[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4537-4539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1466]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0882; FRL-9255-9]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Virginia; Adoption of the Revised Lead Standards and Related Reference 
Conditions, and Update of Appendices

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the 
Commonwealth of Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions 
add the primary and secondary lead standards of 0.15 micrograms per 
cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\), related reference conditions, and update the 
list of appendices under ``Documents Incorporated by Reference.'' 
Virginia's SIP revisions for the national ambient air quality standards 
(NAAQS) for lead are consistent with the Federal lead standards. This 
action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This rule is effective on March 28, 2011 without further notice, 
unless EPA receives adverse written comment by February 25, 2011. If 
EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the 
direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that 
the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2010-0882 by one of the following methods:
    A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
    B. E-mail: [email protected].
    C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0882, Marilyn Powers, Acting Associate 
Director, Office of Air Program Planning, Mailcode 3AP30, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
    D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address. 
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-
2010-0882. 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 website 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 electronic 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 during normal business hours at the Air Protection 
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch 
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State submittal 
are available at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 629 
East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Shandruk, (215) 814-2166, or by 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On September 27, 2010, the Commonwealth of Virginia submitted a 
formal revision to its SIP. The SIP revision consists of revisions 
pertaining to the ambient air quality standards for lead and related 
reference conditions. The CAA specifies that EPA must re-evaluate the 
appropriateness of its various air quality standards every five years. 
As part of the process, EPA reviewed the latest research and determined 
that revised standards for lead were necessary to protect public health 
and welfare. EPA revised the level of the primary lead standard to a 
level of 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\) to provide 
increased protection for children and other ``at risk'' populations. 
The secondary standard was also revised to a level of 0.15 [mu]g/m\3\ 
to afford increased protection for the environment. EPA promulgated the 
more stringent primary and secondary NAAQS for lead on November 12, 
2008 (73 FR 66964).

II. Summary of SIP Revision

    On September 27, 2010, the Commonwealth of Virginia submitted a 
formal revision to its SIP. The SIP revision consists of an amendment 
which includes the revised primary and secondary ambient air quality 
standards for lead and related reference conditions. Virginia's 
revision incorporates the Federal lead standards into the Code of 
Virginia (9VAC5 Chapter 30). In addition, the list of appendices to 40 
CFR Part 51 was updated under ``Documents Incorporated by Reference'' 
(9VAC5-20-21).
    The following are the specific sections that are being modified or 
amended:
     9VAC5-20-21: Documents Incorporated by Reference 
(modified)
     9VAC5-30-15: Reference Conditions (modified)
     9VAC5-30-80: Lead (amended)

III. General Information Pertaining to SIP Submittals From the 
Commonwealth of Virginia

    In 1995, Virginia adopted legislation that provides, subject to 
certain conditions, for an environmental assessment (audit) 
``privilege'' for voluntary compliance evaluations performed by a 
regulated entity. The legislation further addresses the relative burden 
of proof for parties either asserting the privilege or seeking 
disclosure of documents for which the privilege is claimed. Virginia's 
legislation also provides, subject to certain conditions, for a penalty 
waiver for violations of environmental laws when a regulated entity 
discovers such violations pursuant to a voluntary compliance evaluation 
and voluntarily discloses such violations to the Commonwealth and takes 
prompt and appropriate measures to remedy the

[[Page 4538]]

violations. Virginia's Voluntary Environmental Assessment Privilege 
Law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1198, provides a privilege that protects from 
disclosure documents and information about the content of those 
documents that are the product of a voluntary environmental assessment. 
The Privilege Law does not extend to documents or information (1) that 
are generated or developed before the commencement of a voluntary 
environmental assessment; (2) that are prepared independently of the 
assessment process; (3) that demonstrate a clear, imminent and 
substantial danger to the public health or environment; or (4) that are 
required by law.
    On January 12, 1998, the Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the 
Attorney General provided a legal opinion that states that the 
Privilege Law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1198, precludes granting a privilege 
to documents and information ``required by law,'' including documents 
and information ``required by Federal law to maintain program 
delegation, authorization or approval,'' since Virginia must ``enforce 
Federally authorized environmental programs in a manner that is no less 
stringent than their Federal counterparts * * *.'' The opinion 
concludes that ``[r]egarding Sec.  10.1-1198, therefore, documents or 
other information needed for civil or criminal enforcement under one of 
these programs could not be privileged because such documents and 
information are essential to pursuing enforcement in a manner required 
by Federal law to maintain program delegation, authorization or 
approval.''
    Virginia's Immunity law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1199, provides that 
``[t]o the extent consistent with requirements imposed by Federal 
law,'' any person making a voluntary disclosure of information to a 
state agency regarding a violation of an environmental statute, 
regulation, permit, or administrative order is granted immunity from 
administrative or civil penalty. The Attorney General's January 12, 
1998 opinion states that the quoted language renders this statute 
inapplicable to enforcement of any Federally authorized programs, since 
``no immunity could be afforded from administrative, civil, or criminal 
penalties because granting such immunity would not be consistent with 
Federal law, which is one of the criteria for immunity.''
    Therefore, EPA has determined that Virginia's Privilege and 
Immunity statutes will not preclude the Commonwealth from enforcing its 
program consistent with the Federal requirements. In any event, because 
EPA has also determined that a state audit privilege and immunity law 
can affect only state enforcement and cannot have any impact on Federal 
enforcement authorities, EPA may at any time invoke its authority under 
the CAA, including, for example, sections 113, 167, 205, 211 or 213, to 
enforce the requirements or prohibitions of the state plan, 
independently of any state enforcement effort. In addition, citizen 
enforcement under section 304 of the CAA is likewise unaffected by 
this, or any, state audit privilege or immunity law.

IV. Final Action

    EPA is approving Virginia's SIP revision for the lead NAAQS and 
related reference conditions, as well as the updated list of appendices 
to 40 CFR Part 51 under documents incorporated by reference. EPA is 
publishing this rule without prior proposal because the Agency views 
this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no adverse 
comment. However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's Federal 
Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the 
proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse comments are filed. 
This rule will be effective on March 28, 2011 without further notice 
unless EPA receives adverse comment by February 25, 2011. If EPA 
receives adverse comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the 
Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take 
effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule 
based on the proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment 
period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so 
at this time. 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.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. General Requirements

    Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a 
SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and 
applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). 
Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. 
Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting Federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     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);
     Does not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the CAA; and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in 
the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct 
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.

B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 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 action and 
other

[[Page 4539]]

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. 
804(2).

C. Petitions for Judicial Review

    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 March 28, 2011. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this action 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. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are 
encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of 
proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules 
section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate 
petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can 
withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed 
rulemaking. This action pertaining to Virginia's adoption of the 
revised lead standards of 0.15 [mu]g/m\3\ and related reference 
conditions 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, Lead, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

     Dated: January 5, 2011.
W.C. Early,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.

    40 CFR Part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 40 CFR part 52 continues to read as 
follows:

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

Subpart VV--Virginia

0
2. In Sec.  52.2420, the table in paragraph (c) is amended by revising 
the entries for Section 5-30-15 and 5-30-80. The table in paragraph (e) 
is amended by adding an entry for ``Documents Incorporated by 
Reference'' after the ninth existing entry for ``Documents Incorporated 
by Reference.'' The amendments read as follows:


52.2420  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                                 EPA-Approved Virginia Regulations and Statutes
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                                                            State
          State citation               Title/subject      effective     EPA approval date    Explanation [former
                                                             date                              SIP  citation]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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    9 VAC 5, Chapter 30 Ambient Air Quality Standards [Part III]
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
5-30-15..........................  Reference conditions      6/24/09  1/26/11 [Insert page  Revised section.
                                                                       number where the
                                                                       document begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
5-30-80..........................  Lead................      6/24/09  1/26/11 [Insert page  Revised paragraphs
                                                                       number where the      A. and B.; added
                                                                       document begins].     paragraph C.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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* * * * *
    (e) * * *

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                                                            State
    Name of non-regulatory SIP          Applicable        submittal     EPA approval date        Additional
             revision                geographic  area        date                                Explanation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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Documents Incorporated by          Statewide...........      9/27/10  1/26/11 [Insert page  Revised sections.
 Reference (9 VAC 5-20-21,                                             number where the
 Sections E.1.a.(1)(q) and                                             document begins].
 E.1.a.(1)(r)).
 
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[FR Doc. 2011-1466 Filed 1-25-11; 8:45 am]
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