Clean Data Determination; District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia; Washington, DC-MD-VA Nonattainment Area for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Clean Data Determination, 6688-6691 [2023-01973]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2023 / Proposed Rules
discounts even if the treatment of
normal costs changed in the future. Id.
at 17. The Mailers also state that ‘‘the
categorical exclusion of select costs
would also erode the accuracy of the
Commission’s compliance findings with
respect to . . . competitive products.’’
Id.
The Mailers state the NPPC et al.
Proposal One ‘‘is fully consistent with
the legal standard that attributable costs
are ‘the direct and indirect postal costs
attributable to each class or type of mail
service through reliably identified
causal relationships.’ ’’ Id. (quoting 39
U.S.C. 3622(c)(2)). They assert that
‘‘[e]arned [retiree health benefit] costs
plainly satisfy that standard, and
attributing them improves the quality of
postal accounting by making it more
consistent with statutory requirements.’’
Id. The Mailers state that according to
the Postal Service’s FY 2022 10–K,
retiree health benefit normal costs were
$4.4 billion in FY 2022, and that
‘‘proper treatment of these costs would
increase attributable costs by
approximately $2.6 billion . . .
consistent with attribution levels in
recent years.’’ Id. The Mailers represent
that nothing in NPPC et al. Proposal
One would affect how those costs are
currently attributed to particular classes
and products. Id. at 18.
The Commission will use Docket No.
RM2023–3 for consideration of matters
raised by NPPC et al. Proposal One.
More information on NPPC et al.
Proposal One may be accessed via the
Commission’s website at https://
www.prc.gov. Interested persons may
submit comments on NPPC et al.
Proposal One no later than February 8,
2023.26 Comments should be filed in
Docket No. RM2023–3. Pursuant to 39
U.S.C. 505, Jennaca D. Upperman is
designated as an officer of the
Commission (Public Representative) to
represent the interests of the general
public in this proceeding.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
VI. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Motion for Reconsideration or,
in the Alternative, Petition to Initiate a
Proceeding Regarding the Appropriate
Analytical Principle for Retiree Health
Benefit Normal Costs, filed December
19, 2022, is denied with regard to the
request for reconsideration of Order No.
6363 consistent with the body of this
Order.
26 This comment deadline is set consistently with
the 2-week deadline envisioned in Order No. 6363.
Order No. 6363 at 11, n.17.
17:09 Jan 31, 2023
By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–01930 Filed 1–31–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R03–OAR–2022–0987; FRL–10615–
01–R3]
B. Notice and Comment
VerDate Sep<11>2014
2. The Commission will use Docket
No. RM2023–3 for consideration of the
matters raised by NPPC et al. Proposal
One, as described in the Motion for
Reconsideration or, in the Alternative,
Petition to Initiate a Proceeding
Regarding the Appropriate Analytical
Principle for Retiree Health Benefit
Normal Costs, filed December 19, 2022.
3. Comments by interested persons on
NPPC et al. Proposal One are due no
later than February 8, 2023 and should
be filed in Docket No. RM2023–3.
4. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the
Commission appoints Jennaca D.
Upperman to serve as an officer of the
Commission (Public Representative) to
represent the interests of the general
public in this docket.
5. The Secretary shall arrange for
publication of this Order in the Federal
Register.
Jkt 259001
Clean Data Determination; District of
Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia;
Washington, DC-MD-VA Nonattainment
Area for the 2015 Ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standard Clean
Data Determination
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine
that the Washington, District of
Columbia-Maryland-Virginia (the
Washington Area or the Area)
nonattainment area has clean data for
the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient
air quality standard (2015 ozone
NAAQS). This proposed clean data
determination (CDD) under EPA’s Clean
Data Policy is based upon qualityassured, quality-controlled, and
certified ambient air quality monitoring
data showing that the area has attained
the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on 2019
to 2021 data available in EPA’s Air
Quality System (AQS) database. If
finalized, this proposed CDD would
suspend the obligations of the District of
Columbia (DC), the State of Maryland
(MD) and the Commonwealth of
SUMMARY:
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Virginia (VA) to submit certain
attainment planning requirements for
the nonattainment area for as long as the
Area continues to attain the 2015 ozone
NAAQS.
Written comments must be
received on or before March 3, 2023.
DATES:
Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R03–
OAR–2022–0987 at
www.regulations.gov, or via email to
gordon.mike@epa.gov. For comments
submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments
cannot be edited or removed from
Regulations.gov. For either manner of
submission, EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
confidential business information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. EPA will generally not consider
comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e.,
on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission
methods, please contact the person
identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the
full EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epadockets.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keila M. Paga´n-Incle, Planning &
Implementation Branch (3AD30), Air &
Radiation Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region III, Four
Penn Center, 1600 John F. Kennedy
Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19103–2852. The telephone number is
(215) 814–2926. Ms. Paga´n-Incle can
also be reached via electronic mail at
pagan-incle.keila@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document, wherever
‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us’’ or ‘‘our’’ are used, it is
intended to refer to the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Background and Purpose
II. EPA Clean Data Policy and Clean Data
Determinations
III. Analysis of Air Quality Data
IV. Proposed Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2023 / Proposed Rules
that the Washington Area is now
attaining the 2015 ozone standard—the
basis for EPA’s proposed CDD.
6689
not serve to alter the area’s
nonattainment designation. CDDs are
not redesignations to attainment. For
EPA to redesignate an area to attainment
the state must submit, and EPA must
approve, a redesignation request for the
area that meets the requirements of CAA
section 107(d)(3).
I. Background and Purpose
On October 26, 2015 (80 FR 65291),
EPA promulgated a revised primary and
secondary NAAQS for ozone to provide
requisite increased protection of public
health and welfare, respectively. In that
action, EPA strengthened both standards
from 0.075 parts per million (ppm) to
0.070 ppm, and retained the indicator
(O3), averaging time (8-hour) and form
(annual fourth-highest daily maximum,
averaged over three years) of the
existing standards. Effective August 3,
2018 (83 FR 25776), EPA designated 52
areas throughout the country as
nonattainment for the 2015 ozone
NAAQS, including the Washington
Area,1 which was classified as a
Marginal nonattainment area. This
designation was based on certified air
quality monitoring data from calendar
years 2014 to 2016. In that action, EPA
established the attainment date for
Marginal nonattainment areas as three
years from the effective date of the final
designations. Thus, the attainment date
for Marginal nonattainment areas for the
2015 ozone NAAQS was August 3,
2021.2
On April 13, 2022 (87 FR 21842), EPA
proposed to determine that 24 Marginal
areas, including the Washington Area,
failed to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS
by their applicable attainment date and
the areas were therefore going to be
reclassified by operation of law as
Moderate nonattainment upon the
effective date of the final reclassification
notice. On October 7, 2022 (87 FR
60897), EPA published the final action
in the Federal Register stating that 22
Marginal areas or portions of areas
failed to attain the standard by the
applicable attainment date, including
the Washington Area. In that action,
EPA reclassified the Washington Area as
Moderate nonattainment for the 2015
ozone NAAQS because it failed to attain
the standard by the attainment date of
August 3, 2021. This designation was
based on quality-assured, qualitycontrolled, and certified ozone air
quality monitoring data from calendar
years 2018 to 2020. More recent air
quality data from 2019 to 2021 indicates
Following enactment of the Clean Air
Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990, EPA
discussed its interpretation of the
requirements for implementing the
NAAQS in the ‘‘General Preamble for
the Implementation of title I of the CAA
Amendments of 1990’’ (General
Preamble).3 In 1995, based on the
interpretation of CAA sections 171, 172,
and 182 in the General Preamble, EPA
set forth what has become known as its
‘‘Clean Data Policy’’ for the 1-hour
ozone NAAQS.4 Under the Clean Data
Policy, for a nonattainment area that can
demonstrate attainment of the standard
before implementing CAA
nonattainment measures, EPA interprets
the requirements of the CAA that are
specifically designed to help an area
achieve attainment, including
attainment demonstrations,
implementation of reasonably available
control measures (RACM), including
reasonably available control technology
(RACT), reasonable further progress
(RFP) demonstrations, emissions
limitations and control measures as
necessary to provide for attainment, and
contingency measures, to be suspended
for so long as air quality continues to
meet the standard.5
EPA may issue a CDD under our
Clean Data Policy when a
nonattainment area is attaining the 2015
ozone NAAQS based on the most recent
available data. EPA will determine
whether the area has attained the 2015
ozone NAAQS based on available
information, including air quality
monitoring data for the affected area. If
the CDD is made final, then certain
attainment plan requirements for the
area are suspended for so long as the
area continues to attain the NAAQS.
Furthermore, the suspension of the
obligation to submit an attainment plan
is only appropriate where the area
remains in attainment of the NAAQS. A
CDD under the Clean Data Policy does
EPA has reviewed the ambient air
monitoring data for ozone, consistent
with the requirements contained in 40
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part
50 and recorded in EPA’s AQS database
for the Washington Area from 2019
through 2022. On the basis of that
review, EPA has concluded that this
Area attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS at
the end of the 2021 ozone season, based
on certified 2019 to 2021 ozone data. In
addition, preliminary ozone data for
2022 that are available in AQS, but not
yet certified, is consistent with
continued attainment of the 2015 ozone
NAAQS.
Under EPA regulations, the 2015
ozone NAAQS is attained when the 3year average of the annual fourthhighest daily maximum 8-hour average
ozone concentrations at an ozone
monitor is less than or equal to 0.070
ppm.6 This 3-year average is referred to
as the design value (DV). When
calculating the DV, digits to the right of
the third decimal place are truncated.7
When the DV is less than or equal to
0.070 ppm at each monitor within the
area, then the area is meeting the
NAAQS. In addition, the 2015 ozone
DVs are based solely on ozone season
data.8 Ozone season is defined for each
state or portion of a state.9 The ozone
season for DC, MD and VA runs from
March 1st to October 31st each year.10
There is also a data completeness
requirement that is met when the
average percentage of days with valid
ambient monitoring data is greater than
90%, and no single year has less than
75% data completeness as determined
in Appendix I of 40 CFR part 50. The
Washington Area has complete data for
the years 2018 to 2021, as shown in
Table 1 in this document.
1 The Washington Area consists of the following
counties/cities: Calvert County, Charles County,
Frederick County, Montgomery County, and Prince
George’s County in Maryland; Alexandria city,
Arlington County, Fairfax County, Fairfax city, Falls
Church city, Loudoun County, Manassas Park city,
Manassas city, Prince William County in Virginia;
and all of the District of Columbia. See 40 CFR
81.309, 81.321, and 81.347.
2 See 83 FR 25776 (June 4, 2018).
3 57 FR 13498, 13564 (April 16, 1992).
4 See Memorandum from John S. Seitz, Director,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
entitled, ‘‘Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment
Demonstration, and Related Requirements for
Ozone Nonattainment areas Meeting the Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard,’’ dated
May 10, 1995. (1995 John S. Seitz Memo). Further
description of EPA’s Clean Data Policy can be found
in the ‘‘Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard—Phase 2’’
(referred to as the Phase 2 Final Rule), (70 FR
71612, November 29, 2005). The Tenth, Seventh,
and Ninth Circuit U.S. District Courts have upheld
EPA rulemakings applying the Clean Data Policy.
See Sierra Club v. EPA, 99 F. 3d 1551 (10th Cir.
1996); Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F. 3d 537 (7th Cir.
2004); Our Children’s Earth Foundation v. EPA, No.
04–73032 (9th Cir., June 28, 2005) memorandum
opinion.
5 1995 John S. Seitz memo.
6 See 40 CFR 50.19(b).
7 See 40 CFR part 50, appendix P.
8 See 40 CFR 51.1300(b), which refers to 40 CFR
part 50, appendix U.
9 See 40 CFR 51.1300(j), which refers to 40 CFR
part 58, appendix D, section 4.1, Table D–3.
10 Id.
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II. EPA Clean Data Policy and Clean
Data Determinations
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III. Analysis of Air Quality Data
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2023 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 1—COMPLETENESS DATA PERCENTAGE (%) FROM 2018 TO 2021 FOR THE WASHINGTON AREA
Location
AQS Site ID
District of Columbia ..............................................................................................
District of Columbia ..............................................................................................
District of Columbia ..............................................................................................
Calvert, MD ..........................................................................................................
Charles, MD .........................................................................................................
Frederick, MD ......................................................................................................
Montgomery, MD .................................................................................................
Prince George’s, MD ...........................................................................................
Prince George’s, MD ...........................................................................................
Prince George’s, MD ...........................................................................................
Arlington, VA ........................................................................................................
Fairfax, VA ...........................................................................................................
Fauquier, VA ........................................................................................................
Loudoun, VA ........................................................................................................
Prince William, VA ...............................................................................................
Stafford, VA ..........................................................................................................
Table 2 in this document shows the
fourth-highest maximum 8-hour average
ozone concentrations for the
2018
110010041
110010043
110010050
240090011
240170010
240210037
240313001
240330030
240338003
240339991
510130020
510590030
510610002
511071005
511530009
511790001
Washington Area monitors for the years
2018 to 2022. Table 3 in this document
shows the ozone design values for these
2019
98
98
100
98
95
100
99
99
99
93
99
96
99
99
99
97
2020
100
98
100
93
90
99
96
96
95
93
99
98
95
90
100
97
2021
96
96
94
97
97
95
92
99
98
98
98
96
99
99
98
96
90
98
98
98
96
98
96
100
99
99
96
99
100
96
99
90
same monitors based on the following 3year periods: 2018–2020, 2019–2021
and 2020–2022.
TABLE 2—FOURTH-HIGHEST 8-HOUR OZONE AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS (PPM) IN THE WASHINGTON AREA FROM 2018
TO 2022
Location
AQS Site ID
District of Columbia ..........................................................................
District of Columbia ..........................................................................
District of Columbia ..........................................................................
Calvert, MD ......................................................................................
Charles, MD .....................................................................................
Frederick, MD ..................................................................................
Montgomery, MD .............................................................................
Prince George’s, MD .......................................................................
Prince George’s, MD .......................................................................
Prince George’s, MD .......................................................................
Arlington, VA ....................................................................................
Fairfax, VA .......................................................................................
Fauquier, VA ....................................................................................
Loudoun, VA ....................................................................................
Prince William, VA ...........................................................................
Stafford, VA ......................................................................................
2018
110010041
110010043
110010050
240090011
240170010
240210037
240313001
240330030
240338003
240339991
510130020
510590030
510610002
511071005
511530009
511790001
0.050
0.073
0.073
0.067
0.068
0.067
0.069
0.070
0.070
0.073
0.070
0.066
0.060
0.065
0.065
0.064
2019
2020
0.062
0.071
0.067
0.058
0.061
0.065
0.062
0.071
0.065
0.075
0.068
0.070
0.055
0.060
0.060
0.059
2021
0.054
0.063
0.063
0.054
0.052
0.063
0.059
0.064
0.060
0.065
0.062
0.057
0.049
0.060
0.057
0.056
2022 *
0.064
0.072
0.069
0.062
0.066
0.067
0.068
0.066
0.070
0.071
0.070
0.068
0.060
0.066
0.062
0.062
0.059
0.066
0.051
0.058
0.061
0.061
0.063
0.061
0.064
0.065
0.061
0.062
0.056
0.061
0.058
0.058
* The 2022 data in this column is preliminary and has yet to be certified.
TABLE 3—OZONE DESIGN VALUES (PPM) FOR THE WASHINGTON AREA
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Location
AQS Site ID
District of Columbia .........................................................................................
District of Columbia .........................................................................................
District of Columbia .........................................................................................
Calvert, MD ......................................................................................................
Charles, MD .....................................................................................................
Frederick, MD ..................................................................................................
Montgomery, MD .............................................................................................
Prince George’s, MD .......................................................................................
Prince George’s, MD .......................................................................................
Prince George’s, MD .......................................................................................
Arlington, VA ....................................................................................................
Fairfax, VA .......................................................................................................
Fauquier, VA ....................................................................................................
Loudoun, VA ....................................................................................................
Prince William, VA ...........................................................................................
Stafford, VA .....................................................................................................
2018–2020
110010041
110010043
110010050
240090011
240170010
240210037
240313001
240330030
240338003
240339991
510130020
510590030
510610002
511071005
511530009
511790001
0.055
0.069
0.067
0.059
0.060
0.065
0.063
0.068
0.065
0.071
0.066
0.064
0.054
0.061
0.060
0.059
* The 2022 data in this column is preliminary and has yet to be certified.
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2019–2021
0.060
0.068
0.066
0.058
0.059
0.065
0.063
0.067
0.065
0.070
0.066
0.065
0.054
0.062
0.059
0.059
2020–2022 *
0.059
0.067
0.061
0.058
0.060
0.064
0.063
0.064
0.065
0.067
0.064
0.062
0.055
0.062
0.059
0.059
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2023 / Proposed Rules
EPA’s review of these data indicate
that the Washington Area met the
attainment standard in 2019–2021 and
the preliminary data from 2022
indicates that the DV for the period of
2020–2022 is consistent with continued
attainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
IV. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to determine that
the Washington Moderate ozone
nonattainment area has attained the
2015 NAAQS for ozone. This
determination is based upon certified
ambient air monitoring data that show
the area has monitored attainment of the
2015 ozone NAAQS based on 2019 to
2021 data. In addition, preliminary 11
ozone data for 2022 that are available in
EPA’s AQS database, but not yet
certified, is consistent with continued
attainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
As provided in 40 CFR 51.1318, if EPA
finalizes this CDD, it would suspend the
requirements for such area to submit
attainment demonstrations, associated
RACM, including RACT, RFP plans, and
contingency measures under CAA
section 172(c)(9), and any other
planning State Implementation Plan
(SIP) revision related to attainment of
the 2015 ozone NAAQS for this Area,
for so long as the area continues to
attain the standard. EPA is soliciting
public comments on the issues
discussed in this document or on other
relevant matters. These comments will
be considered before taking final action.
Interested parties may participate in the
Federal rulemaking procedure by
submitting written comments to this
proposed rule by following the
instructions listed in the ADDRESSES
sections of this Federal Register.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
This rulemaking action makes a clean
data determination for attainment of the
2015 ozone NAAQS based on air quality
and does not impose additional
requirements. For that reason, this clean
data determination:
• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ subject to review by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this proposed clean data
determination for the Washington Area
for the 2015 ozone NAAQS does not
have tribal implications as specified by
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because the SIP is
not approved to apply in Indian country
located in the multi-state area, and EPA
notes that it will not impose substantial
direct costs on tribal governments or
preempt tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Ozone, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Adam Ortiz,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2023–01973 Filed 1–31–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
11 The
data in AQS is quality-assured data from
the states. States have until May 1st of the calendar
year following the year in which the data was
collected to make any changes without prior
notification to EPA. For the 2022 ozone data, States
can make changes until the data is ‘‘certified’’ by
the state on or before May 1st, 2023.
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6691
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
49 CFR Chapter III
[Docket No. FMCSA–2018–0037]
RIN 2126–AC17
Safe Integration of Automated Driving
Systems (ADS)-Equipped Commercial
Motor Vehicles (CMVs)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Supplemental advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (SANPRM).
AGENCY:
FMCSA requests public
comment about factors the Agency
should consider in amending the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSRs) to establish a
regulatory framework for ADS-equipped
CMV operations. FMCSA previously
published an advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on May
28, 2019, seeking comments on FMCSRs
that may need to be amended, revised,
or eliminated to facilitate the safe
introduction of ADS-equipped CMVs
onto the Nation’s roadways. FMCSA
continues to consider amendments to
the FMCSRs to ensure the safe
integration of ADS-equipped CMVs into
interstate motor carriers’ operations and
issues this SANPRM to request
additional information.
DATES: Comments on this document
must be received on or before March 20,
2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Docket Number FMCSA–
2018–0037 using any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/
FMCSA-2018-2018-0037/document.
Follow the online instructions for
submitting comments.
• Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200
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Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
David Sutula, Division Chief, Vehicle
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\01FEP1.SGM
01FEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6688-6691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01973]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2022-0987; FRL-10615-01-R3]
Clean Data Determination; District of Columbia, Maryland, and
Virginia; Washington, DC-MD-VA Nonattainment Area for the 2015 Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard Clean Data Determination
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
determine that the Washington, District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia
(the Washington Area or the Area) nonattainment area has clean data for
the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (2015 ozone
NAAQS). This proposed clean data determination (CDD) under EPA's Clean
Data Policy is based upon quality-assured, quality-controlled, and
certified ambient air quality monitoring data showing that the area has
attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on 2019 to 2021 data available in
EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. If finalized, this proposed
CDD would suspend the obligations of the District of Columbia (DC), the
State of Maryland (MD) and the Commonwealth of Virginia (VA) to submit
certain attainment planning requirements for the nonattainment area for
as long as the Area continues to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 3, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-
OAR-2022-0987 at www.regulations.gov, or via email to
[email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, follow
the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted,
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either
manner of submission, EPA may publish any comment received to its
public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you
consider to be confidential business information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the full
EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please
visit www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keila M. Pag[aacute]n-Incle, Planning
& Implementation Branch (3AD30), Air & Radiation Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, Four Penn Center, 1600
John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2852. The
telephone number is (215) 814-2926. Ms. Pag[aacute]n-Incle can also be
reached via electronic mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, wherever ``we,''
``us'' or ``our'' are used, it is intended to refer to the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Background and Purpose
II. EPA Clean Data Policy and Clean Data Determinations
III. Analysis of Air Quality Data
IV. Proposed Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
[[Page 6689]]
I. Background and Purpose
On October 26, 2015 (80 FR 65291), EPA promulgated a revised
primary and secondary NAAQS for ozone to provide requisite increased
protection of public health and welfare, respectively. In that action,
EPA strengthened both standards from 0.075 parts per million (ppm) to
0.070 ppm, and retained the indicator (O3), averaging time
(8-hour) and form (annual fourth-highest daily maximum, averaged over
three years) of the existing standards. Effective August 3, 2018 (83 FR
25776), EPA designated 52 areas throughout the country as nonattainment
for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, including the Washington Area,\1\ which was
classified as a Marginal nonattainment area. This designation was based
on certified air quality monitoring data from calendar years 2014 to
2016. In that action, EPA established the attainment date for Marginal
nonattainment areas as three years from the effective date of the final
designations. Thus, the attainment date for Marginal nonattainment
areas for the 2015 ozone NAAQS was August 3, 2021.\2\
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\1\ The Washington Area consists of the following counties/
cities: Calvert County, Charles County, Frederick County, Montgomery
County, and Prince George's County in Maryland; Alexandria city,
Arlington County, Fairfax County, Fairfax city, Falls Church city,
Loudoun County, Manassas Park city, Manassas city, Prince William
County in Virginia; and all of the District of Columbia. See 40 CFR
81.309, 81.321, and 81.347.
\2\ See 83 FR 25776 (June 4, 2018).
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On April 13, 2022 (87 FR 21842), EPA proposed to determine that 24
Marginal areas, including the Washington Area, failed to attain the
2015 ozone NAAQS by their applicable attainment date and the areas were
therefore going to be reclassified by operation of law as Moderate
nonattainment upon the effective date of the final reclassification
notice. On October 7, 2022 (87 FR 60897), EPA published the final
action in the Federal Register stating that 22 Marginal areas or
portions of areas failed to attain the standard by the applicable
attainment date, including the Washington Area. In that action, EPA
reclassified the Washington Area as Moderate nonattainment for the 2015
ozone NAAQS because it failed to attain the standard by the attainment
date of August 3, 2021. This designation was based on quality-assured,
quality-controlled, and certified ozone air quality monitoring data
from calendar years 2018 to 2020. More recent air quality data from
2019 to 2021 indicates that the Washington Area is now attaining the
2015 ozone standard--the basis for EPA's proposed CDD.
II. EPA Clean Data Policy and Clean Data Determinations
Following enactment of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990,
EPA discussed its interpretation of the requirements for implementing
the NAAQS in the ``General Preamble for the Implementation of title I
of the CAA Amendments of 1990'' (General Preamble).\3\ In 1995, based
on the interpretation of CAA sections 171, 172, and 182 in the General
Preamble, EPA set forth what has become known as its ``Clean Data
Policy'' for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS.\4\ Under the Clean Data Policy,
for a nonattainment area that can demonstrate attainment of the
standard before implementing CAA nonattainment measures, EPA interprets
the requirements of the CAA that are specifically designed to help an
area achieve attainment, including attainment demonstrations,
implementation of reasonably available control measures (RACM),
including reasonably available control technology (RACT), reasonable
further progress (RFP) demonstrations, emissions limitations and
control measures as necessary to provide for attainment, and
contingency measures, to be suspended for so long as air quality
continues to meet the standard.\5\
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\3\ 57 FR 13498, 13564 (April 16, 1992).
\4\ See Memorandum from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, entitled, ``Reasonable Further
Progress, Attainment Demonstration, and Related Requirements for
Ozone Nonattainment areas Meeting the Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standard,'' dated May 10, 1995. (1995 John S. Seitz Memo).
Further description of EPA's Clean Data Policy can be found in the
``Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standard--Phase 2'' (referred to as the Phase 2 Final Rule),
(70 FR 71612, November 29, 2005). The Tenth, Seventh, and Ninth
Circuit U.S. District Courts have upheld EPA rulemakings applying
the Clean Data Policy. See Sierra Club v. EPA, 99 F. 3d 1551 (10th
Cir. 1996); Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F. 3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004); Our
Children's Earth Foundation v. EPA, No. 04-73032 (9th Cir., June 28,
2005) memorandum opinion.
\5\ 1995 John S. Seitz memo.
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EPA may issue a CDD under our Clean Data Policy when a
nonattainment area is attaining the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on the most
recent available data. EPA will determine whether the area has attained
the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on available information, including air
quality monitoring data for the affected area. If the CDD is made
final, then certain attainment plan requirements for the area are
suspended for so long as the area continues to attain the NAAQS.
Furthermore, the suspension of the obligation to submit an
attainment plan is only appropriate where the area remains in
attainment of the NAAQS. A CDD under the Clean Data Policy does not
serve to alter the area's nonattainment designation. CDDs are not
redesignations to attainment. For EPA to redesignate an area to
attainment the state must submit, and EPA must approve, a redesignation
request for the area that meets the requirements of CAA section
107(d)(3).
III. Analysis of Air Quality Data
EPA has reviewed the ambient air monitoring data for ozone,
consistent with the requirements contained in 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 50 and recorded in EPA's AQS database for the
Washington Area from 2019 through 2022. On the basis of that review,
EPA has concluded that this Area attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS at the
end of the 2021 ozone season, based on certified 2019 to 2021 ozone
data. In addition, preliminary ozone data for 2022 that are available
in AQS, but not yet certified, is consistent with continued attainment
of the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
Under EPA regulations, the 2015 ozone NAAQS is attained when the 3-
year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average
ozone concentrations at an ozone monitor is less than or equal to 0.070
ppm.\6\ This 3-year average is referred to as the design value (DV).
When calculating the DV, digits to the right of the third decimal place
are truncated.\7\ When the DV is less than or equal to 0.070 ppm at
each monitor within the area, then the area is meeting the NAAQS. In
addition, the 2015 ozone DVs are based solely on ozone season data.\8\
Ozone season is defined for each state or portion of a state.\9\ The
ozone season for DC, MD and VA runs from March 1st to October 31st each
year.\10\ There is also a data completeness requirement that is met
when the average percentage of days with valid ambient monitoring data
is greater than 90%, and no single year has less than 75% data
completeness as determined in Appendix I of 40 CFR part 50. The
Washington Area has complete data for the years 2018 to 2021, as shown
in Table 1 in this document.
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\6\ See 40 CFR 50.19(b).
\7\ See 40 CFR part 50, appendix P.
\8\ See 40 CFR 51.1300(b), which refers to 40 CFR part 50,
appendix U.
\9\ See 40 CFR 51.1300(j), which refers to 40 CFR part 58,
appendix D, section 4.1, Table D-3.
\10\ Id.
[[Page 6690]]
Table 1--Completeness Data Percentage (%) From 2018 to 2021 for the Washington Area
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Location AQS Site ID 2018 2019 2020 2021
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District of Columbia................................ 110010041 98 100 96 90
District of Columbia................................ 110010043 98 98 96 98
District of Columbia................................ 110010050 100 100 94 98
Calvert, MD......................................... 240090011 98 93 97 98
Charles, MD......................................... 240170010 95 90 97 96
Frederick, MD....................................... 240210037 100 99 95 98
Montgomery, MD...................................... 240313001 99 96 92 96
Prince George's, MD................................. 240330030 99 96 99 100
Prince George's, MD................................. 240338003 99 95 98 99
Prince George's, MD................................. 240339991 93 93 98 99
Arlington, VA....................................... 510130020 99 99 98 96
Fairfax, VA......................................... 510590030 96 98 96 99
Fauquier, VA........................................ 510610002 99 95 99 100
Loudoun, VA......................................... 511071005 99 90 99 96
Prince William, VA.................................. 511530009 99 100 98 99
Stafford, VA........................................ 511790001 97 97 96 90
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Table 2 in this document shows the fourth-highest maximum 8-hour
average ozone concentrations for the Washington Area monitors for the
years 2018 to 2022. Table 3 in this document shows the ozone design
values for these same monitors based on the following 3-year periods:
2018-2020, 2019-2021 and 2020-2022.
Table 2--Fourth-Highest 8-Hour Ozone Average Concentrations (ppm) in the Washington Area From 2018 to 2022
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Location AQS Site ID 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 *
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District of Columbia..................... 110010041 0.050 0.062 0.054 0.064 0.059
District of Columbia..................... 110010043 0.073 0.071 0.063 0.072 0.066
District of Columbia..................... 110010050 0.073 0.067 0.063 0.069 0.051
Calvert, MD.............................. 240090011 0.067 0.058 0.054 0.062 0.058
Charles, MD.............................. 240170010 0.068 0.061 0.052 0.066 0.061
Frederick, MD............................ 240210037 0.067 0.065 0.063 0.067 0.061
Montgomery, MD........................... 240313001 0.069 0.062 0.059 0.068 0.063
Prince George's, MD...................... 240330030 0.070 0.071 0.064 0.066 0.061
Prince George's, MD...................... 240338003 0.070 0.065 0.060 0.070 0.064
Prince George's, MD...................... 240339991 0.073 0.075 0.065 0.071 0.065
Arlington, VA............................ 510130020 0.070 0.068 0.062 0.070 0.061
Fairfax, VA.............................. 510590030 0.066 0.070 0.057 0.068 0.062
Fauquier, VA............................. 510610002 0.060 0.055 0.049 0.060 0.056
Loudoun, VA.............................. 511071005 0.065 0.060 0.060 0.066 0.061
Prince William, VA....................... 511530009 0.065 0.060 0.057 0.062 0.058
Stafford, VA............................. 511790001 0.064 0.059 0.056 0.062 0.058
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* The 2022 data in this column is preliminary and has yet to be certified.
Table 3--Ozone Design Values (ppm) for the Washington Area
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Location AQS Site ID 2018-2020 2019-2021 2020-2022 *
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District of Columbia............................ 110010041 0.055 0.060 0.059
District of Columbia............................ 110010043 0.069 0.068 0.067
District of Columbia............................ 110010050 0.067 0.066 0.061
Calvert, MD..................................... 240090011 0.059 0.058 0.058
Charles, MD..................................... 240170010 0.060 0.059 0.060
Frederick, MD................................... 240210037 0.065 0.065 0.064
Montgomery, MD.................................. 240313001 0.063 0.063 0.063
Prince George's, MD............................. 240330030 0.068 0.067 0.064
Prince George's, MD............................. 240338003 0.065 0.065 0.065
Prince George's, MD............................. 240339991 0.071 0.070 0.067
Arlington, VA................................... 510130020 0.066 0.066 0.064
Fairfax, VA..................................... 510590030 0.064 0.065 0.062
Fauquier, VA.................................... 510610002 0.054 0.054 0.055
Loudoun, VA..................................... 511071005 0.061 0.062 0.062
Prince William, VA.............................. 511530009 0.060 0.059 0.059
Stafford, VA.................................... 511790001 0.059 0.059 0.059
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* The 2022 data in this column is preliminary and has yet to be certified.
[[Page 6691]]
EPA's review of these data indicate that the Washington Area met
the attainment standard in 2019-2021 and the preliminary data from 2022
indicates that the DV for the period of 2020-2022 is consistent with
continued attainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
IV. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to determine that the Washington Moderate ozone
nonattainment area has attained the 2015 NAAQS for ozone. This
determination is based upon certified ambient air monitoring data that
show the area has monitored attainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on
2019 to 2021 data. In addition, preliminary \11\ ozone data for 2022
that are available in EPA's AQS database, but not yet certified, is
consistent with continued attainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS. As
provided in 40 CFR 51.1318, if EPA finalizes this CDD, it would suspend
the requirements for such area to submit attainment demonstrations,
associated RACM, including RACT, RFP plans, and contingency measures
under CAA section 172(c)(9), and any other planning State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision related to attainment of the 2015
ozone NAAQS for this Area, for so long as the area continues to attain
the standard. EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed
in this document or on other relevant matters. These comments will be
considered before taking final action. Interested parties may
participate in the Federal rulemaking procedure by submitting written
comments to this proposed rule by following the instructions listed in
the ADDRESSES sections of this Federal Register.
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\11\ The data in AQS is quality-assured data from the states.
States have until May 1st of the calendar year following the year in
which the data was collected to make any changes without prior
notification to EPA. For the 2022 ozone data, States can make
changes until the data is ``certified'' by the state on or before
May 1st, 2023.
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V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
This rulemaking action makes a clean data determination for
attainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on air quality and does not
impose additional requirements. For that reason, this clean data
determination:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21,
2011);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this proposed clean data determination for the
Washington Area for the 2015 ozone NAAQS does not have tribal
implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian
country located in the multi-state area, and EPA notes that it will not
impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal
law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Adam Ortiz,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2023-01973 Filed 1-31-23; 8:45 am]
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