Document ID: EPA-R04-OAR-2019-0156-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN; Interstate Transport (Prongs 1 and 2) for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone Standard
Posted Date: 2019-12-30T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71854-71862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27695]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2019-0156; FRL-10003-69-Region 4]

Air Plan Approval; AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN; Interstate Transport 
(Prongs 1 and 2) for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires each State Implementation 
Plan (SIP) to contain adequate provisions prohibiting emissions that 
will have certain adverse air quality effects in other states. The 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to approve 
State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions from Alabama, Florida, 
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee (collectively, 
Southeast States) addressing the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) good 
neighbor interstate transport infrastructure SIP requirements for the 
2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is 
proposing to approve the submission as meeting the requirement that 
each SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit emissions that will 
significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance 
of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in any other state.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2019-0156 at 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 the disclosure of which 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: Evan Adams of the Air Regulatory 
Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air and 
Radiation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Mr. Adams can be 
reached by telephone at (404) 562-9009, or via electronic mail at 
adams.evan@epa.gov.

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Southeast States' Submissions and EPA's Analysis of the 
Southeast States' Submissions
    A. Analysis related to all Southeast States
    B. Alabama
    C. Florida
    D. Georgia
    E. North Carolina
    F. South Carolina
    G. Tennessee
III. Proposed Actions
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

    On October 1, 2015, EPA promulgated a revision to the ozone NAAQS 
(2015 ozone NAAQS), lowering the level of both the primary and 
secondary standards to 0.070 parts per million (ppm).\1\ Section 
110(a)(1) of the CAA requires states to submit, within 3 years after 
promulgation of a new or revised standard, SIPs meeting the applicable 
requirements of section 110(a)(2).\2\ One of these applicable 
requirements is found in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), otherwise known as 
the good neighbor provision, which generally requires SIPs

[[Page 71855]]

to contain adequate provisions to prohibit in-state emissions 
activities from having certain adverse air quality effects on other 
states due to interstate transport of pollution. There are four so-
called ``prongs'' within CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i): Section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) contains prongs 1 and 2, while section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) includes prongs 3 and 4. This action addresses the 
first two prongs under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). Under prongs 1 and 2 
of the good neighbor provision, a SIP for a new or revised NAAQS must 
contain adequate provisions prohibiting any source or other type of 
emissions activity within the state from emitting air pollutants in 
amounts that will significantly contribute to nonattainment of the 
NAAQS in another state (prong 1) or from interfering with maintenance 
of the NAAQS in another state (prong 2). Under section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the CAA, EPA and states must give independent 
significance to prong 1 and prong 2 when evaluating downwind air 
quality problems under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(i)(I).\3\
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    \1\ National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone, Final 
Rule, 80 FR 65292 (October 26, 2015). Although the level of the 
standard is specified in the units of ppm, ozone concentrations are 
also described in parts per billion (ppb). For example, 0.070 ppm is 
equivalent to 70 ppb.
    \2\ SIP revisions that are intended to meet the applicable 
requirements of section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA are often 
referred to as infrastructure SIPs and the applicable elements under 
110(a)(2) are referred to as infrastructure requirements.
    \3\ See North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F.3d 896, 909-911 (D.C. Cir. 
2008).
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    EPA notes that the Agency has addressed the interstate transport 
requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with respect to prior 
ozone NAAQS in several regional regulatory actions, including the 
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which addressed interstate 
transport with respect to the 1997 ozone NAAQS as well as the 1997 and 
2006 fine particulate matter standards, and the Cross-State Air 
Pollution Rule Update for the 2008 ozone NAAQS (CSAPR Update).\4\ These 
actions only addressed interstate transport in the eastern United 
States \5\ and did not address the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
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    \4\ See 76 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011) (i.e., CSAPR) and 81 FR 
74504 (October 26, 2016) (i.e., CSAPR Update).
    \5\ For purposes of CSAPR and the CSAPR Update action, the 
Western U.S. (or the West) was considered to consist of the 11 
western contiguous states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, 
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 
The Eastern U.S. (or the East) was considered to consist of the 37 
states east of the 11 Western states.
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    Through the development and implementation of CSAPR, the CSAPR 
Update, and previous regional rulemakings pursuant to the good neighbor 
provision,\6\ EPA, working in partnership with states, developed the 
following four-step interstate transport framework to address the 
requirements of the good neighbor provision for the ozone NAAQS: \7\ 
(1) Identify downwind air quality problems; (2) identify upwind states 
that impact those downwind air quality problems sufficiently such that 
they are considered ``linked'' and therefore warrant further review and 
analysis; (3) identify the emissions reductions necessary (if any), 
considering cost and air quality factors, to prevent linked upwind 
states identified in step 2 from contributing significantly to 
nonattainment or interfering with maintenance of the NAAQS at the 
locations of the downwind air quality problems; and (4) adopt permanent 
and enforceable measures needed to achieve those emissions reductions.
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    \6\ Other regional rulemakings addressing ozone transport 
include the NOX SIP Call, 63 FR 57356 (October 27, 1998), 
and the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), 70 FR 25162 (May 12, 
2005).
    \7\ The four-step interstate framework has also been used to 
address requirements of the good neighbor provision for some 
previous particulate matter and ozone NAAQS, including in the 
Western United States. See, e.g., 83 FR 30380 (June 28, 2018) and 83 
FR 5375, 5376-77 (February 7, 2018).
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    EPA has released several documents containing information relevant 
to evaluating interstate transport with respect to the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS. First, on January 6, 2017, EPA published a notice of data 
availability (NODA) with preliminary interstate ozone transport 
modeling with projected ozone design values for 2023, on which EPA 
requested comment.\8\ The year 2023 was used as the analytic year for 
this preliminary modeling because that year aligns with the expected 
attainment year for Moderate ozone nonattainment areas.\9\ On October 
27, 2017, EPA released a memorandum (2017 memorandum) containing 
updated modeling data for 2023, which incorporated changes made in 
response to comments on the NODA.\10\ Although the 2017 memorandum also 
released data for a 2023 modeling year, EPA specifically stated that 
the modeling may be useful for states developing SIPs to address 
remaining good neighbor obligations for the 2008 ozone NAAQS but did 
not address the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Additionally, on March 27, 2018, EPA 
issued a memorandum (March 2018 memorandum) indicating the same 2023 
modeling data released in the 2017 memorandum would also be useful for 
evaluating potential downwind air quality problems with respect to the 
2015 ozone NAAQS (step 1 of the four-step framework).
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    \8\ See Notice of Availability of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Preliminary Interstate Ozone Transport Modeling Data for 
the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), 82 FR 
1733 (January 6, 2017).
    \9\ See 82 FR 1735.
    \10\ See Information on the Interstate Transport State 
Implementation Plan Submissions for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards under Clean Air Act Section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), October 27, 2017, available at https://www.epa.gov/interstate-air-pollution-transport/interstate-air-pollution-transport-memos-and-notices.
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    The March 2018 memorandum included newly available contribution 
modeling results to assist states in evaluating their impact on 
potential downwind air quality problems (step 2 of the four-step 
framework) in their efforts to develop good neighbor SIPs for the 2015 
ozone NAAQS to address their interstate transport obligations.\11\ EPA 
subsequently issued two more memoranda in August and October 2018, 
providing guidance to states developing good neighbor SIPs for the 2015 
ozone NAAQS concerning, respectively, potential contribution thresholds 
that may be appropriate to apply in step 2 and considerations for 
identifying downwind areas that may have problems maintaining the 
standard (under prong 2 of the good neighbor provision) at step 1 of 
the framework.\12\
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    \11\ See Information on the Interstate Transport State 
Implementation Plan Submissions for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards under Clean Air Act Section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), March 27, 2018, available at https://www.epa.gov/interstate-air-pollution-transport/interstate-air-pollution-transport-memos-and-notices.
    \12\ See Analysis of Contribution Thresholds for Use in Clean 
Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) Interstate Transport State 
Implementation Plan Submissions for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards, August 31, 2018) (``August 2018 
memorandum''), and Considerations for Identifying Maintenance 
Receptors for Use in Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) 
Interstate Transport State Implementation Plan Submissions for the 
2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards, October 19, 2018 
(``October 2018 memorandum''), available at https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/memo-and-supplemental-information-regarding-interstate-transport-sips-2015-ozone-naaqs.
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    The March 2018 memorandum describes the process and results of the 
updated photochemical and source apportionment modeling used to project 
ambient ozone concentrations for the year 2023 and the state-by state 
impacts on those concentrations. The March 2018 memorandum also 
explains that the selection of the 2023 analytic year aligns with the 
2015 ozone NAAQS attainment year for Moderate nonattainment areas. As 
described in more detail in the 2017 and March 2018 memoranda, EPA used 
the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx version 6.40) 
to model average and maximum design values in 2023 to identify 
potential nonattainment and maintenance receptors (i.e., monitoring 
sites that are projected to have problems attaining or maintaining the 
2015 ozone NAAQS). The March 2018 memorandum presents design values 
calculated in two ways: First, following EPA's historic ``3 x 3''

[[Page 71856]]

approach to evaluating all sites; and second, following a modified 
approach for coastal monitoring sites in which ``overwater'' modeling 
data were not included in the calculation of future year design values 
(referred to as the ``no water'' approach).\13\
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    \13\ See March 2018 memorandum, p. 4, for more detail on 
modeling approach. For the no water approach, EPA eliminated from 
the design value calculations those modeling data in grid cells that 
are dominated by water (i.e., more than 50 percent of the area in 
the grid cell is water) and that do not contain a monitoring site 
(i.e., if a grid cell is more than 50 percent water but contains an 
air quality monitor, that cell would remain in the calculation). For 
this action, EPA used no water averages to identify each state's 
impact on any downwind nonattainment or maintenance receptor, which 
can be found in Attachment C of the March 2018 memorandum.
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    For purposes of identifying potential nonattainment and maintenance 
receptors in 2023, EPA applied the same approach used in the CSAPR 
Update, wherein EPA considered a combination of monitoring data and 
modeling projections to identify monitoring sites that are projected to 
have problems attaining or maintaining the NAAQS. Specifically, EPA 
identified nonattainment receptors as those monitoring sites with 
measured values \14\ exceeding the NAAQS that also have projected 
(i.e., in 2023) average design values exceeding the NAAQS. EPA 
identified maintenance receptors as those monitoring sites with 
projected maximum design values exceeding the NAAQS. This included 
sites with measured values below the NAAQS but with projected average 
and maximum design values exceeding the NAAQS, and monitoring sites 
with projected average design values below the NAAQS but with projected 
maximum design values exceeding the NAAQS. EPA included the design 
values and monitoring data for all monitoring sites projected to be 
potential nonattainment or maintenance receptors based on the updated 
2023 modeling in Attachment B to the March 2018 memorandum.
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    \14\ EPA used 2016 ozone design values, based on 2014-2016 
measured data, which were the most current data at the time of the 
analysis. See attachment B of the March 2018 memorandum, p. B-1.
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    After identifying potential downwind nonattainment and maintenance 
receptors, EPA next performed nationwide, state-level ozone source 
apportionment modeling to estimate the expected impact from each state 
to each nonattainment and maintenance receptor.\15\ EPA included 
contribution information resulting from the source-apportionment 
modeling in Attachment C to the March 2018 memorandum. For more 
specific information on the modeling and analysis, please see the 2017 
and March 2018 memoranda, the NODA for the preliminary interstate 
transport assessment, and the supporting technical documents.
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    \15\ As discussed in the March 2018 memorandum, EPA performed 
source-apportionment model runs for a modeling domain that covers 
the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, and 
adjacent portions of Canada and Mexico.
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    In the CSAPR and the CSAPR Update, EPA used a threshold of one 
percent of the NAAQS to determine whether a given upwind state was 
``linked'' at step 2 of the four-step framework and would therefore 
contribute to downwind nonattainment and maintenance sites identified 
in step 1. If a state's impact did not equal or exceed the one percent 
threshold, the upwind state was not ``linked'' to a downwind air 
quality problem, and EPA therefore concluded the state will not 
significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance 
of the NAAQS in the downwind states. However, if a state's impact 
equaled or exceeded the one percent threshold, the state's emissions 
were further evaluated in step 3, taking into account both air quality 
and cost considerations, to determine what, if any, emissions 
reductions might be necessary to address the good neighbor provision.
    As noted previously, on August 31, 2018, EPA issued a memorandum 
(the August 2018 memorandum) providing guidance concerning potential 
contribution thresholds that may be appropriate to apply with respect 
to the 2015 ozone NAAQS in step 2. Consistent with the process for 
selecting the one percent threshold in CSAPR and the CSAPR Update, the 
memorandum included analytical information regarding the degree to 
which potential air quality thresholds would capture the collective 
amount of upwind contribution from upwind states to downwind receptors 
for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. The August 2018 memorandum indicated that, 
based on EPA's analysis of its most recent modeling data, the amount of 
upwind collective contribution captured using a 1 ppb threshold is 
generally comparable, overall, to the amount captured using a threshold 
equivalent to one percent of the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Accordingly, EPA 
indicated that it may be reasonable and appropriate for states to use a 
1 ppb contribution threshold, as an alternative to the one percent 
threshold, at step 2 of the four-step framework in developing their SIP 
revisions addressing the good neighbor provision for the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS.\16\
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    \16\ See August 2018 memorandum, p. 4.
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    While the March 2018 memorandum presented information regarding 
EPA's latest analysis of ozone transport following the approaches EPA 
has taken in prior regional rulemaking actions, EPA has not made any 
final determinations regarding how states should identify downwind 
receptors with respect to the 2015 ozone NAAQS at step 1 of the four-
step framework. Rather, EPA noted that states have flexibility in 
developing their own SIPs to follow different analytical approaches 
than EPA's, so long as their chosen approach has an adequate technical 
justification and is consistent with the requirements of the CAA.

II. Southeast States' Submissions and EPA's Analysis of the Southeast 
States' Submissions

    The following discussion summarizes EPA's analyses for the 
submissions from the Southeast States intended to meet prongs 1 and 2 
requirements of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) for the 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS.

A. Analysis Related to All Southeast States

    EPA is proposing to rely on the 2023 modeling data identifying 
downwind receptors and upwind state contributions, as released in the 
March 2018 memorandum, to evaluate the Southeast States' good neighbor 
obligation with respect to the 2015 ozone NAAQS. On September 13, 2019, 
the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 
(D.C. Circuit) issued its decision in Wisconsin v. EPA addressing legal 
challenges to the CSAPR Update, in which EPA partially addressed 
certain upwind states' good neighbor obligations for the 2008 ozone 
NAAQS. 938 F.3d 303. While the court generally upheld the rule as to 
most of the challenges raised in the litigation, the court remanded the 
CSAPR Update to the extent it failed to require upwind states to 
eliminate their significant contributions in accordance with the 
attainment dates found in CAA section 181 by which downwind states must 
come into compliance with the NAAQS. Id. at 313. In light of the 
court's decision, EPA is providing further explanation regarding why it 
proposes to find that it is appropriate and consistent with the 
statute--as well as the legal precedent--to use the 2023 analytic year 
for assessing good neighbor obligations for the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
    EPA believes that 2023 is an appropriate year for analysis of good 
neighbor obligations for the 2015 ozone NAAQS because the 2023 ozone 
season is the last relevant ozone season during

[[Page 71857]]

which achieved emissions reductions in linked upwind states could 
assist downwind states with meeting the August 2, 2024 Moderate area 
attainment date for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. EPA recognizes that the 
attainment date for nonattainment areas classified as Marginal for the 
2015 ozone NAAQS is August 2, 2021, which currently applies in several 
downwind nonattainment areas evaluated in EPA's modeling.\17\ However, 
as explained below, EPA does not believe that either the statute or 
applicable case law requires the evaluation of good neighbor 
obligations in a future year aligned with the attainment date for 
nonattainment areas classified as Marginal.
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    \17\ The Marginal area attainment date is not applicable for 
nonattainment areas already classified as Moderate or higher, such 
as the New York Metropolitan Area. For the status of all 
nonattainment areas under the 2015 ozone NAAQS, see U.S. EPA, 8-Hour 
Ozone (2015) Designated Area/State Information, https://www3.epa.gov/airquality/greenbook/jbtc.html (last updated Sept. 30, 
2019).
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    The good neighbor provision instructs EPA and states to apply its 
requirements ``consistent with the provisions of'' title I of the CAA. 
CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i); see also North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F.3d 
896, 911-12 (D.C. Cir. 2008). This consistency instruction follows the 
requirement that plans ``contain adequate provisions prohibiting'' 
certain emissions in the good neighbor provision. As the D.C. Circuit 
held in North Carolina, and more recently in Wisconsin, the good 
neighbor provision must be applied in a manner consistent with the 
designation and planning requirements in title I that apply in downwind 
states and, in particular, the timeframe within which downwind states 
are required to implement specific emissions control measures in 
nonattainment areas and submit plans demonstrating how those areas will 
attain, relative to the applicable attainment dates. See North 
Carolina, 896 F.3d at 912 (holding that the good neighbor provision's 
reference to title I requires consideration of both procedural and 
substantive provisions in title I); Wisconsin, 938 F.3d at 313-18.
    While EPA recognizes, as the court held in North Carolina and 
Wisconsin, that upwind emissions-reduction obligations therefore must 
generally be aligned with downwind receptors' attainment dates, unique 
features of the statutory requirements associated with the Marginal 
area planning requirements and attainment date under CAA section 182 
lead EPA to conclude that it is more reasonable and appropriate to 
require the alignment of upwind good neighbor obligations with later 
attainment dates applicable for Moderate or higher classifications. 
Under the CAA, states with areas designated nonattainment are generally 
required to submit, as part of their state implementation plan, an 
``attainment demonstration'' that shows, usually through air quality 
modeling, how an area will attain the NAAQS by the applicable 
attainment date. See CAA section 172(c)(1).\18\ Such plans must also 
include, among other things, the adoption of all ``reasonably 
available'' control measures on existing sources, a demonstration of 
``reasonable further progress'' toward attainment, and contingency 
measures, which are specific controls that will take effect if the area 
fails to attain by its attainment date or fails to make reasonable 
further progress toward attainment. See, e.g., CAA section 172(c)(1); 
172(c)(2); 172(c)(9). Ozone nonattainment areas classified as Marginal 
are excepted from these general requirements under the CAA--unlike 
other areas designated nonattainment under the Act (including for other 
NAAQS pollutants), Marginal ozone nonattainment areas are specifically 
exempted from submitting an attainment demonstration and are not 
required to implement any specific emissions controls at existing 
sources in order to meet the planning requirements applicable to such 
areas. See CAA section 182(a) (``The requirements of this subsection 
shall apply in lieu of any requirement that the State submit a 
demonstration that the applicable implementation plan provides for 
attainment of the ozone standard by the applicable attainment date in 
any Marginal Area.'') \19\ Marginal ozone nonattainment areas are also 
exempted from demonstrating reasonable further progress towards 
attainment and submitting contingency measures. See CAA section 182(a) 
(does not include a reasonable further progress requirement and 
specifically notes that ``Section [172(c)(9)] of this title (relating 
to contingency measures) shall not apply to Marginal Areas'').
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    \18\ Part D of title I of the CAA provides the plan requirements 
for all nonattainment areas. Subpart 1, which includes section 
172(c), applies to all nonattainment areas. Congress provided in 
subparts 2-5 additional requirements specific to the various NAAQS 
pollutants that nonattainment areas must meet.
    \19\ States with Marginal nonattainment areas are required to 
implement new source review permitting for new and modified sources, 
but the purpose of those requirements is to ensure that potential 
emissions increases do not interfere with progress towards 
attainment, as opposed to reducing existing emissions. Moreover, EPA 
acknowledges that states within ozone transport regions must 
implement certain emission control measures at existing sources in 
accordance with CAA section 184, but those requirements apply 
regardless of the applicable area designation or classification.
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    Existing regulations--either local, state, or federal--are 
typically a part of the reason why ``additional'' local controls are 
not needed to bring Marginal nonattainment areas into attainment. As 
described in EPA's record for its final rule defining area 
classifications for the 2015 ozone NAAQS and establishing associated 
attainment dates, history has shown that the majority of areas 
classified as Marginal for prior ozone standards attained the 
respective standards by the Marginal area attainment date (i.e., 
without being re-classified to a Moderate designation). See 83 FR 
10376. As part of a historical lookback, EPA calculated that by the 
relevant attainment date for areas classified as Marginal, 85 percent 
of such areas attained the 1979 1-hour ozone NAAQS, and 64 percent 
attained the 2008 ozone NAAQS.\20\ Based on these historical data, EPA 
expects that many areas classified Marginal for the 2015 ozone NAAQS 
will also attain by the relevant attainment date as a result of 
emissions reductions that are already expected to occur through 
implementation of existing local, state, and federal emissions 
reduction programs. To the extent states have concerns about meeting 
their attainment date for a Marginal area, the CAA under section 
181(b)(3) provides authority for them to voluntarily request a higher 
classification for individual areas, if needed.
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    \20\ See Response to Comments on Implementation of the 2015 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Nonattainment Area 
Classifications Approach (February 26, 2018), at section A.2.4, 
available at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0202-0122.
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    Areas that are classified as Moderate typically have more 
pronounced air quality problems than Marginal areas or have been unable 
to attain the NAAQS under the minimal requirements that apply to 
Marginal areas. See CAA sections 181(a)(1) (classifying areas based on 
the degree of nonattainment relative to the NAAQS) and (b)(2) 
(providing for reclassification to the next highest designation upon 
failure to attain the standard by the attainment date). Thus, unlike 
Marginal areas, the statute explicitly requires a state with an ozone 
nonattainment area classified as Moderate or higher to develop an 
attainment plan demonstrating how the state will address the more 
significant air quality problem, which generally requires the 
application of various control measures to existing sources of 
emissions located in the nonattainment

[[Page 71858]]

area. See generally CAA sections 172(c) and 182(b)-(e).
    Given that downwind states are not required to demonstrate 
attainment by the attainment date or impose additional controls on 
existing sources in a Marginal nonattainment area, EPA believes that it 
would be inconsistent to interpret the good neighbor provision as 
requiring EPA to evaluate the necessity for upwind state emissions 
reductions based on air quality modeled in a future year aligned with 
the Marginal area attainment date. Rather, EPA believes it is more 
appropriate and consistent with the nonattainment planning provisions 
in title I to evaluate downwind air quality and upwind state 
contributions, and, therefore, the necessity for upwind state emissions 
reductions, in a year aligned with an area classification in connection 
with which downwind states are also required to demonstrate attainment 
and implement controls on existing sources--i.e., with the Moderate 
area attainment date, rather than the Marginal area date. With respect 
to the 2015 ozone NAAQS, the Moderate area attainment date will be in 
the summer of 2024, and the last full year of monitored ozone-season 
data that will inform attainment demonstrations is, therefore, 2023.
    EPA's interpretation of the good neighbor requirements in relation 
to the Marginal area attainment date is consistent with the Wisconsin 
opinion. For the reasons explained below, the court's holding does not 
contradict EPA's view that 2023 is an appropriate analytic year in 
evaluating good neighbor SIPs for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. The court in 
Wisconsin was concerned that allowing upwind emission reductions to be 
implemented after the applicable attainment date would require downwind 
states to obtain more emissions reductions than the Act requires of 
them, to make up for the absence of sufficient emissions reductions 
from upwind states. See 938 F.3d at 316. As discussed previously, 
however, this equitable concern only arises for nonattainment areas 
classified as Moderate or higher for which downwind states are required 
by the CAA to develop attainment plans securing reductions from 
existing sources and demonstrating how such areas will attain by the 
attainment date. See, e.g., CAA section 182(b)(1) & (2) (establishing 
``reasonable further progress'' and ``reasonably available control 
technology'' requirements for Moderate nonattainment areas). Ozone 
nonattainment areas classified as Marginal are not required to meet 
these same planning requirements, and thus the equitable concerns 
raised by the Wisconsin court do not arise with respect to downwind 
areas subject to the Marginal area attainment date.
    The distinction between planning obligations for Marginal 
nonattainment areas and higher classifications was not before the court 
in Wisconsin. Rather, the court was considering whether EPA, in 
implementing its obligation to promulgate federal implementation plans 
under CAA section 110(c), was required to fully resolve good neighbor 
obligations by the 2018 Moderate area attainment date for the 2008 
ozone NAAQS. See 938 F.3d at 312-13. Although the court noted that 
petitioners had not ``forfeited'' an argument with respect to the 
Marginal area attainment date, see id. at 314, the court did not 
address whether its holding with respect to the 2018 Moderate area date 
would have applied with equal force to the Marginal area attainment 
date because that date had already passed. Thus, the court did not have 
the opportunity to consider these differential planning obligations in 
reaching its decision regarding EPA's obligations relative to the then-
applicable 2018 Moderate area attainment date because such 
considerations were not applicable to the case before the court.\21\ 
For the reasons discussed here, the equitable concerns supporting the 
Wisconsin court's holding as to upwind state obligations relative to 
the Moderate area attainment date also support EPA's interpretation of 
the good neighbor provision relative to the Marginal area attainment 
date. Thus, EPA proposes to conclude that its reliance on an evaluation 
of air quality in the 2023 analytical year for purposes of assessing 
good neighbor obligations with respect to the 2015 ozone NAAQS is based 
on a reasonable interpretation of the CAA and legal precedent.
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    \21\ The D.C. Circuit, in a short judgment, subsequently vacated 
and remanded EPA's action purporting to fully resolve good neighbor 
obligations for certain states for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, referred to 
as the CSAPR Close-Out, 83 FR 65878 (Dec. 21, 2018). New York v. 
EPA, No. 19-1019 (Oct. 1, 2019). That result necessarily followed 
from the Wisconsin decision, because as EPA conceded, the Close-Out 
``relied upon the same statutory interpretation of the Good Neighbor 
Provision'' rejected in Wisconsin. Id. slip op. at 3. In the Close-
Out, EPA had analyzed the year 2023, which was two years after the 
Serious area attainment date for the 2008 ozone NAAQS and not 
aligned with any attainment date for that NAAQS. Id. at 2. In New 
York, as in Wisconsin, the court was not faced with addressing 
specific issues associated with the unique planning requirements 
associated with the Marginal area attainment date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As previously discussed, the March 2018 memorandum identifies 
potential downwind nonattainment and maintenance receptors, using the 
definitions applied in the CSAPR Update and using both the ``3 x 3'' 
and the ``no water'' approaches to calculating future year design 
values. The March 2018 memorandum identifies 57 potential nonattainment 
and maintenance receptors in the West in Arizona (2), California (49), 
and Colorado (6).\22\ The March 2018 memorandum also provides 
contribution data regarding the impact of other states on the potential 
receptors. For purposes of evaluating the Southeast States' 2015 ozone 
NAAQS interstate transport SIP submission, we propose that, at least 
where a state's impacts are less than one percent to downwind 
nonattainment and maintenance sites, it is reasonable to conclude that 
the state's impact will not significantly contribute to nonattainment 
or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS in any other state. EPA 
notes, nonetheless, that consistent with the August 2018 memorandum, it 
may be reasonable and appropriate for states to use a 1 ppb 
contribution threshold, as an alternative to a one percent threshold, 
at step 2 of the four-step framework in developing their SIP revisions 
addressing the good neighbor provision for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. 
However, for the reasons discussed below, it is unnecessary for EPA to 
determine whether it may be appropriate to apply a 1 ppb threshold for 
purposes of this action.\23\
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    \22\ The number of receptors in the identified western states is 
57, irrespective of whether the ``3 x 3'' or ``no water'' approach 
is used. Further, although EPA has indicated that states may have 
flexibilities to apply a different analytic approach to evaluating 
interstate transport, including identifying downwind air quality 
problems, because EPA is also concluding in this proposed action 
that the Southeast States will have an insignificant impact on any 
potential receptors identified in its analysis, these Southeast 
States need not definitively determine whether the identified 
monitoring sites should be treated as receptors for the 2015 ozone 
standard.
    \23\ As further discussed below, because none of Southeast 
States' impacts exceed 0.70 ppb, they necessarily also do not exceed 
the 1 ppb contribution threshold discussed in the August 2018 
memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Further, EPA notes that--due to large distance and a general 
prevailing west to east wind flow--there is no evidence that any of the 
Southeastern States will impact potential receptors in the West.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ See footnote 5, above, regarding states considered to be in 
the West.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Alabama

    On August 20, 2018, Alabama submitted a SIP revision addressing the 
CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) interstate transport requirements for 
the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Alabama relied on the results of EPA's modeling 
for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, contained in the March

[[Page 71859]]

2018 memorandum, to identify downwind nonattainment and maintenance 
receptors that may be impacted by emissions from sources in Alabama. 
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) reviewed 
EPA's preliminary 2023 modeling and determined that the future year 
projections are appropriate for the purposes of evaluating Alabama's 
impact on nonattainment and maintenance receptors in other states. 
Alabama concurred with EPA's preliminary photochemical modeling 
results, which indicate that Alabama does not contribute above one 
percent to any downwind nonattainment and maintenance sites. The August 
20, 2018, submittal from Alabama also included additional programs that 
have led to the reduction of ozone in the state. Therefore, ADEM 
concluded that emissions from Alabama sources will not significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2015 
ozone NAAQS in any other state.
    EPA's updated 2023 modeling discussed in the March 2018 memorandum 
indicates that Alabama's largest impact on any potential downwind 
nonattainment and maintenance receptor in the East are 0.37 ppb and 
0.49 ppb, respectively.\25\ These values are less than 0.70 ppb (one 
percent of the 2015 ozone NAAQS),\26\ and as a result, demonstrate that 
emissions from Alabama are not linked to any 2023 downwind potential 
nonattainment and maintenance receptors identified in the March 2018 
memorandum. As discussed above, there is no evidence that emissions 
from Alabama will impact receptors in the West. Accordingly, EPA 
proposes to conclude that emissions from Alabama will not contribute to 
any potential receptors, and thus, the State will not significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS 
in any other state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ EPA's analysis indicates that Alabama will have a 0.37 ppb 
impact at the potential nonattainment receptor in Tarrant, Texas 
(Site ID 484392003), which has a 2023 projected average design value 
of 72.5 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 74.8 ppb, and 
had a 2014-2016 design value of 73 ppb. EPA's analysis further 
indicates that Alabama will have a 0.49 ppb impact at a potential 
maintenance receptor in Denton, Texas (Site ID 481210034), which has 
which has a projected 2023 average design value of 69.7 ppb, a 2023 
projected maximum design value of 72.0 ppb, and had a 2014-2016 
design value of 80 ppb. See the March 2018 memorandum, attachment C.
    \26\ Because none of Alabama's impacts equal or exceed 0.70 ppb, 
they necessarily also do not equal or exceed the 1 ppb contribution 
threshold discussed in the August 2018 memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Florida

    On September 18, 2018,\27\ Florida submitted a SIP revision 
addressing the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) interstate transport 
requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Florida relied on the results of 
EPA's modeling for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, contained in the March 2018 
memorandum, to identify downwind nonattainment and maintenance 
receptors that may be impacted by emissions from sources in Florida. 
Based on Florida's review of EPA's modeling assumptions and model 
performance evaluation, Florida determined that EPA's future year 
projections were appropriate for purposes of evaluating Florida impact 
on attainment and maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in other states. 
For example, Florida found that EPA's modeling used emissions inventory 
projections that were reasonable considering the projected future 
decline in Florida NOX emissions. Thus, Florida concurred 
with EPA's photochemical modeling results that indicate Florida's 
greatest impacts on any potential downwind nonattainment or maintenance 
receptor would be 0.21 ppb and 0.53 ppb, respectively.\28\ Florida 
compared these values to a screening threshold of 0.70 ppb, 
representing one percent of the 2015 ozone NAAQS, and concluded that 
because none of Florida's impacts exceed this threshold, emissions from 
Florida sources will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or 
interfere with maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in any other state. 
Additionally, Florida's submission identifies SIP-approved regulations 
that both directly and indirectly regulate sources of ozone precursor 
emissions that contribute to ozone concentrations in ambient air.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ EPA notes that the Florida submission was received by EPA 
on September 26, 2018.
    \28\ EPA's analysis indicates that Florida will have a 0.21 ppb 
impact at the potential nonattainment receptor in Brazoria, Texas 
(Site ID 480391004), which has a 2023 projected average design value 
of 74.0 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 74.9 ppb, and 
had a 2014-2016 design value of 75 ppb. EPA's analysis further 
indicates that Florida will have a 0.53 ppb impact at a potential 
maintenance receptor in Harris, Texas (Site ID 482011034), which has 
which has a projected 2023 projected average design value of 70.8 
ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 71.6 ppb, and had a 
2014-2016 design value of 73 ppb. See the March 2018 memorandum, 
attachments C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA's updated 2023 modeling discussed in the March 2018 memorandum 
indicates that Florida's largest impact on any potential downwind 
nonattainment and maintenance receptor in the East are 0.21 ppb and 
0.53 ppb, respectively.\29\ These values are less than 0.70 ppb (one 
percent of the 2015 ozone NAAQS),\30\ and as a result, demonstrate that 
emissions from Florida are not linked to any 2023 downwind potential 
nonattainment and maintenance receptors identified in the March 2018 
memorandum. As discussed above, there is no evidence that emissions 
from Florida will impact receptors in the West. Accordingly, EPA 
proposes to conclude that emissions from Florida will not contribute to 
any potential receptors, and thus, the State will not significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS 
in any other state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ EPA's analysis indicates that Florida will have a 0.21 ppb 
impact at the potential nonattainment receptor in Brazoria, Texas 
(Site ID 480391004), which has a 2023 projected average design value 
of 74.0 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 74.9 ppb, and 
had a 2014-2016 design value of 75 ppb. EPA's analysis further 
indicates that Florida will have a 0.53 ppb impact at a potential 
maintenance receptor in Harris, Texas (Site ID 482011034), which has 
which has a projected 2023 projected average design value of 70.8 
ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 71.6 ppb, and had a 
2014-2016 design value of 73 ppb. See the March 2018 memorandum, 
attachments B, C.
    \30\ Because none of Florida's impacts exceed 0.70 ppb, they 
necessarily also do not exceed the 1 ppb contribution threshold 
discussed in the August 2018 memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Georgia

    On September 19, 2018,\31\ the Georgia Environmental Protection 
Division (GA EPD) submitted a SIP revision addressing the CAA section 
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) interstate transport requirements for the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS. Georgia relied on the results of EPA's modeling for the 2015 
ozone NAAQS, contained in the March 2018 memorandum, to identify 
downwind nonattainment and maintenance receptors that may be impacted 
by emissions from sources in Georgia.\32\ Based on Georgia's review of 
EPA's modeling assumptions and model performance evaluation, Georgia 
determined that EPA's future year projections were appropriate for 
purposes of evaluating Georgia's impact on attainment and maintenance 
of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in other states. Thus, Georgia concurred with 
EPA's photochemical modeling results that indicate Georgia's greatest 
impact on any potential downwind nonattainment or maintenance receptor 
would be 0.26

[[Page 71860]]

ppb and 0.34 ppb, respectively. Georgia compared these values to a 
screening threshold and concluded that emissions from Georgia sources 
will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with 
maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in any other state. Additionally, 
the Georgia submittal identified regulations that have been approved 
into the Georgia SIP to provide for the control of NOX and 
VOCs, which are precursors that contribute to ambient ozone 
concentrations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ EPA notes that the Georgia submission was received by EPA 
on September 24, 2018.
    \32\ See Table A-1 and Table A-2 in Appendix A of Georgia's 
submittal. EPD highlights Georgia's impact to nonattainment and 
maintenance sites in the East. They also note that all values are 
less than the defined threshold of 0.70 ppb.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA's updated 2023 modeling discussed in the March 2018 memorandum 
indicates that Georgia's largest impact on any potential downwind 
nonattainment and maintenance receptor in the East are 0.26 ppb and 
0.34 ppb, respectively.\33\ These values are less than 0.70 ppb (one 
percent of the 2015 ozone NAAQS),\34\ and as a result, demonstrate that 
emissions from Georgia are not linked to any 2023 downwind potential 
nonattainment and maintenance receptors identified in the March 2018 
memorandum. As discussed above, there is no evidence that emissions 
from Georgia will impact receptors in the West. Accordingly, EPA 
proposes to conclude that emissions from Georgia will not contribute to 
any potential receptors, and thus, the State will not significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS 
in any other state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ EPA's analysis indicates that Georgia will have a 0.26 ppb 
impact at the potential nonattainment receptor in Tarrant, Texas 
(Site ID 484392003), which has a 2023 projected average design value 
of 72.5 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 74.8 ppb, and 
had a 2014-2016 design value of 73 ppb. EPA's analysis further 
indicates that Georgia will have a 0.34 ppb impact at a potential 
maintenance receptor in Denton, Texas (Site ID 481210034), which has 
which has a projected 2023 projected average design value of 69.7 
ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 72.0 ppb, and had a 
2014-2016 design value of 80 ppb. See the March 2018 memorandum, 
attachments B, C.
    \34\ Because none of Georgia's impacts exceed 0.70 ppb, they 
necessarily also do not exceed the 1 ppb contribution threshold 
discussed in the August 2018 memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. North Carolina

    On September 27, 2018, North Carolina submitted a SIP revision 
addressing the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) interstate transport 
requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. North Carolina relied on the 
results of EPA's modeling for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, contained in the 
March 2018 memorandum, to identify downwind nonattainment and 
maintenance receptors that may be impacted by emissions from sources in 
North Carolina. Based on North Carolina's review of EPA's modeling 
assumptions, the State determined that EPA's future year projections 
were conservative for purposes of evaluating North Carolina's impact on 
attainment and maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in other states. 
Thus, North Carolina concurred with EPA's photochemical modeling 
results that indicate North Carolina's greatest impact on any potential 
downwind nonattainment or maintenance receptor would be 0.43 ppb and 
0.42 ppb, respectively. North Carolina compared these values to a 
screening threshold of 0.70 ppb, representing one percent of the 2015 
ozone NAAQS, and concluded that because North Carolina's impacts to 
neighboring states are projected to be less than 0.70 ppb, emissions 
from North Carolina sources will not significantly contribute to 
nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in 
any other state. North Carolina further performed back trajectory 
analyses to confirm that North Carolina did not significantly 
contribute to ozone exceedances at ozone monitors in the East, and 
identified SIP-approved regulations that both directly and indirectly 
impact ozone concentrations in the State.
    EPA's updated 2023 modeling discussed in the March 2018 memorandum 
indicates that North Carolina's largest impact on any potential 
downwind nonattainment and maintenance receptor in the East are 0.43 
ppb and 0.42 ppb, respectively.\35\ These values are less than 0.70 ppb 
(one percent of the 2015 ozone NAAQS),\36\ and as a result, demonstrate 
that emissions from North Carolina are not linked to any 2023 downwind 
potential nonattainment and maintenance receptors identified in the 
March 2018 memorandum. As discussed above, there is no evidence that 
emissions from North Carolina will impact receptors in the West. 
Accordingly, EPA proposes to conclude that emissions from North 
Carolina will not contribute to any potential receptors, and thus, the 
State will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere 
with maintenance of the NAAQS in any other state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ EPA's analysis indicates that North Carolina will have a 
0.43 ppb impact at the potential nonattainment receptor in 
Fairfield, Connecticut (Site ID 90019003), which has a 2023 
projected average design value of 73.0 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum 
design value of 75.9 ppb, and had a 2014-2016 design value of 85.0 
ppb. EPA's analysis further indicates that North Carolina will have 
a 0.42 ppb impact at a potential maintenance receptor in Harford, 
Maryland (Site ID 240251001), which has which has a projected 2023 
projected average design value of 70.9 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum 
design value of 73.3 ppb, and had a 2014-2016 design value of 73.0 
ppb. See the March 2018 memorandum, attachments B, C.
    \36\ Because none of North Carolina's impacts exceed 0.70 ppb, 
they necessarily also do not exceed the 1 ppb contribution threshold 
discussed in the August 2018 memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

F. South Carolina

    On September 7, 2018, South Carolina submitted a SIP revision 
addressing the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) interstate transport 
requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. South Carolina relied on the 
results of EPA's modeling for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, contained in the 
March 2018 memorandum, to identify downwind nonattainment and 
maintenance receptors that may be impacted by emissions from sources in 
South Carolina. Based on South Carolina's review of EPA's modeling 
assumptions, techniques, and data, South Carolina determined that EPA's 
future year projections were appropriate for purposes of evaluating 
South Carolina's impact on attainment and maintenance of the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS in other states. Thus, South Carolina concurred with EPA's 
photochemical modeling results that indicate South Carolina's greatest 
impact on any potential downwind nonattainment or maintenance receptor 
would be 0.12 and 0.14 ppb, respectively. South Carolina compared these 
values to a screening threshold of 0.70 ppb, representing one percent 
of the 2015 ozone NAAQS, and concluded that because none of South 
Carolina's impacts exceed this threshold, emissions from South Carolina 
sources will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere 
with maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in any other state. The South 
Carolina SIP also includes several regulations that address the 
attainment, nonattainment and maintenance of the ozone NAAQS.
    EPA's updated 2023 modeling discussed in the March 2018 memorandum 
indicates that South Carolina's largest impact on any potential 
downwind nonattainment and maintenance receptor in the East are 0.12 
ppb and 0.14 ppb, respectively.\37\

[[Page 71861]]

These values are less than 0.70 ppb (one percent of the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS),\38\ and as a result, demonstrate that emissions from South 
Carolina are not linked to any 2023 downwind potential nonattainment 
and maintenance receptors identified in the March 2018 memorandum. As 
discussed above, there is no evidence that emissions from South 
Carolina will impact receptors in the West. Accordingly, EPA proposes 
to conclude that emissions from South Carolina will not contribute to 
any potential receptors, and thus, the State will not significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS 
in any other state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ EPA's analysis indicates that South Carolina will have a 
0.12 ppb impact at the potential nonattainment receptor in 
Fairfield, Connecticut (Site ID 90019003), which has a 2023 
projected average design value of 73.0 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum 
design value of 75.9 ppb, and had a 2014-2016 design value of 85 
ppb. EPA's analysis further indicates that South Carolina will have 
a 0.14 ppb impact at a potential maintenance receptor in Harris, 
Texas (Site ID 482010024), which has which has a projected 2023 
projected average design value of 70.4 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum 
design value of 72.8 ppb and had a 2014-2016 design value of 79 ppb. 
See the March 2018 memorandum, attachments B, C.
    \38\ Because none of South Carolina's impacts exceed 0.70 ppb, 
they necessarily also do not exceed the 1 ppb contribution threshold 
discussed in the August 2018 memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

G. Tennessee

    On September 13, 2018, Tennessee submitted a SIP revision 
addressing the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) interstate transport 
requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Tennessee relied on the results 
of EPA's modeling for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, contained in the March 2018 
memorandum, to identify downwind nonattainment and maintenance 
receptors that may be impacted by emissions from sources in Tennessee. 
Based on Tennessee's review of EPA's modeling assumptions, Tennessee 
determined that EPA's future year projections were appropriate for 
purposes of evaluating Tennessee's impact on attainment and maintenance 
of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in other states. Thus, Tennessee concurred with 
EPA's photochemical modeling results that indicate Tennessee's greatest 
impact on any potential downwind nonattainment or maintenance receptor 
would be 0.31 ppb and 0.65 ppb, respectively. Tennessee compared these 
values to a screening threshold of 0.70 ppb, representing one percent 
of the 2015 ozone NAAQS, and concluded that because none of Tennessee's 
impacts exceed this threshold, emissions from Tennessee sources will 
not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with 
maintenance of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in any other state. Additionally, 
the Tennessee SIP includes several regulations that address the 
attainment, nonattainment, and maintenance of the ozone NAAQS.
    EPA's updated 2023 modeling discussed in the March 2018 memorandum 
indicates that Tennessee's largest impact on any potential downwind 
nonattainment and maintenance receptor in the East are 0.31 ppb and 
0.65 ppb, respectively.\39\ These values are less than 0.70 ppb (one 
percent of the 2015 ozone NAAQS),\40\ and as a result, demonstrate that 
emissions from Tennessee are not linked to any 2023 downwind potential 
nonattainment and maintenance receptors identified in the March 2018 
memorandum. As discussed above, there is no evidence that emissions 
from Tennessee will impact receptors in the West. Accordingly, EPA 
proposes to conclude that emissions from Tennessee will not contribute 
to any potential receptors, and thus, the State will not significantly 
contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS 
in any other state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ EPA's analysis indicates that Tennessee will have a 0.31 
ppb impact at three potential nonattainment receptors: Fairfield, 
Connecticut (Site ID 90013007), which has a 2023 projected average 
design value of 71.0 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 
75.0 ppb, and had a 2014-2016 design value of 81 ppb; Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin (Site ID 550790085), which has a 2023 projected average 
design value of 71.2 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 
73 ppb and had a 2014-2016 design value of 71 ppb; and Sheboygan, 
Wisconsin (Site ID 551170006), which has a 2023 projected average 
design value of 72.8 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 
75.1 ppb and had a 2014-2016 design value of 79 ppb. EPA's analysis 
further indicates that Tennessee will have a 0.65 ppb impact at a 
potential maintenance receptor Allegan, Michigan (Site ID 
260050003), which has which has a projected 2023 projected average 
design value of 69.0 ppb, a 2023 projected maximum design value of 
71.7 ppb and had a 2014-2016 design value of 75 ppb. See the March 
2018 memorandum, attachments B, C.
    \40\ Because none of Tennessee's impacts exceed 0.70 ppb, they 
necessarily also do not exceed the 1 ppb contribution threshold 
discussed in the August 2018 memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Proposed Actions

    As discussed in the previous sections, each of the Southeast States 
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and 
Tennessee) concluded that emissions from sources in the states will not 
significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance 
of the 2015 ozone NAAQS in any other state. EPA's evaluation of the 
Southeast States' submissions, discussed above, confirms this finding. 
Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve the interstate transport 
portions of the infrastructure SIP submissions from Alabama, Florida, 
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee as meeting CAA 
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. EPA 
is requesting comments on the proposed approvals.

IV. 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, these 
actions merely approve state law as meeting federal requirements and 
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state 
law. For that reason, these actions:
     Are not significant regulatory actions 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);
     Are not Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 
2017) regulatory actions because SIP approvals are exempted under 
Executive Order 12866;
     Do not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Are 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.);
     Do 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);
     Do not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Are not economically significant regulatory actions based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Are not significant regulatory actions subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Are 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
     Do 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, for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and 
Tennessee, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation 
land or in any other

[[Page 71862]]

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 and will not impose substantial direct costs on 
tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive 
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
    For South Carolina, because this proposed action merely proposes to 
approve state law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose 
additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law, this 
proposed action for the State of South Carolina does not have Tribal 
implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, 
November 9, 2000). Therefore, this proposed action will not impose 
substantial direct costs on Tribal governments or preempt Tribal law. 
The Catawba Indian Nation (CIN) Reservation is located within the 
boundary of York County, South Carolina. Pursuant to the Catawba Indian 
Claims Settlement Act, S.C. Code Ann. 27-16-120 (Settlement Act), ``all 
state and local environmental laws and regulations apply to the 
[Catawba Indian Nation] and Reservation and are fully enforceable by 
all relevant state and local agencies and authorities.'' The CIN also 
retains authority to impose regulations applying higher environmental 
standards to the Reservation than those imposed by state law or local 
governing bodies, in accordance with the Settlement Act.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

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

    Dated: December 12, 2019.
Mary S. Walker,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2019-27695 Filed 12-27-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P