIP.
EPA proposed to conclude that the FIP meets the requirements set
forth in the CAA to provide for the Detroit area to attain the
SO2 NAAQS. Finally, EPA proposed to conclude that the FIP
satisfies the other applicable requirements for nonattainment areas,
including requirements for RACM/RACT, RFP, and contingency measures.
The proposal supplemented the previous action in which EPA concluded
that Michigan had met the requirements for a suitable emissions
inventory and nonattainment NSR program.
II. Public Comments
The comment period on the proposed action described above closed on
July 18, 2022. EPA held a virtual public hearing on June 16, 2022. The
transcript of the public hearing is available in the docket for this
action. EPA received 14 written comments, seven of which were
supportive and seven of which were adverse. EPA also received verbal
comments from four individuals at the public hearing, all of which were
adverse or partially adverse comments. The adverse comments are
summarized below along with EPA's responses.
Comment: The commenters contend that EPA's modeling demonstration
has not correctly accounted for all the SO2 sources in the
area as well as short-term spikes in emissions. In particular, the
commenters suggest that EPA did not sufficiently account for the
Marathon Refinery emissions, as they were calculated using maximum heat
input multiplied by emissions factors. The commenters stated that
emission factors, particularly AP-42 emission factors, are intended to
calculate average emission levels and are not appropriate for
calculating modeling inputs to address the short-term SO2
NAAQS. The commenters recommend EPA use another method for calculating
Marathon Refinery emissions, such as continuous emissions monitoring,
stack testing, vendor guarantees and stack testing data from similar
facilities, material balance calculations, or optical remote sensing.
Response: Section 8.2.2.b of EPA's Guideline on Air Quality Models
(appendix W to 40 CFR part 51) (appendix W) requires regulatory
modeling of inert pollutants such as SO2 to use the emission
input data given in Table 8-1 of appendix W. For stationary point
sources subject to SIP emission limit evaluation for compliance with
short-term standards such as the 1-hour SO2 NAAQS, the
modeled emission rate is required to be based on the maximum allowable
emission limit or federally enforceable permit limit, on actual or
design capacity of the point source (whichever is greater) or federally
enforceable permit conditions, and on continuous operation for all
hours of each time period under consideration.
As stated in the technical support document (included in the docket
for this action), Marathon Refinery's emission units were modeled based
on maximum uncontrolled emissions--a rate that is higher, and
consequently more conservative in avoiding underestimation of
emissions, than would be a limited emission rate. The maximum
uncontrolled emission rates for Marathon Refinery were determined based
on the maximum heat input of each modeled point source and emission
factors derived from the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and total
reduced sulfur (TRS) concentration of the refinery fuel gas combusted
in each emission unit. The H2S/TRS concentration of the fuel
gas is a representative source-specific concentration that was used to
determine a source-specific emission factor as opposed to an AP-42
emission factor that may be determined based on average emissions
across different facilities.
Additionally, the commenters recommend different methods for
estimating short-term emissions instead of using the source-specific
emission factor used in the modeling, including continuous emissions
monitoring, stack
[[Page 61516]]
testing, vendor guarantees and stack testing data from similar
facilities, material balance calculations, or optical remote sensing.
All of these methods would be suitable for determining actual
emissions. However, EPA's modeling instead accounts for maximum
uncontrolled emissions, which are higher and more conservative than
actual emissions, based on each emission unit's maximum capacity and
combusted fuel gas. Therefore, EPA believes it has appropriately
modeled the emissions for Marathon Refinery.
Comment: Five commenters commented on the background concentration
used in the model. Three commenters believe that the background
concentration used in EPA's modeling analysis may be underestimated. To
avoid double-counting concentrations associated with sources explicitly
modeled in the demonstration, EPA's background concentration
calculation was derived by removing wind directions between 40 and 205
degrees, which the commenters contend is overly broad and eliminates
the highest concentrations that come from the easterly winds. In
particular, a commenter states that Michigan's original background
concentration calculation approach excluded wind directions between 40
and 180 degrees, and then Michigan later changed its approach, which
EPA adopted, to removing wind directions between 40 and 205 degrees
without adequate justification. A commenter suggests that sources in
Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, eastern
Michigan, and Canada, some of which are relatively close and emit much
more SO2 than the background sources that EPA considers,
should be included in the background concentration. The commenter
states that although SO2 concentrations decline with
distance, they can still remain significant with respect to the
difference between the maximum modeled concentration and the NAAQS.
One commenter contends that the FIP does not adequately justify the
approach for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area given the
large number of SO2 sources. Additionally, the commenter
points out that EPA based its approach for calculating background
concentrations on EPA guidance for calculating NOX
background concentrations, which may not be appropriate for
SO2.
The commenters also state that the uncertainty of the background
estimate was not provided, and the fact that the approach depends on
the meteorological and monitoring data used, the definition of the wind
sector, the wind sector width, and year and seasons considered adds to
this uncertainty. The commenters also state that the error is higher at
lower concentrations, which should be considered. The commenters note
that an accurate background concentration calculation is critical given
that the maximum modeled concentration is very close to the NAAQS.
Additionally, one commenter alleges that the meteorological data at
the Allen Park site is not representative due to trees near the site
that shelter the tower because they exceed its height. The commenter
states that the wind directions at Allen Park diverge from other
Michigan sites and recommend that EPA use airport data instead.
The commenters recommend that EPA perform trajectory analyses to
eliminate the possibility that concentrations at the endpoints of the
exclusion are due to extreme meteorology instead of stationary sources,
analyze different exclusion ranges, and make conservative assumptions
to minimize modeling uncertainties. One commenter recommends that EPA
model background estimates using the largest sources within 500
kilometers, use other monitoring sites, which may include using sites
classified as ``source'' or ``population'' instead of ``background''
and/or deploying additional monitoring sites, and use a meaningful
margin of error to account for model uncertainty in the background
concentration analysis.
However, two commenters contend that the background concentration
that EPA used was overly conservative and reflects an overestimate of
background concentrations, as the maximum background concentration used
in the model (11.9 parts per billion (ppb)) occurs around the 33-degree
wind direction, which is directly over a source that was explicitly
modeled in the demonstration and near other sources. One commenter
points out that the Trinity monitor, which is upstream of these
sources, recorded a concentration of 0.7 ppb for the same hour that was
used for the maximum background concentration.
Response: Sections 8.3.1.a and 8.3.3 of appendix W discusses that
background air quality should not include the ambient impacts of the
project source under consideration. Appendix W further states that
nearby sources that cause a significant concentration gradient in the
vicinity of the source(s) under consideration for emissions should not
be included in the background monitoring data and should be explicitly
modeled. The portion of the background attributable to natural sources,
other unidentified sources near the project, and regional transport
from distant sources, both domestic and international, can be
represented by air quality monitoring data. Per Table 8-1 of appendix
W, these other sources include both minor sources and distant major
sources. Section 8.3.2.b of appendix W states that EPA recommends the
use of data from the monitor closest to and upwind of the project area.
Section 8.3.2.c of appendix W also discusses that there are cases in
which the current design value may not be appropriate for use as a
background concentration, including situations with a modifying source
where the existing facility is determined to impact the ambient
monitor. In these cases, the background concentration can be determined
by excluding values when the source in question is impacting the
monitor.
In the case of the analysis for the Detroit SO2
nonattainment area, monitor values from the Allen Park monitor (AQS 26-
163-0001) that occurred when the wind directions were between 40 and
205 degrees were removed from the calculations for the background
concentration. The Allen Park monitor is on the western boundary of the
Detroit SO2 nonattainment area and is upwind of the
explicitly modeled sources in the analysis due to predominant
southwesterly winds. The directions between 40 and 205 were chosen as
concentrations from these directions would be double counting the
impacts from the explicitly modeled sources within the analysis. This
excludes all modeled sources to the northeast (U.S. Steel, EES Coke,
Carmeuse Lime, Marathon Refinery, Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation,
and DIG) and modeled sources to the south (DTE Trenton Channel and DTE
Monroe). Examining the meteorological data collected from the Allen
Park monitor, the highest concentrations measured at the monitor occur
when the winds are from the northeast, which suggests that the monitor
is being impacted by SO2 emission sources from the Detroit
area that are already included in the modeling analysis. Section
8.3.2.c.i of appendix W discusses that a 90-degree sector downwind of
the source(s) may be used to determine the area of impact. In the case
of the Detroit nonattainment area, EPA did not exclude 45 degrees to
the west of the northernmost sources. EPA did exclude 45 degrees west
of the southern source that is farther from the monitor and for which
there would be more plume spread by the time SO2 reaches the
Allen Park monitor.
[[Page 61517]]
SO2 is a localized, source-oriented pollutant, as
described in section III of EPA's final rule revising the
SO2 NAAQS (75 FR 35520) and section 4.2.3.3 of appendix W.
Section 8.3.3.d of appendix W states that portions of the background
attributable to all other sources (e.g., natural sources, minor and
distant major sources) should be accounted for through use of ambient
monitoring data and determined by the procedures found in section 8.3.2
in keeping with eliminating or reducing the source-oriented impacts
from nearby sources to avoid potential double-counting of modeled and
monitored contributions. As section 8.3.3.d of appendix W describes,
background concentrations inherently account for the impacts of minor
and distant major sources with the use of appropriate monitoring data.
Due to the localized nature of SO2, impacts from localized
sources are accounted for by either explicitly modeling these as nearby
sources in the modeling analysis or through ambient air monitoring
data. As localized sources were explicitly modeled as nearby sources in
the analysis, and the referred guidance above was followed, EPA
disagrees with the commenter that sources outside of the nonattainment
area should be explicitly included in the background concentration as
these would already be accounted for in the background concentration.
EPA disagrees with the commenter that the FIP does not adequately
justify the approach for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area
given the large number of SO2 sources and that the
background calculations relied on EPA guidance. Section 8.1 of EPA's
SO2 NAAQS Designations Modeling Technical Assistance Document (TAD),
which was most recently updated in August 2016, discusses how the
methodology for calculating NOX background concentrations
applies to SO2. The TAD explains that the same methodology
for NOX is applicable to SO2 designations
modeling based on use of the 99th percentile by hour of day and season
for background concentration excluding periods when the dominant
source(s) are influencing the monitored concentration.\1\
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\1\ See TAD, page 30. The TAD can be found at https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution/technical-assistance-documents-implementing-2010-sulfur-dioxide-standard.
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EPA agrees that an accurate background concentration is critical.
EPA has accurately calculated background concentrations from the hourly
monitoring data collected at the Allen Park ambient air monitoring
station based on guidance from EPA's TAD and appendix W. An uncertainty
analysis for background estimates is not required for regulatory air
dispersion modeling analyses and therefore, was not provided in the
technical support document for this action.
EPA disagrees that the meteorological data at the Allen Park site
is not representative and that meteorological data from the airport
should be used instead. The Allen Park monitoring site is an NCore
monitoring site for the state of Michigan that also collects
meteorological data. When comparing the wind roses of the Detroit
Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) 2016-2020 wind data and the
Allen Park 2018-2020 wind data, the wind roses are very similar in wind
direction frequency and wind speed classes. One difference between the
two sites is the prevalence of winds from the south/southwest (SSW), in
which DTW experiences more frequent SSW winds than the Allen Park site.
However, the sites experience similar easterly winds. As such, the
trees near the Allen Park monitoring site are not causing the wind
directions to diverge from the airport site; therefore, the wind
measurements from the DTW airport should not be used instead. EPA also
verified with Michigan that all monitors and meteorological instruments
at the Allen Park monitoring site meet EPA's siting criteria. This
monitoring site is subject to EPA audits and siting criteria are
frequently checked and confirmed.
EPA disagrees that trajectory analyses need to be performed and
that different exclusion ranges need to be examined. Pollution roses
from the Allen Park monitor were examined by Michigan in the
development of the background concentration. Pollution roses consider
hourly meteorological conditions and ranges of wind directions in which
SO2 concentrations impact the monitor site. As was
demonstrated by Michigan, the range of exclusion used in the FIP
modeling analysis is acceptable as the pollution rose demonstrates that
the Allen Park monitor was impacted by explicitly modeled nearby
sources in this wind direction range. Therefore, trajectory analyses
are not required for this analysis.
EPA disagrees with the commenter that modeled background estimates
should be used to determine the background concentrations for the
modeling analysis. Section 8.3.2.b of appendix W states that in most
cases, EPA recommends using data from the monitor closest to and upwind
of the project area. If several monitors are available, preference
should be given to the monitor with characteristics that are most
similar to the project area. The Allen Park monitor was chosen as a
representative monitor for background concentrations for the Detroit
nonattinment area due its location within the SO2
nonattainment boundary and prevailing southwest winds that make the
monitor upwind of Detroit.
EPA disagrees that the background concentrations are overly
conservative; as explained above, EPA has followed relevant EPA
guidance in determining background concentrations. EPA did exclude
SO2 concentrations from northeast of the Allen Park monitor
based on data from the SO2 pollution roses for the Allen
Park monitor. These excluded impacts from explicitly modeled nearby
sources in the modeling analysis to prevent double-counting impacts.
EPA did not exclude 45 degrees to the west of the northernmost sources
for the background concentration as plume spread from these sources
would not have as great of an impact as more distant emission sources.
Therefore, the exclusion range sufficiently excludes nearby sources in
the area.
Comment: Four commenters commented on EPA's usage of rural
dispersion coefficients as part of the modeling analysis. EPA used
rural dispersion coefficients to characterize three tall stacks in the
modeling analysis to better correlate the modeled concentrations with
modeling concentrations at two monitors in the Detroit nonattainment
area. The commenters state that the heat island effect can cause higher
concentrations during the night, which is shown with the urban
coefficient option. The commenters recommend additional analysis to
determine whether the SO2 temporal distribution at the
monitors can be extrapolated to the area of maximum SO2
concentration near DTE Trenton Channel.
The commenters raise concern that the use of a rural dispersion
coefficient for stacks at EES Coke, DTE Monroe, DTE River Rouge, and
DTE Trenton Channel leads to significantly lowered predicted
concentrations. The commenters claim that EPA did not properly document
its model performance evaluation to support the claim that applying a
rural dispersion coefficient to the listed sources was the most
appropriate way to run the model. The commenters state that if EPA had
properly applied an urban dispersion coefficient to the sources, the
area could not model attainment.
Response: EPA agrees that the urban heat island effect can in some
cases cause higher concentrations during the night. However, as was
demonstrated in
[[Page 61518]]
the document entitled ``Analysis of Michigan Dispersion Coefficient
Use'' and the technical support document, both included in the docket
for this action, this was not the case when examining monitoring data
in the Detroit nonattainment area for the Southwest High School and
West Windsor monitors. Monitoring data from these monitors demonstrated
that peak monitored impacts occurred during the daytime (between 12:00
p.m.-3:00 p.m.) instead of at night. As described in the AERMOD
Implementation Guide,\2\ plumes from tall buoyant stacks, transported
over the urban boundary layer at night, may be unaffected by the urban
enhanced dispersion and may require special consideration on a case-by-
case basis. The urban dispersion option in AERMOD only applies to
nighttime and morning transition hours. Nighttime hours would normally
be stable if not for the urban heat island effect, and the morning
transition hours right after sunrise, when the atmosphere would
transition from stable to convective conditions in a rural setting,
might be more convective in urban conditions. Both monitored data at
the Southwest High School and West Windsor sites, as well as modeled
concentrations using the rural option for these stacks, showed peak
concentrations outside of the nighttime and morning transition hours,
which indicate the rural dispersion option is more appropriate for this
set of stacks in this analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ See AERMOD Implementation Guide, pages 19-20, which can be
found at https://gaftp.epa.gov/Air/aqmg/SCRAM/models/preferred/aermod/aermod_implementation_guide.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA disagrees with the commenters that EPA did not properly
document the model performance evaluation. Section 7.2.1.1.e of
appendix W states that model users should consult with the appropriate
reviewing authority and the latest version of the AERMOD Implementation
Guide when evaluating this situation. Further, Section 5.1 of the
AERMOD Implementation Guide states that a more thorough case-specific
justification will be needed to support excluding elevated sources from
application of the urban option.\3\ As these guidance documents state,
a case-specific justification needs to be provided to support the
exclusion of these stacks from the urban option, and the case-specific
justification was provided within the technical support document as
well as the document ``Analysis of Michigan Dispersion Coefficient
Use,'' which are both in the docket for this action. These documents
demonstrated that the application of the urban option to the tall
stacks at EES Coke, DTE Monroe, DTE River Rouge, and DTE Trenton
Channel resulted in anomalously high concentrations due to plume height
limitations in the model. As such, additional analysis is also not
warranted to determine if the temporal distribution can be extrapolated
to the DTE Trenton facility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See the AERMOD Implementation Guide, page 20, which can be
found at https://gaftp.epa.gov/Air/aqmg/SCRAM/models/preferred/aermod/aermod_implementation_guide.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment: The commenter raises concern that the 50 kilometer
distance from the nonattainment area is an inadequate cutoff for
including major point sources. The commenter states that there are a
number of large sources just beyond this distance that are not included
in the background concentration.
Response: EPA disagrees that the 50 kilometer distance from the
nonattainment area is an inadequate cutoff for including major point
sources. EPA used the maximum distance (50 kilometers) from the
nonattainment area in its modeling analysis. Section 4.1.c of appendix
W explains that due to the steady-state assumption, Gaussian plume
models are generally considered applicable to distances less than 50
kilometers, beyond which, modeled predictions of plume impact are
likely conservative. As such, AERMOD is not recommended for use in far-
field (greater than 50 kilometers) dispersion applications. Since
SO2 is a source-oriented pollutant and not considered a
regional pollutant for regulatory purposes, it is not appropriate to
model beyond 50 kilometers. In this case, EPA explicitly modeled DTE
Monroe, a source outside of the nonattainment area, in addition to the
sources within the nonattainment area as a conservative measure. Please
also refer to the responses above regarding background concentrations,
specifically the response to comments about sources beyond 50
kilometers being included in the modeling analysis and background
concentration.
Comment: The commenter states that EPA's modeling lacks
transparency and detail, as EPA did not provide sufficient maps and
tabular data, SO2 levels throughout the nonattainment area,
and information pertaining to understanding spatial and temporal
exposure variation, locations of impacts, critical meteorological
factors, culpable sources, background levels, etc.
Response: EPA's modeling analysis is available in the technical
support document, which is included in the docket for this action. In
the technical support document, EPA provided maps of the areas of
maximum concentration, as well as the modeling parameters used in the
area of analysis, including background concentrations. As the focus of
this action is to demonstrate attainment of the NAAQS, and the
technical support document demonstrates that the areas of maximum
concentration are below the NAAQS, EPA did not provide maps of
SO2 concentrations throughout the nonattainment area.
However, EPA's modeling files are available to the public upon request.
The maximum modeled concentration, including background concentrations,
was 73.6 ppb and occurred approximately 4 kilometers to the northwest
of DTE Trenton Channel's facility. Other modeled concentrations that
were less than the maximum modeled design value at receptors in the
nonattainment area were 71.5 ppb to the northeast of Cleveland-Cliffs
Steel Corporation and DIG, 73.2 ppb on the northern fenceline of Zug
Island (when U.S. Steel's Zug Island sources are in operation), and
68.7 ppb to the northeast of Carmeuse Lime.
Comment: EPA received three comments regarding the FIP's margin of
safety and the health effects of SO2, particularly for
children in Detroit. The commenters state that the FIP does not provide
an uncertainty analysis. The commenters contend that as the maximum
modeled concentration is so close to the NAAQS (73.4 ppb compared to 75
ppb), the FIP does not provide any margin of safety. The commenters
state that the model cannot be considered conservative due to likely
background concentration underprediction, the use of rural dispersion
coefficients, and longer-term average emission rates. The commenters
recommend that EPA either validate the model using the monitoring data
from the SO2 monitoring sites in the Detroit nonattainment
area or set limits that produce modeled SO2 concentrations
well below the NAAQS.
The commenters argue that the NAAQS itself is not protective, as a
health study of children in Detroit shows that 1-hour maximum
SO2 exposures were associated with increased odds of
respiratory symptoms, even though the levels of SO2 that the
children were exposed to were generally below the NAAQS. One commenter
states that children in Detroit have breathing issues due to pollution
that cause them to miss school and cited a study that shows Southwest
Detroit has some of the worst air pollution in the country. The
commenters note that Detroit communities experience asthma rates that
are 1.5-3 times the national average along with low rates of asthma
[[Page 61519]]
controller utilization due to health care access, poverty, and
caregiver issues.
Response: As described further in comment responses below, under
section 109 of the CAA, EPA sets primary, or health-based, NAAQS for
all criteria pollutants to provide requisite protection of public
health, including the health of at-risk populations, with an adequate
margin of safety. The health effects information provided by the
commenters, which was addressed in EPA's promulgation of the 2010
SO2 NAAQS, is not in dispute in this rulemaking, and EPA in
this action is not reopening the NAAQS itself which was established to
protect public health with an adequate margin of safety. This
rulemaking instead addresses the requirements needed for the Detroit
area to meet the NAAQS. However, EPA is aware of the demographic data
for the Detroit nonattainment area, and that the Detroit nonattainment
area includes communities that are pollution-burdened and underserved,
and environmental justice concerns are addressed in comment responses
below.
EPA disagrees that the model cannot be considered conservative. In
its modeling analysis, EPA used the maximum uncontrolled or maximum
allowable emission rates for all sources in the Detroit nonattainment
area. In reality, it is extremely unlikely that all sources would be
operating at maximum emission rates simultaneously. Additionally, EPA's
method of background concentration calculation, use of rural dispersion
coefficients, and reliance on longer-term average emission rates follow
EPA guidance and are appropriate for demonstrating attainment of the
NAAQS, as explained in comment responses above and below.
Comment: Three commenters state that a taller combined stack at
U.S. Steel will not significantly decrease SO2
concentrations that affect public health in residential areas downwind
of the facility.
Response: While EPA acknowledges that combining and raising the
U.S. Steel Boilerhouse 2 stack will only decrease near-field
SO2 concentrations where current ambient concentrations
threaten the NAAQS, EPA is requiring this stack construction in
combination with new limits at U.S. Steel, a facility that has not
previously had hourly SO2 limits. Both of these control
mechanisms are needed to ensure that the SO2 concentrations
in the Detroit area, including those in residential areas downwind of
the facility, stay permanently below the NAAQS and result in protection
of public health with an adequate margin of safety.
Comment: The commenters contend that long-term average limits alone
do not provide for attainment of the one-hour SO2 NAAQS, as
30-day average limits allow sources to operate at higher levels before
and after shutdowns and remove incentives for sources to avoid
malfunctions. The commenters believe that a long-term average limit
should have supplemental limits governing the magnitude and frequency
of short-term periods of emissions above the emission rate at which the
longer-term average limit is set. Additionally, the commenters contend
that EPA's use of national average adjustment factors for the DIG and
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation 24-hour average limits is not
justified.
Response: EPA disagrees with the commenter's statement that longer-
term average limits alone do not provide for attainment of the 1-hour
SO2 NAAQS. EPA believes as a general matter that properly
set, longer-term average limits are comparably effective in providing
for attainment of the 1-hour SO2 standard as are 1-hour
limits. On April 23, 2014, EPA issued recommended guidance for meeting
the statutory requirements in SO2 nonattainment plans, in a
document entitled, ``Guidance for 1-Hour SO2 Nonattainment
Area SIP Submissions'' (2014 SO2 Guidance).\4\ EPA's 2014
SO2 Guidance sets forth in detail the reasoning supporting
its conclusion that the distribution of emissions that can be expected
in compliance with a properly set longer-term average limit is likely
to yield overall air quality protection that is as good as a
corresponding hourly emissions limit set at a level that provides for
attainment. EPA's 2014 SO2 Guidance specifically addressed
this issue as it pertains to requirements for attainment demonstrations
for SO2 nonattainment areas under the 2010 NAAQS, especially
with regard to the use of appropriately set comparably stringent
limitations based on averaging times as long as 30 days. EPA found that
a longer-term average limit which is comparably stringent to a short-
term average limit is likely to yield comparable air quality; and that
the net effect of allowing emissions variability over time but
requiring a lower average emission level is that the resulting worst-
case air quality is likely to be comparable to the worst-case air
quality resulting from the corresponding higher short-term emission
limit without variability. See 2014 SO2 Guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/20140423guidance_nonattainment_sip.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any accounting of whether a 30-day average limit provides for
attainment must consider factors reducing the likelihood of hourly
exceedances as well as factors creating a risk of additional
exceedances. To facilitate this analysis, EPA used the concept of a
critical emission value (CEV) for the SO2-emitting
facilities which are being addressed in a nonattainment plan. The CEV
is the continuous 1-hour emission rate which is expected to provide for
the average annual 99th percentile maximum daily 1-hour concentration
to be at or below 75 ppb, which in a typical year means that fewer than
four days have maximum hourly ambient SO2 concentrations
exceeding 75 ppb. See 2014 SO2 Guidance. EPA recognizes that
a 30-day limit can allow occasions in which emissions exceed the CEV,
and such occasions yield the possibility of hourly exceedances
occurring that would not be expected if emissions were always at the
CEV. At the same time, the establishment of the 30-day average limit at
a level below the CEV means that emissions must routinely be lower than
they would be required to be with a 1-hour emission limit at the CEV.
The proposed FIP provides an illustrative example of the effect
that application of a limit with an averaging time longer than one hour
can have on air quality.\5\ This example illustrates both (1) the
possibility of elevated emissions (emissions above the CEV) causing
exceedances not expected with emissions at or below the CEV and (2) the
possibility that the requirement for routinely lower emissions would
result in avoiding exceedances that would be expected with emissions at
the CEV. In this example, moving from a 1-hour limit to a 30-day
average limit results in one day that exceeds 75 ppb that would
otherwise be below 75 ppb, one day that is below 75 ppb that would
otherwise be above 75 ppb, and one day that is below 75 ppb that would
otherwise be at 75 ppb. In net, the 99th percentile of the 30-day
average limit scenario is lower than that of the 1-hour limit scenario,
with a design value of 67.5 ppb rather than 75 ppb. Stated more
generally, this example illustrates several points: (1) The variations
in emissions that are accounted for with a longer-term average limit
can yield higher concentrations on some days and lower concentrations
on other days, as determined by the factors influencing dispersion on
each day, (2) one must
[[Page 61520]]
account for both possibilities, and (3) accounting for both effects can
yield the conclusion that a properly set longer-term average limit can
provide as good or better air quality than allowing constant emissions
at a higher level. As noted in the proposed FIP, and as described in
appendix B of the 2014 SO2 guidance, EPA expects that an
emission profile with a comparably stringent 30-day average limit is
likely to have a net effect of having a lower number of exceedances and
better air quality than an emissions profile with maximum allowable
emissions under a 1-hour emission limit at the critical emission value.
Thus, EPA continues to assert that appropriately set 30-day emission
limits can be protective of the 1-hour SO2 standard.
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\5\ For the full discussion of the hypothetical example, see the
proposed FIP, June 1, 2022 (87 FR 33095) at page 33100 at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID Number EPA-R05-OAR-2021-0536.
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The long-term average limits included in the FIP are for a period
of 30 days for DTE Trenton Channel and 24 hours for DIG and Cleveland-
Cliffs Steel Corporation. As stated above, EPA posits that limits based
on periods of as long as 30 days (720 hours), determined in accordance
with EPA's April 2014 guidance, can, in many cases, be reasonably
considered to provide for attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
Since 30 days for DTE Trenton Channel and 24 hours for DIG and
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation are equal to or well within,
respectively, the period of 30 days, EPA has concluded that a limit
based on a period of 30 days for DTE Trenton Channel and limits based
on a period of 24 hours for DIG and Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation
determined in accordance with EPA's April 2014 guidance can be
reasonably considered to provide for attainment. While the longer-term
averaging limits allow occasions in which emissions may be higher than
the level that would be allowed with the 1-hour limit, the limits
compensate by requiring average emissions to be adequately lower than
the level that would otherwise have been required by a 1-hour average
limit.
As noted by the commenters, EPA's April 2014 guidance addresses the
use of supplemental short-term limits. While supplemental limits can
further strengthen the justification for the use of longer-term limits,
they are not necessary to provide for attainment of the 2010
SO2 NAAQS. In this case, as discussed further below, DTE
Trenton Channel has been permanently shut down during the comment
period for this action, and DIG and Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation
are not the primary contributors to the areas of maximum modeled
concentrations. Therefore, EPA is not considering supplemental limits
for DTE Trenton Channel, DIG, or Cleveland-Cliffs at this time.
Regarding the adjustment factors used for the daily DIG and
Cleveland-Cliffs limits, EPA believes that the appendix D ratios are
acceptable adjustment factors in this specific situation for use in
calculating a long-term average emission limit when hourly
SO2 emissions data are not available for use in calculating
source-specific emission ratios. Although these daily limits are
included in the FIP, EPA is not relying on emission reductions from
either DIG or Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation to demonstrate
attainment of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. Rather, EPA has included
these limits in the FIP to ensure that SO2 concentrations in
the Detroit area stay permanently below the NAAQS. Since these sources
are not the controlling sources with respect to the attainment
demonstration, reliance on the default adjustment factors to account
for the emissions variability provides a suitable estimate in this
instance where no other data is available.
For the reasons stated above and in the proposed rule, EPA
concludes that the use of long-term average emission limits for DTE
Trenton Channel, DIG, and Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation is
consistent with recommendations discussed in EPA's April 2014 guidance
and adequately protects against violations of the 1-hour SO2
NAAQS.
Comment: The commenters disagree with EPA's interpretation of RACT
for SO2 as the control technology necessary to achieve the
NAAQS and point out that RACT has been defined for other pollutants as
the lowest emission limit that is reasonably available considering
technological and economic feasibility. The commenters contend that the
U.S. Steel emission limits do not achieve a reduction in
SO2, as the maximum allowable annual emissions, assuming
maximum operation for every hour in a year, are higher than U.S.
Steel's past annual emissions. The commenters believe that EPA should
consider alternatives to the requirement for combining and raising the
U.S. Steel Boilerhouse 2 stacks as well as complete a RACT analysis
considering technological and economic feasibility for U.S. Steel, DIG,
Cleveland-Cliffs, and EES Coke.
Response: Section 172 (c)(1) of the CAA provides that ``such plan
shall provide for the implementation of all reasonably available
control measures as expeditiously as practicable (including such
reductions in emissions from existing sources in the area as may be
obtained through the adoption, at a minimum, of reasonably available
control technology) and shall provide for attainment of the national
primary ambient air quality standards.'' EPA has long defined RACT for
SO2 as that control technology which will achieve the NAAQS
within statutory timeframes. See State Implementation Plans; General
Preamble for the Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990; Proposed Rule, 57 FR 13498, 13547 (April 16, 1992)
(General Preamble); see also, SO2 Guideline Document, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, EPA-452/R-94-008, February
1994 (SO2 Guideline), at 6-39. For most criteria pollutants,
RACT is control technology that is reasonably available considering
technological and economic feasibility. The definition of RACT for
SO2 is that control technology which is necessary to achieve
the NAAQS (40 CFR 51.100(o)). Since SO2 RACT is already
defined as the technology necessary to achieve the SO2
NAAQS, control technology which failed to achieve the NAAQS would fail
to be SO2 RACT. EPA intends to continue defining RACT for
SO2 as that control technology which will achieve the NAAQS,
as it has in numerous SIP actions since promulgating the 2010 NAAQS.
Here, the emission limits in the FIP and previously approved into the
SIP provide for such NAAQS attainment, as demonstrated by the modeling.
Consequently, under EPA's longstanding approach to SO2 RACT,
the CAA section 172(c)(1) RACM/RACT requirement is met. CAA section
172(c)(6) also requires plans to include enforceable emission limits
and control measures as may be necessary or appropriate to provide for
attainment. The emission limits and associated requirements included as
part of the FIP analysis show attainment of the 2010 SO2
NAAQS of 75 ppb, as the modeling analysis, which is detailed in the
technical support document for this action, shows a maximum
concentration of 73.6 ppb. Thus, further controls are not necessary to
satisfy the requirement for RACT.\6\
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\6\ See SO2 Guideline Document, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711, EPA-452/R-94-008, February 1994.
See also EPA's 2014 SO2 Nonattainment Guidance; General
Preamble for the Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 at 57 FR 13498 (April 16, 1992).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As determined through air dispersion modeling, emission limits and
associated requirements at the U.S. Steel, EES Coke, DIG, Cleveland-
Cliffs Steel Corporation, DTE Trenton
[[Page 61521]]
Channel, and Carmeuse Lime facilities are needed to reach attainment in
the Detroit area. While EPA recognizes the commenters' concern that the
annual maximum emissions allowed under the U.S. Steel limits set forth
in the FIP are larger than actual emissions in previous years, EPA
believes that setting limits at U.S. Steel, a facility that has not
previously had hourly SO2 emission limits, is critically
important to ensuring that SO2 concentrations in the Detroit
area stay permanently below the NAAQS.
Comment: The commenters point out that the FIP does not require
monitoring, recordkeeping, or reporting from U.S. Steel No. 2 Baghouse
or DIG Flares 1 and 2.
Response: EPA notes that U.S. Steel No. 2 Baghouse was mistakenly
omitted from 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(3)(ii) in the proposed regulatory text
and EPA has updated 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(3)(ii) to include U.S. Steel No.
2 Baghouse. Recordkeeping and reporting for U.S. Steel No. 2 Baghouse
are required under 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(5)(ii) and 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(6)(ii), respectively. Regarding compliance for DIG Flares 1
and 2, EPA has added the requirement to 40 CFR 52.1189(e)(2) that the
owner or operator verify compliance with the limit for Boilers 1, 2, 3
and Flares 1 and 2 (combined) by following the procedures and
methodologies contained in the document entitled ``Protocol for
Demonstrating Continuous Compliance with the Emission Limitations of
ROP MI-ROP-N6631-2004'' as set forth in its operating permit (Permit
MI-ROP-N6631-2012a, modified June 28, 2016).
Comment: EPA received seven comments regarding emissions monitoring
requirements. The commenters believe that the FIP should require all
units, particularly at U.S. Steel and DIG, to install a Continuous
Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) on all units to monitor
SO2 emissions directly, which the commenters state would be
a much more accurate and transparent way to monitor emissions than what
the proposed FIP requires. The commenters state that it is unclear as
to why the FIP would require CEMS to be installed at U.S. Steel
Boilerhouse 2 but not at U.S. Steel Boilerhouse 1 and why the FIP would
require CEMS for the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation blast furnaces
but not the U.S. Steel blast furnaces. The commenters also state that
it is unclear as to why a Predictive Emissions Monitoring System (PEMS)
is allowed in lieu of CEMS to monitor DIG emissions. A commenter states
that CEMS are available and commonly used and that it is particularly
important that SO2 emissions are monitored closely as the
maximum modeled SO2 concentration is very close to the
NAAQS. The commenters recommend that EPA require CEMS to be installed
at each U.S. Steel and DIG unit, and that EPA explain the choice of
monitoring technique if CEMS is not deemed appropriate, considering
regulatory needs, monitoring technology costs, and relative benefits of
the monitoring technique.
Response: With regard to DIG units, the FIP requires compliance as
set forth in its operating permit (Permit MI-ROP-N6631-2012a, modified
June 28, 2016). As described in the response above regarding DIG Flares
1 and 2 compliance, EPA added additional compliance language to 40 CFR
52.1189(e)(2). These compliance mechanisms are currently in place and
work to sufficiently monitor hourly SO2 emissions at the DIG
facility; therefore, EPA is not requiring CEMS on the DIG units at this
time.
With regard to U.S. Steel units, the FIP requires CEMS on
Boilerhouse 2, the highest-emitting unit at the facility, as part of
the new stack construction. For the remaining U.S. Steel units, the FIP
requires the owner or operator to calculate hourly SO2
emissions using all raw material sulfur charged into each affected
emission unit and assumes 100 percent conversion of total sulfur to
SO2 to be conservative. Aside from the U.S. Steel
boilerhouses, blast furnaces, and the associated furnace flares, the
other emission limits for other U.S. Steel units are very small (all
less than 5 pounds per hour (lbs/hr) and only one over 1 lbs/hr). Many
large SO2 sources, such as blast furnace stoves, blast
furnace flares, and (reheat) furnaces, combust blast furnace gas and/or
coke oven gas. These gases are considered fuel for those units. EPA
believes that frequent fuel sampling will provide sufficiently accurate
measurement of SO2 emissions. Fuel sampling has historically
been used to determine emissions, and EPA believes this method is
acceptable here. The FIP requires the owner or operator of each
applicable U.S. Steel unit to submit a Compliance Assurance Plan (CAP)
for the unit that specifies calculation methodology, procedures, and
inputs used in these calculations. EPA expects that the procedures
shall include a fuel sampling schedule at a frequency that captures any
variation in fuel sulfur content. Additionally, while Boilerhouse 1 is
not currently operating, U.S. Steel has committed not to combust coke
oven gas at Boilerhouse 1 upon restart, which is reflected in the
Boilerhouse 1 limit set forth in the FIP. EPA concludes that the
required CAPs, as well as the quarterly requirement to submit
calculated hourly SO2 emissions to EPA, are sufficient for
determining compliance with the emission limits set forth in the FIP.
However, the requirement of CAPs does not preclude future requirements
or installation of CEMS on these units.
Comment: The commenters believe that the requirement that U.S.
Steel submit a CAP for units that do not require CEMS detailing the
calculation methodology, procedures, and inputs that will be used for
monitoring SO2 emissions is insufficient. The commenters
believe that U.S. Steel's CAPs should undergo public notice and
comment, but point out that this is not possible as the plans are
required to be submitted after the effective date of the FIP.
Additionally, the commenters pointed out that the FIP does not allow
EPA the authority to review, modify, or reject a CAP, and that the CAP
does not require continuous monitoring.
Response: EPA disagrees with the commenters' position that the
requirement for U.S. Steel to submit CAPs is insufficient. The public
is not an approving authority for CAPs, and therefore, there is no
requirement that the owner or operator submit the CAPs for public
review and approval. However, for transparency and ease in
accessibility, EPA will post the CAPs to the Detroit SO2 FIP
website at https://www.epa.gov/mi/detroit-so2-federal-implementation-plan. Although the FIP does not require EPA's explicit approval of
CAPs, EPA has authority to enforce the requirement to submit CAPs that
meet the requirements set forth in the FIP. Failure to submit a CAP or
submission of a CAP that does not meet the requirements set forth in
the FIP would be a violation of the FIP. The owner or operator of the
U.S. Steel facility is required to maintain records of hourly emissions
calculated in accordance with the CAP under 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(5)(ii)
and to report these hourly mass balance calculations, as well as excess
emissions, quarterly, and no later than the 30th day following each
quarter under 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(6)(ii) and 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(6)(iv),
respectively.
Comment: EPA received three comments about idled units at U.S.
Steel. The commenters contend that although the FIP requires that a CAP
be submitted for each idled U.S. Steel unit under 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(4),
the FIP does not require U.S. Steel to comply with emission limits or
monitoring requirements for idled units. One commenter states that the
community is very concerned with the reopening of
[[Page 61522]]
U.S. Steel and believes the FIP should include limits for idled units.
Response: The FIP includes limits for all units, regardless of
operating status. The idled units referenced in 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(4)
each have limits under 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(1)(i). Additionally, emissions
from these units are required to be monitored and reported under 40 CFR
52.1189(b)(3)(ii) and 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(6)(ii), respectively.
Comment: EPA received three comments about contingency measures in
the FIP. The commenters disagree with EPA's interpretation of
contingency measures for SO2 to mean that the State, or EPA
in the case of a FIP, has a comprehensive enforcement program. The
commenters suggest that under CAA section 172(c)(9), contingency
measures must take effect without further action by the State or EPA,
which would exclude enforcement actions because an enforcement action
is further action. Additionally, the commenters state that enforcement
actions are not ``measures'' as defined in CAA section 110(a)(2), and
that a comprehensive enforcement program is already required separately
under CAA section 110(a)(2). The commenters also note that enforcement
actions are not reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act
(APA), so citizens are not able to enforce EPA's proposed contingency
measures, and that EPA's reliance on enforcement actions is contrary to
the history of the CAA due to their discretionary nature.
Additionally, the commenters allege that authority to enforce the
FIP does not equate to a comprehensive enforcement program, which the
commenters suggest would mean having a schedule for determining whether
violations occurred and a binding mechanism requiring EPA to take
action if they did occur. The commenters suggest that a comprehensive
enforcement program could not be called aggressive unless it went
beyond the basic enforcement requirements, for example, increasing the
basic mandatory penalty scheme.
The commenters also point out that contingency measures are
intended to address situations that cause an area to fail to attain
despite a valid attainment demonstration and that there is no specific
measure in the proposed FIP that would be activated in the case that
EPA's analysis that the FIP will bring the Detroit area into attainment
is incorrect. The commenters contend that it is more likely that
violations of the 1-hour standard will occur with longer-term average
limits in the FIP due to short-term spikes in emissions at sources that
are still complying with their long-term average limits. The commenters
state that the fact that EPA does not require a new SIP submittal for
determining whether an area has attained the standard, even though
modeling parameters such as source characteristics and background
concentrations could have changed, is an additional issue if
contingency measures do not address failures to attain despite valid
attainment demonstrations.
The commenters state that EPA failed to include contingency
measures in the FIP regulatory text and recommend that EPA incorporate
alternative contingency measures into the FIP, such as switching to
low-sulfur fuel, limiting operation until the SIP is revised, limits
that automatically scale to adjust for background concentrations, and
supplementary short-term limits for longer-term average limits. The
commenters state that these suggested contingency measures could be
promulgated as rules to take effect without further action from EPA.
The commenters disagree that the contingency measures language as
written in CAA section 172(c)(9) does not apply to SO2 plans
and was directed at other pollutants such as ozone, as Congress added
specific contingency measures language in the ozone provisions but did
not change the general contingency measures provisions in CAA section
172(c)(9). The commenters argue that without implementing alternative
contingency measures, EPA fails to make a good-faith effort to comply
with the terms of the September 30, 2020, consent decree to promulgate
a FIP that complies with the CAA.
Response: EPA disagrees with the commenter that the contingency
measures are inadequate. Section 172(c)(9) of the CAA defines
contingency measures as such measures in a nonattainment plan that are
to be implemented in the event that an area fails to make RFP, or fails
to attain the NAAQS, by the applicable attainment date. Contingency
measures are to become effective without further action by the State or
EPA, where the area has failed to (1) achieve RFP or, (2) attain the
NAAQS by the statutory attainment date for the affected area. These
control measures are to consist of other available control measures
that are not included in the control strategy for the attainment plan
SIP for the affected area.
However, EPA has long interpreted the contingency measures
requirement for SO2 in light of the fact that SO2
presents special considerations. See, General Preamble at 13547; see
also, SO2 Guideline at 6-40--6-41, 2014 Guidance at 41-42.
EPA interprets the contingency measure provisions as primarily directed
at NAAQS implementation which can be undertaken on an areawide basis,
such as for ozone or particulate matter. EPA's policy for
SO2 is different because, first, for some of the other
criteria pollutants, the analytical tools for quantifying the
relationship between reductions in precursor emissions and resulting
air quality improvements remain subject to significant uncertainties,
in contrast with procedures for directly-emitted pollutants such as
SO2. Second, emissions estimates and attainment analyses for
other criteria pollutants can be strongly influenced by overly
optimistic assumptions about control efficiency and rates of compliance
for many small sources. This is not the case for SO2.
In contrast, the control efficiencies for SO2 control
measures are well understood and are far less prone to uncertainty.
Since SO2 control measures are by definition based on what
is directly and quantifiably necessary to attain the SO2
NAAQS, it would be unlikely for an area to implement the necessary
emission controls yet fail to attain the NAAQS. Therefore, for
SO2 programs, EPA has long explained that ``contingency
measures'' can mean that the air agency has a comprehensive program to
identify sources of violations of the SO2 NAAQS and to
undertake an aggressive follow-up for compliance and enforcement,
including expedited procedures for establishing enforceable consent
agreements pending the adoption of a revised SIP. EPA believes that
this approach continues to be valid for the implementation of
contingency measures to address the 2010 SO2 NAAQS, and
consequently reiterated its view in the preamble to the final 2010
NAAQS and has followed it in several actions on SIPs implementing the
2010 NAAQS. See, e.g., Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard
for Sulfur Dioxide; Final Rule, 75 FR 35520, 35576 (June 22, 2010);
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Pennsylvania; Attainment Plan for the Warren County, Pennsylvania
Nonattainment Area for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide Primary National Ambient
Air Quality Standard; Final Rule, 83 FR 51629, 51632-33; Approval and
Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania;
Attainment Plan for the Beaver, Pennsylvania Nonattainment Area for the
2010 Sulfur Dioxide Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard;
Final Rule, 84 FR 51988,
[[Page 61523]]
51994-95. EPA therefore concludes that EPA's comprehensive enforcement
program, as discussed below, satisfies the SO2 contingency
measure requirement.
The commenters listed several options for specific contingency
measures. EPA acknowledges that one or more of these options may be
appropriate in a specific situation, and for a specific source, if the
area fails to achieve RFP or fails to attain the NAAQS by the statutory
attainment date. However, in this situation, as Detroit is a
multisource area with several emission units per facility, requiring
one or more of these measures also may not be appropriate depending on
the cause of the potential violation, which would need to be evaluated
at the time of occurrence. For example, triggering a fuel-switch at one
facility may not bring the area into attainment if the issue is caused
by another facility violating its limit. Similarly, limiting operation
of one facility may be appropriate if EPA determines that the subject
facility is the cause of the problem, but requiring additional measures
at other facilities may not be warranted where the cause of the NAAQS
violation was non-compliance by a different facility and where the
NAAQS violation can be most efficiently remedied by bringing that
source into compliance with its established emission limits. Likewise,
limiting operations at all SO2 facilities in the area may
not appropriately address the issue due to the localized nature of
SO2 emissions and direct link to a specific facility.
Changing the limits at all facilities from a longer-term limit to a
shorter-term limit similarly may appropriately address the problem, but
this action also may not, and EPA would evaluate appropriate measures
if and when an issue arises. These are illustrative examples, and while
not exhaustive, highlight the need for EPA to be able to respond
appropriately in a particular scenario due to the localized nature of
SO2 impacts. In any case where the Detroit area fails to
achieve RFP or attain the NAAQS, EPA would consider all viable
solutions to address the actual issue at a specific facility or
facilities and take appropriate responsive action.
In accordance with longstanding policy, EPA deems investigation and
enforcement authority for aggressive follow-up for ensuring source
compliance an appropriate and expeditious solution to any potential
violations.
As noted in the proposed rule, EPA's 2014 SO2 guidance
describes special features of SO2 planning that influence
the suitability of alternative means of addressing the requirement in
CAA section 172(c)(9) for contingency measures including a
comprehensive enforcement program. EPA has a comprehensive enforcement
program as specified in section 113(a) of the CAA. Under this program,
EPA is authorized to take enforcement actions to ensure compliance with
the CAA and the rules and regulations promulgated under the CAA. Such
actions include the issuance of an administrative order requiring
compliance with the applicable implementation plan; the issuance of an
administrative order requiring the payment of a civil penalty for past
violations; and the commencement of a civil judicial action. Orders
issued under CAA section 113(a) require subject entities to comply with
the requirements set forth in the order as expeditiously as
practicable, but in no event longer than one year after the date the
order was issued. Issuance of any such order does not prohibit EPA from
assessing any penalties. Under CAA section 113(b), civil judicial
enforcement may require assessment of penalties of up to $109,024 per
day for each violation.\7\ Additionally, under CAA section 113(c), any
person who knowingly violates any requirement or prohibition of an
implementation plan may be subject to criminal enforcement, with
penalties including fines and imprisonment.
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\7\ Pursuant to the Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustment Rule, 87
FR 1676 (Jan. 12, 2022), codified at 40 CFR 19.4.
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EPA's enforcement program is capable of prompt action to remedy
compliance issues. Additionally, enforcement in communities with
environmental justice concerns is a priority for EPA. EPA's steps to
advance environmental justice through enforcement include increasing
the number of facility inspections in overburdened communities,
resolving noncompliance through remedies with tangible benefits, and
increasing engagement with communities about enforcement cases that
most directly impact them.\8\ EPA also notes that under CAA section
304, citizens may also commence civil enforcement actions against any
person who is in violation of an emission standard. See 42 U.S.C.
7604(a)(1), (f). Therefore, EPA believes that EPA's enforcement program
by itself suffices to meet CAA section 172(c)(9) requirements for
SO2 as interpreted in the 1992 General Preamble, the
SO2 Guideline, the 2010 SO2 NAAQS promulgation,
the 2014 SO2 guidance, and in numerous subsequent SIP
actions. Finally, EPA disagrees with the assertion that without
implementing alternative contingency measures, EPA fails to make a
good-faith effort to comply with the terms of the September 30, 2020,
consent decree to take final action to promulgate a FIP. The consent
decree properly imposes only a September 30, 2022, deadline for EPA to
sign a notice of final rulemaking to approve a revised SIP submission,
to promulgate a FIP, or to approve in part a revised SIP submission and
promulgate a partial FIP for the Detroit area addressing the elements
of CAA sections 172(c) and 192, but does not (as it could not) impose
any requirements for how EPA might meet the statutory elements.
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\8\ See https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/documents/strengtheningenforcementincommunitieswithejconcerns.pdf.
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Comment: EPA received eight comments about environmental justice.
The commenters contend that while EPA recognized that communities are
located in the Detroit nonattainment area with environmental justice
concerns, EPA did not conduct a meaningful analysis or adequately use
its discretionary authority to consider environmental justice in
development of the FIP. The commenters state that EPA did not follow
Executive Order 12898, which directs EPA to achieve environmental
justice to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. The
commenters contend that EPA should have considered alternatives to its
proposed plan and how the FIP could provide the most benefit to Detroit
populations given the history of industrial pollution and nonattainment
for multiple pollutants and the environmental justice communities in
the Detroit nonattainment area, which are demonstrated by EPA's
EJScreen as well as other screening tools such as the draft Climate and
Economic Justice Screening Tool and the Michigan EJ screen map. The
commenters also believe that EPA should consider actions that can be
taken to acknowledge and address the impacts of the delay in bringing
the Detroit area into attainment, and ensure that any future
nonattainment is addressed promptly, as well as more fully acknowledge
the burden that Detroit community members of different populations have
faced due to nonattainment. One commenter points out that EPA's
conclusion that the FIP will decrease pollution levels, which will be
beneficial to the environmental justice populations in Detroit, does
not address the fact that it will not be more beneficial to
environmental justice populations than others in the area nor
acknowledge the harm that previous emissions in the area have caused
the
[[Page 61524]]
community. The commenters believe that EPA only took steps to
promulgate a FIP as a result of a consent decree arising from a 2021
civil action, as EPA's deadline to promulgate a FIP was April 18, 2018,
so the commenters request that EPA explain the delay in promulgating a
FIP.
The commenters recommend that EPA's environmental justice analysis
address the presence of vulnerable populations in the nonattainment
area and include an analysis of the FIP's impact on these vulnerable
populations, such as individuals with asthma, particularly with respect
to long-term average emission limits. The commenters note that the
presence of asthma in Detroit is extremely high as compared to the rest
of the state and point to studies showing that vulnerable populations
may experience health effects associated with SO2
concentrations below the NAAQS. The commenters state that affected
populations of the nonattainment area need assurance on plans for
access to healthcare, asthma treatment, and air filtration. The
commenters also request a more detailed description of aggressive
enforcement measures EPA will use and recommend that EPA require all
sources to install CEMS.
Response: While EPA appreciates the commenters' concerns and the
issues facing communities in the greater Detroit area, in general EPA
disagrees with the commenters' characterization of EPA's consideration
of environmental justice as it regards this action. EPA is aware of the
demographic data for the Detroit nonattainment area, and that the
Detroit nonattainment area includes communities that are pollution-
burdened and underserved. In part for this reason, EPA conducted
outreach beyond its obligations of notice-and-comment rulemaking as
discussed in the response to comments on EPA's outreach and comment
process below.
Under section 109 of the CAA, EPA sets primary, or health-based,
NAAQS for all criteria pollutants to provide requisite protection of
public health, including the health of at-risk populations, with an
adequate margin of safety. In EPA's June 22, 2010, rulemaking
strengthening the SO2 NAAQS to the level of 75 ppb, EPA
provided a detailed rationale for the Administrator's determination
that the 2010 SO2 NAAQS would be protective of public health
(75 FR 35520). This rationale included explicit consideration of
protection for people, including children, with asthma. Specifically,
the standard was based on direct evidence of SO2-related
effects in controlled human exposure studies of exercising individuals
with asthma, as well as epidemiologic evidence of associations between
SO2 concentrations in ambient air and respiratory-related
emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
Commenters reference Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February
16, 1994), which directs Federal agencies, to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law, to identify and address
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects of their actions on minority and low-income populations.
Executive Order 12898 is addressed in the executive order section of
this action. With regard to environmental justice considerations, to
identify environmental burdens and susceptible populations in
communities in the Detroit nonattainment area, EPA performed a
screening-level analysis using EPA's EJ screening and mapping tool
(``EJScreen'').\9\ EPA prepared two EJScreen reports covering buffer
areas of 1- and 6-mile diameters around U.S. Steel, which is the main
facility impacted by the FIP. Our screening-level analysis of the area
strongly suggests that communities within the selected buffer areas
bear a high overall pollution burden as indicated by high percentile
values for particulate matter and other environmental indicators, as
well as high percentiles of low income and people of color.
Specifically, the 6-mile buffer included in the docket of this
rulemaking showed that the percentage of low-income individuals is
almost twice the U.S. average. These results highlight commenters'
concerns of the pollution burdens that Detroit community members of
different populations have faced.
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\9\ See documentation on EPA's Environmental Justice Screening
and Mapping Tool at https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen.
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Considering these results, EPA further considered emission
reductions expected from the FIP and forthcoming emission reduction
measures that may help to mitigate existing pollution issues in the
area. As explained in the proposal, the proposed FIP regulatory
language includes new SO2 emission limits throughout the
U.S. Steel facility. Additionally, the FIP includes several new
requirements for U.S. Steel's Boilerhouse 2, including the requirement
to combine and raise its stacks to increase dispersion away from the
area, new limits, and installation of a new CEMS. Further, EPA included
the DTE Trenton Channel permit as part of the FIP analysis, which was
scheduled to retire 10 11 at the time the proposed FIP was
published and has since shut down as of June 19, 2022. Hence, the FIP
analysis included the permitted (Permit to Install 125-11C) enforceable
SO2 limit of 5,907 lbs/hr on a 30-day average basis
applicable to DTE Trenton Channel as a precautionary measure. Actual
emissions at DTE Trenton Channel in recent years were 3,114, 3,754, and
885 tons per year (tpy) in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. In Wayne
County (the partial county containing in the Detroit SO2
Nonattainment area), these reductions would account for 25.2, 31.9 and
14.8 percent of SO2 emissions in 2018, 2019 and 2020,
respectively. While EPA recognizes the importance of assessing impacts
of our actions on potentially overburdened communities, we believe that
the promulgation of the FIP will not adversely affect disproportionally
impacted populations in the Detroit nonattainment area. The purpose of
the FIP is to ensure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS, so
promulgation of this FIP is expected to have a positive impact on the
Detroit nonattainment area as a whole, for all populations in the
Detroit nonattainment area.
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\10\ See https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2022/coal-plants-retiring-with-millions-of-dollars-flowing-to-environmental-justice-communities.
\11\ See https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/267-1_-_sierra_club_-_dte_separate_agreement.pdf.
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With regard to the delay in bringing the area into attainment,
Michigan and EPA have faced several obstacles during the attainment
planning process, beginning with the invalidation of Michigan
Administrative Code (MAC) 336.1430 (``Rule 430'') by the Michigan Court
of Claims on October 4, 2017. The court held that, because Rule 430
contained enforceable limits for U.S. Steel and the limits applied to a
single facility, Rule 430 failed the ``general applicability''
requirement of Michigan's Administrative Procedures Act, Michigan
Compiled Laws (MCL) 24.201 et seq. The court expressly declined to
advise how the State could properly impose emission limits on the
source at issue via other means but noted elsewhere in the decision
that the state and other sources ``agreed to revise pertinent DEQ
permits.'' Since the time of the designation, Michigan and EPA have
been working on an approvable attainment plan and emission reductions
in the area. In addition, to the extent that the State prefers to
proceed via generally applicable state regulations rather than permits,
EPA expects that Michigan will draft future rules to avoid the concerns
raised by the
[[Page 61525]]
court which resulted in invalid SO2 limits to avoid this
issue going forward.
In 2016, Michigan submitted an SO2 attainment plan for
the Detroit nonattainment area, which included limits for DTE Trenton
Channel, DTE River Rouge, Carmeuse Lime, and U.S. Steel. While EPA was
unable to approve the 2016 attainment plan as a whole, EPA did approve
the limits for DTE Trenton Channel and Carmeuse Lime into Michigan's
SIP on March 19, 2021. The compliance dates for DTE Trenton Channel and
Carmeuse Lime permits were January 1, 2017, and October 1, 2018,
respectively, and both facilities have been in compliance since their
respective dates. In March 2020, a more stringent interim limit for DTE
River Rouge became effective, and in May 2021 the facility shut down.
Although the FIP is based on maximum allowable or uncontrolled
emissions, EPA also completed a model run using actual emissions from
2015-2017, which was used in EPA's January 28, 2022, action to
determine whether the area attained the standard by the attainment date
(87 FR 4501). The modeling was based on guidelines from appendix W of
40 CFR part 51 and EPA's TAD that contained an assessment of the air
quality impacts from the following sources: U.S. Steel Ecorse, U.S.
Steel Zug Island, EES Coke, DTE River Rouge, DTE Trenton Channel,
Carmeuse Lime, DTE Monroe, Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation, DIG, and
Marathon Refinery. The modeling demonstration included actual emissions
for DTE River Rouge, Trenton Channel, and U.S. Steel, the source that
was determined to have the most significant contribution to the maximum
NAAQS violations in the area. EPA found that the areas with modeled
SO2 concentrations above the NAAQS were on and surrounding
Zug Island in areas that are not residential, while all the monitors in
the Detroit nonattainment area showed values below the NAAQS. The
updated FIP analysis modeled attainment of the NAAQS in the Detroit
nonattainment area after inclusion of the new U.S. Steel emission
limits proposed in this FIP and the emission reduction measures that
have already occurred since the finding of failure to attain, including
the previously approved DTE Trenton Channel and Carmeuse Lime emission
limits and the shutdown of DTE River Rouge. The implementation of the
FIP makes these reductions, as well as the existing emission limits at
EES Coke, Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation, and DIG, permanent and
enforceable and provides protection for future attainment. Further, as
previously discussed, these reductions will be even greater with the
shutdown of DTE Trenton Channel.
With regard to the enforcement measures that EPA will use, as
stated in the proposed rule, options include the issuance of an
administrative order requiring compliance with the applicable
implementation plan; the issuance of an administrative order requiring
the payment of a civil penalty for past violations; and the
commencement of a civil judicial action. These options are explained
further in the response to the comment above regarding contingency
measures. While the FIP does not require CEMS on all units, as
explained in the response to comments about CEMS above, EPA is
confident that the FIP provides adequate means of determining whether a
violation has occurred in order to take appropriate enforcement action.
Comment: EPA received four comments on EPA's outreach and comment
process. The commenters contend that the timeline between the proposed
rule publication date and the public hearing and public hearing
registration deadline was not sufficient and should have been closer to
30 or 45 days, similar to other EPA comment periods. The commenters
state that while EPA is facing a tight deadline to finalize the FIP,
the tight timeline is due, in part, to EPA's delay in responding to
Michigan's SIP.
The commenters also state that while EPA held a meeting with
various Detroit environmental organizations and community groups in
March 2022, the FIP was not the main focus of the meeting and a more
robust approach to community outreach was needed, particularly due to
the high levels of limited English proficiency (LEP) persons living in
the area. The commenters give examples of ways that EPA could have
improved its public outreach, including holding a community meeting
before the proposed FIP was published, working with community groups in
the area to distribute information, and providing handouts about the
FIP surrounding the public hearing. One commenter believes that EPA
should engage with the public as soon as new NAAQS are set and EPA
knows which areas area likely to fall into nonattainment about the
causes and impacts of the nonattainment designation and solutions being
sought, as well as after each delay to explain why the delay occurred
and how it will be avoided in the future.
Additionally, the commenters state that EPA only provided notice of
the hearing in the proposed rule published in the Federal Register and
did not provide notice that was sufficiently accessible on widely
disseminated platforms or reach out directly to the community. In
particular, the commenters note that the proposed rule was published in
English with no translation services available and that translation
services were not made available for the public hearing, which is of
particular concern due to the Spanish and Arabic speaking communities
in and surrounding the nonattainment area. The commenters note that
while EPA did solicit requests for translation services in the proposed
rule, this solicitation did not give LEP persons meaningful access to
translation services as it was published in an English-only document
with a tight deadline for submitting requests. Therefore, the
commenters suggest that EPA should have proactively provided Arabic and
Spanish translation services at the public hearing.
The commenters contend that EPA did not meet its obligations under
Executive Order 13166 and EPA's FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and has
subjected individuals to discrimination by failing to proactively reach
out to LEP persons in and around the nonattainment area due to the high
percentages of LEP persons in the area, as shown in EJScreen analyses
completed by both commenters and EPA. Additionally, the commenters
mention the Informal Resolution Agreement that EPA entered with
Michigan, under which Michigan developed an LEP Plan. The commenters
believe that EPA should have followed the guidelines set forward in
this plan, which include providing solicitations for translation
services in other languages besides English and developing a strategy
to best engage with LEP individuals. The commenters note that while EPA
has since translated a fact sheet into Arabic and Spanish, these fact
sheets were not available at the beginning of the comment period and
EPA did not release a plan on how to ensure the documents would reach
LEP persons.
Response: EPA appreciates the commenters' suggestions on how EPA
can improve its outreach and comment process and will consider, as
appropriate, in future actions the suggestions to extend the time
between proposal publication and public hearing, engage earlier with
the public, and reach out to LEP communities before the comment period.
However, EPA would like to highlight the additional outreach efforts
that EPA made surrounding the FIP proposal publication beyond its
obligations of notice-and-comment rulemaking.
[[Page 61526]]
As the commenters note, EPA held a meeting with representatives
from the City of Detroit, Michigan Environmental Council, Great Lakes
Environmental Law Center (GLELC), Southwest Detroit Environmental
Vision, and the Ecology Center regarding the FIP, including a
presentation by EPA and a roundtable discussion with these
stakeholders. EPA disagrees that the FIP was not the main topic of the
meeting and has posted the presentation and attendance list to the
docket for this action. Specifically, after outlining a summary of the
FIP proposal, EPA requested feedback on structuring future engagement
with stakeholders in Detroit.
In addition to communicating directly with stakeholders, EPA issued
a press release on the day the proposed FIP was published in the
Federal Register.\12\ The press release noted that EPA would be
accepting public comments on the proposed FIP. EPA also created a
website for the FIP containing a summary of the rule, as well as
information about how to register for the public hearing or submit
written comments. The FIP was also highlighted on EPA's Region 5 web
page.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-opens-public-comment-period-proposed-federal-plan-reduce-sulfur-dioxide-air.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With regard to translation services for the public hearing, EPA
solicited requests in both the Federal Register document as well as on
the registration web page for the public hearing. EPA proactively
arranged for interpretation services to be available at the public
hearing in case the services were requested by registered attendees;
however, no registered attendees requested these services or any other
translation services.
During the public comment period, EPA received a request from GLELC
to delay the public hearing, as GLELC stated that EPA had not provided
adequate outreach to LEP communities. Per the email exchange posted in
the docket for this action, EPA was unable to delay the public hearing,
but did what was possible during the comment period to address this
request. As the commenters note, EPA created a fact sheet, which
included information about how to submit written comments, during the
comment period and translated it into Spanish and Arabic. EPA posted
the fact sheets in the docket for this action, on the FIP web page, and
on the general Spanish and Arabic EPA web pages. EPA appreciates the
suggestions on how to reach out to LEP communities more proactively for
future rulemakings.
Comment: Two commenters argue that EPA should develop maps and
other analyses that represent SO2 exposure within and
outside of the nonattainment area in conjunction with maps illustrating
cumulative impacts of social, economic, and physical environmental
factors to show how SO2 concentrations add to cumulative
pollution impacts and to evaluate environmental justice concerns.
Response: The focus of this action is to ensure attainment of the
SO2 NAAQS within the nonattainment area. EPA has no
information suggesting that SO2 concentrations outside of
the nonattainment area boundary are above the SO2 NAAQS, and
EPA does not believe that exposure maps within and beyond the
nonattainment are pertinent to demonstrating how the control measures
and emissions limits in the FIP provide for attainment of the
SO2 NAAQS in the Detroit area.
Comment: The FIP includes two separate limits for U.S. Steel
Boilerhouse 2 based on two different operating scenarios. Two
commenters note that the FIP incorrectly states that Boilerhouse 2 is
the only U.S. Steel unit operating under the scenario in which
Boilerhouse 2 has a limit of 750.00 lbs/hr. The commenters point out
that the modeling analysis for this scenario includes operation of the
U.S. Steel Ecorse sources, which include the Hot Strip Mill, No. 2
Baghouse, Main Plant Boiler No. 8, and Main Plant Boiler No. 9, in
addition to Boilerhouse 2.
Response: EPA notes that the U.S. Steel Ecorse sources were
included in the modeling analysis for the scenario in which Boilerhouse
2 has a limit of 750 lbs/hr and were incorrectly excluded from the
scenario in the proposed rule. EPA has updated 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(1)(ii)
accordingly. The limits for the U.S. Steel Ecorse sources are shown in
Table 1 below.
Table 1--U.S. Steel Ecorse Limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2 emission
Unit limit (lbs/hr)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 1................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 2................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 3................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 4................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 5................... 0.31
No. 2 Baghouse.......................................... 3.30
Main Plant Boiler No. 8................................. 0.07
Main Plant Boiler No. 9................................. 0.07
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment: The proposed FIP includes a requirement for the owner or
operator of the U.S. Steel facility to combine and raise all five
stacks from each corresponding boiler at U.S. Steel Boilerhouse 2 into
a single larger stack. Two commenters state that all five Boilerhouse 2
boilers are not currently in operation. The commenters request that
only stacks from the operating boilers be required to be included in
the combined stack in order to reduce capital, operating, and
maintenance costs. The commenters assert that if a boiler begins
operation at a later date, it can be included in the stack at that
time.
Response: EPA agrees that not requiring any idled boiler stacks to
be added to the combined Boilerhouse 2 stack, so long as no
SO2 is emitted from Boilerhouse 2 except from the new stack
after the new stack construction is required to be completed, would not
affect attainment of the NAAQS in the Detroit area. Therefore, EPA is
not explicitly requiring that all Boilerhouse 2 boilers be added to the
combined stack, and EPA has updated 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(2)(i)
accordingly. As set forth in 40 CFR 52.1189(b)(2)(ii), beginning two
years after the effective date of the FIP, no owner or operator shall
emit SO2 from Boilerhouse 2, except from the stack point at
least 170 feet above ground level.
Comment: EPA received two comments about the U.S. Steel Boilerhouse
2 stack construction timeline. The commenters contend that the two
years allotted for construction of the stack is not sufficient, as
construction cannot begin until Michigan issues the construction
permit. The commenters state that at least 15 months are needed to
procure materials and complete stack construction, which would leave 9
months for Michigan to issue the permit. The commenters allege that the
timeline is aggressive, given that the completion is dependent on
Michigan acting quickly to issue the permit.
Response: EPA disagrees that the U.S. Steel Boilerhouse 2 stack
construction timeline is insufficient. The construction permit process
was considered as part of this timeline. Michigan is aware of the
construction timeline, and the construction permit for the Boilerhouse
2 stack construction is a high priority for the State. Additionally,
Michigan is statutorily required to process permit applications within
240 days if public comment is required and 180 days if public comment
is not required.\13\ This
[[Page 61527]]
comment did not provide any new information on the project timeline, so
therefore, EPA is not extending the timeline for the Boilerhouse 2
stack construction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ See correspondence between EPA and Michigan included in the
docket for this action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment: The commenter states that the community would like to know
if they will be notified if facilities reopen, how they would be
affected if facilities have ownership changes, what kind of assurance
there is that Michigan will not permit new sources in the area, and
EPA's future commitment to the Detroit area.
Response: The focus of this action is to ensure attainment of the
SO2 NAAQS in the Detroit area. The requirements of the FIP
will continue to apply regardless of any facility ownership change. If
there are changes to the Michigan SIP, which includes the emission
limits and requirements set forth in the FIP, those changes will be
subject to public notice and comment.
Comment: The commenter requests that EPA explain how it will
guarantee that the FIP will attain and maintain the SO2
NAAQS in light of the June 30, 2022, West Virginia v. EPA Supreme Court
ruling regarding EPA's ability to regulate carbon emissions.
Response: The attainment planning requirements that the FIP
addresses are set forth in the CAA, and the June 30, 2022, Supreme
Court ruling does not affect this action. This action regulates
SO2 emissions, which the CAA explicitly requires, and does
not regulate carbon emissions as such or impose limits on greenhouse
gas emissions.
Comment: The commenter states that industry should be held
accountable for the pollution that it emits, and that industry and
government do not provide sufficiently transparent air quality data.
Response: This nonattainment plan provides emission limits and
requirements for facilities in the Detroit area and is protective of
the SO2 NAAQS. A variety of air quality data sources are
available for the Detroit area, including but not limited to design
value reports,\14\ ECHO,\15\ and AirNow.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ See https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-design-
values#:~:text=A%20design%20value%20is%20a,50Exit%20Exit%20EPA%20webs
ite.
\15\ See https://echo.epa.gov/resources/echo-data/about-the-data.
\16\ See https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment: The commenter requests that EPA minimize the cost and time
required to implement the FIP, as the commenter states that a facility
that is not economically viable is less likely to comply with limits.
Response: The FIP includes limits and associated requirements
needed to meet the NAAQS in the Detroit area. Compliance with the
requirements of the FIP is not optional and is not dependent on a
facility's economic viability. As discussed further above in the
response to comments regarding continency measures, EPA has a
comprehensive enforcement program as specified in section 113 of the
CAA. Under this program, EPA is authorized to take any action it deems
necessary or proper for the effective enforcement of the CAA and the
rules and regulations promulgated under the CAA, including the
requirements set forth in the FIP.
Comment: The commenter states that alleged deficiencies in the
model cannot be addressed by assuming DTE Trenton Channel will be shut
down, as there are several model receptors with concentrations that
exceed 70 ppb.
Response: EPA's FIP modeling analysis does not assume the shutdown
of DTE Trenton Channel. Instead, the FIP analysis includes the
permitted (Permit to Install 125-11C) enforceable SO2 limit
of 5,907 lbs/hr on a 30-day average basis as a precautionary measure.
As described above, particularly in the response to comments regarding
background concentrations and dispersion coefficients, EPA concludes
that its modeling analysis sufficiently demonstrates attainment of the
SO2 NAAQS of 75 ppb, even assuming continued operation of
DTE Trenton Channel (which will not in fact operate).
Comment: The commenter points out that the emission rate used for
DTE Trenton Channel in the model is higher than the emission rate
specified in the proposed FIP (7,834 lbs/hr versus 7,661 lbs/hr).
Response: EPA notes the discrepancy between the DTE Trenton Channel
emission rates in the proposed FIP and in the model. As no other
changes were made to the model, EPA did not remodel based on this error
alone, since the error resulted in a more conservative design value.
EPA believes that this discrepancy has minimal impact on the maximum
modeled concentration, and as it results in an overestimate, it does
not have any negative impact on human health.
III. What action is EPA taking?
EPA is promulgating a FIP for attaining the 2010 SO2
NAAQS for the Detroit area and for meeting other nonattainment area
planning requirements. In accordance with section 172 of the CAA, this
FIP includes an attainment demonstration for the Detroit area and
addresses requirements for RFP, RACT/RACM, enforceable emission
limitations and control measures, and contingency measures. EPA has
previously concluded that Michigan has addressed the requirements for
emissions inventories for the Detroit area and nonattainment area NSR.
The FIP is based on the Carmeuse Lime emission limits specified in
Permit to Install 193-14A, the DTE Trenton Channel emission limits
specified in Permit to Install 125-11C, and the U.S. Steel, EES Coke,
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation, and DIG emission limits specified
in the regulatory language of this FIP. The Carmeuse Lime and DTE
Trenton Channel permits have already been approved into Michigan's SIP
that is incorporated into 40 CFR part 52, so EPA is not re-
incorporating them into 40 CFR part 52 here.
EPA made changes to the regulatory text that was included in the
proposed FIP under 40 CFR 52.1189 paragraphs (b)(1)(ii), (b)(2)(i),
(b)(3)(ii), and (e)(2) due to public comments received. These changes
include updating the list of sources that may operate under the
scenario in which U.S. Steel Boilerhouse 2 has a limit of 750.00 lbs/hr
to include U.S. Steel Ecorse sources, as included in EPA's modeling
analysis; not explicitly requiring all Boilerhouse 2 boiler stacks to
be merged and raised, so long as no SO2 is emitted except
from the new stack beginning two years after the effective date of the
FIP; adding U.S. Steel No. 2 Baghouse to the list of units subject to
monitoring requirements, which previously was incorrectly omitted; and
adding language regarding compliance for DIG Flares 1 and 2.
Additionally, EPA corrected a citation error in the proposed regulatory
text under CFR 52.1189(b)(3)(iii).
This FIP satisfies EPA's duty to promulgate a FIP for the area
under CAA section 110(c) that resulted from the previous finding of
failure to submit. However, it does not affect the sanctions clock
started under CAA section 179 resulting from EPA's partial disapproval
of the prior SIP, which would be terminated by an EPA rulemaking
approving a revised SIP. See 40 CFR 52.31.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review 13563
This action is exempt from review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), as it is not a rule of general applicability. This action
specifically regulates four facilities in Detroit, Michigan.
[[Page 61528]]
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose an information collection burden under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a ``collection of information'' is
defined as a requirement for ``answers to . . . identical reporting or
recordkeeping requirements imposed on ten or more persons . . .'' 44
U.S.C. 3502(3)(A). Because the FIP applies to just four facilities, the
Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply. See 5 CFR 1320(c).
Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
The OMB control numbers for our regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40
CFR part 9.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
I certify that this action will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. This
action will not impose any requirements on small entities. This action
adds additional controls to certain sources. None of these sources are
owned by small entities, and therefore are not small entities.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect
small governments. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any state,
local or tribal governments or the private sector.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in
Executive Order 13175. It will not have substantial direct effects on
tribal governments. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this
action.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is
not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866, and
because EPA does not believe the environmental health or safety risks
addressed by this action present a disproportionate risk to children.
To the extent this action will limit SO2 emissions, the rule
will have a beneficial effect on children's health by reducing air
pollution.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355,
May 22, 2001), because it is not a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
This rulemaking does not involve technical standards.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
EPA believes that this action does not have disproportionately high
and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority
populations, low-income populations and/or indigenous peoples, as
specified in Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
This final rule will improve local air quality by reducing
SO2 emissions in a part of the Detroit metropolitan area
that includes a higher proportion of minority and low-income
populations compared to the State or US averages. Socioeconomic
indicators such as low income, unemployment rate and percentage of
people of color \17\ were all at levels at least two times that of the
state-wide averages (in some cases two to five times higher), within
one to six miles from facilities affected by this action (see EJScreen
analyses provided in the docket for this action). These populations, as
well as all affected populations in this area, will stand to benefit
from the increased level of environmental protection with the
implementation of this rule.
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\17\ See https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/overview-demographic-indicators-ejscreen for the definition of each demographic
indicator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
K. Determination Under Section 307(d)
Pursuant to CAA section 307(d)(1)(B), this action is subject to the
requirements of CAA section 307(d), as it promulgates a FIP under CAA
section 110(c).
L. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
This rule is exempt from the CRA because it is a rule of particular
applicability.
M. Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for
the appropriate circuit by December 12, 2022. Filing a petition for
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review, does
not extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be
filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action.
This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its
requirements. See CAA section 307(b)(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides.
Michael Regan,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, 40 CFR part 52 is amended
as follows:
PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
0
2. Add Sec. 52.1189 to subpart X to read as follows:
Sec. 52.1189 Control strategy: Sulfur dioxide (SO2).
(a) The plan submitted by the State on May 31, 2016 to attain the
2010 1-hour primary sulfur dioxide (SO2) national
[[Page 61529]]
ambient air quality standard for the Detroit SO2
nonattainment area does not meet the requirements of Clean Air Act
(CAA) section 172 with respect to SO2 emissions from the
U.S. Steel (Ecorse and Zug Island), EES Coke, Cleveland-Cliffs Steel
Corporation (formerly AK or Severstal Steel), and Dearborn Industrial
Generation (DIG) facilities in the Detroit, Michigan area. These
requirements for these four facilities are satisfied by paragraphs
(b)through(e) of this section, respectively.
(b) This section addresses and satisfies CAA section 172
requirements for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area by
specifying the necessary emission limits and other control measures
applicable to the U.S. Steel Ecorse and Zug Island facilities. This
section applies to the owner(s) and operator(s) of the facilities
located at 1 Quality Drive and 1300 Zug Island Road in Detroit,
Michigan. The requirements in this section for the Hot Strip Mill Slab
Reheat Furnaces 1-5, No. 2 Baghouse, Main Plant Boiler No. 8, and Main
Plant Boiler No. 9 apply to the owner and operator of the U.S. Steel
Ecorse facility, and the requirements in this section for Boilerhouse
1, Boilerhouse 2, A1 Blast Furnace, B2 Blast Furnace, D4 Blast Furnace,
A/B Blast Furnace Flares, and D Furnace Flare apply to the owner and
operator of the U.S. Steel Zug Island facility.
(1) SO2 emission limits. (i) Beginning on the effective
date of the FIP, no owner or operator shall emit SO2 from
the following units in excess of the following limits:
Table 1 to Paragraph (b)(1)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2 emission
Unit limit (lbs/
hr)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boilerhouse 1 (all stacks combined)..................... 55.00
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 1................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 2................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 3................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 4................... 0.31
Hot Strip Mill--Slab Reheat Furnace 5................... 0.31
No. 2 Baghouse.......................................... 3.30
Main Plant Boiler No. 8................................. 0.07
Main Plant Boiler No. 9................................. 0.07
A1 Blast Furnace........................................ 0.00
B2 Blast Furnace........................................ 40.18
D4 Blast Furnace........................................ 40.18
A/B Blast Furnace Flares................................ 60.19
D Furnace Flare......................................... 60.19
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) Beginning two years after the effective date of the FIP, no
owner or operator shall emit SO2 from Boilerhouse 2 in
excess of the following limits:
(A) Boilerhouse 2 shall emit less than 750.00 lbs/hr unless
Boilerhouse 1, A1 Blast Furnace, B2 Blast Furnace, D4 Blast Furnace, A/
B Blast Furnace Flares, or D Furnace Flare is operating, in which case
it shall emit less than 81.00 lbs/hr.
(B) [Reserved]
(2) Stack restrictions and permit requirements. (i) The owner or
operator shall construct a stack for Boilerhouse 2. The stack emission
point must be at least 170 feet above ground level. The owner or
operator shall submit a construction permit application for the stack
to the State of Michigan within 90 days of the effective date of the
FIP. Where any compliance obligation under this section requires any
other state or local permits or approvals, the owner or operator shall
submit timely and complete applications and take all other actions
necessary to obtain all such permits or approvals.
(ii) Beginning two years after the effective date of the FIP, no
owner or operator shall emit SO2 from Boilerhouse 2, except
from the stack emission point at least 170 feet above ground level.
(3) Monitoring requirements. (i) Not later than two years after the
effective date of the FIP, the owner or operator shall install and
continuously operate an SO2 continuous emission monitoring
system (CEMS) to measure SO2 emissions from Boilerhouse 2 in
conformance with 40 CFR part 60, appendix F procedure 1.
(ii) The owner or operator shall determine SO2 emissions
from Boilerhouse 1, Hot Strip Mill Slab Reheat Furnaces 1-5, No. 2
Baghouse, Main Plant Boiler No. 8, Main Plan Boiler No. 9, A1 Blast
Furnace, B2 Blast Furnace, D4 Blast Furnace, A/B Blast Furnace Flares,
and D Furnace Flare using mass balance calculations as described in
paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(iii) Within 180 days of the installation of the CEMS specified in
paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, the owner or operator shall
perform an initial compliance test for SO2 emissions from
Boilerhouse 2 while the boilerhouse is operating in accordance with the
applicable emission limit during the period of testing identified in
paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section. The initial compliance test shall
be performed using EPA Test Method 6 at 40 CFR part 60, appendix A-4.
(4) Compliance assurance plan. To determine compliance with the
limits in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the owner or operator
shall calculate hourly SO2 emissions using all raw material
sulfur charged into each affected emission unit and assume 100 percent
conversion of total sulfur to SO2. The owner or operator
shall implement a compliance assurance plan (CAP) for all units except
Boilerhouse 2 and any idled units that shall specify the calculation
methodology, procedures, and inputs used in these calculations and
submit the plan to EPA within 30 days after the effective date of the
FIP. The owner or operator must submit a list of idled units to EPA
within 30 days of the effective date of the FIP. The owner or operator
must submit a CAP for any idled units prior to resuming operations.
(5) Recordkeeping. The owner/operator shall maintain the following
records continuously for five years beginning on the effective date of
the FIP:
(i) All records of production for each affected emission unit.
(ii) All records of hourly emissions calculated in accordance with
the CAP.
(iii) In accordance with paragraphs (b)(3) of this section, all
CEMS data, including the date, place, and time of sampling or
measurement; parameters sampled or measured; and results.
(iv) Records of quality assurance and quality control activities
for emission monitoring systems including, but not limited to, any
records required by 40 CFR part 60, appendix F Procedure 1.
(v) Records of all major maintenance activities performed on
emission units, air pollution control equipment, CEMS, and other
production measurement devices.
(vi) Any other records required by the Quality Assurance
Requirements for Gas Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems Used for
Compliance Determination rule at 40 CFR part 60, appendix F Procedure 1
or the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for
Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities rule at 40 CFR part
63, subpart FFFFF.
(6) Reporting. Beginning on the effective date of the FIP, all
reports under this section shall be submitted quarterly to Compliance
Tracker, Air Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Branch, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Mail Code AE-17J, 77 W.
Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590.
(i) The owner or operator shall submit a CAP in accordance with
paragraph (b)(4) of this section within 30 days of the effective date
of the FIP.
(ii) The owner or operator shall report CEMS data and hourly mass
balance calculations quarterly in accordance
[[Page 61530]]
with CEMS requirements in paragraph (b)(3) of this section and the CAP
requirements set forth in paragraph (b)(4) of this section no later
than the 30th day following the end of each calendar quarter.
(iii) The owner or operator shall report the results of the initial
compliance test for the Boilerhouse 2 stack within 60 days of
conducting the test.
(iv) The owner or operator shall submit quarterly excess emissions
reports for all units identified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of
this section no later than the 30th day following the end of each
calendar quarter. Excess emissions means emissions that exceed the
emission limits specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. The
reports shall include the magnitude, date(s), and duration of each
period of excess emissions, specific identification of each period of
excess emissions that occurs during all periods of operation including
startups, shutdowns, and malfunctions of the unit, the nature and cause
of any malfunction (if known), and the corrective action taken, or
preventative measures adopted.
(v) The owner or operator of each unit shall submit quarterly CEMS
performance reports, to include dates and duration of each period
during which the CEMS was inoperative (except for zero and span
adjustments and calibration checks), reason(s) why the CEMS was
inoperative and steps taken to prevent recurrence, and any CEMS repairs
or adjustments no later than the 30th day following the end of each
calendar quarter.
(vi) The owner or operator shall also submit results of any CEMS
performance tests required by 40 CFR part 60, appendix F, Procedure 1
(e.g., Relative Accuracy Test Audits, Relative Accuracy Audits, and
Cylinder Gas Audits) no later than 30 days after the test is performed.
(vii) When no excess emissions have occurred or the CEMS has not
been inoperative, repaired, or adjusted during the reporting period,
such information shall be stated in the quarterly reports required by
paragraphs (b)(6) of this section.
(c) This section addresses and satisfies CAA section 172
requirements for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area by
specifying the necessary emission limits and other control measures
applicable to the EES Coke facility. This section applies to the owner
and operator of the facility located at 1400 Zug Island Road in
Detroit, Michigan.
(1) SO2 emission limits. Beginning on the effective date
of the FIP, no owner or operator shall emit SO2 from the
Underfire Combustion Stack EUCoke-Battery in excess of 544.6 lbs/hr, as
a 3-hour average, and 2071 tons per year, on a 12-month rolling basis
as determined at the end of each calendar month, and 0.702 pounds per
1000 standard cubic feet of coke oven gas, as a 1-hour average.
(2) Monitoring requirements. The owner or operator shall maintain
and operate in a satisfactory manner a device to monitor and record the
SO2 emissions from the Underfire Combustion Stack EUCoke-
Battery on a continuous basis. The owner or operator shall use
Continuous Emission Rate Monitoring (CERM) data for determining
compliance with the hourly limit in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
The owner or operator shall operate the CERM system in conformance with
40 CFR part 60, appendix F.
(d) This section addresses and satisfies CAA section 172
requirements for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area by
specifying the necessary emission limits and other control measures
applicable to the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation (formerly AK or
Severstal Steel) facility. This section applies to the owner and
operator of the facility located at 4001 Miller Road in Dearborn,
Michigan.
(1) SO2 emission limits. Beginning on the effective date
of the FIP, no owner or operator shall emit SO2 from the
following units in excess of the following limits:
Table 2 to Paragraph (d)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2 emission limit Time period/
Unit operating scenario
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``B'' Blast Furnace Baghouse 71.9 lbs/hr....... Calendar day
Stack. average.
``B'' Blast Furnace Stove Stack. 38.75 lbs/hr...... Calendar day
average.
``B'' Blast Furnace Baghouse and 77.8 lbs/hr....... Calendar day
Stove Stacks (combined). average.
``B'' Blast Furnace Baghouse and 340 tons per year. 12-month rolling
Stove Stacks (combined). time period as
determined at the
end of each
calendar month.
``C'' Blast Furnace Baghouse 179.65 lbs/hr..... Calendar day
Stack. average.
``C'' Blast Furnace Stove Stack. 193.6 lbs/hr...... Calendar day
average.
``C'' Blast Furnace Baghouse and 271.4 lbs/hr...... Calendar day
Stove Stacks (combined). average.
``C'' Blast Furnace Baghouse and 1188 tons per year 12-month rolling
Stove Stacks (combined). time period as
determined at the
end of each
calendar month.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Monitoring requirements. The owner or operator shall maintain
and operate in a satisfactory manner a device to monitor and record the
SO2 emissions and flow from ``B'' Blast Furnace and ``C''
Blast Furnace Baghouse and Stove Stacks on a continuous basis. The
owner or operator shall use CERM data for determining compliance with
the hourly limits in paragraph (d)(1) of this section. The owner or
operator shall operate the CERM system in conformance with 40 CFR part
60, appendix F.
(e) This section addresses and satisfies CAA section 172
requirements for the Detroit SO2 nonattainment area by
specifying the necessary emission limits and other control measures
applicable to the Dearborn Industrial Generation (DIG) facility. This
section applies to the owner and operator of the facility located at
2400 Miller Road in Dearborn, Michigan.
(1) SO2 emission limits. (i) Beginning on the effective
date of the FIP, no owner or operator shall emit SO2 from
the following units in excess of the following limits:
[[Page 61531]]
Table 3 to Paragraph (e)(1)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2 emission limit Time period/
Unit operating scenario
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boilers 1, 2, and 3 (combined).. 420 lbs/hr........ Daily average.
Boilers 1, 2, and 3 (combined).. 1839.6 tons per 12-month rolling
year. time period.
Boilers 1, 2, and 3 and Flares 1 840 lbs/hr........ Daily average.
and 2 (combined).
Boilers 1, 2, and 3 and Flares 1 2947.7 tons per 12-month rolling
and 2 (combined). year. time period as
determined at the
end of each
calendar month.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) [Reserved]
(2) Monitoring requirements. (i) The owner or operator shall
maintain and operate in a satisfactory manner a device to monitor and
record the SO2 emissions from Boilers 1, 2, and 3 on a
continuous basis. Installation and operation of each CEMS shall meet
the timelines, requirements and reporting detailed in 40 CFR part 60,
appendix F. If the owner or operator chooses to use a Predictive
Emissions Monitoring System (PEMS) in lieu of a CEMS to monitor
SO2 emissions, the permittee shall follow the protocol
delineated in Performance Specification 16 in appendix B of 40 CFR part
60.
(ii) The owner or operator shall verify compliance with the
emission limits for Boilers 1, 2 and 3 and Flares 1 and 2 (combined) by
following the procedures and methodologies contained in the document
entitled ``Protocol for Demonstrating Continuous Compliance with the
Emission Limitations of ROP MI-ROP-N6631-2004'' dated May 31, 2011, or
subsequent revisions to this document approved by EPA.
[FR Doc. 2022-21662 Filed 10-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P