[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26842]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 31, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52

[WA-23-1-6438a; FRL-5092-1]

 

Approval and Promulgation of State; Implementation Plan: 
Washington

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is approving the State of Washington's contingency measure 
plan as a revision to Washington's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for 
carbon monoxide (CO). EPA's action is based upon a revision request 
which was submitted by the state to satisfy the requirement of the 
Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) for Vancouver, Washington.

DATES: This final rule is effective on December 30, 1994 unless adverse 
or critical comments are received by November 30, 1994. If the 
effective date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Montel Livingston, 
SIP Manager, Air & Radiation Branch (AT-082), EPA, Docket # WA23-1-
6438, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101.
    Documents which are incorporated by reference are available for 
public inspection at the Air and Radiation Docket and Information 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20460. Copies of material submitted to EPA may be examined during 
normal business hours at the following locations: EPA, Region 10, Air & 
Radiation Branch, 1200 Sixth Avenue (AT-082), Seattle, Washington 
98101, and the Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, 
Olympia, Washington, 98504-7600.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Cooper, Air & Radiation 
Branch (AT-082), EPA, Seattle, Washington 98101, (206) 553-6917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    States containing CO nonattainment areas with design values of 12.7 
ppm or less were required to submit, among other things, contingency 
measures to satisfy the provisions under section 172(c)(9). These 
provisions require contingency measures to be implemented in the event 
that an area fails to reach attainment by the applicable attainment 
date, December 31, 1995. Contingency measures were due by November 15, 
1993, as set by EPA under section 172(b) of the Act.
    Contingency measures must be implemented within 12 months after the 
finding of failure to attain the CO National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards (NAAQS). Once triggered they must take effect without further 
action by the state or EPA, therefore, all contingency measures must be 
adopted and enforceable prior to submittal to EPA.
    The CAAA do not specify how many contingency measures are needed or 
the magnitude of emission reductions they must provide if an area fails 
to attain the CO NAAQS. The EPA believes that one appropriate choice of 
contingency measures would be to provide for the implementation of 
sufficient vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reductions or emissions 
reductions to counteract the effect of one year's growth in VMT while 
the state revises its SIP to incorporate all of the new requirements of 
a serious CO area.

II. This Action

    In this action, EPA is approving Washington's SIP revision 
submitted to EPA on November 15, 1993 for Vancouver, Washington because 
it meets the applicable requirements of the Act.
    The state of Washington held public hearings in Vancouver, 
Washington on November 9, 1993 to entertain public comment on the CO 
contingency measure SIP revision. Following the public hearing the plan 
was adopted by the Department of Ecology on November 15, 1993 and 
signed by the Governor's designee on November 15, 1993, becoming 
effective on December 15, 1993. Ecology submitted the plan to EPA on 
November 15, 1993 as a proposed revision to the SIP.
    The SIP revision was reviewed by EPA to determine completeness 
shortly after its submittal, in accordance with the completeness 
criteria delineated at 40 CFR part 51, appendix V (1991), as amended by 
57 FR 42216 (August 26, 1991). The submittal was found to be complete 
on April 13, 1994 and a letter dated May 6, 1994 was forwarded to the 
Director indicating the completeness of the submittal.

A. Analysis of State Submission

    Washington's CO contingency plan for Vancouver calls for the early 
implementation of improvements to Washington State's basic inspection 
and maintenance (I/M) program. These improvements are part of 
Vancouver's inspection and maintenance program that began on June 1, 
1993. While these technical enhancements are already being implemented, 
their use as a contingency measure is consistent with EPA guidance. The 
early implementation of the ``improved'' vehicle inspection and 
maintenance program helps to ensure that the area will attain the 
NAAQS. Ecology anticipates that improvements to the basic I/M program 
in Vancouver will reduce 1996 motor vehicle carbon monoxide emissions 
by an additional four percent when compared to the EPA program.
    Washington's improved I/M program consists of the following 
elements: a loaded steady state test for light duty gasoline vehicles, 
two-speed test for heavy duty gas vehicles, and opacity check for 
diesels; biennial testing of all gasoline vehicles; tampering checks 
for 1981 and newer vehicles; a stringency rate of 28% for pre-1981 
vehicles, a waiver rate of 15% of failed vehicles, a compliance rate of 
90%. EPA's basic I/M program consists of the following elements: idle 
testing of 1968 and newer vehicles; annual testing of light duty 
gasoline vehicles; no tampering checks; a stringency rate of 20% for 
pre-1981 vehicles; no waiver rate; and a compliance rate of 100%.

III. Administrative Review

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 600 et seq., EPA 
must prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis assessing the impact of 
any proposed or final rule on small entities. 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604. 
Alternatively, EPA may certify that the rule will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small 
entities include small businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, 
and government entities with jurisdiction over populations of less than 
50,000.
    SIP approvals under section 110 and subchapter I, Part D of the CAA 
do not create any new requirements, but simply approve requirements 
that the state is already imposing. Therefore, because the federal SIP-
approval does not impose any new requirements, I certify that it does 
not have a significant impact on any small entities affected. Moreover, 
due to the nature of the federal-state relationship under the CAA, 
preparation of a regulatory flexibility analysis would constitute 
federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state action. The 
CAA forbids EPA to base its actions concerning SIPs on such grounds. 
Union Electric Co. v. U.S.E.P.A., 427 U.S. 246, 256-66 (S.Ct. 1976); 42 
U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
    The EPA is publishing this action without prior proposal because 
the Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates 
no adverse comments. However, in a separate document in this Federal 
Register publication, the EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revision 
should adverse or critical comments be filed. This action will be 
effective on December 30, 1994 unless, by November 30, 1994, adverse or 
critical comments are received.
    If the EPA receives such comments, this action will be withdrawn 
before the effective date by publishing a subsequent notice that will 
withdraw the final action. All public comments received will be 
addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this action serving as a 
proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on 
this action. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should 
do so at this time. If no such comments are received, the public is 
advised that this action will be effective on December 30, 1994.
    The EPA has reviewed this request for revision of the federally-
approved SIP for conformance with the provisions of the 1990 Clean Air 
Act Amendments enacted on November 15, 1990. The EPA has determined 
that this action conforms with those requirements.
    Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting or 
allowing or establishing a precedent for any future request for 
revision to any SIP. Each request for revision to the SIP shall be 
considered separately in light of specific technical, economic and 
environmental factors and in relation to relevant statutory and 
regulatory requirements.
    This action has been classified as a Table 2 action by the Regional 
Administrator under the procedures published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 1989 (54 FR 2214-2225), as revised by an October 4, 1993 
memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro, Acting Assistant Administrator for 
Air and Radiation. The OMB has exempted this regulatory action from 
Executive Order 12866 review.
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by December 30, 1994. Filing a 
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule 
does not affect the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial 
review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial 
review may be filed and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such 
rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings 
to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2), 42 U.S.C. 
7607(b)(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Incorporation 
by reference, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds.

    Note: Incorporation by reference of the Implementation Plan for 
the State of Washington was approved by the Director of the Office 
of Federal Register on July 1, 1982.

    Dated: October 5, 1994.
Chuck Clarke,
Regional Administrator.

    Part 52, chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is 
amended as follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

Subpart WW--Washington

    2. Section 52.2470 is amended by adding paragraph (c) (49) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 52.2470  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (49) On November 10, 1993, the State of Washington Department of 
Ecology submitted a CO State Implementation Plan for Clark County, 
Washington.
    (i) Incorporation by reference.
    (A) November 10, 1993 letter from the State of Washington 
Department of Ecology to EPA Region 10 submitting the CO State 
Implementation Plan for Clark County, Washington.
    (B) Supplement to a Plan for Attaining and Maintaining National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide in the Vancouver Air 
Quality Maintenance Area, Replacement Pages, as adopted by the 
Washington State Department of Ecology on November 15, 1993.

[FR Doc. 94-26842 Filed 10-28-94; 8:45 am]
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