Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; The 2002 Base Year Emissions Inventory for the Washington DC-MD-VA Nonattainment Area for the 1997 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard

Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2012)

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2012)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 60626-60627

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

FR Doc No: 2012-24382

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0151; FRL-9735-5

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; The 2002 Base Year Emissions Inventory for the Washington DC-

MD-VA Nonattainment Area for the 1997 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is approving the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), on April 4, 2008. The emissions inventory is part of the April 4, 2008 SIP revision that was submitted to meet nonattainment requirements related to Virginia's portion of the Washington DC-MD-VA nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as Virginia Area or Area) for the 1997 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) SIP. EPA is approving the 2002 base year PM2.5 emissions inventory in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This final rule is effective on November 5, 2012.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID Number EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0151. 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. Copies of the State submittal are available at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Asrah Khadr, (215) 814-2071, or by email at khadr.asrah@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

   Throughout this document, whenever ``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. On July 31, 2012 (77 FR 45304), EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The NPR proposed approval of the 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the Virginia SIP revision. The formal SIP revision was submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia on April 4, 2008.

2. Summary of SIP Revision

   The 2002 base year emissions inventory submitted by VDEQ on April 4, 2008 includes emissions estimates that cover the general source categories of point sources, non-road mobile sources, area sources, on-

   road mobile sources, and biogenic sources. The pollutants that comprise the inventory are nitrogen oxides (NOX), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PM2.5, coarse particles (PM10), ammonia (NH3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). EPA has reviewed the results, procedures and methodologies for the base year emissions inventory submitted by VDEQ. The year 2002 was selected by VDEQ as the base year for the emissions inventory per 40 CFR 51.1008(b). A discussion of the emissions inventory development as well as the emissions inventory can be found in Appendix B of the April 4, 2008 SIP submittal and in the NPR. Specific requirements of the base year inventory and the rationale for EPA's action are explained in the NPR and will not be restated here. No public comments were received on the NPR.

3. Final Action

   EPA is approving the 2002 base year PM2.5 emissions inventory as a revision to the Virginia SIP.

4. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

   1. General Requirements

      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 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).

      Page 60627

      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 December 3, 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. This action pertaining to the PM2.5 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the Virginia SIP 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, Carbon monoxide, Incorporation by reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

      Dated: September 13, 2012.

      W.C. Early,

      Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.

      40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

      PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

      0

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

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

         Subpart VV--Virginia

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      2. In Sec. 52.2420, the table in paragraph (e) is amended by adding at the end of the table an entry for ``2002 Base Year Emissions Inventory for the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standard'' to read as follows:

         Sec. 52.2420 Identification of plan.

         * * * * *

         (e) * * *

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         Name of non-regulatory SIP Applicable geographic State Additional

         revision area submittal date EPA approval date explanation

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         * * * * * * *

         2002 Base Year Emissions Inventory Virginia portion of 4/4/08 10/4/12 Insert page Sec.

         for the 1997 fine particulate the Washington DC-MD- number where the 52.2425(f)

         matter (PM2.5) standard. VA 1997 PM2.5 document begins.

         nonattainment area.

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      3. In Sec. 52.2425, paragraph (f) is added to read as follows:

         Sec. 52.2425 Base Year Emissions Inventory.

         * * * * *

         (f) EPA approves as a revision to the Virginia State Implementation Plan the 2002 base year emissions inventory for the Virginia portion of the Washington DC-MD-VA 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area submitted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on April 4, 2008. The 2002 base year emissions inventory includes emissions estimates that cover the general source categories of point sources, non-road mobile sources, area sources, on-

         road mobile sources, and biogenic sources. The pollutants that comprise the inventory are nitrogen oxides (NOX), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PM2.5, coarse particles (PM10), ammonia (NH3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

         FR Doc. 2012-24382 Filed 10-3-12; 8:45 am

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