Air Plan Approval; OR; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period, 13622-13652 [2024-03529]
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13622
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2024 / Proposed Rules
(2) Would not affect intrastate
aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant
economic impact, positive or negative,
on a substantial number of small entities
under the criteria of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
safety, Incorporation by reference,
Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority
delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part
39 as follows:
PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS
DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§ 39.13
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding
the following new airworthiness
directive:
■
GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd: Docket No. FAA–
2024–0234; Project Identifier MCAI–
2023–01215–A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this
airworthiness directive (AD) by April 8,
2024.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd
Model GA8 airplanes, all serial numbers up
to and including GA8–20–262; and Model
GA8–TC320 airplanes, all serial numbers up
to and including GA8–TC 320–20–261;
certificated in any category.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)
Code 2497, Electrical Power System Wiring.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of
insufficient electrical bonding of the solenoid
(relay) box assembly. The FAA is issuing this
AD to address possible missing mechanical
connections. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in degraded electrical
equipment performance, errors, or
intermittent failures of equipment connected
to electrical Bus 1, Bus 2, associated
electrical control and protective devices
fitted within or attached to the solenoid box,
which could lead to loss of equipment
essential for safe flight.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the
compliance times specified, unless already
done.
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(g) Required Actions
(1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS)
after the effective date of this AD, inspect for
a mechanical connection between the relay
box earth point to the ground power socket
in accordance with Part A, steps 1. through
4. of the Accomplishment Instructions in
GippsAero Service Bulletin SB–GA8–2023–
216, Issue 1, dated February 24, 2023
(GippsAero SB–GA8–2023–216, Issue 1),
except where step 4. specifies to proceed to
the Documentation section to update the
airplane logbook, that action is not
specifically required by this AD.
(2) If no mechanical connection between
the relay box earth point to the ground power
socket is found during the inspection
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD,
before further flight, install a mechanical
connection in accordance with Part B, steps
1. through 3. of the Accomplishment
Instructions in GippsAero SB–GA8–2023–
216, Issue 1.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
The Manager, International Validation
Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In
accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your
request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly
to the manager of the International Validation
Branch, mail it to the address identified in
paragraph (i)(2) of this AD or email to: 9AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. If mailing
information, also submit information by
email. Before using any approved AMOC,
notify your appropriate principal inspector,
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local Flight Standards District Office/
certificate holding district office.
(i) Additional Information
(1) Refer to Civil Aviation Safety Authority
(CASA) Australia AD GA8/11, dated
November 21, 2023, for related information.
This CASA Australia AD may be found in the
AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket
No. FAA–2024–0234.
(2) For more information about this AD,
contact Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329–
4059; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference of
the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51.
(2) You must use this service information
as applicable to do the actions required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) GippsAero Service Bulletin SB–GA8–
2023–216, Issue 1, dated February 24, 2023.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For service information identified in
this AD, contact GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd, PO
Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia;
phone: +61 (0)3 5172 1200; email:
TECHPUBS@gippsaero.com.au; website:
gippsaero.com.au.
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(4) You may view this service information
at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (817) 222–5110.
(5) You may view this material at the
National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on
the availability of this material at NARA,
visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/
ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov.
Issued on February 16, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–03720 Filed 2–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 3
RIN 2900–AR10
Updating VA Adjudication Regulations
for Disability or Death Benefit Claims
Related to Exposure to Certain
Herbicide Agents
Correction
In Proposed Rule Document 2024–
02590, appearing on pages 9803–9813,
in the issue of Monday, February 12,
2024, make the following correction:
On page 9803, in the second column,
beginning on the thirty-third line, under
the heading DATES:, the text reading
‘‘[insert date 60 days after date of
publication in the Federal Register]’’
should read ‘‘April 12, 2024’’.
[FR Doc. C1–2024–02590 Filed 2–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505–01–D
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R10–OAR–2023–0600; FRL–11593–
01–R10]
Air Plan Approval; OR; Regional Haze
Plan for the Second Implementation
Period
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Proposed rule.
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve
the regional haze state implementation
plan revision submitted by Oregon on
April 29, 2022, as supplemented on
November 22, 2023, as satisfying
applicable requirements under the
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2024 / Proposed Rules
Clean Air Act and the EPA’s Regional
Haze Rule for the program’s second
implementation period. The Oregon
submission addressed the requirement
that states must periodically revise their
long-term strategies for making
reasonable progress towards the
national goal of preventing any future,
and remedying any existing,
anthropogenic impairment of visibility,
including regional haze, in mandatory
Class I Federal areas. The Oregon
submission also addressed other
applicable requirements for the second
implementation period of the regional
haze program. Upon final action, the
Oregon submission will become part of
the Oregon SIP.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before March 25, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R10–
OAR–2023–0600 at https://
www.regulations.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, the EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
confidential business information or
other information the disclosure of
which is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is
considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points
you wish to make. The EPA will
generally not consider comments or
comment contents located outside of the
primary submission (i.e., on the web,
cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, please
contact the person identified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
For the full EPA public comment policy,
information about confidential business
information or multimedia submissions,
and general guidance on making
effective comments, please visit https://
www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epadockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff
Hunt, EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth
Avenue, Suite 155, Seattle, WA 98101,
at (206) 553–6357 or hunt.jeff@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document, the use of
‘‘we’’ and ‘‘our’’ means the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Proposed Action
II. Background and Requirements for
Regional Haze Plans
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A. Regional Haze Background
B. Roles of Agencies in Addressing
Regional Haze
III. Requirements for Regional Haze Plans for
the Second Implementation Period
A. Identification of Class I Areas
B. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and
Natural Visibility Conditions; Progress to
Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
C. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
D. Reasonable Progress Goals
E. Monitoring Strategy and Other State
Implementation Plan Requirements
F. Requirements for Periodic Reports
Describing Progress Towards the
Reasonable Progress Goals
G. Requirements for State and Federal
Land Manager Coordination
IV. The EPA’s Evaluation of the Oregon
Regional Haze Submission for the
Second Implementation Period
A. Background on the Oregon First
Implementation Period SIP Submission
B. The Oregon Second Implementation
Period SIP Submission and the EPA’s
Evaluation
C. Identification of Class I Areas
D. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and
Natural Visibility Conditions; Progress to
Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
E. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
a. The Oregon Long-Term Strategy
b. The EPA’s Evaluation of the Oregon
Long-Term Strategy
c. Additional Long-Term Strategy
Requirements
F. Reasonable Progress Goals
G. Monitoring Strategy and Other
Implementation Plan Requirements
H. Requirements for Periodic Reports
Describing Progress Towards the
Reasonable Progress Goals
I. Requirements for State and Federal Land
Manager Coordination
V. Proposed Action
VI. Incorporation by Reference
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Proposed Action
On April 29, 2022 and November 22,
2023, Oregon submitted a state
implementation plan (SIP) revision and
supplement to address regional haze for
the second implementation period.
Oregon made the submissions to satisfy
the Clean Air Act regional haze program
requirements pursuant to Clean Air Act
sections 169A and 169B and the EPA’s
implementing regulations in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR
51.308. The EPA is proposing to find
that the Oregon submissions meet the
applicable statutory and regulatory
requirements and thus we are proposing
to approve the submissions into the SIP.
We are also proposing to approve, and
incorporate by reference into the Oregon
SIP at 40 CFR part 52, subpart MM,
specific regulatory provisions and
source-specific requirements included
in the submissions. These provisions are
detailed in section V. of this preamble.
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II. Background and Requirements for
Regional Haze Plans
A. Regional Haze Background
In the 1977 Clean Air Act
Amendments, Congress created a
program 1 to protect visibility in the
nation’s mandatory class I Federal areas,
which include certain national parks
and wilderness areas.2 Congress
established as a national goal the
‘‘prevention of any future, and the
remedying of any existing, impairment
of visibility in mandatory class I Federal
areas which impairment results from
manmade air pollution.’’ 3 Congress
further directed the EPA to promulgate
regulations to assure reasonable
progress toward meeting this national
goal.4 On December 2, 1980, the EPA
promulgated regulations to address
visibility impairment in mandatory
class I Federal areas (hereinafter referred
to as ‘‘Class I areas’’) that is ‘‘reasonably
attributable’’ to a single source or small
group of sources.5 These regulations,
codified at 40 CFR 51.300 through
51.307, represented the first phase of the
EPA’s efforts to address visibility
impairment. In 1990, Congress added
section 169B to the Clean Air Act to
further address visibility impairment,
specifically, impairment from regional
haze. The EPA subsequently
promulgated the Regional Haze Rule on
July 1, 1999 (64 FR 35714), codified at
40 CFR 51.308.6 These regional haze
regulations are a central component of
the EPA’s comprehensive visibility
protection program for Class I areas.
Regional haze is visibility impairment
that is produced by a multitude of
anthropogenic sources and activities
which are located across a broad
geographic area and that emit pollutants
that impair visibility. Visibility
impairing pollutants include fine and
coarse particulate matter (PM) (e.g.,
sulfates, nitrates, organic carbon,
elemental carbon, and soil dust) and
1 Clean
Air Act section 169A.
statutorily designated as mandatory Class
I Federal areas consist of national parks exceeding
6,000 acres, wilderness areas and national memorial
parks exceeding 5,000 acres, and all international
parks that were in existence on August 7, 1977.
Clean Air Act 162(a). There are 156 mandatory
Class I areas. The list of areas to which the visibility
protection program applies is set forth in 40 CFR
part 81, subpart D.
3 Clean Air Act section 169A(a)(1).
4 Clean Air Act section 169A(a)(4).
5 45 FR 80084, December 2, 1980.
6 In addition to the generally applicable regional
haze provisions at 40 CFR 51.308, the EPA also
promulgated regulations specific to addressing
regional haze visibility impairment in Class I areas
on the Colorado Plateau at 40 CFR 51.309. The
latter regulations are applicable only for specific
jurisdictions’ regional haze plans submitted no later
than December 17, 2007, and thus are not relevant
here.
2 Areas
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their precursors (e.g., sulfur dioxide
(SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and, in
some cases, volatile organic compounds
(VOC) and ammonia (NH3)). Fine
particle precursors react in the
atmosphere to form fine particulate
matter (PM2.5), which impairs visibility
by scattering and absorbing light.
Visibility impairment reduces the
perception of clarity and color, as well
as visible distance.7
To address regional haze visibility
impairment, the 1999 Regional Haze
Rule established an iterative planning
process that requires both states in
which Class I areas are located and
states ‘‘the emissions from which may
reasonably be anticipated to cause or
contribute to any impairment of
visibility’’ in a Class I area to
periodically submit SIP revisions to
address such impairment.8 Under the
Clean Air Act, each SIP submission
must contain ‘‘a long-term (ten to fifteen
years) strategy for making reasonable
progress toward meeting the national
goal.’’ 9 The initial round of SIP
submissions also had to address the
statutory requirement that certain older,
larger sources of visibility impairing
pollutants install and operate the best
available retrofit technology (BART).10
States’ first regional haze SIPs were due
by December 17, 2007,11 with
7 There are several ways to measure the amount
of visibility impairment, i.e., haze. One such
measurement is the deciview, which is the
principal metric used by the Regional Haze Rule.
Under many circumstances, a change in one
deciview will be perceived by the human eye to be
the same on both clear and hazy days. The deciview
is unitless. It is proportional to the logarithm of the
atmospheric extinction of light, which is the
perceived dimming of light due to its being
scattered and absorbed as it passes through the
atmosphere. Atmospheric light extinction (bext) is a
metric used to for expressing visibility and is
measured in inverse megameters (Mm¥1). The
EPA’s Guidance on Regional Haze State
Implementation Plans for the Second
Implementation Period (‘‘2019 Guidance’’) offers
the flexibility for the use of light extinction in
certain cases. Light extinction can be simpler to use
in calculations than deciviews, since it is not a
logarithmic function. See, e.g., 2019 Guidance at 16,
19, https://www.epa.gov/visibility/guidanceregional-haze-state-implementation-plans-secondimplementation-period. The EPA Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle
Park (August 20, 2019). The formula for the
deciview is 10 ln (bext)/10 Mm¥1). 40 CFR 51.301.
8 Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2). See also 40
CFR 51.308(b), (f) (establishing submission dates for
iterative regional haze SIP revisions (64 FR 35714,
35768, July 1, 1999). The Regional Haze Rule
expresses the statutory requirement for states to
submit plans addressing out-of-state Class I areas by
providing that states must address visibility
impairment ‘‘in each mandatory Class I Federal area
located outside the State that may be affected by
emissions from within the State.’’ 40 CFR 51.308(d),
(f).
9 Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(B).
10 Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(A); 40 CFR
51.308(d), (e).
11 40 CFR 51.308(b).
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subsequent SIP submissions containing
updated long-term strategies originally
due July 31, 2018, and every ten years
thereafter.12 The EPA established in the
1999 Regional Haze Rule that all states
either have Class I areas within their
borders or ‘‘contain sources whose
emissions are reasonably anticipated to
contribute to regional haze in a Class I
area’’; therefore, all states must submit
regional haze SIPs.13
Much of the focus in the first
implementation period of the regional
haze program, which ran from 2007
through 2018, was on satisfying states’
BART obligations. First implementation
period SIPs were additionally required
to contain long-term strategies for
making reasonable progress toward the
national visibility goal, of which BART
is one component. The core required
elements for the first implementation
period SIPs (other than BART) are laid
out in 40 CFR 51.308(d). Those
provisions required that states
containing Class I areas establish
reasonable progress goals that are
measured in deciviews and reflect the
anticipated visibility conditions at the
end of the implementation period
including from implementation of
states’ long-term strategies. The first
planning period reasonable progress
goals were required to provide for an
improvement in visibility for the most
impaired days over the period of the
implementation plan and ensure no
degradation in visibility for the least
impaired days over the same period. In
establishing the reasonable progress
goals for any Class I area in a state, the
state was required to consider four
statutory factors: the costs of
compliance, the time necessary for
compliance, the energy and non-air
quality environmental impacts of
compliance, and the remaining useful
life of any potentially affected sources.14
States were also required to calculate
baseline (using the five year period of
2000–2004) and natural visibility
conditions (i.e., visibility conditions
without anthropogenic visibility
impairment) for each Class I area, and
to calculate the linear rate of progress
needed to attain natural visibility
conditions, assuming a starting point of
baseline visibility conditions in 2004
and ending with natural conditions in
12 64
FR 35714, 35768, July 1, 1999.
FR 35714, 35721, July 1, 1999. In addition
to each of the fifty states, the EPA also concluded
that the Virgin Islands and District of Columbia
must also submit regional haze SIPs because they
either contain a Class I area or contain sources
whose emissions are reasonably anticipated to
contribute regional haze in a Class I area. See 40
CFR 51.300(b), (d)(3).
14 Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1); 40 CFR
51.308(d)(1).
13 64
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2064. This linear interpolation is known
as the ‘‘uniform rate of progress’’ and is
used as a tracking metric to help states
assess the amount of progress they are
making towards the national visibility
goal over time in each Class I area.15
The 1999 Regional Haze Rule also
provided that states’ long-term strategies
must include the ‘‘enforceable
emissions limitations, compliance,
schedules, and other measures as
necessary to achieve the reasonable
progress goals.’’ 16 In establishing their
long-term strategies, states are required
to consult with other states that also
contribute to visibility impairment in a
given Class I area and include all
measures necessary to obtain their
shares of the emission reductions
needed to meet the reasonable progress
goals.17 The 1999 Regional Haze Rule
also contains seven additional factors
states must consider in formulating their
long-term strategies,18 as well as
provisions governing monitoring and
other implementation plan
requirements.19 Finally, the 1999
Regional Haze Rule required states to
submit periodic progress reports—SIP
revisions due every five years that
contain information on states’
implementation of their regional haze
plans and an assessment of whether
anything additional is needed to make
reasonable progress 20—and to consult
with the Federal Land Manager(s) 21
responsible for each Class I area
15 40 CFR 51.308(d)(1)(i)(B), (d)(2). The EPA
established the uniform rate of progress framework
in the 1999 Regional Haze Rule to provide ‘‘an
equitable analytical approach’’ to assessing the rate
of visibility improvement at Class I areas across the
country. The start point for the uniform rate of
progress analysis is 2004 and the endpoint was
calculated based on the amount of visibility
improvement that was anticipated to result from
implementation of existing Clean Air Act programs
over the period from the mid-1990s to
approximately 2005. Assuming this rate of progress
would continue into the future, the EPA determined
that natural visibility conditions would be reached
in 60 years, or 2064 (60 years from the baseline
starting point of 2004). However, the EPA did not
establish 2064 as the year by which the national
goal must be reached. 64 FR 35714, 35731–32, July
1, 1999. That is, the uniform rate of progress and
the 2064 date are not enforceable targets, but are
rather tools that ‘‘allow for analytical comparisons
between the rate of progress that would be achieved
by the state’s chosen set of control measures and the
[uniform rate of progress] URP.’’ (82 FR 3078, 3084,
January 10, 2017).
16 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3).
17 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3)(i), (ii).
18 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3)(v).
19 40 CFR 51.308(d)(4).
20 See 40 CFR 51.308(g), and (h).
21 The EPA’s regulations define ‘‘Federal Land
Manager’’ as ‘‘the Secretary of the department with
authority over the Federal Class I area (or the
Secretary’s designee) or, with respect to RooseveltCampobello International Park, the Chairman of the
Roosevelt-Campobello International Park
Commission.’’ 40 CFR 51.301.
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according to the requirements in Clean
Air Act 169A(d) and 40 CFR 51.308(i).
On January 10, 2017, the EPA
promulgated revisions to the Regional
Haze Rule that apply for the second and
subsequent implementation periods (82
FR 3078). The 2017 rulemaking made
several changes to the requirements for
regional haze SIPs to clarify States’
obligations and streamline certain
regional haze requirements. The
revisions to the regional haze program
for the second and subsequent
implementation periods focused on the
requirement that States’ SIPs contain
long-term strategies for making
reasonable progress towards the
national visibility goal. The reasonable
progress requirements as revised in the
2017 rulemaking (referred to here as the
2017 Regional Haze Rule Revisions) are
codified at 40 CFR 51.308(f). Among
other changes, the 2017 Regional Haze
Rule Revisions adjusted the deadline for
States to submit their second
implementation period SIPs from July
31, 2018, to July 31, 2021, clarified the
order of analysis and the relationship
between reasonable progress goals and
the long-term strategy, and focused on
making visibility improvements on the
days with the most anthropogenic
visibility impairment, as opposed to the
days with the most visibility
impairment overall. The EPA also
revised requirements of the visibility
protection program related to periodic
progress reports and Federal Land
Manager consultation. The specific
requirements applicable to second
implementation period regional haze
SIP submissions are addressed in detail
in the following paragraphs.
The EPA provided guidance to the
states for their second implementation
period SIP submissions in the preamble
to the 2017 Regional Haze Rule
Revisions as well as in subsequent,
stand-alone guidance documents. In
August 2019, the EPA issued ‘‘Guidance
on Regional Haze State Implementation
Plans for the Second Implementation
Period’’ (‘‘2019 Guidance’’).22 On July 8,
2021, the EPA issued a memorandum
containing ‘‘Clarifications Regarding
Regional Haze State Implementation
Plans for the Second Implementation
Period’’ (‘‘2021 Clarifications Memo’’).23
22 Guidance on Regional Haze State
Implementation Plans for the Second
Implementation Period. https://www.epa.gov/
visibility/guidance-regional-haze-stateimplementation-plans-second-implementationperiod. The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park (August 20,
2019).
23 Clarifications Regarding Regional Haze State
Implementation Plans for the Second
Implementation Period. https://www.epa.gov/
system/files/documents/2021-07/clarifications-
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Additionally, the EPA further clarified
the recommended procedures for
processing ambient visibility data and
optionally adjusting the uniform rate of
progress to account for international
anthropogenic and prescribed fire
impacts in two technical guidance
documents: the December 2018
‘‘Technical Guidance on Tracking
Visibility Progress for the Second
Implementation Period of the Regional
Haze Program’’ (‘‘2018 Visibility
Tracking Guidance’’),24 and the June
2020 ‘‘Recommendation for the Use of
Patched and Substituted Data and
Clarification of Data Completeness for
Tracking Visibility Progress for the
Second Implementation Period of the
Regional Haze Program’’ and associated
Technical Addendum (‘‘2020 Data
Completeness Memo’’).25
As previously explained in the 2021
Clarifications Memo, the EPA intends
for the second implementation period of
the regional haze program to secure
meaningful reductions in visibility
impairing pollutants that build on the
significant progress states have achieved
to date. The EPA also recognizes that
analyses regarding reasonable progress
are state-specific and that, based on
states’ and sources’ individual
circumstances, what constitutes
reasonable reductions in visibility
impairing pollutants will vary from
state-to-state. While there exist many
opportunities for states to leverage both
ongoing and upcoming emission
reductions under other Clean Air Act
programs, the EPA expects states to
undertake rigorous reasonable progress
analyses that identify further
opportunities to advance the national
visibility goal consistent with the
statutory and regulatory requirements.26
This is consistent with Congress’s
determination that a visibility
protection program is needed in
addition to the Clean Air Act’s National
Ambient Air Quality Standards and
regarding-regional-haze-state-implementationplans-for-the-second-implementation-period.pdf.
The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park (July 8, 2021).
24 Technical Guidance on Tracking Visibility
Progress for the Second Implementation Period of
the Regional Haze Program. https://www.epa.gov/
visibility/technical-guidance-tracking-visibilityprogress-second-implementation-period-regional.
The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park. (December 20,
2018).
25 Recommendation for the Use of Patched and
Substituted Data and Clarification of Data
Completeness for Tracking Visibility Progress for
the Second Implementation Period of the Regional
Haze Program. https://www.epa.gov/visibility/
memo-and-technical-addendum-ambient-datausage-and-completeness-regional-haze-program.
The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park (June 3, 2020).
26 See generally 2021 Clarifications Memo.
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Prevention of Significant Deterioration
programs, as further emission
reductions may be necessary to
adequately protect visibility in Class I
areas throughout the country.27
B. Roles of Agencies in Addressing
Regional Haze
Because the air pollutants and
pollution affecting visibility in Class I
areas can be transported over long
distances, successful implementation of
the regional haze program requires longterm, regional coordination among
multiple jurisdictions and agencies that
have responsibility for Class I areas and
the emissions that impact visibility in
those areas. In order to address regional
haze, states need to develop strategies in
coordination with one another,
considering the effect of emissions from
one jurisdiction on the air quality in
another. Five regional planning
organizations,28 which include
representation from state and tribal
governments, the EPA, and Federal
Land Managers, were developed in the
lead-up to the first implementation
period to address regional haze.
Regional planning organizations
evaluate technical information to better
understand how emissions from State
and Tribal lands impact Class I areas
across the country, pursue the
development of regional strategies to
reduce emissions of particulate matter
and other pollutants leading to regional
haze, and help states meet the
consultation requirements of the
Regional Haze Rule.
Western Regional Air Partnership
The Western Regional Air Partnership
(WRAP) 29 is one of the five regional
planning organizations and functions as
a voluntary partnership of state, Tribal,
Federal, and local air agencies whose
purpose is to understand current and
evolving regional air quality issues in
the West. There are 15 member states in
the WRAP, including Oregon, in
addition to 28 tribes and 30 local air
27 See, e.g., H.R. Rep No. 95–294 at 205 (‘‘In
determining how to best remedy the growing
visibility problem in these areas of great scenic
importance, the committee realizes that as a matter
of equity, the national ambient air quality standards
cannot be revised to adequately protect visibility in
all areas of the country.’’), (‘‘the mandatory class I
increments of [the PSD program] do not adequately
protect visibility in class I areas’’).
28 Regional planning organizations are sometimes
also referred to as ‘‘multi-jurisdictional
organizations’’. For the purposes of this document,
the terms regional planning organizations and
multi-jurisdictional organizations are synonymous.
29 The WRAP website may be found at https://
www.wrapair2.org.
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agency members.30 WRAP Federal
partners are the EPA, National Parks
Service, Fish and Wildlife Service,
Forest Service, and Bureau of Land
Management. The WRAP membership
formed a workgroup to develop a
planning framework for state regional
haze second planning period SIPs.
Based on emissions and monitoring data
supplied by its membership, the WRAP
produced a technical system to support
regional modeling of visibility impacts
at Class I areas across the west.31 The
WRAP Technical Support System
consolidated air quality monitoring
data, meteorological and receptor
modeling data analyses, emissions
inventories and projections, and gridded
air quality/visibility regional modeling
results. The WRAP Technical Support
System is accessible by member states
and allows for the creation of maps,
figures, and tables to export and use in
state plan development, and maintains
the original source data for verification
and further analysis.
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III. Requirements for Regional Haze
Plans for the Second Implementation
Period
Under the Clean Air Act and the
EPA’s regulations, all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, and the United
States (U.S.) Virgin Islands are required
to submit regional haze SIPs satisfying
the applicable requirements for the
second implementation period of the
regional haze program by July 31, 2021.
Each state’s SIP must contain a longterm strategy for making reasonable
progress toward meeting the national
goal of remedying any existing and
preventing any future anthropogenic
visibility impairment in Class I areas.32
To this end, 40 CFR 51.308(f) lays out
the process by which states determine
what constitutes their long-term
strategies, with the order of the
requirements in § 51.308(f)(1) through
(3) generally mirroring the order of the
steps in the reasonable progress
analysis 33 and (f)(4) through (6)
containing additional, related
requirements. Broadly speaking, a state
first must identify the Class I areas
within the state and determine the Class
I areas outside the state in which
visibility may be affected by emissions
from the state. These are the Class I
30 The WRAP membership list may be found at
https://www.wrapair2.org/membership.aspx.
31 Technical information may be found at https://
www.wrapair2.org/RHPWG.aspx.
32 Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(B).
33 The EPA explained in the 2017 Regional Haze
Rule Revisions that we were adopting new
regulatory language in 40 CFR 51.308(f) that, unlike
the structure in 51.308(d), ‘‘tracked the actual
planning sequence.’’ (82 FR 3091, January 10,
2017).
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areas that must be addressed in the
state’s long-term strategy.34 For each
Class I area within its borders, a state
must then calculate the baseline,
current, and natural visibility
conditions for that area, as well as the
visibility improvement made to date
and the uniform rate of progress.35 Each
state having a Class I area and/or
emissions that may affect visibility in a
Class I area must then develop a longterm strategy that includes the
enforceable emission limitations,
compliance schedules, and other
measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress in such areas. A
reasonable progress determination is
based on applying the four factors in
CAA section 169A(g)(1) to sources of
visibility-impairing pollutants that the
state has selected to assess for controls
for the second implementation period.
Additionally, as further explained
below, the RHR at 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iv) separately provides five
‘‘additional factors’’ 36 that states must
consider in developing their long-term
strategies. See 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2). A
state evaluates potential emission
reduction measures for those selected
sources and determines which are
necessary to make reasonable progress.
Those measures are then incorporated
into the state’s long-term strategy. After
a state has developed its long-term
strategy, it then establishes reasonable
progress goals for each Class I area
within its borders by modeling the
visibility impacts of all reasonable
progress controls at the end of the
second implementation period, i.e., in
2028, as well as the impacts of other
requirements of the Clean Air Act. The
reasonable progress goals include
reasonable progress controls not only for
sources in the state in which the Class
I area is located, but also for sources in
other states that contribute to visibility
impairment in that area. The reasonable
progress goals are then compared to the
baseline visibility conditions and the
uniform rate of progress to ensure that
progress is being made towards the
statutory goal of preventing any future
and remedying any existing
anthropogenic visibility impairment in
Class I areas.37
In addition to satisfying the
requirements at 40 CFR 51.308(f) related
to reasonable progress, the regional haze
SIP revisions for the second
34 40
CFR 51.308(f), (f)(2).
CFR 51.308(f)(1).
36 The five ‘‘additional factors’’ for consideration
in § 51.308(f)(2)(iv) are distinct from the four factors
listed in CAA section 169A(g)(1) and 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(i) that states must consider and apply
to sources in determining reasonable progress.
37 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2) and (3).
35 40
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implementation period must address the
requirements in 40 CFR 51.308(g)(1)
through (5) pertaining to periodic
reports describing progress towards the
reasonable progress goals, 40 CFR
51.308(f)(5), as well as requirements for
Federal Land Manager consultation that
apply to all visibility protection SIPs
and SIP revisions.38
A state must submit its regional haze
SIP and subsequent SIP revisions to the
EPA according to the requirements
applicable to all SIP revisions under the
Clean Air Act and the EPA’s
regulations.39 Upon EPA approval, a SIP
is enforceable by the EPA and the public
under the Clean Air Act. If the EPA
finds that a state fails to make a required
SIP revision, or if the EPA finds that a
state’s SIP is incomplete or if
disapproves the SIP, the EPA must
promulgate a Federal implementation
plan (FIP) that satisfies the applicable
requirements.40
A. Identification of Class I Areas
The first step in developing a regional
haze SIP is for a state to determine
which Class I areas, in addition to those
within its borders, ‘‘may be affected’’ by
emissions from within the state. In the
1999 Regional Haze Rule, the EPA
determined that all states contribute to
visibility impairment in at least one
Class I area and explained that the
statute and regulations lay out an
‘‘extremely low triggering threshold’’ for
determining ‘‘whether States should be
required to engage in air quality
planning and analysis as a prerequisite
to determining the need for control of
emissions from sources within their
State.’’ 41
A state must determine which Class I
areas must be addressed by its SIP by
evaluating the total emissions of
visibility impairing pollutants from all
sources within the state. While the
Regional Haze Rule does not require this
evaluation to be conducted in any
particular manner, the EPA’s 2019
Guidance provides recommendations
for how such an assessment might be
accomplished, including by, where
appropriate, using the determinations
previously made for the first
implementation period. 2019 Guidance
at 8–9. In addition, the determination of
which Class I areas may be affected by
a state’s emissions is subject to the
requirement in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii)
to ‘‘document the technical basis,
including modeling, monitoring, cost,
38 40
CFR 51.308(i).
Clean Air Act section 169(b)(2); Clean Air
Act section 110(a).
40 Clean Air Act section 110(c)(1).
41 64 FR 35714, 35720–35722, July 1, 1999.
39 See
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engineering, and emissions information,
on which the State is relying to
determine the emission reduction
measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress in each mandatory
Class I Federal area it affects.’’
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B. Calculations of Baseline, Current,
and Natural Visibility Conditions;
Progress to Date; and the Uniform Rate
of Progress
As part of assessing whether a SIP
submission for the second
implementation period is providing for
reasonable progress towards the
national visibility goal, the Regional
Haze Rule contains requirements in 40
CFR 51.308(f)(1) related to tracking
visibility improvement over time. The
requirements of this section apply only
to states having Class I areas within
their borders; the required calculations
must be made for each such Class I area.
The EPA’s 2018 Visibility Tracking
Guidance 42 provides recommendations
to assist states in satisfying their
obligations under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1);
specifically, in developing information
on baseline, current, and natural
visibility conditions, and in making
optional adjustments to the uniform rate
of progress to account for the impacts of
international anthropogenic emissions
and prescribed fires.43
The Regional Haze Rule requires
tracking of visibility conditions on two
sets of days: the clearest and the most
impaired days. Visibility conditions for
both sets of days are expressed as the
average deciview index for the relevant
five-year period (the period representing
baseline or current visibility
conditions). The Regional Haze Rule
provides that the relevant sets of days
for visibility tracking purposes are the
20% clearest (the 20% of monitored
days in a calendar year with the lowest
values of the deciview index) and 20%
most impaired days (the 20% of
monitored days in a calendar year with
the highest amounts of anthropogenic
visibility impairment).44 A state must
calculate visibility conditions for both
the 20% clearest and 20% most
impaired days for the baseline period of
2000–2004 and the most recent five-year
period for which visibility monitoring
data are available (representing current
42 The 2018 Visibility Tracking Guidance
references and relies on parts of the 2003 Tracking
Guidance: ‘‘Guidance for Tracking Progress Under
the Regional Haze Rule,’’ which can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/
documents/tracking.pdf.
43 82 FR 3078, 3103–05, January 10, 2017.
44 40 CFR 51.301. This document also refers to the
20% clearest and 20% most anthropogenically
impaired days as the ‘‘clearest’’ and ‘‘most
impaired’’ or ‘‘most anthropogenically impaired’’
days, respectively.
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visibility conditions).45 States must also
calculate natural visibility conditions
for the clearest and most impaired
days,46 by estimating the conditions that
would exist on those two sets of days
absent anthropogenic visibility
impairment.47 Using all these data,
states must then calculate, for each
Class I area, the amount of progress
made since the baseline period (2000–
2004) and how much improvement is
left to achieve in order to reach natural
visibility conditions.
Using the data for the set of most
impaired days only, states must plot a
line between visibility conditions in the
baseline period and natural visibility
conditions for each Class I area to
determine the uniform rate of progress—
the amount of visibility improvement,
measured in deciviews, that would need
to be achieved during each
implementation period in order to
achieve natural visibility conditions by
the end of 2064. The uniform rate of
progress is used in later steps of the
reasonable progress analysis for
informational purposes and to provide a
non-enforceable benchmark against
which to assess a Class I area’s rate of
visibility improvement.48 Additionally,
in the 2017 Regional Haze Rule
Revisions, the EPA provided states the
option of proposing to adjust the
endpoint of the uniform rate of progress
to account for impacts of anthropogenic
sources outside the U.S. and/or impacts
of certain types of wildland prescribed
fires. These adjustments, which must be
approved by the EPA, are intended to
avoid any perception that states should
compensate for impacts from
international anthropogenic sources and
to give states the flexibility to determine
that limiting the use of wildland45 40
CFR 51.308(f)(1)(i), (iii).
Regional Haze Rule at 40 CFR
51.308(f)(1)(ii) contains an error related to the
requirement for calculating two sets of natural
conditions values. The rule says ‘‘most impaired
days or the clearest days’’ where it should say
‘‘most impaired days and clearest days.’’ This is an
error that was intended to be corrected in the 2017
Regional Haze Rule Revisions but did not get
corrected in the final rule language. This is
supported by the preamble text at 82 FR 3098,
January 0, 2017: ‘‘In the final version of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(1)(ii), an occurrence of ‘‘or’’ has been
corrected to ‘‘and’’ to indicate that natural visibility
conditions for both the most impaired days and the
clearest days must be based on available monitoring
information.’’
47 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(ii).
48 Being on or below the uniform rate of progress
is not a ‘‘safe harbor’’; i.e., achieving the uniform
rate of progress does not mean that a Class I area
is making ‘‘reasonable progress’’ and does not
relieve a state from using the four statutory factors
to determine what level of control is needed to
achieve such progress. See, e.g., 82 FR 3078, 3093,
January 10, 2017.
46 The
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prescribed fire is not necessary for
reasonable progress.49
The EPA’s 2018 Visibility Tracking
Guidance can be used to help satisfy the
40 CFR 51.308(f)(1) requirements,
including in developing information on
baseline, current, and natural visibility
conditions, and in making optional
adjustments to the uniform rate of
progress. In addition, the 2020 Data
Completeness Memo provides
recommendations on the data
completeness language referenced in 40
CFR 51.308(f)(1)(i) and provides
updated natural conditions estimates for
each Class I area.
C. Long-Term Strategy for Regional
Haze
The core component of a regional
haze SIP submission is a long-term
strategy that addresses regional haze in
each Class I area within a state’s borders
and each Class I area that may be
affected by emissions from the state.
The long-term strategy ‘‘must include
the enforceable emissions limitations,
compliance schedules, and other
measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress, as determined
pursuant to (f)(2)(i) through (iv).’’ 50 The
amount of progress that is ‘‘reasonable
progress’’ is based on applying the four
statutory factors in Clean Air Act
section 169A(g)(1) in an evaluation of
potential control options for sources of
visibility impairing pollutants, which is
referred to as a ‘‘four-factor’’ analysis.
The outcome of that analysis is the
emission reduction measures that a
particular source or group of sources
needs to implement in order to make
reasonable progress towards the
national visibility goal.51 Emission
reduction measures that are necessary to
make reasonable progress may be either
new, additional control measures for a
source, or they may be the existing
emission reduction measures that a
source is already implementing.52 Such
measures must be represented by
‘‘enforceable emissions limitations,
compliance schedules, and other
measures’’ (i.e., any additional
compliance tools) in a state’s long-term
strategy in its SIP.53
Section 51.308(f)(2)(i) provides the
requirements for the four-factor
analysis. The first step of this analysis
entails selecting the sources to be
evaluated for emission reduction
measures; to this end, states should
49 82
FR 3078, 3107, January 10, 2017, footnote
116.
50 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2).
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
52 See 2019 Guidance at 43; 2021 Clarifications
Memo at 8–10.
53 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2).
51 40
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consider ‘‘major and minor stationary
sources or groups of sources, mobile
sources, and area sources’’ of visibility
impairing pollutants for potential fourfactor control analysis.54 A threshold
question at this step is which visibility
impairing pollutants will be analyzed.
As the EPA previously explained,
consistent with the first implementation
period, the EPA generally expects that
each state will analyze at least SO2 and
NOX in selecting sources and
determining control measures.55 A state
that chooses not to consider at least
these two pollutants should
demonstrate why such consideration
would be unreasonable.56
While states have the option to
analyze all sources, the 2019 Guidance
explains that ‘‘an analysis of control
measures is not required for every
source in each implementation period,’’
and that ‘‘[s]electing a set of sources for
analysis of control measures in each
implementation period is . . .
consistent with the Regional Haze Rule,
which sets up an iterative planning
process and anticipates that a state may
not need to analyze control measures for
all its sources in a given SIP
revision.’’ 57 However, given that source
selection is the basis of all subsequent
control determinations, a reasonable
source selection process ‘‘should be
designed and conducted to ensure that
source selection results in a set of
pollutants and sources the evaluation of
which has the potential to meaningfully
reduce their contributions to visibility
impairment.’’ 58
The EPA explained in the 2021
Clarifications Memo that each state has
an obligation to submit a long-term
strategy that addresses the regional haze
visibility impairment that results from
emissions from within that state. Thus,
source selection should focus on the instate contribution to visibility
impairment and be designed to capture
a meaningful portion of the state’s total
contribution to visibility impairment in
Class I areas. A state should not decline
to select its largest in-state sources on
the basis that there are even larger outof-state contributors.59
54 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
2019 Guidance at 12, 2021 Clarifications
Memo at 4.
56 2021 Clarifications Memo at 4.
57 2019 Guidance at 9.
58 2021 Clarifications Memo at 3.
59 Id. at 4. Similarly, in responding to comments
on the 2017 Regional Haze Rule Revisions EPA
explained that ‘‘[a] state should not fail to address
its many relatively low-impact sources merely
because it only has such sources and another state
has even more low-impact sources and/or some
high impact sources.’’ Responses to Comments on
Protection of Visibility: Amendments to
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55 See
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Thus, while states have discretion to
choose any source selection
methodology that is reasonable,
whatever choices they make should be
reasonably explained. To this end, 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) requires that a state’s
SIP submission include ‘‘a description
of the criteria it used to determine
which sources or groups of sources it
evaluated.’’ The technical basis for
source selection, which may include
methods for quantifying potential
visibility impacts such as emissions
divided by distance metrics, trajectory
analyses, residence time analyses, and/
or photochemical modeling, must also
be appropriately documented, as
required by 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii).
Once a state has selected the set of
sources, the next step is to determine
the emissions reduction measures for
those sources that are necessary to make
reasonable progress for the second
implementation period.60 This is
accomplished by considering the four
factors—‘‘the costs of compliance, the
time necessary for compliance, and the
energy and nonair quality
environmental impacts of compliance,
and the remaining useful life of any
existing source subject to such
requirements.’’ 61 The EPA has
explained that the four-factor analysis is
an assessment of potential emission
reduction measures (i.e., control
options) for sources; ‘‘use of the terms
‘compliance’ and ‘subject to such
requirements’ in section 169A(g)(1)
strongly indicates that Congress
intended the relevant determination to
be the requirements with which sources
would have to comply in order to satisfy
the [Clean Air Act’s] reasonable progress
mandate.’’ 62 Thus, for each source it has
selected for four-factor analysis,63 a state
Requirements for State Plans; Proposed Rule. 81 FR
26942, 26987–26988, May 4, 2016.
60 The Clean Air Act provides that, ‘‘[i]n
determining reasonable progress there shall be
taken into consideration’’ the four statutory factors.
Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1). However, in
addition to four-factor analyses for selected sources,
groups of sources, or source categories, a state may
also consider additional emission reduction
measures for inclusion in its long-term strategy, e.g.,
from other newly adopted, on-the-books, or on-theway rules and measures for sources not selected for
four-factor analysis for the second planning period.
61 Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1).
62 82 FR 3078, 3091, January 10, 2017.
63 ‘‘Each source’’ or ‘‘particular source’’ is used
here as shorthand. While a source-specific analysis
is one way of applying the four factors, neither the
statute nor the Regional Haze Rule requires states
to evaluate individual sources. Rather, states have
‘‘the flexibility to conduct four-factor analyses for
specific sources, groups of sources or even entire
source categories, depending on state policy
preferences and the specific circumstances of each
state.’’ 82 FR 3078, 3088, January 10, 2017.
However, not all approaches to grouping sources for
four-factor analysis are necessarily reasonable; the
reasonableness of grouping sources in any
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must consider a ‘‘meaningful set’’ of
technically feasible control options for
reducing emissions of visibility
impairing pollutants.64 The 2019
Guidance provides that ‘‘[a] state must
reasonably pick and justify the measures
that it will consider, recognizing that
there is no statutory or regulatory
requirement to consider all technically
feasible measures or any particular
measures. A range of technically
feasible measures available to reduce
emissions would be one way to justify
a reasonable set.’’ 65
The EPA’s 2021 Clarifications Memo
provides further guidance on what
constitutes a reasonable set of control
options for consideration: ‘‘A reasonable
four-factor analysis will consider the
full range of potentially reasonable
options for reducing emissions.’’ 66 In
addition to add-on controls and other
retrofits (i.e., new emission reduction
measures for sources), the EPA
explained that states should generally
analyze efficiency improvements for
sources’ existing measures as control
options in their four-factor analyses, as
in many cases such improvements are
reasonable given that they typically
involve only additional operation and
maintenance costs. Additionally, the
2021 Clarifications Memo provides that
states that have assumed a higher
emission rate than a source has
achieved or could potentially achieve
using its existing measures should also
consider lower emission rates as
potential control options. That is, a state
should consider a source’s recent actual
and projected emission rates to
determine if it could reasonably attain
lower emission rates with its existing
measures. If so, the state should analyze
the lower emission rate as a control
option for reducing emissions.67 The
EPA’s recommendations to analyze
potential efficiency improvements and
achievable lower emission rates apply to
both sources that have been selected for
four-factor analysis and those that have
forgone a four-factor analysis on the
basis of existing ‘‘effective controls.’’ 68
After identifying a reasonable set of
potential control options for the sources
it has selected, a state then collects
particular instance will depend on the
circumstances and the manner in which grouping
is conducted. If it is feasible to establish and
enforce different requirements for sources or
subgroups of sources, and if relevant factors can be
quantified for those sources or subgroups, then
states should make a separate reasonable progress
determination for each source or subgroup. 2021
Clarifications Memo at 7–8.
64 82 FR 3078, 3088, January 10, 2017.
65 2019 Guidance at 29.
66 2021 Clarifications Memo at 7.
67 Ibid.
68 See 2021 Clarifications Memo at 5, 10.
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information on the four factors with
regard to each option identified. The
EPA has also explained that, in addition
to the four statutory factors, states have
flexibility under the Clean Air Act and
Regional Haze Rule to reasonably
consider visibility benefits as an
additional factor alongside the four
statutory factors.69 The 2019 Guidance
provides recommendations for the types
of information that can be used to
characterize the four factors (with or
without visibility), as well as ways in
which states might reasonably consider
and balance that information to
determine which of the potential control
options is necessary to make reasonable
progress.70 The 2021 Clarifications
Memo contains further guidance on how
states can reasonably consider modeled
visibility impacts or benefits in the
context of a four-factor analysis.71
Specifically, the EPA explained that
while visibility can reasonably be used
when comparing and choosing between
multiple reasonable control options, it
should not be used to summarily reject
controls that are reasonable given the
four statutory factors.72 Ultimately,
while states have discretion to
reasonably weigh the factors and to
determine what level of control is
needed, § 51.308(f)(2)(i) provides that a
state ‘‘must include in its
implementation plan a description of
. . . how the four factors were taken
into consideration in selecting the
measure for inclusion in its long-term
strategy.’’
As explained above, 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(i) requires states to
determine the emission reduction
measures for sources that are necessary
to make reasonable progress by
considering the four factors. Pursuant to
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2), measures that are
necessary to make reasonable progress
towards the national visibility goal must
be included in a state’s long-term
strategy and in its SIP.73 If the outcome
69 See, e.g., Responses to Comments on Protection
of Visibility: Amendments to Requirements for
State Plans; Proposed Rule (81 FR 26942, May 4,
2016), Docket Number EPA–HQ–OAR–2015–0531,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 186; 2019
Guidance at 36–37.
70 See 2019 Guidance at 30–36.
71 2021 Clarifications Memo at 12–13, 14–15.
72 2021 Clarifications Memo at 13.
73 States may choose to, but are not required to,
include measures in their long-term strategies
beyond just the emission reduction measures that
are necessary for reasonable progress. See 2021
Clarifications Memo at 16. For example, states with
smoke management programs may choose to submit
their smoke management plans to the EPA for
inclusion in their SIPs but are not required to do
so. See, e.g., 82 FR 3078, 3108–3109, January 10,
2017 (requirement to consider smoke management
practices and smoke management programs under
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv) does not require states to
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of a four-factor analysis is a new,
additional emission reduction measure
for a source, that new measure is
necessary to make reasonable progress
towards remedying existing
anthropogenic visibility impairment and
must be included in the SIP. If the
outcome of a four-factor analysis is that
no new measures are reasonable for a
source, continued implementation of
the source’s existing measures is
generally necessary to prevent future
emission increases and thus to make
reasonable progress towards the second
part of the national visibility goal:
preventing future anthropogenic
visibility impairment.74 That is, when
the result of a four-factor analysis is that
no new measures are necessary to make
reasonable progress, the source’s
existing measures are generally
necessary to make reasonable progress
and must be included in the SIP.
However, there may be circumstances in
which a state can demonstrate that a
source’s existing measures are not
necessary to make reasonable progress.
Specifically, if a state can demonstrate
that a source will continue to
implement its existing measures and
will not increase its emission rate, it
may not be necessary to have those
measures in the long-term strategy in
order to prevent future emission
increases and future visibility
impairment. The EPA’s 2021
Clarifications Memo provides further
explanation and guidance on how states
may demonstrate that a source’s existing
measures are not necessary to make
reasonable progress.75 If the state can
make such a demonstration, it need not
include a source’s existing measures in
the long-term strategy or its SIP.
As with source selection, the
characterization of information on each
of the factors is also subject to the
documentation requirement in 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iii). The reasonable progress
analysis, including source selection,
information gathering, characterization
of the four statutory factors (and
potentially visibility), balancing of the
four factors, and selection of the
emission reduction measures that
represent reasonable progress, is a
technically complex exercise, but also a
flexible one that provides states with
bounded discretion to design and
implement approaches appropriate to
their circumstances. Given this
flexibility, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii) plays
an important function in requiring a
adopt such practices or programs into their SIPs,
although they may elect to do so).
74 See Clean Air Act section 169A(a)(1). See also
2021 Clarifications Memo at 8.
75 See 2021 Clarifications Memo at 8–10.
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state to document the technical basis for
its decision making so that the public
and the EPA can comprehend and
evaluate the information and analysis
the state relied upon to determine what
emission reduction measures must be in
place to make reasonable progress. The
technical documentation must include
the modeling, monitoring, cost,
engineering, and emissions information
on which the state relied to determine
the measures necessary to make
reasonable progress. This
documentation requirement can be met
through the provision of and reliance on
technical analyses developed through a
regional planning process, so long as
that process and its output has been
approved by all state participants. In
addition to the explicit regulatory
requirement to document the technical
basis of their reasonable progress
determinations, states are also subject to
the general principle that those
determinations must be reasonably
moored to the statute.76 That is, a state’s
decisions about the emission reduction
measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress must be consistent
with the statutory goal of remedying
existing and preventing future visibility
impairment.
The four statutory factors (and
potentially visibility) are used to
determine what emission reduction
measures for selected sources must be
included in a state’s long-term strategy
for making reasonable progress.
Additionally, the Regional Haze Rule at
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv) separately
provides five ‘‘additional factors’’ 77 that
states must consider in developing their
long-term strategies: (1) emission
reductions due to ongoing air pollution
control programs, including measures to
address reasonably attributable visibility
impairment; (2) measures to reduce the
impacts of construction activities; (3)
source retirement and replacement
schedules; (4) basic smoke management
practices for prescribed fire used for
agricultural and wildland vegetation
management purposes and smoke
management programs; and (5) the
anticipated net effect on visibility due to
76 See Arizona ex rel. Darwin v. U.S. EPA, 815
F.3d 519, 531 (9th Cir. 2016); Nebraska v. U.S. EPA,
812 F.3d 662, 668 (8th Cir. 2016); North Dakota v.
EPA, 730 F.3d 750, 761 (8th Cir. 2013); Oklahoma
v. EPA, 723 F.3d 1201, 1206, 1208–10 (10th Cir.
2013); cf. also National Parks Conservation
Association v. EPA, 803 F.3d 151, 165 (3d Cir.
2015); Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation v. EPA, 540 U.S. 461, 485, 490 (2004).
77 The five ‘‘additional factors’’ for consideration
in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv) are distinct from the four
factors listed in Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1)
and 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) that states must consider
and apply to sources in determining reasonable
progress.
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projected changes in point, area, and
mobile source emissions over the period
addressed by the long-term strategy. The
2019 Guidance provides that a state may
satisfy this requirement by considering
these additional factors in the process of
selecting sources for four-factor
analysis, when performing that analysis,
or both, and that not every one of the
additional factors needs to be
considered at the same stage of the
process.78 The EPA provided further
guidance on the five additional factors
in the 2021 Clarifications Memo,
explaining that a state should generally
not reject cost-effective and otherwise
reasonable controls merely because
there have been emission reductions
since the first planning period owing to
other ongoing air pollution control
programs or merely because visibility is
otherwise projected to improve at Class
I areas. Additionally, states generally
should not rely on these additional
factors to summarily assert that the state
has already made sufficient progress
and, therefore, no sources need to be
selected or no new controls are needed
regardless of the outcome of four-factor
analyses.79
Because the air pollution that causes
regional haze crosses state boundaries,
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii) requires a state to
consult with other states that also have
emissions that are reasonably
anticipated to contribute to visibility
impairment in a given Class I area.
Consultation allows for each state that
impacts visibility in an area to share
whatever technical information,
analyses, and control determinations
may be necessary to develop
coordinated emission management
strategies. This coordination may be
managed through inter- and intraregional planning organization
consultation and the development of
regional emissions strategies; additional
consultations between states outside of
regional planning organization
processes may also occur. If a state,
pursuant to consultation, agrees that
certain measures (e.g., a certain
emission limitation) are necessary to
make reasonable progress at a Class I
area, it must include those measures in
its SIP.80 Additionally, the Regional
Haze Rule requires that states that
contribute to visibility impairment at
78 See
2019 Guidance at 21.
Clarifications Memo at 13. In particular,
the EPA explained in the 2021 Clarifications Memo
that states should not rely on the considerations in
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(A) and (E) to summarily
assert that the state has already made sufficient
progress and therefore does not need to achieve any
additional emission reductions. 2021 Clarifications
Memo at 13.
80 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(A).
79 2021
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the same Class I area consider the
emission reduction measures the other
contributing states have identified as
being necessary to make reasonable
progress for their own sources.81 If a
state has been asked to consider or
adopt certain emission reduction
measures, but ultimately determines
those measures are not necessary to
make reasonable progress, that state
must document in its SIP the actions
taken to resolve the disagreement.82 The
EPA will consider the technical
information and explanations presented
by the submitting state and the state
with which it disagrees when
considering whether to approve the
state’s SIP.83 Under all circumstances, a
state must document in its SIP
submission all substantive consultations
with other contributing states.84
D. Reasonable Progress Goals
Reasonable progress goals ‘‘measure
the progress that is projected to be
achieved by the control measures states
have determined are necessary to make
reasonable progress based on a fourfactor analysis.’’ 85 Their primary
purpose is to assist the public and the
EPA in assessing the reasonableness of
states’ long-term strategies for making
reasonable progress towards the
national visibility goal.86 States in
which Class I areas are located must
establish two reasonable progress goals,
both in deciviews—one representing
visibility conditions on the clearest days
and one representing visibility on the
most anthropogenically impaired days—
for each area within their borders.87 The
two reasonable progress goals are
intended to reflect the projected
impacts, on the two sets of days, of the
emission reduction measures the state
with the Class I area, as well as all other
contributing states, have included in
their long-term strategies for the second
implementation period.88 The
81 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(B).
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C).
83 See id.; 2019 Guidance at 53.
84 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C).
85 82 FR 3078, 3091, January 10, 2017.
86 See 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(iii) and (iv).
87 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(i).
88 Reasonable progress goals are intended to
reflect the projected impacts of the measures all
contributing states include in their long-term
strategies. However, due to the timing of analyses
and of control determinations by other states, other
on-going emissions changes, a particular state’s
reasonable progress goals may not reflect all control
measures and emissions reductions that are
expected to occur by the end of the implementation
period. The 2019 Guidance provides
recommendations for addressing the timing of
reasonable progress goal calculations when states
are developing their long-term strategies on
disparate schedules, as well as for adjusting
reasonable progress goals using a post-modeling
approach. 2019 Guidance at 47–48.
82 40
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reasonable progress goals also account
for the projected impacts of
implementing other Clean Air Act
requirements, including non-SIP based
requirements. Because reasonable
progress goals are the modeled result of
the measures in states’ long-term
strategies (as well as other measures
required under the Clean Air Act), they
cannot be determined before states have
conducted their four-factor analyses and
determined the control measures that
are necessary to make reasonable
progress.89
For the second implementation
period, the reasonable progress goals are
set for 2028. Reasonable progress goals
are not enforceable targets, 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(iii); rather, they ‘‘provide a
way for the states to check the projected
outcome of the [long-term strategy]
against the goals for visibility
improvement.’’ 90 While states are not
legally obligated to achieve the visibility
conditions described in their reasonable
progress goals, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(i)
requires that ‘‘[t]he long-term strategy
and the reasonable progress goals must
provide for an improvement in visibility
for the most impaired days since the
baseline period and ensure no
degradation in visibility for the clearest
days since the baseline period.’’ Thus,
states are required to have emission
reduction measures in their long-term
strategies that are projected to achieve
visibility conditions on the most
impaired days that are better than the
baseline period and shows no
degradation on the clearest days
compared to the clearest days from the
baseline period. The baseline period for
the purpose of this comparison is the
baseline visibility condition—the
annual average visibility condition for
the period 2000–2004.91
So that reasonable progress goals may
also serve as a metric for assessing the
amount of progress a state is making
towards the national visibility goal, the
Regional Haze Rule requires states with
Class I areas to compare the 2028
reasonable progress goal for the most
impaired days to the corresponding
point on the uniform rate of progress
line (representing visibility conditions
in 2028 if visibility were to improve at
a linear rate from conditions in the
baseline period of 2000–2004 to natural
visibility conditions in 2064). If the
most impaired days reasonable progress
goal in 2028 is above the uniform rate
of progress (i.e., if visibility conditions
are improving more slowly than the rate
89 2021
Clarifications Memo at 6.
Guidance at 46.
91 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(i), 82 FR 2078, 3097–98,
January 10, 2017.
90 2019
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described by the uniform rate of
progress), each state that contributes to
visibility impairment in the Class I area
must demonstrate, based on the fourfactor analysis required under 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(i), that no additional
emission reduction measures would be
reasonable to include in its long-term
strategy.92 To this end, 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(ii) requires that each state
contributing to visibility impairment in
a Class I area that is projected to
improve more slowly than the uniform
rate of progress provide ‘‘a robust
demonstration, including documenting
the criteria used to determine which
sources or groups [of] sources were
evaluated and how the four factors
required by paragraph (f)(2)(i) were
taken into consideration in selecting the
measures for inclusion in its long-term
strategy.’’ The 2019 Guidance provides
suggestions about how such a ‘‘robust
demonstration’’ might be conducted.93
The 2017 Regional Haze Rule, 2019
Guidance, and 2021 Clarifications
Memo also explain that projecting a
reasonable progress goal that is on or
below the uniform rate of progress based
on only on-the-books and/or on-the-way
control measures (i.e., control measures
already required or anticipated before
the four-factor analysis is conducted) is
not a ‘‘safe harbor’’ from the Clean Air
Act’s and Regional Haze Rule’s
requirement that all states must conduct
a four-factor analysis to determine what
emission reduction measures constitute
reasonable progress. The uniform rate of
progress is a planning metric used to
gauge the amount of progress made thus
far and the amount left before reaching
natural visibility conditions. However,
the uniform rate of progress is not based
on consideration of the four statutory
factors and therefore cannot answer the
question of whether the amount of
progress being made in any particular
implementation period is ‘‘reasonable
progress.’’ 94
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E. Monitoring Strategy and Other State
Implementation Plan Requirements
Section 51.308(f)(6) requires states to
have certain strategies and elements in
place for assessing and reporting on
visibility. Individual requirements
under this section apply either to states
with Class I areas within their borders,
states with no Class I areas but that are
reasonably anticipated to cause or
contribute to visibility impairment in
any Class I area, or both. A state with
Class I areas within its borders must
submit with its SIP revision a
monitoring strategy for measuring,
characterizing, and reporting regional
haze visibility impairment that is
representative of all Class I areas within
the state. SIP revisions for such states
must also provide for the establishment
of any additional monitoring sites or
equipment needed to assess visibility
conditions in Class I areas, as well as
reporting of all visibility monitoring
data to the EPA at least annually.
Compliance with the monitoring
strategy requirement may be met
through a state’s participation in the
Interagency Monitoring of Protected
Visual Environments (IMPROVE)
monitoring network, which is used to
measure visibility impairment caused
by air pollution at the 156 Class I areas
covered by the visibility program.95 The
IMPROVE monitoring data is used to
determine the 20% most
anthropogenically impaired and 20%
clearest sets of days every year at each
Class I area and tracks visibility
impairment over time.
All states’ SIPs must provide for
procedures by which monitoring data
and other information are used to
determine the contribution of emissions
from within the state to regional haze
visibility impairment in affected Class I
areas.96 Section 51.308(f)(6)(v) further
requires that all states’ SIPs provide for
a statewide inventory of emissions of
pollutants that are reasonably
anticipated to cause or contribute to
visibility impairment in any Class I area;
the inventory must include emissions
for the most recent year for which data
are available and estimates of future
projected emissions. States must also
include commitments to update their
inventories periodically. The
inventories themselves do not need to
be included as elements in the SIP and
are not subject to EPA review as part of
the EPA’s evaluation of a SIP revision.97
All states’ SIPs must also provide for
any other elements, including reporting,
recordkeeping, and other measures, that
are necessary for states to assess and
report on visibility.98 Per the 2019
Guidance, a state may note in its
regional haze SIP that its compliance
with the Air Emissions Reporting Rule
in 40 CFR part 51, subpart A satisfies
the requirement to provide for an
emissions inventory for the most recent
year for which data are available. To
95 40
92 40
CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii).
93 2019 Guidance at 50–51.
94 82 FR 3078, 3093, 3099–3100, January 10,
2017; 2019 Guidance at 22; 2021 Clarifications
Memo at 15–16.
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CFR 51.308(f)(6), (f)(6)(i), (f)(6)(iv).
CFR 51.308(f)(6)(ii), (iii).
97 See ‘‘Step 8: Additional requirements for
regional haze SIPs’’ in 2019 Regional Haze
Guidance at 55.
98 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6)(vi).
96 40
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satisfy the requirement to provide
estimates of future projected emissions,
a state may explain in its SIP how
projected emissions were developed for
use in establishing reasonable progress
goals for its own and nearby Class I
areas.99
Separate from the requirements
related to monitoring for regional haze
purposes under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6), the
Regional Haze Rule also contains a
requirement at 40 CFR 51.308(f)(4)
related to any additional monitoring
that may be needed to address visibility
impairment in Class I areas from a
single source or a small group of
sources. This is called ‘‘reasonably
attributable visibility impairment.’’ 100
Under this provision, if the EPA or the
Federal Land Manager of an affected
Class I area has advised a state that
additional monitoring is needed to
assess reasonably attributable visibility
impairment, the state must include in
its SIP revision for the second
implementation period an appropriate
strategy for evaluating such impairment.
F. Requirements for Periodic Reports
Describing Progress Towards the
Reasonable Progress Goals
Section 51.308(f)(5) requires a state’s
regional haze SIP revision to address the
requirements of paragraphs 40 CFR
51.308(g)(1) through (5) so that the plan
revision due in 2021 will serve also as
a progress report addressing the period
since submission of the progress report
for the first implementation period. The
regional haze progress report
requirement is designed to inform the
public and the EPA about a state’s
implementation of its existing long-term
strategy and whether such
implementation is in fact resulting in
the expected visibility improvement.101
To this end, every state’s SIP revision
for the second implementation period is
required to describe the status of
implementation of all measures
included in the state’s long-term
strategy, including BART and
reasonable progress emission reduction
measures from the first implementation
period, and the resulting emissions
reductions.102
A core component of the progress
report requirements is an assessment of
changes in visibility conditions on the
99 See ‘‘Step 8: Additional requirements for
regional haze SIPs’’ in 2019 Regional Haze
Guidance at 55.
100 The EPA’s visibility protection regulations
define ‘‘reasonably attributable visibility
impairment’’ as ‘‘visibility impairment that is
caused by the emission of air pollutants from one,
or a small number of sources.’’ 40 CFR 51.301.
101 81 FR 26942, 26950, May 4, 2016; 82 FR 3078,
3119, January 10, 2017.
102 40 CFR 51.308(g)(1) and (2).
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clearest and most impaired days. For
second implementation period progress
reports, 40 CFR 51.308(g)(3) requires
states with Class I areas within their
borders to first determine current
visibility conditions for each area on the
most impaired and clearest days, 40
CFR 51.308(g)(3)(i)(B), and then to
calculate the difference between those
current conditions and baseline (2000–
2004) visibility conditions in order to
assess progress made to date.103 States
must also assess the changes in
visibility impairment for the most
impaired and clearest days since they
submitted their first implementation
period progress reports.104 Since
different states submitted their first
implementation period progress reports
at different times, the starting point for
this assessment will vary state by state.
Similarly, states must provide
analyses tracking the change in
emissions of pollutants contributing to
visibility impairment from all sources
and activities within the state over the
period since they submitted their first
implementation period progress
reports.105 Changes in emissions should
be identified by the type of source or
activity. Section 51.308(g)(5) also
addresses changes in emissions since
the period addressed by the previous
progress report and requires states’ SIP
revisions to include an assessment of
any significant changes in
anthropogenic emissions within or
outside the state. This assessment must
include an explanation of whether these
changes in emissions were anticipated
and whether they have limited or
impeded progress in reducing emissions
and improving visibility relative to what
the state projected based on its longterm strategy for the first
implementation period.
G. Requirements for State and Federal
Land Manager Coordination
Clean Air Act section 169A(d)
requires that before a state holds a
public hearing on a proposed regional
haze SIP revision, it must consult with
the appropriate Federal Land Manager
or Federal Land Managers; pursuant to
that consultation, the state must include
a summary of the Federal Land
Managers’ conclusions and
recommendations in the notice to the
public. Consistent with this statutory
requirement, the Regional Haze Rule
also requires that states ‘‘provide the
[Federal Land Manager] with an
opportunity for consultation, in person
and at a point early enough in the
103 40
CFR 51.308(g)(3)(ii)(B).
CFR 51.308(g)(3)(iii)(B), (f)(5).
105 See 40 CFR 51.308(g)(4), (f)(5).
104 40
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State’s policy analyses of its long-term
strategy emission reduction obligation
so that information and
recommendations provided by the
[Federal Land Manager] can
meaningfully inform the State’s
decisions on the long-term strategy.’’ 106
Consultation that occurs 120 days prior
to any public hearing or public
comment opportunity will be deemed
‘‘early enough,’’ but the Regional Haze
Rule provides that in any event the
opportunity for consultation must be
provided at least 60 days before a public
hearing or comment opportunity. This
consultation must include the
opportunity for the Federal Land
Managers to discuss their assessment of
visibility impairment in any Class I area
and their recommendations on the
development and implementation of
strategies to address such
impairment.107 In order for the EPA to
evaluate whether Federal Land Manager
consultation meeting the requirements
of the Regional Haze Rule has occurred,
the SIP submission should include
documentation of the timing and
content of such consultation. The SIP
revision submitted to the EPA must also
describe how the state addressed any
comments provided by the Federal Land
Managers.108 Finally, a SIP revision
must provide procedures for continuing
consultation between the state and
Federal Land Managers regarding the
state’s visibility protection program,
including development and review of
SIP revisions, five-year progress reports,
and the implementation of other
programs having the potential to
contribute to impairment of visibility in
Class I areas.109
IV. The EPA’s Evaluation of the Oregon
Regional Haze Submission for the
Second Implementation Period
A. Background on the Oregon First
Implementation Period SIP Submission
Oregon submitted its regional haze
SIP for the first implementation period
(2008 through 2018) on December 9,
2010, as supplemented on February 01,
2011. The Clean Air Act required that
the initial round of regional haze plans
include, among other things, a long-term
strategy for making reasonable progress
and best available retrofit technology
requirements for certain older stationary
sources, where applicable.110 The EPA
106 40
CFR 51.308(i)(2).
107 Ibid.
108 40
CFR 51.308(i)(3).
CFR 51.308(i)(4).
110 The requirements for regional haze SIPs for
the first implementation period are contained in
Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(B) and 40 CFR
51.308(d) and (e). See also 40 CFR 51.308(b).
109 40
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approved Oregon’s first implementation
period SIP submission in two actions
published July 5, 2011 (76 FR 38997)
and August 22, 2012 (77 FR 50611).
Subsequently, on July 18, 2017, Oregon
submitted a five-year progress report
and the EPA approved the progress
report on May 17, 2018 (83 FR
22853).111 In our action, we concluded
that Oregon made adequate progress in
improving visibility as a result of
actions identified in the regional haze
SIP. Specifically, based on 2010 through
2014 data, Oregon Class I areas attained
the 2018 reasonable progress goals for
improved visibility, except for one
IMPROVE monitor highly impacted by
wildfire.112
B. The Oregon Second Implementation
Period SIP Submission and the EPA’s
Evaluation
On April 29, 2022, and November 22,
2023, Oregon submitted revisions to the
SIP to address its regional haze
obligations for the second
implementation period (2018 through
2028).113 The submissions may be found
in the docket for this action. Oregon
made its April 29, 2022 submission
available for public comment on August
27, 2021 through November 1, 2021 114
and held a public hearing on October
27, 2021.115 The state received and
responded to public comments and
included the comments and comment
responses in the SIP submission.116
Oregon made its November 22, 2023
submission available for public
comment September 15, 2023 through
October 21, 2023 and held a public
hearing on October 16, 2023.117 The
State received and responded to public
comments and included the comments
and comment responses in the SIP
submission.118
The following sections of this
preamble describe the Oregon SIP
submission, including air quality
111 For details, please see the progress report in
the docket for the EPA’s approval action on May 17,
2018 (83 FR 22853) at https://www.regulations.gov
under docket number EPA–R10–OAR–2017–0482.
112 See Section III.B. Summary of Visibility
Conditions of the proposed rule. 83 FR 11927,
11930, March 19, 2018.
113 Clean Air Act sections 169A and 40 CFR
51.308(f).
114 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, August 27,
2021, included in the docket for this action.
115 Staff report for the Oregon Environmental
Quality Commission Meeting February. 3–4, 2022,
included in the docket for this action.
116 Staff report for the Oregon Environmental
Quality Commission Meeting February. 3–4, 2022,
Summary of Public Comments and DEQ Responses.
117 Staff report for the Oregon Environmental
Quality Commission Meeting November 17, 2023, at
page 15–16.
118 Staff report for the Oregon Environmental
Quality Commission Meeting November 17, 2023, at
page 16.
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modeling conducted, source selection,
four-factor analyses to determine what
emission reduction measures constitute
reasonable progress for the long-term
strategy, assessment of progress made
since the first implementation period in
reducing emissions of visibility
impairing pollutants, and the visibility
improvement progress at Class I areas in
Oregon and other states impacted by
Oregon sources. This preamble also
contains the EPA’s evaluation of the
Oregon SIP submission against the
requirements of the Clean Air Act and
Regional Haze Rule for the second
implementation period of the regional
haze program.
C. Identification of Class I Areas
Section 169A(b)(2) of the Clean Air
Act requires each state in which any
Class I area is located or ‘‘the emissions
from which may reasonably be
anticipated to cause or contribute to any
impairment of visibility’’ in a Class I
area to have a plan for making
reasonable progress toward the national
visibility goal. The Regional Haze Rule
implements this statutory requirement
at 40 CFR 51.308(f), which provides that
each state’s plan ‘‘must address regional
haze in each mandatory Class I Federal
area located within the State and in
each mandatory Class I Federal area
located outside the State that may be
affected by emissions from within the
State,’’ and (f)(2), which requires each
state’s plan to include a long-term
strategy that addresses regional haze in
such Class I areas.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Oregon Class I Areas
Oregon has 12 designated Class I
areas, including Crater Lake National
Park, managed by the National Parks
Service, and 11 wilderness areas,
managed by the U.S. Forest Service, or
in the case of Hells Canyon Wilderness
Area, managed jointly by the U.S. Forest
Service and the Bureau of Land
Management.119
Mt. Hood Wilderness Area
The Mt. Hood Wilderness Area
consists of 47,160 acres on the slopes of
Mt. Hood in the northern Oregon
Cascades. Wilderness elevations range
from 3,426 meters (m) (11,237 feet (ft.))
on the summit of Mt. Hood down to
almost 600 m (2,000 ft.) at the western
boundary. It is almost adjacent to the
Portland, Oregon metropolitan area; the
westernmost boundary is about 20
kilometers (km) east of the Portland,
119 Section
169A of the Clean Air Act was
established in 1977 to protect visibility in all
wilderness areas over 5,000 acres and all national
parks over 6,000 acres. 156 such areas were
designated throughout the U.S.
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Oregon suburb of Sandy and 40 km from
the heavily populated metropolitan
center, elevation 100 m (300 ft.).
Visitation to the Mt. Hood Wilderness
Area is approximately 50,000 visitors a
year, primarily between May and
October. Most visitors come from the
Portland/Vancouver area that has a
population of approximately 2 million.
Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area
The Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area
consists of 107,008 acres on the crest of
the Cascade Range in central Oregon. Its
southern boundary is a few km north of
the northern boundary of the Mt.
Washington Wilderness and it extends
40 to 50 km north along the Cascade
crest. West of the crest, it consists
primarily of the eastern side of the
North Santiam River headwaters basin
that connects to the Willamette Valley
source region near Salem, Oregon, 100
km (60 miles (mi)) to the west. East of
the crest it occupies the western slopes
of the Metolius River drainage that
connects eastern slopes with Deschutes
River in eastern Oregon. The highest
elevation is 3,200 m (10,497 ft.) at the
summit of Mt. Jefferson in the northern
part of the Wilderness. The lowest
Wilderness elevations are near 1,000 m
(3,000 ft.) along the western boundary in
the North Santiam headwaters basin and
along the eastern boundary in the
Metolius River basin.
Mt. Washington Wilderness Area
The Mt. Washington Wilderness Area
consists of 52,516 acres on the crest of
the Cascade Range in central Oregon.
Like the Three Sisters Wilderness that it
borders to the south, it includes
headwaters tributaries of the McKenzie
River that flow west into the Willamette
Valley near Eugene and connect the
Wilderness with that source region. On
the east side, eastern slopes of the
Cascades descend to the Deschutes
River near Bend. The highest
Wilderness elevation is 2,376 m (7,794
ft.) at the summit of Mt. Washington.
The lowest elevations are near 900 m
(3,000 ft.) in the upper headwaters basin
of the McKenzie River.
Three Sisters Wilderness Area
The Three Sisters Wilderness Area
consists of 285,202 acres abreast the
crest of the Cascade Range in central
Oregon. It includes headwaters
tributaries of the McKenzie River that
flow west into the Willamette Valley
near Eugene and connect the Wilderness
with that source region. On the east
side, streams flow east to the Deschutes
River near Bend. The highest crest
elevation is 3,158 m (10,358 ft.) at the
summit of the South Sister. The lowest
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elevations are near 600 m (2,000 ft.)
where the South Fork of the McKenzie
River exits the Wilderness on the west
boundary. This is about 500 m (1,600 ft.)
above the Willamette Valley at Eugene
70 km (40 mi) west.
Diamond Peak Wilderness Area
The 52,337 acre Diamond Peak
Wilderness Area straddles the Cascade
Range 50 km (30 mi) north of Crater
Lake National Park. The highest crest
elevation in the Wilderness is 2,666 m
(8,744 ft.) at Diamond Peak, which is
also the highest summit in this region of
the Cascade Range. The lowest
elevations are near 1,450 m (5,000 ft.)
where streams exit the Wilderness on
the west side. On the east side, the
Wilderness is bordered by mountain
lakes with elevations from 1,459 m to
1,693 m (4,786 to 5,553 ft.). The area
includes headwaters of the Middle Fork
of the Willamette River that flows to the
Willamette Valley near Eugene,
elevation 100 m (300 ft.) and 90 km (60
mi) distant. Wilderness elevations are
thus some 1,400 m (4,600 ft.) above the
Willamette Valley floor. East of the
Cascade crest, streams flow to the
Deschutes River in eastern Oregon.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is the only
national park in Oregon. The park was
established on May 22, 1902, and now
consists of 183,315 acres. It is located in
southwestern Oregon on the crest of the
Cascade Mountain range, 100 miles east
of the Pacific Ocean. The crater’s rim
elevations range from about 900 to 1,873
ft. above lake level. The highest park
elevation is 8,929 ft. at the peak of Mt.
Scott, in the eastern park area. The
National Park includes headwaters of
the Rogue River that flows southwest
towards the Medford/Grants Pass area,
and Sun Creek/Wood River that flows
southeast to the Klamath Falls area.
Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area
The Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area,
encompassing 23,071 acres, is a
relatively small Class I area in southern
Oregon, 50 km (30 mi) south of Crater
Lake National Park. It consists of several
peaks with a highest elevation of 2,502
m (8,208 ft.) at the crest of Aspen Butte.
The lowest elevations are near 1,500 m
(5,000 ft.). Primary drainages are Varney
Creek and Moss Creek that flow into the
Upper Klamath Lake, 3 km northeast of
the Wilderness boundary.
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Area
The Gearhart Mountain Wilderness
Area consists of 22,809 acres on the
flanks of Gearhart Mountain in south
central Oregon, primarily the northern
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slope and eastern drainages of Gearhart
Mountain, the dominant topographic
feature. Elevations range from near
5,900 ft. at the North Fork of the
Sprague River in the northern
Wilderness to 8,364 ft. at the summit of
Gearhart Mountain.
general crest of the coast range, thus
exposed to precipitation caused by
lifting of eastward moving maritime air,
primarily during the winter.
Precipitation ranges from 150 to 350 cm
(60 to 140 inches (in)) annually,
depending on elevation.
Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area
The Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area
consists of 179,700 acres and is located
in the Klamath Mountains of
southwestern Oregon, part of the coastal
temperate rainforest zone that lies
between the Pacific Ocean and the east
side of the coast ranges in northwestern
U.S. and Canada. Its western boundary
is 20 to 25 km (12 to 15 mi) from the
coast. Its easternmost extent is about 40
km (25 mi) from the coast. Elevations
range from about 300 m (900 ft.) on the
western boundary where the Chetco
River exits the Wilderness towards the
Pacific Ocean 25 to 30 miles further
west, to 1,554 m (5,098 ft.) on Pearsoll
Peak on the eastern Wilderness
boundary. The terrain in the Wilderness
is steep canyons and long broad ridges.
The Wilderness is mostly west of the
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Area
The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness
Area consists of 69,350 acres in eastern
Oregon, just east of John Day. The
Wilderness comprises most of the
Strawberry Mountain Range. The terrain
is rugged, with elevations ranging from
1,220 m (4,000 ft.) to 2,755 m (9,038 ft.)
at the summit of Strawberry Mountain.
The Wilderness borders the upper John
Day River valley to the north.
Eagle Cap Wilderness Area
The Eagle Cap Wilderness Area
consists of 360,275 acres in northeastern
Oregon. The terrain is characterized by
bare peaks and ridges and U-shaped
glaciated valleys. Elevations range from
5,000 ft. in lower valleys to near 10,000
ft. at the highest mountain summits. The
Lostine and Minam Rivers flow north
from the center of the Wilderness
towards Pendleton and the Columbia,
130 km northwest.
Hells Canyon Wilderness Area
The Hells Canyon Wilderness Area
consists of 214,944 acres and is located
on the Oregon-Idaho border. The Snake
River divides the wilderness, with
131,133 acres in Oregon, and 83,811
acres in Idaho. The Snake River canyon
is the deepest river gorge in North
America. The higher terrain is located
on the Oregon side. Popular Oregon-side
viewpoints are McGraw, Hat Point, and
Somers Point.
Oregon Visibility Monitoring Network
Haze species in Oregon are measured
and analyzed via the Interagency
Monitoring of Protected Visual
Environments (IMPROVE) network.120
Table 1 of this preamble lists the
IMPROVE stations representing
visibility at Oregon Class I areas. Due to
the remote nature of some of the Class
I areas, several areas share a common
IMPROVE station.
TABLE 1—OREGON IMPROVE STATIONS AND CLASS I AREAS
Monitor ID
Class I area
Sponsor
MOHO ................
THSI ...................
Mt. Hood Wilderness ...........................................................................
Mt. Jefferson Wilderness .....................................................................
Mt. Washington Wilderness .................................................................
Three Sisters Wilderness .....................................................................
Crater Lake National Park ...................................................................
Diamond Peak Wilderness ..................................................................
Mountain Lakes Wilderness .................................................................
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness ............................................................
Kalmiopsis Wilderness .........................................................................
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness .........................................................
Eagle Cap Wilderness .........................................................................
Hells Canyon Wilderness Area ............................................................
U.S. Forest Service ......................
U.S. Forest Service ......................
2000–present.
1993–present.
National Parks Service .................
1988–present.
U.S. Forest Service ......................
U.S. Forest Service ......................
2000–present.
2000–present.
U.S. Forest Service ......................
2000–present.
CRLA ..................
KALM ..................
STAR ..................
HECA .................
Identification of Class I Areas in Other
States
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
The Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality (ODEQ) used a
Q/d screening approach in developing a
list of sources for potential four-factor
analysis, as discussed in more detail in
section IV.E.a of this preamble. Q/d is
120 IMPROVE website at https://
vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve.
121 PSELs are used to protect ambient air quality
standards, prevent significant deterioration of air
quality, and to ensure protection of visibility.
Establishing such a limit is a mandatory step in the
Oregon permitting process. A PSEL is designed to
be set at the actual baseline emissions from a source
plus approved emissions increases and minus
required emissions reductions. This design is
intended to maintain a more realistic emissions
inventory. Oregon uses a fixed baseline year of 1977
or 1978 (or a prior year if more representative of
normal operation) and factors in all approved
emissions increases and required emissions
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Years operated
equal to the emissions (Q) in tons per
year of visibility-impairing pollutants
(NOX, SO2, and particulate matter less
than 10 microns in diameter (PM10))
divided by the distance to a Class I area
(d) in kilometers. The resulting ratio is
commonly used as a metric to assess a
source’s potential visibility impacts on
a particular Class I area. Importantly,
ODEQ used permitted emissions limits,
called Plant Site Emissions Limits
(PSELs),121 for a facility in 2017 to
calculate Q.
ODEQ determined that this approach
based on permitted emissions or
potential to emit was more rigorous and
environmentally protective than relying
decreases since baseline, to set the allowable
emissions in the PSEL. Increases and decreases
since the baseline year do not affect the baseline,
but are included in the difference between baseline
and allowable emissions. Oregon’s PSEL program is
used, in part, to implement NSR permitting. For
major NSR, if a PSEL is calculated at a level greater
than an established significant emission rate (SER)
over the baseline actual emission rate, an evaluation
of the air quality impact and major NSR permitting
are required. If not, the PSEL is set without further
review (a construction permit may also be
required). For minor NSR (State NSR), a similar
calculation is conducted. If the difference is greater
than the SER, an air quality analysis is required to
evaluate whether ambient air quality standards and
increments are protected. The air quality analysis
results may require the source to reduce the airshed
impact and/or comply with a tighter emission limit.
See 82 FR 14654, March 22, 2017, p. 14661.
Oregon’s PSEL requirements are codified at OAR
340, Division 222. These requirements are approved
into the Oregon SIP at 40 CFR 52.1970(c). Oregon
imposes the PSEL requirements via its major and
minor new source review permitting programs at
OAR 340, Divisions 216 and 224. Thus, PSELs are
applicable requirements included in Title V
operating permits for major stationary sources in
Oregon.
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on actual 2017 emissions which could
increase in the future. Using this
approach, ODEQ identified Oregon
facilities with a Q/d ≥ 5 based on PSELs
as having potential visibility impacts on
other states shown in table 2 of this
preamble.122 Based on the Q/d
calculation, two facilities, PGE Beaver/
Port Westward I and Georgia PacificWauna Mill potentially impact visibility
in Mount Rainier National Park,
Washington with Q/d values slightly
higher than the most impacted Oregon
Class I area, Mount Hood Wilderness.123
All other facilities have higher potential
Q/d impacts on Oregon Class I areas
than the respective out-of-state Class I
areas.124 Descriptions of the controls
imposed at the facilities listed in table
2 are contained in section IV.E.b. of this
preamble.
TABLE 2—IMPACT OF OREGON FACILITIES ON OTHER STATES’ CLASS I AREAS
Actual
Q/d
Closest non-Oregon Class I area
A Division of Cascades Holding US
Inc.
Ash Grove Cement Company ............
Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Plant ..
Biomass One, L.P ..............................
Boise Cascade-Medford ....................
Collins Products, L.L.C ......................
Mount Adams Wilderness, WA .........
2.69
56.77
Mount Hood Wilderness ...................
3.02
63.72
Sawtooth Wilderness, ID ..................
Mount Rainier NP, WA .....................
Marble Mountain Wilderness, CA .....
Marble Mountain Wilderness, CA .....
Lava Beds/Schonchin Wilderness,
CA.
Mount Adams Wilderness, WA .........
Mount Rainier NP, WA .....................
Mount Adams Wilderness, WA .........
Mount Adams Wilderness, WA .........
Lava Beds/Schonchin Wilderness,
CA.
Mount Adams Wilderness, WA .........
Mount Adams Wilderness, WA .........
5.31
3.75
3.06
3.25
2.43
11.01
40.15
6.33
5.45
5.48
Eagle Cap Wilderness ......................
Mount Hood Wilderness ...................
Mountain Lakes Wilderness ..............
Mountain Lakes Wilderness ..............
Mountain Lakes Wilderness ..............
18.54
3.24
4.77
4.19
4.78
38.47
34.60
9.86
7.02
10.82
2.44
17.94
4.64
3.11
3.66
8.14
31.48
12.04
8.32
8.69
Mount Hood Wilderness ...................
Mount Hood Wilderness ...................
Three Sisters Wilderness ..................
Three Sisters Wilderness ..................
Mountain Lakes Wilderness ..............
3.57
16.18
7.83
8.86
6.91
11.92
28.38
20.33
23.69
16.40
1.49
6.13
5.53
11.85
Mount Hood Wilderness ...................
Mount Hood Wilderness ...................
3.64
10.86
13.49
21.00
10.39
1.75
16.70
12.23
Kalmiopsis Wilderness ......................
Mount Hood Wilderness ...................
19.07
3.79
30.67
26.46
EVRAZ Inc. NA ..................................
Georgia Pacific-Wauna Mill ...............
Georgia-Pacific-Toledo ......................
Halsey Pulp Mill .................................
Klamath Cogeneration Project ...........
Oregon City Compressor Station .......
Owens-Brockway Glass Container
Inc.
Roseburg Forest Products—Dillard ...
Willamette Falls Paper Company ......
Redwood NP, CA ..............................
Mount Adams Wilderness, WA .........
D. Calculations of Baseline, Current,
and Natural Visibility Conditions;
Progress to Date; and the Uniform Rate
of Progress
Section 51.308(f)(1) requires states to
determine the following for ‘‘each
mandatory Class I Federal area located
within the State:’’ baseline visibility
conditions for the most impaired and
clearest days, natural visibility
conditions for the most impaired and
clearest days, progress to date for the
most impaired and clearest days, the
differences between current visibility
conditions and natural visibility
conditions, and the uniform rate of
progress. This section also provides the
option for states to propose adjustments
Q/d PSEL
Nearest Oregon Class I area
Actual
Q/d
Facility name
to the uniform rate of progress line for
a Class I area to account for visibility
impacts from anthropogenic sources
outside the U.S. and/or the impacts
from wildland prescribed fires that were
conducted for certain, specified
objectives.125
Tracking Visibility in Oregon
Oregon’s SIP submission addresses
baseline, current and natural visibility
conditions for each of these IMPROVE
stations as required by the 2017
Regional Haze Rule and the EPA’s
technical guidance on tracking visibility
progress. ODEQ reviewed visibility data
from 2000 through 2018 and determined
that current visibility at all Class I areas
Q/d PSEL
for both the clearest and most impaired
days has improved since the baseline
period. In addition, all areas have met
the uniform rate of progress (URP) for
2018.126 Additionally, many Class I
areas such as the Mt. Hood, Strawberry
Mountain, Eagle Cap, and Hells Canyon
wilderness areas are already meeting the
2028 URP for the Most Impaired Days
(MID) based on current 2014–2018
monitoring data. Oregon did not choose
to adjust its URP for international
anthropogenic impacts or to account for
the impacts of wildland prescribed fires
resulting in a more stringent,
environmentally protective URP
glidepath as discussed in section IV.F.
of this preamble.
TABLE 3—HAZE INDICES (DECIVIEWS) FOR OREGON IMPROVE STATIONS 127
Monitor ID
Baseline
2000–2004
Class I area
Current
conditions
2014–2018
2018 URP
2028 URP
Natural
2064
Most Impaired Days
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
MOHO ...........................
THSI ..............................
Mt. Hood Wilderness Area ...................................
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas.
122 While PGE Boardman’s emissions in 2017
would have screened the facility into four-factor
analysis based on the facility PSELs, and actual
emissions, this facility closed operations in 2020.
The closure of this facility, the last coal-fired power
plant in Oregon, was a product of the first round
of Regional Haze planning.
123 Please see the EPA’s evaluation of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B) for Mount Rainier National Park
under section IV.F of this preamble.
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12.10
12.80
10.81 ......................
11.52 ......................
124 April 29, 2022, Oregon SIP submission,
Chapters 3.1. Q/d screening process and 3.3. Impact
of facilities in other states on Oregon Class I areas.
125 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(vi)(B).
126 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission. Tables
2–6 and 2–7.
127 ODEQ used data drawn from ‘‘Availability of
Modeling Data and Associated Technical Support
Document for the EPA’s Updated 2028 Visibility
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9.27
11.28
9.90 ........................
10.60 ......................
6.59
7.30
Air Quality Modeling’’ (EPA 2019) with corrected
data as applicable from the June 2020 EPA Memo,
‘‘Technical addendum including updated visibility
data through 2018 for the memo titled
‘Recommendation for the Use of Patched and
Substituted Data and Clarification of Data
Completeness for Tracking Visibility Progress for
the Second Implementation Period of the Regional
Haze Program.’’
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TABLE 3—HAZE INDICES (DECIVIEWS) FOR OREGON IMPROVE STATIONS 127—Continued
Baseline
2000–2004
Monitor ID
Class I area
CRLA ............................
Crater Lake National Park; Diamond Peak,
Mountain Lakes, and Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Areas.
Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area ................................
Strawberry Mountain and Eagle Cap Wilderness
Areas.
Hells Canyon Wilderness Area ............................
KALM ............................
STAR ............................
HECA ............................
Current
conditions
2014–2018
2018 URP
2028 URP
Natural
2064
9.36
8.38 ........................
7.98
7.70 ........................
5.16
13.34
14.53
12.04 ......................
12.68 ......................
11.97
11.19
11.13 ......................
11.35 ......................
7.78
6.58
16.51
14.19 ......................
12.33
12.53 ......................
6.57
2.17
3.04
Not applicable ........
NA ..........................
1.39
2.61
Not applicable ........
NA ..........................
0.88
1.86
1.69
NA ..........................
1.05
NA ..........................
0.10
6.27
4.49
NA ..........................
NA ..........................
5.90
2.79
NA ..........................
NA ..........................
3.70
1.48
5.52
NA ..........................
4.00
NA ..........................
2.52
Clearest Days
MOHO ...........................
THSI ..............................
CRLA ............................
KALM ............................
STAR ............................
HECA ............................
Mt. Hood Wilderness Area ...................................
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas.
Crater Lake National Park; Diamond Peak,
Mountain Lakes, and Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Areas.
Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area ................................
Strawberry Mountain and Eagle Cap Wilderness
Areas.
Hells Canyon Wilderness Area ............................
The EPA is proposing to find that
Oregon has submitted a regional haze
plan that meets the requirements of 40
CFR 51.308(f)(1) related to the
calculations of baseline, current, and
natural visibility conditions; progress to
date; and the uniform rate of progress
for the second implementation period.
E. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
a. The Oregon Long-Term Strategy
Each state having a Class I area within
its borders or emissions that may affect
visibility in a Class I area must develop
a long-term strategy for making
reasonable progress towards the
national visibility goal.128 As explained
in the background discussion in section
II. of this preamble, reasonable progress
is achieved when all states contributing
to visibility impairment in a Class I area
are implementing the measures
determined—through application of the
four statutory factors to sources of
visibility impairing pollutants—to be
necessary to make reasonable
progress.129 Each state’s long-term
strategy must include the enforceable
emission limitations, compliance
schedules, and other measures that are
necessary to make reasonable
progress.130 All new (i.e., additional)
measures that are the outcome of fourfactor analyses are necessary to make
reasonable progress and must be in the
long-term strategy. If the outcome of a
four-factor analysis and other measures
necessary to make reasonable progress is
that no new measures are reasonable for
a source, that source’s existing measures
are necessary to make reasonable
progress, unless the state can
demonstrate that the source will
continue to implement those measures
and will not increase its emission rate.
Existing measures that are necessary to
make reasonable progress must also be
in the long-term strategy. In developing
its long-term strategies, a state must also
consider five additional factors.131 As
part of its reasonable progress
determinations, the state must describe
the criteria used to determine which
sources or group of sources were
evaluated (i.e., subjected to four-factor
analysis) for the second implementation
period and how the four factors were
taken into consideration in selecting the
emission reduction measures for
inclusion in the long-term strategy.132
The following paragraphs summarize
how the Oregon submissions addressed
the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(i). The EPA’s evaluation of
the Oregon submission is contained in
section IV.E.b. of this preamble. The
Oregon submission includes analysis
and modeling conducted by the State,
the EPA and the WRAP, a narrative
description of the State’s long-term
strategy, and enforceable emissions
limitations embodied in State
administrative orders and permits.133
States may rely on technical
information developed by the regional
planning organizations of which they
are members to select sources for fourfactor analysis and to conduct that
analysis, as well as to satisfy the
documentation requirements under 40
CFR 51.308(f). Where a regional
planning organization has performed
131 40
128 Clean
Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(B).
129 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
130 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2).
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CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv).
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii).
133 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.5.1 Estimated future projected emissions.
132 40
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source selection and/or four-factor
analyses (or considered the five
additional factors in 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iv)) for its member states,
those states may rely on the regional
planning organization’s analyses for the
purpose of satisfying the requirements
of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) so long as the
states have a reasonable basis to do so
and all state participants in the regional
planning organization process have
approved the technical analyses.134
States may also satisfy the requirement
of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii) to engage in
interstate consultation with other states
that have emissions that are reasonably
anticipated to contribute to visibility
impairment in a given Class I area under
the auspices of intra- and inter-regional
planning organization engagement.
The WRAP is the regional planning
organization to which Oregon belongs.
The WRAP coordinated technical
services, modeling, data management,
and consulting during the second
planning period. The WRAP developed
technical tools, emission inventories,
and air quality modeling with input and
involvement from states in the region.
Oregon has participated actively in the
WRAP and used WRAP technical
products to help develop the Oregon
submissions.
In the submissions, Oregon conducted
technical analyses to identify sources
and source categories with the largest
potential to contribute to visibility
impairment at Class I areas in Oregon
and other states. Based on the
composition of regional haze forming
pollutants at the IMPROVE stations,
ODEQ determined that the majority of
U.S. anthropogenic contribution to
134 40
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regional haze in Oregon Class I areas is
ammonium nitrate. This varies
seasonally and by monitor.135
Statewide, NOX emissions are primarily
from mobile sources, at about 80% of
the inventory, with another 13% of the
inventory coming from fuel combustion
from area and stationary sources.136 At
some monitors, such as the IMPROVE
stations in the Cascades (THIS and
CRLA) and Kalmiopsis (KALM),
ammonium sulfate is a proportionally
larger contributor to regional haze
formation. ODEQ determined the
ammonium sulfate contribution is
primarily from international
anthropogenic sources and is projected
to decrease by 77% due to new
standards for international marine
shipping fuels which became effective
in 2020.137 Specifically, in 2010, the
International Marine Organization
(IMO) established emission standards
for vessels operating in designated
waters off the coast of North America.
MARPOL Annex VI is codified at 33
U.S.C. 1901 et seq. Pursuant to 33 U.S.C.
1907, it is unlawful to act in violation
of the MARPOL Protocol. The North
American Emissions Control Area (ECA)
covers most coastal areas of the United
States. Vessels operating in the area
must burn low sulfur marine fuel, 1,000
ppm sulfur content (0.10% sulfur by
weight). In addition, as of January 1,
2020, the IMO limited sulfur in fuel for
ships operating outside designated
ECAs to 5,000 ppm sulfur content
(0.50% sulfur by weight). This limit
represents a substantial reduction from
the prior IMO limit of 35,000 ppm
sulfur content (3.5% sulfur by weight).
Fuel sulfur limits are codified at 40 CFR
part 1043. See 84 FR 69335, 69336
(December 18, 2019). The levels of
organic mass and elemental carbon,
likely from wildfire, prescribed burning,
and anthropogenic and biogenic sources
of volatile organic compounds vary at
all Oregon IMPROVE stations from 2000
to 2018 but show no significant
trend.138
In addition to selecting and evaluating
stationary sources for four-factor
analysis, Oregon also used EPA
emissions inventory data from 2017 to
review emissions from mobile sources
135 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.4 Pollutant Components of Visibility
Impairment.
136 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.3 Emissions Inventory Analysis.
137 International Marine Organization. 2020. A
Breath of Fresh Air. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/
localresources/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/
Documents/Sulphur%202020%20infographic
%202%20page.pdf.
138 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.4 Pollutant Components of Visibility
Impairment.
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such as nonroad vehicles (e.g.,
construction, agriculture, lawn and
garden, recreational equipment) and
onroad vehicles (e.g. commercial trucks,
passenger cars and trucks), as well as
agriculture, fugitive dust, marine
shipping, oil and gas, prescribed fires,
and railroads. The submissions address
these sectors and their potential to
contribute to visibility impairment in
Chapter 2.3. Emissions Inventory
Analysis and Chapter 4 Long-term
Strategy.
With respect to analyzing stationary
sources, Oregon used a Q/d
methodology to select sources for
evaluation under the four statutory
factors. This methodology does not take
into consideration topography, transport
direction/pathway and dispersion, and
photochemical processes. However, it is
an adequate tool for source selection
and is consistent with the EPA
guidance. Specifically, Oregon’s
submission determined ‘‘Q/d’’ where
‘‘Q’’ is a source’s emissions and ‘‘d’’ is
the distance from the source to the
nearest Class I area. Oregon identified
permitted point sources by their Q/d
values, calculated using the sum of all
emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxides and particulate matter less than
10 microns in diameter (as measured in
tons per year), divided by the distance
to a Class I area (measured in kilometers
from the facility to the nearest boundary
of the Class I area) for all Class I areas
within 400 km of the source. Rather
than using actual emissions to screen
facilities in, Oregon was more
conservative and used permitted
emissions, called Plant Site Emissions
Limits (PSELs) to effectively screen in
more sources than would otherwise
have been identified.139
As discussed in more detail in section
IV.E.b of this preamble, Oregon selected
32 sources for review using the Q/d
screening methodology. Of these 32
sources, several incorporated
enforceable emissions limits into their
permits or in agreed orders resulting in
PSELs below the screening threshold,
and several had recently imposed
139 Save for certain exceptions, PSELs are
included in all Air Contaminant Discharge Permits
(ACDP) and Title V Operating Permits issued to
sources in Oregon. See OAR 340–222–0020. This
program is approved into the Oregon SIP. 40 CFR
52.1970(c). Oregon establishes PSELs for multiple
pollutants, including SO2, NOX, PM10, and PM2.5.
Id. Sources are required to monitor pollutant
emissions and comply with the PSELs. 340–222–
0080. PSELs serve as a basis for, among other
things, assuring compliance with ambient air
quality standards and Prevention of Significant
Deterioration increments. OAR 340–222–0020.
ODEQ sets PSELs based on a variety of factors; in
general, PSELs are set at levels above the projected
actual or actual emissions of the source. OAR 340–
222–0041; 0042.
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13637
controls already in place, with the
remaining 23 sources conducting fourfactor analyses. ODEQ reviewed the
four-factor analyses submitted by the
sources and found that 6 of the sources
that additional controls were above the
$10,000 cost per ton reduction threshold
established by ODEQ. For the remaining
17 sources, ODEQ determined that
additional controls might be cost
effective and initiated a second round of
review evaluating 43 emissions units
and a total of 62 control devices. During
this second round of review, an
additional 4 sources incorporated
facility-wide enforceable emissions
limits effectively lowering PSELs below
the screening threshold, and ODEQ
negotiated permit modifications or
agreed orders to install control devices
or other emissions reductions at the
remaining 13 facilities described in
more detail in section IV.E.b. of this
preamble.
After reviewing the submissions, the
EPA proposes to determine that
Oregon’s long-term strategy includes the
enforceable emissions limitations,
compliance schedules, and other
measures necessary to make reasonable
progress. By extension, the EPA
proposes to determine that Oregon’s
selection of sources for evaluation under
the four statutory factors was reasonable
and consistent with the requirements of
the RHR and proposes to determine that
Oregon determined the controls
necessary for reasonable progress based
on a reasonable consideration of the
four factors, as described in the
evaluation below.
b. The EPA’s Evaluation of the Oregon
Long-Term Strategy
The EPA is proposing to find that
Oregon has satisfied the requirements of
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) related to
evaluating sources and determining the
emission reduction measures that are
necessary to make reasonable progress
by considering the four statutory factors.
The EPA is proposing to find that
Oregon has satisfied the four-factor
analysis requirement through its
evaluation and actions documented in
the Oregon regional haze plan for the
second planning period. Section
51.308(f)(2)(i) requires states to evaluate
and determine the emission reduction
measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress by considering the
four statutory factors to sources in a
control analysis. As laid out in further
detail in the following paragraphs of
this preamble, the EPA is proposing to
find that the Oregon submission, as
supplemented, satisfies the requirement
of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i). The emission
reduction measures that are necessary to
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make reasonable progress must be
included in the long-term strategy, i.e.,
in the Oregon SIP. 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2).
Division 223 Regional Haze Rules
On May 28, 2021, Oregon opened
public comment on revisions to the
Division 223 Regional Haze rules to
update the provisions for the second
regional haze planning period.140 The
Oregon Environmental Quality
Commission adopted the revisions to
the Division 223 Regional Haze rules at
its July 22–23, 2021 meeting, and the
rules became effective July 23, 2021.141
A detailed redline/strikeout of the rule
revisions is included in the docket for
this action.142 The revisions removed
outdated BART provisions from the first
planning period, including sourcespecific requirements in Oregon
Administrative Rules (OAR) 340–223–
0040 for the Amalgamated Sugar
Company which ceased operation on
December 9, 2010, and closed
permanently in September 2016.143 The
revisions also repealed outdated BART
provisions in OAR 340–223–0030
through 340–223–0080 for the Portland
General Electric (PGE) coal-fired power
plant in Boardman which ceased
operation on October 15, 2020, pursuant
to the requirements of the regional haze
plan for the first implementation period.
Documentation of the closure of the
coal-fired power plant is included in the
docket for this action.144
In addition to removing outdated
provisions, Oregon added new rule
provisions to implement the regional
haze program for the second
implementation period. OAR 340–223–
0100 Screening Methodology for
Sources for Round II of Regional Haze
established the screening methodology
for stationary sources in the regional
haze second planning period. Pursuant
to this rulemaking sources were
required to undergo review if the
source’s Q/d was greater than 5, where
Q equals the sum of the source’s PSELs
for NOX, SO2, and PM10.
OAR 340–223–0110 Options for
Compliance with Round II of Regional
Haze imposed the obligation on
screened sources to conduct four-factor
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
140 016_4.1.2
SOS.Notice.FilingReceipt.pdf
included in the docket for this action.
141 018_4.2.2 SOS.Filing.Receipt.DEQ_14–
2021.pdf included in the docket for this action.
142 004_3.1 RHSIP2021.Rules_.doc included in
the docket for this action.
143 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.1.1 Status of implementation of control
measures included in the original regional haze SIP.
144 See 200_boardman closure_25–0016–TV–01_
AR_2020, 201_boardman closure_25–0016–TV–01_
AR_2021, 202_boardman closure_AIRS_AFS Search
_US EPA, 203_2022 PSD permit_boardman carty_
25–0016–ST–02_PM_2022_3.
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analyses and established the process for
imposition of controls determined by
ODEQ to be cost effective based on
those four-factor analyses, using a costeffectiveness threshold of $10,000 or
less per ton of reductions for any single
or combination of regional haze
pollutants. Specifically, OAR 340–223–
0110(1) requires each source screened
into review to submit a four-factor
analysis and install controls determined
by ODEQ to be cost effective following
ODEQ’s adjustment and review of the
four-factor analysis. OAR 340–223–
0110(2) allows alternative compliance
options under an agreed order with
ODEQ (stipulated agreement and final
order or SAFO) as summarized below:
• Accept federally enforceable
reductions of combined plant site
emission limits of regional haze
pollutants to bring the source’s Q/d
below 5.00. A source may take a PSEL
reduction below the generic PSEL to
achieve an overall PSEL of regional haze
pollutants below a Q/d of 5.00. A
source’s Q/d will be considered to be
brought below 5.00 when Q/d is below
5.00 using the calculation in OAR 340–
223–0100(2), except that the Q factor
shall be calculated by adding the plant
site emission limits for regional haze
pollutants as stated in the stipulated
agreement and final order;
• Install controls identified by the
source in a four-factor analysis as costeffective for that source for reducing
regional haze pollutants. ODEQ must
agree that the controls identified will
result in the greatest cost-effective
emissions reduction at the identified
emissions unit and ODEQ must
establish a timeline for installation of
those controls that is the fastest
practicable timeline for installation of
the identified controls and that is no
later than July 31, 2026;
• Install controls or reduce emissions
for regional haze pollutants that ODEQ
determines, in its sole discretion,
provide equivalent emissions reductions
to controls that would be identified as
cost effective for that source following
the adjustment and review of a fourfactor analysis. ODEQ must establish a
timeline for installation of those
controls that is the fastest practicable
timeline for installation of the identified
controls and that is no later than July
31, 2026;
• Maintain controls that the source
has already installed to control regional
haze pollutants or maintain reduced
emissions of regional haze pollutants
that ODEQ determines, in its sole
discretion, have provided and will
continue to provide equivalent
emissions reductions to controls that
would be identified as cost effective for
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that source following adjustment and
review of a four-factor analysis; or
• Replace an emissions unit with a
new emissions unit that meets the
emission limits and requirements of the
most recent applicable standard in place
at the time of the permitting of the new
emissions unit. ODEQ must establish a
timeline for installation of the new
emissions unit that is the fastest
practicable timeline for installation of
the new emissions unit and that is no
later than July 31, 2031.
OAR 340–223–0120 Four Factor
Analysis established the requirements
sources must follow in conducting the
four-factor analyses consistent with the
Clean Air Act four statutory factors and
provides ODEQ with authority to
request additional information or adjust
the four-factor analyses for consistency.
Lastly, OAR 340–223–0130 Final Orders
Ordering Compliance with Round II of
Regional Haze provides ODEQ
unilateral order authority to address
those sources that do not enter into a
stipulated agreement and final order
(SAFO) under OAR 340–223–0110(2).
OAR 340–223–0130 also outlines the
contested case hearing process for
sources that challenge the unilateral
orders issued by ODEQ.
We have reviewed the revisions to the
Division 223 Regional Haze Rules and
we are proposing to determine that they
provide Oregon with adequate authority
to implement the regional haze program
and are consistent with CAA
requirements and the EPA’s Regional
Haze Rule. ODEQ submitted the revised
Division 223 Regional Haze Rules for
incorporation by reference into the SIP
at 40 CFR 52.1970(c) EPA approved
regulations and statutes and requested
that the EPA remove from the SIP the
outdated source-specific BART
provisions for the Amalgamated Sugar
Company and the PGE coal-fired power
plant in Boardman, which closed
pursuant to the regional haze plan for
the first implementation period. We are
proposing to approve this request and
incorporate by reference the submitted
revised rules.
Stationary Source Screening
Pursuant to OAR 340–223–0100
Screening Methodology for Sources for
Round II of Regional Haze, ODEQ
identified 32 facilities for analysis using
the four factors. As described in the
previous paragraphs, the PGE coal-fired
power plant in Boardman ceased
operation on October 15, 2020, and
ODEQ removed the facility from the
initial list of 32 facilities. The remaining
operations onsite are known as Carty
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Generating Station with an expected
maximum Q/d of slightly over 1.00.145
Limits To Align PSELs to the Screening
Threshold
As previously noted, ODEQ took a
more inclusive approach of using
permitted emissions limits, PSELs, to
screen facilities for source selection.
This yielded a much larger pool of
facilities in the initial screening rather
than using projected actuals as
suggested by the 2019 Guidance.146
OAR 340–223–0110(2)(b)(A) allows
ODEQ to enter into an agreement with
a source to ‘‘accept federally enforceable
reductions of combined plant site
emission limits of round II regional haze
pollutants to bring the source’s Q/d
below 5.00.’’ As noted in ODEQ’s April
29, 2021, SIP submission, ‘‘if a facility’s
actual emissions were below the
screening threshold and potential
emissions above the screening
threshold, ODEQ provided the source an
opportunity to either reduce pollutantspecific PSELs or take a limit on
combined NOX, SO2, and PM10 PSELs
such that Q/d would be less than
5.00.’’ 147 If a source chose the option to
reduce PSELs, OAR 340–223–
0110(2)(b)(A) exempted the source from
further control analysis. Importantly,
OAR 340–223–0110(2)(b)(A) allows
sources to reduce PSELs as a
compliance option at any point in the
process from initial screening through
final agreements.148 To make the limits
Federally enforceable and permanent,
ODEQ submitted the SAFOs and/or
permit conditions listed in table 7 for
incorporation into the SIP in 40 CFR
52.1970(d) EPA approved state sourcespecific requirements.
The EPA proposes to determine that
Oregon’s source selection was
reasonable and consistent with the
13639
requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
ODEQ included a thorough description
of its source selection methodology.
ODEQ selected 23 sources for analysis
under the four factors. Considering
these sources’ PSELs and recent actual
emissions, ODEQ’s source selection
methodology targeted the sources with
the highest potential to impair visibility
at mandatory Class 1 areas. Conversely,
those sources ODEQ screened out have
comparatively limited potential impacts
on visibility, specifically, all facilities
that accepted emission limits to screen
out of analysis would have been
screened out of analysis using a Q/d <5
of actual emissions. Thus, the EPA
proposes to determine that Oregon’s
application of OAR 340–223–
0110(2)(b)(A) is a reasonable means of
preventing future emissions growth for
facilities with relatively low Q/d values
based on actual current emissions.
TABLE 4—FACILITIES SCREENED IN USING Q/d 149
2017 Actual
Q/d
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Facility
2017 PSEL
Q/d
Outcome
PGE Boardman ...............................................................
38.24
116.21
Ash Grove Cement Company ........................................
18.54
38.47
Klamath Energy LLC ......................................................
6.91
16.40
Kingsford Manufacturing Company 150 ...........................
Cascades Tissue Group: A Division of Cascades Holding US Inc.
Timber Products Co. Limited Partnership ......................
PGE Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Plant ......................
Roseburg Forest Products—Riddle Plywood .................
Roseburg Forest Products—Medford MDF ....................
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC—Medford ............
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC—Compressor Station 12.
JELD–WEN .....................................................................
Northwest Pipeline LLC—Baker Compressor Station 151
Pacific Wood Laminates, Inc ..........................................
8.38
3.02
NA
63.72
No four-factor analysis (FFA). Facility shut down coalfired operations in 2020.
No FFA. ODEQ determined 2013 consent decree with
the EPA represented existing effective controls.
No FFA. ODEQ determined that newly installed controls yield a Q/d <5.00.
No FFA—lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
No FFA—lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
1.63
3.24
2.10
2.91
4.19
2.33
6.07
34.60
5.29
8.84
7.02
14.13
No FFA—lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
No FFA—lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
No FFA—lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
No FFA—lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
Conducted FFA—then lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
Conducted FFA—then lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
2.13
4.02
8.29
6.30
14.81
12.50
Swanson Group Mfg. LLC ..............................................
4.16
6.39
Ochoco Lumber Company ..............................................
4.60
14.19
Columbia Forest Products, Inc .......................................
4.10
7.75
Collins Products, L.L.C ...................................................
4.78
10.82
Woodgrain Millwork LLC—Particleboard ........................
13.32
18.41
Conducted
Conducted
Conducted
<$10K.
Conducted
<$10K.
Conducted
<$10K.
Conducted
<$10K.
Conducted
<$10K.
Conducted
<$10K
145 The Carty Generating Station is a 450
megawatt (MW), combined-cycle natural gas-fueled
electric generating power plant, and includes a notyet-constructed 50 MW solar PV electric power
generating unit (Carty Solar Farm) on 315 acres
(0.49 sq. miles). See https://www.oregon.gov/
energy/facilities-safety/facilities/pages/cgs.aspx.
146 2019 Guidance at 17.
147 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 3.4. Four Factor Analysis.
148 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 6.6. Public Comments and Responses, at
page 147.
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149 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 3.7 Facility-specific findings and results.
150 ODEQ reviewed Kingsford Manufacturing
Company which originally screened into analysis
with a Q/d = 8.39 based on actual emissions as
reported to the 2017 National Emissions Inventory
(NEI) because a 2017 PSEL was not available at that
time. However, in a letter dated May 22, 2020,
ODEQ acknowledged a 2019 permit modification
that had already lowered PSELs for NOX, SO2, and
PM10 to a Q/d = 4.02.150 As part of the November
22, 2023 supplement, ODEQ submitted revised
permit conditions for the Kingsford Manufacturing
Company that limit the combined PSELs and
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FFA—then lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
FFA—then lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
FFA—ODEQ determined no controls
FFA—ODEQ determined no controls
FFA—ODEQ determined no controls
FFA—ODEQ determined no controls
FFA—ODEQ determined no controls
FFA—ODEQ determined no controls
unassigned emissions to 304 tons per year yielding
a Q/d = 4.98.
151 Alternatively, under Order 01–0038, the
facility, up until July 2026, could opt to commit to
replace units EU1 and EU2 with new technology by
July 31, 2031, that would reduce Round 2 regional
haze pollutants. The technology would have to
meet the emission limits and requirements of the
most recent New Source Performance Standard in
place at the time of the permittee submitting a
permit application for the project. PSELs for Round
2 regional haze pollutants for the replacement shall
be no more than 201 tons/year.
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TABLE 4—FACILITIES SCREENED IN USING Q/d 149—Continued
2017 Actual
Q/d
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Facility
2017 PSEL
Q/d
Gilchrist Forest Products ................................................
8.42
15.74
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc ...........................
10.86
21.00
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC—Elgin Complex ..
10.08
15.04
Georgia Pacific—Wauna Mill ..........................................
16.18
28.38
Cascade Pacific Pulp, LLC—Halsey Pulp Mill ...............
8.86
23.69
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC—Compressor Station 13.
International Paper—Springfield .....................................
2.34
19.68
16.51
67.24
Georgia-Pacific—Toledo LLC .........................................
7.83
20.33
Northwest Pipeline LLC—Oregon City Compressor Station.
EVRAZ Inc. NA ...............................................................
3.64
13.49
3.57
11.92
Biomass One, L.P ...........................................................
4.77
9.86
Roseburg Forest Products—Dillard ................................
19.07
30.67
Willamette Falls Paper Company ...................................
3.79
26.46
Sources That Already Have Effective
Emission Control Technology in Place
In certain circumstances, states may
properly determine that a particular
facility already has effective emission
control technology in place.152 A state
that does not select a source or sources
for this reason should explain why the
decision is consistent with the
requirement to make reasonable
progress. ODEQ determined that 2
facilities of the originally screened 32
met this criterion, Klamath Energy LLC
and Ash Grove Cement.
In a May 28, 2020, letter from ODEQ
to Klamath Energy, ODEQ
acknowledged plans by the facility to
install ultra low-NOX burners on the
facility’s combined cycle combustion
turbines (emissions units CT1 and CT2).
These planned upgrades are in addition
to Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
control technology already in place at
the CT1 and CT2 units and other
associated units, CT3 through CT6.
ODEQ estimated that the planned
upgrades would reduce the facility
combined PM10, SO2, and NOX PSELs to
122 tons per year, yielding a Q/d less
than 5.00. Importantly, the 2020 permit
modification did not include revised
PSELs, but relied on installation of
planned controls by January 1, 2022, as
required under condition 3.a. of the
permit modification. Therefore, as part
152 2019 Guidance at 22; 2021 Clarifications
Memo at 9.
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Outcome
Conducted FFA—source determined controls cost effective. Modified permit to incorporate controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
Conducted FFA—agreed order to impose additional
controls.
of the November 22, 2023 supplement to
the regional haze plan, ODEQ submitted
relevant portions of the December 8,
2020, permit modification detailing
installation and operation of the ultra
low-NOX combustors, as well as
relevant conditions from the June 12
2017, permit to include the existing
pollution control devices for the
remaining emissions units for
incorporation by reference into the SIP.
In reviewing the planned controls for
these units, as well as the existing
controls for other units at the facility,
we are proposing to determine the
facility has effective emission control
technology in place, and those controls
and associated emissions limits are
included in the SIP.
As discussed in Oregon’s May 18,
2020, letter included in the docket for
this action, the Ash Grove Cement,
Durkee plant recently underwent a
control analysis and ODEQ determined
that no additional controls required
through the regional haze second
implementation period were likely to be
effective or reasonable.153 To reach this
determination, ODEQ reviewed
information the facility sent regarding
particulate matter emissions which are
controlled by a recently installed
baghouse system in accordance with the
2018 Portland Cement National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants (NESHAP) revisions, the
153 100_haze-AshGroveCement-Durkee.pdf.
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facility’s Air Contaminant Discharge
Permit (ACDP) from 2017 (Permit No.
01–0029–CS–01), and the 2017
administrative amendment to the permit
(Permit No. 01–0029–TV–01).154 In
addition, ODEQ considered the
enforcement actions that the EPA took
on Portland Cement companies in
conjunction with the State of Oregon
and the resulting consent decrees to
further control emissions.155 With
respect to the plant in Durkee, the
consent decree required installation and
continuous operation of selective
noncatalytic reduction (SNCR) at Kiln 1,
a 30-day rolling average emission limit
of 2 pounds NOX per ton of clinker, and
a 3-hour average emission limit of 0.4
pounds SO2 per ton of clinker. Based on
the controls from the 2018 NESHAP and
the consent decree requirements, ODEQ
determined that the facility has effective
emission control technology in place.
We are proposing to concur with that
determination for this planning period.
ODEQ submitted the October 16, 2020,
Title V permit for Ash Grove Cement for
the incorporation of relevant permit
conditions in the SIP for the existing
controls and emissions limits related to
regional haze.
154 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 3.7.2 Ash Grove Cement Co, Durkee (01–
0029).
155 100a_ashgrove-cd.pdf included in the docket
for this action.
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Facilities With Additional Controls
Under OAR 340–223–0110(1) all
sources subject to the requirements of
the regional haze second
implementation period, as determined
in OAR 340–223–0100 Screening
Methodology for Sources for Round II of
Regional Haze, were required to submit
a four-factor analysis consistent with the
provisions of OAR 340–223–0120 Four
Factor Analysis. Specifically, sources
were required to conduct four-factor
analyses for all ‘‘round II regional haze
pollutants’’ defined by Oregon as SO2,
NOX, and PM10. Under 340–223–0120,
ODEQ may adjust information in the
four-factor analyses for consistency or
adjust the four-factor analyses based on
other information ODEQ determines to
be accurate, adequate, and sufficient.
ODEQ reviewed the four-factor analyses
from the facilities and adjusted for
consistency with basic factors such as
interest rates, equipment lifetime, and
using potential to emit (PSEL) levels
instead of actual emissions in
determining potential cost-effective
controls.
The four-factor analyses submitted to
ODEQ pursuant to 340–223–0120, with
the exception of Owens-Brockway and
Gilchrist Forest Products, indicated that
additional NOX, PM10, and SO2 controls
were either technologically infeasible or
not cost effective. Nevertheless, Oregon
reviewed these analyses and determined
that in some cases controls may be
feasible and cost effective. Accordingly,
in letters dated January 21, 2021, ODEQ
notified facilities based on the
information provided in the four-factor
analyses submitted by the sources that
additional controls may be reasonable at
the cost effective $10,000 per ton
reduction threshold. ODEQ provided
preliminary determinations of the
control measures that may be reasonable
based on rough cost control analyses.
Importantly, these preliminary
determinations did not factor in sitespecific feasibility or other sourcespecific considerations. Therefore, the
January 21, 2021, letters invited the
affected facilities to discuss ODEQ’s
preliminary determination and provide
additional information as the basis for
alternative compliance through a SAFO
between the parties under OAR 340–
223–0110(2). These SAFOs and permit
conditions imposed the new controls,
emission limits, and/or emission
monitoring at 13 facilities discussed
below.
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Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC—
Elgin Complex—Order 31–0006 and
Associated Permit Conditions 156
• Establishing a PSEL for SO2
effective July 31, 2022.
• Installation of a Continuous
Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) on
Boiler 1 and Boiler 2 to measure NOX
emissions by September 31, 2022.
• Installation of combustion
improvement project or projects
designed to achieve emissions
reductions of NOX from Boiler 1 and
Boiler 2 by 15% by July 31, 2023.
Biomass One, L.P.—Order 15–0159
• Installation of CEMS on the north
and south boilers by July 31, 2022.
• NOX optimization plan within 180
days after installation of the NOX CEMS.
• If Permittee is able to finalize a new
power purchase agreement (PPA),
Permittee shall notify ODEQ in writing
within 14 calendar days. Or, if no new
PPA is signed, Permittee shall cease
operation by January 1, 2027, and
request cancellation of their Title V
operating permit.
• If a new PPA is signed, then no later
than 180 days after notifying ODEQ of
the new PPA, the Permittee shall submit
a complete application for installation
of NOX reduction technology that
includes SCR on the North Boiler and
South Boiler or demonstrates SCR is
technically infeasible or presents other
unacceptable energy or non-air quality
impact. If SCR is technically infeasible
or presents such other unacceptable
impacts, the Permittee will propose the
best available, technically feasible, and
achievable NOX reduction option for
ODEQ’s review and approval. ODEQ
will notify Permittee and provide
Permittee with a reasonable opportunity
to comment before approving a NOX
reduction option in response to
Permittee’s application.
EVRAZ Inc.—Order 26–1865
• By December 31, 2024, install low
NOX burners on the pre-heat portions of
EU–10 Reheat Furnace with a designed
NOX emission factor of 170 pounds per
million cubic feet of natural gas.
• During 2025, the permittee shall
conduct source testing to verify the NOX
emission factor for the EU–10 reheat
furnace. After consultation with the
permittee, ODEQ will calculate the new
potential to emit (PTE) from EU–10
reheat furnace using the new NOX
156 Permit conditions: 56. Monitoring
Requirement, 56a.Emission Calculation, Table 6
(Emission Factors) for Boilers 1 and 2 for PM10, SO2,
NOX, 59–61. General Monitoring Requirements, 62–
65. General Recordkeeping Requirements, 66–70
Boiler NESHAP Recordkeeping Requirements, and
71–75 General Reporting Requirements.
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13641
emission factor and adjust the
permittee’s NOX PSEL in its permit to
account for the revised PTE, either
pursuant to OAR 340–218–
0200(1)(a)(A), as applicable, or upon
permit renewal.
Georgia-Pacific—Toledo LLC—Order
21–0005
• By July 31, 2026, the permittee shall
complete a NOX reduction project that
includes the installation of low NOX
burners, flue gas recirculation, and
CEMS on the three boilers, EU–11, EU–
13, and EU–18 in order to achieve an
emissions rate no greater than 0.09 lb/
MMBtu on a seven day rolling basis.
• Or, the permittee shall complete
replacement of EU–11, EU–13, and EU–
18 with new technology no later than
July 3l, 2031. PSELs for the replacement
shall be 889 tons per year of NOX, 437
tons per year of SO2, and 311 tons per
year of PM10, or the PSELs of the
replaced units, whichever is lower.
Under this option, the permittee shall
not operate EU–11, EU–13, and EU–18
after July 31, 2031.
Georgia Pacific—Wauna Mill—Order
No. 04–0004, Amendment No. 04–004–
A1
• NOX PSEL reductions phased from
2022 to 2026.
• By December 31, 2024, the
permittee shall replace the existing
Yankee burner with a low NOX burner
achieving less than or equal to 0.03
pounds per million British thermal unit
(lb/MMBtu).
• For Paper Machine 6: TAD1 Burner
and TAD2 Burner, and Paper Machine
7: TAD1 Burner and TAD 2 Burner, the
permittee shall have a NOX emissions
rate no greater than 0.06 lb/MMBtu for
each emissions point and shall use this
emission rate for calculating compliance
with PSELs.
• By July 31, 2026, the permittee shall
install low NOX burners, flue gas
recirculation, and CEMS on the power
boiler to achieve an emissions rate no
greater than 0.09 lb/MMBtu on a seven
day rolling basis.
International Paper Company—
Springfield Mill—Order 208850 and
Associated Permit Conditions 157
• Effective July 31, 2022, the
permittee’s combined assigned PSELs
for the power boiler, package boiler,
lime kilns and recovery furnace shall be
237 tons per year for SO2, 962 tons per
year for NOX, and 177 tons per year for
PM10, as a 12-month rolling average.
157 Permit conditions: 186–189: PSEL monitoring
for PM10, NOX and SO2, 192: recordkeeping
requirements, and 198: PSEL compliance reporting.
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• On the effective date of the SAFO,
the permittee agrees to a fuel restriction
to use natural gas for the power boiler
and package boiler, except that it may
operate on ultra-low sulfur diesel for no
more than 48 hours per year and when
needed for natural gas curtailments.
• On the effective date of the SAFO,
the permittee agrees to a fuel restriction
to use natural gas and black liquor
solids for the recovery furnace, except
that it may operate on ultra-low sulfur
diesel for no more than 48 hours per
year and when needed for natural gas
curtailments.
• On the effective date of the SAFO,
the permittee agrees to a fuel restriction
to use natural gas, product turpentine,
and product methanol for the lime kilns,
except that it may operate the lime kilns
on ultra-low sulfur diesel for no more
than 48 hours per year and when
needed for natural gas curtailments.
• By December 31, 2022, the
permittee shall install CEMS and
measure the emissions of NOX from the
power boiler.
• On and after January 31, 2025,
International Paper shall meet the
following emission limit: a 0.25 lb NOX/
MMBtu on a 7-day rolling average from
the power boiler.
• On and after December 31, 2025,
the assigned PSEL for the power boiler
is: 179 tons per year for NOX, as a 12month rolling average.
In Oregon’s November 22, 2023
supplement to the regional haze SIP,158
ODEQ provided technical background
information to demonstrate that the
newly imposed conditions under Order
208850 at International Paper Company
Springfield Mill for the second regional
haze planning period provide more
stringent emissions control than the
prior emission limits and methods cited
by the EPA in our determination that
this source was not subject-to-BART in
the first regional haze planning
period.159
Owens-Brockway—Order 26–1876 and
Associated Permit Conditions 160
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• Permanent shutdown of Furnace A.
• PSEL limit for combined PM10 +
NOX + SO2 = 274.95 tons per year which
results in a Q/d = 4.99, consistent with
OAR 340–223–0110(2)(b)(A).
158 Page
4.
FR 12651, March 8, 2011, at page 12660.
160 Permit conditions: 33. Monitor and Record: for
PM10, SO2, and NOX, 34. General Testing
Requirement, 35. EU4 Emission Factor Verification
Testing Requirements: for PM10, NOX, SO2, 36–38.
General Monitoring and Recordkeeping
Requirements, 39–42. General Recordkeeping
Requirements, 43–46. General Reporting
Requirements, and 47–48. Semi-annual and Annual
Reports.
159 75
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Willamette Falls Paper Company—
Order 03–2145 and Associated Permit
Conditions 161
• Effective August 1, 2022, the
permittee’s PSELs shall be 20 tons per
year for PM10, 240 tons per year for
NOX, and 5 tons per year for SO2.
• On the effective date of the SAFO,
the permittee agrees to a restriction that
the only fuel the permittee may combust
in Boiler 1, Boiler 2 and Boiler 3 is
natural gas, except for ultra-low sulfur
diesel for no more than 48 hours per
year.
Gas Transmission Northwest
Compressor Station 13—OAH CASE
NO. 2021–ABC–4835 DEQ CASE NO.
AQ/RH–HQ–2021–140 and Associated
Permit Conditions 162
• By July 31, 2026, install and
maintain SCR and an associated
monitoring system on both Turbines
13C and 13D.
• Alternatively, by no later than July
31, 2031, replace Turbines 13C and 13D
with new technology that meets the
most recent permitting standards and
requirements for new emission units
(including but not limited to New
Source Performance Standards) in place
at the time of the respondent submitting
a permit application for the project.
Gilchrist Forest Products—Permit 18–
0005–TV–01, Addendum No. 1
• Installation of an electrostatic
precipitator on boilers B–1 and B–2.
• A PM10 PSEL reduction from 172
tpy to 77 tpy.
Northwest Pipeline LLC—Oregon City
Compressor Station—Order 03–2729,
Amendment 03–2729–A1
• Under the SAFO, the permittee
agrees to replace two reciprocating
internal combustion engines to meet the
emission limits and requirements of the
most recent New Source Performance
Standard. No later than July 1, 2026,
ODEQ and the permittee will meet to
discuss what permitting needs are
necessary for the replacement, with
replacement complete no later than July
31, 2031.
161 Permit conditions: 40a–40g. Monitoring
Requirement: for PM10, NOX, SO2, 41. Visible
Emission Monitoring Procedure, 42. Source Testing
and Emission Factor Verification Procedure: for
PM10, NOX, SO2, 43–45. General Monitoring
Requirements, 46–49. General Recordkeeping
Requirements, 50–53. General Reporting
Requirements, and 54–56. Semi-annual and Annual
Reports.
162 Permit conditions: 24–26. General Monitoring
Requirements, 32–35. General Recordkeeping
Requirements, 37–40. General Reporting
Requirements, and 41–44. Semi-Annual and
Annual Reports.
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Cascade Pacific Pulp, LLC—Halsey Pulp
Mill—Order 22–3501–A2
• By June 30, 2024, the permittee
shall eliminate the use of #6 fuel oil.
• No later than July 31, 2031, replace
power boiler #2 with a new emissions
unit that will achieve a limit of 0.036 lbs
NOX/MMBtu as a 30-day rolling
average.
• Upon replacement of power boiler
#2, limit emissions from power boiler #1
to no more than 27 tons of NOX per
year.
Roseburg Forest Products, Dillard—
Order 10–0025
• By July 31, 2022, the permittee shall
install CEMS to measure the emissions
of NOX from Boiler 1, Boiler 2 and
Boiler 6.
• From January 31, 2023, until June
30, 2025, the permittee shall meet the
following emission limits: 0.30 lb NOX/
MMBtu on a 7-day rolling average at
Boiler 1; 0.30 lb NOX/MMBtu on a 7-day
rolling average at Boiler 2; 0.28 lb NOX/
MMBtu on a 7-day rolling average at
Boiler 6; Or average of emissions from
boiler 1, boiler 2, and boiler 6 of 0.28
lb NOX/MMBtu (7-day rolling average).
• By January 31, 2024, the permittee
shall notify ODEQ whether the
permittee will comply with the
emission limits below using boiler
optimization or through installation of
SNCR. If permittee determines SNCR is
necessary to meet emission limits,
SNCR shall be installed, permitted, and
operational by June 30, 2025.
• On and after June 30, 2025, the
permittee shall meet the following
emission limits: 0.27 lb NOX/MMBtu on
a 7-day rolling average at Boiler 1; 0.26
lb NOX/MMBtu on a 7-day rolling
average at Boiler 2; 0.26 lb NOX/MMBtu
on a 7-day rolling average at Boiler 6; or
average of emissions from Boiler 1,
Boiler 2, and Boiler 6 of 0.25 lb NOX/
MMBtu (7-day rolling average).
The EPA notes that each of the
controls and emission limits discussed
above limit emissions of one or more of
the ‘‘round II regional haze pollutants.’’
In most cases, Oregon determined that
NOX was the dominant visibilityimpairing pollutant from the sources
and thus imposed additional NOX
controls or submitted the enforceable
emission limitations for existing NOX
controls. For some emission units
within the stationary sources discussed
in the previous paragraphs, Oregon did
not adopt additional pollutant-specific
controls, primarily for PM10 and SO2.
Based on a review of the four-factor
analyses, Oregon determined that these
emission units either already employ
existing effective controls or, by virtue
of design, have insignificant emissions.
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In particular, Oregon determined that
PM10 emissions for most of the relevant
emission units have been and continue
to be controlled by multiclones,
electrostatic precipitators, baghouses, or
other feasible technology that
consistently achieves >90% control
efficiency for PM10. As a general matter,
the four-factor analyses indicated that
PM10 controls have been in place for
many years to meet Federal NESHAP,
NSPS, or Oregon SIP requirements and
that these controls must remain in place
to meet these continuing standards for
the duration of the second planning
period.163 Accordingly, Oregon
determined that these existing effective
controls were not necessary for
reasonable progress for the second
planning period.
In other cases, Oregon determined
that the nature and mode of operation
of particular sources yielded
insignificant emissions. For example, at
the Boise Cascade Wood Products,
LLC’s Elgin and Medford Mills the
sulfur content of wood derived fuel is
low, and the majority of the sulfur
content is combined with the ash
products of combustion.164 Thus,
Oregon either did not select these
emission units for four-factor analysis
for a given pollutant or determined that
the existing emission limits for a given
pollutant were not necessary for
reasonable progress. Therefore, Oregon
focused primarily on NOX and SO2,
with PM10 analysis and limits when
warranted. Accordingly, to the extent
that Oregon did not submit the
enforceable emission limitations for
PM10 or other pollutant controls for
certain emission units within a given
source selected for four-factor analysis
the EPA proposes to determine that
Oregon’s selection of emission units to
review under the four factors is
consistent with the Regional Haze Rule
and that the existing effective controls
are not necessary for reasonable
progress.
Facilities for Which No Controls Were
Cost-Effective
ODEQ reviewed the four-factor
analyses from the facilities and adjusted
for consistency with basic factors such
as using current prime rate (3.25%), 30year lifetime, and calculation of cost
effective controls using PSEL emissions
163 See, e.g., 115_18-0013Collins4FA.pdf at 3–4;
104_haze_BoiseCasecade-ElginFFA.pdf at 2–14;
107_haze-BoiseCascade-Medford-FFA.pdf; 110_
haze-CascadePacificPulp-HalseyMill-FFA.pdf at 2–
8, 3–5, 4–6–4–11, 3; 117_180014ColumbiaForestProducts4FA.pdf at 11.
164 See 104_haze_BoiseCasecade-ElginFFA.pdf at
2–15; 107_haze-BoiseCascade-Medford-FFA.pdf at
2–4.
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limits rather than actual emissions.
After initial review, ODEQ ruled out
control devices for which the cost of
control was greater than $10,000 per ton
or provided an emissions reduction
(using emissions at PSEL) of less than
20 tons per year. In letters sent August
and September 2020, ODEQ notified 6
facilities with the determination that the
agency did not find any controls
deemed cost effective at the $10,000/ton
threshold.165 These facilities were
Pacific Wood Laminates, Inc., Swanson
Group Mfg. L.L.C., Ochoco Lumber
Company, Columbia Forest Products,
Inc., Collins Products, L.L.C., and
Woodgrain Millwork L.L.C.—
Particleboard. In order to ensure no
future impairment to visibility from
these facilities, ODEQ submitted Title V
permits for these facilities to incorporate
into the SIP permitting conditions for
these existing controls relevant to the
regional haze program. The EPA
reviewed these four-factor analyses, and
we propose to find that ODEQ’s
determinations for these sources are
reasonable and consistent with 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(i) and (iii).
The EPA’s Proposed Approval Oregon’s
Long-Term Strategy for Stationary
Sources
The EPA reviewed ODEQ’s four-factor
analyses, determinations of controls
necessary for reasonable progress, and
submitted SAFOs and permit
conditions. Based on this review, the
EPA proposes to determine that
Oregon’s long-term strategy meets the
requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i)
through (iii). Oregon submitted
numerous four-factor analyses and
demonstrated that its determination of
controls necessary for reasonable
progress were an outgrowth of its
consideration of the four statutory
factors. Notably, Oregon’s $10,000 cost
per ton threshold is one of, if not the
highest, cost thresholds established by
any state specifically for evaluating
controls for the regional haze program.
Ultimately, Oregon imposed new,
substantive controls at 13 facilities
(covering over 36 emissions units) and
established emissions limits at an
additional 10 facilities with low actual
emissions to ensure that future
emissions do not rise above the
screening threshold.
The EPA acknowledges that the final
control measures imposed by the SAFOs
and permits described in the preceding
paragraphs in some cases differ from
Oregon’s preliminary control
165 The facility-submitted four-factor analyses and
ODEQ response letters are included in the docket
for this action.
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13643
determinations contained in ODEQ’s
January 21, 2021, letters. We reviewed
the four-factor analyses and Chapter 3.7
of Oregon’s regional haze SIP, FacilitySpecific Findings and Results, which
contain a brief overview of the sitespecific and feasibility concerns ODEQ
considered in making final
determinations, along with additional
supporting information contained in the
November 22, 2023, supplement.
Based on this review, the changes
from preliminary to final control
determinations appear reasonable and
consistent with the Regional Haze Rule.
Importantly, Oregon’s iterative process
to identify and adopt technically
feasible, cost-effective controls
reinforces that the State considered the
four statutory factors to determine the
controls necessary for reasonable
progress.
Considering ODEQ’s conservative
screening methodology to use permitted
emissions limits, the high $10,000 cost
per ton reduction threshold Oregon
used in reviewing the four-factor
analyses submitted by the sources, the
conservative methodology of evaluating
controls using permitted emissions
limits, the number of new emissions
controls imposed specifically under the
regional haze program, and the
significant emissions reductions
achieved through the SAFOs described
in the previous paragraphs, we are
proposing to determine that Oregon
satisfied the requirement to determine
the emission reduction measures that
are necessary to make reasonable
progress by considering the costs of
compliance, the time necessary for
compliance, the energy and non-air
quality environmental impacts of
compliance, and the remaining useful
life of any potentially affected
anthropogenic source of visibility
impairment.
c. Additional Long-Term Strategy
Requirements
The consultation requirements of 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii) provide that states
must consult with other states that are
reasonably anticipated to contribute to
visibility impairment in a Class I area to
develop coordinated emission
management strategies containing the
emission reductions measures that are
necessary to make reasonable progress.
Section 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(A) and (B)
require states to consider the emission
reduction measures identified by other
states as necessary for reasonable
progress and to include agreed upon
measures in their SIPs, respectively.
Section 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C) speaks to
what happens if states cannot agree on
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what measures are necessary to make
reasonable progress.
Oregon participated in and provided
documentation of the WRAP intra- and
inter-regional planning organization
consultation processes in the
submission.166 Oregon also had direct
consultations with California, Idaho,
Nevada, and Washington for sources
where a Q/d analysis showed potential
impacts on Oregon Class I areas or
where Oregon sources may impact other
states, as discussed in section IV.C of
this preamble. The Oregon SIP
submissions contain the list of out-ofstate facilities potentially impacting
Oregon Class I areas and a summary of
the four-factor analysis process and the
potential controls pursued by Idaho,
Nevada, and Washington at the time of
the consultation.167 During the state-tostate consultation and WRAP process,
no other states identified measures for
Oregon to consider. Therefore, we are
proposing to determine that the Oregon
regional haze plan satisfies 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(ii)(A) and (B). Oregon also
satisfies 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C) by
having participated in the WRAP’s
consultation process and direct
consultation with California, Idaho,
Nevada, and Washington. No
disagreements were raised by other
states with respect to Oregon’s planning
efforts. We propose to determine that
Oregon has satisfied the consultation
requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii).
The documentation requirement of 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii) provides that states
may meet their obligations to document
the technical bases on which they are
relying to determine the emission
reduction measures that are necessary to
make reasonable progress through a
regional planning organization, as long
as the process has been ‘‘approved by all
State participants.’’ As explained above,
Oregon chose to rely on WRAP
technical information, modeling, and
analysis to support development of its
long-term strategy, as well as the State’s
own analyses. The WRAP technical
analyses on which Oregon relied are
listed in the State’s SIP submissions and
include source contribution
assessments, information on each of the
four factors and visibility modeling
information for selected sources, and
evaluations of emission reduction
strategies based on the anticipated
control measures.168 Oregon also
166 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 6.2. Consultations with States.
167 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 3.3 Impact of facilities in other states on
Oregon Class 1 areas.
168 April 29, 2022, Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 5.1 Reasonable progress goals for Class I
areas.
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provided supplemental information to
demonstrate the technical bases and
emission information on which it relied
to determine the emission reductions
measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress. Based on the
documentation provided by the State,
we propose to find that Oregon has
satisfied the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iii).
Section 51.308(f)(2)(iii) also requires
that the emissions information
considered to determine the measures
that are necessary to make reasonable
progress include information on
emissions for the most recent year for
which the state has submitted triennial
emissions data to the EPA (or a more
recent year), with a 12-month
exemption period for newly submitted
data. Oregon’s SIP submission included
2017 NEI emission data for regional
haze forming pollutants. Based on
Oregon’s consideration and analysis of
emissions data in their SIP submissions,
the EPA proposes to find that Oregon
has satisfied the emissions information
requirement in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii).
We also propose to find that Oregon
reasonably considered the five
additional factors in 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iv) in developing its longterm strategy. Pursuant to 40
CFR51.308(f)(2)(iv)(A), Oregon detailed
the existing and ongoing State and
Federal emission control programs that
contribute to emission reductions
through 2028. The Oregon regional haze
SIP highlights the State’s aggressive
programs for mobile sources, including
Oregon’s adoption of California rules for
medium- and heavy-duty on-road
vehicles, Low Emission Vehicle and
ZEV standards for passenger vehicles,
and a state clean fuels program.169 Many
of these same measures, as well as other
measures for the nonroad mobile source
category, also mitigate the impacts of
construction activities as required by 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(B).170
Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(C),
source retirements and replacement
schedules are addressed in Chapter 4.4
Necessary Emission Reduction
Measures, On-going Air Pollution
Control Programs and Source
Retirement/Replacement of Oregon’s
April 29, 2022, submission. The primary
source retirement considered in
developing the 2028 emission
projections was permanent closure of
the coal-fired power plant in Boardman,
169 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 4.5 Measures to Mitigate Impacts of
Construction Activities and Mobile Source
Strategies.
170 Ibid.
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as required under the regional haze plan
for the first implementation period.
In considering smoke management as
required in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(D),
Oregon explained, in Chapter 4.6 Smoke
Management Practices and Programs
and Area Source Strategies that it
addresses smoke management through
its SIP-approved smoke management
plan 171 and open burning rules.172
Open burn rules limit all types of open
burning within the State and require
that, where open burning is allowed, it
is conducted only after obtaining
appropriate permits for burning in
specific locations on approved dates.
Oregon also has several existing
measures that help improve visibility at
Class I areas including SIP-approved
residential woodstove restrictions.173
Oregon considered the anticipated net
effect of projected changes in emissions
as required by 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(E)
by discussing, in Chapter 2.5 Source
Apportionment of Visibility Impairment
and Weighted Emission Potential of its
April 29, 2022, submission, the
photochemical modeling for the 2018–
2028 period it conducted in
collaboration with the WRAP.
Because Oregon has reasonably
considered each of the five additional
factors the EPA proposes to find that
Oregon has satisfied the requirements of
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv).
F. Reasonable Progress Goals
Section 51.308(f)(3) contains the
requirements pertaining to reasonable
progress goals for each Class I area.
Because Oregon is host to Class I areas,
it is subject to both 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(i) and, potentially, to (ii).
Section 51.308(f)(3)(i) requires a state in
which a Class I area is located to
establish reasonable progress goals—one
each for the most impaired and clearest
days—reflecting the visibility
conditions that will be achieved at the
end of the implementation period as a
result of the emission limitations,
compliance schedules and other
measures required under paragraph
(f)(2) to be in states’ long-term strategies,
as well as implementation of other
Clean Air Act requirements. The longterm strategies as reflected by the
reasonable progress goals must provide
for an improvement in visibility on the
most impaired days relative to the
baseline period and ensure no
degradation on the clearest days relative
to the baseline period. Section
171 86
FR 27976, May 25, 2021.
FR 47122, October 11, 2017.
173 OAR Division 262—Heat Smart Program for
Residential Woodstoves and Other Solid Fuel
Heating Devices.
172 82
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51.308(f)(3)(ii) applies in circumstances
in which a Class I area’s reasonable
progress goals for the most impaired
days represents a slower rate of
visibility improvement than the uniform
rate of progress calculated under 40 CFR
51.308(f)(1)(vi). Under 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A), if the state in which
a Class I area is located establishes a
reasonable progress goal for the most
impaired days that provides for a slower
rate of visibility improvement than the
uniform rate of progress, the state must
demonstrate that there are no additional
emission reduction measures for
anthropogenic sources or groups of
sources in the state that would be
reasonable to include in its long-term
strategy. Section 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B)
requires that if a state contains sources
that are reasonably anticipated to
contribute to visibility impairment in a
Class I area in another state, and the
reasonable progress goal for the most
impaired days in that Class I area is
above the uniform rate of progress, the
upwind state must provide the same
demonstration.
Chapters 2.1 Most Impaired Days and
2.2 Clearest Days of Oregon’s regional
haze SIP summarize baseline visibility
conditions (i.e., visibility conditions
during the baseline period) for the most
impaired and clearest days, as well as
information on natural visibility
conditions and the calculated URP in
2018 and 2028. Chapter 5.1 Reasonable
progress goals for Class I Areas shows
the 2028 RPGs for the most impaired
days and clearest days. The 2028 RPG
projections are based on WRAP
modeling which represents regulations
on the books as of 2020 plus stationary
source controls recommended from
ODEQ’s review of the four-factor
analyses submittals. The modeled 2028
RPGs for the most impaired days are
presented in table 5 of this preamble,
along with adjusted and unadjusted
2028 URP glidepaths as calculated by
the EPA.174
TABLE 5—REASONABLE PROGRESS GOALS FOR THE MOST IMPAIRED DAYS
Baseline
2000–2004
(dv)
Monitor
ID
Class I area
MOHO
THSI ....
Mt. Hood Wilderness Area ..............................................................
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness
Areas.
Crater Lake National Park; Diamond Peak, Mountain Lakes, and
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Areas.
Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area ...........................................................
Strawberry Mountain and Eagle Cap Wilderness Areas ................
Hells Canyon Wilderness Area .......................................................
CRLA ...
KALM ..
STAR ...
HECA ..
The 2017 Regional Haze Rule
included a provision that allows states
to propose an adjustment to the
glidepath to account for impacts from
anthropogenic sources outside the U.S.
if the adjustment has been developed
through scientifically valid data and
methods. The EPA’s visibility guidance
states ‘‘to calculate the proposed
adjustment(s), the State must add the
estimated impact(s) to the natural
visibility condition and compare the
baseline visibility condition for the most
impaired days to the resulting sum.’’ In
2019, the EPA conducted modeling to
assist states in the development of
Regional Haze SIPs for the second
implementation period. In particular,
the modeling provided the EPA’s first
comprehensive estimate of international
Current
conditions
2014–2018
(dv)
WRAP
2028
RPGs
(dv)
Unadjusted
glidepath
20% most
impaired
days
(dv)
EPA 2028
default
adjusted
glidepath
(dv)
12.10
12.80
9.27
11.28
8.50
10.86
9.90
10.60
10.71
11.62
9.36
7.98
7.72
7.70
8.85
13.34
14.53
16.51
11.97
11.19
12.33
11.63
10.47
11.66
11.13
11.35
12.53
11.87
12.69
13.93
anthropogenic emissions contributions
to visibility impairment at Class I
areas.175 ODEQ chose not to adjust the
glidepath to account for impacts from
anthropogenic sources outside the U.S.
As noted in Chapter 2.3 Emissions
Inventory Analysis of Oregon’s regional
haze SIP submission, the 2017 SO2
inventory is dominated by PGE
Boardman’s coal-fired power plant in
Morrow County. With the closing of the
plant in October 2020, statewide SO2
emissions declined by 62%. ODEQ
further concludes that at some monitors,
ammonium sulfate is a large contributor
to regional haze formation, but that
contribution seems to be dominated by
international anthropogenic sources and
is projected to decrease by 77% as new
standards for international marine
shipping fuels take effect in 2020.176
Therefore, even though Oregon declined
to adjust the glidepath for international
anthropogenic sources, such as marine
shipping, we believe this is information
relevant to our review. In particular, all
IMPROVE stations for Class I areas in
Oregon have modeled 2028 RPGs below
the 2028 URP glidepath as adjusted for
international anthropogenic
contribution for the most impaired days.
For the most impaired days, the 2028
RPGs also represent an improvement
relative to both baseline visibility
conditions and current visibility
conditions. Similarly, for the clearest
days, the 2028 RPGs also represent an
improvement relative to both baseline
visibility conditions and current
visibility conditions, as shown in table
6 of this preamble.
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TABLE 6—REASONABLE PROGRESS GOALS FOR THE CLEAREST DAYS
Monitor
ID
MOHO
Baseline
2000–2004
(dv)
Class I area
Mt. Hood Wilderness Area .....................................................................................................
174 Availability of Modeling Data and Associated
Technical Support Document for the EPA’s
Updated 2028 Visibility Air Quality Modeling,
September 2019.
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175 Availability of Modeling Data and Associated
Technical Support Document for the EPA’s
Updated 2028 Visibility Air Quality Modeling,
September 2019.
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2.17
Current
conditions
2014–2018
(dv)
WRAP 2028
RPGs
(dv)
1.39
176 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.1 Most Impaired Days.
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TABLE 6—REASONABLE PROGRESS GOALS FOR THE CLEAREST DAYS—Continued
Class I area
THSI ....
CRLA ...
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas ..................................
Crater Lake National Park; Diamond Peak, Mountain Lakes, and Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Areas.
Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area ..................................................................................................
Strawberry Mountain and Eagle Cap Wilderness Areas .......................................................
Hells Canyon Wilderness Area ..............................................................................................
KALM ..
STAR ...
HECA ..
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Baseline
2000–2004
(dv)
Monitor
ID
As noted in the RHR at 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(iii), the reasonable progress
goals are not directly enforceable, but
will be considered by the Administrator
in evaluating the adequacy of the
measures in the implementation plan in
providing for reasonable progress
towards achieving natural visibility
conditions at specific Class I areas.
Regardless of whether we use an
adjusted or unadjusted URP glidepath to
evaluate Oregon’s 2028 RPGs for the
most impaired days, the regulatory
purpose of the RPGs has been fulfilled
because visibility conditions for all
IMPROVE stations have improved since
the baseline period.
That said, because Oregon did not
adjust the glidepath and because the
2028 RPGs for several Class I areas are
above the unadjusted glidepath, the
demonstration requirement under 40
CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A) is triggered.
Oregon addressed this obligation in
Chapter 5.2 Glidepath policy choice
stating, ‘‘DEQ’s policy decision to
represent URP as an unadjusted
glidepath has some effect on whether
2028 visibility projections fall slightly
below or slightly above the glidepath
(primarily at the central and southern
Oregon IMPROVE sites), but DEQ did
not base regulatory stationary source
control decisions on the URP. DEQ
based control decisions on the factors
described in section 3 of this plan,
including analyses based on the four
statutory factors. As discussed in
section III.D. of this preamble, visibility
projections below the glidepath do not
provide ‘safe harbor’ for sources.
The EPA acknowledges Oregon’s
position. The IMPROVE monitoring
stations in the Cascades (THSI and
CRLA) and Kalmiopsis (KALM) that are
projected to have 2028 RPGs at or above
the unadjusted glidepath are the same
IMPROVE monitoring stations that
Oregon demonstrated are highly
impacted by international marine
shipping as described in section IV.E.a.
of this preamble. These emissions are
projected to decrease by 77% due to
new standards for international marine
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shipping fuels which became effective
in 2020.177 Also as described in section
IV.E.a. of this preamble, statewide NOX
emissions are primarily from mobile
sources, at about 80% of the inventory.
The Oregon regional haze SIP highlights
the State’s aggressive programs for
mobile sources, including Oregon’s
adoption of California rules for mediumand heavy-duty on-road vehicles, Low
Emission Vehicle and ZEV standards for
passenger vehicles, and the State’s clean
fuels program, representing one of the
most stringent mobile source programs
allowed under the Federal Clean Air
Act.
Section 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A) requires
that the state provide an assessment of
the number of years it would take to
attain natural visibility conditions if
visibility improvement were to continue
at the rate of progress selected by the
state as reasonable for the
implementation period. Because these
two source categories described in the
prior paragraphs, mobile source
standards and international marine
shipping, are generally outside the
control of the State, ODEQ did not
directly address this requirement.
However, the State made clear in
Chapter 5.2 Glidepath policy choice that
Oregon fully intends to achieve natural
conditions consistent with the
unadjusted URP glidepath. Thus,
Oregon’s regional haze SIP clearly
indicates that the State’s assessment of
the number of years it would take to
achieve natural visibility conditions
remains unchanged from that predicted
by the URP glidepath at THIS and
CRLA. In support of this argument,
ODEQ highlighted the new standards for
international marine shipping fuels that
will dramatically reduce regional haze
precursors, as discussed above. We are
proposing to determine that this is a
reasonable assumption because the State
RPGs in question are only marginally
177 International Marine Organization. 2020. A
Breath of Fresh Air. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/local
resources/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/
Sulphur%202020%20infographic%202%20page.
pdf.
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Current
conditions
2014–2018
(dv)
WRAP 2028
RPGs
(dv)
3.04
1.69
2.61
1.05
2.53
0.98
6.27
2.17
5.52
5.90
1.39
4.00
5.84
1.29
3.79
above the unadjusted 2028 URP
glidepath and generally well below the
2028 adjusted URP glidepath calculated
by the EPA to account for contribution
outside the State’s control, such as
international marine shipping. See
Table 5 of this preamble.
Given the dominance of these two
emissions source categories on the
overall inventory, it is highly unlikely
that differences in the stationary source
controls selected by Oregon would
significantly impact the projected RPG
modeling for these IMPROVE
monitoring stations. Nevertheless, as
described in section IV.E.b. of this
preamble, considering ODEQ’s
conservative screening methodology to
use permitted emissions limits, the high
$10,000 cost per ton reduction threshold
Oregon used in reviewing the four-factor
analyses submitted by the sources, the
conservative methodology of evaluating
controls using permitted emissions
limits, the number of new emissions
controls imposed specifically under the
regional haze program, and the
significant emissions reductions
achieved, we are proposing to determine
that there are no additional emission
reduction measures for anthropogenic
sources or groups of sources in the State
that may reasonably be anticipated to
contribute to visibility impairment in
the Class I area that would be reasonable
to include in the long-term strategy and
that Oregon has met the robust
demonstration requirement under 40
CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A).
Under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B), a
state that contains sources that are
reasonably anticipated to contribute to
visibility impairment in a Class I area in
another state for which a demonstration
by the other state is required under 40
CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B) must demonstrate
that there are no additional emission
reduction measures that would be
reasonable to include in its long-term
strategy. Oregon’s SIP revision included
the modeled WRAP 2028 visibility
projections for Redwood National Park
and Lava Beds National Monument in
California, both of which have WRAP-
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calculated 2028 RPGs slightly above the
unadjusted 2028 URP glidepath. All
other potentially affected Class I areas in
Idaho (Hells Canyon Wilderness Area—
HECA), and Washington (Mount Rainier
National Park—MORA and Mount
Adam Wilderness Area/Goat Rocks
Wilderness Area—WHPA) had 2028
RPGs below the unadjusted 2028 URP
glidepath.178 Oregon addressed these
two California Class I areas with RPGs
above the unadjusted glidepath using
the same rationale as the demonstration
for 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A).179
In reviewing Oregon’s regional haze
SIP submissions, we note that Oregon
identified one facility, Roseburg Forest
Products—Dillard, as potentially
impacting Redwood National Park with
a Q/d of 10.39 based on 2017 actual
emissions. Oregon’s regional haze SIP
submissions include a four-factor
analysis for the facility and enforceable
controls to reduce NOX emissions.
Specifically, under the SAFO, the
facility was provided the option to meet
emissions limits by optimizing the
operation of the boilers. However,
should the facility not meet these
emissions limits, SNCR must be
installed, permitted, and made
operational by June 30, 2025. With
respect to Lava Beds National
Monument in California, ODEQ
determined that two facilities in Oregon
potentially impact this Class I area.
These facilities are Klamath
Cogeneration Project and Collins
Products, L.L.C. Klamath Cogeneration
Project had a PSEL Q/d=8.69 and an
actual Q/d=3.66, potential impact on
this Class I area. Collins Products, L.L.C.
had a PSEL Q/d=5.48 and an actual Q/
d=2.43, potential impact on this Class I
area. As previously discussed regarding
adequate existing measures, Klamath
Cogeneration Project is already well
controlled with existing SCR on all six
combustion turbine units, as well as the
recent addition of ultra-low NOX
burners on two of the units. Lastly,
Oregon included a four-factor analysis
for Collins Products, L.L.C. in its
regional haze SIP. Based on this
analysis, Oregon determined that
existing controls were necessary for
reasonable progress and that additional
controls were not cost effective.
Therefore, Oregon submitted permit 18–
178 Although Nevada was included in Oregon’s
state to state consultation, Oregon’s Q/d analysis
showed greater potential impacts on California,
Idaho, and Washington Class I areas. Therefore,
Oregon’s RPG analysis focused on those impacted
Class I areas. See April 29, 2022, Oregon SIP
submission, Table 3 3. Oregon facilities with
potential visibility impacts on other states.
179 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 5.2 Glidepath policy choice.
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0013–TV–01 to ensure these controls are
Federally enforceable and permanent.
While the EPA did not independently
conduct our own four-factor analyses on
these sources, we are proposing to
determine, based on Oregon’s
application of a high cost-effectiveness
threshold and the small Q/d based on
actual emissions for two of the sources,
that Oregon has satisfied the obligation
under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B). We
also note that Oregon conducted stateto-state consultation with California,
Idaho, Nevada, Washington, and the
WRAP states generally, and no
disagreements under 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C) were identified by
California or any other state. The EPA
proposes to determine that Oregon has
satisfied the applicable requirements of
40 CFR 51.308(f)(3) relating to RPGs.
G. Monitoring Strategy and Other
Implementation Plan Requirements
Section 51.308(f)(6) specifies that
each comprehensive revision of a state’s
regional haze SIP must contain or
provide for certain elements, including
monitoring strategies, emissions
inventories, and any reporting,
recordkeeping and other measures
needed to assess and report on
visibility. A main requirement of this
section is for states with Class I areas to
submit monitoring strategies for
measuring, characterizing, and reporting
on visibility impairment. Compliance
with this requirement may be met
through participation in the Interagency
Monitoring of Protected Visual
Environments (IMPROVE) network.
Chapter 1.5.2 Monitoring strategy of
Oregon’s SIP submission states, ‘‘Oregon
will continue to participate in the
IMPROVE monitoring network to
measure, characterize and report aerosol
monitoring data for long-term
reasonable progress tracking. DEQ
commits a portion of Oregon’s PM2.5
EPA funding to support the IMPROVE
network. DEQ deems the IMPROVE
network representative of conditions in
all of Oregon’s Class 1 areas and would
rely on the IMPROVE Steering
Committee to advise states if conditions
changed such that additional monitors
were necessary.’’
Section 51.308(f)(6)(i) requires SIPs to
provide for the establishment of any
additional monitoring sites or
equipment needed to assess whether
reasonable progress goals to address
regional haze for all mandatory Class I
Federal areas within the state are being
achieved. Regional haze data for Oregon
Class I areas are collected by the
IMPROVE monitoring stations shown in
table 1 of this preamble. The monitoring
stations are primarily operated by the
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13647
U.S. Forest Service, except for the
CRLA1 IMPROVE monitoring station
which is operated and maintained by
the National Parks Service. As noted in
ODEQ’s monitoring strategy chapter,
Oregon would rely on the IMPROVE
Steering Committee to advise if
conditions changed such that additional
monitors were necessary.
Section 51.308(f)(6)(ii) requires SIPs
to provide for procedures by which
monitoring data and other information
are used in determining the contribution
of emissions from within the state to
regional haze visibility impairment at
mandatory Class I Federal areas both
within and outside the state. Oregon
relied on the WRAP source
apportionment modeling and the
weighted emission potential (WEP)
analysis to help discern the degree to
which different sectors affect visibility
in each Class I area. The source
apportionment and WEP analysis are
based on data from WRAP’s Technical
Support System website 180 for the
Round 2 regional haze analysis.181 We
note that § 51.308(f)(6)(iii) does not
apply to Oregon, because it has Class I
areas.
Section 51.308(f)(6)(iv) requires the
SIP to provide for the reporting of all
visibility monitoring data to the
Administrator at least annually for each
Class I area in the state. As noted in the
prior paragraphs, the IMPROVE
monitoring stations in Oregon are
operated and maintained by the U.S.
Forest Service and the National Park
Service. The monitoring strategy for
Oregon relies upon the continued
availability of the IMPROVE network.
Oregon supports the continued
operation of the IMPROVE network by
committing a portion of Oregon’s PM2.5
EPA funding to support the IMPROVE
network.
Section 51.308(f)(6)(v) requires SIPs to
provide for a statewide inventory of
emissions of pollutants that are
reasonably anticipated to cause or
contribute to visibility impairment,
including emissions for the most recent
year for which data are available and
estimates of future projected emissions.
It also requires a commitment to update
the inventory periodically. Oregon
provides for emissions inventories and
estimates for future projected emissions
by participating in the WRAP regional
planning organization (RPO) and
complying with the EPA’s Air
Emissions Reporting Rule (AERR). In 40
CFR part 51, subpart A, the AERR
180 https://views.cira.colostate.edu/tssv2/.
181 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.5 Source Apportionment of Visibility
Impairment and Weighted Emission Potential.
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requires states to submit updated
emissions inventories for criteria
pollutants to the EPA’s Emissions
Inventory System (EIS) every three
years. The emission inventory data is
used to develop the NEI, which
provides for, among other things, a
triennial state-wide inventory of
pollutants that are reasonably
anticipated to cause or contribute to
visibility impairment.
Chapter 2.3. Emissions Inventory
Analysis of Oregon’s submissions
include tables of NEI data. The source
categories of the emissions inventories
included are: (1) point sources; (2)
nonpoint sources; (3) non-road mobile
sources; and (4) on-road mobile sources.
Oregon included NEI emissions
inventories based on 2017, the most
recent year for which data are available.
Oregon observed that statewide NOX
emissions are primarily from mobile
sources, at about 80% of the inventory,
with another 13% of the inventory
coming from fuel combustion. The 2017
SO2 inventory is largely overwhelmed
by PGE Boardman’s coal-fired power
plant in Morrow County. With the
closing of the coal-fired operations in
October 2020, those SO2 emissions have
been eliminated, and the remainder of
the emissions in the inventory come
from fuel combustion and prescribed
fires. For particulate matter, major
source sectors include prescribed fire
and agriculture, comprising 77% of the
anthropogenic inventory.
Section 51.308(f)(6)(v) also requires
states to include estimates of future
projected emissions and include a
commitment to update the inventory
periodically. Oregon relied on the
WRAP 2028 emissions projections for
WRAP states. WRAP completed two
2028 projected emissions modeling
cases—a 2028 base case that considers
only on-the-books controls and a 2028
control case that considers
implementation of the controls based on
ODEQ’s review of four-factor analyses
submitted by the screened in sources.182
The EPA proposes to find that Oregon
has met the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(6) as described in the prior
paragraphs, including through its
continued participation in the
IMPROVE network and the WRAP RPO
and its on-going compliance with the
AERR, and that no further elements are
necessary at this time for Oregon to
assess and report on visibility pursuant
to 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6)(vi).
182 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 5.1 Reasonable progress goals for Class I
Areas.
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H. Requirements for Periodic Reports
Describing Progress Towards the
Reasonable Progress Goals
Section 51.308(f)(5) requires that
periodic comprehensive revisions of
states’ regional haze plans also address
the progress report requirements of 40
CFR 51.308(g)(1) through (5). The
purpose of these requirements is to
evaluate progress towards the applicable
reasonable progress goals for each Class
I area within the state and each Class I
area outside the state that may be
affected by emissions from within that
state. Sections 51.308(g)(1) and (2) apply
to all states and require a description of
the status of implementation of all
measures included in a state’s first
implementation period regional haze
plan and a summary of the emission
reductions achieved through
implementation of those measures.
Section 51.308(g)(3) applies only to
states with Class I areas within their
borders and requires such states to
assess current visibility conditions,
changes in visibility relative to baseline
(2000–2004) visibility conditions, and
changes in visibility conditions relative
to the period addressed in the first
implementation period progress report.
Section 51.308(g)(4) applies to all states
and requires an analysis tracking
changes in emissions of pollutants
contributing to visibility impairment
from all sources and sectors since the
period addressed by the first
implementation period progress report.
This provision further specifies the year
or years through which the analysis
must extend depending on the type of
source and the platform through which
its emission information is reported.
Finally, 40 CFR 51.308(g)(5), which also
applies to all states, requires an
assessment of any significant changes in
anthropogenic emissions within or
outside the state have occurred since the
period addressed by the first
implementation period progress report,
including whether such changes were
anticipated and whether they have
limited or impeded expected progress
towards reducing emissions and
improving visibility.
Oregon’s submission describes the
status of measures of the long-term
strategy from the first implementation
period. The most significant was the
amendment of the PGE Boardman Title
V permit to include conditions requiring
BART control installation and to
permanently cease burning coal in the
main boiler by December 31, 2020. In
Oregon’s 2017 5-year progress report,
ODEQ reported that in 2011, PGE
Boardman installed low NOX burners
with a modified over-fire air system and
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in 2014, BART SO2 controls, consisting
of a dry sorbent injection (DSI) system.
PGE Boardman was meeting BART NOX
and SO2 emission limitations. A second
BART SO2 emission limit was required
in 2018 and the coal-fired facility closed
permanently by December 2020.
Chapter 2.1.2 Emission Reductions
Achieved by SIP Measures of Oregon’s
SIP submissions show the most recent
2017 NEI data for sources subject to
control in the first implementation
period. Notably, SO2 emissions declined
dramatically with the 2020 closure of
the PGE Boardman coal-fired power
plant. The EPA proposes to find that
Oregon has met the requirements of 40
CFR 51.308(g)(1) and (2) because its SIP
submissions describe the measures
included in the long-term strategy from
the first implementation period, as well
as the status of their implementation
and the emission reductions achieved
through such implementation.
Oregon’s SIP submissions included
summaries of the visibility conditions
and the trend of the 5-year averages
through 2018 at Class I area in the
State.183 As shown in table 2 of this
preamble, the SIP submissions included
the 5-year baseline (2000–2004)
visibility conditions for the clearest and
most impaired days. The SIP
submissions also included the current 5year status (2014–2018) for the clearest
and most impaired days. The SIP
submissions also illustrated in Figures
5.3 to 5.8 the visibility metrics levels at
Oregon Class I areas, including the 5year rolling average for the clearest and
most impaired days.184 The EPA
therefore proposes to find that Oregon
has satisfied the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(g)(3).
Pursuant to § 51.308(g)(4), as part of
the November 22, 2023 supplement to
the submission,185 Oregon provided a
summary of emissions of NOX, SO2,
PM10, PM2.5, VOCs, and NH3 from all
sources and activities, including from
point, nonpoint, non-road mobile, and
on-road mobile sources, for the time
period from 2002 to 2021 (the most
recent air pollutant emissions trends
data available in the NEI at the time).186
Oregon also included a detailed analysis
of SO2, NOX, PM10 emissions for 2017
in the April 29, 2022 submission.
The reductions achieved by Oregon
emission control measures are seen in
the emissions inventory. Based on
183 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapters 2.1. Most Impaired Days and 2.2. Clearest
Days.
184 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 5 Uniform Rate of Progress.
185 Oregon RH Emission Trends.xlsx.
186 https://www.epa.gov/air-emissionsinventories/air-pollutant-emissions-trends-data.
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Oregon’s SIP submissions, and the
supplemental information in the
‘‘Oregon RH Emission Trends’’
spreadsheet included in the docket for
this action, NOX emissions have
continuously declined in Oregon from
2002 through 2021, especially in the
point, nonroad, and onroad mobile
sectors. NOX emissions are expected to
continue to decrease as fleet turnover
occurs and older more polluting
vehicles and equipment are replaced by
newer, cleaner ones. During that period,
onroad sources contributed almost half
of the emissions at 46%, followed by
nonroad sources contributing 29%, and
NEI point and nonpoint sources
contributing 14%. Emissions of SO2
have shown a significant decline in
Oregon over the period 2002 to 2021,
particularly in the point, and onroad
and nonroad mobile sectors. NEI point
and nonpoint emissions have declined
85%. Onroad SO2 mobile source
emissions have declined 96% and
nonroad sources have declined 97%.
These reductions are due in part to
closure of the PGE Boardman coal-fired
power plant, as well as low sulfur fuel
regulations. PM10 emissions steadily
decreased in the point, nonpoint,
onroad, and nonroad categories for the
period from 2002 to 2021. NEI point and
nonpoint PM10 emissions declined 62%.
Onroad mobile source emissions
declined 29% and nonroad sources
declined 68% for PM10. PM2.5 emissions
declined 49% for the period from 2002
to 2021. Onroad mobile source
emissions declined 63% and nonroad
sources declined 68% for PM2.5 due to
Federal engine standards. VOC
emissions declined 65% for the period
2002 to 2021 in part due to Federal new
engine standards for onroad and
nonroad vehicles and equipment, the
State low emission vehicle programs,
and SIP-approved area source rules.
Ammonia (NH3) emissions declined
34% for the period 2002 to 2021, with
onroad mobile source emissions
declining 30% due to Federal engine
standards.
The EPA is proposing to find that the
requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(g)(4) are
satisfied by providing emissions
information for NOX, SO2, PM10, PM2.5,
VOCs, and NH3 broken down by type of
source. The emissions data in the SIP
submission 187 and the supplemental
trend information 188 support the
assessment that anthropogenic hazecausing pollutant emissions in Oregon
have decreased during the reporting
period and that changes in emissions
187 April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission,
Chapter 2.3. Emissions Inventory Analysis.
188 Oregon RH Emission Trends.xlsx.
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have not limited or impeded progress in
reducing pollutant emissions and
improving visibility. The EPA is
proposing to find that the requirements
of 40 CFR 51.308(g)(5) are met.
I. Requirements for State and Federal
Land Manager Coordination
Section 169A(d) of the Clean Air Act
requires states to consult with Federal
Land Managers (FLMs) before holding
the public hearing on a proposed
regional haze SIP, and to include a
summary of the Federal Land Managers’
conclusions and recommendations in
the notice to the public. In addition, 40
CFR 51.308(i)(2)’s Federal Land
Manager consultation provision requires
a state to provide FLMs with an
opportunity for consultation that is
early enough in the state’s policy
analyses of its emission reduction
obligation so that information and
recommendations provided by the FLMs
can meaningfully inform the state’s
decisions on its long-term strategy. If the
consultation has taken place at least 120
days before a public hearing or public
comment period, the opportunity for
consultation will be deemed early
enough, Regardless, the opportunity for
consultation must be provided at least
sixty days before a public hearing or
public comment period at the state
level. Section 51.308(i)(2) also provides
two substantive topics on which FLMs
must be provided an opportunity to
discuss with states: assessment of
visibility impairment in any Class I area
and recommendations on the
development and implementation of
strategies to address visibility
impairment. Section 51.308(i)(3)
requires states, in developing their
implementation plans, to include a
description of how they addressed FLM
comments.
Chapter 6.3.2 Consultations with
Federal Land Managers of ODEQ’s April
29, 2022, submission discusses Oregon’s
consultation and coordination with the
FLMs. The FLMs and ODEQ are
partners in the WRAP, and as partners,
engaged early in inter-state coordination
calls and WRAP technical support
system development calls. ODEQ
provided a draft of the regional haze
plan to the U.S. Forest Service and
National Park Service on May 5, 2021.
Additionally, ODEQ met with the
National Park Service on January 9,
2020, September 25, 2020, February 19,
2021, May 27, 2021, June 30, 2021, and
July 15, 2021, to discuss progress and
provide updates on the regional haze
plan. On July 23, 2021, ODEQ made all
requested files available to National
Parks Service on a Google drive,
including an updated summary
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13649
spreadsheet of ODEQ’s findings and
tentative agreements with facilities
about control installation or emission
reduction. ODEQ also met with the U.S.
Forest Service on August 21, 2020,
February 24, 2021, and May 27, 2021.
ODEQ received U.S. Forest Service
written comments on June 23, 2021.
ODEQ received comments from the
National Park service in several
communications between April 2 and
July 15, 2021. ODEQ summarized the
dates and topics of the National Park
Service comments received in table 6–
1 of the April 29, 2022, submission.
Chapter 6.3.4 Federal Land Manager
Comments and DEQ Responses contains
the FLM consultation comments and
ODEQ responses, which were provided
to the public as part of the comment
period on the draft SIP. We have
determined that Oregon provided
adequate opportunity for FLM
consultation, consistent with 40 CFR
51.308(i)(3).
On August 27, 2021, Oregon provided
public notice on the draft SIP
submission and held a public hearing
on October 27, 2021. ODEQ notified the
public, interested parties, the Federal
Land Managers, air quality contacts
from other states and regions, and the
EPA.189 ODEQ accepted written public
comment on the proposed rulemaking
until 4 p.m. on November 1, 2021, after
granting a 30-day extension from the
original end date for public comment.
Similarly, as part of the November 22,
2023, supplement to the regional haze
SIP, ODEQ provided the FLMs a 60-day
consultation opportunity and included
responses to the FLM’s comments in the
draft SIP supplement that went out for
public comment on September 15, 2023.
For the reasons stated in the prior
paragraphs, the EPA proposes to find
that Oregon has satisfied the
requirements under 40 CFR 51.308(i) to
consult with the Federal Land Managers
on its regional haze SIP for the second
implementation period.
V. Proposed Action
The EPA is proposing to approve the
Oregon SIP revision submitted on April
29, 2022, as supplemented on November
22, 2023, as satisfying the regional haze
requirements for the second
implementation period contained in 40
CFR 51.308(f).
The EPA is proposing to approve and
incorporate by reference in 40 CFR
52.1970(c), Table 2—EPA Approved
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) the
following updates to Division 223
189 See ‘‘019_5.1.1 GovDelivery.BulletinDetail
Report.8.27.21’’ included in the docket for this
action.
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Regional Haze Rules, state effective July
26, 2021:
• 340–223–0010 Purpose, for
maintaining reasonable progress and
other requirements associated with
Oregon’s implementation of the Federal
Regional Haze Rule;
• 340–223–0020 Definitions,
updating this section to account for
revised program requirements between
the first regional haze implementation
period and the second implementation
period;
• 340–223–0100 Screening
Methodology for Sources for Round II of
Regional Haze, establishing the criteria
for selecting sources for review under
the regional haze program;
• 340–223–0110 Options for
Compliance with Round II of Regional
Haze, establishing requirements for
sources and compliance options under
the regional haze program;
• 340–223–0120 Four Factor
Analysis, establishing the requirements
for assessing potential controls for
reasonable progress under the regional
haze program; and
• 340–223–0130 Final Orders
Ordering Compliance with Round II of
Regional Haze, establishing ODEQ’s
unilateral order authority and
procedures for contested case hearings
under the regional haze program.
We are proposing to remove from
incorporation by reference in 40 CFR
52.1970(c), Table 2—EPA Approved
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) the
outdated provisions from the first
regional haze implementation period
contained in sections 340–223–0030,
340–223–0040, 340–223–0050, 340–
223–0060, 340–223–0070, and 340–223–
0080, state-effective December 10, 2010,
because the site-specific requirements
contained in those revoked sections are
no longer relevant. Specifically, the
Portland General Electric (PGE) coalfired power plant in Boardman ceased
operation on October 15, 2020, pursuant
to the requirements of the regional haze
plan for the first implementation period
as described in section IV.E. of this
preamble.
In addition to the regulatory
provisions, the EPA is proposing to
approve and incorporate by reference in
40 CFR 52.1970(d), EPA Approved
Oregon Source-Specific Requirements
the source-specific requirements in table
7 of this preamble as part of Oregon’s
long-term strategy for regional haze.
TABLE 7—REGIONAL HAZE LONG-TERM STRATEGY SOURCE-SPECIFIC PROVISIONS
Permit or order number
Ash Grove Cement Company ...............................
Permit No. 01–0029–TV–01 ................................
10/16/2020
Biomass One, L.P .................................................
8/9/2021
Wood Products, LLC—Elgin
Order No ..............................................................
15–0159 ...............................................................
Order No. 31–0006 .............................................
8/12/2021
Wood Products, LLC—Elgin
Permit No. 31–0006–TV–01 ................................
12/5/2016
Wood Products, LLC—Medford ..
Wood Products, LLC—Medford ..
Order No. 15–0004 .............................................
Permit No. 15–0004–TV–01 ................................
8/9/2021
2/20/2020
Cascade Pacific Pulp, LLC—Halsey Pulp Mill .....
Cascades Tissue Group: A Division of Cascades
Holding US Inc.
Cascades Tissue Group: A Division of Cascades
Holding US Inc.
Collins Products, L.L.C .........................................
Order No. 22–3501–A2 .......................................
Order No. 05–1849 .............................................
8/25/2023
8/18/2021
Permit No. 05–1849–TV–01 ................................
04/6/2018
Permit No. 18–0013–TV–01 ................................
1/26/2015
Columbia Forest Products, Inc .............................
Permit No. 18–0014–TV–01 ................................
9/26/2017
EVRAZ Inc ............................................................
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC—Compressor
Station 12.
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC—Compressor
Station 12.
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC—Compressor
Station 13.
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC—Compressor
Station 13.
Georgia-Pacific—Toledo LLC ...............................
Order No. 26–1865 .............................................
Order No. 09–0084 .............................................
8/9/2021
8/9/2021
Permit No. 09–0084–TV–01 ................................
8/10/2017
Order No. 03–2729–A1 .......................................
6/1/2022
Permit No. 18–0096–TV–01 ................................
7/11/2018
12/5/2022
Gilchrist Forest Products ......................................
Order No. 21–0005, Amendment No. 21–005–
A1.
Order No. 04–0004, Amendment No. 04–004–
A1.
Permit No. 18–0005–TV–01 ................................
7/25/2023
International Paper—Springfield ...........................
International Paper—Springfield ...........................
Order No. 208850 ...............................................
Permit No. 208850 ..............................................
8/9/2021
10/4/2016
JELD–WEN ...........................................................
Permit No. 18–0006–TV–01 ................................
12/01/2021
JELD–WEN ...........................................................
Kingsford Manufacturing Company ......................
Permit No. 18–0006–TV–01, Addendum No. 1 ..
Permit No. 204402, addendum No. 2 .................
8/11/2022
11/15/2021
Klamath Energy LLC—Klamath Cogeneration .....
Permit No. 18–0003–TV–01 ................................
6/12/2017
Klamath Energy LLC—Klamath Cogeneration .....
Permit No. 18–0003–TV–01, Addendum No. 1 ..
12/8/2020
Boise Cascade
Complex.
Boise Cascade
Complex.
Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade
Georgia Pacific—Wauna Mill ................................
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date
Name of source
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Explanations
Permit conditions (3), (9) through (11), (14), (16)
through (28), (42), (45) through (76), (84)
through (97), (99), (100), and (102) only.
Permit condition (56), (59) through (75), (77),
and (78) only.
Permit conditions (71), (72), and (74) through
(88) only.
Permit conditions (24), (25), (27), and (29)
through (43) only.
Permit conditions (3), (14) through (16), (19)
through (24), (34) through (42), (63) through
(75), and (77) only.
Permit conditions (3), (8) through (20), (22),
(23), (34) through (52), (58) through (66),
(67—introductory paragraph), (67.a), (67.b.iii)
through (67.b.v), and (68) through (70).
Permit conditions (32) through (34) and (37)
through (50) only.
OAH CASE NO. 2021–ABC–04835;
DEQ CASE NO. AQ/RH–HQ–2021–140
Permit conditions (24) through (26), (32) through
(35), and (37) through (44) only.
12/5/2022
Permit conditions (4), (5), (9), (10), (12) through
(19), (41) through (43), (45) through (59), and
(61) only.
Permit conditions (186) through (189), (192),
and (198) only.
Permit conditions (55) through (77) and (80)
through (87) only.
Permit conditions 53 and 53b only.
Permit conditions (71) through (73) and (75)
through (91) only.
Permit conditions (10) through (16), (18), (24)
through (28), (32) through (37), (39) through
(49), (51), (52), and (54), and (56) only.
Permit conditions (3.a), (3.b), (61.l), and
(66.b.xii).
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TABLE 7—REGIONAL HAZE LONG-TERM STRATEGY SOURCE-SPECIFIC PROVISIONS—Continued
State
effective
date
Name of source
Permit or order number
Northwest Pipeline LLC—Baker Compressor Station.
Northwest Pipeline LLC—Baker Compressor Station.
Northwest Pipeline LLC—Oregon City Compressor Station.
Northwest Pipeline LLC—Oregon City Compressor Station.
Ochoco Lumber Company ....................................
Order No. 01–0038, amendment 01–0038–A1 ...
2/1/2022
Permit No. 01–0038–TV–01 ................................
1/12/2017
Order No. 03–2729, amendment 03–2729–A1 ...
2/1/2022
Permit No. 03–2729–TV–01 ................................
2/19/2013
Permit No. 12–0032–ST–01 ................................
6/25/2019
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc .................
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc .................
Pacific Wood Laminates, Inc ................................
Order No. 26–1876 .............................................
Permit No. 26–1876–TV–01 ................................
Permit No. 08–0003–TV–01 ................................
8/9/2021
12/10/2019
12/30/2019
PGE Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Plant ............
PGE Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Plant ............
Order No. 05–2606 .............................................
Permit No. 05–2520 ............................................
8/10/2021
01/21/2009
Roseburg Forest Products—Dillard ......................
Roseburg Forest Products—Medford MDF ..........
Order No. 10–0025 .............................................
Permit No. 15–0073–TV–01 ................................
8/9/2021
08/18/2022
Roseburg Forest Products—Riddle Plywood .......
Permit No. 10–0078–TV–01 ................................
07/31/2019
Swanson Group Mfg. LLC ....................................
Permit No. 10–0045–TV–01 ................................
06/12/2017
Timber Products Co. Limited Partnership ............
Permit No. 15–0025–TV–01 ................................
6/23/2022
Willamette Falls Paper Company .........................
Willamette Falls Paper Company .........................
Woodgrain Millwork LLC—Particleboard ..............
Order No. 03–2145 .............................................
Permit No. 03–2145–TV–01 ................................
Permit No. 31–0002–TV–01 ................................
8/9/2021
2/24/2016
5/24/2021
VI. 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 the regulatory
and source-specific provisions
described in section V. of this preamble.
The EPA has made, and will continue
to make, these materials generally
available through https://
www.regulations.gov and at the EPA
Region 10 Office (please contact the
person identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
preamble for more information).
The EPA is also proposing to remove
from incorporation by reference the
regulatory provisions described in
section V. of this preamble.
VII. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the Clean Air Act, the
Administrator is required to approve a
SIP submission that complies with the
provisions of the Clean Air Act and
applicable Federal regulations. 42
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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 Clean Air Act. Accordingly, this
action merely proposes to approve state
law as meeting Federal requirements
and does not impose additional
requirements beyond those imposed by
state law. For that reason, this proposed
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 14094 (88 FR
21879, April 11, 2023);
• 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
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Explanations
Permit conditions (27) through (30) and (32)
through (43) only.
Permit conditions (7), (19), (25) through (27),
(38), (41), (45), and (50) through (65).
Permit conditions (1.1) through (1.3), (1.6), (2.1)
through (2.5), (4.1) through (4.4), and (5.1)
through (6.2).
Permit conditions (33) through (48) only.
Permit conditions (3), (9), (10), (12) through
(19), (26) through (41), (56) through (71), and
(73) only.
Permit conditions (62) through (66), (68) through
(78), (79.a), (80) through (83), (85), (87),
(88.a), (89.d), (89.f), and (89.i) only.
Permit conditions (44) through (46), (48) through
(61), (63), and (64) only.
Permit conditions (65), (66), (68) through (81)
only.
Permit conditions (4), (10) through (24), (25—introductory paragraph), (25.a) through (25.c),
(27) through (40), (50) through (64), and (66)
only.
Permit conditions (70) through (72) and (74)
through (90) only.
Permit conditions (40) through (55) only.
Permit conditions (3), (12) through (21), (22—introductory paragraph), (22.a), (22.e), (22.f),
(23), (25) though (28), (30) through (35), (37),
(39) through (41), (43), (44), (46), (48), (49),
(51) through (72), (80) through (94), and (96)
only.
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 subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997)
because it approves a state program;
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001); and
• 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 Clean Air Act.
In addition, this proposed action,
pertaining to the Oregon regional haze
SIP submissions for the second planning
period, would not be approved to apply
on any Indian reservation land or in any
other area where the EPA or an Indian
Tribe has demonstrated that a Tribe has
jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian
country, the rulemaking would not have
Tribal implications and would not
impose substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt Tribal law as
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specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
Consistent with EPA policy, the EPA
provided a consultation opportunity to
Tribes located in Oregon, in letters
dated May 4, 2022, included in the
docket for this action.
Executive Order 12898 (Federal
Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994) directs Federal
agencies to identify and address
‘‘disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects’’
of their actions on minority populations
and low-income populations to the
greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law. The EPA defines
environmental justice (EJ) as ‘‘the fair
treatment and meaningful involvement
of all people regardless of race, color,
national origin, or income with respect
to the development, implementation,
and enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies.’’ The EPA
further defines the term fair treatment to
mean that ‘‘no group of people should
bear a disproportionate burden of
environmental harms and risks,
including those resulting from the
negative environmental consequences of
industrial, governmental, and
commercial operations or programs and
policies.’’ The Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality did evaluate
environmental justice considerations as
part of its SIP submittal; the CAA and
applicable implementing regulations
neither prohibit nor require such an
evaluation. The EPA did not perform an
EJ analysis and did not consider EJ in
this action. Consideration of EJ is not
required as part of this action, and there
is no information in the record
inconsistent with the stated goal of
Executive Order 12898 of achieving
environmental justice for people of
color, low-income populations, and
Indigenous peoples.
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List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: February 14, 2024.
Casey Sixkiller,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2024–03529 Filed 2–22–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and
Families
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
45 CFR Part 1355
Table of Contents
RIN 0970–AC98
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis
and Reporting System
Children’s Bureau (CB),
Administration on Children, Youth and
Families (ACYF), Administration for
Children and Families (ACF), U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
ACF proposes to amend the
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and
Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations
that require title IV–E agencies to collect
and report data to ACF on children who
enter out-of-home care, their providers,
and children who have a title IV–E
adoption or guardianship assistance
agreement to collect additional data
related to Indian children.
DATES: In order to be considered, we
must receive written comments on or
before April 23, 2024.
ADDRESSES: ACF encourages the public
to submit comments electronically to
ensure they are received in a timely
manner. Please be sure to include
identifying information on
correspondence. To download an
electronic version of the proposed rule,
please go to https://
www.regulations.gov/. You may submit
comments, identified by docket number
and/or RIN number, by any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: CBComments@acf.hhs.gov.
Include docket number and/or RIN
number in subject line of the message.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number or Regulatory
Information Number (RIN) for this
rulemaking. All comments received will
be posted without change to
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
Docket: Go to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov for access to the
rulemaking docket, including any
background documents and the plainlanguage summary of the proposed rule
of not more than 100 words in length
required by the Providing
Accountability Through Transparency
Act of 2023.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4702
Joe
Bock, The Children’s Bureau, (202) 205–
8618. Telecommunications Relay users
may dial 711 first. Email inquiries to
cbcomments@acf.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sfmt 4702
I. Statutory Authority To Issue NPRM
II. Background on AFCARS and Proposed
Rule Development
III. Implementation Timeframe
IV. Public Participation
V. Section-by-Section Discussion of
Regulatory Provisions
VI. Regulatory Impact Analysis
VII. Tribal Consultation Statement
I. Statutory Authority To Issue NPRM
This NPRM is published under the
authority granted to the Secretary of
Health and Human Services (HHS) by
section 1102 of the Social Security Act
(the Act), 42 U.S.C. 1302. Section 1102
of the Act authorizes HHS to publish
regulations, not inconsistent with the
Act, as may be necessary for the
efficient administration of the functions
for which HHS is responsible under the
Act. Section 479 of the Act (42 U.S.C.
679) mandates HHS regulate a data
collection system for national adoption
and foster care data. Section 474(f) of
the Act (42 U.S.C. 674(f)) requires HHS
to impose penalties for non-compliant
AFCARS data.
II. Background on AFCARS and
Proposed Rule Development
Statute
AFCARS is authorized by section 479
of the Act (42 U.S.C. 679), which
mandates that HHS regulate a data
collection system for national adoption
and foster care data. The regulation at
45 CFR 1356.60(d) and the statute at 42
U.S.C. 674(a)(3) detail cost-sharing
requirements for the Federal and nonFederal share of data collection system
initiation, implementation, and
operation. A title IV–E agency may
claim Federal Financial Participation
(FFP) at the rate of 50 percent for costs
of a data collection system specified by
section 479 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 679).
AFCARS data is used for a variety of
requirements, including but not limited
to, providing national statistics on the
child welfare population, budgeting,
providing reports to Congress, and
monitoring compliance with the title
IV–B and IV–E requirements. Title IV–
E agencies must submit data files on a
semi-annual basis to ACF. AFCARS
regulations were first published in 1993
and states began submitting data in
fiscal year (FY) 1995. AFCARS is
regulated at 45 CFR 1355.41-.47.
E:\FR\FM\23FEP1.SGM
23FEP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13622-13652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03529]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R10-OAR-2023-0600; FRL-11593-01-R10]
Air Plan Approval; OR; Regional Haze Plan for the Second
Implementation Period
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve the regional haze state implementation plan revision submitted
by Oregon on April 29, 2022, as supplemented on November 22, 2023, as
satisfying applicable requirements under the
[[Page 13623]]
Clean Air Act and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule for the program's second
implementation period. The Oregon submission addressed the requirement
that states must periodically revise their long-term strategies for
making reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any
future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of
visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal
areas. The Oregon submission also addressed other applicable
requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze
program. Upon final action, the Oregon submission will become part of
the Oregon SIP.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 25, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R10-
OAR-2023-0600 at https://www.regulations.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, the EPA may publish
any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically
any information you consider to be confidential business information or
other information the disclosure of which is restricted by statute.
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located
outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, please contact
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
For the full EPA public comment policy, information about confidential
business information or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Hunt, EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth
Avenue, Suite 155, Seattle, WA 98101, at (206) 553-6357 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, the use of ``we''
and ``our'' means the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Proposed Action
II. Background and Requirements for Regional Haze Plans
A. Regional Haze Background
B. Roles of Agencies in Addressing Regional Haze
III. Requirements for Regional Haze Plans for the Second
Implementation Period
A. Identification of Class I Areas
B. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and Natural Visibility
Conditions; Progress to Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
C. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
D. Reasonable Progress Goals
E. Monitoring Strategy and Other State Implementation Plan
Requirements
F. Requirements for Periodic Reports Describing Progress Towards
the Reasonable Progress Goals
G. Requirements for State and Federal Land Manager Coordination
IV. The EPA's Evaluation of the Oregon Regional Haze Submission for
the Second Implementation Period
A. Background on the Oregon First Implementation Period SIP
Submission
B. The Oregon Second Implementation Period SIP Submission and
the EPA's Evaluation
C. Identification of Class I Areas
D. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and Natural Visibility
Conditions; Progress to Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
E. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
a. The Oregon Long-Term Strategy
b. The EPA's Evaluation of the Oregon Long-Term Strategy
c. Additional Long-Term Strategy Requirements
F. Reasonable Progress Goals
G. Monitoring Strategy and Other Implementation Plan
Requirements
H. Requirements for Periodic Reports Describing Progress Towards
the Reasonable Progress Goals
I. Requirements for State and Federal Land Manager Coordination
V. Proposed Action
VI. Incorporation by Reference
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Proposed Action
On April 29, 2022 and November 22, 2023, Oregon submitted a state
implementation plan (SIP) revision and supplement to address regional
haze for the second implementation period. Oregon made the submissions
to satisfy the Clean Air Act regional haze program requirements
pursuant to Clean Air Act sections 169A and 169B and the EPA's
implementing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40
CFR 51.308. The EPA is proposing to find that the Oregon submissions
meet the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and thus we
are proposing to approve the submissions into the SIP. We are also
proposing to approve, and incorporate by reference into the Oregon SIP
at 40 CFR part 52, subpart MM, specific regulatory provisions and
source-specific requirements included in the submissions. These
provisions are detailed in section V. of this preamble.
II. Background and Requirements for Regional Haze Plans
A. Regional Haze Background
In the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments, Congress created a program
\1\ to protect visibility in the nation's mandatory class I Federal
areas, which include certain national parks and wilderness areas.\2\
Congress established as a national goal the ``prevention of any future,
and the remedying of any existing, impairment of visibility in
mandatory class I Federal areas which impairment results from manmade
air pollution.'' \3\ Congress further directed the EPA to promulgate
regulations to assure reasonable progress toward meeting this national
goal.\4\ On December 2, 1980, the EPA promulgated regulations to
address visibility impairment in mandatory class I Federal areas
(hereinafter referred to as ``Class I areas'') that is ``reasonably
attributable'' to a single source or small group of sources.\5\ These
regulations, codified at 40 CFR 51.300 through 51.307, represented the
first phase of the EPA's efforts to address visibility impairment. In
1990, Congress added section 169B to the Clean Air Act to further
address visibility impairment, specifically, impairment from regional
haze. The EPA subsequently promulgated the Regional Haze Rule on July
1, 1999 (64 FR 35714), codified at 40 CFR 51.308.\6\ These regional
haze regulations are a central component of the EPA's comprehensive
visibility protection program for Class I areas.
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\1\ Clean Air Act section 169A.
\2\ Areas statutorily designated as mandatory Class I Federal
areas consist of national parks exceeding 6,000 acres, wilderness
areas and national memorial parks exceeding 5,000 acres, and all
international parks that were in existence on August 7, 1977. Clean
Air Act 162(a). There are 156 mandatory Class I areas. The list of
areas to which the visibility protection program applies is set
forth in 40 CFR part 81, subpart D.
\3\ Clean Air Act section 169A(a)(1).
\4\ Clean Air Act section 169A(a)(4).
\5\ 45 FR 80084, December 2, 1980.
\6\ In addition to the generally applicable regional haze
provisions at 40 CFR 51.308, the EPA also promulgated regulations
specific to addressing regional haze visibility impairment in Class
I areas on the Colorado Plateau at 40 CFR 51.309. The latter
regulations are applicable only for specific jurisdictions' regional
haze plans submitted no later than December 17, 2007, and thus are
not relevant here.
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Regional haze is visibility impairment that is produced by a
multitude of anthropogenic sources and activities which are located
across a broad geographic area and that emit pollutants that impair
visibility. Visibility impairing pollutants include fine and coarse
particulate matter (PM) (e.g., sulfates, nitrates, organic carbon,
elemental carbon, and soil dust) and
[[Page 13624]]
their precursors (e.g., sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
oxides (NOX), and, in some cases, volatile organic compounds
(VOC) and ammonia (NH3)). Fine particle precursors react in
the atmosphere to form fine particulate matter (PM2.5),
which impairs visibility by scattering and absorbing light. Visibility
impairment reduces the perception of clarity and color, as well as
visible distance.\7\
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\7\ There are several ways to measure the amount of visibility
impairment, i.e., haze. One such measurement is the deciview, which
is the principal metric used by the Regional Haze Rule. Under many
circumstances, a change in one deciview will be perceived by the
human eye to be the same on both clear and hazy days. The deciview
is unitless. It is proportional to the logarithm of the atmospheric
extinction of light, which is the perceived dimming of light due to
its being scattered and absorbed as it passes through the
atmosphere. Atmospheric light extinction (b\ext\) is a metric used
to for expressing visibility and is measured in inverse megameters
(Mm-1). The EPA's Guidance on Regional Haze State
Implementation Plans for the Second Implementation Period (``2019
Guidance'') offers the flexibility for the use of light extinction
in certain cases. Light extinction can be simpler to use in
calculations than deciviews, since it is not a logarithmic function.
See, e.g., 2019 Guidance at 16, 19, https://www.epa.gov/visibility/guidance-regional-haze-state-implementation-plans-second-implementation-period. The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park (August 20, 2019). The formula for
the deciview is 10 ln (b\ext\)/10 Mm-1). 40 CFR 51.301.
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To address regional haze visibility impairment, the 1999 Regional
Haze Rule established an iterative planning process that requires both
states in which Class I areas are located and states ``the emissions
from which may reasonably be anticipated to cause or contribute to any
impairment of visibility'' in a Class I area to periodically submit SIP
revisions to address such impairment.\8\ Under the Clean Air Act, each
SIP submission must contain ``a long-term (ten to fifteen years)
strategy for making reasonable progress toward meeting the national
goal.'' \9\ The initial round of SIP submissions also had to address
the statutory requirement that certain older, larger sources of
visibility impairing pollutants install and operate the best available
retrofit technology (BART).\10\ States' first regional haze SIPs were
due by December 17, 2007,\11\ with subsequent SIP submissions
containing updated long-term strategies originally due July 31, 2018,
and every ten years thereafter.\12\ The EPA established in the 1999
Regional Haze Rule that all states either have Class I areas within
their borders or ``contain sources whose emissions are reasonably
anticipated to contribute to regional haze in a Class I area'';
therefore, all states must submit regional haze SIPs.\13\
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\8\ Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2). See also 40 CFR 51.308(b),
(f) (establishing submission dates for iterative regional haze SIP
revisions (64 FR 35714, 35768, July 1, 1999). The Regional Haze Rule
expresses the statutory requirement for states to submit plans
addressing out-of-state Class I areas by providing that states must
address visibility impairment ``in each mandatory Class I Federal
area located outside the State that may be affected by emissions
from within the State.'' 40 CFR 51.308(d), (f).
\9\ Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(B).
\10\ Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(A); 40 CFR 51.308(d), (e).
\11\ 40 CFR 51.308(b).
\12\ 64 FR 35714, 35768, July 1, 1999.
\13\ 64 FR 35714, 35721, July 1, 1999. In addition to each of
the fifty states, the EPA also concluded that the Virgin Islands and
District of Columbia must also submit regional haze SIPs because
they either contain a Class I area or contain sources whose
emissions are reasonably anticipated to contribute regional haze in
a Class I area. See 40 CFR 51.300(b), (d)(3).
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Much of the focus in the first implementation period of the
regional haze program, which ran from 2007 through 2018, was on
satisfying states' BART obligations. First implementation period SIPs
were additionally required to contain long-term strategies for making
reasonable progress toward the national visibility goal, of which BART
is one component. The core required elements for the first
implementation period SIPs (other than BART) are laid out in 40 CFR
51.308(d). Those provisions required that states containing Class I
areas establish reasonable progress goals that are measured in
deciviews and reflect the anticipated visibility conditions at the end
of the implementation period including from implementation of states'
long-term strategies. The first planning period reasonable progress
goals were required to provide for an improvement in visibility for the
most impaired days over the period of the implementation plan and
ensure no degradation in visibility for the least impaired days over
the same period. In establishing the reasonable progress goals for any
Class I area in a state, the state was required to consider four
statutory factors: the costs of compliance, the time necessary for
compliance, the energy and non-air quality environmental impacts of
compliance, and the remaining useful life of any potentially affected
sources.\14\
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\14\ Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1); 40 CFR 51.308(d)(1).
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States were also required to calculate baseline (using the five
year period of 2000-2004) and natural visibility conditions (i.e.,
visibility conditions without anthropogenic visibility impairment) for
each Class I area, and to calculate the linear rate of progress needed
to attain natural visibility conditions, assuming a starting point of
baseline visibility conditions in 2004 and ending with natural
conditions in 2064. This linear interpolation is known as the ``uniform
rate of progress'' and is used as a tracking metric to help states
assess the amount of progress they are making towards the national
visibility goal over time in each Class I area.\15\ The 1999 Regional
Haze Rule also provided that states' long-term strategies must include
the ``enforceable emissions limitations, compliance, schedules, and
other measures as necessary to achieve the reasonable progress goals.''
\16\ In establishing their long-term strategies, states are required to
consult with other states that also contribute to visibility impairment
in a given Class I area and include all measures necessary to obtain
their shares of the emission reductions needed to meet the reasonable
progress goals.\17\ The 1999 Regional Haze Rule also contains seven
additional factors states must consider in formulating their long-term
strategies,\18\ as well as provisions governing monitoring and other
implementation plan requirements.\19\ Finally, the 1999 Regional Haze
Rule required states to submit periodic progress reports--SIP revisions
due every five years that contain information on states' implementation
of their regional haze plans and an assessment of whether anything
additional is needed to make reasonable progress \20\--and to consult
with the Federal Land Manager(s) \21\ responsible for each Class I area
[[Page 13625]]
according to the requirements in Clean Air Act 169A(d) and 40 CFR
51.308(i).
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\15\ 40 CFR 51.308(d)(1)(i)(B), (d)(2). The EPA established the
uniform rate of progress framework in the 1999 Regional Haze Rule to
provide ``an equitable analytical approach'' to assessing the rate
of visibility improvement at Class I areas across the country. The
start point for the uniform rate of progress analysis is 2004 and
the endpoint was calculated based on the amount of visibility
improvement that was anticipated to result from implementation of
existing Clean Air Act programs over the period from the mid-1990s
to approximately 2005. Assuming this rate of progress would continue
into the future, the EPA determined that natural visibility
conditions would be reached in 60 years, or 2064 (60 years from the
baseline starting point of 2004). However, the EPA did not establish
2064 as the year by which the national goal must be reached. 64 FR
35714, 35731-32, July 1, 1999. That is, the uniform rate of progress
and the 2064 date are not enforceable targets, but are rather tools
that ``allow for analytical comparisons between the rate of progress
that would be achieved by the state's chosen set of control measures
and the [uniform rate of progress] URP.'' (82 FR 3078, 3084, January
10, 2017).
\16\ 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3).
\17\ 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3)(i), (ii).
\18\ 40 CFR 51.308(d)(3)(v).
\19\ 40 CFR 51.308(d)(4).
\20\ See 40 CFR 51.308(g), and (h).
\21\ The EPA's regulations define ``Federal Land Manager'' as
``the Secretary of the department with authority over the Federal
Class I area (or the Secretary's designee) or, with respect to
Roosevelt-Campobello International Park, the Chairman of the
Roosevelt-Campobello International Park Commission.'' 40 CFR 51.301.
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On January 10, 2017, the EPA promulgated revisions to the Regional
Haze Rule that apply for the second and subsequent implementation
periods (82 FR 3078). The 2017 rulemaking made several changes to the
requirements for regional haze SIPs to clarify States' obligations and
streamline certain regional haze requirements. The revisions to the
regional haze program for the second and subsequent implementation
periods focused on the requirement that States' SIPs contain long-term
strategies for making reasonable progress towards the national
visibility goal. The reasonable progress requirements as revised in the
2017 rulemaking (referred to here as the 2017 Regional Haze Rule
Revisions) are codified at 40 CFR 51.308(f). Among other changes, the
2017 Regional Haze Rule Revisions adjusted the deadline for States to
submit their second implementation period SIPs from July 31, 2018, to
July 31, 2021, clarified the order of analysis and the relationship
between reasonable progress goals and the long-term strategy, and
focused on making visibility improvements on the days with the most
anthropogenic visibility impairment, as opposed to the days with the
most visibility impairment overall. The EPA also revised requirements
of the visibility protection program related to periodic progress
reports and Federal Land Manager consultation. The specific
requirements applicable to second implementation period regional haze
SIP submissions are addressed in detail in the following paragraphs.
The EPA provided guidance to the states for their second
implementation period SIP submissions in the preamble to the 2017
Regional Haze Rule Revisions as well as in subsequent, stand-alone
guidance documents. In August 2019, the EPA issued ``Guidance on
Regional Haze State Implementation Plans for the Second Implementation
Period'' (``2019 Guidance'').\22\ On July 8, 2021, the EPA issued a
memorandum containing ``Clarifications Regarding Regional Haze State
Implementation Plans for the Second Implementation Period'' (``2021
Clarifications Memo'').\23\ Additionally, the EPA further clarified the
recommended procedures for processing ambient visibility data and
optionally adjusting the uniform rate of progress to account for
international anthropogenic and prescribed fire impacts in two
technical guidance documents: the December 2018 ``Technical Guidance on
Tracking Visibility Progress for the Second Implementation Period of
the Regional Haze Program'' (``2018 Visibility Tracking
Guidance''),\24\ and the June 2020 ``Recommendation for the Use of
Patched and Substituted Data and Clarification of Data Completeness for
Tracking Visibility Progress for the Second Implementation Period of
the Regional Haze Program'' and associated Technical Addendum (``2020
Data Completeness Memo'').\25\
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\22\ Guidance on Regional Haze State Implementation Plans for
the Second Implementation Period. https://www.epa.gov/visibility/guidance-regional-haze-state-implementation-plans-second-implementation-period. The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Research Triangle Park (August 20, 2019).
\23\ Clarifications Regarding Regional Haze State Implementation
Plans for the Second Implementation Period. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-07/clarifications-regarding-regional-haze-state-implementation-plans-for-the-second-implementation-period.pdf. The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
Research Triangle Park (July 8, 2021).
\24\ Technical Guidance on Tracking Visibility Progress for the
Second Implementation Period of the Regional Haze Program. https://www.epa.gov/visibility/technical-guidance-tracking-visibility-progress-second-implementation-period-regional. The EPA Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park.
(December 20, 2018).
\25\ Recommendation for the Use of Patched and Substituted Data
and Clarification of Data Completeness for Tracking Visibility
Progress for the Second Implementation Period of the Regional Haze
Program. https://www.epa.gov/visibility/memo-and-technical-addendum-ambient-data-usage-and-completeness-regional-haze-program. The EPA
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park
(June 3, 2020).
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As previously explained in the 2021 Clarifications Memo, the EPA
intends for the second implementation period of the regional haze
program to secure meaningful reductions in visibility impairing
pollutants that build on the significant progress states have achieved
to date. The EPA also recognizes that analyses regarding reasonable
progress are state-specific and that, based on states' and sources'
individual circumstances, what constitutes reasonable reductions in
visibility impairing pollutants will vary from state-to-state. While
there exist many opportunities for states to leverage both ongoing and
upcoming emission reductions under other Clean Air Act programs, the
EPA expects states to undertake rigorous reasonable progress analyses
that identify further opportunities to advance the national visibility
goal consistent with the statutory and regulatory requirements.\26\
This is consistent with Congress's determination that a visibility
protection program is needed in addition to the Clean Air Act's
National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Prevention of Significant
Deterioration programs, as further emission reductions may be necessary
to adequately protect visibility in Class I areas throughout the
country.\27\
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\26\ See generally 2021 Clarifications Memo.
\27\ See, e.g., H.R. Rep No. 95-294 at 205 (``In determining how
to best remedy the growing visibility problem in these areas of
great scenic importance, the committee realizes that as a matter of
equity, the national ambient air quality standards cannot be revised
to adequately protect visibility in all areas of the country.''),
(``the mandatory class I increments of [the PSD program] do not
adequately protect visibility in class I areas'').
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B. Roles of Agencies in Addressing Regional Haze
Because the air pollutants and pollution affecting visibility in
Class I areas can be transported over long distances, successful
implementation of the regional haze program requires long-term,
regional coordination among multiple jurisdictions and agencies that
have responsibility for Class I areas and the emissions that impact
visibility in those areas. In order to address regional haze, states
need to develop strategies in coordination with one another,
considering the effect of emissions from one jurisdiction on the air
quality in another. Five regional planning organizations,\28\ which
include representation from state and tribal governments, the EPA, and
Federal Land Managers, were developed in the lead-up to the first
implementation period to address regional haze. Regional planning
organizations evaluate technical information to better understand how
emissions from State and Tribal lands impact Class I areas across the
country, pursue the development of regional strategies to reduce
emissions of particulate matter and other pollutants leading to
regional haze, and help states meet the consultation requirements of
the Regional Haze Rule.
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\28\ Regional planning organizations are sometimes also referred
to as ``multi-jurisdictional organizations''. For the purposes of
this document, the terms regional planning organizations and multi-
jurisdictional organizations are synonymous.
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Western Regional Air Partnership
The Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) \29\ is one of the five
regional planning organizations and functions as a voluntary
partnership of state, Tribal, Federal, and local air agencies whose
purpose is to understand current and evolving regional air quality
issues in the West. There are 15 member states in the WRAP, including
Oregon, in addition to 28 tribes and 30 local air
[[Page 13626]]
agency members.\30\ WRAP Federal partners are the EPA, National Parks
Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land
Management. The WRAP membership formed a workgroup to develop a
planning framework for state regional haze second planning period SIPs.
Based on emissions and monitoring data supplied by its membership, the
WRAP produced a technical system to support regional modeling of
visibility impacts at Class I areas across the west.\31\ The WRAP
Technical Support System consolidated air quality monitoring data,
meteorological and receptor modeling data analyses, emissions
inventories and projections, and gridded air quality/visibility
regional modeling results. The WRAP Technical Support System is
accessible by member states and allows for the creation of maps,
figures, and tables to export and use in state plan development, and
maintains the original source data for verification and further
analysis.
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\29\ The WRAP website may be found at https://www.wrapair2.org.
\30\ The WRAP membership list may be found at https://www.wrapair2.org/membership.aspx.
\31\ Technical information may be found at https://www.wrapair2.org/RHPWG.aspx.
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III. Requirements for Regional Haze Plans for the Second Implementation
Period
Under the Clean Air Act and the EPA's regulations, all 50 states,
the District of Columbia, and the United States (U.S.) Virgin Islands
are required to submit regional haze SIPs satisfying the applicable
requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze
program by July 31, 2021. Each state's SIP must contain a long-term
strategy for making reasonable progress toward meeting the national
goal of remedying any existing and preventing any future anthropogenic
visibility impairment in Class I areas.\32\ To this end, 40 CFR
51.308(f) lays out the process by which states determine what
constitutes their long-term strategies, with the order of the
requirements in Sec. 51.308(f)(1) through (3) generally mirroring the
order of the steps in the reasonable progress analysis \33\ and (f)(4)
through (6) containing additional, related requirements. Broadly
speaking, a state first must identify the Class I areas within the
state and determine the Class I areas outside the state in which
visibility may be affected by emissions from the state. These are the
Class I areas that must be addressed in the state's long-term
strategy.\34\ For each Class I area within its borders, a state must
then calculate the baseline, current, and natural visibility conditions
for that area, as well as the visibility improvement made to date and
the uniform rate of progress.\35\ Each state having a Class I area and/
or emissions that may affect visibility in a Class I area must then
develop a long-term strategy that includes the enforceable emission
limitations, compliance schedules, and other measures that are
necessary to make reasonable progress in such areas. A reasonable
progress determination is based on applying the four factors in CAA
section 169A(g)(1) to sources of visibility-impairing pollutants that
the state has selected to assess for controls for the second
implementation period. Additionally, as further explained below, the
RHR at 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv) separately provides five ``additional
factors'' \36\ that states must consider in developing their long-term
strategies. See 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2). A state evaluates potential
emission reduction measures for those selected sources and determines
which are necessary to make reasonable progress. Those measures are
then incorporated into the state's long-term strategy. After a state
has developed its long-term strategy, it then establishes reasonable
progress goals for each Class I area within its borders by modeling the
visibility impacts of all reasonable progress controls at the end of
the second implementation period, i.e., in 2028, as well as the impacts
of other requirements of the Clean Air Act. The reasonable progress
goals include reasonable progress controls not only for sources in the
state in which the Class I area is located, but also for sources in
other states that contribute to visibility impairment in that area. The
reasonable progress goals are then compared to the baseline visibility
conditions and the uniform rate of progress to ensure that progress is
being made towards the statutory goal of preventing any future and
remedying any existing anthropogenic visibility impairment in Class I
areas.\37\
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\32\ Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(B).
\33\ The EPA explained in the 2017 Regional Haze Rule Revisions
that we were adopting new regulatory language in 40 CFR 51.308(f)
that, unlike the structure in 51.308(d), ``tracked the actual
planning sequence.'' (82 FR 3091, January 10, 2017).
\34\ 40 CFR 51.308(f), (f)(2).
\35\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1).
\36\ The five ``additional factors'' for consideration in Sec.
51.308(f)(2)(iv) are distinct from the four factors listed in CAA
section 169A(g)(1) and 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) that states must
consider and apply to sources in determining reasonable progress.
\37\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2) and (3).
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In addition to satisfying the requirements at 40 CFR 51.308(f)
related to reasonable progress, the regional haze SIP revisions for the
second implementation period must address the requirements in 40 CFR
51.308(g)(1) through (5) pertaining to periodic reports describing
progress towards the reasonable progress goals, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(5), as
well as requirements for Federal Land Manager consultation that apply
to all visibility protection SIPs and SIP revisions.\38\
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\38\ 40 CFR 51.308(i).
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A state must submit its regional haze SIP and subsequent SIP
revisions to the EPA according to the requirements applicable to all
SIP revisions under the Clean Air Act and the EPA's regulations.\39\
Upon EPA approval, a SIP is enforceable by the EPA and the public under
the Clean Air Act. If the EPA finds that a state fails to make a
required SIP revision, or if the EPA finds that a state's SIP is
incomplete or if disapproves the SIP, the EPA must promulgate a Federal
implementation plan (FIP) that satisfies the applicable
requirements.\40\
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\39\ See Clean Air Act section 169(b)(2); Clean Air Act section
110(a).
\40\ Clean Air Act section 110(c)(1).
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A. Identification of Class I Areas
The first step in developing a regional haze SIP is for a state to
determine which Class I areas, in addition to those within its borders,
``may be affected'' by emissions from within the state. In the 1999
Regional Haze Rule, the EPA determined that all states contribute to
visibility impairment in at least one Class I area and explained that
the statute and regulations lay out an ``extremely low triggering
threshold'' for determining ``whether States should be required to
engage in air quality planning and analysis as a prerequisite to
determining the need for control of emissions from sources within their
State.'' \41\
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\41\ 64 FR 35714, 35720-35722, July 1, 1999.
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A state must determine which Class I areas must be addressed by its
SIP by evaluating the total emissions of visibility impairing
pollutants from all sources within the state. While the Regional Haze
Rule does not require this evaluation to be conducted in any particular
manner, the EPA's 2019 Guidance provides recommendations for how such
an assessment might be accomplished, including by, where appropriate,
using the determinations previously made for the first implementation
period. 2019 Guidance at 8-9. In addition, the determination of which
Class I areas may be affected by a state's emissions is subject to the
requirement in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii) to ``document the technical
basis, including modeling, monitoring, cost,
[[Page 13627]]
engineering, and emissions information, on which the State is relying
to determine the emission reduction measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress in each mandatory Class I Federal area it
affects.''
B. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and Natural Visibility
Conditions; Progress to Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
As part of assessing whether a SIP submission for the second
implementation period is providing for reasonable progress towards the
national visibility goal, the Regional Haze Rule contains requirements
in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1) related to tracking visibility improvement over
time. The requirements of this section apply only to states having
Class I areas within their borders; the required calculations must be
made for each such Class I area. The EPA's 2018 Visibility Tracking
Guidance \42\ provides recommendations to assist states in satisfying
their obligations under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1); specifically, in
developing information on baseline, current, and natural visibility
conditions, and in making optional adjustments to the uniform rate of
progress to account for the impacts of international anthropogenic
emissions and prescribed fires.\43\
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\42\ The 2018 Visibility Tracking Guidance references and relies
on parts of the 2003 Tracking Guidance: ``Guidance for Tracking
Progress Under the Regional Haze Rule,'' which can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/tracking.pdf.
\43\ 82 FR 3078, 3103-05, January 10, 2017.
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The Regional Haze Rule requires tracking of visibility conditions
on two sets of days: the clearest and the most impaired days.
Visibility conditions for both sets of days are expressed as the
average deciview index for the relevant five-year period (the period
representing baseline or current visibility conditions). The Regional
Haze Rule provides that the relevant sets of days for visibility
tracking purposes are the 20% clearest (the 20% of monitored days in a
calendar year with the lowest values of the deciview index) and 20%
most impaired days (the 20% of monitored days in a calendar year with
the highest amounts of anthropogenic visibility impairment).\44\ A
state must calculate visibility conditions for both the 20% clearest
and 20% most impaired days for the baseline period of 2000-2004 and the
most recent five-year period for which visibility monitoring data are
available (representing current visibility conditions).\45\ States must
also calculate natural visibility conditions for the clearest and most
impaired days,\46\ by estimating the conditions that would exist on
those two sets of days absent anthropogenic visibility impairment.\47\
Using all these data, states must then calculate, for each Class I
area, the amount of progress made since the baseline period (2000-2004)
and how much improvement is left to achieve in order to reach natural
visibility conditions.
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\44\ 40 CFR 51.301. This document also refers to the 20%
clearest and 20% most anthropogenically impaired days as the
``clearest'' and ``most impaired'' or ``most anthropogenically
impaired'' days, respectively.
\45\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(i), (iii).
\46\ The Regional Haze Rule at 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(ii) contains
an error related to the requirement for calculating two sets of
natural conditions values. The rule says ``most impaired days or the
clearest days'' where it should say ``most impaired days and
clearest days.'' This is an error that was intended to be corrected
in the 2017 Regional Haze Rule Revisions but did not get corrected
in the final rule language. This is supported by the preamble text
at 82 FR 3098, January 0, 2017: ``In the final version of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(1)(ii), an occurrence of ``or'' has been corrected to
``and'' to indicate that natural visibility conditions for both the
most impaired days and the clearest days must be based on available
monitoring information.''
\47\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(ii).
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Using the data for the set of most impaired days only, states must
plot a line between visibility conditions in the baseline period and
natural visibility conditions for each Class I area to determine the
uniform rate of progress--the amount of visibility improvement,
measured in deciviews, that would need to be achieved during each
implementation period in order to achieve natural visibility conditions
by the end of 2064. The uniform rate of progress is used in later steps
of the reasonable progress analysis for informational purposes and to
provide a non-enforceable benchmark against which to assess a Class I
area's rate of visibility improvement.\48\ Additionally, in the 2017
Regional Haze Rule Revisions, the EPA provided states the option of
proposing to adjust the endpoint of the uniform rate of progress to
account for impacts of anthropogenic sources outside the U.S. and/or
impacts of certain types of wildland prescribed fires. These
adjustments, which must be approved by the EPA, are intended to avoid
any perception that states should compensate for impacts from
international anthropogenic sources and to give states the flexibility
to determine that limiting the use of wildland-prescribed fire is not
necessary for reasonable progress.\49\
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\48\ Being on or below the uniform rate of progress is not a
``safe harbor''; i.e., achieving the uniform rate of progress does
not mean that a Class I area is making ``reasonable progress'' and
does not relieve a state from using the four statutory factors to
determine what level of control is needed to achieve such progress.
See, e.g., 82 FR 3078, 3093, January 10, 2017.
\49\ 82 FR 3078, 3107, January 10, 2017, footnote 116.
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The EPA's 2018 Visibility Tracking Guidance can be used to help
satisfy the 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1) requirements, including in developing
information on baseline, current, and natural visibility conditions,
and in making optional adjustments to the uniform rate of progress. In
addition, the 2020 Data Completeness Memo provides recommendations on
the data completeness language referenced in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(i) and
provides updated natural conditions estimates for each Class I area.
C. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
The core component of a regional haze SIP submission is a long-term
strategy that addresses regional haze in each Class I area within a
state's borders and each Class I area that may be affected by emissions
from the state. The long-term strategy ``must include the enforceable
emissions limitations, compliance schedules, and other measures that
are necessary to make reasonable progress, as determined pursuant to
(f)(2)(i) through (iv).'' \50\ The amount of progress that is
``reasonable progress'' is based on applying the four statutory factors
in Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1) in an evaluation of potential
control options for sources of visibility impairing pollutants, which
is referred to as a ``four-factor'' analysis. The outcome of that
analysis is the emission reduction measures that a particular source or
group of sources needs to implement in order to make reasonable
progress towards the national visibility goal.\51\ Emission reduction
measures that are necessary to make reasonable progress may be either
new, additional control measures for a source, or they may be the
existing emission reduction measures that a source is already
implementing.\52\ Such measures must be represented by ``enforceable
emissions limitations, compliance schedules, and other measures''
(i.e., any additional compliance tools) in a state's long-term strategy
in its SIP.\53\
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\50\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2).
\51\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
\52\ See 2019 Guidance at 43; 2021 Clarifications Memo at 8-10.
\53\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2).
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Section 51.308(f)(2)(i) provides the requirements for the four-
factor analysis. The first step of this analysis entails selecting the
sources to be evaluated for emission reduction measures; to this end,
states should
[[Page 13628]]
consider ``major and minor stationary sources or groups of sources,
mobile sources, and area sources'' of visibility impairing pollutants
for potential four-factor control analysis.\54\ A threshold question at
this step is which visibility impairing pollutants will be analyzed. As
the EPA previously explained, consistent with the first implementation
period, the EPA generally expects that each state will analyze at least
SO2 and NOX in selecting sources and determining
control measures.\55\ A state that chooses not to consider at least
these two pollutants should demonstrate why such consideration would be
unreasonable.\56\
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\54\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
\55\ See 2019 Guidance at 12, 2021 Clarifications Memo at 4.
\56\ 2021 Clarifications Memo at 4.
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While states have the option to analyze all sources, the 2019
Guidance explains that ``an analysis of control measures is not
required for every source in each implementation period,'' and that
``[s]electing a set of sources for analysis of control measures in each
implementation period is . . . consistent with the Regional Haze Rule,
which sets up an iterative planning process and anticipates that a
state may not need to analyze control measures for all its sources in a
given SIP revision.'' \57\ However, given that source selection is the
basis of all subsequent control determinations, a reasonable source
selection process ``should be designed and conducted to ensure that
source selection results in a set of pollutants and sources the
evaluation of which has the potential to meaningfully reduce their
contributions to visibility impairment.'' \58\
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\57\ 2019 Guidance at 9.
\58\ 2021 Clarifications Memo at 3.
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The EPA explained in the 2021 Clarifications Memo that each state
has an obligation to submit a long-term strategy that addresses the
regional haze visibility impairment that results from emissions from
within that state. Thus, source selection should focus on the in-state
contribution to visibility impairment and be designed to capture a
meaningful portion of the state's total contribution to visibility
impairment in Class I areas. A state should not decline to select its
largest in-state sources on the basis that there are even larger out-
of-state contributors.\59\
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\59\ Id. at 4. Similarly, in responding to comments on the 2017
Regional Haze Rule Revisions EPA explained that ``[a] state should
not fail to address its many relatively low-impact sources merely
because it only has such sources and another state has even more
low-impact sources and/or some high impact sources.'' Responses to
Comments on Protection of Visibility: Amendments to Requirements for
State Plans; Proposed Rule. 81 FR 26942, 26987-26988, May 4, 2016.
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Thus, while states have discretion to choose any source selection
methodology that is reasonable, whatever choices they make should be
reasonably explained. To this end, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) requires that
a state's SIP submission include ``a description of the criteria it
used to determine which sources or groups of sources it evaluated.''
The technical basis for source selection, which may include methods for
quantifying potential visibility impacts such as emissions divided by
distance metrics, trajectory analyses, residence time analyses, and/or
photochemical modeling, must also be appropriately documented, as
required by 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii).
Once a state has selected the set of sources, the next step is to
determine the emissions reduction measures for those sources that are
necessary to make reasonable progress for the second implementation
period.\60\ This is accomplished by considering the four factors--``the
costs of compliance, the time necessary for compliance, and the energy
and nonair quality environmental impacts of compliance, and the
remaining useful life of any existing source subject to such
requirements.'' \61\ The EPA has explained that the four-factor
analysis is an assessment of potential emission reduction measures
(i.e., control options) for sources; ``use of the terms `compliance'
and `subject to such requirements' in section 169A(g)(1) strongly
indicates that Congress intended the relevant determination to be the
requirements with which sources would have to comply in order to
satisfy the [Clean Air Act's] reasonable progress mandate.'' \62\ Thus,
for each source it has selected for four-factor analysis,\63\ a state
must consider a ``meaningful set'' of technically feasible control
options for reducing emissions of visibility impairing pollutants.\64\
The 2019 Guidance provides that ``[a] state must reasonably pick and
justify the measures that it will consider, recognizing that there is
no statutory or regulatory requirement to consider all technically
feasible measures or any particular measures. A range of technically
feasible measures available to reduce emissions would be one way to
justify a reasonable set.'' \65\
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\60\ The Clean Air Act provides that, ``[i]n determining
reasonable progress there shall be taken into consideration'' the
four statutory factors. Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1). However,
in addition to four-factor analyses for selected sources, groups of
sources, or source categories, a state may also consider additional
emission reduction measures for inclusion in its long-term strategy,
e.g., from other newly adopted, on-the-books, or on-the-way rules
and measures for sources not selected for four-factor analysis for
the second planning period.
\61\ Clean Air Act section 169A(g)(1).
\62\ 82 FR 3078, 3091, January 10, 2017.
\63\ ``Each source'' or ``particular source'' is used here as
shorthand. While a source-specific analysis is one way of applying
the four factors, neither the statute nor the Regional Haze Rule
requires states to evaluate individual sources. Rather, states have
``the flexibility to conduct four-factor analyses for specific
sources, groups of sources or even entire source categories,
depending on state policy preferences and the specific circumstances
of each state.'' 82 FR 3078, 3088, January 10, 2017. However, not
all approaches to grouping sources for four-factor analysis are
necessarily reasonable; the reasonableness of grouping sources in
any particular instance will depend on the circumstances and the
manner in which grouping is conducted. If it is feasible to
establish and enforce different requirements for sources or
subgroups of sources, and if relevant factors can be quantified for
those sources or subgroups, then states should make a separate
reasonable progress determination for each source or subgroup. 2021
Clarifications Memo at 7-8.
\64\ 82 FR 3078, 3088, January 10, 2017.
\65\ 2019 Guidance at 29.
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The EPA's 2021 Clarifications Memo provides further guidance on
what constitutes a reasonable set of control options for consideration:
``A reasonable four-factor analysis will consider the full range of
potentially reasonable options for reducing emissions.'' \66\ In
addition to add-on controls and other retrofits (i.e., new emission
reduction measures for sources), the EPA explained that states should
generally analyze efficiency improvements for sources' existing
measures as control options in their four-factor analyses, as in many
cases such improvements are reasonable given that they typically
involve only additional operation and maintenance costs. Additionally,
the 2021 Clarifications Memo provides that states that have assumed a
higher emission rate than a source has achieved or could potentially
achieve using its existing measures should also consider lower emission
rates as potential control options. That is, a state should consider a
source's recent actual and projected emission rates to determine if it
could reasonably attain lower emission rates with its existing
measures. If so, the state should analyze the lower emission rate as a
control option for reducing emissions.\67\ The EPA's recommendations to
analyze potential efficiency improvements and achievable lower emission
rates apply to both sources that have been selected for four-factor
analysis and those that have forgone a four-factor analysis on the
basis of existing ``effective controls.'' \68\
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\66\ 2021 Clarifications Memo at 7.
\67\ Ibid.
\68\ See 2021 Clarifications Memo at 5, 10.
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After identifying a reasonable set of potential control options for
the sources it has selected, a state then collects
[[Page 13629]]
information on the four factors with regard to each option identified.
The EPA has also explained that, in addition to the four statutory
factors, states have flexibility under the Clean Air Act and Regional
Haze Rule to reasonably consider visibility benefits as an additional
factor alongside the four statutory factors.\69\ The 2019 Guidance
provides recommendations for the types of information that can be used
to characterize the four factors (with or without visibility), as well
as ways in which states might reasonably consider and balance that
information to determine which of the potential control options is
necessary to make reasonable progress.\70\ The 2021 Clarifications Memo
contains further guidance on how states can reasonably consider modeled
visibility impacts or benefits in the context of a four-factor
analysis.\71\ Specifically, the EPA explained that while visibility can
reasonably be used when comparing and choosing between multiple
reasonable control options, it should not be used to summarily reject
controls that are reasonable given the four statutory factors.\72\
Ultimately, while states have discretion to reasonably weigh the
factors and to determine what level of control is needed, Sec.
51.308(f)(2)(i) provides that a state ``must include in its
implementation plan a description of . . . how the four factors were
taken into consideration in selecting the measure for inclusion in its
long-term strategy.''
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\69\ See, e.g., Responses to Comments on Protection of
Visibility: Amendments to Requirements for State Plans; Proposed
Rule (81 FR 26942, May 4, 2016), Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0531,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 186; 2019 Guidance at 36-37.
\70\ See 2019 Guidance at 30-36.
\71\ 2021 Clarifications Memo at 12-13, 14-15.
\72\ 2021 Clarifications Memo at 13.
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As explained above, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) requires states to
determine the emission reduction measures for sources that are
necessary to make reasonable progress by considering the four factors.
Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2), measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress towards the national visibility goal must be
included in a state's long-term strategy and in its SIP.\73\ If the
outcome of a four-factor analysis is a new, additional emission
reduction measure for a source, that new measure is necessary to make
reasonable progress towards remedying existing anthropogenic visibility
impairment and must be included in the SIP. If the outcome of a four-
factor analysis is that no new measures are reasonable for a source,
continued implementation of the source's existing measures is generally
necessary to prevent future emission increases and thus to make
reasonable progress towards the second part of the national visibility
goal: preventing future anthropogenic visibility impairment.\74\ That
is, when the result of a four-factor analysis is that no new measures
are necessary to make reasonable progress, the source's existing
measures are generally necessary to make reasonable progress and must
be included in the SIP. However, there may be circumstances in which a
state can demonstrate that a source's existing measures are not
necessary to make reasonable progress. Specifically, if a state can
demonstrate that a source will continue to implement its existing
measures and will not increase its emission rate, it may not be
necessary to have those measures in the long-term strategy in order to
prevent future emission increases and future visibility impairment. The
EPA's 2021 Clarifications Memo provides further explanation and
guidance on how states may demonstrate that a source's existing
measures are not necessary to make reasonable progress.\75\ If the
state can make such a demonstration, it need not include a source's
existing measures in the long-term strategy or its SIP.
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\73\ States may choose to, but are not required to, include
measures in their long-term strategies beyond just the emission
reduction measures that are necessary for reasonable progress. See
2021 Clarifications Memo at 16. For example, states with smoke
management programs may choose to submit their smoke management
plans to the EPA for inclusion in their SIPs but are not required to
do so. See, e.g., 82 FR 3078, 3108-3109, January 10, 2017
(requirement to consider smoke management practices and smoke
management programs under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv) does not require
states to adopt such practices or programs into their SIPs, although
they may elect to do so).
\74\ See Clean Air Act section 169A(a)(1). See also 2021
Clarifications Memo at 8.
\75\ See 2021 Clarifications Memo at 8-10.
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As with source selection, the characterization of information on
each of the factors is also subject to the documentation requirement in
40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii). The reasonable progress analysis, including
source selection, information gathering, characterization of the four
statutory factors (and potentially visibility), balancing of the four
factors, and selection of the emission reduction measures that
represent reasonable progress, is a technically complex exercise, but
also a flexible one that provides states with bounded discretion to
design and implement approaches appropriate to their circumstances.
Given this flexibility, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii) plays an important
function in requiring a state to document the technical basis for its
decision making so that the public and the EPA can comprehend and
evaluate the information and analysis the state relied upon to
determine what emission reduction measures must be in place to make
reasonable progress. The technical documentation must include the
modeling, monitoring, cost, engineering, and emissions information on
which the state relied to determine the measures necessary to make
reasonable progress. This documentation requirement can be met through
the provision of and reliance on technical analyses developed through a
regional planning process, so long as that process and its output has
been approved by all state participants. In addition to the explicit
regulatory requirement to document the technical basis of their
reasonable progress determinations, states are also subject to the
general principle that those determinations must be reasonably moored
to the statute.\76\ That is, a state's decisions about the emission
reduction measures that are necessary to make reasonable progress must
be consistent with the statutory goal of remedying existing and
preventing future visibility impairment.
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\76\ See Arizona ex rel. Darwin v. U.S. EPA, 815 F.3d 519, 531
(9th Cir. 2016); Nebraska v. U.S. EPA, 812 F.3d 662, 668 (8th Cir.
2016); North Dakota v. EPA, 730 F.3d 750, 761 (8th Cir. 2013);
Oklahoma v. EPA, 723 F.3d 1201, 1206, 1208-10 (10th Cir. 2013); cf.
also National Parks Conservation Association v. EPA, 803 F.3d 151,
165 (3d Cir. 2015); Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
v. EPA, 540 U.S. 461, 485, 490 (2004).
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The four statutory factors (and potentially visibility) are used to
determine what emission reduction measures for selected sources must be
included in a state's long-term strategy for making reasonable
progress. Additionally, the Regional Haze Rule at 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iv) separately provides five ``additional factors'' \77\
that states must consider in developing their long-term strategies: (1)
emission reductions due to ongoing air pollution control programs,
including measures to address reasonably attributable visibility
impairment; (2) measures to reduce the impacts of construction
activities; (3) source retirement and replacement schedules; (4) basic
smoke management practices for prescribed fire used for agricultural
and wildland vegetation management purposes and smoke management
programs; and (5) the anticipated net effect on visibility due to
[[Page 13630]]
projected changes in point, area, and mobile source emissions over the
period addressed by the long-term strategy. The 2019 Guidance provides
that a state may satisfy this requirement by considering these
additional factors in the process of selecting sources for four-factor
analysis, when performing that analysis, or both, and that not every
one of the additional factors needs to be considered at the same stage
of the process.\78\ The EPA provided further guidance on the five
additional factors in the 2021 Clarifications Memo, explaining that a
state should generally not reject cost-effective and otherwise
reasonable controls merely because there have been emission reductions
since the first planning period owing to other ongoing air pollution
control programs or merely because visibility is otherwise projected to
improve at Class I areas. Additionally, states generally should not
rely on these additional factors to summarily assert that the state has
already made sufficient progress and, therefore, no sources need to be
selected or no new controls are needed regardless of the outcome of
four-factor analyses.\79\
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\77\ The five ``additional factors'' for consideration in 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iv) are distinct from the four factors listed in Clean
Air Act section 169A(g)(1) and 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) that states
must consider and apply to sources in determining reasonable
progress.
\78\ See 2019 Guidance at 21.
\79\ 2021 Clarifications Memo at 13. In particular, the EPA
explained in the 2021 Clarifications Memo that states should not
rely on the considerations in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(A) and (E) to
summarily assert that the state has already made sufficient progress
and therefore does not need to achieve any additional emission
reductions. 2021 Clarifications Memo at 13.
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Because the air pollution that causes regional haze crosses state
boundaries, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii) requires a state to consult with
other states that also have emissions that are reasonably anticipated
to contribute to visibility impairment in a given Class I area.
Consultation allows for each state that impacts visibility in an area
to share whatever technical information, analyses, and control
determinations may be necessary to develop coordinated emission
management strategies. This coordination may be managed through inter-
and intra-regional planning organization consultation and the
development of regional emissions strategies; additional consultations
between states outside of regional planning organization processes may
also occur. If a state, pursuant to consultation, agrees that certain
measures (e.g., a certain emission limitation) are necessary to make
reasonable progress at a Class I area, it must include those measures
in its SIP.\80\ Additionally, the Regional Haze Rule requires that
states that contribute to visibility impairment at the same Class I
area consider the emission reduction measures the other contributing
states have identified as being necessary to make reasonable progress
for their own sources.\81\ If a state has been asked to consider or
adopt certain emission reduction measures, but ultimately determines
those measures are not necessary to make reasonable progress, that
state must document in its SIP the actions taken to resolve the
disagreement.\82\ The EPA will consider the technical information and
explanations presented by the submitting state and the state with which
it disagrees when considering whether to approve the state's SIP.\83\
Under all circumstances, a state must document in its SIP submission
all substantive consultations with other contributing states.\84\
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\80\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(A).
\81\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(B).
\82\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C).
\83\ See id.; 2019 Guidance at 53.
\84\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C).
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D. Reasonable Progress Goals
Reasonable progress goals ``measure the progress that is projected
to be achieved by the control measures states have determined are
necessary to make reasonable progress based on a four-factor
analysis.'' \85\ Their primary purpose is to assist the public and the
EPA in assessing the reasonableness of states' long-term strategies for
making reasonable progress towards the national visibility goal.\86\
States in which Class I areas are located must establish two reasonable
progress goals, both in deciviews--one representing visibility
conditions on the clearest days and one representing visibility on the
most anthropogenically impaired days--for each area within their
borders.\87\ The two reasonable progress goals are intended to reflect
the projected impacts, on the two sets of days, of the emission
reduction measures the state with the Class I area, as well as all
other contributing states, have included in their long-term strategies
for the second implementation period.\88\ The reasonable progress goals
also account for the projected impacts of implementing other Clean Air
Act requirements, including non-SIP based requirements. Because
reasonable progress goals are the modeled result of the measures in
states' long-term strategies (as well as other measures required under
the Clean Air Act), they cannot be determined before states have
conducted their four-factor analyses and determined the control
measures that are necessary to make reasonable progress.\89\
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\85\ 82 FR 3078, 3091, January 10, 2017.
\86\ See 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(iii) and (iv).
\87\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(i).
\88\ Reasonable progress goals are intended to reflect the
projected impacts of the measures all contributing states include in
their long-term strategies. However, due to the timing of analyses
and of control determinations by other states, other on-going
emissions changes, a particular state's reasonable progress goals
may not reflect all control measures and emissions reductions that
are expected to occur by the end of the implementation period. The
2019 Guidance provides recommendations for addressing the timing of
reasonable progress goal calculations when states are developing
their long-term strategies on disparate schedules, as well as for
adjusting reasonable progress goals using a post-modeling approach.
2019 Guidance at 47-48.
\89\ 2021 Clarifications Memo at 6.
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For the second implementation period, the reasonable progress goals
are set for 2028. Reasonable progress goals are not enforceable
targets, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(iii); rather, they ``provide a way for the
states to check the projected outcome of the [long-term strategy]
against the goals for visibility improvement.'' \90\ While states are
not legally obligated to achieve the visibility conditions described in
their reasonable progress goals, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(i) requires that
``[t]he long-term strategy and the reasonable progress goals must
provide for an improvement in visibility for the most impaired days
since the baseline period and ensure no degradation in visibility for
the clearest days since the baseline period.'' Thus, states are
required to have emission reduction measures in their long-term
strategies that are projected to achieve visibility conditions on the
most impaired days that are better than the baseline period and shows
no degradation on the clearest days compared to the clearest days from
the baseline period. The baseline period for the purpose of this
comparison is the baseline visibility condition--the annual average
visibility condition for the period 2000-2004.\91\
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\90\ 2019 Guidance at 46.
\91\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(i), 82 FR 2078, 3097-98, January 10,
2017.
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So that reasonable progress goals may also serve as a metric for
assessing the amount of progress a state is making towards the national
visibility goal, the Regional Haze Rule requires states with Class I
areas to compare the 2028 reasonable progress goal for the most
impaired days to the corresponding point on the uniform rate of
progress line (representing visibility conditions in 2028 if visibility
were to improve at a linear rate from conditions in the baseline period
of 2000-2004 to natural visibility conditions in 2064). If the most
impaired days reasonable progress goal in 2028 is above the uniform
rate of progress (i.e., if visibility conditions are improving more
slowly than the rate
[[Page 13631]]
described by the uniform rate of progress), each state that contributes
to visibility impairment in the Class I area must demonstrate, based on
the four-factor analysis required under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i), that no
additional emission reduction measures would be reasonable to include
in its long-term strategy.\92\ To this end, 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)
requires that each state contributing to visibility impairment in a
Class I area that is projected to improve more slowly than the uniform
rate of progress provide ``a robust demonstration, including
documenting the criteria used to determine which sources or groups [of]
sources were evaluated and how the four factors required by paragraph
(f)(2)(i) were taken into consideration in selecting the measures for
inclusion in its long-term strategy.'' The 2019 Guidance provides
suggestions about how such a ``robust demonstration'' might be
conducted.\93\
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\92\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii).
\93\ 2019 Guidance at 50-51.
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The 2017 Regional Haze Rule, 2019 Guidance, and 2021 Clarifications
Memo also explain that projecting a reasonable progress goal that is on
or below the uniform rate of progress based on only on-the-books and/or
on-the-way control measures (i.e., control measures already required or
anticipated before the four-factor analysis is conducted) is not a
``safe harbor'' from the Clean Air Act's and Regional Haze Rule's
requirement that all states must conduct a four-factor analysis to
determine what emission reduction measures constitute reasonable
progress. The uniform rate of progress is a planning metric used to
gauge the amount of progress made thus far and the amount left before
reaching natural visibility conditions. However, the uniform rate of
progress is not based on consideration of the four statutory factors
and therefore cannot answer the question of whether the amount of
progress being made in any particular implementation period is
``reasonable progress.'' \94\
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\94\ 82 FR 3078, 3093, 3099-3100, January 10, 2017; 2019
Guidance at 22; 2021 Clarifications Memo at 15-16.
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E. Monitoring Strategy and Other State Implementation Plan Requirements
Section 51.308(f)(6) requires states to have certain strategies and
elements in place for assessing and reporting on visibility. Individual
requirements under this section apply either to states with Class I
areas within their borders, states with no Class I areas but that are
reasonably anticipated to cause or contribute to visibility impairment
in any Class I area, or both. A state with Class I areas within its
borders must submit with its SIP revision a monitoring strategy for
measuring, characterizing, and reporting regional haze visibility
impairment that is representative of all Class I areas within the
state. SIP revisions for such states must also provide for the
establishment of any additional monitoring sites or equipment needed to
assess visibility conditions in Class I areas, as well as reporting of
all visibility monitoring data to the EPA at least annually. Compliance
with the monitoring strategy requirement may be met through a state's
participation in the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual
Environments (IMPROVE) monitoring network, which is used to measure
visibility impairment caused by air pollution at the 156 Class I areas
covered by the visibility program.\95\ The IMPROVE monitoring data is
used to determine the 20% most anthropogenically impaired and 20%
clearest sets of days every year at each Class I area and tracks
visibility impairment over time.
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\95\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6), (f)(6)(i), (f)(6)(iv).
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All states' SIPs must provide for procedures by which monitoring
data and other information are used to determine the contribution of
emissions from within the state to regional haze visibility impairment
in affected Class I areas.\96\ Section 51.308(f)(6)(v) further requires
that all states' SIPs provide for a statewide inventory of emissions of
pollutants that are reasonably anticipated to cause or contribute to
visibility impairment in any Class I area; the inventory must include
emissions for the most recent year for which data are available and
estimates of future projected emissions. States must also include
commitments to update their inventories periodically. The inventories
themselves do not need to be included as elements in the SIP and are
not subject to EPA review as part of the EPA's evaluation of a SIP
revision.\97\ All states' SIPs must also provide for any other
elements, including reporting, recordkeeping, and other measures, that
are necessary for states to assess and report on visibility.\98\ Per
the 2019 Guidance, a state may note in its regional haze SIP that its
compliance with the Air Emissions Reporting Rule in 40 CFR part 51,
subpart A satisfies the requirement to provide for an emissions
inventory for the most recent year for which data are available. To
satisfy the requirement to provide estimates of future projected
emissions, a state may explain in its SIP how projected emissions were
developed for use in establishing reasonable progress goals for its own
and nearby Class I areas.\99\
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\96\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6)(ii), (iii).
\97\ See ``Step 8: Additional requirements for regional haze
SIPs'' in 2019 Regional Haze Guidance at 55.
\98\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6)(vi).
\99\ See ``Step 8: Additional requirements for regional haze
SIPs'' in 2019 Regional Haze Guidance at 55.
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Separate from the requirements related to monitoring for regional
haze purposes under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6), the Regional Haze Rule also
contains a requirement at 40 CFR 51.308(f)(4) related to any additional
monitoring that may be needed to address visibility impairment in Class
I areas from a single source or a small group of sources. This is
called ``reasonably attributable visibility impairment.'' \100\ Under
this provision, if the EPA or the Federal Land Manager of an affected
Class I area has advised a state that additional monitoring is needed
to assess reasonably attributable visibility impairment, the state must
include in its SIP revision for the second implementation period an
appropriate strategy for evaluating such impairment.
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\100\ The EPA's visibility protection regulations define
``reasonably attributable visibility impairment'' as ``visibility
impairment that is caused by the emission of air pollutants from
one, or a small number of sources.'' 40 CFR 51.301.
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F. Requirements for Periodic Reports Describing Progress Towards the
Reasonable Progress Goals
Section 51.308(f)(5) requires a state's regional haze SIP revision
to address the requirements of paragraphs 40 CFR 51.308(g)(1) through
(5) so that the plan revision due in 2021 will serve also as a progress
report addressing the period since submission of the progress report
for the first implementation period. The regional haze progress report
requirement is designed to inform the public and the EPA about a
state's implementation of its existing long-term strategy and whether
such implementation is in fact resulting in the expected visibility
improvement.\101\ To this end, every state's SIP revision for the
second implementation period is required to describe the status of
implementation of all measures included in the state's long-term
strategy, including BART and reasonable progress emission reduction
measures from the first implementation period, and the resulting
emissions reductions.\102\
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\101\ 81 FR 26942, 26950, May 4, 2016; 82 FR 3078, 3119, January
10, 2017.
\102\ 40 CFR 51.308(g)(1) and (2).
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A core component of the progress report requirements is an
assessment of changes in visibility conditions on the
[[Page 13632]]
clearest and most impaired days. For second implementation period
progress reports, 40 CFR 51.308(g)(3) requires states with Class I
areas within their borders to first determine current visibility
conditions for each area on the most impaired and clearest days, 40 CFR
51.308(g)(3)(i)(B), and then to calculate the difference between those
current conditions and baseline (2000-2004) visibility conditions in
order to assess progress made to date.\103\ States must also assess the
changes in visibility impairment for the most impaired and clearest
days since they submitted their first implementation period progress
reports.\104\ Since different states submitted their first
implementation period progress reports at different times, the starting
point for this assessment will vary state by state.
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\103\ 40 CFR 51.308(g)(3)(ii)(B).
\104\ 40 CFR 51.308(g)(3)(iii)(B), (f)(5).
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Similarly, states must provide analyses tracking the change in
emissions of pollutants contributing to visibility impairment from all
sources and activities within the state over the period since they
submitted their first implementation period progress reports.\105\
Changes in emissions should be identified by the type of source or
activity. Section 51.308(g)(5) also addresses changes in emissions
since the period addressed by the previous progress report and requires
states' SIP revisions to include an assessment of any significant
changes in anthropogenic emissions within or outside the state. This
assessment must include an explanation of whether these changes in
emissions were anticipated and whether they have limited or impeded
progress in reducing emissions and improving visibility relative to
what the state projected based on its long-term strategy for the first
implementation period.
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\105\ See 40 CFR 51.308(g)(4), (f)(5).
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G. Requirements for State and Federal Land Manager Coordination
Clean Air Act section 169A(d) requires that before a state holds a
public hearing on a proposed regional haze SIP revision, it must
consult with the appropriate Federal Land Manager or Federal Land
Managers; pursuant to that consultation, the state must include a
summary of the Federal Land Managers' conclusions and recommendations
in the notice to the public. Consistent with this statutory
requirement, the Regional Haze Rule also requires that states ``provide
the [Federal Land Manager] with an opportunity for consultation, in
person and at a point early enough in the State's policy analyses of
its long-term strategy emission reduction obligation so that
information and recommendations provided by the [Federal Land Manager]
can meaningfully inform the State's decisions on the long-term
strategy.'' \106\ Consultation that occurs 120 days prior to any public
hearing or public comment opportunity will be deemed ``early enough,''
but the Regional Haze Rule provides that in any event the opportunity
for consultation must be provided at least 60 days before a public
hearing or comment opportunity. This consultation must include the
opportunity for the Federal Land Managers to discuss their assessment
of visibility impairment in any Class I area and their recommendations
on the development and implementation of strategies to address such
impairment.\107\ In order for the EPA to evaluate whether Federal Land
Manager consultation meeting the requirements of the Regional Haze Rule
has occurred, the SIP submission should include documentation of the
timing and content of such consultation. The SIP revision submitted to
the EPA must also describe how the state addressed any comments
provided by the Federal Land Managers.\108\ Finally, a SIP revision
must provide procedures for continuing consultation between the state
and Federal Land Managers regarding the state's visibility protection
program, including development and review of SIP revisions, five-year
progress reports, and the implementation of other programs having the
potential to contribute to impairment of visibility in Class I
areas.\109\
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\106\ 40 CFR 51.308(i)(2).
\107\ Ibid.
\108\ 40 CFR 51.308(i)(3).
\109\ 40 CFR 51.308(i)(4).
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IV. The EPA's Evaluation of the Oregon Regional Haze Submission for the
Second Implementation Period
A. Background on the Oregon First Implementation Period SIP Submission
Oregon submitted its regional haze SIP for the first implementation
period (2008 through 2018) on December 9, 2010, as supplemented on
February 01, 2011. The Clean Air Act required that the initial round of
regional haze plans include, among other things, a long-term strategy
for making reasonable progress and best available retrofit technology
requirements for certain older stationary sources, where
applicable.\110\ The EPA approved Oregon's first implementation period
SIP submission in two actions published July 5, 2011 (76 FR 38997) and
August 22, 2012 (77 FR 50611). Subsequently, on July 18, 2017, Oregon
submitted a five-year progress report and the EPA approved the progress
report on May 17, 2018 (83 FR 22853).\111\ In our action, we concluded
that Oregon made adequate progress in improving visibility as a result
of actions identified in the regional haze SIP. Specifically, based on
2010 through 2014 data, Oregon Class I areas attained the 2018
reasonable progress goals for improved visibility, except for one
IMPROVE monitor highly impacted by wildfire.\112\
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\110\ The requirements for regional haze SIPs for the first
implementation period are contained in Clean Air Act section
169A(b)(2)(B) and 40 CFR 51.308(d) and (e). See also 40 CFR
51.308(b).
\111\ For details, please see the progress report in the docket
for the EPA's approval action on May 17, 2018 (83 FR 22853) at
https://www.regulations.gov under docket number EPA-R10-OAR-2017-
0482.
\112\ See Section III.B. Summary of Visibility Conditions of the
proposed rule. 83 FR 11927, 11930, March 19, 2018.
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B. The Oregon Second Implementation Period SIP Submission and the EPA's
Evaluation
On April 29, 2022, and November 22, 2023, Oregon submitted
revisions to the SIP to address its regional haze obligations for the
second implementation period (2018 through 2028).\113\ The submissions
may be found in the docket for this action. Oregon made its April 29,
2022 submission available for public comment on August 27, 2021 through
November 1, 2021 \114\ and held a public hearing on October 27,
2021.\115\ The state received and responded to public comments and
included the comments and comment responses in the SIP submission.\116\
Oregon made its November 22, 2023 submission available for public
comment September 15, 2023 through October 21, 2023 and held a public
hearing on October 16, 2023.\117\ The State received and responded to
public comments and included the comments and comment responses in the
SIP submission.\118\
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\113\ Clean Air Act sections 169A and 40 CFR 51.308(f).
\114\ Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, August 27, 2021, included
in the docket for this action.
\115\ Staff report for the Oregon Environmental Quality
Commission Meeting February. 3-4, 2022, included in the docket for
this action.
\116\ Staff report for the Oregon Environmental Quality
Commission Meeting February. 3-4, 2022, Summary of Public Comments
and DEQ Responses.
\117\ Staff report for the Oregon Environmental Quality
Commission Meeting November 17, 2023, at page 15-16.
\118\ Staff report for the Oregon Environmental Quality
Commission Meeting November 17, 2023, at page 16.
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The following sections of this preamble describe the Oregon SIP
submission, including air quality
[[Page 13633]]
modeling conducted, source selection, four-factor analyses to determine
what emission reduction measures constitute reasonable progress for the
long-term strategy, assessment of progress made since the first
implementation period in reducing emissions of visibility impairing
pollutants, and the visibility improvement progress at Class I areas in
Oregon and other states impacted by Oregon sources. This preamble also
contains the EPA's evaluation of the Oregon SIP submission against the
requirements of the Clean Air Act and Regional Haze Rule for the second
implementation period of the regional haze program.
C. Identification of Class I Areas
Section 169A(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act requires each state in
which any Class I area is located or ``the emissions from which may
reasonably be anticipated to cause or contribute to any impairment of
visibility'' in a Class I area to have a plan for making reasonable
progress toward the national visibility goal. The Regional Haze Rule
implements this statutory requirement at 40 CFR 51.308(f), which
provides that each state's plan ``must address regional haze in each
mandatory Class I Federal area located within the State and in each
mandatory Class I Federal area located outside the State that may be
affected by emissions from within the State,'' and (f)(2), which
requires each state's plan to include a long-term strategy that
addresses regional haze in such Class I areas.
Oregon Class I Areas
Oregon has 12 designated Class I areas, including Crater Lake
National Park, managed by the National Parks Service, and 11 wilderness
areas, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, or in the case of Hells
Canyon Wilderness Area, managed jointly by the U.S. Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management.\119\
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\119\ Section 169A of the Clean Air Act was established in 1977
to protect visibility in all wilderness areas over 5,000 acres and
all national parks over 6,000 acres. 156 such areas were designated
throughout the U.S.
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Mt. Hood Wilderness Area
The Mt. Hood Wilderness Area consists of 47,160 acres on the slopes
of Mt. Hood in the northern Oregon Cascades. Wilderness elevations
range from 3,426 meters (m) (11,237 feet (ft.)) on the summit of Mt.
Hood down to almost 600 m (2,000 ft.) at the western boundary. It is
almost adjacent to the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area; the
westernmost boundary is about 20 kilometers (km) east of the Portland,
Oregon suburb of Sandy and 40 km from the heavily populated
metropolitan center, elevation 100 m (300 ft.). Visitation to the Mt.
Hood Wilderness Area is approximately 50,000 visitors a year, primarily
between May and October. Most visitors come from the Portland/Vancouver
area that has a population of approximately 2 million.
Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area
The Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area consists of 107,008 acres on the
crest of the Cascade Range in central Oregon. Its southern boundary is
a few km north of the northern boundary of the Mt. Washington
Wilderness and it extends 40 to 50 km north along the Cascade crest.
West of the crest, it consists primarily of the eastern side of the
North Santiam River headwaters basin that connects to the Willamette
Valley source region near Salem, Oregon, 100 km (60 miles (mi)) to the
west. East of the crest it occupies the western slopes of the Metolius
River drainage that connects eastern slopes with Deschutes River in
eastern Oregon. The highest elevation is 3,200 m (10,497 ft.) at the
summit of Mt. Jefferson in the northern part of the Wilderness. The
lowest Wilderness elevations are near 1,000 m (3,000 ft.) along the
western boundary in the North Santiam headwaters basin and along the
eastern boundary in the Metolius River basin.
Mt. Washington Wilderness Area
The Mt. Washington Wilderness Area consists of 52,516 acres on the
crest of the Cascade Range in central Oregon. Like the Three Sisters
Wilderness that it borders to the south, it includes headwaters
tributaries of the McKenzie River that flow west into the Willamette
Valley near Eugene and connect the Wilderness with that source region.
On the east side, eastern slopes of the Cascades descend to the
Deschutes River near Bend. The highest Wilderness elevation is 2,376 m
(7,794 ft.) at the summit of Mt. Washington. The lowest elevations are
near 900 m (3,000 ft.) in the upper headwaters basin of the McKenzie
River.
Three Sisters Wilderness Area
The Three Sisters Wilderness Area consists of 285,202 acres abreast
the crest of the Cascade Range in central Oregon. It includes
headwaters tributaries of the McKenzie River that flow west into the
Willamette Valley near Eugene and connect the Wilderness with that
source region. On the east side, streams flow east to the Deschutes
River near Bend. The highest crest elevation is 3,158 m (10,358 ft.) at
the summit of the South Sister. The lowest elevations are near 600 m
(2,000 ft.) where the South Fork of the McKenzie River exits the
Wilderness on the west boundary. This is about 500 m (1,600 ft.) above
the Willamette Valley at Eugene 70 km (40 mi) west.
Diamond Peak Wilderness Area
The 52,337 acre Diamond Peak Wilderness Area straddles the Cascade
Range 50 km (30 mi) north of Crater Lake National Park. The highest
crest elevation in the Wilderness is 2,666 m (8,744 ft.) at Diamond
Peak, which is also the highest summit in this region of the Cascade
Range. The lowest elevations are near 1,450 m (5,000 ft.) where streams
exit the Wilderness on the west side. On the east side, the Wilderness
is bordered by mountain lakes with elevations from 1,459 m to 1,693 m
(4,786 to 5,553 ft.). The area includes headwaters of the Middle Fork
of the Willamette River that flows to the Willamette Valley near
Eugene, elevation 100 m (300 ft.) and 90 km (60 mi) distant. Wilderness
elevations are thus some 1,400 m (4,600 ft.) above the Willamette
Valley floor. East of the Cascade crest, streams flow to the Deschutes
River in eastern Oregon.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is the only national park in Oregon. The
park was established on May 22, 1902, and now consists of 183,315
acres. It is located in southwestern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade
Mountain range, 100 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The crater's rim
elevations range from about 900 to 1,873 ft. above lake level. The
highest park elevation is 8,929 ft. at the peak of Mt. Scott, in the
eastern park area. The National Park includes headwaters of the Rogue
River that flows southwest towards the Medford/Grants Pass area, and
Sun Creek/Wood River that flows southeast to the Klamath Falls area.
Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area
The Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area, encompassing 23,071 acres, is a
relatively small Class I area in southern Oregon, 50 km (30 mi) south
of Crater Lake National Park. It consists of several peaks with a
highest elevation of 2,502 m (8,208 ft.) at the crest of Aspen Butte.
The lowest elevations are near 1,500 m (5,000 ft.). Primary drainages
are Varney Creek and Moss Creek that flow into the Upper Klamath Lake,
3 km northeast of the Wilderness boundary.
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Area
The Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Area consists of 22,809 acres on
the flanks of Gearhart Mountain in south central Oregon, primarily the
northern
[[Page 13634]]
slope and eastern drainages of Gearhart Mountain, the dominant
topographic feature. Elevations range from near 5,900 ft. at the North
Fork of the Sprague River in the northern Wilderness to 8,364 ft. at
the summit of Gearhart Mountain.
Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area
The Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area consists of 179,700 acres and is
located in the Klamath Mountains of southwestern Oregon, part of the
coastal temperate rainforest zone that lies between the Pacific Ocean
and the east side of the coast ranges in northwestern U.S. and Canada.
Its western boundary is 20 to 25 km (12 to 15 mi) from the coast. Its
easternmost extent is about 40 km (25 mi) from the coast. Elevations
range from about 300 m (900 ft.) on the western boundary where the
Chetco River exits the Wilderness towards the Pacific Ocean 25 to 30
miles further west, to 1,554 m (5,098 ft.) on Pearsoll Peak on the
eastern Wilderness boundary. The terrain in the Wilderness is steep
canyons and long broad ridges. The Wilderness is mostly west of the
general crest of the coast range, thus exposed to precipitation caused
by lifting of eastward moving maritime air, primarily during the
winter. Precipitation ranges from 150 to 350 cm (60 to 140 inches (in))
annually, depending on elevation.
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Area
The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Area consists of 69,350 acres in
eastern Oregon, just east of John Day. The Wilderness comprises most of
the Strawberry Mountain Range. The terrain is rugged, with elevations
ranging from 1,220 m (4,000 ft.) to 2,755 m (9,038 ft.) at the summit
of Strawberry Mountain. The Wilderness borders the upper John Day River
valley to the north.
Eagle Cap Wilderness Area
The Eagle Cap Wilderness Area consists of 360,275 acres in
northeastern Oregon. The terrain is characterized by bare peaks and
ridges and U-shaped glaciated valleys. Elevations range from 5,000 ft.
in lower valleys to near 10,000 ft. at the highest mountain summits.
The Lostine and Minam Rivers flow north from the center of the
Wilderness towards Pendleton and the Columbia, 130 km northwest.
Hells Canyon Wilderness Area
The Hells Canyon Wilderness Area consists of 214,944 acres and is
located on the Oregon-Idaho border. The Snake River divides the
wilderness, with 131,133 acres in Oregon, and 83,811 acres in Idaho.
The Snake River canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. The
higher terrain is located on the Oregon side. Popular Oregon-side
viewpoints are McGraw, Hat Point, and Somers Point.
Oregon Visibility Monitoring Network
Haze species in Oregon are measured and analyzed via the
Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE)
network.\120\ Table 1 of this preamble lists the IMPROVE stations
representing visibility at Oregon Class I areas. Due to the remote
nature of some of the Class I areas, several areas share a common
IMPROVE station.
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\120\ IMPROVE website at https://vista.cira.colostate.edu/Improve.
Table 1--Oregon IMPROVE Stations and Class I Areas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monitor ID Class I area Sponsor Years operated
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOHO............................... Mt. Hood Wilderness........ U.S. Forest Service... 2000-present.
THSI............................... Mt. Jefferson Wilderness... U.S. Forest Service... 1993-present.
Mt. Washington Wilderness..
Three Sisters Wilderness...
CRLA............................... Crater Lake National Park.. National Parks Service 1988-present.
Diamond Peak Wilderness....
Mountain Lakes Wilderness..
Gearhart Mountain
Wilderness.
KALM............................... Kalmiopsis Wilderness...... U.S. Forest Service... 2000-present.
STAR............................... Strawberry Mountain U.S. Forest Service... 2000-present.
Wilderness.
Eagle Cap Wilderness.......
HECA............................... Hells Canyon Wilderness U.S. Forest Service... 2000-present.
Area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identification of Class I Areas in Other States
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) used a Q/d
screening approach in developing a list of sources for potential four-
factor analysis, as discussed in more detail in section IV.E.a of this
preamble. Q/d is equal to the emissions (Q) in tons per year of
visibility-impairing pollutants (NOX, SO2, and
particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10))
divided by the distance to a Class I area (d) in kilometers. The
resulting ratio is commonly used as a metric to assess a source's
potential visibility impacts on a particular Class I area. Importantly,
ODEQ used permitted emissions limits, called Plant Site Emissions
Limits (PSELs),\121\ for a facility in 2017 to calculate Q.
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\121\ PSELs are used to protect ambient air quality standards,
prevent significant deterioration of air quality, and to ensure
protection of visibility. Establishing such a limit is a mandatory
step in the Oregon permitting process. A PSEL is designed to be set
at the actual baseline emissions from a source plus approved
emissions increases and minus required emissions reductions. This
design is intended to maintain a more realistic emissions inventory.
Oregon uses a fixed baseline year of 1977 or 1978 (or a prior year
if more representative of normal operation) and factors in all
approved emissions increases and required emissions decreases since
baseline, to set the allowable emissions in the PSEL. Increases and
decreases since the baseline year do not affect the baseline, but
are included in the difference between baseline and allowable
emissions. Oregon's PSEL program is used, in part, to implement NSR
permitting. For major NSR, if a PSEL is calculated at a level
greater than an established significant emission rate (SER) over the
baseline actual emission rate, an evaluation of the air quality
impact and major NSR permitting are required. If not, the PSEL is
set without further review (a construction permit may also be
required). For minor NSR (State NSR), a similar calculation is
conducted. If the difference is greater than the SER, an air quality
analysis is required to evaluate whether ambient air quality
standards and increments are protected. The air quality analysis
results may require the source to reduce the airshed impact and/or
comply with a tighter emission limit. See 82 FR 14654, March 22,
2017, p. 14661. Oregon's PSEL requirements are codified at OAR 340,
Division 222. These requirements are approved into the Oregon SIP at
40 CFR 52.1970(c). Oregon imposes the PSEL requirements via its
major and minor new source review permitting programs at OAR 340,
Divisions 216 and 224. Thus, PSELs are applicable requirements
included in Title V operating permits for major stationary sources
in Oregon.
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ODEQ determined that this approach based on permitted emissions or
potential to emit was more rigorous and environmentally protective than
relying
[[Page 13635]]
on actual 2017 emissions which could increase in the future. Using this
approach, ODEQ identified Oregon facilities with a Q/d >= 5 based on
PSELs as having potential visibility impacts on other states shown in
table 2 of this preamble.\122\ Based on the Q/d calculation, two
facilities, PGE Beaver/Port Westward I and Georgia Pacific-Wauna Mill
potentially impact visibility in Mount Rainier National Park,
Washington with Q/d values slightly higher than the most impacted
Oregon Class I area, Mount Hood Wilderness.\123\ All other facilities
have higher potential Q/d impacts on Oregon Class I areas than the
respective out-of-state Class I areas.\124\ Descriptions of the
controls imposed at the facilities listed in table 2 are contained in
section IV.E.b. of this preamble.
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\122\ While PGE Boardman's emissions in 2017 would have screened
the facility into four-factor analysis based on the facility PSELs,
and actual emissions, this facility closed operations in 2020. The
closure of this facility, the last coal-fired power plant in Oregon,
was a product of the first round of Regional Haze planning.
\123\ Please see the EPA's evaluation of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B) for Mount Rainier National Park under section
IV.F of this preamble.
\124\ April 29, 2022, Oregon SIP submission, Chapters 3.1. Q/d
screening process and 3.3. Impact of facilities in other states on
Oregon Class I areas.
Table 2--Impact of Oregon Facilities on Other States' Class I Areas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Closest non-
Facility name Oregon Class I Actual Q/ Q/d PSEL Nearest Oregon Actual Q/ Q/d PSEL
area d Class I area d
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Division of Cascades Holding Mount Adams 2.69 56.77 Mount Hood 3.02 63.72
US Inc. Wilderness, WA. Wilderness.
Ash Grove Cement Company...... Sawtooth 5.31 11.01 Eagle Cap 18.54 38.47
Wilderness, ID. Wilderness.
Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Mount Rainier NP, 3.75 40.15 Mount Hood 3.24 34.60
Plant. WA. Wilderness.
Biomass One, L.P.............. Marble Mountain 3.06 6.33 Mountain Lakes 4.77 9.86
Wilderness, CA. Wilderness.
Boise Cascade-Medford......... Marble Mountain 3.25 5.45 Mountain Lakes 4.19 7.02
Wilderness, CA. Wilderness.
Collins Products, L.L.C....... Lava Beds/ 2.43 5.48 Mountain Lakes 4.78 10.82
Schonchin Wilderness.
Wilderness, CA.
EVRAZ Inc. NA................. Mount Adams 2.44 8.14 Mount Hood 3.57 11.92
Wilderness, WA. Wilderness.
Georgia Pacific-Wauna Mill.... Mount Rainier NP, 17.94 31.48 Mount Hood 16.18 28.38
WA. Wilderness.
Georgia-Pacific-Toledo........ Mount Adams 4.64 12.04 Three Sisters 7.83 20.33
Wilderness, WA. Wilderness.
Halsey Pulp Mill.............. Mount Adams 3.11 8.32 Three Sisters 8.86 23.69
Wilderness, WA. Wilderness.
Klamath Cogeneration Project.. Lava Beds/ 3.66 8.69 Mountain Lakes 6.91 16.40
Schonchin Wilderness.
Wilderness, CA.
Oregon City Compressor Station Mount Adams 1.49 5.53 Mount Hood 3.64 13.49
Wilderness, WA. Wilderness.
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Mount Adams 6.13 11.85 Mount Hood 10.86 21.00
Inc. Wilderness, WA. Wilderness.
Roseburg Forest Products-- Redwood NP, CA... 10.39 16.70 Kalmiopsis 19.07 30.67
Dillard. Wilderness.
Willamette Falls Paper Company Mount Adams 1.75 12.23 Mount Hood 3.79 26.46
Wilderness, WA. Wilderness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and Natural Visibility
Conditions; Progress to Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
Section 51.308(f)(1) requires states to determine the following for
``each mandatory Class I Federal area located within the State:''
baseline visibility conditions for the most impaired and clearest days,
natural visibility conditions for the most impaired and clearest days,
progress to date for the most impaired and clearest days, the
differences between current visibility conditions and natural
visibility conditions, and the uniform rate of progress. This section
also provides the option for states to propose adjustments to the
uniform rate of progress line for a Class I area to account for
visibility impacts from anthropogenic sources outside the U.S. and/or
the impacts from wildland prescribed fires that were conducted for
certain, specified objectives.\125\
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\125\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(vi)(B).
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Tracking Visibility in Oregon
Oregon's SIP submission addresses baseline, current and natural
visibility conditions for each of these IMPROVE stations as required by
the 2017 Regional Haze Rule and the EPA's technical guidance on
tracking visibility progress. ODEQ reviewed visibility data from 2000
through 2018 and determined that current visibility at all Class I
areas for both the clearest and most impaired days has improved since
the baseline period. In addition, all areas have met the uniform rate
of progress (URP) for 2018.\126\ Additionally, many Class I areas such
as the Mt. Hood, Strawberry Mountain, Eagle Cap, and Hells Canyon
wilderness areas are already meeting the 2028 URP for the Most Impaired
Days (MID) based on current 2014-2018 monitoring data. Oregon did not
choose to adjust its URP for international anthropogenic impacts or to
account for the impacts of wildland prescribed fires resulting in a
more stringent, environmentally protective URP glidepath as discussed
in section IV.F. of this preamble.
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\126\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission. Tables 2-6 and 2-7.
\127\ ODEQ used data drawn from ``Availability of Modeling Data
and Associated Technical Support Document for the EPA's Updated 2028
Visibility Air Quality Modeling'' (EPA 2019) with corrected data as
applicable from the June 2020 EPA Memo, ``Technical addendum
including updated visibility data through 2018 for the memo titled
`Recommendation for the Use of Patched and Substituted Data and
Clarification of Data Completeness for Tracking Visibility Progress
for the Second Implementation Period of the Regional Haze Program.''
Table 3--Haze Indices (Deciviews) for Oregon IMPROVE Stations \127\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current
Monitor ID Class I area Baseline 2018 URP conditions 2028 URP Natural
2000-2004 2014-2018 2064
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most Impaired Days
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOHO.............................. Mt. Hood Wilderness 12.10 10.81..................... 9.27 9.90...................... 6.59
Area.
THSI.............................. Mt. Jefferson, Mt. 12.80 11.52..................... 11.28 10.60..................... 7.30
Washington, and
Three Sisters
Wilderness Areas.
[[Page 13636]]
CRLA.............................. Crater Lake National 9.36 8.38...................... 7.98 7.70...................... 5.16
Park; Diamond Peak,
Mountain Lakes, and
Gearhart Mountain
Wilderness Areas.
KALM.............................. Kalmiopsis Wilderness 13.34 12.04..................... 11.97 11.13..................... 7.78
Area.
STAR.............................. Strawberry Mountain 14.53 12.68..................... 11.19 11.35..................... 6.58
and Eagle Cap
Wilderness Areas.
HECA.............................. Hells Canyon 16.51 14.19..................... 12.33 12.53..................... 6.57
Wilderness Area.
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Clearest Days
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOHO.............................. Mt. Hood Wilderness 2.17 Not applicable............ 1.39 Not applicable............ 0.88
Area.
THSI.............................. Mt. Jefferson, Mt. 3.04 NA........................ 2.61 NA........................ 1.86
Washington, and
Three Sisters
Wilderness Areas.
CRLA.............................. Crater Lake National 1.69 NA........................ 1.05 NA........................ 0.10
Park; Diamond Peak,
Mountain Lakes, and
Gearhart Mountain
Wilderness Areas.
KALM.............................. Kalmiopsis Wilderness 6.27 NA........................ 5.90 NA........................ 3.70
Area.
STAR.............................. Strawberry Mountain 4.49 NA........................ 2.79 NA........................ 1.48
and Eagle Cap
Wilderness Areas.
HECA.............................. Hells Canyon 5.52 NA........................ 4.00 NA........................ 2.52
Wilderness Area.
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The EPA is proposing to find that Oregon has submitted a regional
haze plan that meets the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1) related to
the calculations of baseline, current, and natural visibility
conditions; progress to date; and the uniform rate of progress for the
second implementation period.
E. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
a. The Oregon Long-Term Strategy
Each state having a Class I area within its borders or emissions
that may affect visibility in a Class I area must develop a long-term
strategy for making reasonable progress towards the national visibility
goal.\128\ As explained in the background discussion in section II. of
this preamble, reasonable progress is achieved when all states
contributing to visibility impairment in a Class I area are
implementing the measures determined--through application of the four
statutory factors to sources of visibility impairing pollutants--to be
necessary to make reasonable progress.\129\ Each state's long-term
strategy must include the enforceable emission limitations, compliance
schedules, and other measures that are necessary to make reasonable
progress.\130\ All new (i.e., additional) measures that are the outcome
of four-factor analyses are necessary to make reasonable progress and
must be in the long-term strategy. If the outcome of a four-factor
analysis and other measures necessary to make reasonable progress is
that no new measures are reasonable for a source, that source's
existing measures are necessary to make reasonable progress, unless the
state can demonstrate that the source will continue to implement those
measures and will not increase its emission rate. Existing measures
that are necessary to make reasonable progress must also be in the
long-term strategy. In developing its long-term strategies, a state
must also consider five additional factors.\131\ As part of its
reasonable progress determinations, the state must describe the
criteria used to determine which sources or group of sources were
evaluated (i.e., subjected to four-factor analysis) for the second
implementation period and how the four factors were taken into
consideration in selecting the emission reduction measures for
inclusion in the long-term strategy.\132\
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\128\ Clean Air Act section 169A(b)(2)(B).
\129\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
\130\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2).
\131\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv).
\132\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii).
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The following paragraphs summarize how the Oregon submissions
addressed the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i). The EPA's
evaluation of the Oregon submission is contained in section IV.E.b. of
this preamble. The Oregon submission includes analysis and modeling
conducted by the State, the EPA and the WRAP, a narrative description
of the State's long-term strategy, and enforceable emissions
limitations embodied in State administrative orders and permits.\133\
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\133\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.5.1
Estimated future projected emissions.
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States may rely on technical information developed by the regional
planning organizations of which they are members to select sources for
four-factor analysis and to conduct that analysis, as well as to
satisfy the documentation requirements under 40 CFR 51.308(f). Where a
regional planning organization has performed source selection and/or
four-factor analyses (or considered the five additional factors in 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)) for its member states, those states may rely on
the regional planning organization's analyses for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) so long as the
states have a reasonable basis to do so and all state participants in
the regional planning organization process have approved the technical
analyses.\134\ States may also satisfy the requirement of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(ii) to engage in interstate consultation with other states
that have emissions that are reasonably anticipated to contribute to
visibility impairment in a given Class I area under the auspices of
intra- and inter-regional planning organization engagement.
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\134\ 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(iii).
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The WRAP is the regional planning organization to which Oregon
belongs. The WRAP coordinated technical services, modeling, data
management, and consulting during the second planning period. The WRAP
developed technical tools, emission inventories, and air quality
modeling with input and involvement from states in the region. Oregon
has participated actively in the WRAP and used WRAP technical products
to help develop the Oregon submissions.
In the submissions, Oregon conducted technical analyses to identify
sources and source categories with the largest potential to contribute
to visibility impairment at Class I areas in Oregon and other states.
Based on the composition of regional haze forming pollutants at the
IMPROVE stations, ODEQ determined that the majority of U.S.
anthropogenic contribution to
[[Page 13637]]
regional haze in Oregon Class I areas is ammonium nitrate. This varies
seasonally and by monitor.\135\ Statewide, NOX emissions are
primarily from mobile sources, at about 80% of the inventory, with
another 13% of the inventory coming from fuel combustion from area and
stationary sources.\136\ At some monitors, such as the IMPROVE stations
in the Cascades (THIS and CRLA) and Kalmiopsis (KALM), ammonium sulfate
is a proportionally larger contributor to regional haze formation. ODEQ
determined the ammonium sulfate contribution is primarily from
international anthropogenic sources and is projected to decrease by 77%
due to new standards for international marine shipping fuels which
became effective in 2020.\137\ Specifically, in 2010, the International
Marine Organization (IMO) established emission standards for vessels
operating in designated waters off the coast of North America. MARPOL
Annex VI is codified at 33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. Pursuant to 33 U.S.C.
1907, it is unlawful to act in violation of the MARPOL Protocol. The
North American Emissions Control Area (ECA) covers most coastal areas
of the United States. Vessels operating in the area must burn low
sulfur marine fuel, 1,000 ppm sulfur content (0.10% sulfur by weight).
In addition, as of January 1, 2020, the IMO limited sulfur in fuel for
ships operating outside designated ECAs to 5,000 ppm sulfur content
(0.50% sulfur by weight). This limit represents a substantial reduction
from the prior IMO limit of 35,000 ppm sulfur content (3.5% sulfur by
weight). Fuel sulfur limits are codified at 40 CFR part 1043. See 84 FR
69335, 69336 (December 18, 2019). The levels of organic mass and
elemental carbon, likely from wildfire, prescribed burning, and
anthropogenic and biogenic sources of volatile organic compounds vary
at all Oregon IMPROVE stations from 2000 to 2018 but show no
significant trend.\138\
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\135\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.4
Pollutant Components of Visibility Impairment.
\136\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.3
Emissions Inventory Analysis.
\137\ International Marine Organization. 2020. A Breath of Fresh
Air. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/Sulphur%202020%20infographic%202%20page.pdf.
\138\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.4
Pollutant Components of Visibility Impairment.
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In addition to selecting and evaluating stationary sources for
four-factor analysis, Oregon also used EPA emissions inventory data
from 2017 to review emissions from mobile sources such as nonroad
vehicles (e.g., construction, agriculture, lawn and garden,
recreational equipment) and onroad vehicles (e.g. commercial trucks,
passenger cars and trucks), as well as agriculture, fugitive dust,
marine shipping, oil and gas, prescribed fires, and railroads. The
submissions address these sectors and their potential to contribute to
visibility impairment in Chapter 2.3. Emissions Inventory Analysis and
Chapter 4 Long-term Strategy.
With respect to analyzing stationary sources, Oregon used a Q/d
methodology to select sources for evaluation under the four statutory
factors. This methodology does not take into consideration topography,
transport direction/pathway and dispersion, and photochemical
processes. However, it is an adequate tool for source selection and is
consistent with the EPA guidance. Specifically, Oregon's submission
determined ``Q/d'' where ``Q'' is a source's emissions and ``d'' is the
distance from the source to the nearest Class I area. Oregon identified
permitted point sources by their Q/d values, calculated using the sum
of all emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate
matter less than 10 microns in diameter (as measured in tons per year),
divided by the distance to a Class I area (measured in kilometers from
the facility to the nearest boundary of the Class I area) for all Class
I areas within 400 km of the source. Rather than using actual emissions
to screen facilities in, Oregon was more conservative and used
permitted emissions, called Plant Site Emissions Limits (PSELs) to
effectively screen in more sources than would otherwise have been
identified.\139\
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\139\ Save for certain exceptions, PSELs are included in all Air
Contaminant Discharge Permits (ACDP) and Title V Operating Permits
issued to sources in Oregon. See OAR 340-222-0020. This program is
approved into the Oregon SIP. 40 CFR 52.1970(c). Oregon establishes
PSELs for multiple pollutants, including SO2,
NOX, PM10, and PM2.5. Id. Sources
are required to monitor pollutant emissions and comply with the
PSELs. 340-222-0080. PSELs serve as a basis for, among other things,
assuring compliance with ambient air quality standards and
Prevention of Significant Deterioration increments. OAR 340-222-
0020. ODEQ sets PSELs based on a variety of factors; in general,
PSELs are set at levels above the projected actual or actual
emissions of the source. OAR 340-222-0041; 0042.
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As discussed in more detail in section IV.E.b of this preamble,
Oregon selected 32 sources for review using the Q/d screening
methodology. Of these 32 sources, several incorporated enforceable
emissions limits into their permits or in agreed orders resulting in
PSELs below the screening threshold, and several had recently imposed
controls already in place, with the remaining 23 sources conducting
four-factor analyses. ODEQ reviewed the four-factor analyses submitted
by the sources and found that 6 of the sources that additional controls
were above the $10,000 cost per ton reduction threshold established by
ODEQ. For the remaining 17 sources, ODEQ determined that additional
controls might be cost effective and initiated a second round of review
evaluating 43 emissions units and a total of 62 control devices. During
this second round of review, an additional 4 sources incorporated
facility-wide enforceable emissions limits effectively lowering PSELs
below the screening threshold, and ODEQ negotiated permit modifications
or agreed orders to install control devices or other emissions
reductions at the remaining 13 facilities described in more detail in
section IV.E.b. of this preamble.
After reviewing the submissions, the EPA proposes to determine that
Oregon's long-term strategy includes the enforceable emissions
limitations, compliance schedules, and other measures necessary to make
reasonable progress. By extension, the EPA proposes to determine that
Oregon's selection of sources for evaluation under the four statutory
factors was reasonable and consistent with the requirements of the RHR
and proposes to determine that Oregon determined the controls necessary
for reasonable progress based on a reasonable consideration of the four
factors, as described in the evaluation below.
b. The EPA's Evaluation of the Oregon Long-Term Strategy
The EPA is proposing to find that Oregon has satisfied the
requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) related to evaluating sources
and determining the emission reduction measures that are necessary to
make reasonable progress by considering the four statutory factors. The
EPA is proposing to find that Oregon has satisfied the four-factor
analysis requirement through its evaluation and actions documented in
the Oregon regional haze plan for the second planning period. Section
51.308(f)(2)(i) requires states to evaluate and determine the emission
reduction measures that are necessary to make reasonable progress by
considering the four statutory factors to sources in a control
analysis. As laid out in further detail in the following paragraphs of
this preamble, the EPA is proposing to find that the Oregon submission,
as supplemented, satisfies the requirement of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i).
The emission reduction measures that are necessary to
[[Page 13638]]
make reasonable progress must be included in the long-term strategy,
i.e., in the Oregon SIP. 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2).
Division 223 Regional Haze Rules
On May 28, 2021, Oregon opened public comment on revisions to the
Division 223 Regional Haze rules to update the provisions for the
second regional haze planning period.\140\ The Oregon Environmental
Quality Commission adopted the revisions to the Division 223 Regional
Haze rules at its July 22-23, 2021 meeting, and the rules became
effective July 23, 2021.\141\ A detailed redline/strikeout of the rule
revisions is included in the docket for this action.\142\ The revisions
removed outdated BART provisions from the first planning period,
including source-specific requirements in Oregon Administrative Rules
(OAR) 340-223-0040 for the Amalgamated Sugar Company which ceased
operation on December 9, 2010, and closed permanently in September
2016.\143\ The revisions also repealed outdated BART provisions in OAR
340-223-0030 through 340-223-0080 for the Portland General Electric
(PGE) coal-fired power plant in Boardman which ceased operation on
October 15, 2020, pursuant to the requirements of the regional haze
plan for the first implementation period. Documentation of the closure
of the coal-fired power plant is included in the docket for this
action.\144\
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\140\ 016_4.1.2 SOS.Notice.FilingReceipt.pdf included in the
docket for this action.
\141\ 018_4.2.2 SOS.Filing.Receipt.DEQ_14-2021.pdf included in
the docket for this action.
\142\ 004_3.1 RHSIP2021.Rules_.doc included in the docket for
this action.
\143\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.1.1 Status
of implementation of control measures included in the original
regional haze SIP.
\144\ See 200_boardman closure_25-0016-TV-01_AR_2020,
201_boardman closure_25-0016-TV-01_AR_2021, 202_boardman
closure_AIRS_AFS Search _US EPA, 203_2022 PSD permit_boardman
carty_25-0016-ST-02_PM_2022_3.
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In addition to removing outdated provisions, Oregon added new rule
provisions to implement the regional haze program for the second
implementation period. OAR 340-223-0100 Screening Methodology for
Sources for Round II of Regional Haze established the screening
methodology for stationary sources in the regional haze second planning
period. Pursuant to this rulemaking sources were required to undergo
review if the source's Q/d was greater than 5, where Q equals the sum
of the source's PSELs for NOX, SO2, and
PM10.
OAR 340-223-0110 Options for Compliance with Round II of Regional
Haze imposed the obligation on screened sources to conduct four-factor
analyses and established the process for imposition of controls
determined by ODEQ to be cost effective based on those four-factor
analyses, using a cost-effectiveness threshold of $10,000 or less per
ton of reductions for any single or combination of regional haze
pollutants. Specifically, OAR 340-223-0110(1) requires each source
screened into review to submit a four-factor analysis and install
controls determined by ODEQ to be cost effective following ODEQ's
adjustment and review of the four-factor analysis. OAR 340-223-0110(2)
allows alternative compliance options under an agreed order with ODEQ
(stipulated agreement and final order or SAFO) as summarized below:
Accept federally enforceable reductions of combined plant
site emission limits of regional haze pollutants to bring the source's
Q/d below 5.00. A source may take a PSEL reduction below the generic
PSEL to achieve an overall PSEL of regional haze pollutants below a Q/d
of 5.00. A source's Q/d will be considered to be brought below 5.00
when Q/d is below 5.00 using the calculation in OAR 340-223-0100(2),
except that the Q factor shall be calculated by adding the plant site
emission limits for regional haze pollutants as stated in the
stipulated agreement and final order;
Install controls identified by the source in a four-factor
analysis as cost-effective for that source for reducing regional haze
pollutants. ODEQ must agree that the controls identified will result in
the greatest cost-effective emissions reduction at the identified
emissions unit and ODEQ must establish a timeline for installation of
those controls that is the fastest practicable timeline for
installation of the identified controls and that is no later than July
31, 2026;
Install controls or reduce emissions for regional haze
pollutants that ODEQ determines, in its sole discretion, provide
equivalent emissions reductions to controls that would be identified as
cost effective for that source following the adjustment and review of a
four-factor analysis. ODEQ must establish a timeline for installation
of those controls that is the fastest practicable timeline for
installation of the identified controls and that is no later than July
31, 2026;
Maintain controls that the source has already installed to
control regional haze pollutants or maintain reduced emissions of
regional haze pollutants that ODEQ determines, in its sole discretion,
have provided and will continue to provide equivalent emissions
reductions to controls that would be identified as cost effective for
that source following adjustment and review of a four-factor analysis;
or
Replace an emissions unit with a new emissions unit that
meets the emission limits and requirements of the most recent
applicable standard in place at the time of the permitting of the new
emissions unit. ODEQ must establish a timeline for installation of the
new emissions unit that is the fastest practicable timeline for
installation of the new emissions unit and that is no later than July
31, 2031.
OAR 340-223-0120 Four Factor Analysis established the requirements
sources must follow in conducting the four-factor analyses consistent
with the Clean Air Act four statutory factors and provides ODEQ with
authority to request additional information or adjust the four-factor
analyses for consistency. Lastly, OAR 340-223-0130 Final Orders
Ordering Compliance with Round II of Regional Haze provides ODEQ
unilateral order authority to address those sources that do not enter
into a stipulated agreement and final order (SAFO) under OAR 340-223-
0110(2). OAR 340-223-0130 also outlines the contested case hearing
process for sources that challenge the unilateral orders issued by
ODEQ.
We have reviewed the revisions to the Division 223 Regional Haze
Rules and we are proposing to determine that they provide Oregon with
adequate authority to implement the regional haze program and are
consistent with CAA requirements and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule. ODEQ
submitted the revised Division 223 Regional Haze Rules for
incorporation by reference into the SIP at 40 CFR 52.1970(c) EPA
approved regulations and statutes and requested that the EPA remove
from the SIP the outdated source-specific BART provisions for the
Amalgamated Sugar Company and the PGE coal-fired power plant in
Boardman, which closed pursuant to the regional haze plan for the first
implementation period. We are proposing to approve this request and
incorporate by reference the submitted revised rules.
Stationary Source Screening
Pursuant to OAR 340-223-0100 Screening Methodology for Sources for
Round II of Regional Haze, ODEQ identified 32 facilities for analysis
using the four factors. As described in the previous paragraphs, the
PGE coal-fired power plant in Boardman ceased operation on October 15,
2020, and ODEQ removed the facility from the initial list of 32
facilities. The remaining operations onsite are known as Carty
[[Page 13639]]
Generating Station with an expected maximum Q/d of slightly over
1.00.\145\
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\145\ The Carty Generating Station is a 450 megawatt (MW),
combined-cycle natural gas-fueled electric generating power plant,
and includes a not-yet-constructed 50 MW solar PV electric power
generating unit (Carty Solar Farm) on 315 acres (0.49 sq. miles).
See https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/facilities/pages/cgs.aspx.
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Limits To Align PSELs to the Screening Threshold
As previously noted, ODEQ took a more inclusive approach of using
permitted emissions limits, PSELs, to screen facilities for source
selection. This yielded a much larger pool of facilities in the initial
screening rather than using projected actuals as suggested by the 2019
Guidance.\146\ OAR 340-223-0110(2)(b)(A) allows ODEQ to enter into an
agreement with a source to ``accept federally enforceable reductions of
combined plant site emission limits of round II regional haze
pollutants to bring the source's Q/d below 5.00.'' As noted in ODEQ's
April 29, 2021, SIP submission, ``if a facility's actual emissions were
below the screening threshold and potential emissions above the
screening threshold, ODEQ provided the source an opportunity to either
reduce pollutant-specific PSELs or take a limit on combined
NOX, SO2, and PM10 PSELs such that Q/d
would be less than 5.00.'' \147\ If a source chose the option to reduce
PSELs, OAR 340-223-0110(2)(b)(A) exempted the source from further
control analysis. Importantly, OAR 340-223-0110(2)(b)(A) allows sources
to reduce PSELs as a compliance option at any point in the process from
initial screening through final agreements.\148\ To make the limits
Federally enforceable and permanent, ODEQ submitted the SAFOs and/or
permit conditions listed in table 7 for incorporation into the SIP in
40 CFR 52.1970(d) EPA approved state source-specific requirements.
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\146\ 2019 Guidance at 17.
\147\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 3.4. Four
Factor Analysis.
\148\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 6.6. Public
Comments and Responses, at page 147.
\149\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 3.7
Facility-specific findings and results.
\150\ ODEQ reviewed Kingsford Manufacturing Company which
originally screened into analysis with a Q/d = 8.39 based on actual
emissions as reported to the 2017 National Emissions Inventory (NEI)
because a 2017 PSEL was not available at that time. However, in a
letter dated May 22, 2020, ODEQ acknowledged a 2019 permit
modification that had already lowered PSELs for NOX,
SO2, and PM10 to a Q/d = 4.02.\150\ As part of
the November 22, 2023 supplement, ODEQ submitted revised permit
conditions for the Kingsford Manufacturing Company that limit the
combined PSELs and unassigned emissions to 304 tons per year
yielding a Q/d = 4.98.
\151\ Alternatively, under Order 01-0038, the facility, up until
July 2026, could opt to commit to replace units EU1 and EU2 with new
technology by July 31, 2031, that would reduce Round 2 regional haze
pollutants. The technology would have to meet the emission limits
and requirements of the most recent New Source Performance Standard
in place at the time of the permittee submitting a permit
application for the project. PSELs for Round 2 regional haze
pollutants for the replacement shall be no more than 201 tons/year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The EPA proposes to determine that Oregon's source selection was
reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(i). ODEQ included a thorough description of its source
selection methodology. ODEQ selected 23 sources for analysis under the
four factors. Considering these sources' PSELs and recent actual
emissions, ODEQ's source selection methodology targeted the sources
with the highest potential to impair visibility at mandatory Class 1
areas. Conversely, those sources ODEQ screened out have comparatively
limited potential impacts on visibility, specifically, all facilities
that accepted emission limits to screen out of analysis would have been
screened out of analysis using a Q/d <5 of actual emissions. Thus, the
EPA proposes to determine that Oregon's application of OAR 340-223-
0110(2)(b)(A) is a reasonable means of preventing future emissions
growth for facilities with relatively low Q/d values based on actual
current emissions.
Table 4--Facilities Screened in Using Q/d \149\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 Actual 2017 PSEL Q/
Facility Q/d d Outcome
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PGE Boardman................................. 38.24 116.21 No four-factor analysis (FFA).
Facility shut down coal-fired
operations in 2020.
Ash Grove Cement Company..................... 18.54 38.47 No FFA. ODEQ determined 2013 consent
decree with the EPA represented
existing effective controls.
Klamath Energy LLC........................... 6.91 16.40 No FFA. ODEQ determined that newly
installed controls yield a Q/d
<5.00.
Kingsford Manufacturing Company \150\........ 8.38 NA No FFA--lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
Cascades Tissue Group: A Division of Cascades 3.02 63.72 No FFA--lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
Holding US Inc.
Timber Products Co. Limited Partnership...... 1.63 6.07 No FFA--lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
PGE Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Plant....... 3.24 34.60 No FFA--lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
Roseburg Forest Products--Riddle Plywood..... 2.10 5.29 No FFA--lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
Roseburg Forest Products--Medford MDF........ 2.91 8.84 No FFA--lowered PSEL to Q/d <5.00.
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC--Medford.... 4.19 7.02 Conducted FFA--then lowered PSEL to Q/
d <5.00.
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC--Compressor 2.33 14.13 Conducted FFA--then lowered PSEL to Q/
Station 12. d <5.00.
JELD-WEN..................................... 2.13 6.30 Conducted FFA--then lowered PSEL to Q/
d <5.00.
Northwest Pipeline LLC--Baker Compressor 4.02 14.81 Conducted FFA--then lowered PSEL to Q/
Station \151\. d <5.00.
Pacific Wood Laminates, Inc.................. 8.29 12.50 Conducted FFA--ODEQ determined no
controls <$10K.
Swanson Group Mfg. LLC....................... 4.16 6.39 Conducted FFA--ODEQ determined no
controls <$10K.
Ochoco Lumber Company........................ 4.60 14.19 Conducted FFA--ODEQ determined no
controls <$10K.
Columbia Forest Products, Inc................ 4.10 7.75 Conducted FFA--ODEQ determined no
controls <$10K.
Collins Products, L.L.C...................... 4.78 10.82 Conducted FFA--ODEQ determined no
controls <$10K.
Woodgrain Millwork LLC--Particleboard........ 13.32 18.41 Conducted FFA--ODEQ determined no
controls <$10K
[[Page 13640]]
Gilchrist Forest Products.................... 8.42 15.74 Conducted FFA--source determined
controls cost effective. Modified
permit to incorporate controls.
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc........... 10.86 21.00 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC--Elgin 10.08 15.04 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
Complex. additional controls.
Georgia Pacific--Wauna Mill.................. 16.18 28.38 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Cascade Pacific Pulp, LLC--Halsey Pulp Mill.. 8.86 23.69 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC--Compressor 2.34 19.68 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
Station 13. additional controls.
International Paper--Springfield............. 16.51 67.24 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Georgia-Pacific--Toledo LLC.................. 7.83 20.33 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Northwest Pipeline LLC--Oregon City 3.64 13.49 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
Compressor Station. additional controls.
EVRAZ Inc. NA................................ 3.57 11.92 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Biomass One, L.P............................. 4.77 9.86 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Roseburg Forest Products--Dillard............ 19.07 30.67 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
Willamette Falls Paper Company............... 3.79 26.46 Conducted FFA--agreed order to impose
additional controls.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources That Already Have Effective Emission Control Technology in
Place
In certain circumstances, states may properly determine that a
particular facility already has effective emission control technology
in place.\152\ A state that does not select a source or sources for
this reason should explain why the decision is consistent with the
requirement to make reasonable progress. ODEQ determined that 2
facilities of the originally screened 32 met this criterion, Klamath
Energy LLC and Ash Grove Cement.
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\152\ 2019 Guidance at 22; 2021 Clarifications Memo at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a May 28, 2020, letter from ODEQ to Klamath Energy, ODEQ
acknowledged plans by the facility to install ultra low-NOX
burners on the facility's combined cycle combustion turbines (emissions
units CT1 and CT2). These planned upgrades are in addition to Selective
Catalytic Reduction (SCR) control technology already in place at the
CT1 and CT2 units and other associated units, CT3 through CT6. ODEQ
estimated that the planned upgrades would reduce the facility combined
PM10, SO2, and NOX PSELs to 122 tons
per year, yielding a Q/d less than 5.00. Importantly, the 2020 permit
modification did not include revised PSELs, but relied on installation
of planned controls by January 1, 2022, as required under condition
3.a. of the permit modification. Therefore, as part of the November 22,
2023 supplement to the regional haze plan, ODEQ submitted relevant
portions of the December 8, 2020, permit modification detailing
installation and operation of the ultra low-NOX combustors,
as well as relevant conditions from the June 12 2017, permit to include
the existing pollution control devices for the remaining emissions
units for incorporation by reference into the SIP. In reviewing the
planned controls for these units, as well as the existing controls for
other units at the facility, we are proposing to determine the facility
has effective emission control technology in place, and those controls
and associated emissions limits are included in the SIP.
As discussed in Oregon's May 18, 2020, letter included in the
docket for this action, the Ash Grove Cement, Durkee plant recently
underwent a control analysis and ODEQ determined that no additional
controls required through the regional haze second implementation
period were likely to be effective or reasonable.\153\ To reach this
determination, ODEQ reviewed information the facility sent regarding
particulate matter emissions which are controlled by a recently
installed baghouse system in accordance with the 2018 Portland Cement
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
revisions, the facility's Air Contaminant Discharge Permit (ACDP) from
2017 (Permit No. 01-0029-CS-01), and the 2017 administrative amendment
to the permit (Permit No. 01-0029-TV-01).\154\ In addition, ODEQ
considered the enforcement actions that the EPA took on Portland Cement
companies in conjunction with the State of Oregon and the resulting
consent decrees to further control emissions.\155\ With respect to the
plant in Durkee, the consent decree required installation and
continuous operation of selective noncatalytic reduction (SNCR) at Kiln
1, a 30-day rolling average emission limit of 2 pounds NOX
per ton of clinker, and a 3-hour average emission limit of 0.4 pounds
SO2 per ton of clinker. Based on the controls from the 2018
NESHAP and the consent decree requirements, ODEQ determined that the
facility has effective emission control technology in place. We are
proposing to concur with that determination for this planning period.
ODEQ submitted the October 16, 2020, Title V permit for Ash Grove
Cement for the incorporation of relevant permit conditions in the SIP
for the existing controls and emissions limits related to regional
haze.
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\153\ 100_haze-AshGroveCement-Durkee.pdf.
\154\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 3.7.2 Ash
Grove Cement Co, Durkee (01-0029).
\155\ 100a_ashgrove-cd.pdf included in the docket for this
action.
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[[Page 13641]]
Facilities With Additional Controls
Under OAR 340-223-0110(1) all sources subject to the requirements
of the regional haze second implementation period, as determined in OAR
340-223-0100 Screening Methodology for Sources for Round II of Regional
Haze, were required to submit a four-factor analysis consistent with
the provisions of OAR 340-223-0120 Four Factor Analysis. Specifically,
sources were required to conduct four-factor analyses for all ``round
II regional haze pollutants'' defined by Oregon as SO2,
NOX, and PM10. Under 340-223-0120, ODEQ may
adjust information in the four-factor analyses for consistency or
adjust the four-factor analyses based on other information ODEQ
determines to be accurate, adequate, and sufficient. ODEQ reviewed the
four-factor analyses from the facilities and adjusted for consistency
with basic factors such as interest rates, equipment lifetime, and
using potential to emit (PSEL) levels instead of actual emissions in
determining potential cost-effective controls.
The four-factor analyses submitted to ODEQ pursuant to 340-223-
0120, with the exception of Owens-Brockway and Gilchrist Forest
Products, indicated that additional NOX, PM10,
and SO2 controls were either technologically infeasible or
not cost effective. Nevertheless, Oregon reviewed these analyses and
determined that in some cases controls may be feasible and cost
effective. Accordingly, in letters dated January 21, 2021, ODEQ
notified facilities based on the information provided in the four-
factor analyses submitted by the sources that additional controls may
be reasonable at the cost effective $10,000 per ton reduction
threshold. ODEQ provided preliminary determinations of the control
measures that may be reasonable based on rough cost control analyses.
Importantly, these preliminary determinations did not factor in site-
specific feasibility or other source-specific considerations.
Therefore, the January 21, 2021, letters invited the affected
facilities to discuss ODEQ's preliminary determination and provide
additional information as the basis for alternative compliance through
a SAFO between the parties under OAR 340-223-0110(2). These SAFOs and
permit conditions imposed the new controls, emission limits, and/or
emission monitoring at 13 facilities discussed below.
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC--Elgin Complex--Order 31-0006 and
Associated Permit Conditions \156\
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\156\ Permit conditions: 56. Monitoring Requirement,
56a.Emission Calculation, Table 6 (Emission Factors) for Boilers 1
and 2 for PM10, SO2, NOX, 59-61.
General Monitoring Requirements, 62-65. General Recordkeeping
Requirements, 66-70 Boiler NESHAP Recordkeeping Requirements, and
71-75 General Reporting Requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Establishing a PSEL for SO2 effective July 31,
2022.
Installation of a Continuous Emission Monitoring System
(CEMS) on Boiler 1 and Boiler 2 to measure NOX emissions by
September 31, 2022.
Installation of combustion improvement project or projects
designed to achieve emissions reductions of NOX from Boiler
1 and Boiler 2 by 15% by July 31, 2023.
Biomass One, L.P.--Order 15-0159
Installation of CEMS on the north and south boilers by
July 31, 2022.
NOX optimization plan within 180 days after
installation of the NOX CEMS.
If Permittee is able to finalize a new power purchase
agreement (PPA), Permittee shall notify ODEQ in writing within 14
calendar days. Or, if no new PPA is signed, Permittee shall cease
operation by January 1, 2027, and request cancellation of their Title V
operating permit.
If a new PPA is signed, then no later than 180 days after
notifying ODEQ of the new PPA, the Permittee shall submit a complete
application for installation of NOX reduction technology
that includes SCR on the North Boiler and South Boiler or demonstrates
SCR is technically infeasible or presents other unacceptable energy or
non-air quality impact. If SCR is technically infeasible or presents
such other unacceptable impacts, the Permittee will propose the best
available, technically feasible, and achievable NOX
reduction option for ODEQ's review and approval. ODEQ will notify
Permittee and provide Permittee with a reasonable opportunity to
comment before approving a NOX reduction option in response
to Permittee's application.
EVRAZ Inc.--Order 26-1865
By December 31, 2024, install low NOX burners
on the pre-heat portions of EU-10 Reheat Furnace with a designed
NOX emission factor of 170 pounds per million cubic feet of
natural gas.
During 2025, the permittee shall conduct source testing to
verify the NOX emission factor for the EU-10 reheat furnace.
After consultation with the permittee, ODEQ will calculate the new
potential to emit (PTE) from EU-10 reheat furnace using the new
NOX emission factor and adjust the permittee's
NOX PSEL in its permit to account for the revised PTE,
either pursuant to OAR 340-218-0200(1)(a)(A), as applicable, or upon
permit renewal.
Georgia-Pacific--Toledo LLC--Order 21-0005
By July 31, 2026, the permittee shall complete a
NOX reduction project that includes the installation of low
NOX burners, flue gas recirculation, and CEMS on the three
boilers, EU-11, EU-13, and EU-18 in order to achieve an emissions rate
no greater than 0.09 lb/MMBtu on a seven day rolling basis.
Or, the permittee shall complete replacement of EU-11, EU-
13, and EU-18 with new technology no later than July 3l, 2031. PSELs
for the replacement shall be 889 tons per year of NOX, 437
tons per year of SO2, and 311 tons per year of
PM10, or the PSELs of the replaced units, whichever is
lower. Under this option, the permittee shall not operate EU-11, EU-13,
and EU-18 after July 31, 2031.
Georgia Pacific--Wauna Mill--Order No. 04-0004, Amendment No. 04-004-A1
NOX PSEL reductions phased from 2022 to 2026.
By December 31, 2024, the permittee shall replace the
existing Yankee burner with a low NOX burner achieving less
than or equal to 0.03 pounds per million British thermal unit (lb/
MMBtu).
For Paper Machine 6: TAD1 Burner and TAD2 Burner, and
Paper Machine 7: TAD1 Burner and TAD 2 Burner, the permittee shall have
a NOX emissions rate no greater than 0.06 lb/MMBtu for each
emissions point and shall use this emission rate for calculating
compliance with PSELs.
By July 31, 2026, the permittee shall install low
NOX burners, flue gas recirculation, and CEMS on the power
boiler to achieve an emissions rate no greater than 0.09 lb/MMBtu on a
seven day rolling basis.
International Paper Company--Springfield Mill--Order 208850 and
Associated Permit Conditions \157\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\157\ Permit conditions: 186-189: PSEL monitoring for
PM10, NOX and SO2, 192:
recordkeeping requirements, and 198: PSEL compliance reporting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective July 31, 2022, the permittee's combined assigned
PSELs for the power boiler, package boiler, lime kilns and recovery
furnace shall be 237 tons per year for SO2, 962 tons per
year for NOX, and 177 tons per year for PM10, as
a 12-month rolling average.
[[Page 13642]]
On the effective date of the SAFO, the permittee agrees to
a fuel restriction to use natural gas for the power boiler and package
boiler, except that it may operate on ultra-low sulfur diesel for no
more than 48 hours per year and when needed for natural gas
curtailments.
On the effective date of the SAFO, the permittee agrees to
a fuel restriction to use natural gas and black liquor solids for the
recovery furnace, except that it may operate on ultra-low sulfur diesel
for no more than 48 hours per year and when needed for natural gas
curtailments.
On the effective date of the SAFO, the permittee agrees to
a fuel restriction to use natural gas, product turpentine, and product
methanol for the lime kilns, except that it may operate the lime kilns
on ultra-low sulfur diesel for no more than 48 hours per year and when
needed for natural gas curtailments.
By December 31, 2022, the permittee shall install CEMS and
measure the emissions of NOX from the power boiler.
On and after January 31, 2025, International Paper shall
meet the following emission limit: a 0.25 lb NOX/MMBtu on a
7-day rolling average from the power boiler.
On and after December 31, 2025, the assigned PSEL for the
power boiler is: 179 tons per year for NOX, as a 12-month
rolling average.
In Oregon's November 22, 2023 supplement to the regional haze
SIP,\158\ ODEQ provided technical background information to demonstrate
that the newly imposed conditions under Order 208850 at International
Paper Company Springfield Mill for the second regional haze planning
period provide more stringent emissions control than the prior emission
limits and methods cited by the EPA in our determination that this
source was not subject-to-BART in the first regional haze planning
period.\159\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\158\ Page 4.
\159\ 75 FR 12651, March 8, 2011, at page 12660.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Owens-Brockway--Order 26-1876 and Associated Permit Conditions \160\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\160\ Permit conditions: 33. Monitor and Record: for
PM10, SO2, and NOX, 34. General
Testing Requirement, 35. EU4 Emission Factor Verification Testing
Requirements: for PM10, NOX, SO2,
36-38. General Monitoring and Recordkeeping Requirements, 39-42.
General Recordkeeping Requirements, 43-46. General Reporting
Requirements, and 47-48. Semi-annual and Annual Reports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Permanent shutdown of Furnace A.
PSEL limit for combined PM10 + NOX +
SO2 = 274.95 tons per year which results in a Q/d = 4.99,
consistent with OAR 340-223-0110(2)(b)(A).
Willamette Falls Paper Company--Order 03-2145 and Associated Permit
Conditions \161\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\161\ Permit conditions: 40a-40g. Monitoring Requirement: for
PM10, NOX, SO2, 41. Visible
Emission Monitoring Procedure, 42. Source Testing and Emission
Factor Verification Procedure: for PM10, NOX,
SO2, 43-45. General Monitoring Requirements, 46-49.
General Recordkeeping Requirements, 50-53. General Reporting
Requirements, and 54-56. Semi-annual and Annual Reports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective August 1, 2022, the permittee's PSELs shall be
20 tons per year for PM10, 240 tons per year for
NOX, and 5 tons per year for SO2.
On the effective date of the SAFO, the permittee agrees to
a restriction that the only fuel the permittee may combust in Boiler 1,
Boiler 2 and Boiler 3 is natural gas, except for ultra-low sulfur
diesel for no more than 48 hours per year.
Gas Transmission Northwest Compressor Station 13--OAH CASE NO. 2021-
ABC-4835 DEQ CASE NO. AQ/RH-HQ-2021-140 and Associated Permit
Conditions \162\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\162\ Permit conditions: 24-26. General Monitoring Requirements,
32-35. General Recordkeeping Requirements, 37-40. General Reporting
Requirements, and 41-44. Semi-Annual and Annual Reports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
By July 31, 2026, install and maintain SCR and an
associated monitoring system on both Turbines 13C and 13D.
Alternatively, by no later than July 31, 2031, replace
Turbines 13C and 13D with new technology that meets the most recent
permitting standards and requirements for new emission units (including
but not limited to New Source Performance Standards) in place at the
time of the respondent submitting a permit application for the project.
Gilchrist Forest Products--Permit 18-0005-TV-01, Addendum No. 1
Installation of an electrostatic precipitator on boilers
B-1 and B-2.
A PM10 PSEL reduction from 172 tpy to 77 tpy.
Northwest Pipeline LLC--Oregon City Compressor Station--Order 03-2729,
Amendment 03-2729-A1
Under the SAFO, the permittee agrees to replace two
reciprocating internal combustion engines to meet the emission limits
and requirements of the most recent New Source Performance Standard. No
later than July 1, 2026, ODEQ and the permittee will meet to discuss
what permitting needs are necessary for the replacement, with
replacement complete no later than July 31, 2031.
Cascade Pacific Pulp, LLC--Halsey Pulp Mill--Order 22-3501-A2
By June 30, 2024, the permittee shall eliminate the use of
#6 fuel oil.
No later than July 31, 2031, replace power boiler #2 with
a new emissions unit that will achieve a limit of 0.036 lbs
NOX/MMBtu as a 30-day rolling average.
Upon replacement of power boiler #2, limit emissions from
power boiler #1 to no more than 27 tons of NOX per year.
Roseburg Forest Products, Dillard--Order 10-0025
By July 31, 2022, the permittee shall install CEMS to
measure the emissions of NOX from Boiler 1, Boiler 2 and
Boiler 6.
From January 31, 2023, until June 30, 2025, the permittee
shall meet the following emission limits: 0.30 lb NOX/MMBtu
on a 7-day rolling average at Boiler 1; 0.30 lb NOX/MMBtu on
a 7-day rolling average at Boiler 2; 0.28 lb NOX/MMBtu on a
7-day rolling average at Boiler 6; Or average of emissions from boiler
1, boiler 2, and boiler 6 of 0.28 lb NOX/MMBtu (7-day
rolling average).
By January 31, 2024, the permittee shall notify ODEQ
whether the permittee will comply with the emission limits below using
boiler optimization or through installation of SNCR. If permittee
determines SNCR is necessary to meet emission limits, SNCR shall be
installed, permitted, and operational by June 30, 2025.
On and after June 30, 2025, the permittee shall meet the
following emission limits: 0.27 lb NOX/MMBtu on a 7-day
rolling average at Boiler 1; 0.26 lb NOX/MMBtu on a 7-day
rolling average at Boiler 2; 0.26 lb NOX/MMBtu on a 7-day
rolling average at Boiler 6; or average of emissions from Boiler 1,
Boiler 2, and Boiler 6 of 0.25 lb NOX/MMBtu (7-day rolling
average).
The EPA notes that each of the controls and emission limits
discussed above limit emissions of one or more of the ``round II
regional haze pollutants.'' In most cases, Oregon determined that
NOX was the dominant visibility-impairing pollutant from the
sources and thus imposed additional NOX controls or
submitted the enforceable emission limitations for existing
NOX controls. For some emission units within the stationary
sources discussed in the previous paragraphs, Oregon did not adopt
additional pollutant-specific controls, primarily for PM10
and SO2. Based on a review of the four-factor analyses,
Oregon determined that these emission units either already employ
existing effective controls or, by virtue of design, have insignificant
emissions.
[[Page 13643]]
In particular, Oregon determined that PM10 emissions for
most of the relevant emission units have been and continue to be
controlled by multiclones, electrostatic precipitators, baghouses, or
other feasible technology that consistently achieves >90% control
efficiency for PM10. As a general matter, the four-factor
analyses indicated that PM10 controls have been in place for
many years to meet Federal NESHAP, NSPS, or Oregon SIP requirements and
that these controls must remain in place to meet these continuing
standards for the duration of the second planning period.\163\
Accordingly, Oregon determined that these existing effective controls
were not necessary for reasonable progress for the second planning
period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\163\ See, e.g., 115_18-0013Collins4FA.pdf at 3-4;
104_haze_BoiseCasecade-ElginFFA.pdf at 2-14; 107_haze-BoiseCascade-
Medford-FFA.pdf; 110_haze-CascadePacificPulp-HalseyMill-FFA.pdf at
2-8, 3-5, 4-6-4-11, 3; 117_18-0014ColumbiaForestProducts4FA.pdf at
11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other cases, Oregon determined that the nature and mode of
operation of particular sources yielded insignificant emissions. For
example, at the Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC's Elgin and Medford
Mills the sulfur content of wood derived fuel is low, and the majority
of the sulfur content is combined with the ash products of
combustion.\164\ Thus, Oregon either did not select these emission
units for four-factor analysis for a given pollutant or determined that
the existing emission limits for a given pollutant were not necessary
for reasonable progress. Therefore, Oregon focused primarily on
NOX and SO2, with PM10 analysis and
limits when warranted. Accordingly, to the extent that Oregon did not
submit the enforceable emission limitations for PM10 or
other pollutant controls for certain emission units within a given
source selected for four-factor analysis the EPA proposes to determine
that Oregon's selection of emission units to review under the four
factors is consistent with the Regional Haze Rule and that the existing
effective controls are not necessary for reasonable progress.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\164\ See 104_haze_BoiseCasecade-ElginFFA.pdf at 2-15; 107_haze-
BoiseCascade-Medford-FFA.pdf at 2-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facilities for Which No Controls Were Cost-Effective
ODEQ reviewed the four-factor analyses from the facilities and
adjusted for consistency with basic factors such as using current prime
rate (3.25%), 30-year lifetime, and calculation of cost effective
controls using PSEL emissions limits rather than actual emissions.
After initial review, ODEQ ruled out control devices for which the cost
of control was greater than $10,000 per ton or provided an emissions
reduction (using emissions at PSEL) of less than 20 tons per year. In
letters sent August and September 2020, ODEQ notified 6 facilities with
the determination that the agency did not find any controls deemed cost
effective at the $10,000/ton threshold.\165\ These facilities were
Pacific Wood Laminates, Inc., Swanson Group Mfg. L.L.C., Ochoco Lumber
Company, Columbia Forest Products, Inc., Collins Products, L.L.C., and
Woodgrain Millwork L.L.C.--Particleboard. In order to ensure no future
impairment to visibility from these facilities, ODEQ submitted Title V
permits for these facilities to incorporate into the SIP permitting
conditions for these existing controls relevant to the regional haze
program. The EPA reviewed these four-factor analyses, and we propose to
find that ODEQ's determinations for these sources are reasonable and
consistent with 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(i) and (iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\165\ The facility-submitted four-factor analyses and ODEQ
response letters are included in the docket for this action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The EPA's Proposed Approval Oregon's Long-Term Strategy for Stationary
Sources
The EPA reviewed ODEQ's four-factor analyses, determinations of
controls necessary for reasonable progress, and submitted SAFOs and
permit conditions. Based on this review, the EPA proposes to determine
that Oregon's long-term strategy meets the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(i) through (iii). Oregon submitted numerous four-factor
analyses and demonstrated that its determination of controls necessary
for reasonable progress were an outgrowth of its consideration of the
four statutory factors. Notably, Oregon's $10,000 cost per ton
threshold is one of, if not the highest, cost thresholds established by
any state specifically for evaluating controls for the regional haze
program. Ultimately, Oregon imposed new, substantive controls at 13
facilities (covering over 36 emissions units) and established emissions
limits at an additional 10 facilities with low actual emissions to
ensure that future emissions do not rise above the screening threshold.
The EPA acknowledges that the final control measures imposed by the
SAFOs and permits described in the preceding paragraphs in some cases
differ from Oregon's preliminary control determinations contained in
ODEQ's January 21, 2021, letters. We reviewed the four-factor analyses
and Chapter 3.7 of Oregon's regional haze SIP, Facility-Specific
Findings and Results, which contain a brief overview of the site-
specific and feasibility concerns ODEQ considered in making final
determinations, along with additional supporting information contained
in the November 22, 2023, supplement.
Based on this review, the changes from preliminary to final control
determinations appear reasonable and consistent with the Regional Haze
Rule. Importantly, Oregon's iterative process to identify and adopt
technically feasible, cost-effective controls reinforces that the State
considered the four statutory factors to determine the controls
necessary for reasonable progress.
Considering ODEQ's conservative screening methodology to use
permitted emissions limits, the high $10,000 cost per ton reduction
threshold Oregon used in reviewing the four-factor analyses submitted
by the sources, the conservative methodology of evaluating controls
using permitted emissions limits, the number of new emissions controls
imposed specifically under the regional haze program, and the
significant emissions reductions achieved through the SAFOs described
in the previous paragraphs, we are proposing to determine that Oregon
satisfied the requirement to determine the emission reduction measures
that are necessary to make reasonable progress by considering the costs
of compliance, the time necessary for compliance, the energy and non-
air quality environmental impacts of compliance, and the remaining
useful life of any potentially affected anthropogenic source of
visibility impairment.
c. Additional Long-Term Strategy Requirements
The consultation requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii) provide
that states must consult with other states that are reasonably
anticipated to contribute to visibility impairment in a Class I area to
develop coordinated emission management strategies containing the
emission reductions measures that are necessary to make reasonable
progress. Section 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) require states to
consider the emission reduction measures identified by other states as
necessary for reasonable progress and to include agreed upon measures
in their SIPs, respectively. Section 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C) speaks to what
happens if states cannot agree on
[[Page 13644]]
what measures are necessary to make reasonable progress.
Oregon participated in and provided documentation of the WRAP
intra- and inter-regional planning organization consultation processes
in the submission.\166\ Oregon also had direct consultations with
California, Idaho, Nevada, and Washington for sources where a Q/d
analysis showed potential impacts on Oregon Class I areas or where
Oregon sources may impact other states, as discussed in section IV.C of
this preamble. The Oregon SIP submissions contain the list of out-of-
state facilities potentially impacting Oregon Class I areas and a
summary of the four-factor analysis process and the potential controls
pursued by Idaho, Nevada, and Washington at the time of the
consultation.\167\ During the state-to-state consultation and WRAP
process, no other states identified measures for Oregon to consider.
Therefore, we are proposing to determine that the Oregon regional haze
plan satisfies 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(A) and (B). Oregon also
satisfies 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C) by having participated in the
WRAP's consultation process and direct consultation with California,
Idaho, Nevada, and Washington. No disagreements were raised by other
states with respect to Oregon's planning efforts. We propose to
determine that Oregon has satisfied the consultation requirements of 40
CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\166\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 6.2.
Consultations with States.
\167\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 3.3 Impact
of facilities in other states on Oregon Class 1 areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The documentation requirement of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii) provides
that states may meet their obligations to document the technical bases
on which they are relying to determine the emission reduction measures
that are necessary to make reasonable progress through a regional
planning organization, as long as the process has been ``approved by
all State participants.'' As explained above, Oregon chose to rely on
WRAP technical information, modeling, and analysis to support
development of its long-term strategy, as well as the State's own
analyses. The WRAP technical analyses on which Oregon relied are listed
in the State's SIP submissions and include source contribution
assessments, information on each of the four factors and visibility
modeling information for selected sources, and evaluations of emission
reduction strategies based on the anticipated control measures.\168\
Oregon also provided supplemental information to demonstrate the
technical bases and emission information on which it relied to
determine the emission reductions measures that are necessary to make
reasonable progress. Based on the documentation provided by the State,
we propose to find that Oregon has satisfied the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\168\ April 29, 2022, Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 5.1
Reasonable progress goals for Class I areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 51.308(f)(2)(iii) also requires that the emissions
information considered to determine the measures that are necessary to
make reasonable progress include information on emissions for the most
recent year for which the state has submitted triennial emissions data
to the EPA (or a more recent year), with a 12-month exemption period
for newly submitted data. Oregon's SIP submission included 2017 NEI
emission data for regional haze forming pollutants. Based on Oregon's
consideration and analysis of emissions data in their SIP submissions,
the EPA proposes to find that Oregon has satisfied the emissions
information requirement in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iii).
We also propose to find that Oregon reasonably considered the five
additional factors in 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv) in developing its long-
term strategy. Pursuant to 40 CFR51.308(f)(2)(iv)(A), Oregon detailed
the existing and ongoing State and Federal emission control programs
that contribute to emission reductions through 2028. The Oregon
regional haze SIP highlights the State's aggressive programs for mobile
sources, including Oregon's adoption of California rules for medium-
and heavy-duty on-road vehicles, Low Emission Vehicle and ZEV standards
for passenger vehicles, and a state clean fuels program.\169\ Many of
these same measures, as well as other measures for the nonroad mobile
source category, also mitigate the impacts of construction activities
as required by 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(B).\170\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\169\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 4.5 Measures
to Mitigate Impacts of Construction Activities and Mobile Source
Strategies.
\170\ Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(C), source retirements and
replacement schedules are addressed in Chapter 4.4 Necessary Emission
Reduction Measures, On-going Air Pollution Control Programs and Source
Retirement/Replacement of Oregon's April 29, 2022, submission. The
primary source retirement considered in developing the 2028 emission
projections was permanent closure of the coal-fired power plant in
Boardman, as required under the regional haze plan for the first
implementation period.
In considering smoke management as required in 40 CFR
51.308(f)(2)(iv)(D), Oregon explained, in Chapter 4.6 Smoke Management
Practices and Programs and Area Source Strategies that it addresses
smoke management through its SIP-approved smoke management plan \171\
and open burning rules.\172\ Open burn rules limit all types of open
burning within the State and require that, where open burning is
allowed, it is conducted only after obtaining appropriate permits for
burning in specific locations on approved dates. Oregon also has
several existing measures that help improve visibility at Class I areas
including SIP-approved residential woodstove restrictions.\173\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\171\ 86 FR 27976, May 25, 2021.
\172\ 82 FR 47122, October 11, 2017.
\173\ OAR Division 262--Heat Smart Program for Residential
Woodstoves and Other Solid Fuel Heating Devices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oregon considered the anticipated net effect of projected changes
in emissions as required by 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv)(E) by discussing,
in Chapter 2.5 Source Apportionment of Visibility Impairment and
Weighted Emission Potential of its April 29, 2022, submission, the
photochemical modeling for the 2018-2028 period it conducted in
collaboration with the WRAP.
Because Oregon has reasonably considered each of the five
additional factors the EPA proposes to find that Oregon has satisfied
the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(iv).
F. Reasonable Progress Goals
Section 51.308(f)(3) contains the requirements pertaining to
reasonable progress goals for each Class I area. Because Oregon is host
to Class I areas, it is subject to both 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(i) and,
potentially, to (ii). Section 51.308(f)(3)(i) requires a state in which
a Class I area is located to establish reasonable progress goals--one
each for the most impaired and clearest days--reflecting the visibility
conditions that will be achieved at the end of the implementation
period as a result of the emission limitations, compliance schedules
and other measures required under paragraph (f)(2) to be in states'
long-term strategies, as well as implementation of other Clean Air Act
requirements. The long-term strategies as reflected by the reasonable
progress goals must provide for an improvement in visibility on the
most impaired days relative to the baseline period and ensure no
degradation on the clearest days relative to the baseline period.
Section
[[Page 13645]]
51.308(f)(3)(ii) applies in circumstances in which a Class I area's
reasonable progress goals for the most impaired days represents a
slower rate of visibility improvement than the uniform rate of progress
calculated under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(1)(vi). Under 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A), if the state in which a Class I area is located
establishes a reasonable progress goal for the most impaired days that
provides for a slower rate of visibility improvement than the uniform
rate of progress, the state must demonstrate that there are no
additional emission reduction measures for anthropogenic sources or
groups of sources in the state that would be reasonable to include in
its long-term strategy. Section 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B) requires that if a
state contains sources that are reasonably anticipated to contribute to
visibility impairment in a Class I area in another state, and the
reasonable progress goal for the most impaired days in that Class I
area is above the uniform rate of progress, the upwind state must
provide the same demonstration.
Chapters 2.1 Most Impaired Days and 2.2 Clearest Days of Oregon's
regional haze SIP summarize baseline visibility conditions (i.e.,
visibility conditions during the baseline period) for the most impaired
and clearest days, as well as information on natural visibility
conditions and the calculated URP in 2018 and 2028. Chapter 5.1
Reasonable progress goals for Class I Areas shows the 2028 RPGs for the
most impaired days and clearest days. The 2028 RPG projections are
based on WRAP modeling which represents regulations on the books as of
2020 plus stationary source controls recommended from ODEQ's review of
the four-factor analyses submittals. The modeled 2028 RPGs for the most
impaired days are presented in table 5 of this preamble, along with
adjusted and unadjusted 2028 URP glidepaths as calculated by the
EPA.\174\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\174\ Availability of Modeling Data and Associated Technical
Support Document for the EPA's Updated 2028 Visibility Air Quality
Modeling, September 2019.
Table 5--Reasonable Progress Goals for the Most Impaired Days
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unadjusted EPA 2028
Baseline Current WRAP glidepath default
Monitor ID Class I area 2000-2004 conditions 2028 20% most adjusted
(dv) 2014-2018 RPGs impaired glidepath
(dv) (dv) days (dv) (dv)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOHO................ Mt. Hood Wilderness Area...... 12.10 9.27 8.50 9.90 10.71
THSI................ Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, 12.80 11.28 10.86 10.60 11.62
and Three Sisters Wilderness
Areas.
CRLA................ Crater Lake National Park; 9.36 7.98 7.72 7.70 8.85
Diamond Peak, Mountain Lakes,
and Gearhart Mountain
Wilderness Areas.
KALM................ Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area.... 13.34 11.97 11.63 11.13 11.87
STAR................ Strawberry Mountain and Eagle 14.53 11.19 10.47 11.35 12.69
Cap Wilderness Areas.
HECA................ Hells Canyon Wilderness Area.. 16.51 12.33 11.66 12.53 13.93
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2017 Regional Haze Rule included a provision that allows states
to propose an adjustment to the glidepath to account for impacts from
anthropogenic sources outside the U.S. if the adjustment has been
developed through scientifically valid data and methods. The EPA's
visibility guidance states ``to calculate the proposed adjustment(s),
the State must add the estimated impact(s) to the natural visibility
condition and compare the baseline visibility condition for the most
impaired days to the resulting sum.'' In 2019, the EPA conducted
modeling to assist states in the development of Regional Haze SIPs for
the second implementation period. In particular, the modeling provided
the EPA's first comprehensive estimate of international anthropogenic
emissions contributions to visibility impairment at Class I areas.\175\
ODEQ chose not to adjust the glidepath to account for impacts from
anthropogenic sources outside the U.S.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\175\ Availability of Modeling Data and Associated Technical
Support Document for the EPA's Updated 2028 Visibility Air Quality
Modeling, September 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted in Chapter 2.3 Emissions Inventory Analysis of Oregon's
regional haze SIP submission, the 2017 SO2 inventory is
dominated by PGE Boardman's coal-fired power plant in Morrow County.
With the closing of the plant in October 2020, statewide SO2
emissions declined by 62%. ODEQ further concludes that at some
monitors, ammonium sulfate is a large contributor to regional haze
formation, but that contribution seems to be dominated by international
anthropogenic sources and is projected to decrease by 77% as new
standards for international marine shipping fuels take effect in
2020.\176\ Therefore, even though Oregon declined to adjust the
glidepath for international anthropogenic sources, such as marine
shipping, we believe this is information relevant to our review. In
particular, all IMPROVE stations for Class I areas in Oregon have
modeled 2028 RPGs below the 2028 URP glidepath as adjusted for
international anthropogenic contribution for the most impaired days.
For the most impaired days, the 2028 RPGs also represent an improvement
relative to both baseline visibility conditions and current visibility
conditions. Similarly, for the clearest days, the 2028 RPGs also
represent an improvement relative to both baseline visibility
conditions and current visibility conditions, as shown in table 6 of
this preamble.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\176\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.1 Most
Impaired Days.
Table 6--Reasonable Progress Goals for the Clearest Days
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current
Baseline conditions WRAP 2028
Monitor ID Class I area 2000-2004 2014-2018 RPGs (dv)
(dv) (dv)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOHO....... Mt. Hood Wilderness 2.17 1.39 1.29
Area.
[[Page 13646]]
THSI....... Mt. Jefferson, Mt. 3.04 2.61 2.53
Washington, and
Three Sisters
Wilderness Areas.
CRLA....... Crater Lake National 1.69 1.05 0.98
Park; Diamond Peak,
Mountain Lakes, and
Gearhart Mountain
Wilderness Areas.
KALM....... Kalmiopsis 6.27 5.90 5.84
Wilderness Area.
STAR....... Strawberry Mountain 2.17 1.39 1.29
and Eagle Cap
Wilderness Areas.
HECA....... Hells Canyon 5.52 4.00 3.79
Wilderness Area.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted in the RHR at 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(iii), the reasonable
progress goals are not directly enforceable, but will be considered by
the Administrator in evaluating the adequacy of the measures in the
implementation plan in providing for reasonable progress towards
achieving natural visibility conditions at specific Class I areas.
Regardless of whether we use an adjusted or unadjusted URP glidepath to
evaluate Oregon's 2028 RPGs for the most impaired days, the regulatory
purpose of the RPGs has been fulfilled because visibility conditions
for all IMPROVE stations have improved since the baseline period.
That said, because Oregon did not adjust the glidepath and because
the 2028 RPGs for several Class I areas are above the unadjusted
glidepath, the demonstration requirement under 40 CFR
51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A) is triggered. Oregon addressed this obligation in
Chapter 5.2 Glidepath policy choice stating, ``DEQ's policy decision to
represent URP as an unadjusted glidepath has some effect on whether
2028 visibility projections fall slightly below or slightly above the
glidepath (primarily at the central and southern Oregon IMPROVE sites),
but DEQ did not base regulatory stationary source control decisions on
the URP. DEQ based control decisions on the factors described in
section 3 of this plan, including analyses based on the four statutory
factors. As discussed in section III.D. of this preamble, visibility
projections below the glidepath do not provide `safe harbor' for
sources.
The EPA acknowledges Oregon's position. The IMPROVE monitoring
stations in the Cascades (THSI and CRLA) and Kalmiopsis (KALM) that are
projected to have 2028 RPGs at or above the unadjusted glidepath are
the same IMPROVE monitoring stations that Oregon demonstrated are
highly impacted by international marine shipping as described in
section IV.E.a. of this preamble. These emissions are projected to
decrease by 77% due to new standards for international marine shipping
fuels which became effective in 2020.\177\ Also as described in section
IV.E.a. of this preamble, statewide NOX emissions are
primarily from mobile sources, at about 80% of the inventory. The
Oregon regional haze SIP highlights the State's aggressive programs for
mobile sources, including Oregon's adoption of California rules for
medium- and heavy-duty on-road vehicles, Low Emission Vehicle and ZEV
standards for passenger vehicles, and the State's clean fuels program,
representing one of the most stringent mobile source programs allowed
under the Federal Clean Air Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\177\ International Marine Organization. 2020. A Breath of Fresh
Air. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/Sulphur%202020%20infographic%202%20page.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A) requires that the state provide an
assessment of the number of years it would take to attain natural
visibility conditions if visibility improvement were to continue at the
rate of progress selected by the state as reasonable for the
implementation period. Because these two source categories described in
the prior paragraphs, mobile source standards and international marine
shipping, are generally outside the control of the State, ODEQ did not
directly address this requirement. However, the State made clear in
Chapter 5.2 Glidepath policy choice that Oregon fully intends to
achieve natural conditions consistent with the unadjusted URP
glidepath. Thus, Oregon's regional haze SIP clearly indicates that the
State's assessment of the number of years it would take to achieve
natural visibility conditions remains unchanged from that predicted by
the URP glidepath at THIS and CRLA. In support of this argument, ODEQ
highlighted the new standards for international marine shipping fuels
that will dramatically reduce regional haze precursors, as discussed
above. We are proposing to determine that this is a reasonable
assumption because the State RPGs in question are only marginally above
the unadjusted 2028 URP glidepath and generally well below the 2028
adjusted URP glidepath calculated by the EPA to account for
contribution outside the State's control, such as international marine
shipping. See Table 5 of this preamble.
Given the dominance of these two emissions source categories on the
overall inventory, it is highly unlikely that differences in the
stationary source controls selected by Oregon would significantly
impact the projected RPG modeling for these IMPROVE monitoring
stations. Nevertheless, as described in section IV.E.b. of this
preamble, considering ODEQ's conservative screening methodology to use
permitted emissions limits, the high $10,000 cost per ton reduction
threshold Oregon used in reviewing the four-factor analyses submitted
by the sources, the conservative methodology of evaluating controls
using permitted emissions limits, the number of new emissions controls
imposed specifically under the regional haze program, and the
significant emissions reductions achieved, we are proposing to
determine that there are no additional emission reduction measures for
anthropogenic sources or groups of sources in the State that may
reasonably be anticipated to contribute to visibility impairment in the
Class I area that would be reasonable to include in the long-term
strategy and that Oregon has met the robust demonstration requirement
under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A).
Under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B), a state that contains sources
that are reasonably anticipated to contribute to visibility impairment
in a Class I area in another state for which a demonstration by the
other state is required under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B) must
demonstrate that there are no additional emission reduction measures
that would be reasonable to include in its long-term strategy. Oregon's
SIP revision included the modeled WRAP 2028 visibility projections for
Redwood National Park and Lava Beds National Monument in California,
both of which have WRAP-
[[Page 13647]]
calculated 2028 RPGs slightly above the unadjusted 2028 URP glidepath.
All other potentially affected Class I areas in Idaho (Hells Canyon
Wilderness Area--HECA), and Washington (Mount Rainier National Park--
MORA and Mount Adam Wilderness Area/Goat Rocks Wilderness Area--WHPA)
had 2028 RPGs below the unadjusted 2028 URP glidepath.\178\ Oregon
addressed these two California Class I areas with RPGs above the
unadjusted glidepath using the same rationale as the demonstration for
40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(A).\179\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\178\ Although Nevada was included in Oregon's state to state
consultation, Oregon's Q/d analysis showed greater potential impacts
on California, Idaho, and Washington Class I areas. Therefore,
Oregon's RPG analysis focused on those impacted Class I areas. See
April 29, 2022, Oregon SIP submission, Table 3 3. Oregon facilities
with potential visibility impacts on other states.
\179\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 5.2
Glidepath policy choice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In reviewing Oregon's regional haze SIP submissions, we note that
Oregon identified one facility, Roseburg Forest Products--Dillard, as
potentially impacting Redwood National Park with a Q/d of 10.39 based
on 2017 actual emissions. Oregon's regional haze SIP submissions
include a four-factor analysis for the facility and enforceable
controls to reduce NOX emissions. Specifically, under the
SAFO, the facility was provided the option to meet emissions limits by
optimizing the operation of the boilers. However, should the facility
not meet these emissions limits, SNCR must be installed, permitted, and
made operational by June 30, 2025. With respect to Lava Beds National
Monument in California, ODEQ determined that two facilities in Oregon
potentially impact this Class I area. These facilities are Klamath
Cogeneration Project and Collins Products, L.L.C. Klamath Cogeneration
Project had a PSEL Q/d=8.69 and an actual Q/d=3.66, potential impact on
this Class I area. Collins Products, L.L.C. had a PSEL Q/d=5.48 and an
actual Q/d=2.43, potential impact on this Class I area. As previously
discussed regarding adequate existing measures, Klamath Cogeneration
Project is already well controlled with existing SCR on all six
combustion turbine units, as well as the recent addition of ultra-low
NOX burners on two of the units. Lastly, Oregon included a
four-factor analysis for Collins Products, L.L.C. in its regional haze
SIP. Based on this analysis, Oregon determined that existing controls
were necessary for reasonable progress and that additional controls
were not cost effective. Therefore, Oregon submitted permit 18-0013-TV-
01 to ensure these controls are Federally enforceable and permanent.
While the EPA did not independently conduct our own four-factor
analyses on these sources, we are proposing to determine, based on
Oregon's application of a high cost-effectiveness threshold and the
small Q/d based on actual emissions for two of the sources, that Oregon
has satisfied the obligation under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)(ii)(B). We also
note that Oregon conducted state-to-state consultation with California,
Idaho, Nevada, Washington, and the WRAP states generally, and no
disagreements under 40 CFR 51.308(f)(2)(ii)(C) were identified by
California or any other state. The EPA proposes to determine that
Oregon has satisfied the applicable requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(f)(3)
relating to RPGs.
G. Monitoring Strategy and Other Implementation Plan Requirements
Section 51.308(f)(6) specifies that each comprehensive revision of
a state's regional haze SIP must contain or provide for certain
elements, including monitoring strategies, emissions inventories, and
any reporting, recordkeeping and other measures needed to assess and
report on visibility. A main requirement of this section is for states
with Class I areas to submit monitoring strategies for measuring,
characterizing, and reporting on visibility impairment. Compliance with
this requirement may be met through participation in the Interagency
Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network.
Chapter 1.5.2 Monitoring strategy of Oregon's SIP submission
states, ``Oregon will continue to participate in the IMPROVE monitoring
network to measure, characterize and report aerosol monitoring data for
long-term reasonable progress tracking. DEQ commits a portion of
Oregon's PM2.5 EPA funding to support the IMPROVE network.
DEQ deems the IMPROVE network representative of conditions in all of
Oregon's Class 1 areas and would rely on the IMPROVE Steering Committee
to advise states if conditions changed such that additional monitors
were necessary.''
Section 51.308(f)(6)(i) requires SIPs to provide for the
establishment of any additional monitoring sites or equipment needed to
assess whether reasonable progress goals to address regional haze for
all mandatory Class I Federal areas within the state are being
achieved. Regional haze data for Oregon Class I areas are collected by
the IMPROVE monitoring stations shown in table 1 of this preamble. The
monitoring stations are primarily operated by the U.S. Forest Service,
except for the CRLA1 IMPROVE monitoring station which is operated and
maintained by the National Parks Service. As noted in ODEQ's monitoring
strategy chapter, Oregon would rely on the IMPROVE Steering Committee
to advise if conditions changed such that additional monitors were
necessary.
Section 51.308(f)(6)(ii) requires SIPs to provide for procedures by
which monitoring data and other information are used in determining the
contribution of emissions from within the state to regional haze
visibility impairment at mandatory Class I Federal areas both within
and outside the state. Oregon relied on the WRAP source apportionment
modeling and the weighted emission potential (WEP) analysis to help
discern the degree to which different sectors affect visibility in each
Class I area. The source apportionment and WEP analysis are based on
data from WRAP's Technical Support System website \180\ for the Round 2
regional haze analysis.\181\ We note that Sec. 51.308(f)(6)(iii) does
not apply to Oregon, because it has Class I areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\180\ https://views.cira.colostate.edu/tssv2/.
\181\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.5 Source
Apportionment of Visibility Impairment and Weighted Emission
Potential.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 51.308(f)(6)(iv) requires the SIP to provide for the
reporting of all visibility monitoring data to the Administrator at
least annually for each Class I area in the state. As noted in the
prior paragraphs, the IMPROVE monitoring stations in Oregon are
operated and maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and the National
Park Service. The monitoring strategy for Oregon relies upon the
continued availability of the IMPROVE network. Oregon supports the
continued operation of the IMPROVE network by committing a portion of
Oregon's PM2.5 EPA funding to support the IMPROVE network.
Section 51.308(f)(6)(v) requires SIPs to provide for a statewide
inventory of emissions of pollutants that are reasonably anticipated to
cause or contribute to visibility impairment, including emissions for
the most recent year for which data are available and estimates of
future projected emissions. It also requires a commitment to update the
inventory periodically. Oregon provides for emissions inventories and
estimates for future projected emissions by participating in the WRAP
regional planning organization (RPO) and complying with the EPA's Air
Emissions Reporting Rule (AERR). In 40 CFR part 51, subpart A, the AERR
[[Page 13648]]
requires states to submit updated emissions inventories for criteria
pollutants to the EPA's Emissions Inventory System (EIS) every three
years. The emission inventory data is used to develop the NEI, which
provides for, among other things, a triennial state-wide inventory of
pollutants that are reasonably anticipated to cause or contribute to
visibility impairment.
Chapter 2.3. Emissions Inventory Analysis of Oregon's submissions
include tables of NEI data. The source categories of the emissions
inventories included are: (1) point sources; (2) nonpoint sources; (3)
non-road mobile sources; and (4) on-road mobile sources. Oregon
included NEI emissions inventories based on 2017, the most recent year
for which data are available. Oregon observed that statewide
NOX emissions are primarily from mobile sources, at about
80% of the inventory, with another 13% of the inventory coming from
fuel combustion. The 2017 SO2 inventory is largely
overwhelmed by PGE Boardman's coal-fired power plant in Morrow County.
With the closing of the coal-fired operations in October 2020, those
SO2 emissions have been eliminated, and the remainder of the
emissions in the inventory come from fuel combustion and prescribed
fires. For particulate matter, major source sectors include prescribed
fire and agriculture, comprising 77% of the anthropogenic inventory.
Section 51.308(f)(6)(v) also requires states to include estimates
of future projected emissions and include a commitment to update the
inventory periodically. Oregon relied on the WRAP 2028 emissions
projections for WRAP states. WRAP completed two 2028 projected
emissions modeling cases--a 2028 base case that considers only on-the-
books controls and a 2028 control case that considers implementation of
the controls based on ODEQ's review of four-factor analyses submitted
by the screened in sources.\182\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\182\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 5.1
Reasonable progress goals for Class I Areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The EPA proposes to find that Oregon has met the requirements of 40
CFR 51.308(f)(6) as described in the prior paragraphs, including
through its continued participation in the IMPROVE network and the WRAP
RPO and its on-going compliance with the AERR, and that no further
elements are necessary at this time for Oregon to assess and report on
visibility pursuant to 40 CFR 51.308(f)(6)(vi).
H. Requirements for Periodic Reports Describing Progress Towards the
Reasonable Progress Goals
Section 51.308(f)(5) requires that periodic comprehensive revisions
of states' regional haze plans also address the progress report
requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(g)(1) through (5). The purpose of these
requirements is to evaluate progress towards the applicable reasonable
progress goals for each Class I area within the state and each Class I
area outside the state that may be affected by emissions from within
that state. Sections 51.308(g)(1) and (2) apply to all states and
require a description of the status of implementation of all measures
included in a state's first implementation period regional haze plan
and a summary of the emission reductions achieved through
implementation of those measures. Section 51.308(g)(3) applies only to
states with Class I areas within their borders and requires such states
to assess current visibility conditions, changes in visibility relative
to baseline (2000-2004) visibility conditions, and changes in
visibility conditions relative to the period addressed in the first
implementation period progress report. Section 51.308(g)(4) applies to
all states and requires an analysis tracking changes in emissions of
pollutants contributing to visibility impairment from all sources and
sectors since the period addressed by the first implementation period
progress report. This provision further specifies the year or years
through which the analysis must extend depending on the type of source
and the platform through which its emission information is reported.
Finally, 40 CFR 51.308(g)(5), which also applies to all states,
requires an assessment of any significant changes in anthropogenic
emissions within or outside the state have occurred since the period
addressed by the first implementation period progress report, including
whether such changes were anticipated and whether they have limited or
impeded expected progress towards reducing emissions and improving
visibility.
Oregon's submission describes the status of measures of the long-
term strategy from the first implementation period. The most
significant was the amendment of the PGE Boardman Title V permit to
include conditions requiring BART control installation and to
permanently cease burning coal in the main boiler by December 31, 2020.
In Oregon's 2017 5-year progress report, ODEQ reported that in 2011,
PGE Boardman installed low NOX burners with a modified over-
fire air system and in 2014, BART SO2 controls, consisting
of a dry sorbent injection (DSI) system. PGE Boardman was meeting BART
NOX and SO2 emission limitations. A second BART
SO2 emission limit was required in 2018 and the coal-fired
facility closed permanently by December 2020. Chapter 2.1.2 Emission
Reductions Achieved by SIP Measures of Oregon's SIP submissions show
the most recent 2017 NEI data for sources subject to control in the
first implementation period. Notably, SO2 emissions declined
dramatically with the 2020 closure of the PGE Boardman coal-fired power
plant. The EPA proposes to find that Oregon has met the requirements of
40 CFR 51.308(g)(1) and (2) because its SIP submissions describe the
measures included in the long-term strategy from the first
implementation period, as well as the status of their implementation
and the emission reductions achieved through such implementation.
Oregon's SIP submissions included summaries of the visibility
conditions and the trend of the 5-year averages through 2018 at Class I
area in the State.\183\ As shown in table 2 of this preamble, the SIP
submissions included the 5-year baseline (2000-2004) visibility
conditions for the clearest and most impaired days. The SIP submissions
also included the current 5-year status (2014-2018) for the clearest
and most impaired days. The SIP submissions also illustrated in Figures
5.3 to 5.8 the visibility metrics levels at Oregon Class I areas,
including the 5-year rolling average for the clearest and most impaired
days.\184\ The EPA therefore proposes to find that Oregon has satisfied
the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(g)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\183\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapters 2.1. Most
Impaired Days and 2.2. Clearest Days.
\184\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 5 Uniform
Rate of Progress.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to Sec. 51.308(g)(4), as part of the November 22, 2023
supplement to the submission,\185\ Oregon provided a summary of
emissions of NOX, SO2, PM10,
PM2.5, VOCs, and NH3 from all sources and
activities, including from point, nonpoint, non-road mobile, and on-
road mobile sources, for the time period from 2002 to 2021 (the most
recent air pollutant emissions trends data available in the NEI at the
time).\186\ Oregon also included a detailed analysis of SO2,
NOX, PM10 emissions for 2017 in the April 29,
2022 submission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\185\ Oregon RH Emission Trends.xlsx.
\186\ https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-inventories/air-pollutant-emissions-trends-data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reductions achieved by Oregon emission control measures are
seen in the emissions inventory. Based on
[[Page 13649]]
Oregon's SIP submissions, and the supplemental information in the
``Oregon RH Emission Trends'' spreadsheet included in the docket for
this action, NOX emissions have continuously declined in
Oregon from 2002 through 2021, especially in the point, nonroad, and
onroad mobile sectors. NOX emissions are expected to
continue to decrease as fleet turnover occurs and older more polluting
vehicles and equipment are replaced by newer, cleaner ones. During that
period, onroad sources contributed almost half of the emissions at 46%,
followed by nonroad sources contributing 29%, and NEI point and
nonpoint sources contributing 14%. Emissions of SO2 have
shown a significant decline in Oregon over the period 2002 to 2021,
particularly in the point, and onroad and nonroad mobile sectors. NEI
point and nonpoint emissions have declined 85%. Onroad SO2
mobile source emissions have declined 96% and nonroad sources have
declined 97%. These reductions are due in part to closure of the PGE
Boardman coal-fired power plant, as well as low sulfur fuel
regulations. PM10 emissions steadily decreased in the point,
nonpoint, onroad, and nonroad categories for the period from 2002 to
2021. NEI point and nonpoint PM10 emissions declined 62%.
Onroad mobile source emissions declined 29% and nonroad sources
declined 68% for PM10. PM2.5 emissions declined
49% for the period from 2002 to 2021. Onroad mobile source emissions
declined 63% and nonroad sources declined 68% for PM2.5 due
to Federal engine standards. VOC emissions declined 65% for the period
2002 to 2021 in part due to Federal new engine standards for onroad and
nonroad vehicles and equipment, the State low emission vehicle
programs, and SIP-approved area source rules. Ammonia (NH3)
emissions declined 34% for the period 2002 to 2021, with onroad mobile
source emissions declining 30% due to Federal engine standards.
The EPA is proposing to find that the requirements of 40 CFR
51.308(g)(4) are satisfied by providing emissions information for
NOX, SO2, PM10, PM2.5,
VOCs, and NH3 broken down by type of source. The emissions
data in the SIP submission \187\ and the supplemental trend information
\188\ support the assessment that anthropogenic haze-causing pollutant
emissions in Oregon have decreased during the reporting period and that
changes in emissions have not limited or impeded progress in reducing
pollutant emissions and improving visibility. The EPA is proposing to
find that the requirements of 40 CFR 51.308(g)(5) are met.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\187\ April 29, 2022 Oregon SIP submission, Chapter 2.3.
Emissions Inventory Analysis.
\188\ Oregon RH Emission Trends.xlsx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Requirements for State and Federal Land Manager Coordination
Section 169A(d) of the Clean Air Act requires states to consult
with Federal Land Managers (FLMs) before holding the public hearing on
a proposed regional haze SIP, and to include a summary of the Federal
Land Managers' conclusions and recommendations in the notice to the
public. In addition, 40 CFR 51.308(i)(2)'s Federal Land Manager
consultation provision requires a state to provide FLMs with an
opportunity for consultation that is early enough in the state's policy
analyses of its emission reduction obligation so that information and
recommendations provided by the FLMs can meaningfully inform the
state's decisions on its long-term strategy. If the consultation has
taken place at least 120 days before a public hearing or public comment
period, the opportunity for consultation will be deemed early enough,
Regardless, the opportunity for consultation must be provided at least
sixty days before a public hearing or public comment period at the
state level. Section 51.308(i)(2) also provides two substantive topics
on which FLMs must be provided an opportunity to discuss with states:
assessment of visibility impairment in any Class I area and
recommendations on the development and implementation of strategies to
address visibility impairment. Section 51.308(i)(3) requires states, in
developing their implementation plans, to include a description of how
they addressed FLM comments.
Chapter 6.3.2 Consultations with Federal Land Managers of ODEQ's
April 29, 2022, submission discusses Oregon's consultation and
coordination with the FLMs. The FLMs and ODEQ are partners in the WRAP,
and as partners, engaged early in inter-state coordination calls and
WRAP technical support system development calls. ODEQ provided a draft
of the regional haze plan to the U.S. Forest Service and National Park
Service on May 5, 2021. Additionally, ODEQ met with the National Park
Service on January 9, 2020, September 25, 2020, February 19, 2021, May
27, 2021, June 30, 2021, and July 15, 2021, to discuss progress and
provide updates on the regional haze plan. On July 23, 2021, ODEQ made
all requested files available to National Parks Service on a Google
drive, including an updated summary spreadsheet of ODEQ's findings and
tentative agreements with facilities about control installation or
emission reduction. ODEQ also met with the U.S. Forest Service on
August 21, 2020, February 24, 2021, and May 27, 2021. ODEQ received
U.S. Forest Service written comments on June 23, 2021. ODEQ received
comments from the National Park service in several communications
between April 2 and July 15, 2021. ODEQ summarized the dates and topics
of the National Park Service comments received in table 6-1 of the
April 29, 2022, submission. Chapter 6.3.4 Federal Land Manager Comments
and DEQ Responses contains the FLM consultation comments and ODEQ
responses, which were provided to the public as part of the comment
period on the draft SIP. We have determined that Oregon provided
adequate opportunity for FLM consultation, consistent with 40 CFR
51.308(i)(3).
On August 27, 2021, Oregon provided public notice on the draft SIP
submission and held a public hearing on October 27, 2021. ODEQ notified
the public, interested parties, the Federal Land Managers, air quality
contacts from other states and regions, and the EPA.\189\ ODEQ accepted
written public comment on the proposed rulemaking until 4 p.m. on
November 1, 2021, after granting a 30-day extension from the original
end date for public comment. Similarly, as part of the November 22,
2023, supplement to the regional haze SIP, ODEQ provided the FLMs a 60-
day consultation opportunity and included responses to the FLM's
comments in the draft SIP supplement that went out for public comment
on September 15, 2023.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\189\ See ``019_5.1.1 GovDelivery.BulletinDetailReport.8.27.21''
included in the docket for this action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the reasons stated in the prior paragraphs, the EPA proposes to
find that Oregon has satisfied the requirements under 40 CFR 51.308(i)
to consult with the Federal Land Managers on its regional haze SIP for
the second implementation period.
V. Proposed Action
The EPA is proposing to approve the Oregon SIP revision submitted
on April 29, 2022, as supplemented on November 22, 2023, as satisfying
the regional haze requirements for the second implementation period
contained in 40 CFR 51.308(f).
The EPA is proposing to approve and incorporate by reference in 40
CFR 52.1970(c), Table 2--EPA Approved Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR)
the following updates to Division 223
[[Page 13650]]
Regional Haze Rules, state effective July 26, 2021:
340-223-0010 Purpose, for maintaining reasonable progress
and other requirements associated with Oregon's implementation of the
Federal Regional Haze Rule;
340-223-0020 Definitions, updating this section to account
for revised program requirements between the first regional haze
implementation period and the second implementation period;
340-223-0100 Screening Methodology for Sources for Round
II of Regional Haze, establishing the criteria for selecting sources
for review under the regional haze program;
340-223-0110 Options for Compliance with Round II of
Regional Haze, establishing requirements for sources and compliance
options under the regional haze program;
340-223-0120 Four Factor Analysis, establishing the
requirements for assessing potential controls for reasonable progress
under the regional haze program; and
340-223-0130 Final Orders Ordering Compliance with Round
II of Regional Haze, establishing ODEQ's unilateral order authority and
procedures for contested case hearings under the regional haze program.
We are proposing to remove from incorporation by reference in 40
CFR 52.1970(c), Table 2--EPA Approved Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR)
the outdated provisions from the first regional haze implementation
period contained in sections 340-223-0030, 340-223-0040, 340-223-0050,
340-223-0060, 340-223-0070, and 340-223-0080, state-effective December
10, 2010, because the site-specific requirements contained in those
revoked sections are no longer relevant. Specifically, the Portland
General Electric (PGE) coal-fired power plant in Boardman ceased
operation on October 15, 2020, pursuant to the requirements of the
regional haze plan for the first implementation period as described in
section IV.E. of this preamble.
In addition to the regulatory provisions, the EPA is proposing to
approve and incorporate by reference in 40 CFR 52.1970(d), EPA Approved
Oregon Source-Specific Requirements the source-specific requirements in
table 7 of this preamble as part of Oregon's long-term strategy for
regional haze.
Table 7--Regional Haze Long-Term Strategy Source-Specific Provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State
Name of source Permit or order number effective Explanations
date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ash Grove Cement Company................. Permit No. 01-0029-TV-01... 10/16/2020 Permit conditions (3), (9)
through (11), (14), (16)
through (28), (42), (45)
through (76), (84) through
(97), (99), (100), and
(102) only.
Biomass One, L.P......................... Order No................... 8/9/2021 ...........................
15-0159....................
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC--Elgin Order No. 31-0006.......... 8/12/2021 ...........................
Complex.
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC--Elgin Permit No. 31-0006-TV-01... 12/5/2016 Permit condition (56), (59)
Complex. through (75), (77), and
(78) only.
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC--Medford Order No. 15-0004.......... 8/9/2021 ...........................
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC--Medford Permit No. 15-0004-TV-01... 2/20/2020 Permit conditions (71),
(72), and (74) through
(88) only.
Cascade Pacific Pulp, LLC--Halsey Pulp Order No. 22-3501-A2....... 8/25/2023 ...........................
Mill.
Cascades Tissue Group: A Division of Order No. 05-1849.......... 8/18/2021 ...........................
Cascades Holding US Inc.
Cascades Tissue Group: A Division of Permit No. 05-1849-TV-01... 04/6/2018 Permit conditions (24),
Cascades Holding US Inc. (25), (27), and (29)
through (43) only.
Collins Products, L.L.C.................. Permit No. 18-0013-TV-01... 1/26/2015 Permit conditions (3), (14)
through (16), (19) through
(24), (34) through (42),
(63) through (75), and
(77) only.
Columbia Forest Products, Inc............ Permit No. 18-0014-TV-01... 9/26/2017 Permit conditions (3), (8)
through (20), (22), (23),
(34) through (52), (58)
through (66), (67--
introductory paragraph),
(67.a), (67.b.iii) through
(67.b.v), and (68) through
(70).
EVRAZ Inc................................ Order No. 26-1865.......... 8/9/2021 ...........................
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC-- Order No. 09-0084.......... 8/9/2021 ...........................
Compressor Station 12.
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC-- Permit No. 09-0084-TV-01... 8/10/2017 Permit conditions (32)
Compressor Station 12. through (34) and (37)
through (50) only.
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC-- Order No. 03-2729-A1....... 6/1/2022 OAH CASE NO. 2021-ABC-
Compressor Station 13. 04835;
DEQ CASE NO. AQ/RH-HQ-2021-
140
Gas Transmission Northwest LLC-- Permit No. 18-0096-TV-01... 7/11/2018 Permit conditions (24)
Compressor Station 13. through (26), (32) through
(35), and (37) through
(44) only.
Georgia-Pacific--Toledo LLC.............. Order No. 21-0005, 12/5/2022 ...........................
Amendment No. 21-005-A1.
Georgia Pacific--Wauna Mill.............. Order No. 04-0004, 12/5/2022 ...........................
Amendment No. 04-004-A1.
Gilchrist Forest Products................ Permit No. 18-0005-TV-01... 7/25/2023 Permit conditions (4), (5),
(9), (10), (12) through
(19), (41) through (43),
(45) through (59), and
(61) only.
International Paper--Springfield......... Order No. 208850........... 8/9/2021 ...........................
International Paper--Springfield......... Permit No. 208850.......... 10/4/2016 Permit conditions (186)
through (189), (192), and
(198) only.
JELD-WEN................................. Permit No. 18-0006-TV-01... 12/01/2021 Permit conditions (55)
through (77) and (80)
through (87) only.
JELD-WEN................................. Permit No. 18-0006-TV-01, 8/11/2022 Permit conditions 53 and
Addendum No. 1. 53b only.
Kingsford Manufacturing Company.......... Permit No. 204402, addendum 11/15/2021 Permit conditions (71)
No. 2. through (73) and (75)
through (91) only.
Klamath Energy LLC--Klamath Cogeneration. Permit No. 18-0003-TV-01... 6/12/2017 Permit conditions (10)
through (16), (18), (24)
through (28), (32) through
(37), (39) through (49),
(51), (52), and (54), and
(56) only.
Klamath Energy LLC--Klamath Cogeneration. Permit No. 18-0003-TV-01, 12/8/2020 Permit conditions (3.a),
Addendum No. 1. (3.b), (61.l), and
(66.b.xii).
[[Page 13651]]
Northwest Pipeline LLC--Baker Compressor Order No. 01-0038, 2/1/2022 ...........................
Station. amendment 01-0038-A1.
Northwest Pipeline LLC--Baker Compressor Permit No. 01-0038-TV-01... 1/12/2017 Permit conditions (27)
Station. through (30) and (32)
through (43) only.
Northwest Pipeline LLC--Oregon City Order No. 03-2729, 2/1/2022 ...........................
Compressor Station. amendment 03-2729-A1.
Northwest Pipeline LLC--Oregon City Permit No. 03-2729-TV-01... 2/19/2013 Permit conditions (7),
Compressor Station. (19), (25) through (27),
(38), (41), (45), and (50)
through (65).
Ochoco Lumber Company.................... Permit No. 12-0032-ST-01... 6/25/2019 Permit conditions (1.1)
through (1.3), (1.6),
(2.1) through (2.5), (4.1)
through (4.4), and (5.1)
through (6.2).
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc....... Order No. 26-1876.......... 8/9/2021 ...........................
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc....... Permit No. 26-1876-TV-01... 12/10/2019 Permit conditions (33)
through (48) only.
Pacific Wood Laminates, Inc.............. Permit No. 08-0003-TV-01... 12/30/2019 Permit conditions (3), (9),
(10), (12) through (19),
(26) through (41), (56)
through (71), and (73)
only.
PGE Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Plant... Order No. 05-2606.......... 8/10/2021 ...........................
PGE Beaver Plant/Port Westward I Plant... Permit No. 05-2520......... 01/21/2009 Permit conditions (62)
through (66), (68) through
(78), (79.a), (80) through
(83), (85), (87), (88.a),
(89.d), (89.f), and (89.i)
only.
Roseburg Forest Products--Dillard........ Order No. 10-0025.......... 8/9/2021 ...........................
Roseburg Forest Products--Medford MDF.... Permit No. 15-0073-TV-01... 08/18/2022 Permit conditions (44)
through (46), (48) through
(61), (63), and (64) only.
Roseburg Forest Products--Riddle Plywood. Permit No. 10-0078-TV-01... 07/31/2019 Permit conditions (65),
(66), (68) through (81)
only.
Swanson Group Mfg. LLC................... Permit No. 10-0045-TV-01... 06/12/2017 Permit conditions (4), (10)
through (24), (25--
introductory paragraph),
(25.a) through (25.c),
(27) through (40), (50)
through (64), and (66)
only.
Timber Products Co. Limited Partnership.. Permit No. 15-0025-TV-01... 6/23/2022 Permit conditions (70)
through (72) and (74)
through (90) only.
Willamette Falls Paper Company........... Order No. 03-2145.......... 8/9/2021 ...........................
Willamette Falls Paper Company........... Permit No. 03-2145-TV-01... 2/24/2016 Permit conditions (40)
through (55) only.
Woodgrain Millwork LLC--Particleboard.... Permit No. 31-0002-TV-01... 5/24/2021 Permit conditions (3), (12)
through (21), (22--
introductory paragraph),
(22.a), (22.e), (22.f),
(23), (25) though (28),
(30) through (35), (37),
(39) through (41), (43),
(44), (46), (48), (49),
(51) through (72), (80)
through (94), and (96)
only.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VI. 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 the regulatory and source-specific provisions
described in section V. of this preamble. The EPA has made, and will
continue to make, these materials generally available through https://www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region 10 Office (please contact the
person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this preamble for more information).
The EPA is also proposing to remove from incorporation by reference
the regulatory provisions described in section V. of this preamble.
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Clean Air 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 Clean Air Act.
Accordingly, this action merely proposes to approve state law as
meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional
requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this
proposed 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 14094 (88 FR 21879, April 11, 2023);
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 subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) because it approves a state program;
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001); and
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 Clean Air Act.
In addition, this proposed action, pertaining to the Oregon
regional haze SIP submissions for the second planning period, would not
be approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other
area where the EPA or an Indian Tribe has demonstrated that a Tribe has
jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rulemaking would
not have Tribal implications and would not impose substantial direct
costs on tribal governments or preempt Tribal law as
[[Page 13652]]
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
Consistent with EPA policy, the EPA provided a consultation opportunity
to Tribes located in Oregon, in letters dated May 4, 2022, included in
the docket for this action.
Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629,
February 16, 1994) directs Federal agencies to identify and address
``disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects'' of their actions on minority populations and low-income
populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law.
The EPA defines environmental justice (EJ) as ``the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color,
national origin, or income with respect to the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies.'' The EPA further defines the term fair treatment to mean
that ``no group of people should bear a disproportionate burden of
environmental harms and risks, including those resulting from the
negative environmental consequences of industrial, governmental, and
commercial operations or programs and policies.'' The Oregon Department
of Environmental Quality did evaluate environmental justice
considerations as part of its SIP submittal; the CAA and applicable
implementing regulations neither prohibit nor require such an
evaluation. The EPA did not perform an EJ analysis and did not consider
EJ in this action. Consideration of EJ is not required as part of this
action, and there is no information in the record inconsistent with the
stated goal of Executive Order 12898 of achieving environmental justice
for people of color, low-income populations, and Indigenous peoples.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Ozone, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: February 14, 2024.
Casey Sixkiller,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2024-03529 Filed 2-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P