[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49992-49997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23707]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 80

[FRL-6432-1]


Regulation of Fuel and Fuel Additives: Extension of California 
Enforcement Exemptions for Reformulated Gasoline Beyond December 31, 
1999

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: With this direct final rule the EPA continues to exempt 
refiners, importers, and blenders of gasoline subject to the State of 
California's reformulated gasoline regulations from certain enforcement 
provisions in the Federal reformulated gasoline regulations. Current 
exemptions applicable under the Federal Phase I reformulated gasoline 
program will expire after December 31, 1999, when the Federal Phase II 
reformulated gasoline program begins. Today's direct final rule extends 
the California enforcement exemptions beyond that date. The Agency is 
publishing this action as a direct final rule because it does not 
expect it to be controversial. An accompanying notice of proposed 
rulemaking is being published in today's Federal Register.

DATES: This final rule is effective on January 1, 2000 unless adverse 
or critical comments are received by October 15, 1999. If adverse 
comments are received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the 
Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take 
effect.

ADDRESSES: Any person wishing to submit comments should send them (in 
duplicate, if possible) to the docket address listed and to Anne 
Pastorkovich, Attorney/Advisor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Fuels and Energy Division, 401 M Street, SW (6406J), Washington, D.C. 
20460. Materials relevant to this direct final rule have been placed in 
docket [A-99-04] located at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air 
Docket Section, Room M-1500, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. 
The docket is open for public inspection from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays. A reasonable 
fee may be charged for photocopying services.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
direct final rule, contact Anne Pastorkovich, Attorney/Advisor, Fuels & 
Energy Division, at (202) 564-8987. To notify EPA of an intent to 
submit an adverse comment or public hearing request, contact Anne 
Pastorkovich, (202) 564-8987.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The remainder of this direct final rule is 
organized in the following sections:

I. Background
    A. Regulated Entities
    B. Current Status and Basis for California Exemptions
II. Applicability of Exemptions Beginning in 2000 (Description of 
This Rule)
III. Administrative Designation and Regulatory Analysis

[[Page 49993]]

    A. Executive Order 12866
    B. Executive Order 12875: Enhancing Intergovernmental 
Partnerships
    C. Executive Order 13084: Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    D. Regulatory Flexibility
    E. Paperwork Reduction Act
    F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    G. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office
    H. Children's Health Protection
    I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 
(NTTAA)
    J. Statutory Authority

I. Background

A. Regulated Entities

    Regulated categories and entities potentially affected by this 
action include:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Examples of regulated
                 Category                             entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry..................................  Refiners, importers, and
                                             oxygenate blenders of
                                             California gasoline.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this 
action. This table lists the types of entities that EPA is now aware 
could be potentially regulated by this action. Other types of entities 
not listed in the table could also be regulated. To determine whether 
an entity is regulated by this action, one should carefully examine the 
RFG provisions at 40 CFR Part 80, particularly Sec. 80.81 dealing 
specifically with California gasoline. If you have questions regarding 
the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the 
person listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

B. Current Status and Basis for California Exemptions

    Section 211(k) of the Federal Clean Air Act (the Act) directs the 
EPA to establish requirements for reformulated gasoline (RFG) to be 
used in specified ozone nonattainment areas, as well as ``anti-
dumping'' requirements for conventional gasoline used in the rest of 
the country, beginning in January 1995. The areas covered by the 
Federal RFG program in California are Los Angeles, San Diego, and 
Sacramento.1 The Act requires EPA to reduce the emissions of 
ozone forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic air 
pollutants from motor vehicles through the RFG program. It also 
requires that there be no increase in the emission of oxides of 
nitrogen (NOX) as a result of the RFG program. Finally, RFG 
must meet certain content standards for oxygen, benzene and heavy 
metals.
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    \1\ See 40 CFR Sec. 80.70 for a complete list of covered areas.
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    The RFG program is implemented in two phases. The Phase II program, 
which will begin on January 1, 2000, is similar to the Phase I program, 
but will require even greater emissions benefits. The relevant 
regulations for RFG and conventional gasoline may be found at 40 CFR 
Part 80, Subparts D, E, and F.2
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    \2\ See 59 FR 7812 (February 16, 1994), as amended at 59 FR 
36964 (July 20, 1994); 60 FR 2699 (January 11, 1995); 60 FR 35491 
(July 10, 1995); 60 FR 65574 (December 20, 1995); and 62 FR 68196 
(December 31, 1997).
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    On September 18, 1992, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 
adopted regulations requiring reformulation of California ``Phase 2'' 
gasoline.3 The CARB regulations established a comprehensive 
set of gasoline specifications designed to achieve reductions in 
emissions of VOCs, NOX, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur 
dioxide, and toxic air pollutants from gasoline-fueled vehicles. The 
CARB regulations set standards for eight gasoline parameters--sulfur, 
benzene, olefins, aromatic hydrocarbons, oxygen, Reid vapor pressure 
(RVP), and distillation temperatures for the 50 percent and 90 percent 
evaporation points (T-50 and T-90, respectively). These regulations 
became effective on March 1, 1996 for all gasoline in the California 
distribution network (except for gasoline being exported from 
California). The CARB regulations also provide for the production and 
sale of alternative gasoline formulations, with certification under the 
CARB program based on a predictive model or on vehicle emission 
testing.
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    \3\ See Title 13, California Code of Regulations Secs. 2250-2272 
(as last amended December 11, 1998). California has amended its 
regulations since they were first promulgated in September, 1992. 
The most recent amendments, adopted December 11, 1998, raise the 
oxygen ``cap'' limit for California gasoline from 2.7 weight % to 
3.5 weight %. As discussed below, this direct final rule is based on 
the current state of California's Phase 2 gasoline program, 
including the December 11, 1998 amendments.
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    During the Federal RFG rulemaking, and in response to comments by 
California refiners, we concluded (1) that VOC and toxics emission 
reductions resulting from the California Phase 2 standards would be 
equal to or greater than the Federal Phase I RFG standards (applicable 
from January 1, 1995 through December 31, 1999), (2) that the content 
standards for oxygen and benzene under California Phase 2 would be 
equivalent in practice to the Federal Phase I content 
standards,4 and (3) that the CARB's compliance and 
enforcement program was designed to be sufficiently rigorous to ensure 
that Federal Phase I requirements would be met.5 
Consequently, while the Federal RFG and conventional gasoline standards 
continue to apply in California, refiners, importers, and oxygenate 
blenders of gasoline sold in California (referred to collectively as 
``California refiners'') are exempt in most cases from various 
enforcement-related provisions, including the following:
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    \4\ As is discussed in the section entitled ``Oxygen Standard'', 
below, this is not now the case.
    \5\ See 59 FR 7758, 7759 (February 16, 1994) and 40 CFR 
Sec. 80.81.
    \6\ 40 CFR Sec. 80.81(e)(2) was amended to include a limited 
oxygen survey provision. See ``Fuels and Fuel Additives; Amendments 
to the Enforcement Exemptions for California Gasoline Refiners--
Final Rule,'' 63 FR 34818 (June 26, 1998).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Requirement exempted            Citation at 40 CFR Sec.  80.xx
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance Surveys \6\..............  80.68
Independent Sampling & Testing......  80.65(f).
Designation of Gasoline.............  80.65(d).
Marking of Conventional Gasoline....  80.65(g) and 80.82.
Downstream Oxygenate Blending.......  80.69.
Recordkeeping.......................  80.74 and 80.104.
Reporting...........................  80.75 and 80.105.
Product Transfer Documents..........  80.77.
Parameter Value Reconciliation        80.65(e)(2).
 Requirements.
Reformulated Gasoline and             80.65(c).
 Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock
 for Oxygenate Blending (RBOB)
 Compliance Requirements.
Annual Compliance Audit Requirements  80.65(h).

[[Page 49994]]

 
Compliance attest Engagement          subpart F.
 Requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    California refiners are not exempt from these Federal enforcement 
requirements with regard to gasoline that is delivered for use outside 
California, because the California Phase 2 standards and the CARB 
enforcement program do not cover RFG exported from California. EPA has 
made reasonable allowances to minimize complications for gasoline 
exported from California, including permitting the use of California 
test methods for conventional gasoline that is produced in California 
for sale outside the state.7
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    \7\ See 40 CFR 80.81(h)(1).
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II. Description of the Direct Final Rule

    The enforcement exemptions which expire on December 31, 1999 were 
based on a comparison of California Phase 2 gasoline and Federal Phase 
I RFG. The enforcement exemptions, which were included in the final RFG 
rule (see fn. 5), were only applicable during the Phase I RFG program. 
It would have been premature for EPA to have made an equivalency 
determination comparing California Phase 2 and Federal Phase II 
gasolines upon publication of the final RFG rule. However, we indicated 
in the rulemaking that, if an appropriate and timely demonstration was 
made in the future, showing that California Phase 2 gasoline could be 
expected to provide emission benefits equivalent to Federal Phase II 
RFG, then we might extend the enforcement exemptions beyond December 
31, 1999. For the reasons discussed below, we believe that California 
Phase 2 gasoline provides emissions benefits equivalent to Federal 
Phase II RFG, and that it is appropriate for us to extend the 
California enforcement exemptions to Federal Phase II RFG. 
Specifically, the Agency believes that:
    (1) VOC, toxics, and NOX emission reductions resulting 
from the California Phase 2 standards would be equal to or greater than 
the reductions from the Federal Phase II RFG standards,
    (2) The content standards for oxygen and benzene under California 
Phase 2 would be equivalent in practice to the Federal Phase II content 
standards, and
    (3) The CARB's compliance and enforcement program is designed to be 
sufficiently rigorous.
    We have received a detailed comparison of California Phase 2 and 
Federal Phase II blends, entitled, ``Comparing the Equivalency of 
California and Federal Reformulated Gasoline,'' from the Western States 
Petroleum Association (hereafter referred to as ``the WSPA analysis''). 
A copy of the WSPA analysis, and an EPA staff memorandum describing the 
Agency's evaluation of the WSPA analysis, has been placed in public 
docket at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice 
8.
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    \8\ The WSPA analysis and an EPA staff memorandum entitled 
``Equivalency Determination of California and Federal Reformulated 
Gasoline,'' (March 8, 1999) have been placed in docket A-99-04.
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    The WSPA analysis evaluated the performance of the California 
program (1) by comparing the average performance of actual California 
RFG to the averaged parameter limits of federal RFG, and (2) by 
analyzing the performance of a set of ``virtual fuels'' using computer 
modeling. While the average fuel performance analysis establishes that 
the overall air quality objective of the federal RFG program will be 
met, the virtual fuels analysis provides assurances that there will be 
no temporal spikes in the emission of ozone forming VOCs.
    The WSPA analysis utilized data from two separate surveys of actual 
California gasoline to compare the emissions performance of California 
gasoline with the EPA Phase II complex model averaging standards. See 
40 CFR Sec. 80.41(f). One survey was prepared by the California Energy 
Commission (CEC).9 The other survey was prepared by the 
American Petroleum Institute/National Petroleum Refiners Association 
(API/NPRA).10 Both surveys collected data on the properties 
of RFG actually produced by California refiners in an effort to 
evaluate the emissions performance of actual, in use California 
gasoline. The API/NPRA and CEC surveys represented about 85% and 100% 
of the RFG produced in California, respectively. The surveys each 
occurred over periods of about four months during the summertime, and 
were weighted by production volume. Producers were not aware that the 
surveys were being conducted.
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    \9\ Final Report, 1996 American Petroleum Institute/National 
Petroleum Refiners Association Survey of Refining Operations and 
Product Quality (July, 1996).
    \10\ California Energy Commission, Supply and Cost of 
Alternatives to MTBE in Gasoline--Technical Appendices, Refinery 
Modeling--Task 2 Calibration of Refinery Model, Table 5.3.
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    Both surveys support the conclusion that average fuel property 
values and average emissions reductions of in-use California gasolines 
comply with Federal Phase II averaged standards. Additionally, the two 
surveys, performed one year apart, were remarkably consistent. The 
results of the surveys are shown in the following table: 11
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    \11\ WSPA analysis, at 7.

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                                                                            1990       California survey results
                Properties                  Federal phase II averaged     Baseline   ---------------------------
                                                    standards               fuel         API-96        CEC-97
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxygen (wt%).............................  >=2.1 average, 1.5 per gal.          0             2.1           2.1
                                            min.
SULFUR (ppm).............................  ...........................        339            20            19
RVP (psi)................................  ...........................          8.7           6.8           6.8
E200 (%).................................  ...........................         41            51.3          50.5
E300 (%).................................  ...........................         83            88.8          88.4
AROMATICS (vol%).........................  ...........................         32            23.0          23.0
OLEFINS (vol%)...........................  ...........................          9.2           3.9           4.1
BENZENE (vol%)...........................  <=0.95 average, 1.3 per              1.53          0.55          0.57
                                            gal. max.
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[[Page 49995]]

 
Phase II Complex Model Absolute emissions                                 Absolute emissions (milligrams/mile)
               Calculations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exhaust VOC..............................  ...........................        907.0         733.0         734.2
Nonexhaust VOC...........................  ...........................        559.3         294.1         294.1
Total VOC................................  ...........................       1466.3        1027.2        1028.4
Exhaust benzene..........................  ...........................         53.5          28.8          28.9
Nonexhaust benzene.......................  ...........................          6.2           1.3           1.4
Acetaldehyde.............................  ...........................          4.4           3.6           3.6
Formaldehyde.............................  ...........................          9.7          11.8          11.8
Butadiene................................  ...........................          9.4           6.4           6.5
POM......................................  ...........................          3.0           2.5           2.5
Total exhaust toxics.....................  ...........................         80.1          53.0          53.2
Total toxics.............................  ...........................         86.3          54.3          54.6
NOX......................................  ...........................       1340.0        1144.5        1143.2
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  Phase II Complex Model Reductions from                                  Percent change from baseline emissions
              1990 Baseline
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total VOC................................  >=29.0% average, 25.0% per         -29.9         -29.9
                                            gal. min.
Total toxics.............................  21.5% average..............  ............        -37.1         -36.8
NOX......................................  6.8% average...............  ............        -14.6         -14.7
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    The WSPA analysis also compares the emissions performance of the 
survey average in-use fuel with the emissions performance of fuels that 
meet California's ``regulatory recipe''. The regulatory recipe 
specifies limits for various emission-related fuel parameters (e.g. 
sulfur content, aromatics content).
    Certain of these parameters in the regulatory recipe have two sets 
of limits; a ``flat'' (per gallon) limit and an average limit with a 
cap. A California refiner may choose, on a property by property basis, 
to produce a blend that complies with a flat or an average (with cap) 
regulatory recipe limit. However, a refiner may produce a blend with 
parameters that differ from the regulatory recipe specifications if 
they can demonstrate, using the predictive model, that the emissions 
performance of their blend is comparable. In order to use the 
predictive model to compare the emissions performance of its blend to 
the performance of the regulatory recipe, refiners must decide whether 
certain parameters in their blend will be averaged or flat-limited.
    The WSPA analysis compares the survey results to the regulatory 
recipe by plugging the average survey data into the predictive model 
and generating emissions numbers. These numbers are then compared 
against an all-average and all-flat emissions baseline. The results 
demonstrate that the emissions performance of in-use gasoline 
approximates the emissions performance of a fuel with average 
regulatory recipe limits. Therefore, it is reasonable to use the 
average, rather than the flat, regulatory recipe limits to determine 
which of the computer-generated virtual fuels meet California standards 
under the predictive model. This virtual fuels analysis, discussed 
later, demonstrates compliance of California fuel with the Federal VOC 
per-gallon minimum performance requirement.
    Finally, the WSPA analysis demonstrates that the fuels represented 
by the two surveys meet the average performance requirements of the 
federal RFG program. To make this determination the WSPA analysis 
evaluates the averaged fuels from the two surveys using the federal 
Complex Model.12
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    \12\ Id. at 9.
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    The WSPA analysis also examined a computer-generated set of 
emissions data to evaluate the performance of a large number of 
possible California gasoline blends against the Federal per-gallon 
minimum reduction requirements for VOCs. This set of virtual fuels 
consisted of fuels whose properties vary discretely within ranges 
constrained by California or Federal regulations. Specifically, the 
virtual fuels analysis defined the properties of the virtual fuels 
using the appropriate limits of California Phase 2--for RVP, sulfur, 
aromatics, olefins, T50, T90, and benzene, the upper and lower limits 
are defined by California's regulations. For oxygen, the lower limit is 
defined by the Federal RFG program 13 and the upper limit is 
defined by the California regulations.
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    \13\ The limited oxygen survey option was added to 40 CFR 
Sec. 80.81 (e)(2)(ii) to ensure that compliance with a 2.0 wt % 
standard is met in Federally covered areas, as defined by 
Sec. 80.70. Since for an averaging party, the minimum oxygen content 
of any gallon of gasoline is 1.5 wt % (with all production over the 
compliance period meeting 2.1 wt%, on average), the appropriate 
minimum oxygen content for analysis purposes is 1.5 wt %.
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    For VOC compliance, the virtual fuels analysis looked at possible 
combinations of fuel properties within the limits of what could be 
certified under the California predictive model. Although the virtual 
fuels analysis does not reflect each and every possible fuel 
formulation, the discrete properties chosen accurately approximate the 
full range of possible, ``real world'' fuels. These virtual fuel 
formulations were then submitted to the EPA's complex model. In all 
there were 18,048 virtual fuels that met the California standards. Of 
these fuels, all met the 25% minimum Federal Phase II VOC reduction 
requirement.
    As discussed in greater detail in the staff paper, the virtual 
fuels analysis supports the conclusion that any possible ``real world'' 
fuel will comply with the Federal Phase II complex model minimum VOC 
reduction requirement.
    We are satisfied that the CARB enforcement program, which employs 
several full-time inspectors and a mobile laboratory facility, and 
which conducts year round inspections of retail facilities, terminals, 
and refineries, is designed to be sufficiently stringent to ensure the 
emissions benefits and content requirements of the program are met.
    In the absence of the enforcement exemptions at 40 CFR Sec. 80.81, 
California refiners would be required to comply with duplicative 
enforcement requirements at a significant added cost. We believe that 
California Phase 2 gasoline, as required by the current regulations 
(see footnote 3), and as

[[Page 49996]]

described in this analysis, will achieve VOC, toxic and NOX 
emission reductions that are equal to or greater than those achieved by 
Federal Phase II gasoline, and will comply with the oxygen and benzene 
content requirements of the Federal program. We also believe that the 
CARB enforcement program is sufficiently stringent to ensure that the 
expected benefits will continue to be met. Therefore, we are proposing 
to extend the California enforcement exemptions at 40 CFR Sec. 80.81 
beyond December 31, 1999.
    On March 26, 1999, California Governor Gray Davis issued Executive 
Order D-5-99, which directed that methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) be 
phased out of gasoline as soon as possible. Because, California 
refiners must still provide gasoline in the state that complies with 
the federal oxygen content requirement, the appropriateness of 
extending the enforcement exemptions is preserved. A copy of the 
executive order has been placed in the public docket at the location 
indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    On April 12, 1999, Governor Davis submitted a letter to EPA 
Administrator Carol Browner, requesting that EPA grant a waiver from 
the Federal 2.0 weight % oxygen requirement for all California areas 
covered by the Federal RFG program. The governor's request is currently 
being evaluated by EPA, but is outside the scope of today's direct 
final rule. Today's action, in finding that the emission reduction 
benefits of California gasoline are equivalent to Federal Phase II RFG 
based on a comparison of current California Phase 2 gasoline and 
Federal Phase II RFG, includes an analysis demonstrating that such 
California gasoline will comply with the Federal content standards, 
including the 2.0 weight % oxygen standard. If California amends its 
current reformulated gasoline regulations (or issues new regulations), 
EPA will re-examine these regulations to determine whether enforcement 
exemptions continue to be appropriate.

III. Administrative 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review 
and the requirements of the Executive Order. The Order defines 
``significant regulatory action'' as one that is likely to result in a 
rule that may:
    (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or 
adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or 
communities;
    (2) Create a Serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another Agency;
    (3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlement, grants, 
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or
    (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in 
the Executive Order.
    EPA has determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory 
action under the terms of Executive Order 12866 and is therefore not 
subject to OMB review. The Agency has determined that this regulation 
would result in none of the economic effects set forth in Section 1 of 
the Order because it does not impose any mandatory obligations on the 
regulated community beyond those specified in the current regulations.

B. Executive Order 12875: Enhancing Intergovernmental Partnerships

    Under Executive Order 12875, 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 EPA consults with those governments. If EPA complies by 
consulting, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to provide to the Office 
of Management and Budget a description of the extent of 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, Executive Order 12875 
requires 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 Executive 
Order 12875 do not apply to this rule.

C. Executive Order 13084: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    Under Executive Order 13084, 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, Executive Order 13084 
requires EPA to provide to the Office of Management and Budget, in a 
separately identified section of the preamble to the rule, a 
description of the extent of 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, Executive Order 13084 requires EPA to develop 
an effective process permitting elected 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. Today's direct final rule 
does not create a mandate for any tribal governments. The rule does not 
impose any enforceable duties on these entities. Accordingly, the 
requirements of section 3(b) of Executive Order 13084 do not apply to 
this rule.

D. Regulatory Flexibility

    EPA has determined that it is not necessary to prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis in connection with this direct final rule. EPA has 
also determined that this rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities.

E. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This action does not add any new requirements involving the 
collection of information as defined by the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
approved the information collection requirements contained in the final 
RFG/anti-dumping rulemaking (See 59 FR 7716, February 16, 1994) and has 
assigned OMB control number 2060-0277 (EPA ICR No. 1951.08).
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons

[[Page 49997]]

to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or 
for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review 
instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and 
systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying 
information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and 
providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any 
previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to 
be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; 
complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or 
otherwise disclose the information. An Agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 
9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), P.L. 
104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal 
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, EPA 
generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit 
analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal mandates'' that 
may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
one year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement 
is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify 
and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt 
the least costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative 
that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of section 205 
do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable law. Moreover, 
section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other than the least 
costly, most cost-effective or least burdensome alternative if the 
Administrator publishes with the final rule an explanation why that 
alternative was not adopted. Before EPA establishes any regulatory 
requirements that may significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments, including tribal governments, it must have developed under 
section 203 of the UMRA a small government agency plan. The plan must 
provide for notifying potentially affected small governments, enabling 
officials of affected small governments to have meaningful and timely 
input in the development of EPA regulatory proposals with significant 
Federal intergovernmental mandates, and informing, educating, and 
advising small governments on compliance with the regulatory 
requirements.
    Today's direct final rule contains no Federal mandates (under the 
regulatory provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local or 
tribal governments or the private sector. The rule imposes no 
enforceable duty on any State, local or tribal governments or the 
private sector. Today's direct final rule extends the existing 
exemption for California gasoline from many of the regulatory 
compliance requirements of the RFG program, relieving potentially 
duplicative obligations.

G. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office

    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. 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 Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 
days after it is published in the Federal Register. This rule is not a 
major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

H. Executive Order 13045: Children's Health Protection

    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 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.
    EPA interprets E.O. 13045 as applying only to those regulatory 
actions that are based on health or safety risks, such that the 
analysis required under section 5-501 of the Order has the potential to 
influence the regulation. This final 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.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA)

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Pub L. No. 104-113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) 
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory 
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling 
procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by 
voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to provide 
Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use 
available and applicable voluntary consensus standards.
    This direct final rule does not involve technical standards. 
Therefore, EPA did not consider the use of any voluntary consensus 
standards.

J. Statutory Authority

    Sections 114, 211, and 301(a) of the Clean Air Act as amended (42 
U.S.C. 7414, 7545, and 7601(a)).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 80

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, California 
exemptions, Gasoline, Motor vehicle pollution, Reformulated gasoline.

    Dated: August 27, 1999.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
    For the reasons described in the preamble, part 80 of title 40, 
chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 80 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs.114, 211 and 301(a) of the Clean Air Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 7414, 7545, and 7601(a)).

Sec. 80.81  [Amended]

    2. Section 80.81 is amended by removing paragraph (i).

[FR Doc. 99-23707 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P