Federal Register: December 8, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 235)
DOCID: FR Doc 04-26939
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Environmental Protection Agency
CFR Citation: 40 CFR Part 52
DOCUMENT ID: [R03-OAR-2004-PA-0004; FRL-7845-1]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Air quality implementation plans; approval and promulgation; various States:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Direct final rule.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; VOC Requirements for Consumer Products
DATES: This rule is effective on February 7, 2005 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by January 7, 2005. 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.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions pertain to new control requirements to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from consumer products. EPA is approving these revisions in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
SUMMARY:
Pennsylvania,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
I. Background
In December 1999, EPA identified emission reduction shortfalls in several severe 1hour ozone nonattainment areas, including those located in the Ozone Transport Region (OTR). States were required areas to address the shortfalls in those areas. The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) developed model rules to for a number of source categories. One of the model rules is to reduce VOC emissions from consumer products. The OTC model rules are based on existing rules developed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which were analyzed and modified by OTCformed workgroups to address emission reduction needs in the OTR. Adoption and implementation of these model rules by the OTR member states is intended to attain and maintain the 1hour ozone standard and reduce 8hour ozone levels.
II. Summary of SIP Revision
On March 26, 2003, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) submitted a formal revision to its SIP. The SIP revision consists of new regulation Chapter 130, Subchapter B. Consumer Products, Sections 130.201130.202, Sections 130.211 through 130.216, Sections 130.331 through 130.337, Sections 130.351130.352, Sections 130.371 through 130.373, Sections 130.391130.392, Sections 130.411 through 130.414, Section 130.431, Sections 130.451 through 130.465, and Section 130.471. This regulation applies statewide to any person who sells, supplies, offers for sale, or manufactures consumer products on or after January 1, 2005, for use in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This rule includes general provisions, VOC standards, provisions for exemptions, provisions for innovative products, administrative requirements, reporting requirements, provisions for variances, test methods, and provisions for alternative control plans for consumer products.
III. Final Action
EPA is approving a new Pennsylvania regulation, Chapter 130, Subchapter B. Consumer Products as a SIP strengthening measure. The Pennsylvania Consumer Products regulation's VOC limits are all either as stringent or more stringent than the Federal Consumer Products regulation, and are, therefore, approvable. Implementation of this rule will result in statewide emission reductions, and will help the PhiladelphiaWilmingtonTrenton ozone nonattainment area attain the 1 hour ozone standard.
EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the
Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no
adverse comment. 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 February 7, 2005 without further
notice unless EPA receives adverse comment by January 7, 2005. 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.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. 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 preexisting 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. 1044). 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 standard, 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 is not economically significant.
In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. 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 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. 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.).
B. 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
[[Page 70897]]
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).
C. Petitions for Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by February 7, 2005. 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 Pennsylvania VOC control requirements for consumer products 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, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: November 24, 2004.
Donald S. Welsh,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart NNPennsylvania
2. Section 52.2020 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(230) to read as follows:
Sec. 52.2020 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(230) Revisions pertaining to the control of volatile organic
compound emissions from consumer products submitted on March 26, 2003
by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: (i) Incorporation by reference.
(A) Letter of March 26, 2003 from the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection transmitting Pennsylvania's consumer products regulations.
(B) 25 PA Code Chapter 130 Subchapter B. Consumer Products,
effective on October 5, 2002, consisting of Sections 130.201 and
130.202, 130.211 through 130.216, 130.331 through 130.337, 130.351 and
130.352, 130.371 through 130.373, 130.391 and 130.392, 130.411 and 130.414, 130.431, 130.451 through 130.465, and 130.471.
(ii) Additional Material. Remainder of the State submittal pertaining
to the revisions listed in paragraph (c)(230)(i) of this section. [FR Doc. 0426939 Filed 12704; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 656050P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Cristina Fernandez, (215) 814-2178, or by email at fernandez.cristina@epa.gov.