[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 109 (Thursday, June 7, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31457-31460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10764]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R06-OAR-2007-0386; FRL-8321-7]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Texas; Revision to the Texas State Implementation Plan Regarding a 
Negative Declaration for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing 
Industry Batch Processing Source Category in El Paso County

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: Section 172(c)(1) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires areas 
that are not

[[Page 31458]]

attaining a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) to reduce 
emissions from existing sources by adopting, at a minimum, reasonably 
available control technology (RACT). EPA has established source 
categories for which RACT must be implemented. If no major sources of 
volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in a particular source 
category exist in a nonattainment area, a State may submit a negative 
declaration for that category. Texas submitted a State Implementation 
Plan (SIP) revision which included negative declarations for certain 
source categories in the El Paso 1-hour ozone standard nonattainment 
area. EPA previously approved the State's declaration that no major 
sources existed for 9 source categories in the El Paso area. In the 
approval EPA neglected to approve the negative declaration for the 
synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry (SOCMI) batch 
processing category in the El Paso area. EPA is approving this negative 
declaration for the El Paso 1-hour ozone standard nonattainment area.

DATES: This rule is effective on August 6, 2007 without further notice, 
unless EPA receives relevant adverse comment by July 9, 2007. If EPA 
receives such comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the 
Federal Register informing the public that this rule will not take 
effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket No. EPA-R06-OAR-
2007-0386, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line 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. Carl Young 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. Carl Young, Acting Chief, Air Planning Section 
(6PD-L), at fax number 214-665-7263.
     Mail: Mr. Carl Young, Acting Chief, Air Planning Section 
(6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
     Hand or Courier Delivery: Mr. Carl Young, Acting 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 Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-
2007-0386. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless the comment includes information 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 www.regulations.gov or e-mail. 
The 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 comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov 
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part 
of the comment that is placed in the public docket 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. Electronic 
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of 
encryption, and 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, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy 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 cent 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: Jeffrey Riley, Air Planning Section 
(6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, 
Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone 214-665-8542; fax number 
214-665-7263; e-mail address [email protected].

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

Outline

I. What is the Background for this Action?
II. What Action is EPA Taking?
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What is the Background for this Action?

    Section 172(c)(1) of the CAA requires SIPs for areas that are not 
attaining a NAAQS to provide, at a minimum, for such reductions in air 
emissions from existing sources in the areas as may be obtained through 
the adoption of reasonably available control measures including RACT. 
In our September 17, 1979 Federal Register notice (44 FR 53761) we 
define RACT as: ``The lowest emission limitation that a particular 
source is capable of meeting by the application of control technology 
that is reasonably available considering technological and economical 
feasibility.''
    Under CAA section 182(b)(2) State SIPs must require RACT for major 
stationary sources of VOC emissions in ozone NAAQS nonattainment areas 
classified as moderate or higher. VOC emissions can react with sunlight 
and nitrogen oxides to form ground-level ozone. If no major sources of 
VOC emissions exist in a particular source category in an ozone 
nonattainment area, the State may submit a negative declaration for 
that category.
    The El Paso area, consisting of El Paso County, Texas, was 
classified as a moderate nonattainment area for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS 
on November 6, 1991 (56 FR 56694). On January 10, 1996 Texas submitted 
a SIP revision

[[Page 31459]]

that included negative declarations for certain source categories in 
the El Paso 1-hour ozone standard nonattainment area. The area consists 
of El Paso County. We approved the State's declaration that no major 
sources existed for 9 source categories in the El Paso area on October 
30, 1996 (61 FR 55894). In our approval we neglected to approve the 
negative declaration for the synthetic organic chemical manufacturing 
industry (SOCMI) batch processing category in the El Paso area. We 
reviewed data from the Texas Point Source Emissions Inventory to 
confirm that there were no major sources of VOC emissions from SOCMI 
batch processing facilities in El Paso County. Our approval of the 
State's negative declaration will correct our earlier failure to take 
action on the negative declaration submitted by Texas.

II. What Action is EPA Taking?

    We are taking direct final action to approve a negative declaration 
submitted by Texas concerning the SOCMI batch processing category in 
the El Paso 1-hour ozone standard nonattainment area. Texas submitted 
the negative declaration on January 10, 1996. It states that in the El 
Paso area there are no major stationary sources of VOC emissions for 
the SOCMI batch processing category. We have evaluated the State's 
submittal and have determined that it meets the applicable requirements 
of the CAA and EPA air quality regulations. We are approving the 
negative declaration pursuant to section 110 and part D of the CAA.
    We are also making ministerial corrections to the table in 40 CFR 
52.2270(e) to reflect our earlier approval of negative declarations 
submitted by Texas.
    We are publishing this rule without prior proposal because we view 
this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipate no relevant adverse 
comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal 
Register publication, we are publishing a separate document that will 
serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision if relevant adverse 
comments are received. This rule will be effective on August 6, 2007 
without further notice unless we receive relevant adverse comment by 
July 9, 2007. If we receive relevant adverse comments, we will publish 
a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that 
the rule will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a 
subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. We will not institute 
a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in 
commenting must do so now. Please note that if we receive adverse 
comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that 
provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, we may adopt 
as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an 
adverse comment.

III. Final Action

    We are approving a SIP revision submitted by Texas which states 
that there are no major stationary sources of VOC emissions for the 
SOCMI batch processing category in the El Paso 1-hour ozone standard 
nonattainment area. Texas submitted this negative declaration on 
January 10, 1996. We are also making ministerial corrections to the 
table in 40 CFR 52.2270(e) to reflect our earlier approval of negative 
declarations submitted by Texas.

IV. 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 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 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 CAA. 
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. 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes 
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Because this rule 
merely approves a state rule implementing a Federal standard, EPA lacks 
the discretionary authority to modify today's regulatory decision on 
the basis of environmental justice considerations.
    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 choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. 
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 CAA. Thus, the requirements of section 
12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 
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.

[[Page 31460]]

This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. section 
804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by August 6, 2007. 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 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, Intergovernmental 
relations, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile 
organic compounds.

    Dated: May 21, 2007.
Richard E. Greene,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.

0
40 CFR part 52 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 SS--Texas

0
2. The second table in paragraph (e) entitled ``EPA Approved 
Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures in the Texas 
SIP'' is amended by adding entries for ``VOC RACT Negative 
Declarations'' and ``VOC RACT Negative Declaration for SOCMI Batch 
Processing Source Category'' immediately after the entry ``Revision to 
Permitting Regulations and Board Orders No. 85-07, 87-09, 87-17, 88-08, 
89-06, 90-05, 91-10, 92-06, 92-18, and 93-17'' to read as follows:


Sec.  52.2270  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

              EPA Approved Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures in the Texas SIP
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                                  Applicable
                                geographic or        State        EPA approval
    Name of SIP provision       nonattainment     submittal/          date                   Comments
                                     area       effective date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
VOC RACT Negative              Beaumont/Port           1/10/96  10/30/96, 61 FR   Ref 52.2299(c)(103).
 Declarations.                  Arthur, Dallas/                  55894.
                                Fort Worth, El
                                Paso, Houston/
                                Galveston.
VOC RACT Negative Declaration  El Paso........         1/10/96  6/7/07 [Insert
 for SOCMI Batch Processing                                      FR page number
 Source Category.                                                where document
                                                                 begins].
 
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[FR Doc. E7-10764 Filed 6-6-07; 8:45 am]
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