[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 84 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18958-18959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10568]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[IA 003-1003; FRL-5455-4]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Delegation 
of 112(l); State of Iowa

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On August 4, 1995, the EPA published a proposed rulemaking to 
approve Iowa's voluntary operating permit program to serve as an 
alternative for sources otherwise subject to Title V of the Clean Air 
Act (the Act). No adverse comments were received on the proposed 
rulemaking. The EPA is now taking final action to approve this program.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule will become effective on May 30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the documents relevant to this action are 
available for public inspection during normal business hours at the: 
Environmental Protection Agency, Air Planning and Development Branch, 
726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66101; and EPA Air & 
Radiation Docket and Information Center, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher D. Hess at (913) 551-7213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At 60 FR 39907, dated August 4, 1995, the 
EPA published a proposed rulemaking to approve Iowa's voluntary 
operating permit program as part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
and pursuant to section 112(l) of the Act. This program serves as an 
alternative for sources which might otherwise be subject to Title V. In 
Section V of the August 4, 1995, Federal Register document proposing 
approval of Iowa's program, the EPA cited four regulatory deficiencies 
for the state to correct in order for EPA to proceed with final 
rulemaking. These four deficiencies concerned the definition of 12-
month rolling period; fugitive emissions; eligibility for a voluntary 
permit; and a requirement that permit limitations, controls, and 
requirements be enforceable as a practical matter. The state adopted 
these changes and submitted them to the EPA under the signature of 
Larry Wilson, Director, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, on 
February 16, 1996. For further information on these items, the reader 
should consult the proposed rulemaking and the technical support 
document.

[[Page 18959]]

    In a subsequent matter not contemplated in the proposed rulemaking, 
the state has made one regulatory change concerning when a source shall 
apply for a voluntary operating permit. In the original rule, the date 
of March 1, 1995, was specified. However, due to the delay in receiving 
approval of the program, the state revised its rule at 22.203(1)a(1) to 
read that applications are due 90 days after approval of the state's 
Title V program (October 1, 1995).
    This change became effective on February 24, 1995, and was 
submitted to the EPA under the Director's signature on February 27, 
1996. This change is approvable by the EPA because it is 
noncontroversial and it precludes sources from the tenuous position of 
applying for a program not yet approved (which the original rule did 
not anticipate).

EPA Action

    The EPA is taking final action to approve revisions submitted on 
December 8, 1994; February 16, 1996; and February 27, 1996, for the 
state of Iowa. This action makes the state's program a federally 
enforceable part of the SIP, and also makes such permits federally 
enforceable for hazardous air pollutants by means of EPA's approval 
under section 112(l).
    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.
    SIP approvals under section 110 and subchapter I, Part D of the 
Clean Air Act (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, 
the EPA certifies 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 the 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)).
    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 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.

Unfunded Mandates

    Under sections 202, 203, and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995 (``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 
1995, the EPA must undertake various actions in association with 
proposed or final rules that include a federal mandate that may result 
in estimated costs of $100 million or more to the private sector, or to 
state, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate.
    Through submission of this SIP, the state has elected to adopt the 
program provided for under section 110 of the CAA. These rules may bind 
state and local governments to perform certain actions and also require 
the private sector to perform certain duties. To the extent that the 
rules being finalized for approval by this action will impose new 
requirements, sources are already subject to these regulations under 
state law. Accordingly, no additional costs to state or local 
governments, or to the private sector, result from this final action. 
The EPA has also determined that this final action does not include a 
mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100 million or more to 
state or local governments in the aggregate or to the private sector. 
The EPA has determined that these rules result in no additional costs 
to tribal government.
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by July 1, 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 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, Carbon monoxide, 
Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, 
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: March 25, 1996.
William Rice,
Acting 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 Q--Iowa

    2. Section 52.820 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(63) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 52.820  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (63) On December 8, 1994; February 16, 1996; and February 27, 1996, 
the Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources submitted 
revisions to the State Implemenation Plan (SIP) to create a voluntary 
operating permit program as an alternative to Title V. These revisions 
strengthen maintenance of established air quality standards.
    (i) Incorporation by reference.
    (A) ``Iowa Administrative Code,'' sections 567-22.200-22.208, 
effective December 14, 1994. These rules create the voluntary operating 
permit program.
    (B) ``Iowa Administrative Code,'' sections 567-22.201(1)``a'' and 
22.206(1)``h'', effective January 11, 1995.
    (C) ``Iowa Administrative Code,'' section 567-22.203(1)``a''(1), 
effective February 24, 1995.
    (D) ``Iowa Administrative Code,'' sections 567-20.2; 22.200; 
22.201(1)``a'' and ``b''; 22.201(2)``a''; and 22.206(2)``c'', effective 
October 18, 1995.
    (ii) Additional material.
    (A) Letter from Allan E. Stokes, Iowa Department of Natural 
Resources, to William A. Spratlin, U.S. EPA, dated February 16, 1995. 
This letter outlines various commitments by the state to meet 
requirements outlined by the EPA.
[FR Doc. 96-10568 Filed 4-29-96; 8:45 am]
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