[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 95 (Monday, May 18, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27247-27251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13119]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 81

[FRL-6014-3]


Identification of Additional Ozone Areas Attaining the 1-Hour 
Standard and to Which the 1-Hour Standard is No Longer Applicable

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The EPA proposes to approve the identification of additional 
ozone areas attaining the 1-hour standard and to which the 1-hour 
standard is no longer applicable. Thus, upon finalization of this 
proposed action, the Code of Federal Regulations for ozone will be 
amended to reflect such changes. Today's action is being proposed in 
direct response to the President's memorandum of July 16, 1997. The 
President's memorandum directed EPA to publish an action identifying 
ozone areas to which the 1-hour standard will cease to apply because 
they have not measured a current violation of the 1-hour standard. For 
all other areas, the 1-hour standard will continue to apply. 
Furthermore, this action is being taken as indicated in the direct 
final rule published on January 16, 1998, which due to the receipt of 
adverse comments, was subsequently converted to a proposal and was 
withdrawn on March 16, 1998. According to the direct final rule, the 
Agency intended to publish, in early 1998, a subsequent document which 
takes similar action to revoke the 1-hour standard in additional areas 
that have air quality that does not violate the 1-hour standard. 
Today's proposed action identifies six additional areas where the 1-
hour standard will no longer apply. The additional proposed areas are: 
Dayton-Springfield, Ohio; Detroit-Ann Arbor, Michigan; Warrick County, 
Indiana; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Poughkeepsie, New York, and Morgan 
County, Kentucky.

DATES: To be considered, comments must be received on or before June 
17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (in duplicate, if possible) to: 
Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6101), Attention: 
Docket No. A-98-19, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street 
SW, Room M-1500, Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-7548, 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying. Comments and 
data may also be submitted electronically by following the instructions 
under

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this document. No confidential 
business information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning this notice 
should be addressed to Annie Nikbakht (policy) or Barry Gilbert (air 
quality data), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air 
Quality Strategies and Standards Division, Ozone Policy and Strategies 
Group, MD-15, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-
5246/5238. In addition, the following Regional contacts may be called 
for individual information regarding monitoring data and policy matters 
specific for each Regional Office's geographic area:

[[Page 27248]]

Region I--Richard P. Burkhart, (617) 565-3578
Region II--Ray Werner, (212) 637-3706
Region III--Marcia Spink, (215) 566-2104
Region IV--Kay Prince, (404) 562-9026
Region V--Todd Nettesheim, (312) 353-9153
Region VI--Lt. Mick Cote, (214) 665-7219
Region VII--Royan Teter, (913) 551-7609
Region VIII--Tim Russ, (303) 312-6479
Region IX--Morris Goldberg, (415) 744-1296
Region X--William Puckett, (206) 553-1702.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Availability--The official record 
for this proposed rule, as well as the public version, has been 
established under docket number A-98-19 (including comments and data 
submitted electronically as described below). A public version of this 
record, including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which 
does not include any information claimed as CBI, is available for 
inspection from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays. The official proposed rulemaking record is 
located at the address in ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document. 
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at: A-and-R-
D[email protected]. Electronic comments must be submitted as an 
ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on disks in 
WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. All comments and 
data in electronic form must be identified by the docket number A-98-
19. Electronic comments on this proposed rule may be filed online at 
many Federal Depository Libraries.

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Summary of Today's Action
III. Analysis of Air Quality Data
IV. Tables
V. Other Regulatory Requirements
    A. Executive Order 12866
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. E.O. 12875 and Unfunded Mandates
    D. Children's Health Protection

I. Background

    On July 16, 1997, the President issued a memorandum (62 FR 38421, 
July 18, 1997) to the Administrator of the EPA which indicates that 
within 90 days of promulgation of the new 8-hour standard, the EPA will 
publish an action identifying ozone areas to which the 1-hour standard 
will cease to apply. The memorandum states that for areas where the air 
quality does not currently attain the 1-hour standard, the 1-hour 
standard will continue in effect. The provisions of subpart 2 of title 
I of the Clean Air Act (CAA) would also apply to currently designated 
nonattainment areas until such time as each area has air quality 
meeting the 1-hour standard.
    On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38856), EPA promulgated a regulation 
replacing the 1-hour ozone standard with an 8-hour standard at a level 
of 0.08 parts per million (ppm). The form of the 8-hour standard is 
based on the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 
8-hour average ozone concentrations measured at each monitor within an 
area. The new primary standard, which became effective on September 16, 
1997, will provide increased protection to the public, especially 
children and other at-risk populations. On July 18, 1997, EPA also 
announced that revocation of the 1-hour ozone national ambient air 
quality standard (NAAQS) would be delayed until areas achieved 
attainment of the 1-hour NAAQS. This was done in order to facilitate 
continuity in public health protection during the transition to the new 
NAAQS.
    Therefore, on January 16, 1998, according to the President's 
memorandum, the Agency issued a direct final rule (63 FR 2726) which 
identified ozone areas to which the 1-hour standard will cease to apply 
because they have not measured a current violation of the 1-hour 
standard. For all other areas, the 1-hour standard will continue to 
apply. However, due to the receipt of adverse comments, the direct 
final action was withdrawn on March 16, 1998 (63 FR 12652) and 
converted to a proposed rule that had previously been published on 
January 16, 1998 (63 FR 2804). The Agency will summarize and address 
all relevant public comments received in a subsequent final rule. 
According to the initial direct final rule, the Agency intended to 
publish, in early 1998, a subsequent document which takes similar 
action to revoke the 1-hour standard in additional areas that have air 
quality that does not violate the 1-hour standard and to take similar 
action each year thereafter.

II. Summary of Today's Action

    The purpose of this document is to propose the revocation of the 1-
hour standard in six additional areas that EPA has determined are not 
violating the 1-hour standard. The newly identified areas are: Dayton-
Springfield, Ohio; Detroit-Ann Arbor, Michigan; Warrick County, 
Indiana; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Poughkeepsie, New York, and Morgan 
County, Kentucky.

III. Analysis of Air Quality Data

    This action, proposing to revoke the 1-hour standard in additional 
selected areas, is based upon analysis of quality-assured, ambient air 
quality monitoring data showing no violations of the 1-hour ozone 
standard. The method for determining attainment of the ozone NAAQS is 
contained in 40 CFR part 50.9 and Appendix H to that section. The level 
of the 1-hour primary and secondary NAAQS for ozone is 0.12 ppm.
    The 1-hour standard no longer applies to an area once EPA 
determines that the area has air quality not violating the 1-hour 
standard. Determinations for this notice were based upon the most 
recent data available, i.e., 1995-1997 data. Detailed air quality data 
information used for today's determinations is contained in the 
Technical Support Document (TSD) to Docket No. A-98-19.

IV. Tables

    The ozone tables proposed in today's action are significantly 
different from the tables now included in 40 CFR part 81. The current 
40 CFR part 81 designation listings (revised as of November 6, 1991) 
include, by State and NAAQS pollutant, a brief description of areas 
within the State and their respective designation. Today's proposed 
action includes completely new entries for certain ozone areas 
indicating where the 1-hour standard no longer applies.

V. Other Regulatory Requirements

A. Executive Order 12866

    Under Executive Order 12866, (58 FR 51735 (October 4, 1993)), the 
Agency must determine whether the regulatory action is ``significant'' 
and therefore subject to OMB review and the requirements of the 
Executive Order. 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. 601 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), 
unless EPA certifies 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. I hereby 
certify that

[[Page 27249]]

this rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

C. E.O. 12875 and Unfunded Mandates

    Under section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(UMRA), 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, 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.
    The EPA has determined that today's action, if finalized, would 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 imposes no new 
requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or 
tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this action.

D. Children's Health Protection

    This proposed rule is not subject to E.O. 13045, entitled 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it does not involve 
decisions on environmental health risks or safety risks that may 
disproportionately affect children.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 81

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, National parks, 
Wilderness areas.

    Dated: May 12, 1998.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 40, chapter 1, part 
81, of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as 
follows:

PART 81--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 81 continues to read as follows:

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

    2. In Sec. 81.315, the table entitled ``Indiana--Ozone'' is amended 
by revising the entry for ``Warrick County'' and adding footnote 2 to 
read as follows:


Sec. 81.315  Indiana.

* * * * *

                                                 Indiana--Ozone                                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Designation                       Classification     
             Designated area              ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Date \1\                Type                 Date \1\       Type   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
Warrick County Area:                                                                                            
    Warrick County.......................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This date is the effective date of the final.                                                               
\2\ 1 hour standard Not Applicable.                                                                             

* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 81.318, the table entitled ``Kentucky--Ozone'' is 
amended by revising the entry for ``Morgan County'' and adding footnote 
3 to read as follows:


Sec. 81.318  Kentucky.

* * * * *

                                                 Kentucky--Ozone                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Designation                       Classification     
             Designated area              ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Date \1\                Type                 Date \1\       Type   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
Morgan County Area:                                                                                             
    Morgan County........................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\3\............  ...........  ...........
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This date is the effective date of the final.                                                               
\3\ 1 hour standard Not Applicable.                                                                             

* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 81.323, the table entitled ``Michigan-Ozone'' is amended 
by revising the entries for ``Detroit-Ann Arbor Area'' and ``Grand 
Rapids Area'' and adding footnote 2 to read as follows:


Sec. 81.323  Michigan.

* * * * *

[[Page 27250]]



                                                 Michigan--Ozone                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Designation                       Classification     
             Designated area              ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Date \1\                Type                 Date \1\       Type   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
Detroit-Ann Arbor Area:                                                                                         
    Livingston County....................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
    Macomb County........................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
    Monroe County........................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
    Oakland County.......................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
    St. Clair County.....................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
    Washtenaw County.....................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
    Wayne County.........................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
Grand Rapids Area:                                                                                              
    Kent County..........................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
    Ottawa County........................  ...........  1 hr. std. N.A.\2\............  ...........  ...........
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This date is the effective date of the final.                                                               
\2\ 1 hour standard Not Applicable.                                                                             

* * * *
    5. In Sec. 81.333, the table entitled ``New York--Ozone'' is 
amended by revising the entry for ``Poughkeepsie Area'' and revising 
footnote 2 to read as follows:


Sec. 81.333  New York.

* * * * *

                                                 New York--Ozone                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Designation                       Classification     
             Designated area              ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Date \1\                Type                 Date \1\       Type   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
Poughkeepsie Area:                                                                                              
    Dutchess County......................  ...........  1 hr.std.N.A.\2\..............  ...........  ...........
    Orange County (remainder)............  ...........  1 hr.std.N.A.\2\..............  ...........  ...........
    Putnam County........................  ...........  1 hr.std.N.A.\2\..............  ...........  ...........
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This date is the effective date of the final.                                                               
\2\ 1 hour standard Not Applicable.                                                                             

* * * * *
    6. In Sec. 81.336, the table entitled ``Ohio--Ozone'' is amended by 
revising the entry for ``Dayton-Springfield Area'' and adding footnote 
3 to read as follows:


Sec. 81.336  Ohio.

* * * * *

                                                   Ohio-Ozone                                                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Designation                       Classification     
             Designated area              ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Date\1\                 Type                 Date\1\        Type   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
Dayton-Springfield Area:                                                                                        
    Clark County.........................  ...........  1 hr.std.N.A.\3\..............  ...........  ...........
    Greene County........................  ...........  1 hr.std.N.A.\3\..............  ...........  ...........
    Miami County.........................  ...........  1 hr.std.N.A.\3\..............  ...........  ...........
    Montgomery County....................  ...........  1 hr.std.N.A.\3\..............  ...........  ...........
                                                                                                                
*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                        *                                                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This date is the effective date of the final.                                                               
\3\ 1 hour standard Not Applicable.                                                                             


[[Page 27251]]

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[FR Doc. 98-13119 Filed 5-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P