Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/02/10/2011-3004/outer-continental-shelf-air-regulations-consistency-update-for-alaska
Timestamp: 2017-08-21 22:51:07
Document Index: 20170309

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 55', 'art 55', 'art 55', 'art 55', 'art 55', 'art 55', 'art 55', 'art 9', 'art 55']

A Proposed Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 02/10/2011
Written comments must be received on or before March 14, 2011.
76 FR 7518
7518-7522 (5 pages)
EPA-R10-OAR-2011-0045
FRL-9265-3
What criteria were used to evaluate rules to update 40 CFR part 55?
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-3004 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-3004
EPA is proposing to update a portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (“OCS”) Air Regulations. Requirements applying to OCS sources located within 25 miles of States' seaward boundaries must be updated periodically to remain consistent with the requirements of the corresponding onshore area, as mandated by the Clean Air Act (“the Act”). The portion of the OCS air regulations that is being updated pertains to the requirements for OCS sources in the State of Alaska. The intended effect of approving the OCS requirements for the State of Alaska is to regulate emissions from OCS sources in accordance with the requirements onshore. The change to the existing requirements discussed below is proposed to be incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations and is listed in the appendix to the OCS air regulations.
Submit your comments, identified by docket number EPA-R10-OAR-2011-0045, by one of the following methods:
Instructions: Direct your comments to docket number. EPA-R10-OAR-2011-0045. 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. Information that you consider CBI or otherwise protected should be clearly identified as such and should not be submitted through http://www.regulations.gov. 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 email comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email 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 or viruses.
Natasha Greaves, Federal and Delegated Air Programs Unit, Office of Air, Waste, and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, Mail Stop: AWT-107, Seattle, WA 98101; telephone number: (206) 553-7079; email address: greaves.natasha@epa.gov.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety RisksStart Printed Page 7519
On September 4, 1992, EPA promulgated 40 CFR part 55 (the OCS rule),[1] which established requirements to control air pollution from OCS sources in order to attain and maintain federal and state ambient air quality standards and to comply with the provisions of part C of title I of the Act. Part 55 applies to all OCS sources offshore of the States except those located in the Gulf of Mexico west of 87.5 degrees longitude. Section 328 of the Act requires that for such sources located within 25 miles of a State's seaward boundary, the requirements shall be the same as would be applicable if the sources were located in the corresponding onshore area (“COA”.) Because the OCS requirements are based on onshore requirements, and onshore requirements may change, section 328(a)(1) of the Act requires that EPA update the OCS requirements as necessary to maintain consistency with onshore requirements.
Pursuant to section 55.12 of the OCS rule, consistency reviews will occur (1) At least annually; (2) upon receipt of a Notice of Intent under section 40 CFR 55.4; or (3) when a state or local agency submits a rule to EPA to be considered for incorporation by reference in part 55. This proposed action is being taken in response to the submittal of a Notice of Intent on December 10, 2010 by Shell Offshore, Inc. Public comments received in writing within 30 days of publication of this proposed rule will be considered by EPA before publishing a final rule.
In updating 40 CFR part 55, EPA reviewed the current COA rules for consistency with part 55 to ensure that they are rationally related to the attainment or maintenance of federal or state ambient air quality standards or part C of title I of the Act, that they are not designed expressly to prevent exploration and development of the OCS and that they are applicable to OCS sources. 40 CFR 55.1. EPA has also evaluated the rules to ensure they are not arbitrary or capricious. 40 CFR 55.12 (e). In addition, EPA has excluded administrative or procedural rules,[2] and requirements that regulate toxics which are not related to the attainment and maintenance of federal and state ambient air quality standards.
OMB's Notice of Action dated January 15, 2009 indicated that the annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for collection of information under 40 CFR part 55 is estimated to average 112 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information Start Printed Page 7520unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and are identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
Executive Order 13175, entitled “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments” (65 FR 67249 (November 9, 2000)), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure “meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications.” This rule does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes and thus does not have “tribal implications,” within the meaning of Executive Order 13175. This rule implements requirements specifically and explicitly set forth by the Congress in section 328 of the Clean Air Act, without the exercise of any policy discretion by EPA. As required by section 328 of the Clean Air Act, this rule simply updates the existing OCS rules to make them consistent with current COA requirements. In addition, this rule does not impose substantial direct compliance costs on tribal governments, nor preempt tribal law. Consultation with Indian tribes is therefore not required under Executive Order 13175. Nonetheless, in the spirit of Executive Order 13175 and consistent with EPA policy to promote communications between EPA and tribes, EPA specifically solicits comments on this proposed rule from tribal officials.Start Printed Page 7521
(A) State of Alaska Requirements Applicable to OCS Sources, December 9, 2010.
3. Appendix A to part 55 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1) under the heading “Alaska” to read as follows:
18 AAC 50.201. Ambient Air Quality Investigation (effective 10/01/2004)Start Printed Page 7522
[FR Doc. 2011-3004 Filed 2-9-11; 8:45 am]