Federal Register: March 8, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 45)
DOCID: fr08mr07-22 FR Doc E7-4179
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Environmental Protection Agency
CFR Citation: 40 CFR Part 52
EPA ID: [EPA-R07-OAR-2006-1015; FRL-8285-1]
NOTICE: RULES
DOCID: fr08mr07-22
ACTION: Air quality implementation plans; approval and promulgation; various States:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Direct final rule.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Iowa; Interstate Transport of Pollution
DATES: This direct final rule will be effective May 7, 2007, without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by April 9, 2007. If adverse comment is received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take effect.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
EPA is revising the Iowa State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the purpose of approving the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) actions to address the ``good neighbor'' provisions of the Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). These provisions require each state to submit a SIP that prohibits emissions that adversely affect another state's air quality through interstate transport. IDNR has adequately addressed the four distinct elements related to the impact of interstate transport of air pollutants. These include prohibiting significant contribution to downwind nonattainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), interference with maintenance of the NAAQS, prevention of significant deterioration of air quality, and protection of visibility. The requirements for public notification were also met by IDNR.
SUMMARY:
Iowa,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Throughout this document whenever [[Page 10381]]
``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This section provides
additional information by addressing the following questions: What is being addressed in this document?
What action is EPA taking?
What is being addressed in this document?
EPA is making a revision to the SIP for the purpose of approving the IDNR's actions to address the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). This CAA section requires each state to submit a SIP that prohibits emissions that could adversely affect another state. The SIP must prevent sources in the state from emitting pollutants in amounts which will: (1) Contribute significantly to nonattainment of the NAAQS, (2) interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS in another state, (3) interfere with provisions to prevent significant deterioration of air quality, and (4) interfere with efforts to protect visibility.
EPA issued guidance on August 15, 2006, relating to SIP submissions to meet the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). As discussed below, Iowa's analysis of its SIP with respect to the statutory requirements is consistent with the guidance.
The IDNR has addressed the first two of these elements by the
adoption of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) model rules that
require Iowa sources to participate in the EPAadministered cap and
trade program for nitrogen oxides (NO
The third element IDNR addressed was prevention of significant
deterioration (PSD). For 8hour ozone, the state has met the obligation
by confirming that major sources in the state are currently subject to
PSD programs that implement the 8hour ozone standard and that the
state is on track to meet the June 15, 2007, deadline for SIP
submissions adopting any relevant requirements of the Phase II ozone
implementation rule. For PM
It should be noted that Iowa is currently designated attainment/
unclassifiable for both the 8hour ozone and PM
At this time, it is not possible for IDNR to accurately determine whether there is interference with measures in another state's SIP designed to protect visibility, which is the fourth element that was addressed. Technical projects relating to visibility degradation sourcereceptor relationships are under development. Iowa will be in a more advantageous position to address the visibility projection requirements once the initial regional haze SIP has been developed. IDNR intends to meet the December 17, 2007, submittal deadline for the regional haze SIP.
A public hearing with regard to this action was held by the state. No comments were received.
With this action, the nonregulatory text in 40 CFR 52.820(e) is revised to reflect that IDNR addressed the elements of the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) submittal.
What action is EPA taking?
EPA is approving this revision submitted by Iowa and is revising 40 CFR 52.820 to reflect that the IDNR has adequately addressed the required elements of the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) SIP. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comments on part of this rule, and if that part can be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those parts of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.
Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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 action 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 action 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 action 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 CAA. This action 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 state 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 state submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be
inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a state
submission, to use VCS in place of a state 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 action does
[[Page 10382]]
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 May 7, 2007. 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).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: February 27, 2007.
John B. Askew,
Regional Administrator, Region 7.
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 QIowa
2. In Sec. 52.820(e) the table is amended by adding an entry in numerical order to read as follows:
Sec. 52.820 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
EPAApproved Iowa Nonregulatory Provisions
State
Name of nonregulatory SIP provision Applicable geographic submittal EPA approval date Explanation
or nonattainment area date
* * * * * * *
(36) CAA 110(a)(2)(D)(i) SIP Statewide.............. 11/22/06 March 8, 2007 [insert
Interstate Transport. FR page number where
the document begins]. [FR Doc. E74179 Filed 3707; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 656050P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Heather Hamilton at (913) 551-7039, or by email at Hamilton.heather@epa.gov.