Environmental Protection Agency April 7, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On March 5, 2012, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division for Air Quality, submitted a request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesignate the portion of Kentucky that is within the bi-state Louisville, KY-IN fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as the ``bi-state Louisville Area'' or ``Area'') to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision containing a maintenance plan for the Area. EPA is taking final action to approve the Commonwealth's plan for maintaining the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS in the Area, including the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxide (NOX) and PM2.5 for the years 2015 and 2025 for the bi-state Louisville Area, and incorporate it into the SIP, and to redesignate the Kentucky portion of the Area to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Additionally, EPA finds the 2025 MVEBs for the bi-state Louisville Area adequate for the purposes of transportation conformity.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving two State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), both dated June 15, 2016. The first addresses emissions inventory requirements for the Indiana portion of the Chicago-Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin (IL-IN-WI) ozone nonattainment area under the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires emissions inventories for all ozone nonattainment areas. The documented emissions inventory included in Indiana's June 15, 2016, submission meets this CAA requirement. The second submission provides Indiana's certification that its existing Emissions Reporting Rule, previously approved by EPA under a prior ozone standard, satisfies the CAA emissions statement rule requirement for Lake and Porter Counties under the 2008 ozone standard.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve two State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), both dated June 15, 2016. The first addresses emissions inventory requirements for the Indiana portion of the Chicago-Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin (IL-IN-WI) ozone nonattainment area under the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires emissions inventories for all ozone nonattainment areas. The documented emissions inventory included in Indiana's June 15, 2016, submission meets this CAA requirement. The second submission provides Indiana's certification that its existing Emissions Reporting Rule, previously approved by EPA under a prior ozone standard, satisfies the CAA emissions statement rule requirement for Lake and Porter Counties under the 2008 ozone standard.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the emissions statements rule in the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions extend Indiana's emissions statements regulations to Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, in order to comply with Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These revisions also include minor formatting changes. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) submitted these revisions to EPA on November 18, 2016. EPA proposed to approve them on December 27, 2016, and received one public comment in response, which expressed support for EPA's action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, submitted by the State of Florida, through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), on December 14, 2015, to demonstrate that the State meets the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2012 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure SIP submission.'' FDEP certified that the Florida SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Florida. EPA has determined that portions of Florida's SIP satisfy certain required infrastructure elements for the 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is redesignating the Ohio portion of the Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-IN-KY, nonattainment area (hereafter, ``the Cincinnati-Hamilton area'') to attainment for the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) annual national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or standard). The Ohio portion of the Cincinnati-Hamilton area includes Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties. Because EPA has determined that the Cincinnati- Hamilton area is attaining the annual PM2.5 standard, EPA is redesignating the area to attainment and also approving several additional related actions. EPA is approving the Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM)Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) portion of Ohio's Cincinnati-Hamilton area attainment plan state implementation plan (SIP) revision as providing adequate RACM/RACT. EPA is also approving an update to the Ohio SIP, by updating the state's approved plan for maintaining the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS through 2027. EPA previously approved the base year emissions inventory for the Cincinnati-Hamilton area, and is approving Ohio's updated emission inventory which includes emission inventories for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia. Ohio's approved maintenance plan submission includes a budget for the mobile source contribution of PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) to the Cincinnati-Hamilton area for transportation conformity purposes, which EPA is approving. EPA is taking these actions in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's implementation rule regarding the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve portions of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), on December 4, 2015, for inclusion into the North Carolina SIP, to demonstrate that the State meets the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2012 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure SIP submission.'' DEQ certified that the North Carolina SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in North Carolina. EPA has determined that portions of North Carolina's SIP satisfies certain required infrastructure elements for the 2012 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Tennessee, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), on March 25, 1999. The SIP submittal includes a change to the TDEC regulation ``Reasonable Measures Required.'' EPA is proposing to approve this SIP revision because it is consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and federal regulations governing SIPs.