[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 138 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40972-40977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15729]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R06-OAR-2006-1029; FRL-8689-7]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Texas; Control of Air Pollution from Volatile Organic Compounds

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision 
submitted by the State of Texas. This revision, adopted by Texas on 
November 15, 2006, and submitted to EPA on December 13, 2006, extends 
requirements to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in the 
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. Specifically, this revision extends 
requirements for control of VOC emissions to the five counties that 
were added to the DFW nonattainment area under the 1997 8-hour ozone 
standard designation: Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, and Rockwall, 
and the affected VOC sources will be subject to the same emission 
limitation, control, monitoring, testing, recordkeeping, and recording 
requirements already in effect in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant 
counties. As a result of this action, these new VOC control 
requirements will be consistent for all nine counties in the DFW ozone 
nonattainment area. This revision meets statutory and regulatory 
requirements, and is consistent with EPA's guidance. EPA is approving 
this revision pursuant to section 110, 116 and part D of the Federal 
Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This direct final rule will be effective September 15, 2008 
without further notice, unless EPA receives relevant adverse comments 
by August 18, 2008. If EPA receives such comment, EPA will publish a 
timely withdrawal of the direct final rule 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-
2006-1029, 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. Guy Donaldson at [email protected]. Please 
also send a copy by email to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section below.
     Fax: Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), at fax number 214-665-7263.
     Mail: Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, 
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
     Hand or Courier Delivery: Mr. Guy Donaldson, 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-
2006-1029. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://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 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 comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://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 http://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 http://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

[[Page 40973]]

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: Ellen Belk, Air Planning Section (6PD-
L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 
700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone (214) 665-2164; fax number 
214-665-7263; e-mail address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. General Information

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

II. Rulemaking Information

    This section is organized as follows:

A. What Action Is EPA Taking?
B. What Are the Requirements of Texas' New Regulation?
C. Why Is EPA Approving Texas' Regulation?
D. What Is the Process for EPA to Approve This SIP Revision?

A. What Action Is EPA Taking?

    EPA is approving Texas' Chapter 115 ``Control of Air Pollution from 
Volatile Organic Compounds'' amendments to Sec. Sec.  115.10, 115.119, 
115.129, 115.139, 115.149, 115.219, 115.239, 115.319, 115.359, 115.419, 
115.439, 115.449, 115.519, and 115.539 which subject VOC-emitting 
sources located in Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, and Rockwall 
Counties to the same emission limitation, control, monitoring, testing, 
recordkeeping, and recording requirements in effect in Collin, Dallas, 
Denton, and Tarrant Counties, the other four counties in the DFW 8-hour 
ozone nonattainment area. The revisions were adopted by Texas on 
November 15, 2006, and submitted to EPA on December 13, 2006.

B. What Are the Requirements of Texas' New Regulation?

    The DFW area is classified as a moderate nonattainment area for the 
1997 8-hour ozone standard. This rule will affect VOC-emitting 
facilities in five counties of the DFW 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. 
Table 1 lists the affected Texas Counties:

             Table 1.--Counties Affected by This Rulemaking
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Counties in DFW 8-hour ozone nonattainment area affected by this
                               rulemaking
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Ellis
Johnson
Kaufman
Parker
Rockwall
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Texas' Chapter 115 regulations control VOC emissions for many 
categories of sources. In particular, this rulemaking affects the TAC 
Subchapters and Divisions listed in Table 2:

    Table 2.--Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 115 Subchapters
                       Affected by This Rulemaking
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Chapter 115 subchapter                      Section
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Definitions                                                     115.10
B General VOC Sources
    Division 1 Storage of VOCs.............................      115.119
    Division 2 Vent Gas Control............................      115.129
    Division 3 Water Separation............................      115.139
    Division 4 Industrial Wastewater.......................      115.149
C VOC Transfer Operations
    Division 1 Loading and Unloading of VOCs...............      115.219
    Division 3 Control of VOC Leaks from Transport Vessels.      115.239
D Petroleum Refining, Natural Gas Processing, and
 Petrochemical Processes
    Division 1 Process Unit Turnaround and Vacuum-Producing      115.319
     Systems in Petroleum Refineries.......................
    Division 3 Fugitive Emission Control in Petroleum            115.359
     Refining, Natural Gas/Gasoline Processing, and
     Petrochemical Processes in Ozone Nonattainment Areas..
E Solvent-Using Processes
    Division 1 Degreasing Processes........................      115.419
    Division 3 Flexographic and Rotogravure Printing.......      115.439
    Division 4 Offset Lithographic Printing................      115.449
F Miscellaneous Industrial Sources
    Division 1 Cutback Asphalt.............................      115.519
    Division 2 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities.....      115.539
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To determine whether a specific facility in one of the above 
counties will be affected by one or more of the above revisions, see 
Texas' associated rule revisions included in the docket.
    This rule requires compliance with the specified VOC control 
requirements by March 1, 2009.

C. Why Is EPA Approving Texas' Revisions?

    On May 23, 2007, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 
(TCEQ or Texas) approved revisions to the SIP for the DFW 8-hour ozone 
nonattainment area. The SIP revisions were submitted to EPA on May 30, 
2007. Extending requirements for control of VOC emissions to the 
additional counties will help to attain and maintain the 8-hour ozone 
standard in the DFW area. Our approval of the revised Texas regulations 
will make them federally enforceable. EPA is evaluating Texas' analysis 
for Reasonable Available Control Technology (RACT) for NOX 
and VOC in actions which are separate from this one.
    EPA has evaluated the Chapter 115 revisions and finds they enhance 
the SIP by extending existing VOC control requirements to additional 
counties. The specific requirements for the regulation and EPA's 
evaluation of these requirements are detailed in the Technical Support 
Document (TSD), which is available in the docket

[[Page 40974]]

supporting this action. Also, Texas' Chapter 115 revisions are included 
in the docket.

D. What Is the Process for EPA to Approve This SIP Revision?

    The EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the 
Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no 
adverse comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this 
Federal Register publication, EPA is publishing a separate documents 
that will serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision should 
adverse comments be filed. This action will be effective September 15, 
2008 without further notice, unless EPA receives relevant adverse 
comments by August 18, 2008.
    If EPA receives such comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal 
of the direct final rule in the Federal Register informing the public 
that this rule will not take effect. All public comments received will 
then be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed 
rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period. Parties 
interested in commenting should do so at this time. If no such comments 
are received, the public is advised that this rule will be effective on 
September 15, 2008 and no further action will be taken on the proposed 
rule. 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. Final Action

    EPA is approving Texas' Chapter 115 Control of Air Pollution from 
Volatile Organic Compounds amendments to Sec. Sec.  115.10, 115.119, 
115.129, 115.139, 115.149, 115.219, 115.239, 115.319, 115.359, 115.419, 
115.439, 115.449, 115.519, and 115.539 which extend requirements for 
control of VOC emissions to sources located in Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, 
Parker, and Rockwall Counties, and incorporating this regulation into 
the Texas SIP.

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, 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 proposes to approve 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, 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 CAA. 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 CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit September 15, 2008. 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Ozone, Nitrogen dioxides, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: July 1, 2008.
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.


[[Page 40975]]



Subpart SS--Texas

0
2. The table in Sec.  52.2270(c) entitled ``EPA Approved Regulations in 
the Texas SIP'' is amended under Chapter 115 (Reg 5)--Control of Air 
Pollution from Volatile Organic Compounds by:
0
a. Revising the entries for Sections 115.10, 115.119, 115.129, 115.139, 
115.149, 115.219, 115.239, 115.319, 115.359, 115.419, 115.439, 115.449, 
115.519, and 115.539;
0
b. Revising the title of Division 3 under Subchapter B to read 
``Division 3: Water Separation''.
0
The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  52.2270  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                                                        EPA-Approved Regulations in the Texas SIP
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                                                                State
          State citation                Title/subject         approval/               EPA approval date                         Explanation
                                                           submittal date
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                                                                      * * * * * * *
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                                      Chapter 115 (Reg 5)--Control of Air Pollution From Volatile Organic Compounds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Subchapter A--Definitions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 115.10....................  Definitions..........        11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                                                            document begins].
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                                                 Subchapter B--General Volatile Organic Compound Sources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Division 1: Storage of Volatile Organic Compounds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.119...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
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                                                              Division 2: Vent Gas Control
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                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.129...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Division 3: Water Separation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.139...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Division 4: Industrial Wastewater
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.149...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
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                                               Subchapter C--Volatile Organic Compound Transfer Operations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Division 1: Loading and Unloading of Volatile Organic Compounds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.219...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Division 3: Control of Volatile Organic Compound Leaks From Transport Vessels
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[[Page 40976]]

 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.239...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Subchapter D--Petroleum Refining, Natural Gas Processing, and Petrochemical Processes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Division 1: Process Unit Turnaround and Vacuum-Producing Systems in Petroleum Refineries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.319...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Division 3: Fugitive Emission Control in Petroleum Refining, Natural Gas/Gasoline Processing, and Petrochemical Processes in Ozone Nonattainment Areas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.359...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Subchapter E--Solvent-Using Processes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Division 1: Degreasing Processes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.419...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Division 3: Flexographic and Rotogravure Printing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.439...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Division 4: Offset Lithographic Printing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.449...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Subchapter F--Miscellaneous Industrial Sources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Division 1: Cutback Asphalt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.519...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Division 2: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[[Page 40977]]

 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Section 115.539...................  Counties and                 11/15/06  07/17/08 [Insert FR page number where   .....................................
                                     Compliance Schedules.                  document begins].
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
 [FR Doc. E8-15729 Filed 7-16-08; 8:45 am]
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