Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0408-0002
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter: Technical Correction
Posted Date: 2016-08-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 155 (Thursday, August 11, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53097-53098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19033]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0408; FRL-9950-46-OAR]
RIN 2060-AS89

Technical Correction to the National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards for Particulate Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing 
revisions to correct an equation in an appendix in the National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particle Pollution. In the ``Rules 
and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register, we are approving the 
correction as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we 
receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this 
proposed rule. Equation 2 describes an intermediate step in the 
calculation of the design value for the annual PM2.5 
(particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 
2.5 micrometers) NAAQS. This proposed action would correct a 
scrivener's error in one of the equations used to calculate an annual 
mean PM2.5 concentration, to properly account for cases 
where a site does not have four complete quarters of data and passes 
one of two substitution tests. This change accurately reflects the 
intended calculation of the annual mean PM2.5 design value 
and is consistent with the text elsewhere in the appendix.

DATES: Written comments must be received by September 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2016-0408, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The 
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. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (e.g., 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 http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brett Gantt, U.S. EPA, Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Assessment Division, 
Air Quality Analysis Group (Mail Code: C304-04), Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-5274; fax number: (919) 
541-3613; email address: gantt.brett@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Why is the EPA issuing this proposed rule?

    This document proposes a revision in appendix N to correct a 
scrivener's error in an intermediate equation in the calculation of the 
annual PM2.5 design value to properly account for cases 
where a site does not have four complete quarters of data in a specific 
year and passes the minimum quarterly value substitution test. We have 
published a direct final rule approving the revisions to appendix N in 
the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register because 
we view this as a non-controversial action and anticipate no adverse 
comment. We have explained our reasons for this action in the preamble 
of the direct final rule.
    If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action 
on this proposed rule. If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw 
the direct final rule, and it will not take effect. We would address 
all public comments in any subsequent final rule based on this proposed 
rule.
    We do not intend to institute a second comment period on this 
action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. 
For further information, please see the information provided in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document.

II. Does this action apply to me?

    This action applies to you if you are calculating the annual 
PM2.5 design value for a site which does not have four 
complete quarters of data for a specific year and passes the minimum 
quarterly value substitution test.

III. Environmental Justice

    The EPA has determined that this proposed rule will not have 
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental 
effects on minority or low-income populations because it does not 
affect the level of protection provided to human health or the 
environment. This rule does not relax the calculation of the annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS design values and, therefore, will not cause 
decreases in the design values used to designate and classify 
nonattainment areas and assess progress towards meeting the NAAQS.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    For a complete discussion of the administrative requirements 
applicable to this action, see the direct final rule in the ``Rules and 
Regulations'' section of this Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

    Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, 
Ozone, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides.

    Dated: August 3, 2016.
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Environmental 
Protection Agency proposes to amend title 40, chapter I of the Code of 
Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 50--NATIONAL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AMBIENT AIR QUALITY 
STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 50 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In appendix N to part 50, in section 4.4, Equation 2 is revised to 
read as follows:

[[Page 53098]]

Appendix N to Part 50--Interpretation of the National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards for PM2.5

* * * * *
4.4 Equations for the Annual PM2.5 NAAQS
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11AU16.003
    
Where:

Xy = the annual mean concentration for year y (y = 1, 2, or 3);
nQ,y = the number of complete quarters Q in year y; and
Xq,y = the mean for quarter q of year y (result of equation 1).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-19033 Filed 8-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P