Opinion ID: 187215
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Phase I Compliance Deadline

Text: The Florida Association of Electric Utilities contends that EPA failed to provide adequate notice of the nullification of vintage 2009 NOx SIP Call allowances that resulted from its acceleration of the first-phase NOx compliance deadline from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2009. However, in the NPRM EPA requested comments on the timing of each phase of CAIR, specifically asking whether the first phase deadline should be as proposed, or adjusted earlier or later, in light of [ ] competing factors. 69 Fed.Reg. at 4623. EPA's Supplemental Proposal made the same request. Id. at 32,690. Because the issue of what allowances may be used in compliance with CAIR's NOx program is directly linked with the start of the program, see CAIR, 70 Fed.Reg. at 25,285, the resulting nullification was a logical outgrowth of changing the compliance deadline. Ne. Md. Waste Disposal Auth. v. EPA, 358 F.3d 936, 951 (D.C.Cir.2004). Petitioner has not demonstrated that it was impracticable to raise such objection within the comment period or that the grounds for such objection arose afterward, much less that such objection is of central relevance. 42 U.S.C. § 7607(d)(7)(B). Although petitioner vaguely alludes to EPA's incorrect factual assumptions as a reason mandating reconsideration of the compliance deadline, NOx Br. at 8, it fails to support this assertion. Therefore, petitioner fails to demonstrate a statutory ground that would require reconsideration. In any event, EPA's change to the NOx compliance deadline was not arbitrary. EPA explained that the earlier date is better coordinated with the ozone and fine particulate attainment dates mandated by the CAA. CAIR, 70 Fed.Reg. at 25,216. Having determined that the earlier deadline is preferable, EPA concluded that the change is consistent with its CAA obligation to require emission reductions for obtaining NAAQS to be achieved as soon as practicable. Id.