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EPA ID: [EPA-R09-OAR-2006-0227; FRL-8054-8]
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Revisions to the Arizona State Implementation Plan, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern procedures for the calculation of sulfur emissions from copper smelters. We are approving a local rule that helps regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).
SUMMARY: Arizona,
A. What Rule Did the State Submit?
B. Are There Other Versions of the Rule?
C. What is the Purpose of the Submitted Rule Amendments? II. EPA's Evaluation and Action
A. How is EPA Evaluating the Rule?
B. Do the Rule Amendments Meet the Evaluation Criteria?
C. Public Comment and Final Action
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. The State's Submittal
Table 1 lists the rule we are approving with the date that the amended rule became effective and was submitted by the ADEQ. Table 1.Submitted Rule Amended Agency Rule No. Rule title effective Submitted ADEQ.................... R182Appendix 8.......... Procedures for Utilizing 07/18/05 03/01/06 the Sulfur Balance Method for Determining Sulfur Emissions. [[Page 18625]]
ADEQ submitted this amended rule (final but not yet codified) originally on January 18, 2006 together with public hearing and State rulemaking documentation. On February 22, 2006, this rule submittal was found to meet the completeness criteria in 40 CFR part 51, appendix V, which must be met before formal EPA review. On March 1, 2006, ADEQ submitted the codified version of this final rule as a supplement to the original January 18, 2006 submittal.
We approved a version of ADEQ Rule R182Appendix 8 into the SIP on November 1, 2004 (69 FR 63321).
Section 110(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to submit regulations that control volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and other air pollutants which harm human health and the environment. This rule was developed as part of the ADEQ's program to control sulfur oxides.
Rule R182appendix 8 was granted a limited approval and limited
disapproval on November 1, 2004. The deficiencies in Rule R182
appendix 8 that conflict with section 110 and part D of the CAA and
prevented full approval of the rule are summarized below in the
brackets, which are followed by the amendments made to correct the deficiencies:
EPA's technical support document (TSD) has more information about this rule.
II. EPA's Evaluation and Action
Generally, SIP rules must be enforceable (see section 110(a) of the CAA) and must not relax existing requirements (see sections 110(1) and 193). There are no specific reasonably available control measures (RACM) or best available control measures (BACM) for administrative rules.
Guidance and policy documents that we used to help evaluate
specific enforceability and RACT requirements consistently include the following:
We believe the rule is consistent with the relevant policy and guidance regarding enforceability, SIP relaxations, BACM, and RACM. We also believe that the submitted rule adequately addresses the deficiencies identified in our November 1, 2004 limited disapproval. The TSD has more information on our evaluation.
As authorized in section 110(k)(3) of the CAA, EPA is fully approving the submitted ADEQ Rule R182Appendix 8 because we believe it fulfills all relevant requirements. We do not think anyone will object to this approval, so we are finalizing it without proposing it in advance. However, in the Proposed Rules section of this Federal Register, we are simultaneously proposing approval of the same submitted rule. If we receive adverse comments by May 12, 2006, we will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register to notify the public that the direct final approval will not take effect and we will address the comments in a subsequent final action based on the proposal. If we do not receive timely adverse comments, the direct final approval will be effective without further notice on June 12, 2006. This will incorporate this rule into he federally enforceable SIP and permanently terminate all sanctions and FIP implications of our 2004 limited disapproval.
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 [[Page 18626]]
(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. This, 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.).
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. 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).
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 June 12, 2006. 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 may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: March 22, 2006.
Wayne Nastri,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
Part 52, chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 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 DArizona
2. Section 52.120 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(130) to read as follows:
Sec. 52.120 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(130) An amended regulation was submitted on March 1, 2006, by the Governor's designee.
(i) Incorporation by reference.
(A) Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
(1) Rule R182Appendix 8, adopted on December 22, 1976 and amended effective on July 18, 2005.
[FR Doc. 063405 Filed 41106; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 656050M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Al Petersen, EPA Region IX, (415) 947- 4118, petersen.alfred@epa.gov.
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 47 CFR Part 73 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 33 CFR Part 117 50 CFR Part 17 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 40 CFR Part 63 33 CFR Part 100 50 CFR Part 622 50 CFR Part 660 26 CFR Part 301 44 CFR Part 65 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 6 CFR Part 5 40 CFR Part 271 47 CFR Part 64 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 50 CFR Part 665 10 CFR Part 50 44 CFR Part 64 49 CFR Part 571 39 CFR Part 3020