[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35756-35759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17372]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[MO-025-1025; FRL-5852-2]
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of
Missouri
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The EPA proposes to approve two regulations which are
components of Missouri's State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet the
15% Rate-of-Progress Plan (15% Plan, or ROPP) requirements of section
182(b)(1)(A) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended (the Act).
Specifically, the EPA is proposing to approve Missouri rules 10 CSR 10-
5.443, ``Control of Gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure,'' and 10 CSR 10-
5.490, ``Municipal Solid Waste Landfills'' (MSWL). The implementation
of these rules will achieve reductions in the emissions of volatile
organic compounds (VOC) of approximately 7.76 tons per day (TPD), or
approximately 14 percent of the reductions required with the St. Louis
ozone nonattainment area. Final action on these regulations will
incorporate them into the Federally approved SIP.
DATES: Comments on this proposed action must be received in writing by
August 1, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Royan W. Teter, Environmental
Protection Agency, Air Planning and Development Branch, 726 Minnesota
Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Royan W. Teter at (913) 551-7609.
[[Page 35757]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 18,1996, the EPA proposed a
limited approval and limited disapproval (61 FR 10968)of the SIP
submitted by the state of Missouri to meet the 15% Plan
requirements of section 182(b)(1)(A) of the CAA, as amended (the
Act). The EPA also proposed conditional approval for two individual
components of the 15% Plan. The EPA proposed a limited approval
because the 15% Plan, submitted by Missouri, will result in
significant emission reductions from the 1990 baseline and, thus,
will improve air quality. The EPA proposed a limited disapproval of
the 15% Plan because it failed to demonstrate sufficient reductions
of VOCs to meet the 15% ROPP requirements.
Certain circumstances have arisen which the EPA believes make it
appropriate to repropose approval for two regulations which make up a
portion of Missouri's 15% Plan. What follows is an explanation of these
circumstances and a summary of the technical basis for the EPA's
proposal. A more detailed discussion is presented in the EPA's
Technical Support Document (TSD).
I. 10 CSR 10-5.443, ``Control of Gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure''
(RVP)
RVP is a measure of a fuel's volatility. It reflects the rate at
which gasoline evaporates and VOC emissions occur as it is directly
proportional to the rate of evaporation. Hence, the lower the RVP, the
lower the rate of evaporation. RVP restrictions during the summer
months can help offset the effect of summer temperatures upon the
volatility of gasoline which, in turn, lowers emissions of VOCs. VOC
emissions are an important component in the production of ground level
ozone during the hot summer months. Hence, further restricting the
allowable RVP of gasoline sold within the St. Louis nonattainment area
will help the state's effort to attain and maintain compliance with the
National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone.
A. Background
In 1994, Missouri proposed the RVP rule as an interim and immediate
strategy to reduce VOC emissions and was not intended as a permanent
and long-term component of the 15% Plan. As such, the 1994 7.2 pounds
per square inch (psi) low RVP rule was not submitted to the EPA prior
to the 1994 ozone season and was not Federally enforceable. The
proposed rule was not intended to imply a preference for either low RVP
or reformulated gasoline (RFG) as a fuel control strategy for 1995 and
beyond. Missouri adopted an RVP strategy in light of the expediency
with which it could be implemented to reduce VOC emissions in the St.
Louis area. It was also recognized that the RVP of southern grade RFG
is limited to a maximum of 7.2 psi RVP. An RVP limit of 7.2 psi for
conventional gasoline would have an immediate impact on air quality
while still providing the flexibility to opt into the RFG program, if
the state legislature grants the enabling authority to select RFG as a
fuel control strategy for St. Louis.
Almost immediately after the proposed 7.2 psi RVP rule was adopted
by Missouri Air Conservation Commission (MACC) in March 1994, the state
resumed discussions with several petroleum industry representatives on
the option of further restricting the RVP of St. Louis's gasoline. An
agreement was reached regarding the 15% Plan for the St. Louis area,
which included lowering gasoline RVP control to 7.0 psi, as provided in
the current state rule.
To meet the 15% VOC emission reduction requirement of the CAA, as
well as to demonstrate attainment of the ozone standards by 1996, the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) evaluated the Region's
emission inventory to determine the feasibility of controlling
emissions from all source categories. The selected emission controls
were required to be timely, effective, and enforceable. Missouri
investigated additional controls for a broad range of source categories
including mobile sources, fuel distribution, fuel consumption,
automobile refinishing, architectural surface coating, solvent
cleaning, lithographic and graphic art processes, open burning,
pesticide application, and several categories subject to Federal air
toxics regulations. Based on the investigation of these and other
potential emission control measures, Missouri concluded that a motor
vehicle fuel control measure would be necessary to meet the CAA
requirements for the St. Louis ozone nonattainment area. As such,
Missouri revised the St. Louis RVP rule, thereby establishing an RVP
limit of 7.0 psi with a 1 psi waiver for gasoline containing at least 9
percent, but no more than 10 percent, ethanol. The revised rule became
effective on May 28, 1995, and was incorporated into Missouri's 15%
Plan; however, Missouri did not address the prohibition of RVP
restrictions beyond those established at the Federal level as
prescribed in section 211(c)(4)(A) of the CAA or the provisions in
section 211(c)(4)(C) which allow for a waiver from the prohibition
under certain circumstances. Likewise, the EPA did not address these
issues in its March 18, 1996, proposal. Missouri has since addressed
the requirements of the Act; thus, the EPA believes it appropriate to
repropose approval of Missouri's RVP rule. What follows is a discussion
of the requirements of the CAA and a description of how Missouri
addressed these requirements.
B. Regulatory History
In August 1987, the EPA first proposed in the Federal Register (FR)
a two-phase national program to reduce summertime gasoline volatility
(52 FR 31274). The EPA's proposal resulted in a two-phase final
regulation which was incorporated into the 1990 Amendments to the CAA
in section 211(h). Phase I of the regulation took effect in 1990 for
the years 1990 and 1991. Phase II of the regulation took effect in May
1992 (55 FR 23658). The rule separated areas of the country into two
regions identified as Class B and Class C. Generally, Class B states
are the warmer southern and western states, and Class C states are the
cooler northern states. Some ozone nonattainment areas were also
required to meet more stringent RVP requirements. For Class B
geographical areas such as St. Louis, the Phase II regulation limits
the volatility of gasoline sold during the high ozone season (June
through September) to 9.0 and 7.8 psi RVP for attainment and
nonattainment areas, respectively. Because of its nonattainment status,
St. Louis was required to comply with 7.8 psi RVP.
C. Necessity Finding
As noted above, Missouri did not find the Phase II fuel volatility
control regulation sufficient to ensure expeditious attainment of the
NAAQS for ozone. A more stringent low RVP requirement was deemed
necessary to ensure attainment and maintenance of the ozone standard.
Under sections 211(c) and 211(h) of the CAA, the EPA has
promulgated nationally applicable Federal standards for RVP levels in
motor vehicle gasoline. Because a Federal control promulgated under
section 211(c)(1) applies to the fuel characteristic RVP, nonidentical
state controls are prohibited under section 211(c)(4). Section
211(c)(4)(A) of the Act prohibits state regulation respecting a fuel
characteristic or component for which the EPA has adopted a control or
prohibition, unless the state control is identical to the Federal
control. Under section 211(c)(4)(C), the EPA may approve a nonidentical
state fuel control as a SIP provision, if the state demonstrates that
the measure is necessary to achieve the
[[Page 35758]]
national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard that the
plan implements. The EPA can approve a state fuel requirement as
necessary only if no other measures would bring about timely
attainment, or if other measures exist but are unreasonable or
impracticable. While the Missouri low RVP requirement is preempted by
the Federal RVP requirements, the state can implement the low RVP
requirement if the EPA finds it necessary and approves it as a revision
to the SIP.
On February 4, 1997, MDNR submitted to EPA Region VII a draft
revision to the 15% ROPP in which the state requested authorization to
regulate fuel volatility, in accord with section 211(c)(4)(C). Included
in the submittal were materials providing justification for requesting
an exemption under section 211(c)(4)(C) of the CAA. A public hearing in
regards to the SIP was held on February 27, 1997. The SIP revision was
adopted by the MACC on March 27, 1997, and submitted to the EPA on May
8, 1997.
In its submittal, Missouri showed that additional VOC reductions
are needed to address St. Louis's recent history of nonattainment
problems and to ensure attainment of the ozone NAAQS in the
nonattainment area. While the area is designated as a moderate
nonattainment area, the St. Louis area is currently in danger of being
classified as a serious ozone nonattainment area due to exceedances
occurring since 1993. Missouri estimates that the area needs to achieve
approximately 53.8 tons per day of VOC reductions to attain the ozone
NAAQS. Because emission trends continue to increase, the state believes
it is important that control measures producing a significant portion
of the needed reduction be implemented and enforceable in time to
reduce emissions beginning in the 1997 ozone season. Otherwise, there
is a significant risk of exceedances and violations in 1997, and this
risk will increase over time. The EPA agrees that an important
criterion in evaluating the reasonableness of each control measure is
whether it will achieve significant emission reductions in the near
term, beginning in the 1997 and 1998 ozone seasons.
Missouri evaluated a broad range of available control measures to
determine whether there are sufficient reasonable and practicable
measures available to produce the needed emissions reductions without
requiring low RVP gasoline. In addition to assessing the quantity of
emission reductions attributable to each control measure, the state
also considered the time needed for implementation and cost
effectiveness of each measure in evaluating the reasonableness and
practicability of the other control measures in comparison to the low
RVP gasoline requirements. Missouri found that a 7.0 psi RVP
requirement would produce an estimated 6.28 tons per day of VOC
emissions reductions. Based on the state's evaluation, the EPA finds
that there are not sufficient other reasonable and practicable measures
available to produce the quantity of emissions reductions needed to
continue to achieve the NAAQS, and thus a low RVP requirement is
necessary.
Although, as mentioned previously, the state's adoption of a low
RVP requirement would not preclude the state from subsequently opting
in to the RFG program, Missouri's submittal did not include a
demonstration that RFG is unreasonable. Missouri noted that RFG is not
available in St. Louis as a matter of state law, since its enabling
legislation does not allow it to establish both an RFG program and an
enhanced motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program.
The EPA concurs with the state's analysis and its implicit
determination that ``other measures'' (as specified in section
211(c)(4)) need not encompass other state fuel measures including state
opt-in to Federal RFG. The Agency believes that the Act does not
require a state to demonstrate that other fuel measures are
unreasonable or impracticable, but rather section 211(c)(4) is intended
to ensure that a state resorts to a fuel measure only if there are no
available practicable and reasonable nonfuels measures. Thus, in
demonstrating that measures other than requiring low RVP gasoline are
unreasonable or impracticable, a state is not required to submit a
demonstration that other state fuel requirements or state opt-in to RFG
are unreasonable or impracticable. This interpretation resolves the
ambiguity of the phrase ``other measures'' and reasonably balances the
interests underlying the statutory preemption provision. In addition,
the result preserves the state's role, specified in section 101(a)(3)
of the Act, as the entity primarily responsible for determining the mix
of controls to be used to achieve the required emission reductions.
The state has already implemented virtually every other reasonably
available control measure. Other measures that could achieve emission
reductions (such as Graphic Arts, Pesticide Application, Aircraft
Emissions, Stage II Vapor Recovery, Marinas, Breweries, Asphalt
Application, Barge Loading, Unloading, and Transport) would only
achieve a small portion of the needed emission reductions. A detailed
discussion of Missouri's findings relative to the emission reduction
potential of each of these measures can be found in the EPA's TSD, as
well as a detailed discussion of the EPA's necessity finding.
D. Analysis of the Rule
The Missouri rule specifies that no person shall dispense, supply,
exchange in trade, offer for sale or supply, and sell or store gasoline
used as a fuel for motor vehicles that has an RVP greater than 7.0 psi,
or 8.0 psi for gasoline containing at least 9.0 percent by volume but
not more than 10.0 percent by volume of ethanol. This rule applies
beginning June 1 through September 15 of each year.
In addition, facilities other than a gasoline dispensing facility
shall keep and maintain at the facility, for two years following the
date of the RVP test, records of the information regarding the RVP of
gasoline that is to be used as a fuel for motor vehicles.
Gasoline used exclusively for fueling implements of agriculture and
gasoline in any tank, reservoir, storage vessel, or other stationary
container with a nominal capacity of 500 gallons or less shall be
exempt from this regulation.
The sampling procedures and test methods are consistent with the
EPA recommendations as described in 40 CFR part 80, Appendices D, E,
and F.
II. 10 CSR 10-5.490, ``Municipal Solid Waste Landfills''
A. Background
On March 12, 1996, the EPA adopted New Source Performance Standards
for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (Title 40 CFR part 60, subpart WWW)
and Emission Guidelines (EG) and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid
Waste Landfills (Title 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cc). The subpart Cc EGs
apply to existing MSWLs.
Six MSWLs are located in the St. Louis area. Landfills emit VOCs,
including methane, through the decomposition of solid waste. The 1990
base year inventory indicates the nonmethane VOCs emitted from these
six landfills are 1.51 TPD. At the time of the EPA's previous proposal
on Missouri's 15% Plan, the submitted plan included only a discussion
of a rule which would result in a 1.48 TPD reduction in VOC emissions
within the St. Louis nonattainment area. In part, the delay in adopting
a final rule was related to the state's plans to model its rule after
the EPA emission standards which at the time, were yet to be
promulgated. Final promulgation of the
[[Page 35759]]
EPA's emission standards for landfills was significantly delayed. In an
October 21, 1994, letter to Gale Wright, then Chief of the EPA Air
Branch, from Roger Randolph, Director, MDNR, Air Pollution Control
Program, the state committed to developing this rule with
implementation in 1996. The state had made every effort to move forward
with this rule despite delays in the promulgation of the EPA's emission
standards. Missouri submitted a draft of a rule for the EPA comment on
May 17, 1995. The EPA provided comments on the draft rule in June 1995.
Noting the state's progress, the EPA proposed to conditionally approve
the emissions reduction credit claimed in the submitted 15% Plan. Final
approval was subject to the state's submittal of a final rule by no
later than November 15, 1996. The public hearing for 10 CSR 10-5.490
was held July 25, 1996. The MACC adopted 10 CSR 10-5.490, ``Municipal
Waste Landfills,'' on August 29, 1996, and the rule became effective on
December 30, 1996. The final rule was submitted to the EPA on February
24, 1997. Because the final rule was not available at the time of the
EPA's previous proposal and the state has met the condition for final
approval prior to the EPA having taken final action on the March 18,
1996, proposal it is necessary to repropose action on this element of
Missouri's 15% Plan.
B. Analysis of the Rule
Rule 10 CSR 5.490, ``Municipal Solid Waste Landfills,'' covers the
St. Louis nonattainment area. This rule meets or exceeds the
requirements of the EG. The EG requires that landfills having design
capacities of two and a half (2.5) million Mg by mass or greater and
NMOC emissions of 50 Mg or greater shall install a gas collection and
control system. Rule 10 CSR 10-5.490 is more stringent in that it
applies to landfills having a design capacity of one million Mg by mass
or greater and NMOC emissions of 25 Mg per year. A detailed analysis of
the state's rule can be found in the EPA's TSD.
III. Proposed Action
By this action, the EPA proposes to approve Missouri rules 10 CSR
10-5.443, ``Control of Gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure,'' and 10 CSR 10-
5.490, ``Municipal Solid Waste Landfills,'' as part of Missouri's SIP
to meet the 15% ROPP requirements of section 182(b)(1)(A) of the CAA.
This proposed SIP revision meets the requirements of section 110 and
Part D of Title I of the CAA and 40 CFR part 51.
As indicated above, this action proposes approval of two rules
submitted as part of Missouri's 15% Plan. The EPA, as explained
previously, had proposed to approve or conditionally approve the
regulations included in the 15% Plan, and to give limited approval and
limited disapproval to the reductions claimed in the 15% Plan. The
rationale was detailed in the March 18, 1996, proposal also referenced
previously in this notice. The EPA is considering taking final action
on the regulations in the 15% Plan, including the specific regulations
described in this notice, as a separate action from the final action on
the 15% reduction credits. The EPA also requests comments on whether
the regulations may be acted on separately from the 15% reduction
credits.
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.
IV. Administrative Requirements
A. 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 FR
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 Executive Order 12866 review.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5. U.S.C. 600 et seq., the
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, the 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.
This Federal action authorizes and approves into the Missouri SIP
requirements previously adopted by the state, and imposes no new
requirements. Therefore, the Administrator 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)).
C. Unfunded Mandates
Under section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 1995, the 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
private sector, of $100 million or more. Under section 205, the 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 the EPA to establish a
plan for informing and advising any small governments that may be
significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule.
The EPA has determined that the proposed action 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 authorizes and approves into
the Missouri SIP requirements previously adopted by the state, and
imposes no new 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 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.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.
Dated: June 20, 1997.
William Rice,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-17372 Filed 7-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P