Air Plan Approval; Colorado; Serious Attainment Plan Elements and Related Revisions for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/North Front Range Nonattainment Area, 67617-67634 [2022-24075]
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[FR Doc. 2022–24136 Filed 11–8–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R08–OAR–2022–0632; FRL–10362–
01–R8]
Air Plan Approval; Colorado; Serious
Attainment Plan Elements and Related
Revisions for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone
Standard for the Denver Metro/North
Front Range Nonattainment Area
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
On March 22, 2021, the State
of Colorado submitted State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions
related to attainment of the 2008 8-hour
ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for the Denver
Metro/North Front Range (DMNFR)
Serious nonattainment area by the
applicable attainment date of July 20,
2021. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the
majority of the submittal, including base
and future year emission inventories, a
reasonable further progress (RFP)
demonstration, a reasonably available
control measures (RACM) analysis, a
motor vehicle inspection and
maintenance (I/M) program, a
nonattainment new source review
(NNSR) program, 2020 motor vehicle
emissions budgets (MVEBs) and
transportation controls, a clean fuel fleet
program, and revisions to Colorado Air
Quality Control Commission
(Commission or AQCC) regulations for
the control of ozone via ozone
precursors and control of hydrocarbons
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SUMMARY:
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via oil and gas emissions. The EPA is
also proposing to approve portions of
the reasonably available control
technology (RACT) analyses and
revisions from submissions made on
May 13, 2020; May 18, 2021; and May
20, 2022. Finally, the EPA proposes to
approve revisions from submissions
made on May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020,
and May 20, 2022 that were
conditionally approved on May 13,
2022. This action is being taken in
accordance with the Clean Air Act
(CAA).
Written comments must be
received on or before December 9, 2022.
DATES:
Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R08–
OAR–2022–0632, to the Federal
Rulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or removed from
www.regulations.gov. The EPA may
publish any comment received to its
public docket. Do not submit
electronically any information you
consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is
considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points
you wish to make. The EPA will
generally not consider comments or
comment contents located outside of the
primary submission (i.e., on the web,
cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, the full
EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the www.regulations.gov
index. Although listed in the index,
some information is not publicly
available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, will be publicly
available only in hard copy. Publicly
available docket materials are available
electronically in www.regulations.gov.
To reduce the risk of COVID–19
transmission, for this action we do not
plan to offer hard copy review of the
docket. Please email or call the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section if you need to make
alternative arrangements for access to
the docket.
ADDRESSES:
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67617
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abby Fulton, Air and Radiation
Division, EPA, Region 8, Mailcode
8ARD–IO, 1595 Wynkoop Street,
Denver, Colorado 80202–1129,
telephone number: (303) 312–6563,
email address: fulton.abby@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document wherever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean
the EPA.
The information presented in this
document is organized as follows:
I. What action is EPA taking?
II. Background
III. Summary of the State’s SIP Submittals
IV. Procedural Requirements
V. The EPA’s Evaluation of Colorado’s
Submissions
A. Emissions Inventories
B. Reasonable Further Progress
Demonstration
C. Reasonably Available Control
Technology (RACT) Analysis
D. Reasonably Available Control Measures
(RACM) Analysis
E. Motor Vehicle Inspection and
Maintenance Program (I/M) Program
F. Nonattainment New Source Review
(NNSR)
G. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget
(MVEB)/Transportation Conformity
H. Clean Fuel Fleet Program
I. SIP Control Measures
VI. Proposed Action
VII. Consideration of Section 110(l) of the
CAA
VIII. Environmental Justice Considerations
IX. Incorporation by Reference
X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What action is EPA taking?
As explained below, the EPA is
proposing various actions on Colorado’s
proposed SIP revisions that were
submitted on May 13, 2020, March 22,
2021, May 18, 2021, and May 20, 2022.
Specifically, we are proposing to
approve portions of Colorado’s Serious
attainment plan for the 2008 8-hour
ozone NAAQS. In addition, we propose
to approve the MVEBs and revisions to
Regulation Number 7 (Reg. 7) contained
in the State’s submittal. We also propose
to approve all other aspects of the
submittal, except for the RACT
submission for certain sources and
enhanced monitoring, which we will be
acting on at a later date, and for the
attainment demonstration and
contingency measures. We are also
proposing to approve revisions to
Colorado Regulation Number 21 (Reg.
21) from the State’s May 13, 2020
submittal, and to Reg. 7 from the State’s
May 18, 2021 submittal. Finally, we are
proposing to approve the Reg. 7
revisions from the State’s May 14, 2018,
May 13, 2020, and May 20, 2022
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submittals that were conditionally
approved on May 13, 2022.1
The basis for our proposed action is
discussed in this proposed rulemaking.
Technical information that we rely upon
in this proposal is in the docket, which
is available at https://
www.regulations.gov, Docket No. EPA–
R08–OAR–2022–0632.
II. Background
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2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
Nonattainment
On March 12, 2008, the EPA revised
both the primary and secondary NAAQS
for ozone to a level of 0.075 parts per
million (ppm) (based on the annual
fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour
average concentration, averaged over 3
years), to provide increased protection
of public health and the environment.2
The 2008 ozone NAAQS retains the
same general form and averaging time as
the 0.08 ppm NAAQS set in 1997, but
is set at a more protective level.
Specifically, the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS is attained when the 3-year
average of the annual fourth-highest
daily maximum 8-hour average ambient
air quality ozone concentrations is less
than or equal to 0.075 ppm.3 Effective
July 20, 2012, the EPA designated as
nonattainment any area that was
violating the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS
based on the three most recent years
(2008–2010) of air monitoring data.4
With that rulemaking, the DenverBoulder-Greeley-Ft. Collins-Loveland,
Colorado area (Denver or DMNFR Area)
area was designated nonattainment and
classified as Marginal.5 Ozone
nonattainment areas are classified based
on the severity of their ozone levels, as
determined using the area’s design
value. The design value is the 3-year
average of the annual fourth highest
daily maximum 8-hour average ozone
concentration at a monitoring site.6
Areas designated as nonattainment at
the Marginal classification level were
required to attain the 2008 8-hour ozone
1 Final rule, Air Plan Conditional Approval;
Colorado; Revisions to Regulation Number 7 and
Oil and Natural Gas RACT Requirements for 2008
8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/North
Front Range Nonattainment Area, 87 FR 29228.
2 Final rule, National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for Ozone, 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008).
The EPA has since further strengthened the ozone
NAAQS, but the 2008 8-hour standard remains in
effect. See Final Rule, National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for Ozone, 80 FR 65292 (Oct. 26, 2015).
3 40 CFR 50.15(b).
4 Final rule, Air Quality Designations for the 2008
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 77
FR 30088 (May 21, 2012).
5 Id. at 30110. The nonattainment area includes
Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver,
Douglas and Jefferson Counties, and portions of
Larimer and Weld Counties. See 40 CFR 81.306.
6 40 CFR part 50, appendix I.
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NAAQS no later than July 20, 2015,
based on 2012–2014 monitoring data.7
On May 4, 2016, the EPA published
its determination that the Denver Area,
among other areas, had failed to attain
the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the
attainment deadline, and that it was
accordingly reclassified to Moderate
ozone nonattainment status.8 Colorado
submitted SIP revisions to the EPA on
May 31, 2017 to meet the Denver Area’s
requirements under the Moderate
classification.9 The EPA took final
action on July 3, 2018, approving the
majority of the May 31, 2017 submittal,
but deferring action on portions of the
submitted Reg. 7 RACT rules.10 On
February 24, 2021, the EPA took final
action approving additional measures as
addressing Colorado’s RACT SIP
obligations for Moderate ozone
nonattainment areas.11 Areas that were
designated as Moderate nonattainment
were required to attain the 2008 8-hour
ozone NAAQS no later than July 20,
2018, based on 2015–2017 monitoring
data.12 On December 26, 2019, the EPA
published its determination that the
Denver Area, among other areas, had
failed to attain the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS by the attainment deadline, and
that it was accordingly reclassified to
Serious ozone nonattainment status.13
III. Summary of the State’s SIP
Submittals
We are proposing to take action on
Colorado SIP submittals made on five
different dates:
May 14, 2018 Submittal
This submittal contains amendments
to Reg. 7, sections XII (Volatile Organic
Compound Emissions from Oil and Gas
7 See
40 CFR 51.903.
rule, Determinations of Attainment by the
Attainment Date, Extensions of the Attainment
Date, and Reclassification of Several Areas for the
2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standards, 81 FR 26697 (May 4, 2016).
9 CAA section 182, 42 U.S.C. 7511a, outlines SIP
requirements applicable to ozone nonattainment
areas in each classification category. Areas
classified Moderate under the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS had a submission deadline of January 1,
2017 for these SIP revisions (81 FR 26699).
10 Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of State
Implementation Plan Revisions; Colorado;
Attainment Demonstration for the 2008 8-Hour
Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/North Front
Range Nonattainment Area, and Approval of
Related Revisions (83 FR 31068).
11 Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Colorado; Revisions to
Regulation Number 7 and RACT Requirements for
2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/
North Front Range Nonattainment Area, 86 FR
11125.
12 See 40 CFR 51.903.
13 Final rule, Finding of Failure To Attain and
Reclassification of Denver Area for the 2008 Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard, 84 FR
70897 (Dec. 26, 2019); see 40 CFR 81.306.
8 Final
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Operations) and XVIII (Natural GasActuated Pneumatic Controllers
Associated with Oil and Gas
Operations) to meet RACT for oil and
gas sources covered by the EPA’s 2016
Oil and Gas Control Techniques
Guidelines (CTG).14 We previously
acted on all parts of this SIP submittal 15
except for revisions to Reg. 7, section
XII.J.1., concerning centrifugal
compressors, as to which we proposed
conditional approval. We are now
proposing approval of those revisions.
May 13, 2020 Submittals
On this date the State submitted two
SIP revisions. One of the submittals
includes a full reorganization of Reg. 7
into parts A–E, amends oil and gas
storage tank requirements, updates
RACT requirements for major sources of
volatile organic compounds (VOC) and
nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the DMNFR
Area, updates requirements for gasoline
transport truck testing and vapor control
systems, and contains typographical,
grammatical, and formatting corrections
throughout. We previously acted on all
parts of this SIP submittal 16 except for
revisions to Reg. 7, sections I.D., I.E, and
I.F. concerning storage tanks, and
section I.J.1. concerning centrifugal
compressors, as to which we proposed
conditional approval. We are now
proposing approval of those revisions.
The second submittal contains new
Reg. 21 to limit the VOC content in
consumer products and in architectural
and industrial maintenance (AIM)
coatings manufactured, distributed, or
sold in the DMNFR Area. Specifically,
the Commission adopted VOC standards
in the Ozone Transport Commission
(OTC) AIM coatings model rule phase 2
(2014) and VOC standards in the OTC
consumer products model rule phase 4
(2013). Reg. 21 includes definitions,
exemptions, labeling, and recordkeeping
provisions based on the OTC model
rules.
March 22, 2021 Submittal
This submittal contains the State’s
Serious ozone attainment plan and
revisions to Reg. 7 to include RACT
requirements in Colorado’s ozone SIP
for 50 tons per year (tpy) major sources
of VOC and/or NOX. The Reg. 7
revisions include expansion of
14 Control Techniques Guidelines for the Oil and
Natural Gas Industry, EPA–453/B–16–001 (Oct.
2016).
15 Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Colorado; Revisions to
Regulation Number 7; Aerospace, Oil and Gas, and
Other RACT Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour
Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/North Front
Range Nonattainment Area, 86 FR 61071 (Nov. 5,
2021).
16 86 FR 61071 (Nov. 5, 2021).
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categorical requirements to reduce VOC
emissions related to wood surface
coatings in part C, section I.O., adding
NOX emission limits for turbines,
boilers, and landfill or biogas engines in
part E, section II, and adding categorical
requirements to reduce VOC emissions
related to foam manufacturing in part E,
section V. Typographical, grammatical,
and formatting corrections were also
made.
May 18, 2021 Submittal
The state regulations included with
this submittal contain mostly state-only
revisions that have not been submitted
for inclusion in the SIP. Portions of
these regulations submitted as SIP
revisions include typographical,
grammatical, and formatting corrections
to the outline of Reg. 7 and part E
(combustion equipment at major source
RACT).
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May 20, 2022 Submittals
On this date the State submitted three
SIP revisions. One of the submittals
contains amendments that were mostly
state-only and not submitted as SIP
revisions. The SIP revisions adopted by
the AQCC on Feb. 19, 2021 include
updates to definitions in Reg. 7, part D,
section III (natural gas-actuated
pneumatic controllers associated with
oil and gas operations).
Another submittal contains
amendments to Reg. 7 that establish
categorical RACT requirements for
major sources of NOX and certain CTG
sources in the DMNFR Area.
Specifically, on July 16, 2021 the AQCC
adopted RACT requirements in part C,
section I for miscellaneous metal parts
coatings and part E, section II RACT
requirements for process heaters at
major sources of NOX emissions.
Typographical, grammatical, and
formatting corrections were also made.
The third submittal contains revisions
concerning RACT requirements for oil
and gas sources. Specifically, on Dec.
17, 2021 the AQCC adopted revisions to
Reg. 7, part D, section I for performance
or manufacturer testing for combustion
equipment used to control emissions
from storage vessels and wet seal
centrifugal compressors as to which we
proposed conditional approval. We are
now proposing approval of those
revisions.
The CAA requires that states meet
certain procedural requirements before
submitting SIP revisions to the EPA,
including the requirement that states
adopt SIP revisions after reasonable
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17 CAA
section 110(a)(2), 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
CR 15 available at https://
www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/RegisterHome.do.
19 42 CR 19.
20 42 CR 9.
21 43 CR 19.
22 43 CR 13.
23 44 CR 1.
24 44 CR 9.
18 40
IV. Procedural Requirements
VerDate Sep<11>2014
notice and public hearing.17 For the
May 14, 2018 submittal, the AQCC
provided notice in the Colorado Register
on August 10, 2017 18 and held public
hearings on the revisions on October 19
and 20, 2017. The Commission adopted
the revisions on November 17, 2017.
The revisions became state-effective on
December 30, 2017.
For the May 13, 2020 (part D, oil and
gas) submittal, the AQCC provided
notice in the Colorado Register on
October 10, 2019 19 and held public
hearings on the revisions on December
17–19, 2019. The Commission adopted
the revisions on December 19, 2019. The
revisions became state-effective on
February 14, 2020.
For the May 13, 2020 (Reg. 21)
submittal, the AQCC provided notice in
the Colorado Register on May 10,
2019 20 and held a public hearing on the
revisions on July 18, 2019. The
Commission adopted the revisions on
November 17, 2016. The revisions
became state-effective on September 14,
2019.
For the March 22, 2021 submittal, the
AQCC provided notice in the Colorado
Register on October 10, 2020 21 and held
a public hearing on the revisions on
December 16, 2020. The Commission
adopted the revisions on December 18,
2020. The revisions became stateeffective on February 14, 2021.
For the May 18, 2021 submittal, the
AQCC provided notice in the Colorado
Register on July 10, 2020 22 and held a
public hearing on the revisions on
September 17, 2020. The Commission
adopted the revisions on September 23,
2020. The revisions became stateeffective on November 14, 2020.
For the May 20, 2022 submittal (part
D, Definitions) the AQCC provided
notice in the Colorado Register on
January 10, 2021 23 and held a public
hearing on the revisions on February 18,
2021. The Commission adopted the
revisions on February 18, 2021. The
revisions became state-effective on April
14, 2021.
For the May 20, 2022 submittal (Misc.
Metals and Process Heater) the AQCC
provided notice in the Colorado Register
on May 10, 2021 24 and held a public
hearing on the revisions on July 16,
2021. The Commission adopted the
revisions on July 16, 2021. The revisions
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became state-effective on September 14,
2021.
For the May 20, 2022 submittal (part
D, Oil and Gas) the AQCC provided
notice in the Colorado Register on
October 10, 2021 25 and held a public
hearing on the revisions on December
14, 2021. The Commission adopted the
revisions on December 17, 2021. The
revisions became state-effective on
January 30, 2022.
Accordingly, we propose to find that
Colorado met the CAA’s procedural
requirements for reasonable notice and
public hearing.
V. The EPA’s Evaluation of Colorado’s
Submissions
2008 Ozone Serious SIP Submittal
CAA section 182 outlines SIP
requirements applicable to ozone
nonattainment areas in each
classification category. A Serious area
classification triggers requirements for
state submissions described in the
EPA’s regulations implementing the
2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.26 Examples
of these requirements include
submission of a modeling and
attainment demonstration, RFP, an
enhanced inspection and maintenance
program, RACT, and RACM. Serious
nonattainment areas had a submission
deadline of August 3, 2020 for these SIP
revisions.27
Colorado submitted SIP revisions to
the EPA on March 22, 2021, to meet the
requirements of a Serious area
classification for the DMNFR Area.
Colorado’s proposed SIP revisions
consist of the parts listed below.
• 8-Hour Ozone Attainment Plan
(OAP), which includes monitoring
information, emission inventories, an
RFP demonstration, an attainment
demonstration using photochemical grid
modeling, a RACT analysis, a RACM
analysis, a motor vehicle emissions I/M
program, NNSR program certification,
contingency measures, MVEBs for
transportation conformity, and a clean
fuel fleet program.
• Revisions to Reg. 7.
A. Emissions Inventories
1. Background
CAA section 172(c)(3), requires that
each SIP include a ‘‘comprehensive,
accurate, current inventory of actual
emissions from all sources of the
relevant pollutant or pollutants in [the]
area.’’ The accounting required by this
section provides a ‘‘base year’’ inventory
that serves as the starting point for
25 44
CR 19.
40 CFR part 51, subpart AA.
27 See 84 FR 70897 (Dec. 26, 2019).
26 See
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The 2011 base year inventory was
included as part of the Moderate area
SIP submittal and approved as part of
our July 3, 2018 action.29 As part of the
Moderate area SIP, a projected 2017
attainment year emissions inventory
was developed and approved by the
EPA on July 3, 2018.30 Due to the
reclassification of the DMNFR to
Serious nonattainment for the 2008
ozone NAAQS, CDPHE prepared an
updated 2017 emissions inventory
based on currently available data in
accordance with the EPA’s revised
guidance on emissions inventory
developments.31 The updated 2017
emissions inventory was resubmitted to
meet the State’s Serious area SIP
requirements.32
The 2017 milestone year emissions
inventories are in tons per summer day
and represent the most current available
data, as of the time of submission, for
emissions estimates for an average
episode day during the peak summer
ozone season of June through
September. This includes actual data for
the oil and gas sector and stationary
sources in addition to newer data from
updated regional transportation demand
models used by the two Metropolitan
Planning Organizations in the DMNFR
Area.
The 2020 inventory is in tons per
summer day and represents emissions
estimates for an average episode day
during the peak summer ozone season
(June through September). The 2020
inventory for VOC and NOX accounts
for emissions growth associated with
changes in population, fuel use, and
economic activity as well as emissions
reductions associated with controls that
were in place as SIP control measures
by the beginning of the 2020 summer
ozone season. The EPA has provided
guidance on developing emission
projections to be used with models and
other analyses for demonstrating
attainment of air quality goals for
ozone.33
The 2017 milestone year and 2020
attainment emission inventories were
developed using EPA-approved
emissions models, methodology, and
guidelines for stationary, mobile, and
area emission sources.
The 2017 emissions inventories for
power plants (also referred to as electric
generating units) and other point
sources were developed using Colorado
Air Pollutant Emission Notice (APEN)
reported data for each year, as specified
in Tables 16 and 17 of the OAP. Area
sources include many categories of
emissions, such as coatings, household
and personal care products, pesticides,
and sealants. The 2017 area source
emissions inventory is included in
Table 18 of the OAP. The inventory was
based on the EPA’s 2014 National
Emissions Inventory (NEI) and was
derived from the 2014 NEI based on
county population projections from the
Colorado State Demography Office. The
EPA finds that these sources (including
those in the oil and gas sector) were
adequately accounted for in the
emissions inventory. The methodology
used to calculate emissions for each
respective category was consistent with
recommendations and explanations in
relevant EPA guidance,34 employed
applicable approved emission factors
and NEI data, and was sufficiently
documented in the SIP and in the
State’s technical support documents
(TSD).35
Projected future emissions in 2020
were based on anticipated growth,
technological advancements, and
expected emissions controls that were to
be implemented by the 2020 ozone
season. The 2020 oil and gas emission
inventory was based on 2017 actual sitespecific emissions and 2018 APEN
reported data, including technology and
production and projected 2020
emissions and production. The 2020
emissions inventory for EGUs was
developed based on Colorado APEN
reported data for 2018 and is specified
in Table 28 of the OAP. The future year
inventory for other point sources
beyond EGUs is based on 2018 APEN
data. The 2020 area source inventory is
provided in Table 30 of the OAP and
was grown from the EPA’s 2014 NEI
based on county population projections
from the State Demography Office.
Reductions from implementation of
Colorado AQCC Reg. 21 were then
applied.36 On-road and non-road mobile
source emissions for the 2020 inventory
were calculated using the EPA’s
MOVES2014b 37 model combined with
local activity inputs including vehicle
miles traveled (VMT) and average speed
data, as well as local fleet, age
distribution, meteorology, and fuels
information. Table 34 of the OAP
includes biogenic emissions as part of
the overall 2020 future year emissions
inventory.
Table 1 shows the emissions by
source category from the 2011 base year,
2017 milestone year, and 2020
attainment year emission inventories.
28 Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.1110(b), the values in
the submitted 2011 base year EI are actual ozone
season day emissions.
29 83 FR 31068 (July 3, 2018).
30 Id.
31 See ‘‘Emission Inventory Guidance for
Implementation of Ozone and Particulate Matter
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
and Regional Haze Regulations,’’ EPA–454/B–17–
002. Revised May 2017.
32 CAA section 182(c)(2)(B).
33 Emissions Inventory Guidance for
Implementation of Ozone and Particulate Matter
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
and Regional Haze Regulations (May 2017)
(‘‘Emissions Inventory Guidance’’), available at
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017/07/
documents/ei_guidance_may_2017_final_rev.pdf.
34 Emissions Inventory Guidance; MOVES2014,
MOVES2014a, and MOVES2014b Technical
Guidance: Using MOVES to Prepare Emission
Inventories for State Implementation Plans and
Transportation Conformity, EPA–420–B–18–039
(Aug. 2018) (‘‘MOVES Guidance’’), available at
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=
P100V7EY.pdf.
35 See Colorado Serious SIP submittal, TSD for
Mobile and Area Sources Emissions Inventory
Development. Available within the docket for this
action.
36 See section I. SIP Control Measures of this
document for a discussion of Reg. 21 controls.
37 EPA’s Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator
(MOVES) is a state-of-the-science emission
modeling system that estimates emissions for
mobile sources at the national, county, and project
level for criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases,
and air toxics. See https://www.epa.gov/moves.
attainment demonstration air quality
modeling, for assessing RFP, and for
determining the need for additional SIP
control measures. An attainment year
inventory is a projection of future
emissions and is necessary to show the
effectiveness of SIP control measures.
Both the base year and attainment year
inventories are necessary for
photochemical modeling to demonstrate
attainment. As previously noted, we are
not acting on the attainment modeling
demonstration in this action, but are
evaluating Colorado’s emission
inventories for purposes of meeting RFP
requirements.
Colorado’s DMNFR Serious area
attainment plan includes a 2011 base
year inventory, a 2017 milestone year
inventory, and a 2020 attainment year
inventory. The inventories catalog NOX
and VOC emissions, because these
pollutants are precursors to ozone
formation, across all source categories
during a typical summer day, when
ozone formation is pronounced. The
State developed an updated 2017
‘‘milestone year’’ emissions inventory
for the Serious nonattainment area.
When initially developed for the
Moderate area SIP, the 2017 inventory
was calculated based on projected
values. The 2017 inventory approved as
part of the Moderate area SIP has been
updated for the purposes of the Serious
area SIP using data collected in 2017 28
and methodologies as presented in
chapter 3 of the OAP.
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2. Evaluation
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TABLE 1—EMISSIONS INVENTORY DATA
2011
2017
2020
Description
VOC
VOC
NOX
NOX
VOC
NOX
Area (non-oil and gas) Total ....................
60.6
........................
65.3
........................
54.6
........................
Non-Road Total ................................
58.2
75.9
44
........................
44.3
39.1
Oil and Gas Sources
Area ..........................................................
Condensate/Oil Tanks .............................
Point .........................................................
48.9
216
14.8
22.2
1.1
18.1
43.6
107.7
12
38.1
1.4
11.5
54.5
50.2
14.3
34.4
0.6
13.1
Oil and Gas Total .............................
279.7
41.4
163.3
51.0
119.0
48.2
On-Road
Light-Duty Vehicles ..................................
90.0
102.5
55.6
53.5
47.6
41.4
Medium/Heavy-Duty Vehicles ..................
3.7
39.6
2.0
14.9
1.8
13.3
On-Road Total ..................................
93.7
142.1
57.6
68.4
49.4
54.7
Point Sources
EGU
Non-EGU ..................................................
0.7
25.9
39.7
21.0
0.3
22.6
9.4
15.8
0.4
24.6
4.6
17.1
Point Total .........................................
26.6
60.7
........................
........................
25
21.7
Total Anthropogenic Emissions ......................................
518.8
320
353.1
187.1
292.3
163.7
Details of Colorado’s emissions
inventory development are in
Colorado’s supporting TSD.38 The
inventories in the SIP are based on the
most current and accurate information
available to the State and the Regional
Air Quality Council (RAQC) at the time
the SIP was being developed.
Additionally, the inventories
comprehensively address source
categories in the DMNFR nonattainment
area, and were developed consistent
with the relevant EPA inventory
guidance. For these reasons, we propose
to approve the 2017 milestone inventory
and the 2020 inventory, which will be
used to meet RFP requirements.39 The
following section discusses RFP further.
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B. Reasonable Further Progress
Demonstration
1. Background
CAA section 182(b)(1) and the EPA’s
2008 Ozone Implementation Rule 40
require each 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area designated
Moderate and above to submit an RFP
demonstration for review and approval
38 See Colorado Serious SIP submittal, TSD for
Mobile and Area Sources Emissions Inventory
Development. Available within the docket for this
action.
39 The EPA approved Colorado’s 2011 base year
inventory in our July 3, 2018 action (83 FR 31068).
40 80 FR 12264, 12266 (March 6, 2015).
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into its SIP that describes how the area
will achieve actual VOC and NOX
emissions reductions from a baseline
emissions inventory. CAA section
182(b)(1), which is part of the ozonespecific nonattainment plan
requirements of subpart 2 of the CAA,
requires RFP to demonstrate a 15%
reduction in VOC emissions. To satisfy
the section 182(b)(1) RFP requirement,
on May 31, 2017 Colorado submitted an
RFP demonstration showing VOC
emission reductions greater than 15%
over the six years after the 2011 base
year inventory (i.e., 2012–2017). The
EPA approved this 15% RFP SIP on July
3, 2018.41
As noted above, the CAA section
182(b)(1) requirement for a 15% RFP
demonstration applies to ozone
nonattainment areas classified Moderate
and above. In addition, Serious ozone
nonattainment areas are subject to the
CAA section 182(c)(2)(B) requirement to
submit SIP revisions showing a 9%
reduction of VOC 42 emissions over each
consecutive three-year period beginning
six years after redesignation until the
attainment date. For the DMNFR Area,
the redesignation date was July 20,
41 83 FR 31068. The state’s 15% RFP
demonstration was also sufficient to satisfy the
more general CAA subpart 1 requirements of CAA
section 172(c)(2), which permits a combination of
VOC and NOX emission reductions to show RFP.
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2012. Accordingly, the DMNFR Area
was required to submit SIP revisions
showing that 9% reductions in ozone
precursor emissions would be achieved
between January 1, 2018 and December
31, 2020.
2. Evaluation
We reviewed the State’s 9% RFP
submittal for consistency with the
requirements of the CAA and EPA
regulations and guidance. To
demonstrate compliance with RFP
requirements, the State compared its
2017 milestone VOC inventory against
its projected 2020 VOC emissions
inventory and demonstrated that the
projected 2020 emissions of VOC were
at least 9% below the 2011 base year
inventory. Colorado projected an 11.7%
reduction in VOC emissions from 2017–
2020.43 As discussed in section V.A. of
this document, the EPA reviewed the
procedures Colorado used to develop its
projected inventories and the State’s
submittal for consistency with the
requirements of the CAA and the EPA’s
regulations and guidance and found
them to be reasonable. We therefore
43 See OAP, Table 35 on page 4–21. This
projection has proven to be correct. See the ‘‘Denver
Metro Area/North Front Range Nonattainment Area
Milestone Compliance Demonstration,’’ March 31,
2021 and the EPA’s 2020 milestone compliance
demonstration adequacy letter, July 6, 2021.
Available in the docket for this action.
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propose approval of Colorado’s Seriousarea RFP demonstration.
C. Reasonably Available Control
Technology (RACT) Analysis
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1. Background
Section 172(c)(1) of the CAA requires
that SIPs for nonattainment areas
‘‘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).’’ The EPA has
defined ‘‘reasonably available control
technology’’ (RACT) as ‘‘[t]he lowest
emissions limitation that a particular
source is capable of meeting by the
application of control technology that is
reasonably available considering
technological and economic
feasibility.’’ 44 The EPA provides
guidance concerning what types of
controls may constitute RACT for a
given source category by issuing Control
Techniques Guidelines (CTG) and
Alternative Control Techniques (ACT)
documents.45 States must submit a SIP
revision requiring the implementation
of RACT for each source category in the
area for which the EPA has issued a
CTG, and for any major source in the
area not covered by a CTG.46
For a Moderate, Serious, or Severe
area a major stationary source is one
that emits, or has the potential to emit,
100, 50, or 25 tpy or more, respectively,
of VOCs or NOX.47 Accordingly, for the
DMNFR Serious nonattainment area, a
major stationary source is one that
emits, or has the potential to emit, 50
tpy or more of VOCs or NOX. RACT can
be adopted in the form of emission
limitations or ‘‘work practice standards
or other operation and maintenance
requirements,’’ as appropriate.48
44 General Preamble for Proposed Rulemaking on
Approval of Plan Revisions for Nonattainment
Areas—Supplement (on Control Techniques
Guidelines), 44 FR 53761 (Sep. 17, 1979).
45 See https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozonepollution/control-techniques-guidelines-andalternative-control-techniques for a list of EPAissued CTGs and ACTs.
46 See CAA section 182(b)(2), 42 U.S.C.
7511a(b)(2)); see also Note, RACT Qs & As—
Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT):
Questions and Answers, William Harnett, Director,
Air Quality Policy Division, EPA (May 2006),
available at https://www.regulations.gov/document/
EPA-R08-OAR-2020-0114/0008.
47 See CAA sections 182(b), 182(c), 182(d),
182(f)(1), and 302(j).
48 See Memorandum, ‘‘Approval Options for
Generic RACT Rules Submitted to Meet the nonCTG VOC RACT Requirement and Certain NOX
RACT Requirements,’’ Sally Shaver, Director, Air
Quality Strategies & Standards Division, EPA (Nov.
7, 1996), available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/
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On reclassification to Serious status,
the DMNFR Area was required to
implement RACT as expeditiously as
practicable, but no later than August 3,
2020 for RACT needed for
demonstrating attainment and July 20,
2021 for RACT not needed for
demonstrating attainment.49 The
Division conducted a series of analyses
and rulemakings to address 2008 ozone
Moderate and Serious RACT
requirements.
As part of its May 31, 2017 Moderate
ozone attainment plan, the Division
conducted RACT analyses to
demonstrate that the RACT
requirements for CTG and major sources
in the DMNFR Area had been fulfilled.
The Division conducted these RACT
analyses for VOC and NOX by listing
state regulations implementing or
exceeding RACT requirements for each
CTG or non-CTG category at issue, and
by detailing the basis for concluding
that these regulations fulfilled RACT,
through comparison with established
RACT requirements described in the
CTG and ACT guidance documents and
rules developed by other state and local
agencies. The EPA approved the
majority of the State’s CTG RACT
analysis on July 3, 2018.50
In July 2018, the Commission adopted
categorical RACT requirements for
combustion equipment at major sources
under the Moderate classification that
the Commission had determined in
2016 were not addressed by SIP RACT
requirements. In November 2019, the
Commission adopted SIP requirements
to include provisions that implement
RACT for major sources of VOC and
NOX under the Serious classification
and for additional CTG VOC source
categories in the Area. Specifically, the
Commission adopted categorical RACT
requirements for combustion equipment
at major sources, major source
breweries, and wood furniture
manufacturing, and addressed the EPA’s
concerns with industrial cleaning
production/files/2016-08/documents/
shavermemogenericract_7nov1996.pdf.
49 Final rule, Finding of Failure To Attain and
Reclassification of Denver Area for the 2008 Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard, 84 FR
70897, 70900 (Dec. 26, 2019); see also Final rule,
Determination of Attainment Date, Extensions of
the Attainment Date, and Reclassification of Seceral
Areas Classified as Moderate for the 2008 Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 84 FR
44238 (Aug. 23, 2019).
50 See 83 FR 31068. A negative declaration as to
RACT for sources covered by the aerospace CTG
was approved on November 5, 2021 (86 FR 61071).
Colorado’s RACT demonstrations for sources
covered by the industrial cleaning solvents, metal
furniture coatings (2007), and wood furniture CTGs
were approved on February 24, 2021 (86 FR 11127);
and the state’s RACT demonstration for sources
covered by the oil and gas CTG was conditionally
approved on May 13, 2022 (87 FR 29228).
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solvent and metal furniture surface
coating requirements. The EPA
approved these revisions on February
24, 2021.51
In December 2019, the Commission
adopted additional RACT requirements
for major sources of VOC and NOX in
the DMNFR Area under the Serious
classification, including expanded
categorical combustion equipment and
new categorical general solvent use
requirements. The EPA approved the
majority of these revisions on November
5, 2021.52 The State re-reviewed its
point source inventory as part of the
March 22, 2021 Serious OAP submittal
to verify that non-CTG major sources (50
tpy) of VOC or NOX emissions in the
DMNFR Area are subject to
requirements that meet or exceed
RACT.53
The RACT submissions that we are
now proposing to approve include those
that we have not previously acted on
that are addressing RACT for several
non-CTG VOC and NOX sources and
categories. We are also proposing to
convert to a full approval our previous
conditional approval of submissions
made on May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020,
and May 20, 2022, concerning RACT
related to the Oil and Gas CTG.
2. Evaluation
In preparing its RACT determinations,
Colorado reviewed source permits,
consulted with Division permitting and
enforcement staff involved with each
source, and consulted with the sources
themselves.54 Colorado also considered
control strategies identified in the CTGs,
ACTs, RBLC, EPA’s Menu of Control
Measures, New Source Performance
Standards (NSPS), emission guidelines,
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP),
and in Colorado’s regulations and
determined that Colorado’s major
sources are currently subject to federally
enforceable emission limits or
requirements similar to measures
described in these documents and
regulations.55 In 2019, Colorado
incorporated by reference some NSPS
and NESHAP requirements into its SIP
and expanded the applicability of some
51 86
FR 11127.
rule, Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Colorado; Revisions to
Regulation Number 7; Aerospace, Oil and Gas, and
Other RACT Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour
Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/North Front
Range Nonattainment Area 86 FR 61071 (Nov. 5,
2021).
53 See appendix 6–E of the OAP.
54 See Colorado’s Technical Support Document
for Reasonably Available Control Technology for
Major Sources, December 14, 2020. Available
within the docket.
55 See id.
52 Final
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existing RACT requirements. A
summary of our proposed action with
67623
respect to each of these RACT categories
follows.
TABLE 2—CATEGORIES, PROPOSED ACTION, AND CORRESPONDING SECTIONS OF SUBMITTALS
Category
Proposed action
Location of RACT demonstration
Oil and gas ....................
Approval (converting
previous conditional
approval to full approval).
Approval ......................
Technical Support Document for Reasonably Available Control Technology for the Oil and
Gas Industry, Dec. 17, 2021 (contained within the May 20, 2022 submittal).
Combustion equipment
at major sources.
Wood coating ................
Approval ......................
Foam manufacturing .....
Approval ......................
Technical Support Document for Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major
Sources, Dec. 14, 2020 (contained within the March 22, 2021 submittal) and Technical
Support Document for Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major Sources, July
16, 2021 (contained within the May 20, 2022 submittal).
Technical Support Document for Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major
Sources, Dec. 14, 2020 (contained within the March 22, 2021 submittal).
Technical Support Document for Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major
Sources, Dec. 14, 2020 (contained within the March 22, 2021 submittal).
Cited materials are contained within the docket for this action.
We are proposing action on the RACT
demonstrations for certain additional
VOC CTG, non-CTG VOC, and NOX
sources and categories. We have
reviewed Colorado’s new and revised
VOC and NOX rules for the categories
covered by the CTGs, and for major
sources of non-CTG VOC and NOX
sources for the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS, and the demonstrations
submitted by Colorado. Based on this
review we propose to find that these
rules are consistent with the control
measures, definitions, recordkeeping,
and test methods in these CTGs and the
CAA, and that they satisfy CAA RACT
requirements for the categories in
question.56
a. RACT for CTG Sources
Table 3 contains the CTGs, EPA
reference document, and the
corresponding sections of Reg. 7 that
fulfill the applicable RACT
requirements for the EPA-issued CTGs.
Colorado’s Reg. 7 contains SIP approved
and submitted revisions (see section V.I.
of this document); we propose to find
that these revisions meet RACT
requirements for the sources listed in
Table 3.
TABLE 3—SOURCES, EPA CTG REFERENCE DOCUMENT, AND CORRESPONDING SECTIONS OF REG. 7 PROPOSED FOR
APPROVAL TO FULFILL RACT
Sources in the DMNFR area
CTG reference document
Oil and gas ............................................................
Control Techniques Guidelines for the Oil and
Natural Gas Industry.
Control Techniques Guidelines for Miscellaneous
Metal and Plastic Parts Coatings.
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Miscellaneous Metal Coatings, Tables 2 and 7 of
the CTG.
We have reviewed the emission
limitations and control requirements for
the above sources and compared them
against the EPA’s CTG documents and
available technical information in CTG
dockets. The EPA has also evaluated the
submitted rules and has determined that
they are consistent with the CAA, the
EPA’s regulations, and the EPA’s
policies. Based on the information in
the record, we propose to find that the
corresponding sections in Reg. 7
provide for the lowest emission
limitation through application of control
techniques that are reasonably available
considering technological and economic
feasibility. Therefore, we propose to
find that the control requirements for oil
and gas sources and certain
miscellaneous metal coatings are RACT
56 See https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozonepollution/ract-information.
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for affected sources in the DMNFR Area
under the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.57
b. RACT for Non-CTG Major Sources
In Colorado’s TSDs for Reasonably
Available Control Technology for Major
Sources, dated December 14, 2020,58
Colorado identified a list of major nonCTG VOC and NOX sources in the
DMNFR Area subject to RACT
requirements under a Serious
classification. For major VOC and NOX
sources subject to nonattainment area
RACT review, Colorado used the
construction permit thresholds
established in the State’s Reg. 3 for
determining which emission points to
review. Accordingly, emission points
exceeding two tpy of VOC at a major
VOC source and five tpy of NOX at a
57 For more information, see the EPA TSDs
evaluating oil and gas and miscellaneous metal
coatings RACT. Available within the docket for this
action.
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Date of CTG
2016
2008
Reg. 7 sections fulfilling
RACT
part D, sections I, II,
and III.
part C, section I.L.2.
major NOX source, as reported on a
source’s APEN, and that were not part
of the Moderate RACT review, were
evaluated. We have reviewed the State’s
March 22, 2021 and May 20, 2022
submittals and find its approach to
including these sources in the inventory
acceptable. To satisfy the Serious RACT
SIP requirement to establish RACT for
all existing major sources of VOC and/
or NOX in the DMNFR Area, the
Commission incorporated by reference
NSPS limits for combustion turbines,
expanded the combustion equipment
requirements for boilers, expanded
wood furniture coating requirements,
and developed a new categorical rule for
foam manufacturing. These revisions
were made based on a detailed review
of available information on major NOX
58 Contained within the March 22, 2021
submittal.
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and VOC sources in the DMNFR Area,
an examination of the EPA RACT/Best
Available Control Technology/Lowest
Achievable Emission Rate
Clearinghouse for similar emission
points, and consideration of CAA
section 182(b) RACT requirements for
other ozone nonattainment areas. Table
4 contains a list of non-CTG categories,
the EPA’s reference documents, and the
corresponding sections of Reg. 7 that are
proposed for approval in this action to
fulfill RACT requirements (see section
V.I. of this document).41
TABLE 4—SOURCES, EPA REFERENCE DOCUMENTS, AND CORRESPONDING SECTIONS OF REG. 7 PROPOSED FOR
APPROVAL TO FULFILL RACT
The EPA’s reference document or regulation
(if applicable)
Source in the DMNFR area
Combustion turbines .........................................................
Process heaters ................................................................
Combustion equipment requirements for boilers ..............
Wood furniture coating requirements ...............................
Foam manufacturing .........................................................
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We have reviewed the emission
limitations and control requirements for
the source categories in Table 4 and
compared them to the EPA’s
regulations, ACT documents, available
technical information, and guidelines.
The EPA has also evaluated the
submitted rules and has determined that
they are consistent with the CAA, the
EPA’s regulations, and the EPA’s
policies. For more information, see the
EPA TSD prepared in conjunction with
this action. Based on the information in
the record, we propose to find that the
corresponding sections in Reg. 7
provide for the lowest emission
limitation through application of control
techniques that are reasonably available
considering technological and economic
feasibility. Therefore, we propose to
find that the control requirements for
the source categories identified in Table
4 are RACT for all affected sources in
the DMNFR Area under the 2008 8-hour
ozone NAAQS.
c. Negative Declarations
States are not required to adopt RACT
limits for source categories for which no
sources exist in a nonattainment area,
and can submit a negative declaration to
that effect. The EPA approved the
majority of the State’s negative
declarations on July 3, 2018.59 In its
2008 Serious OAP, Colorado
reevaluated the CTGs and determined
that it does not have sources in the
following CTG VOC categories or
subject to the potentially applicable
CTG within the DMNFR Area that are
listed in Table 5. We are also unaware
of any such facilities operating in the
Area, and thus we propose to approve
59 See 83 FR 31068. A negative declaration for the
aerospace CTG was approved on November 5, 2021
(86 FR 61071).
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Emissions from Stationary Combustion Turbines
(EPA–453/3–91–026) (1991).
NOX Emissions from Process Heaters (EPA–453/R–
93–034)(1993).
NOX Emissions from Industrial, Commercial & Institutional Boilers (EPA–453/R–94–022)(1994).
A Guide to the Wood Furniture CTG and NESHAP
(EPA–453/R–97–002) (1997).
..........................................................................................
X
the negative declarations made for the
CTG categories in Table 5 for the
DMNFR Area under the 2008 8-hour
ozone NAAQS.
TABLE 5—NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS
FOR CTG VOC CATEGORIES
Auto and Light-Duty Truck Assembly Coatings (2008).
Coating Operations at Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Operations (1994).
Factory Surface Coating of Flat Wood Paneling.
Fiberglass Boat Manufacturing Materials
(2008).
Flat Wood Paneling Coatings (2006).
Flexible Packaging Printing Materials (2006).
Fugitive Emissions from Synthetic Organic
Chemical Polymer and Resin Manufacturing Equipment (1984).
Graphic Arts—Rotogravure and Flexography
(1978).
Large Appliance Coatings (2007).
Large Petroleum Dry Cleaners (1982).
Manufacture of High-Density Polyethylene,
Polypropylene, and Polystyrene Resins.
Manufacture of Pneumatic Rubber Tires
(1972).
Miscellaneous Industrial Adhesives (2008).
Plastic Parts Coatings, Tables 3, 4, 8, and 9
of the CTG (2008).
Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
Air Oxidation Processes (1984).
Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
Distillation and Reactor Processes (1993).
Surface Coating for Insulation of Magnet
Wire (1977).
Shipbuilding/repair (1996).
Surface Coating of Automobiles and Light
Duty Trucks (1977).
Surface Coating of Fabrics (1977).
Surface Coating of Large Appliances (1977).
Surface Coating of Paper (2007).
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Reg. 7 sections fulfilling
RACT
part E, section II.
part E, section II.
part E, section II.
part C, section I.O.
part E, section V.
D. Reasonably Available Control
Measures (RACM) Analysis
1. Background
CAA section 172(c)(1) of the CAA
requires that states adopt ‘‘all
reasonably available control measures
[RACM] as expeditiously as
practicable.’’ The EPA interprets the
CAA RACM provision to require a
demonstration that: (1) The state has
adopted all reasonable measures
(including RACT) to meet RFP
requirements and to demonstrate
attainment as expeditiously as possible;
and (2) no additional measures that are
reasonably available will advance the
attainment date or contribute to RFP for
the area.60 States should consider all
available measures, including those
being implemented in other areas, but
must adopt measures for an area only if
those measures are economically and
technologically feasible and will
advance the attainment date or are
necessary for RFP.61 Potentially
available measures that would not
advance the attainment date for an area
are not considered RACM; likewise,
states can reject potential RACM if
adopting them would cause substantial
widespread and long-term adverse
impacts.62 Local conditions, such as
economic or implementation concerns,
may also be considered. To allow the
EPA to determine whether the RACM
requirement has been satisfied, states
60 40 CFR 51.912(d); Final Rule To Implement the
8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standard—Phase 2, 70 FR 71612, 71659 (Nov. 29,
2005). See also General Preamble, State
Implementation Plans; General Preamble for the
Implementation of title I of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990, 57 FR 13498, 13560 (April
16, 1992).
61 80 FR 12264, 12282 (March 6, 2015).
62 Id.
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should discuss in the SIP submittals
whether measures ‘‘within the arena of
potentially reasonable measures’’ are in
fact reasonably available.63 If the
measures are reasonably available, they
must be adopted as RACM.
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2. Evaluation
Colorado previously evaluated
potentially available control measures
for RACM purposes with their 2008
Moderate ozone attainment plan. The
EPA approved the State’s RACM
analysis on July 3, 2018.64 The RAQC
resumed RACM discussions with the
CDPHE and other partners in 2018 when
the DMNFR Area was reclassified to
Serious, so as to identify strategies that
would help the Area attain by the 2020
ozone season.65 Areas of analysis
included stationary and area sources,
mobile sources and fuels,
transportation, land use, pricing, and
outreach. Subcommittee meetings were
open to the public, and stakeholders
provided input on the topics discussed.
The State’s RACM review took place
in the context of a series of state actions
that had the effect of reducing
emissions. Since the base year of 2011,
Colorado has adopted oil and gas
regulations; 66 implemented controls
required under the State Clean Air
Clean Jobs Act 67 through the Regional
Haze SIP; and continued alternative
fuels,68 transportation,69 and land use
programs.70 Additional efforts include
the ongoing work of the Statewide
Hydrocarbon Emissions Reduction
Team and Pneumatics Task Force, and
numerous bills aimed at improving air
quality.71
As part of the RACM analysis, CDPHE
examined emission reduction
measures 72 being implemented in the
DMNFR Area that are not included in
the SIP modeling and emissions
inventory because they are voluntary or
difficult to quantify. Non-federally
enforceable emission reduction
measures were evaluated for stationary
and mobile sources, lawn and garden
equipment, and the transportation
system; outreach and education were
63 ‘‘Guidance on the Reasonably Available
Control Measures (RACM) Requirement and
Attainment Demonstration Submissions for Ozone
Nonattainment Areas,’’ John S. Seitz, Director,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA
(Nov. 30, 1999).
64 See 83 FR 31068.
65 See p. 7–3 of the OAP.
66 Colorado Reg. 7, part D.
67 Colo. Rev. Stat. section 40–3.2–201 et seq.
68 E.g., fueling and charging station grants.
69 E.g., Programs for improved public transit.
70 E.g., example, Denver Regional Council of
Governments identified urban growth area.
71 See p. 7–3 of the OAP.
72 See Table 48 of the OAP.
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also evaluated as part of this analysis.
Additionally, Colorado evaluated CAA
108(f), transportation measures 73 to
determine whether sources have applied
RACM.
After reviewing possible measures,
Colorado determined that all reasonably
available control measures necessary to
demonstrate attainment are currently
being implemented. Table 47 of
Colorado’s OAP lists control measures
included in Colorado’s SIP as they relate
to the State’s 2017 and 2020 emission
inventories, photochemical modeling in
the attainment demonstration, and
weight of evidence analysis.
Emission measures that were
evaluated but determined not to be
RACM are discussed in chapter 7.5 of
the OAP. Colorado used the following
criteria to determine whether measures
were considered RACM:
• Necessary to demonstrate
attainment;
• Technologically or economically
feasible;
• Implemented successfully in other
Serious nonattainment areas;
• Could be implemented by May 1,
2020; and
• Could qualify as SIP measures by
being quantifiable, enforceable,
permanent, and surplus.
Emission reduction measures
evaluated for RACM were broken into
various categories: oil and gas, mobile
source inspection and maintenance,
fuels, transportation, local government
policies, outreach, land use, and other.
Table 54 of the OAP summarizes the
measures evaluated and Colorado’s
RACM determination for each measure.
Colorado also reviewed the EPA’s Menu
of Control Measures for NAAQS
Implementation 74 and voluntary and
mandatory control measures in other
ozone nonattainment areas. Table 55 of
the OAP lists control measures
identified, and indicates which
measures were included in the State’s
RACM review. Although Colorado’s
analysis demonstrated that none of the
additional measures identified met the
criteria for RACM, the State plans to
continue evaluating strategies in various
areas, including oil and gas, mobile
source inspection and maintenance,
fuels, transportation, and local
government policies, as described in
Table 54 of the OAP.
In its analysis, Colorado evaluated all
source categories that could contribute
73 See
Table 52 of the OAP.
Menu of Control Measures gives state, local
and tribal air agencies information on existing
emissions reduction measures, as well as relevant
information concerning the efficiency and cost
effectiveness of the measures. Available at https://
www.epa.gov/air-quality-implementation-plans/
menu-control-measures-naaqs-implementation.
74 The
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meaningful emission reductions, and
identified and evaluated an extensive
list of potential control measures. To
determine reasonableness and
availability, the State considered the
time needed to develop and adopt
regulations, and the time it would take
to see the benefit from these measures.
The EPA has reviewed the RACM
analysis and finds that there are no
additional RACM that would have
advanced the Serious area attainment
date of 2021 for the DMNFR Area.75
Therefore, the EPA proposes to approve
Colorado’s Serious area RACM analysis
for the DMNFR Serious nonattainment
area.
E. Motor Vehicle Inspection and
Maintenance Program (I/M) Program
1. Background
As a Serious ozone nonattainment
area, pursuant to CAA section 182(c)(3),
Colorado was required to implement an
enhanced I/M program in the DMNFR
Area.76 Colorado’s Regulation Number
11 (Reg. 11) is titled ‘‘Motor Vehicle
Emissions Inspection Program,’’ and
addresses the implementation of the
State’s I/M program.77 Under Reg. 11
and other state law,78 all eligible
automobiles registered in the
Automobile Inspection and
Readjustment (AIR) program area 79 are
subject to periodic emissions
inspection. Currently there is an
exemption from emissions inspection
requirements for the first seven model
years. Thereafter, an On-BoardDiagnostics (OBD) vehicle computer
inspection is conducted during the first
two inspection cycles (vehicles 8
through 11 model years old). Vehicles
older than 11 model years are given a
dynamometer-based IM240 test for 1982
and newer light-duty gasoline
vehicles 80 and a two-speed idle test
75 On October 7, 2022 the EPA finalized an action
that among other things reclassified the DMNFR
Area to Severe nonattainment status for the 2008
ozone NAAQS. See Final rule, Determinations of
Attainment by the Attainment Date, Extensions of
the Attainment Date, and Reclassification of Areas
Classified as Serious for the 2008 Ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standards, 87 FR 60926.
Accordingly, the State of Colorado will be required
to submit a demonstration that the area will attain
the Severe standard, and other elements of a Severe
SIP.
76 5 CCR 1001–13.
77 The provisions which have been approved by
the EPA into the Colorado SIP via past rulemaking
actions, including Reg. 11, are publicly available at
https://www.epa.gov/sips-co/epa-approvedstatutes-and-regulations-colorado-sip.
78 CO Rev Stat section 42–4–304 (2016).
79 The current nine-county AIR program area is
depicted in chapter 8, figure 19, page 8–3 of the
OAP.
80 See 40 CFR part 51, subpart S for a complete
description of EPA’s IM240 test. The IM240 test is
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(TSI) 81 for 1981 and older light-duty
gasoline vehicles. To improve motorist
convenience and reduce program
implementation costs, the State also
administers a remote sensing-based
‘‘Clean Screen’’ program component of
the I/M program. Remote sensing is a
method for measuring vehicle
emissions, while simultaneously
photographing the license plate, when a
vehicle passes through infrared or
ultraviolet beams of light. Owners of
vehicles meeting the Clean Screen
criteria are notified by the respective
County Clerk that their vehicle has
passed the motor vehicle inspection
process and are exempt from their next
regularly scheduled program
inspection.82
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2. Evaluation
The AIR program and Reg. 11 were
expanded into portions of Larimer and
Weld counties as ‘‘state only’’
requirements in the Colorado 2009
Legislative session, with the passage of
Senate Bill 09–003. The startup date of
the I/M program in these two counties
was November 1, 2010. The purpose of
this expansion of the AIR program and
Reg. 11 into portions of Larimer and
Weld counties was to further reduce
vehicle emissions of NOX and VOC
ozone precursors in the 2008 DMNFR
Area. With the reclassification of the
DMNFR Area to Moderate for the 2008
8-hour ozone NAAQS, and in light of
the associated CAA requirements, the
State chose to submit the I/M program
in Larimer and Weld counties into the
SIP. Accordingly, as part of Moderate
Area SIP revisions for the 2008 8-hour
essentially an enhanced motor vehicle emissions
test to measure mass tailpipe emissions while the
vehicle follows a computer-generated driving cycle
trace for 240 seconds and while the vehicle is on
a dynamometer.
81 See 40 CFR part 51, subpart S for a complete
description of EPA’s two-speed idle test. The twospeed idle test essentially measures the mass
tailpipe emissions of a stationary vehicle; one
reading is at a normal idle of approximately 700 to
800 engine revolutions per minute (RPM) and one
reading at 2,500 RPM.
82 The Clean Screen program component of Reg.
11 was originally approved for implementation in
the Denver area with the EPA’s approval of the
original Denver carbon monoxide (CO)
redesignation to attainment and the related
maintenance plan. See 66 FR 64751 (Dec. 14, 2001).
The Clean Screen criteria approved in 2001
required two valid passing remote sensing readings,
on different days or from different sensors and
within the twelve-month period prior to that
vehicle’s registration renewal date. Colorado
revised Reg. 11 to expand the definition and
requirements for a ‘‘clean-screened vehicle’’ to also
include vehicles identified as low-emitting vehicles
in the state-determined Low Emitting Index (LEI)
that have one passing remote sensing reading,
before the vehicle’s registration renewal date. These
improvements and other associated revisions to the
Clean Screen program were approved by the EPA
on October 21, 2016 (81 FR 72720).
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ozone NAAQS, Colorado removed the
Larimer/Weld ‘‘state-only’’ designation
in Reg. 11 and submitted a revised Reg.
11 to the EPA, which was approved July
3, 2018.83
The most recent federally approved
revisions to the Reg. 11 enhanced I/M
program were adopted by the AQCC in
May 2017. The revisions consisted of:
• Inclusion of OBD I/M pass/fail
results as a qualifying consideration in
the remote sensing clean screen low
emitter index,
• Clarification of details of tailpipe
and OBD inspection procedures and
OBD readiness criteria, and
• Establishing authority to fail
vehicles exhibiting evidence of OBD
fraud.
These revisions were approved by
EPA on February 7, 2019.84
On July 15, 2022, Colorado submitted
supplemental modeling of the State’s I/
M program for comparison against the
applicable Enhanced I/M performance
standard requirements in 40 CFR part
51, subpart S. Colorado used the latest
approved version of the EPA’s mobile
source emissions model, MOVES3.0.3
(released January 2022), for the
comparative analysis. Demonstration of
program equivalency to the enhanced I/
M program standard was conducted in
accordance with the EPA’s published I/
M performance standard modeling
guidance, MOVES3 technical guidance,
and additional technical guidance from
the EPA as necessary.85
To demonstrate that the Colorado
enhanced I/M program meets the
enhanced program performance
standard described in 40 CFR 51.351(i),
the Colorado program must be modeled
to show that, on the proper analysis
date, it obtains the same or lower
emissions reductions as the federal
model enhanced program. The state
program may provide reductions of
NAAQS relevant pollutants equivalent
to the reductions expected from the
83 83
FR 31068.
FR 2449. Colorado submitted the latest
revisions to Reg. 11 to the EPA on May 16, 2022.
The EPA will act on those revisions in a separate
action. Since these most recent changes to Reg. 11
were adopted by the State after the attainment date
for Serious areas under the 2008 ozone NAAQS, the
revisions were not considered when evaluating the
adequacy of Colorado’s enhanced I/M program in
the context of this current EPA action.
85 See Performance Standard Modeling for New
and Existing Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance
(I/M) Programs Using the MOVES Mobile Source
Emissions Model, EPA–420–B–14–006 (Jan. 2014),
available at https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/
ZyPdf.cgi?Dockey=P100HHMP.pdf; MOVES3
Technical Guidance: Using MOVES to Prepare
Emission Inventories for State Implementation
Plans and Transportation Conformity, EPA–420–B–
20–052 (Nov. 2020), available at https://
nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=
P1010LY2.pdf.
84 84
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model program to within ±0.02 grams
per mile for the area’s total vehicle
miles travelled on a July weekday in the
attainment date year. Colorado’s
supplemental demonstration shows that
the state’s I/M program meets the
applicable enhanced I/M performance
standard requirements for the 2008
ozone NAAQS.
Based on our review and as discussed
above we find that Colorado has a
Vehicle I/M Program that meets the
performance standard for Enhanced I/M,
and we therefore propose approval of
this portion of the OAP.
F. Nonattainment New Source Review
(NNSR)
1. Background
As a Serious ozone nonattainment
area, Colorado was required to
implement an NNSR program.
Applicable NNSR requirements for
ozone nonattainment areas are
described in CAA section 182 and
further defined in 40 CFR part 51,
subpart I (Review of New Sources and
Modifications). Under these
requirements, new major sources and
major modifications at existing sources
must achieve the lowest achievable
emission rate (LAER) and obtain
emission offsets in an amount based on
the specific ozone nonattainment
classification. The emission offset ratio
required for Serious ozone
nonattainment areas is 1.2 to 1.86
2. Evaluation
The Colorado SIP includes Regulation
3, part D, section V.A. (Concerning
Major Stationary Source New Source
Review and Prevention of Significant
Deterioration, Requirements Applicable
to Nonattainment Areas).87 This
provision requires new major sources
and major modifications at existing
sources in the DMNFR Area to comply
with LAER and obtain emission offsets
at the Serious classification ratio of 1.2
to 1. The EPA approved these
provisions on January 25, 2016.88 Since
the provisions in the Colorado SIP
satisfy the CAA NNSR requirements for
ozone nonattainment areas classified as
Serious, we propose approval of this
portion of the OAP.
86 CAA
section 182(c)(10).
provisions which have been approved by
the EPA into the Colorado SIP via past rulemaking
actions, including Regulation Number 3, are
publicly available at https://www.epa.gov/sips-co/
epa-approved-statutes-and-regulations-coloradosip.
88 81 FR 3963.
87 The
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G. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget
(MVEB)/Transportation Conformity
1. Background
Section 176(c) of the CAA establishes
a requirement known as
‘‘Transportation Conformity,’’ under
which federal agencies must ensure that
actions they support or fund will
conform to the applicable SIP.
Conformity to a SIP means that
transportation activities will not
produce new air quality violations,
worsen existing violations, or delay
timely attainment of the NAAQS.89 The
EPA’s conformity rule at 40 CFR part 93,
subpart A requires that transportation
plans, programs, and projects conform
to SIPs, and establishes the criteria and
procedures for determining whether
they conform. The conformity rule
requires a demonstration that emissions
from the Metropolitan Planning
Organization’s (MPO) Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP) and the
Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP) are consistent with the MVEB in
the control strategy SIP revision or
maintenance plan.90 The MVEBs are
defined as the portion allocated to
mobile source emissions out of the total
allowable emissions of a pollutant
defined in the SIP for a certain date for
the purpose of demonstrating
attainment or maintenance of the
NAAQS or for meeting RFP
milestones.91
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Additionally, CAA section 182(c)(5)
requires that states, every three years,
submit a demonstration for Serious
nonattainment areas that current
aggregate VMT, aggregate vehicle
emissions, congestion levels, and other
relevant traffic-related and vehicle
emissions-related factors (collectively
‘‘relevant parameters’’) are consistent
with those used for the area’s ozone
attainment demonstration.
2. Evaluation
Colorado derived the MVEBs for NOX
and VOCs from its 2020 DMNFR Serious
attainment demonstration, and defined
the MVEBs in chapter 11, section 11.2.1
of the OAP.
TABLE 6—2020 NOX AND VOC MVEBS FOR DMNFR AREA
2020 NOX
emissions
(tpd)
Area of applicability
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Northern Subarea ....................................................................................................................................................
Southern Subarea ....................................................................................................................................................
Total Nonattainment Area ........................................................................................................................................
These MVEBs are consistent with, and
clearly related to, the emissions
inventory and the control measures in
the SIP, and satisfy the criteria at 40
CFR 93.118(e)(4). Therefore, we propose
approval of the MVEBs as reflected in
Table 6. This proposed approval applies
to the Northern Subarea and Southern
Subarea MVEBs as well as the Total
Nonattainment Area MVEBs. The
transportation conformity subareas are
defined in chapter 11, section 11.2 of
the OAP and are listed below.
• The Northern Subarea is the area
denoted by the ozone nonattainment
area north of the Boulder County
northern boundary and extended
through southern Weld County to the
Morgan County line. This area includes
the North Front Range MPO’s
(NFRMPO) regional planning area as
well as part of the Upper Front Range
Transportation Planning Region (TPR)
in Larimer and Weld counties.
• The Southern Subarea is the area
denoted by the ozone nonattainment
area south of the Boulder County
northern boundary and extended
through southern Weld County to the
Morgan County line. This area includes
the nonattainment portion of the Denver
Regional Council of Governments
(DRCOG) regional planning area and the
89 CAA
section 176(c)(1)(B).
CFR 93.101, 93.118, and 93.124.
91 40 CFR 93.101; see 40 CFR 93.118 and 93.124
for criteria and other requirements related to
90 40
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southern Weld County portion of the
Upper Front Range TPR.
• Both subareas are further described
in the OAP in Figure 20, ‘‘8-hour Ozone
Nonattainment Area Subareas.’’
In addition to proposing approval of
the MVEBs, we also propose to approve
the process described in chapter 11,
section 11.2.3 in the OAP for the use of
the Total Nonattainment Area MVEBs or
the subarea MVEBs for the respective
MPOs to determine transportation
conformity for their respective RTP. As
described in section 11.2.3 of Colorado’s
OAP, the OAP identifies subarea MVEBs
for DRCOG and the NFRMPO. These
SIP-identified subarea MVEBs allow
either MPO to make independent
conformity determinations for the
applicable subarea MVEBs whose
frequency and timing needs for
conformity determinations differ. As
noted in section 11.2.3, DRCOG and the
NFRMPO may switch from using the
Total Nonattainment Area MVEBs to
using the subarea MVEBs for
determining conformity. To switch to
use of the subarea MVEBs (or to
subsequently switch back to use of the
Total Nonattainment Area MVEBs)
DRCOG and the NFRMPO must use the
process described in the DMNFR OAP
in section 11.2.3.92 This process of
demonstrating transportation
MVEBs. Further discussion of MVEBs is in the
preamble to the transportation conformity rule. 58
FR 62188, 62193–62196 (Nov. 24, 1993).
92 See pp. 11–5 and 11–6 of the OAP.
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9.7
45
54.7
2020 VOC
emissions
(tpd)
8.2
41.2
49.4
conformity to the total or subarea area
MVEBs, as described in section 11.2.3 of
the OAP, was previously approved by
the EPA for the Denver Moderate Ozone
Plan for the 2008 8-hour standard on
July 3, 2018.93 Now, as to the Serious
classification for the 2008 8-hour
standard, the EPA finds that this process
remains consistent with the CAA and
with applicable EPA regulations, and
therefore proposes to approve it.
Regarding transportation control
requirements, as described in section
11.3 of the OAP, MVEBs are evaluated
on a regular basis by the MPOs through
their conformity process. Based on the
most recent conformity determinations
for the northern and the southern
subregions, Colorado’s demonstration
shows that both areas were meeting the
current emissions budgets established in
the 2008 Moderate area Ozone SIP, and
that they are expected be able to meet
the proposed budgets for the 2008
Serious area Ozone SIP in future
conformity determinations. The EPA
finds that the transportation control
measures as described in section 11.3 of
the OAP meet CAA requirements. We
therefore propose to approve this
section of the OAP.
93 83
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H. Clean Fuel Fleet Program
1. Background
Sections 182(c)(4) and 241–246 of the
CAA provide that states with ozone
nonattainment areas classified as
Serious, Severe, or Extreme must
implement a federally enforceable
program to require certain centrally
fueled fleet operators to include a
specified percentage of clean-fuel
vehicles (CFV) in their new fleet
purchases to reduce emissions of ozone
precursors, or else to engage in a statemanaged credit trading scheme with
other fleet operators who purchase CFV
in excess to requirements. Section
182(c)(4) of the Act also allows states
subject to the clean-fuel fleet program
requirements to develop substitute
programs to achieve equivalent
reductions to those achieved by the
default program requirements for the
covered nonattainment area, and to
submit them to the EPA for approval.94
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2. Evaluation
In the OAP, Colorado cited an EPA
determination 95 that, beginning with
the 2007 model years, both the Tier 2
conventional vehicle and engine
standards and heavy-duty vehicle and
engine standards are either equivalent to
or more stringent than the applicable
clean fuel vehicle program low emission
vehicle (LEV) standards. Table 59 of the
OAP includes a clean fuel fleet emission
comparison demonstrating that Tier 2
and 2004 heavy-duty engine standards
are equivalent or more stringent than
the Clean Fuel Fleet standards and that
the emission reductions from the federal
standards surpassed LEV emission
reductions in 2004, when the federal
standards were implemented.
Additionally, figure 23 of the OAP
provides a comparison of Tier 3 Motor
Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards
program that illustrates even larger
emission reductions over CFV
standards.
The EPA amended the Clean Fuel
Fleet standards in 40 CFR part 88 in
2021 to address the fact that current
emissions standards for engines and
vehicles are either more stringent than
or equivalent to the Clean Fuel Fleet
standards.96 According to these
amendments, all new fleet purchases of
94 Final rule, Emission Standards for Clean-Fuel
Vehicles and Engines, Requirements for Clean-Fuel
Vehicle Conversions, and California Pilot Test
Program, 59 FR 50042 (Sept. 30, 1994).
95 See EPA Dear Manufacturer Letter CCD–05
(LDV/LDT/MDPV/HDV/HDE/LD–FC), July 21, 2005,
in the docket for this rulemaking.
96 Final rule, Improvements for Heavy-Duty
Engine and Vehicle Test Procedures, and Other
Technical Amendments 86 FR 34308 (June 29,
2021).
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vehicles and engines certified to current
emission standards are deemed to meet
the Clean Fuel Fleet standards as Ultra
Low-Emission Vehicles.
Because 2004 model year Heavy Duty
Diesel and Tier II and III vehicle
standards meet or exceed the CFV LEV
standards, we propose to find that
Colorado meets the Federal Clean Fuel
Fleet Program requirements, and to
approve that portion of the submittal
that addresses the requirements of
section 182(c)(4) of the CAA.
I. SIP Control Measures
1. Background
This section describes revisions to
Colorado Regs. 7 and 21 submitted as a
part of the SIP, including emission
control requirements for oil and gas
operations; turbines, process heaters,
and other combustion equipment, foam
manufacturing; architectural coatings
and consumer products. The revisions
also establish RACT requirements for
emission points at certain CTGs and
major sources of VOC and NOX in the
DMNFR Area.
Colorado’s Reg. 7, entitled ‘‘Control of
Ozone via Ozone Precursors and Control
of Hydrocarbons via Oil and Gas
Emissions,’’ contains general RACT
requirements as well as specific
emission limits applicable to various
industries. The EPA approved the repeal
and re-promulgation of Reg. 7 in 1981,97
and has approved various revisions to
Reg. 7 over the years. In 2008, the EPA
approved revisions to the control
requirements for condensate storage
tanks in section XII,98 and later
approved revisions to Reg. 7, sections I
through XI and sections XIII through
XVI.99 The EPA also approved Reg. 7
revisions to section XVII.E.3.a
establishing control requirements for
rich-burn reciprocating internal
combustion engines.100 In 2018 the EPA
approved Reg. 7 revisions in sections
XII (VOC emissions from oil and gas
operations) and XIII (emission control
requirements for VOC emissions from
graphic art and printing processes), as
97 Final rule, Colorado: Approval and
Promulgation of State Implementation Plans, 46 FR
16687 (March 13, 1981).
98 Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; State of Colorado;
Regulation No. 7, section XII, Volatile Organic
Compounds From Oil and Gas Operations, 73 FR
8194 (Feb. 13, 2008).
99 Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of State
Implementation Plans; State of Colorado;
Attainment Demonstration for the 1997 8-Hour
Ozone Standard, and Approval of Related
Revisions, 76 FR 47443 (Aug. 5, 2011).
100 Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Regional
Haze State Implementation Plan, 77 FR 76871 (Dec.
31, 2012).
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well as non-substantive revisions to
numerous other parts of the
regulation.101
In February 2021, the EPA approved
Reg. 7 revisions in sections I
(Applicability), IX (Surface Coating
Operations), X (Use of Cleaning
Solvents), XIII (Graphics Arts and
Printing), XVI (Controls of Emissions
from Stationary and Portable Engines
and Other Combustion Equipment in
the 8-Hour Ozone Control Area), and
XIX (Control of Emissions from Specific
Major Sources of VOC and/or NOX in
the 8-hour Ozone Control Area).
Revisions to incorporation by reference
dates to rules and reference methods in
sections II, VI, VIII, IX, X, XII, XIII, XVI
and XVII were also approved, as well as
non-substantive revisions to numerous
other parts of the regulation.102
In November 2021, the EPA approved
submitted revisions to sections II
(general provisions), XII (Volatile
Organic Compound Emissions from Oil
and Gas Operations), and XVIII
(emissions from natural gas-actuated
pneumatic controllers located at or
upstream of natural gas processing
plants) of Reg. 7 from State submissions
in 2018 and 2019.103 From the State’s
2020 submission, the EPA approved
revisions that fully reorganized Reg. 7.
into parts A–E; updated requirements
for gasoline transport trucks, bulk
terminals, and service stations in part B;
added general solvent use requirements
in part C, section II.F; and added
stationary internal combustion engine
and flare RACT requirements for major
sources of VOC and/or NOX in the
Denver Area in part E. Revisions to
incorporation by reference dates to
rules, updates to reference methods, and
typographical, grammatical and
formatting corrections were made
throughout Reg. 7. Additionally, the
EPA finalized approval of the State’s
negative declaration—(that is, its
statement that there are no covered
sources in the DMNFR Area) as to the
aerospace CTG.
Most recently, in May 2022, the EPA
conditionally approved AQCC
regulations of ozone precursor and
hydrocarbon emissions from oil and gas
operations in sections XII.J.1 of Reg. 7
from the State’s May 14, 2018 submittal
and part D, sections I.D., I.E., I.F., and
I.J.1. of Reg. 7 from the State’s May 13,
2020 submission.104 Additionally, the
EPA conditionally approved Colorado’s
determination that Reg. 7, part D
satisfies RACT requirements for the
101 See
83 FR 31068, 31071.
FR 11125.
103 86 FR 61071.
104 87 FR 29228 (May 13, 2022).
102 86
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Colorado ozone SIP for the 2016 oil and
natural gas CTG.
Colorado submitted new regulation
number 21 (Reg. 21) on May 13, 2020,
and revised Reg. 7 revisions with the
OAP on March 22, 2021, and
subsequent revisions on May 18, 2021
and May 20, 2022. The 2020 submittal
includes new Reg. 21, which establishes
VOC content limits in architectural
coatings and consumer products. The
2022 revisions in Reg. 7, part C, section
I.O and part E, sections II.A., III.B., and
V. address RACT for major sources with
VOC and/or NOX emissions equal to or
greater than 50 tpy; specifically, for
wood surface coatings operations,
boilers, turbines, process heaters,
landfill gas and biogas fired engines,105
and foam manufacturing. The 2021
submittals include revisions to Reg. 7,
part D, sections I.E.3., I.J.1., and III.B to
address oil and gas CTG requirements,
and clerical revisions in parts C,
sections I.A., I.L., and E, sections II.A.
Colorado made substantive SIP
revisions to Reg. 21 and certain limited
parts of Reg. 7, particularly part C,
sections I.O. and I.L.; part D, sections
I.E.3. and I.J.1; and part E, sections,
II.A.1.c., II.A.3.p, II.A.4.b.(i),
II.A.4.b.(iv), II.A.4.f., II.A.4.g,
II.A.5.a.(iii), II.A.5.b.(ii)(B),
II.A.5.b.(ii)(B), II.A.5.b.(ii)(C)(4),
II.A.5.c.(i)(A), II.A.6.b.(viii)(E), and V.
The State also made non-substantive
revisions to numerous parts of Reg. 7.
For ease of review, Colorado submitted
the full text of Reg. 7 and Reg. 21 as a
SIP revision (with the exception of
provisions designated ‘‘State Only’’).
The EPA is only seeking comment on
Colorado’s proposed substantive
changes to the SIP-approved version of
Reg. 7, which are described below. We
are not seeking comment on
incorporation into the SIP of the revised
portions of the regulation that were
previously approved into the SIP and
have not been substantively modified by
the State as part of this submission.
As noted above, Colorado designated
various parts of Reg. 7 and Reg. 21
‘‘State Only’’ and in Reg. 7, section
I.A.1.c and Reg. 21, section I.A.2.
indicated that sections designated State
Only are not federally enforceable. The
EPA concludes that provisions
designated State Only have not been
submitted for EPA approval, but for
informational purposes. Hence, the EPA
is not proposing to act on the portions
of Regs. 7 or 21 designated State Only,
and this proposed rule does not discuss
them further except as relevant to
105 The EPA will be acting on the State’s RACT
determination for landfill and biogas fired engines
in a separate action.
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discussion of the portions of the
regulation that Colorado intended to be
federally enforceable.
2. Evaluation
a. Analysis of Reg. 21 Changes in May
13, 2020 Submittal
The EPA proposes to approve the
changes made to Reg. 21 with
Colorado’s May 13, 2020 submission.
(i) Part A
Part A of Reg. 21 establishes new
rules for limiting VOC emissions from
consumer products as of May 1, 2020.
‘‘Consumer products,’’ as defined in
section VI.GG., ‘‘means a chemically
formulated product used by household
and institutional consumers including,
but not limited to, detergents; cleaning
compounds; polishes; floor finishes;
cosmetics; personal care products;
home, lawn, and garden products;
disinfectants; sanitizers; aerosol paints;
automotive specialty products; and
aerosol adhesives. Consumer product
does not include other paint products,
furniture coatings, or architectural
coatings.’’ 106 Section I contains the
applicability requirements. The rules
apply to people who sell, supply, offer
for sale, distribute for sale, or
manufacture for sale consumer products
in the 8-hour ozone control area.
Section I.B. includes a number of
exemptions from the requirements in
section A, such exemptions for
consumer products that are
manufactured in Colorado solely for
shipment and use outside of Colorado,
and for consumer products that have
been granted an Innovative Product
exemption, an Alternative Control Plan
(ACP), or a variance under the Variances
provisions by the California Air
Resources Board (CARB).
Table 1 in section II establishes VOC
content limits for manufacturing,
selling, suppling, offering for sale, and
distributing consumer products.
Additional standards in section II
include labeling, certification, and VOC
limit applicability requirements for
consumer products. Section II.J.
includes a list of chemicals that
consumer products cannot contain.
Section II.K. includes a list of consumer
products that cannot contain
trichloroethylene in a combined amount
greater than 0.01 percent by weight.
Table 1 in Part A includes the VOC
content limits for consumer products
manufactured on or after May 1, 2020.
Section III of part A contains
container labeling requirements,
including a requirement for clear
display of dates that products were
106 See
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manufactured or date codes
representing the date of manufacture on
containers or packages; special purpose
spray adhesive classification
requirements; and dilution ratios for
non-aerosol floor wax strippers.
Sections III.E and F. include label
display requirements for energized
electrical cleaner and zinc rich primers.
Under section III.F aerosol adhesives,
adhesive removers, electronic cleaners,
electrical cleaners, energized electrical
cleaners, and content products must
include the product category, applicable
VOC standard for the product as a
percentage by weight, and the
applicable substrate and/or application
for special purpose spray adhesives on
labels.
Section IV contains reporting
requirements to demonstrate
compliance with the applicability and
standards requirements in part A. These
include maintaining records necessary
to demonstrate exemptions under
section I.B and of the paradichlorobenzene content of solid air
freshener, insecticide, or toilet/urinal
care consumer products. Records must
be maintained for a minimum of three
years and made available to the Division
upon request. Section IV.D. includes a
list of information that must be reported
to the Division within 90 days of written
notice. This information includes the
names and contact information of
responsible parties, consumer product
brand names for each product label and
category, Colorado sales in pounds per
year, and the net percent by weight of
total product.
Section V includes test methods that
should be used to determine compliance
with the requirements in part A (CARB
Method 310 or through calculation of
the VOC content from records of the
amounts of constituents used to make
the product) and whether a product is
a liquid or solid (ASTM D4359–
90(2000)e). Section VI contains a list of
definitions used throughout part A. We
propose to find that the provisions in
part A are consistent with CAA
requirements, and that they strengthen
the SIP. We therefore propose to
approve the revisions in part. A.
(ii) Part B
Part B of Reg. 21 establishes new rules
for limiting VOC emissions from
architectural or industrial maintenance
(AIM) coatings as of May 1, 2020.
Architectural coating, as defined in
section VI.F., ‘‘means a coating to be
applied to stationary structures or their
appurtenances at the site of installation,
to portable buildings at the site of
installation, to pavements, or to curbs.
Architectural coating does not include
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coatings applied in shop applications or
to non-stationary structures such as
airplanes, ships, boats, railcars, and
automobiles, as well as adhesives.’’ 107
Industrial maintenance coatings, as
defined in section VI.DD., ‘‘means a
high performance architectural coating,
including primers, sealers,
undercoaters, intermediate coats, and
topcoats, formulated for application to
substrates, including floors, and
exposed to one or more of the following
extreme environmental conditions:
immersion in water, wastewater, or
chemical solutions (aqueous and nonaqueous solutions), or chronic
exposures of interior surfaces to
moisture condensation; acute or chronic
exposure to corrosive, caustic, or acidic
agents, or to chemicals, chemical fumes,
or chemical mixtures or solutions;
frequent exposure to temperatures above
121°C (250 °F); frequent heavy abrasion,
including mechanical wear and
scrubbing with industrial solvents,
cleansers, or scouring agents; or exterior
exposure of metal structures and
structural components. Industrial
maintenance coatings must be labeled as
specified in part B, section III.D.1.’’ 108
Section I contains the applicability
requirements. The rules apply to people
who sell, supply, offer for sale,
distribute for sale, or manufacture for
sale AIM coatings in the 8-hour ozone
control area. Section I.B. includes a
number of exemptions from the
requirements in section B including
AIM coatings that are manufactured in
Colorado solely for shipment and use
outside of Colorado; aerosol coating
products, and AIM coatings that are sold
in containers with a volume of one liter
or less.
Table 1 in section II establishes VOC
content limits for manufacturing,
blending, suppling, selling, offering for
sale, and soliciting for application AIM
coatings. Section III of part B includes
container labeling requirements
including clearly displaying dates that
products were manufactured or date
codes representing the date of
manufacture on containers, a statement
of the manufacturer’s recommendation
regarding thinning of the coating, and
the VOC content in grams per liter of
coating. Section III.D. includes a list of
statements that should be displayed on
container labels, such as ‘‘for industrial
use only,’’ ‘‘for blocking stains,’’ ‘‘high
gloss,’’ and ‘‘for metal substrates only.’’
Section IV contains a list of
information that must be reported to the
Division within 180 days of written
notice to demonstrate compliance with
107 See
p. 282 of the May 13, 2020 submittal.
108 See p. 285 of the May 13, 2020 submittal.
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part B requirements. This information
includes the names and mailing address
of manufacturers, the names of the
coatings products as they appear on the
labels and the application coating
categories, the VOC content in gram per
liter as determined in accordance with
section V, and the density of the
products in pounds per gallon.
Section V includes test methods that
should be used to determine compliance
with the requirements in part B. Section
V.A. describes the process for
determining the VOC content of a
coating. Section VI. contains a list of
definitions used throughout part B. We
propose to find that the provisions in
part B are consistent with CAA
requirements, and that they strengthen
the SIP. We therefore propose to
approve the revisions in part B.
b. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in March
22, 2021 Submittal
The EPA proposes to approve the
following changes made to Reg. 7 with
Colorado’s March 22, 2021 submission.
(i) Part C, Section I
Section I of part C contains rules for
surface coating operations. In this
submittal, the Commission expanded
Section I.O wood furniture surface
coating requirements to the surface
coatings of other wood products such as
doors, door casings, and decorative
wood accents. The provisions apply to
other wood products coating operations
with uncontrolled actual emissions
greater than or equal to 50 tpy located
in the DMNFR Area. A detailed
evaluation of section I is in the TSD for
this action. We propose to find that the
provisions in part C are consistent with
CAA and RACT requirements, and that
they strengthen the SIP. We therefore
propose to approve the revisions in part.
C.
(ii) Part E, Section II
Section II of part E contains rules for
the control of emissions from stationary
and portable combustion equipment in
the DMNFR Area. The revisions in art
E include RACT requirements for 50 tpy
major sources of VOC and/or NOX
including a NOX emission limit for
boilers between 50 MMBtu/hr and 100
MMBtu/hr, a NOX emission limit for
landfill gas or biogas fired engines,109
and NOX emission limits for combustion
turbines.
Section II.A.4.a.(iv) expands
categorical boiler RACT requirements
for 50–100 MMBtu/hr boilers at 50 tpy
109 The EPA will be acting on the State’s RACT
determination for landfill and biogas fired engines
in a sperate action.
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major sources to comply with a 0.1 lb/
MMBtu NOX emission limit. The
owners or operators of these boilers will
continue to comply with the
combustion process adjustment,
periodic performance testing, and
recordkeeping requirements in section
II.
Section II.A.4.b.(i)(A) was revised to
reference NSPS KKKK NOX emission
limits for the turbines constructed
before February 18, 2005. These
emission limits are included in Table 1
of section II.A.4.b. Section
II.A.4.b.(i)(A)(1) requires that turbines
with CEMS that are capable of operating
in both combined and simple cycle
modes show compliance with a 30-day
rolling average. Section II.A.4.b.(iv)
adds a new requirement for turbines, air
pollution control equipment, and
monitoring equipment to be operated
with good air pollution control practices
for minimizing emissions. Section
II.A.5.c.(i)(A) includes monitoring
requirements for pre and post February
18, 2005 turbines.
A detailed evaluation of section II is
in the TSD for this action. We propose
to find that the provisions in section II
are consistent with CAA and RACT
requirements, and that they strengthen
the SIP. We therefore propose to
approve the revisions in part E, section
II.
(iii) Part E, Section V
Section V of part E contains new rules
for the control of emissions from foam
manufacturing in the DMNFR Area as of
January 27, 2020. Foam manufacturing
operation, as defined in section V.A.3.e.,
‘‘means any expanded polystyrene (EPS)
production line, or portion of a
production line, which processes raw
EPS bead into final molded EPS
product. Production line processes
include, but are not limited to preexpansion, aging (pre-puff), and
molding. The manufacturing process
ends after the product exits the EPS
mold. ‘Foam manufacturing operation’
also means any production line
processing methylene diphenyl
diisocyanate (MDI), resins, and various
hardeners and thickeners into foam
products and which results in VOC
emissions into the atmosphere. The
manufacturing process ends after the
product exits the drying tunnel.’’
Section V.A.3. includes a list of
definitions used in section V.
Section V.A.4. establishes emission
limits for foam manufacturing
operations. Operators must limit VOC
emissions from foam manufacturing to
3.0 lbs per 100 lbs of total material
processed, averaged monthly, or must
control VOC emissions from foam
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manufacturing by 90%. Work practice
requirements are set forth in section
V.A.5. and require that raw materials be
stored in closed, leak-free, labeled
containers, and in a manner that
minimizes evaporation from open
containers. Sections V.A.6., 7, and 8
contain monitoring, recordkeeping, and
reporting (MRR) requirements,
including MRR for performance testing
to determine control efficiency of
emission control equipment, and
requirements to keep records of the
amounts of raw material processed on a
daily basis, total monthly VOC
emissions, and a manufacturer’s
guarantee of control equipment’s
emission control efficiencies. Records
must be maintained for five years and
made available to the Division upon
request. Records of performance test
protocols for performance tests under
Section V.A.6.b. must be submitted to
the Division for review at least thirty
days before testing.
A detailed evaluation of section V is
in the TSD for this action. We propose
to find that the provisions in section V
are consistent with CAA and RACT
requirements, and that they strengthen
the SIP. We therefore propose to
approve the revisions in part E, section
V.
c. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 18,
2021 Submittal
The majority of the changes to Reg. 7
from the May 18, 2021 submittal are
state-only and therefore have not been
submitted for inclusion in the SIP. The
SIP revisions from this submittal
include editorial revisions to the outline
of the regulation and numbering
changes to part E, section I.D.4., SIP
controls for existing natural gas fired
RICE. The revisions are clerical in
nature and do not affect the substance
of the requirements. Therefore, we
propose to approve the changes.
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d. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 20,
2022 Miscellaneous Metals and Process
Heaters Submittal
The EPA proposes to approve the
changes made to Reg. 7 with Colorado’s
May 20, 2022 miscellaneous metals and
process heaters submittal.
(i) Part C, Section I
Section I of part C contains rules for
surface coating operations. The
Commission has previously adopted
requirements for metal surface coatings
based on recommendations in EPA’s
Control of Volatile Organic Emissions
from Existing Stationary Sources—
Volume VI: Surface Coating of
Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products
(1978), including VOC content limits,
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work practices, and recordkeeping
requirements. In 2008, however, the
EPA published a subsequent metal
coating CTG, Control Techniques
Guidelines for Miscellaneous Metal and
Plastic Parts Coatings (Metal Coating
CTG), which recommends expanding
the coatings VOC content limits from
four to fifty, including work practices,
application methods, and
recordkeeping. Therefore, in response to
EPA’s concern with Colorado’s existing
metal parts coating requirements as
based on EPA’s 1978 CTG, the
Commission revised the metal surface
coating requirements in part C, section
I to correspond to the recommendations
in the 2008 Metal Coating CTG.
The revised section I.L.,
Manufactured Metal Parts and Metal
Products, applies to sources where
actual emissions are greater than or
equal to 6.8 kilograms (15 lbs) per day
and 1.4 kilograms (3 lbs) per hour.
Starting January 1, 2022, section I.L
requirements applied to metal parts and
product surface coating units at
facilities where total actual VOC
emissions from all metal parts and
products surface coating operations are
greater than or equal to 2.7 tons per 12month rolling period, before
consideration of controls.
Revised section I.L.1.b. removes a
number of exemptions for surface
coatings of various metal parts and
products: automobiles and light-duty
trucks, metal cans, flat metal sheets and
strips in the form of rolls or coils, large
appliances, magnet wire for use in
electrical machinery, and metal
furniture. Section I.L.b.(iii) adds
categories for which section I.L. does
not apply, including certain sources
regulated by NSPS and sources that
must comply with other sections of the
SIP. Section I.L.2.b. includes new
requirements for surface coating of
manufactured metal parts or metal
products facilities and operations.
Section I.L.2.b.(i) requires that VOC
emissions from coatings and thinners be
reduced with an emission control
system having a control efficiency of
90% or greater. Additionally, products
must comply with the VOC content
limits established in Tables 1 and 2 of
section I.L.2.b. A number of new
definitions were added to section
I.L.1.c.
Sections I.L.3. and I.L.4. include
application methods and work practice
standards that owners and operators
must use and follow. These include the
use of high-volume low-pressure spray,
roller coat, and airless spray; storing all
VOC containing coatings, thinners,
coating related waste materials, cleaning
materials, and used shop towels in
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closed containers; and minimizing VOC
emissions from cleaning of application,
storage, mixing, and conveying
equipment by cleaning equipment
without atomizing the cleaning solvent
and capturing spent solvent in closed
containers section I.L.5. contains
recordkeeping requirements to
demonstrate compliance with section
I.L. Records must be maintained for a
minimum of five years and made
available to the Division upon request.
A detailed review of section I.L. is in
the TSD for this action. We propose to
find that the provisions in section I.L.
are consistent with CAA requirements,
represent RACT for the emission limits
in Table 2 ‘‘Metal Parts and Products
VOC Content Limits’’ and Table 7
‘‘Metal Parts and Products VOC
Emission Rate Limits’’ of the 2008
Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products
CTG, and that they strengthen the SIP.
We therefore propose to approve the
revisions in part C, section I.110
(ii) Part E, Section II
Section II of part E contains rules for
the control of emissions from stationary
and portable combustion equipment in
the 8-hour ozone control area. The
Commission revised this section of Reg.
7 to include provisions in the SIP that
require the implementation of RACT for
process heaters at major sources of NOX
emissions. NOX emission limits apply to
natural gas-fired and refinery gas-fired
process heaters with a heat input rate
greater than or equal to 5 MMBtu/hr.
Table 2 in section II.A.4.g. contains
NOX emission limits of 0.05 lb/MMBtu
for natural gas fired and 0.1 lb/MMBtu
for refinery fuel gas fired process heaters
with a heat input rate greater than 5
MMBtu/hr. Section II.A.5.a. adds
compliance dates for process heaters
subject to the section II.A.4.g.
requirements. Continuous emission
monitoring in section II.A.5.b.(i),
performance testing requirements in
section II.A.5.b.(ii) were expanded to
include section II.A.4.g. process heaters.
Section II.A.6.b.(viii)(E) was added to
include combustion process adjustment
requirements for process heaters.
A detailed evaluation of section II is
in the TSD for this action. We propose
to find that the provisions in section II
110 In this action, we are not finalizing the State’s
determination that RACT for the miscellaneous
metal parts CTG has been met, because Colorado
has not adopted limits or negative declarations for
sources listed in Table 5, Pleasure Craft Surface
Coating VOC Content Limits or Table 6, Motor
Vehicle Materials VOC Content Limits of the CTG
for Miscellaneous Metal and Plastic Parts Coatings,
EPA–453/R–08–003 (Sept. 2008). The State is
actively working on adopting RACT for these
sources. Therefore, we will be acting on these
categories in a separate rulemaking.
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are consistent with CAA and RACT
requirements, and that they strengthen
the SIP. We therefore propose to
approve the revisions in part E, section
II.
e. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 20,
2022 Part D Definitions Submittal
The majority of the changes to Reg. 7
from the State’s May 20, 2022 part D
definitions submittal are state-only and
therefore have not been submitted for
inclusion in the SIP. The SIP revisions
from this submittal include revisions to
definitions included in Reg. 7, part D,
section III for natural gas-actuated
pneumatic controllers associated with
oil and gas operations. The revisions to
definitions associated with pneumatic
controllers reflect more accurate and
appropriate technical definitions and do
not affect the substance of the
requirements. Therefore, we propose to
approve the changes.
f. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 14,
2018, May 13, 2020, and May 20, 2022
Part D Oil and Gas Submittals
In November 2021, the EPA approved
the majority of revisions to Colorado’s
regulations for oil and gas operations
from State submissions in 2018 and
2020 111 but deferred action on several
portions of the submittals because we
determined that Colorado’s SIP
revisions did not meet oil and gas CTG
RACT requirements for testing and
monitoring requirements for combustion
control devices for storage vessels and
centrifugal compressors. On October 20,
2021, Colorado submitted a letter
committing to adopt and submit specific
revisions by June 30, 2022. Specifically,
the State committed to add
requirements for performance testing of
certain combustion devices consistent
with the EPA’s oil and gas CTG by using
the same frequency, testing protocol,
and recordkeeping requirements that
apply to storage vessels and wet seal
centrifugal compressors required to be
controlled under the EPA’s oil and gas
CTG (i.e., storage vessels that have the
potential for VOC emissions equal to or
greater than 6 tpy). The EPA issued a
conditional approval of Reg. 7 revisions
and the State’s RACT determination for
the oil and gas CTG on May 13, 2022 112
based on the commitment letter
submitted by the APCD. An evaluation
of Reg. 7 revisions from the State’s May
14, 2018 and May 13, 2020 submittals
and October 20, 2021 commitment letter
is in our February 17, 2022 proposed
rule.113
The revisions from the May 20, 2022
part D, Oil and Gas submittal are
consistent with the commitments in the
letter 114 and include provisions for
performance testing or demonstration of
manufacturer testing for combustion
equipment used to control emissions
from storage vessels in section I.E.3. and
wet seal centrifugal compressors in
section I.J.1.h. A detailed evaluation of
section I is in our February 17, 2022
proposed rule and the associated TSD
for that action.115 We propose to find
that the revisions in section I from the
State’s May 20, 2022 part D, Oil and Gas
submittal are consistent with CAA and
RACT requirements, and that they
strengthen the SIP. We also propose to
find that the State has adopted and
submitted the specific revisions it has
committed to by June 30, 2022 and that
the conditional approval will now
convert to full approval.
VI. Proposed Action
We propose to approve the majority of
the OAP submittal from the State of
Colorado for the DMNFR Area
submitted on March 22, 2021. (In this
rule we are not proposing any action on
the submitted attainment
demonstration, enhanced monitoring, or
contingency measures.) Specifically, we
propose to approve:
• Milestone and future year emissions
inventories;
• RFP demonstration;
• Demonstration of RACT for oil and
natural gas industry VOC CTG sources;
• Demonstration of RACT for certain
miscellaneous metal parts coatings VOC
CTG sources;
• Demonstration of RACT for certain
VOC and NOX non-CTG sources;
• Demonstration of RACM
implementation;
• Motor vehicle I/M program;
• NNSR program; and
• MVEBs.
We also propose to approve SIP
revisions to Reg. 21 submitted by the
State on May 13, 2020 and to Reg. 7
submitted by the State on March 22,
2021, May 18, 2021, and May 20, 2022
as shown in Table 7. We are proposing
to approve Colorado’s determination
that the above rules constitute RACT for
the specific categories addressed in
Tables 3 and 4. A comprehensive
summary of the revisions in Colorado’s
Regs. 7 and 21 organized by the EPA’s
proposed rule action and submittal
dates are provided in the Table 7.
TABLE 7—LIST OF COLORADO REVISIONS TO REGS. 7 AND 21 THAT THE EPA PROPOSES TO APPROVE
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Revised sections in May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020, March 22, 2021, and May 20, 2022 submittals proposed for approval
May 14, 2018:
Reg. 7, part D, section XII.J.1.
May 13, 2020, Oil and Gas Submittal:
Reg. 7, part D, sections I.D.–D.3.a.(i), I.D.3.b.–b.(i), I.D.3.b.(ii), I.D.3.b.(v), I.D.3.b.(vii), I.D.3.b.(ix), I.D.4.–I.E.1.a., I.E.2.–.c.(ii), I.E.2.c.(iv)–
c.(viii), I.F.–1.d., I.F.1.g.–g.(xii), I.F.1.h.–F.2.a., I.F.2.c.–c.(vi), I.F.3.–3.a, I.F.3.c.–c.(i)(C), and I.J.1.–j. (renumbering).
May 13, 2020, Reg. 21 Submittal:
Reg. 21, part A, sections I–I.A.1, I.B.–VI.AAAAAAA., part B, sections I.–I.A.1., I.B.–VI.TTT.
March 22, 2021 Submittal:
Reg. 7, part C, sections I.O., I.O.2., I.O.3.a., I.O.3.b.–c., I.O.4.a., I.O.5.a., part E, sections II.A.1.b., II.A.4., II.A.4.a.(iii), II.A.4.a.(iv),
II.A.4.b.(i)–(A)(4), II.A.4.b.(iv), II.A.5.c.(i)(A)–(2), II.A.6.a.(ii), II.A.6.b.(viii)(B), and III.B.
May 18, 2021 Submittal:
Reg. 7, Outline of Regulation, parts A, B, C, and D; part E and part F; part E, sections I.A.3. and I.D.4.–a.(ii) (renumbering).
May 20, 2022 Misc. Metals and Process Heaters Submittal:
Reg. 7, part C, sections I.A.6.b., I.L.1.a., I.L.1.b.(i), I.L.b.(ii), I.L.1.b.(iii)–(vii), I.L.1.c.(ii)–(xxvi), I.L.2.a., I.L.2.b.–I.L.5.d., part D, section
IIIC.4.e.(i)(D)(3)(b), part E, sections II.A.2.f., II.A.3.p., II.A.4., II.A.4.a.(iv), II.A.4.b.(iii), II.A.4.e.(ii), II.A.4.g.–(ii), II.A.5.a.–b.(iv),
II.A.6.b.(viii)(E), and II.A.6.c.(ii).
May 20, 2022 Part D Definitions Submittal:
111 86
FR 61071.
FR 29228.
113 Proposed rule, Air Plan Conditional Approval;
Colorado; Revisions to Regulation Number 7 and
Oil and Natural Gas RACT Requirements for 2008
112 87
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8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/North
Front Range Nonattainment Area, 87 FR 8997.
114 See https://www.coloradosos.gov/CCR/
eDocketDetails.do?trackingNum=2021-00594.
115 See Technical Support Document for Proposed
Action on the Reasonably Available Control
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Technology Determination for Oil and Gas CTG
Sources Within Colorado’s Denver Metro/North
Front Range Area 2008 Ozone State Implementation
Plan, Air and Radiation Program, U.S. EPA Region
8, January 2022, available within the docket for this
action.
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67633
TABLE 7—LIST OF COLORADO REVISIONS TO REGS. 7 AND 21 THAT THE EPA PROPOSES TO APPROVE—Continued
Revised sections in May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020, March 22, 2021, and May 20, 2022 submittals proposed for approval
Reg. 7, part D, sections III.B.2., III.B.5., III.B.7., III.B.11., and III.B.13.
May 20, 2022 Part D Oil and Gas Submittal:
Reg. 7, part D, sections I.E.3–a.(iii) and I.J.1.g.–k.
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VII. Consideration of Section 110(l) of
the CAA
Under section 110(l) of the CAA, the
EPA cannot approve a SIP revision if the
revision would interfere with any
applicable requirement concerning
attainment and reasonable further
progress toward attainment of the
NAAQS, or any other applicable
requirement of the Act. In addition,
section 110(l) requires that each revision
to an implementation plan submitted by
a state be adopted by the state after
reasonable notice and public hearing.
The Colorado SIP revisions that the
EPA is proposing to approve do not
interfere with any applicable
requirements of the Act. The Reg. 7
revisions submitted by the State are
intended to strengthen the SIP and to
serve as RACT for certain sources for the
Colorado ozone SIP. Colorado’s
submittals provide adequate evidence
that the revisions were adopted after
reasonable public notices and hearings.
Therefore, CAA section 110(l)
requirements are satisfied.
VIII. Environmental Justice
Considerations
Executive Order 12898 116 directs
federal agencies to identify and address
‘‘disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects’’
of their actions on minority populations
and low-income populations to the
greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law. Additionally,
Executive Order 13985 117 directs
federal agencies to assess whether and
to what extent their programs and
policies perpetuate systemic barriers to
opportunities and benefits for
underserved populations, and Executive
Order 14008 118 directs federal agencies
to develop programs, policies, and
activities to address the
disproportionately and adverse human
health, environmental, climate-related
and other cumulative impacts on
disadvantaged communities.
To identify potential environmental
burdens and susceptible populations in
the DMNFR Area, a screening analysis
116 Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations, 59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994).
117 86 FR 7009 (Jan. 25, 2021).
118 86 FR 7619 (Feb. 1, 2021).
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was conducted using the EJSCREEN 119
tool to evaluate environmental and
demographic indicators within the area,
based on available data from the Census
Bureau’s American Community Survey.
The tool outputs showing the results of
this assessment are in the docket for this
action. These results indicate that
within the DMNFR Area there are
census block groups that are above the
national averages and above the 80th
percentile (in comparison to the nation
as a whole) for the numbers of persons
experiencing low income and people of
color. These populations may be
vulnerable and subject to
disproportionate impacts within the
meaning of the executive orders
described above. Further, as the
EJSCREEN analysis is a screening-level
assessment and not an in-depth review,
it is possible that there are other
vulnerable groups within the DMNFR
Area.
As to all vulnerable groups within the
DMNFR Area, as explained below we
believe that this action will be beneficial
and will tend to reduce impacts. When
the EPA establishes a new or revised
NAAQS, the CAA requires the EPA to
designate all areas of the U.S. as either
nonattainment, attainment, or
unclassifiable. If an area is designated
nonattainment for a NAAQS, the state
must develop a plan outlining how the
area will attain and maintain the
standard by reducing air pollutant
emissions. In this action we are
proposing to approve the majority of the
State’s OAP submittal for the DMNFR
Area and state rules as meeting RACT
and satisfying other CAA requirements.
The EPA has defined RACT as the
lowest emission limitation that a
particular source is capable of meeting
by the application of control technology
that is reasonably available considering
technological and economic feasibility.
Approval of these rules into the SIP will
establish federally enforceable
requirements that may reduce emissions
from operations in the area. These
requirements will contribute to the
increased protection of those residing,
119 EJSCREEN is an environmental justice
mapping and screening tool that provides the EPA
with a nationally consistent dataset and approach
for combining environmental and demographic
indicators; available at https://www.epa.gov/
ejscreen/what-ejscreen.
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Sfmt 4702
working, attending school, or otherwise
present in those areas, and we propose
to determine that this rule, if finalized,
will not have disproportionately high or
adverse human health or environmental
effects on communities with
environmental justice concerns.
IX. Incorporation by Reference
In this document, the EPA is
proposing to include regulatory text in
an EPA final rule that includes
incorporation by reference. In
accordance with requirements of 1 CFR
51.5, the EPA is proposing to
incorporate by reference Colorado
AQCC Regulation 7 pertaining to the
control of ozone via ozone precursors
and control of hydrocarbons vial oil and
gas emissions and Regulation 21
pertaining to Control of Volatile Organic
Compounds from Consumer Products
and Architectural and Industrial
Maintenance Coatings discussed in
section VI of this preamble.
The EPA has made, and will continue
to make, these materials generally
available through www.regulations.gov
and at the EPA Region 8 Office (please
contact the person identified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this preamble for more information).
X. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is
required to approve a SIP submission
that complies with the provisions of the
Act and applicable Federal regulations.
42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the
EPA’s role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the CAA. Accordingly, this action
merely proposes to approve state law as
meeting Federal requirements and does
not impose additional requirements
beyond those imposed by state law. For
that reason, this action:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 216 / Wednesday, November 9, 2022 / Proposed Rules
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have Federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, the SIP is not approved
to apply on any Indian reservation land
or in any other area where EPA or an
Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
tribe has jurisdiction. The proposed rule
does not have tribal implications and
will not impose substantial direct costs
on tribal governments or preempt tribal
law as specified by Executive Order
13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
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Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Greenhouse gases, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: October 30, 2022.
KC Becker,
Regional Administrator, Region 8.
[FR Doc. 2022–24075 Filed 11–8–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
45 CFR Part 162
[CMS–0056–P]
RIN 0938–AT38
Administrative Simplification:
Modifications of Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of
1996 (HIPAA) National Council for
Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP)
Retail Pharmacy Standards; and
Adoption of Pharmacy Subrogation
Standard
Office of the Secretary,
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
This proposed rule would
adopt updated versions of the retail
pharmacy standards for electronic
transactions adopted under the
Administrative Simplification subtitle
of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
These updated versions would be
modifications to the currently adopted
standards for the following retail
pharmacy transactions: health care
claims or equivalent encounter
information; eligibility for a health plan;
referral certification and authorization;
and coordination of benefits. The
proposed rule would also broaden the
applicability of the Medicaid pharmacy
subrogation transaction to all health
plans. To that end, the rule would
rename and revise the definition of the
transaction and adopt an updated
standard, which would be a
modification for state Medicaid agencies
and an initial standard for all other
health plans.
DATES: To be assured consideration,
comments must be received at one of
the addresses provided below, January
9, 2023.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer
to file code CMS–0056–P.
Comments, including mass comment
submissions, must be submitted in one
of the following three ways (please
choose only one of the ways listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit
electronic comments on this regulation
to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the ‘‘Submit a comment’’ instructions.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services, Attention:
SUMMARY:
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CMS–0056–P, P.O. Box 8013, Baltimore,
MD 21244–1850.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed
comments to be received before the
close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You
may send written comments to the
following address ONLY: Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human
Services, Attention: CMS–0056–P, Mail
Stop C4–26–05, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
For information on viewing public
comments, see the beginning of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
Submission of comments on
paperwork requirements. You may
submit comments on this document’s
paperwork requirements by following
the instructions at the end of the
‘‘Collection of Information
Requirements’’ section in this
document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Geanelle G. Herring, (410) 786–4466,
Beth A. Karpiak, (312) 353–1351, or
Christopher S. Wilson, (410) 786–3178.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Inspection of Public Comments: All
comments received before the close of
the comment period are available for
viewing by the public, including any
personally identifiable or confidential
business information that is included in
a comment. We post all comments
received before the close of the
comment period on the following
website as soon as possible after they
have been received: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the search
instructions on that website to view
public comments. The Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
will not post on Regulations.gov public
comments that make threats to
individuals or institutions or suggest
that the individual will take actions to
harm the individual. CMS continues to
encourage individuals not to submit
duplicative comments. We will post
acceptable comments from multiple
unique commenters even if the content
is identical or nearly identical to other
comments.
I. Executive Summary
A. Purpose
This rule proposes to adopt
modifications to standards for electronic
retail pharmacy transactions and a
subrogation standard adopted under the
Administrative Simplification subtitle
of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA),
and to broaden the applicability of the
HIPAA subrogation transaction.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67617-67634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24075]
=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R08-OAR-2022-0632; FRL-10362-01-R8]
Air Plan Approval; Colorado; Serious Attainment Plan Elements and
Related Revisions for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver
Metro/North Front Range Nonattainment Area
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: On March 22, 2021, the State of Colorado submitted State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions related to attainment of the 2008
8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the
Denver Metro/North Front Range (DMNFR) Serious nonattainment area by
the applicable attainment date of July 20, 2021. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the majority of the
submittal, including base and future year emission inventories, a
reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstration, a reasonably available
control measures (RACM) analysis, a motor vehicle inspection and
maintenance (I/M) program, a nonattainment new source review (NNSR)
program, 2020 motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) and
transportation controls, a clean fuel fleet program, and revisions to
Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (Commission or AQCC)
regulations for the control of ozone via ozone precursors and control
of hydrocarbons via oil and gas emissions. The EPA is also proposing to
approve portions of the reasonably available control technology (RACT)
analyses and revisions from submissions made on May 13, 2020; May 18,
2021; and May 20, 2022. Finally, the EPA proposes to approve revisions
from submissions made on May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020, and May 20, 2022
that were conditionally approved on May 13, 2022. This action is being
taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 9, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R08-
OAR-2022-0632, to the Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from
www.regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any comment received to its
public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you
consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general
guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available electronically in
www.regulations.gov. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, for
this action we do not plan to offer hard copy review of the docket.
Please email or call the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section if you need to make alternative arrangements for access
to the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Fulton, Air and Radiation
Division, EPA, Region 8, Mailcode 8ARD-IO, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver,
Colorado 80202-1129, telephone number: (303) 312-6563, email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document wherever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean the EPA.
The information presented in this document is organized as follows:
I. What action is EPA taking?
II. Background
III. Summary of the State's SIP Submittals
IV. Procedural Requirements
V. The EPA's Evaluation of Colorado's Submissions
A. Emissions Inventories
B. Reasonable Further Progress Demonstration
C. Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Analysis
D. Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM) Analysis
E. Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program (I/M)
Program
F. Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR)
G. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget (MVEB)/Transportation
Conformity
H. Clean Fuel Fleet Program
I. SIP Control Measures
VI. Proposed Action
VII. Consideration of Section 110(l) of the CAA
VIII. Environmental Justice Considerations
IX. Incorporation by Reference
X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What action is EPA taking?
As explained below, the EPA is proposing various actions on
Colorado's proposed SIP revisions that were submitted on May 13, 2020,
March 22, 2021, May 18, 2021, and May 20, 2022. Specifically, we are
proposing to approve portions of Colorado's Serious attainment plan for
the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. In addition, we propose to approve the
MVEBs and revisions to Regulation Number 7 (Reg. 7) contained in the
State's submittal. We also propose to approve all other aspects of the
submittal, except for the RACT submission for certain sources and
enhanced monitoring, which we will be acting on at a later date, and
for the attainment demonstration and contingency measures. We are also
proposing to approve revisions to Colorado Regulation Number 21 (Reg.
21) from the State's May 13, 2020 submittal, and to Reg. 7 from the
State's May 18, 2021 submittal. Finally, we are proposing to approve
the Reg. 7 revisions from the State's May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020, and
May 20, 2022
[[Page 67618]]
submittals that were conditionally approved on May 13, 2022.\1\
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\1\ Final rule, Air Plan Conditional Approval; Colorado;
Revisions to Regulation Number 7 and Oil and Natural Gas RACT
Requirements for 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/
North Front Range Nonattainment Area, 87 FR 29228.
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The basis for our proposed action is discussed in this proposed
rulemaking. Technical information that we rely upon in this proposal is
in the docket, which is available at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket
No. EPA-R08-OAR-2022-0632.
II. Background
2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS Nonattainment
On March 12, 2008, the EPA revised both the primary and secondary
NAAQS for ozone to a level of 0.075 parts per million (ppm) (based on
the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average concentration,
averaged over 3 years), to provide increased protection of public
health and the environment.\2\ The 2008 ozone NAAQS retains the same
general form and averaging time as the 0.08 ppm NAAQS set in 1997, but
is set at a more protective level. Specifically, the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS is attained when the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest
daily maximum 8-hour average ambient air quality ozone concentrations
is less than or equal to 0.075 ppm.\3\ Effective July 20, 2012, the EPA
designated as nonattainment any area that was violating the 2008 8-hour
ozone NAAQS based on the three most recent years (2008-2010) of air
monitoring data.\4\ With that rulemaking, the Denver-Boulder-Greeley-
Ft. Collins-Loveland, Colorado area (Denver or DMNFR Area) area was
designated nonattainment and classified as Marginal.\5\ Ozone
nonattainment areas are classified based on the severity of their ozone
levels, as determined using the area's design value. The design value
is the 3-year average of the annual fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour
average ozone concentration at a monitoring site.\6\ Areas designated
as nonattainment at the Marginal classification level were required to
attain the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS no later than July 20, 2015, based
on 2012-2014 monitoring data.\7\
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\2\ Final rule, National Ambient Air Quality Standards for
Ozone, 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). The EPA has since further
strengthened the ozone NAAQS, but the 2008 8-hour standard remains
in effect. See Final Rule, National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for Ozone, 80 FR 65292 (Oct. 26, 2015).
\3\ 40 CFR 50.15(b).
\4\ Final rule, Air Quality Designations for the 2008 Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 77 FR 30088 (May 21, 2012).
\5\ Id. at 30110. The nonattainment area includes Adams,
Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson
Counties, and portions of Larimer and Weld Counties. See 40 CFR
81.306.
\6\ 40 CFR part 50, appendix I.
\7\ See 40 CFR 51.903.
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On May 4, 2016, the EPA published its determination that the Denver
Area, among other areas, had failed to attain the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS by the attainment deadline, and that it was accordingly
reclassified to Moderate ozone nonattainment status.\8\ Colorado
submitted SIP revisions to the EPA on May 31, 2017 to meet the Denver
Area's requirements under the Moderate classification.\9\ The EPA took
final action on July 3, 2018, approving the majority of the May 31,
2017 submittal, but deferring action on portions of the submitted Reg.
7 RACT rules.\10\ On February 24, 2021, the EPA took final action
approving additional measures as addressing Colorado's RACT SIP
obligations for Moderate ozone nonattainment areas.\11\ Areas that were
designated as Moderate nonattainment were required to attain the 2008
8-hour ozone NAAQS no later than July 20, 2018, based on 2015-2017
monitoring data.\12\ On December 26, 2019, the EPA published its
determination that the Denver Area, among other areas, had failed to
attain the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the attainment deadline, and that
it was accordingly reclassified to Serious ozone nonattainment
status.\13\
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\8\ Final rule, Determinations of Attainment by the Attainment
Date, Extensions of the Attainment Date, and Reclassification of
Several Areas for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standards, 81 FR 26697 (May 4, 2016).
\9\ CAA section 182, 42 U.S.C. 7511a, outlines SIP requirements
applicable to ozone nonattainment areas in each classification
category. Areas classified Moderate under the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS had a submission deadline of January 1, 2017 for these SIP
revisions (81 FR 26699).
\10\ Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of State
Implementation Plan Revisions; Colorado; Attainment Demonstration
for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/North Front
Range Nonattainment Area, and Approval of Related Revisions (83 FR
31068).
\11\ Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of Implementation
Plans; Colorado; Revisions to Regulation Number 7 and RACT
Requirements for 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/
North Front Range Nonattainment Area, 86 FR 11125.
\12\ See 40 CFR 51.903.
\13\ Final rule, Finding of Failure To Attain and
Reclassification of Denver Area for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient
Air Quality Standard, 84 FR 70897 (Dec. 26, 2019); see 40 CFR
81.306.
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III. Summary of the State's SIP Submittals
We are proposing to take action on Colorado SIP submittals made on
five different dates:
May 14, 2018 Submittal
This submittal contains amendments to Reg. 7, sections XII
(Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations) and
XVIII (Natural Gas-Actuated Pneumatic Controllers Associated with Oil
and Gas Operations) to meet RACT for oil and gas sources covered by the
EPA's 2016 Oil and Gas Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG).\14\ We
previously acted on all parts of this SIP submittal \15\ except for
revisions to Reg. 7, section XII.J.1., concerning centrifugal
compressors, as to which we proposed conditional approval. We are now
proposing approval of those revisions.
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\14\ Control Techniques Guidelines for the Oil and Natural Gas
Industry, EPA-453/B-16-001 (Oct. 2016).
\15\ Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of Implementation
Plans; Colorado; Revisions to Regulation Number 7; Aerospace, Oil
and Gas, and Other RACT Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone
Standard for the Denver Metro/North Front Range Nonattainment Area,
86 FR 61071 (Nov. 5, 2021).
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May 13, 2020 Submittals
On this date the State submitted two SIP revisions. One of the
submittals includes a full reorganization of Reg. 7 into parts A-E,
amends oil and gas storage tank requirements, updates RACT requirements
for major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen
oxides (NOX) in the DMNFR Area, updates requirements for
gasoline transport truck testing and vapor control systems, and
contains typographical, grammatical, and formatting corrections
throughout. We previously acted on all parts of this SIP submittal \16\
except for revisions to Reg. 7, sections I.D., I.E, and I.F. concerning
storage tanks, and section I.J.1. concerning centrifugal compressors,
as to which we proposed conditional approval. We are now proposing
approval of those revisions.
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\16\ 86 FR 61071 (Nov. 5, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The second submittal contains new Reg. 21 to limit the VOC content
in consumer products and in architectural and industrial maintenance
(AIM) coatings manufactured, distributed, or sold in the DMNFR Area.
Specifically, the Commission adopted VOC standards in the Ozone
Transport Commission (OTC) AIM coatings model rule phase 2 (2014) and
VOC standards in the OTC consumer products model rule phase 4 (2013).
Reg. 21 includes definitions, exemptions, labeling, and recordkeeping
provisions based on the OTC model rules.
March 22, 2021 Submittal
This submittal contains the State's Serious ozone attainment plan
and revisions to Reg. 7 to include RACT requirements in Colorado's
ozone SIP for 50 tons per year (tpy) major sources of VOC and/or
NOX. The Reg. 7 revisions include expansion of
[[Page 67619]]
categorical requirements to reduce VOC emissions related to wood
surface coatings in part C, section I.O., adding NOX
emission limits for turbines, boilers, and landfill or biogas engines
in part E, section II, and adding categorical requirements to reduce
VOC emissions related to foam manufacturing in part E, section V.
Typographical, grammatical, and formatting corrections were also made.
May 18, 2021 Submittal
The state regulations included with this submittal contain mostly
state-only revisions that have not been submitted for inclusion in the
SIP. Portions of these regulations submitted as SIP revisions include
typographical, grammatical, and formatting corrections to the outline
of Reg. 7 and part E (combustion equipment at major source RACT).
May 20, 2022 Submittals
On this date the State submitted three SIP revisions. One of the
submittals contains amendments that were mostly state-only and not
submitted as SIP revisions. The SIP revisions adopted by the AQCC on
Feb. 19, 2021 include updates to definitions in Reg. 7, part D, section
III (natural gas-actuated pneumatic controllers associated with oil and
gas operations).
Another submittal contains amendments to Reg. 7 that establish
categorical RACT requirements for major sources of NOX and
certain CTG sources in the DMNFR Area. Specifically, on July 16, 2021
the AQCC adopted RACT requirements in part C, section I for
miscellaneous metal parts coatings and part E, section II RACT
requirements for process heaters at major sources of NOX
emissions. Typographical, grammatical, and formatting corrections were
also made.
The third submittal contains revisions concerning RACT requirements
for oil and gas sources. Specifically, on Dec. 17, 2021 the AQCC
adopted revisions to Reg. 7, part D, section I for performance or
manufacturer testing for combustion equipment used to control emissions
from storage vessels and wet seal centrifugal compressors as to which
we proposed conditional approval. We are now proposing approval of
those revisions.
IV. Procedural Requirements
The CAA requires that states meet certain procedural requirements
before submitting SIP revisions to the EPA, including the requirement
that states adopt SIP revisions after reasonable notice and public
hearing.\17\ For the May 14, 2018 submittal, the AQCC provided notice
in the Colorado Register on August 10, 2017 \18\ and held public
hearings on the revisions on October 19 and 20, 2017. The Commission
adopted the revisions on November 17, 2017. The revisions became state-
effective on December 30, 2017.
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\17\ CAA section 110(a)(2), 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
\18\ 40 CR 15 available at https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/RegisterHome.do.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the May 13, 2020 (part D, oil and gas) submittal, the AQCC
provided notice in the Colorado Register on October 10, 2019 \19\ and
held public hearings on the revisions on December 17-19, 2019. The
Commission adopted the revisions on December 19, 2019. The revisions
became state-effective on February 14, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ 42 CR 19.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the May 13, 2020 (Reg. 21) submittal, the AQCC provided notice
in the Colorado Register on May 10, 2019 \20\ and held a public hearing
on the revisions on July 18, 2019. The Commission adopted the revisions
on November 17, 2016. The revisions became state-effective on September
14, 2019.
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\20\ 42 CR 9.
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For the March 22, 2021 submittal, the AQCC provided notice in the
Colorado Register on October 10, 2020 \21\ and held a public hearing on
the revisions on December 16, 2020. The Commission adopted the
revisions on December 18, 2020. The revisions became state-effective on
February 14, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ 43 CR 19.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the May 18, 2021 submittal, the AQCC provided notice in the
Colorado Register on July 10, 2020 \22\ and held a public hearing on
the revisions on September 17, 2020. The Commission adopted the
revisions on September 23, 2020. The revisions became state-effective
on November 14, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ 43 CR 13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the May 20, 2022 submittal (part D, Definitions) the AQCC
provided notice in the Colorado Register on January 10, 2021 \23\ and
held a public hearing on the revisions on February 18, 2021. The
Commission adopted the revisions on February 18, 2021. The revisions
became state-effective on April 14, 2021.
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\23\ 44 CR 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the May 20, 2022 submittal (Misc. Metals and Process Heater)
the AQCC provided notice in the Colorado Register on May 10, 2021 \24\
and held a public hearing on the revisions on July 16, 2021. The
Commission adopted the revisions on July 16, 2021. The revisions became
state-effective on September 14, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ 44 CR 9.
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For the May 20, 2022 submittal (part D, Oil and Gas) the AQCC
provided notice in the Colorado Register on October 10, 2021 \25\ and
held a public hearing on the revisions on December 14, 2021. The
Commission adopted the revisions on December 17, 2021. The revisions
became state-effective on January 30, 2022.
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\25\ 44 CR 19.
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Accordingly, we propose to find that Colorado met the CAA's
procedural requirements for reasonable notice and public hearing.
V. The EPA's Evaluation of Colorado's Submissions
2008 Ozone Serious SIP Submittal
CAA section 182 outlines SIP requirements applicable to ozone
nonattainment areas in each classification category. A Serious area
classification triggers requirements for state submissions described in
the EPA's regulations implementing the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.\26\
Examples of these requirements include submission of a modeling and
attainment demonstration, RFP, an enhanced inspection and maintenance
program, RACT, and RACM. Serious nonattainment areas had a submission
deadline of August 3, 2020 for these SIP revisions.\27\
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\26\ See 40 CFR part 51, subpart AA.
\27\ See 84 FR 70897 (Dec. 26, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado submitted SIP revisions to the EPA on March 22, 2021, to
meet the requirements of a Serious area classification for the DMNFR
Area. Colorado's proposed SIP revisions consist of the parts listed
below.
8-Hour Ozone Attainment Plan (OAP), which includes
monitoring information, emission inventories, an RFP demonstration, an
attainment demonstration using photochemical grid modeling, a RACT
analysis, a RACM analysis, a motor vehicle emissions I/M program, NNSR
program certification, contingency measures, MVEBs for transportation
conformity, and a clean fuel fleet program.
Revisions to Reg. 7.
A. Emissions Inventories
1. Background
CAA section 172(c)(3), requires that each SIP include a
``comprehensive, accurate, current inventory of actual emissions from
all sources of the relevant pollutant or pollutants in [the] area.''
The accounting required by this section provides a ``base year''
inventory that serves as the starting point for
[[Page 67620]]
attainment demonstration air quality modeling, for assessing RFP, and
for determining the need for additional SIP control measures. An
attainment year inventory is a projection of future emissions and is
necessary to show the effectiveness of SIP control measures. Both the
base year and attainment year inventories are necessary for
photochemical modeling to demonstrate attainment. As previously noted,
we are not acting on the attainment modeling demonstration in this
action, but are evaluating Colorado's emission inventories for purposes
of meeting RFP requirements.
Colorado's DMNFR Serious area attainment plan includes a 2011 base
year inventory, a 2017 milestone year inventory, and a 2020 attainment
year inventory. The inventories catalog NOX and VOC
emissions, because these pollutants are precursors to ozone formation,
across all source categories during a typical summer day, when ozone
formation is pronounced. The State developed an updated 2017
``milestone year'' emissions inventory for the Serious nonattainment
area. When initially developed for the Moderate area SIP, the 2017
inventory was calculated based on projected values. The 2017 inventory
approved as part of the Moderate area SIP has been updated for the
purposes of the Serious area SIP using data collected in 2017 \28\ and
methodologies as presented in chapter 3 of the OAP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\28\ Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.1110(b), the values in the submitted
2011 base year EI are actual ozone season day emissions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Evaluation
The 2011 base year inventory was included as part of the Moderate
area SIP submittal and approved as part of our July 3, 2018 action.\29\
As part of the Moderate area SIP, a projected 2017 attainment year
emissions inventory was developed and approved by the EPA on July 3,
2018.\30\ Due to the reclassification of the DMNFR to Serious
nonattainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, CDPHE prepared an updated 2017
emissions inventory based on currently available data in accordance
with the EPA's revised guidance on emissions inventory
developments.\31\ The updated 2017 emissions inventory was resubmitted
to meet the State's Serious area SIP requirements.\32\
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\29\ 83 FR 31068 (July 3, 2018).
\30\ Id.
\31\ See ``Emission Inventory Guidance for Implementation of
Ozone and Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) and Regional Haze Regulations,'' EPA-454/B-17-002. Revised
May 2017.
\32\ CAA section 182(c)(2)(B).
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The 2017 milestone year emissions inventories are in tons per
summer day and represent the most current available data, as of the
time of submission, for emissions estimates for an average episode day
during the peak summer ozone season of June through September. This
includes actual data for the oil and gas sector and stationary sources
in addition to newer data from updated regional transportation demand
models used by the two Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the DMNFR
Area.
The 2020 inventory is in tons per summer day and represents
emissions estimates for an average episode day during the peak summer
ozone season (June through September). The 2020 inventory for VOC and
NOX accounts for emissions growth associated with changes in
population, fuel use, and economic activity as well as emissions
reductions associated with controls that were in place as SIP control
measures by the beginning of the 2020 summer ozone season. The EPA has
provided guidance on developing emission projections to be used with
models and other analyses for demonstrating attainment of air quality
goals for ozone.\33\
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\33\ Emissions Inventory Guidance for Implementation of Ozone
and Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) and Regional Haze Regulations (May 2017) (``Emissions
Inventory Guidance''), available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017/07/documents/ei_guidance_may_2017_final_rev.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2017 milestone year and 2020 attainment emission inventories
were developed using EPA-approved emissions models, methodology, and
guidelines for stationary, mobile, and area emission sources.
The 2017 emissions inventories for power plants (also referred to
as electric generating units) and other point sources were developed
using Colorado Air Pollutant Emission Notice (APEN) reported data for
each year, as specified in Tables 16 and 17 of the OAP. Area sources
include many categories of emissions, such as coatings, household and
personal care products, pesticides, and sealants. The 2017 area source
emissions inventory is included in Table 18 of the OAP. The inventory
was based on the EPA's 2014 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) and was
derived from the 2014 NEI based on county population projections from
the Colorado State Demography Office. The EPA finds that these sources
(including those in the oil and gas sector) were adequately accounted
for in the emissions inventory. The methodology used to calculate
emissions for each respective category was consistent with
recommendations and explanations in relevant EPA guidance,\34\ employed
applicable approved emission factors and NEI data, and was sufficiently
documented in the SIP and in the State's technical support documents
(TSD).\35\
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\34\ Emissions Inventory Guidance; MOVES2014, MOVES2014a, and
MOVES2014b Technical Guidance: Using MOVES to Prepare Emission
Inventories for State Implementation Plans and Transportation
Conformity, EPA-420-B-18-039 (Aug. 2018) (``MOVES Guidance''),
available at https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100V7EY.pdf.
\35\ See Colorado Serious SIP submittal, TSD for Mobile and Area
Sources Emissions Inventory Development. Available within the docket
for this action.
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Projected future emissions in 2020 were based on anticipated
growth, technological advancements, and expected emissions controls
that were to be implemented by the 2020 ozone season. The 2020 oil and
gas emission inventory was based on 2017 actual site-specific emissions
and 2018 APEN reported data, including technology and production and
projected 2020 emissions and production. The 2020 emissions inventory
for EGUs was developed based on Colorado APEN reported data for 2018
and is specified in Table 28 of the OAP. The future year inventory for
other point sources beyond EGUs is based on 2018 APEN data. The 2020
area source inventory is provided in Table 30 of the OAP and was grown
from the EPA's 2014 NEI based on county population projections from the
State Demography Office. Reductions from implementation of Colorado
AQCC Reg. 21 were then applied.\36\ On-road and non-road mobile source
emissions for the 2020 inventory were calculated using the EPA's
MOVES2014b \37\ model combined with local activity inputs including
vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and average speed data, as well as local
fleet, age distribution, meteorology, and fuels information. Table 34
of the OAP includes biogenic emissions as part of the overall 2020
future year emissions inventory.
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\36\ See section I. SIP Control Measures of this document for a
discussion of Reg. 21 controls.
\37\ EPA's Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) is a state-
of-the-science emission modeling system that estimates emissions for
mobile sources at the national, county, and project level for
criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and air toxics. See
https://www.epa.gov/moves.
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Table 1 shows the emissions by source category from the 2011 base
year, 2017 milestone year, and 2020 attainment year emission
inventories.
[[Page 67621]]
Table 1--Emissions Inventory Data
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 2017 2020
Description -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOC NOX VOC NOX VOC NOX
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area (non-oil and gas) Total............................ 60.6 .............. 65.3 .............. 54.6 ..............
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Road Total...................................... 58.2 75.9 44 .............. 44.3 39.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil and Gas Sources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area.................................................... 48.9 22.2 43.6 38.1 54.5 34.4
Condensate/Oil Tanks.................................... 216 1.1 107.7 1.4 50.2 0.6
Point................................................... 14.8 18.1 12 11.5 14.3 13.1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil and Gas Total................................... 279.7 41.4 163.3 51.0 119.0 48.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On-Road
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Light-Duty Vehicles..................................... 90.0 102.5 55.6 53.5 47.6 41.4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium/Heavy-Duty Vehicles.............................. 3.7 39.6 2.0 14.9 1.8 13.3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On-Road Total....................................... 93.7 142.1 57.6 68.4 49.4 54.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Sources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGU 0.7 39.7 0.3 9.4 0.4 4.6
Non-EGU................................................. 25.9 21.0 22.6 15.8 24.6 17.1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Total......................................... 26.6 60.7 .............. .............. 25 21.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Anthropogenic Emissions................... 518.8 320 353.1 187.1 292.3 163.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Details of Colorado's emissions inventory development are in
Colorado's supporting TSD.\38\ The inventories in the SIP are based on
the most current and accurate information available to the State and
the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) at the time the SIP was being
developed. Additionally, the inventories comprehensively address source
categories in the DMNFR nonattainment area, and were developed
consistent with the relevant EPA inventory guidance. For these reasons,
we propose to approve the 2017 milestone inventory and the 2020
inventory, which will be used to meet RFP requirements.\39\ The
following section discusses RFP further.
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\38\ See Colorado Serious SIP submittal, TSD for Mobile and Area
Sources Emissions Inventory Development. Available within the docket
for this action.
\39\ The EPA approved Colorado's 2011 base year inventory in our
July 3, 2018 action (83 FR 31068).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Reasonable Further Progress Demonstration
1. Background
CAA section 182(b)(1) and the EPA's 2008 Ozone Implementation Rule
\40\ require each 8-hour ozone nonattainment area designated Moderate
and above to submit an RFP demonstration for review and approval into
its SIP that describes how the area will achieve actual VOC and
NOX emissions reductions from a baseline emissions
inventory. CAA section 182(b)(1), which is part of the ozone-specific
nonattainment plan requirements of subpart 2 of the CAA, requires RFP
to demonstrate a 15% reduction in VOC emissions. To satisfy the section
182(b)(1) RFP requirement, on May 31, 2017 Colorado submitted an RFP
demonstration showing VOC emission reductions greater than 15% over the
six years after the 2011 base year inventory (i.e., 2012-2017). The EPA
approved this 15% RFP SIP on July 3, 2018.\41\
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\40\ 80 FR 12264, 12266 (March 6, 2015).
\41\ 83 FR 31068. The state's 15% RFP demonstration was also
sufficient to satisfy the more general CAA subpart 1 requirements of
CAA section 172(c)(2), which permits a combination of VOC and
NOX emission reductions to show RFP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted above, the CAA section 182(b)(1) requirement for a 15% RFP
demonstration applies to ozone nonattainment areas classified Moderate
and above. In addition, Serious ozone nonattainment areas are subject
to the CAA section 182(c)(2)(B) requirement to submit SIP revisions
showing a 9% reduction of VOC \42\ emissions over each consecutive
three-year period beginning six years after redesignation until the
attainment date. For the DMNFR Area, the redesignation date was July
20, 2012. Accordingly, the DMNFR Area was required to submit SIP
revisions showing that 9% reductions in ozone precursor emissions would
be achieved between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020.
2. Evaluation
We reviewed the State's 9% RFP submittal for consistency with the
requirements of the CAA and EPA regulations and guidance. To
demonstrate compliance with RFP requirements, the State compared its
2017 milestone VOC inventory against its projected 2020 VOC emissions
inventory and demonstrated that the projected 2020 emissions of VOC
were at least 9% below the 2011 base year inventory. Colorado projected
an 11.7% reduction in VOC emissions from 2017-2020.\43\ As discussed in
section V.A. of this document, the EPA reviewed the procedures Colorado
used to develop its projected inventories and the State's submittal for
consistency with the requirements of the CAA and the EPA's regulations
and guidance and found them to be reasonable. We therefore
[[Page 67622]]
propose approval of Colorado's Serious-area RFP demonstration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\43\ See OAP, Table 35 on page 4-21. This projection has proven
to be correct. See the ``Denver Metro Area/North Front Range
Nonattainment Area Milestone Compliance Demonstration,'' March 31,
2021 and the EPA's 2020 milestone compliance demonstration adequacy
letter, July 6, 2021. Available in the docket for this action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Analysis
1. Background
Section 172(c)(1) of the CAA requires that SIPs for nonattainment
areas ``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).'' The EPA has defined ``reasonably available
control technology'' (RACT) as ``[t]he lowest emissions limitation that
a particular source is capable of meeting by the application of control
technology that is reasonably available considering technological and
economic feasibility.'' \44\ The EPA provides guidance concerning what
types of controls may constitute RACT for a given source category by
issuing Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) and Alternative Control
Techniques (ACT) documents.\45\ States must submit a SIP revision
requiring the implementation of RACT for each source category in the
area for which the EPA has issued a CTG, and for any major source in
the area not covered by a CTG.\46\
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\44\ General Preamble for Proposed Rulemaking on Approval of
Plan Revisions for Nonattainment Areas--Supplement (on Control
Techniques Guidelines), 44 FR 53761 (Sep. 17, 1979).
\45\ See https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/control-techniques-guidelines-and-alternative-control-techniques for
a list of EPA-issued CTGs and ACTs.
\46\ See CAA section 182(b)(2), 42 U.S.C. 7511a(b)(2)); see also
Note, RACT Qs & As--Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT):
Questions and Answers, William Harnett, Director, Air Quality Policy
Division, EPA (May 2006), available at https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-R08-OAR-2020-0114/0008.
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For a Moderate, Serious, or Severe area a major stationary source
is one that emits, or has the potential to emit, 100, 50, or 25 tpy or
more, respectively, of VOCs or NOX.\47\ Accordingly, for the
DMNFR Serious nonattainment area, a major stationary source is one that
emits, or has the potential to emit, 50 tpy or more of VOCs or
NOX. RACT can be adopted in the form of emission limitations
or ``work practice standards or other operation and maintenance
requirements,'' as appropriate.\48\
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\47\ See CAA sections 182(b), 182(c), 182(d), 182(f)(1), and
302(j).
\48\ See Memorandum, ``Approval Options for Generic RACT Rules
Submitted to Meet the non-CTG VOC RACT Requirement and Certain
NOX RACT Requirements,'' Sally Shaver, Director, Air
Quality Strategies & Standards Division, EPA (Nov. 7, 1996),
available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-08/documents/shavermemogenericract_7nov1996.pdf.
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On reclassification to Serious status, the DMNFR Area was required
to implement RACT as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than
August 3, 2020 for RACT needed for demonstrating attainment and July
20, 2021 for RACT not needed for demonstrating attainment.\49\ The
Division conducted a series of analyses and rulemakings to address 2008
ozone Moderate and Serious RACT requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\49\ Final rule, Finding of Failure To Attain and
Reclassification of Denver Area for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient
Air Quality Standard, 84 FR 70897, 70900 (Dec. 26, 2019); see also
Final rule, Determination of Attainment Date, Extensions of the
Attainment Date, and Reclassification of Seceral Areas Classified as
Moderate for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards,
84 FR 44238 (Aug. 23, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As part of its May 31, 2017 Moderate ozone attainment plan, the
Division conducted RACT analyses to demonstrate that the RACT
requirements for CTG and major sources in the DMNFR Area had been
fulfilled. The Division conducted these RACT analyses for VOC and
NOX by listing state regulations implementing or exceeding
RACT requirements for each CTG or non-CTG category at issue, and by
detailing the basis for concluding that these regulations fulfilled
RACT, through comparison with established RACT requirements described
in the CTG and ACT guidance documents and rules developed by other
state and local agencies. The EPA approved the majority of the State's
CTG RACT analysis on July 3, 2018.\50\
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\50\ See 83 FR 31068. A negative declaration as to RACT for
sources covered by the aerospace CTG was approved on November 5,
2021 (86 FR 61071). Colorado's RACT demonstrations for sources
covered by the industrial cleaning solvents, metal furniture
coatings (2007), and wood furniture CTGs were approved on February
24, 2021 (86 FR 11127); and the state's RACT demonstration for
sources covered by the oil and gas CTG was conditionally approved on
May 13, 2022 (87 FR 29228).
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In July 2018, the Commission adopted categorical RACT requirements
for combustion equipment at major sources under the Moderate
classification that the Commission had determined in 2016 were not
addressed by SIP RACT requirements. In November 2019, the Commission
adopted SIP requirements to include provisions that implement RACT for
major sources of VOC and NOX under the Serious
classification and for additional CTG VOC source categories in the
Area. Specifically, the Commission adopted categorical RACT
requirements for combustion equipment at major sources, major source
breweries, and wood furniture manufacturing, and addressed the EPA's
concerns with industrial cleaning solvent and metal furniture surface
coating requirements. The EPA approved these revisions on February 24,
2021.\51\
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\51\ 86 FR 11127.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In December 2019, the Commission adopted additional RACT
requirements for major sources of VOC and NOX in the DMNFR
Area under the Serious classification, including expanded categorical
combustion equipment and new categorical general solvent use
requirements. The EPA approved the majority of these revisions on
November 5, 2021.\52\ The State re-reviewed its point source inventory
as part of the March 22, 2021 Serious OAP submittal to verify that non-
CTG major sources (50 tpy) of VOC or NOX emissions in the
DMNFR Area are subject to requirements that meet or exceed RACT.\53\
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\52\ Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of Implementation
Plans; Colorado; Revisions to Regulation Number 7; Aerospace, Oil
and Gas, and Other RACT Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone
Standard for the Denver Metro/North Front Range Nonattainment Area
86 FR 61071 (Nov. 5, 2021).
\53\ See appendix 6-E of the OAP.
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The RACT submissions that we are now proposing to approve include
those that we have not previously acted on that are addressing RACT for
several non-CTG VOC and NOX sources and categories. We are
also proposing to convert to a full approval our previous conditional
approval of submissions made on May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020, and May 20,
2022, concerning RACT related to the Oil and Gas CTG.
2. Evaluation
In preparing its RACT determinations, Colorado reviewed source
permits, consulted with Division permitting and enforcement staff
involved with each source, and consulted with the sources
themselves.\54\ Colorado also considered control strategies identified
in the CTGs, ACTs, RBLC, EPA's Menu of Control Measures, New Source
Performance Standards (NSPS), emission guidelines, National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), and in Colorado's
regulations and determined that Colorado's major sources are currently
subject to federally enforceable emission limits or requirements
similar to measures described in these documents and regulations.\55\
In 2019, Colorado incorporated by reference some NSPS and NESHAP
requirements into its SIP and expanded the applicability of some
[[Page 67623]]
existing RACT requirements. A summary of our proposed action with
respect to each of these RACT categories follows.
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\54\ See Colorado's Technical Support Document for Reasonably
Available Control Technology for Major Sources, December 14, 2020.
Available within the docket.
\55\ See id.
Table 2--Categories, Proposed Action, and Corresponding Sections of Submittals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category Proposed action Location of RACT demonstration
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil and gas.......................... Approval (converting Technical Support Document for Reasonably
previous conditional Available Control Technology for the Oil and
approval to full Gas Industry, Dec. 17, 2021 (contained within
approval). the May 20, 2022 submittal).
Combustion equipment at major sources Approval............... Technical Support Document for Reasonably
Available Control Technology for Major Sources,
Dec. 14, 2020 (contained within the March 22,
2021 submittal) and Technical Support Document
for Reasonably Available Control Technology for
Major Sources, July 16, 2021 (contained within
the May 20, 2022 submittal).
Wood coating......................... Approval............... Technical Support Document for Reasonably
Available Control Technology for Major Sources,
Dec. 14, 2020 (contained within the March 22,
2021 submittal).
Foam manufacturing................... Approval............... Technical Support Document for Reasonably
Available Control Technology for Major Sources,
Dec. 14, 2020 (contained within the March 22,
2021 submittal).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cited materials are contained within the docket for this action.
We are proposing action on the RACT demonstrations for certain
additional VOC CTG, non-CTG VOC, and NOX sources and
categories. We have reviewed Colorado's new and revised VOC and
NOX rules for the categories covered by the CTGs, and for
major sources of non-CTG VOC and NOX sources for the 2008 8-
hour ozone NAAQS, and the demonstrations submitted by Colorado. Based
on this review we propose to find that these rules are consistent with
the control measures, definitions, recordkeeping, and test methods in
these CTGs and the CAA, and that they satisfy CAA RACT requirements for
the categories in question.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\56\ See https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/ract-information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. RACT for CTG Sources
Table 3 contains the CTGs, EPA reference document, and the
corresponding sections of Reg. 7 that fulfill the applicable RACT
requirements for the EPA-issued CTGs. Colorado's Reg. 7 contains SIP
approved and submitted revisions (see section V.I. of this document);
we propose to find that these revisions meet RACT requirements for the
sources listed in Table 3.
Table 3--Sources, EPA CTG Reference Document, and Corresponding Sections of Reg. 7 Proposed for Approval to
Fulfill RACT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reg. 7 sections
Sources in the DMNFR area CTG reference document Date of CTG fulfilling RACT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil and gas........................... Control Techniques Guidelines 2016 part D, sections I, II,
for the Oil and Natural Gas and III.
Industry.
Miscellaneous Metal Coatings, Tables 2 Control Techniques Guidelines 2008 part C, section I.L.2.
and 7 of the CTG. for Miscellaneous Metal and
Plastic Parts Coatings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have reviewed the emission limitations and control requirements
for the above sources and compared them against the EPA's CTG documents
and available technical information in CTG dockets. The EPA has also
evaluated the submitted rules and has determined that they are
consistent with the CAA, the EPA's regulations, and the EPA's policies.
Based on the information in the record, we propose to find that the
corresponding sections in Reg. 7 provide for the lowest emission
limitation through application of control techniques that are
reasonably available considering technological and economic
feasibility. Therefore, we propose to find that the control
requirements for oil and gas sources and certain miscellaneous metal
coatings are RACT for affected sources in the DMNFR Area under the 2008
8-hour ozone NAAQS.\57\
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\57\ For more information, see the EPA TSDs evaluating oil and
gas and miscellaneous metal coatings RACT. Available within the
docket for this action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. RACT for Non-CTG Major Sources
In Colorado's TSDs for Reasonably Available Control Technology for
Major Sources, dated December 14, 2020,\58\ Colorado identified a list
of major non-CTG VOC and NOX sources in the DMNFR Area
subject to RACT requirements under a Serious classification. For major
VOC and NOX sources subject to nonattainment area RACT
review, Colorado used the construction permit thresholds established in
the State's Reg. 3 for determining which emission points to review.
Accordingly, emission points exceeding two tpy of VOC at a major VOC
source and five tpy of NOX at a major NOX source,
as reported on a source's APEN, and that were not part of the Moderate
RACT review, were evaluated. We have reviewed the State's March 22,
2021 and May 20, 2022 submittals and find its approach to including
these sources in the inventory acceptable. To satisfy the Serious RACT
SIP requirement to establish RACT for all existing major sources of VOC
and/or NOX in the DMNFR Area, the Commission incorporated by
reference NSPS limits for combustion turbines, expanded the combustion
equipment requirements for boilers, expanded wood furniture coating
requirements, and developed a new categorical rule for foam
manufacturing. These revisions were made based on a detailed review of
available information on major NOX
[[Page 67624]]
and VOC sources in the DMNFR Area, an examination of the EPA RACT/Best
Available Control Technology/Lowest Achievable Emission Rate
Clearinghouse for similar emission points, and consideration of CAA
section 182(b) RACT requirements for other ozone nonattainment areas.
Table 4 contains a list of non-CTG categories, the EPA's reference
documents, and the corresponding sections of Reg. 7 that are proposed
for approval in this action to fulfill RACT requirements (see section
V.I. of this document).\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\58\ Contained within the March 22, 2021 submittal.
Table 4--Sources, EPA Reference Documents, and Corresponding Sections of
Reg. 7 Proposed for Approval to Fulfill RACT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The EPA's reference
Source in the DMNFR area document or regulation Reg. 7 sections
(if applicable) fulfilling RACT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combustion turbines........... X Emissions from part E, section
Stationary Combustion II.
Turbines (EPA-453/3-
91-026) (1991).
Process heaters............... NOX Emissions from part E, section
Process Heaters (EPA- II.
453/R-93-034)(1993).
Combustion equipment NOX Emissions from part E, section
requirements for boilers. Industrial, II.
Commercial &
Institutional Boilers
(EPA-453/R-94-
022)(1994).
Wood furniture coating A Guide to the Wood part C, section
requirements. Furniture CTG and I.O.
NESHAP (EPA-453/R-97-
002) (1997).
Foam manufacturing............ ...................... part E, section
V.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have reviewed the emission limitations and control requirements
for the source categories in Table 4 and compared them to the EPA's
regulations, ACT documents, available technical information, and
guidelines. The EPA has also evaluated the submitted rules and has
determined that they are consistent with the CAA, the EPA's
regulations, and the EPA's policies. For more information, see the EPA
TSD prepared in conjunction with this action. Based on the information
in the record, we propose to find that the corresponding sections in
Reg. 7 provide for the lowest emission limitation through application
of control techniques that are reasonably available considering
technological and economic feasibility. Therefore, we propose to find
that the control requirements for the source categories identified in
Table 4 are RACT for all affected sources in the DMNFR Area under the
2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
c. Negative Declarations
States are not required to adopt RACT limits for source categories
for which no sources exist in a nonattainment area, and can submit a
negative declaration to that effect. The EPA approved the majority of
the State's negative declarations on July 3, 2018.\59\ In its 2008
Serious OAP, Colorado reevaluated the CTGs and determined that it does
not have sources in the following CTG VOC categories or subject to the
potentially applicable CTG within the DMNFR Area that are listed in
Table 5. We are also unaware of any such facilities operating in the
Area, and thus we propose to approve the negative declarations made for
the CTG categories in Table 5 for the DMNFR Area under the 2008 8-hour
ozone NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\59\ See 83 FR 31068. A negative declaration for the aerospace
CTG was approved on November 5, 2021 (86 FR 61071).
Table 5--Negative Declarations for CTG VOC Categories
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto and Light-Duty Truck Assembly Coatings (2008).
Coating Operations at Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Operations
(1994).
Factory Surface Coating of Flat Wood Paneling.
Fiberglass Boat Manufacturing Materials (2008).
Flat Wood Paneling Coatings (2006).
Flexible Packaging Printing Materials (2006).
Fugitive Emissions from Synthetic Organic Chemical Polymer and Resin
Manufacturing Equipment (1984).
Graphic Arts--Rotogravure and Flexography (1978).
Large Appliance Coatings (2007).
Large Petroleum Dry Cleaners (1982).
Manufacture of High-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene
Resins.
Manufacture of Pneumatic Rubber Tires (1972).
Miscellaneous Industrial Adhesives (2008).
Plastic Parts Coatings, Tables 3, 4, 8, and 9 of the CTG (2008).
Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Air Oxidation Processes (1984).
Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Distillation and Reactor
Processes (1993).
Surface Coating for Insulation of Magnet Wire (1977).
Shipbuilding/repair (1996).
Surface Coating of Automobiles and Light Duty Trucks (1977).
Surface Coating of Fabrics (1977).
Surface Coating of Large Appliances (1977).
Surface Coating of Paper (2007).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM) Analysis
1. Background
CAA section 172(c)(1) of the CAA requires that states adopt ``all
reasonably available control measures [RACM] as expeditiously as
practicable.'' The EPA interprets the CAA RACM provision to require a
demonstration that: (1) The state has adopted all reasonable measures
(including RACT) to meet RFP requirements and to demonstrate attainment
as expeditiously as possible; and (2) no additional measures that are
reasonably available will advance the attainment date or contribute to
RFP for the area.\60\ States should consider all available measures,
including those being implemented in other areas, but must adopt
measures for an area only if those measures are economically and
technologically feasible and will advance the attainment date or are
necessary for RFP.\61\ Potentially available measures that would not
advance the attainment date for an area are not considered RACM;
likewise, states can reject potential RACM if adopting them would cause
substantial widespread and long-term adverse impacts.\62\ Local
conditions, such as economic or implementation concerns, may also be
considered. To allow the EPA to determine whether the RACM requirement
has been satisfied, states
[[Page 67625]]
should discuss in the SIP submittals whether measures ``within the
arena of potentially reasonable measures'' are in fact reasonably
available.\63\ If the measures are reasonably available, they must be
adopted as RACM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\60\ 40 CFR 51.912(d); Final Rule To Implement the 8-Hour Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard--Phase 2, 70 FR 71612, 71659
(Nov. 29, 2005). See also General Preamble, State Implementation
Plans; General Preamble for the Implementation of title I of the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 57 FR 13498, 13560 (April 16,
1992).
\61\ 80 FR 12264, 12282 (March 6, 2015).
\62\ Id.
\63\ ``Guidance on the Reasonably Available Control Measures
(RACM) Requirement and Attainment Demonstration Submissions for
Ozone Nonattainment Areas,'' John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, EPA (Nov. 30, 1999).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Evaluation
Colorado previously evaluated potentially available control
measures for RACM purposes with their 2008 Moderate ozone attainment
plan. The EPA approved the State's RACM analysis on July 3, 2018.\64\
The RAQC resumed RACM discussions with the CDPHE and other partners in
2018 when the DMNFR Area was reclassified to Serious, so as to identify
strategies that would help the Area attain by the 2020 ozone
season.\65\ Areas of analysis included stationary and area sources,
mobile sources and fuels, transportation, land use, pricing, and
outreach. Subcommittee meetings were open to the public, and
stakeholders provided input on the topics discussed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\64\ See 83 FR 31068.
\65\ See p. 7-3 of the OAP.
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The State's RACM review took place in the context of a series of
state actions that had the effect of reducing emissions. Since the base
year of 2011, Colorado has adopted oil and gas regulations; \66\
implemented controls required under the State Clean Air Clean Jobs Act
\67\ through the Regional Haze SIP; and continued alternative
fuels,\68\ transportation,\69\ and land use programs.\70\ Additional
efforts include the ongoing work of the Statewide Hydrocarbon Emissions
Reduction Team and Pneumatics Task Force, and numerous bills aimed at
improving air quality.\71\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\66\ Colorado Reg. 7, part D.
\67\ Colo. Rev. Stat. section 40-3.2-201 et seq.
\68\ E.g., fueling and charging station grants.
\69\ E.g., Programs for improved public transit.
\70\ E.g., example, Denver Regional Council of Governments
identified urban growth area.
\71\ See p. 7-3 of the OAP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As part of the RACM analysis, CDPHE examined emission reduction
measures \72\ being implemented in the DMNFR Area that are not included
in the SIP modeling and emissions inventory because they are voluntary
or difficult to quantify. Non-federally enforceable emission reduction
measures were evaluated for stationary and mobile sources, lawn and
garden equipment, and the transportation system; outreach and education
were also evaluated as part of this analysis. Additionally, Colorado
evaluated CAA 108(f), transportation measures \73\ to determine whether
sources have applied RACM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\72\ See Table 48 of the OAP.
\73\ See Table 52 of the OAP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
After reviewing possible measures, Colorado determined that all
reasonably available control measures necessary to demonstrate
attainment are currently being implemented. Table 47 of Colorado's OAP
lists control measures included in Colorado's SIP as they relate to the
State's 2017 and 2020 emission inventories, photochemical modeling in
the attainment demonstration, and weight of evidence analysis.
Emission measures that were evaluated but determined not to be RACM
are discussed in chapter 7.5 of the OAP. Colorado used the following
criteria to determine whether measures were considered RACM:
Necessary to demonstrate attainment;
Technologically or economically feasible;
Implemented successfully in other Serious nonattainment
areas;
Could be implemented by May 1, 2020; and
Could qualify as SIP measures by being quantifiable,
enforceable, permanent, and surplus.
Emission reduction measures evaluated for RACM were broken into
various categories: oil and gas, mobile source inspection and
maintenance, fuels, transportation, local government policies,
outreach, land use, and other. Table 54 of the OAP summarizes the
measures evaluated and Colorado's RACM determination for each measure.
Colorado also reviewed the EPA's Menu of Control Measures for NAAQS
Implementation \74\ and voluntary and mandatory control measures in
other ozone nonattainment areas. Table 55 of the OAP lists control
measures identified, and indicates which measures were included in the
State's RACM review. Although Colorado's analysis demonstrated that
none of the additional measures identified met the criteria for RACM,
the State plans to continue evaluating strategies in various areas,
including oil and gas, mobile source inspection and maintenance, fuels,
transportation, and local government policies, as described in Table 54
of the OAP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\74\ The Menu of Control Measures gives state, local and tribal
air agencies information on existing emissions reduction measures,
as well as relevant information concerning the efficiency and cost
effectiveness of the measures. Available at https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-implementation-plans/menu-control-measures-naaqs-implementation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In its analysis, Colorado evaluated all source categories that
could contribute meaningful emission reductions, and identified and
evaluated an extensive list of potential control measures. To determine
reasonableness and availability, the State considered the time needed
to develop and adopt regulations, and the time it would take to see the
benefit from these measures. The EPA has reviewed the RACM analysis and
finds that there are no additional RACM that would have advanced the
Serious area attainment date of 2021 for the DMNFR Area.\75\ Therefore,
the EPA proposes to approve Colorado's Serious area RACM analysis for
the DMNFR Serious nonattainment area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\75\ On October 7, 2022 the EPA finalized an action that among
other things reclassified the DMNFR Area to Severe nonattainment
status for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. See Final rule, Determinations of
Attainment by the Attainment Date, Extensions of the Attainment
Date, and Reclassification of Areas Classified as Serious for the
2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 87 FR 60926.
Accordingly, the State of Colorado will be required to submit a
demonstration that the area will attain the Severe standard, and
other elements of a Severe SIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
E. Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program (I/M) Program
1. Background
As a Serious ozone nonattainment area, pursuant to CAA section
182(c)(3), Colorado was required to implement an enhanced I/M program
in the DMNFR Area.\76\ Colorado's Regulation Number 11 (Reg. 11) is
titled ``Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program,'' and addresses
the implementation of the State's I/M program.\77\ Under Reg. 11 and
other state law,\78\ all eligible automobiles registered in the
Automobile Inspection and Readjustment (AIR) program area \79\ are
subject to periodic emissions inspection. Currently there is an
exemption from emissions inspection requirements for the first seven
model years. Thereafter, an On-Board-Diagnostics (OBD) vehicle computer
inspection is conducted during the first two inspection cycles
(vehicles 8 through 11 model years old). Vehicles older than 11 model
years are given a dynamometer-based IM240 test for 1982 and newer
light-duty gasoline vehicles \80\ and a two-speed idle test
[[Page 67626]]
(TSI) \81\ for 1981 and older light-duty gasoline vehicles. To improve
motorist convenience and reduce program implementation costs, the State
also administers a remote sensing-based ``Clean Screen'' program
component of the I/M program. Remote sensing is a method for measuring
vehicle emissions, while simultaneously photographing the license
plate, when a vehicle passes through infrared or ultraviolet beams of
light. Owners of vehicles meeting the Clean Screen criteria are
notified by the respective County Clerk that their vehicle has passed
the motor vehicle inspection process and are exempt from their next
regularly scheduled program inspection.\82\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\76\ 5 CCR 1001-13.
\77\ The provisions which have been approved by the EPA into the
Colorado SIP via past rulemaking actions, including Reg. 11, are
publicly available at https://www.epa.gov/sips-co/epa-approved-statutes-and-regulations-colorado-sip.
\78\ CO Rev Stat section 42-4-304 (2016).
\79\ The current nine-county AIR program area is depicted in
chapter 8, figure 19, page 8-3 of the OAP.
\80\ See 40 CFR part 51, subpart S for a complete description of
EPA's IM240 test. The IM240 test is essentially an enhanced motor
vehicle emissions test to measure mass tailpipe emissions while the
vehicle follows a computer-generated driving cycle trace for 240
seconds and while the vehicle is on a dynamometer.
\81\ See 40 CFR part 51, subpart S for a complete description of
EPA's two-speed idle test. The two-speed idle test essentially
measures the mass tailpipe emissions of a stationary vehicle; one
reading is at a normal idle of approximately 700 to 800 engine
revolutions per minute (RPM) and one reading at 2,500 RPM.
\82\ The Clean Screen program component of Reg. 11 was
originally approved for implementation in the Denver area with the
EPA's approval of the original Denver carbon monoxide (CO)
redesignation to attainment and the related maintenance plan. See 66
FR 64751 (Dec. 14, 2001). The Clean Screen criteria approved in 2001
required two valid passing remote sensing readings, on different
days or from different sensors and within the twelve-month period
prior to that vehicle's registration renewal date. Colorado revised
Reg. 11 to expand the definition and requirements for a ``clean-
screened vehicle'' to also include vehicles identified as low-
emitting vehicles in the state-determined Low Emitting Index (LEI)
that have one passing remote sensing reading, before the vehicle's
registration renewal date. These improvements and other associated
revisions to the Clean Screen program were approved by the EPA on
October 21, 2016 (81 FR 72720).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Evaluation
The AIR program and Reg. 11 were expanded into portions of Larimer
and Weld counties as ``state only'' requirements in the Colorado 2009
Legislative session, with the passage of Senate Bill 09-003. The
startup date of the I/M program in these two counties was November 1,
2010. The purpose of this expansion of the AIR program and Reg. 11 into
portions of Larimer and Weld counties was to further reduce vehicle
emissions of NOX and VOC ozone precursors in the 2008 DMNFR
Area. With the reclassification of the DMNFR Area to Moderate for the
2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, and in light of the associated CAA
requirements, the State chose to submit the I/M program in Larimer and
Weld counties into the SIP. Accordingly, as part of Moderate Area SIP
revisions for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, Colorado removed the
Larimer/Weld ``state-only'' designation in Reg. 11 and submitted a
revised Reg. 11 to the EPA, which was approved July 3, 2018.\83\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\83\ 83 FR 31068.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The most recent federally approved revisions to the Reg. 11
enhanced I/M program were adopted by the AQCC in May 2017. The
revisions consisted of:
Inclusion of OBD I/M pass/fail results as a qualifying
consideration in the remote sensing clean screen low emitter index,
Clarification of details of tailpipe and OBD inspection
procedures and OBD readiness criteria, and
Establishing authority to fail vehicles exhibiting
evidence of OBD fraud.
These revisions were approved by EPA on February 7, 2019.\84\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\84\ 84 FR 2449. Colorado submitted the latest revisions to Reg.
11 to the EPA on May 16, 2022. The EPA will act on those revisions
in a separate action. Since these most recent changes to Reg. 11
were adopted by the State after the attainment date for Serious
areas under the 2008 ozone NAAQS, the revisions were not considered
when evaluating the adequacy of Colorado's enhanced I/M program in
the context of this current EPA action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On July 15, 2022, Colorado submitted supplemental modeling of the
State's I/M program for comparison against the applicable Enhanced I/M
performance standard requirements in 40 CFR part 51, subpart S.
Colorado used the latest approved version of the EPA's mobile source
emissions model, MOVES3.0.3 (released January 2022), for the
comparative analysis. Demonstration of program equivalency to the
enhanced I/M program standard was conducted in accordance with the
EPA's published I/M performance standard modeling guidance, MOVES3
technical guidance, and additional technical guidance from the EPA as
necessary.\85\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\85\ See Performance Standard Modeling for New and Existing
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Programs Using the MOVES
Mobile Source Emissions Model, EPA-420-B-14-006 (Jan. 2014),
available at https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPdf.cgi?Dockey=P100HHMP.pdf;
MOVES3 Technical Guidance: Using MOVES to Prepare Emission
Inventories for State Implementation Plans and Transportation
Conformity, EPA-420-B-20-052 (Nov. 2020), available at https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P1010LY2.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To demonstrate that the Colorado enhanced I/M program meets the
enhanced program performance standard described in 40 CFR 51.351(i),
the Colorado program must be modeled to show that, on the proper
analysis date, it obtains the same or lower emissions reductions as the
federal model enhanced program. The state program may provide
reductions of NAAQS relevant pollutants equivalent to the reductions
expected from the model program to within 0.02 grams per
mile for the area's total vehicle miles travelled on a July weekday in
the attainment date year. Colorado's supplemental demonstration shows
that the state's I/M program meets the applicable enhanced I/M
performance standard requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.
Based on our review and as discussed above we find that Colorado
has a Vehicle I/M Program that meets the performance standard for
Enhanced I/M, and we therefore propose approval of this portion of the
OAP.
F. Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR)
1. Background
As a Serious ozone nonattainment area, Colorado was required to
implement an NNSR program. Applicable NNSR requirements for ozone
nonattainment areas are described in CAA section 182 and further
defined in 40 CFR part 51, subpart I (Review of New Sources and
Modifications). Under these requirements, new major sources and major
modifications at existing sources must achieve the lowest achievable
emission rate (LAER) and obtain emission offsets in an amount based on
the specific ozone nonattainment classification. The emission offset
ratio required for Serious ozone nonattainment areas is 1.2 to 1.\86\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\86\ CAA section 182(c)(10).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Evaluation
The Colorado SIP includes Regulation 3, part D, section V.A.
(Concerning Major Stationary Source New Source Review and Prevention of
Significant Deterioration, Requirements Applicable to Nonattainment
Areas).\87\ This provision requires new major sources and major
modifications at existing sources in the DMNFR Area to comply with LAER
and obtain emission offsets at the Serious classification ratio of 1.2
to 1. The EPA approved these provisions on January 25, 2016.\88\ Since
the provisions in the Colorado SIP satisfy the CAA NNSR requirements
for ozone nonattainment areas classified as Serious, we propose
approval of this portion of the OAP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\87\ The provisions which have been approved by the EPA into the
Colorado SIP via past rulemaking actions, including Regulation
Number 3, are publicly available at https://www.epa.gov/sips-co/epa-approved-statutes-and-regulations-colorado-sip.
\88\ 81 FR 3963.
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[[Page 67627]]
G. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget (MVEB)/Transportation Conformity
1. Background
Section 176(c) of the CAA establishes a requirement known as
``Transportation Conformity,'' under which federal agencies must ensure
that actions they support or fund will conform to the applicable SIP.
Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities will not
produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or
delay timely attainment of the NAAQS.\89\ The EPA's conformity rule at
40 CFR part 93, subpart A requires that transportation plans, programs,
and projects conform to SIPs, and establishes the criteria and
procedures for determining whether they conform. The conformity rule
requires a demonstration that emissions from the Metropolitan Planning
Organization's (MPO) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) are consistent with the MVEB
in the control strategy SIP revision or maintenance plan.\90\ The MVEBs
are defined as the portion allocated to mobile source emissions out of
the total allowable emissions of a pollutant defined in the SIP for a
certain date for the purpose of demonstrating attainment or maintenance
of the NAAQS or for meeting RFP milestones.\91\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\89\ CAA section 176(c)(1)(B).
\90\ 40 CFR 93.101, 93.118, and 93.124.
\91\ 40 CFR 93.101; see 40 CFR 93.118 and 93.124 for criteria
and other requirements related to MVEBs. Further discussion of MVEBs
is in the preamble to the transportation conformity rule. 58 FR
62188, 62193-62196 (Nov. 24, 1993).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additionally, CAA section 182(c)(5) requires that states, every
three years, submit a demonstration for Serious nonattainment areas
that current aggregate VMT, aggregate vehicle emissions, congestion
levels, and other relevant traffic-related and vehicle emissions-
related factors (collectively ``relevant parameters'') are consistent
with those used for the area's ozone attainment demonstration.
2. Evaluation
Colorado derived the MVEBs for NOX and VOCs from its
2020 DMNFR Serious attainment demonstration, and defined the MVEBs in
chapter 11, section 11.2.1 of the OAP.
Table 6--2020 NOX and VOC MVEBs for DMNFR Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 NOX 2020 VOC
Area of applicability emissions emissions
(tpd) (tpd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Subarea........................ 9.7 8.2
Southern Subarea........................ 45 41.2
Total Nonattainment Area................ 54.7 49.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------
These MVEBs are consistent with, and clearly related to, the
emissions inventory and the control measures in the SIP, and satisfy
the criteria at 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). Therefore, we propose approval of
the MVEBs as reflected in Table 6. This proposed approval applies to
the Northern Subarea and Southern Subarea MVEBs as well as the Total
Nonattainment Area MVEBs. The transportation conformity subareas are
defined in chapter 11, section 11.2 of the OAP and are listed below.
The Northern Subarea is the area denoted by the ozone
nonattainment area north of the Boulder County northern boundary and
extended through southern Weld County to the Morgan County line. This
area includes the North Front Range MPO's (NFRMPO) regional planning
area as well as part of the Upper Front Range Transportation Planning
Region (TPR) in Larimer and Weld counties.
The Southern Subarea is the area denoted by the ozone
nonattainment area south of the Boulder County northern boundary and
extended through southern Weld County to the Morgan County line. This
area includes the nonattainment portion of the Denver Regional Council
of Governments (DRCOG) regional planning area and the southern Weld
County portion of the Upper Front Range TPR.
Both subareas are further described in the OAP in Figure
20, ``8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Area Subareas.''
In addition to proposing approval of the MVEBs, we also propose to
approve the process described in chapter 11, section 11.2.3 in the OAP
for the use of the Total Nonattainment Area MVEBs or the subarea MVEBs
for the respective MPOs to determine transportation conformity for
their respective RTP. As described in section 11.2.3 of Colorado's OAP,
the OAP identifies subarea MVEBs for DRCOG and the NFRMPO. These SIP-
identified subarea MVEBs allow either MPO to make independent
conformity determinations for the applicable subarea MVEBs whose
frequency and timing needs for conformity determinations differ. As
noted in section 11.2.3, DRCOG and the NFRMPO may switch from using the
Total Nonattainment Area MVEBs to using the subarea MVEBs for
determining conformity. To switch to use of the subarea MVEBs (or to
subsequently switch back to use of the Total Nonattainment Area MVEBs)
DRCOG and the NFRMPO must use the process described in the DMNFR OAP in
section 11.2.3.\92\ This process of demonstrating transportation
conformity to the total or subarea area MVEBs, as described in section
11.2.3 of the OAP, was previously approved by the EPA for the Denver
Moderate Ozone Plan for the 2008 8-hour standard on July 3, 2018.\93\
Now, as to the Serious classification for the 2008 8-hour standard, the
EPA finds that this process remains consistent with the CAA and with
applicable EPA regulations, and therefore proposes to approve it.
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\92\ See pp. 11-5 and 11-6 of the OAP.
\93\ 83 FR 31068.
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Regarding transportation control requirements, as described in
section 11.3 of the OAP, MVEBs are evaluated on a regular basis by the
MPOs through their conformity process. Based on the most recent
conformity determinations for the northern and the southern subregions,
Colorado's demonstration shows that both areas were meeting the current
emissions budgets established in the 2008 Moderate area Ozone SIP, and
that they are expected be able to meet the proposed budgets for the
2008 Serious area Ozone SIP in future conformity determinations. The
EPA finds that the transportation control measures as described in
section 11.3 of the OAP meet CAA requirements. We therefore propose to
approve this section of the OAP.
[[Page 67628]]
H. Clean Fuel Fleet Program
1. Background
Sections 182(c)(4) and 241-246 of the CAA provide that states with
ozone nonattainment areas classified as Serious, Severe, or Extreme
must implement a federally enforceable program to require certain
centrally fueled fleet operators to include a specified percentage of
clean-fuel vehicles (CFV) in their new fleet purchases to reduce
emissions of ozone precursors, or else to engage in a state-managed
credit trading scheme with other fleet operators who purchase CFV in
excess to requirements. Section 182(c)(4) of the Act also allows states
subject to the clean-fuel fleet program requirements to develop
substitute programs to achieve equivalent reductions to those achieved
by the default program requirements for the covered nonattainment area,
and to submit them to the EPA for approval.\94\
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\94\ Final rule, Emission Standards for Clean-Fuel Vehicles and
Engines, Requirements for Clean-Fuel Vehicle Conversions, and
California Pilot Test Program, 59 FR 50042 (Sept. 30, 1994).
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2. Evaluation
In the OAP, Colorado cited an EPA determination \95\ that,
beginning with the 2007 model years, both the Tier 2 conventional
vehicle and engine standards and heavy-duty vehicle and engine
standards are either equivalent to or more stringent than the
applicable clean fuel vehicle program low emission vehicle (LEV)
standards. Table 59 of the OAP includes a clean fuel fleet emission
comparison demonstrating that Tier 2 and 2004 heavy-duty engine
standards are equivalent or more stringent than the Clean Fuel Fleet
standards and that the emission reductions from the federal standards
surpassed LEV emission reductions in 2004, when the federal standards
were implemented. Additionally, figure 23 of the OAP provides a
comparison of Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards program
that illustrates even larger emission reductions over CFV standards.
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\95\ See EPA Dear Manufacturer Letter CCD-05 (LDV/LDT/MDPV/HDV/
HDE/LD-FC), July 21, 2005, in the docket for this rulemaking.
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The EPA amended the Clean Fuel Fleet standards in 40 CFR part 88 in
2021 to address the fact that current emissions standards for engines
and vehicles are either more stringent than or equivalent to the Clean
Fuel Fleet standards.\96\ According to these amendments, all new fleet
purchases of vehicles and engines certified to current emission
standards are deemed to meet the Clean Fuel Fleet standards as Ultra
Low-Emission Vehicles.
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\96\ Final rule, Improvements for Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle
Test Procedures, and Other Technical Amendments 86 FR 34308 (June
29, 2021).
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Because 2004 model year Heavy Duty Diesel and Tier II and III
vehicle standards meet or exceed the CFV LEV standards, we propose to
find that Colorado meets the Federal Clean Fuel Fleet Program
requirements, and to approve that portion of the submittal that
addresses the requirements of section 182(c)(4) of the CAA.
I. SIP Control Measures
1. Background
This section describes revisions to Colorado Regs. 7 and 21
submitted as a part of the SIP, including emission control requirements
for oil and gas operations; turbines, process heaters, and other
combustion equipment, foam manufacturing; architectural coatings and
consumer products. The revisions also establish RACT requirements for
emission points at certain CTGs and major sources of VOC and
NOX in the DMNFR Area.
Colorado's Reg. 7, entitled ``Control of Ozone via Ozone Precursors
and Control of Hydrocarbons via Oil and Gas Emissions,'' contains
general RACT requirements as well as specific emission limits
applicable to various industries. The EPA approved the repeal and re-
promulgation of Reg. 7 in 1981,\97\ and has approved various revisions
to Reg. 7 over the years. In 2008, the EPA approved revisions to the
control requirements for condensate storage tanks in section XII,\98\
and later approved revisions to Reg. 7, sections I through XI and
sections XIII through XVI.\99\ The EPA also approved Reg. 7 revisions
to section XVII.E.3.a establishing control requirements for rich-burn
reciprocating internal combustion engines.\100\ In 2018 the EPA
approved Reg. 7 revisions in sections XII (VOC emissions from oil and
gas operations) and XIII (emission control requirements for VOC
emissions from graphic art and printing processes), as well as non-
substantive revisions to numerous other parts of the regulation.\101\
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\97\ Final rule, Colorado: Approval and Promulgation of State
Implementation Plans, 46 FR 16687 (March 13, 1981).
\98\ Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality
Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Regulation No. 7, section
XII, Volatile Organic Compounds From Oil and Gas Operations, 73 FR
8194 (Feb. 13, 2008).
\99\ Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of State
Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Attainment Demonstration
for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard, and Approval of Related
Revisions, 76 FR 47443 (Aug. 5, 2011).
\100\ Final rule, Approval and Promulgation of Implementation
Plans; State of Colorado; Regional Haze State Implementation Plan,
77 FR 76871 (Dec. 31, 2012).
\101\ See 83 FR 31068, 31071.
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In February 2021, the EPA approved Reg. 7 revisions in sections I
(Applicability), IX (Surface Coating Operations), X (Use of Cleaning
Solvents), XIII (Graphics Arts and Printing), XVI (Controls of
Emissions from Stationary and Portable Engines and Other Combustion
Equipment in the 8-Hour Ozone Control Area), and XIX (Control of
Emissions from Specific Major Sources of VOC and/or NOX in
the 8-hour Ozone Control Area). Revisions to incorporation by reference
dates to rules and reference methods in sections II, VI, VIII, IX, X,
XII, XIII, XVI and XVII were also approved, as well as non-substantive
revisions to numerous other parts of the regulation.\102\
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\102\ 86 FR 11125.
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In November 2021, the EPA approved submitted revisions to sections
II (general provisions), XII (Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from
Oil and Gas Operations), and XVIII (emissions from natural gas-actuated
pneumatic controllers located at or upstream of natural gas processing
plants) of Reg. 7 from State submissions in 2018 and 2019.\103\ From
the State's 2020 submission, the EPA approved revisions that fully
reorganized Reg. 7. into parts A-E; updated requirements for gasoline
transport trucks, bulk terminals, and service stations in part B; added
general solvent use requirements in part C, section II.F; and added
stationary internal combustion engine and flare RACT requirements for
major sources of VOC and/or NOX in the Denver Area in part
E. Revisions to incorporation by reference dates to rules, updates to
reference methods, and typographical, grammatical and formatting
corrections were made throughout Reg. 7. Additionally, the EPA
finalized approval of the State's negative declaration--(that is, its
statement that there are no covered sources in the DMNFR Area) as to
the aerospace CTG.
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\103\ 86 FR 61071.
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Most recently, in May 2022, the EPA conditionally approved AQCC
regulations of ozone precursor and hydrocarbon emissions from oil and
gas operations in sections XII.J.1 of Reg. 7 from the State's May 14,
2018 submittal and part D, sections I.D., I.E., I.F., and I.J.1. of
Reg. 7 from the State's May 13, 2020 submission.\104\ Additionally, the
EPA conditionally approved Colorado's determination that Reg. 7, part D
satisfies RACT requirements for the
[[Page 67629]]
Colorado ozone SIP for the 2016 oil and natural gas CTG.
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\104\ 87 FR 29228 (May 13, 2022).
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Colorado submitted new regulation number 21 (Reg. 21) on May 13,
2020, and revised Reg. 7 revisions with the OAP on March 22, 2021, and
subsequent revisions on May 18, 2021 and May 20, 2022. The 2020
submittal includes new Reg. 21, which establishes VOC content limits in
architectural coatings and consumer products. The 2022 revisions in
Reg. 7, part C, section I.O and part E, sections II.A., III.B., and V.
address RACT for major sources with VOC and/or NOX emissions
equal to or greater than 50 tpy; specifically, for wood surface
coatings operations, boilers, turbines, process heaters, landfill gas
and biogas fired engines,\105\ and foam manufacturing. The 2021
submittals include revisions to Reg. 7, part D, sections I.E.3.,
I.J.1., and III.B to address oil and gas CTG requirements, and clerical
revisions in parts C, sections I.A., I.L., and E, sections II.A.
Colorado made substantive SIP revisions to Reg. 21 and certain limited
parts of Reg. 7, particularly part C, sections I.O. and I.L.; part D,
sections I.E.3. and I.J.1; and part E, sections, II.A.1.c., II.A.3.p,
II.A.4.b.(i), II.A.4.b.(iv), II.A.4.f., II.A.4.g, II.A.5.a.(iii),
II.A.5.b.(ii)(B), II.A.5.b.(ii)(B), II.A.5.b.(ii)(C)(4),
II.A.5.c.(i)(A), II.A.6.b.(viii)(E), and V. The State also made non-
substantive revisions to numerous parts of Reg. 7. For ease of review,
Colorado submitted the full text of Reg. 7 and Reg. 21 as a SIP
revision (with the exception of provisions designated ``State Only'').
The EPA is only seeking comment on Colorado's proposed substantive
changes to the SIP-approved version of Reg. 7, which are described
below. We are not seeking comment on incorporation into the SIP of the
revised portions of the regulation that were previously approved into
the SIP and have not been substantively modified by the State as part
of this submission.
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\105\ The EPA will be acting on the State's RACT determination
for landfill and biogas fired engines in a separate action.
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As noted above, Colorado designated various parts of Reg. 7 and
Reg. 21 ``State Only'' and in Reg. 7, section I.A.1.c and Reg. 21,
section I.A.2. indicated that sections designated State Only are not
federally enforceable. The EPA concludes that provisions designated
State Only have not been submitted for EPA approval, but for
informational purposes. Hence, the EPA is not proposing to act on the
portions of Regs. 7 or 21 designated State Only, and this proposed rule
does not discuss them further except as relevant to discussion of the
portions of the regulation that Colorado intended to be federally
enforceable.
2. Evaluation
a. Analysis of Reg. 21 Changes in May 13, 2020 Submittal
The EPA proposes to approve the changes made to Reg. 21 with
Colorado's May 13, 2020 submission.
(i) Part A
Part A of Reg. 21 establishes new rules for limiting VOC emissions
from consumer products as of May 1, 2020. ``Consumer products,'' as
defined in section VI.GG., ``means a chemically formulated product used
by household and institutional consumers including, but not limited to,
detergents; cleaning compounds; polishes; floor finishes; cosmetics;
personal care products; home, lawn, and garden products; disinfectants;
sanitizers; aerosol paints; automotive specialty products; and aerosol
adhesives. Consumer product does not include other paint products,
furniture coatings, or architectural coatings.'' \106\ Section I
contains the applicability requirements. The rules apply to people who
sell, supply, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or manufacture for
sale consumer products in the 8-hour ozone control area. Section I.B.
includes a number of exemptions from the requirements in section A,
such exemptions for consumer products that are manufactured in Colorado
solely for shipment and use outside of Colorado, and for consumer
products that have been granted an Innovative Product exemption, an
Alternative Control Plan (ACP), or a variance under the Variances
provisions by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
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\106\ See p. 260 of the May 13, 2020 submittal.
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Table 1 in section II establishes VOC content limits for
manufacturing, selling, suppling, offering for sale, and distributing
consumer products. Additional standards in section II include labeling,
certification, and VOC limit applicability requirements for consumer
products. Section II.J. includes a list of chemicals that consumer
products cannot contain. Section II.K. includes a list of consumer
products that cannot contain trichloroethylene in a combined amount
greater than 0.01 percent by weight. Table 1 in Part A includes the VOC
content limits for consumer products manufactured on or after May 1,
2020.
Section III of part A contains container labeling requirements,
including a requirement for clear display of dates that products were
manufactured or date codes representing the date of manufacture on
containers or packages; special purpose spray adhesive classification
requirements; and dilution ratios for non-aerosol floor wax strippers.
Sections III.E and F. include label display requirements for energized
electrical cleaner and zinc rich primers. Under section III.F aerosol
adhesives, adhesive removers, electronic cleaners, electrical cleaners,
energized electrical cleaners, and content products must include the
product category, applicable VOC standard for the product as a
percentage by weight, and the applicable substrate and/or application
for special purpose spray adhesives on labels.
Section IV contains reporting requirements to demonstrate
compliance with the applicability and standards requirements in part A.
These include maintaining records necessary to demonstrate exemptions
under section I.B and of the para-dichlorobenzene content of solid air
freshener, insecticide, or toilet/urinal care consumer products.
Records must be maintained for a minimum of three years and made
available to the Division upon request. Section IV.D. includes a list
of information that must be reported to the Division within 90 days of
written notice. This information includes the names and contact
information of responsible parties, consumer product brand names for
each product label and category, Colorado sales in pounds per year, and
the net percent by weight of total product.
Section V includes test methods that should be used to determine
compliance with the requirements in part A (CARB Method 310 or through
calculation of the VOC content from records of the amounts of
constituents used to make the product) and whether a product is a
liquid or solid (ASTM D4359-90(2000)e). Section VI contains a list of
definitions used throughout part A. We propose to find that the
provisions in part A are consistent with CAA requirements, and that
they strengthen the SIP. We therefore propose to approve the revisions
in part. A.
(ii) Part B
Part B of Reg. 21 establishes new rules for limiting VOC emissions
from architectural or industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings as of May
1, 2020. Architectural coating, as defined in section VI.F., ``means a
coating to be applied to stationary structures or their appurtenances
at the site of installation, to portable buildings at the site of
installation, to pavements, or to curbs. Architectural coating does not
include
[[Page 67630]]
coatings applied in shop applications or to non-stationary structures
such as airplanes, ships, boats, railcars, and automobiles, as well as
adhesives.'' \107\ Industrial maintenance coatings, as defined in
section VI.DD., ``means a high performance architectural coating,
including primers, sealers, undercoaters, intermediate coats, and
topcoats, formulated for application to substrates, including floors,
and exposed to one or more of the following extreme environmental
conditions: immersion in water, wastewater, or chemical solutions
(aqueous and non-aqueous solutions), or chronic exposures of interior
surfaces to moisture condensation; acute or chronic exposure to
corrosive, caustic, or acidic agents, or to chemicals, chemical fumes,
or chemical mixtures or solutions; frequent exposure to temperatures
above 121[deg]C (250 [deg]F); frequent heavy abrasion, including
mechanical wear and scrubbing with industrial solvents, cleansers, or
scouring agents; or exterior exposure of metal structures and
structural components. Industrial maintenance coatings must be labeled
as specified in part B, section III.D.1.'' \108\
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\107\ See p. 282 of the May 13, 2020 submittal.
\108\ See p. 285 of the May 13, 2020 submittal.
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Section I contains the applicability requirements. The rules apply
to people who sell, supply, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or
manufacture for sale AIM coatings in the 8-hour ozone control area.
Section I.B. includes a number of exemptions from the requirements in
section B including AIM coatings that are manufactured in Colorado
solely for shipment and use outside of Colorado; aerosol coating
products, and AIM coatings that are sold in containers with a volume of
one liter or less.
Table 1 in section II establishes VOC content limits for
manufacturing, blending, suppling, selling, offering for sale, and
soliciting for application AIM coatings. Section III of part B includes
container labeling requirements including clearly displaying dates that
products were manufactured or date codes representing the date of
manufacture on containers, a statement of the manufacturer's
recommendation regarding thinning of the coating, and the VOC content
in grams per liter of coating. Section III.D. includes a list of
statements that should be displayed on container labels, such as ``for
industrial use only,'' ``for blocking stains,'' ``high gloss,'' and
``for metal substrates only.''
Section IV contains a list of information that must be reported to
the Division within 180 days of written notice to demonstrate
compliance with part B requirements. This information includes the
names and mailing address of manufacturers, the names of the coatings
products as they appear on the labels and the application coating
categories, the VOC content in gram per liter as determined in
accordance with section V, and the density of the products in pounds
per gallon.
Section V includes test methods that should be used to determine
compliance with the requirements in part B. Section V.A. describes the
process for determining the VOC content of a coating. Section VI.
contains a list of definitions used throughout part B. We propose to
find that the provisions in part B are consistent with CAA
requirements, and that they strengthen the SIP. We therefore propose to
approve the revisions in part B.
b. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in March 22, 2021 Submittal
The EPA proposes to approve the following changes made to Reg. 7
with Colorado's March 22, 2021 submission.
(i) Part C, Section I
Section I of part C contains rules for surface coating operations.
In this submittal, the Commission expanded Section I.O wood furniture
surface coating requirements to the surface coatings of other wood
products such as doors, door casings, and decorative wood accents. The
provisions apply to other wood products coating operations with
uncontrolled actual emissions greater than or equal to 50 tpy located
in the DMNFR Area. A detailed evaluation of section I is in the TSD for
this action. We propose to find that the provisions in part C are
consistent with CAA and RACT requirements, and that they strengthen the
SIP. We therefore propose to approve the revisions in part. C.
(ii) Part E, Section II
Section II of part E contains rules for the control of emissions
from stationary and portable combustion equipment in the DMNFR Area.
The revisions in art E include RACT requirements for 50 tpy major
sources of VOC and/or NOX including a NOX
emission limit for boilers between 50 MMBtu/hr and 100 MMBtu/hr, a
NOX emission limit for landfill gas or biogas fired
engines,\109\ and NOX emission limits for combustion
turbines.
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\109\ The EPA will be acting on the State's RACT determination
for landfill and biogas fired engines in a sperate action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section II.A.4.a.(iv) expands categorical boiler RACT requirements
for 50-100 MMBtu/hr boilers at 50 tpy major sources to comply with a
0.1 lb/MMBtu NOX emission limit. The owners or operators of
these boilers will continue to comply with the combustion process
adjustment, periodic performance testing, and recordkeeping
requirements in section II.
Section II.A.4.b.(i)(A) was revised to reference NSPS KKKK
NOX emission limits for the turbines constructed before
February 18, 2005. These emission limits are included in Table 1 of
section II.A.4.b. Section II.A.4.b.(i)(A)(1) requires that turbines
with CEMS that are capable of operating in both combined and simple
cycle modes show compliance with a 30-day rolling average. Section
II.A.4.b.(iv) adds a new requirement for turbines, air pollution
control equipment, and monitoring equipment to be operated with good
air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions. Section
II.A.5.c.(i)(A) includes monitoring requirements for pre and post
February 18, 2005 turbines.
A detailed evaluation of section II is in the TSD for this action.
We propose to find that the provisions in section II are consistent
with CAA and RACT requirements, and that they strengthen the SIP. We
therefore propose to approve the revisions in part E, section II.
(iii) Part E, Section V
Section V of part E contains new rules for the control of emissions
from foam manufacturing in the DMNFR Area as of January 27, 2020. Foam
manufacturing operation, as defined in section V.A.3.e., ``means any
expanded polystyrene (EPS) production line, or portion of a production
line, which processes raw EPS bead into final molded EPS product.
Production line processes include, but are not limited to pre-
expansion, aging (pre-puff), and molding. The manufacturing process
ends after the product exits the EPS mold. `Foam manufacturing
operation' also means any production line processing methylene diphenyl
diisocyanate (MDI), resins, and various hardeners and thickeners into
foam products and which results in VOC emissions into the atmosphere.
The manufacturing process ends after the product exits the drying
tunnel.'' Section V.A.3. includes a list of definitions used in section
V.
Section V.A.4. establishes emission limits for foam manufacturing
operations. Operators must limit VOC emissions from foam manufacturing
to 3.0 lbs per 100 lbs of total material processed, averaged monthly,
or must control VOC emissions from foam
[[Page 67631]]
manufacturing by 90%. Work practice requirements are set forth in
section V.A.5. and require that raw materials be stored in closed,
leak-free, labeled containers, and in a manner that minimizes
evaporation from open containers. Sections V.A.6., 7, and 8 contain
monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting (MRR) requirements, including
MRR for performance testing to determine control efficiency of emission
control equipment, and requirements to keep records of the amounts of
raw material processed on a daily basis, total monthly VOC emissions,
and a manufacturer's guarantee of control equipment's emission control
efficiencies. Records must be maintained for five years and made
available to the Division upon request. Records of performance test
protocols for performance tests under Section V.A.6.b. must be
submitted to the Division for review at least thirty days before
testing.
A detailed evaluation of section V is in the TSD for this action.
We propose to find that the provisions in section V are consistent with
CAA and RACT requirements, and that they strengthen the SIP. We
therefore propose to approve the revisions in part E, section V.
c. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 18, 2021 Submittal
The majority of the changes to Reg. 7 from the May 18, 2021
submittal are state-only and therefore have not been submitted for
inclusion in the SIP. The SIP revisions from this submittal include
editorial revisions to the outline of the regulation and numbering
changes to part E, section I.D.4., SIP controls for existing natural
gas fired RICE. The revisions are clerical in nature and do not affect
the substance of the requirements. Therefore, we propose to approve the
changes.
d. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 20, 2022 Miscellaneous Metals and
Process Heaters Submittal
The EPA proposes to approve the changes made to Reg. 7 with
Colorado's May 20, 2022 miscellaneous metals and process heaters
submittal.
(i) Part C, Section I
Section I of part C contains rules for surface coating operations.
The Commission has previously adopted requirements for metal surface
coatings based on recommendations in EPA's Control of Volatile Organic
Emissions from Existing Stationary Sources--Volume VI: Surface Coating
of Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products (1978), including VOC content
limits, work practices, and recordkeeping requirements. In 2008,
however, the EPA published a subsequent metal coating CTG, Control
Techniques Guidelines for Miscellaneous Metal and Plastic Parts
Coatings (Metal Coating CTG), which recommends expanding the coatings
VOC content limits from four to fifty, including work practices,
application methods, and recordkeeping. Therefore, in response to EPA's
concern with Colorado's existing metal parts coating requirements as
based on EPA's 1978 CTG, the Commission revised the metal surface
coating requirements in part C, section I to correspond to the
recommendations in the 2008 Metal Coating CTG.
The revised section I.L., Manufactured Metal Parts and Metal
Products, applies to sources where actual emissions are greater than or
equal to 6.8 kilograms (15 lbs) per day and 1.4 kilograms (3 lbs) per
hour. Starting January 1, 2022, section I.L requirements applied to
metal parts and product surface coating units at facilities where total
actual VOC emissions from all metal parts and products surface coating
operations are greater than or equal to 2.7 tons per 12-month rolling
period, before consideration of controls.
Revised section I.L.1.b. removes a number of exemptions for surface
coatings of various metal parts and products: automobiles and light-
duty trucks, metal cans, flat metal sheets and strips in the form of
rolls or coils, large appliances, magnet wire for use in electrical
machinery, and metal furniture. Section I.L.b.(iii) adds categories for
which section I.L. does not apply, including certain sources regulated
by NSPS and sources that must comply with other sections of the SIP.
Section I.L.2.b. includes new requirements for surface coating of
manufactured metal parts or metal products facilities and operations.
Section I.L.2.b.(i) requires that VOC emissions from coatings and
thinners be reduced with an emission control system having a control
efficiency of 90% or greater. Additionally, products must comply with
the VOC content limits established in Tables 1 and 2 of section
I.L.2.b. A number of new definitions were added to section I.L.1.c.
Sections I.L.3. and I.L.4. include application methods and work
practice standards that owners and operators must use and follow. These
include the use of high-volume low-pressure spray, roller coat, and
airless spray; storing all VOC containing coatings, thinners, coating
related waste materials, cleaning materials, and used shop towels in
closed containers; and minimizing VOC emissions from cleaning of
application, storage, mixing, and conveying equipment by cleaning
equipment without atomizing the cleaning solvent and capturing spent
solvent in closed containers section I.L.5. contains recordkeeping
requirements to demonstrate compliance with section I.L. Records must
be maintained for a minimum of five years and made available to the
Division upon request.
A detailed review of section I.L. is in the TSD for this action. We
propose to find that the provisions in section I.L. are consistent with
CAA requirements, represent RACT for the emission limits in Table 2
``Metal Parts and Products VOC Content Limits'' and Table 7 ``Metal
Parts and Products VOC Emission Rate Limits'' of the 2008 Miscellaneous
Metal Parts and Products CTG, and that they strengthen the SIP. We
therefore propose to approve the revisions in part C, section I.\110\
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\110\ In this action, we are not finalizing the State's
determination that RACT for the miscellaneous metal parts CTG has
been met, because Colorado has not adopted limits or negative
declarations for sources listed in Table 5, Pleasure Craft Surface
Coating VOC Content Limits or Table 6, Motor Vehicle Materials VOC
Content Limits of the CTG for Miscellaneous Metal and Plastic Parts
Coatings, EPA-453/R-08-003 (Sept. 2008). The State is actively
working on adopting RACT for these sources. Therefore, we will be
acting on these categories in a separate rulemaking.
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(ii) Part E, Section II
Section II of part E contains rules for the control of emissions
from stationary and portable combustion equipment in the 8-hour ozone
control area. The Commission revised this section of Reg. 7 to include
provisions in the SIP that require the implementation of RACT for
process heaters at major sources of NOX emissions.
NOX emission limits apply to natural gas-fired and refinery
gas-fired process heaters with a heat input rate greater than or equal
to 5 MMBtu/hr.
Table 2 in section II.A.4.g. contains NOX emission
limits of 0.05 lb/MMBtu for natural gas fired and 0.1 lb/MMBtu for
refinery fuel gas fired process heaters with a heat input rate greater
than 5 MMBtu/hr. Section II.A.5.a. adds compliance dates for process
heaters subject to the section II.A.4.g. requirements. Continuous
emission monitoring in section II.A.5.b.(i), performance testing
requirements in section II.A.5.b.(ii) were expanded to include section
II.A.4.g. process heaters. Section II.A.6.b.(viii)(E) was added to
include combustion process adjustment requirements for process heaters.
A detailed evaluation of section II is in the TSD for this action.
We propose to find that the provisions in section II
[[Page 67632]]
are consistent with CAA and RACT requirements, and that they strengthen
the SIP. We therefore propose to approve the revisions in part E,
section II.
e. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 20, 2022 Part D Definitions
Submittal
The majority of the changes to Reg. 7 from the State's May 20, 2022
part D definitions submittal are state-only and therefore have not been
submitted for inclusion in the SIP. The SIP revisions from this
submittal include revisions to definitions included in Reg. 7, part D,
section III for natural gas-actuated pneumatic controllers associated
with oil and gas operations. The revisions to definitions associated
with pneumatic controllers reflect more accurate and appropriate
technical definitions and do not affect the substance of the
requirements. Therefore, we propose to approve the changes.
f. Analysis of Reg. 7 Changes in May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020, and May
20, 2022 Part D Oil and Gas Submittals
In November 2021, the EPA approved the majority of revisions to
Colorado's regulations for oil and gas operations from State
submissions in 2018 and 2020 \111\ but deferred action on several
portions of the submittals because we determined that Colorado's SIP
revisions did not meet oil and gas CTG RACT requirements for testing
and monitoring requirements for combustion control devices for storage
vessels and centrifugal compressors. On October 20, 2021, Colorado
submitted a letter committing to adopt and submit specific revisions by
June 30, 2022. Specifically, the State committed to add requirements
for performance testing of certain combustion devices consistent with
the EPA's oil and gas CTG by using the same frequency, testing
protocol, and recordkeeping requirements that apply to storage vessels
and wet seal centrifugal compressors required to be controlled under
the EPA's oil and gas CTG (i.e., storage vessels that have the
potential for VOC emissions equal to or greater than 6 tpy). The EPA
issued a conditional approval of Reg. 7 revisions and the State's RACT
determination for the oil and gas CTG on May 13, 2022 \112\ based on
the commitment letter submitted by the APCD. An evaluation of Reg. 7
revisions from the State's May 14, 2018 and May 13, 2020 submittals and
October 20, 2021 commitment letter is in our February 17, 2022 proposed
rule.\113\
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\111\ 86 FR 61071.
\112\ 87 FR 29228.
\113\ Proposed rule, Air Plan Conditional Approval; Colorado;
Revisions to Regulation Number 7 and Oil and Natural Gas RACT
Requirements for 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Denver Metro/
North Front Range Nonattainment Area, 87 FR 8997.
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The revisions from the May 20, 2022 part D, Oil and Gas submittal
are consistent with the commitments in the letter \114\ and include
provisions for performance testing or demonstration of manufacturer
testing for combustion equipment used to control emissions from storage
vessels in section I.E.3. and wet seal centrifugal compressors in
section I.J.1.h. A detailed evaluation of section I is in our February
17, 2022 proposed rule and the associated TSD for that action.\115\ We
propose to find that the revisions in section I from the State's May
20, 2022 part D, Oil and Gas submittal are consistent with CAA and RACT
requirements, and that they strengthen the SIP. We also propose to find
that the State has adopted and submitted the specific revisions it has
committed to by June 30, 2022 and that the conditional approval will
now convert to full approval.
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\114\ See https://www.coloradosos.gov/CCR/eDocketDetails.do?trackingNum=2021-00594.
\115\ See Technical Support Document for Proposed Action on the
Reasonably Available Control Technology Determination for Oil and
Gas CTG Sources Within Colorado's Denver Metro/North Front Range
Area 2008 Ozone State Implementation Plan, Air and Radiation
Program, U.S. EPA Region 8, January 2022, available within the
docket for this action.
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VI. Proposed Action
We propose to approve the majority of the OAP submittal from the
State of Colorado for the DMNFR Area submitted on March 22, 2021. (In
this rule we are not proposing any action on the submitted attainment
demonstration, enhanced monitoring, or contingency measures.)
Specifically, we propose to approve:
Milestone and future year emissions inventories;
RFP demonstration;
Demonstration of RACT for oil and natural gas industry VOC
CTG sources;
Demonstration of RACT for certain miscellaneous metal
parts coatings VOC CTG sources;
Demonstration of RACT for certain VOC and NOX
non-CTG sources;
Demonstration of RACM implementation;
Motor vehicle I/M program;
NNSR program; and
MVEBs.
We also propose to approve SIP revisions to Reg. 21 submitted by
the State on May 13, 2020 and to Reg. 7 submitted by the State on March
22, 2021, May 18, 2021, and May 20, 2022 as shown in Table 7. We are
proposing to approve Colorado's determination that the above rules
constitute RACT for the specific categories addressed in Tables 3 and
4. A comprehensive summary of the revisions in Colorado's Regs. 7 and
21 organized by the EPA's proposed rule action and submittal dates are
provided in the Table 7.
Table 7--List of Colorado Revisions to Regs. 7 and 21 That the EPA
Proposes To Approve
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Revised sections in May 14, 2018, May 13, 2020, March 22, 2021, and May
20, 2022 submittals proposed for approval
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May 14, 2018:
Reg. 7, part D, section XII.J.1.
May 13, 2020, Oil and Gas Submittal:
Reg. 7, part D, sections I.D.-D.3.a.(i), I.D.3.b.-b.(i),
I.D.3.b.(ii), I.D.3.b.(v), I.D.3.b.(vii), I.D.3.b.(ix), I.D.4.-
I.E.1.a., I.E.2.-.c.(ii), I.E.2.c.(iv)-c.(viii), I.F.-1.d.,
I.F.1.g.-g.(xii), I.F.1.h.-F.2.a., I.F.2.c.-c.(vi), I.F.3.-3.a,
I.F.3.c.-c.(i)(C), and I.J.1.-j. (renumbering).
May 13, 2020, Reg. 21 Submittal:
Reg. 21, part A, sections I-I.A.1, I.B.-VI.AAAAAAA., part B,
sections I.-I.A.1., I.B.-VI.TTT.
March 22, 2021 Submittal:
Reg. 7, part C, sections I.O., I.O.2., I.O.3.a., I.O.3.b.-c.,
I.O.4.a., I.O.5.a., part E, sections II.A.1.b., II.A.4.,
II.A.4.a.(iii), II.A.4.a.(iv), II.A.4.b.(i)-(A)(4), II.A.4.b.(iv),
II.A.5.c.(i)(A)-(2), II.A.6.a.(ii), II.A.6.b.(viii)(B), and III.B.
May 18, 2021 Submittal:
Reg. 7, Outline of Regulation, parts A, B, C, and D; part E and part
F; part E, sections I.A.3. and I.D.4.-a.(ii) (renumbering).
May 20, 2022 Misc. Metals and Process Heaters Submittal:
Reg. 7, part C, sections I.A.6.b., I.L.1.a., I.L.1.b.(i),
I.L.b.(ii), I.L.1.b.(iii)-(vii), I.L.1.c.(ii)-(xxvi), I.L.2.a.,
I.L.2.b.-I.L.5.d., part D, section IIIC.4.e.(i)(D)(3)(b), part E,
sections II.A.2.f., II.A.3.p., II.A.4., II.A.4.a.(iv),
II.A.4.b.(iii), II.A.4.e.(ii), II.A.4.g.-(ii), II.A.5.a.-b.(iv),
II.A.6.b.(viii)(E), and II.A.6.c.(ii).
May 20, 2022 Part D Definitions Submittal:
[[Page 67633]]
Reg. 7, part D, sections III.B.2., III.B.5., III.B.7., III.B.11.,
and III.B.13.
May 20, 2022 Part D Oil and Gas Submittal:
Reg. 7, part D, sections I.E.3-a.(iii) and I.J.1.g.-k.
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VII. Consideration of Section 110(l) of the CAA
Under section 110(l) of the CAA, the EPA cannot approve a SIP
revision if the revision would interfere with any applicable
requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further progress
toward attainment of the NAAQS, or any other applicable requirement of
the Act. In addition, section 110(l) requires that each revision to an
implementation plan submitted by a state be adopted by the state after
reasonable notice and public hearing.
The Colorado SIP revisions that the EPA is proposing to approve do
not interfere with any applicable requirements of the Act. The Reg. 7
revisions submitted by the State are intended to strengthen the SIP and
to serve as RACT for certain sources for the Colorado ozone SIP.
Colorado's submittals provide adequate evidence that the revisions were
adopted after reasonable public notices and hearings. Therefore, CAA
section 110(l) requirements are satisfied.
VIII. Environmental Justice Considerations
Executive Order 12898 \116\ directs federal agencies to identify
and address ``disproportionately high and adverse human health or
environmental effects'' of their actions on minority populations and
low-income populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted
by law. Additionally, Executive Order 13985 \117\ directs federal
agencies to assess whether and to what extent their programs and
policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for
underserved populations, and Executive Order 14008 \118\ directs
federal agencies to develop programs, policies, and activities to
address the disproportionately and adverse human health, environmental,
climate-related and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged
communities.
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\116\ Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629 (Feb.
16, 1994).
\117\ 86 FR 7009 (Jan. 25, 2021).
\118\ 86 FR 7619 (Feb. 1, 2021).
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To identify potential environmental burdens and susceptible
populations in the DMNFR Area, a screening analysis was conducted using
the EJSCREEN \119\ tool to evaluate environmental and demographic
indicators within the area, based on available data from the Census
Bureau's American Community Survey. The tool outputs showing the
results of this assessment are in the docket for this action. These
results indicate that within the DMNFR Area there are census block
groups that are above the national averages and above the 80th
percentile (in comparison to the nation as a whole) for the numbers of
persons experiencing low income and people of color. These populations
may be vulnerable and subject to disproportionate impacts within the
meaning of the executive orders described above. Further, as the
EJSCREEN analysis is a screening-level assessment and not an in-depth
review, it is possible that there are other vulnerable groups within
the DMNFR Area.
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\119\ EJSCREEN is an environmental justice mapping and screening
tool that provides the EPA with a nationally consistent dataset and
approach for combining environmental and demographic indicators;
available at https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/what-ejscreen.
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As to all vulnerable groups within the DMNFR Area, as explained
below we believe that this action will be beneficial and will tend to
reduce impacts. When the EPA establishes a new or revised NAAQS, the
CAA requires the EPA to designate all areas of the U.S. as either
nonattainment, attainment, or unclassifiable. If an area is designated
nonattainment for a NAAQS, the state must develop a plan outlining how
the area will attain and maintain the standard by reducing air
pollutant emissions. In this action we are proposing to approve the
majority of the State's OAP submittal for the DMNFR Area and state
rules as meeting RACT and satisfying other CAA requirements. The EPA
has defined RACT as the lowest emission limitation that a particular
source is capable of meeting by the application of control technology
that is reasonably available considering technological and economic
feasibility. Approval of these rules into the SIP will establish
federally enforceable requirements that may reduce emissions from
operations in the area. These requirements will contribute to the
increased protection of those residing, working, attending school, or
otherwise present in those areas, and we propose to determine that this
rule, if finalized, will not have disproportionately high or adverse
human health or environmental effects on communities with environmental
justice concerns.
IX. Incorporation by Reference
In this document, the EPA is proposing to include regulatory text
in an EPA final rule that includes incorporation by reference. In
accordance with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is proposing to
incorporate by reference Colorado AQCC Regulation 7 pertaining to the
control of ozone via ozone precursors and control of hydrocarbons vial
oil and gas emissions and Regulation 21 pertaining to Control of
Volatile Organic Compounds from Consumer Products and Architectural and
Industrial Maintenance Coatings discussed in section VI of this
preamble.
The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these materials
generally available through www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region 8
Office (please contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble for more information).
X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21,
2011);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
[[Page 67634]]
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian
reservation land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has
demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. The proposed rule does not
have tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs
on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Greenhouse gases, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental
relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic
compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: October 30, 2022.
KC Becker,
Regional Administrator, Region 8.
[FR Doc. 2022-24075 Filed 11-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P