Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans: West Virginia,
[Federal Register: January 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 9)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2156-2159]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja08-5]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2007-1010; FRL-8515-6]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Revised Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for the Charleston 8-Hour Ozone Maintenance Area
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of West Virginia. The revision amends the 8-hour ozone maintenance plan for the Charleston area. This revision amends the maintenance plans' 2009 and 2018 motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) by reallocating a portion of the plans' safety margins which results in an increase in the MVEBs. The revised plan continues to demonstrate maintenance of the 8-hour national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone. EPA is approving this SIP revision to the West Virginia maintenance plan for Charleston in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
DATES: This rule is effective on March 14, 2008 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by February 13, 2008. If EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA- R03-OAR-2007-1010 by one of the following methods:
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http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
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E-mail: febbo.carol@epa.gov.
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Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2007-1010, Carol Febbo, Chief, Energy, Radiation and Indoor Environment Branch, Mailcode 3AP23, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
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Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR- 2007-1010. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change, and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail.
The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e- mail comment directly to EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov,
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
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Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., 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 in http://www.regulations.gov or
in hard copy 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 West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601 57th Street, SE., Charleston, WV 25304.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Kotsch, (215) 814-3335, or by e-mail at kotsch.martin@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we'', ``us'', or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.
Table of Contents
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Background II. Summary of West Virginia's SIP Revision and EPA's Review III. Final Action IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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Background
On July 11, 2006 (71 FR 39001) EPA redesignated the Charleston area of West Virginia to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. For the Charleston area, the redesignation included approval of an 8-hour ozone maintenance plan, which identifies on-road MVEBs for VOCs and NOX, which are ozone precursors, which are then used for transportation planning and conformity purposes. Subsequently after the SIP approval by EPA, West Virginia discovered that the MVEBs which were included in the previously approved maintenance plan did not provide a sufficient buffer to account for unforseen future growth or significant changes in the planning assumption data which was used in developing the original MVEBs in its November 2005 submission.
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Summary of West Virginia's SIP Revision and EPA's Review 2009 and 2018 Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets
On January 8, 2007, the State of West Virginia submitted to EPA a formal revision to its State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP revision proposes new MVEBs to reflect the reallocation of a portion of the differences (safety margins) between the total base year and total projected 2009 and 2018 emissions which produces an increase in the MVEBs. The base year is 2004 for the Charleston area. By increasing the MVEBs, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is ensuring that transportation conformity can be demonstrated in the Charleston area. The January 8, 2007 submittal, while increasing the MVEBs still ensures maintenance of the NAAQS for ozone for the Charleston area.
Tables 1 and 2 and the discussion that follows describes the basis of the new MVEBs for the Charleston area.
Table 1.--Charleston Area Reallocation of Safety Margin to the MVEBs
2009
2018 2004 base year projection projection
Current MVEBs in the Approved Maintenance Plan (Tons/Day)
VOC.............................................................
16.1
11.6
7.2 NOX.............................................................
26.4
19.8
8.2
Proposed MVEBs in the Revised Maintenance Plan (Tons/Day)
VOC.............................................................
16.1
12.9
7.5 NOX.............................................................
26.4
22.9
9.5
Table 2.--Charleston Area Total Emissions (Point, Area and Mobile) Before and After Reallocation of Safety Margin to the MVEBs (Tons/Day)
2009
2018 2004 base year projection projection
Current Total Emissions in the Approved Maintenance Plan
VOC.............................................................
52.3
46.8
45.1 NOX.............................................................
129.4
102.4
80.6
Proposed Total Emissions in the Revised Maintenance Plan
VOC.............................................................
52.3
48.1
45.4 NOX.............................................................
129.4
105.5
81.9
For the Charleston, West Virginia 8-hour ozone maintenance area addressed herein, the WVDEP recalculated the 2009 and 2018 MVEBs using revised planning data which became available after the original maintenance plan was submitted to EPA on November 30, 2005. The 2009 and 2018 MVEBs for VOCs and NOXemissions listed above in Table 1 under the Proposed MVEBs in the Revised Maintenance Plan section
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will serve as the new MVEBs for transportation conformity planning.
As shown in Table 1, the State has proposed reallocating some of the previous safety margin into the MVEBs for both VOCs and NOX. The remaining surplus emissions have been reserved as residual safety margins in the total maintenance budgets to ensure continued maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
To explain how the safety margins are determined and allocated, the VOC emissions for the Charleston area may be used as an example. In Table 2, listed under the Current Total Emissions in the Approved Maintenance Plan section, the total 2004 base year VOC emissions are 52.3 tons/day (tpd), which is the maximum amount of VOC emissions consistent with maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The total projected 2009 emissions are 46.8 tpd, which provides a 5.5 tpd VOC safety margin (i.e., the ozone NAAQS would continue to be maintained if total VOC emissions increased as much as 5.5 tpd above the projected 2009 emissions of 46.8 tpd). In the Proposed Total Emissions in the Revised Maintenance Plan section the total projected emissions for 2009 would be increased by 1.3 tpd through the increase in the allowable mobile emissions for VOC while still leaving a safety margin of 4.2 tpd. Therefore, even with the reallocation of some of the current safety margin into the MVEBs, the State of West Virginia has left a safety margin for any other unforseen growth.
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Final Action
EPA is approving West Virginia's January 8, 2007 SIP revision submittal which amends the 8-hour ozone maintenance plans for the Charleston area. These revisions amend the maintenance plans' 2009 and 2018 MVEBs to reflect the reallocation of a portion of the plans' safety margins which results in an increase in the MVEBs. EPA is approving this SIP revision to the maintenance plan for the Charleston area because the January 8, 2007 submittal continues to demonstrate maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no adverse comment, since no significant adverse comments were received on the SIP revision at the State level. However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's Federal Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse comments are filed. This rule will be effective on March 14, 2008 without further notice unless EPA receives adverse comment by February 13, 2008.
If EPA receives adverse comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time
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Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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General Requirements
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule approves pre-existing requirements under state law and does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by state law, it 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). 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 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism implications because it does 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 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action merely approves a state rule implementing a Federal requirement, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act. This 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), because it approves a state rule implementing a Federal standard.
In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. 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 SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the CAA. 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. This rule does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
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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 rule 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. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
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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 March 14, 2008. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this rule 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 to approve the revised motor vehicle emission budgets for the 8-hour Charleston Maintenance Plan may not
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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, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: December 27, 2007. William T. Wisniewski, Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
0 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 XX--West Virginia
0 2. In Sec. 52.2520, the table in paragraph (e) is amended by revising the entry for the 8-Hour Ozone Maintenance Plan for the Charleston, WV Area at the end of the table to read as follows:
Sec. 52.2520 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
Name of non- regulatory SIP
Applicable State submittal
Additional revision
geographic area
date
EPA approval date explanation
* * * * * * * 8-Hour Ozone Maintenance Plan Charleston Area
11/30/05 7/11/06 71 FR 39001 for the Charleston, WV Area. (Kanawha and Putnam Counties). 01/08/07 1/14/08 [Insert Action includes page number where approval of the the document
following new begins].
motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs): 22.9 tons day (tpd) for 2009 and 9.5 tpd for 2018 for NOXand 12.9 tpd for 2009 and 7.5 tpd for 2018 for VOC.
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[FR Doc. E8-263 Filed 1-11-08; 8:45 am]
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