Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements for Fine Particulate Matter, 50245-50252 [2024-12781]
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Issued on June 4, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–12551 Filed 6–12–24; 8:45 am]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R09–OAR–2023–0539; FRL–11747–
01–R9]
Partial Approval and Partial
Disapproval of Air Quality State
Implementation Plans; Arizona;
Infrastructure Requirements for Fine
Particulate Matter
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially
approve and partially disapprove a
revision to the Arizona state
implementation plan (SIP) as meeting
the requirements of the Clean Air Act
(CAA) for the implementation,
maintenance, and enforcement of the
2012 fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
national ambient air quality standards
(NAAQS or ‘‘standards’’). As part of this
action, the EPA is proposing to approve
regulatory provisions into the Arizona
SIP. The EPA is seeking public
comment on this proposed action and
will accept comments from the public
on this proposal for the next 30 days.
DATES: Any comments must arrive by
July 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R09–
OAR–2023–0539 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. The EPA may publish
any comment received to its public
docket. Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. The EPA will generally not
consider comments or comment
contents located outside of the primary
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or
other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, please
contact the person identified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
For the full EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
SUMMARY:
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50245
commenting-epa-dockets. If you need
assistance in a language other than
English or if you are a person with a
disability who needs a reasonable
accommodation at no cost to you, please
contact the person identified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Dorantes, Geographic Strategies
and Modeling Section (AIR–2–2), EPA
Region IX, (415) 972–3934,
dorantes.michael@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document, ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’
and ‘‘our’’ refer to the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. The EPA’s Approach To Reviewing
Infrastructure SIPs
II. Background
A. Statutory Framework
B. Regulatory Background
III. State Submittals
A. Infrastructure SIP Submittal
B. Revised Rules and Regulations
IV. The EPA’s Evaluation and Proposed
Action
A. Proposed Approvals and Partial
Approvals
B. Proposed Partial Disapprovals
C. Incorporation of Rules Into Arizona’s
State Implementation Plan
D. Deferred Action
E. Revising Air Quality Control Regions
and Evaluating Emergency Episode
Planning Requirements for PM2.5 in
Arizona
F. Request for Public Comments
V. Incorporation by Reference
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. The EPA’s Approach To Reviewing
Infrastructure SIPs
The EPA has historically referred to
SIP submittals made for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) as
‘‘infrastructure SIP’’ submittals.
Although the term ‘‘infrastructure SIP’’
does not appear in the CAA, the EPA
uses the term to distinguish this
particular type of SIP submittal from
submittals that are intended to satisfy
other SIP requirements under the CAA,
such as ‘‘nonattainment SIP’’ or
‘‘attainment SIP’’ submittals to address
the nonattainment planning
requirements of CAA title I part D,
‘‘regional haze SIP’’ submittals required
by EPA rule to address the visibility
protection requirements of section
169A, and nonattainment new source
review (NSR) permit program submittals
to address the permit requirements of
CAA title I part D.
Section 110(a)(1) of the Act requires
that each State adopt and submit an
infrastructure SIP for the
implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of each NAAQS
promulgated by the EPA, and that the
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EPA act on such SIP submittals. They
are intended to address basic structural
SIP requirements for new or revised
NAAQS including, but not limited to,
legal authority, regulatory structure,
resources, permit programs, monitoring,
and modeling necessary to assure
attainment and maintenance of the
standards.
Herein, the EPA is acting on SIP
submittals from Arizona that address
the infrastructure requirements of CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) with
respect to the primary and secondary
2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. Under section
110(a)(1), states are required to submit
infrastructure SIPs within three years
(or such shorter period as the
Administrator may prescribe) after the
promulgation of a national primary
ambient air quality standard (or any
revision thereof). The statute directly
imposes on States the duty to make
these SIP submittals, and the
requirement to make the submittals is
not conditioned upon the EPA taking
any action other than promulgating a
new or revised NAAQS. Section
110(a)(2) includes a list of specific
‘‘elements’’ that each such infrastructure
SIP submittal must address.
CAA section 110(a)(1) addresses the
timing and general requirements for
infrastructure SIP submittals, and
section 110(a)(2) provides more details
concerning the required contents of
these submittals. The list of required
elements provided in section 110(a)(2)
contains a wide variety of disparate
provisions, some of which pertain to
required legal authority, some of which
pertain to required substantive program
provisions, and some of which pertain
to requirements for both authority and
substantive program provisions.1 The
EPA therefore believes that, while the
timing requirement in section 110(a)(1)
is unambiguous, some of the other
statutory provisions are ambiguous. In
particular, the EPA believes that the list
of required elements for infrastructure
SIP submittals provided in section
110(a)(2) contains ambiguities
concerning what is required for
inclusion in an infrastructure SIP
submittal.
The following examples of
ambiguities illustrate the need for the
EPA to interpret some CAA section
110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2)
1 For example, CAA section 110(a)(2)(E)(i)
provides that States must provide assurances that
they have adequate legal authority under State and
local law to carry out the SIP; section 110(a)(2)(C)
provides that States must have a SIP-approved
program to address certain sources as required by
part C of title I of the CAA; and section 110(a)(2)(G)
provides that States must have legal authority to
address emergencies as well as contingency plans
that are triggered in the event of such emergencies.
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requirements with respect to
infrastructure SIP submittals for a given
new or revised NAAQS. One example of
ambiguity is that section 110(a)(2)
requires that ‘‘each’’ SIP submittal must
meet the list of requirements therein,
while the EPA has long noted that this
literal reading of the statute is internally
inconsistent and would create a conflict
with the nonattainment provisions in
CAA title I part D, which specifically
address nonattainment SIP
requirements.2 Section 110(a)(2)(I)
pertains to nonattainment SIP
requirements, and part D addresses
when attainment plan SIP submittals to
address nonattainment area
requirements are due. For example,
section 172(b) requires the EPA to
establish a schedule for submittal of
such plans for certain pollutants when
the Administrator promulgates the
designation of an area as nonattainment,
and section 107(d)(1)(B) allows up to
two years, or in some cases three years,
for such designations to be
promulgated.3 This ambiguity illustrates
that, rather than apply all the stated
requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a
strict literal sense, the EPA must
determine which provisions of section
110(a)(2) are applicable for a particular
infrastructure SIP submittal. Another
example of ambiguity within sections
110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) with respect to
infrastructure SIPs pertains to whether
States must meet all of the infrastructure
SIP requirements in a single SIP
submittal and whether the EPA must act
upon such SIP submittal in a single
action. Although section 110(a)(1)
directs States to submit ‘‘a plan’’ to meet
these requirements, the EPA interprets
the CAA to allow States to make
multiple SIP submittals separately
addressing infrastructure SIP elements
for the same NAAQS. If States elect to
make such multiple SIP submittals to
meet the infrastructure SIP
requirements, the EPA can elect to act
on such submittals either individually
or in a larger combined action.4
2 See, e.g., 70 FR 25162, 25163–25165 (May 12,
2005), explaining the relationship between the
timing requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)
versus section 110(a)(2)(I).
3 The EPA notes that this ambiguity within CAA
section 110(a)(2) is heightened by the fact that
various subparts of part D set specific dates for
submittal of certain types of SIP submittals in
designated nonattainment areas for various
pollutants. Note, for example, that section 182(a)(1)
provides specific dates for submittal of emissions
inventories for the ozone NAAQS. Some of these
specific dates are necessarily later than three years
after promulgation of the new or revised NAAQS.
4 See, e.g., the EPA’s final action approving the
structural PSD elements of the New Mexico SIP
submitted by the State separately to meet the
requirements of EPA’s 2008 NSR rule for PM2.5 at
78 FR 4339 (January 22, 2013), and the EPA’s final
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Similarly, the EPA interprets the CAA to
allow it to take action on the individual
parts of one larger, comprehensive
infrastructure SIP submittal for a given
NAAQS without concurrent action on
the entire submittal. For example, the
EPA has sometimes elected to act at
different times on various elements and
subelements of the same infrastructure
SIP submittal.5
Ambiguities within CAA sections
110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) may also arise
with respect to infrastructure SIP
submittal requirements for different
NAAQS. Thus, the EPA notes that not
every element of section 110(a)(2)
would be relevant, as relevant, or
relevant in the same way, for each new
or revised NAAQS. The States’
attendant infrastructure SIP submittals
for each NAAQS therefore could be
different. For example, the monitoring
requirements that a State might need to
meet in its infrastructure SIP submittal
for purposes of section 110(a)(2)(B)
could be very different for different
pollutants, because the content and
scope of a State’s infrastructure SIP
submittal to meet this element might be
very different for an entirely new
NAAQS than for a minor revision to an
existing NAAQS.6
The EPA notes that interpretation of
CAA section 110(a)(2) is also necessary
when the EPA reviews other types of
SIP submittals required under the CAA.
Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP
submittals, the EPA also has to identify
and interpret the relevant elements of
section 110(a)(2) that logically apply to
these other types of SIP submittals. For
example, section 172(c)(7) requires that
attainment plan SIP submittals required
by part D have to meet the ‘‘applicable
requirements’’ of section 110(a)(2).
Thus, for example, attainment plan SIP
submittals must meet the requirements
of section 110(a)(2)(A) regarding
enforceable emissions limits and control
measures and section 110(a)(2)(E)(i)
regarding air agency resources and
authority. By contrast, it is clear that
attainment plan SIP submittals required
by part D would not need to meet the
action on the infrastructure SIP for the 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS at 78 FR 4337 (January 22, 2013).
5 On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee
made a SIP revision to the EPA demonstrating that
the State meets the requirements of CAA sections
110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2). The EPA proposed action
for infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) at 77 FR
3213 (January 23, 2012) and took final action at 77
FR 14976 (March 14, 2012). The EPA took separate
proposed and final actions on all other section
110(a)(2) infrastructure SIP elements of Tennessee’s
December 14, 2007 submittal; see 77 FR 22533
(April 16, 2012) and 77 FR 42997 (July 23, 2012).
6 For example, implementation of the 1997 PM
2.5
NAAQS required the deployment of a system of
new monitors to measure ambient levels of new
indicator species for the new NAAQS.
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portion of section 110(a)(2)(C) that
pertains to the air quality prevention of
significant deterioration (PSD) program
required in part C of title I of the CAA
because PSD does not apply to a
pollutant for which an area is
designated nonattainment and thus
subject to part D planning requirements.
As this example illustrates, each type of
SIP submittal may implicate some
elements of section 110(a)(2) but not
others.
Given the potential for ambiguity in
some of the statutory language of section
110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), the EPA
believes that it is appropriate to
interpret the ambiguous portions of
section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2)
in the context of acting on a particular
SIP submittal. In other words, the EPA
assumes that Congress could not have
intended that each and every SIP
submittal, regardless of the NAAQS in
question or the history of SIP
development for the relevant pollutant,
would meet each of the requirements, or
meet each of them in the same way.
Therefore, the EPA has adopted an
approach under which it reviews
infrastructure SIP submittals against the
list of elements in section 110(a)(2), but
only to the extent each element applies
for that particular NAAQS.
Historically, the EPA has elected to
use guidance documents to make
recommendations to States for
infrastructure SIPs, in some cases
conveying needed interpretations on
newly arising issues and in some cases
conveying interpretations that have
already been developed and applied to
individual SIP submittals for particular
elements.7 The EPA most recently
issued guidance for infrastructure SIPs
on September 13, 2013 (‘‘2013
Infrastructure SIP Guidance’’).8 The
EPA developed this document to
provide States with up-to-date guidance
for infrastructure SIPs for any new or
revised NAAQS. Within this guidance,
the EPA describes the duty of States to
make infrastructure SIP submittals to
meet basic structural SIP requirements
within three years of promulgation of a
new or revised NAAQS. The EPA also
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7 The
EPA notes, however, that nothing in the
CAA requires the EPA to provide guidance or to
promulgate regulations for infrastructure SIP
submittals. The CAA directly applies to States and
requires the submittal of infrastructure SIP
submittals, regardless of whether or not the EPA
provides guidance or regulations pertaining to such
submittals. The EPA elects to issue such guidance
in order to assist States, as appropriate.
8 Memorandum dated September 13, 2013, from
Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality and
Planning Standards, U.S. EPA, Subject: ‘‘Guidance
on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP)
Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1)
and 110(a)(2).’’
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made recommendations about many
specific subsections of CAA section
110(a)(2) that are relevant in the context
of infrastructure SIP submittals.9 The
guidance also discusses the
substantively important issues that are
germane to certain subsections of
section 110(a)(2). Significantly, the EPA
interprets sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) such that infrastructure SIP
submittals need to address certain
issues and need not address others.
Accordingly, the EPA reviews each
infrastructure SIP submittal for
compliance with the applicable
statutory provisions of section 110(a)(2),
as appropriate.
As an example, CAA section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) is a required element of
section 110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP
submittals. Under this element, a State
must meet the substantive requirements
of section 128, which pertain to State
boards that approve permits or
enforcement orders and heads of
executive agencies with similar powers.
Thus, the EPA reviews infrastructure
SIP submittals to ensure that the State’s
SIP appropriately addresses the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii)
and section 128. The 2013 Infrastructure
SIP Guidance explains the EPA’s
interpretation that there may be a
variety of ways by which States can
appropriately address these substantive
statutory requirements, depending on
the structure of an individual State’s
permitting or enforcement program (e.g.,
whether permits and enforcement
orders are approved by a multi-member
board or by a head of an executive
agency). However they are addressed by
the State, the substantive requirements
of section 128 are necessarily included
in the EPA’s evaluation of infrastructure
SIP submittals because section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) explicitly requires that
the State satisfy the provisions of
section 128.
As another example, the EPA’s review
of infrastructure SIP submittals with
respect to the PSD program
requirements in CAA sections
110(a)(2)(C), 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), and
110(a)(2)(J) focuses on the structural
9 The 2013 Infrastructure SIP Guidance did not
make recommendations with respect to
infrastructure SIP submittals to address CAA
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). The EPA issued the
guidance shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court
agreed to review the D.C. Circuit decision in EME
Homer City, 696 F.3d7 (D.C. Cir. 2012) which had
interpreted the requirements of section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In light of the uncertainty created
by ongoing litigation, the EPA elected not to
provide additional guidance on the requirements of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that time. As the
guidance is neither binding nor required by statute,
whether the EPA elects to provide guidance on a
particular section has no impact on a State’s CAA
obligations.
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PSD program requirements contained in
CAA title I part C and the EPA’s PSD
regulations. Structural PSD program
requirements include provisions
necessary for the PSD program to
address all regulated sources and
regulated NSR pollutants, including
greenhouse gases (GHG). By contrast,
structural PSD program requirements do
not include provisions that are not
required under the EPA’s regulations at
40 CFR 51.166 but are merely available
as an option for the State, such as the
option to provide grandfathering of
complete permit applications with
respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
Accordingly, the latter optional
provisions are types of provisions the
EPA considers irrelevant in the context
of an infrastructure SIP action.
For other CAA section 110(a)(2)
elements, however, the EPA’s review of
a State’s infrastructure SIP submittal
focuses on assuring that the State’s SIP
meets basic structural requirements. For
example, section 110(a)(2)(C) includes,
inter alia, the requirement that States
have a program to regulate minor new
sources. Thus, the EPA evaluates
whether the State has a SIP-approved
minor NSR program and whether the
program addresses the pollutants
relevant to that NAAQS. In the context
of acting on an infrastructure SIP
submittal, however, the EPA does not
think it is necessary to conduct a review
of each and every provision of a State’s
existing minor source program (i.e.,
already in the existing SIP) for
compliance with the requirements of the
CAA and the EPA’s regulations that
pertain to such programs.
With respect to certain other issues,
the EPA does not believe that an action
on a State’s infrastructure SIP submittal
is necessarily the appropriate type of
action in which to address possible
deficiencies in a State’s existing SIP.
These issues include: (i) existing
provisions related to excess emissions
from sources during periods of startup,
shutdown, or malfunction (SSM) that
may be contrary to the CAA and EPA
policies addressing such excess
emissions; (ii) existing provisions
related to ‘‘director’s variance’’ or
‘‘director’s discretion’’ that may be
contrary to the CAA because they
purport to allow revisions to SIPapproved emissions limits while
limiting public process or not requiring
further approval by the EPA; and (iii)
existing provisions for PSD programs
that may be inconsistent with current
requirements of the EPA’s ‘‘Final NSR
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Improvement Rule.’’ 10 Thus, the EPA
believes it may approve an
infrastructure SIP submittal without
scrutinizing the totality of the existing
SIP for such potentially deficient
provisions and may approve the
submittal even if it is aware of such
existing provisions.11 It is important to
note that the EPA’s approval of a State’s
infrastructure SIP submittal should not
be construed as explicit or implicit
reapproval of any existing potentially
deficient provisions that relate to the
three specific issues just described.
The EPA’s approach to reviewing
infrastructure SIP submittals is to
identify the CAA requirements that are
logically applicable to that submittal.
The EPA believes that this approach to
the review of a particular infrastructure
SIP submittal is appropriate because it
would not be reasonable to read the
general requirements of CAA section
110(a)(1) and the list of elements in
110(a)(2) as requiring review of each
and every provision of a State’s existing
SIP against all requirements in the CAA
and EPA regulations merely for
purposes of assuring that the State in
question has the basic structural
elements for a functioning SIP for a new
or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have
grown by accretion over the decades as
statutory and regulatory requirements
under the CAA have evolved, they may
include some outmoded provisions and
historical artifacts. These provisions,
while not fully up to date, nevertheless
may not pose a significant problem for
the purposes of ‘‘implementation,
maintenance, and enforcement’’ of a
new or revised NAAQS when the EPA
evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure
SIP submittal. The EPA believes that a
better approach is for States and the
EPA to focus attention on those
elements of section 110(a)(2) most likely
to warrant a specific SIP revision due to
the promulgation of a new or revised
NAAQS or other factors.
For example, the 2013 Infrastructure
SIP Guidance gives simpler
recommendations with respect to
carbon monoxide than other NAAQS
pollutants to meet the visibility
requirements of CAA section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) because carbon
monoxide does not affect visibility. As
a result, an infrastructure SIP submittal
10 See 67 FR 80186 (December 31, 2002), as
amended by 72 FR 32526 (June 13, 2007).
11 By contrast, the EPA notes that if a State were
to include a new provision in an infrastructure SIP
submittal that contained a legal deficiency, such as
a new exemption for excess emissions during SSM
events, then the EPA would need to evaluate that
provision for compliance against the rubric of
applicable CAA requirements in the context of the
action on the infrastructure SIP.
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for any future new or revised NAAQS
for carbon monoxide need only state
this fact in order to address the visibility
prong of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
Finally, the EPA believes that its
approach with respect to infrastructure
SIP requirements is based on a
reasonable reading of CAA sections
110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) because the CAA
provides other avenues and mechanisms
to address specific substantive
deficiencies in existing SIPs. These
other statutory tools allow the EPA to
take appropriately tailored action,
depending upon the nature and severity
of the alleged SIP deficiency. Section
110(k)(5) authorizes the EPA to issue a
‘‘SIP call’’ whenever the Agency
determines that a State’s SIP is
substantially inadequate to attain or
maintain the NAAQS, to mitigate
interstate transport, or to otherwise
comply with the CAA.12 Section
110(k)(6) authorizes the EPA to correct
errors in past actions, such as past
approvals of SIP submittals.13
Significantly, the EPA’s determination
that an action on a State’s infrastructure
SIP submittal is not the appropriate time
and place to address all potential
existing SIP deficiencies does not
preclude the EPA’s subsequent reliance
on provisions in section 110(a)(2) as
part of the basis for action to correct
those deficiencies at a later time. For
example, although it may not be
appropriate to require a State to
eliminate all existing inappropriate
director’s discretion provisions in the
course of acting on an infrastructure SIP
submittal, the EPA believes that section
110(a)(2)(A) may be among the statutory
bases that the EPA relies upon in the
course of addressing such deficiency in
a subsequent action.14
12 For example, the EPA issued a SIP call to Utah
to address specific existing SIP deficiencies related
to the treatment of excess emissions during SSM
events. See 76 FR 21639 (April 18, 2011).
13 The EPA has used this authority to correct
errors in past actions on SIP submittals related to
PSD programs. See Limitation of Approval of
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions
Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in
State Implementation Plans; Final Rule, 75 FR
82536 (December 30, 2010). The EPA has
previously used its authority under CAA section
110(k)(6) to remove numerous other SIP provisions
that the Agency determined it had approved in
error. See, e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62
FR 34641 (June 27, 1997) (corrections to American
Samoa, Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada
SIPs); 69 FR 67062 (November 16, 2004)
(corrections to California SIP); and 74 FR 57051
(November 3, 2009) (corrections to Arizona and
Nevada SIPs).
14 See, e.g., the EPA’s disapproval of a SIP
submittal from Colorado on the grounds that it
would have included a director’s discretion
provision inconsistent with CAA requirements,
including section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR
42342, 42344 (July 21, 2010) (proposed disapproval
of director’s discretion provisions); 76 FR 4540
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II. Background
A. Statutory Framework
As described in the previous section,
CAA section 110(a)(1) requires States to
make a SIP submittal within three years
after the promulgation of a new or
revised primary NAAQS. Section
110(a)(2) includes a list of specific
elements that each infrastructure SIP
submittal must include. These
infrastructure SIP elements required by
section 110(a)(2) are as follows:
• Section 110(a)(2)(A): Emission
limits and other control measures.
• Section 110(a)(2)(B): Ambient air
quality monitoring/data system.
• Section 110(a)(2)(C): Program for
enforcement of control measures and
regulation of new and modified
stationary sources.
• Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i): Interstate
pollution transport.
• Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii): Interstate
and international pollution abatement.
• Section 110(a)(2)(E): Adequate
resources and authority, conflict of
interest, and oversight of local and
regional government agencies.
• Section 110(a)(2)(F): Stationary
source monitoring and reporting.
• Section 110(a)(2)(G): Emergency
episodes.
• Section 110(a)(2)(H): SIP revisions.
• Section 110(a)(2)(J): Consultation
with government officials, public
notification, PSD, and visibility
protection.
• Section 110(a)(2)(K): Air quality
modeling and submittal of modeling
data.
• Section 110(a)(2)(L): Permitting
fees.
• Section 110(a)(2)(M): Consultation/
participation by affected local entities.
Two elements identified in CAA
section 110(a)(2) are not governed by the
three-year submittal deadline of section
110(a)(1) and are therefore not
addressed in this action. These two
elements are section 110(a)(2)(C), to the
extent that it refers to permit programs
required under part D (nonattainment
NSR), and section 110(a)(2)(I),
pertaining to the nonattainment
planning requirements of part D. As a
result, this action does not address
infrastructure requirements for the
nonattainment NSR portion of section
110(a)(2)(C) or the entirety of section
110(a)(2)(I). Additionally, this action
does not address the requirements of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) pertaining to
contributions to nonattainment or
interference with maintenance in other
States, referred to as ‘‘prongs 1 and 2’’
(January 26, 2011) (final disapproval of such
provisions).
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meet the applicable completeness
criteria in Appendix V to 40 CFR part
51. We are proposing to act on these
submittals with respect to the 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS except for those portions
of the 2012 PM2.5 I–SIP submittals
addressing prongs 1, 2, and 4 of the
interstate transport requirements under
B. Regulatory Background
CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). We are also
In January 2013, the EPA promulgated not taking action on the portions of the
a revised primary NAAQS for annual
2022 I–SIP supplement addressing the
PM2.5, triggering a requirement for States 2015 ozone NAAQS in this rulemaking.
to submit infrastructure SIPs. The EPA
B. Revised Rules and Regulations
strengthened the primary annual PM2.5
1. Rules and Regulations Submitted by
NAAQS by lowering the level from 15
the State
micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m3) to
12.0 mg/m3, while maintaining the
In a February 10, 2022 letter
secondary standard.15
transmitting the 2022 I–SIP supplement,
ADEQ included revised rules and
III. State Submittals
regulations for incorporation by
A. Infrastructure SIP Submittal
reference into the Arizona SIP. These
submittals include: Arizona
The Arizona Department of
Administrative Code (AAC) R18–2–220
Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
‘‘Air Pollution Emergency Episodes,’’
submitted two SIP revisions to address
and the ‘‘Procedures for the Prevention
the infrastructure SIP requirements in
CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) for of Emergency Episodes;’’ the Arizona
Revised Statute (ARS) 49–432(C),
the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. On December
11, 2015, ADEQ submitted the ‘‘Arizona dealing with public availability of
emissions records, Pinal County Code
State Implementation Plan Revision for
the 2012 Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) (PCC) 17.24.010 ‘‘Confidentiality of
trade secrets, sales data, and proprietary
National Ambient Air Quality
information,’’ and Maricopa County Air
Standard’’ (‘‘2015 PM2.5 I–SIP
Pollution Control Regulations,
submittal’’).16 On February 10, 2022,
‘‘Regulation VI—Emergency Episodes
ADEQ submitted the ‘‘State
Rule 600,’’ (‘‘Rule 600’’).19 The EPA has
Implementation Plan Revision: Clean
already proposed to approve the revised
Air Act Section 110(a)(2) for the 2012
Fine Particulate & 2015 Ozone NAAQS’’ ARS 49–432 and PCC 17.24.010 for
incorporation into the Arizona SIP in a
(‘‘2022 I–SIP supplement’’).17 The
previous proposed rulemaking.20 AAC
submittals collectively address the
R18–2–220 and Rule 600 are included
infrastructure SIP requirements for the
2012 PM2.5 NAAQS as described by this as part of the 2022 I–SIP supplement to
satisfy the requirements of CAA section
proposed rule. We refer to them
110(a)(2)(G) for 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
collectively herein as ‘‘Arizona’s 2012
emergency episodes.
PM2.5 I–SIP submittals.’’
We find that Arizona’s 2012 PM2.5 I–
2. What is the Purpose of the Submitted
SIP submittals meet the procedural
Rule Revisions
requirements for public participation
The revised AAC R18–2–220 is
under CAA section 110(a)(2) and 40
intended to satisfy outstanding CAA
18
CFR 51.102. We also find that they
section 110(a)(2)(G) requirements by
adding details of averaging time with
15 78 FR 3086, (January 15, 2013).
alert, warning, emergency, and
16 Letter dated December 11, 2015, from Eric
significant harm levels for PM2.5.
Massey, Director, Air Quality Division, ADEQ, to
Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, EPA
Specifically, the averaging time is set to
Region IX, Subject: ‘‘Arizona Infrastructure State
24 hours, the alert level is set to 140.5
Implementation Plan for the 2012 PM2.5 National
mg/m3, the warning level is set to 210.5
Ambient Air Quality Standards.’’
3, the emergency level is set to
mg/m
17 Letter dated February 10, 2022, from Daniel
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and 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) pertaining to
interference with visibility protection in
other States, referred to as ‘‘prong 4’’.
The EPA will take action on Arizona’s
SIP revision with respect to prongs 1, 2,
and 4 of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) in a
separate, future rulemaking.
Czecholinski, Director, Air Quality Division, ADEQ,
to Martha Guzman, Regional Administrator, EPA
Region IX, Subject: ‘‘Submittal of the Arizona State
Implementation Plan Revision under Clean Air Act
Sections 110(a)(2) for the 2012 Fine Particulate and
the 2015 Ozone NAAQS.’’
18 For the 2015 PM
2.5 I–SIP submittal, ADEQ
provided a 30-day public comment period that
started on November 9, 2015 and concluded on
December 9, 2015, with a public hearing occuring
on the same date. No comments were expressed
during the 30-day comment period nor at the public
hearing. The details of this public comment period
and hearing can be found in Appendix B of the
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2015 PM2.5 I–SIP submittal. Similarly, for the 2022
I–SIP supplement, ADEQ also provided a 30-day
public comment between December 13, 2021, and
January 13, 2022, with a public hearing occuring on
January 13, 2022. ADEQ received no verbal or
written comments on the 2022 I–SIP supplement.
The details of this public comment period and
hearing can be found in Appendix E to the 2022 I–
SIP supplement.
19 These submitted revised rules and regulations
are included in Appendices C and D the 2022 I–
SIP supplement.
20 87 FR 74349, December 5, 2022.
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280.5 mg/m3, and the significant harm
level is set to 350.5 mg/m3. These action
levels are set in accordance with the
recommendations in EPA’s 2009
guidance on PM2.5 infrastructure SIPs
(‘‘2009 PM2.5 I–SIP Guidance’’).21
Furthermore, the ADEQ ‘‘Procedures for
Prevention of Emergency Episodes’’
incorporated by reference along with
AAC R18–2–220 contains the specific
actions and processes that the State
must follow in the event of an air
pollution event reaching the various
thresholds. Additionally, Maricopa
County Air Quality Department
(MCAQD) amended Rule 600 to align
the rule with the episode level criteria
and significant harm levels listed in
AAC R18–2–220 and the 2009 PM2.5 I–
SIP Guidance.
IV. The EPA’s Evaluation and Proposed
Action
We have evaluated Arizona’s 2012
PM2.5 I–SIP submittals, the associated
revised rules and regulations, and the
existing provisions of the Arizona SIP
for compliance with the infrastructure
SIP requirements of CAA section
110(a)(2) and the applicable regulations
in 40 CFR part 51 (‘‘Requirements for
Preparation, Adoption, and Submittal of
State Implementation Plans’’). The
technical support document (TSD) for
this rulemaking is available in the
docket and includes our detailed
evaluation for these infrastructure SIP
elements, rationale for our proposed
actions, and our evaluation of various
statutory and regulatory provisions
identified and submitted by Arizona.
A. Proposed Approvals and Partial
Approvals
Based on the evaluation presented in
this notice and in the accompanying
TSD, the EPA proposes to approve
Arizona’s 2012 PM2.5 I–SIP submittals
with respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
for the following CAA requirements.
Proposed partial approvals are indicated
by the parenthetical ‘‘(in part).’’
• 110(a)(2)(A)—Emission limits and
other control measures.
• 110(a)(2)(B)—Ambient air quality
monitoring/data system.
• 110(a)(2)(C)—Program for
enforcement of control measures and
regulation of new stationary sources (in
part).
• 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)—Interference
with PSD, or ‘‘prong 3’’ (in part).
• 110(a)(2)(D)(ii)—Interstate pollution
abatement, CAA section 126 (in part).
21 ‘‘Guidance on SIP Elements Required Under
Section 110(a)(1) and (2) for the 2006 24-Hour Fine
Particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS),’’ September 25, 2009.
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• 110(a)(2)(D)(ii)—International
pollution abatement, CAA section 115.
• 110(a)(2)(E)—Adequate resources
and authority, conflict of interest, and
oversight of local governments and
regional agencies.
• 110(a)(2)(F)—Stationary source
monitoring and reporting.
• 110(a)(2)(G)—Emergency episodes.
• 110(a)(2)(H)—Consultation with
government officials.
• 110(a)(2)(J)—Consultation with
government officials, public
notification, PSD, and visibility
protection (in part).
• 110(a)(2)(K)—Air quality modeling
and submission of modeling data.
• 110(a)(2)(L)—Permitting fees.
• 110(a)(2)(M)—Consultation/
participation by affected local entities.
Details about the partial approvals
noted in this section are provided in
Section IV.B of this notice regarding
proposed partial disapprovals. The EPA
is taking no action on prongs 1, 2, and
4 of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) in this
rulemaking.
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B. Proposed Partial Disapprovals
The EPA proposes to partially
disapprove Arizona’s 2012 PM2.5 I–SIP
submittals with respect to the 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS for the following Clean
Air Act requirements.
• 110(a)(2)(C)—Program for
enforcement of control measures and
regulation of new stationary sources (in
part).
• 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)—Interference
with PSD, or ‘‘prong 3’’ (in part).
• 110(a)(2)(D)(ii)—Interstate pollution
abatement, CAA section 126 (in part).
• 110(a)(2)(J)—Consultation with
government officials, public
notification, PSD and visibility
protection (in part).
The EPA is proposing to partially
disapprove Arizona’s 2012 PM2.5 I–SIP
submittals with respect to the 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS for these CAA
requirements due to deficiencies with
respect to PSD permitting of GHG in all
permitting jurisdictions in Arizona and
with respect to PSD permitting of all
NSR-regulated pollutants in Pima
County. The EPA’s proposed
disapprovals apply only to the portions
of these requirements that relate to PSD
permitting of GHG in all areas of
Arizona and with respect to PSD
permitting of all regulated pollutants in
Pima County.
Arizona’s SIP does not fully satisfy
the statutory and regulatory
requirements for PSD permit programs
under CAA title I, part C. Thus, Pima
County currently implements the
Federal PSD program in 40 CFR 52.21
for all regulated NSR pollutants
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pursuant to a delegation agreement with
the EPA, and all Arizona jurisdictions
implement the Federal PSD program in
40 CFR 52.21 for GHG because Arizona
is prohibited by State law from
regulating emissions of GHG. Although
the Arizona SIP remains deficient with
respect to PSD permitting for certain
pollutants in certain areas of Arizona as
described, these deficiencies are
adequately addressed in both areas by
existing Federal implementation plans
(FIPs). If finalized, these partial
disapprovals of Arizona’s SIP would not
create any new consequences for
Arizona, the relevant county agencies,
or the EPA, as Arizona and the county
agencies already implement the EPA’s
Federal PSD program at 40 CFR 52.21,
pursuant to delegation agreements, for
all regulated NSR pollutants. These
partial disapprovals, if finalized, would
also not result in any offset or highway
sanctions, which are not triggered by
disapprovals of infrastructure SIPs
under CAA section 110(a)(2).
C. Incorporation of Rules Into Arizona’s
State Implementation Plan
As part of our proposed approval of
the Arizona infrastructure SIP submittal
elements listed in Section IV.A, we are
also proposing to approve two rules and
one plan included with the 2022 I–SIP
supplement for incorporation into the
Arizona State SIP: the revised AAC
R18–2–220 ‘‘Air Pollution Emergency
Episodes,’’ submitted December 17,
2021, and the ‘‘Procedures for the
Prevention of Emergency Episodes’’
submitted February 10, 2022, with the
2022 I–SIP supplement.22 Similarly, we
are proposing approval of the revised
Maricopa County Air Pollution Control
Regulation VI, ‘‘Emergency Episodes:
Rule 600 Emergency Episodes,’’
submitted on December 17, 2021, for
incorporation into the State SIP.
As a general matter, rules in the SIP
must be enforceable (see CAA section
110(a)(2)), must not interfere with
applicable requirements concerning
attainment and reasonable further
progress or other CAA requirements (see
CAA section 110(l)), and must not
modify certain SIP control requirements
in nonattainment areas without
ensuring equivalent or greater emissions
reductions (see CAA section 193). We
have evaluated the ADEQ and MCAQD
revised rules for compliance with CAA
requirements for SIPs set forth in CAA
section 110(a)(2) and for compliance
with CAA requirements for SIP
revisions in CAA sections 110(l) and
22 ADEQ’s ‘‘Procedures for the Prevention of
Emegency Episodes’’ are located in Appendix D to
the 2022 I–SIP supplement.
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193. In general, the rules strengthen the
SIP for the reasons discussed in Section
III.B.2 of this document and in our TSD.
Based upon our analysis, we propose to
find that AAC R18–2–220 ‘‘Air
Pollution Emergency Episodes,’’ the
‘‘Procedures for the Prevention of
Emergency Episodes,’’ and Maricopa
County Rule 600 meet the requirements
of CAA sections 110(a)(2), 110(l), and
193. Therefore, the EPA is proposing to
approve the submitted revisions to AAC
R18–2–220 ‘‘Air Pollution Emergency
Episodes,’’ the ‘‘Procedures for the
Prevention of Emergency Episodes,’’
and Maricopa County Rule 600 into the
Arizona SIP.
D. Deferred Action
The EPA will address the following
Clean Air Act Requirements in separate
rulemakings:
• 110(a)(2)(D) (in part): Interstate
Pollution Transport.
Æ 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)—significant
contribution to a nonattainment area
(prong 1).
Æ 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)—significant
contribution to a maintenance area
(prong 2).
Æ 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)—interference
with visibility protection in Class I areas
(prong 4).
We note that the EPA intends to act
on Prongs 1 and 2 of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) in
a separate rulemaking. We intend to act
on Prong 4 of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) when we
act on Arizona’s plan addressing
Regional Haze requirements for the
second planning period.
E. Revising Air Quality Control Regions
and Evaluating Emergency Episode
Planning Requirements for PM2.5 in
Arizona
Section 51.150 provides criteria for
the classification of areas for emergency
episode planning purposes based on
measured concentrations of ambient air
pollutants, specifically sulfur oxides,
particulate matter, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. The
priority thresholds for classification of
air quality control regions (AQCR) are
listed at 40 CFR 51.150, and the specific
classifications of AQCR in Arizona are
listed at 40 CFR 52.121. Consistent with
the provisions of 40 CFR 51.153,
reclassification of an AQCR must rely
on the most recent three years of air
quality data. Under 40 CFR 51.151 and
51.152, regions classified under the
more stringent classifications of Priority
I, IA, or II are required to have SIPapproved emergency episode
contingency plans, while those
classified Priority III are not required to
have plans. We also interpret 40 CFR
51.153 as establishing the means for
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States to review air quality data and
request a higher or lower classification
for any given region and as providing
the regulatory basis for the EPA to
reclassify such regions, as appropriate,
under the authorities of CAA sections
110(a)(2)(G) and 301(a)(1).
Arizona has six AQCRs: Maricopa
Intrastate, which includes Maricopa
County; Pima Intrastate, which includes
Pima County; Northern Arizona
Intrastate, which includes Apache,
Coconino, Navajo, and Yavapai
Counties; Mohave-Yuma Intrastate,
which includes Mohave and Yuma
Counties; Central Arizona Intrastate,
which includes Gila and Pinal Counties;
and Southeast Arizona Intrastate, which
includes Cochise, Graham, Greenlee,
and Santa Cruz Counties.
La Paz County is not listed within any
of Arizona’s AQCRs. This county
composed the northern portion of Yuma
County prior to its establishment in
1983. The constituent counties of
Arizona’s AQCRs in 40 CFR 52.121 and
the delimited boundaries listed in 40
CFR 81.268 predate the incorporation of
La Paz County.23 Since that time,
neither 40 CFR 52.121 nor 40 CFR
81.268 have been revised to include this
county. Therefore, we propose a
revision to 40 CFR 52.121 to add La Paz
County to the list of constituent
counties for the Mohave-Yuma
Intrastate AQCR, and to 40 CFR 81.268,
we propose to add La Paz County to the
delimited area of the Mohave-Yuma
Intrastate AQCR.24
The EPA’s emergency episode
regulations were promulgated before the
agency’s regulation of PM2.5 as a priority
pollutant, and do not include
concentrations for the priority
classification based on PM2.5
concentrations in 40 CFR 51.150. As
explained in our TSD, to determine the
appropriate priority classifications for
Arizona’s AQCRs and any related
emergency episode planning
requirements, we followed the
recommended threshold concentrations
and corresponding priority
classifications set forth in the EPA’s
2009 PM2.5 I–SIP Guidance. We
evaluated the three most recent years of
complete, quality-assured, and certified
ambient air monitoring data to yield
maximum 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations
for each county; 25 the maximum
23 45
FR 7545 (February 4, 1980).
EPA has discussed the basis for these
proposed amendments to 40 CFR 52.121 and 40
CFR 81.268 with ADEQ and the State’s concurrence
with these revisions will be included as a formal
request letter in the docket for this rulemaking with
our notice of final action.
25 EPA AQS Daily Summary Report, AMP435, for
2020–2022 24-Hour PM2.5 Values for Arizona.
24 The
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recorded 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations
along with our proposed classifications
for each AQCR are compiled in Table 16
of the TSD accompanying this proposed
rule.
The air quality data from 2020–2022
indicate the maximum 24-hour PM2.5
concentrations monitored in the Pima
Intrastate, Northern Arizona Intrastate,
Mohave-Yuma Intrastate, Central
Arizona Intrastate, and Southeast
Arizona Interstate AQCRs all fall below
the Priority II minimum of 140.5 mg/m3
for PM2.5 set forth in the 2009 PM2.5 I–
SIP Guidance. However, the maximum
24-hour concentration measured in the
Maricopa Intrastate was 222.4 mg/m3,
exceeding the minimum Priority I
threshold of 210.5 mg/m3. Therefore, the
Maricopa Intrastate AQCR is required to
have an emergency episode plan for
PM2.5. As mentioned in Section IV.C of
this notice, ADEQ and Maricopa County
have both submitted emergency episode
plans, and we propose to find that these
plans satisfy the requirements of 40 CFR
51.152(a)–(b) and 110(a)(2)(G) of the
CAA.
F. Request for Public Comments
The EPA is soliciting public
comments on this proposed rulemaking.
We will accept comments from the
public for the next 30 days. We will
consider any comments received before
taking final action.
V. Incorporation by Reference
In this rule, the EPA is proposing to
include in a final EPA rule regulatory
text that includes incorporation by
reference. In accordance with
requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is
proposing to incorporate by reference
the ADEQ and MCAQD rules and plan
listed and discussed in Section IV.C of
this preamble. The EPA has made, and
will continue to make, these documents
generally available electronically in the
docket for this rulemaking at https://
www.regulations.gov.
VI. 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 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 review
State choices, and approve State
choices, provided that they meet the
criteria of the Clean Air Act.
Accordingly, this proposed action
merely proposes to partially approve
Report accessed July 31, 2023, included in the
docket for this rulemaking.
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and partially disapprove a revision to
the Arizona SIP as meeting the
requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) of the Clean Air Act for the
implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS
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, January 21, 2011);
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997)
because it proposes to approve 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.
Executive Order 12898 (Federal
Actions to Adress Environmental Justice
in Minority Populations and LowIncome Populations, 59 FR 7629, Feb.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 115 / Thursday, June 13, 2024 / Proposed Rules
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
bear a disproportionate burden of
environmental harms and risks,
including those resulting from negative
environmental consequences of
industrial, governmental, and
commercial operations or programs and
policies.’’
The air agency did not 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. Due to the nature of the
action described in this proposed
rulemaking, this action is expected to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:20 Jun 12, 2024
Jkt 262001
have a neutral to positive impact on the
air quality of the affected area.
Consideration of EJ is not required as
part of this proposed action, and there
is no information in the record
inconsistent with the stated goal of E.O.
12898 of achieving environmental
justice for people of color, low-income
populations, and Indigenous peoples.
In addition, the SIP is not 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 rule does not have
Tribal implications and will not impose
substantial direct costs on Tribal
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
governments or preempt Tribal law as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Volatile organic
compounds.
Dated: June 6, 2024.
Martha Guzman Aceves,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2024–12781 Filed 6–12–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
E:\FR\FM\13JNP1.SGM
13JNP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50245-50252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12781]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R09-OAR-2023-0539; FRL-11747-01-R9]
Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality State
Implementation Plans; Arizona; Infrastructure Requirements for Fine
Particulate Matter
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
partially approve and partially disapprove a revision to the Arizona
state implementation plan (SIP) as meeting the requirements of the
Clean Air Act (CAA) for the implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of the 2012 fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards''). As
part of this action, the EPA is proposing to approve regulatory
provisions into the Arizona SIP. The EPA is seeking public comment on
this proposed action and will accept comments from the public on this
proposal for the next 30 days.
DATES: Any comments must arrive by July 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
OAR-2023-0539 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. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public
docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio,
video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written
comment is considered the official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not
consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, please contact the person identified in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the full EPA public
comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and
general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets. If you need assistance in a
language other than English or if you are a person with a disability
who needs a reasonable accommodation at no cost to you, please contact
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Dorantes, Geographic
Strategies and Modeling Section (AIR-2-2), EPA Region IX, (415) 972-
3934, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we,'' ``us,''
and ``our'' refer to the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. The EPA's Approach To Reviewing Infrastructure SIPs
II. Background
A. Statutory Framework
B. Regulatory Background
III. State Submittals
A. Infrastructure SIP Submittal
B. Revised Rules and Regulations
IV. The EPA's Evaluation and Proposed Action
A. Proposed Approvals and Partial Approvals
B. Proposed Partial Disapprovals
C. Incorporation of Rules Into Arizona's State Implementation
Plan
D. Deferred Action
E. Revising Air Quality Control Regions and Evaluating Emergency
Episode Planning Requirements for PM2.5 in Arizona
F. Request for Public Comments
V. Incorporation by Reference
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. The EPA's Approach To Reviewing Infrastructure SIPs
The EPA has historically referred to SIP submittals made for the
purpose of satisfying the requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) as ``infrastructure SIP'' submittals. Although the term
``infrastructure SIP'' does not appear in the CAA, the EPA uses the
term to distinguish this particular type of SIP submittal from
submittals that are intended to satisfy other SIP requirements under
the CAA, such as ``nonattainment SIP'' or ``attainment SIP'' submittals
to address the nonattainment planning requirements of CAA title I part
D, ``regional haze SIP'' submittals required by EPA rule to address the
visibility protection requirements of section 169A, and nonattainment
new source review (NSR) permit program submittals to address the permit
requirements of CAA title I part D.
Section 110(a)(1) of the Act requires that each State adopt and
submit an infrastructure SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA, and that the
[[Page 50246]]
EPA act on such SIP submittals. They are intended to address basic
structural SIP requirements for new or revised NAAQS including, but not
limited to, legal authority, regulatory structure, resources, permit
programs, monitoring, and modeling necessary to assure attainment and
maintenance of the standards.
Herein, the EPA is acting on SIP submittals from Arizona that
address the infrastructure requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) with respect to the primary and secondary 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS. Under section 110(a)(1), states are required to
submit infrastructure SIPs within three years (or such shorter period
as the Administrator may prescribe) after the promulgation of a
national primary ambient air quality standard (or any revision
thereof). The statute directly imposes on States the duty to make these
SIP submittals, and the requirement to make the submittals is not
conditioned upon the EPA taking any action other than promulgating a
new or revised NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2) includes a list of specific
``elements'' that each such infrastructure SIP submittal must address.
CAA section 110(a)(1) addresses the timing and general requirements
for infrastructure SIP submittals, and section 110(a)(2) provides more
details concerning the required contents of these submittals. The list
of required elements provided in section 110(a)(2) contains a wide
variety of disparate provisions, some of which pertain to required
legal authority, some of which pertain to required substantive program
provisions, and some of which pertain to requirements for both
authority and substantive program provisions.\1\ The EPA therefore
believes that, while the timing requirement in section 110(a)(1) is
unambiguous, some of the other statutory provisions are ambiguous. In
particular, the EPA believes that the list of required elements for
infrastructure SIP submittals provided in section 110(a)(2) contains
ambiguities concerning what is required for inclusion in an
infrastructure SIP submittal.
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\1\ For example, CAA section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) provides that
States must provide assurances that they have adequate legal
authority under State and local law to carry out the SIP; section
110(a)(2)(C) provides that States must have a SIP-approved program
to address certain sources as required by part C of title I of the
CAA; and section 110(a)(2)(G) provides that States must have legal
authority to address emergencies as well as contingency plans that
are triggered in the event of such emergencies.
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The following examples of ambiguities illustrate the need for the
EPA to interpret some CAA section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2)
requirements with respect to infrastructure SIP submittals for a given
new or revised NAAQS. One example of ambiguity is that section
110(a)(2) requires that ``each'' SIP submittal must meet the list of
requirements therein, while the EPA has long noted that this literal
reading of the statute is internally inconsistent and would create a
conflict with the nonattainment provisions in CAA title I part D, which
specifically address nonattainment SIP requirements.\2\ Section
110(a)(2)(I) pertains to nonattainment SIP requirements, and part D
addresses when attainment plan SIP submittals to address nonattainment
area requirements are due. For example, section 172(b) requires the EPA
to establish a schedule for submittal of such plans for certain
pollutants when the Administrator promulgates the designation of an
area as nonattainment, and section 107(d)(1)(B) allows up to two years,
or in some cases three years, for such designations to be
promulgated.\3\ This ambiguity illustrates that, rather than apply all
the stated requirements of section 110(a)(2) in a strict literal sense,
the EPA must determine which provisions of section 110(a)(2) are
applicable for a particular infrastructure SIP submittal. Another
example of ambiguity within sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) with
respect to infrastructure SIPs pertains to whether States must meet all
of the infrastructure SIP requirements in a single SIP submittal and
whether the EPA must act upon such SIP submittal in a single action.
Although section 110(a)(1) directs States to submit ``a plan'' to meet
these requirements, the EPA interprets the CAA to allow States to make
multiple SIP submittals separately addressing infrastructure SIP
elements for the same NAAQS. If States elect to make such multiple SIP
submittals to meet the infrastructure SIP requirements, the EPA can
elect to act on such submittals either individually or in a larger
combined action.\4\ Similarly, the EPA interprets the CAA to allow it
to take action on the individual parts of one larger, comprehensive
infrastructure SIP submittal for a given NAAQS without concurrent
action on the entire submittal. For example, the EPA has sometimes
elected to act at different times on various elements and subelements
of the same infrastructure SIP submittal.\5\
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\2\ See, e.g., 70 FR 25162, 25163-25165 (May 12, 2005),
explaining the relationship between the timing requirements of CAA
section 110(a)(2)(D) versus section 110(a)(2)(I).
\3\ The EPA notes that this ambiguity within CAA section
110(a)(2) is heightened by the fact that various subparts of part D
set specific dates for submittal of certain types of SIP submittals
in designated nonattainment areas for various pollutants. Note, for
example, that section 182(a)(1) provides specific dates for
submittal of emissions inventories for the ozone NAAQS. Some of
these specific dates are necessarily later than three years after
promulgation of the new or revised NAAQS.
\4\ See, e.g., the EPA's final action approving the structural
PSD elements of the New Mexico SIP submitted by the State separately
to meet the requirements of EPA's 2008 NSR rule for PM2.5
at 78 FR 4339 (January 22, 2013), and the EPA's final action on the
infrastructure SIP for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS at 78 FR 4337
(January 22, 2013).
\5\ On December 14, 2007, the State of Tennessee made a SIP
revision to the EPA demonstrating that the State meets the
requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2). The EPA
proposed action for infrastructure SIP elements (C) and (J) at 77 FR
3213 (January 23, 2012) and took final action at 77 FR 14976 (March
14, 2012). The EPA took separate proposed and final actions on all
other section 110(a)(2) infrastructure SIP elements of Tennessee's
December 14, 2007 submittal; see 77 FR 22533 (April 16, 2012) and 77
FR 42997 (July 23, 2012).
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Ambiguities within CAA sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) may also
arise with respect to infrastructure SIP submittal requirements for
different NAAQS. Thus, the EPA notes that not every element of section
110(a)(2) would be relevant, as relevant, or relevant in the same way,
for each new or revised NAAQS. The States' attendant infrastructure SIP
submittals for each NAAQS therefore could be different. For example,
the monitoring requirements that a State might need to meet in its
infrastructure SIP submittal for purposes of section 110(a)(2)(B) could
be very different for different pollutants, because the content and
scope of a State's infrastructure SIP submittal to meet this element
might be very different for an entirely new NAAQS than for a minor
revision to an existing NAAQS.\6\
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\6\ For example, implementation of the 1997 PM2.5
NAAQS required the deployment of a system of new monitors to measure
ambient levels of new indicator species for the new NAAQS.
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The EPA notes that interpretation of CAA section 110(a)(2) is also
necessary when the EPA reviews other types of SIP submittals required
under the CAA. Therefore, as with infrastructure SIP submittals, the
EPA also has to identify and interpret the relevant elements of section
110(a)(2) that logically apply to these other types of SIP submittals.
For example, section 172(c)(7) requires that attainment plan SIP
submittals required by part D have to meet the ``applicable
requirements'' of section 110(a)(2). Thus, for example, attainment plan
SIP submittals must meet the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A)
regarding enforceable emissions limits and control measures and section
110(a)(2)(E)(i) regarding air agency resources and authority. By
contrast, it is clear that attainment plan SIP submittals required by
part D would not need to meet the
[[Page 50247]]
portion of section 110(a)(2)(C) that pertains to the air quality
prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) program required in part
C of title I of the CAA because PSD does not apply to a pollutant for
which an area is designated nonattainment and thus subject to part D
planning requirements. As this example illustrates, each type of SIP
submittal may implicate some elements of section 110(a)(2) but not
others.
Given the potential for ambiguity in some of the statutory language
of section 110(a)(1) and section 110(a)(2), the EPA believes that it is
appropriate to interpret the ambiguous portions of section 110(a)(1)
and section 110(a)(2) in the context of acting on a particular SIP
submittal. In other words, the EPA assumes that Congress could not have
intended that each and every SIP submittal, regardless of the NAAQS in
question or the history of SIP development for the relevant pollutant,
would meet each of the requirements, or meet each of them in the same
way. Therefore, the EPA has adopted an approach under which it reviews
infrastructure SIP submittals against the list of elements in section
110(a)(2), but only to the extent each element applies for that
particular NAAQS.
Historically, the EPA has elected to use guidance documents to make
recommendations to States for infrastructure SIPs, in some cases
conveying needed interpretations on newly arising issues and in some
cases conveying interpretations that have already been developed and
applied to individual SIP submittals for particular elements.\7\ The
EPA most recently issued guidance for infrastructure SIPs on September
13, 2013 (``2013 Infrastructure SIP Guidance'').\8\ The EPA developed
this document to provide States with up-to-date guidance for
infrastructure SIPs for any new or revised NAAQS. Within this guidance,
the EPA describes the duty of States to make infrastructure SIP
submittals to meet basic structural SIP requirements within three years
of promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS. The EPA also made
recommendations about many specific subsections of CAA section
110(a)(2) that are relevant in the context of infrastructure SIP
submittals.\9\ The guidance also discusses the substantively important
issues that are germane to certain subsections of section 110(a)(2).
Significantly, the EPA interprets sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) such
that infrastructure SIP submittals need to address certain issues and
need not address others. Accordingly, the EPA reviews each
infrastructure SIP submittal for compliance with the applicable
statutory provisions of section 110(a)(2), as appropriate.
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\7\ The EPA notes, however, that nothing in the CAA requires the
EPA to provide guidance or to promulgate regulations for
infrastructure SIP submittals. The CAA directly applies to States
and requires the submittal of infrastructure SIP submittals,
regardless of whether or not the EPA provides guidance or
regulations pertaining to such submittals. The EPA elects to issue
such guidance in order to assist States, as appropriate.
\8\ Memorandum dated September 13, 2013, from Stephen D. Page,
Director, Office of Air Quality and Planning Standards, U.S. EPA,
Subject: ``Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan
(SIP) Elements under Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2).''
\9\ The 2013 Infrastructure SIP Guidance did not make
recommendations with respect to infrastructure SIP submittals to
address CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). The EPA issued the guidance
shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the D.C.
Circuit decision in EME Homer City, 696 F.3d7 (D.C. Cir. 2012) which
had interpreted the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). In
light of the uncertainty created by ongoing litigation, the EPA
elected not to provide additional guidance on the requirements of
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) at that time. As the guidance is neither
binding nor required by statute, whether the EPA elects to provide
guidance on a particular section has no impact on a State's CAA
obligations.
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As an example, CAA section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) is a required element
of section 110(a)(2) for infrastructure SIP submittals. Under this
element, a State must meet the substantive requirements of section 128,
which pertain to State boards that approve permits or enforcement
orders and heads of executive agencies with similar powers. Thus, the
EPA reviews infrastructure SIP submittals to ensure that the State's
SIP appropriately addresses the requirements of section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and section 128. The 2013 Infrastructure SIP Guidance
explains the EPA's interpretation that there may be a variety of ways
by which States can appropriately address these substantive statutory
requirements, depending on the structure of an individual State's
permitting or enforcement program (e.g., whether permits and
enforcement orders are approved by a multi-member board or by a head of
an executive agency). However they are addressed by the State, the
substantive requirements of section 128 are necessarily included in the
EPA's evaluation of infrastructure SIP submittals because section
110(a)(2)(E)(ii) explicitly requires that the State satisfy the
provisions of section 128.
As another example, the EPA's review of infrastructure SIP
submittals with respect to the PSD program requirements in CAA sections
110(a)(2)(C), 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), and 110(a)(2)(J) focuses on the
structural PSD program requirements contained in CAA title I part C and
the EPA's PSD regulations. Structural PSD program requirements include
provisions necessary for the PSD program to address all regulated
sources and regulated NSR pollutants, including greenhouse gases (GHG).
By contrast, structural PSD program requirements do not include
provisions that are not required under the EPA's regulations at 40 CFR
51.166 but are merely available as an option for the State, such as the
option to provide grandfathering of complete permit applications with
respect to the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. Accordingly, the latter
optional provisions are types of provisions the EPA considers
irrelevant in the context of an infrastructure SIP action.
For other CAA section 110(a)(2) elements, however, the EPA's review
of a State's infrastructure SIP submittal focuses on assuring that the
State's SIP meets basic structural requirements. For example, section
110(a)(2)(C) includes, inter alia, the requirement that States have a
program to regulate minor new sources. Thus, the EPA evaluates whether
the State has a SIP-approved minor NSR program and whether the program
addresses the pollutants relevant to that NAAQS. In the context of
acting on an infrastructure SIP submittal, however, the EPA does not
think it is necessary to conduct a review of each and every provision
of a State's existing minor source program (i.e., already in the
existing SIP) for compliance with the requirements of the CAA and the
EPA's regulations that pertain to such programs.
With respect to certain other issues, the EPA does not believe that
an action on a State's infrastructure SIP submittal is necessarily the
appropriate type of action in which to address possible deficiencies in
a State's existing SIP. These issues include: (i) existing provisions
related to excess emissions from sources during periods of startup,
shutdown, or malfunction (SSM) that may be contrary to the CAA and EPA
policies addressing such excess emissions; (ii) existing provisions
related to ``director's variance'' or ``director's discretion'' that
may be contrary to the CAA because they purport to allow revisions to
SIP-approved emissions limits while limiting public process or not
requiring further approval by the EPA; and (iii) existing provisions
for PSD programs that may be inconsistent with current requirements of
the EPA's ``Final NSR
[[Page 50248]]
Improvement Rule.'' \10\ Thus, the EPA believes it may approve an
infrastructure SIP submittal without scrutinizing the totality of the
existing SIP for such potentially deficient provisions and may approve
the submittal even if it is aware of such existing provisions.\11\ It
is important to note that the EPA's approval of a State's
infrastructure SIP submittal should not be construed as explicit or
implicit reapproval of any existing potentially deficient provisions
that relate to the three specific issues just described.
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\10\ See 67 FR 80186 (December 31, 2002), as amended by 72 FR
32526 (June 13, 2007).
\11\ By contrast, the EPA notes that if a State were to include
a new provision in an infrastructure SIP submittal that contained a
legal deficiency, such as a new exemption for excess emissions
during SSM events, then the EPA would need to evaluate that
provision for compliance against the rubric of applicable CAA
requirements in the context of the action on the infrastructure SIP.
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The EPA's approach to reviewing infrastructure SIP submittals is to
identify the CAA requirements that are logically applicable to that
submittal. The EPA believes that this approach to the review of a
particular infrastructure SIP submittal is appropriate because it would
not be reasonable to read the general requirements of CAA section
110(a)(1) and the list of elements in 110(a)(2) as requiring review of
each and every provision of a State's existing SIP against all
requirements in the CAA and EPA regulations merely for purposes of
assuring that the State in question has the basic structural elements
for a functioning SIP for a new or revised NAAQS. Because SIPs have
grown by accretion over the decades as statutory and regulatory
requirements under the CAA have evolved, they may include some outmoded
provisions and historical artifacts. These provisions, while not fully
up to date, nevertheless may not pose a significant problem for the
purposes of ``implementation, maintenance, and enforcement'' of a new
or revised NAAQS when the EPA evaluates adequacy of the infrastructure
SIP submittal. The EPA believes that a better approach is for States
and the EPA to focus attention on those elements of section 110(a)(2)
most likely to warrant a specific SIP revision due to the promulgation
of a new or revised NAAQS or other factors.
For example, the 2013 Infrastructure SIP Guidance gives simpler
recommendations with respect to carbon monoxide than other NAAQS
pollutants to meet the visibility requirements of CAA section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) because carbon monoxide does not affect visibility.
As a result, an infrastructure SIP submittal for any future new or
revised NAAQS for carbon monoxide need only state this fact in order to
address the visibility prong of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II).
Finally, the EPA believes that its approach with respect to
infrastructure SIP requirements is based on a reasonable reading of CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) because the CAA provides other avenues
and mechanisms to address specific substantive deficiencies in existing
SIPs. These other statutory tools allow the EPA to take appropriately
tailored action, depending upon the nature and severity of the alleged
SIP deficiency. Section 110(k)(5) authorizes the EPA to issue a ``SIP
call'' whenever the Agency determines that a State's SIP is
substantially inadequate to attain or maintain the NAAQS, to mitigate
interstate transport, or to otherwise comply with the CAA.\12\ Section
110(k)(6) authorizes the EPA to correct errors in past actions, such as
past approvals of SIP submittals.\13\ Significantly, the EPA's
determination that an action on a State's infrastructure SIP submittal
is not the appropriate time and place to address all potential existing
SIP deficiencies does not preclude the EPA's subsequent reliance on
provisions in section 110(a)(2) as part of the basis for action to
correct those deficiencies at a later time. For example, although it
may not be appropriate to require a State to eliminate all existing
inappropriate director's discretion provisions in the course of acting
on an infrastructure SIP submittal, the EPA believes that section
110(a)(2)(A) may be among the statutory bases that the EPA relies upon
in the course of addressing such deficiency in a subsequent action.\14\
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\12\ For example, the EPA issued a SIP call to Utah to address
specific existing SIP deficiencies related to the treatment of
excess emissions during SSM events. See 76 FR 21639 (April 18,
2011).
\13\ The EPA has used this authority to correct errors in past
actions on SIP submittals related to PSD programs. See Limitation of
Approval of Prevention of Significant Deterioration Provisions
Concerning Greenhouse Gas Emitting-Sources in State Implementation
Plans; Final Rule, 75 FR 82536 (December 30, 2010). The EPA has
previously used its authority under CAA section 110(k)(6) to remove
numerous other SIP provisions that the Agency determined it had
approved in error. See, e.g., 61 FR 38664 (July 25, 1996) and 62 FR
34641 (June 27, 1997) (corrections to American Samoa, Arizona,
California, Hawaii, and Nevada SIPs); 69 FR 67062 (November 16,
2004) (corrections to California SIP); and 74 FR 57051 (November 3,
2009) (corrections to Arizona and Nevada SIPs).
\14\ See, e.g., the EPA's disapproval of a SIP submittal from
Colorado on the grounds that it would have included a director's
discretion provision inconsistent with CAA requirements, including
section 110(a)(2)(A). See, e.g., 75 FR 42342, 42344 (July 21, 2010)
(proposed disapproval of director's discretion provisions); 76 FR
4540 (January 26, 2011) (final disapproval of such provisions).
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II. Background
A. Statutory Framework
As described in the previous section, CAA section 110(a)(1)
requires States to make a SIP submittal within three years after the
promulgation of a new or revised primary NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)
includes a list of specific elements that each infrastructure SIP
submittal must include. These infrastructure SIP elements required by
section 110(a)(2) are as follows:
Section 110(a)(2)(A): Emission limits and other control
measures.
Section 110(a)(2)(B): Ambient air quality monitoring/data
system.
Section 110(a)(2)(C): Program for enforcement of control
measures and regulation of new and modified stationary sources.
Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i): Interstate pollution transport.
Section 110(a)(2)(D)(ii): Interstate and international
pollution abatement.
Section 110(a)(2)(E): Adequate resources and authority,
conflict of interest, and oversight of local and regional government
agencies.
Section 110(a)(2)(F): Stationary source monitoring and
reporting.
Section 110(a)(2)(G): Emergency episodes.
Section 110(a)(2)(H): SIP revisions.
Section 110(a)(2)(J): Consultation with government
officials, public notification, PSD, and visibility protection.
Section 110(a)(2)(K): Air quality modeling and submittal
of modeling data.
Section 110(a)(2)(L): Permitting fees.
Section 110(a)(2)(M): Consultation/participation by
affected local entities.
Two elements identified in CAA section 110(a)(2) are not governed
by the three-year submittal deadline of section 110(a)(1) and are
therefore not addressed in this action. These two elements are section
110(a)(2)(C), to the extent that it refers to permit programs required
under part D (nonattainment NSR), and section 110(a)(2)(I), pertaining
to the nonattainment planning requirements of part D. As a result, this
action does not address infrastructure requirements for the
nonattainment NSR portion of section 110(a)(2)(C) or the entirety of
section 110(a)(2)(I). Additionally, this action does not address the
requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) pertaining to contributions
to nonattainment or interference with maintenance in other States,
referred to as ``prongs 1 and 2''
[[Page 50249]]
and 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) pertaining to interference with visibility
protection in other States, referred to as ``prong 4''. The EPA will
take action on Arizona's SIP revision with respect to prongs 1, 2, and
4 of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) in a separate, future rulemaking.
B. Regulatory Background
In January 2013, the EPA promulgated a revised primary NAAQS for
annual PM2.5, triggering a requirement for States to submit
infrastructure SIPs. The EPA strengthened the primary annual
PM2.5 NAAQS by lowering the level from 15 micrograms per
cubic meter ([micro]g/m\3\) to 12.0 [micro]g/m\3\, while maintaining
the secondary standard.\15\
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\15\ 78 FR 3086, (January 15, 2013).
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III. State Submittals
A. Infrastructure SIP Submittal
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) submitted
two SIP revisions to address the infrastructure SIP requirements in CAA
sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
On December 11, 2015, ADEQ submitted the ``Arizona State Implementation
Plan Revision for the 2012 Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
National Ambient Air Quality Standard'' (``2015 PM2.5 I-SIP
submittal'').\16\ On February 10, 2022, ADEQ submitted the ``State
Implementation Plan Revision: Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2) for the
2012 Fine Particulate & 2015 Ozone NAAQS'' (``2022 I-SIP
supplement'').\17\ The submittals collectively address the
infrastructure SIP requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS as
described by this proposed rule. We refer to them collectively herein
as ``Arizona's 2012 PM2.5 I-SIP submittals.''
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\16\ Letter dated December 11, 2015, from Eric Massey, Director,
Air Quality Division, ADEQ, to Jared Blumenfeld, Regional
Administrator, EPA Region IX, Subject: ``Arizona Infrastructure
State Implementation Plan for the 2012 PM2.5 National
Ambient Air Quality Standards.''
\17\ Letter dated February 10, 2022, from Daniel Czecholinski,
Director, Air Quality Division, ADEQ, to Martha Guzman, Regional
Administrator, EPA Region IX, Subject: ``Submittal of the Arizona
State Implementation Plan Revision under Clean Air Act Sections
110(a)(2) for the 2012 Fine Particulate and the 2015 Ozone NAAQS.''
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We find that Arizona's 2012 PM2.5 I-SIP submittals meet
the procedural requirements for public participation under CAA section
110(a)(2) and 40 CFR 51.102.\18\ We also find that they meet the
applicable completeness criteria in Appendix V to 40 CFR part 51. We
are proposing to act on these submittals with respect to the 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS except for those portions of the 2012
PM2.5 I-SIP submittals addressing prongs 1, 2, and 4 of the
interstate transport requirements under CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). We
are also not taking action on the portions of the 2022 I-SIP supplement
addressing the 2015 ozone NAAQS in this rulemaking.
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\18\ For the 2015 PM2.5 I-SIP submittal, ADEQ
provided a 30-day public comment period that started on November 9,
2015 and concluded on December 9, 2015, with a public hearing
occuring on the same date. No comments were expressed during the 30-
day comment period nor at the public hearing. The details of this
public comment period and hearing can be found in Appendix B of the
2015 PM2.5 I-SIP submittal. Similarly, for the 2022 I-SIP
supplement, ADEQ also provided a 30-day public comment between
December 13, 2021, and January 13, 2022, with a public hearing
occuring on January 13, 2022. ADEQ received no verbal or written
comments on the 2022 I-SIP supplement. The details of this public
comment period and hearing can be found in Appendix E to the 2022 I-
SIP supplement.
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B. Revised Rules and Regulations
1. Rules and Regulations Submitted by the State
In a February 10, 2022 letter transmitting the 2022 I-SIP
supplement, ADEQ included revised rules and regulations for
incorporation by reference into the Arizona SIP. These submittals
include: Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) R18-2-220 ``Air Pollution
Emergency Episodes,'' and the ``Procedures for the Prevention of
Emergency Episodes;'' the Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 49-432(C),
dealing with public availability of emissions records, Pinal County
Code (PCC) 17.24.010 ``Confidentiality of trade secrets, sales data,
and proprietary information,'' and Maricopa County Air Pollution
Control Regulations, ``Regulation VI--Emergency Episodes Rule 600,''
(``Rule 600'').\19\ The EPA has already proposed to approve the revised
ARS 49-432 and PCC 17.24.010 for incorporation into the Arizona SIP in
a previous proposed rulemaking.\20\ AAC R18-2-220 and Rule 600 are
included as part of the 2022 I-SIP supplement to satisfy the
requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(G) for 2012 PM2.5
NAAQS emergency episodes.
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\19\ These submitted revised rules and regulations are included
in Appendices C and D the 2022 I-SIP supplement.
\20\ 87 FR 74349, December 5, 2022.
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2. What is the Purpose of the Submitted Rule Revisions
The revised AAC R18-2-220 is intended to satisfy outstanding CAA
section 110(a)(2)(G) requirements by adding details of averaging time
with alert, warning, emergency, and significant harm levels for
PM2.5. Specifically, the averaging time is set to 24 hours,
the alert level is set to 140.5 [micro]g/m\3\, the warning level is set
to 210.5 [micro]g/m\3\, the emergency level is set to 280.5 [micro]g/
m\3\, and the significant harm level is set to 350.5 [micro]g/m\3\.
These action levels are set in accordance with the recommendations in
EPA's 2009 guidance on PM2.5 infrastructure SIPs (``2009
PM2.5 I-SIP Guidance'').\21\ Furthermore, the ADEQ
``Procedures for Prevention of Emergency Episodes'' incorporated by
reference along with AAC R18-2-220 contains the specific actions and
processes that the State must follow in the event of an air pollution
event reaching the various thresholds. Additionally, Maricopa County
Air Quality Department (MCAQD) amended Rule 600 to align the rule with
the episode level criteria and significant harm levels listed in AAC
R18-2-220 and the 2009 PM2.5 I-SIP Guidance.
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\21\ ``Guidance on SIP Elements Required Under Section 110(a)(1)
and (2) for the 2006 24-Hour Fine Particle (PM2.5)
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS),'' September 25,
2009.
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IV. The EPA's Evaluation and Proposed Action
We have evaluated Arizona's 2012 PM2.5 I-SIP submittals,
the associated revised rules and regulations, and the existing
provisions of the Arizona SIP for compliance with the infrastructure
SIP requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2) and the applicable
regulations in 40 CFR part 51 (``Requirements for Preparation,
Adoption, and Submittal of State Implementation Plans''). The technical
support document (TSD) for this rulemaking is available in the docket
and includes our detailed evaluation for these infrastructure SIP
elements, rationale for our proposed actions, and our evaluation of
various statutory and regulatory provisions identified and submitted by
Arizona.
A. Proposed Approvals and Partial Approvals
Based on the evaluation presented in this notice and in the
accompanying TSD, the EPA proposes to approve Arizona's 2012
PM2.5 I-SIP submittals with respect to the 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS for the following CAA requirements. Proposed
partial approvals are indicated by the parenthetical ``(in part).''
110(a)(2)(A)--Emission limits and other control measures.
110(a)(2)(B)--Ambient air quality monitoring/data system.
110(a)(2)(C)--Program for enforcement of control measures
and regulation of new stationary sources (in part).
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)--Interference with PSD, or ``prong 3''
(in part).
110(a)(2)(D)(ii)--Interstate pollution abatement, CAA
section 126 (in part).
[[Page 50250]]
110(a)(2)(D)(ii)--International pollution abatement, CAA
section 115.
110(a)(2)(E)--Adequate resources and authority, conflict
of interest, and oversight of local governments and regional agencies.
110(a)(2)(F)--Stationary source monitoring and reporting.
110(a)(2)(G)--Emergency episodes.
110(a)(2)(H)--Consultation with government officials.
110(a)(2)(J)--Consultation with government officials,
public notification, PSD, and visibility protection (in part).
110(a)(2)(K)--Air quality modeling and submission of
modeling data.
110(a)(2)(L)--Permitting fees.
110(a)(2)(M)--Consultation/participation by affected local
entities.
Details about the partial approvals noted in this section are
provided in Section IV.B of this notice regarding proposed partial
disapprovals. The EPA is taking no action on prongs 1, 2, and 4 of CAA
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) in this rulemaking.
B. Proposed Partial Disapprovals
The EPA proposes to partially disapprove Arizona's 2012
PM2.5 I-SIP submittals with respect to the 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS for the following Clean Air Act requirements.
110(a)(2)(C)--Program for enforcement of control measures
and regulation of new stationary sources (in part).
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)--Interference with PSD, or ``prong 3''
(in part).
110(a)(2)(D)(ii)--Interstate pollution abatement, CAA
section 126 (in part).
110(a)(2)(J)--Consultation with government officials,
public notification, PSD and visibility protection (in part).
The EPA is proposing to partially disapprove Arizona's 2012
PM2.5 I-SIP submittals with respect to the 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS for these CAA requirements due to deficiencies
with respect to PSD permitting of GHG in all permitting jurisdictions
in Arizona and with respect to PSD permitting of all NSR-regulated
pollutants in Pima County. The EPA's proposed disapprovals apply only
to the portions of these requirements that relate to PSD permitting of
GHG in all areas of Arizona and with respect to PSD permitting of all
regulated pollutants in Pima County.
Arizona's SIP does not fully satisfy the statutory and regulatory
requirements for PSD permit programs under CAA title I, part C. Thus,
Pima County currently implements the Federal PSD program in 40 CFR
52.21 for all regulated NSR pollutants pursuant to a delegation
agreement with the EPA, and all Arizona jurisdictions implement the
Federal PSD program in 40 CFR 52.21 for GHG because Arizona is
prohibited by State law from regulating emissions of GHG. Although the
Arizona SIP remains deficient with respect to PSD permitting for
certain pollutants in certain areas of Arizona as described, these
deficiencies are adequately addressed in both areas by existing Federal
implementation plans (FIPs). If finalized, these partial disapprovals
of Arizona's SIP would not create any new consequences for Arizona, the
relevant county agencies, or the EPA, as Arizona and the county
agencies already implement the EPA's Federal PSD program at 40 CFR
52.21, pursuant to delegation agreements, for all regulated NSR
pollutants. These partial disapprovals, if finalized, would also not
result in any offset or highway sanctions, which are not triggered by
disapprovals of infrastructure SIPs under CAA section 110(a)(2).
C. Incorporation of Rules Into Arizona's State Implementation Plan
As part of our proposed approval of the Arizona infrastructure SIP
submittal elements listed in Section IV.A, we are also proposing to
approve two rules and one plan included with the 2022 I-SIP supplement
for incorporation into the Arizona State SIP: the revised AAC R18-2-220
``Air Pollution Emergency Episodes,'' submitted December 17, 2021, and
the ``Procedures for the Prevention of Emergency Episodes'' submitted
February 10, 2022, with the 2022 I-SIP supplement.\22\ Similarly, we
are proposing approval of the revised Maricopa County Air Pollution
Control Regulation VI, ``Emergency Episodes: Rule 600 Emergency
Episodes,'' submitted on December 17, 2021, for incorporation into the
State SIP.
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\22\ ADEQ's ``Procedures for the Prevention of Emegency
Episodes'' are located in Appendix D to the 2022 I-SIP supplement.
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As a general matter, rules in the SIP must be enforceable (see CAA
section 110(a)(2)), must not interfere with applicable requirements
concerning attainment and reasonable further progress or other CAA
requirements (see CAA section 110(l)), and must not modify certain SIP
control requirements in nonattainment areas without ensuring equivalent
or greater emissions reductions (see CAA section 193). We have
evaluated the ADEQ and MCAQD revised rules for compliance with CAA
requirements for SIPs set forth in CAA section 110(a)(2) and for
compliance with CAA requirements for SIP revisions in CAA sections
110(l) and 193. In general, the rules strengthen the SIP for the
reasons discussed in Section III.B.2 of this document and in our TSD.
Based upon our analysis, we propose to find that AAC R18-2-220 ``Air
Pollution Emergency Episodes,'' the ``Procedures for the Prevention of
Emergency Episodes,'' and Maricopa County Rule 600 meet the
requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(2), 110(l), and 193. Therefore, the
EPA is proposing to approve the submitted revisions to AAC R18-2-220
``Air Pollution Emergency Episodes,'' the ``Procedures for the
Prevention of Emergency Episodes,'' and Maricopa County Rule 600 into
the Arizona SIP.
D. Deferred Action
The EPA will address the following Clean Air Act Requirements in
separate rulemakings:
110(a)(2)(D) (in part): Interstate Pollution Transport.
[cir] 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)--significant contribution to a
nonattainment area (prong 1).
[cir] 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)--significant contribution to a maintenance
area (prong 2).
[cir] 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II)--interference with visibility protection
in Class I areas (prong 4).
We note that the EPA intends to act on Prongs 1 and 2 of
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) in a separate rulemaking. We intend to act on Prong
4 of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) when we act on Arizona's plan addressing
Regional Haze requirements for the second planning period.
E. Revising Air Quality Control Regions and Evaluating Emergency
Episode Planning Requirements for PM2.5 in Arizona
Section 51.150 provides criteria for the classification of areas
for emergency episode planning purposes based on measured
concentrations of ambient air pollutants, specifically sulfur oxides,
particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. The
priority thresholds for classification of air quality control regions
(AQCR) are listed at 40 CFR 51.150, and the specific classifications of
AQCR in Arizona are listed at 40 CFR 52.121. Consistent with the
provisions of 40 CFR 51.153, reclassification of an AQCR must rely on
the most recent three years of air quality data. Under 40 CFR 51.151
and 51.152, regions classified under the more stringent classifications
of Priority I, IA, or II are required to have SIP-approved emergency
episode contingency plans, while those classified Priority III are not
required to have plans. We also interpret 40 CFR 51.153 as establishing
the means for
[[Page 50251]]
States to review air quality data and request a higher or lower
classification for any given region and as providing the regulatory
basis for the EPA to reclassify such regions, as appropriate, under the
authorities of CAA sections 110(a)(2)(G) and 301(a)(1).
Arizona has six AQCRs: Maricopa Intrastate, which includes Maricopa
County; Pima Intrastate, which includes Pima County; Northern Arizona
Intrastate, which includes Apache, Coconino, Navajo, and Yavapai
Counties; Mohave-Yuma Intrastate, which includes Mohave and Yuma
Counties; Central Arizona Intrastate, which includes Gila and Pinal
Counties; and Southeast Arizona Intrastate, which includes Cochise,
Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz Counties.
La Paz County is not listed within any of Arizona's AQCRs. This
county composed the northern portion of Yuma County prior to its
establishment in 1983. The constituent counties of Arizona's AQCRs in
40 CFR 52.121 and the delimited boundaries listed in 40 CFR 81.268
predate the incorporation of La Paz County.\23\ Since that time,
neither 40 CFR 52.121 nor 40 CFR 81.268 have been revised to include
this county. Therefore, we propose a revision to 40 CFR 52.121 to add
La Paz County to the list of constituent counties for the Mohave-Yuma
Intrastate AQCR, and to 40 CFR 81.268, we propose to add La Paz County
to the delimited area of the Mohave-Yuma Intrastate AQCR.\24\
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\23\ 45 FR 7545 (February 4, 1980).
\24\ The EPA has discussed the basis for these proposed
amendments to 40 CFR 52.121 and 40 CFR 81.268 with ADEQ and the
State's concurrence with these revisions will be included as a
formal request letter in the docket for this rulemaking with our
notice of final action.
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The EPA's emergency episode regulations were promulgated before the
agency's regulation of PM2.5 as a priority pollutant, and do
not include concentrations for the priority classification based on
PM2.5 concentrations in 40 CFR 51.150. As explained in our
TSD, to determine the appropriate priority classifications for
Arizona's AQCRs and any related emergency episode planning
requirements, we followed the recommended threshold concentrations and
corresponding priority classifications set forth in the EPA's 2009
PM2.5 I-SIP Guidance. We evaluated the three most recent
years of complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air
monitoring data to yield maximum 24-hour PM2.5
concentrations for each county; \25\ the maximum recorded 24-hour
PM2.5 concentrations along with our proposed classifications
for each AQCR are compiled in Table 16 of the TSD accompanying this
proposed rule.
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\25\ EPA AQS Daily Summary Report, AMP435, for 2020-2022 24-Hour
PM2.5 Values for Arizona. Report accessed July 31, 2023,
included in the docket for this rulemaking.
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The air quality data from 2020-2022 indicate the maximum 24-hour
PM2.5 concentrations monitored in the Pima Intrastate,
Northern Arizona Intrastate, Mohave-Yuma Intrastate, Central Arizona
Intrastate, and Southeast Arizona Interstate AQCRs all fall below the
Priority II minimum of 140.5 [micro]g/m\3\ for PM2.5 set
forth in the 2009 PM2.5 I-SIP Guidance. However, the maximum
24-hour concentration measured in the Maricopa Intrastate was 222.4
[micro]g/m\3\, exceeding the minimum Priority I threshold of 210.5
[micro]g/m\3\. Therefore, the Maricopa Intrastate AQCR is required to
have an emergency episode plan for PM2.5. As mentioned in
Section IV.C of this notice, ADEQ and Maricopa County have both
submitted emergency episode plans, and we propose to find that these
plans satisfy the requirements of 40 CFR 51.152(a)-(b) and 110(a)(2)(G)
of the CAA.
F. Request for Public Comments
The EPA is soliciting public comments on this proposed rulemaking.
We will accept comments from the public for the next 30 days. We will
consider any comments received before taking final action.
V. Incorporation by Reference
In this rule, the EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA rule
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance
with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is proposing to incorporate by
reference the ADEQ and MCAQD rules and plan listed and discussed in
Section IV.C of this preamble. The EPA has made, and will continue to
make, these documents generally available electronically in the docket
for this rulemaking at https://www.regulations.gov.
VI. 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 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 review State
choices, and approve State choices, provided that they meet the
criteria of the Clean Air Act. Accordingly, this proposed action merely
proposes to partially approve and partially disapprove a revision to
the Arizona SIP as meeting the requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and
110(a)(2) of the Clean Air Act for the implementation, maintenance, and
enforcement of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS 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, January
21, 2011);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997) because it proposes to approve 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.
Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Adress Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629,
Feb. 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
[[Page 50252]]
bear a disproportionate burden of environmental harms and risks,
including those resulting from negative environmental consequences of
industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or programs and
policies.''
The air agency did not 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. Due to the nature of the action described in this
proposed rulemaking, this action is expected to have a neutral to
positive impact on the air quality of the affected area. Consideration
of EJ is not required as part of this proposed action, and there is no
information in the record inconsistent with the stated goal of E.O.
12898 of achieving environmental justice for people of color, low-
income populations, and Indigenous peoples.
In addition, the SIP is not 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 rule does not have Tribal implications and will not
impose substantial direct costs on Tribal governments or preempt Tribal
law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,
2000).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic
compounds.
Dated: June 6, 2024.
Martha Guzman Aceves,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2024-12781 Filed 6-12-24; 8:45 am]
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