Draft Guidance on the Preparation of State Implementation Plan Provisions That Address the Nonattainment Area Contingency Measure Requirements for Ozone and Particulate Matter, 17571-17572 [2023-06010]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 56 / Thursday, March 23, 2023 / Notices • Represent a sector or group involved in trilateral environmental policy issues • Senior-level experience in the sectors represented on both committees • Demonstrated ability to work in a consensus building process with a wide range of representatives from diverse constituencies How to Submit Nominations: Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to these advisory committees. Individuals may self-nominate. • Nominations must include: (1) a statement of interest, (2) resume or curriculum vitae (CV) and (3) a short biography describing the professional and educational qualifications of the nominee, as well as the nominee’s current business address, email address, and daytime telephone number. The statement of interest should describe how your background, knowledge, and experience would add value to the committee’s work, and how your qualifications would contribute to the overall diversity of the NAC or GAC. To help the Agency in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, please include in the statement of interest how you learned of this opportunity. • Candidates from the academic sector must also provide a letter of support authorizing the nominee to represent their institution. • Federal registered lobbyists are not permitted to serve on federal advisory committees. • Please be aware that EPA’s policy is that, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, members generally are appointed for a two-year term. Anyone interested in being considered for nomination should submit their application materials by May 19, 2023. Oscar Carrillo, Program Analyst. [FR Doc. 2023–06001 Filed 3–22–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 [EPA–HQ–OAR–2023–0063; FRL–10797–02– OAR] Draft Guidance on the Preparation of State Implementation Plan Provisions That Address the Nonattainment Area Contingency Measure Requirements for Ozone and Particulate Matter Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:23 Mar 22, 2023 Jkt 259001 Notice of availability and public comment period. ACTION: Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted on its website a draft guidance document titled, ‘‘Draft Guidance on the Preparation of State Implementation Plan Provisions that Address the Nonattainment Area Contingency Measure Requirements for Ozone and Particulate Matter.’’ The EPA invites the public to review and provide input on certain issues in its draft guidance document during the comment period specified in the DATES section. The issues for which EPA is seeking input are identified in sections 3, 4, and 5 of the draft guidance document. SUMMARY: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 2023. Please refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on the comment period. DATES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2023–0063], at https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the Web, Cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, 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. ADDRESSES: For general questions concerning this draft guidance document, please contact Michael Ling, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Policy Division, C539–01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541–4729, email at ling.michael@epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17571 I. Purpose The purpose of the draft guidance on which the EPA is inviting public comment is to assist air agencies that are required to prepare nonattainment plan state implementation plan submissions for ozone or particulate matter under Part D of Title I of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Specifically, the draft guidance focuses on the requirement for those plans to include contingency measures (CMs), which are control requirements that would take effect if an area fails to attain an ozone or particulate matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard by an applicable attainment date, or fails to meet reasonable further progress requirements. These CM requirements are specified in CAA section 172(c)(9) for nonattainment areas generally, and in CAA section 182(c)(9) for ozone nonattainment areas classified Serious and higher. The draft guidance focuses on three aspects of CM guidance that the EPA is revising or updating, summarized later in this notice, for which EPA is seeking input. The document also provides additional information to summarize EPA’s existing guidance for CMs more broadly, including aspects that EPA is not changing, to ensure clarity and national consistency. In sections 3, 4 and 5 of the draft guidance, EPA is seeking input on the three key new or revised aspects of EPA’s CM guidance. First, the guidance addresses the method that air agencies should use to calculate the EPA-recommended amount of emissions reductions that CMs should provide. Second, the guidance provides recommendations for an infeasibility justification, for an air agency to use if it cannot identify feasible CMs in a sufficient quantity to produce the recommended amount of CM emission reductions. Third, the guidance changes the recommended time period within which reductions from CMs should occur, which the EPA generally recommended to be one year, but which the EPA is now recommending be changed to 2 years if there are insufficient CMs available to achieve the recommended amount of emissions reductions within 1 year. II. Instructions for Submitting Public Comments and Internet Website for Guidance Document Information A. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA? 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit information containing CBI to the EPA through https://www.regulations.gov/. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information on any digital E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 17572 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 56 / Thursday, March 23, 2023 / Notices storage media that you mail to the EPA, note the docket ID, mark the outside of the digital storage media as CBI, and identify electronically within the digital storage media the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comments that includes information claimed as CBI, you must submit a copy of the comments that does not contain the information claimed as CBI directly to the public docket through the procedures outlined in Instructions above. If you submit any digital storage media that does not contain CBI, mark the outside of the digital storage media clearly that it does not contain CBI and note the docket ID. Information not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and the EPA’s electronic public docket without prior notice. Information marked as CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 2. Our preferred method to receive CBI is for it to be transmitted electronically using email attachments, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or other online file sharing services (e.g., Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive). Electronic submissions must be transmitted directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at the email address oaqpscbi@epa.gov, and as described earlier, should include clear CBI markings and note the docket ID. If assistance is needed with submitting large electronic files that exceed the file size limit for email attachments, and if you do not have your own file sharing service, please email oaqpscbi@epa.gov to request a file transfer link. If sending CBI information through the postal service, please send it to the following address: OAQPS Document Control Officer (C404–02), OAQPS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Attention Docket ID No. EPA– HQ–OAR–2023–0063. The mailed CBI material should be double wrapped and clearly marked. Any CBI markings should not show through the outer envelope. 2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, remember to: • Identify the draft guidance by docket number and other identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number). • Follow directions. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:23 Mar 22, 2023 Jkt 259001 B. Where can I find additional information for this draft guidance? A copy of the draft guidance can be found in the docket and a website for this draft guidance at https:// www.epa.gov/air-qualityimplementation-plans/draftcontingency-measures-guidance. Scott Mathias, Director, Air Quality Policy Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. [FR Doc. 2023–06010 Filed 3–22–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–10807–01–OA] Notification of Public Meetings of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Panel Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces two public meetings of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur, and Particulate Matter (PM) Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Panel, hereafter referred to as the CASAC NOX/SOX/PM Panel. A public meeting will be held for the CASAC NOX/SOX/PM Panel to receive a briefing from EPA on the is Policy Assessment (PA) for the Review of the Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur and Particulate Matter, External Review Draft. A second public meeting will be held for the panel to peer review the PA. DATES: The briefing from EPA on the PA will be held on May 31, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public meeting for the panel to peer review the PA will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All times listed are in Eastern Time. ADDRESSES: The briefing on May 31, 2023, will be conducted virtually. Please refer to the CASAC website at https://casac.epa.gov for information on how to attend the briefing. The public meeting on June 28, 2023, and June 29, 2023, will be conducted in person (at a location to be determined) and virtually. Please refer to the meeting web page on SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the CASAC website at https:// casac.epa.gov for the location and details on how to access the meeting. Any member of the public wishing further information regarding this notice may contact Mr. Aaron Yeow, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), SAB Staff Office, by telephone at (202) 564–2050 or via email at yeow.aaron@epa.gov. General information concerning the CASAC, as well as any updates concerning the meetings announced in this notice can be found on the CASAC website: https://casac.epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The CASAC was established pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1977, codified at 42 U.S.C. 7409(d)(2), to review air quality criteria and NAAQS and recommend to the EPA Administrator any new NAAQS and revisions of existing criteria and NAAQS as may be appropriate. The CASAC shall also: advise the EPA Administrator of areas in which additional knowledge is required to appraise the adequacy and basis of existing, new, or revised NAAQS; describe the research efforts necessary to provide the required information; advise the EPA Administrator on the relative contribution to air pollution concentrations of natural as well as anthropogenic activity; and advise the EPA Administrator of any adverse public health, welfare, social, economic, or energy effects which may result from various strategies for attainment and maintenance of such NAAQS. As amended, 5 U.S.C., App. Section 109(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that EPA carry out a periodic review and revision, as appropriate, of the air quality criteria and the NAAQS for the six ‘‘criteria’’ air pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, and PM. The CASAC is a Federal Advisory Committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App. 2, and conducts business in accordance with FACA and related regulations. The CASAC and the CASAC NOX/SOX/PM Panel will comply with the provisions of FACA and all appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies. Pursuant to FACA and EPA policy, notice is hereby given that the CASAC NOX/SOX/PM Panel will hold a public meeting to receive a briefing from EPA on the PA and a public meeting for the panel to peer review the PA. E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17571-17572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06010]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0063; FRL-10797-02-OAR]


Draft Guidance on the Preparation of State Implementation Plan 
Provisions That Address the Nonattainment Area Contingency Measure 
Requirements for Ozone and Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability and public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) has posted on its website a draft guidance document 
titled, ``Draft Guidance on the Preparation of State Implementation 
Plan Provisions that Address the Nonattainment Area Contingency Measure 
Requirements for Ozone and Particulate Matter.'' The EPA invites the 
public to review and provide input on certain issues in its draft 
guidance document during the comment period specified in the DATES 
section. The issues for which EPA is seeking input are identified in 
sections 3, 4, and 5 of the draft guidance document.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 2023. Please 
refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on the 
comment period.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2023-0063], at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any 
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the Web, Cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA 
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions 
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions concerning this 
draft guidance document, please contact Michael Ling, U.S. EPA, Office 
of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Policy Division, 
C539-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-4729, 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose

    The purpose of the draft guidance on which the EPA is inviting 
public comment is to assist air agencies that are required to prepare 
nonattainment plan state implementation plan submissions for ozone or 
particulate matter under Part D of Title I of the Clean Air Act (CAA). 
Specifically, the draft guidance focuses on the requirement for those 
plans to include contingency measures (CMs), which are control 
requirements that would take effect if an area fails to attain an ozone 
or particulate matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard by an 
applicable attainment date, or fails to meet reasonable further 
progress requirements. These CM requirements are specified in CAA 
section 172(c)(9) for nonattainment areas generally, and in CAA section 
182(c)(9) for ozone nonattainment areas classified Serious and higher.
    The draft guidance focuses on three aspects of CM guidance that the 
EPA is revising or updating, summarized later in this notice, for which 
EPA is seeking input. The document also provides additional information 
to summarize EPA's existing guidance for CMs more broadly, including 
aspects that EPA is not changing, to ensure clarity and national 
consistency. In sections 3, 4 and 5 of the draft guidance, EPA is 
seeking input on the three key new or revised aspects of EPA's CM 
guidance. First, the guidance addresses the method that air agencies 
should use to calculate the EPA-recommended amount of emissions 
reductions that CMs should provide. Second, the guidance provides 
recommendations for an infeasibility justification, for an air agency 
to use if it cannot identify feasible CMs in a sufficient quantity to 
produce the recommended amount of CM emission reductions. Third, the 
guidance changes the recommended time period within which reductions 
from CMs should occur, which the EPA generally recommended to be one 
year, but which the EPA is now recommending be changed to 2 years if 
there are insufficient CMs available to achieve the recommended amount 
of emissions reductions within 1 year.

II. Instructions for Submitting Public Comments and Internet Website 
for Guidance Document Information

A. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit information containing CBI to the 
EPA through https://www.regulations.gov/. Clearly mark the part or all 
of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information on any 
digital

[[Page 17572]]

storage media that you mail to the EPA, note the docket ID, mark the 
outside of the digital storage media as CBI, and identify 
electronically within the digital storage media the specific 
information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version 
of the comments that includes information claimed as CBI, you must 
submit a copy of the comments that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI directly to the public docket through the procedures 
outlined in Instructions above. If you submit any digital storage media 
that does not contain CBI, mark the outside of the digital storage 
media clearly that it does not contain CBI and note the docket ID. 
Information not marked as CBI will be included in the public docket and 
the EPA's electronic public docket without prior notice. Information 
marked as CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 2. 
Our preferred method to receive CBI is for it to be transmitted 
electronically using email attachments, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), 
or other online file sharing services (e.g., Dropbox, OneDrive, Google 
Drive). Electronic submissions must be transmitted directly to the 
OAQPS CBI Office at the email address [email protected], and as 
described earlier, should include clear CBI markings and note the 
docket ID. If assistance is needed with submitting large electronic 
files that exceed the file size limit for email attachments, and if you 
do not have your own file sharing service, please email 
[email protected] to request a file transfer link. If sending CBI 
information through the postal service, please send it to the following 
address: OAQPS Document Control Officer (C404-02), OAQPS, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 
27711, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0063. The mailed CBI 
material should be double wrapped and clearly marked. Any CBI markings 
should not show through the outer envelope.
    2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the draft guidance by docket number and other 
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and 
page number).
     Follow directions.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.

B. Where can I find additional information for this draft guidance?

    A copy of the draft guidance can be found in the docket and a 
website for this draft guidance at https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-implementation-plans/draft-contingency-measures-guidance.

Scott Mathias,
Director, Air Quality Policy Division, Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2023-06010 Filed 3-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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