Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Determinations of Clean Data for the 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Standard for the Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster Nonattainment Areas

Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 18922-18923

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2012-7563

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

EPA-R03-OAR-2011-0818; FRL-9654-1

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Determinations of Clean Data for the 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Standard for the Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster Nonattainment Areas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is making a final determination regarding the Harrisburg-

Lebanon-Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster nonattainment areas (hereafter referred to as ``Areas'') for the 24-

hour 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). EPA is determining that the Areas have clean data for the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. These determinations are based upon complete, quality-assured, quality-

controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that these Areas have monitored attainment of the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2008-2010 data in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. EPA's determinations relieve these Areas from the requirements to submit an attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures, a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the standard for so long as these Areas continue to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective on April 30, 2012.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID Number EPA-R03-OAR-2011-0818. All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the electronic docket, some information is not publicly available, i.e., confidential business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Shandruk, (215) 814-2166, or by email at shandruk.irene@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.

1. What action is EPA taking?

2. What is the effect of this action?

3. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

1. What action is EPA taking?

   EPA is making final determinations that the Harrisburg-Lebanon-

   Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster nonattainment areas have clean data for the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. These determinations are based upon complete, quality-assured, quality-

   controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that these Areas have monitored attainment of the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2008-2010 monitoring data.

   On January 20, 2012 (77 FR 2941), EPA proposed determinations of clean data for the Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster nonattainment areas. A discussion of the rationale behind these determinations and the effect of these determinations were included in the notice of proposed rulemaking. EPA received no comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking.

2. What is the effect of this action?

   Under the provisions of EPA's PM2.5 implementation rule (See 40 CFR 51.1004(c)), the requirements for the Harrisburg-Lebanon-

   Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster nonattainment areas to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (including reasonably available control technology), a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and any other planning SIPs related to attainment of the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS are suspended for so long as the Areas continue to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. If EPA subsequently determines that these Areas violate the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5

   Page 18923

   NAAQS, the basis for the suspension of the specific requirements, set forth at 40 CFR 51.1004(c), would no longer exist and these Areas would thereafter have to address the pertinent requirements.

   This action does not constitute a redesignation of these Areas to attainment for the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS under section 107(d)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Further, this action does not involve approving maintenance plans for these Areas as required under section 175A of the CAA, nor does it find that the Areas have met all other requirements for redesignation. Even after these determinations of attainment by EPA, the designation status of these Areas is nonattainment for the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS until such time as EPA determines that the Areas meet the CAA requirements for redesignation to attainment and takes action to redesignate these Areas.

3. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

   1. General Requirements

      This action makes determinations of attainment based on air quality, and will result in the suspension of certain Federal requirements, and will 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 Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);

      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, this rule does not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.

   2. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

      The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

   3. Petitions for Judicial Review

      Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by May 29, 2012. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action.

      These clean data determinations for the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS for the Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster nonattainment areas may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

      List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

      Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

      Dated: March 19, 2012.

      W.C. Early,

      Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.

      40 CFR Part 52 is amended as follows:

      PART 52--AMENDED

      0

      1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

         Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

         Subpart NN--Pennsylvania

         0

      2. In Sec. 52.2059, paragraph (e) is added to read as follows:

         Sec. 52.2059 Control strategy: Particulate matter.

         * * * * *

         (e) Determination of Clean Data. EPA has determined, as of March 29, 2012, that based on 2008 to 2010 ambient air quality data, the Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster nonattainment areas have attained the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. These determinations, in accordance with 40 CFR 51.1004(c), suspend the requirements for these areas to submit an attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures, a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and other planning SIPs related to attainment of the standard for as long as these areas continue to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

         FR Doc. 2012-7563 Filed 3-28-12; 8:45 am

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