[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70665-70667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33835]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[Region VII Docket No. 056-1056a; FRL-6206-1]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Missouri; 
Designation of Areas For Air Quality Planning Purposes

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final 
action to approve certain portions of the Missouri construction permits 
rule as an amendment to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP). 
These revisions make minor corrections to the ``Construction Permits 
Required'' rule to increase readability and correct typographical and 
punctuation errors.

DATES: This direct final rule is effective on February 22, 1999 without 
further notice, unless the EPA receives adverse comment by January 21, 
1999. If adverse comment is received, the EPA will publish a timely 
withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform 
the public that the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be addressed to Kim Johnson, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Air Planning and Development Branch, 726 Minnesota 
Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.
    Copies of the state submittal(s) are available at the following 
addresses for inspection during normal business hours: Environmental 
Protection Agency, Air Planning and Development Branch, 726 Minnesota 
Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66101; and the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Air Docket 
(6102), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Johnson at (913) 551-7975.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Is a SIP?

    Section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to develop 
air pollution regulations and control strategies to ensure that state 
air quality meets the national ambient air quality standards 
established by the EPA. These ambient standards are established under 
section 109 of the CAA, and they currently address six criteria 
pollutants. These pollutants are: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, 
ozone, lead, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide.
    Each state must submit these regulations and control strategies to 
the EPA for approval and incorporation into the Federally enforceable 
SIP.
    Currently each state has a Federally approved SIP which protects 
air quality primarily by addressing air pollution at its point of 
origin. These SIPs can be extensive, containing state regulations or 
other enforceable documents and supporting information such as emission 
inventories, monitoring networks, and modeling demonstrations.

What Is the Federal Approval Process for a SIP?

    In order for state regulations to be incorporated into the 
Federally enforceable SIP, states must formally adopt the regulations 
and control strategies consistent with state and Federal requirements. 
This process generally includes a public notice, public hearing, public 
comment period, and a formal adoption by a state-authorized rulemaking 
body.
    Once a state rule, regulation, or control strategy is adopted, the 
state submits it to the EPA for inclusion into the SIP. The EPA must 
provide public notice and seek additional public comment regarding the 
proposed Federal action on the state submission. If adverse comments 
are received, they must be addressed prior to any final Federal action 
by the EPA.
    All state regulations and supporting information approved by the 
EPA under section 110 of the CAA are incorporated into the Federally 
approved SIP. Records of such SIP actions are maintained in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at Title 40, Part 52 entitled ``Approval and 
Promulgation of Implementation Plans.'' The actual state regulations 
which are approved are not reproduced in their entirety in the CFR but 
are ``incorporated by reference,'' which means that the EPA has 
approved a given state regulation with a specific effective date.

What Does Federal Approval of a State Regulation Mean to me?

    Enforcement of the state regulation before and after it is 
incorporated into the Federally approved SIP is primarily a state 
responsibility. However, after the regulation is Federally approved, 
the EPA is authorized to take enforcement action against violators. 
Citizens are also offered legal recourse to address violators as 
described in the CAA.

What is Being Addressed in this Notice?

    The revision to Rule 10 CSR 10-6.060, ``Construction Permits 
Required,'' makes minor changes to the existing rule to increase 
readability, correct typographical and punctuation errors, and maintain 
consistency with the Federal regulations. For example, changing 
``annual geometric mean'' to ``annual arithmetic mean'' when referring 
to the total suspended particulate matter makes this rule consistent 
with the Federal regulations.

What Is not Being Addressed in This Notice?

    The revision also adds a Section (9) to the rule which implements 
112(g) requirements of the 1990 CAA Amendments. Section 112(g) of the 
CAA requires states to develop ``case-by-case'' maximum achievable 
control technology (MACT) standards if the EPA has not issued a MACT 
standard for that particular type of hazardous air pollutant source. 
These ``case-by-case'' standards apply to industries that are major 
sources of hazardous air pollutants and plan to construct or 
reconstruct before a standard is set.
    We will not act on Section (9) in this action because it is a part 
of the Section 112 Air Toxics Program and not a part of the Section 110 
Criteria Pollutant Program.

What Action Is the EPA Taking?

    The EPA is processing this action as a direct final because the 
revisions make minor corrections to the existing rule which are 
noncontroversial. Therefore, we do not anticipate any adverse comments.

Conclusion

Final Action

    The EPA is taking final action to approve, as an amendment to the 
SIP, the revision to Rule 10 CSR 10-6.060, ``Construction Permits 
Required,'' submitted by the state of Missouri on May 28, 1998, except 
Section (9).
    The EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the 
Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no 
adverse comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this 
Federal Register publication, the EPA is publishing a separate document 
that will serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision should 
adverse comments be filed. This rule will be effective February 22, 
1999 without further notice unless the Agency receives adverse comments 
by January 21, 1999.
    If the EPA receives such comments, then the EPA will publish a 
document withdrawing the final rule and informing the public that the 
rule will not take effect. All public comments received will then be 
addressed in a

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subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. The EPA will not 
institute a second comment period. Parties interested in commenting 
should do so at this time. If no such comments are received, the public 
is advised that this rule will be effective on February 22, 1999, and 
no further action will be taken on the proposed rule.

Administrative Requirements

A. Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this 
regulatory action from Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, entitled 
``Regulatory Planning and Review.''

B. Executive Order 12875

    Under E.O. 12875, the EPA may not issue a regulation that is not 
required by statute and that creates a mandate upon a state, local or 
tribal government, unless the Federal government provides the funds 
necessary to pay the direct compliance costs incurred by those 
governments, or the EPA consults with those governments. If the EPA 
complies by consulting, E.O. 12875 requires the EPA to provide to the 
OMB a description of the extent of the EPA's prior consultation with 
representatives of affected state, local and tribal governments, the 
nature of their concerns, copies of any written communications from the 
governments, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
regulation. In addition, E.O. 12875 requires the EPA to develop an 
effective process permitting elected officials and other 
representatives of state, local and tribal governments ``to provide 
meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals 
containing significant unfunded mandates.''
    Today's rule does not create a mandate on state, local or tribal 
governments. The rule does not impose any enforceable duties on these 
entities. Accordingly, the requirements of section 1(a) of E.O. 12875 
do not apply to this rule.

C. Executive Order 13045

    Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that: (1) is 
determined to be ``economically significant'' as defined under E.O. 
12866, and (2) concerns an environmental health or safety risk that the 
EPA has reason to believe may have a disproportionate effect on 
children. If the regulatory action meets both criteria, the Agency must 
evaluate the environmental health or safety effects of the planned rule 
on children, and explain why the planned regulation is preferable to 
other potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives 
considered by the Agency.
    This rule is not subject to E.O. 13045 because it does not involve 
decisions intended to mitigate environmental health or safety risks.

D. Executive Order 13084

    Under E.O. 13084, the EPA may not issue a regulation that is not 
required by statute, that significantly or uniquely affects the 
communities of Indian tribal governments, and that imposes substantial 
direct compliance costs on those communities, unless the Federal 
government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance 
costs incurred by the tribal governments, or EPA consults with those 
governments. If EPA complies by consulting, E.O. 13084 requires the EPA 
to provide to the OMB, in a separately identified section of the 
preamble to the rule, a description of the extent of the EPA's prior 
consultation with representatives of affected tribal governments, a 
summary of the nature of their concerns, and a statement supporting the 
need to issue the regulation. In addition, E.O. 13084 requires the EPA 
to develop an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
representatives of Indian tribal governments ``to provide meaningful 
and timely input in the development of regulatory policies on matters 
that significantly or uniquely affect their communities.''
    Today's rule does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
communities of Indian tribal governments. This action does not involve 
or impose any requirements that affect Indian tribes. Accordingly, the 
requirements of section 3(b) of E.O. 13084 do not apply to this rule.

E. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The RFA generally requires an agency to conduct a regulatory 
flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment 
rulemaking requirements unless the agency certifies that the rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Small entities include small businesses, small not-for-profit 
enterprises, and small governmental jurisdictions. This final rule will 
not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because SIP approvals under section 110 and Subchapter I, Part D of the 
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 create any new requirements, I certify that this 
action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. Moreover, due to the nature of the Federal-
state relationship under the CAA, preparation of 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. EPA, 427 U.S. 246, 
255-66 (1976); 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).

F. 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 
annual 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 approval action promulgated does 
not include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated annual 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 requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to state, local, 
or tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this 
action.

G. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect the agency promulgating the 
rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to 
each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United 
States. The EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the U.S. Comptroller General prior to publication 
of the rule in the Federal Register. This

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rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

H. Petitions for Judicial Review

    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 February 22, 1999. 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: December 2, 1998.
William Rice,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region VII.

    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 et seq.

Subpart AA--Missouri

    2. Section 52.1320 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(110) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 52.1320  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (110) On May 28, 1998, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources 
submitted revisions to the construction permits rule.
    (i) Incorporation by reference.
    (A) Missouri Rule 10 CSR 10-6.060, ``Construction Permits 
Required,'' except Section (9), effective April 30, 1998.

[FR Doc. 98-33835 Filed 12-21-98; 8:45 am]
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