[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 9644-9646] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-5737] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [OH89-1-7254a; FRL-5434-7] Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Ohio AGENCY: United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). ACTION: Direct final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document approves a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the State of Ohio for the general conformity rules. The general conformity SIP revisions enable the State of Ohio to implement and enforce the Federal general conformity requirements in the nonattainment or maintenance areas at the State or local level. General Conformity assures that federal actions conform to the State plan to attain and maintain the public health based air quality standards. The rationale for the approval and other information is provided in this document. DATES: This action is effective May 10, 1996 unless adverse comments are received by April 10, 1996. If the effective date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the SIP revision are available for inspection at the following address: (It is recommended that you telephone Patricia Morris at (312) 353-8656 before visiting the Region 5 Office.) United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Morris, Regulation Development Section (AR-18J), Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, Telephone Number (312) 353-8656. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Conformity provisions first appeared in the Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-95). Although these provisions did not define the term conformity, they provided that no Federal department could engage in, support in any way or provide financial assistance for, license or permit, or approve any activity which did not conform to a SIP that has been approved or promulgated for the nonattainment or maintenance areas. The CAA Amendments of 1990 expanded the scope and content of the [[Page 9645]] conformity provisions by defining conformity to an implementation plan. Conformity is defined in Section 176(c) of the CAA as conformity to the SIP's purpose of eliminating or reducing the severity and number of violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and achieving expeditious attainment of such standards, and that such activities will not: (1) Cause or contribute to any new violation of any standard in any area, (2) increase the frequency or severity of any existing violation of any standard in any area, or (3) delay timely attainment of any standard or any required interim emission reductions or other milestones in any area. The CAA requires USEPA to promulgate criteria and procedures for determining conformity of all other Federal actions in the nonattainment or maintenance areas (actions other than those under Title 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act ) to a SIP. The criteria and procedures developed for this purpose are called ``general conformity'' rules. The actions under Title 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act will be addressed in a separate Federal Register document. The USEPA published the final general conformity rules in the November 30, 1993, Federal Register and codified them at 40 CFR part 51, subpart W-- Determining Conformity of General Federal Actions to State or Federal Implementation Plans. The general conformity rules require the States and local air quality agencies (where applicable) to adopt and submit a general conformity SIP revision to the USEPA not later than November 30, 1994. II. Evaluation of State Submittal Pursuant to the requirements under Section 176(c)(4)(C) of the CAA, as amended November 15, 1990, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) submitted a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the USEPA on August 17, 1995. The submittal was found complete on October 5, 1995. In its submittal, the State adopted rules (Ohio Administrative Code OAC 3745-102-01,-02,-03,-04,-05,-06,-07) which repeat verbatim the USEPA general conformity rule (40 CFR Part 93 Subpart B) with only minor clarifications. General conformity is required for all areas which are designated nonattainment or maintenance for any of the six National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) criteria pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfer dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, and particulate matter). The OEPA held a public hearing on the general conformity submittal on May 25, 1995. No comments were received by OEPA during the public comment period. Before the public comment period, the OEPA also mailed a copy of the rules to government agencies located in Ohio which would be affected by the rules and requested comments on the rules. III. USEPA Action The USEPA is approving the general conformity SIP revision for the State of Ohio. The EPA has evaluated this SIP revision and has determined that the State has fully adopted regulations which meet the provisions of the Federal general conformity rules in accordance with 40 CFR Part 93 Subpart B. The appropriate public participation and comprehensive interagency consultations have been undertaken during development and adoption of this rule by the OEPA. As stated earlier, the OEPA held a public hearing on the general conformity submittal on May 25, 1995. No comments were received by OEPA during the public comment period. The USEPA considers this action noncontroversial and routine. Therefore, we are approving it without prior proposal. This action will become effective on May 10, 1996 unless USEPA receives adverse comments by April 10, 1996. However, if USEPA receives adverse comments by April 10, 1996, USEPA will publish a document that withdraws this action. IV. Miscellaneous A. Applicability to Future SIP Decisions Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting, allowing or establishing a precedent for any future request for revision to any SIP. The USEPA shall consider each request for revision to the SIP in light of specific technical, economic, and environmental factors and in relation to relevant statutory and regulatory requirements. B. Executive Order 12866 This action has been classified as a Table 3 action for signature by the Regional Administrator under the procedures published in the Federal Register on January 19, 1989 (54 FR 2214-2225), as revised by a July 10, 1995 memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. The Office of Management and Budget has exempted this regulatory action from E.O. 12866 review. C. Regulatory Flexibility Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 600 et seq., USEPA 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, USEPA 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. This approval does not create any new requirements. Therefore, I certify that this action does not have a significant impact on any small entities affected. Moreover, due to the nature of the Federal- State relationship under the Act, preparation of the regulatory flexibility analysis would constitute Federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of the State action. The Act forbids USEPA to base its actions concerning SIPs on such grounds. Union Electric Co. v. U.S. E.P.A., 427 U.S. 246, 256-66 (1976). Under Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 1995, the USEPA must prepare a budgetary impact statement to accompany any proposed or final rule that includes a Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs to State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate; or to the private sector, of $100 million or more. Under Section 205, the USEPA must select the most cost-effective and least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule and is consistent with statutory requirements. Section 203 requires the USEPA to establish a plan for informing and advising any small governments that may be significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule. The USEPA has determined that the approval action promulgated today does not include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100 million or more to either State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate, or to the private sector. This Federal action approves pre-existing requirements under State or local law, and imposes no new Federal requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector, result from this action. D. Petitions for Judicial Review Under Section 307(b)(1) of the Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by May 10, 1996. 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 [[Page 9646]] 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)). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, General conformity. Dated: February 12, 1996. David A. Ullrich, Acting Regional Administrator. 40 CFR part 52, 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 KK--Ohio 2. Section 52.1870 is amended by adding paragraph (c) (107) to read as follows: Sec. 52.1870 Identification of plan. * * * * * (c) * * * (107) Approval--On August 17, 1995, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency submitted a revision to the State Implementation Plan for general conformity rules. The general conformity rules enable the State of Ohio to implement and enforce the Federal general conformity requirements in the nonattainment or maintenance areas at the State or local level in accordance with 40 CFR part 93, subpart B--Determining Conformity of General Federal Actions to State or Federal Implementation Plans. (i) Incorporation by reference. August 1, 1995, Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3745-102, effective August 21, 1995. [FR Doc. 96-5737 Filed 3-8-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P