Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Federal facilities and installations
subject to federal oversight can, with the approval of the state or tribal
agency responsible for the SIP or TIP in that area, create an early emissions
reductions credit program. The federal agency can create the emission reduction
credits in accordance with the requirements in Subsection B of 20.11.4.165 NMAC
and can used them in accordance with Subsection C of 20.11.4.165
NMAC.
B. Creation of emission
reduction credits.
(1) Emissions reductions
must be quantifiable through the use of standard emission factors or
measurement techniques. If non-standard factors or techniques to quantify the
emissions reductions are used, the federal agency must receive approval from
the state or tribal agency responsible for the implementation of the SIP or TIP
and from EPA's Region VI Office. The emission reduction credits do not have to
be quantified before the reduction strategy is implemented, but must be
quantified before the credits are used in the general conformity
evaluation.
(2) The emission
reduction methods must be consistent with the applicable SIP or TIP attainment
and reasonable further progress demonstrations.
(3) The emissions reductions cannot be
required by or credited to other applicable SIP or TIP provisions.
(4) Both the state or tribe and federal air
quality agencies must be able to take legal action to ensure continued
implementation of the emission reduction strategy. In addition, private
citizens must also be able to initiate action to ensure compliance with the
control requirement.
(5) The
emissions reductions must be permanent or the timeframe for the reductions must
be specified.
(6) The federal
agency must document the emissions reductions and provide a copy of the
document to the state or tribal air quality agency and the EPA region VI office
for review. The documentation must include a detailed description of the
emission reduction strategy and a discussion of how it meets the requirements
of Paragraphs (1) through (5) of Subsection B of 20.11.4.165 NMAC.
C. Use of emission reduction
credits. The emission reduction credits created in accordance with Subsection B
of 20.11.4.165 NMAC can be used, subject to the following limitations, to
reduce the emissions increase from a federal action at the facility for the
conformity evaluation.
(1) If the technique
used to create the emission reduction is implemented at the same facility as
the federal action and could have occurred in conjunction with the federal
action, then the credits can be used to reduce the total direct and indirect
emissions used to determine the applicability of the regulation as required in
20.11.4.153 NMAC and as offsets or mitigation measures required by 20.11.4.158
NMAC.
(2) If the technique used to
create the emission reduction is not implemented at the same facility as the
federal action or could not have occurred in conjunction with the federal
action, then the credits cannot be used to reduce the total direct and indirect
emissions used to determine the applicability of the regulation as required in
20.11.4.153 NMAC, but can be used to offset or mitigate the emissions as
required by 20.11.4.158 NMAC.
(3)
Emissions reductions credits must be used in the same year in which they are
generated.
(4) Once the emission
reduction credits are used, they cannot be used as credits for another
conformity evaluation. However, unused credits from a strategy used for one
conformity evaluation can be used for another conformity evaluation as long as
the reduction credits are not double counted.
(5) Federal agencies must notify the state or
tribal air quality agency responsible for the implementation of the SIP or TIP
and the EPA region VI office when the emission reduction credits are being
used.