Document ID: EPA-R05-OAR-2010-0671-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Proposed Approval of the Illinois NOx RACT Waiver Request
Posted Date: 2010-12-08T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76332-76336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30840]

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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R05-OAR-2010-0671; FRL-9236-5]

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Illinois

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed Rule.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve a July 29, 2010, request from the 
State of Illinois to exempt sources of Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) 
in the Illinois portions of the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, Illinois-
Indiana and St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois 8-hour ozone nonattainment 
areas from Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for NOX 
Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for purposes of 
attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard 
(NAAQS). The State's NOX RACT waiver request is based on the 
most recent three years of complete, quality-assured ozone monitoring 
data, which demonstrate that additional reduction of NOX 
emissions in the ozone nonattainment areas would not contribute to 
attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the two ozone 
nonattainment areas. In addition to waiving the NOX RACT 
requirement for the State of Illinois, final approval of the 
NOX RACT waiver would also suspend a requirement for EPA to 
promulgate a NOX RACT Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for 
the 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-
OAR-2010-0671, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: mooney.john@epa.gov.
     Fax: (312) 692-2551.
     Mail: John M. Mooney, Chief, Attainment Planning and 
Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
     Hand Delivery: John M. Mooney, Chief, Attainment Planning 
and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 18th Floor, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
Regional Office's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements 
should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Regional Office 
official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., excluding Federal holidays.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-
2010-0671. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects and viruses. For additional instructions on submitting 
comments, go to section I of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this document.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is open from 
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal 
holidays. We recommend that you telephone Edward Doty at (312) 886-6057 
before visiting the Region 5 office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Doty, Environmental Scientist, 
Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-
18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-6057.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section is arranged as follows:

I. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
II. What is the background for this action?
III. State Petition
IV. EPA Review of the Petition
    A. Have the ozone nonattainment areas attained the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS?
    B. EPA's analysis of Illinois' NOX RACT Waiver 
Petition
V. What are the environmental effects of this action?
VI. EPA's Proposed Action
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

[[Page 76333]]

I. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    When submitting comments, remember to:
    1. Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other identifying 
information (subject heading, Federal Register date, and page number).
    2. Follow directions--EPA may ask you to respond to specific 
questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
    3. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and 
substitute language for your requested changes.
    4. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information 
and/or data you used.
    5. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you 
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
    6. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
    7. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of 
profanity or personal threats.
    8. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline 
identified in the proposed rule.

II. What is the background for this action?

    EPA has determined that ground-level ozone (O3) is 
detrimental to human health. On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38856), EPA 
promulgated an 8-hour ozone NAAQS of 0.08 parts per million parts of 
air (ppm). The standard is violated in an area when any ozone monitor 
in the area (or in its downwind environs) records 8-hour ozone 
concentrations with a 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily 
maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations equaling or exceeding 0.085 ppm.
    Section 107 of the CAA required EPA to designate as nonattainment 
any area that violated the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. The 8-hour ozone 
designations and classifications were promulgated on April 30, 2004 (69 
FR 23857). In that EPA rulemaking, the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, 
Illinois-Indiana (IL-IN) and St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois (MO-IL) areas 
were designated as nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, and 
the designations became effective on June 15, 2004.
    Ground-level ozone is not generally emitted directly by sources. 
Rather, emitted NOX and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 
react in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone, as a 
secondary compound, along with other secondary compounds. 
NOX and VOC are referred to as ``ozone precursors.'' 
Reduction of peak ground-level ozone concentrations is achieved through 
controlling VOC and NOX emissions.
    The CAA, title 1, part D contains two sets of provisions--subparts 
1 and 2--that address planning and emission control requirements for 
ozone nonattainment areas. Subpart 1 contains general, less 
prescriptive requirements for all nonattainment areas of any pollutant 
governed by a NAAQS. Subpart 2 contains more specific requirements for 
ozone nonattainment areas classified under section 181 of the CAA. The 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN and St. Louis, MO-IL areas are 
classified as moderate nonattainment areas under the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ On May 11, 2010 (75 FR 26113), EPA published a final rule to 
redesignate Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana to attainment of the 
1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The Illinois portion of the Chicago-Gary-
Lake County, IL-IN area remains designated as a nonattainment area 
for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The subpart 2 ozone plan requirements under the CAA with respect to 
control of VOC and NOX emissions depend on the ozone 
nonattainment classification of an area. The air quality planning and 
control requirements for the reduction of NOX emissions are 
contained in section 182(f) of the CAA. Section 182(f) requires States 
with areas classified as moderate nonattainment and above to adopt and 
implement the same level of NOX emission controls for major 
stationary sources as are required for major stationary sources of VOC 
emissions. Section 182(f) also provides that these NOX 
emission reduction requirements do not apply to an area outside of an 
ozone transport region if EPA determines that additional reductions of 
NOX emissions would not contribute to attainment of the 
ozone standard in the area. In areas where the ozone standard is 
attained, as demonstrated by complete, quality-assured air quality 
data, without the implementation of the additional section 182(f) 
NOX emission controls, it is clear that the additional 
NOX emission reductions required by section 182(f) did not 
contribute to attainment of the ozone standard.
    On March 17, 2008, EPA notified Douglas P. Scott, Director of the 
Illinois EPA, that EPA had determined that the State of Illinois had 
failed to submit a CAA-required NOX RACT State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision (the NOX RACT emission 
control rules) for the Illinois portions of the Chicago-Gary-Lake 
County, IL-IN and St. Louis, MO-IL ozone nonattainment areas. EPA 
formalized this finding in the Federal Register on March 24, 2008 (73 
FR 15416), and that action commenced the sanctions process outlined by 
section 179 of the CAA and 40 CFR 52.31. See 59 FR 39832, August 4, 
1994. Under this process, the new source two-to-one (2:1) emissions 
offset sanction would take effect in the Illinois ozone nonattainment 
areas on September 24, 2009. The sanctions clock would run and any 
imposed sanctions would remain in effect until either a NOX 
RACT SIP revision is submitted to EPA by the State of Illinois and is 
affirmatively determined complete by EPA, or a NOX control 
waiver, under section 182(f), is granted by EPA.
    On September 1 and 2, 2009, the Illinois EPA submitted adopted 
NOX emission control regulations, as a requested SIP 
revision, to meet the CAA NOX RACT requirement. On September 
16, 2009, EPA determined this SIP revision submittal to be complete, 
terminating the sanctions clock activated on March 24, 2008.\2\ EPA 
continues to review this SIP revision, but has not yet completed 
rulemaking on this requested SIP revision. Therefore, the Illinois SIP 
does not yet contain the Illinois NOX emission control 
rules. In addition, it is noted that Illinois has not yet completed 
implementation of the NOX emission control rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Termination of the sanctions clock did not suspend or 
terminate a FIP clock (also started on March 24, 2008) requiring EPA 
to promulgate a NOX RACT FIP within two years of the 
determination that Illinois had failed to submit required 
NOX RACT rules. The FIP clock can only be terminated 
(EPA's obligation to promulgate a FIP is ended) if EPA approves 
Illinois' NOX emission control rules as NOX 
RACT in the Illinois SIP or suspended if EPA approves a waiver of 
the NOX RACT requirement for both of the ozone 
nonattainment areas. If the FIP clock is suspended through approval 
of the NOX RACT waiver, the suspension of the FIP clock 
continues only as long as the two ozone nonattainment areas continue 
to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The FIP clock is terminated 
if EPA approves the redesignation of both areas (the Illinois 
portions of the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN and St. Louis, MO-IL 
8-hour ozone nonattainment areas) to attainment of the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The criteria established for determining the applicability of 
section 182(f) NOX emission controls and the evaluation of 
section 182(f) NOX emission control waiver requests are set 
forth in a January 14, 2005, EPA policy memorandum, ``Guidance on 
Limiting Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Requirements Related to 8-
Hour Ozone Implementation,'' from Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards.

[[Page 76334]]

III. State Petition

    On July 29, 2010, Illinois EPA submitted a request for a 
NOX RACT waiver for the Illinois ozone nonattainment 
areas.\3\ This NOX RACT waiver was requested for the 1997 8-
hour ozone standard. Illinois EPA requested that EPA consider the 
NOX emission control rules submitted on September 1 and 2, 
2009, for approval as NOX RACT in the Illinois SIP under a 
possible new ozone standard that EPA is currently considering.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Illinois portion of the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN 
8-hour ozone nonattainment area includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, 
McHenry, and Will Counties, and portions of Grundy (Aux Sable and 
Goose Lake Townships) and Kendall (Oswego Township) Counties. The 
Illinois portion of the St. Louis, MO-IL 8-hour ozone nonattainment 
area includes Jersey, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Illinois EPA based its NOX RACT waiver request on ozone 
air quality data for 2007-2009, which demonstrate that the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS has been attained in the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN 
and St. Louis, MO-IL areas without the implementation of NOX RACT in 
the Illinois portions of these areas.

IV. EPA Review of the Petition

A. Have the ozone nonattainment areas attained the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS?

    An area may be considered to be attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone 
standard if there are no violations of the standard, as determined in 
accordance with 40 CFR 50.10 and appendix I, based on the most recent 
three years of complete, quality-assured air quality monitoring data at 
all ozone monitoring sites in the area and in its nearby downwind 
environs. To attain this standard, the average of the annual fourth-
high daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations measured and 
recorded at each monitoring site over the most recent 3-year period 
(the monitoring site's ozone design value) must not exceed the ozone 
standard. Based on an ozone data rounding convention described in 40 
CFR 50, appendix I, the 1997 8-hour ozone standard is attained if the 
area's ozone design value \4\ is 0.084 ppm or less. The data must be 
collected and quality-assured in accordance with 40 CFR 58, and must be 
recorded in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS). The ozone monitors 
generally should have remained at the same locations for duration of 
the monitoring period required to demonstrate attainment of the ozone 
standard. The data supporting attainment of the standard must be 
complete in accordance with 40 CFR 50, appendix I.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The worst-case monitoring site-specific ozone design value 
in the area and in its downwind environs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 1 summarizes the annual fourth-high daily maximum 8-hour 
ozone concentrations and their 3-year (2007-2009) averages for all 
monitors in the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN area and for the 
Chiwaukee Prairie monitoring site in Wisconsin (considered to be a high 
ozone monitor in the downwind environs of the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, 
IL-IN area). These data reflect peak ozone concentrations quality 
assured and reported by the States of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

   Table 1--Annual Fourth-High Daily Maximum 8-Hour Ozone Concentrations in Parts per Million (ppm) and 3-Year
                              Averages for the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              State/monitoring site                    2007            2008            2009       3-Year average
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Indiana Monitoring Sites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary............................................           0.085           0.062           0.058           0.068
Hammond.........................................           0.077           0.068           0.065           0.070
Ogden Dunes.....................................           0.084           0.069           0.067           0.073
Valparaiso......................................           0.080           0.061           0.064           0.068
Whiting.........................................           0.088           0.062           0.062           0.071
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Illinois Monitoring Sites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alsip...........................................           0.085           0.066           0.069           0.073
Chicago-Cheltenham..............................           0.082           0.066           0.065           0.071
Chicago-Adams...................................           0.084           0.058           0.076           0.073
Chicago-Ellis Avenue............................           0.079           0.063           0.060           0.068
Chicago-Ohio Street.............................           0.075           0.063           0.062           0.067
Chicago-Lawndale................................           0.080           0.066           0.067           0.071
Chicago-Hurlbut Street..........................           0.079           0.063           0.064           0.069
Lemont..........................................           0.085           0.071           0.067           0.074
Cicero..........................................           0.068           0.060           0.067           0.065
Northbrook......................................           0.076           0.063           0.069           0.069
Evanston........................................           0.080           0.058           0.064           0.067
Lisle...........................................           0.072           0.057           0.059           0.063
Waukegan........................................           0.081           0.061           0.057           0.066
Illinois Beach State Park.......................           0.080           0.067           0.075           0.074
Cary............................................           0.074           0.063           0.066           0.068
Essex Road......................................           0.071           0.057           0.063           0.064
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Wisconsin Monitoring Site
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chiwaukee Prairie...............................           0.085           0.069           0.071           0.075
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 76335]]

    Table 2 summarizes the annual fourth-high daily maximum 8-hour 
ozone concentrations and their 3-year (2007-2009) averages for all 
monitors in the St. Louis, MO-IL area. These data reflect peak ozone 
concentrations quality assured and reported by the States of Illinois 
and Missouri.

  Table 2--Annual Fourth-High Daily Maximum 8-Hour Ozone Concentrations and 3-Year Averages in ppm for the St.
                                                Louis, MO-IL Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      3-Year
              State/monitoring site                    2007            2008            2009           average
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Illinois Sites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerseyville.....................................           0.075           0.069           0.068           0.070
Alton...........................................           0.081           0.068           0.067           0.072
Maryville.......................................           0.087           0.070           0.074           0.077
Wood River......................................           0.086           0.067           0.066           0.073
East St. Louis..................................           0.077           0.064           0.069           0.070
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Missouri Sites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arnold..........................................           0.087           0.070           0.070           0.075
Orchard Farm....................................           0.083           0.072           0.072           0.075
West Alton......................................           0.089           0.076           0.071           0.078
Maryland Heights................................           0.094           0.069           0.067           0.076
Pacific.........................................           0.085           0.064           0.064           0.071
Blair Street....................................           0.087           0.073           0.065           0.075
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Review of the 2007-2009 ozone concentrations and site-specific 
ozone design values (3-year averages) in Tables 1 and 2 shows that all 
of the ozone monitoring sites in the two areas were attaining the 1997 
8-hour ozone NAAQS during this period. Therefore, based on the most 
recent three years of quality-assured ozone monitoring data, the 1997 
8-hour ozone standard has been attained in these areas. Preliminary 
2010 ozone data show that the 1997 8-hour ozone standard continues to 
be attained in the two areas.

B. EPA's Analysis of Illinois' NOX RACT Waiver Petition

    EPA's guidance document, ``Guidance on Limiting Nitrogen Oxides 
(NOX) Requirements Related to 8-Hour Ozone Implementation,'' 
sets forth the criteria for demonstrating that further NOX 
emission reductions in an ozone nonattainment area will not contribute 
to ozone attainment. The guidance provides that three consecutive years 
of monitoring data documenting ozone levels attaining the ozone NAAQS 
in areas in which a State has not implemented certain NOX 
emission controls is adequate to demonstrate that the additional 
NOX emission reductions will not aid in achieving attainment 
of the ozone NAAQS. As described in the guidance document, approval of 
the NOX emission control exemption is granted by the EPA on 
a contingent basis. The NOX emission control exemption 
continues only as long as the State continues to monitor attainment of 
the ozone NAAQS. If, prior to redesignation of the area to attainment 
of the ozone NAAQS, the area violates the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, as 
defined at 40 CFR 50.10 and appendix I, EPA will undertake rulemaking 
to withdraw the NOX emission control exemption, the area 
would once again be subject to the NOX emission control 
requirements under section 182(f) of the CAA.
    EPA's review of the ozone monitoring data and Illinois' 
NOX emission control exemption request shows that Illinois 
has complied with the requirements for a NOX RACT exemption 
in the State's 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas under section 182(f) of 
the CAA consistent with the guidelines contained in EPA's January 14, 
2005, guidance document. Therefore, EPA proposes to determine that the 
State of Illinois qualifies for exemption from NOX RACT 
requirements for the Illinois portions of the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, 
IL-IN and St. Louis, MO-IL ozone nonattainment areas for the purposes 
of attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.

V. What are the environmental effects of this action?

    The section 182(f) NOX RACT exemption is based on a 
finding that additional reductions of NOX would not 
contribute to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Chicago-
Gary-Lake County, IL-IN and St. Louis, MO-IL ozone nonattainment areas. 
These areas have three consecutive years of ozone levels attaining the 
ozone standard even though Illinois has not implemented NOX 
RACT rules.
    While EPA is proposing to waive the requirements to control 
NOX emissions through NOX RACT in the Illinois 
ozone nonattaiment areas on the basis that NOX emission 
reductions would not contribute to attainment of the ozone NAAQS in the 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN and St. Louis, MO-IL areas, EPA 
recognizes that there are other benefits to controlling NOX 
emissions. These benefits include reducing acid deposition, reducing 
nitrogen deposition in sensitive wetlands, estuaries, and their 
watersheds, and mitigating ozone transport to downwind ozone 
nonattainment areas. Illinois will continue to be required to control 
NOX emissions from certain NOX sources under 
other CAA programs, such as the Acid Rain program in title IV of the 
CAA, for purposes of achieving these environmental benefits. This 
proposed NOX RACT waiver will not affect other existing and 
pending NOX emission control requirements for Illinois 
needed to achieve these environmental benefits.
    In addition, EPA notes that an approval of this waiver request is 
solely for purposes of the CAA requirements to meet the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS. The waiver would not apply for purposes of the ozone NAAQS 
promulgated in 2008 (March 27, 2008, 73 FR 16435) or for purposes of 
any future ozone NAAQS EPA may promulgate. To the extent section 182(f) 
applies in this area for purposes of the 2008 or any future ozone 
NAAQS, the State would need to submit a NOX RACT SIP or 
would need to demonstrate

[[Page 76336]]

that a waiver is appropriate for purposes of that different ozone 
NAAQS.

VI. EPA's Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing approval of Illinois' request to exempt the 
State's 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas from the section 182(f) 
NOX RACT requirement. This proposed approval is based on 
EPA's review of the evidence that the requirements of section 
182(f)(1)(A), as elaborated upon in EPA's guidance for section 182(f) 
exemptions, have been met for Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN and St. 
Louis, MO-IL ozone nonattainment areas. In the future, if EPA 
determines that a violation of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS has occurred 
in the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN area (or at the Chiwaukee 
Prairie monitoring site in Kenosha County, Wisconsin) or in the St. 
Louis, MO-IL area while the Illinois portions of these ozone 
nonattainment areas are designated as nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS, EPA will take action to revoke the exemption.
    Final approval of Illinois' NOX RACT exemption request 
would suspend a requirement for a NOX RACT FIP stemming from 
EPA's March 24, 2008, finding of Illinois' failure to submit the 
NOX RACT rules. The suspension would remain in place 
contingent upon continued attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in 
the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN and St. Louis, MO-IL areas. If EPA 
approves a redesignation request for either of these areas for the 1997 
8-hour ozone NAAQS, the NOX RACT FIP clock will permanently 
stop at that time. If EPA determines that there is a violation of the 
1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS while either of these areas remain designated 
as nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, the NOX 
RACT waiver will no longer be applicable as of the effective date of 
any such determination for the violating area by EPA. At that time, the 
NOX RACT FIP requirement will no longer be suspended and the 
NOX RACT FIP clock will restart at the point at which it 
stopped. EPA will provide notice in the Federal Register of any such 
waiver revocation and of the restarting of the NOX RACT FIP 
clock.

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 CAA 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 (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).

    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.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental 
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: November 23, 2010.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2010-30840 Filed 12-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P