[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44283-44291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12628]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0076; FRL-8205-6]


Notice of Data Availability for EGU NOX Annual and NOX Ozone 
Season Allocations for the Clean Air Interstate Rule Federal 
Implementation Plan Trading Programs

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of data availability (NODA).

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SUMMARY: On March 15, 2006, EPA promulgated Federal Implementation 
Plans (FIPs) for all States covered by the Clean Air Interstate Rule 
(CAIR). The FIPs will regulate electric generating units (EGUs) in the 
affected States and achieve the emission reductions required by CAIR 
until each affected State has an approved CAIR State Implementation 
Plan (SIP) to achieve the reductions. The Agency promulgated FIPs to 
provide a federal backstop for CAIR. EPA will withdraw a State's FIP in 
coordination with approval of a SIP implementing the requirements of 
CAIR.
    Today's action relates to the CAIR FIP regulatory text, which 
indicates that the Administrator will determine by order the CAIR 
NOX allowance allocations. In the CAIR FIP preamble, EPA 
also indicated its intention to publish a NODA with NOX 
allowance allocations for 2009 through 2014, provide the public with 
the opportunity to object to the data, and then publish a final NODA 
(adjusted if necessary).
    In today's NODA, the EPA is making available to the public data 
relating to NOX annual and NOX ozone season 
allocations under the CAIR FIP that EPA will allocate to individual 
existing units covered by the CAIR FIP NOX annual and 
NOX ozone season trading programs for 2009-2014. These 
allocations use data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 
Clean Air Markets Division's (CAMD) database (which contains data 
reported under the Acid Rain Program), U.S. Energy Information 
Administration (EIA) database, and data previously provided to EPA by 
sources. The NODA references, or presents in tables, all these data and 
the NOX annual and NOX ozone season allowance 
allocations calculated using the data and the allocation formulas 
finalized in the CAIR FIP, for existing units for 2009 through 2014.

DATES: Objections must be received on or before September 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your objections, identified by Docket Number OAR-
2004-0076 by one of the following methods:
    A. Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Today's 
action is not a rulemaking, but you may use the Federal Rulemaking 
Portal to submit objections to the NODA. To submit objections, follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.
    B. Mail: Air Docket, ATTN: Docket Number OAR-2004-0076, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    C. E-mail: [email protected].
    D. Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Room B102, Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be 
made for deliveries of boxed information.

    Note: The EPA Docket Center suffered damage due to flooding 
during the last week of June 2006. The Docket Center is continuing 
to operate. However, during the cleanup, there will be temporary 
changes to Docket Center telephone numbers, addresses, and hours of 
operation for people who wish to make hand deliveries or visit the 
Public Reading Room to view documents. Consult EPA's Federal 
Register notice at 71 FR 38147 (July 5, 2006) or the EPA Web site at 
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm for current information on 
docket operations, locations and telephone numbers. The Docket 
Center's mailing address for U.S. mail and the procedure for 
submitting comments to www.regulations.gov are not affected by the 
flooding and will remain the same.

    Instructions: Direct your objections to Docket ID No. OAR-2004-
0076. The EPA's policy is that all objections received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.epa.gov/edocket, including any personal information 
provided, unless the objection includes information

[[Page 44284]]

claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit 
information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through 
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov 
Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not 
know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the 
body of your objection. If you send an e-mail objection directly to EPA 
without going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address 
will be automatically captured and included as part of the objection 
that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. 
If you submit an electronic objection, EPA recommends that you include 
your name and other contact information in the body of your objection 
and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA is unable to read your 
objection and contact you for clarification due to technical 
difficulties, EPA may not be able to consider your objection. 
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 docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. 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 docket 
materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or 
in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is 
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 
(202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air Docket is (202) 
566-1742.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General questions concerning today's 
action and technical questions concerning heat input or fuel data 
should be addressed to Brian Fisher, USEPA Headquarters, Ariel Rios 
Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., Mail Code 6204 J, Washington, DC 
20460. Telephone at (202) 343-9633, e-mail at [email protected]. If 
mailing by courier, address package to Brian Fisher, 1310 L St., NW, RM 
713G, Washington, DC 20005.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Outline

1. General Information.
2. What Is Today's Action?
3. How Are the Data in This NODA Related to the CAIR FIP 
NOX Allowance Allocations?
4. What Are the Sources of the EPA's Data?
5. How Do I Interpret the Data Tables Presented in Today's NODA?
6. Why Is the EPA Providing Opportunity To Object to These Data and 
the Calculations Using the Data in the Allocation Formula?
7. What Data Are EPA Making Available for Review and Objection?
8. Where Can I Get the Data?
9. On What Topics Is EPA Not Requesting Objections?
10. What Supporting Documentation Do I Need To Provide With My 
Objection?

 1. General Information

    This action relates to Sec. Sec.  97.141 and 97.341 of the CAIR 
FIP. These sections indicate that the Administrator will determine by 
order the CAIR NOX allowance allocations. In the CAIR FIP 
preamble, EPA stated its intention to publish a NODA with 
NOX allowance allocations for 2009 through 2014 (71 FR 
25352).

Does This Action Apply to Me?

    Categories and entities potentially regulated by this action 
include the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Examples of potentially
            Category               NAICS code       regulated entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry.......................          221112  Fossil fuel-fired
                                                  electric utility steam
                                                  generating units.
Federal Government.............          221122  Fossil fuel-fired
                                                  electric utility steam
                                                  generating units.
State/local/Tribal government..          221122  Fossil fuel-fired
                                                  electric utility steam
                                                  generating units owned
                                                  by municipalities.
                                         921150  Fossil fuel-fired
                                                  electric utility steam
                                                  generating units in
                                                  Indian Country.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this 
action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this 
action to a particular entity, consult the person listed in the 
preceding section under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The NOX allowance allocations in today's NODA are for 
existing units. Existing units are units that commenced operation 
before January 1, 2001. New units, which commence operation on or after 
January 1, 2001, will initially receive allowances through the new unit 
set aside. Once new units have established a five year baseline, they 
will be incorporated into the calculation for allowances for existing 
units.
    The CAIR FIP rule states units will be subject to the CAIR FIP 
trading programs (i.e, to the CAIR FIP SO2, NOX 
annual, or NOX ozone season programs, as appropriate) if 
they are a stationary, fossil-fuel-fired boiler or stationary, fossil-
fuel-fired combustion turbine serving at any time on or after November 
15, 1990 or the start-up of the unit's combustion chamber, a generator 
with nameplate capacity of more than 25 MWe producing electricity for 
sale. Certain cogeneration units or solid waste incineration units are 
exempt from the CAIR FIP and are described below.

Cogeneration Unit Exemption

    Certain cogeneration units are exempt from the CAIR FIP trading 
programs. Cogeneration units are units having equipment used to produce 
electricity and useful thermal energy for industrial, commercial, 
heating, or cooling purposes through sequential use of energy and 
meeting certain operating and efficiency standards. The program has 
different applicability provisions for non-cogeneration units and 
cogeneration units. Any cogeneration unit serving (since the later of 
November 15, 1990 or the start-up of the unit) a generator with a 
nameplate capacity greater than 25 MWe, supplying more than \1/3\ 
potential electric output capacity, and more than 219,000 Mw-hrs, 
annually to any utility power distribution system for sale will be 
subject to the requirements of the CAIR FIP trading rules. Otherwise, a 
cogeneration unit will qualify for an exemption.

Solid Waste Incinerator Exemption

    A solid waste incineration unit commencing operation before January 
1, 1985, for which the average annual fuel consumption of non-fossil 
fuels during 1985-1987 exceeded 80 percent and the

[[Page 44285]]

average annual fuel consumption of non-fossil fuels during any 3 
consecutive calendar years after 1990 exceeds 80 percent, is not 
subject to the CAIR FIP cap-and-trade program. Further, a solid waste 
incineration unit commencing operation on or after January 1, 1985, for 
which the average annual fuel consumption of non-fossil fuels for the 
first 3 calendar years of operation exceeds 80 percent and the average 
annual fuel consumption of non-fossil fuels during any 3 consecutive 
calendar years after 1990 exceeds 80%, is not subject to the CAIR FIP 
cap- and trade program.

What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Objections for EPA?

    To expedite review of your objections by Agency staff, you are 
encouraged to send a separate copy of your objections, in addition to 
the copy you submit to the official docket, to Brian Fisher U.S. EPA, 
Ariel Rios Building, Mail Code 6204J, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Telephone (202) 343-9633, e-mail 
[email protected]. If you e-mail the copy of your objections to Mr. 
Fisher, put ``objection for Docket Number OAR-2004-0076'' in the 
subject line to alert Mr. Fisher that an objection is included. If 
mailing by courier, address package to Brian Fisher, 1310 L St., NW., 
RM 713G, Washington, DC 20005.
    Do not submit CBI to EPA through http://www.regulations.gov or e-
mail. Clearly mark any portion of the information that you claim to be 
CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark 
the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify 
electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that 
is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the objection 
that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the objection that 
does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for 
inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be 
disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 
2. Send or deliver information identified as CBI only to the following 
address: Brian Fisher, U.S. EPA, Office of Air and Radiation, Mail Code 
6204J, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20460.
    When submitting objections, remember to:
    (1) Identify the NODA by docket number and other identifying 
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
    (2) Follow directions--The Agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize objections in a specific manner.
    (3) Make sure to submit your objections by the deadline identified.

2. What is Today's Action?

    In the March 15, 2006 final action on the CAIR FIP, the EPA 
finalized NOX annual and ozone season trading programs for 
EGUs as the federal implementation remedy for CAIR. The EPA decided to 
adopt, as the FIP for each State in the CAIR region, the model cap-and-
trade programs in the final CAIR, modified slightly to allow for 
federal instead of State implementation (as revised March 15, 2006).
    These programs include a NOX annual trading program and 
NOX ozone season trading program. As explained in the CAIR 
FIP Notice of Final Rulemaking (NFR), the FIP NOX annual and 
NOX ozone season trading programs require CAIR sources to 
hold allowances sufficient to cover their emissions for each control 
period. A NOX annual allowance will authorize the emission 
of a ton of NOX during a calendar year, and a NOX 
ozone season allowance will authorize the emission of a ton of 
NOX during an ozone season (May 1 through September 30).
    In the CAIR FIP NFR, EPA adopted the State NOX annual 
and NOX ozone season emission budgets for each State covered 
by a CAIR FIP (see Tables V-1 and V-2 in the CAIR FIP NFR); these are 
the same State emission budgets as finalized in the CAIR. For each 
State covered by the CAIR FIP NOX trading programs, the 
State NOX budgets are the total amount of allowances that 
EPA will allocate to sources in that State for use in the FIP 
NOX trading programs.
    EPA determined the method for allocating NOX annual and 
NOX ozone season allowances under the FIP through a process 
that included extensive public participation. Today's action does not 
reopen for public comment the CAIR FIP NOX allocation 
method, the state budgets, or any other aspects of the CAIR or CAIR FIP 
rulemakings.
    Today, we are making available the inventory of existing units that 
currently are potential CAIR units, the data on which the inventory is 
based, the data used to calculate the allocation of NOX 
allowances to individual existing potential CAIR units under the CAIR 
FIP, and the resulting allowance allocations themselves. Today's action 
explains what the data are, where they came from, and what issues are 
open to objection. The purpose of making the data available for 
objection is to ensure that we base the NOX FIP allocations 
on the best available data. Under the CAIR FIP trading rules (40 CFR 
97.142(a)(3) and 97.342(a)(3)), we will determine what data are the 
best available by ``weighing the likelihood that data are accurate and 
reliable and giving greater weight to data submitted to a governmental 
entity in compliance with legal requirements or substantiated by an 
independent entity.'' EPA is providing unit owners, unit operators, and 
the public an opportunity to make objections to any of the data made 
available in this NODA and used to develop the above-described 
inventory and allocations. Any person objecting to any of the data 
should explain the basis for his or her objection and should provide 
alternative data and explain why they comprise the best available data. 
EPA intends to publish a NODA with the final FIP NOX 
allocations for 2009 through 2014 (adjusted if necessary in light of 
any objections) by fall of 2006.
    The Agency's preference is for States to make decisions about 
NOX allocations for their sources. Although in today's 
action EPA is determining NOX allocations for the CAIR FIP 
trading programs, we intend to record EPA-determined allocations in 
allowance accounts only for sources located in a State without a 
timely, approved CAIR SIP revision or a timely, approved abbreviated 
CAIR SIP revision providing for State-determined allocations.
    Deadlines for States to submit CAIR SIP revisions and associated 
NOX allocations and for EPA to record NOX 
allocations in source accounts are as finalized in the CAIR (see 70 FR 
25162, 25323 and 25326) and CAIR FIP (see 71 FR 25328, 25352-55). EPA 
discusses these deadlines herein for information only; EPA is not 
reopening for public comment those final deadlines. As finalized in the 
CAIR and CAIR FIP NFRs, SIP submission deadlines are as follows:
     Full CAIR SIP revision: submit SIP revision by September 
11, 2006 and initial set of NOX allocations (covering at 
least 2009 through 2011) by October 31, 2006;
     Abbreviated SIP revision: \1\ submit SIP revision by March 
31, 2007 and initial set of NOX allocations (covering at 
least 2009 through 2011) by April 30, 2007.
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    \1\ See CAIR FIP NFR (71 FR 25352) for further discussion of 
abbreviated CAIR SIP revisions.
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    In today's action EPA determines CAIR NOX allocations 
covering 2009 through 2014 under the FIP. As finalized in the CAIR FIP 
NFR, the Agency will record EPA-determined CAIR NOX 
allocations in source

[[Page 44286]]

accounts one year at a time for 2009 and 2010 in order to provide 
flexibility to States to determine allocations for their sources. The 
final schedule for recording CAIR NOX allocations under the 
FIP in source accounts is shown in Table VI-2 in the CAIR FIP NFR 
preamble and reproduced here for informational purposes:

      Table I.--Recordation Deadlines for CAIR FIP NOX Allocations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Deadline by which FIP NOX
                                          allocations are recorded (EPA-
          CAIR control period            determined allocations or State-
                                           determined allocations using
                                            abbreviated SIP revision)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009...................................  September 30, 2007.
2010...................................  September 30, 2008.
2011...................................  September 30, 2009.
2012...................................  September 30, 2009.
2013...................................  September 30, 2009.
2014...................................  December 1, 2010.
2015...................................  December 1, 2011.
2016...................................  December 1, 2012.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

 3. How Are the Data in This NODA Related to the CAIR FIP 
NOX Allowance Allocations?

    In the CAIR FIP NFR, EPA finalized the schedule for determining and 
recording NOX allocations. EPA also finalized a methodology 
for calculating unit level NOX allowances. Today's NODA 
provides the unit level NOX allocations for existing 
potential CAIR units for 2009-2014 calculated using this methodology, 
as well as the data used in determining the inventory of existing 
potential CAIR units and in making the allowance calculations.
    As provided in the CAIR FIP NOX annual and ozone season 
trading rules (see 40 CFR 97.141 and 97.341), EPA is publishing this 
NODA with CAIR FIP NOX allocations for existing potential 
CAIR units for 2009-2014 and providing the public with the opportunity 
to submit objections addressing whether any individual unit is treated 
as an existing potential CAIR unit eligible for allowance allocations 
in accordance with the applicability provisions in these trading rules 
(see 40 CFR 97.104 and 97.305) and whether any unit allocation is 
determined in accordance with the allocation provisions in these 
trading rules (see 40 CFR 97.142 and 97.342). For example, objections 
may be submitted concerning any of the data used in developing the 
inventory or in calculating any of the allocations. EPA intends to 
publish a subsequent NODA with final NOX allocations for 
2009 through 2014 (adjusted if necessary in response to objections) in 
the fall of 2006.
    In the CAIR FIP NFR, EPA finalized an allocation approach for 
NOX annual and ozone season allowances for existing units 
(i.e, units commencing operation before January 1, 2001) and new units 
(i.e, units commencing operation on or after January 1, 2001) that is 
consistent with the example methodology in the CAIR SIP model trading 
rules. EPA used the NOX allocation method finalized in the 
FIP NFR to calculate the existing unit NOX allocations in 
today's NODA. Today's action does not address new unit allocations. New 
unit allocation provisions under the CAIR FIP may be found in 
Sec. Sec.  97.141, 97.341, 97.153 and 97.353. See 71 FR 25356-58 for 
detailed description of the allocation method.
    The NOX allocation method in the CAIR FIP NFR was 
finalized through a process that involved significant public 
participation. EPA is not reopening the allocation method for public 
comment. EPA provides a summary of the NOX allocation method 
herein for informational purposes only.
    Allocations in today's NODA are for existing units for the first 6 
control periods (2009 through 2014) of the CAIR NOX annual 
and NOX ozone season trading programs. The NOX 
allocation method finalized in the CAIR FIP NFR allocates by using 
annual heat input data from the years 2000 through 2004 to develop 
baseline heat inputs. These heat input values are adjusted using fuel 
adjustment factors (1.0 for coal-fired units, 0.6 for oil-fired units, 
and 0.4 for units fired with all other fuels (e.g., natural gas)). The 
3 highest annual heat input values for the unit are averaged to 
determine the unit's adjusted baseline heat input. Finally, the total 
amount of allowances available for allocation each year to existing 
units in a given state (i.e, 95% of the state trading budget) is 
allocated to each individual unit in proportion to the unit's share of 
the total adjusted baseline heat input for all existing units in the 
State. The same methodology applies for ozone season allowances, only 
ozone season heat input is used in place of annual heat input.
    Today's NODA provides unit NOX allocations calculated 
according to the method finalized in the CAIR FIP NFR. Section 8 of 
this NODA describes where to locate the allocation tables. The heat 
input and fuel use data used to determine these allocations are 
described in section 4 of this NODA.

4. What Are The Sources of EPA's Data?

A. Development of the Inventory of Existing Potential CAIR Units

    Diagram 1 in the Technical Support Document (TSD) provides a 
general overview of how the inventory of existing potential CAIR units 
was developed. Any existing unit currently reporting monitoring data 
under the Acid Rain Program (referred to in this NODA as ``Acid Rain 
units'') in a CAIR FIP State, except for an Acid Rain Program opt-in 
unit, was included as an existing potential CAIR unit. The list of Acid 
Rain units in the States was generated from EPA's Acid Rain Program 
database. Units not reporting monitoring data under the Acid Rain 
Program (referred to in this NODA as ``non-Acid Rain units'') that are 
existing potential CAIR units were identified using data reported by 
owners of generators to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on 
forms 860 and 767.
    From the EIA form 860 database, we identified, for non-Acid Rain 
units, all generators with a nameplate capacity greater than 25 MWe 
served by a boiler or turbine with a fossil fuel energy source. In 
determining whether a unit has a fossil fuel energy source, we applied 
the definition of ``fossil fuel'' in the CAIR FIP (40 CFR 97.102). From 
that list we then excluded generators as follows:
     We excluded generators which did not sell electricity to a 
utility based on EIA form 860b data from 1999 and 2000. EIA form 860b 
sales data were not available after 2000 due to changes in the EIA form 
860b. Consequently, our exclusion of generators for purposes of 
allocating allowances does not necessarily mean that these generators 
are excluded for purposes of determining whether boilers or turbines 
serving them are CAIR units. EPA believes that many of these units are 
likely not subject to CAIR. However, if, on or after November 15, 1990, 
any of these generators produced electricity that was sold, the units 
serving that generator are likely subject to CAIR. If, since November 
15, 1990, any of these generators produced electricity that was sold, 
the owners and operators of the units serving the generator should 
provide EPA, in objections in response to this NODA, information on the 
amounts and timing of the sales, the purchasing parties, the effect of 
such sales on appropriate treatment of the units as covered or not 
covered by CAIR, and (if any of the units should be treated as 
potential CAIR units) the necessary data for allocation of allowances.

[[Page 44287]]

     From EIA form 860, we excluded generators at municipal 
waste combustors. The CAIR rule provides an exemption for solid waste 
incineration units similar to the Acid Rain Program exemption in 40 CFR 
Part 72.
    If any of the units serving the excluded generators do not meet the 
requirements of the CAIR exemption for solid waste incineration units, 
the owners and operators of the units should provide EPA, in response 
to this NODA, the information showing that these exemption requirements 
are not met, and the necessary data for allocation of allowances.
     From EIA form 860b (1999 and 2000), we excluded all 
generators at facilities that were certified (in accordance with 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations) as qualifying 
cogeneration facilities and that had annual, plant-wide sales of one 
third or less of the potential generating capacity, or had annual sales 
less than 219,000 MW-hrs, to an electric utility. This information was 
only available at the plant level. Since electricity sales data were 
not available at the unit level for other years and a unit must meet 
these criteria annually to qualify for the cogeneration exemption, 
exclusion of generators for allocating allowances in this notice does 
not necessarily mean that boilers and combustion turbines serving the 
generators are not CAIR units. Moreover, FERC regulations require, as 
part of the criteria for qualifying cogeneration facilities, that 
facilities meet certain efficiency requirements to the extent natural 
gas or oil is combusted. Under CAIR, a unit must meet the efficiency 
requirements with regard to all fuel types combusted. Consequently, 
exclusion of generators for allocating allowances in this notice does 
not necessarily mean that boilers and combustion turbines serving the 
generators are not CAIR units. If any of the units serving the excluded 
generators do not meet the requirements of the CAIR exemption for 
cogeneration units, the owners and operators of the units should 
provide EPA, in response to this NODA, the information showing that 
these exemption requirements are not met and the necessary data for 
allocation of allowances for the units. For example, the owners and 
operators of a unit that was not included in the list of potential CAIR 
units based on 1999 and 2000 sales data and cogeneration status, should 
verify that the criteria for the cogeneration exemption are met 
(including years after 2000). If the unit served a generator producing 
electricity for sale, to a utility distribution system, exceeding \1/3\ 
of the unit's potential electrical output capacity and more than 
219,000 MW-hrs in any year, or if the unit did not meet the efficiency 
requirements under CAIR in any year, the unit would not appear to 
qualify for the cogeneration exemption and the owners and operators of 
the unit should provide EPA the information showing that these 
exemption requirements are not met and the necessary allowance 
allocation data.
    From the EIA form 767 database, we identified as potential CAIR 
units all boilers located at non-Acid Rain plants (commencing operation 
before January 1, 2001) serving the generators remaining on the 
generator list after the above-described exclusions. Simple and 
combined cycle combustion turbines were identified based directly on 
the generator ID and prime mover type in EIA form 860.
    From EIA form 860 we also identified all simple combustion 
turbines, at Acid Rain plants, with a nameplate capacity greater than 
25 MWe, a fossil fuel energy source, and an online date prior to 
January 1991. These simple combustion turbines are potential CAIR units 
even though they may be non-Acid Rain units since they have reported to 
EIA that they sell electricity to a utility based on EIA form 860b data 
from 1999 and 2000 and serve a generator greater than 25 MWe.
    The resulting list of non-Acid Rain units was also checked against 
EPA's National Electric Energy Data System (NEEDS) database. The NEEDS 
database contains a list of electric generating units used to construct 
the ``model'' plants that represent existing and planned/committed 
units in EPA modeling applications of the Integrated Planning Model 
(IPM). The NEEDs check resulted in the addition of a number of non-Acid 
Rain pre-1991 combined cycle combustion turbines at Acid Rain plants 
and biomass-fired boilers that burn a small amount of fossil fuel.
    EPA also included specific units in the list of existing potential 
CAIR units based on previous comments and supporting data submitted to 
the EPA by the owners or operators of the units involved.
    EPA notes that inclusion of a unit in, or exclusion of a unit from, 
the inventory of existing potential CAIR units reflects only a 
preliminary application of the applicability of CAIR and does not 
constitute a final determination concerning the applicability of CAIR 
to the unit. As discussed above, the inventory is being developed in 
order to enable EPA to calculate allowance allocations for existing 
units, and the data that EPA used in developing the inventory are not 
complete and have certain limitations. While allocations are to be 
based on the best available data provided to EPA when allocations are 
being calculated, applicability must be determined based on the 
relevant, actual data, whether or not the actual data are provided at 
the time allocations are made. In fact, because an inventory developed 
for purposes of allowance allocation may not be entirely consistent 
with final applicability determinations, Sec. Sec.  97.142(e) and 
97.342(e) establish procedures to be applied when the Administrator 
determines that a unit that has been allocated allowances turns out not 
to actually be a CAIR unit. For example, if this determination is made 
after the allowance allocation is recorded but before deductions for 
compliance with the allowance-holding requirement are made under 
Sec. Sec.  97.154(b) and 97.354(b), the Administrator will deduct the 
allowances and transfer them to a new unit set-aside for the 
appropriate State.
    Owners and operators of units that should be, but are not, included 
in the inventory of existing potential CAIR units should submit 
objections, in response to this NODA, informing EPA that the units 
should be added to the inventory and allocated allowances, consistent 
with the applicability criteria in the CAIR FIP (in Sec. Sec.  97.104 
and 97.304). The data necessary for allowance allocations should also 
be provided. A unit that is not allocated allowances because of its 
exclusion from the inventory may ultimately be determined to be a CAIR 
unit. Each CAIR unit is subject to the allowance-holding requirements 
of CAIR regardless of whether the unit is allocated any allowances.

 B. Annual and Ozone Season Fuel Heat Input Data for Acid Rain Units

    EPA used CAMD heat input data reported by units under the Acid Rain 
Program for 2000 through 2004 in order to develop annual and ozone 
season baseline heat input. Fuel-adjusted heat input was calculated 
based on the reported heat input and the primary fuel type (by year) 
that was reported to EPA in the unit's Acid Rain Program monitoring 
plan. For units that reported coal as their primary fuel for the year, 
EPA did not adjust their heat input. For units reporting oil as their 
primary fuel, EPA multiplied their heat input by 0.6. If the primary 
fuel was not coal or oil, the heat input for the year was multiplied by 
0.4.
    For some units, the use of the primary fuel type to identify the 
appropriate CAIR fuel adjustment factor may not

[[Page 44288]]

yield the same result as using the CAIR FIP definition of ``coal-
fired'' or ``oil-fired'' to identify the appropriate factor. Under the 
CAIR FIP, a coal-fired unit is a unit which burns any amount of coal in 
a year, and an oil-fired unit is a unit which had more than 15% of its 
yearly heat input from oil. The use of primary fuel type will not match 
the CAIR FIP definition in cases where coal was burned in a year but 
was not listed as the primary fuel, or when more than 15 percent of a 
year's heat input was from oil, but oil was not listed as the primary 
fuel. EPA used the primary fuel type as a surrogate for the data 
necessary to apply the terms ``coal fired'' and ``oil fired'', because 
under the Acid Rain Program, more detailed fuel use data are reported 
only for units using non-continuous emission monitoring methods. 
Because of this limitation on the data used by EPA, the fuel-adjusted 
heat input calculated for some units may be lower than if the 
calculation were based on more precise data. Owners and operators 
should provide, in response to this NODA, any available, more precise 
data on fuel use.

 C. Annual and Ozone Season Fuel Heat Input Data for Non-Acid Rain 
Units

    EIA data, as well as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 
form 423 data, were used to calculate annual and ozone season fuel-
adjusted baseline heat input for non-Acid Rain units.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ In some cases, heat input information was not available for 
all or a portion of the baseline period. It was not clear whether 
this was the result of a unit not operating or a unit failing to 
report its operations. A zero value was applied for heat input in 
these cases. This may have resulted in an incorrect baseline heat 
input for the unit involved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The data sources and calculation methods vary by the type of unit 
and data year. The EIA and FERC databases that were used were 
downloaded in October 2005 and are available on EIA's Web site at 
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/data.html.
    We replaced the calculated ozone season heat input data with data 
reported to EPA under the OTC NOX Budget Program and the 
NOX SIP Call NOX Budget Trading Program, if 
available. The reported heat input was used in conjunction with 
information regarding the primary fuel for the year (reported in the 
monitoring plan) to calculate the fuel-adjusted heat input.
    In addition, EPA also utilized information provided as part of the 
CAIR rulemaking process. More specifically, EPA used annual heat input 
data submitted in response to EPA's CAIR Notice of Data Availability 
published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2004.
Boilers
    For 2000, fuel-adjusted annual and ozone season heat input was 
calculated for each utility boiler based on EIA form 767 monthly fuel 
use and heat content data. The fuel-adjusted 2000 annual heat input was 
calculated at the plant level for non-utility boilers based on EIA form 
860b data. The fuel usage and heat content information in EIA form 860b 
is reported at the plant level, so the fuel-adjusted heat input was 
first calculated for the plant and then apportioned equally to each 
boiler (at the plant) that is a potential CAIR unit. The ozone season 
heat input for non-utility boilers was based on multiplying the annual 
heat input by the fraction of the five ozone-season months to 12 annual 
months (\5/12\).\3\
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    \3\ Plants that were sold in 2000 and changed status from 
utility to non-utility sometimes reported using both the utility and 
non-utility forms for that year. To avoid double counting of heat 
input in these cases, EPA used only the data from utility form or 
the data from the non-utility form for the plant, whichever set of 
data resulted in the higher heat input for the plant.
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    Beginning in 2001, both utility and non-utility boilers reported 
using EIA form 767, so fuel-adjusted heat input was calculated for each 
boiler based on monthly fuel usage and heat content data from that EIA 
form for the 2001 through 2004 period.
    Although data for 2000 was developed as described above, EPA 
decided not to use the 2000 data in certain cases, i.e., where a plant 
included both existing potential CAIR units and existing units that are 
not treated as potential CAIR units. Since in those cases the 2000 unit 
level heat input could not be determined for existing potential CAIR 
units alone without attributing to them heat input that actually was 
for units that are not potential CAIR units and this additional heat 
input could be significant, EPA decided, in those cases, to exclude the 
2000 heat input data and use the average of the three highest annual 
heat input values during 2001-2004 in calculating NOX 
allowance allocations. In any case where the use of unit level data 
(for 2000 or for any other relevant period) will affect the calculation 
of the baseline heat input of a unit, the owners and operators of the 
unit should provide EPA, in response to this NODA, the unit level data.
Simple Combustion Turbines and Combined Cycle Units at Non-Acid Rain 
Plants
    The following procedures were used for simple combustion turbines 
and combined cycle units at non-Acid Rain plants, which include certain 
utility and non-utility plants.\4\ For 2000, data from the EIA form 
860b was used to calculate simple combustion turbine and combined cycle 
unit fuel-adjusted heat input for the non-utility plants in a similar 
manner as the 2000 non-utility boiler calculation. Annual fuel-adjusted 
heat input was calculated at the plant level. Data from the EIA form 
759 and FERC form 423 were used to calculate simple combustion turbine 
and combined cycle heat input for the utility plants. The EIA form 759 
provided monthly fuel usage at the prime mover level (simple combustion 
turbine, combined cycle combustion turbine, and combined cycle steam 
turbine), and the FERC form 423 provided gaseous and liquid fuel heat 
content for the plants. The prime mover fuel-adjusted heat input for 
the plant was apportioned equally to each potential CAIR unit at the 
plant by prime mover type (with combined cycle combustion turbine and 
steam turbine heat inputs combined to provide a single combined cycle 
heat input). To the extent the plant includes both potential CAIR units 
and units that are not treated as potential CAIR units, this approach 
may have resulted in calculated heat input values exceeding the actual 
heat input for the potential CAIR units. Unlike the boiler data, that 
required apportioning plant level data only for 2000, combustion 
turbine EIA data are only available at the plant level for all of the 
years. Therefore the approach taken for boilers, excluding one year of 
plant level data when that data may be impacted by units not subject to 
CAIR, was not available. In any case where the use of unit level data 
(for 2000 or for any other relevant period) will affect calculation of 
the baseline heat input of a unit, the owners and operators of the unit 
should provide EPA, in response to this NODA, the unit level data. 
Ozone-season heat input was calculated based on the \5/12\ fraction of 
ozone-season months to annual months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See note 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 2001 the EIA form 759 was renamed as form 906, with separate 
similar versions for non-utility and utility plant prime mover level 
fuel usage. Data for the non-utility and utility plants from these 
forms were combined with the FERC form 423 heat content data to 
calculate prime mover level fuel-adjusted heat input. This prime mover 
level annual and ozone season heat input was then apportioned equally 
to each simple combustion turbine or combined cycle turbine (at the 
plant) that is a potential CAIR unit by prime mover type as described 
earlier for the 2000 utility units.

[[Page 44289]]

    EIA combined the utility and non-utility reporting forms in 2002 
and changed the format. The EIA form 906 for 2002 through 2004 provided 
both fuel usage and fuel heat input on a monthly basis. The annual and 
ozone season fuel-adjusted heat input was totaled for each of the non-
utility and utility plants at the prime mover level and then 
apportioned equally to each potential CAIR unit at the plant, as 
described above for the 2000 and 2001 EIA form 759 and 906 data.
Non-Acid Rain Simple Combustion Turbines at Acid Rain Plants
    The fuel-adjusted heat inputs for non-Acid Rain simple combustion 
turbines located at Acid Rain plants with no Acid Rain combustion 
turbines were calculated and apportioned in a similar manner as 
described above for simple combustion turbines and combined cycle units 
at non-Acid Rain plants.
    Heat inputs, however, for non-Acid Rain combustion turbines located 
at plants with Acid Rain combustion turbines had to be calculated in a 
different manner in order to not double count heat input. At these 
plants the plant or prime mover level heat input, calculated with EIA 
data as described above, included heat input from both the non-Acid 
Rain and Acid Rain turbines. Since the baseline heat input for the Acid 
Rain turbines at the plant was taken from data reported to EPA under 
the Acid Rain Program, the Acid Rain data was subtracted from the total 
EIA-based combustion turbine and combined cycle heat input. The 
remaining fuel-adjusted heat input was then apportioned equally to each 
of the non-Acid Rain turbines. In some cases the difference between EIA 
and Acid Rain heat input was zero or even negative resulting in zero 
heat input for the non-Acid Rain units.

 5. How Do I Interpret the Data Tables Presented in Today's NODA?

    This section provides a brief description of the types of data 
included in each table of today's NODA. A more detailed description of 
the data tables may be found in the TSD titled ``Data Field Description 
for the CAIR FIP NOX Annual and NOX Ozone-season 
Allocation Tables'' which is available in the docket and on the Web 
site mentioned in section 8. In general, the CAIR Annual and Ozone 
Season NOX Allocation tables were created primarily using 
data reported to CAMD (under the Acid Rain Program) and the EIA. For a 
small number of non-Acid Rain units, annual allocations incorporated 
heat input information provided by the sources in response to a 
previous NODA.
    For Acid Rain units, EPA used heat input data reported as required 
under the program. For non-Acid Rain Program units, the EIA data was 
used to determine heat input and primary fuel. Tables 1 and 2 contain 
the annual and ozone season unit NOX allowance allocations. 
Tables 3, 4, and 5 contain the EIA data, CAMD data, and source provided 
data regarding heat input and primary fuel used to calculate the annual 
allocations. Tables 6 and 7 contain additional EIA and CAMD data used 
to calculate ozone season allocations.
    Some units (i.e., units not reporting under the Acid Rain Program, 
OTC NOX Budget Program, or NOX SIP Call 
NOX Budget Trading Program during a portion of the baseline 
period) use heat input data available from both EIA and CAMD to compile 
the baseline heat input. For these units the EIA annual heat input data 
are used until the first full year of Acid Rain Program data are 
available. Ozone season heat inputs used for the ozone season 
allocation are from the data reported under the Acid Rain Program, OTC 
NOX Budget Program, and NOX SIP Call 
NOX Budget Trading Program, if available, in Table 7. For a 
small number of non-Acid Rain Units, source-reported annual heat input 
data in Table 5 for 2000-2002 data years were used in place of EIA 
data.
    Table 8 contains a list of units that have not received allocations 
because of their possible exclusion from the CAIR FIP trading program 
based on sales data, or qualifying cogeneration facility status. The 
owners and operators of each such unit should review the unit's data to 
ensure that the unit is not a potential CAIR unit. As discussed above, 
if the owners or operators determine that the unit should be included 
in the inventory and allocated allowances, they should submit 
objections to the exclusion of the unit and provide the relevant data 
supporting the inclusion of the unit and the necessary data for 
allocating allowances.
    Table 9 contains a list of units that have not received 
NOX allowance allocations because of their possible CAIR 
exemption due to being a solid waste incinerator. As mentioned in 
section 4, the units qualifying for this exemption were identified 
based on EIA form 860 response for plant type and their primary energy 
source. The owners and operators of each such unit should review the 
unit's data to ensure that the unit is not a potential CAIR unit. As 
discussed above, if the owners or operators determine that the unit 
should be included in the inventory and allocated allowances, they 
should submit objections to the exclusion of the unit and provide the 
relevant data supporting the inclusion of the unit and the necessary 
data for allocating allowances.

6. Why Is the EPA Providing Opportunity To Object to These Data and the 
Calculations Using the Data in the Allocation Formula?

    Through today's NODA, EPA is providing owners, operators, states, 
and the public the opportunity to object to the data used to determine 
what units are existing potential CAIR units, which qualify for 
allowance allocations for 2009-2014, and to calculate NOX 
allocations in order to ensure that we use the best available data in 
the FIP allocation process. For example, the heat input and primary 
fuel data used to calculate allocations came from data reported to EPA 
and EIA, and a source owner or operator (or other member of the public) 
should submit an objection if he or she sees any discrepancy between 
the data reported for the source regarding heat input and fuel type and 
the data used in calculating the NOX FIP allocations. Such 
objection should include the data that the person submitting the 
objection believes EPA should use. EPA is also providing an opportunity 
to object to the calculations using the allocation formula and the data 
in order to ensure the accuracy of the calculations.
    Today's NODA is based upon the list of potential CAIR units 
developed using currently available data. As discussed above, this 
inventory does not constitute a definitive list of existing CAIR units, 
but rather reflects EPA's preliminary application of the applicability 
criteria in the CAIR FIP NFR (i.e., the criteria providing that a unit 
is subject to CAIR if it is a stationary fossil-fuel-fired boiler or 
combustion turbine serving at any time on or after November 15, 1990 or 
the start-up of the unit's combustion chamber, a generator with 
nameplate capacity more than 25 MWe producing electricity for sale, 
except for cogeneration units and solid waste incineration units that 
meet certain requirements). The EPA is providing this opportunity for 
source owners and operators, states, and the public to (1) Object to 
the inclusion of units in, or exclusion of units from, the allocation 
tables in the NODA and the data on which the inclusion or exclusion is 
based, (2) object to the heat input and fuel data used to calculate the 
allocations and the resulting calculations themselves reflected in the 
tables, and (3) submit, as part of the

[[Page 44290]]

objection, corrections of the data or supplementary data.
    EPA requests that a source owner or operator, State, or other 
members of the public who believes that a unit has been incorrectly 
included in or excluded from the allocation tables submit an objection 
(including supporting data) in order to clarify the unit's status under 
CAIR, consistent with the CAIR FIP applicability provisions (in 
Sec. Sec.  97.104 and 97.304). (Any objections to the applicability 
provisions themselves will not be considered.) If an existing unit is 
not allocated allowances for 2009-2014 in today's NODA, nor in the 
follow up NODA issued in response to objections to today's NODA, and is 
later found to be subject to CAIR, that unit will not receive allowance 
allocations for 2009-2014 under the CAIR FIP. However, the unit will be 
subject to the requirement to hold allowances.
    The addition or removal of existing units to or from a State's 
inventory will not impact the size of the State's emission budget. 
Revisions, in a follow-up notice issued in response to objections to 
the inventory provided in today's NODA, may result in the individual 
units receiving different shares of the applicable State budget.

7. What Data Are the EPA Making Available for Review and Objection?

    EPA has used the best available data to develop an inventory of 
existing units that currently are potentially covered by the CAIR FIP 
and to calculate each existing unit's allowance allocations for 2009-
2014. However, through the NODA, EPA is giving unit owners, unit 
operators, and the public the opportunity to offer objections regarding 
individual units' treatment as potentially covered or not covered by 
CAIR and, for units treated as potential CAIR units, the data used in 
the allocation calculations and the allocations resulting from such 
calculations.
    Specifically, this document is a notice of data availability and 
provides an opportunity for objection regarding the treatment of 
individual units as existing units potentially covered or not covered 
by CAIR and the data used as the basis for this treatment (such as 
sales data obtained from EIA databases for 1999-2000 and qualifying 
facility status). This document also provides an opportunity for 
objections regarding the data used in calculating CAIR FIP 
NOX allocations for individual existing units: CAMD heat 
input and fuel data under the Acid Rain Program for the years 2000-
2004, under the NOX Budget Program (NBP) for 2000-2002 for 
Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) units, and under the NOX 
Budget Trading Program for years 2003-2004 for units under the 
NOX SIP Call; and heat input and fuel data obtained in EIA 
databases for units that are not under these programs. This document 
also provides an opportunity for objection regarding EPA's calculations 
using the data in the CAIR FIP allocation formulas.
    In summary, the EPA is providing an opportunity for public 
objections to--and will consider only objections to--the inclusion of 
units in or exclusion of units from the inventory of potential existing 
CAIR units, the data on which such inclusion or exclusion is based, the 
allocation calculations using the CAIR FIP allocation formulas, and the 
data used in these calculations. Readers should note that we are not 
soliciting, and will not consider, objections on other topics (such as 
the allocation formulas and State budgets).
    Today's action makes available for review and objection: 
NOX annual and NOX ozone season allocations for 
individual units in CAIR States for the FIP; the adjusted heat input 
values for each unit for 2000-2004; the baseline heat input used to 
calculate the allocations; and the other data used to include units in, 
or exclude units from, the list of existing potential CAIR units for 
which allocations are calculated.
    In particular, EPA is making the following data available for 
review:
     EIA Annual Heat Input (EIA data were used to obtain heat 
input and fuel type data for those units that are subject to the CAIR 
rule, but are not reporting under the Acid Rain Program).
     EIA Ozone Season Heat Input
     CAMD Acid Rain Program Annual Heat Input
     CAMD Acid Rain Program, OTC NOX Budget Program, 
and NOX SIP Call NOX Budget Trading Program Ozone 
Season Heat Input
     Unit NOX Annual Allowance Allocation Table
     Unit NOX Ozone Season Allocation Table
    In addition to accepting objections to the data listed above and 
the calculations made by EPA in using the data to determine 
allocations, EPA will also accept objections to the inclusion of a unit 
in, or exclusion of a unit from, the inventory of existing potential 
CAIR units for which allocations are determined for the CAIR FIP and 
the data on which such inclusion or exclusion is based. Any objection 
should include corrections of the data relevant to the objection or 
should include relevant, supplementary data.

8. Where Can I Get the Data?

    Tables 1 through 9, which include the allowance allocations, heat 
input, and fuel data, are available in an excel file titled ``Data for 
EGU NOX Annual and NOX Ozone Season Allocations 
for the Clean Air Interstate Rule Federal Implementation Plan Trading 
Programs'' on the CAMD Web site at http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/cair/NODA. The ``NODA'' link will open a Web page which contains this excel 
file, along with the NODA and Technical Support Document in PDF format. 
The NODA is titled ``Notice of Data Availability for EGU NOX 
Annual and NOX Ozone Season Allocations for the Clean Air 
Interstate Rule Federal Implementation Plan Trading Program'', and the 
TSD is titled ``Data Field Description for the CAIR FIP NOX 
Annual and NOX Ozone Season Allocation Tables''. In 
addition, these files are in the CAIR FIP Docket (Docket ID No. OAR-
2004-0076).
    Other data used in developing the inventory of potential existing 
CAIR units can be found on the EIA Web site through the link given in 
section 4 of this NODA.

9. On What Topics Is EPA Not Requesting Objections?

    Consistent with sections 4 through 8 of today's NODA, EPA is 
soliciting objections only on the matters, data, and calculations 
discussed or referenced in those sections of the NODA. EPA is not 
requesting objection on any other matter. For example, the 
NOX allocations for existing CAIR units are determined using 
the allowance allocation methodology in the CAIR FIP, which takes each 
unit's three highest control-period adjusted heat input values for 2000 
through 2004, averages them, and allocates to each unit based on its 
proportionate share of the total adjusted heat input for existing CAIR 
units in the state. This methodology for calculating unit allowance 
allocations, as well as the CAIR applicability provisions, were 
finalized in the CAIR FIP rule, and are not open for objection.

10. What Supporting Documentation Do I Need To Provide With my 
Objections?

    While we will consider all objections we receive within the scope 
of this NODA, these objections must be supported with appropriate 
documentation. Supporting documentation can include, but is not limited 
to, spreadsheets, explanations of why you believe the data on such 
spreadsheets are more accurate (e.g., the quality assurance of the 
data), and information on the data source.
    In general, we do not anticipate revisions to unit heat input data 
and

[[Page 44291]]

other unit data reported to EPA under the Acid Rain Program since, in 
submitting the data under the program, a source's Designated 
Representative has already certified the accuracy of the data. However, 
we will consider any objections. For example, a source's Designated 
Representative may provide evidence that we improperly calculated heat 
input at the unit level, where the heat input was actually measured at 
another location (such as a common stack). As a further example, a 
source's Designated Representative may demonstrate that the data 
provided in today's NODA are not consistent with the data reported to 
EPA for compliance with the Acid Rain Program. In that case, the 
objector should explain why the data values in EPA's data files are 
incorrect and should document and explain the new data values.
    Similarly, in general, we do not anticipate revisions to data 
reported to EIA since such data were submitted to meet regulatory 
reporting requirements. However, we will consider any objections to the 
data as reported, as well as any calculation in which we used the data 
for purposes of today's NODA.

    Dated: July 27, 2006.
Brian McLean,
Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
 [FR Doc. E6-12628 Filed 8-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P