[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3386-3389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1300]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2011-0605; FRL-9620-2]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Pennsylvania; Clean Vehicles Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision 
submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This SIP revision 
contains Pennsylvania's Clean Vehicle Program, which adopts 
California's second generation low emission vehicle program for light-
duty vehicles (LEV II). The Clean Air Act (CAA) contains specific 
authority allowing any state to adopt new motor vehicle emissions 
standards that are identical to California's standards in lieu of 
applicable Federal standards. Pennsylvania has adopted a Clean Vehicle 
Program that incorporates by reference provisions of California's LEV 
II rules and specifies a transition mechanism for compliance with these 
clean vehicle standards in Pennsylvania. EPA is approving this SIP 
revision, in accordance with the requirements of the CAA, which will 
help Pennsylvania to achieve and maintain attainment of the National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective on February 23, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
Number EPA-R03-OAR-2011-0605. All documents in the docket are listed in 
the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the electronic 
docket, some information is not publicly available, i.e., confidential 
business information (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 through www.regulations.gov or in hard 
copy for public inspection 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 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental 
Protection, Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market 
Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rehn, (215) 814-2176, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Throughout this document, whenever ``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' is 
used, we mean EPA. On November 4, 2011 (76 FR 68381), EPA published a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) for the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. The NPR proposed approval of Pennsylvania's Clean Vehicle 
Program rule, in which the Commonwealth adopted California's Low 
Emission Vehicle Program (California LEV), under authority of section 
177 of the CAA. The formal SIP Clean Vehicle SIP revision was submitted 
by Pennsylvania on May 31, 2007.

II. Summary of SIP Revision

    Pennsylvania adopted its revised Clean Vehicles Program rule and 
published it as a final rule in December 9, 2006 edition of the 
Pennsylvania Bulletin (36 Pa.B. 7424). The Clean Vehicle Program rule 
was meant to formalize cessation of Pennsylvania's participation of the 
National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) program. The Commonwealth had 
participated in the NLEV program prior to implementation by EPA of its 
second general Federal motor vehicle emissions standards under the 1990 
CAA (i.e., Tier 2 standards). By model year 2006, Federal Tier 2 
standards had superseded prior NLEV standards, except where states had 
adopted California emission standards as an alternative to Federal 
emission standards, under authority granted under section 177 of the 
CAA. Pennsylvania had adopted California LEV program as a ``backstop'' 
to its NLEV program, to take effect upon the expiration of the NLEV 
program. Pennsylvania's May 2007 Clean Vehicles SIP revision reiterated 
the Commonwealth's participation in the California LEV program, updated 
its incorporation by reference to include the most recent version of 
California's program, delayed the start date for the

[[Page 3387]]

Pennsylvania Clean Vehicle Program from model year 2006 to model year 
2008 (leaving the Tier 2 Federal standards as the compliance 
alternative for the 2006-2008 model years), and made changes to the 
Clean Vehicle Program to reflect post-1998 changes made by California 
and specified a 3-year early credit earning period within which vehicle 
manufacturers could comply with the program's fleet average non-methane 
organic gases (NMOG) requirements. For a more complete summary and 
additional background information on the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicle 
program, refer to EPA's NPR published in the November 4, 2011 Federal 
Register.
    Other specific requirements of the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicle 
Program and EPA's rationale for our proposed action are explained in 
the NPR and will not be restated here. EPA received one public comment 
on the NPR, which was supportive of both Pennsylvania's adoption of and 
EPA's approval of the Clean Vehicle Program.

III. Final Action

    EPA is approving the Clean Vehicle Program as a revision to the 
Pennsylvania SIP.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. General Requirements

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA 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 CAA. 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 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 26, 2012. 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. This action to approve the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicle Program 
SIP 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, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: January 4, 2012.
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 part 52 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart NN--Pennsylvania

0
2. In Sec.  52.2020, the table in paragraph (c)(1) is amended by:
0
a. Revising the entry for Section 121.1.
0
b. Revising the entry for Section 126.401.
0
c. Removing the entry for Section 126.402.
0
d. Revising the entries for Sections 126.411, 126.412, and 126.413.
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e. Revising the heading between Sections 126.413 and 126.421.
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f. Revising the entries for Sections 126.421, 126.422, 126.423, 
126.424, and 126.425.
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g. Revising the entries for Sections 126.431, 126.432, and 126.441.
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h. Adding a new heading and entry for Section 126.451.
    The amendments read as follows:


Sec.  52.2020  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *

[[Page 3388]]



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                                                            State                                Additional
          State citation               Title/subject      effective     EPA approval date     explanation/ Sec.
                                                             date                             52.2063 citation
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                                       Title 25--Environmental Protection
                                           Article III--Air Resources
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                                         Chapter 121--General Provisions
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Section 121.1....................  Definitions.........      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  Adding definition of
                                                                       number where the      one term, revising
                                                                       document begins].     definitions of four
                                                                                             terms, and removing
                                                                                             definitions of five
                                                                                             terms.
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                                                  * * * * * * *
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                                  Chapter 126--Motor Vehicle and Fuels Programs
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                                                  * * * * * * *
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                                Subchapter D. Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program
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                                               General Provisions
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Section 126.401..................  Purpose.............      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                                                       number where the
                                                                       document begins].
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                                       Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 126.411..................  General requirements      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                                                       number where the
                                                                       document begins].
Section 126.412..................  Emission                  12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    requirements.                      number where the
                                                                       document begins].
Section 126.413..................  Exemptions..........      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page
                                                                       number where the
                                                                       document begins].
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                                      Applicable New Motor Vehicle Testing
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Section 126.421..................  Exemptions..........      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                                                       number where the
                                                                       document begins].
Section 126.422..................  New motor vehicle         12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    compliance testing.                number where the
                                                                       document begins].
Section 126.423..................  Assembly line             12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    testing.                           number where the
                                                                       document begins].
Section 126.424..................  In-use motor vehicle      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    enforcement testing.               number where the
                                                                       document begins].
Section 126.425..................  In-use surveillance       12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    testing.                           number where the
                                                                       document begins].
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                                    Motor Vehicle Manufacturers' Obligations
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Section 126.431..................  Warranty and recall.      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                                                       number where the
                                                                       document begins].
Section 126.432..................  Reporting                 12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    requirements.                      number where the
                                                                       document begins].
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                                      Motor Vehicle Dealer Responsibilities
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Section 126.441..................  Responsibility of         12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    motor vehicle                      number where the
                                    dealers.                           document begins].
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                                           Department Responsibilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 126.451..................  Responsibili ties of      12/9/06  1/24/12 [Insert page  ....................
                                    the Department.                    number where the
                                                                       document begins].
 
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[FR Doc. 2012-1300 Filed 1-23-12; 8:45 am]
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