Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/10/30/2012-26539/approval-and-promulgation-of-air-quality-implementation-plans-virginia-deferral-for-co2
Timestamp: 2016-10-23 23:59:25
Document Index: 660843045

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 52', 'ART 52', '§\u200910', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'ART 52', '§\u200952', '§\u200952']

A Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 10/30/2012
65627-65630
IV. EPA's Response to Comments Received on the Proposed Action V. Final Action VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews A. General Requirements B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General C. Petitions for Judicial Review List of Subjects in 40 CFR part 52 PART 52—[AMENDED] Subpart VV—Virginia Enhanced Content - Table of Contents Enhanced Content - Submit Public Comment
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-26539
EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) on December 14, 2011. This revision defers until July 21, 2014 the application of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting requirements to biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic stationary sources in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Throughout this document, whenever “we,” “us,” or “our” is used, we mean EPA. On April 18, 2012, (77 FR 23178), EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The NPR proposed approval of a revision to the Virginia SIP which would defer until July 21, 2014 the application of PSD permitting requirements to biogenic CO2 emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic stationary sources in the commonwealth of Virginia. Other specific requirements of Virginia's SIP revision and the rationale for EPA's proposed action are explained in the NPR and will not be restated here. The formal SIP revision was submitted by VADEQ on December 14, 2011.
In 1995, Virginia adopted legislation that provides, subject to certain conditions, for an environmental assessment (audit) “privilege” for voluntary compliance evaluations performed by a regulated entity. The legislation further addresses the relative burden of proof for parties either asserting the privilege or seeking disclosure of documents for which the privilege is claimed. Virginia's legislation also provides, subject to certain conditions, for a penalty waiver for violations of environmental laws when a regulated entity discovers such violations pursuant to a voluntary compliance evaluation and voluntarily discloses such violations to the Commonwealth and takes prompt and appropriate measures to remedy the violations. Virginia's Voluntary Environmental Assessment Privilege Law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1198, provides a privilege that protects from disclosure documents and information about the content of those documents that are the product of a voluntary environmental assessment. The Privilege Law does not extend to documents or information that: (1) Are generated or developed before the commencement of a voluntary environmental assessment; (2) are prepared independently of the assessment process; (3) demonstrate a clear, imminent and substantial danger to the public health or environment; or (4) are required by law. On January 12, 1998, the Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the Attorney General provided a legal opinion that states that the Privilege law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1198, precludes granting a privilege to documents and information “required by law,” including documents and information “required by Federal law to maintain program delegation, authorization or approval,” since Virginia must “enforce Federally authorized environmental programs in a manner that is no less stringent than their Federal counterparts * * *.” The opinion concludes that “[r]egarding § 10.1-1198, therefore, documents or other information needed for civil or criminal enforcement under one of these programs could not be privileged because such documents and information are essential to pursuing enforcement in a manner required by Federal law to maintain program delegation, authorization or approval.”
IV. EPA's Response to Comments Received on the Proposed Action EPA received two sets of timely public comments. Both sets were supportive of our proposed action, and are included in the docket. While it is not generally our practice to respond to specific comments when those comments are in support of a proposed action, one of the submitted comments contained some factual inaccuracies which we feel should be addressed and corrected for the record. One commenter wrote in closing: “Because the PSD provisions of the Biomass Deferral have already been incorporated into Virginia's SIP and approved by EPA in 2011, the current 2012 proposed SIP revisions incorporate the Title V provisions of the Biomass Deferral through (sic) amendments to 9VAC5 Chapter 85, Permits For Stationary Sources of Pollutants Subject to Regulation, Part II—Federal (Title V) Operating Permit Actions. We agree with EPA's conclusion that the proposed Title V amendments to Virginia's SIP are consistent with federal requirements and should therefore be approved as proposed.” EPA did not “incorporate the PSD provisions of the Biomass Deferral into Virginia's SIP in 2011.” Indeed, as we stated in our notice of proposed rulemaking and reiterated earlier, the purpose of the present rulemaking action is to incorporate the Biomass Deferral provisions into the Virginia SIP. It is not clear to which 2011 action the commenter is referring. On May 13, 2011, EPA took final action to approve the Tailoring Rule provisions into the Virginia SIP (76 FR 27898). However, the Biomass Deferral is a separate rulemaking action and was not addressed at that time. Furthermore, as we stated in our notice of proposed rulemaking, the present rulemaking action does not address the title V provisions of the Biomass Deferral, and addresses only Virginia's PSD program (See, 77 FR 23179, Footnote No. 1). V. Final Action EPA is approving the revisions to 9VAC5-85-50 into the Virginia SIP. VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews A. General Requirements 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. B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). C. Petitions for Judicial Review Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by December 31, 2012. 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. This action pertaining to GHG permitting under Virginia's PSD program may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements (See section 307(b)(2)). List of Subjects in 40 CFR part 52 Environmental protection
40 CFR Part 52 is amended as follows: PART 52—[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart VV—Virginia 2. In § 52.2420, the table in paragraph (c) is amended by revising the entry for Chapter 85, Section 5-85-50 to read as follows: § 52.2420
(c) * * * EPA-Approved Virginia Regulations and StatutesState citationTitle/subjectState effective dateEPA approval dateExplanation [former SIP citation] * * * * * * *9 VAC 5, Chapter 85Permits for Stationary Sources of Pollutants Subject to Regulation * * * * * * *Part IIIPrevention of Significant Deterioration Permit Actions * * * * * * *5-85-50Definitions11/9/1110/30/12 [Insert page number where the document begins]Revised definition of “subject to regulation.” * * * * * * *
[FR Doc. 2012-26539 Filed 10-29-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P Published Document Home