[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 2, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51370-51372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25231]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 70
[AD-FRL-5619-4]
Clean Air Act Interim Approval of Operating Permits Program;
Delegation of Section 112 Standards; State of New Hampshire
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final interim approval.
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SUMMARY: The EPA is promulgating interim approval of the Operating
Permits Program submitted by the State of New Hampshire for the purpose
of complying with Federal requirements for an approvable State program
to issue operating permits to all major stationary sources, and to
certain other sources.
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 1, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the State's submittal and other supporting
information used in developing the final interim approval are available
for inspection during normal business hours at the following location:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, One Congress Street,
11th floor, Boston, MA 02203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ida E. Gagnon, Air Permits Program,
CAP, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, JFK Federal
Building, Boston, MA 02203-2211, (617) 565-3500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Purpose
A. Introduction
Title V of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (sections 501-507 of
the Clean Air Act (``the Act'')), and implementing regulations at 40
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 70 require that States develop
and submit operating permits programs to EPA by November 15, 1993, and
that EPA act to approve or disapprove each program within 1 year after
receiving the submittal. The EPA's program review occurs pursuant to
section 502 of the Act and the Part 70 regulations, which together
outline criteria for approval or disapproval. Where a program
substantially, but not fully, meets the requirements of Part 70, EPA
may grant the program interim approval for a period of up to 2 years.
If EPA has not fully approved a program by 2 years after the November
15, 1993 date, or by the end of an interim program, it must establish
and implement a Federal program.
On August 14, 1996, EPA proposed interim approval of the operating
permits program for the State of New Hampshire. See 61 FR 42222. The
[[Page 51371]]
August 14, 1996 document also proposed approval of New Hampshire's
mechanism for implementing section 112(g) and for delegation of section
112 standards as promulgated. EPA did not receive any comments on the
proposal. In this document EPA is taking final action to promulgate
interim approval of the operating permits program, and approving the
section 112(g) and section 112(l) mechanisms noted above for the State
of New Hampshire.
II. Final Action and Implications
A. Final Action
The EPA is promulgating interim approval of the operating permits
program submitted to EPA for the State of New Hampshire on October 26,
1995. Among other things, New Hampshire has demonstrated that the
program will be adequate to meet the minimum elements of a State
operating permits program as specified in 40 CFR Part 70. The State
must make the changes specified in the proposed rulemaking, under
II.B., Proposed Action, in order to be granted full approval.
This interim approval extends for a period of up to 2 years. During
the interim approval period, the State is protected from sanctions for
failure to have a program, and EPA is not obligated to promulgate a
Federal permits program in the State. Permits issued under a program
with interim approval have full standing with respect to Part 70, and
the 1-year time period under the Act for submittal of permit
applications by subject sources begins upon interim approval, as does
the 3-year time period for processing the initial permit applications.
The scope of the New Hampshire Part 70 program applies to all Part
70 sources (as defined in the approved program) within the State of New
Hampshire, except any sources of air pollution over which an Indian
Tribe has jurisdiction. See, e.g., 59 FR 55813, 55815-18 (Nov. 9,
1994). The term ``Indian Tribe'' is defined under the Act as ``any
Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community,
including any Alaska Native village, which is Federally recognized as
eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United
States to Indians because of their status as Indians.'' See section
302(r) of the CAA; see also 59 FR 43956, 43962 (Aug. 25, 1994); 58 FR
54364 (Oct. 21, 1993).
EPA is approving New Hampshire's authority to implement and enforce
section 112 standards at Part 70 sources. Requirements for operating
permit program approval, specified in 40 CFR 70.4(b), encompass section
112(l)(5) requirements for approval of a program for delegation of
section 112 standards as promulgated by EPA as they apply to Part 70
sources. Section 112(l)(5) requires that the State's program contain
adequate authorities, adequate resources for implementation, and an
expeditious compliance schedule, which are also requirements under Part
70. Therefore, the EPA has also granted approval under section
112(l)(5) and 40 CFR 63.91 of the State's program for receiving
delegation of section 112 standards that are unchanged from Federal
standards as promulgated. This program for delegations only applies to
sources covered by the Part 70 program.
III. Administrative Requirements
A. Docket
Copies of the State's submittal and other information relied upon
for the final interim approval, are contained in a docket maintained at
the EPA Regional Office. The docket is an organized and complete file
of all the information submitted to, or otherwise considered by, EPA in
the development of this final interim approval. The docket is available
for public inspection at the location listed under the ADDRESSES
section of this document.
B. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office
Under 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A) as added by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, EPA submitted a report
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives and the Comptroller General of the
General Accounting Office prior to publication of the rule in today's
Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804(2).
C. Petitions for Judicial 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 2, 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))
D. Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget has exempted this action from
Executive Order 12866 review.
E. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The EPA's actions under section 502 of the Act do not create any
new requirements, but simply address operating permits programs
submitted to satisfy the requirements of 40 CFR Part 70. Because this
action does not impose any new requirements, it does not have a
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
F. Unfunded Mandates
Under Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 1995, EPA
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, EPA
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 EPA to establish a plan
for informing and advising any small governments that may be
significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule.
EPA has determined that the 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
preexisting requirements under State or local law, and imposes no new
Federal requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local,
or tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this
action.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 70
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Air pollution control, Intergovernmental relations, Operating permits,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: September 23, 1996.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator, Region I.
Part 70, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as
follows:
PART 70--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 70 continues to read as follows:
[[Page 51372]]
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.
2. Appendix A to Part 70 is amended by adding the entry for New
Hampshire in alphabetical order to read as follows:
Appendix A to Part 70--Approval Status of State and Local Operating
Permits Programs
* * * * *
New Hampshire
(a) Department of Environmental Services: submitted on October 26,
1995; interim approval effective on November 1, 1996.
(b) (Reserved)
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[FR Doc. 96-25231 Filed 10-1-96; 8:45 am]
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