Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/02/11/2014-02478/approval-and-promulgation-of-air-quality-implementation-plans-new-york-state-redesignation-of-areas
Timestamp: 2017-10-22 10:27:59
Document Index: 760593597

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'arts 243', 'art 81', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'arts 1', 'art 50', 'art 58', 'art 50', 'art 50', 'art 50', 'art 58', 'art 50', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 227', 'art 227', 'arts 225', 'art 241', 'arts 231', 'arts 227', 'arts 227', 'arts 227', 'art 218', 'art 58', 'art 58', 'art 222', 'art 225', 'art 228', 'art 4', 'art 1']

8133-8150 (18 pages)
V. What is the effect of the January 4, 2013 D.C. Circuit Decision Regarding PM2.5 Implementation under Subpart 4?
1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS
Section 172 Requirements
Section 176 Conformity Requirements
VII. What is EPA's analysis of New York's proposed NOX and PM2.5 motor vehicle emission budgets?
VIII. What is the status of EPA's adequacy determination for the proposed NOX and PM2.5 motor vehicle emission budgets for 2009, 2017 and 2025 for New York?
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-02478 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-02478
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a redesignation request and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). NYSDEC is requesting that EPA redesignate ten counties in the New York State portion of the New York-N.New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour Fine Particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Included with its redesignation request, New York submitted a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a maintenance plan that provides for continued compliance of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The maintenance plan includes the 2007 attainment year emissions inventory that EPA is proposing to approve in this rulemaking in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA had previously determined that the New York portion of the New York-N.New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area has attained the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is proposing to approve the 2009, 2017, and 2025 motor vehicle emissions budgets for PM2.5 and Nitrogen Oxides (NOX).
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R02-OAR-2013-0592. 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 through www.regulations.gov, or email, information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. 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 Start Printed Page 8134disk 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. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/​epahome/​dockets.htm.
V. What is the effect of the January 4, 2013 DC Circuit Decision Regarding PM2.5 Implementation under Subpart 4?
On June 27, 2013, the NYSDEC, submitted a package to EPA which included (1) a request to redesignate the New York portion of the New York-N.New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the New York PM2.5 nonattainment area or NYNAA), from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS and (2) a maintenance plan for the NYNAA as a SIP revision to ensure continued attainment through 2025. In a supplemental submission to EPA dated September 18, 2013, NYSDEC submitted additional information clarifying portions of the redesignation request and maintenance plan.
EPA is proposing to take several actions pursuant to the redesignation of the NYNAA for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA is proposing to find that the NYNAA meets the requirements for redesignation under section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. EPA is thus proposing to approve New York's request to change the legal definition of the NYNAA from nonattainment to attainment. EPA has previously taken two separate actions redesignating the New Jersey and the Connecticut portion of the New York-N.New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area (or NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area) for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS (See 78 FR 54396, September 4, 2013 and 78 FR 58467, October 24, 2013).
EPA is also proposing to approve the maintenance plan for the NYNAA as a revision to the New York SIP. Such approval is one of the criteria in the CAA for redesignating an area to attainment. The maintenance plan is designed to ensure continued attainment in the NYNAA for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS for 10 years after redesignation. The maintenance plan includes the 2007 attainment year, 2017 interim year, and 2025 end year projection emission inventories. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2009, 2017, and 2025 motor vehicle emissions budgets for PM2.5 and NOX.
In this proposed redesignation, EPA takes into account the D.C. Circuit January 4, 2013 decision remanding to EPA the “Final Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule” (72 FR 20586, April 25, 2007) and the “Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)” final rule (73 FR 28321, May 16, 2008), Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA, 706 F.3d 428 (D.C. Cir. 2013).
On January 5, 2005, at 70 FR 944, as supplemented on April 14, 2005, at 70 FR 19844, EPA designated the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area as nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 air quality standards. In that action, EPA defined the nonattainment area to include the following ten New York counties: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.
On July 7, 2009, the D.C. Circuit, Catawba County, North Carolina, et al., v. EPA, 571 F.3d 20, (D.C. Cir. 2009), ruled on consolidated petitions for review of area designations for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS filed by several states, counties, and industrial entities. The DC Circuit denied petitions for review in all respects except for the designation of Rockland County, which was remanded to EPA.[1]
On November 13, 2009, at 74 FR 58688, EPA promulgated designations for the 24-hour standard set in 2006, designating the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area as nonattainment for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The nonattainment area boundaries for NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS were identical to the boundaries for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, including all tens counties that were previously designated nonattainment in 2005. The November 13, 2009 action also clarified that the NY-NJ-CT Start Printed Page 8135nonattainment area was classified as unclassifiable/attainment for the 1997 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA did not promulgate designations for the annual average NAAQS promulgated in 2006 since that NAAQS was essentially identical to the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
In the final rulemaking action dated November 15, 2010 (75 FR 69589), EPA determined that the entire NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area had attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS, based upon quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the period of 2007-2009.
On December 31, 2012 (77 FR 76867), EPA finalized the determination that the entire NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area had attained the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, based upon quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data that showed that the area had monitored attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS for the 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 monitoring periods.
The 3-year ambient air quality data for the last four 3-year monitoring periods (2007-2009, 2008-2010, 2009-2011, and 2010-2012) indicated no violations for the 1997 annual PM2.5 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. As a result, on June 12, 2013 New York requested redesignation of the NYNAA to attainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Under the CAA, nonattainment areas may be redesignated to attainment if sufficient, complete, quality-assured data is available for the Administrator to determine that the area has attained the standard and the area meets the other CAA redesignation requirements under 107(d)(3)(E).
On May 12, 2005, EPA published CAIR, which requires significant reductions in emissions of SO2 and NOX from electric generating units (EGUs) to limit the interstate transport of these pollutants and the ozone and PM2.5 they form in the atmosphere. See 70 FR 25162. The D.C. Circuit initially vacated CAIR, North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F.3d 896 (D.C. Cir. 2008), but ultimately remanded the rule to EPA without vacatur to preserve the environmental benefits provided by CAIR, North Carolina v. EPA, 550 F.3d 1176, 1178 (D.C. Cir. 2008). In response to the D.C. Circuit's decision, EPA issued the Transport Rule, also known as CSAPR, to address interstate transport of NOX and SO2 in the eastern United States. See 76 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011).
On August 21, 2012, the DC Circuit issued a decision to vacate CSAPR. In that decision, it also ordered EPA to continue administering CAIR “pending the promulgation of a valid replacement.” EME Homer City, 696 F.3d at 38. The DC Circuit denied all petitions for rehearing on January 24, 2013.
New York's submittal and EPA modeling demonstrate that the attainment of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS will be maintained with or without the implementation of CAIR or CSAPR. To the extent that attainment is due to emission reductions associated with CAIR, EPA is proposing to determine that those reductions are sufficiently permanent and enforceable for purposes of CAA sections 107(d)(3)(E)(iii) and175A.
New York's SIP revision lists CAIR among the Federal trading programs that have resulted in permanent and enforceable emissions reductions that have led to attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS. New York rules, 6 NYCRR Parts 243, 244, and 245, effective on October 19, 2007, implement the CAIR trading program in New York. CAIR was, thus, in place and achieving emission reductions when the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area began monitoring attainment of the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards during the 2007-2009 period. The quality assured, certified monitoring data continues to show the area in attainment with the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 standards through 2012, and through 2013 with preliminary data.
In addition, air quality modeling analysis conducted during the CSAPR rulemaking process also demonstrated that the counties in the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area will have PM2.5 levels below the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS in both 2012 and 2014 without taking into account emissions reductions from CAIR or CSAPR. See “Air Quality Modeling Final Rule Technical Support Document”,[2] App. B, B-18, B-19. This modeling is also available in the docket for this proposed redesignation.
2. “State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted in Response to Clean Air Start Printed Page 8136Act (CAA) Deadlines,” Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992;
4. “Implementation Guidance for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS,” Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, March 2, 2012.
Final approval of the redesignation request would change the official designation of the NYNAA to attainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, found at 40 CFR part 81. It would incorporate into the New York SIP a maintenance plan ensuring continued attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS until 2025. Approval of the 2007 base year emissions inventory, which is part of the maintenance plan, will satisfy the inventory requirements under section 172(c)(3) of the CAA. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2009, 2017, and 2025 motor vehicle emissions budgets for PM2.5 and NOX.
As discussed above, on January 4, 2013, in Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA (hereafter referred to as NRDC v. EPA), the DC Circuit remanded to EPA the “Final Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule” (72 FR 20586, April 25, 2007) and the “Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)” final rule (73 FR 28321, May 16, 2008) (collectively, “1997 PM2.5 Implementation Rule”). 706 F.3d 428 (D.C. Cir. 2013). The Court found that EPA erred in implementing the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS pursuant to the general implementation provisions of subpart 1 of part D of Title I of the CAA, rather than the particulate-matter-specific provisions of subpart 4 of Part D of Title I. Although the Court's ruling did not directly address the 2006 PM2.5 standard, EPA is taking into account the Court's position on subpart 4 and the 1997 PM2.5 standard in evaluating redesignations for the 2006 standard.
In this portion of the proposed redesignation, EPA addresses the effect of the Court's January 4, 2013 ruling on the proposed redesignation. As explained below, EPA is proposing to determine that the Court's January 4, 2013 decision does not prevent EPA from redesignating the NYNAA to attainment for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. Even in light of the Court's decision, redesignation for this area is appropriate under the CAA and EPA's longstanding interpretations of the CAA's provisions regarding redesignation. EPA demonstrates that even if the subpart 4 requirements were applied to the New York redesignation request and disregards the provisions of its 1997 PM2.5 implementation rule recently remanded by the Court, New York's request for redesignation of this area still qualifies for approval. EPA's discussion takes into account the effect of the Court's ruling on the area's maintenance plan, which EPA views as approvable when subpart 4 requirements are considered.
With respect to evaluating the relevant substantive requirements of subpart 4 for purposes of redesignating the NYNAA, EPA notes that subpart 4 incorporates components of subpart 1 of part D, which contains general air quality planning requirements for areas designated as nonattainment. See Section 172(c). Subpart 4 itself contains specific planning and scheduling requirements for PM10 [3] nonattainment areas, and under the Court's January 4, 2013 decision in NRDC v. EPA, these same statutory requirements also apply for PM2.5 nonattainment areas. EPA has longstanding general guidance that interprets the 1990 amendments to the CAA, making recommendations to states for meeting the statutory requirements for SIPs for nonattainment areas. See, “State Implementation Plans; General Preamble for the Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,” 57 FR 13498 (April 16, 1992) (the “General Preamble”). In the General Preamble, EPA discussed the relationship of subpart 1 and subpart 4 SIP requirements, and pointed out that subpart 1 requirements were to an extent “subsumed by, or integrally related to, the more specific PM-10 requirements.” 57 FR 13538 (April 16, 1992). The subpart 1 requirements include, among other things, provisions for attainment demonstrations, reasonably available control measures (RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP), emissions inventories, and contingency measures.
For the purposes of this redesignation, in order to identify any additional requirements which would apply under subpart 4, we are considering the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area to be a “moderate” PM2.5 nonattainment area. Under section 188 of the CAA, all areas designated nonattainment areas under subpart 4 would initially be classified by operation of law as “moderate” nonattainment areas, and would remain moderate nonattainment areas unless and until EPA reclassifies the area as a “serious” nonattainment area. Accordingly, EPA believes that it is appropriate to limit the evaluation of the potential impact of subpart 4 requirements to those that would be applicable to moderate nonattainment areas. Sections 189(a) and (c) of subpart 4 apply to moderate nonattainment areas and include the following: (1) An approved permit program for construction of new and modified major stationary sources (section 189(a)(1)(A)); (2) an attainment demonstration (section 189(a)(1)(B)); (3) provisions for RACM (section 189(a)(1)(C)); and (4) quantitative milestones demonstrating RFP toward attainment by the applicable attainment date (section 189(c)).
The permit requirements of subpart 4, as contained in section 189(a)(1)(A), refer to and apply the subpart 1 permit provisions requirements of sections 172 and 173 to PM10, without adding to them. Consequently, EPA believes that section 189(a)(1)(A) does not itself impose for redesignation purposes any additional requirements for moderate areas beyond those contained in subpart 1. In any event, in the context of redesignation, EPA has long relied on the interpretation that a fully approved nonattainment new source review program is not considered an applicable requirement for redesignation, provided the area can maintain the standard with a prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) program after redesignation. A detailed rationale for this view is described in a memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, dated October 14, 1994, entitled, “Part D New Source Review Requirements for Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment.” See also rulemakings for Detroit, Michigan (60 FR 12467-12468, March 7, 1995); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio (61 FR 20458, 20469-20470, May 7, 1996); Louisville, Kentucky (66 FR 53665, October 23, 2001); and Grand Rapids, Michigan (61 FR 31834-31837, June 21, 1996).
With respect to the specific attainment planning requirements under Start Printed Page 8137subpart 4,[4] when EPA evaluates a redesignation request under either subpart 1 and/or 4, any area that is attaining the PM2.5 standard is viewed as having satisfied the attainment planning requirements for these subparts. For redesignations, EPA has for many years interpreted attainment-linked requirements as not applicable for areas attaining the standard. In the General Preamble, EPA stated that:
It is evident that even if we were to consider the Court's January 4, 2013 decision in NRDC v. EPA to mean that attainment-related requirements specific to subpart 4 should be imposed retroactively and thus are now past due, those requirements do not apply to an area that is attaining the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 standards, for the purpose of evaluating a pending request to redesignate the area to attainment. EPA has consistently enunciated this interpretation of applicable requirements under section 107(d)(3)(E) since the General Preamble was published more than twenty years ago. Courts have recognized the scope of EPA's authority to interpret “applicable requirements” in the redesignation context. See Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004).
Elsewhere in this action, EPA proposes to determine that the NYNAA continues to attain the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 standards. Under its longstanding interpretation, EPA is proposing to determine here that the area meets the attainment-related plan requirements of subparts 1 and 4.
In an effort to comply with the CAA and to ensure continued attainment of the NAAQS, on June 27, 2013, NYSDEC submitted a redesignation request and maintenance plan for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS for NY-NJ-CT nonattainment areas. On September 18, 2013, NYSDEC submitted additional materials to supplement the redesignation request.
For redesignating a nonattainment area to attainment, the CAA requires EPA to determine that the area has attained the applicable NAAQS (CAA section 107(d)(3)(E)(i)). In this action, EPA is proposing to determine that the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area is continuing to attain the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
An area may be considered to be attaining the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS if it meets the NAAQS as determined in accordance with 40 CFR 50.7 and Appendix N of part 50, based on three complete, consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring data. To attain this standard, the three-year average of annual means must be less than or equal to 15 μg/m3 at all relevant monitoring sites in the subject area. The relevant data must be collected and quality-assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58 and recorded in the EPA Air Quality System (AQS). The monitors meet data completeness requirements when “at least 75 percent of the scheduled sampling days for each quarter have valid data”. The use of less than complete data is subject to the approval of EPA, which may consider factors such as monitoring site closures/moves, monitoring diligence, and nearby concentrations in determining whether to use such data.
As noted in Section II.A. above, EPA has finalized the determination that the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area had attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. (75 FR 69589, November 15, 2010). NYSDEC submitted ambient air monitoring data showing PM2.5 concentrations attaining the annual PM2.5 NAAQS for the 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 time periods. EPA has also reviewed more recent quality-assured data for the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area and found that the NYNAA continued to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS through 2012.[5]
Table 1, below, shows the four most recent design values by county (i.e. 3-year average) of annual mean PM2.5 concentrations) for the 2007-2009, 2008-2010, 2009-2011, and 2010-2012 time periods for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS for the NY-NJ-CT PM2.5 nonattainment area monitors.Start Printed Page 8138
Table 1—Design Value Concentrations for the NY-NJ-CT 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS Nonattainment Area (μg/m3)
[The 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS is 15.0 μg/m3]
Bronx 36-005-0080/110 13.9 12.5 11.9 9.8
Kings 36-047-0122 12.2 10.8 10.3 9.9
Nassau 36-059-0008 10.3 9.5 8.9 INC
New York 36-061-0128/0134 12.1 12.1 11.7 11.8
Orange 36-071-0002 9.3 8.5 8.2 8.1
Queens 36-081-0124 10.6 10.0 9.4 9.1
Richmond 36-085-0055 11.6 10.5 9.8 9.7
Rockland NM NM NM NM NM
Suffolk 36-103-0002 9.7 8.9 8.4 8.4
Westchester 36-119-1002 10.6 9.6 9.1 INC
Bergen 34-003-0003 11.3 9.8 9.2 9.2
Essex 34-0013-003 INC INC INC 9.5
Hudson 34-017-2002 13.1 11.6 11.1 11.1
Mercer 34-021-0008 10.8 10.0 9.7 9.5
Middlesex 34-023-0006 10.4 8.8 7.9 8.0
Monmouth NM NM NM NM NM
Morris 34-027-0004 9.6 8.7 8.5 8.4
Passaic 34-031-0005 11.3 9.8 9.3 9.3
Somerset NM NM NM NM NM
Union 34-039-0006/2003 11.6 10.3 9.6 9.7
Fairfield 09-001-0010 11.3 10.0 9.4 9.4
New Haven 09-009-1123 11.4 10.3 9.6 9.4
Based on air monitoring data through 2012, EPA concludes that N-NJ-CT nonattainment area is continuing to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Therefore, EPA proposes that the statutory criterion for attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS (40 CFR 50.7 and Appendix N of part 50) has been met.
An area may be considered to be attaining the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS if it meets the NAAQS as determined in accordance with 40 CFR 50.13 and Appendix N of part 50, based on three complete, consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring data. To attain this standard, the 98th percentile 24-hour concentration, as determined in accordance with 40 CFR part 50, Appendix N, is less than or equal to 35 μg/m3 at all relevant monitoring sites in the subject area over a 3-year period. The relevant data must be collected and quality-assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58 and recorded in EPA's AQS. The monitors meet data completeness requirements when “at least 75 percent of the scheduled sampling days for each quarter have valid data.” The use of less than complete data is subject to the approval of EPA, which may consider factors such as monitoring site closures/moves, monitoring diligence, and nearby concentrations in determining whether to use such data.
EPA previously finalized the determination that the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area had attained the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, as noted in Section II.A. (77 FR 76867, December 31, 2012). The ambient air monitoring data submitted by New York shows PM2.5 concentrations attaining the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS for 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 time periods. EPA has also reviewed more recent quality-assured data for the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area and found that the NYNAA continued to attain the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through 2012.[6]
Table 2, below, shows the design value by county for the 98th percentile 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations for the 2007-2009, 2008-2010, 2009-2011, and 2010-2012 time periods for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS for the NY-NJ-CT PM2.5 nonattainment area monitors.
Start Printed Page 8139
Table 2—Design Value Concentrations for the NY-NJ-CT 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS Nonattainment Area (μg/m3)
[The 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS is 35 μg/m3]
Bronx 36-005-0080/133 33 29 28 24
Kings 36-047-0122 30 27 25 24
Nassau 36-059-0008 28 25 23 INC
New York 36-061-0134/0079 32 29 28 26
Orange 36-071-0002 26 24 23 23
Queens 36-081-0124 30 28 26 24
Richmond 36-085-0055 29 26 24 24
Suffolk 36-103-0002 26 25 23 22
Westchester 36-119-1002 29 28 25 INC
Bergen 34-003-0003 31 28 25 23
Essex 34-013-0003 INC INC INC 23
Hudson 34-017-1003 32 29 28 26
Mercer 34-021-0008 29 27 26 25
Middlesex 34-023-0006 27 23 20 19
Morris 34-027-3001 26 23 23 21
Passaic 34-031-0005 30 26 25 24
Union 34-039-0006 31 27 24 24
Fairfield 09-001-0010/1123 31 28 26 24
New Haven 09-009-0027 31 29 28 25
Based on air monitoring data through 2012, EPA concludes that the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area is continuing to attain the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Therefore, EPA proposes that the statutory criterion for attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS (40 CFR 50.13 and Appendix N of part 50) has been met.
Section 110(a)(2)(D) of the CAA requires that SIPs contain certain measures to prevent sources in a state from significantly contributing to air quality problems in another state. To implement this provision, EPA has required certain states to establish programs to address the interstate transport of air pollutants in accordance with the NOX SIP Call, October 27, 1998 (63 FR 57356), amendments to the NOX SIP Call, May 14, 1999 (64 FR 26298) and March 2, 2000 (65 FR 11222), and CAIR, May 12, 2005 (70 FR 25162). However, the CAA section 110(a)(2)(D) requirements for a state are not linked with a particular nonattainment area's designation and classification in that state. EPA believes that the requirements linked with a particular nonattainment area's designation and classifications are the relevant measures to evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request. The transport SIP submittal requirements, where applicable, continue to apply to a state regardless of the designation of any one particular area in the state. Thus, EPA does not believe that these requirements are applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation.
In addition, EPA believes that the other CAA section 110(a)(2) elements not connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with an area's attainment status are not applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. The area will still be Start Printed Page 8140subject to these requirements after it is redesignated. EPA concludes that the CAA section 110(a)(2) and part D requirements which are linked with a particular area's designation and classification are the relevant measures to evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request, and that CAA section 110(a)(2) elements not linked in the area's nonattainment status are not applicable for purposes of redesignation. This approach is consistent with EPA's existing policy on applicability of conformity (i.e., for redesignations) and oxygenated fuels requirement. See Reading, Pennsylvania, proposed and final rulemakings (61 FR 53174, October 10, 1996), (62 FR 24826, May 7, 1997); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio final rulemaking (61 FR 20458, May 7, 1996); and Tampa, Florida final rulemaking (60 FR 62748, December 7, 1995). See also the discussion on this issue in the Cincinnati, Ohio redesignation (65 FR 37890, June 19, 2000) and in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania redesignation (66 FR 53099, October 19, 2001).
New York submitted Section 110 “infrastructure SIPs” required under CAA section 110(a)(2) to EPA for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS (dated October 2, 2008) and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS (dated March 15, 2010). EPA has reviewed the New York SIP and has concluded that it meets the general SIP requirements under section 110(a)(2) of the CAA to the extent they are applicable for purposes for redesignating the NYNAA to attainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA took final action approving New York's infrastructure SIP submittals on June 20, 2013 (78 FR 37122). The requirements under section 110(a)(2) of the CAA are, however, statewide requirements that are not linked to the PM2.5 nonattainment status of the NYNAA. Therefore, EPA believes that these SIP elements are not applicable requirements for purposes of review of New York's PM2.5 redesignation request.
Subpart 1 of part D of Title I of the CAA sets forth the basic nonattainment requirements applicable to all nonattainment areas. All areas that were designated nonattainment for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS were designated under this subpart of the CAA, and the requirements applicable to them are contained in sections 172 and 176. EPA's analysis of the particulate-matter-specific provisions of Subpart 4 of part D of Title I as a result of the January 4, 2013 D.C. Circuit decision is discussed earlier in this notice.
Under CAA section 172, states with nonattainment areas must submit plans providing for timely attainment and meet a variety of other requirements. As mentioned, EPA has previously finalized determinations that the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment areas had attained the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
New York's obligation to submit an attainment demonstration, RACT/RACM, RFP, contingency measures, and other planning SIPs related to the attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS has been suspended due to EPA's determination that the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area has attained the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. New York submitted a SIP revision (PM2.5 attainment plan) for attaining the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS on October 27, 2009. The requirements to submit PM2.5 attainment plans were suspended as a result of the determination of attainment and it was not necessary for New York to submit a plan for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The only remaining requirement to be considered after the determination of attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS is the emission inventory required under CAA section 172(c)(3).
Section 172(c)(3) requires submission and approval of a comprehensive, accurate, and current inventory of actual emissions. As part of the maintenance plan submitted by New York on June 27, 2013, the State has submitted an attainment year inventory that meets this requirement. For purposes of the PM2.5 NAAQS, the emissions inventory should address not only direct emissions of PM2.5, but also emissions of all precursors with the potential to participate in PM2.5 formation, i.e., SO2, NOX, VOC and ammonia (NH3). The 2007 attainment year emissions inventory submitted by New York in the June 27, 2013 submission addressed PM2.5, SO2, NOX, VOC and NH3 emissions.
The 2007 emissions inventory was prepared by NYSDEC and is presented in Table 5 located in Section VII.E.2(a), Attainment Emissions Inventory, of this action. Table 5 shows the 2007 base year PM2.5, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3 annual emission inventories for the NYNAA. EPA's detailed evaluation of the base year inventories for all pollutants is also addressed in Section VII.E.2.(a), Attainment Emissions Inventory, of this action. A copy of the Technical Support Document [7] submitted by New York is included in the TSD of the New York SIP submission.
Section 172(c)(4) of the CAA requires the identification and quantification of allowable emissions for major new and modified stationary sources in an area, and CAA section 172(c)(5) requires source permits for the construction and operation of new and modified major stationary sources anywhere in the nonattainment area. EPA has determined that, since the PSD requirements will apply after redesignation, areas being redesignated need not comply with the requirement that a nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) program be approved prior to redesignation, provided that the area demonstrates maintenance of the NAAQS without part D NSR. A more detailed rationale for this view is described in the memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, dated October 14, 1994 entitled, “Part D New Source Review Requirements for Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment.” New York's approved PM2.5 PSD program will become Start Printed Page 8141effective in the NYNAA upon redesignation to attainment.
CAA section 172(c)(9) provides that SIPs in nonattainment areas “shall provide for the implementation of specific measures to be undertaken if the area fails to make reasonable further progress, or to attain the [NAAQS] by the attainment date applicable under this part. Such measures shall be included in the plan revision as contingency measures to take effect in any such case without further action by the State or [EPA].” This contingency measure requirement is inextricably tied to the reasonable further progress and attainment demonstration requirements. Because attainment has been reached for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, contingency measures are not applicable for redesignation.
Section 176(c) of the CAA requires states to establish criteria and procedures to ensure that federally supported or funded projects conform to the air quality planning goals in the applicable SIP. The requirement to determine transportation conformity applies to transportation plans, programs and projects that are developed, funded or approved under title 23 of the United States Code (U.S.C.) and the Federal Transit Act. The requirement to determine general conformity applies to all other federally supported or funded projects. State transportation conformity SIP revisions must be consistent with Federal transportation conformity regulations relating to consultation, enforcement and enforceability that EPA promulgated pursuant to its authority under the CAA.[8]
EPA interprets the conformity [9] SIP requirements as not applying for purposes of evaluating a redesignation request under section 107(d) because state conformity rules are still required after redesignation and Federal conformity rules apply where state rules have not been approved. See Wall v. EPA, 265 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001) (upholding this interpretation); see also 60 FR 62748 (December 7, 1995) (redesignation of Tampa, Florida).
Upon final approval of New York's 2007 attainment year emissions inventory, EPA will have fully approved the SIPs for the NYNAA for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS under section 110(k) for all requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation.
EPA is proposing to approve the 2007 attainment year emissions inventory (submitted as part of its maintenance plan) for the NYNAA as meeting the requirement of section 172(c)(3) of the CAA for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Therefore, New York will have satisfied all applicable requirements under part D of Title I of the CAA.
As indicated in Section VI.A., the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area came into attainment with the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS beginning with the 2007-2009 time period. The area has remained in attainment and the air quality has improved. As shown in the State's submittal [10] , the PM2.5 maximum and average concentrations for NYNAA monitors shows a downward trend over the past decade. Additionally the State's submittal [11] demonstrates that New York's maximum design values in the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area have not exceeded the annual NAAQS since 2007, New Jersey's maximum design values have not exceeded the annual NAAQS since 2006, and Connecticut's maximum design value has not exceeded the annual NAAQS since 2003. For the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, New York's and New Jersey's maximum design values have not exceeded the NAAQS since 2008, and Connecticut's maximum design value has not exceeded the NAAQS since 2007.
As demonstrated in the state's maintenance plan, the improvement in air quality can be attributable to the Federal and SIP approved State control measures that provide for PM2.5, and PM2.5 precursors emission reductions from 2002 through PM2.5 NAAQS attainment beginning in 2007-2009 (see Table 3). The tables also indicate the maintenance plan measures with quantifiable emission reductions that New York is relying on to demonstrate maintenance.
Table 3—List of Post-2002 New York Control Measures for PM2.5 and Precursors
Architectural and Industrial Maintenance Coatings State X 6 NYCRR 205.
Start Printed Page 8142
Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major Facilities State X X 6 NYCRR 212.10.
Solvent Metal Cleaning Process State X 6 NYCRR 226.
Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major Facilities of Oxides of Nitrogen State X X 6 NYCRR 227-2.
Portland Cement Plants State X 6 NYCRR 220-1.
Glass Plants State X 6 NYCRR 220-2.
Surface Coating Processes, Commercial and Industrial Adhesives, Sealants and Primers State X X 6 NYCRR 228.
Graphic Arts State X 6 NYCRR 234.
Portable Fuel Container Spillage Control State X X 6 NYCRR 239.
New York I/M Program State X X X 6 NYCRR 217.
Residential Woodstove NSPS Federal rule X X X X
CAIR Federal rule X X
Federal Tier 2 Gasoline Sulfur Program Federal rule X X
Federal Clean Diesel Program Federal rule X X X X X
Control of Emissions from Nonroad Large Sparking Engines, and Recreational Engines (Marine and Land-based) Federal rule X X X X
Control of Emissions of Air Pollution from Nonroad Diesel Engines and Fuel Federal rule X X X X
Table 4 shows Federal and State post 2007-2009 maintenance plan measures with creditable emissions reductions, including measures that have been adopted, but not yet implemented, that New York is relying on to demonstrate maintenance. New York's submittal also included additional measures to provide additional assurance that New York's air quality will continue to comply with the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
Table 4—List of 2007-2009 New York Maintenance Plan Control Measures for PM2.5 and Precursors
EGU- Oil State X X X X 6 NYCRR Part 227.
EGU- Gas State X X X 6 NYCRR Part 227 and 228.
Low Sulfur Distillate and Residual Fuel Strategies State X X X 6 NYCRR Parts 225.
Asphalt State X X 6 NYCRR Part 241.
Consumer Products State X X 6 NYCRR Parts 231.
Oil Combustion Sources State X X 6 NYCRR Parts 227.
Natural Gas Combustion State X X 6 NYCRR Parts 227.
New York Combustion Regulation State X X X X 6 NYCRR Parts 227.
New York Low Emission Vehicle Program (LEV II) State X X X X 6 NYCRR Part 218.
Start Printed Page 8143
Heavy Duty Highway Rule-Vehicle Standards and Diesel Fuel Sulfur Co Federal Rule X X X X X
Nonroad Diesel Engines Federal Rule X X X X
Locomotive Engines and Marine Compression-Ignition Engines Less than 30 Liters per Cylinder Federal Rule X X X X
Phase 2 Standards for Non-Road Spark Ignition Non-handheld Engines at or below 19 kW Federal Rule X X X
Phase 2 Standards for Small Spark Ignition Handheld Engines at or below 19 kW Federal Rule X X X
Recreational Vehicles (includes snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles) Federal Rule X X X
Gasoline Boats and personal watercraft, outboard engines Federal Rule X X X X
Based on the information presented above, New York has adequately demonstrated that the decline in PM2.5 concentrations was due to permanent and enforceable control measures. EPA proposes to find that the combination of existing EPA-approved SIP and Federal measures contribute to the permanence and enforceability of reduction in ambient PM2.5 levels that have allowed New York to attain the 1997 PM2.5 and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
For redesignating a nonattainment area to attainment, the CAA requires EPA to determine that the area has a fully approved maintenance plan pursuant to section 175A of the CAA (CAA section 107(d)(3)(E)(iv)). In conjunction with its request to redesignate the NYNAA to attainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, New York submitted a SIP revision to provide for maintenance for at least 10 years after the effective date of redesignation to attainment. EPA believes this maintenance plan meets the requirements for approval under section 175A of the CAA.
Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of the applicable NAAQS for at least 10 years after the Administrator approves a redesignation to attainment. Eight years after the redesignation, the State must submit a revised maintenance plan which demonstrates that attainment will continue to be maintained for the 10 years following the initial 10-year period. To address the possibility of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must contain contingency measures as EPA deems necessary to assure prompt correction of any future PM2.5 violations. The Calcagni Memorandum, dated September 4, 1992, provides further guidance on the content of a maintenance plan, explaining that a maintenance plan should address five requirements: (1) An attainment emissions inventory; (2) a maintenance demonstration showing maintenance for 10 years; (3) a commitment to maintain the existing monitoring network; (4) verification of continued attainment; and (5) a contingency plan to prevent or correct future violations. As is discussed more fully below, EPA proposes to find that the New York maintenance plan includes all the necessary components and is thus proposing to approve it as a revision to the New York SIP.
The maintenance demonstration must demonstrate effective safeguards of the NAAQS for at least 10 years following the redesignation showing that future PM2.5 and precursor emissions will not exceed the level of the attainment year.
Maintenance Plan Attainment Inventory. Maintenance plan provisions include a comprehensive, accurate, and current emissions inventory from all point, area, nonroad and onroad mobile sources for the PM2.5 nonattainment area. States are required to develop an attainment inventory to identify the level of emissions in the area that is sufficient to attain the NAAQS. This inventory should include the emissions during the time period associated with the monitoring data showing attainment.
Maintenance Plan Interim Year Inventory. At a minimum, emissions Start Printed Page 8144should be projected to a midpoint year between the attainment year and the endpoint/10-year inventory. This inventory provides a summary of controlled emissions for point, area, nonroad and onroad mobile sources for the PM2.5 nonattainment area for the interim year inventory.
An attainment inventory is comprised of the emissions during the time period associated with the monitoring data showing attainment. New York selected 2007 as the attainment inventory year for the NYNAA for the 1997 annual PM2.5 and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards.
For the 1997 PM2.5 annual standard, the NYNAA had monitored attainment based on air monitoring data for 2007-2009. For the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard, the NYNAA had monitored attainment for 2007-2009, and 2008-1010. EPA proposes to concur that the 2007 base year emissions inventory is appropriate as the attainment year inventory for the PM2.5 redesignation maintenance plan.
New York's inventory includes major point sources for each pollutant in tons per year (tpy). The inventory report describes how point and area source activity levels and their associated parameters were developed, and how the data were used to calculate emission estimates. The inventory lists the source categories that are included in (and excluded from) the area source inventory. The report provides referenced documents for activity level and emission factors used. Information on how control efficiencies were derived (with the associated sample calculations) is also provided. Point and area source summary information on detailed county and/or nonattainment area levels, are included in the inventory. Where applicable, annual emissions are provided for PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3 for PM2.5 nonattainment areas.
For the NYNAA, the predominant non-road mobile source categories (i.e., agricultural equipment, construction equipment, industrial equipment, airport service equipment, light commercial equipment, lawn and garden equipment, etc.) were developed by using version 2008a of EPA's Nonroad Emissions Equipment Model released by EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ). Nonroad mobile source emissions are presented on a source category, county and/or nonattainment area basis. Where applicable, annual emissions are provided for PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3 for the PM2.5 nonattainment areas.
Where applicable, aircraft, locomotive, and commercial marine vessel emissions on a county basis are provided for PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3. Activity level and emissions data for each source category is provided. Aircraft, locomotive and commercial marine vessel source emissions are presented on a source category, county and/or nonattainment area basis. Where applicable, annual emissions are provided for PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3 for PM2.5 nonattainment areas.
MOVES model was used to generate emission factors for VOC, NH3, PM2.5, PM10, NOX and SO2 on-road vehicle emission estimates. The report also explains how MOVES emission factors are used, in conjunction with VMT data, to estimate mobile source emissions for the inventoried areas. It provides the Start Printed Page 8145sources for the key inputs into the MOVES model. Key assumptions are also included. The methods used to determine on-road emission estimates are explained in the report. VOC, NH3, PM2.5, PM10, NOX and SO2 annual combined on-road mobile emissions by county are provided. Where applicable, annual emissions are provided for VOC, NH3, PM2.5, PM10, NOX and SO2 for all areas. The breakdown of annual emissions by highway vehicle classifications is included in the inventory.
Table 5 below shows the 2007 base year PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3 annual emission inventories for the NYNAA.
Point 3,707.01 38,195.94 3,206.28 124,750.31 43,886.32 882.89
On-road 71,379.46 149,501.91 9,723.36 6,835.30 982.77 3,484.40
Total 222,595.08 289,110.05 68,638.51 148,280.52 80,435.19 6,610.08
EPA is proposing to approve the 2007 PM2.5 base year inventory for PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3 for the NYNAA. The Maintenance Plan Attainment Year/Base Year 2007 emissions inventory is comprehensive, accurate, and current for all sources of relevant pollutants in the nonattainment area. In all cases the 2007 attainment/base year inventory was done in accordance with EPA guidance. The technical support document provides additional information regarding the review conducted by EPA for the 2007 PM2.5 base year inventory. EPA proposes that by approving the 2007 base year inventory for PM2.5, PM10, NOX, SO2, VOC and NH3 for the NYNAA, will also serve to establish a PM10 emissions inventory specifically for New York County, which satisfies an existing SIP planning requirement for the PM10 New York County nonattainment area. See 78 FR 72032, December 2, 2013.
For the projection inventories to be acceptable they must pass the following acceptance criteria: [12]
A projection of 2007 PM2.5 and the associated PM2.5 precursors emissions to 2017 and 2025 is required to determine the emission reductions needed for the inventory maintenance plan. The 2017 and 2025 projection year emission inventories are calculated by multiplying the 2007 base year inventory by factors which estimate growth from 2007 to 2017 and 2025. A specific growth factor for each source type in the inventory is required since sources typically grow at different rates.
CMV emissions were projected to 2017 and 2025 using EPA's regulatory impact assessment (RIA) May 2008 RIA report, for category 1 and 2 vessels and EPA's 2009 RIA report for category 3 vessels based on combined growth and control factors.Start Printed Page 8146
Point 4,131.72 37,066.75 3,193.99 124,290.57 43,484.29 867.60
On-road 33,083.83 68,362.66 7,171.83 3,897.71 939.20 2,340.95
Total 157,414.67 187,724.00 50,672.82 141,355.28 53,048.17 5,124.68
Point 4,153.64 37,645.59 3,201.53 124,294.66 43,596.39 872.33
On-road 26,911.17 51,260.81 6,952.22 3,291.09 935.40 2,443.53
Total 150,500.68 167,147.34 53,923.85 140,963.45 53,520.61 5,241.57
The permanent and enforceable control measures that are relied on to provide continued attainment of (“maintenance”) of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS are listed as maintenance plan measures in Tables 3 and 4. New York has already implemented, or adopted rules with future implementation dates, for these measures. Additional information regarding the control measures can be found in the TSD.
EPA is proposing to approve the 2017 interim and 2025 PM2.5 projections for the NYNAA. In all cases the 2017 and 2025 projection year inventories were performed in accordance with EPA guidance. For further information concerning EPA's evaluation and analysis of the emission inventories, see the TSD available in the docket.
Tables 6A-6C above shows the inventories for the 2007 attainment year, the 2017 interim year, and the 2025 endpoint year for the NYNAA. Tables 6A-6C shows that when comparing the 2007 inventory to the 2017 and 2025 projected emission inventories the NYNAA is projected to reduce PM2.5 precursor emissions substantially. Thus, the 2017 and 2025 projected emissions inventories show that the NYNAA will continue to maintain the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS during the 10 year maintenance period.
As discussed in detail above, the State's maintenance plan submission expressly documents that the NYNAA emissions inventories will remain below the attainment year inventories through at least 2025. In addition, for the reasons set forth below, EPA proposes to determine that the State's submission further demonstrates that the NYNAA will continue to maintain the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS at least through 2025:
For the NYNAA, emissions inventory levels for all PM2.5 precursors in 2025 are well below the attainment Start Printed Page 8147year inventory levels (see Table 6C). EPA proposes that it is highly improbable that sudden increases would occur that could exceed the attainment year inventory levels in 2025.
Air quality concentrations for PM2.5 are below the NAAQS by 3 μg/m3 or more, indicating a margin of safety in the event of any emissions increase. As shown in Table 1, for the 1997 annual NAAQS of 15 μg/m3, the design value for 2010-2012 for the NY-NJ-CT PM2.5 nonattainment area value was 11.8 μg/m3. As shown in Table 2, for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS of 35 μg/m3, the design value for 2010-2012 for the NY-NJ-CT PM2.5 nonattainment area was 26 μg/m3.
Air quality concentrations showed a significant downward trend over time for the NY-NJ-CT PM2.5 nonattainment area for both the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. See Figures 7 and 8 of the New York redesignation request, which is available in the docket.
Additional emissions reductions will occur through EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) [13] . See the TSD for more information regarding MATS, including expected emission reductions.
New York currently operates ten Federal reference PM2.5 monitors in the NYNAA. In its June 27, 2013 Air Monitoring Network Plan submittal, New York has committed to continued operation of the PM2.5 air monitoring network, which meets the requirements of 40 CFR part 58, to verify continue attainment.
Continued attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS in the state depends, in part, on the state's efforts towards tracking indicators of continued attainment during the maintenance period. New York's plan for verifying continued attainment of the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 standards consists of continued operation of New York's PM2.5 air monitoring network in accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR part 58. New York will also verify continued attainment by determining whether emission levels from New York's emission inventory, which is developed every three years, are adequate.
EPA proposes to approve New York's plans for verifying continued attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS.
As required by 175A of the CAA, New York has included contingency provisions in the maintenance plan to address possible future PM2.5 air quality problems. However, instead of providing a specific schedule and procedure for the adoption and implementation of contingency measures, New York has identified the list of measures that are currently being pursued by the State, which will be adopted once the New York's rulemaking process has been concluded. New York expects these rules to be adopted within the next few years. These measures include the following:
1. New NOX and PM control limits on distributed generation sources that are not already subject to state or federal limits (6 NYCRR Part 222—Distributed Generation)
New York has also identified two recently adopted rules as contingency measures: Revisions to 6 NYCRR Part 225—Fuel Composition and Use (adopted April 5, 2013) [14] , and Revisions to 6 NYCRR Part 228—Surface Coating Processes, Commercial and Industrial Adhesives, Sealants, and Primers (adopted June 5, 2013) [15] . Although New York included these measures in the list of control measures that the State was relying on to demonstrate maintenance (see Section VI.D. for the list of identified maintenance control measures), and while EPA supports the adoption and implementation of these rules to reduce PM2.5 emissions, EPA is proposing that these two measures do not qualify as contingency measures since they have already been adopted and used for maintenance. Regardless, EPA notes that PM2.5 levels are sufficiently below the NAAQS indicating a sufficient margin of safety in the event of emissions increase. 2010-2012 design values are below the NAAQS by more than 3 μg/m3 for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Tables 1 and 2 of this proposal show the design values for the NY-NJ-CT PM2.5 nonattainment area. EPA proposes that it is unlikely that New York will violate the PM2.5 NAAQS, as design values in all counties in the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area are well below the NAAQS, and continue to decrease.
New York has affirmed that all control measures in the maintenance plan have been implemented, or adopted with future implementation dates. New York has also noted in their submittal that the control measures that have led to expeditious attainment of the annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS are SIP implemented measures that cannot be repealed or relaxed without equivalent reductions from other sources(s) (e.g. CAA section 110 anti-backsliding provisions).
Air quality modeling conducted during the CSAPR rulemaking process, as mentioned previously in Section II. B., demonstrated that the counties in the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area will have PM2.5 levels below the NAAQS in 2014, without taking into account emission reductions from CAIR or CSAPR. The highest PM2.5 design values, as determined from the CSAPR modeling, for sites in the NYNAA in 2014 was 13.89 μg/m3 for the 1997 annual NAAQS, and 32.0 ug/m3 for the 24-hour 2006 NAAQS. The “modeled differential” between the modeled design values and the PM2.5 NAAQS indicates that there are excess emission Start Printed Page 8148reductions available for contingency based on EPA CSAPR modeling.
For all of the reasons discussed above, EPA is proposing to approve New York's 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 maintenance plan for the NYNAA as meeting the requirements of section 175A of the CAA.
New York has developed MVEBs for the NYNAA. The budgets are being established for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards. New York determined that budgets based on annual emissions of direct PM2.5 and NOX, a precursor, are appropriate for the 2006 24-hour standard because exceedences of the standard were not isolated to one particular season; therefore, the budgets established by this maintenance plan will be used by transportation agencies to meet conformity requirements for both the annual and daily standards.
The 2009 MVEBs were developed without an accompanying full emissions inventory. EPA proposes that this approach is approvable and is consistent with attainment and maintenance of both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards because of our earlier determinations that the New York-N.New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area had attained the standards based on monitored air quality that included the year 2009 (see Section II.A.).
Table 7—PM2.5 and NOX MVEBs for Both the 1997 Annual and 2006 Daily PM2.5 NAAQS
2009 Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget 5,516.75 106,020.09
2017 Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget 3,897.71 68,362.66
2025 Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget 3,291.09 51,260.81
EPA is proposing to approve the 2009, 2017 and 2025 MVEBs for NOX and PM2.5 for the NYNAA because EPA has determined that the areas will maintain both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS with on-road vehicle emissions capped at the levels set by the budgets. EPA's review thus far indicates that the budgets meet the adequacy criteria set forth by 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4)(i) through (iv), as follows:
The submitted maintenance plan establishes new 2009, 2017 and 2025 budgets to ensure continued maintenance of the standards; therefore there were no revisions made to previously submitted control strategy Start Printed Page 8149implementation plans or maintenance plans.
New York State did not provide emission budgets for SO2, VOC, and ammonia because it concluded, consistent with the presumptions regarding these precursors in the conformity rule at 40 CFR 93.102(b)(2)(v), which predated and was not disturbed by the litigation on the PM2.5 implementation rule, that emissions of these precursors from motor vehicles are not significant contributors to the area's PM2.5 air quality problem.
EPA issued conformity regulations to implement the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in July 2004 and May 2005 (69 FR 40004, July 1, 2004 and 70 FR 24280, May 6, 2005, respectively). Those actions were not part of the final rule remanded, on January 4, 2013, to EPA by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in NRDC v. EPA, No. 08-1250, in which the Court remanded to EPA the implementation rule for the PM2.5 NAAQS because it concluded that EPA must implement that NAAQS pursuant to the PM-specific implementation provisions of subpart 4 of Part D of Title I of the CAA, rather than solely under the general provisions of subpart 1. That decision does not affect EPA's proposed approval of these MVEBs.
First, as noted above, EPA's conformity rule implementing the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS was a separate action from the overall PM2.5 implementation rule addressed by the Court and was not considered or disturbed by the decision. Therefore, the conformity regulations were not at issue in NRDC v. EPA.[16] In addition, as discussed in Section II.A, the New York-N.New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area is attaining the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards with 2010-2012 design values of 11.8 µg/m3 and 26 μg/m3, respectively, which is well below the annual PM2.5 NAAQS of 15 µg/m3 and 24-hour NAAQS of 35 μg/m3. The modeling analysis conducted for the RIA for the 2012 PMNAAQS indicates that the design value for this area is expected to continue to decline through 2020. Further, the State's maintenance plan shows continued maintenance through 2025 by demonstrating that NOX, and direct PM2.5 emissions continue to decrease through the maintenance period. For VOC and ammonia, RIA inventories for 2007 and 2020 show that both on-road and total emissions for these pollutants are expected to decrease, supporting the state's conclusion, consistent with the presumptions regarding these precursors in the conformity rule, that emissions of these precursors from motor vehicles are not significant contributors to the area's PM2.5 air quality problem and the MVEBs for these precursors are unnecessary. With regard to SO2, the 2005 final conformity rule (70 FR 24280) based its presumption concerning on-road SO2 motor vehicle emissions budgets on emissions inventories that show that SO2 emissions from on-road sources constitute a “de minimis” portion of total SO2 emissions. As shown elsewhere in this proposal, on-road emissions in 2025 are less than 2% of total SO2 emissions in the area.
EPA is proposing to approve the 2009, 2017 and 2025 direct PM2.5 and NOX motor vehicle emissions budgets for the NYNAA for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2 NAAQS. We are proposing approval based on our review that shows that the budgets meet the adequacy criteria found in the transportation conformity rule (40 CFR 93.118(e)(4)) and our thorough review of the maintenance plan that shows that the plan will provide for maintenance of both PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025.
EPA's substantive criteria for determining adequacy of a MVEB are set out in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4), and our review of New York's submission in the context of these criteria was presented in Section VII. The process for determining adequacy consists of three basic steps: public notification of a SIP submission, a public comment period, and EPA's adequacy determination. This process for determining the adequacy of submitted MVEBs for transportation conformity purposes was initially outlined in EPA's May 14, 1999, guidance, “Conformity Guidance on Implementation of March 2, 1999, Conformity Court Decision.” EPA adopted regulations to codify the adequacy process in the Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments for the “New 8-Hour Ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing Areas; Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments—Response to Court Decision and Additional Rule Change,” on July 1, 2004 (69 FR 40004). Additional information on the adequacy process for transportation conformity purposes is available in the proposed rule entitled, “Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments: Response to Court Decision and Additional Rule Changes,” 68 FR 38974, 38984 (June 30, 2003).
As discussed earlier, New York's maintenance plan submission includes NOX and PM2.5 MVEBs for the NYNAA for 2009, 2017 and 2025. EPA reviewed the NOX and PM2.5 MVEBs through the adequacy process. The New York SIP submission, including the NOX and PM2.5 MVEBs, was open for public comment on EPA's adequacy Web site on July 15, 2013, found at: http://www.epa.gov/​otaq/​stateresources/​transconf/​currsips.htm. The public comment period closed on August 14, 2013. EPA did not receive any comments on the adequacy of the MVEBs, nor did EPA receive any requests for the SIP submittal.
A letter was sent to New York State on August 19, 2013, stating that the 2009, 2017 and 2025 MVEB's in New York's SIP for the New York PM2.5 nonattainment area were adequate because they are consistent with the required maintenance demonstration. In the letter we noted that there are existing approved and adequate budgets for 2009, but that the 2009 budgets contained in the submitted maintenance plan will be the most recent budget in place to satisfy the latest Clean Air Act requirement and therefore will be the applicable 2009 budget to be used in future transportation conformity determinations for analysis years prior to 2017.
EPA then published in the Federal Register its determination on the adequacy of the PM2.5 and NOX 2009, 2017 and 2025 MVEBs for transportation conformity purposes. (78 FR 54177, September 3, 2013). These budgets became effective on September 18, 2013, after which they were required to be used for all future transportation conformity determinations.Start Printed Page 8150
EPA is proposing to approve New York's request for redesignating the NYNAA for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS to attainment, because the State has demonstrated compliance with the requirements of section 107(d)(3)(E) for redesignation. EPA has evaluated New York's redesignation request and determined that it meets the redesignation criteria set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. EPA believes that the monitoring data demonstrate that the NYNAA has attained the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS and will continue to attain the standard. Final approval of this redesignation request would change the designation of the NYNAA from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 PM2.5 annual and the 2006 PM2.5 24-hour NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to approve the maintenance plan for the NYNAA as a revision to the New York SIP. EPA is also proposing to approve the 2007 NH3, VOC, NOX, PM10, direct PM2.5, and SO2 emission inventories as meeting the comprehensive emissions inventory requirements of section 172(c)(3) of CAA. Additionally, EPA is proposing to approve the 2009, 2017, and 2025 motor vehicle emissions budgets for PM2.5 and NOX. EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this document. These comments will be considered before taking final action.
2. The document is available at http://www.epa.gov/​crossstaterule/​pdfs/​AQModeling.pdf.
8. Guidance on transportation conformity SIPs can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/​otaq/​stateresources/​transconf/​policy/​420b09001.pdf.
16. The 2004 rulemaking addressed most of the transportation conformity requirements that apply in PM2.5 nonattainment and maintenance areas. The 2005 conformity rule included provisions addressing treatment of PM2.5 precursors in MVEBs. See 40 CFR 93.102(b)(2). While none of these provisions were challenged in the NRDC case, EPA also notes that the Court declined to address challenges to EPA's presumptions regarding PM2.5 precursors in the PM2.5 implementation rule. NRDC v. EPA, at 27, n. 10.