Proposed Anti-Backsliding Determination for Renewable Fuels and Air Quality

• Published date: 08 June 2020
• Record Number: 2020-11991
• Section: Proposed rules
• Court: Environmental Protection Agency

Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 110 (Monday, June 8, 2020)

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 110 (Monday, June 8, 2020)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 34688-34689]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2020-11991]
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                ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                40 CFR Part 80
                [EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0240; FRL-10009-02-OAR]
                Proposed Anti-Backsliding Determination for Renewable Fuels and
                Air Quality
                AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
                ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.
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                SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing that no
                additional measures are necessary pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA)
                section 211(v) to mitigate the adverse air quality impacts of the
                renewable fuel volumes required under CAA section 211(o). EPA is
                providing an opportunity for the public to comment on this proposed
                determination.
                DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 8, 2020.
                ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
                OAR-2020-0240, at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
                instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot
                be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment
                received to its public docket. 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, the full
                [[Page 34689]]
                EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia
                submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please
                visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Cook, Office of Transportation
                and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division, Environmental
                Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105;
                telephone number: 734-214-4827; email address: [email protected].
                Comments on this proposal should not be submitted to this email
                address, but rather through https://www.regulations.gov as discussed in
                the ADDRESSES section.
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                I. Background
                 CAA section 211(v) requires EPA to take two actions. First, EPA
                must complete ``a study to determine whether the renewable fuel volumes
                required under [CAA section 211(o)] will adversely impact air quality
                as a result in changes of vehicle and engine emissions of air
                pollutants.'' The study, commonly known as the ``anti-backsliding
                study,'' must include consideration of different blend levels, types of
                renewable fuels, and available vehicle technologies, as well as
                appropriate national, regional, and local air quality control measures.
                EPA has completed the required study, which is available in the docket
                for this action and at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/anti-backsliding-determination-and-study.
                 Second, considering the results of the study, EPA must proceed down
                one of two paths: Either ``promulgate fuel regulations to implement
                appropriate measures to mitigate, to the greatest extent achievable . .
                . any adverse impacts on air quality, as a result of the renewable
                volumes required by [Section 211]'' or ``make a determination that no
                such measures are necessary.''
                II. Proposed Determination
                 We are proposing to determine that no additional appropriate fuel
                control measures are necessary to mitigate adverse air quality impacts
                of required renewable fuel volumes. More information on this
                determination can be found in the supporting document, which is
                available in the docket for this action and at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/anti-backsliding-determination-and-study. We seek comment on this proposed determination.
                Andrew Wheeler,
                Administrator.
                [FR Doc. 2020-11991 Filed 6-5-20; 8:45 am]
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