Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2014/12/17/2014-29579.html
Timestamp: 2020-02-26 11:22:36
Document Index: 10446133

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 81', 'art 81', 'art 52', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 52', 'art 180', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art\n4', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art\n4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4']

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Revision to Allegheny County Rules; Preconstruction Permit Requirements-Nonattainment New Source Review, 75104-75107 [2014-29579] :: Environmental Protection Agency :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Environmental Protection Agency Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Revision to Allegheny County Rules; Preconstruction Permit Requirements-Nonattainment New Source Review, 75104-75107 [2014-29579]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Revision to Allegheny County Rules; Preconstruction Permit Requirements-Nonattainment New Source Review, 75104-75107 [2014-29579]
Download as PDF 75104 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 242 / Wednesday, December 17, 2014 / Proposed Rules Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs at telephone: (202) 513–7641. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 9, 2014, we published a proposed rule amending 25 CFR parts 81 (Secretarial Elections) and 82 (Petitioning Procedures), combining them into one Code of Federal Regulations part at 25 CFR part 81. See 79 FR 61021. On October 20, 2014, we published a notice announcing three consultation sessions. See 79 FR 62587. The proposed rule is available at: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/ ORM/SecElections/index.htm. Dated: December 10, 2014. Kevin K. Washburn, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2014–29606 Filed 12–16–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–4J–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA–R03–OAR–2013–0636; FRL–9920–51– Region 3] Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Revision to Allegheny County Rules; Preconstruction Permit Requirements—Nonattainment New Source Review Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to grant full approval for the revisions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on June 25, 2012 by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) on behalf of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). These revisions pertain to ACHD’s Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) program, and implement an incorporation by reference (IBR) of Pennsylvania’s NNSR provisions. They also correct a citation error in ACHD’s NNSR regulations. This action is in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 16, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA– R03–OAR–2013–0636 by one of the following methods: A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. B. Email: kreider.andrew@epa.gov. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Dec 16, 2014 Jkt 235001 C. Mail: EPA–R03–OAR–2013–0636, Mr. Andrew Kreider, Associate Director, Office of Permits and Air Toxics, Mailcode 3AP10, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. D. Hand Delivery: At the previouslylisted EPA Region III address. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–R03–OAR–2013– 0636. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change, and may be made available online at 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. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI, or otherwise protected, through www.regulations.gov or email. The 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. Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State submittal are available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105; and Allegheny County Health Department, Bureau of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality, 301 39th Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul T. Wentworth, (215) 814–2183, or by email at wentworth.paul@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background On June 25, 2012, PADEP submitted a formal revision to its State Implementation Plan (SIP) (the June 2012 SIP submittal) which revises ACHD’s NNSR program. By letter dated June 27, 2014, PADEP modified the June 2012 SIP revision, by withdrawing specific language from the June 2012 SIP submittal. The withdrawn language related to a proposed process for automatically incorporating additions, revisions, or deletions to PADEP’s NNSR regulations into ACHD’s SIP effective on the date of such PADEP NNSR regulation revision. As a result of PADEP’s June 27, 2014 letter, the language withdrawn by PADEP from the June 25, 2012 SIP submission is not being considered as part of this rulemaking action. The remainder of the SIP revision is the subject of this rulemaking action and consists of amendments to ACHD’s major NNSR permitting regulations under Article XXI of ACHD’s Rules and Regulations. The June 2012 SIP submittal includes amendments to the following sections of ACHD’s Rules and Regulations, Article XXI: Section 2102.20 (Definitions); 2102.04 (Installation permits); section 2102.06 (Major sources Locating in or Impacting a Nonattainment Area); and, section 2102.08 (Emissions Offset Registration). As discussed in greater detail in this proposal, the June 2012 SIP submittal includes revisions to ACHD’s nonattainment NSR program which are consistent with currently promulgated federal NSR regulations and with NSR regulations which EPA has previously approved into Pennsylvania’s SIP. Generally, the June 2012 SIP revision incorporates provisions related to two Federal rulemaking actions: (a) The 2002 ‘‘Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment NSR (NSR): Baseline Emissions Determination, Actual-to-Future-Actual E:\FR\FM\17DEP1.SGM 17DEP1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 242 / Wednesday, December 17, 2014 / Proposed Rules Methodology, Plantwide Applicability Limitations, Clean Units, Pollution Control Projects’’ (2002 NSR Reform Rules), see 67 FR 80186, December 31, 2002, and (b) the 2008 ‘‘Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)’’ (2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule), see 73 FR 28321, May 16, 2008. The 2002 NSR Reform Rules made changes to five areas of the NSR programs. In summary, these rules: (1) Provided a new method for determining baseline actual emissions; (2) adopted an actual-to-projected-actual methodology for determining whether a major modification has occurred; (3) allowed major stationary sources to comply with a Plantwide Applicability Limit (PAL) to avoid having a significant emissions increase that triggers the requirements of the major NSR program; (4) provided a new applicability provision for emissions units that are designated clean units; and, (5) excluded pollution control projects (PCPs) from the definition of ‘‘physical change or change in the method of operation.’’ On November 7, 2003, EPA published a notice of final action on its reconsideration of the 2002 NSR Reform Rules,1 which added a definition for ‘‘replacement unit’’ and clarified an issue regarding PALs. For additional information on the 2002 NSR Reform Rules, see: (a) EPA’s December 31, 2002 final rulemaking action entitled: ‘‘Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment NSR (NSR): Baseline Emissions Determination, Actual-to-Future-Actual Methodology, Plantwide Applicability Limitations, Clean Units, Pollution Control Projects’’ (67 FR 80186), (b) the 2003 final reconsideration: ‘‘Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Non-Attainment New Source Review (NSR): Reconsideration’’ (68 FR 63021), and (c) the following Web site: http:// www.epa.gov/nsr. After the 2002 NSR Reform Rules were finalized and effective (March 3, 2003), industry, state, and environmental petitioners challenged numerous aspects of the 2002 NSR Reform Rules, along with portions of EPA’s 1980 NSR Rules (45 FR 52676, August 7, 1980). On June 24, 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (DC Circuit) issued a decision on the challenges to the 2002 NSR Reform Rules. New York v. United States, 413 F.3d 3 (New York I). 1 See, ‘‘Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Non-Attainment New Source Review (NSR): Reconsideration;’’ (68 FR 63021). VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Dec 16, 2014 Jkt 235001 In summary, the DC Circuit vacated portions of the rules pertaining to clean units and PCPs, remanded a portion of the rules regarding recordkeeping and the term ‘‘reasonable possibility’’ found in 40 CFR 52.21(r)(6) and 40 CFR 51.166(r)(6), and either upheld or did not comment on the other provisions included as part of the 2002 NSR Reform Rules. On June 13, 2007 (72 FR 32526), EPA took final action to revise the 2002 NSR Reform Rules to remove from federal law all provisions pertaining to clean units and the PCP exemption that were vacated by the DC Circuit. The 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule (as well as the 2007 ‘‘Final Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule’’ (2007 PM2.5 Implementation Rule) 2), was also the subject of litigation before the DC Circuit in Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA (DC Circuit Court decision).3 On January 4, 2013, the court remanded to EPA both the 2007 PM2.5 Implementation Rule and the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule. The court found that in both rules EPA erred in implementing the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS solely pursuant to the general implementation provisions of subpart 1 of part D of title I of the CAA (subpart 1), rather than pursuant to the additional implementation provisions specific to particulate matter in subpart 4 of part D of title I (subpart 4).4 As a result, the court remanded both rules and instructed EPA ‘‘to repromulgate these rules pursuant to subpart 4 consistent with this opinion.’’ Although the DC Circuit declined to establish a deadline for EPA’s response, EPA intends to respond promptly to the court’s remand and to promulgate new generally applicable implementation regulations for the PM2.5 NAAQS in accordance with the requirements of subpart 4. In the interim, however, states and EPA still need to proceed with implementation of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in a timely and effective fashion in order to meet statutory obligations under the CAA and to assure the protection of public health intended by those NAAQS. As part of its response to the January 4, 2013 DC Circuit Court of Appeals Order, EPA issued a final rulemaking entitled ‘‘Identification of Nonattainment Classification and 2 72 FR 20586 (April 25, 2007) F.3d 428 (D.C. Cir. 2013) 4 The court’s opinion did not specifically address the point that implementation under subpart 4 requirements would still require consideration of subpart 1 requirements, to the extent that subpart 4 did not override subpart 1. EPA assumes that the court presumed that EPA would address this issue of potential overlap between subpart 1 and subpart 4 requirements in subsequent actions. 3 706 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 75105 Deadlines for Submission of State Implementation Plan (SIP) Provisions for the 1997 Fine Particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS; Final Rule,’’ (79 FR 31566, June 2, 2014). See http://www.epa.gov/airquality/ particlepollution/actions.html. This rule classified all existing PM2.5 nonattainment areas as ‘‘Moderate’’ nonattainment areas and set a deadline of December 31, 2014, for states to submit any SIP submissions, including nonattainment NSR SIPs that may be necessary to satisfy the requirements of subpart 4 with respect to PM2.5 nonattainment areas. The existing PM2.5 nonattainment areas addressed by this rule included the Liberty-Clairton and Pittsburgh nonattainment areas, portions of which are regulated by ACHD and, therefore, subject to the regulatory revisions being proposed for approval in this action. See 79 FR 31566 (June 2, 2014). EPA is continuing to evaluate the requirements of subpart 4 as they pertain to, among other things, nonattainment NSR for PM2.5 emissions. Additionally, the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule authorized states to adopt provisions in their nonattainment NSR rules that would allow major stationary sources locating in areas designated nonattainment for PM2.5, and major modifications at stationary sources located in areas designated nonattainment for PM2.5, to offset emissions increases of direct PM2.5 emissions or PM2.5 precursors with reductions of either direct PM2.5 emissions or PM2.5 precursors in accordance with offset ratios contained in the approved SIP for the applicable nonattainment area. The inclusion, in whole or in part, of the interpollutant offset provisions for PM2.5 is discretionary on the part of the states. In the preamble to the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule, EPA included preferred or presumptive offset ratios, applicable to specific PM2.5 precursors that a state may adopt in conjunction with the new interpollutant offset provisions for PM2.5, and for which a state could rely on the EPA’s technical work to demonstrate the adequacy of the ratios for use in any PM2.5 nonattainment area. Alternatively, the preamble indicated that states may adopt their own ratios, subject to the EPA’s approval, that would have to be substantiated by modeling or other technical demonstrations of the net air quality benefit for ambient PM2.5 concentrations. The preferred ratios were subsequently the subject of a petition for reconsideration, which the Administrator granted. EPA continues E:\FR\FM\17DEP1.SGM 17DEP1 75106 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 242 / Wednesday, December 17, 2014 / Proposed Rules to support the basic policy that sources may offset increases in emissions of direct PM2.5 or of any PM2.5 precursor in a PM2.5 nonattainment area with actual emissions reductions in direct PM2.5 or PM2.5 precursors in accordance with offset ratios as approved in the SIP for the applicable nonattainment area. However, EPA no longer considers the preferred ratios set forth in the preamble to the 2008 PM2.5 NSR Rule for PM2.5 NSR implementation to be presumptively approvable. Instead, any ratio involving PM2.5 precursors adopted by the state for use in the interpollutant offset program for PM2.5 nonattainment areas must be accompanied by a technical demonstration that shows the net air quality benefits of such ratio for the PM2.5 nonattainment area in which it will be applied. A Technical Support Document (TSD) is included in the docket for this action, and contains additional detail regarding the history and background of the Federal counterparts to the regulations included in the June 2012 SIP submittal, which will not be restated here. II. Summary of SIP Revision The proposed SIP revisions include amendments to ACHD’s Rules and Regulations, Article XXI sections: 2102.20 (Definitions), 2102.04 (Installation permits), 2102.06 (Major sources Locating in or Impacting a Nonattainment Area), and 2102.08 (Emissions Offset Registration). The revisions in the June 2012 SIP submittal create a revised NNSR program in Allegheny County which, through amendment and incorporation by reference, reflects all the changes to Pennsylvania’s NNSR Program from the revisions to Pennsylvania’s SIP approved on May 14, 2012 (NSR reform rules) and on August 13, 2012 (2008 NSR PM2.5 rule). III. Analysis tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS A. NSR Reform EPA last took action to approve ACHD’s NNSR program into the Pennsylvania SIP on November 14, 2002 (see 67 FR 68935). At that time, a portion of ACHD’s approved NNSR program directly relied upon an incorporation by reference of the requirements then codified at 25 PA Code 127.211. In 2007, Pennsylvania revised its NNSR regulations and these revised NNSR regulations were approved into the Pennsylvania SIP on May 14, 2012 (77 FR 28261). These changes added the NSR reform elements into Pennsylvania’s NNSR program. However, those changes also deleted VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Dec 16, 2014 Jkt 235001 section 127.211, and re-codified those requirements elsewhere. That action created a deficiency in ACHD’s NNSR provisions, because they relied on the incorporation by reference of a regulatory citation that no longer existed. The June 2012 SIP submittal has incorporated by reference Pennsylvania’s NNSR program provisions which are set forth at 25 PA Code Chapter 127 as approved by EPA, including the correct citation at 25 PA Code 127.203a. Because EPA has already approved Pennsylvania’s revised NNSR regulations (see 77 FR 28261), there is no need to re-evaluate these same NSR Reform elements which are set forth, or incorporated by reference, in the June 2012 SIP submittal. EPA has determined that the June 2012 SIP submittal has incorporated all of PADEP’s NNSR construction, modification, reactivation, and operating permit program provisions at 25 PA Code section 121.1 and 25 PA Code Chapter 127 (PADEP’s NNSR program) and is proposing to approve this submittal as meeting the Federal NNSR requirements. B. Implementation of NSR Requirements for PM2.5 On July 13, 2012, EPA took final action to approve the provisions promulgated in the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule into the Pennsylvania SIP. See 77 FR 41276. By virtue of the incorporation by reference of Pennsylvania’s NNSR regulations, Pennsylvania’s June 2012 SIP submittal includes revisions to ACHD’s nonattainment NSR program consistent with the provisions promulgated in the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule and already approved into Pennsylvania’s SIP. EPA is in the process of evaluating the requirements of subpart 4 as they pertain to nonattainment NSR. In particular, subpart 4 includes section 189(e) of the CAA, which requires the control of major stationary sources of PM10 precursors (and hence under the DC Circuit court decision, PM2.5 precursors) ‘‘except where the Administrator determines that such sources do not contribute significantly to PM10 levels which exceed the standard in the area.’’ The evaluation of which precursors need to be controlled to achieve the standard in a particular area is typically conducted in the context of the state’s preparing and the EPA’s reviewing of an area’s attainment plan SIP. While ACHD’s submittal may not yet contain all of the elements necessary to satisfy the CAA requirements when evaluated under subpart 4, the proposed PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 revisions represent a considerable strengthening of the currently approved Pennsylvania SIP, which does not currently address PM2.5 for Allegheny County. Therefore, EPA is granting full approval to the nonattainment NSR provisions in ACHD’s June 2012 SIP. For the reasons previously discussed, EPA is not evaluating at this time whether ACHD’s submittal will require additional revisions to satisfy the subpart 4 requirements. As discussed in section I (Background), by separate rulemaking action, EPA has identified the classification under subpart 4 of areas currently designated nonattainment for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS as ‘‘Moderate.’’ These areas include the Liberty-Clairton and Pittsburgh nonattainment areas, portions of which are regulated by ACHD and, therefore, are subject to the regulatory revisions being proposed for approval in this action. That rulemaking also established a December 31, 2014 deadline for the submission of any additional attainment related SIP elements that may be needed to meet the applicable requirements of subpart 4. Therefore, those requirements are not yet due. EPA believes that it is appropriate for the EPA to take into consideration the timing and sequence of related SIP submissions as part of determining what it is reasonable to expect a State to have addressed in a SIP for a NAAQS at the time when the EPA acts on such submission. Such an approach is reasonable, and to adopt a different approach by which the EPA could not approve a SIP, whenever there was any impending or future revision to the SIP that will be required by another collateral rulemaking action would result in regulatory gridlock. The EPA believes that such an outcome would be an unreasonable reading of the statutory process for the SIP’s contemplated in section 110(a) (1) and (2). IV. Proposed Action EPA is proposing full approval of the June 2012 SIP submittal, which creates a revised NNSR program in Allegheny County. V. 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, this action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal requirements and does E:\FR\FM\17DEP1.SGM 17DEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 242 / Wednesday, December 17, 2014 / Proposed Rules 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 proposed rule, which concerns a revised NNSR program in Allegheny County, 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. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Dec 16, 2014 Jkt 235001 Dated: November 21, 2014. Shawn M. Garvin, Regional Administrator, Region III. [FR Doc. 2014–29579 Filed 12–16–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 180 [EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0008; FRL–9918–90] Receipt of Several Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of filing of petitions and request for comment. AGENCY: This document announces the Agency’s receipt of several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities. DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 16, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number and the pesticide petition number (PP) of interest as shown in the body of this document, by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/ DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001. • Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the instructions at http:// www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/ dockets. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert McNalley, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) (7511P), main telephone number: (703) 305–7090; email address: BPPDFRNotices@epa.gov., Susan Lewis, Registration Division (RD) (7505P), main telephone number: (703) 305–7090; email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 75107 The mailing address for each contact person is: Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001. As part of the mailing address, include the contact person’s name, division, and mail code. The division to contact is listed at the end of each pesticide petition summary. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this action apply to me? You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. The following list of North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. Potentially affected entities may include: • Crop production (NAICS code 111). • Animal production (NAICS code 112). • Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311). • Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532). If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT for the division listed at the end of the pesticide petition summary of interest. B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA? 1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD–ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD–ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD–ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting your comments, see the commenting tips at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/ comments.html. 3. Environmental justice. EPA seeks to achieve environmental justice, the fair E:\FR\FM\17DEP1.SGM 17DEP1
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 2014)]
[Pages 75104-75107]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29579]
[EPA-R03-OAR-2013-0636; FRL-9920-51-Region 3]
Pennsylvania; Revision to Allegheny County Rules; Preconstruction
Permit Requirements--Nonattainment New Source Review
grant full approval for the revisions to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on June 25, 2012
by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) on
behalf of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). These
revisions pertain to ACHD's Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR)
program, and implement an incorporation by reference (IBR) of
Pennsylvania's NNSR provisions. They also correct a citation error in
ACHD's NNSR regulations. This action is in accordance with the
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 16, 2015.
R03-OAR-2013-0636 by one of the following methods:
C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2013-0636, Mr. Andrew Kreider, Associate
Director, Office of Permits and Air Toxics, Mailcode 3AP10, U.S.
2013-0636. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
be CBI, or otherwise protected, through www.regulations.gov or email.
are available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105; and Allegheny County Health
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul T. Wentworth, (215) 814-2183,
or by email at wentworth.paul@epa.gov.
On June 25, 2012, PADEP submitted a formal revision to its State
Implementation Plan (SIP) (the June 2012 SIP submittal) which revises
ACHD's NNSR program. By letter dated June 27, 2014, PADEP modified the
June 2012 SIP revision, by withdrawing specific language from the June
2012 SIP submittal. The withdrawn language related to a proposed
process for automatically incorporating additions, revisions, or
deletions to PADEP's NNSR regulations into ACHD's SIP effective on the
date of such PADEP NNSR regulation revision. As a result of PADEP's
June 27, 2014 letter, the language withdrawn by PADEP from the June 25,
2012 SIP submission is not being considered as part of this rulemaking
action. The remainder of the SIP revision is the subject of this
rulemaking action and consists of amendments to ACHD's major NNSR
permitting regulations under Article XXI of ACHD's Rules and
Regulations. The June 2012 SIP submittal includes amendments to the
following sections of ACHD's Rules and Regulations, Article XXI:
Section 2102.20 (Definitions); 2102.04 (Installation permits); section
2102.06 (Major sources Locating in or Impacting a Nonattainment Area);
and, section 2102.08 (Emissions Offset Registration). As discussed in
greater detail in this proposal, the June 2012 SIP submittal includes
revisions to ACHD's nonattainment NSR program which are consistent with
currently promulgated federal NSR regulations and with NSR regulations
which EPA has previously approved into Pennsylvania's SIP.
Generally, the June 2012 SIP revision incorporates provisions
related to two Federal rulemaking actions: (a) The 2002 ``Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment NSR (NSR): Baseline
Emissions Determination, Actual-to-Future-Actual
Methodology, Plantwide Applicability Limitations, Clean Units,
Pollution Control Projects'' (2002 NSR Reform Rules), see 67 FR 80186,
December 31, 2002, and (b) the 2008 ``Implementation of the New Source
Review (NSR) Program for Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers
(PM2.5)'' (2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule), see 73 FR 28321,
The 2002 NSR Reform Rules made changes to five areas of the NSR
programs. In summary, these rules: (1) Provided a new method for
determining baseline actual emissions; (2) adopted an actual-to-
projected-actual methodology for determining whether a major
modification has occurred; (3) allowed major stationary sources to
comply with a Plantwide Applicability Limit (PAL) to avoid having a
significant emissions increase that triggers the requirements of the
major NSR program; (4) provided a new applicability provision for
emissions units that are designated clean units; and, (5) excluded
pollution control projects (PCPs) from the definition of ``physical
change or change in the method of operation.'' On November 7, 2003, EPA
published a notice of final action on its reconsideration of the 2002
NSR Reform Rules,\1\ which added a definition for ``replacement unit''
and clarified an issue regarding PALs. For additional information on
the 2002 NSR Reform Rules, see: (a) EPA's December 31, 2002 final
rulemaking action entitled: ``Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) and Nonattainment NSR (NSR): Baseline Emissions Determination,
Actual-to-Future-Actual Methodology, Plantwide Applicability
Limitations, Clean Units, Pollution Control Projects'' (67 FR 80186),
(b) the 2003 final reconsideration: ``Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) and Non-Attainment New Source Review (NSR):
Reconsideration'' (68 FR 63021), and (c) the following Web site: http://www.epa.gov/nsr.
\1\ See, ``Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and
Non-Attainment New Source Review (NSR): Reconsideration;'' (68 FR
63021).
After the 2002 NSR Reform Rules were finalized and effective (March
3, 2003), industry, state, and environmental petitioners challenged
numerous aspects of the 2002 NSR Reform Rules, along with portions of
EPA's 1980 NSR Rules (45 FR 52676, August 7, 1980). On June 24, 2005,
the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (DC
Circuit) issued a decision on the challenges to the 2002 NSR Reform
Rules. New York v. United States, 413 F.3d 3 (New York I).
In summary, the DC Circuit vacated portions of the rules pertaining
to clean units and PCPs, remanded a portion of the rules regarding
recordkeeping and the term ``reasonable possibility'' found in 40 CFR
52.21(r)(6) and 40 CFR 51.166(r)(6), and either upheld or did not
comment on the other provisions included as part of the 2002 NSR Reform
Rules. On June 13, 2007 (72 FR 32526), EPA took final action to revise
the 2002 NSR Reform Rules to remove from federal law all provisions
pertaining to clean units and the PCP exemption that were vacated by
the DC Circuit.
The 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule (as well as the 2007 ``Final
Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule'' (2007 PM2.5
Implementation Rule) \2\), was also the subject of litigation before
the DC Circuit in Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA (DC Circuit
Court decision).\3\ On January 4, 2013, the court remanded to EPA both
the 2007 PM2.5 Implementation Rule and the 2008 NSR
PM2.5 Rule. The court found that in both rules EPA erred in
implementing the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS solely pursuant to the
general implementation provisions of subpart 1 of part D of title I of
the CAA (subpart 1), rather than pursuant to the additional
implementation provisions specific to particulate matter in subpart 4
of part D of title I (subpart 4).\4\ As a result, the court remanded
both rules and instructed EPA ``to re-promulgate these rules pursuant
to subpart 4 consistent with this opinion.'' Although the DC Circuit
declined to establish a deadline for EPA's response, EPA intends to
respond promptly to the court's remand and to promulgate new generally
applicable implementation regulations for the PM2.5 NAAQS in
accordance with the requirements of subpart 4. In the interim, however,
states and EPA still need to proceed with implementation of the 1997
PM2.5 NAAQS in a timely and effective fashion in order to
meet statutory obligations under the CAA and to assure the protection
of public health intended by those NAAQS.
\2\ 72 FR 20586 (April 25, 2007)
\3\ 706 F.3d 428 (D.C. Cir. 2013)
\4\ The court's opinion did not specifically address the point
that implementation under subpart 4 requirements would still require
consideration of subpart 1 requirements, to the extent that subpart
4 did not override subpart 1. EPA assumes that the court presumed
that EPA would address this issue of potential overlap between
subpart 1 and subpart 4 requirements in subsequent actions.
As part of its response to the January 4, 2013 DC Circuit Court of
Appeals Order, EPA issued a final rulemaking entitled ``Identification
of Nonattainment Classification and Deadlines for Submission of State
Implementation Plan (SIP) Provisions for the 1997 Fine Particle
(PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and
2006 PM2.5 NAAQS; Final Rule,'' (79 FR 31566, June 2, 2014).
See http://www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution/actions.html. This
rule classified all existing PM2.5 nonattainment areas as
``Moderate'' nonattainment areas and set a deadline of December 31,
2014, for states to submit any SIP submissions, including nonattainment
NSR SIPs that may be necessary to satisfy the requirements of subpart 4
with respect to PM2.5 nonattainment areas. The existing
PM2.5 nonattainment areas addressed by this rule included
the Liberty-Clairton and Pittsburgh nonattainment areas, portions of
which are regulated by ACHD and, therefore, subject to the regulatory
revisions being proposed for approval in this action. See 79 FR 31566
(June 2, 2014). EPA is continuing to evaluate the requirements of
subpart 4 as they pertain to, among other things, nonattainment NSR for
Additionally, the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule authorized states
to adopt provisions in their nonattainment NSR rules that would allow
major stationary sources locating in areas designated nonattainment for
PM2.5, and major modifications at stationary sources located
in areas designated nonattainment for PM2.5, to offset
emissions increases of direct PM2.5 emissions or
PM2.5 precursors with reductions of either direct
PM2.5 emissions or PM2.5 precursors in accordance
with offset ratios contained in the approved SIP for the applicable
nonattainment area. The inclusion, in whole or in part, of the
interpollutant offset provisions for PM2.5 is discretionary
on the part of the states. In the preamble to the 2008 NSR
PM2.5 Rule, EPA included preferred or presumptive offset
ratios, applicable to specific PM2.5 precursors that a state
may adopt in conjunction with the new interpollutant offset provisions
for PM2.5, and for which a state could rely on the EPA's
technical work to demonstrate the adequacy of the ratios for use in any
PM2.5 nonattainment area. Alternatively, the preamble
indicated that states may adopt their own ratios, subject to the EPA's
approval, that would have to be substantiated by modeling or other
technical demonstrations of the net air quality benefit for ambient
PM2.5 concentrations. The preferred ratios were subsequently
the subject of a petition for reconsideration, which the Administrator
granted. EPA continues
to support the basic policy that sources may offset increases in
emissions of direct PM2.5 or of any PM2.5
precursor in a PM2.5 nonattainment area with actual
emissions reductions in direct PM2.5 or PM2.5
precursors in accordance with offset ratios as approved in the SIP for
the applicable nonattainment area. However, EPA no longer considers the
preferred ratios set forth in the preamble to the 2008 PM2.5
NSR Rule for PM2.5 NSR implementation to be presumptively
approvable. Instead, any ratio involving PM2.5 precursors
adopted by the state for use in the interpollutant offset program for
PM2.5 nonattainment areas must be accompanied by a technical
demonstration that shows the net air quality benefits of such ratio for
the PM2.5 nonattainment area in which it will be applied.
A Technical Support Document (TSD) is included in the docket for
this action, and contains additional detail regarding the history and
background of the Federal counterparts to the regulations included in
the June 2012 SIP submittal, which will not be restated here.
The proposed SIP revisions include amendments to ACHD's Rules and
Regulations, Article XXI sections: 2102.20 (Definitions), 2102.04
(Installation permits), 2102.06 (Major sources Locating in or Impacting
a Nonattainment Area), and 2102.08 (Emissions Offset Registration). The
revisions in the June 2012 SIP submittal create a revised NNSR program
in Allegheny County which, through amendment and incorporation by
reference, reflects all the changes to Pennsylvania's NNSR Program from
the revisions to Pennsylvania's SIP approved on May 14, 2012 (NSR
reform rules) and on August 13, 2012 (2008 NSR PM2.5 rule).
EPA last took action to approve ACHD's NNSR program into the
Pennsylvania SIP on November 14, 2002 (see 67 FR 68935). At that time,
a portion of ACHD's approved NNSR program directly relied upon an
incorporation by reference of the requirements then codified at 25 PA
Code 127.211. In 2007, Pennsylvania revised its NNSR regulations and
these revised NNSR regulations were approved into the Pennsylvania SIP
on May 14, 2012 (77 FR 28261). These changes added the NSR reform
elements into Pennsylvania's NNSR program. However, those changes also
deleted section 127.211, and re-codified those requirements elsewhere.
That action created a deficiency in ACHD's NNSR provisions, because
they relied on the incorporation by reference of a regulatory citation
that no longer existed. The June 2012 SIP submittal has incorporated by
reference Pennsylvania's NNSR program provisions which are set forth at
25 PA Code Chapter 127 as approved by EPA, including the correct
citation at 25 PA Code 127.203a. Because EPA has already approved
Pennsylvania's revised NNSR regulations (see 77 FR 28261), there is no
need to re-evaluate these same NSR Reform elements which are set forth,
or incorporated by reference, in the June 2012 SIP submittal.
EPA has determined that the June 2012 SIP submittal has
incorporated all of PADEP's NNSR construction, modification,
reactivation, and operating permit program provisions at 25 PA Code
section 121.1 and 25 PA Code Chapter 127 (PADEP's NNSR program) and is
proposing to approve this submittal as meeting the Federal NNSR
B. Implementation of NSR Requirements for PM2.5
On July 13, 2012, EPA took final action to approve the provisions
promulgated in the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule into the Pennsylvania
SIP. See 77 FR 41276. By virtue of the incorporation by reference of
Pennsylvania's NNSR regulations, Pennsylvania's June 2012 SIP submittal
includes revisions to ACHD's nonattainment NSR program consistent with
the provisions promulgated in the 2008 NSR PM2.5 Rule and
already approved into Pennsylvania's SIP.
EPA is in the process of evaluating the requirements of subpart 4
as they pertain to nonattainment NSR. In particular, subpart 4 includes
section 189(e) of the CAA, which requires the control of major
stationary sources of PM10 precursors (and hence under the
DC Circuit court decision, PM2.5 precursors) ``except where
the Administrator determines that such sources do not contribute
significantly to PM10 levels which exceed the standard in
the area.'' The evaluation of which precursors need to be controlled to
achieve the standard in a particular area is typically conducted in the
context of the state's preparing and the EPA's reviewing of an area's
attainment plan SIP.
While ACHD's submittal may not yet contain all of the elements
necessary to satisfy the CAA requirements when evaluated under subpart
4, the proposed revisions represent a considerable strengthening of the
currently approved Pennsylvania SIP, which does not currently address
PM2.5 for Allegheny County. Therefore, EPA is granting full
approval to the nonattainment NSR provisions in ACHD's June 2012 SIP.
For the reasons previously discussed, EPA is not evaluating at this
time whether ACHD's submittal will require additional revisions to
satisfy the subpart 4 requirements. As discussed in section I
(Background), by separate rulemaking action, EPA has identified the
classification under subpart 4 of areas currently designated
nonattainment for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS as
``Moderate.'' These areas include the Liberty-Clairton and Pittsburgh
nonattainment areas, portions of which are regulated by ACHD and,
therefore, are subject to the regulatory revisions being proposed for
approval in this action. That rulemaking also established a December
31, 2014 deadline for the submission of any additional attainment
related SIP elements that may be needed to meet the applicable
requirements of subpart 4. Therefore, those requirements are not yet
due. EPA believes that it is appropriate for the EPA to take into
consideration the timing and sequence of related SIP submissions as
part of determining what it is reasonable to expect a State to have
addressed in a SIP for a NAAQS at the time when the EPA acts on such
submission. Such an approach is reasonable, and to adopt a different
approach by which the EPA could not approve a SIP, whenever there was
any impending or future revision to the SIP that will be required by
another collateral rulemaking action would result in regulatory
gridlock. The EPA believes that such an outcome would be an
unreasonable reading of the statutory process for the SIP's
contemplated in section 110(a) (1) and (2).
EPA is proposing full approval of the June 2012 SIP submittal,
which creates a revised NNSR program in Allegheny County.
requirements and does
not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law.
In addition, this proposed rule, which concerns a revised NNSR
program in Allegheny County, does not have tribal implications as
[FR Doc. 2014-29579 Filed 12-16-14; 8:45 am]