[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 96 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28826-28829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10010]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[CA-309-0475a; FRL-7901-9]


Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, Imperial 
County Air Pollution Control District and San Joaquin Valley Unified 
Air Pollution Control District

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the 
Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) and San Joaquin 
Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD) portions of 
the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern 
volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from aerospace manufacturing 
and component coating and can and coil coating operations. We are 
approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the 
Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

DATES: This rule is effective on July 18, 2005, without further notice, 
unless EPA receives adverse comments by June 20, 2005. If we receive 
such comments, we will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal 
Register to notify the public that this direct final rule will not take 
effect.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Andy Steckel, Rulemaking Office Chief (AIR-
4), U.S. Environmental Protection

[[Page 28827]]

Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3901, 
or e-mail to [email protected], or submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov.
    You can inspect copies of the submitted SIP revisions, EPA's 
technical support document (TSD), and public comments at our Region IX 
office during normal business hours by appointment. You may also see 
copies of the submitted SIP revisions by appointment at the following 
locations:

Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Room B-102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., (Mail 
Code 6102T), Washington, DC 20460;
California Air Resources Board, Stationary Source Division, Rule 
Evaluation Section, 1001 ``I'' Street, Sacramento, CA 95814;
Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, 150 South 9th Street, 
El Centro, CA 92243; and
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, 1990 East 
Gettysburg Ave., Fresno, CA 93726.

    A copy of the rule may also be available via the Internet at http://www.arb.ca.gov/drdb/drdbltxt.htm. Please be advised that this is not 
an EPA website and may not contain the same version of the rule that 
was submitted to EPA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerald S. Wamsley, EPA Region IX, 
(415) 947-4111, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we,'' ``us'' and 
``our'' refer to EPA.

Table of Contents

I. The State's Submittal
    A. What Rules did the State Submit?
    B. Are There Other Versions of These Rules?
    C. What is the Purpose of the Submitted Rule Revisions?
II. EPA's Evaluation and Action
    A. How is EPA Evaluating the Rules?
    B. Do the Rules Meet the Evaluation Criteria?
    C. EPA Recommendations to Further Improve the Rules
    D. Public Comment and Final Action
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. The State's Submittal

A. What Rules Did the State Submit?

    Table 1 lists the rules we are approving with the dates that they 
were adopted by the local air agencies and submitted by the California 
Air Resources Board (CARB).

                                            Table 1.--Submitted Rules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Local agency             Rule No.                   Rule title                   Adopted     Submitted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICAPCD........................          425  Aerospace Coating Operations.............     05/18/04     07/19/04
SJVUAPCD......................         4604  Can and Coil Coating Operations..........     01/15/04     06/03/04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On June 30, 2004, and August 10, 2004, respectively, EPA found that 
SJVUAPCD Rule 4604 and ICAPCD Rule 425 met the completeness criteria in 
40 CFR part 51 appendix V. These criteria must be met before formal EPA 
review begins.

B. Are There Other Versions of These Rules?

    There is no previous version of ICAPCD Rule 425 in the SIP, 
although the ICAPCD adopted earlier versions of this rule. On June 26, 
2002 (67 FR 42999), EPA reviewed and approved SJVUAPCD Rule 4604 into 
the SIP. This EPA action concerned the December 20, 2001, version of 
SJVUAPCD Rule 4604. CARB has made no intervening submittals of SJVUAPCD 
Rule 4604.

C. What Is the Purpose of the Submitted Rule Revisions?

    VOCs help produce ground-level ozone and smog, which harm human 
health and the environment. Section 110(a) of the CAA requires states 
to submit regulations that control VOC emissions. ICAPCD Rule 425 is a 
rule designed to reduce VOC emissions at industrial sites engaged in 
coating airplanes, space craft and their component parts. Similarly, 
SJVUAPCD Rule 4604 is a rule designed to reduce VOC emissions at 
industrial sites engaged in metal can and coil coating operations. VOCs 
are emitted during the preparation and coating of the aerospace, can, 
and coil parts, as well as the drying phase of the coating process.
    ICAPCD Rule 425 establishes general emission limits in units of 
grams of Reactive Organic Compound (ROC) per litre (gr/l) of coating, 
less water and exempt compounds as applied. It also allows the use of 
add-on emission controls whose combined capture and control efficiency 
must be 85.5 percent or better and specifies certain operating 
equipment. ICAPCD's May 18, 2004, adoption and amendments to Rule 425 
included the following provisions:

--Purpose and applicability;
--Exemptions from the rule;
--Emission reduction requirements;
--Recordkeeping to demonstrate compliance with the rule; and,
--Test methods for determining compliance with the rule.
    SJVUAPCD Rule 4604 establishes general emission limits of VOC per 
liter of coating less water and exempt compounds as applied. It also 
allows the use of add-on emission controls with a combined capture/
control efficiency of 90 percent. SJVUAPCD's January 15, 2004, 
amendments to Rule 4604 included the following significant changes to 
its 2001 SIP-approved version.
    The form and content of the rule's quantity exemption is changed 
from 3 gallons per day to 55 gallons per rolling 12 month year. Also, 
an exemption concerning Rule 4604 and Rule 201 was deleted and an 
existing exemption for cleaning solvents used in research and 
development lab work was moved to Section 4 from elsewhere within the 
rule.
    On February 1, 2006, new VOC limits provide for emission reductions 
in ten coating categories. A new coating category for Repair Coating 
was added at 750 grams per liter.
    Section 5.2 was added detailing the requirements for an approved 
emission control system and source testing requirements.
    The provisions for Alternative Emission Control Plans was deleted.
    Section 6.0, Administrative Requirements was edited for clarity and 
amendments were added to sections concerning recordkeeping and 
operation and maintenance plan requirements.
    Test methods for transfer efficiency and source testing were added.
    These amendments and others are discussed in more detail within the 
TSD and the SJVUAPCD staff report concerning the Rule 4604 amendments.
    Each rules's TSD has more information about the rule.

II. EPA's Evaluation and Action

A. How Is EPA Evaluating the Rules?

    Generally, SIP rules must be enforceable (see section 110(a) of the 
Act), must require Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for 
major sources in nonattainment areas (see section 182(a)(2)(A)), and 
must not relax

[[Page 28828]]

existing requirements (see sections 110(l) and 193). The SJVUAPCD 
regulates an ozone nonattainment area (see 40 CFR part 81), so Rule 
4604 must fulfill RACT. However, the ICAPCD is an ozone transitional 
area given its lack of past ozone violations and proximity to VOC 
sources along the US-Mexican border. Our TSD discusses the ICAPCD's 
classification status and regulatory requirements in more detail.
    Guidance and policy documents that we use to help evaluate specific 
enforceability and RACT requirements consistently include the 
following:
    1. Portions of the proposed post-1987 ozone and carbon monoxide 
policy that concern RACT, 52 FR 45044, November 24, 1987.
    2. ``Issues Relating to VOC Regulation Cutpoints, Deficiencies, and 
Deviations,'' EPA, May 25, 1988 (the Bluebook).
    3. ``Guidance Document for Correcting Common VOC & Other Rule 
Deficiencies,'' EPA Region 9, August 21, 2001 (the Little Bluebook).
    4. ``Control of Volatile Organic Emissions from Existing Stationary 
Sources Volume II: Surface Coating of Cans, Coils, Paper, Fabrics, 
Automobiles, and Light Duty Trucks,'' USEPA, May 1977, EPA-450/2-77-
008.
    5. ``Control of Volatile Organic Emissions from Coating Operations 
at Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Operations,'' USEPA, 1997, EPA-
453/R-97-004.

B. Do the Rules Meet the Evaluation Criteria?

    We believe these rules are consistent with the relevant policy and 
guidance regarding enforceability, RACT, and SIP relaxations. On August 
8, 2002, EPA proposed a limited approval and limited disapproval of 
Rule ICAPCD 425 (see 67 FR 50847) concerning the September 14, 1999, 
version of ICAPCD Rule 425. We did not finalize this proposal. The May 
18, 2004, amendments to ICAPCD Rule 425 corrected these deficiencies.
    The TSD has more information on our respective evaluations.

C. EPA Recommendations To Further Improve the Rules

    We have no recommendations.

D. Public Comment and Final Action

    As authorized in section 110(k)(3) of the Act, EPA is fully 
approving the submitted rules because we believe they fulfill all 
relevant requirements. We do not think anyone will object to this 
approval, so we are finalizing it without proposing it in advance. 
However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register, we are 
simultaneously proposing approval of the same submitted rules. If we 
receive adverse comments by June 20, 2005, we will publish a timely 
withdrawal in the Federal Register to notify the public that the direct 
final approval will not take effect and we will address the comments in 
a subsequent final action based on the proposal. If we do not receive 
timely adverse comments, the direct final approval will be effective 
without further notice on July 18, 2005. This will incorporate these 
rules into the federally enforceable SIP.
    Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, 
paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed 
from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions 
of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this 
reason, 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 action 
merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes 
no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. 
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this 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 approves 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 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 approves 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 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, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, 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 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. This 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.).
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. section 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. A major rule 
cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
section 804(2).
    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 July 18, 2005. Filing a 
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule 
does not affect the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial 
review nor does it extend the time within which a petition

[[Page 28829]]

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, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: March 25, 2005.
Laura Yoshii,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.

0
Part 52, Chapter I, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is 
amended as follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart F--California

0
2. Section 52.220 is amended by adding paragraphs (c)(331)(i)(A)(2) and 
(c)(332)(i)(A)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  52.220  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (331) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (2) Rule 4604, adopted on April 11, 1991, and amended on January 
15, 2004.
* * * * *
    (332) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (3) Rule 425, adopted on August 5, 1989, and amended on May 18, 
2004.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 05-10010 Filed 5-18-05; 8:45 am]
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