[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50041-50043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24038]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 97

[FRL-6439-5]


Notice of Availability of Unit-Specific Information for Affected 
Sources Under Section 126 and Proposed Section 110 FIP Rulemakings; 
Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of data availability and request for comment; reopening 
of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA is reopening the comment period for the Notice of 
Availability of Unit-Specific Information for Affected Sources Under 
Section 126 and Proposed Section 110

[[Page 50042]]

FIP Rulemakings, published on August 9, 1999, regarding three sets of 
data related to the proposed Federal NOX Budget Trading 
Program. The August 9, 1999 notice established a 30-day comment period, 
which ended on September 8, 1999. EPA is reopening the comment period 
for all information contained within the data files, which were 
referenced by the notice, to September 24, 1999. In particular, EPA 
continues to solicit comment on 1997 heat input data for all Electric 
Generating Units (EGUs), including those EGUs reporting under EPA's 
Acid Rain Program.
    We may use the data in the data files in the future to allocate 
NOX allowances under the Federal NOX Budget 
Trading Program. We proposed the program in rulemakings under Sections 
126 and 110 of the Clean Air Act. The program aims to reduce interstate 
transport of ozone by controlling emissions of nitrogen oxides 
(NOX). NOX emissions significantly contribute to 
violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone in 
downwind states.
    Readers should note that we will only consider comments about the 
data discussed in this notice and the August 9, 1999 notice. We are not 
soliciting comments on any other topic. In particular, we are not 
reopening the comment period for the October 21, 1998 proposed rule on 
the Section 126 rulemaking or the October 21, 1998 proposed rule on the 
Section 110 Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) through this Notice of 
Data Availability. Neither are we soliciting comments on inventory data 
for 1995 and 1996 that we used to develop Statewide emission budgets.

DATES: The EPA is reopening the comment period to end on September 24, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to the Air and Radiation Docket 
and Information Center (6102), Attention: Docket Nos. A-97-43 (section 
126 rulemakings) and A-98-12 (section 110 FIP rulemakings), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, room M-1500, 
Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-7548. Identify your comments 
with these docket numbers. Submit two originals and exact duplicates of 
your comments to each docket. Please submit your comments on paper, not 
in electronic format. We request this so that we do not receive 
multiple versions of the same comment that might contradict each other.
    Documents relevant to this action are available for inspection at 
the Docket Office, at the above address, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 
p.m., Monday though Friday, excluding legal holidays. A reasonable 
copying fee may be charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General questions concerning today's 
action should be addressed to Margaret Sheppard, Acid Rain Division, 
EPA, Mail Code 6204 J, 401 M Street SW, Washington DC, 20460; telephone 
202-564-9163, email address [email protected]. For technical 
questions concerning heat input data, contact Kevin Culligan at 
telephone 202-564-9172, email address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Outline

    1. What is today's action?
    2. Why is EPA reopening the public comment period?
    3. When are my comments due?
    4. What data should I comment on?
    5. What things is EPA not requesting comment on?
    6. Where are the data files?

1. What Is Today's Action?

    Today, we are reopening the public comment period on the August 9, 
1999 notice of data availability (64 FR 43124), entitled ``Notice of 
Availability of Unit-Specific Information for Affected Sources Under 
Section 126 and Proposed Section 110 FIP Rulemakings.'' The public 
comment period for that notice ended on September 8, 1999. Today's 
notice reopens the public comment period through September 24, 1999.
    In addition, we are emphasizing that you may comment on heat input 
data for 1997 for units reporting under the Acid Rain Program, as well 
as the other data in the files referenced in the August 9, 1999 notice.
    For further information and background on the data referenced by 
this notice and EPA's rulemakings related to NOX transport 
under Sections 126 and 110 of the Clean Air Act, see the August 9, 1999 
notice (64 FR 43124).

2. Why Is EPA Reopening the Public Comment Period?

    Just before the September 8, 1999 deadline for submission of 
comments, we received several requests to extend the public comment 
period. Some commenters requested more time to understand potential 
discrepancies between company records and the data in EPA's data files. 
Further, although EPA has received comments on heat input data for 1997 
for units reporting under the Acid Rain Program, some commenters said 
that it was not clear whether there had been an opportunity to comment 
on such heat input data.
    EPA agrees that it may improve the quality of the data to provide 
some additional time to compare the values with company records. 
Further, EPA notes that many commenters submitted comments on heat 
input data for 1997 for units under the Acid Rain Program in response 
to the August 9, 1999 notice of data availability or prior notices. 
However, because some commenters claim that they were unclear about 
whether EPA was requesting comment on the 1997 heat input data, we 
emphasize that they may comment on such data, in addition to the other 
data in the data files.
    Most commenters requesting an extension asked for a thirty-day 
extension. We are instead reopening the public comment period for 
approximately two weeks. Many of the commenters requesting the 
extension are checking data (e.g., 1997 and 1998 heat input data) that 
they previously reported to EPA or to the Energy Information 
Administration (EIA). Under the Acid Rain Program, the designated 
representative for the affected source has certified that the data 
reported to EPA are accurate. The data we have provided for comment in 
the data files differ from the original reports in that: (1) we 
calculated heat input and electric generation values for the ozone 
season for each year from hourly or monthly data in the reports to EPA 
or EIA, and (2) we apportioned electric generation data for an entire 
plant to individual units that would receive NOX allowance 
allocations. Reopening the public comment period for approximately two 
weeks will provide a reasonable, additional period for checking the 
original reports and submitting any resulting comments. This also 
provides a reasonable, additional period for commenters to submit any 
other comments.

3. When Are My Comments Due?

    Postmark your comments no later than Friday, September 24, 1999.

4. What Data Should I Comment On?

    Comment on any data in the data files ``eguburn.txt,'' 
``egunonox.txt'' and ``nonegu.txt'' in the compressed file labeled 
``allodata.zip''. We are particularly interested in comments that may 
change data that we could use to determine NOX allowance 
allocations under the Federal NOX Budget Trading Program. 
These data include, among other things:
     Electric generation data from EGUs from May through 
September for the years 1995 through 1998.

[[Page 50043]]

     Electric generation data from electric generators that do 
not burn fuel from May through September for the years 1995 through 
1998.
     Nameplate capacity data for electric generators that do 
not burn fuel.
     Heat rate data for EGUs.
     Heat input data for May through September for the years 
1997 and 1998 for EGUs.
     Heat input data for May through September for the year 
1995 for non-EGUs. In addition, if you find that the heat input for 
your non-EGU during May through September for the year 1995 is not 
representative of your unit's operation over the last several years, 
then you may comment and provide us heat input data for May through 
September for the years 1996, 1997, and/or 1998.
See the section entitled ``What supporting documentation do I need to 
provide with my comments?'' in the August 9, 1999 notice of data 
availability for further details on information you should provide with 
your comments.
    If you have already submitted comments on the August 9, 1999 notice 
of data availability, you may submit supplementary comments.

5. What Things Is EPA Not Requesting Comment On?

    EPA is requesting comment only on the data in the data files 
referenced here and in the August 9, 1999 notice of data availability. 
We are not requesting comment on any other issue or data.

6. Where Are the Data Files?

    The data files are available on the Regional Transport of Ozone 
webpage at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/rto/. You will find links to the data 
under the ``Related Documents and Data'' subheadings under the 
``Transport FIPs'' and ``Section 126 Petitions'' headings on the 
Regional Transport of Ozone webpage. Look for a WinZip file labeled ``a 
WinZip file containing heat input and electric generation data that EPA 
or States could use for determining NOx allowance allocations. EPA 
requests comment on these data.'' In addition to the data files, the 
WinZip file also contains a text file describing the fields in the data 
files, ``readme.txt,'' and a text file describing EPA's method for 
preparing the electric generation data, ``outmethd.txt''. In addition, 
these data are in Docket Nos. A-97-43 (Section 126 rulemaking) and A-
98-12 (Section 110 FIP rulemaking).

    Dated: September 9, 1999.
Paul Stolpman,
Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-24038 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
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