Document ID: EPA-R04-OAR-2022-0226-0009
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: South Carolina; Revisions to Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Rules
Posted Date: 2022-08-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51631-51635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18156]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R4-OAR-2022-0226; FRL-10161-01-R4]

Air Plan Approval; South Carolina; Revisions To Startup, 
Shutdown, and Malfunction Rules

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the 
State of South Carolina, through the South Carolina Department of 
Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), on November 4, 2016. This 
revision was submitted by South Carolina in response to a finding of 
substantial inadequacy and SIP call published by EPA on June 12, 2015, 
of provisions in the South Carolina SIP related to excess emissions 
during startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) events. EPA is 
proposing approval of the SIP revision and proposing to determine that 
the revision corrects the deficiencies identified in the June 12, 2015, 
SIP call. EPA is also proposing to approve portions of multiple SIP 
revisions previously submitted by SC DHEC on October 1, 2007, July 18, 
2011, August 8, 2014, and August 12, 2015, as they relate to the 
provisions identified in the June 12, 2015, SIP call.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 22, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R4-
OAR-2022-0226 at 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 electronically submit any information you 
consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information, the disclosure of which 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 EPA public comment 
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general 
guidance on making effective comments, please visit www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Estelle Bae, Air Permits Section, Air 
Planning and Implementation Branch, Air and Radiation Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Ms. Bae can be reached by telephone at 
(404) 562-9143 or via electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Analysis of SIP Submissions
    A. Regulation 61-62.1, Section II.L, ``Emergency Provisions''
    B. Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C, ``Visible 
Emissions''
    C. Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 4, Section XI.D.4, ``Total 
Reduced Sulfur (TRS) Emissions of Kraft Pulp Mills''
III. Proposed Actions
IV. Incorporation by Reference
V. Statutory and Executive Orders Review

I. Background

    On February 22, 2013, EPA issued a Federal Register notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) outlining EPA's policy at the time with 
respect to SIP provisions related to periods of SSM. EPA analyzed 
specific SSM SIP provisions and explained how each one either did or 
did not comply with the Clean Air Act (CAA) with regard to

[[Page 51632]]

excess emission events.\1\ For each SIP provision that EPA determined 
to be inconsistent with the CAA, EPA proposed to find that the existing 
SIP provision was substantially inadequate to meet CAA requirements and 
thus proposed to issue a SIP call under CAA section 110(k)(5). On 
September 17, 2014, EPA issued a document supplementing and revising 
what the Agency had previously proposed in the 2013 NPRM in light of a 
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 
decision in which the Court found that the CAA precludes authority of 
EPA to create affirmative defense provisions applicable to private 
civil suits. EPA outlined its updated policy that affirmative defense 
SIP provisions are not consistent with CAA requirements. EPA proposed 
in the supplemental proposal document to apply its revised 
interpretation of the CAA to specific affirmative defense SIP 
provisions and proposed SIP calls for those provisions where 
appropriate. See 79 FR 55920 (September 17, 2014).
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    \1\ State Implementation Plans: Response to Petition for 
Rulemaking; Findings of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls To 
Amend Provisions Applying to Excess Emissions During Periods of 
Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction, 78 FR 12460 (February 22, 2013).
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    On June 12, 2015, pursuant to CAA section 110(k)(5), EPA finalized 
``State Implementation Plans: Response to Petition for Rulemaking; 
Restatement and Update of EPA's SSM Policy Applicable to SIPs; Findings 
of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls To Amend Provisions Applying 
to Excess Emissions During Periods of Startup, Shutdown and 
Malfunction,'' hereinafter referred to as the ``2015 SSM SIP Action.'' 
See 80 FR 33839 (June 12, 2015). The 2015 SSM SIP Action clarified, 
restated, and updated EPA's interpretation that SSM exemption and 
affirmative defense SIP provisions are inconsistent with CAA 
requirements. The 2015 SSM SIP Action found that certain SIP provisions 
in 36 states were substantially inadequate to meet CAA requirements and 
issued a SIP call to those states to submit SIP revisions to address 
the inadequacies. EPA established an 18-month deadline by which the 
affected states had to submit such SIP revisions. States were required 
to submit corrective revisions to their SIPs in response to the SIP 
calls by November 22, 2016.
    EPA issued a memorandum in October 2020 (2020 Memorandum), which 
stated that certain provisions governing SSM periods in SIPs could be 
viewed as consistent with CAA requirements.\2\ Importantly, the 2020 
Memorandum stated that it ``did not alter in any way the determinations 
made in the 2015 SSM SIP Action that identified specific state SIP 
provisions that were substantially inadequate to meet the requirements 
of the Act.'' Accordingly, the 2020 Memorandum had no direct impact on 
the SIP call issued to South Carolina in 2015. The 2020 Memorandum did, 
however, indicate EPA's intent at the time to review SIP calls that 
were issued in the 2015 SSM SIP Action to determine whether EPA should 
maintain, modify, or withdraw particular SIP calls through future 
agency actions.
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    \2\ October 9, 2020, memorandum ``Inclusion of Provisions 
Governing Periods of Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunctions in State 
Implementation Plans,'' from Andrew R. Wheeler, Administrator.
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    On September 30, 2021, EPA's Deputy Administrator withdrew the 2020 
Memorandum and announced EPA's return to the policy articulated in the 
2015 SSM SIP Action (2021 Memorandum).\3\ As articulated in the 2021 
Memorandum, SIP provisions that contain exemptions or affirmative 
defense provisions are not consistent with CAA requirements and, 
therefore, generally are not approvable if contained in a SIP 
submission. This policy approach is intended to ensure that all 
communities and populations, including overburdened communities, 
receive the full health and environmental protections provided by the 
CAA.\4\ The 2021 Memorandum also retracted the prior statement from the 
2020 Memorandum regarding EPA's plans to review and potentially modify 
or withdraw particular SIP calls. That statement no longer reflects 
EPA's intent. EPA intends to implement the principles laid out in the 
2015 SSM SIP Action as the Agency takes action on SIP submissions, 
including South Carolina's November 4, 2016, SIP submittal, provided in 
response to the 2015 SIP call.\5\
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    \3\ September 30, 2021, memorandum ``Withdrawal of the October 
9, 2020, Memorandum Addressing Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunctions 
in State Implementation Plans and Implementation of the Prior 
Policy,'' from Janet McCabe, Deputy Administrator.
    \4\ See 80 FR at 33985.
    \5\ EPA is also proposing to act on the portions of the October 
1, 2007, July 18, 2011, August 8, 2014, and August 12, 2015, SIP 
revisions as they relate to the SSM provisions identified in the 
June 12, 2015, SIP call.
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    With regard to the South Carolina SIP, in the 2015 SSM SIP Action, 
EPA determined that two of the South Carolina SIP provisions identified 
in the petition for rulemaking filed by the Sierra Club with the EPA 
Administrator on June 30, 2011 (the Petition), S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 
(Regulation) 61-62.5 Standard No. 1, Section I.C, ``Visible 
Emissions,'' and Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 4, Section XI.D.4, 
``Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS) Emissions of Kraft Pulp Mills,'' were 
substantially inadequate to meet CAA requirements. See 80 FR at 33964. 
In addition, in the 2015 SSM SIP Action, EPA identified one provision 
that provided an affirmative defense for excess emissions that occur 
during emergencies under Regulation 61-62.1, Section II.G.6, 
``Emergency Provisions'' (now Section II.L, as explained below in 
Section II of this NPRM). This provision was not identified in the 
Petition but was included by EPA in the 2015 SSM SIP Action because EPA 
determined that it was substantially inadequate to meet CAA 
requirements. See id. The rationale underlying EPA's determination that 
these provisions are substantially inadequate to meet CAA requirements, 
and therefore to issue a SIP call to South Carolina to remedy the 
provisions, is detailed in the 2015 SSM SIP Action and the accompanying 
proposals. South Carolina submitted a SIP revision to EPA on November 
4, 2016,\6\ in response to the SIP call issued in the 2015 SSM SIP 
Action. EPA is proposing to approve South Carolina's November 4, 2016, 
SIP revision as it relates to SSM events, which would remedy the SIP-
called provisions. In addition, EPA is proposing to approve portions of 
South Carolina's SIP revisions submitted on October 1, 2007,\7\ July 
18, 2011,\8\ August

[[Page 51633]]

8, 2014,\9\ and August 12, 2015,\10\ that re-organize and re-number 
sections to clarify and streamline permitting requirements, update 
internal references, correct typographical errors, and incorporate 
minor updates to the language for clarification and consistency in 
South Carolina's SIP. Although these submittals include changes to 
several South Carolina air quality regulations, in today's proposed 
action, EPA is only proposing to act on the portions of each submission 
related to the 2015 SSM SIP Action, which include revisions to 
Regulation 61-62.1, Section II.L; Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, 
Section I.C; and Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 4, Section XI.D.4. 
EPA has acted or will act on all other changes included in the October 
1, 2007, July 18, 2011, August 8, 2014, and August 12, 2015, 
submissions in separate actions.\11\
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    \6\ On November 4, 2016, South Carolina also submitted to EPA 
other requested SIP revisions: changes to Regulations 61-62.1, 
Section III, ``Emissions Inventory and Emissions Statements,'' 61-
62.60, ``South Carolina Designated Facility Plan and New Source 
Performance Standards,'' and 61-62.5, Standard No. 2, ``Ambient Air 
Quality Standards.'' The SIP revision related to 61-62.1, Section 
III, ``Emissions Inventory and Emissions Statements'' was approved 
on May 31, 2017, see 82 FR 24851, and the SIP revision related to 
61-62.5, Standard No. 2, ``Ambient Air Quality Standards,'' was 
approved on June 29, 2017, see 82 FR 29414. EPA is not acting on the 
change made to Regulation 61-62.60, ``South Carolina Designated 
Facility Plan and New Source Performance Standards,'' because this 
is not part of the federally approved SIP. This proposed action, if 
finalized, will fully close out the November 4, 2016, submittal.
    \7\ On October 1, 2007, South Carolina also submitted to EPA 
other SIP revisions to Regulations 61-62.1, Section II, ``Permit 
Requirements;'' 61-62.5, Standard No. 5.2, ``Control of Oxides of 
Nitrogen (NOX);'' and 61-62.5, Standard No. 4, 
``Emissions From Process Industries.'' The SIP revision related to 
61-62.5 was approved on June 25, 2018. See 83 FR 29455. EPA will 
address the remaining changes to the SIP in separate actions.
    \8\ On July 18, 2011, South Carolina also submitted to EPA SIP 
revisions to Regulations 61-62.1, Section I, ``Definitions and 
General Requirements;'' 61-62.3, ``Air Pollution Episodes;'' 61-
62.5, Standard No. 2, ``Ambient Air Quality Standards;'' 61-62.5, 
Standard No. 4, ``Emissions from Process Industries;'' 61-62.5, 
Standard No. 6, ``Alternative Emission Limitation Options 
(``Bubble'');'' 61-62.5, Standard No. 7, ``Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration;'' and 61-62.5, Standard No. 7.1, ``Nonattainment New 
Source Review (NSR).'' This submittal also updated the entirety of 
Regulation 61-62 to correct typographical errors, provide 
clarification, and delete or update obsolete requirements. The SIP 
revision for 61-62.1, Section I was approved June 25, 2018, see 83 
FR 29451; 61-62.3 was approved August 21, 2017, see 82 FR 39551; 61-
62.5, Standard No. 2 was approved April 3, 2013, see 78 FR 19994; 
61-62.5, Standard No. 4 was approved on June 25, 2018, see 83 FR 
29455; 61-62.5, Standard No. 7 was approved on August 10, 2017, see 
82 FR 37299; and 61-62.5, Standard No. 7.1 was approved on August 
10, 2017, see 82 FR 37299. EPA will address the remaining SIP 
revisions in separate actions.
    \9\ On August 8, 2014, South Carolina also submitted to EPA SIP 
revisions to Regulations 61-62.1, Section I, ``Definitions and 
General Requirements;'' 61-62.1, Section II, ``Permit 
Requirements;'' 61-62.1, Section III, ``Emissions Inventory and 
Emissions Statements;'' 61-62.1, Section IV, ``Source Tests;'' 61-
62.1, Section V, ``Credible Evidence;'' 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, 
``Emissions From Fuel Burning Operations;'' and 61-62.5, Standard 
No. 4, ``Emissions From Process Industries.'' The SIP revision for 
61-62.1, Section I was approved June 25, 2018, see 83 FR 29451; 61-
62.1, Section III was approved May 31, 2017, see 82 FR 24851, and 
June 12, 2015, see 80 FR 33413; 61-62.1, Section IV was approved 
August 21, 2017, see 82 FR 39537; 61-62.1, Section V was approved 
August 21, 2017, see 82 FR 39537; 61-62.5, Standard No. 1 was 
approved June 25, 2018, see 82 FR 29455; and 61-62.5, Standard No. 4 
was approved June 25, 2018, see 83 FR 29455. EPA will address the 
remaining changes to the SIP in separate actions.
    \10\ On August 12, 2015, South Carolina also submitted to EPA, 
SIP revisions to Regulations 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, ``Emissions 
From Fuel Burning Operations;'' 61-62.5, Standard No. 2, ``Ambient 
Air Quality Standards;'' 61-62.5, Standard No. 7, ``Prevention of 
Significant Deterioration;'' and 61-62.5, Standard No. 7.1, 
``Nonattainment New Source Review.'' The SIP revision for 61-62.5, 
Standard No. 2 was approved June 29, 2017, see 82 FR 29414; 61-62.5, 
Standard No. 7 was approved August 10, 2017, see 82 FR 37299; 61-
62.5, Standard No. 7.1 was approved August 10, 2017, see 82 FR 
37299. This proposed action, if finalized, will fully close out the 
August 12, 2015, submittal.
    \11\ See supra notes 7-10.
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II. Analysis of SIP Submissions

A. Regulation 61-62.1, Section II.L, ``Emergency Provisions''

    In the 2015 SSM SIP Action, and as fully explained in the September 
2014 supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking, EPA identified as 
inadequate and issued a SIP call for South Carolina's Regulation 61-
62.1, Section II.G.6, titled ``Emergency Provisions,'' which provides 
an affirmative defense for excess emissions during emergencies. To 
address this SIP-called provision, South Carolina's November 4, 2016, 
SIP revision seeks to remove the affirmative defense for excess 
emissions that occur during emergencies, provide minor changes to the 
wording, and renumber and otherwise revise the provisions to reflect 
the removal of the affirmative defense provision (including replacing a 
reference to ``demonstration'' of the affirmative defense of an 
emergency with a reference to ``documentation'' of an emergency). EPA 
is proposing to approve this removal and to approve portions of the 
October 1, 2007, and August 8, 2014, SIP revisions as they relate to 
Section II.G.6, including the renumbering of Section II.G.6 to II.L.
    The October 1, 2007, SIP revision seeks to renumber Regulation 61-
62.1, Section II.G.6, as approved in the existing South Carolina SIP, 
as Regulation II.L and to remove the entry at Section II.G.6. The 
effect of relocating the provision to Section II.L is that the 
``Emergency Provisions'' section is now a stand-alone section 
applicable to all air quality permits issued by the State, whereas 
Section II.G.6 previously applied to conditional major operating 
permits only. EPA is also proposing to approve minor changes from the 
August 8, 2014, revision which renumber the subparagraphs in the 2007 
version of Section II.L as II.L.2 and II.L.3 and make minor changes 
related to internal citations.\12\ The combined effect of these two SIP 
revisions, as it relates to the inadequate provisions identified in the 
2015 SSM SIP Action, is to renumber II.G.6.b (the affirmative defense 
provision) as II.L.2 and renumber II.G.6.c. (the affirmative defense 
documentation provision) as II.L.3.
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    \12\ In this proposed action, EPA is proposing to revise the SIP 
to make the format of internal citations in the SIP-called 
provisions consistent with that of South Carolina's current 
regulations. However, the internally referenced provisions 
themselves have not yet been renumbered in the SIP. EPA will act on 
the remainder of South Carolina's renumbering edits in Regulation 
61-62.1 in a later SIP action (or later actions), and until that 
time, will include a reference in the regulatory text table noting 
the correct cross-references if the Agency finalizes this proposed 
action.
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    The November 4, 2016, SIP revision removes paragraph II.L.2 (the 
affirmative defense provision), renumbers the documentation provision 
from paragraph II.L.3 to paragraph II.L.2, and removes the affirmative 
defense language from the documentation provision. Thus, the 
``Emergency Provisions'' section of Regulation 61-62.1, as revised, no 
longer provides an affirmative defense for emergencies.
    Approval of these intervening changes previously submitted to EPA 
would not affect EPA's basis for the SIP call on this provision as 
provided in the 2015 SSM SIP Action. EPA is approving only the 
intervening changes from the current SIP-approved version of Regulation 
61-62.1, Section II, as transmitted in the October 1, 2007, and August 
8, 2014, SIP revisions in conjunction with the changes transmitted in 
the November 4, 2016, submittal, to remove the affirmative defense 
provisions. EPA proposes to find that the October 1, 2007, August 8, 
2014, and November 4, 2016, SIP revisions, as they relate to Regulation 
61-62.1, Section II.G.6 (now Regulation 61-62.1, Section II.L) are 
consistent with CAA requirements and adequately address the specific 
deficiencies in this provision that EPA identified in the 2015 SSM SIP 
Action with respect to the South Carolina SIP.

B. Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C, ``Visible 
Emissions''

    In the 2015 SSM SIP Action, EPA issued a SIP call for Regulation 
61-62.5, Standard No. 1 titled ``Emissions from Fuel Burning 
Operations,'' Section I titled ``Visible Emissions,'' Subsection C 
titled ``Special Provisions,'' because it provided an exemption from 
opacity limits for excess emissions from fuel-burning operations that 
occur during startup or shutdown and was inadequate to meet the 
fundamental requirements of the CAA. To address this deficiency, South 
Carolina's November 4, 2016, SIP submission, in relevant part, seeks to 
remove the portion of Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C, 
that provides the exemption. The portion being removed states, ``The 
opacity standards set forth above do not apply during startup or 
shutdown.'' In addition to correcting the specific deficiency in that 
provision that EPA identified in the 2015 SSM SIP Action, EPA proposes 
to approve other minor revisions, as they relate to Section I.C, from 
the July 18, 2011, and August 12, 2015, submissions.
    The July 18, 2011, submittal seeks to amend the language in 
Regulation 61-

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62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C to exclude natural gas-fired units 
from a requirement to maintain startup, shutdown, and maintenance 
records.\13\ On August 12, 2015, South Carolina submitted an additional 
revision to this provision which seeks to modify the language to 
include propane-fired units in the exemption as well.\14\ On August 16, 
2017, EPA published a direct final rule to approve the July 18, 2011, 
and August 12, 2015, revisions to Section I.C. See 82 FR 38829. 
However, since Section I.C was SIP-called in the 2015 SSM SIP Action, 
EPA withdrew the direct final rule and thus did not approve this 
portion of the July 18, 2011, and August 12, 2015, submittals. EPA is 
now proposing to act on these changes to the SIP-called provision in 
conjunction with the State's November 4, 2016, SIP revision, which 
addresses the deficiencies identified in the 2015 SSM SIP Action.
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    \13\ EPA is proposing to act on the portions of the July 18, 
2011, SIP revision related to what is in the existing SIP under 
Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C, ``Visible 
Emissions,'' only.
    \14\ EPA is proposing to act on the portions of the August 12, 
2015, SIP revision related to what is in the existing SIP under 
Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C, ``Visible 
Emissions,'' only.
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    Section 110(l) of the CAA provides that EPA shall not approve a 
revision to a plan if the revision would interfere with any applicable 
requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further progress (as 
defined in CAA section 171), or any other applicable requirement of the 
CAA. South Carolina considered CAA section 110(l) in requesting the 
changes described in the preceding paragraph. The net changes to 
Section I.C requested by South Carolina mean that the applicable 
opacity standards will apply at all times to the SIP units specified at 
Sections I.A and I.B of Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, and only 
those units burning natural gas or propane exclusively will be excluded 
from the requirement to maintain logs of startup and shutdown periods. 
In a letter dated December 30, 2016,\15\ South Carolina explains that 
the State expects no increase in actual emissions as a result of 
exempting units burning only natural gas and propane fuels from 
maintaining logs of startup and shutdown periods because there are 
minimal opacity concerns with these fuels during startup, shutdown, or 
other operational modes. Because natural gas and propane contain 
relatively minor amounts of sulfur and the combustion of these fuels 
results in relatively minor emissions of particulate matter, sulfur 
dioxide, and sulfuric acid, all of which could result in visible 
emissions, opacity is expected to be minimal when these fuels are 
burned exclusively. See 58 FR 3590, 3645, 3656 (January 11, 1993). 
Furthermore, these requested changes to Section I.C will not result in 
any increase in emissions because they do not change any applicable 
emission limitations and will not affect the State's ability to attain 
or maintain state or federal standards or reasonable further progress. 
Thus, EPA proposes to find that the July 18, 2011, August 12, 2015, and 
November 4, 2016, SIP revisions pertaining to Regulation 61-62.5, 
Standard No. 1, Section I.C, are consistent with CAA requirements and 
adequately address the specific deficiencies in this provision that EPA 
identified in the 2015 SSM SIP Action with respect to the South 
Carolina SIP.
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    \15\ This letter is included in the docket for this proposed 
rulemaking.
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C. Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 4, Section XI.D.4, ``Total Reduced 
Sulfur (TRS) Emissions of Kraft Pulp Mills''

    In the 2015 SSM SIP Action, EPA determined that Regulation 61-62.5, 
Standard No. 4 titled ``Emissions from Process Industries,'' Section XI 
titled ``Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS) Emissions of Kraft Pulp Mills,'' 
Subsection D titled ``Monitoring, Recordkeeping, and Reporting,'' 
Paragraph 4, was substantially inadequate to meet the fundamental 
requirements of the CAA, as it provided an exemption from sulfur limits 
for kraft pulp mills for excess emissions that occur during SSM. In the 
November 4, 2016, submission, South Carolina requests removal of 
Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 4, Section XI.D.4, thereby eliminating 
the exemption from sulfur limits for kraft pulp mills for excess 
emissions that occur during SSM events. EPA proposes to find that South 
Carolina's SIP revision removing Section XI.D.4 is consistent with CAA 
requirements and adequately addresses the specific deficiency in this 
provision that EPA identified in the 2015 SSM SIP Action with respect 
to the South Carolina SIP.

III. Proposed Actions

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable 
Federal regulations. See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). As 
described in Section II of this NPRM, EPA is proposing to approve South 
Carolina's November 4, 2016, SIP submission with respect to Regulation 
61-62.1, Section II.L; Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C; 
and Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 4, Section XI.D.4. EPA is also 
proposing to approve portions of the October 1, 2007, July 18, 2011, 
August 8, 2014, and August 12, 2015, South Carolina SIP submissions 
that seek revisions to these provisions, as specified in Section II of 
this NPRM. EPA is further proposing to find that these SIP revisions 
correct the deficiencies identified in the 2015 SSM SIP Action and 
fully satisfy South Carolina's obligations with respect to the SIP call 
included in the 2015 SSM SIP Action. Accordingly, the approval would 
remove the inconsistency between the EPA's SIP-approved rules and South 
Carolina's rules (i.e., a ``SIP gap'') for Regulation 61-62.1, Section 
II.L; Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I.C; and Regulation 
61-62.5, Standard No. 4, Section XI.D.4. EPA is not reopening the 2015 
SSM SIP Action and is taking comment only on whether this SIP revision 
is consistent with CAA requirements and whether it addresses the 
substantial inadequacies in the specific South Carolina SIP provisions 
identified in the 2015 SSM SIP Action.

IV. Incorporation by Reference

    In this document, EPA is proposing to include in a final rule 
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance 
with the requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, and as discussed in Sections I 
through III of this preamble, EPA is proposing to incorporate by 
reference into the South Carolina SIP Regulation 61-62.1, Section II.L, 
``Emergency Provisions,'' State effective on September 23, 2016; \16\ 
Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 1, Section I, ``Visible Emissions,'' 
State effective on September 23, 2016; and Regulation 61-62.5, Standard 
No. 4, Section XI, ``Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS) Emissions of Kraft Pulp 
Mills,'' State effective on September 23, 2016. EPA has made, and will 
continue to make, these materials generally available through https://www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region 4 Office (please contact the 
person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this preamble for more information).
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    \16\ The remaining portions of Regulation 61-62.1, Section II, 
would retain the June 24, 2005, State effective date, as currently 
approved in the South Carolina SIP under 40 CFR 52.2120(c). 
Additionally, although Section II.G of Regulation 61-62.1 would 
retain the June 24, 2005, State effective date, paragraph G.6 
specifically is being proposed for removal from the South Carolina 
SIP because it is being recodified as Section II.L of Regulation 61-
62.1. These changes are explained in more detail in Section II.A of 
this NPRM.
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V. 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. See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).

[[Page 51635]]

Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, these 
proposed actions merely approve removal of State law not meeting 
Federal requirements and do not impose additional requirements beyond 
those already imposed by State law. For that reason, these proposed 
actions:
     Are not ``significant regulatory actions'' 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);
     Do not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Are 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.);
     Do 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);
     Do not have federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Are not economically significant regulatory actions based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Are not significant regulatory actions subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Are 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
     Do 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).
    Because these proposed actions merely propose to approve state law 
as meeting Federal requirements and do not impose additional 
requirements beyond those imposed by state law, these proposed actions 
for the State of South Carolina do not have Tribal implications as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). 
Therefore, these proposed actions will not impose substantial direct 
costs on Tribal governments or preempt Tribal law. The Catawba Indian 
Nation (CIN) Reservation is located within the boundary of York County, 
South Carolina. Pursuant to the Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act, 
S.C. Code Ann. 27-16-120 (Settlement Act), ``all state and local 
environmental laws and regulations apply to the Catawba Indian Nation 
and Reservation and are fully enforceable by all relevant state and 
local agencies and authorities.'' The CIN also retains authority to 
impose regulations applying higher environmental standards to the 
Reservation than those imposed by state law or local governing bodies, 
in accordance with the Settlement Act.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen 
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

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

    Dated: August 18, 2022.
Daniel Blackman,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2022-18156 Filed 8-22-22; 8:45 am]
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