Document ID: EPA-R04-OAR-2016-0615-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: Tennessee; Non-Interference Demonstration for Federal Low-Reid Vapor Pressure Requirement in Middle Tennessee
Posted Date: 2017-02-24T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11517-11522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03579]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2016-0615; FRL-9959-08-Region 4]

Air Plan Approval; TN: Non-interference Demonstration for Federal 
Low-Reid Vapor Pressure Requirement in Middle Tennessee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the 
State of Tennessee, submitted through the Tennessee Department of 
Environment and Conservation (TDEC), on November 21, 2016. This SIP 
revision was submitted in support of the State's request that EPA 
change the federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for Davidson, 
Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties (hereinafter 
referred to as the ``Middle Tennessee Area'' or ``Area''). Tennessee's 
November 21, 2016, SIP submittal revises its maintenance plan for the 
Middle Tennessee Area for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air 
quality standard (NAAQS) and demonstrates that relaxing the federal RVP 
requirements in this Area would not interfere with the Area's ability 
to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). 
Specifically, Tennessee's SIP revision concludes that relaxing the 
federal RVP requirement from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0 
psi for gasoline sold between June 1 and September 15 of each year in 
the Area would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of the

[[Page 11518]]

NAAQS or with any other CAA requirement. EPA is proposing to determine 
that Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision is consistent with the 
applicable provisions of the CAA.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2016-0615 at http://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 submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e. on the Web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, 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: D. Brad Akers, Air Regulatory 
Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, 
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 
30303-8960. Mr. Akers can be reached via telephone at (404) 562-9089 or 
via electronic mail at akers.brad@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. What is being proposed today?

    This rulemaking proposes to approve Tennessee's noninterference 
demonstration, submitted on November 21, 2016, in support of the 
State's request that EPA relax the federal RVP requirement from 7.8 psi 
to 9.0 psi for gasoline sold between June 1 and September 15 of each 
year (i.e., during high ozone season) in the Area. The State is 
requesting the removal of the federal 7.8 psi RVP requirement. As part 
of that request, Tennessee has evaluated whether removal of this 
requirement would interfere with air quality in the Area. To make this 
demonstration of noninterference, Tennessee completed a technical 
analysis, including modeling, to estimate the change in emissions that 
would result from a switch to 9.0 psi RVP fuel. EPA has reviewed this 
technical analysis and is proposing to find that Tennessee's 
demonstration supports the conclusion that the use of gasoline with an 
RVP of 9.0 psi throughout the Middle Tennessee Area will not interfere 
with attainment or maintenance of any NAAQS or with any other 
applicable requirement of the CAA.
    EPA is proposing to approve changes to the existing CAA section 
110(a)(1) ozone maintenance plan, including updated modeling, that show 
that the Middle Tennessee Area can continue to maintain the ozone 
standards without the use of gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi during the 
high ozone season. More specifically, EPA is proposing to approve that 
portion of Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision which includes a 
technical demonstration that changing the federal RVP requirements in 
this Area from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi will not interfere with attainment or 
maintenance of any NAAQS or with any other applicable requirement of 
the CAA.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A separate rulemaking is required for relaxation of the 
current requirement to use gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi in the 
Area. This action proposes EPA's evaluation of the approvability of 
Tennessee's noninterference demonstration pursuant to section 
110(l). The decision regarding removal of Federal RVP requirements 
pursuant to section 211(h) in the Area includes other considerations 
evaluated at the discretion of the Administrator. As such, the 
determination regarding whether to remove the Area from those areas 
subject to the section 211(h) requirements is made through a 
separate rulemaking action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This preamble is hereinafter organized into five parts. Section II 
provides the background of the Middle Tennessee Area designation status 
with respect to the various ozone NAAQS. Section III describes the 
applicable history of federal gasoline regulation. Section IV provides 
the Agency's policy regarding relaxation of the volatility standards. 
Section V provides EPA's analysis of the information submitted by 
Tennessee to support a change for the conventional gasoline volatility 
standard in the Middle Tennessee Area.

II. What is the background for the Middle Tennessee Area?

    The Middle Tennessee Area was originally designated as a 1-hour 
ozone nonattainment area by EPA on March 3, 1978 (43 FR 8962). The 
Middle Tennessee Area, then referred to as the Nashville Area, was 
geographically defined as Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and 
Wilson Counties, Tennessee. On November 6, 1991, by operation of law 
under section 181(a) of the CAA, EPA classified the Middle Tennessee 
nonattainment area as a moderate nonattainment area for ozone. See 56 
FR 56693. Among the requirements applicable to nonattainment areas for 
the 1-hour ozone NAAQS, pursuant to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 
1990, was the requirement to meet certain volatility standards (known 
as Reid Vapor Pressure or RVP) for gasoline sold commercially for 
calendar years 1992 and beyond. See 55 FR 23658 (June 11, 1990). As 
discussed in Section III below, a 7.8 psi federal RVP requirement first 
applied to the Area during the high ozone season given its status as a 
marginal nonattainment area for the 1-hour ozone standard after the 
effective date of the November 6, 1991 designation.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The designations were effective January 6, 1992.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TDEC originally requested a redesignation of the Middle Tennessee 
Area to attainment for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS on November 14, 1994. 
Tennessee updated its request and maintenance plan on August 9, 1995, 
and January 19, 1996. EPA approved the redesignation and maintenance 
plan on October 30, 1996, based on 1992-1994 ambient air quality 
monitoring data showing the Area attaining the NAAQS. See 61 FR 55903. 
Tennessee's 1-hour ozone redesignation request and maintenance plan did 
not include a request to relax the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard.
    On April 30, 2004, EPA designated and classified areas for the 8-
hour ozone NAAQS that was promulgated at a level of 0.085 parts per 
million on July 18, 1997. See 69 FR 23857. In this action, the Middle 
Tennessee Area had a pending designation as nonattainment for the 1997 
8-hour ozone NAAQS with a delayed effective date because the Area was 
an Early Action Compact (EAC) area. EAC areas developed attainment 
demonstrations and implemented control measures on an expedited 
schedule to bring areas into compliance with the NAAQS prior to the 
effective designations. As such, TDEC submitted an attainment 
demonstration for the Middle Tennessee Area on December 29, 2004. EPA 
approved the attainment demonstration for the Area on August 26, 2005 
(70 FR 50199). Subsequently, the Area showed attainment for the 1997 8-
hour ozone NAAQS with a design value of 0.084 parts per million using 
quality assured data for the years of 2005-2007. The Area was 
designated to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in a final 
rulemaking on April 2, 2008, and was therefore never effectively 
designated as

[[Page 11519]]

nonattainment for that NAAQS. See 73 FR 17897. Tennessee did not 
request to relax the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard in relation to the 
EAC planning or attainment demonstration.
    Pursuant to CAA section 110(a)(1), and consistent with EPA 
guidance, EAC areas submitted plans to demonstrate continued 
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.\3\ As required, these 
110(a)(1) maintenance plans provide for continued attainment and 
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years from 
the effective date of these areas' designation as attainment for the 
1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. These plans also include components 
demonstrating how each area will continue to attain the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS, and provide contingency measures should an area violate 
the NAAQS. On August 3, 2010, TDEC submitted a draft 110(a)(1) 
maintenance plan for the Middle Tennessee Area for the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS, and submitted the final SIP revision on October 13, 2010. 
EPA approved the maintenance plan on January 28, 2011 (76 FR 5078).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ US EPA, Lydia Wegman, May 20, 2005. Memorandum and Guidance 
Document: Maintenance Plan Guidance Document for Certain 8-hour 
Ozone Areas Under Section 110(a)(1) of Clean Air Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tennessee is now requesting that EPA remove the federal 7.8 psi RVP 
requirement for the Middle Tennessee Area, and the State submitted a 
SIP revision on November 21, 2016, revising its 110(a)(1) maintenance 
plan for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, including a noninterference 
demonstration to support its request.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Effective July 20, 2012, EPA designated the Middle Tennessee 
Area as unclassifiable/attainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. 
See 77 FR 30088 (April 30, 2012). Although the Middle Tennessee Area 
is designated as unclassifiable/attainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS and attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, the federal 
7.8 psi RVP requirement nonetheless remains in place because the 
State has never requested removal of the more stringent RVP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. What is the history of the gasoline volatility requirement?

    On August 19, 1987 (52 FR 31274), EPA determined that gasoline 
nationwide had become increasingly volatile, causing an increase in 
evaporative emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment. 
Evaporative emissions from gasoline, referred to as volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs), are precursors to the formation of tropospheric ozone 
and contribute to the nation's ground-level ozone problem. Exposure to 
ground-level ozone can reduce lung function (thereby aggravating asthma 
or other respiratory conditions), increase susceptibility to 
respiratory infection, and may contribute to premature death in people 
with heart and lung disease.
    The most common measure of fuel volatility that is useful in 
evaluating gasoline evaporative emissions is RVP. Under section 211(c) 
of CAA, EPA promulgated regulations on March 22, 1989 (54 FR 11868), 
that set maximum limits for the RVP of gasoline sold during the high 
ozone season. These regulations constituted Phase I of a two-phase 
nationwide program, which was designed to reduce the volatility of 
commercial gasoline during the summer ozone control season. On June 11, 
1990 (55 FR 23658), EPA promulgated more stringent volatility controls 
as Phase II of the volatility control program. These requirements 
established maximum RVP standards of 9.0 psi or 7.8 psi (depending on 
the State, the month, and the area's initial ozone attainment 
designation with respect to the 1-hour ozone NAAQS during the high 
ozone season).
    The 1990 CAA Amendments established a new section, 211(h), to 
address fuel volatility. Section 211(h) requires EPA to promulgate 
regulations making it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, dispense, 
supply, offer for supply, transport, or introduce into commerce 
gasoline with an RVP level in excess of 9.0 psi during the high ozone 
season. Section 211(h) prohibits EPA from establishing a volatility 
standard more stringent than 9.0 psi in an attainment area, except that 
EPA may impose a lower (more stringent) standard in any former ozone 
nonattainment area redesignated to attainment.
    On December 12, 1991 (56 FR 64704), EPA modified the Phase II 
volatility regulations to be consistent with section 211(h) of the CAA. 
The modified regulations prohibited the sale of gasoline with an RVP 
above 9.0 psi in all areas designated attainment for ozone, beginning 
in 1992. For areas designated as nonattainment, the regulations 
retained the original Phase II standards published on June 11, 1990 (55 
FR 23658). A current listing of the RVP requirements for states can be 
found on EPA's Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards.
    As explained in the December 12, 1991 (56 FR 64704), Phase II 
rulemaking, EPA believes that relaxation of an applicable RVP standard 
is best accomplished in conjunction with the redesignation process. In 
order for an ozone nonattainment area to be redesignated as an 
attainment area, section 107(d)(3) of the Act requires the state to 
make a showing, pursuant to section 175A of the Act, that the area is 
capable of maintaining attainment for the ozone NAAQS for ten years 
after redesignation. Depending on the area's circumstances, this 
maintenance plan will either demonstrate that the area is capable of 
maintaining attainment for ten years without the more stringent 
volatility standard or that the more stringent volatility standard may 
be necessary for the area to maintain its attainment with the ozone 
NAAQS. Therefore, in the context of a request for redesignation, EPA 
will not relax the volatility standard unless the state requests a 
relaxation and the maintenance plan demonstrates, to the satisfaction 
of EPA, that the area will maintain attainment for ten years without 
the need for the more stringent volatility standard.
    As noted previosly, Tennessee did not request relaxation of the 
applicable 7.8 psi federal RVP standard when the Middle Tennessee Area 
was redesignated to attainment for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. Tennessee is 
therefore now revising its maintenance plan and modeling for the 1997 
8-hour ozone NAAQS with a conservative approach in estimating emissions 
by using a level of 9.0 psi.

IV. What are the section 110(l) requirements?

    To support Tennessee's request to relax the federal RVP requirement 
in the Middle Tennessee Area, the State must demonstrate that the 
requested change will satisfy section 110(l) of the CAA. Section 110(l) 
requires that a revision to the SIP not interfere with any applicable 
requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further progress (as 
defined in section 171), or any other applicable requirement of the 
Act. EPA's criterion for determining the approvability of Tennessee's 
November 21, 2016, SIP revision is whether the noninterference 
demonstration associated with the relaxation request satisfies section 
110(l). The modeling associated with Tennessee's maintenance plan for 
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS is premised upon the 7.8 psi RVP 
requirements. So the request for a change in the federal RVP 
requirement is accompanied by a revision to the maintenance plan with 
updated modeling based on the 9.0 psi RVP. EPA is proposing approval of 
the revised maintenance plan based on an evaluation of current air 
quality monitoring data, the information provided in the revised 
maintenance plan, and the maintenance plan requirements in the CAA.
    EPA evaluates each section 110(l) noninterference demonstration on 
a case-by-case basis considering the circumstances of each SIP 
revision. EPA

[[Page 11520]]

interprets 110(l) as applying to all NAAQS that are in effect, 
including those that have been promulgated but for which EPA has not 
yet made designations. The degree of analysis focused on any particular 
NAAQS in a noninterference demonstration varies depending on the nature 
of the emissions associated with the proposed SIP revision. EPA's 
analysis of Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision pursuant to 
section 110(l) is provided below.
    EPA notes that in this action, it is only proposing to approve the 
State's technical demonstration that the Area can continue to attain 
and maintain the NAAQS and meet other CAA requirements after switching 
to the sale of gasoline with an RVP of 9.0 psi in the Middle Tennessee 
Area during the high ozone season and to amend the SIP to include this 
demonstration and revise the maintenance plan for the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS. Consistent with CAA section 211(h) and the Phase II volatility 
regulations, EPA will initiate a separate rulemaking to relax the 
current federal requirement to use gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi in 
the Middle Tennessee Area.

V. What is EPA's analysis of Tennessee's submittal?

a. Overall Preliminary Conclusions Regarding Tennessee's Non-
Interference Analyses

    On November 21, 2016, TDEC submitted a SIP revision making changes 
to the 110(a)(1) maintenance plan for the Middle Tennessee Area, 
including a noninterference demonstration to support the State's 
request to modify the RVP summertime gasoline requirement from 7.8 psi 
to 9.0 psi for the Area. This demonstration includes an evaluation of 
the impact that the removal of the 7.8 psi RVP requirement would have 
on maintenance of the ozone standards and on the maintenance of the 
other NAAQS.\5\ Tennessee focused its analysis on the impact of the 
change in RVP to attainment and maintenance of the ozone, PM,\6\ and 
NO2 NAAQS because RVP requirements do not affect lead, 
sulfur dioxide (SO2), or carbon monoxide (CO) emissions; 
because VOC and NOX emissions are precursors for ozone and 
PM; and because NO2 is a component of NOX.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The six NAAQS for which EPA establishes health and welfare 
based standards are CO, lead, NO2, ozone, PM, and 
SO2.
    \6\ PM is composed of PM2.5 and PM10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TDEC's noninterference analysis utilized EPA's 2014 Motor Vehicle 
Emissions Simulator (MOVES2014a) emission modeling system to estimate 
emissions for mobile sources.\7\ These mobile source emissions are used 
as part of the evaluation of the potential impacts to the NAAQS that 
might result exclusively from changing the high ozone season RVP 
requirement from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi. As summarized in Tables 1 and 2, 
below, the MOVES model predicted minor increases in mobile source 
NOX and VOC emissions from the switch to 9.0 psi RVP fuel. 
Daily on-road mobile NOX emissions are projected to increase 
by 0.09 tpd in 2018 during the ozone season, while daily on-road mobile 
VOC emissions are projected to increase by 0.05 tpd (approximately 0.3 
percent for both pollutants).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ The MOVES2014a model was the latest EPA mobile source model 
available to the State at the time that it developed its SIP 
revision. TDEC's modeling using MOVES2014a conforms with EPA's 
modeling guidance.

         Table 1--On-road Mobile Source Ozone Season NOX Emissions (Aveage Tons/Day) in Middle Tennessee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            7.8 psi RVP                             9.0 psi RVP
             County              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       2007            2010            2014            2018            2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Davidson........................           40.50           33.80           24.86           15.88           15.92
Rutherford......................           20.40           17.10           12.70            8.28            8.30
Sumner..........................            9.20            7.50            5.22            2.94            2.95
Williamson......................           13.50           11.06            7.82            4.56            4.57
Wilson..........................           13.80           11.31            8.00            4.67            4.68
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................           97.40           80.77           58.59           36.33           36.42
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Table 2--On-road Mobile Source Ozone Season VOC Emissions (Average Tons/Day) in Middle Tennessee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      7.8 psi RVP                             9.0 psi RVP
                          County                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 2007            2010            2014            2018            2018
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Davidson..................................................           17.10           14.69           11.47            8.25            8.26
Rutherford................................................            5.60            5.10            4.44            3.75            3.77
Sumner....................................................            3.30            2.93            2.45            1.95            1.96
Williamson................................................            4.50            3.93            3.17            2.41            2.41
Wilson....................................................            3.30            2.95            2.47            1.99            2.00
                                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.................................................           33.80           29.60           24.00           18.35           18.40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TDEC's analysis in the November 21, 2016, submittal shows that RVP 
relaxation could increase total anthropogenic VOC emissions by 0.8 
percent and increase total anthropogenic NOX emissions by 
0.1 percent in 2018. Table 3, below, shows the total estimated 
anthropogenic emissions of NOX and VOC from area, point, on-
road, nonroad and aircraft, locomotive, and commercial marine source 
categories for the Middle Tennessee Area.\8\ Emissions reported for 
2018 in the Table assume the use of 9.0 psi RVP fuel whereas emissions 
from 2007 through 2014 assume the use of 7.8 psi RVP fuel. The 
110(a)(1) Maintenance Plan Guidance indicates that the principal 
mechanism for demonstrating continued attainment is a projected future 
inventory. NOX and VOC

[[Page 11521]]

emissions are projected to continue to decrease in the Middle Tennessee 
Area even with the use of 9.0 psi RVP fuel in the entire Area. 
NOX emissions are expected to decrease by 46% from 2007 to 
2018 for the Middle Tennessee Area. Similarly, VOC emissions are 
expected to decrease by 26% over the same timeframe. Therefore, 
emissions resulting in the change in RVP are not expected to cause the 
area to be out of compliance with any NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ To see more details about emissions inventory development, 
see Appendices A-D of the November 21, 2016, SIP submittal.

   Table 3--Total Anthropogenic Ozone Season Emissions of NOX and VOC
                 (Average Tons/Day) for Middle Tennessee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Year                          NOX             VOC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 (7.8 psi RVP)......................          164.25          126.18
2010 (7.8 psi RVP)......................          141.48          119.18
2014 (7.8 psi RVP)......................          115.90           93.30
2018 (9.0 psi RVP)......................           89.17           92.91
                                         -------------------------------
    Difference from 2007 to 2018........          -75.08          -33.27
------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Noninterference Analysis for the Ozone NAAQS

    As described above, the Middle Tennessee Area was redesignated to 
attainment for purposes of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. This redesignation 
was based upon a Tennessee redesignation request for the Area which 
included the required 1-hour ozone monitoring data and maintenance plan 
ensuring the Area would remain in attainment of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS 
for at least a period of 10 years (consistent with CAA 175A(a)). The 
maintenance plan requirements remained in place for the counties when 
they were subsequently designated unclassifiable/attainment on April 
30, 2004, for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS (69 FR 23858) effective June 
15, 2004. However, because this 1997 8-hour ozone unclassifiable/
attainment area had an existing maintenance plan pursuant to the 1-hour 
ozone NAAQS, it was required to submit a 10-year 110(a)(1) maintenance 
plan for purposes of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. As required, 
110(a)(1) maintenance plans provide for continued attainment and 
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years from 
the effective date of areas' designation as unclassifiable/attainment 
for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. As a previous 1-hour ozone 
nonattainment area, the Middle Tennessee Area was already subject to 
the federal RVP requirements for high ozone season gasoline. Although 
originally implemented for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS, these Federal RVP 
requirements continued to apply to the Middle Tennessee Area per the 
110(a)(1) maintenance plan required to show continued attainment and 
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
    The Middle Tennessee Area is continuing to meet the 1-hour NAAQS, 
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS,\9\ and the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, based 
on recent air quality monitoring data. The 2008 ozone NAAQS is met when 
the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average concentration, 
averaged over 3 years is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) or less. 
Similarly, the 2015 ozone NAAQS, promulgated October 1, 2015, as 
published in a final rule on October 26, 2015 (80 FR 65292), is met 
when the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average 
concentration, averaged over 3 years is 0.070 ppm or less. The trend in 
design values (DV) for ozone for the Middle Tennessee Area is shown in 
Table 4, with the current DV in the Area being 0.067 ppm in 2015, below 
the 2015 standard. EPA also evaluated the potential increase in the VOC 
and NOX precursor emissions, and whether it is reasonable to 
conclude that the requested change to RVP requirements in the Areas 
during the high ozone season would cause the Middle Tennessee Area to 
be out of compliance with the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ The air quality design value for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS is 
the 3-year average of the annual 4th highest daily maximum 8-hour 
ozone concentration. The level of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is 
0.075 ppm. The 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is not met when the design 
value is greater than 0.075 ppm.

        Table 4--Middle Tennessee Area Ozone Design Value Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Design value
                          Years                                (ppm)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005-2007...............................................           0.084
2006-2008...............................................           0.084
2007-2009...............................................           0.078
2008-2010...............................................           0.076
2009-2011...............................................           0.075
2010-2012...............................................           0.079
2011-2013...............................................           0.076
2012-2014...............................................           0.072
2013-2015...............................................           0.067
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 4 also shows that there is an overall downward trend in ozone 
concentrations in the Middle Tennessee Area. This decline can be 
attributed to federal and state programs that have led to significant 
emissions reductions in ozone precursors, such as federal standards in 
onroad and nonroad mobile source sectors and resultant fleet turnover. 
Given this downward trend, the downward trend in precursor emissions, 
the current ozone concentrations in the Middle Tennessee Area, and the 
results of Tennessee's emissions analysis, EPA is proposing to 
determine that a change to 9.0 psi RVP fuel for the affected counties 
would not interfere with the Area's ability to attain or maintain the 
ozone NAAQS in the Area. There has been no formal determination at this 
point for whether the Middle Tennessee Area is attaining the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS.\10\ However, for the reasons noted above, EPA is proposing to 
determine that changing the RVP to 9.0 psi for the Middle Tennessee 
Area will not significantly impact the Area's ability to attain or 
maintain the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ EPA will designate areas for the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on 
2013-2015 data by October 1, 2017. The deadline for states to submit 
recommendations for initial designations with respect to the 2015 
ozone NAAQS was October 1, 2016. See 80 FR 65292 (October 26, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Noninterference Analysis for the PM NAAQS

    Over the course of several years, EPA has reviewed and revised the 
PM2.5 NAAQS a number of times. On July 16, 1997, EPA 
established an annual PM2.5 NAAQS of 15.0 micrograms per 
cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\), based on a 3-year average of annual mean 
PM2.5 concentrations, and a 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS 
of 65 [mu]g/m\3\, based on a 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 
24-hour concentrations. See 62 FR 36852 (July 18, 1997). On September 
21, 2006, EPA retained the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS of 15.0 
[mu]g/m\3\ but revised the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS to 35 [mu]g/
m\3\, based again on a 3-year average of the 98th

[[Page 11522]]

percentile of 24-hour concentrations. See 71 FR 61144 (October 17, 
2006). On December 14, 2012, EPA retained the 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS of 35 [mu]g/m\3\ but revised the annual primary 
PM2.5 NAAQS to 12.0 [mu]g/m\3\, based again on a 3-year 
average of annual mean PM2.5 concentrations. See 78 FR 3086 
(January 15, 2013).
    The main precursor pollutants for PM2.5 are 
NOX, SO2, VOC, and ammonia. As mentioned earlier 
in this rulemaking, the federal RVP requirements only result in 
emissions benefits for VOC and NOX. Therefore, Tennessee 
focused on these two PM2.5 precursors in its analysis of the 
potential impact of changing the RVP requirements for the Middle 
Tennessee Area on the PM2.5 NAAQS. Tennessee asserted in its 
110(l) demonstration that relaxing the RVP standard will have little 
impact on these precursor emissions in relation to PM formation and is 
not expected to negatively impact attainment or maintenance of the 
PM2.5 NAAQS. Moreover, there have been a number of studies 
which have indicated that SO2 is the primary driver of 
PM2.5 formation in the Southeast.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See, e.g., Journal of Environmental Engineering--
Quantifying the sources of ozone, fine particulate matter, and 
regional haze in the Southeastern United States (June 24, 2009), 
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journalofenvironmental-management.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Given the downward trend in precursor emissions noted above and the 
small increases in those emissions with a relaxation of the RVP 
standard (less than 0.1 tpd for each pollutant), and given that RVP 
will not affect the most significant PM2.5 precursor 
(SO2), EPA is proposing to determine that a change to 9.0 
psi RVP fuel for the affected counties would not interfere with the 
Area's ability to attain or maintain the PM2.5 NAAQS in the 
Area.

d. Noninterference Analysis for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS

    On February 17, 2012, EPA designated all counties in Tennessee as 
unclassifiable/attainment for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS. See 77 FR 
9532. Based on the technical analysis in Tennessee's November 21, 2016, 
SIP revision, the projected increase in total anthropogenic 
NOX emissions associated with the change to 9.0 psi RVP fuel 
for the Middle Tennessee Area is approximately 0.09 tpd in 2018. Given 
the current unclassifiable/attainment designation and the results of 
Tennessee's emissions and modeling analysis, EPA is proposing to 
determine that a change to 9.0 psi RVP fuel for the Middle Tennessee 
Area would not interfere with maintenance of the 2010 NO2 
NAAQS in the Area.

VI. Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing to approve Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP 
revision consisting of a revision to its 110(a)(1) maintenance plan for 
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the Middle Tennessee Area and the 
technical noninterference demonstration supporting the State's request 
to relax the RVP standard to 9.0 psi in the Area. Specifically, EPA is 
proposing to accept updated emissions inventory and projections 
associated with the mobile source modeling used in the State's 
noninterference demonstration related to RVP. EPA is also proposing to 
find that this change in the RVP requirements for the Middle Tennessee 
Area will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any NAAQS or 
with any other applicable requirement of the CAA.
    EPA is proposing that Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision, 
including the technical demonstration associated with the State's 
request for the removal of the federal RVP requirements, and the 
updated attainment inventory and emissions projections, are consistent 
with the applicable provisions of the CAA. Should EPA decide to remove 
the counties of the Middle Tennessee Area from those areas subject to 
the 7.8 psi federal RVP requirements, such action will occur in a 
separate, subsequent rulemaking.

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. See 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 
proposed action merely approves state law as meeting federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action:
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to review 
by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58 
FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
     does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     does not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the CAA; and
     does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or 
in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a 
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does 
not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it impose substantial direct 
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

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

    Dated: January 20, 2017.
V. Anne Heard,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2017-03579 Filed 2-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P