Opinion ID: 773574
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Potential Post-1996 Emissions Growth

Text: 15 The petitioners argue that EPA acted contrary to law by approving a plan submitted by the State of Missouri that purports to achieve a 15 percent reduction in baseline VOC emissions, but does not account for growth in emissions after 1996. According to petitioners, the CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7511a(b)(1)(A)(i) demands a 15 percent reduction in VOC emissions, accounting for any growth . . . after 1990. Pets.' Br. at 16. The petitioners argue that due to the absence of any accounting for post-1996 growth in VOC emissions, there can be no assurance that implementation of these controls will yield any actual reduction in 1990 baseline VOC emissions, much less that the controls will achieve the mandated reduction of 15 percent of the baseline. 16 In the absence of any accounting for post-1996 growth in VOC emissions, the petitioners contend that it is utterly arbitrary-because impossible-to conclude that Missouri's ROPP satisfies the statutory requirement. Id. at 17. For this reason, the petitioners contend that the ROPP on its face fails to comply with the statutory requirement, and EPA's approval of the ROPP is contrary to law. Id. 17 The Court rejects the petitioners' argument. Initially, the Court finds that Congress did not directly speak to the issue in dispute here-that is, how the statute should be construed when a state fails to submit its SIP within the prescribed deadlines set forth in the CAA, section 182(b)(1)(A)(i). Thus, the Court proceeds to the second prong of Chevron to determine whether the agency's answer is based on a permissible construction of the statute. Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843. The Court holds that EPA's interpretation is reasonable and permissible. 18 Section 182(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Clean Air Act provides: 19 By no later than 3 years after November 15, 1990, the State shall submit a revision to the applicable implementation plan to provide for [VOC] emission reductions, within 6 years after November 15, 1990, of at least 15 percent from baseline emissions, accounting for any growth in emissions after 1990. 20 42 U.S.C. 7511a(b)(1)(A)(i). Contrary to petitioners' suggestion, this statute specifically requires that the plan provide the necessary VOC emission reductions within 6 years after November 15, 1990. 42 U.S.C. 7511a(b)(1)(A)(i) (emphasis added). Although the petitioners' interpretation may also be reasonable, [t]he court need not conclude that the agency construction was the only one it permissibly could have adopted to uphold the construction, or even the reading the court would have reached if the question initially had arisen in a judicial proceeding. Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843 n.11. 21 As respondent EPA argues, the statute at issue refers to a specific date-November 1996. Thus, EPA could have reasonably found that [t]he growth for which [the 15% ROPP] must account is clearly tied to 1996. 65 Fed. Reg. 31486. Additionally, there is no clear indication that Congress intended to alter the amount of reductions that the state must achieve if that state missed the statutory deadline. As respondents suggest, EPA's decision may either have the effect of rewarding or punishing a delinquent state, depending on whether emissions increase or decrease beyond the statutory period. 22 Additionally, Congress has delineated other consequences for missed deadlines. If a state fails to timely submit a complete SIP or if EPA disapproves the SIP, the Act imposes sanctions on the state unless it cures the deficiency within 18 months of EPA's finding. 42 U.S.C. 7509(a)(4). In addition, the CAA requires EPA to promulgate a federal implementation plan (FIP) within two years of finding that a state has failed to make a required submission or an adequate submission or if EPA disapproves of the SIP in whole or in part. 42 U.S.C. 7410(c)(1)(A)-(B). For the above reasons, the Court cannot conclude that EPA's final rule was arbitrary and capricious as to its approval of a plan that failed to consider post-1996 emissions.