Document ID: EPA-R01-OAR-2007-0399-0010
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Connecticut; State Implementation Plan Revision to Implement the Clean Air Interstate Rule
Posted Date: 2008-01-24T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 16)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 4105-4109]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ja08-21]                         

[[Page 4105]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R01-OAR-2007-0399; FRL-8517-4]

 
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Connecticut; State Implementation Plan Revision to Implement the Clean 
Air Interstate Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision 
submitted by the State of Connecticut on April 26, 2007, with 
amendments submitted on September 12, 2007. This SIP revision addresses 
the requirements of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), promulgated 
on May 12, 2005 and subsequently revised on April 28, 2006 and December 
13, 2006. EPA has determined that the SIP revision fully implements the 
CAIR requirements for Connecticut. Therefore, as a consequence of the 
SIP approval, the Administrator of EPA will also, in a separate 
document, issue a final rule to withdraw the Federal Implementation 
Plan (FIP) concerning NOX ozone-season emissions for 
Connecticut.
    In the SIP revision that EPA is approving, Connecticut will meet 
CAIR requirements by participating in the EPA-administered cap-and-
trade program addressing NOX ozone-season emissions. 
Connecticut's SIP revision is based on EPA's model CAIR NOX 
ozone season rule and is, in most respects, substantively identical to 
that model rule. The Connecticut CAIR program has two major substantive 
differences from that model rule (expanded applicability, and a 
different methodology for allocating NOX allowances), both 
of which are consistent with the flexibility allowed under CAIR for 
state participation in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade program. The 
SIP revision complies with the statutory and regulatory requirements 
for approval of a CAIR NOX ozone-season program. This action 
is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective on January 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket 
Identification No. EPA-R01-OAR-2007-0399. 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., CBI 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 Office of Ecosystem 

Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England 
Regional Office, One Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA. EPA 
requests that, if at all possible, you contact the contact listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your 
inspection. The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday 
through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding legal holidays.
    Copies of the documents relevant to this action are also available 
for public inspection during normal business hours, by appointment at 
the Bureau of Air Management, Department of Environmental Protection, 
State Office Building, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-1630.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions concerning 
today's action, please contact Alison C. Simcox, Air Quality Planning 
Unit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional 
Office, One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (CAQ), Boston, MA 02114-2023, 
telephone number (617) 918-1684, fax number (617) 918-0684, e-mail 
simcox.alison@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
II. What are the Regulatory History and General Requirements of CAIR 
and the CAIR FIPs?
III. EPA Analysis of Connecticut's CAIR SIP Submittal
    A. State Budgets for Allowance Allocations
    B. CAIR Cap-and-Trade Programs
    C. Applicability Provisions for non-EGUs NOX SIP Call 
Sources
    D. NOX Allowance Allocations
    E. Individual Opt-in Units
IV. Final Action
V. When Is This Action Effective?
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What Action Is EPA Taking?

    EPA is approving a revision to Connecticut's SIP that includes a 
new regulation, Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) 
section 22a-174-22c, ``The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Nitrogen 
Oxides (NOX) Ozone Season Trading Program'' (herein called 
``Connecticut's CAIR program''), repeal of RCSA section 22a-174-22a 
(``The Connecticut NOX Budget Program''), as of September 4, 
2007, and repeal of RCSA section 22a-174-22b, ``The Connecticut Post-
2002 NOX Budget Program'' (herein called the ``Connecticut 
NOX SIP Call trading program''), as of May 1, 2010. This SIP 
revision was first submitted on April 26, 2007, but includes amendments 
submitted on September 12, 2007.
    The CT DEP had requested that EPA ``parallel process'' 
Connecticut's proposed CAIR SIP revision. Under this procedure, EPA 
prepared its proposed approval of Connecticut's SIP revision before the 
state's final adoption and repeal of the regulations referenced above.
    EPA has reviewed Connecticut's final adopted regulations and 
determined that changes were made to clarify meaning, improve 
consistency, or to address redundancy, and that they do not differ 
significantly from the ``post-hearing final draft'' version that was 
the subject of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) for this SIP 
Revision (72 FR 50305). For example, definitions of ``commence 
commercial operation'' and ``commence operation'' were clarified; the 
word ``through'' was substituted for a hyphen between dates listed to 
clearly identify the control periods included in the regulation; and 
language was added to clarify that the term ``permitting authority'' 
has the same meaning as in 40 CFR part 96, subpart AAAA, which refers 
to the CAIR NOX Ozone Season Trading Program. None of the 
changes made are deemed significant for SIP approval purposes, and it 
is, therefore, appropriate to prepare this final rule.
    In its SIP revision, Connecticut will meet CAIR requirements by 
requiring certain electric generating units (EGUs) to participate in 
the EPA-administered State CAIR cap-and-trade program addressing 
NOX ozone-season emissions. EPA has determined that the 
Connecticut SIP, as revised, meets the applicable requirements of CAIR. 
As a consequence of the SIP approval, the Administrator of EPA will 
also, in a separate document, issue a final rule to withdraw the FIP 
concerning NOX ozone-season emissions for Connecticut. That 
action will delete and reserve 40 CFR 52.386. The withdrawal of the 
CAIR FIP for Connecticut is a conforming amendment that must be made 
once the SIP is approved because EPA's authority to issue the FIP was 
premised on a deficiency in the SIP for Connecticut. Once the SIP is 
fully approved, EPA no longer has authority for the FIP. Thus, EPA will 
not have the option of maintaining the FIP following the full SIP 
approval. Accordingly, EPA does not intend to offer an opportunity for 
a public hearing or an additional

[[Page 4106]]

opportunity for written public comment on the withdrawal of the FIP.

II. What Is the Regulatory History and General Requirements of CAIR and 
the CAIR FIPs?

    The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) was published by EPA on May 
12, 2005 (70 FR 25162). In this rule, EPA determined that 28 States and 
the District of Columbia contribute significantly to nonattainment and 
interfere with maintenance of the national ambient air quality 
standards (NAAQS) for fine particles (PM2.5) and/or 8-hour 
ozone in downwind States in the eastern part of the country. As a 
result, EPA required those upwind States to revise their SIPs to 
include control measures that reduce emissions of SO2, which 
is a precursor to PM2.5 formation, and/or NOX, 
which is a precursor to both ozone and PM2.5 formation. For 
jurisdictions that contribute significantly to downwind 
PM2.5 nonattainment, CAIR sets annual State-wide emission 
reduction requirements (i.e., budgets) for SO2 and annual 
State-wide emission reduction requirements for NOX. 
Similarly, for jurisdictions that contribute significantly to 8-hour 
ozone nonattainment, CAIR sets State-wide emission reduction 
requirements for NOX for the ozone season (May 1st to 
September 30th). Under CAIR, States may implement these reduction 
requirements by participating in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade 
programs or by adopting other control measures. The first phase of 
NOX reductions starts in 2009 and continues through 2014, 
while the first phase of SO2 reductions starts in 2010 and 
continues through 2014. The second phase of reductions for both 
NOX and SO2 starts in 2015 and continues 
thereafter.
    More information on the regulatory history and requirements of CAIR 
and the CAIR FIPs is available in the NPR and will not be restated 
here.

III. EPA Analysis of Connecticut's CAIR SIP Submittal

    A brief summary of EPA's review of Connecticut's CAIR program is 
given below. Additional details regarding requirements of Connecticut's 
22a-174-22c regulation and EPA's evaluation of this regulation are 
available in the NPR for this SIP revision. In addition, Connecticut's 
CAIR SIP submittal is available in the docket supporting this action.

A. State Budgets for Allowance Allocations

    The CAIR NOX annual and ozone season budgets were 
developed from historical heat input data for EGUs. Using these data, 
EPA calculated annual and ozone season regional heat input values, 
which were multiplied by 0.15 pounds per million British thermal units 
(lb/mmBtu), for phase 1 of the CAIR program (2009-2014) and by 0.125 
lb/mmBtu, for phase 2 of the CAIR program (2015 and thereafter) to 
obtain regional NOX budgets for 2009-2014 and for 2015 and 
thereafter, respectively. EPA derived the State NOX annual 
and ozone season budgets from the regional budgets using State heat 
input data adjusted by fuel factors. Connecticut, however, is only 
required to participate in the CAIR NOX ozone-season 
program, not the CAIR NOX annual or SO2 trading 
programs. Therefore, only CAIR NOX ozone-season budgets 
apply to the Connecticut CAIR program.
    In today's action, EPA is approving Connecticut's SIP revision, 
which includes a new regulation, 22a-174-22c, which comprises 
Connecticut's CAIR program. This SIP revision adopts the budget 
established for the State in CAIR, i.e., 2,559 tons of NOX 
ozone-season emissions for CAIR phases 1 and 2, plus an additional 132 
tons of NOX ozone-season emissions for both phases 1 and 2 
to account for NOX emissions from ``non-EGUs'' from the 
Connecticut NOX SIP Call trading program. The total 
NOX ozone-season budget is therefore 2,691 tons of 
NOX ozone-season emissions for CAIR phases 1 and 2. 
Connecticut's SIP revision sets this budget as the total number of 
allowances (with each allowance authorizing one ton of NOX 
ozone-season emissions) available for allocation for each year under 
the EPA-administered CAIR cap-and-trade program.

B. CAIR Cap-and-Trade Programs

    The CAIR NOX annual and ozone-season model trading rules 
both largely mirror the structure of the NOX SIP Call model 
trading rule in 40 CFR part 96, subparts A through I. While the 
provisions of the NOX annual and ozone-season model rules 
are similar, there are some differences. For example, the 
NOX ozone season model rule reflects the fact that the CAIR 
NOX ozone-season trading program replaces the NOX 
SIP Call trading program after the 2008 ozone-season and is coordinated 
with the NOX SIP Call program. The NOX ozone-
season model rule provides incentives for early emissions reductions by 
allowing banked, pre-2009 NOX SIP Call allowances to be used 
for compliance in the CAIR NOX ozone-season trading program. 
In addition, States have the option of continuing to meet their 
NOX SIP Call requirements by participating in the CAIR 
NOX ozone season trading program and including all their 
NOX SIP Call trading sources in that program.
    In the SIP revision, Connecticut will implement its CAIR budgets by 
requiring EGUs (as well as ``non-EGUs'' from its NOX SIP 
Call trading program, as discussed below) to participate in EPA-
administered cap-and-trade programs for NOX ozone-season 
emissions. Connecticut has adopted a full SIP revision that adopts, 
with certain allowed changes discussed below, the CAIR model cap-and-
trade rules for NOX ozone-season emissions.

C. Applicability Provisions for Non-EGU NOX SIP Call Sources

    In general, the CAIR model trading rules apply to any stationary, 
fossil-fuel-fired boiler or stationary, fossil-fuel-fired combustion 
turbine serving at any time, since the later of November 15, 1990 or 
the start-up of the unit's combustion chamber, a generator with 
nameplate capacity of more than 25 MWe producing electricity for sale.
    States have the option of bringing in, for the CAIR NOX 
ozone-season program only, those units in the State's NOX 
SIP Call trading program that are not EGUs as defined under CAIR 
(herein called ``non-EGUs''). Under this option, the CAIR 
NOX ozone-season program must cover all large industrial 
boilers and combustion turbines, as well as any small EGUs (i.e., units 
serving a generator with a nameplate capacity of 25 MWe or less) that 
the State currently requires to be in the NOX SIP Call 
trading program.
    Connecticut has chosen to expand the applicability provisions of 
the CAIR NOX ozone season trading program to include all 
units in the State's NOX SIP Call trading program. Units in 
the Connecticut NOX SIP Call trading program include EGUs of 
15 MW or more and non-EGUs (such as industrial boilers and combustion 
turbines) with a maximum design heat input of 250 MMBtu/hr or more. 
These units will be included in the Connecticut CAIR program beginning 
with the control period in 2009. EPA has determined that Connecticut's 
regulation 22a-174-22c includes the allowable CAIR applicability 
provisions relating to adding all NOX SIP Call trading-
program units to the Connecticut CAIR NOX ozone season 
program.

[[Page 4107]]

D. NOX Allowance Allocations

    Deadlines: CAIR provides in 40 CFR 51.123(aa)(2)(iii)(C) that for a 
full SIP revision, ``[t]he State's methodology must require that, for 
EGUs commencing operation before January 1, 2001, the State will 
determine, and notify the Administrator of, each unit's allocation of 
CAIR NOX allowances by October 31, 2006 for the ozone 
seasons 2009, 2010, and 2011.'' Connecticut's SIP revision requires 
that it submit and it in fact did submit these allocations by April 30, 
2007 (the deadline for submittal applicable to abbreviated SIP 
revisions under 40 CFR 51.123(ee)(2)(ii)(C)). The purpose of the 
October 31, 2006 deadline was to allow EPA's Clean Air Markets Division 
sufficient time to process the allocations. At this point, as 
Connecticut has in fact submitted its allocations well before the date 
of this document, and as the Clean Air Markets Division is fully able 
to process the allocations, it makes no difference whether EPA received 
the 2009-2011 allocations in April of 2007 or October of 2006. EPA will 
still be able to record the allocations and provide the allowances to 
owners and operators sufficiently in advance of the 2009-2011 control 
periods. EPA considers the late submittal harmless error and 
consequently approves this SIP revision.
    NOX allowance-allocation methodology: Under the NOX 
allowance-allocation methodology in the CAIR model trading rules and in 
the CAIR FIP, NOX annual and ozone-season allowances are 
allocated to units that have operated for five years (i.e., ``existing 
units''), based on heat input data from a three-year period that are 
adjusted for fuel type by using fuel factors of 1.0 for coal, 0.6 for 
oil, and 0.4 for other fuels. The CAIR model trading rules and the CAIR 
FIP also provide a new unit set-aside from which units without five 
years of operation are allocated allowances based on the units' prior 
year emissions.
    States may establish in their SIP submissions a different 
NOX allowance-allocation methodology that will be used to 
allocate allowances to sources in the State if certain requirements are 
met concerning the timing of submission of units' allocations to the 
Administrator for recordation and the total amount of allowances 
allocated for each control period. In adopting alternative 
NOX allowance-allocation methodologies, States have 
flexibility with regard to:
    1. The cost to recipients of the allowances, which may be 
distributed for free or auctioned;
    2. The frequency of allocations;
    3. The basis for allocating allowances, which may be distributed, 
for example, based on historical heat input or electric and thermal 
output; and
    4. The use of allowance set-asides and, if used, their size.
    Connecticut has chosen to replace the provisions of the CAIR 
NOX ozone-season model trading rule concerning allowance 
allocations with its own methodology. Connecticut's CAIR program is 
codified at RCSA section 22a-174-22c. Whereas the model trading rule 
uses an allocation methodology that is fuel-adjusted and based on heat 
input, Connecticut's allocation methodology is not fuel-adjusted and is 
largely based on heat output. Connecticut also provides a percentage of 
allowances for a new unit set-aside and for an energy efficiency/
renewable energy set-aside (EERESA) and Qualifying Other Project 
(QOPs).
    For the 2009 through 2011 control periods, Connecticut will first 
allocate NOX allowances to CAIR NOX Ozone Season 
units which are cogeneration, industrial or waste-tire-fired units on 
an input basis, then will allocate allowances to older EGUs using an 
output basis. Remaining allocations will be allocated to newer EGUs on 
a pro-rated output basis. For the 2012 control period and beyond, 
Connecticut will allocate allowances to both older and newer EGUs on a 
pro-rated output basis.
    Connecticut has set a new unit set-aside at 7 percent of the 
State's CAIR budget during CAIR phase 1 (2009-2014), and at 5 percent 
of the State's CAIR budget during CAIR phase 2 (2015 and thereafter). 
Therefore, the new unit set-aside includes 200 CAIR NOX 
ozone-season allowances during CAIR phase 1, and 134 allowances during 
CAIR phase 2. Connecticut has set the EERESA at 10 percent of the 
State's CAIR budget for both phases of the CAIR program. Therefore, the 
EERESA includes 268 CAIR NOX allowances for the 2009 and 
subsequent ozone-season control periods.
    More details on Connecticut's methodology for allocating CAIR 
allowances, as well as information on Connecticut CAIR permits and 
requirements for facilities to report emissions data, can be found in 
the NPR and in Connecticut's CAIR SIP submittal available in the docket 
supporting this action.
    In the NPR, EPA identified two potential ambiguities in the 
allocation provisions of Connecticut's proposed CAIR program, and 
proposed its interpretations of those provisions. See 72 FR 50309. EPA 
received no comments regarding these proposed interpretations. 
Consequently, EPA interprets the provisions involved as follows.
    First, the proposed regulation uses the term ``NO[X] allowance,'' 
which is not defined, in three places. See RCSA sections 22a-174-
22c(c)(2), 22a-174-22c(c)(3)(B), 22a-174-22c(g)(4). EPA interprets the 
term ``NO[X] allowance'' when used in RCSA section 22a-174-22c as being 
identical to the term ``CAIR NO[X] Ozone Season allowance'' as defined 
at 40 CFR 96.302.
    Second, under RCSA sections 22a-174-22c(e)(7)(A) and (B) and 22a-
174-22c(e)(8)(A), there is no limit to the number of allowances that 
can be allocated to CAIR NOX Ozone Season units which are 
cogeneration units, industrial units, waste-tire-fired units, or Phase 
I units in any control period. For purposes of construing Connecticut's 
proposed SIP revision, EPA interprets RCSA sections 22a-174-22c(e)(2) 
and 22a-174-22c(e)(3) to prohibit the Connecticut DEP from allocating 
allowances in excess of the total state budget, and to control in any 
conflict with RCSA sections 22a-174-22c(e)(7)(A) and (B) and 22a-174-
22c(e)(8)(A). Thus, if the operation of RCSA sections 22a-174-
22c(e)(7)(A)-(B) and/or 22a-174-22c(e)(8)(A) were to yield allowances 
for CAIR NOX Ozone Season units which are cogeneration 
units, industrial units, waste-tire-fired units, or Phase I units in 
excess of the state budget, either by themselves or in combination with 
allocations to other categories, then RCSA sections 22a-174-22c(e)(2) 
and 22a-174-22c(e)(3) would require the Connecticut DEP to recalculate 
or reallocate allowances so as not to exceed the state budget.
    EPA has relied on these interpretations of Connecticut's proposed 
SIP revision for the purposes of approving it as meeting the 
requirements of the Act and the CAIR program, and these interpretations 
represent EPA's formal interpretations of the SIP provisions at issue 
for purposes of federal law.

E. Individual Opt-in Units

    The Connecticut CAIR SIP does not include opt-in provisions because 
the State has chosen to allocate CAIR allowances using an energy-output 
methodology that cannot be used for opt-in sources under the model CAIR 
NOX ozone-season trading rule. In addition, Connecticut does 
not expect there to be a demand for opt-in provisions as no source 
opted into Connecticut's NOX SIP Call trading program.

[[Page 4108]]

IV. Final Action

    EPA is approving a revision to Connecticut's SIP that includes a 
new regulation, RCSA section 22a-174-22c (Connecticut's CAIR program), 
and repeal of RCSA section 22a-174-22a (``The Connecticut 
NOX Budget Program''), as of September 4, 2007, and of RCSA 
section 22a-174-22b (``The Connecticut Post-2002 NOX Budget 
Program''), as of May 1, 2010. Under this SIP revision, Connecticut 
will participate in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade program for 
NOX ozone-season emissions. The SIP revision meets the 
applicable requirements in 40 CFR 51.123(o) and (aa), with regard to 
NOX ozone season emissions. EPA has determined that the SIP 
as revised meets the requirements of CAIR. As a consequence of the SIP 
approval, the Administrator of EPA will also issue, without providing 
an opportunity for a public hearing or an additional opportunity for 
written public comment, a final rule to withdraw the CAIR FIP 
concerning NOX ozone-season emissions for Connecticut. That 
action will delete and reserve 40 CFR 52.386 in part 52.
    Other specific requirements of the CAIR SIP revision and the 
rationale for EPA's approval are explained in the NPR and will not be 
restated here. No public comments were received on the NPR.

V. When Is This Action Effective?

    EPA finds that there is good cause for this approval to become 
effective on the date of publication of this action in the Federal 
Register, because a delayed effective date is unnecessary due to the 
nature of the approval, which allows the State to make allocations 
under its CAIR rules. The expedited effective date for this action is 
authorized under both 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), which provides that rule 
actions may become effective less than 30 days after publication if the 
rule ``grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction'' 
and 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.'' CAIR SIP approvals exempt 
states and CAIR sources within states from being subject to allowance 
allocation provisions in the CAIR FIPs that otherwise would apply, 
allowing States to make their own allowance allocations based on their 
SIP-approved State rule. The exemption from these obligations is 
sufficient reason to allow an expedited effective date of this rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1). In addition, Connecticut's exemption from 
these obligations provides good cause to make this rule effective on 
the date of publication of this action in the Federal Register, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). The purpose of the 30-day waiting 
period prescribed in 5 U.S.C. 553(d) is to give affected parties a 
reasonable time to adjust their behavior and prepare before the final 
rule takes effect. Where, as here, the final rule grants an exemption 
rather than imposing obligations, and where the effect of the final 
rule is simply to approve for federal purposes obligations that are 
already effective under state law, affected parties, such as the State 
of Connecticut and CAIR sources within the State, do not need time to 
adjust and prepare before the rule takes effect.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this 
reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, 
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action 
merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes 
no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. 
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because 
this rule 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 mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).
    This rule also does not have tribal implications because it will 
not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on 
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 
FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism 
implications because it does not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 
FR 43255, August 10, 1999), 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 Clean 
Air Act. This rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it approves a state rule 
implementing a Federal standard.
    In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. In 
this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the 
State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority 
to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be 
inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP 
submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise 
satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements 
of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. This rule does not 
impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by March 24, 2008.
    Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this 
final rule does not affect the finality of this rule for the purposes 
of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition 
for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the 
effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged 
later in proceedings to

[[Page 4109]]

enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, 
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur 
dioxide.

    Dated: January 15, 2008.
Robert W. Varney,
Regional Administrator, EPA New England.

0
Part 52 of chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 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 revising paragraph (c)(80)(i)(B) and 
adding paragraphs (c)(86)(iii) and (c)(97) to read as follows:

Sec.  52.370  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (80) * * * .
    (i) * * *
    (B) Regulation section 22a-174-22a, ``The Nitrogen Oxides 
(NOX) Budget Program'' adopted on December 15, 1998, and 
effective on March 3, 1999. As of January 24, 2008, Section 22a-174-22a 
is superseded and shall have no prospective effect. Violations of 
Section 22a-174-22a that occur prior to January 24, 2008 shall continue 
to be subject to enforcement, including on or after January 24, 2008, 
in accordance with applicable law.
* * * * *
    (86) * * *
    (iii) Section 22a-174-22b, State of Connecticut Regulation of 
Department of Environmental Protection Concerning The Post-2002 
Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Budget Program, is fully enforceable 
up to and including April 30, 2010. As of May 1, 2010, Section 22a-174-
22b is superseded and shall have no prospective effect. Violations of 
Section 22a-174-22b that occur prior to May 1, 2010 shall be subject to 
enforcement, including on or after May 1, 2010, in accordance with 
applicable law.
* * * * *
    (97) Revisions to the State Implementation Plan submitted by the 
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection on April 26, 2007 
and September 12, 2007.
    (i) Incorporation by reference.
    (A) Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) section 22a-
174-22c entitled ``The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Nitrogen Oxides 
(NOX) Ozone Season Trading Program,'' effective in the State 
of Connecticut on September 4, 2007.

0
3. In Sec.  52.385, Table 52.385 is amended by adding new entries to 
existing state citations for 22a-174-22a and 22a-174-22b; and by adding 
a new state citation for 22a-174-22c to read as follows:

Sec.  52.385  EPA-approved Connecticut regulations.

* * * * *

                                                         Table 52.385.--EPA-Approved Regulations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Dates
                                                            ----------------------
  Connecticut state citation           Title/subject            Date       Date      Federal Register citation    Section       Comments/description
                                                              adopted    approved                                  52.370
                                                              by State    by EPA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                      * * * * * * *
22a-174-22a..................  The Connecticut NOX Budget      9/04/07    1/24/08  [Insert Federal Register        (c)(97)  Repealed as of January 24,
                                Program.                                            page number where the                    2008. Superseded by CAIR.
                                                                                    document begins].

                                                                      * * * * * * *
22a-174-22b..................  The Connecticut Post-2002       9/04/07    1/24/08  [Insert Federal Register        (c)(97)  Repealed as of May 1, 2010.
                                NOX Budget Program, as of                           page number where the                    Superseded by CAIR.
                                May 1, 2010.                                        document begins].
22a-174-22c..................  The Clean Air Interstate        9/04/07    1/24/08  [Insert Federal Register        (c)(97)
                                Rule (CAIR) Nitrogen Oxides                         page number where the
                                (NOX) Ozone Season Trading                          document begins].
                                Program.

                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. E8-1183 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]

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