Source: http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2001-03-16-01-6466
Timestamp: 2013-05-22 19:12:16
Document Index: 311588129

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 7114', 'art 3944', 'art 6726', 'art 140', 'art 5250', 'art 1739', 'art 30206', 'art 514', 'art 9740', 'art 180', 'art 52', 'art 52']

14 CFR Part 7114 CFR Part 3944 CFR Part 6726 CFR Part 140 CFR Part 5250 CFR Part 1739 CFR Part 30206 CFR Part 514 CFR Part 9740 CFR Part 180	Federal Register: March 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 52)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-6466
TX ID: [TX-126-2-7486; FRL-6952-9]
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Electric Generating Facilities; and Major Stationary Sources of Nitrogen Oxides for the Dallas/Fort Worth Ozone Nonattainment Area EFFECTIVE DATES: This rule is effective on April 16, 2001.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: The EPA is approving revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions concern two separate actions. First, we are approving revisions to the Texas Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) rules for electric generating facilities in East and Central Texas. These new limits for electric generating facilities in East and Central Texas will contribute to attainment of the 1hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in the Houston/
Galveston (H/GA), Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW), and Beaumont/Port Arthur (B/PA) 1hour ozone nonattainment areas. They will also contribute to continued maintenance of the standard in the eastern half of Texas and will strengthen the existing Texas SIP. Second, we are approving revisions to the Texas NOX rules for major stationary sources in the D/FW 1hour ozone nonattainment area. These new limits for stationary sources will contribute to attainment of the 1hour ozone standard in the D/FW nonattainment area. The EPA is approving these revisions to regulate emissions of NOX as meeting the requirements of the Federal Clean Air Act (the Act).
I. Background 1. What Are We Approving?
3. What Does the SIP Revision for Major Stationary Sources in the D/ FW Area Say? 4. What Are NOX? 5. What Is a Nonattainment Area?
6. What Are Definitions of Major Sources for NOX? 7. What Is a State Implementation Plan? 8. What Is the Federal Approval Process for a SIP? 9. What Does Federal Approval of a SIP Mean to Me?
Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' means EPA. 1. What Are We Approving? On October 31, 2000, the EPA proposed to approve three revisions to the Texas SIP rules for the control of air pollution from nitrogen compounds, submitted by the State on April 30, 2000 (65 FR 64914): (1) Revisions to NOX rules for electric generating facilities in East and Central Texas; (2) revisions to NOX rules for major stationary sources in the D/FW 1hour ozone nonattainment area; and (3) revisions to NOX rules for cement kilns in East and Central Texas. Today, we are approving the revisions to the NOX rules for electric generating facilities in East and Central Texas and the revisions to the NOX rules for major stationary sources in the D/FW area as revisions to the Texas NOX SIP. We are finalizing our approval at this time on these two rule revisions because we received no comments on them during the public comment period. We are not taking action at this time on the NOX rules for cement kilns in East and Central Texas because we did receive comments on them. We will address these comments in a separate rulemaking. Specifically, we are approving the following rule revisions with regards to utility electric generating facilities in East and Central Texas: New sections 117.131 concerning Applicability, 117.133 concerning Exemptions, 117.134 concerning Gas Fired Steam Generation, 117.135 concerning Emission Specification, 117.138 concerning System Cap, 117.141 concerning Initial Demonstration of Compliance, 117.143 concerning Continuous Demonstration of Compliance, 117.145 concerning Final Control Plan Procedures, 117.147 concerning Revision of Final Control [[Page 15196]]
Plan, 117.149 concerning Notification, Recordkeeping, and Reporting Requirements, 117.512 concerning Compliance Schedule for Utility Electric Generation in East and Central Texas; and a revision to the existing SIPapproved section 117.10 concerning Definitions. We are approving these rule revisions under part D of the Act because Texas is relying on these NOX reductions to demonstrate attainment of the 1hour ozone standard in the H/GA, B/PA, and D/FW 1hour ozone nonattainment areas in the State of Texas. We are also approving these rule revisions under sections 110 and 116 of the Act because the State is relying upon the NOX reductions to show continued maintenance of the standard in the eastern half of the State and they strengthen the existing Texas SIP. With regard to NOX control measures for major stationary sources in the D/FW area, we are approving: Revised sections 117.104 concerning GasFired Steam Generation, 117.106 concerning Emission Specifications for Attainment Demonstrations, 117.108 concerning System Cap, 117.115 concerning Final Control Procedures for Reasonably Available Control Technologies, 117.116 concerning Final Control Plan Procedures for Attainment Demonstration Emission Specifications, 117.205 concerning Emission Specifications for Reasonably Available Control Technology by removing comments from the ``explanation'' field, 117.206 concerning Emission Specifications for Attainment Demonstrations, 117.216 concerning Final Control Plan Procedures for Attainment Demonstration Emission Specifications, 117.223 concerning Source Cap by correcting an inadvertent mistake made in the previous codification of the ``explanation'' field and correcting the reference from 117.223 (1)(B) to 117.223 (b)(1)(B), 117.510 concerning Compliance Schedule for Utility Electric Generation in Ozone Nonattainment Areas, 117.520 concerning Compliance Schedule for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Combustion Sources in Ozone Nonattainment Areas, and 117.570 concerning Trading; and the repeal of existing SIPapproved sections 117.109 and 117.601 for the nonattainment areas. We are approving these D/FW NOX point source rule revisions under part D of the Act because Texas is relying on these NOX control measures for major stationary sources in the D/FW area to demonstrate attainment of the 1hour ozone standard in the D/FW ozone nonattainment area.
2. What Does the SIP Revision for Electric Generating Facilities in East and Central Texas Say? This revision requires reductions of NOX from electric utility power boilers and gas turbines in East and Central Texas. The following two tables contain a summary of the April 30, 2000, SIP revision for electric generating facilities and gas turbines in East and Central Texas.
Table I.Affected Sources and NOX Emission Specifications for Utility Power Boilers and Gas Turbines in East
Source specification Explanation
Electric power boilers........................ 0.14 Gas fired, annual (calendar) average.
Electric power boilers........................ 0.165 Coal fired, annual (calendar) average.
Stationary gas turbines....................... 0.14 If subject to Texas Utility Commission (TUC),
Section 39.264.
Stationary gas turbines....................... 0.15 If not subject to TUC, Section 39.264, or 42
ppmv NOX adjusted to 15% oxygen on a dry basis
as an alternate specification. If subject to
Texas Senate Bill 7 of 1997, then 0.14 (lb/
Table II.Affected Sources and Their Compliance Schedules for Utility
Power Boilers and Gas Turbines in East and Central Texas
Source Compliance schedule Electric generating units owned May 1, 2003. by utilities and subject to TUC 39.263(b).
All other units.................. May 1, 2005.
We are approving the NOX emission specifications and compliance dates for electric generating facilities in East and Central Texas as a part of the Texas 1hour ozone SIP under part D of the Act because the State is relying on the NOX control measures to demonstrate attainment of the 1hour ozone standard in the H/GA, B/PA, and D/FW ozone nonattainment areas in the State of Texas. We are also approving these rules under sections 110 and 116 because they contribute to continued maintenance of the standard in the eastern half of the State of Texas and they strengthen the existing Texas SIP.
3. What Does the SIP Revision for Major Stationary Sources in the D/FW Area Say? This revision requires reductions in emissions of NOX from major stationary sources operating in the D/FW ozone nonattainment area. The following three tables contain a summary of the April 30, 2000, SIP revision for major stationary sources operating in the D/FW ozone nonattainment area. [[Page 15197]]
Table III.Affected Sources, Emission Specifications, and Locations for
Major Stationary Sources in the D/FW Ozone Nonattainment Area Emission
Source specification Location
Gas fired boilers 40 30 ppmv NOX at 3% D/FW MMBtu, nonutility boilers. O2 dry basis.
Utility boilerspart of a large 0.033 lb NOX/MMBtu. D/FW system in D/FW.
Utility boilerspart of a small 0.06 lb NOX/MMBtu.. D/FW system in D/FW.
Lean burn stationary engine X/hphr.... D/FW thneq>300 hp gas fired and gas/ liquidfired engines.
Table IV.Affected Sources and Their Compliance Schedules for Utility Electric Generation Units in D/FW Ozone
Source type Compliance date
RACT........................................... No later than November 15, 1999.
\2/3\ NOX emission reductions.................. No later than May 1, 2003.
All NOX reductions............................. No later than May 1, 2005.
Table V.Affected Sources and Their Compliance Schedules for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional
Combustion Sources in D/FW Ozone Nonattainment Area
Lean burn engines.............................. No later than November 15, 2001.
All NOX reductions............................. No later than May 1, 2005. 4. What Are NOX? Nitrogen oxides belong to the group of criteria air pollutants. NOX results from burning fuels, including gasoline and coal. Nitrogen oxides react with volatile organic compounds (VOC) to form ozone or smog, and are also major components of acid rain.
Section 302 of the Act generally defines ``major stationary source'' as a facility or source of air pollution which emits, when uncontrolled, 100 tons per year (tpy) or more of air pollution. This general definition applies unless another specific provision of the Act explicitly defines major source differently. Therefore, for NOX, a major source is one which emits, when uncontrolled, 100 tpy or more of NOX in marginal and moderate areas. The B/PA area is a moderate ozone nonattainment area, so the major source size for the B/PA area is 100 tpy or more, when uncontrolled. According to sections 182(c) and 182(f) of the Act, a major source in a serious nonattainment area is a source that emits, when uncontrolled, 50 tpy or more of NOX. The D/FW area is a serious ozone nonattainment area, so the major source size for D/FW is 50 tpy or more, when uncontrolled. According to section 182(d) and 182(f)of the Act, a major source in a severe nonattainment area is a source that emits, when uncontrolled, 25 tpy or more of NOX. The H/GA area is a severe ozone nonattainment area, so the major source size for the H/GA area is 25 tpy or more, when uncontrolled.
Section 110 of the Act requires States to develop air pollution regulations and control strategies to ensure that State air quality meets the NAAQS that EPA has established. Under section 109 of the Act, EPA established the NAAQS to protect public health. The NAAQS address six criteria pollutants. These criteria pollutants are: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, lead, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. Each State submits these regulations and control strategies to us for approval and incorporation into the federally enforceable SIP. These SIPs can be extensive, containing State regulations or other enforceable documents and supporting information such as emission inventories, monitoring networks, and modeling demonstrations. 8. What Is the Federal Approval Process for a SIP? When a State wants to incorporate its regulations into the federally enforceable SIP, the State must formally adopt the regulations and control strategies consistent with State and Federal requirements. This process includes a public notice, a public hearing, a public comment period, and a formal adoption by a stateauthorized rulemaking body. Once a State adopts a rule, regulation, or control strategy, the State may submit the adopted provisions to us and request that we include these provisions in the federally enforceable SIP. We must then decide on an appropriate Federal action, provide public notice on this action, and seek additional public comment regarding this action. If we receive adverse comments, we must address them prior to a final action.
Under section 110 of the Act, when we approve all State regulations and supporting information, those State regulations and supporting information become a part of the federally approved SIP. You can find records of these SIP actions in the Code of Federal Regulations at Title 40, part 52, entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of [[Page 15198]]
Implementation Plans.'' The actual State regulations that we approved are not reproduced in their entirety in the CFR but are ``incorporated by reference,'' which means that we have approved a given State regulation with a specific effective date.
Table VI.Rules Log Number, Rules Revision, and Affected Areas for Texas NOX SIP
Rule log No. Rule revision Affected areas
1999046117AI....................... Electric generating facilities Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Brazos,
(East and Central Texas). Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Calhoun,
Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fannin,
Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone,
Galveston, Goliad, Gregg, Grimes,
Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Henderson,
Hood, Hunt, Jefferson, Lamar, Liberty,
Limestone, Marion, McLennan, Milam,
Montgomery, Morris, Nueces, Orange,
Parker, Red River, Robertson, Rusk,
Tarrant, Titus, Travis, Victoria,
Waller, and Wharton counties.
1999055D117AI...................... Point sources in D/FW area.... Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant
Pursuant to sections 110 and 116 and part D of the Act, we are finalizing the approval of revisions to Texas Rule 30 TAC, Chapter 117, regulations for the control of air pollution from nitrogen compounds, as a revision to the Texas NOX SIP. This includes the final approval of revisions to the Texas NOX rules for electric generating facilities in East and Central Texas, and the final approval of revisions to the Texas NOX rules for major stationary sources in the D/FW 1hour ozone nonattainment area. Collectively, these measures will reduce ozone concentrations in the H/GA, D/FW, and B/PA ozone nonattainment areas.
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. This action merely approves State law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law. Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule approves preexisting requirements under State law and does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by State law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 1044). This rule also 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, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it merely approves a State rule implementing a Federal standard, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Act. This rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant. In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve State choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Act. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Act. Thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing this rule, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. The EPA has complied with Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by examining the takings implications of the rule in accordance with the ``Attorney General's Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk and Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings'' issued under the executive order. This rule does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
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. The EPA will submit a report containing this rule 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). This rule will be effective April 16, 2001. Under section 307(b)(1) of the Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States [[Page 15199]]
Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by May 15, 2001. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this rule 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 may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. See section 307(b)(2) of the Act. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Hydrocarbons, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Nonattainment, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. Dated: March 2, 2001. Jerry Clifford,
Subpart SSTexas
2. In Sec. 52.2270(c), the table is amended under Chapter 117 as follows: a. Under Subchapter A, revising the entry for section 117.10;
b. Under Subchapter B, revising the ``Division 1'' heading to read ``Division 1Utility Electric Generation in Ozone Nonattainment Areas,'' revising the entries for sections 117.104, 117.106, 117.108, 117.115, and 117.116, and removing the entry for section 117.109;
c. Under Subchapter B, by redesignating ``Division 2'' with all of its entries as ``Division 3,'' and adding a new ``Division 2'' heading to read ``Division 2Utility Electric Generation in East and Central Texas,'' and adding new sections 117.131, 117.133, 117.134, 117.135, 117.138, 117.141, 117.143, 117.145, 117.147, and 117.149; d. Under Subchapter B, revising ``Division 3'' heading to read ``Division 3Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Combustion Sources in Ozone Nonattainment Areas'', and revising the entries for sections 117.205, 117.206, 117.216, and 117.223; e. Under Subchapter E, adding a new entry for section 117.512, revising the entries for sections 117.510, 117.520, and 117.570;
f. Removing the ``Subchapter F: GasFired Steam Generation'' heading and removing the entry for section 117.601. The additions read as follows: Sec. 52.2270 Identification of plan. * * * * * (c) EPA approved regulations.
State citation Title/Subject adoption EPA approval date Explanation
Chapter 117 (Reg 7)CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
Section 117.10............. Definitions............ 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal .......................
and page number].
Subchapter BCombustion at Existing Major Sources
Division 1Utility Electric Generation in Ozone Nonattainment Areas
Section 117.104............ Gas Fired Steam 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For B/PA and D/FW
Generation. Register nonattainment areas.
Section 117.106............ Emission Specifications 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For B/PA and D/FW
for Attainment Register nonattainment areas.
Demonstrations. publication date Note: 117.106(c)
and page number]. relating to CO and
date and ammonia not
DFW SIP. 117.106 (c)
is retained for B/PA.
Section 117.108............ System Cap............. 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For B/PA and D/FW
Register nonattainment areas.
Section 117.115............ Final Control Plan 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For B/PA and D/FW
Procedures for Register nonattainment areas.
Reasonably Available publication date
Control Technologies. and page number].
Section 117.116............ Final Control Plan 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For B/PA and D/FW
Attainment publication date
Demonstration Emission and page number]. Specifications.
Division 2Utility Electric Generation in East and Central Texas
Section 117.131............ Applicability.......... 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Register NOX rules.
Section 117.133............ Exemptions............. 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
and page number]. [[Page 15200]]
Section 117.134............ GasFired Steam 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Generation. Register NOX rules.
Section 117.135............ Emission Specification. 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Section 117.138............ System Cap............. 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Section 117.141............ Initial Demonstration 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
of Compliance. Register NOX rules.
Section 117.143............ Continuous 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Demonstration of Register NOX rules.
Compliance. publication date
Section 117.145............ Final Control Plan 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Procedures. Register NOX rules.
Section 117.147............ Revision of Final 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Control Plan. Register NOX rules.
Section 117.149............ Notification, Record 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
keeping, and Reporting Register NOX rules.
Requirements. publication date
Division 3Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Combustion Sources in Ozone Nonattainment Areas
Section 117.205............ Emission Specifications 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal .......................
for Reasonably Register
Available Control publication date
Technology (RACT). and page number].
Section 117.206............ Emission Specifications 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For B/PA and D/FW
Demonstrations. publication date
Section 117.216............ Final Control Plan 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For For B/PA and D/FW
Section 117.223............ Source Cap............. 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal (b)(1)(B) requires
Register EPA's approval.
Subchapter EAdministrative Provisions
Section 117.510............ Compliance Schedule for 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal (a) and (b) for B/PA
Utility Electric Register and D/FW nonattainment
Generation in Ozone publication date areas.
Nonattainment Areas. and page number].
Section 117.512............ Compliance Schedule for 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal New, regional utility
Utility Electric Register NOX rules.
Generation in East and publication date
Central Texas. and page number].
Section 117.520............ Compliance Schedule for 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal (a) and (b) for B/PA
Industrial, Register and D/FW nonattainment
Commercial, and publication date areas.
Institutional and page number]. Combustion Sources in Ozone Nonattainment Areas.
Section 117.570............ Trading................ 04/19/2000 [Insert Federal For B/P and D/FW
* * * * * * * [[Page 15201]]
[FR Doc. 016466 Filed 31501; 8:45 am]
Brooke Ivener, Air Planning Section (6PD), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 752022733, telephone (214) 6657362.