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• 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); 

• Does not have federalism 

implications as specified in Executive 

Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 

1999); 

• Is not an economically significant 

regulatory action based on health or 

safety risks subject to Executive Order 

13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997); 

• Is not a significant regulatory action 

subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 

28355, May 22, 2001); 

• Is not subject to requirements of 

Section 12(d) of the National 

Technology Transfer and Advancement 

Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because 

application of those requirements would 

be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act; 

and 

• Does not provide the EPA with the 

discretionary authority to address 

disproportionate human health or 

environmental effects with practical, 

appropriate, and legally permissible 

methods under Executive Order 12898 

(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). 

In addition, the SIP is not approved 

to apply on any Indian reservation land 

or in any other area where the EPA or 

an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a 

tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of 

Indian country, the rule does not have 

tribal implications and will not impose 

substantial direct costs on tribal 

governments or preempt tribal law as 

specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 

FR 67249, November 9, 2000). 

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 

Environmental protection, Air 

pollution control, Incorporation by 

reference, Intergovernmental relations, 

Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting 

and recordkeeping requirements, 

Volatile organic compounds. 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. 

Dated: August 12, 2021. 

Deborah Jordan, 

Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17957 Filed 8–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 52 

[EPA–R03–OAR–2021–0531; FRL–8843–01– 

R3] 

Approval and Promulgation of Air 

Quality Plans; Pennsylvania; 

Reasonably Available Control 

Technology (RACT) Determinations for 

Case-by-Case Sources Under the 1997 

and 2008 8-Hour Ozone National 

Ambient Air Quality Standards 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve 

multiple state implementation plan 

(SIP) revisions submitted by the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These 

revisions were submitted by the 

Pennsylvania Department of 

Environmental Protection (PADEP) to 

establish and require reasonably 

available control technology (RACT) for 

twenty-three major sources of volatile 

organic compounds (VOC) and/or 

nitrogen oxides (NOX) pursuant to the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 

conditionally approved RACT 

regulations. In this rulemaking action, 

EPA is proposing to approve sourcespecific RACT determinations (case-bycase or alternative NOX emission limits) 

for sources at twenty-three major NOX

and VOC emitting facilities submitted 

by PADEP. These RACT evaluations 

were submitted to meet RACT 

requirements for the 1997 and 2008 8- 

hour ozone national ambient air quality 

standards (NAAQS). This action is being 

taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA). 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before September 23, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R03– 

OAR–2021–0531 at https://

www.regulations.gov, or via email to 

opila.marycate@epa.gov. For comments 

submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the 

online instructions for submitting 

comments. Once submitted, comments 

cannot be edited or removed from 

Regulations.gov. For either manner of 

submission, 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, please contact the person 

identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the 

full 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: Ms. 

Emily Bertram, Permits Branch (3AD10), 

Air & Radiation Division, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 

Region III, 1650 Arch Street, 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. The 

telephone number is (215) 814–5273. 

Ms. Bertram can also be reached via 

electronic mail at bertram.emily@

epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 7, 

2020, PADEP submitted a revision to its 

SIP to address source-specific NOX and/ 

or VOC RACT for sources at numerous 

major NOX and VOC emitting facilities 

located in the Commonwealth, 

including the twenty-three facilities in 

this action. This SIP revision is 

intended to address the NOX and/or 

VOC RACT requirements under sections 

182 and 184 of the CAA for the 1997 

and 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Table 

1 of this document lists the SIP 

submittal date and the facilities 

included in PADEP’s submittal. 

Although submitted in one SIP revision 

by PADEP, EPA views each facility as a 

separable SIP revision and may take 

separate final action on one or more 

facilities. 

For additional background 

information on Pennsylvania’s 

‘‘presumptive’’ RACT II SIP see 84 FR 

20274 (May 9, 2019) and on 

Pennsylvania’s source-specific (case-bycase or alternative NOX emission limits) 

RACT determinations see the 

appropriate technical support document 

(TSD) which is available online at 

https://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. 

EPA–R03–OAR–2021–0531. 


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1A ‘‘major source’’ is defined based on the 

source’s potential to emit (PTE) of NOX or VOC, and 

the applicable thresholds for RACT differs based on 

the classification of the nonattainment area in 

which the source is located. See sections 182(c)–(f) 

and 302 of the CAA. 

TABLE 1—PADEP SIP SUBMITTALS FOR MAJOR NOX AND/OR VOC SOURCES IN PENNSYLVANIA SUBJECT TO SOURCESPECIFIC RACT UNDER THE 1997 AND 2008 8-HOUR OZONE STANDARD

SIP Submittal date Major source 

(county) 

5/7/2020 ............................... AK Steel Corp (formerly Armco, Inc. Butler Operations) (Butler). 

Allegheny and Tsingshan Stainless LLC, Midland Facility (formerly J & L Specialty Steel Inc., Midland Facility) 

(Beaver). 

Alumax Mill Products (Lancaster). 

American Craft Brewery LLC (Lehigh). 

American Refining Group Inc (McKean). 

American Zinc Recycling Corp (Horsehead Resource Development Company, Inc.) (Carbon). 

Appvion Operations, Inc. (Blair). 

ArcelorMittal Steelton LLC (formerly Bethlehem Steel Corporation) (Dauphin). 

Carpenter Technology Corporation, Reading Plt (Berks). 

Chestnut Ridge Foam Inc (formerly Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc., Latrobe) (Westmoreland). 

East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc., Battery Assembly (Berks). 

General Carbide Corporation (Westmoreland). 

Lord Corp Saegertown (Crawford). 

NLMK Pennsylvania LLC, Farrell Plt (formerly Caparo Steel Co.—Farrell) (Mercer). 

Omnova Solutions Inc.—Auburn Plant (formerly Gencorp, Inc.) (Schuylkill). 

Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC—Spring Grove Mill (York). 

Sonneborn LLC (formerly Crompton Corporation, Fairview Township; Witco Corp, Petrolia Facility) (Butler). 

Specialty Tires of America, Indiana Plant (formerly Specialty Tires of America, Inc.) (Indiana). 

Standard Steel LLC (formerly Standard Steel Division of Freedom Forge Corp.) (Mifflin). 

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., Mercer Station 219 (Mercer). 

Truck Accessories Group Milton Plant (formerly Truck Accessories Group East) (Northumberland). 

United Refining Co (Warren). 

Wheatland Tube Company (Mercer). 

I. Background 

A. 1997 and 2008 8-Hour Ozone 

NAAQS 

Ground level ozone is not emitted 

directly into the air but is created by 

chemical reactions between NOX and 

VOC in the presence of sunlight. 

Emissions from industrial facilities, 

electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, 

gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents 

are some of the major sources of NOX

and VOC. Breathing ozone can trigger a 

variety of health problems, particularly 

for children, the elderly, and people of 

all ages who have lung diseases such as 

asthma. Ground level ozone can also 

have harmful effects on sensitive 

vegetation and ecosystems. 

On July 18, 1997, EPA promulgated a 

standard for ground level ozone based 

on 8-hour average concentrations. 62 FR 

38856. The 8-hour averaging period 

replaced the previous 1-hour averaging 

period, and the level of the NAAQS was 

changed from 0.12 parts per million 

(ppm) to 0.08 ppm. EPA has designated 

two moderate nonattainment areas in 

Pennsylvania under the 1997 8-hour 

ozone NAAQS, namely PhiladelphiaWilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MDDE (the Philadelphia Area) and 

Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley (the Pittsburgh 

Area). See 40 CFR 81.339. 

On March 12, 2008, EPA strengthened 

the 8-hour ozone standards, by revising 

its level to 0.075 ppm averaged over an 

8-hour period (2008 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS). On May 21, 2012, EPA 

designated five marginal nonattainment 

areas in Pennsylvania for the 2008 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS: AllentownBethlehem-Easton, Lancaster, Reading, 

the Philadelphia Area, and the 

Pittsburgh Area. 77 FR 30088; see also 

40 CFR 81.339. 

On March 6, 2015, EPA announced its 

revocation of the 1997 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS for all purposes and for all 

areas in the country, effective on April 

6, 2015. 80 FR 12264. EPA has 

determined that certain nonattainment 

planning requirements continue to be in 

effect under the revoked standard for 

nonattainment areas under the 1997 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS, including RACT. 

B. RACT Requirements for Ozone 

The CAA regulates emissions of NOX

and VOC to prevent photochemical 

reactions that result in ozone formation. 

RACT is an important strategy for 

reducing NOX and VOC emissions from 

major stationary sources within areas 

not meeting the ozone NAAQS. 

Areas designated nonattainment for 

the ozone NAAQS are subject to the 

general nonattainment planning 

requirements of CAA section 172. 

Section 172(c)(1) of the CAA provides 

that SIPs for nonattainment areas must 

include reasonably available control 

measures (RACM) for demonstrating 

attainment of all NAAQS, including 

emissions reductions from existing 

sources through the adoption of RACT. 

Further, section 182(b)(2) of the CAA 

sets forth additional RACT requirements 

for ozone nonattainment areas classified 

as moderate or higher. 

Section 182(b)(2) of the CAA sets 

forth requirements regarding RACT for 

the ozone NAAQS for VOC sources. 

Section 182(f) subjects major stationary 

sources of NOX to the same RACT 

requirements applicable to major 

stationary sources of VOC.1

Section 184(b)(1)(B) of the CAA 

applies the RACT requirements in 

section 182(b)(2) to nonattainment areas 

classified as marginal and to attainment 

areas located within ozone transport 

regions established pursuant to section 

184 of the CAA. Section 184(a) of the 

CAA established by law the current 

Ozone Transport Region (OTR) 

comprised of 12 eastern states, 

including Pennsylvania. This 

requirement is referred to as OTR RACT. 

As noted previously, a ‘‘major source’’ 

is defined based on the source’s 

potential to emit (PTE) of NOX, VOC, or 

both pollutants, and the applicable 

thresholds differ based on the 

classification of the nonattainment area 

in which the source is located. See 

sections 182(c)–(f) and 302 of the CAA. 

Since the 1970’s, EPA has 

consistently defined ‘‘RACT’’ as the 

lowest emission limit that a particular 

source is capable of meeting by the 


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2See December 9, 1976 memorandum from Roger 

Strelow, Assistant Administrator for Air and Waste 

Management, to Regional Administrators, 

‘‘Guidance for Determining Acceptability of SIP 

Regulations in Non-Attainment Areas,’’ and 44 FR 

53762 (September 17, 1979). 

3On February 16, 2018, the United States Court 

of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. 

Cir. Court) issued an opinion on the 2008 Ozone 

SIP Requirements Rule. South Coast Air Quality 

Mgmt. Dist. v. EPA, 882 F.3d 1138 (D.C. Cir. 2018). 

The D.C. Cir. Court found certain parts reasonable 

and denied the petition for appeal on those. In 

particular, the D.C. Cir. Court upheld the use of 

NOX averaging to meet RACT requirements for 2008 

8-hour ozone NAAQS. However, the Court also 

found certain other provisions unreasonable. The 

D.C. Cir. Court vacated the provisions it found 

unreasonable. 

4 EPA’s NOX RACT guidance ‘‘Nitrogen Oxides 

Supplement to the General Preamble’’ (57 FR 

55620; November 25, 1992) encouraged states to 

develop RACT programs that are based on ‘‘area 

wide average emission rates.’’ Additional guidance 

on area-wide RACT provisions is provided by EPA’s 

January 2001 economic incentive program guidance 

titled ‘‘Improving Air Quality with Economic 

Incentive Programs,’’ available at https://

www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/ 

documents/eipfin.pdf. In addition, as mentioned 

previously, the D.C. Cir. Court upheld the use of 

NOX averaging to meet RACT requirements for 2008 

8-hour ozone NAAQS. South Coast Air Quality 

Mgmt. Dist. v. EPA, 882 F.3d 1138 (D.C. Cir. 

February 16, 2018). 

application of the control technology 

that is reasonably available considering 

technological and economic feasibility.2

EPA has provided more substantive 

RACT requirements through 

implementation rules for each ozone 

NAAQS as well as through guidance. In 

2004 and 2005, EPA promulgated an 

implementation rule for the 1997 8-hour 

ozone NAAQS in two phases (‘‘Phase 1 

of the 1997 Ozone Implementation 

Rule’’ and ‘‘Phase 2 of the 1997 Ozone 

Implementation Rule’’). 69 FR 23951 

(April 30, 2004) and 70 FR 71612 

(November 29, 2005), respectively. 

Particularly, the Phase 2 Ozone 

Implementation Rule addressed RACT 

statutory requirements under the 1997 

8-hour ozone NAAQS. See 70 FR 71652 

(November 29, 2005). 

On March 6, 2015, EPA issued its 

final rule for implementing the 2008 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS (‘‘the 2008 Ozone 

SIP Requirements Rule’’). 80 FR 12264. 

At the same time, EPA revoked the 1997 

8-hour ozone NAAQS, effective on April 

6, 2015.3 The 2008 Ozone SIP 

Requirements Rule provided 

comprehensive requirements to 

transition from the revoked 1997 8-hour 

ozone NAAQS to the 2008 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS, as codified in 40 CFR part 51, 

subpart AA, following revocation. 

Consistent with previous policy, EPA 

determined that areas designated 

nonattainment for both the 1997 and 

2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS at the time 

of revocation, must retain 

implementation of certain 

nonattainment area requirements (i.e., 

anti-backsliding requirements) for the 

1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS as specified 

under section 182 of the CAA, including 

RACT. See 40 CFR 51.1100(o). An area 

remains subject to the anti-backsliding 

requirements for a revoked NAAQS 

until EPA approves a redesignation to 

attainment for the area for the 2008 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS. There are no 

effects on applicable requirements for 

areas within the OTR, as a result of the 

revocation of the 1997 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS. Thus, Pennsylvania, as a state 

within the OTR, remains subject to 

RACT requirements for both the 1997 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS and the 2008 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS. 

In addressing RACT, the 2008 Ozone 

SIP Requirements Rule is consistent 

with existing policy and Phase 2 of the 

1997 Ozone Implementation Rule. In the 

2008 Ozone SIP Requirements Rule, 

EPA requires RACT measures to be 

implemented by January 1, 2017 for 

areas classified as moderate 

nonattainment or above and all areas of 

the OTR. EPA also provided in the 2008 

Ozone SIP Requirements Rule that 

RACT SIPs must contain adopted RACT 

regulations, certifications where 

appropriate that existing provisions are 

RACT, and/or negative declarations 

stating that there are no sources in the 

nonattainment area covered by a 

specific control technique guidelines 

(CTG) source category. In the preamble 

to the 2008 Ozone SIP Requirements 

Rule, EPA clarified that states must 

provide notice and opportunity for 

public comment on their RACT SIP 

submissions, even when submitting a 

certification that the existing provisions 

remain RACT or a negative declaration. 

States must submit appropriate 

supporting information for their RACT 

submissions, in accordance with the 

Phase 2 of the 1997 Ozone 

Implementation Rule. Adequate 

documentation must support that states 

have considered control technology that 

is economically and technologically 

feasible in determining RACT, based on 

information that is current as of the time 

of development of the RACT SIP. 

In addition, in the 2008 Ozone SIP 

Requirements Rule, EPA clarified that 

states can use weighted average NOX

emissions rates from sources in the 

nonattainment area for meeting the 

major NOX RACT requirement under the 

CAA, as consistent with existing 

policy.4 EPA also recognized that states 

may conclude in some cases that 

sources already addressed by RACT 

determinations for the 1979 1-hour and/ 

or 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS may not 

need to implement additional controls 

to meet the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS 

RACT requirement. See 80 FR 12278 

and 12279 (March 6, 2015). 

C. Applicability of RACT Requirements 

in Pennsylvania 

As indicated earlier, RACT 

requirements apply to any ozone 

nonattainment areas classified as 

moderate or higher (serious, severe or 

extreme) under CAA sections 182(b)(2) 

and 182(f). Pennsylvania has 

outstanding ozone RACT requirements 

for both the 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS. The entire Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania is part of the OTR 

established under section 184 of the 

CAA and thus is subject statewide to the 

RACT requirements of CAA sections 

182(b)(2) and 182(f), pursuant to section 

184(b). 

At the time of revocation of the 1997 

8-hour ozone NAAQS (effective April 6, 

2015), only two moderate 

nonattainment areas remained in the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for this 

standard, the Philadelphia and the 

Pittsburgh Areas. As required under 

EPA’s anti-backsliding provisions, these 

two moderate nonattainment areas 

continue to be subject to RACT under 

the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Given 

its location in the OTR, the remainder 

of the Commonwealth is also treated as 

a moderate nonattainment area under 

the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for any 

planning requirements under the 

revoked standard, including RACT. The 

OTR RACT requirement is also in effect 

under the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS 

throughout the Commonwealth, since 

EPA did not designate any 

nonattainment areas above marginal for 

this standard in Pennsylvania. Thus, in 

practice, the same RACT requirements 

continue to be applicable in 

Pennsylvania for both the 1997 and 

2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. RACT must 

be evaluated and satisfied as separate 

requirements under each applicable 

standard. 

RACT applies to major sources of 

NOX and VOC under each ozone 

NAAQS or any VOC sources subject to 

CTG RACT. Which NOX and VOC 

sources in Pennsylvania are considered 

‘‘major’’ and are therefore subject to 

RACT is dependent on the location of 

each source within the Commonwealth. 

Sources located in nonattainment areas 

would be subject to the ‘‘major source’’ 

definitions established under the CAA 

based on the area’s current 

classification(s). In the case of 

Pennsylvania, sources located outside of 

moderate or above ozone nonattainment 

areas, as part of the OTR, shall be 

treated as if these areas were moderate. 


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5The September 15, 2006 SIP submittal initially 

included Pennsylvania’s certification of NOX RACT 

regulations; however, NOX RACT portions were 

withdrawn by PADEP on June 27, 2016. 

6EPA’s conditional approval of PADEP’s May 16, 

2016 SIP revision covered relevant sources located 

in both Philadelphia and Allegheny County, 

Pennsylvania. 

7These requirements were initially approved as 

RACT for Pennsylvania under the 1979 1-hour 

ozone NAAQS. The RACT I Rule was approved by 

EPA into the SIP on March 23, 1998. 63 FR 13789. 

8On August 27, 2020, the Third Circuit Court of 

Appeals issued a decision vacating EPA’s approval 

of three provisions of Pennsylvania’s presumptive 

RACT II rule applicable to certain coal-fired power 

plants. Sierra Club v. EPA, 972 F.3d 290 (3d Cir. 

2020). None of the sources in this proposed 

rulemaking are subject to the three presumptive 

RACT II provisions at issue in that Sierra Club 

decision. 

In Pennsylvania, the SIP program is 

implemented primarily by the PADEP, 

but also by local air agencies in 

Philadelphia County (the City of 

Philadelphia’s Air Management Services 

[AMS]) and Allegheny County, (the 

Allegheny County Health Department 

[ACHD]). These agencies have 

implemented numerous RACT 

regulations and source-specific 

measures in Pennsylvania to meet the 

applicable ozone RACT requirements. 

Historically, statewide RACT controls 

have been promulgated by PADEP in 

Pennsylvania Code Title 25— 

Environmental Resources, Part I— 

Department of Environmental 

Protection, Subpart C—Protection of 

Natural Resources, Article III—Air 

Resources, (25 Pa. Code) Chapter 129. 

AMS and ACHD have incorporated by 

reference Pennsylvania regulations, but 

have also promulgated regulations 

adopting RACT controls for their own 

jurisdictions. In addition, AMS and 

ACHD have submitted, through PADEP, 

separate source-specific RACT 

determinations as SIP revisions for 

sources within their respective 

jurisdictions, which have been 

approved by EPA. See 40 CFR 

52.2020(d)(1). 

States were required to make RACT 

SIP submissions for the 1997 8-hour 

ozone NAAQS by September 15, 2006. 

PADEP submitted a SIP revision on 

September 25, 2006, certifying that a 

number of previously approved VOC 

RACT rules continued to satisfy RACT 

under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS 

for the remainder of Pennsylvania.5

PADEP has met its obligations under the 

1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for its CTG 

and non-CTG VOC sources. See 82 FR 

31464 (July 7, 2017). RACT control 

measures addressing all applicable CAA 

RACT requirements under the 1997 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS have been 

implemented and fully approved in the 

jurisdictions of ACHD and AMS. See 78 

FR 34584 (June 10, 2013) and 81 FR 

69687 (October 7, 2016). For the 2008 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS, states were 

required to submit RACT SIP revisions 

by July 20, 2014. On May 16, 2016, 

PADEP submitted a SIP revision 

addressing RACT for both the 1997 and 

2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS in 

Pennsylvania. Specifically, the May 16, 

2016 SIP submittal intended to satisfy 

sections 182(b)(2)(C), 182(f), and 184 of 

the CAA for both the 1997 and 2008 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS for Pennsylvania’s 

major NOX and VOC non-CTG sources, 

except ethylene production plants, 

surface active agents manufacturing, 

and mobile equipment repair and 

refinishing.6

D. EPA’s Conditional Approval for 

Pennsylvania’s RACT Requirements 

Under the 1997 and 2008 8-Hour Ozone 

NAAQS 

On May 16, 2016, PADEP submitted 

a SIP revision addressing RACT for both 

the 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS in Pennsylvania. PADEP’s May 

16, 2016 SIP revision intended to 

address certain outstanding VOC CTG 

RACT and major NOX RACT 

requirements under the CAA for both 

standards. The SIP revision requested 

approval of Pennsylvania’s 25 Pa. Code 

129.96–100, Additional RACT 

Requirements for Major Sources of NOX

and VOCs (the ‘‘presumptive’’ RACT II 

rule). Prior to the adoption of the RACT 

II rule, Pennsylvania relied on the NOX

and VOC control measures in 25 Pa. 

Code 129.92–95, Stationary Sources of 

NOX and VOCs, (the RACT I rule) to 

meet RACT for major sources of VOC 

and NOX. The requirements of the 

RACT I rule remain in effect and 

continue to be implemented as RACT.7

On September 26, 2017, PADEP 

submitted a supplemental SIP revision 

which committed to address various 

deficiencies identified by EPA in 

PADEP’s May 16, 2016 ‘‘presumptive’’ 

RACT II rule SIP revision. 

On May 9, 2019, EPA conditionally 

approved the RACT II rule based on 

PADEP’s September 26, 2017 

commitment letter.8 See 84 FR 20274. In 

EPA’s final conditional approval, EPA 

noted that PADEP would be required to 

submit, for EPA’s approval, SIP 

revisions to address any facility-wide or 

system-wide NOX emissions averaging 

plan approved under 25 Pa. Code 129.98 

and any case-by-case RACT 

determinations under 25 Pa. Code 

129.99. PADEP committed to submitting 

these additional SIP revisions within 12 

months of EPA’s final conditional 

approval, specifically May 9, 2020. 

Therefore, as authorized in CAA 

section 110(k)(3) and (k)(4), 

Pennsylvania was required to submit 

the following as source-specific SIP 

revisions, by May 9, 2020, for EPA’s 

approval as a condition of approval of 

25 Pa. Code 128 and 129 in the May 16, 

2016 SIP revision: (1) All facility-wide 

or system-wide NOX emissions 

averaging plans approved by PADEP 

under 25 Pa. Code 129.98 including, but 

not limited to, any terms and conditions 

that ensure the enforceability of the 

averaging plan as a practical matter (i.e., 

any monitoring, reporting, 

recordkeeping, or testing requirements); 

and (2) all source-specific RACT 

determinations approved by PADEP 

under 25 Pa. Code 129.99, including any 

alternative compliance schedules 

approved under 25 Pa. Code 129.97(k) 

and 129.99(i); the case-by-case RACT 

determinations submitted to EPA for 

approval into the SIP should include 

any terms and conditions that ensure 

the enforceability of the case-by-case or 

source-specific RACT emission 

limitation as a practical matter (i.e., any 

monitoring, reporting, recordkeeping, or 

testing requirements). See May 9, 2019 

(84 FR 20274). Through multiple 

submissions between 2017 and 2020, 

PADEP has submitted to EPA for 

approval various SIP submissions to 

implement its RACT II case-by-case 

determinations and averaging plans. 

This proposed rulemaking is based on 

EPA’s review of one of these SIP 

revisions. 

II. Summary of SIP Revisions 

In order to satisfy a requirement from 

EPA’s May 9, 2019 conditional 

approval, PADEP has submitted to EPA, 

SIP revisions addressing source-specific 

RACT requirements for major sources in 

Pennsylvania subject to 25 Pa. Code 

129.98 or 129.99. As noted in Table 1 

of this document, on May 7, 2020, 

PADEP submitted to EPA, a SIP revision 

pertaining to Pennsylvania’s sourcespecific NOX and/or VOC RACT 

determinations for sources located at 

numerous major NOX and VOC emitting 

facilities located in the Commonwealth. 

PADEP provided documentation in its 

SIP revisions to support its sourcespecific RACT determinations for 

affected emission units at each major 

NOX and VOC emitting facilities subject 

to 25 Pa. Code 129.98 or 129.99. 

In the Pennsylvania RACT SIP 

revision, PADEP included a case-bycase RACT determination for the 

existing emissions units at each of these 

major sources of NOX and/or VOC that 

required a source-specific RACT 

determination pursuant to 25 Pa. Code 

129.99. In PADEP’s RACT 


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9The RACT II permits included in the docket for 

this rulemaking are redacted versions of the 

facility’s Federally enforceable permits. They reflect 

the specific RACT requirements being approved 

into the Pennsylvania SIP via this rulemaking. 

10While the prior SIP-approved RACT I permit 

will remain part of the SIP, this RACT II rule will 

incorporate by reference the RACT II requirements 

through the RACT II permit and clarify the ongoing 

applicability of specific conditions in the RACT I 

permit. 

determinations an evaluation was 

completed to determine if previously 

SIP-approved, case-by-case RACT 

requirements (herein referred to as 

RACT I) were more stringent and 

required to be retained in the sources 

Title V air quality permit and 

subsequently, the Federally-approved 

SIP, or if the new case-by-case RACT 

requirements are more stringent and 

supersede the previous Federallyapproved provisions. 

EPA, in this action, is taking action on 

sources at twenty-three major NOX and/ 

or VOC emitting facilities in 

Pennsylvania, subject to Pennsylvania’s 

source-specific RACT requirements, as 

summarized in Table 2. 

TABLE 2—TWENTY-THREE MAJOR NOX AND/OR VOC SOURCES IN PENNSYLVANIA SUBJECT TO SOURCE-SPECIFIC RACT 

II UNDER THE 1997 AND 2008 8–HOUR OZONE NAAQS 

Major source 

(county) 

1-Hour ozone 

RACT source? 

(RACT I) 

Major source 

pollutant 

(NOX and/or 

VOC) 

RACT II permit 

(effective date) 

AK Steel Corp (formerly Armco, Inc. Butler Operations) (Butler) ............ Yes ................. NOX and VOC 10–00001 (2/25/2020). 

Allegheny and Tsingshan Stainless LLC, Midland Facility (formerly J & 

L Specialty Steel Inc., Midland Facility) (Beaver).

Yes ................. NOX and VOC 04–00013 (2/24/2020). 

Alumax Mill Products (Lancaster) ............................................................ Yes ................. NOX and VOC 36–05014 (9/9/2019). 

American Craft Brewery LLC (Lehigh) ..................................................... Yes ................. NOX and VOC 39–00006F (10/23/2019). 

American Refining Group Inc (McKean) .................................................. Yes ................. NOX and VOC 42–00004 (1/15/2020) and 42– 

004K (9/24/2019). 

American Zinc Recycling Corp (Horsehead Resource Development 

Company, Inc.) (Carbon).

Yes ................. NOX ................ 13–00001 (3/25/2019). 

Appvion Operations, Inc. (Blair) ............................................................... Yes ................. NOX and VOC 07–05001 (3/16/2020). 

ArcelorMittal Steelton LLC (formerly Bethlehem Steel Corporation) 

(Dauphin).

Yes ................. NOX and VOC 22–05012 (3/1/2020). 

Carpenter Technology Corporation, Reading Plt (Berks) ........................ Yes ................. NOX and VOC 06–05007 (3/10/2020). 

Chestnut Ridge Foam Inc (formerly Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc., Latrobe) (Westmoreland).Yes ................. VOC ................ 65–00181 (1/22/2020). 

East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc., Battery Assembly (Berks) ..... Yes ................. NOX and VOC 06–05069 (5/21/2019). 

General Carbide Corporation (Westmoreland) ........................................ Yes ................. VOC ................ 65–00622 (3/3/2020). 

Lord Corp Saegertown (Crawford) ........................................................... Yes ................. VOC ................ 20–00194 (4/12/2021). 

NLMK Pennsylvania LLC, Farrell Plt (formerly Caparo Steel Co.— 

Farrell) (Mercer).

Yes ................. NOX and VOC 43–00310 (1/22/2020). 

Omnova Solutions Inc.—Auburn Plant (formerly Gencorp, Inc.) (Schuylkill).Yes ................. VOC ................ 54–00009 (6/26/2018). 

Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC—Spring Grove Mill (York) ..................... Yes ................. NOX and VOC 67–05004 (4/1/2020). 

Sonneborn LLC (formerly Crompton Corporation, Fairview Township; 

Witco Corp, Petrolia Facility) (Butler).

Yes ................. NOX and VOC 10–037I (9/17/2019). 

Specialty Tires of America, Indiana Plant (formerly Specialty Tires of 

America, Inc.) (Indiana).

Yes ................. VOC ................ 32–00065 (1/16/2019). 

Standard Steel LLC (formerly Standard Steel Division of Freedom 

Forge Corp.) (Mifflin).

Yes ................. NOX and VOC 44–05001 (8/16/2019). 

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., Mercer Station 219 (Mercer) ................... Yes ................. NOX and VOC 43–00272 (1/2/2019). 

Truck Accessories Group Milton Plant (formerly Truck Accessories 

Group East) (Northumberland).

Yes ................. VOC ................ 49–00020 (1/14/2020). 

United Refining Co (Warren) .................................................................... Yes ................. NOX and VOC 62–00017 (2/6/2020). 

Wheatland Tube Company (Mercer) ........................................................ Yes ................. NOX ................ 43–00182 (3/26/2019). 

The case-by-case RACT 

determinations submitted by PADEP 

consist of an evaluation of all 

reasonably available controls at the time 

of evaluation for each affected emissions 

unit, resulting in a PADEP 

determination of what specific emission 

limit or control measures satisfy RACT 

for that particular unit. The adoption of 

new or additional controls or the 

revisions to existing controls as RACT 

were specified as requirements in new 

or revised Federally enforceable permits 

(hereafter RACT II permits) issued by 

PADEP to the source. Similarly, the 

adoption of an alternative NOX emission 

limit through a NOX emission averaging 

plan was specified in a RACT II permit. 

The RACT II permits, which revise or 

adopt additional source-specific 

controls, have been submitted as part of 

the Pennsylvania RACT SIP revisions 

for EPA’s approval in the Pennsylvania 

SIP under 40 CFR 52.2020(d)(1). The 

RACT II permits submitted by PADEP 

are listed in the last column of Table 2 

of this document, along with the permit 

effective date, and are part of the docket 

for this rulemaking, which is available 

online at https://www.regulations.gov, 

Docket No. EPA–R03–OAR–2021– 

0531.9 EPA is proposing to incorporate 

by reference in the Pennsylvania SIP, 

via the RACT II permits, source-specific 

RACT determinations under the 1997 

and 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS for 

certain sources at major NOX and VOC 

emitting facilities.10

III. EPA’s Evaluation of SIP Revisions 

After thorough review and evaluation 

of the information provided by PADEP 

for sources at twenty-three major NOX

and/or VOC emitting facilities in 

Pennsylvania included in its SIP 

revision submittal, EPA finds that 

PADEP’s case-by-case RACT 

determinations and conclusions 

provided are reasonable and 

appropriately considered technically 

and economically feasible controls, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 24, 2021 / Proposed Rules 47275 

while setting lowest achievable limits. 

EPA finds that the proposed sourcespecific RACT controls for the sources 

subject to this rulemaking action 

adequately meet the CAA RACT 

requirements for the 1997 and 2008 8- 

hour ozone NAAQS for the subject 

sources of NOX and/or VOC in 

Pennsylvania, as they are not covered by 

or cannot meet Pennsylvania’s 

presumptive RACT regulation. 

EPA also finds that all the proposed 

revisions to previously SIP approved 

RACT requirements, under the 1979 1- 

hour ozone standard (RACT I), as 

discussed in PADEP’s SIP revisions, 

will result in equivalent or additional 

reductions of NOX and/or VOC 

emissions and should not interfere with 

any applicable requirement concerning 

attainment of the NAAQS, reasonable 

further progress or other applicable 

CAA requirement under section 110(l) 

of the CAA. 

EPA’s complete analysis of PADEP’s 

source-specific RACT SIP revisions is 

included in the TSD available in the 

docket for this rulemaking action and 

available online at https://

www.regulations.gov, Docket number 

EPA–R03–OAR–2021–0531. 

IV. Proposed Action 

Based on EPA’s review, EPA is 

proposing to approve the Pennsylvania 

SIP revisions for source-specific RACT 

determinations for individual sources at 

twenty-three major NOX and VOC 

emitting facilities listed in Table 2 of 

this document and incorporate by 

reference in the Pennsylvania SIP, via 

the RACT II permits, source-specific 

RACT determinations under the 1997 

and 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS for 

those sources. EPA is soliciting public 

comments on the issues discussed in 

this document. These comments will be 

considered before taking final action. As 

EPA views each facility as a separable 

SIP revision, should EPA receive 

comment on one facility but not others, 

EPA may take separate, final action on 

the remaining facilities. 

V. Incorporation by Reference 

In this document, EPA is proposing to 

include in a final EPA rule regulatory 

text that includes incorporation by 

reference. In accordance with 

requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is 

proposing to incorporate by reference 

source-specific RACT determinations 

via the RACT II permits as described in 

Sections II and III—Summary of SIP 

Revisions and EPA’s Evaluation of SIP 

Revisions in this document. EPA has 

made, and will continue to make, these 

materials generally available through 

https://www.regulations.gov and at the 

EPA Region III Office (please contact the 

person identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 

preamble for more information). 

VI. Statutory and Executive Order 

Reviews 

Under the CAA, the Administrator is 

required to approve a SIP submission 

that complies with the provisions of the 

CAA and applicable Federal regulations. 

42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). 

Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, 

EPA’s role is to approve state choices, 

provided that they meet the criteria of 

the CAA. Accordingly, this action 

merely approves state law as meeting 

Federal requirements and does not 

impose additional requirements beyond 

those imposed by state law. For that 

reason, this proposed action: 

• Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ subject to review by the Office 

of Management and Budget under 

Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, 

October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, 

January 21, 2011); 

• Does not impose an information 

collection burden under the provisions 

of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); 

• Is certified as not having a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities 

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.); 

• 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); 

• Does not have Federalism 

implications as specified in Executive 

Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 

1999); 

• Is not an economically significant 

regulatory action based on health or 

safety risks subject to Executive Order 

13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997); 

• Is not a significant regulatory action 

subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 

28355, May 22, 2001); 

• Is not subject to requirements of 

section 12(d) of the National 

Technology Transfer and Advancement 

Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because 

application of those requirements would 

be inconsistent with the CAA; and 

• Does not provide EPA with the 

discretionary authority to address, as 

appropriate, disproportionate human 

health or environmental effects, using 

practicable and legally permissible 

methods, under Executive Order 12898 

(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). 

In addition, this proposed 

rulemaking, addressing the NOX and 

VOC RACT source-specific 

requirements for individual sources at 

twenty-three facilities in Pennsylvania 

for the 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS, does not have tribal 

implications as specified by Executive 

Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 

2000), because the SIP is not approved 

to apply in Indian country located in the 

state, and EPA notes that it will not 

impose substantial direct costs on tribal 

governments or preempt tribal law. 

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: August 11, 2021. 

Diana Esher, 

Acting Regional Administrator, Region III. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17953 Filed 8–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Parts 174 and 180 

[EPA–HQ–OPP–2021–0088; FRL–8792–02– 

OCSPP] 

Receipt of Pesticide Petitions Filed for 

Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or 

on Various Commodities (August 2021) 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notices of filing of petitions and 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: This document announces the 

Agency’s receipt of initial filings of 

pesticide petitions requesting the 

establishment or modification of 

regulations for residues of pesticide 

chemicals in or on various commodities. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before September 23, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by docket identification (ID) 

number and the pesticide petition (PP) 

of interest as shown in the body of this 

document, using the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal at http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Do not submit electronically any 

information you consider to be 

Confidential Business Information (CBI) 

or other information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Additional 

instructions on commenting or visiting 

the docket, along with more information 

about dockets generally, is available at 

http://www.epa.gov/dockets. 

Due to the public health concerns 

related to COVID–19, the EPA Docket 


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