Air pollution control: Arizona,

[Federal Register: September 20, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 183)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 48402-48406]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr20se01-31]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 70

[AZ040-OPP; FRL-7058-7]

Clean Air Act Proposed Approval of Operating Permit Programs; Pinal County Air Quality Control District, AZ

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Pinal County Air Quality Control District (Pinal or District) operating permit program. The Pinal operating permit program was submitted in response to the directive in the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments that permitting authorities develop, and submit to EPA, programs for issuing operating permits to all major stationary sources and to certain other sources within the permitting authorities' jurisdiction. EPA granted interim approval to the Pinal operating permit program on October 30, 1996. See 61 FR 55910. The District consequently revised its program to satisfy the conditions of the interim approval; however, the effective date of the revisions was made contingent upon EPA approving the changes under both 40 CFR part 70 and 40 CFR part 52. On September 5, 2001, the District revised the rules again in order to make the effective date of the rule changes contingent solely upon EPA approval under part 70. EPA is proposing to approve the operating permit program contingent upon Pinal submitting the rules that were adopted on September 5, 2001 as a revision to its part 70 program.

DATES: Comments on the program revisions discussed in this proposed action must be received in writing by October 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action should be addressed to Gerardo Rios, Acting Chief, Permits Office, Air Division (AIR-3), EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California, 94105. You can inspect copies of Pinal's submittal and other supporting documentation relevant to this action during normal business hours at the Air Division of EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California, 94105. You may also see copies of the submitted title V program at the following location: Pinal County Air Quality Control District, Building F, 31 North Pinal Street, Florence, Arizona 85232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginger Vagenas, EPA Region IX, Permits Office (AIR-3), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, (415) 744-1252 or vagenas.ginger@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This section provides additional information by addressing the following questions:

What is the operating permit program?

What is EPA's proposed action?

What are the program changes that EPA is approving?

What is the effect of this proposed action?

  1. What Is the Operating Permit Program?

    The CAA Amendments of 1990 required all state and local permitting authorities to develop operating permit programs that met certain federal criteria. In implementing the operating permit programs, the permitting authorities require certain sources of air pollution to obtain permits that contain all applicable requirements under the CAA. The focus of the operating permit program is to improve compliance by issuing each source a permit that consolidates all of the applicable CAA requirements into a federally enforceable document. By consolidating all of the applicable requirements for a facility, the source, the public, and the permitting authorities can more easily determine what CAA requirements apply and how compliance with those requirements is determined.

    Sources required to obtain an operating permit under this program include ``major'' sources of air pollution and certain other sources specified in the CAA or in EPA's implementing regulations. For example, all sources regulated under the acid rain program, regardless of size, must obtain permits. Examples of major sources include those that have the potential to emit 100 tons per year or more of volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOX), or particulate matter (PM10); those that emit 10 tons per year of any single hazardous air pollutant (specifically listed under the CAA); or those that emit 25 tons per year or more of a combination of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). In areas that are not meeting the national ambient air quality standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter, major sources are defined by the gravity of the nonattainment classification. For example, in ozone nonattainment areas classified as ``serious,'' major sources include those with the potential of emitting 50 tons per year or more of volatile organic compounds or nitrogen oxides.

  2. What Is EPA's Proposed Action?

    Because the Pinal operating permit program substantially, but not fully, met the criteria outlined in the implementing regulations codified at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 70, EPA granted interim approval to the program in a rulemaking published on October 30, 1996 (61 FR 55910). The interim approval notice described the conditions that had to be met in order for the Pinal program to receive full approval. This Federal Register notice describes the changes that have been made to the Pinal operating permit program to correct conditions for full approval.

    EPA is proposing full approval of the operating permits program submitted by Pinal based on the revisions adopted as of September 5, 2001. These revisions satisfactorily address the program deficiencies identified in EPA's October 30, 1996 rulemaking. See 61 FR 55910. In addition, EPA is proposing to approve, as a title V operating permit program revision, additional changes to the rules. The interim approval issues, Pinal's corrections, and the additional changes are described below under the section entitled ``What are the program changes that EPA is approving?''

    [[Page 48403]]

  3. What Are the Program Changes That EPA Is Approving?

    1. Corrections to Interim Approval Issues

      In its October 30, 1996 rulemaking, EPA made full approval of Pinal's operating permit program contingent upon the correction a number of interim approval issues. Each issue, along with Pinal's correction, is described below.

      1. Rule deficiency: Because the phrase ``including any fugitive emissions of any such pollutants'' in the version of the rule in Pinal's approved part 70 program could be read to modify only the 25 ton per year threshold, PCR Sec. 1-3-140(79)(b)(i) (the definition of ``major source'') did not clearly require that fugitive emissions of HAPs be included when determining a source's potential to emit. In order to correct the deficiency, the definition needed to be revised so that it would be clear that fugitive emissions of hazardous air pollutants must be considered in determining whether the source is major for purposes of both the 10 ton per year and 25 ton per year HAP major source thresholds. See 40 CFR section 70.2.

        Rule change: The rule has been revised to correct the deficiency. It now defines a major source under section 112 of the CAA to include, ``* * * for pollutants other than radionuclides, any stationary source that emits, or has the potential to emit, in the aggregate and including fugitive emissions, 10 tons per year or more of any hazardous air pollutant which has been listed pursuant to section 112(b) of the CAA, 25 tons per year of any combination of such hazardous air pollutants, or such lesser quantity as described in Chapter 7 of this Code.'' (Emphasis added.)

      2. Rule deficiency: The major source definition in Pinal's original submittal was less inclusive than the definition in part 70 in that it did not require that certain sources count fugitive emissions towards major source thresholds. In order to correct this deficiency, EPA required that Pinal revise PCR Sec. 1-3-140(79)(c) to delete sections 79(c)(ii), (iii), and (iv) and to add sources that belong to a category regulated by a standard promulgated under section 111 or 112 of the Act, but only with respect to those air pollutants that have been regulated for that category, to the list of sources that must include fugitive emissions when determining major source status as defined in section 302(j) of the Act. See 40 CFR section 70.2.

        Rule change: The rule has been revised as required by EPA.

      3. Rule deficiency: Pinal's title V program provided certain exemptions that are not allowed under part 70. In order to correct the problem, EPA required that Pinal revise PCR Sec. 3-1-040(C)(1) to require that the motor vehicles, agricultural vehicles, and fuel burning equipment that are exempt from permitting shall not be exempt if they are subject to any applicable requirements. See 40 CFR section 70.5(c).

        Rule change: PCR 3-1-040(C) contains exemptions from the permitting requirements. It has been modified so that, while a general exemption for agricultural equipment used in normal farm operations exists, the exemption does not apply to ``equipment that would be classified as a source that would require a permit under title V of the Clean Air Act (1990), or would be subject to a standard under 40 CFR Parts 60 or 61, or any other applicable requirement.'' This language is consistent with what other Arizona agencies did in their original submittals and we found to be fully approvable. The rule no longer provides an exemption for motor vehicles or fuel burning equipment.

      4. Rule deficiency: Pinal's originally submitted program contained flaws in its provisions regarding the timing of the submission of permit applications. In order to correct the deficiencies, EPA required that PCR Sec. 3-1-045(F)(1) be revised to require sources requiring Class A (title V) permits to submit a permit application no later than 12 months after the date the Administrator approves the District program. In addition, Pinal was required to revise PCR Sec. 3-1-050(C) to include an application deadline for existing sources that become subject to the requirement to obtain a Class A permit after the initial phase-in of the program. This application deadline must be 12 months from when the source becomes subject to the program (meets Class A permit applicability criteria). See 40 CFR section 70.5(a)(1)(i).

        Rule change: The district has corrected these deficiencies in the following manner. PCR 3-1-045(F)(1) now requires that sources in existence on November 3, 1993 not holding valid permits to operate or installation permits must submit an application within 180 days of receipt of notice from the Control Officer that a permit is required or within 12 months of becoming subject to the Class A permitting requirements, whichever is earlier. PCR3-1-050(C)(2) now specifies that a timely application for an existing source that is not initially required to obtain a title V permit but becomes subject at some later time to be one that is submitted within 12 months after the source becomes subject to title V.

      5. Rule deficiency: Section 70.6(a)(8) requires that title V permits contain a provision that ``no permit revision shall be required under any approved economic incentives, marketable permits, emissions trading and other similar programs or processes for changes that are provided for in the permit.'' PCR Sec. 3-1-081(A)(10) included this exact provision but also included a sentence that negated this provision. EPA required that Pinal either delete or revise the negating sentence to make the rule consistent with part 70. See 40 CFR section 70.6(a)(8).

        Rule change: The negating sentence has been deleted from Pinal's rule.

      6. Rule deficiency: Section 70.4(b)(12) provides that sources are allowed to make changes within a permitted facility without requiring a permit revision, if the changes are not modifications under any provision of title I of the Act and the changes do not exceed the emissions allowable under the permit. Specifically, section 70.4(b)(12)(iii) provides that if a permit applicant requests it, the permitting authority shall issue a permit allowing for the trading of emissions increases and decreases in the permitted facility solely for the purpose of complying with a federally enforceable emissions cap, established in the permit independent of otherwise applicable requirements. PCR Sec 3-1-081(A)(14) provided for such permit conditions without excluding modifications under title I of the Act and changes that do not exceed the emissions allowable under the permit. Pinal was required to revise PCR Sec. 3-1-081(A)(14) to clarify that changes made under this provision may not be modifications under any provision of title I of the Act and may not exceed emissions allowable under the permit. In addition, this provision needed to be revised to require that the permit terms and conditions provide for notice that conforms to section 3-2-180(D) and (E) and that describes how the increases and decreases in emissions will comply with the terms and conditions of the permit. See 40 CFR section 70.4(b)(12).

        Rule changes: PCR 3-1-081(A)(14)(d) now specifies that permits that contain terms and conditions allowing for the trading of emissions for the purpose of complying with a federally enforceable emission cap established independent of otherwise applicable requirements ``shall provide for notice that conforms with section 3-2-180(D) and (E) and describes how the increases and decreases in emissions will comply with the terms and conditions of the permit, as per 40 CFR Chapter 1, Part 70, section

        [[Page 48404]]

        70.4(b)(12).'' PCR 3-1-081(A)(14)(e) requires that ``changes made under this subparagraph shall not include modifications under any provision of title I of the Act and may not exceed emissions allowable under the permit.''

      7. Rule deficiency: In order to ensure that the requirement to obtain a title V permit is enforceable, Pinal was required to revise PCR Sec. 3-4-420 to provide that a conditional order that allows a source to vary from the requirement to obtain a Class A permit may not be granted to any source that meets the Class A permit applicability criteria pursuant to PCR Sec. 3-1-040.

        Rule change: 3-4-420(A) disqualifies a Class A permit holder from eligibility for a conditional order and provides that a conditional order cannot shield a Class B (non-title V) permit holder from an obligation to apply for a title V permit. Section 3-4-420(B) only allows conditional orders to be issued to Class B permit holders. Therefore, unpermitted sources, Class A sources, and anyone holding a Class B permit that is required to obtain a Class A permit cannot be covered by a conditional order.

      8. Rule deficiency: Pinal's original title V program submittal allowed a source to operate within the limitations set forth in its general permit application until the District took action on the application. This is inconsistent with part 70. In order to correct this deficiency, Pinal was required to revise PCR Sec. 3-5-490(C) to provide that when an existing source that files a timely and complete application seeking coverage under a general permit either as a renewal of authorization under the general permit or as an alternative to renewing an individual part 70 permit, the source must continue to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit under which it is operating, even if that permit expires, until the District issues or denies the authorization to operate under the general permit. See 40 CFR section 70.4.(b)(10).

        Rule change: PCR Sec. 3-5-490(C)(1) now requires that ``an existing source that has fileda timely and complete application seeking coverage under a general permit, either as a renewal of authorization under the general permit or as an alternative to renewing an individual permit shall continue to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit under which it is operating, even if that permit expires, until the Control Officer issues or denies the authorization to operate under the general permit.''

      9. Rule deficiency: Pinal's title V program allowed a source seeking coverage under a general permit as an alternative to renewing its existing permit to operate under the terms of the general permit even when coverage had been denied. To correct this problem, EPA required that Pinal revise PCR Sec. 3-5-490(C) to require that if an existing source seeking coverage under a general permit as an alternative to renewing an individual permit is denied coverage, the source must continue to comply with the terms and conditions of its individual source permit. In addition, Pinal was required to revise Sec. 3-5-490(C) to clarify that, notwithstanding the 180-day permit application deadline set by the District in its notification to the source, a source that was denied coverage under the general permit may not operate after the date that its individual permit expires unless it has submitted a timely and complete application to renew that individual permit in accordance with PCR Sec. 3-1-050(C)(2). See 40 CFR sections 70.7(d) and 70.4(b)(10).

        Rule changes: PCR Sec. 3-5-490(C)(2) now requires that ``[i]f the application from an existing source seeking coverage as an alternative to renewing an individual permit is denied, the source shall continue to comply with the terms and conditions of its individual source permit.'' PCR Sec. 3-5-490(C)(2) specifies that a source that was denied coverage under a general permit may continue to operate under its individual permit provided it has fileda timely and complete application prior to the expiration of the source's individual permit.

      10. Rule deficiency: In order to resolve some internal inconsistencies in Pinal's regulations PCR Sec. 3-5-550(C) needed to be revised to clarify that if the Control Officer revokes a source's authorization to operate under a general permit and the source submits a timely and complete application for an individual source permit as required by the Control Officer, it may continue to operate under the terms of the general permit until the District issues or denies the individual source permit.

        Rule change: PCR Sec. 3-5-550(C) has been revised to correct the deficiency as follows: ``A source authorized to operate under a general permit may operate under the terms of the general permit until the earlier date of expiration of the general permit or 180 days after receipt of the notice of termination of any general permit. If the operator submits a timely and complete application for an individual permit in accordance with sections 3-1-050, 3-1-055, and 3-5-490, while still authorized to operate under the terms of its general permit, the applicant may continue to operate under authority of the underlying general permit until the Control Officer issues or denies the individual permit.''

    2. Other Changes

      EPA is also taking action to approve, as a title V operating permit program revision, additional program changes made by Pinal since the interim approval was granted. Some of the rules Pinal has submitted for EPA approval incorporate changes other than those described above. We have evaluated the additional changes and find that they are consistent with part 70 and are therefore including those changes in our proposed approval. These changes are described below:

      1. PCR 3-1-040. Paragraph B.2., which spells out applicability criteria for non-title V permits, has been modified. Part 70 does not address permit requirements for non-title V sources, and so this change is not relevant to the approval of this rule pursuant to part 70. A new paragraph D. was also added to the rule. This new provision specifies that construction or reconstruction of a major source of HAP renders the source subject to MACT standards promulgated by EPA, or, where no standard has been promulgated, to a case-by-case MACT determination pursuant to 40 CFR sections 63.40 through 63.44. This change is consistent with part 70 and is therefore approvable.

      2. PCR 3-1-045. Paragraph E. of the version of the rule originally approved by EPA has been deleted. This paragraph specified the fee schedule that sources would be subject to prior to EPA's approval of the District's title V program and is no longer necessary.

      3. PCR 3-1-050. Paragraph C of this rule, which specifies the criteria an application must meet in order to be considered timely, has been changed to eliminate a reference to a Rule 3-1-047. Whereas the originally approved version of the rule provided that, ``[u]nless otherwise required by 3-1-045 or 3-1-047, a timely application is * * *'' the modified provision references only 3-1-045. Because 3-1-047 was never an approved element of the part 70 program and was not relied upon to meet part 70 requirements, the elimination of this reference has no effect on the approvability of this rule pursuant to part 70.

      4. PCR 3-1-081. Consistent with part 70, paragraph B of this rule provides that all conditions of a permit, except those that are specifically designated as not federally enforceable, are enforceable by the Administrator and citizens under the Clean Air Act. Paragraph B.2. has been modified to specify that any provision that a source

      [[Page 48405]]

      elects to make federally enforceable pursuant to the District's synthetic minor permitting rule may not be designated as non-federally enforceable. This change is consistent with part 70 and is therefore approvable.

  4. What Is the Effect of This Proposed Action?

    Pinal previously adopted rule revisions that addressed the issues identified in EPA's interim approval and described above. On September 5, 2001, the District adopted a revision to the effective date of those rules. EPA action granting full approval to Pinal's title V program must be completed by December 1, 2001 to avoid the imposition of the federal operating permit program, part 71. In order to provide EPA adequate time to undertake notice and comment rulemaking on the District's title V program, Pinal submitted a copy of its revised rules to EPA on August 6, 2001. The District requested that we propose action on those rules prior to the formal submittal of the District's changes regarding the effective date of the rules. The rules we are proposing for approval today are those the District adopted on September 5, 2001. Table 1 lists the rules addressed by this proposal with the dates that they were adopted and when we anticipate they will be submitted by Pinal.

    Table 1

    Anticipated Rule#

    Rule title

    Adoption date submittal date

    PCR 1-3-140 (79)........................... Definitions (definition of

    9/5/019/30/01 stationary source only). PCR 3-1-040................................ Applicability and Classes of

    9/5/019/30/01 Permits. PCR 3-1-045................................ Transition from Installation and

    9/5/019/30/01 Operating Permit Program. PCR 3-1-050................................ Permit Application Requirements....

    9/5/019/30/01 PCR 3-1-081................................ Permit Conditions..................

    9/5/019/30/01 PCR 3-4-420................................ Standards of Conditional Orders....

    9/5/019/30/01 PCR 3-5-490................................ Application for Coverage under a

    9/5/019/30/01 General Permit. PCR 3-5-550................................ Revocations of Authority to Operate

    9/5/019/30/01 under a General Permit.

    Should Pinal submit these rules to EPA as a title V program revision in the form in which they were adopted on September 5, 2001, Pinal will have fulfilled the conditions of the interim approval granted on October 30, 1996 [61 FR 55910]. EPA is therefore proposing full approval of the Pinal operating permit program contingent on the submittal of the rules listed above.

    Request for Public Comment

    EPA requests comments on the program revisions discussed in this proposed action. Copies of the Pinal submittal and other supporting documentation used in developing the proposed full approval are contained in docket files maintained at the EPA Region 9 office. The docket is an organized and complete file of all the information submitted to, or otherwise considered by, EPA in the development of this proposed full approval. The primary purposes of the docket are: (1) To allow interested parties a means to identify and locate documents so that they can effectively participate in the approval process, and (2) to serve as the record in case of judicial review. EPA will consider any comments received in writing by October 22, 2001.

    Administrative Requirements

    Under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this proposed action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) the Administrator certifies that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because it merely approves state law as meeting federal requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. This rule does not contain any unfunded mandates and does not significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4) because it proposes to approve pre-existing requirements under state law and does not impose any additional enforceable duties beyond that required by state law. This rule also does not have tribal implications because it will not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This rule also does not have Federalism implications because it will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). The rule merely proposes to approve existing requirements under state law, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities between the State and the Federal government established in the Clean Air Act. This proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045, ``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) or Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001), because it is not a significantly regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. This action will not impose any collection of information subject to the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., other than those previously approved and assigned OMB control number 2060-0243. For additional information concerning these requirements, see 40 CFR part 70. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

    In reviewing State operating permit programs submitted pursuant to Title V of the Clean Air Act, EPA will approve State programs provided that they meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act and EPA's regulations codified at 40 CFR part 70. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to disapprove a State operating permit

    [[Page 48406]]

    program for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews an operating permit program, to use VCS in place of a State program that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply.

    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 70

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental relations, Operating permits, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: September 5, 2001. Mike Schulz, Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.

    [FR Doc. 01-23483Filed9-19-01; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

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