Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/01/31/2013-01332/revisions-to-the-california-state-implementation-plan-placer-county-air-pollution-control-district
Timestamp: 2018-03-19 09:47:24
Document Index: 720167207

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 51', '§\u200993113', 'art 81', '§\u2009172', '§\u2009172', '§\u2009189']

This rule is effective on April 1, 2013 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comments by March 4, 2013. If we receive such comments, we will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register to notify the public that this direct final rule will not take effect.
78 FR 6736
6736-6740 (5 pages)
EPA-R09-OAR-2012-0849
FRL-9760-4
2013-01332
Placer County Rule 102 Updated Technical Support Document,...
Placer County Rules 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 & 306 Technical...
Placer County Rules 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 & 306 Support...
EPA Completeness Letter for Placer County Rules submitted on...
CARB Transmittal letter to EPA for Placer Counter Rules...
Placer County Rule 102 Technical Support Document
Placer County Rule 102 Support documents
EPA Completeness Letter for Placer County Rule 102.
CARB Transmittal letter to EPA for Placer County Rule 102,...
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-01332 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-01332
EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), oxides of nitrogen (NOX), and particulate matter (PM) emissions from open burning. We are approving local rules that regulate this emission source under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).
Submit comments, identified by docket number EPA-R09-OAR-2012-0849, by one of the following methods:
PCAPCD 102 Definitions 02/09/12 04/25/12
PCAPCD 301 Nonagricultural Burning Smoke Management 02/09/12 09/21/12
PCAPCD 302 Agricultural Waste Burning Smoke Management 02/09/12 09/21/12
PCAPCD 303 Prescribed Burning Smoke Management 02/09/12 09/21/12
PCAPCD 304 Land Development Burning Smoke Management 02/09/12 09/21/12
PCAPCD 305 Residential Allowable Burning 02/09/12 09/21/12
Start Printed Page 6737
PCAPCD 306 Open Burning of Nonindustrial Wood Waste at Designated Disposal Sites 02/09/12 09/21/12
On January 7, 2012 and October 11, 2012, EPA determined that the submittals for PCAPCD Rule 102 and PCAPCD Rules 301-306 respectively, met the completeness criteria in 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix V, which must be met before formal EPA review.
We approved an earlier version of Rule 102 into the SIP on June 29, 1999 (64 FR 34558). PCAPCD adopted revisions to the SIP-approved version on February 9, 2012 and CARB submitted them to us on April 25, 2012.
PCAPCD has jurisdiction over portions of the Lake Tahoe Air Basin (LTAB), Mountain Counties Air Basin (MCAB), and Sacramento Valley Air Basin (SVAB). From 1979-1986 these air basin portions adopted open burning regulations, which were approved by us for inclusion into the SIP. On October 19, 1993 PCAPCD adopted a unified set of 25 open burning rules to apply district-wide, replacing the rules governing each air basin portion. CARB submitted them to us on November 30, 1994. EPA staff identified several approvability issues with the submitted rules and on May 21, 1999 PCAPCD requested that ARB withdraw these rules to be replaced with a revised submittal at a later date.
On February 10, 2011, PCAPCD adopted six new open burning rules (PCAPCD Rules 301-306), which updated and consolidated the 25 open burning rules, and submitted them to us on September 27, 2011. PCAPCD adopted revisions to Rules 301-306 on February 9, 2012 and CARB submitted them to us on September 21, 2012 to apply district-wide and requested that they supersede the individual air basin SIP approved rules listed in Table 2 below. While we can act on only the most recently submitted version, we have reviewed materials provided with previous submittals.
Table 2—Rules To Be Superseded
Adopted/ amended
EPA approval (citation)
LTAB 301 Prohibitions on Open Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 302 Burning Permits 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 303 Permit Validity 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 304 No Burn Days 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 305 Agricultural Burning Reports 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 306 Amount Burned Daily 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 307 Approved Ignition Devices 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 308 Restricted Burning Days 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 310 Minimum Drying Times 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 311 Exceptions to Rule 310 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 312 Burning of Rice Straw and Stubble N/A 06/14/78 (43 FR 25684)
LTAB 312 Preparation of Materials to be Burned 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 313 Burning of Agricultural Waste 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 314 Range Improvement Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 315 Forest Management Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 317 Right of Way Clearing and Levee, Ditch and Reservoir Maintenance Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 318 Open Burning Conducted by Public Officers 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
LTAB 319 Hazard Reduction Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 301 Prohibitions on Open Burning 04/21/81 04/23/82 (47 FR 17486)
MCAB/SVAB 302 Burning Permits 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 304 Permit Validity 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 305 No Burn Days 05/27/86 04/10/89 (54 FR 14224)
MCAB/SVAB 306 Exceptions to Rule 305 04/21/81 04/23/82 (47 FR 17486)
MCAB/SVAB 307 Agricultural Burning Reports 05/20/85 07/12/90 (55 FR 28622)
MCAB/SVAB 308 Amount Burned Daily 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 309 Approved Ignition Devices 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 310 Restricted Burning Days 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 312 Minimum Drying Times, Sections A, B, and E 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 312 Minimum Drying Times, Section C 05/20/85 02/03/87 (52 FR 3226)
MCAB/SVAB 313 Exceptions to Rule 312 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 314 Preparation of Materials to be Burned, Sections A-C 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 314 Preparation of Materials to be Burned, Section D 05/20/85 02/03/87 (52 FR 3226)
MCAB/SVAB 315 Burning of Agricultural Waste, Section A 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 315 Burning of Agricultural Waste, Sections B-H 05/20/85 02/03/87 (52 FR 3226)
MCAB/SVAB 316 Range Improvement Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 317 Forest Management Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 319 Right of Way Clearing and Levee, Ditch and Reservoir Maintenance Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 320 Open Burning Conducted by Public Officers, Sections A-E 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
Start Printed Page 6738
MCAB/SVAB 320 Open Burning Conducted by Public Officers, Preamble 05/20/85 02/03/87 (52 FR 3226)
MCAB/SVAB 321 Hazard Reduction Burning 06/19/79 05/18/81 (46 FR 27115)
MCAB/SVAB 324 Residential Rubbish Burning 05/20/85 02/03/87 (52 FR 3226)
MCAB/SVAB 325 Recreational Open Fires 04/21/81 04/23/82 (47 FR 17486)
VOCs and NOX help produce ground-level ozone and smog, which harm human health and the environment. PM emissions are also harmful to human health and the environment, by causing, among other things, premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, decreased lung function, visibility impairment, and damage to vegetation and ecosystems. Section 110(a) of the CAA requires States to submit regulations that control VOCs, NOX, and PM emissions. Rules 301-306 limit emissions of air pollutants, including VOCs, NOX and PM, which result from open burning.
The purpose of Rules 301-306 was to reorganize the District's existing rules into six new rules based on burn type, for clarity and ease of understanding; to incorporate amendments to the California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Division 3, Chapter 1, Subchapter 2, Smoke Management Guidelines for Agricultural and Prescribed Burning; to incorporate the requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Division 3, Subchapter 7.5, § 93113, Airborne Toxic Control Measure to Reduce Emissions of Toxic Air Contaminants from Outdoor Residential Waste Burning; and to address approvability issues identified in previous SIP submittals. Rule 102 adds new or revised definitions associated with Rules 301-306, as well as several other minor administrative revisions. EPA's technical support documents (TSDs) for these rules have more information about these rules.
PCAPCD regulates an ozone nonattainment area (40 CFR Part 81).[1] CAA § 172(c)(1) requires nonattainment areas to implement all reasonably available control measures (RACM) as expeditiously as practicable. Open burning emits PM10 and PM2.5 directly, as well as VOCs and NOX, which are precursors to ozone and PM2.5. Therefore, PCAPCD must implement RACM for open burning if those measures will advance attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 or ozone, when considered collectively with other reasonable measures. Additional control measures may be required pursuant to CAA § 172(c)(1) if both: (1) Additional measures are reasonably available; and (2) these additional reasonably available measures will advance attainment in the area when considered collectively.
PCAPCD is currently designated attainment for PM10 (40 CFR 81.305). Accordingly, PCAPCD is not subject to the requirement to implement Best Available Control Measures (BACM) for PM10 and PM10 precursors in CAA § 189(b) and (e). Therefore, we are not evaluating the rules for compliance with BACM requirements.
The changes in Rule 102, Definitions, are administrative only and are consistent with the relevant policy and guidance regarding enforceability and SIP relaxations.
Rules 301-306 increase enforceability by increasing clarity of requirements through having all information related to a burn type in one rule, by providing new definitions, and by increasing specificity on permit and recordkeeping requirements. Several provisions in the submitted rules, however, provide for Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) discretion to allow burning on a No-Burn Day. EPA generally discourages SIP provisions that allow APCO discretion to independently interpret the SIP, but acknowledges that such “director's discretion may be appropriate if explicit and replicable procedures within the rule tightly define how the discretion will be exercised,” (see e.g., the Little Blue Book and 52 FR 45109, November 24, 1987). We believe that all such revisions in Rules 301-306 include appropriate limitations on APCO's discretion as discussed in detail the TSD.
Rule 301-306 revisions were primarily editorial to provide a consolidated rule set and improve clarity. There are, however, several Local Rules used in the consolidation which were not previously approved into the SIP. Additionally, several new provisions are included that are less stringent than the SIP approved rules. At this time, we believe all revisions are reasonable and appropriately limited and would not cause adverse affect on the NAAQS or reasonable further progress (CAA section 110(l)) as evaluated in detail in the TSD.
We believe the current Rules 301-306 require all control measures that are “reasonably available” considering technologic and economic feasibility, for reasons including the following: (1) PCAPCD Rules 302-303 implement more detailed smoke management requirements and burn authorizations for agricultural burning. EPA previously identified the implementation of a smoke management program for prescribed and agricultural burning as RACM level controls for PM10. (2) Rule revisions (as detailed in the TSD) do not interfere with attainment of the NAAQS or reasonable further progress and Start Printed Page 6739overall strengthen the SIP. 3) We have compared the control requirements in PCAPCD Rules 301-306 with analogous rules in other local districts and believe they are generally as stringent as those rules. Where they are less stringent (e.g., areas of high elevation and low population), PCAPCD has provided reasonable justifications.
As authorized in section 110(k)(3) of the Act, EPA is fully approving the submitted rules because we believe they fulfill all relevant requirements. We do not think anyone will object to this approval, so we are finalizing it without proposing it in advance. However, in the Proposed Rules section of this Federal Register, we are simultaneously proposing approval of the same submitted rules. If we receive adverse comments by March 4, 2013, we will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register to notify the public that the direct final approval will not take effect and we will address the comments in a subsequent final action based on the proposal. If we do not receive timely adverse comments, the direct final approval will be effective without further notice on April 1, 2013. This will incorporate the rules into the federally enforceable SIP, which will supersede rules listed in Table 2.
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by April 1, 2013. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of proposed rulemaking for this action published in the Proposed Rules section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed rulemaking. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements (see section 307(b)(2)).
2. Section 52.220 is amended by adding paragraphs (c)(419) (i)(B) and(423)to read as follows:
(419) * * * *
(B) Placer County Air Pollution Control DistrictStart Printed Page 6740
(1) Rule 102, “Definitions,” amended February 9, 2012.
(423) New and amended regulations for the following APCDs were submitted on September 21, 2012, by the Governor's designee. (i) Incorporation by reference.
(A) Placer County Air Pollution Control District
1. PCAPCD also regulates a nonattainment area under the 2006 24-Hour PM2.5 NAAQS. 40 CFR 81.305 (2010). By December 14, 2012, California must submit a revision to the SIP for this nonattainment area that provides for, among other things, implementation of all RACM as expeditiously as practicable (including RACT for existing sources). CAA section 172(a)(2)(A), (b) & (c)(1), 74 FR 58689 (Nov. 13, 2009). EPA will take action on this RACM demonstration in a separate future rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2013-01332 Filed 1-30-13; 8:45 am]