Document ID: EPA-R01-OAR-2010-0996-0006
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Approvals and Promulgations of Implementation Plans: Connecticut; Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas Permitting Authority and Tailoring
Posted Date: 2011-05-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26933-26938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11218]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R01-OAR-2010-0996, A-1-FRL9286-4]

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Connecticut: 
Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas Permitting 
Authority and Tailoring Rule Revision

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to approve a revision to the State 
Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by Connecticut Department of 
Environmental Protection (DEP) to EPA on December 9, 2010, for parallel 
processing. DEP submitted the final version of this SIP revision on 
February 9, 2011. The SIP revision, which incorporates updates to DEP's 
air quality regulations, includes two significant changes impacting the 
regulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) under Connecticut's New Source 
Review (NSR) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. 
First, the revision provides Connecticut with authority to issue PSD 
permits governing GHG. Second, the SIP revision establishes appropriate 
emission thresholds for determining which new stationary sources and 
modification projects become subject to Connecticut's PSD permitting 
requirements for their GHG emissions. The first change is necessary 
because Connecticut is required to apply its PSD program to GHG-
emitting sources, and unless it does so (or unless EPA promulgates a 
federal implementation plan (FIP) to do so), such sources will be 
unable to receive preconstruction permits and therefore may not be able 
to construct or modify. The second change is necessary, because without 
it, PSD requirements would apply at the 100 or 250 ton per year (tpy) 
levels otherwise provided under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), which 
would overwhelm Connecticut's permitting resources. EPA is approving 
Connecticut's February 9, 2011, SIP revision because the Agency has 
made the determination that this SIP revision is in accordance with the 
CAA and EPA regulations, including regulations pertaining to PSD 
permitting for GHG. Additionally, EPA is responding to adverse comments 
received on EPA's January 6, 2011, proposed approval of Connecticut's 
December 9, 2010, SIP revision.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule will be effective May 10, 2011.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket 
Identification No. EPA-R01-OAR-2010-0996. All documents in the docket 
are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed 
in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., 
Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure 
is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted 
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available 
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are 
available either electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or 
in hard copy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New 
England Regional Office, Office of Ecosystem Protection, Air Permits, 
Toxics, and Indoor Air Programs Unit, 5 Post Office Square--Suite 100, 
Boston, MA. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section for 
further information. The Regional Office's official hours of business 
are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
Connecticut SIP, contact Donald Dahl, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, EPA New England Regional Office, Office of Ecosystem 
Protection, Air Permits, Toxics, and Indoor Programs Unit, 5 Post 
Office Square--Suite 100, (mail code OEP05-2), Boston, MA 02109-3912. 
Mr. Dahl's telephone number is (617) 918-1657; e-mail address: 
dahl.donald@epa.gov.

[[Page 26934]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. What is the background for this final action?
II. Analysis of Connecticut's SIP Revision
III. What is EPA's response to comments received on this action?
IV. What is the effect of this final action?
V. When is this action effective?
VI. Final Action
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What is the background for this final action?

    EPA has recently undertaken a series of actions pertaining to the 
regulation of GHG that, although for the most part distinct from one 
another, establish the overall framework for today's final action for 
the Connecticut SIP. The first four of these actions include, as they 
are commonly called, the ``Endangerment Finding'' and ``Cause or 
Contribute Finding,'' which EPA issued in a single final action,\1\ the 
``Johnson Memo Reconsideration,'' \2\ the ``Light-Duty Vehicle Rule,'' 
\3\ and the ``Tailoring Rule.'' \4\ Taken together, these actions 
established regulatory requirements for GHG emitted from new motor 
vehicles and new motor vehicle engines; determined that such 
regulations, when they took effect on January 2, 2011, will subject GHG 
emitted from stationary sources to PSD requirements; and limited the 
applicability of PSD requirements to GHG sources on a phased-in basis. 
In a separate action, EPA called on the State of Connecticut and 12 
other states with SIPs that do not provide authority to issue PSD 
permits governing GHG to revise their SIPs to provide such authority 
(the ``GHG PSD SIP Call'').\5\ EPA established a deadline of March 1, 
2011, for Connecticut to submit its GHG PSD SIP. Finally, in the most 
recent action, EPA proposed to implement a FIP authorizing PSD 
permitting for GHG for those states that are unable to revise their 
SIPs to provide that authority by the applicable deadline (the ``GHG 
PSD FIP'').\6\ By a notice signed December 23, 2010, EPA finalized the 
FIP for seven states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, 
Oregon, and Wyoming.
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    \1\ ``Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for 
Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act.'' 74 FR 
66496 (December 15, 2009).
    \2\ ``Interpretation of Regulations that Determine Pollutants 
Covered by Clean Air Act Permitting Programs.'' 75 FR 17004 (April 
2, 2010).
    \3\ ``Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and 
Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards; Final Rule.'' 75 FR 25324 
(May 7, 2010).
    \4\ Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V 
Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule; Final Rule.'' 75 FR 31514 (June 3, 
2010).
    \5\ ``Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits Under the 
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Finding of Substantial Inadequacy and SIP 
Call: Final Rule.'' 75 FR 77698 (December 13, 2010).
    \6\ ``Action to Ensure Authority to Issue Permits Under the 
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program to Sources of 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Federal Implementation Plan: Proposed 
Rule.'' 75 FR 53883 (September 2, 2010).
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    On December 9, 2010, in response to the Tailoring Rule and earlier 
GHG-related EPA rules, and in anticipation of the GHG PSD SIP Call 
rulemaking, DEP submitted a draft revision to EPA for approval into the 
Connecticut SIP to: (1) Provide the State with the authority to 
regulate GHG under its PSD program; and (2) establish appropriate 
emission thresholds for determining which new or modified stationary 
sources become subject to Connecticut's PSD permitting requirements for 
GHG emissions. Subsequently, on January 6, 2011, EPA published a 
proposed rulemaking to approve Connecticut's December 9, 2010, draft 
SIP revision under parallel processing. 76 FR 752. Specifically, 
Connecticut's December 9, 2010 draft SIP revision includes changes to 
Sections 22a-174-1 and 22a-174-3a of the Regulations of Connecticut 
State Agencies.\7\ The changes include adopting definitions of 
greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide equivalent and applying the 
Tailoring Rule's thresholds for GHG permitting applicability. Detailed 
background information and EPA's rationale for the proposed approval 
are provided in EPA's January 6, 2011, Federal Register notice.
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    \7\ Connecticut's submittal also revises Section 22a-174-33; 
however, this section relates to the state's title V operating 
permit program and it is not the state's intention to incorporate 
any provision of this program into the SIP. As such, EPA is not 
taking final action to approve Connecticut's changes to Section 22a-
174-33 in this rulemaking.
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    EPA's January 6, 2011, proposed approval was contingent upon the 
State of Connecticut providing a final SIP revision that was 
substantively the same as the revision proposed for approval by EPA in 
the January 6, 2011, proposed rulemaking. 76 FR 752. Connecticut 
provided its final SIP revision on February 9, 2011. While there are 
minor differences between the draft and final regulations, mainly to 
the format of internal references, EPA has determined that these 
differences do not warrant re-proposal of this action. The changes are 
mostly edits to the format for internal references within the 
regulation, e.g. changing ``Table 3a(k)(1)'' to ``Table 3a(k)(1) of 
this subsection,'' plus one minor edit designed to clarify the original 
intent of the formula for calculating ``carbon dioxide equivalent 
emissions.'' See Memorandum from the Connecticut Commissioners' Office 
to the Connecticut Legislative Regulation Review Committee at 2 (Jan. 
25, 2011).

II. Analysis of Connecticut's SIP Revision

    Section 110(k)(3) of the CAA provides that EPA shall approve a SIP 
revision as a whole if it meets all of the applicable requirements of 
the CAA. Connecticut received a SIP call because its PSD program does 
not apply to GHG. As a result, Connecticut is required to submit a SIP 
revision that applies PSD to GHG and do so either at the Tailoring Rule 
thresholds or at lower thresholds. Connecticut is required to 
demonstrate that it has adequate resources for implementation if the 
state establishes lower thresholds.
    Connecticut has submitted a SIP revision that provides this 
authority. Connecticut's SIP revision adopts new definitions for 
``carbon dioxide equivalent emissions'' and ``greenhouse gases'' into 
section 22a-174-1. These new definitions were necessary because the 
state's definition of air pollutant excluded carbon dioxide except for 
certain state rules. Connecticut's PSD regulation, found in section 
22a-174-3a, is not one of the excepted rules.
    To fully implement EPA's Tailoring Rule, Connecticut amended 
several subsections in section 22a-174-3a. Section 22a-174-3a contains 
the state's permitting requirements for minor new source review, PSD, 
and nonattainment new source review. Subsections amended were 
subsection (1) which adds GHG emission thresholds to the general 
applicability section, subsection (d)(3)(H) which requires the 
applicant to incorporate best available control technology (BACT) for 
GHG emissions, subsection (j) which establishes the thresholds for GHG 
emissions for applying BACT, and subsection (k) which establishes GHG 
emission thresholds for PSD permitting. Connecticut has adopted the 
thresholds contained in EPA's Tailoring Rule for all of the thresholds 
established in the individual subsections. Connecticut did not choose 
to establish a lower threshold than required by the Tailoring Rule.
    EPA has determined these changes to Connecticut's regulations meet 
the requirements of the SIP call. Thus these changes are consistent 
with the CAA and its implementing regulations regarding PSD permit 
requirements for GHG emissions. The thresholds for permitting GHG 
emissions established in this submittal are the same as EPA's Tailoring 
Rule, and therefore comply with the requirements of the SIP call.

[[Page 26935]]

III. What is EPA's response to comments received on this action?

    EPA received two sets of comments on the January 6, 2011, proposed 
rulemaking to approve revisions to Connecticut's SIP. One set of 
comments, provided by the Sierra Club, was in favor of EPA's January 6, 
2011 proposed action. The other set of comments, provided by the Air 
Permitting Forum, raised concerns with final action on EPA's January 6, 
2011 proposed action. A full set of the comments provided by both the 
Sierra Club and Air Permitting Forum (hereinafter referred to as ``the 
Commenter'') is provided in the docket for today's final action. A 
summary of the adverse comments and EPA's responses are provided below.
    Generally, the adverse comments fall into five categories. First, 
the Commenter asserts that EPA's SIP Call was unauthorized and imposed 
too short a deadline for Connecticut to act to revise its SIP. Second, 
the Commenter asserts that PSD requirements cannot be triggered by GHG. 
Third, the Commenter expresses concerns regarding EPA's previously 
announced intention to narrow its prior approval of some SIPs to ensure 
that sources with GHG emissions that are less than the Tailoring Rule's 
thresholds will not be obligated under federal law to obtain PSD 
permits prior to a SIP revision incorporating those thresholds. The 
Commenter explains that the planned SIP approval narrowing action is 
inapplicable to this action and, if applicable, is illegal. Fourth, the 
Commenter states that EPA has failed to meet applicable statutory and 
executive order review requirements. Lastly, the Commenter states: 
``EPA should explicitly state in any final rule that the continued 
enforceability of these provisions in the Connecticut SIP is limited to 
the extent to which the federal requirements remain enforceable.'' 
EPA's response to these five categories of comments is provided below.
    Comment 1: The first comment asserts that EPA's SIP Call was 
unauthorized and imposed too short a deadline for Connecticut to act to 
revise its SIP. This is because, according to the Commenter, the recent 
Cinergy decision allows sources in the State to rely on the provisions 
of the currently approved PSD SIP to obtain permits for construction or 
modification. United States v. Cinergy Corp., 623 F.3d 455 (7th Cir. 
2010).
    Response 1: EPA established the requirement that Connecticut submit 
a corrective SIP revision to provide for the authority to issue PSD 
permits for GHG emissions in the GHG PSD SIP call rulemaking. As part 
of that rulemaking, EPA allowed states to choose not to object to a 
short timeframe for amending their SIPs, and the deadline established 
for submitting Connecticut's PSD SIP revision is the date requested by 
the State. EPA has not reopened either of these issues in the current 
rulemaking. The only issues relevant to this rulemaking concern whether 
Connecticut's SIP submission meets the requirements of the SIP call and 
therefore should be approved. Issues concerning the validity of the SIP 
call and the deadlines it established, including the comments raised by 
the commenter, may have been relevant for the SIP call rulemaking but 
are not relevant for this rulemaking. Accordingly, these comments are 
not relevant for this rulemaking.
    In any event, EPA disagrees with the comment and the Commenter's 
interpretation of the Cinergy decision. EPA specifically discussed the 
Cinergy decision in the SIP call itself, 75 FR 77705-06 n.16. As we 
stated in the SIP call, EPA has long interpreted the PSD applicability 
provisions in the CAA to be self-executing,\8\ that is, they apply by 
their terms so that a source that emits any air pollutant subject to 
regulation becomes subject to PSD--and, therefore, cannot construct or 
modify without obtaining a PSD permit--and these provisions apply by 
their terms in this manner regardless of whether the state has an 
approved SIP PSD program. What's more, until an applicable 
implementation plan is in place--either an approved SIP or a FIP--no 
permitting authority is authorized to issue a permit to the source. In 
the recent Cinergy decision, the 7th Circuit confronted a case that, at 
the district court level, involved both nonattainment NSR and PSD 
claims, with the appeal involving substantive nonattainment NSR issues 
and evidentiary PSD issues. However, in its opinion, the 7th Circuit 
described the substantive nonattainment NSR issue as if it applied to 
both nonattainment NSR and PSD. On that issue, the Court held that 
sources could continue to abide by permitting requirements in an 
existing SIP until amended, even if that SIP does not comport with the 
law. Again, notwithstanding the Court's broader description of the 
case, that holding applied only to the nonattainment NSR claims 
because, again, only those claims were before it on that issue. United 
States v. Cinergy Corp., 623 F.3d 455 (7th Cir. 2010). In stark 
contrast to the nonattainment provisions actually at issue in Cinergy--
which are not self-executing and must therefore be enforced through a 
SIP--PSD is self-executing; it is the statute (CAA section 165), not 
just the SIP, that prohibits a source from constructing a project 
without a permit issued in accordance with the Clean Air Act. Because 
the PSD provisions were simply not before the Cinergy Court in the 
appeal on this issue, the commenter's reading of that portion of the 
opinion to apply to PSD is in error. As the commenter noted, in a 
petition for rehearing that was primarily devoted to other issues, EPA 
asked the Court to revise its opinion to make clear that its holding on 
the relevant issue was limited to the nonattainment provisions in play 
on that issue. The Court denied the petition for rehearing and, 
accordingly, did not revise its opinion. However, the Court did not 
explain its reasons for denying the petition for rehearing, and 
therefore did not address why it would not revise its opinion. We note 
that Cinergy, in its response to EPA's petition for reconsideration, 
did not contest that the relevant issue concerned only the 
nonattainment provisions, and not the PSD provisions. Accordingly, we 
do not read the Court's denial of the petition for rehearing as any 
kind of affirmation that in the Court's view, its decision on the 
relevant issue extends beyond the nonattainment provisions in play on 
that issue. Further, we believe that the fact that all of the parties 
to the case recognized that only the nonattainment provisions were in 
play on the relevant issue could explain the Court's denial of EPA's 
request to revise the opinion.
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    \8\ EPA is likewise also not reopening this issue in this 
rulemaking.
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    Comment 2: The Commenter asserts that PSD requirements cannot be 
triggered by GHG. In its letter, the Commenter states: ``[n]o area in 
the State of Connecticut has been designated attainment or 
unclassifiable for greenhouse gases (GHGs), as there is no national 
ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for GHGs. Therefore, GHGs cannot 
trigger PSD permitting requirements.'' The Commenter notes that it made 
this argument in detail in comments submitted to EPA on the Tailoring 
Rule and other related GHG rulemakings.\9\ Finally, the Commenter 
states that ``EPA should immediately provide notice that it is now 
interpreting the Act not to require that GHGs trigger PSD and allow

[[Page 26936]]

Connecticut to rescind that portion of its rules and implement the 
program consistent with the proper interpretation such that GHGs do not 
trigger PSD permitting * * *''
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    \9\ The Commenter recited that it had attached those previously 
submitted comments to its comments on the proposed rulemaking 
related to this action, although it appears they were neither 
attached nor forwarded to the docket for this action. Nevertheless, 
EPA is aware of the Commenter's prior comments and, as explained 
below, does not find them persuasive.
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    Response 2: EPA established the requirement that PSD applies to all 
pollutants newly subject to regulation, including non-NAAQS pollutants, 
in earlier national rulemakings concerning the PSD program, and EPA has 
not re-opened that issue in this rulemaking. Accordingly, these 
comments are not relevant to this rulemaking and are time-barred as to 
the earlier national rulemakings. In addition, EPA has explained in 
detail, in recent rulemakings concerning GHG PSD requirements, its 
reasons for disagreeing with these comments.
    In an August 7, 1980, rulemaking at 45 FR 52676, 45 FR 52710-52712, 
and 45 FR 52735, EPA stated that a ``major stationary source'' was one 
that emitted ``any air pollutant subject to regulation under the Act'' 
at or above the specified numerical thresholds, and defined a ``major 
modification,'' in general, as a physical or operational change that 
increased emissions of ``any pollutant subject to regulation under the 
Act'' by more than an amount that EPA variously termed as de minimis or 
significant. In addition, in EPA's NSR Reform rule at 67 FR 80186 and 
67 FR 80240 (December 31, 2002), EPA added to the PSD regulations the 
new definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant'' (currently codified at 40 
CFR 52.21(b)(50) and 40 CFR 51.166(a)(49)), noted that EPA added this 
term based on a request from a commenter to ``clarify which pollutants 
are covered under the PSD program,'' and explained that in addition to 
criteria pollutants for which a NAAQS has been established, ``[t]he PSD 
program applies automatically to newly regulated NSR pollutants, which 
would include final promulgation of an NSPS [new source performance 
standard] applicable to a previously unregulated pollutant.'' Id. at 67 
FR 80240 and 67 FR 80264. Among other things, the definition of 
``regulated NSR pollutant'' includes ``[a]ny pollutant that otherwise 
is subject to regulation under the Act.'' See 40 CFR 
52.21(b)(50)(d)(iv); see also 40 CFR 51.166(a)(49)(iv).
    In any event, EPA disagrees with the Commenter's underlying premise 
that PSD requirements are not triggered for GHG when GHG became subject 
to regulation as of January 2, 2011. As just noted, this has been well-
established and discussed in connection with prior EPA actions, 
including, most recently, the Johnson Memo Reconsideration and the 
Tailoring Rule. In addition, EPA's November 18, 2010, proposed 
rulemaking notice provides the general basis for the Agency's rationale 
that GHG, while not a NAAQS pollutant, can trigger PSD permitting 
requirements. The November 18, 2010, notice also refers the reader to 
the preamble to the Tailoring Rule for further information on this 
rationale. In that rulemaking, EPA addressed at length the comment that 
PSD can be triggered only by pollutants subject to the NAAQS and 
concluded that such an interpretation of the Act would contravene 
Congress's unambiguous intent. See 75 FR 31560-31562. Further 
discussion of EPA's rationale for concluding that PSD requirements are 
triggered by non-NAAQS pollutants such as GHG appears in the Tailoring 
Rule Response to Comments document (``Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration and Title V GHG Tailoring Rule: EPA's Response to Public 
Comments''), pp. 34-41; and in EPA's response to motions for a stay 
filed in the litigation concerning those rules (``EPA's Response to 
Motions for Stay,'' Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA, DC 
Cir. No. 09-1322 (and consolidated cases)), at pp. 47-59, and are 
incorporated by reference here. These documents have been placed in the 
docket for today's action.
    Comment 3: The Commenter expresses concerns regarding the legality 
of narrowing prior SIP approvals if states cannot interpret their 
regulations to include the Tailoring Rule thresholds within the phrase 
``subject to regulation.''
    Response 3: While EPA does not agree with the Commenter's assertion 
that the narrowing approach discussed in EPA's Tailoring Rule is 
illegal, the validity of the narrowing approach is irrelevant to the 
action that EPA is today taking for Connecticut's February 9, 2011, SIP 
revision. EPA did not propose to narrow its approval of Connecticut's 
SIP as part of this action, and in today's final action, EPA is acting 
to approve a SIP revision submitted by Connecticut and is not otherwise 
narrowing its approval of prior submitted and approved provisions in 
the Connecticut SIP. Accordingly, the legality of the narrowing 
approach is not at issue in this rulemaking.
    Comment 4: The Commenter states that EPA has failed to meet 
applicable statutory and executive order review requirements. 
Specifically, the Commenter refers to the statutory requirements and 
executive orders for the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA), the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, and Executive 
Orders 12866 (OMB review of significant regulatory actions), 13175 
(tribal implications), 13211 (economically significant regulatory 
action), and 13132 (Federalism). Additionally, the Commenter mentions 
that EPA has never analyzed the costs and benefits associated with 
triggering PSD for stationary sources in Connecticut, much less 
nationwide.
    Response 4: EPA disagrees with the Commenter's statement that EPA 
has failed to meet applicable statutory and executive order review 
requirements. As stated in EPA's proposed approval of Connecticut's 
December 9, 2010 proposed SIP revision, this action merely approves 
state law as meeting federal requirements and does not impose 
additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. Accordingly, 
EPA approval, in and of itself, does not impose any new information 
collection burden, as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b) and (c), that would 
require additional review under the Paperwork Reduction Act. In 
addition, this SIP approval will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities, beyond that which would be 
required by the state law requirements, so a regulatory flexibility 
analysis is not required under the RFA. Accordingly, this rule is 
appropriately certified under section 605(b) of the RFA. Moreover, as 
this action approves pre-existing requirements under state law and does 
not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by 
state law, it does not contain any unfunded mandates or significantly 
or uniquely affect small governments, such that it would be subject to 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. In addition, this rule 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. 
Finally, this action does not have federalism implications that would 
make Executive Order 13132 applicable, because it 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.
    Today's rule is a routine approval of a SIP revision, approving 
state law, and does not impose any requirements beyond those imposed by 
state law. To the extent these comments are directed more generally to 
the application of the statutory and executive order reviews to the 
required regulation of GHG under PSD programs, these comments are 
irrelevant to the approval of state law in

[[Page 26937]]

today's action. However, EPA provided an extensive response to similar 
comments in promulgating the Tailoring Rule. EPA refers the Commenter 
to the sections in the Tailoring Rule entitled ``VII. Comments on 
Statutory and Executive Order Reviews,'' 75 FR 31601-31603, and ``VI. 
What are the economic impacts of the final rule?,'' 75 FR 31595-31601. 
EPA also notes that today's action does not in and of itself trigger 
the regulation of GHG. To the contrary, GHG are already being regulated 
nationally, and sources in Connecticut that are subject to the PSD 
program are required to obtain a permit from a PSD program that 
addresses GHG emissions consistent with the Act's requirements. Today's 
action simply approves existing state laws that provide such a PSD 
program.
    Comment 5: The Commenter states that ``EPA should explicitly state 
in any final rule that the continued enforceability of these provisions 
in the Connecticut SIP is limited to the extent to which the federal 
requirements remain enforceable.'' Further, the Commenter remarks on 
the ongoing litigation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. 
Specifically, regarding EPA's determination that PSD can be triggered 
by GHG or is applicable to GHG, the Commenter mentions that ``if the DC 
Circuit and/or Supreme Court determine that EPA's approach to 
regulating GHGs under the PSD program is invalid, the Connecticut rules 
should be approved in a manner that they would automatically sunset.''
    Response 5: EPA believes that it is most appropriate to take 
actions that are consistent with the federal regulations that are in 
place at the time the action is being taken. To the extent that any 
changes to federal regulations related to today's action result from 
pending legal challenges or other actions, EPA will process appropriate 
SIP revisions in accordance with the procedures provided in the Act and 
EPA's regulations. EPA notes that in an order dated December 10, 2010, 
the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit denied motions to 
stay EPA's regulatory actions related to GHG. Coalition for Responsible 
Regulation, Inc. v. EPA, Nos. 09-1322, 10-1073, 10-1092 (and 
consolidated cases), Slip Op. at 3 (D.C. Cir. December 10, 2010) (order 
denying stay motions).

IV. What is the effect of this final action?

    Final approval of Connecticut's February 9, 2011 SIP revision will 
make Connecticut's SIP adequate with respect to PSD requirements for 
GHG-emitting sources, thereby negating the need for a GHG PSD FIP. 
Furthermore, final approval of Connecticut's SIP revision will put in 
place the GHG emission thresholds for PSD applicability set forth in 
EPA's Tailoring Rule (75 FR 31514, June 3, 2010), ensuring that smaller 
GHG sources emitting less than these thresholds will not be subject to 
permitting requirements. Pursuant to section 110 of the CAA, EPA is 
approving changes made in Connecticut's February 9, 2011, proposed SIP 
revision into the State's SIP.
    The changes to Connecticut's SIP-approved PSD program that EPA is 
approving today are to Connecticut's rules which have been formatted to 
conform to Connecticut's rule drafting standards for Sections 22a-174-1 
and 3a, but in substantive content the rules that address the Tailoring 
Rule provisions are the same as the federal rules. As part of its 
review of the Connecticut submittal, EPA performed a line-by-line 
review of Connecticut's proposed SIP changes and has determined that 
the provisions that EPA is approving today are consistent with the 
Tailoring Rule. Furthermore, EPA has determined that the February 9, 
2011, revision to Connecticut's SIP is consistent with section 110 of 
the CAA. See, e.g., Tailoring Rule, at 75 FR 31561.

V. When is this action effective?

    The effective date of today's final action is the date that this 
notice is published in the Federal Register. In accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 553(d), EPA finds there is good cause for this action to become 
effective on the date of publication. The effective date upon 
publication of this notice for this action is authorized under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3), which allows an effective date less than 30 days after 
publication ``as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found 
and published with the rule.'' The purpose of the 30-day waiting period 
prescribed in section 553(d) is to give affected parties a reasonable 
time to adjust their behavior and prepare before the final rule takes 
effect. Today's rule, however, does not create any new regulatory 
requirements such that affected parties would need time to prepare 
before the rule takes effect. Rather, today's rule provides sources 
emitting GHG at or above the higher emissions thresholds with a 
permitting authority from which it can seek the permits which, prior to 
this rule, federal law already required them to seek, and relieves the 
sources within the State from considering the lower emissions 
thresholds for GHG permitting purposes. For these reasons, EPA finds 
good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) for this action to become effective 
immediately upon publication.

VI. Final Action

    EPA is taking final action to approve the State of Connecticut's 
February 9, 2011 SIP revision, which includes updates to Connecticut's 
air quality regulations, sections 22a-174-1 and 22a-174-3a relating to 
PSD requirements for GHG-emitting sources. Significantly, Connecticut's 
February 9, 2011, SIP revision: (1) Provides the State with the 
authority to regulate GHG under its PSD program, and (2) establishes 
appropriate emissions thresholds for determining PSD applicability with 
respect to new or modified GHG-emitting sources in accordance with 
EPA's Tailoring Rule. EPA has made the determination that the February 
9, 2011 SIP revision is approvable because it is in accordance with the 
CAA and EPA regulations, including regulations pertaining to PSD 
permitting for GHG.

VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act 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 action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
     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 (Public Law 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

[[Page 26938]]

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 rule 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.
    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 action 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 CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by July 11, 2011. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this action 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, Greenhouse gases, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, and Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 15, 2011.

    For H. Curtis Spalding,
Ira W. Leighton,
Acting Regional Administrator, EPA New England.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart H--Connecticut

0
2. Section 52.370 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(99) to read as 
follows:

Sec.  52.370  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (99) Revisions to the State Implementation Plan submitted by the 
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection on February 9, 2011.
    (i) Incorporation by reference. (A) The additions of subsections 
(21) and (49) to Section 22a-174-1, effective January 28, 2011.
    (B) The revisions to Sections 22a-174-3a(a)(1)(H) through (J), 
Sections 22a-174-3a(d)(3)(H), Sections 22a-174-3a(j)(1)(E) through (I), 
Sections 22a-174-3a(k)(1) through (k)(2), and Sections 22a-174-
3a(k)(4), effective January 28, 2011.

[FR Doc. 2011-11218 Filed 5-9-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P