[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 208 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57989-57991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27201]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[MD093-3040; FRL-6460-1]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Maryland; VOCs from Paint, Resin and Adhesive Manufacturing and 
Adhesive Application

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action on two revisions to the 
Maryland State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions consist of 
amendments to Maryland's regulation to control volatile organic 
compounds (VOC) from Paint, Resin & Adhesive manufacturing and Adhesive 
Application. The first revision amends Maryland's definition of 
``honeycomb core installation'' to include additional substrates. The 
second revision clarifies the general emission standard for VOCs from 
adhesive applications. EPA is approving these revisions to in 
accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: This rule is effective on December 13, 1999 without further 
notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by November 29, 
1999. If EPA receives such comments, it 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: Written comments should be mailed to David L. Arnold, Chief, 
Ozone and Mobile Sources Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the documents relevant to this action are 
available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air 
Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 
1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103; the Air and 
Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460; and Maryland 
Department of the Environment, 2500 Broening Highway, Baltimore, 
Maryland, 21224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janice M. Lewis, (215) 814-2185, or by 
e-mail at Lewis.J[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

A. Summary of the SIP Revisions

    On April 12, 1999, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) 
submitted two revisions to its State Implementation Plan (SIP). The 
first SIP revision amends the definition of ``Honeycomb core 
installation'' found at COMAR 26.11.19.15A(2) so that it includes other 
substrates in addition to metal foil. This revision was adopted by 
Maryland on March 2, 1999 and has been effective in the State as of 
March 22, 1999. The second SIP revision clarifies the applicability of 
the General Emission Standard for adhesive applications found at COMAR 
26.11.19.15C(4). The intent of this regulation is to require the VOC 
content of the adhesives to be limited to 3.8 pounds per gallon if the 
total plantwide VOC emissions from all adhesive applications exceeds 50 
pounds per day.

B. EPA's Evaluation of the SIP Revisions

    The EPA has determined that these amendments to COMAR 26.11.19.15: 
Paint, Resin, and Adhesive Manufacturing and Adhesive Application meet 
all federal criteria for approval.

II. Final Action

    EPA is approving the amendments to COMAR 26.11.19.15 submitted by 
the MDE on April 12, 1999 as revisions to the Maryland SIP.
    EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the 
Agency views these as noncontroversial amendments and anticipates no 
adverse comment. However, in the Proposed Rules section of today's 
Federal Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve 
as the proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse comments are 
filed. This rule will be effective on December 13, 1999 without further 
notice unless EPA receives

[[Page 57990]]

adverse comment by November 29, 1999. If EPA receives adverse comment, 
EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing 
the public that the rule will not take effect. EPA will address all 
public comments in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. 
EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any 
parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

III. Administrative Requirements

A. Executive Order 12866

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

B. Executive Orders on Federalism

    Under E.O. 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. If EPA complies by consulting, E.O. 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 written communications from the governments, and a statement 
supporting the need to issue the regulation. In addition, E.O. 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 E.O. 12875 
do not apply to this rule. On August 4, 1999, President Clinton issued 
a new executive order on federalism, Executive Order 13132 [64 FR 43255 
(August 10, 1999)] which will take effect on November 2, 1999. In the 
interim, the current Executive Order 12612, [52 FR 41685 (October 30, 
1987),] on federalism still applies. This rule will not have a 
substantial direct effect on States, on the relationship between the 
national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified 
in Executive Order 12612. The rule affects only one State, and does not 
alter the relationship or the distribution of power and 
responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act.

C. Executive Order 13045

    E.O. 13045, entitled ``Protection of Children from Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), applies 
to any rule that the EPA determines (1) is ``economically 
significant,'' as defined under E.O. 12866, and (2) the environmental 
health or safety risk addressed by the rule has 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 final rule is not subject 
to E.O. 13045 because it is not an economically significant regulatory 
action as defined by E.O. 12866, and it does not address an 
environmental health or safety risk that would have a disproportionate 
effect on children.

D. Executive Order 13084

    Under E.O. 13084, EPA may not issue a regulation that is not 
required by statute, that significantly affects 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. 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. 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

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (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 Clean Air Act 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 
Clean Air Act, preparation of a flexibility analysis would constitute 
Federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state action. The 
Clean Air Act forbids 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, 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, 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. 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 pre-existing requirements under 
State or local law, and imposes no new requirements. Accordingly, no 
additional costs to State, local, or tribal

[[Page 57991]]

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. 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 in the Federal Register. This 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 Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by December 27, 1999. Filing a 
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule 
approving two revisions to Maryland's regulations for controlling VOCs 
from adhesives applications 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Ozone, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: September 30, 1999.
Thomas C. Voltaggio,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
    40 CFR part 52 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 V--Maryland

    2. Section 52.1070 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(145) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 52.1070  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (145) Revisions to the Maryland State Implementation Plan submitted 
on April 12, 1999, by the Maryland Department of the Environment:
    (i) Incorporation by reference.
    (A) Letter of April 12, 1999, from the Maryland Department of the 
Environment transmitting revisions to Maryland's State Implementation 
Plan, pertaining to Regulation .15 under Code of Maryland 
Administrative Regulations (COMAR) 26.11.19 Volatile Organic Compounds 
from Specific Processes.
    (B) Revision to COMAR 26.11.19.15: Paint, Resin, and Adhesive 
Manufacturing and Adhesive Application amending the definition found at 
COMAR 26.11.19.15 A(2) of the term ``honeycomb core installation'' to 
include other substrates. This revision was adopted on March 2, 1999 
and effective on March 22, 1999.
    (C) Revision to COMAR 26.11.19.15: Paint, Resin, and Adhesive 
Manufacturing and Adhesive Application clarifying the applicability of 
COMAR 26.11.19.15.C(4) General Emission Standard. This revision was 
adopted on April 9, 1998 and effective on May 4, 1998.
    (ii) Additional Material--Remainder of April 12, 1999 submittal 
pertaining to COMAR 26.11.19.15 Paint, Resin, and Adhesive 
Manufacturing and Adhesive Application.

[FR Doc. 99-27201 Filed 10-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P