[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25794-25798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9720]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[R06-OAR-2005-TX-0009; FRL-7912-6]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Texas; Clean Air Action Plan and Attainment Demonstration for the 
Northeast Texas Early Action Compact Area; Agreed Orders Regarding 
Control of Air Pollution for the Northeast Texas Area

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve Texas State Implementation Plan 
(SIP) revisions submitted by the State on July 18, 2002 and December 6, 
2004. Approval will incorporate the following changes into the SIP: The 
Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) and the related attainment demonstration 
of the 8-hour ozone standard for the Northeast Texas Early Action 
Compact (EAC) area and Agreed Orders regarding control of air pollution 
for the Northeast Texas area. We are proposing approval pursuant to 
sections 110 and 116 of the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA). The revisions 
will contribute to improvement in air quality and continued attainment 
of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone in 
Northeast Texas.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before June 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Regional Materials in 
EDocket (RME) ID No. R06-OAR-2005-TX-0009, by one of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Agency Web site: http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/. Regional 
Materials in EDocket (RME), EPA's electronic public docket and comment 
system, is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. Once in the 
system, select ``quick search,'' then key in the appropriate RME Docket 
identification number. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     EPA Region 6 ``Contact Us'' Web site: http://epa.gov/region6/r6coment.htm. Please click on ``6PD'' (Multimedia) and select 
``Air'' before submitting comments.
     E-mail: Mr. Thomas Diggs at [email protected]. Please 
also send a copy by e-mail to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section below.
     Fax: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), at fax number 214-665-7263.
     Mail: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
     Hand or Courier Delivery: Mr. Thomas Diggs, Chief, Air 
Planning Section (6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross 
Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733. Such deliveries are 
accepted only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays except 
for legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries 
of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to RME ID No. R06-OAR-2005-TX-
0009. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in 
the public file without change and may be made available online at 
http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information the 
disclosure of which is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
through Regional Materials in EDocket (RME), regulations.gov or e-mail 
if you believe that it is CBI or otherwise protected from disclosure. 
The EPA RME Web site and the Federal regulations.gov Web site are 
``anonymous access'' systems, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through RME or regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public file and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment.

[[Page 25795]]

Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters and any 
form of encryption, and should be free of any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the 
Regional Materials in EDocket (RME) index at http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly 
available, i.e., CBI or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted 
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available 
only in hard copy form. Publicly available materials relevant to this 
rulemaking are available either electronically in RME or in the 
official file, which is available at the Air Planning Section (6PD-L), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, 
Texas 75202-2733. The file will be made available by appointment for 
public inspection in the Region 6 FOIA Review Room between the hours of 
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays except for legal holidays. Contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT paragraph below or 
Mr. Bill Deese at 214-665-7253 to make an appointment. If possible, 
please make the appointment at least two working days in advance of 
your visit. There will be a 15 cents per page fee for making 
photocopies of documents. On the day of the visit, please check in at 
the EPA Region 6 reception area at 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, 
Texas.
    The State submittal is also available for public inspection at the 
State Air Agency listed below during official business hours by 
appointment:
    Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality, 
12124 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas 78753.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Young, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 
700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone 214-665-6645; fax number 214-
665-7263; e-mail address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, wherever ``we'' 
``us'' or ``our'' is used, we mean the EPA.

Outline

I. What Action Is EPA Proposing?
II. What Is an EAC?
III. What Is a SIP?
IV. What Is the Content of the Northeast Texas EAC Attainment 
Demonstration?
V. Why Are We Proposing To Approve This EAC SIP Submittal?
VI. What Measures Are Included in This EAC SIP Submittal?
VII. What Happens if the Area Does Not Meet the EAC Milestones?
VIII. What Do the Agreed Orders Require?
IX. Proposed Action
X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What Action Is EPA Proposing?

    We are proposing to approve two revisions to the Texas SIP that 
pertain to Northeast Texas under sections 110 and 116 of the CAA as a 
strengthening of the SIP. One revision was submitted by the State to 
EPA on December 6, 2004, in accordance with the area's EAC. This 
revision incorporates the CAAP and the related attainment demonstration 
of the 8-hour ozone standard for the Northeast Texas EAC area. The 
Northeast Texas EAC area includes Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, Smith, and 
Upshur Counties. On December 20, 2002, a coalition of local stakeholder 
groups known as North East Texas Air Care (NETAC), including 
representatives from the EAC Counties, the Cities of Gilmer, Henderson, 
Kilgore, Longview, Marshall, and Tyler, and the East Texas Council of 
Governments (ETCOG), signed an EAC with the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and EPA. The purpose of the EAC was to 
develop and implement a CAAP that identifies and implements emission 
reductions necessary to demonstrate attainment of the 8-hour ozone 
standard by 2007 and maintain the standard in the region through at 
least 2012. The EAC includes milestones that tracks implementation of 
the CAAP. On April 15, 2004, EPA designated the Northeast Texas EAC 
area as attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. See 69 FR 23858.
    The second revision was submitted by the State to EPA on July 18, 
2002. The revision includes Agreed Orders between TCEQ (formerly Texas 
Natural Resources Conservation Commission) and (1) American Electric 
Power Company (AEP), (2) TXU Generation Company LP (TXU) and (3) 
Eastman Chemical Company adopted by the State as emission reduction 
measures to facilitate attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard. An 
Agreed Order is an enforceable agreement between a regulated entity and 
a government regulator. The Agreed Orders require control of nitrogen 
oxide emissions which contribute to the formation of ozone in the 
Northeast Texas area. Our approval of the Agreed Orders into the Texas 
SIP would make them federally enforceable.

II. What Is an EAC?

    The EAC program was developed to allow communities an opportunity 
to meet the new stricter 8-hour ozone standard sooner than the CAA 
requires for reducing ground level ozone. The EAC program was designed 
for areas that approach or monitor exceedances of the 8-hour ozone 
standard, but are in attainment for the 1-hour ozone standard. Areas 
that adopted EACs must establish a CAAP, meet other established 
milestones, and attain the 8-hour ozone standard by December 31, 2007. 
The compact is a voluntary agreement between local communities, State 
and Tribal air quality officials, and EPA which allows States and local 
entities to make decisions that will accelerate meeting the new 8-hour 
ozone standard using locally tailored pollution controls instead of 
Federally mandated control measures. Early planning and early 
implementation of control measures that improve air quality will likely 
accelerate protection of public health. The EPA believes the EAC 
program provides an incentive for early planning, early implementation, 
and early reductions of air emissions in the affected areas, thus 
leading to an expeditious attainment and maintenance of the 8-hour 
ozone standard.
    Communities with EACs will have plans in place to reduce air 
pollution at least two years earlier than required by the CAA. In 
December 2002, a number of States submitted compact agreements pledging 
to reduce emissions earlier than required for compliance with the 8-
hour ozone standard. These States and local communities had to meet 
specific criteria, and agreed to meet certain milestones for 
development and implementation of the compact. States with communities 
participating in the EAC program had to submit implementation plans for 
meeting the 8-hour ozone standard by December 31, 2004, rather than 
June 15, 2007, the deadline for all other areas not meeting the 8-hour 
standard. The EAC program required communities to develop and implement 
air pollution control strategies, account for emissions growth, and 
demonstrate their attainment and maintenance of the 8-hour ozone 
standard. For more information on the EAC program see section V of our 
December 16, 2003 publication entitled ``Deferral of Effective Date of 
Nonattainment Designations for 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards for Early Action Compact Areas'' (68 FR 70108).
    On April 15, 2004, EPA designated all areas for the 8-hour ozone 
standard. EPA designated the Northeast Texas EAC area as attainment for 
the 8-hour ozone standard. The EPA deferred the effective date of 
nonattainment

[[Page 25796]]

designations for other EAC areas that were violating the 8-hour 
standard, but continue to meet the compact milestones. We announced the 
details of this deferral on April 15, 2004 as part of the Clean Air 
Rules of 2004. See our April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23858), publication 
entitled ``Air Quality Designations and Classifications for the 8-Hour 
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Early Action Compact 
Areas with Deferred Effective Dates.''

III. What Is a SIP?

    A SIP is a set of air pollution regulations and control strategies 
developed by the state, to ensure that the state meets the National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These ambient standards are 
established under section 109 of the CAA and they currently address six 
criteria pollutants: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, lead, 
particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. The SIP is required by section 
110 of the CAA. These SIPs can be extensive, containing state 
regulations or other enforceable documents and supporting information 
such as emission inventories, monitoring networks, and modeling 
demonstrations.

IV. What Is the Content of the Northeast Texas EAC Attainment 
Demonstration?

    In support of this proposal, ETCOG conducted an ozone photochemical 
modeling study developed for the Northeast Texas EAC area. The 
photochemical modeling attainment demonstration includes: (1) Analyses 
which estimate whether selected emissions reductions will result in 
ambient concentrations that meet the 8-hour ozone standard in the 
Northeast Texas EAC area and (2) an identified set of measures which 
will result in the required emissions reductions. See our Technical 
Support Document (TSD) for a description of the control measures. The 
demonstration incorporates the effects of population and industry 
growth as well as national and statewide control measures or programs 
required to be in place by 2007 and 2012. The modeled attainment test 
is passed if all resulting predicted future design values are less than 
85 parts per billion (ppb). The design value is the three year average 
of the annual fourth highest 8-hour ozone readings. The attainment 
demonstration for the Northeast Texas area was supported by results of 
photochemical modeling and technical documentation. The modeling study 
demonstrates that the 8-hour ozone standard will continue to be 
attained by 2007 and maintained through 2012. The modeling analyses 
were further supported by some of the weight of evidence analyses that 
were evaluated for the Northeast Texas area.
    We believe this study meets our modeling requirements and 
guidelines, including such items as the base year inventory 
development, the growth rate projections, and the performance of the 
model. See our TSD for more information about this modeling study, the 
weight of evidence analyses, and our evaluation of these items. The 
modeling submitted in support of this proposal demonstrates that the 
Northeast Texas EAC area will be in attainment with the 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS in 2007. The attainment demonstration modeling results for the 
Northeast Texas EAC area predict a maximum ozone design value of 81 ppb 
for 2007, which is well below the 8-hour ozone limit of 85 ppb. See 
section VI of this document for a list of local control measures that 
were not included in the modeling study, but will be implemented within 
the Northeast Texas EAC area.

V. Why Are We Proposing To Approve This EAC SIP Submittal?

    We are proposing to approve this EAC SIP submittal because 
implementation of the requirements in this EAC will help ensure the 
Northeast Texas EAC area's compliance with the 8-hour ozone standard by 
December 31, 2007 and maintenance of that standard through 2012. We 
have determined that the CAAP control measures included in the 
attainment demonstration are quantified, surplus, permanent, and, if 
approved, will be federally enforceable SIP revisions. We have reviewed 
the CAAP and the attainment demonstration and determined that they are 
consistent with the requirements of the CAA, EPA's policy, and the EAC 
protocol. Our TSD contains detailed information concerning this 
proposed rulemaking action.

VI. What Measures Are Included in This EAC SIP Submittal?

    The modeled attainment demonstration includes state and national 
emission reduction control measures. See the Modeling TSD for details. 
The CAAP incorporated into the Northeast Texas EAC SIP also includes: 
(1) Two local control measures to reduce VOC emissions for the Eastman 
Chemical Company and the Huntsman Chemical Company plants in Longview, 
Texas and (2) a number of local control measures that were not included 
in the modeled attainment demonstration. These measures are in addition 
to any reductions necessary to demonstrate attainment with the 8-hour 
ozone standard by 2007. Local control measures included in the 
Northeast Texas EAC SIP submittal are being implemented to ensure 
nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission reductions. 
Emissions of these chemicals can react with sunlight to form ozone. All 
of these control measures are being implemented as called for in the 
EAC.
    Two local control measures which are enforceable through TCEQ air 
permits are enhanced leak detection and repair programs to control VOC 
emissions for the Eastman Chemical Company and the Huntsman Chemical 
Company plants in Longview, Texas. The Eastman Chemical Company program 
is enforceable under Texas Voluntary Emissions Reduction Permits 47007, 
48588, and 48590. The Huntsman Chemical Company program is enforceable 
under Texas Flexible Plant-wide Applicability Limit Permit 18105. These 
programs should reduce highly reactive VOC emissions by 0.63 tons per 
day for the Eastman Chemical Company plant and 0.08 tons per day for 
the Huntsman Chemical Company plant. Copies of these permits may be 
obtained from TCEQ.
    Local control measures that were not included in the modeled 
attainment demonstration, but which are being implemented to lower 
emissions in the area are: (1) Implementation of the Texas Emissions 
Reduction Plan (TERP), (2) use of 18 lower emitting propane light 
heavy-duty vans purchased in 2003 and 2004, (3) a public education and 
ozone awareness program and (4) energy efficiency programs for the 
Cities of Longview, Marshall, and Tyler.
    TERP is a set of incentive programs aimed at improving air quality 
in Texas. TERP provides funding to offset the incremental costs of 
projects associated with reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from high-
emitting internal combustion engines. Projects in the Northeast Texas 
EAC area are eligible for TERP funding. Texas has allocated funding for 
up to 1.5 tons per day of nitrogen oxide reductions in the Northeast 
Texas EAC area by 2007.
    Eighteen new lower emitting propane heavy-duty vans were purchased 
in 2003 and 2004 for the ETCOG Rural Transportation Program, the City 
of Longview, and Tyler Transit. Use of these vans will reduce VOC and 
nitrogen oxide emissions.
    ETCOG is implementing a public education and ozone awareness 
program for the Northeast Texas area. The purpose of the program is to 
encourage practices that reduce emissions that lead to ozone formation. 
It includes: (1) An

[[Page 25797]]

ozone watch and warning communications network, (2) a NETAC Web site 
(http://www.netac.org), (3) school programs and teacher training and 
(4) distribution of public information and educational materials.
    The Cities of Longview, Marshall, and Tyler are implementing energy 
efficiency programs. These programs can reduce the demand for 
electricity and thus reduce emissions from electric generating power 
plants.
    EPA has determined that the control measures included in the 
attainment demonstration are consistent with the requirements of the 
EPA Protocol for EAC control strategies in that the measures are 
specific, quantified, permanent, and, if approved by EPA, will be 
federally enforceable SIP revisions. In accordance with the EAC, the 
signatories will review all EAC activities and report results in their 
semi-annual reports. The control measures in the CAAP approved through 
this SIP revision will provide reductions in nitrogen oxides 
(NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are 
precursors to and aid in the formation of ozone, in the Northeast Texas 
EAC area.
    Finally, per the EAC protocol, an emissions inventory was developed 
for the year 2012. The 2012 inventory show that anthropogenic emissions 
of both nitrogen oxides and VOCs decrease from 2007 to 2012, as the 
result of locally implemented control measures and Federal emissions 
control programs for vehicles. This decrease in emissions is additional 
evidence that the Northeast Texas EAC area will maintain the 8-hour 
ozone standard through 2012.

VII. What Happens if the Area Does Not Meet the EAC Milestones?

    On April 15, 2004 EPA designated the Northeast Texas EAC area as 
attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. We believe the local and 
State signatories of the EAC area will continue to meet their 
commitments to reduce ozone pollution. The EAC signatories are required 
to review all CAAP commitments and report progress in semi-annual 
reports beginning in June 2005. The semi-annual report will provide a 
description of whether the area continues to implement its control 
measures, the emissions reductions being achieved by the control 
measures, and the improvements in air quality that are being made. The 
report will track and document, at a minimum, control strategy 
implementation and results, monitoring data and future plans. Ongoing, 
updated emissions inventories and modeling analyses will be included as 
they become available. After each semi-annual review, additional 
control measures may be considered and, if necessary, adopted through 
revisions to the SIP.
    The measures outlined in the submittal provide sufficient 
information for us to conclude that the Northeast Texas EAC area will 
complete each EAC milestone and the actions agreed upon in the CAAP. 
However, one of the principles of the EAC protocol is to provide 
safeguards to return areas to traditional SIP requirements should an 
area fail to comply with the terms of the compact. If a milestone is 
missed and the area is still in attainment of the 8-hour ozone 
standard, we would take action to propose and promulgate a finding of 
failure to meet the milestone, but the ozone attainment designation and 
approved SIP elements would remain in effect. If the area has a 
violation of the 8-hour standard and a milestone is missed, we would 
also consider factors in section 107(d)(3)(A) of the Act in deciding 
whether to redesignate the area as nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS. See 69 FR 23858, 23871.

VIII. What Do the Agreed Orders Require?

    In 2001 Texas and NETAC developed an early SIP to facilitate 
attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard in Northeast Texas. They worked 
with AEP, TXU, and Eastman Chemical Company to develop Agreed Orders to 
require reductions of nitrogen oxide emissions. Our approval of the 
Agreed Orders into the Texas SIP would make them federally enforceable.
    The Agreed Order for AEP, (Agreed Order 2001-0878-RUL), requires 
the company to limit nitrogen oxide emissions at their Knox Lee, 
Pirkey, and Wilkes electric generating plants. These plants are located 
in Gregg, Harrison, and Cass Counties, respectively. The Agreed Order 
calls for the company to implement several projects to reduce nitrogen 
oxide emissions. It specifies 30 day rolling average nitrogen oxide 
emission rates to be achieved at Knox Lee Plant Unit number 5, Wilkes 
Plant Unit numbers 2 and 3, and the Pirkey Plant. ``Thirty day rolling 
average'' means an average, calculated for each day that fuel is 
combusted in a unit, of all the hourly emissions data for the preceding 
30 days that fuel was combusted in the unit. A nitrogen oxide emission 
rate of 0.18 pounds per million British Thermal Units (lb/mmBtu) will 
be achieved at Knox Lee Plant Unit number 5. Wilkes Plant Unit numbers 
2 and 3 will each achieve a nitrogen oxide emission rate of 0.17 lb/
mmBtu. The Pirkey Plant will achieve a nitrogen oxide emission rate of 
0.22 lb/mmBtu. As an alternative to achieving the reductions at the 
Knox Lee and Wilkes plants, AEP is allowed to achieve equivalent 
reductions at the Pirkey plant, in excess of the 30 day rolling average 
nitrogen oxide emission rate of 0.22 lb/mmBtu. As an alternative to 
completing any of the projects to achieve the nitrogen oxide emission 
reductions AEP may propose to the State projects that would achieve 
equivalent emissions reductions. Additionally, as an alternative to 
achieving the nitrogen oxide emission reductions at the Wilkes and Knox 
Lee plants, AEP may propose to the State projects that would achieve 
equivalent emissions reductions at the Pirkey Plant. TCEQ will evaluate 
alternative proposals under 30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter J. This 
process requires public notification of proposals and was approved by 
EPA on May 22, 1997 (62 FR 27964).
    The Agreed Order for TXU, (Agreed Order 2001-0879-RUL), requires 
TXU to limit nitrogen oxide emissions at their Martin Lake and 
Monticello electric generating plants. These plants are located in Rusk 
and Titus Counties, respectively. The Agreed Order calls for the 
company to operate low nitrogen oxide technology on the three primary 
generating units at each plant in order to reduce nitrogen oxide 
emissions. It specifies that operation of the three primary generating 
units at each plant will achieve a 30 day rolling average nitrogen 
oxide emission rate of 0.2 lb/mmBtu. As an alternative to operating the 
low nitrogen oxide technology and achieving the nitrogen oxide emission 
reductions on the three primary generating units at each plant the 
company may propose to the State alternative projects that would 
achieve equivalent emissions reductions. TCEQ will evaluate alternative 
proposals under 30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter J.
    The Agreed Order for Eastman Chemical Company, (Agreed Order 2001-
0880-RUL), requires the company to make changes that will reduce 
nitrogen oxide emissions at their chemical and plastics manufacturing 
plant in Longview, Texas. The Agreed Order specifies that the company 
will: (1) Shut down one cooling tower engine, (2) commit one older 
natural gas fired engine to serve only in a back-up service capacity, 
restrict its operation to 2,190 hours annually and track its operating 
time, (3) shut down five older natural gas fired engines, (4) shut down 
ten gas reformer furnaces and (5) shut down two synthesis gas heaters. 
In order to re-start any facility that was shut down

[[Page 25798]]

under this agreement, Eastman may propose to the State one or more 
alternative projects that would achieve equivalent emissions 
reductions. TCEQ will evaluate alternative proposals under 30 TAC 
Chapter 115, Subchapter J.

IX. Proposed Action

    EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas SIP pertaining 
to the Northeast Texas area. These revisions pertain to (1) the CAAP 
for the Northeast Texas EAC area and the related attainment 
demonstration of the 8-hour ozone standard for the EAC area and (2) 
Agreed Orders regarding control of air pollution for the Northeast 
Texas area. The revisions will contribute to improvement in air quality 
and continued attainment of the NAAQS for ozone in Northeast Texas. We 
have evaluated the State's submittal and have determined that it meets 
the applicable requirements of the CAA and EPA air quality regulations, 
and is consistent with EPA policy and the EAC protocol.

X. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
proposed action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and 
therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and 
Budget. For this reason and because this action will not have a 
significant, adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of 
energy, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, 
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This 
proposed action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that 
this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule proposes to approve pre-
existing requirements under state law and does not impose any 
additional enforceable duty beyond that required by state law, it does 
not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).
    This proposed rule also does not have tribal implications because 
it will not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian 
tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian 
tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between 
the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive 
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not 
have federalism implications because it does not have substantial 
direct effects on the 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 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action 
merely proposes to approve a state rule implementing a Federal 
standard, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of 
power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act. This 
proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 ``Protection 
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.
    In reviewing SIP submissions under the National Technology Transfer 
and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note), EPA's role is to 
approve state actions, provided that they meet the criteria of the 
Clean Air Act. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing 
requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), 
EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use 
VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it 
reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that 
otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the 
requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and 
Advancement Act of 1995 do not apply. This proposed rule does not 
impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental 
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

    Dated: May 6, 2005.
Richard E. Greene,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 05-9720 Filed 5-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P