Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Revisions to NOX

Published date27 June 2019
Citation84 FR 30681
Record Number2019-13640
SectionProposed rules
CourtEnvironmental Protection Agency
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 30681-30686]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-13640]
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                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                40 CFR Part 52
                [EPA-R05-OAR-2018-0125; FRL-9995-69-Region 5]
                Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Revisions to NOX SIP Call and CAIR Rules
                AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
                ACTION: Proposed rule.
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                SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
                approve under the Clean Air Act (CAA) a request from the Ohio
                Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) to revise the Ohio State
                Implementation Plan (SIP) to incorporate revisions to Ohio
                Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-14 regarding the Nitrogen Oxides
                (NOX) SIP Call and the removal of OAC Chapter 3745-109
                regarding the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). This SIP revision would
                ensure continued compliance by Electric Generating Units (EGUs) and
                large non-EGUs with the requirements of the NOX SIP Call.
                DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 29, 2019.
                ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-
                OAR-2018-0125 at https://www.regulations.gov, or via email to
                [email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov,
                follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted,
                comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either
                manner of submission, EPA may publish any comment received to its
                public docket.
                [[Page 30682]]
                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. 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://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Svingen, Environmental Engineer,
                Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-
                18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson
                Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-4489,
                [email protected].
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
                ``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This supplementary information
                section is arranged as follows:
                I. What is the background of this SIP submission?
                II. What is EPA's analysis of this SIP submission?
                III. What action is EPA taking?
                IV. Incorporation by Reference
                V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                I. What is the background of this SIP submission?
                 Under CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), called the good neighbor
                provision, states are required to address interstate transport of air
                pollution. Specifically, the good neighbor provision provides that each
                state's SIP must contain provisions prohibiting emissions from within
                that state from contributing significantly to nonattainment of the
                National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), or interfering with
                maintenance of the NAAQS, in any other state.
                 On October 27, 1998, EPA published the NOX SIP Call,
                which required eastern states, including Ohio, to submit SIPs that
                prohibit excessive emissions of ozone season NOX by
                implementing statewide emissions budgets (63 FR 57356). The
                NOX SIP Call addressed the good neighbor provision for the
                1979 ozone NAAQS and was designed to mitigate the impact of transported
                NOX emissions, one of the precursors of ozone. EPA developed
                the NOX Budget Trading Program, an allowance trading program
                that states could adopt to meet their obligations under the
                NOX SIP Call. This trading program allowed certain sources
                to participate in a regional cap and trade program: EGUs with capacity
                greater than 25 megawatts; and large non-EGUs, such as boilers and
                turbines, with a rated heat input greater than 250 million British
                thermal units per hour (MMBtu/hr). The NOX SIP Call also
                identified potential reductions from Portland cement kilns and
                stationary internal combustion engines. In fulfillment of the
                requirements of the NOX SIP Call, Ohio EPA promulgated OAC
                Chapter 3745-14 which, among other things, required EGUs and large non-
                EGUs in the state to participate in the NOX Budget Trading
                Program. On August 5, 2003, EPA published an action approving this
                initial version of OAC Chapter 3745-14 into the Ohio SIP (68 FR 46089).
                EPA has subsequently approved revised portions of OAC Chapter 3745-14
                into the SIP, with the most recent revision published on November 14,
                2013 (78 FR 68367).
                 On May 12, 2005, EPA published CAIR, which required eastern states,
                including Ohio, to submit SIPs that prohibited emissions consistent
                with annual and ozone season NOX budgets and annual sulfur
                dioxide (SO2) budgets (70 FR 25152). CAIR addressed the good
                neighbor provision for the 1997 ozone NAAQS and 1997 fine particulate
                matter (PM2.5) NAAQS and was designed to mitigate the impact
                of transported NOX emissions, a precursor of ozone as well
                as PM2.5, as well as transported SO2 emissions,
                another precursor of PM2.5. Like the NOX SIP
                Call, CAIR also established several trading programs that states could
                use as mechanisms to comply with the budgets. When the CAIR trading
                program for ozone season NOX was implemented beginning in
                2009, EPA discontinued administration of the NOX Budget
                Trading Program, but the requirements of the NOX SIP Call
                continued to apply. To meet the requirements of CAIR, Ohio EPA
                promulgated OAC Chapter 3745-109, which required EGUs to participate in
                the CAIR annual SO2 and annual and ozone season
                NOX trading programs. Participation by EGUs in the CAIR
                trading program for ozone season NOX addressed the state's
                obligation under the NOX SIP Call for those units. Ohio EPA
                also opted to incorporate large non-EGUs previously regulated under OAC
                Chapter 3745-14 into OAC Chapter 3745-109, to meet the obligations of
                the NOX SIP Call with respect to those units through the
                CAIR trading program as well. On September 25, 2009, EPA published an
                action approving OAC Chapter 3745-109 into the Ohio SIP (74 FR 48857).
                 The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
                Circuit (D.C. Circuit) initially vacated CAIR in 2008, but ultimately
                remanded the rule to EPA without vacatur to preserve the environmental
                benefits provided by CAIR. North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F.3d 896,
                modified, 550 F.3d 1176 (2008). The ruling allowed CAIR to remain in
                effect temporarily until a replacement rule consistent with the court's
                opinion was developed. While EPA worked on developing a replacement
                rule, the CAIR program continued as planned with the NOX
                annual and ozone season programs beginning in 2009 and the
                SO2 annual program beginning in 2010.
                 On August 8, 2011, acting on the D.C. Circuit's remand, EPA
                published the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) to replace CAIR
                and to address the good neighbor provision for the 1997 ozone NAAQS,
                the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, and the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS
                (76 FR 48208). Through Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs), CSAPR
                required EGUs in eastern states, including Ohio, to meet annual and
                ozone season NOX budgets and annual SO2 budgets
                implemented through new trading programs. CSAPR also contained
                provisions that would sunset CAIR-related obligations on a schedule
                coordinated with the implementation of the CSAPR compliance
                requirements. Participation by a state's EGUs in the CSAPR trading
                program for ozone season NOX generally addressed the state's
                obligation under the NOX SIP Call for EGUs. However, CSAPR
                did not initially contain provisions allowing states to incorporate
                large non-EGUs into that trading program to meet the requirements of
                the NOX SIP Call for non-EGUs.
                 CSAPR was intended to become effective January 1, 2012; however,
                the timing of CSAPR's implementation was impacted by subsequent
                litigation in which the D.C. Circuit stayed implementation of the rule
                pending judicial review. See Per Curium Order, EME Homer City
                Generation, L.P. v. EPA, No. 11-1302 (December 30, 2011), ECF No.
                1350421. After subsequent litigation,\1\ the court granted EPA's
                [[Page 30683]]
                motion to lift the stay \2\ and, on December 3, 2014, EPA issued an
                interim final rule, setting the updated effective date of CSAPR as
                January 1, 2015 (79 FR 71663). In accordance with the interim final
                rule, EPA stopped administering the CAIR trading programs with respect
                to emissions occurring after December 31, 2014, and EPA began
                implementing CSAPR on January 1, 2015.\3\
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                 \1\ EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA, 696 F.3d 7, 31 (D.C.
                Cir. 2012) (EME Homer City I) (vacating and remanding CSAPR); EPA v.
                EME Homer City Generation, L.P. 572 U.S. 489 (2014) (reversing the
                D.C. Circuit decision and remanding for further proceedings).
                 \2\ Per Curium Order, EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA,
                No. 11-1302 (D.C. Cir. Oct. 23, 2014) ECF No. 1518738. The D.C.
                Circuit subsequently issued its decision on remand from the Supreme
                Court, largely affirming CSAPR but remanding certain states budgets
                to EPA for reconsideration. EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA,
                No. 795 F.3d 118 (EME Homer City II).
                 \3\ EPA solicited comment on the interim final rule and
                subsequently issued a final rule affirming the amended compliance
                schedule after consideration of comments received. 81 FR 13275
                (March 14, 2016).
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                 On October 26, 2016, EPA published the CSAPR Update, which
                established a new ozone season NOX trading program for EGUs
                in eastern states, including Ohio, to address the good neighbor
                provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS (81 FR 74504). As under CSAPR,
                participation by a state's EGUs in the new CSAPR trading program for
                ozone season NOX generally addressed the state's obligation
                under the NOX SIP Call for EGUs. The CSAPR Update also
                expanded options available to states for meeting NOX SIP
                Call requirements for large non-EGUs by allowing states to incorporate
                those units into the new trading program.
                 After evaluating the various options available following CSAPR
                Update, Ohio EPA chose to meet the ongoing NOX SIP Call
                requirements for existing and new large non-EGUs by modifying its
                existing regulations at OAC Chapter 3745-14 to make the portion of the
                budget assigned to large non-EGUs under that program enforceable
                without an allowance trading mechanism.
                 Specifically, while Ohio rescinded portions of its NOX
                Budget Trading Program rules under OAC Chapter 3745-14 pertaining to
                individual unit allowance allocations and trading, the state retained
                and amended the provisions of those rules pertaining to applicability,
                the statewide emissions budgets for EGUs and large non-EGUs, and
                monitoring and reporting under 40 CFR part 75. Ohio also retained a
                provision of the trading program rules exempting EGUs covered by a more
                recent ozone season NOX trading program from coverage under
                the state's amended program, but updated the provision to base the
                exemption on participation in the CSAPR Update trading program for
                ozone season NOX instead of the corresponding CAIR trading
                program. In addition, Ohio retained other rules under OAC Chapter 3745-
                14 addressing NOX emissions from cement kilns and stationary
                internal combustion engines outside the NOX Budget Trading
                Program. Finally, Ohio also rescinded its CAIR trading program rules in
                OAC Chapter 3745-109 in full.
                 As described in its February 5, 2018 submission, Ohio EPA invited
                public comments regarding its changes to OAC Chapter 3745-14 and OAC
                Chapter 3745-109. Ohio EPA received one supportive comment, as well as
                one adverse comment regarding Ohio's retention of part 75 monitoring
                requirements.
                 On March 8, 2019, EPA finalized updates to the NOX SIP
                Call rules to allow states to meet the NOX SIP Call's
                monitoring requirements using approaches other than part 75 monitoring
                (84 FR 8422). Ohio's February 5, 2018, submission predates EPA's
                updates to the NOX SIP Call's monitoring requirements, and,
                therefore, does not include changes that allow its sources to meet the
                NOX SIP Call's monitoring requirements using approaches
                other than part 75 monitoring. EPA is assisting Ohio EPA with preparing
                a revised submission that would make other monitoring approaches
                available to Ohio sources, and EPA will address such a submission in a
                future rulemaking.
                II. What is EPA's analysis of this SIP submission?
                 Ohio's February 5, 2018 submission requests that EPA update Ohio's
                SIP to reflect the revised rules at OAC Chapter 3745-14 and the
                rescission of rules at OAC Chapter 3745-109. Additionally, this
                submission includes a demonstration under Section 110(l) of the CAA
                intended to show that this SIP revision does not interfere with any
                applicable CAA requirement.
                A. Revised and Rescinded State Rules
                 Given EPA's replacement of CAIR with CSAPR and EPA's
                discontinuation of administration of the NOX Budget Trading
                Program, Ohio updated its NOX SIP Call rules at OAC Chapter
                3745-14 to address the NOX SIP Call's requirements with
                respect to existing and new large non-EGUs in a manner that does not
                rely on the administration of a trading program. Ohio also rescinded
                its CAIR rules at OAC Chapter 3745-109. Both sets of rule changes have
                a state-effective date of January 28, 2018. Ohio's February 5, 2018,
                submission includes a request that EPA approve these updated rules into
                its SIP.
                 The state regulations addressing the NOX SIP Call were
                formerly established at OAC rules 3745-14-01 through 3745-14-12.
                Because EPA discontinued administration of this trading program in
                2009, Ohio has rescinded certain portions of these rules that can no
                longer be implemented. Specifically, Ohio rescinded OAC rules 3745-14-
                02, 3745-14-05, 3745-14-06, 3745-14-07, 3745-14-09, and 3745-14-10
                pertaining to individual unit allowance allocations, trading, opt-in,
                and other non-implementable provisions under the NOX Budget
                Trading Program. However, for purposes of continued compliance with the
                requirements of the NOX SIP Call, Ohio retained and amended
                OAC rules 3745-14-01, 3745-14-03, 3745-14-04, and 3745-14-08 pertaining
                to applicability, the statewide emissions budgets for EGUs and large
                non-EGUs, and part 75 monitoring and reporting under the former trading
                program. Ohio also retained OAC rules 3745-14-11 and 3745-14-12
                regarding cement kilns and stationary internal combustion engines
                outside the former trading program. The state's amendments to OAC rule
                3745-14-01 require Ohio EPA to ensure that the statewide budget for
                large non-EGUs will continue to be met in the absence of a trading
                program mechanism. Table 1 presents a summary of Ohio's revisions to
                OAC Chapter 3745-14.
                 Table 1--Revisions to OAC Chapter 3745-14
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                 Rule Title Action
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                3745-14-01.................... Definitions and Amended.
                 General Provisions.
                3745-14-02.................... The NOX Authorized Rescinded.
                 Account
                 Representatives.
                3745-14-03.................... The NOX Budget Permit Amended.
                 Requirements.
                3745-14-04.................... Compliance Amended.
                 Certification.
                3745-14-05.................... NOX Allowance Rescinded.
                 Allocations.
                [[Page 30684]]
                
                3745-14-06.................... The NOX Allowance Rescinded.
                 Tracking System.
                3745-14-07.................... NOX Allowance Rescinded.
                 Transfers.
                3745-14-08.................... Monitoring and Amended.
                 Reporting.
                3745-14-09.................... NOX Budget Opt-in Rescinded.
                 Units.
                3745-14-10.................... Alternative Compliance Rescinded.
                 Plans.
                3745-14-11.................... Portland Cement Kilns. No change.
                3745-14-12.................... Stationary Internal No change.
                 Combustion Engines.
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                 Specifically, these amendments include: Moving the statewide
                NOX budgets for large EGUs and large non-EGUs from OAC rule
                3745-14-05, which is being rescinded, to OAC rule 3745-14-01; adding
                provisions requiring Ohio EPA to conduct an annual review to determine
                if the statewide budget for large non-EGUs is met, and providing
                procedures should the budget be exceeded; removing unit allowance
                allocation and trading provisions; specifying non-EGU NOX
                budget units subject to OAC Chapter 3745-14; updating the applicability
                exception for EGUs to reference CSAPR instead of CAIR; removing the
                retired unit exemption, as it is no longer applicable; removing
                unnecessary definitions; adding a definition for ``designated
                representative''; replacing ``NOX budget trading program''
                with ``NOX budget program'' to reflect the absence of
                trading; replacing ``NOX Authorized Account Representative''
                with ``designated representative'', the term used in part 75
                monitoring; updating referenced material; eliminating requirements for
                a NOX budget permit to be included as a complete and
                segregable portion of a title V or non-title V permit; requiring the
                owner or operator of a NOX budget unit to submit an
                application for a title V or non-title V operating permit for each
                subject source; revising compliance certification provisions to remove
                unnecessary provisions; eliminating the requirement for the compliance
                certification to be submitted to EPA; updating monitoring and reporting
                provisions, most notably to remove unnecessary references to opt-in
                permits and early reduction credits; and eliminating NOX
                budget opt-in provisions, as they are no longer applicable.
                 Further, the state's regulations for participation in the CAIR
                trading programs for SO2 and annual and ozone season
                NOX were formerly established at OAC Chapter 3745-109.
                Because EPA discontinued administration of the CAIR trading programs
                after 2014, Ohio has rescinded these rules that can no longer be
                implemented.
                 First, EPA proposes to approve the rescission of the trading
                program-related portions of Ohio's NOX Budget Trading
                Program rules and all of Ohio's CAIR trading program regulations.
                Because EPA no longer administers the NOX Budget Trading
                Program and the CAIR trading programs, and therefore Ohio's own
                regulations related to these trading programs cannot be implemented,
                removing the trading program provisions of Ohio's NOX SIP
                Call rules and all of the CAIR rules from the state's SIP will have no
                consequences for any source's operations or emissions or for the
                attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS in any area, now or in the
                future. Accordingly, removal of these rules does not impact the state's
                continued compliance with section CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) for any NAAQS.
                 Further, EPA proposes to find that Ohio's revisions to OAC rules
                3745-14-01, 3745-14-03, 3745-14-04, and 3745-14-08 are consistent with
                Ohio's obligation to demonstrate continued compliance with
                NOX SIP Call requirements for large non-EGUs and EPA's
                discontinuation of the trading program under the NOX SIP
                Call. Under the ongoing requirements of the NOX SIP Call,
                the Ohio SIP must: (1) Include enforceable control measures for ozone
                season NOX mass emissions from existing and new large EGUs
                and large non-EGUs and (2) require those sources to monitor and report
                ozone season NOX emissions, which may be in accordance with
                part 75. See 40 CFR 51.121(f)(2) and (i).
                 With respect to the NOX SIP Call requirement that the
                state have enforceable control measures to limit ozone season
                NOX, Ohio is currently subject to the Federal CSAPR Update
                trading program for ozone season NOX that addresses these
                requirements for existing and new EGUs, but because Ohio's non-EGUs are
                not subject to that CSAPR trading program, the state must meet this
                requirement for non-EGUs through other SIP provisions. Ohio's revisions
                to OAC rule 3745-14-01 prohibit ozone season NOX emissions
                from existing and new large non-EGUs from exceeding 4,028 tons, the
                portion of the state's NOX SIP Call budget assigned to large
                non-EGUs. Under the revisions at OAC rule 3745-14-01, Ohio will conduct
                an annual review to ensure that the most recent ozone season emissions
                from large non-EGUs remain below the statewide budget. Emissions
                reported to EPA from the state's large non-EGUs for the 2018 ozone
                season were 543 tons, well below this limit.
                 As to the requirement for sources to monitor and report ozone
                season NOX emissions under the NOX SIP Call,
                these SIP revisions would preserve the state's current requirements for
                existing and new EGUs and non-EGUs to monitor and report their ozone
                season NOX emissions, as required under the NOX
                SIP Call. Ohio's revisions at OAC Chapter 3745-14 continue to require
                that non-EGUs monitor and report ozone season NOX emissions
                under part 75, and the state's EGUs are subject to equivalent
                monitoring requirements under the CSAPR federal trading programs. Thus,
                the revisions to OAC Chapter 3745-14 and removal of OAC Chapter 3745-
                109 proposed for approval into the SIP in this action will not
                substantively alter the current monitoring requirements for any EGUs or
                large non-EGUs in the state covered by the NOX SIP Call. If,
                as anticipated, Ohio EPA submits to EPA a SIP revision that would make
                other monitoring approaches available to large non-EGUs, the monitoring
                requirements under the NOX SIP Call will be the subject of a
                future rulemaking.
                 As revised, OAC rules 3745-14-01, 3745-14-03, 3745-14-04 and 3745-
                14-08 meet the state's ongoing obligations under the NOX SIP
                Call with respect to existing and new large non-EGUs. Specifically, the
                revised rules meet the requirement under 40 CFR 51.121(f)(2) for
                enforceable limits on the units' collective emissions of ozone season
                NOX mass emissions and the requirement under 40 CFR
                51.121(i)(1) for monitoring sufficient to ensure compliance with those
                limits. The state's EGUs are currently complying with their analogous
                NOX SIP Call requirements through participation in
                [[Page 30685]]
                the CSAPR Update trading program for ozone season NOX.
                 EPA is proposing to find that Ohio EPA's revisions at OAC Chapter
                3745-14 and removal of OAC Chapter 3745-109 are consistent with
                applicable requirements under the CAA and the NOX SIP Call,
                and EPA is therefore proposing to approve these changes into the Ohio
                SIP.
                 Additionally, the revisions at OAC rules 3745-14-01, 3745-14-03,
                and 3745-14-08 include minor amendments that were effective in 2015 and
                2018 but were not submitted for SIP approval because they were not
                substantive changes. EPA's approval of Ohio's revised rules with state-
                effective date January 28, 2018, would also approve these minor
                amendments into the SIP. These revisions include: Updating hyperlinks
                and references, correcting typographical and formatting errors, and
                clarifying procedures for permit applications.
                B. Section 110(l) Demonstration
                 Ohio EPA's submission includes a demonstration intended to show
                that its SIP revision is approvable under Section 110(l) of the CAA;
                such a demonstration is sometimes called an anti-backsliding
                demonstration. Section 110(l) provides that EPA cannot approve a SIP
                revision if the revision would interfere with any applicable CAA
                requirement. EPA will approve a SIP revision that removes or modifies
                control measures in the SIP only after the state has demonstrated that
                such removal or modification would not interfere with attainment and
                maintenance of the NAAQS, reasonable further progress (RFP), or any
                other applicable requirement of the CAA. EPA generally considers
                whether the SIP revision would preserve or improve the status quo in
                air quality.
                 In this action, EPA is proposing to approve Ohio's request to
                approve updated rules related to the NOX SIP Call into its
                SIP and to approve removal of CAIR rules from its SIP. This proposed
                action would remove from the SIP certain provisions relating to the
                NOX Budget Trading Program and replace those provisions with
                new rules at OAC Chapter 3745-14 that address the NOX SIP
                Call's requirements with respect to existing and new large non-EGUs in
                a manner that does not rely on the administration of a trading program.
                It would also remove the CAIR rules at OAC Chapter 3745-109.
                 For the reasons explained below, EPA's proposed action to update
                the provisions relating to the NOX Budget Trading Program
                and NOX SIP call is in accordance with CAA section 110(l).
                As explained above, EPA has not implemented the NOX Budget
                Trading Program since 2009 and it could not be implemented in the
                future. Moreover, this action would only remove the provisions that
                implement the trading program. It would neither alter the
                NOX SIP Call emission budgets that limit emissions in the
                state nor alter the requirement for sources to monitor and report ozone
                season NOX emissions under the NOX SIP Call. This
                action would also add to the SIP a new enforceable measure to replace
                the defunct NOX Budget Trading Program and ensure compliance
                with the NOX SIP Call budgets. This new measure is
                quantifiable, permanent, enforceable and contemporaneous. Importantly,
                the new measure ensures compliance with the existing NOX SIP
                Call budgets and thus will preserve the status quo in air quality. For
                these reasons, we conclude that the revisions will not interfere with
                attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS, RFP, or any other applicable
                requirement of the CAA.
                 Additionally, EPA's proposed action to remove the CAIR rules at OAC
                Chapter 3745-109 is consistent with the requirements of CAA 110(l). As
                explained above, EPA has not administered the CAIR trading programs
                since 2015, when the CSAPR trading programs replaced the CAIR trading
                programs. Likewise, the related provisions in Ohio's SIP have not been
                implemented since 2015 and cannot be implemented now or in the future.
                As such, removing the CAIR rules from the state's SIP will have no
                consequences for any source's operations or emissions.
                 Current emission levels in Ohio further demonstrate that the CAIR
                trading programs are not influencing and would not influence affected
                sources' operations. As shown in Table 2 below, current emissions
                levels are significantly below the CAIR budgets even while the CAIR
                trading programs are no longer being implemented.
                 Table 2--Comparison of Ohio CAIR Budgets and 2018 Emissions, in Tons \1\
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 CAIR Phase 1 CAIR Phase 2 2018
                 Emissions type budget budget Emissions
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                NOX ozone season................................................ 49,694 43,975 17,949
                NOX annual...................................................... 108,667 90,556 50,629
                SO2 annual...................................................... 333,520 233,464 86,570
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                \1\ Ohio's budgets under CAIR are from EPA's approval of OAC Chapter 3745-109 into the SIP on September 25, 2009
                 (74 FR 48857). Ozone season NOX budgets under CAIR are the combined EGU and non-EGU budgets. Emissions data
                 from 2018 are from EPA's Air Markets Program Database at https://ampd.epa.gov.
                 Importantly, EPA was obligated by the D.C. Circuit remand of CAIR
                to promulgate a new rule to replace CAIR. EPA addressed this judicial
                remand with the promulgation of CSAPR. EGUs in Ohio are subject to FIPs
                requiring the sources to participate in annual NOX, annual
                SO2, and ozone season NOX\4\ Federal trading
                programs under CSAPR and the CSAPR Update that limit emissions from
                such sources in the state. EGUs continue to be subject to part 75
                monitoring requirements under the current CSAPR trading program rules.
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                 \4\ The D.C. Circuit ultimately remanded Ohio's CSAPR Phase 2
                budget for ozone season NOX, finding that the rulemaking
                record did not support EPA's determination of a transport obligation
                under the 1997 ozone NAAQS for Ohio. EME Homer City Generation,
                L.P., v. EPA, 795 F.3d 118, 129-30 (2015). In response, EPA withdrew
                Ohio's remanded budget in the CSAPR Update rulemaking; concurrently,
                however, EPA promulgated a new emission budget to address the 2008
                ozone NAAQS, which replaced the invalidated CSAPR budget intended to
                address the 1997 ozone NAAQS. 81 FR 74524. Thus, EGUs in Ohio remain
                subject to a CSAPR trading program for ozone-season NOX.
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 For the reasons explained above, EPA is proposing to approve Ohio
                EPA's SIP submission under section 110(l) of the CAA.
                III. What action is EPA taking?
                 EPA is proposing to approve Ohio EPA's request to modify its SIP to
                include the revisions at OAC Chapter 3745-14 and to remove OAC Chapter
                3745-109.
                IV. Incorporation by Reference
                 In this rule, EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA rule
                regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance
                with
                [[Page 30686]]
                requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is proposing to incorporate by
                reference OAC rules 3745-14-01, 3745-14-03, 3745-14-04, and 3745-14-08,
                with a state effective date of January 28, 2018. EPA has made, and will
                continue to make, these documents generally available through
                www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region 5 Office (please contact the
                person identified in the For Further Information Contact section of
                this preamble for more information).
                 Also in this document, as described in the proposed amendments to
                40 CFR part 52 set forth below, the EPA is proposing to remove
                provisions of the EPA-Approved Illinois Regulations and Statutes from
                the Illinois State Implementation Plan, which is incorporated by
                reference in accordance with the requirements of 1 CFR part 51.
                V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
                 Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
                submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable
                Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
                reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
                provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
                action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and
                does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state
                law. For that reason, this 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 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
                 Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2,
                2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under
                Executive Order 12866;
                 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 an economically significant regulatory action based
                on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
                19885, April 23, 1997);
                 Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
                Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
                 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 CAA; and
                 Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
                address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
                effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
                Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
                 In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian
                reservation land or in any other area where 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, Ozone,
                Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
                oxides.
                 Dated: June 13, 2019.
                Cathy Stepp,
                Regional Administrator, Region 5.
                [FR Doc. 2019-13640 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
                

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