[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 1, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31354-31355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10853]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 93

[FRL-7920-1]
RIN 2060-AN03


Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments for the New 
PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard: 
PM2.5 Precursors

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA issued a final rule on May 6, 2005, (70 FR 24280) that 
adds the following transportation related PM2.5 precursors 
to the transportation conformity regulations: nitrogen oxides 
(NOX), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur oxides 
(SOX), and ammonia (NH3). The final rule 
specifies when each of these precursors must be considered in 
conformity determinations in PM2.5 nonattainment and 
maintenance areas before and after PM2.5 state air quality 
implementation plans (SIPs) are submitted. The preamble to the final 
rule contains two minor errors. This notice is intended to correct 
these errors. All other preamble and regulatory text printed in the May 
6, 2005, final rule is correct.
    The Department of Transportation (DOT) is EPA's federal partner in 
implementing the transportation conformity regulation. We have 
consulted with DOT on the development of these corrections, and DOT 
concurs.

DATES: Effective Date: June 6, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Spickard, State Measures and

[[Page 31355]]

Conformity Group, Transportation and Regional Programs Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Road, Ann Arbor, MI 
48105, [email protected], (734) 214-4283.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA issued a final rule on May 6, 2005, (70 
FR 24280) that amended the transportation conformity rule (40 CFR part 
93) to include the following transportation-related PM2.5 
precursors: nitrogen oxides (NOX), volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs), sulfur oxides (SOX), and ammonia 
(NH3). The final rule specifies when each of these 
precursors must be considered in conformity determinations in 
PM2.5 nonattainment and maintenance areas before and after 
PM2.5 state air quality implementation plans (SIPs) are 
submitted. The preamble to the May 6, 2005, final rule contains two 
minor errors. This notice is intended to correct these errors.
    First, EPA is correcting one paragraph and its corresponding 
footnote in the discussion on Volatile Organic Compounds in Section 
III.B. Rationale for This Final Rule (70 FR 24284). This paragraph 
discusses the contribution of VOC emissions from biogenic sources 
(e.g., trees) to PM2.5 air quality issues. The version of 
the paragraph printed in the May 6 final rule preamble incorrectly 
characterizes the existing data and analyses of biogenic source VOC 
emissions obtained from the PM Supersites Program. This notice corrects 
the paragraph regarding EPA's understanding of the PM Supersites 
research and provides the public with the most current reference 
information.
    The incorrect paragraph begins at the bottom of the second column 
on page 24284 of the May 6 notice with ``Additional research is also 
needed to determine * * *'' This paragraph should be stricken and 
replaced with the following:
    ``Additional research is also needed to determine the sources of 
VOC emissions that contribute most to PM2.5 air quality 
issues. For example, according to the NARSTO Fine Particle 
Assessment,\5\ secondary sources may contribute up to 50 percent of 
secondary organic mass, particularly in areas where photochemical 
transformations of emissions from biogenic sources (e.g., trees) are 
significant. In addition, data obtained from the Particulate Matter 
Supersites Program suggest that biogenic emissions may contribute 
significantly to secondary organic aerosols during days of peak 
PM2.5. Analysis of air quality samples collected in 
Pittsburgh from 2001 through 2002 indicates that as much as half of the 
organic aerosol during peak periods may be attributable to biogenic 
sources (e.g., trees) as opposed to anthropogenic sources (i.e., man-
made sources such as power plants and motor vehicles).\6\ \7\ The 
Supersites Program has also collected data on the contribution of 
biogenic source emissions in other locations in the U.S., including 
Atlanta, Georgia.\8\ \9\ However, these findings have not yet been 
published and peer-reviewed. The contribution of biogenic emissions to 
PM2.5 air quality issues is important because biogenic 
emissions cannot be controlled.''
    The footnote five on page 24284 of the May 6 notice should be 
stricken and replaced with the footnote five below. In addition, new 
footnotes six through nine are added in the corrected paragraph:

    ``\5\ McMurry, P., Shepherd, M., Vickery, J. (ed.) Particulate 
Matter Science for Policy Makers--A NARSTO Assessment. Cambridge: 
Cambridge University Press, 2004.
    \6\ Cabada J. C., S. N. Pandis, R. Subramanian, A. L. Robinson, 
A. Polidori, and B. Turpin (2004) Estimating the secondary organic 
aerosol contribution to PM2.5 using the EC tracer method, 
Aerosol Sci. Technol., 38S, 140-155.
    \7\ Millet D. B., N. M. Donahue, S. N. Pandis, A. Polidori, C. 
O. Stanier, B. J. Turpin, and A. H. Goldstein (2005) Atmospheric 
volatile organic compound measurements during the Pittsburgh Air 
Quality Study: Results, interpretation, and quantification of 
primary and secondary contributions, J. Geophys. Res., 110, D07SO7, 
10.1029/2004JD004601.
    \8\ `Sources of carbon in PM2.5 based on 14C and 
tracer analysis,' Edgerton, Eric S., John J. Jansen, Mei Zheng and 
Benjamin E. Hartsell (September 2004), 8th International Conference 
on Carbonaceous Particles in the Atmosphere, Vienna, Austria.
    \9\ `Source apportionment of PM2.5 using a three-
dimensional air quality model and a receptor model,' Park, S-K, L. 
Ke, B. Yan, A. G. Russell, M. Zheng (2005), Proceedings of an AAAR 
international specialty conference--Particulate Matter Supersites 
Program and Related Studies, Atlanta, Georgia.''

    Second, EPA is correcting a footnote in Section III.C.5. State of 
the Science (70 FR 24288) and renumbering two footnotes in this 
section. Footnotes six and seven in the May 6 final rule should be 
renumbered as footnotes 10 and 11 in the text referencing the footnotes 
at the top of the third column on page 24288, and in the footnotes 
themselves. Footnote seven in the May 6 final rule (corrected to be 
footnote 11 in this notice) provides a reference to the draft NARSTO 
Fine Particulate Assessment issued in February 2003. EPA is correcting 
this footnote to include the reference for the final NARSTO report. EPA 
believes it is important to make this correction to avoid confusion and 
provide the public with the most current published information.
    The correct footnote is as follows:

    ``\11\ McMurry, P., Shepherd, M., Vickery, J. (ed.) Particulate 
Matter Science for Policy Makers--A NARSTO Assessment. Cambridge: 
Cambridge University Press, 2004.''

    No changes are being made to the final rule language or other 
preamble language published on May 6, 2005, through this action. EPA 
finds good cause to make this correction notice effective less than 30 
days after publication in the Federal Register. The final rule 
published on May 6 will become effective on June 6, 2005. Today's 
correction notice does not make any changes to the final rule. This 
correction notice only clarifies explanatory text and corrects 
reference citations in the preamble to the final rule which are 
intended to provide the public with EPA's rationale for its decision. 
Therefore EPA concludes that it will be in the public interest to have 
this correction notice also become effective on June 6, 2005.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

    Dated: May 25, 2005.
Jeffrey R. Holmstead,
Assistant Administrator for Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 05-10853 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P