Environmental Protection Agency August 23, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing to approve several State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Maryland. These revisions pertain to adoption by Maryland of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program (LEV), or California Clean Car Program. The underlying Maryland regulations require all new 2011 and subsequent model year passenger cars, light trucks, and medium-duty vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds or less that are sold in Maryland to meet California emission standards. The Clean Air Act (CAA) contains authority by which other states may adopt new motor vehicle emissions standards that are identical to California's standards. Specifically, Maryland has adopted California's light and medium-duty new vehicle standards by reference, and then submitted these rules as part of the State's SIP revision to EPA. The Maryland Clean Car program has two objectives. The first is to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both of which are precursors to the formation of ground level ozone pollution, from new motor vehicles sold in Maryland. The second objective of the program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds GVWR. Maryland submitted supplemental SIP revisions to modify its own program to match updates by California to its program and to harmonize with recently established Federal (and California) greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards promulgated by EPA applicable to 2012-2016 model year vehicles of the same vehicle types covered by Maryland's rules. This action is being taken under the CAA.

EPA is proposing to approve the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the District of Columbia State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the District of Columbia, through the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), on April 2, 2008. The emissions inventory is part of the District of Columbia's April 2, 2008 SIP revision that was submitted to meet nonattainment requirements related to the District of Columbia's portion of the Washington DC-MD-VA nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as DC Area or Area) for the 1997 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) SIP. EPA is proposing to approve the 2002 base year PM2.5 emissions inventory submitted by DDOE in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is approving in part and disapproving in part the remaining portion of the Nevada Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) that implements the Clean Air Act (CAA) Regional Haze Rule requiring states to prevent any future and remedy any existing man-made impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas through a regional haze program. EPA is approving Nevada's selection of a nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions limit of 0.20 lb/MMBtu as Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) for the Reid Gardner Generating Station (RGGS) at Units 1 and 2. EPA is disapproving two provisions of Nevada's BART determination for NOX at RGGS: The emissions limit for Unit 3 and the compliance method for all three units. EPA is promulgating a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) which replaces the disapproved provisions by establishing a BART emissions limit for NOX of 0.20 lb/MMBtu at Unit 3, and a 30-day averaging period for compliance on a heat input-weighted basis across all three units. We encourage the State to submit a revised SIP to replace all portions of our FIP. Moreover, we stand ready to work with the State to develop a revised plan.