[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12487-12491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4988]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0050-201207(a); FRL-9639-4]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Georgia; 
Atlanta; Fine Particulate Matter 2002 Base Year Emissions Inventory

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve the fine 
particulate matter (PM2.5) 2002 base year emissions 
inventory, portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision 
submitted by the State of Georgia on July 6, 2010. The emissions 
inventory is part of the Atlanta, Georgia (hereafter referred to as 
``the Atlanta Area'' or ``Area''), PM2.5 attainment 
demonstration that was submitted for the 1997 annual PM2.5 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This action is being 
taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This direct final rule is effective April 30, 2012 without 
further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by April 2, 2012. 
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 No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2012-0050, by one of the following methods:
    1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
    2. Email: [email protected].
    3. Fax: (404) 562-9019.
    4. Mail: ``EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0050,'' Regulatory Development Section, 
Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.
    5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Lynorae Benjamin, Regulatory 
Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics 
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Such deliveries are 
only accepted during the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. 
The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through 
Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding Federal holidays.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R04-OAR-
2012-0050. 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 through www.regulations.gov or 
email, information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. 
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 email 
comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your 
email 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

[[Page 12488]]

viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the 
EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    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 at the Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning 
Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. EPA requests that if at all possible, you 
contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section to schedule your inspection. The Regional Office's official 
hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Lakeman, Regulatory Development 
Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management 
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth 
Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number is (404) 
562-9043. Mr. Lakeman can be reached via electronic mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background
II. Analysis of State's Submittal
III. Final Action
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

    On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 36852), EPA established an annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS at 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\) 
based on a 3-year average of annual mean PM2.5 
concentrations. On January 5, 2005 (70 FR 944), EPA published its air 
quality designations and classifications for the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS based upon air quality monitoring data for 
calendar years 2001-2003. These designations became effective on April 
5, 2005. The Atlanta Area (which is comprised of Barrow, Bartow, 
Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, 
Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, 
Spalding and Walton Counties in their entireties and portions of Heard 
and Putnam Counties) was designated nonattainment for the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS. See title 40 CFR 81.311.
    Designation of an area as nonattainment starts the process for a 
state to develop and submit to EPA a SIP under title 1, part D of the 
CAA. This SIP must include, among other elements, a demonstration of 
how the NAAQS will be attained in the nonattainment area as 
expeditiously as practicable but no later than the date required by the 
CAA. Under CAA section 172(b), a state has up to three years after an 
area's designation as nonattainment to submit its SIP to EPA. For the 
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, these SIPs were due April 5, 2008. See 40 
CFR 51.1002(a).
    On July 6, 2010, Georgia submitted an attainment demonstration and 
associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), a reasonable 
further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, a 2002 base year 
emissions inventory and other planning SIP revisions related to 
attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS in the Atlanta 
Area. Subsequently, on December 8, 2011 (76 FR 76620), EPA determined 
that the Atlanta Area attained the 1997 annual average PM2.5 
NAAQS. The determination of attainment was based upon complete, 
quality-assured and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2007-
2009 period, showing that the Area had monitored attainment of the 1997 
annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The requirements for the Area to submit 
an attainment demonstration and associated RACM, RFP plan, contingency 
measures, and other planning SIP revisions related to attainment of the 
standard were suspended as a result of the determination of attainment, 
so long as the Area continues to attain the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS. See 40 CFR 51.1004(c).
    On December 29, 2011, Georgia withdrew the Atlanta Area's 
attainment demonstration (except the emissions inventory) as allowed by 
40 CFR 51.1004(c); however, such withdrawal does not suspend the 
emissions inventory requirement found in CAA section 172(c)(3). Section 
172(c)(3) of the CAA requires submission and approval of a 
comprehensive, accurate, and current inventory of actual emissions. EPA 
is now approving the emissions inventory portion of the SIP revision 
submitted by the State of Georgia on July 6, 2010, as required by 
section 172(c)(3).

II. Analysis of State's Submittal

    As discussed above, section 172(c)(3) of the CAA requires areas to 
submit a comprehensive, accurate and current inventory of actual 
emissions from all sources of the relevant pollutant or pollutants in 
such area. Georgia selected 2002 as base year for the emissions 
inventory per 40 CFR 51.1008(b). Emissions contained in the Atlanta 
attainment plan cover the general source categories of point sources, 
non-road mobile sources, area sources, on-road mobile sources, and 
biogenic sources. A detailed discussion of the emissions inventory 
development can be found in Appendix H of the Georgia submittal; a 
summary is provided below.
    The tables below provide a summary of the annual 2002 emissions of 
nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and 
PM2.5.

                                       Table 1--2002 Point and Area Sources Annual Emissions for the Atlanta Area
                                                                     [Tons per year]
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                                                                           Point sources                                   Area sources
                         County                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                NOX             SO2            PM2.5            NOX             SO2            PM2.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barrow..................................................            22.0             1.2            56.7          195.7            318.0           743.5
Bartow..................................................        37,155.1       162,286.8         2,327.0          552.7          1,002.7         1,574.2
Carroll.................................................            23.6             5.1            44.6          573.4          1,002.6         1,678.6
Cherokee................................................            75.1             3.5             3.8          452.4            488.7         2,138.3
Clayton.................................................           109.1             0.0             0.7          632.3            768.3           768.6
Cobb....................................................         5,371.3        28,921.6           222.6        2,284.4          2,728.5         2,905.0
Coweta..................................................         9,044.5        41,546.3           283.6          467.5            647.2         1,653.8
DeKalb..................................................           179.3             3.8             4.9        2,244.1          2,739.0         2,534.4
Douglas.................................................            21.3            12.2             0.5          285.3            334.5           824.8

[[Page 12489]]

 
Fayette.................................................             0.0             0.0             0.0          387.7            543.6         1,180.2
Forsyth.................................................            45.5             8.2             1.0          430.5            578.2         1,681.8
Fulton..................................................         1,993.9         1,973.8           597.2        3,495.8          3,797.6         2,717.9
Gwinnett................................................            32.5             0.0             0.0        2,340.1          3,083.1         3,153.5
Hall....................................................           107.6           579.0             1.6        1,142.4          2,175.9         2,539.6
Heard...................................................        20,492.7        73,551.3           523.7           87.8             64.2           496.1
Henry...................................................         2,352.1             0.1             0.4          353.3            380.1         1,777.4
Newton..................................................             1.2             0.0             6.3          377.7            553.1         1,337.0
Paulding................................................             0.0             0.0             0.0          197.0            151.2         1,426.5
Putnam..................................................         4,588.2        12,138.8           158.0           31.24            38.0           110.4
Rockdale................................................            30.5             0.6             0.1          447.9            738.9         1,133.2
Spalding................................................             1.8             0.3             2.4          368.7            595.9         1,006.9
Walton..................................................             4.0             0.0             0.2          245.6            272.8         1,108.7
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                                     Table 2--2002 Non-Road and Mobile Sources Annual Emissions for the Atlanta Area
                                                                     [Tons per year]
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                                                                         Non-road sources                                 Mobile sources
                         County                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                NOX             SO2            PM2.5            NOX             SO2            PM2.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barrow..................................................           504.1            42.1            31.5        1,916.7             69.3            34.8
Bartow..................................................         1,404.8           105.9            77.8        5,325.6            180.8            85.5
Carroll.................................................           857.0            77.4            63.6        3,895.3            135.9            65.7
Cherokee................................................         1,238.1           135.9           133.6        4,399.0            176.6            79.6
Clayton.................................................         6,874.5           596.7         1,526.8        6,226.5            254.5            99.5
Cobb....................................................         4,415.6           384.2           384.2       14,544.5            600.7           231.4
Coweta..................................................         1,168.5            96.1            75.7        3,798.2            145.9            67.9
DeKalb..................................................         3,452.0           310.6           325.4       17,140.6            693.4           267.5
Douglas.................................................           667.5            60.2            47.2        3,697.7            148.4            60.3
Fayette.................................................           774.3            72.2            62.3        2,231.9             94.0            40.9
Forsyth.................................................         1,077.6           107.6           111.6        3,463.4            143.9            70.6
Fulton..................................................         7,160.4           676.1           573.1       27,066.9          1,087.0           422.7
Gwinnett................................................         5,283.3           509.0           525.5       15,184.7            613.8           250.6
Hall....................................................         1,359.9           112.3           114.5        5,170.9            183.7            86.3
Heard (partial).........................................            80.6             8.8            14.8          459.1             19.0             8.7
Henry...................................................         1,655.7           161.3           125.2        5,784.5            219.9           100.9
Newton..................................................           695.7            67.9            56.6        2,765.4             95.2            47.0
Paulding................................................           945.7            84.5            61.4        2,034.3             84.4            41.4
Putnam (partial)........................................            29.5             2.6             2.8          171.6              7.1             5.0
Rockdale................................................           570.0            47.7            41.3        2,078.9             86.3            34.5
Spalding................................................           316.1            25.0            24.9        2,103.9             74.5            35.4
Walton..................................................           589.9            60.6            53.2        2,294.7             84.1            42.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The 172(c)(3) emissions inventory is developed by the incorporation 
of data from multiple sources and data. States were required to develop 
and submit to EPA a triennial emissions inventory according to the 
Consolidated Emissions Reporting Rule for all source categories (i.e., 
point, area, nonroad mobile and on-road mobile). This inventory often 
forms the basis of data that are updated with more recent information 
and data that also is used in their attainment demonstration modeling 
inventory. Such was the case in the development of the 2002 emissions 
inventory that was submitted in the state's attainment SIP for this 
Area. The 2002 emissions inventory was based on data developed with the 
Visibility Improvement State and Tribal Association of the Southeast 
(VISTAS) contractors and submitted by the States to the 2002 National 
Emissions Inventory. Several iterations of the 2002 inventories were 
developed for the different emissions source categories resulting from 
revisions and updates to the data. This resulted in the use of version 
G2 of the updated data to represent the point sources' emissions. Data 
from many databases, studies and models (e.g., Vehicle Miles Traveled, 
fuel programs, the NONROAD 2002 model data for commercial marine 
vessels, locomotives and Clean Air Market Division, etc.) resulted in 
the inventory submitted in this SIP. The data were developed according 
to current EPA emissions inventory guidance ``Emissions Inventory 
Guidance for Implementation of Ozone and Particulate Matter National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and Regional Haze Regulations'' 
(August 2005) and a quality assurance project plan that was developed 
through VISTAS and approved by EPA. EPA agrees that the process used to 
develop this inventory was adequate to meet the requirements of CAA 
Sec. 172(c)(3) and the implementing regulations.
    EPA has reviewed Georgia's emissions inventory and finds that it is 
adequate for the purposes of meeting section 172(c)(3) emissions 
inventory requirement. The emissions inventory is approvable because 
the emissions were

[[Page 12490]]

developed consistent with the CAA, implementing regulations and EPA 
guidance for emission inventories.

III. Final Action

    EPA is approving the 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of 
the SIP revision submitted by the State of Georgia on July 6, 2010. 
This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the CAA. EPA is 
publishing this rule without prior proposal because the Agency views 
this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse 
comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal 
Register publication, EPA is publishing a separate document that will 
serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision should adverse 
comments be filed. This rule will be effective April 30, 2012 without 
further notice unless the Agency receives adverse comments by April 2, 
2012.
    If EPA receives such comments, then EPA will publish a document 
withdrawing the final rule and informing the public that the rule will 
not take effect. All public comments received will then be addressed in 
a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. 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 April 30, 2012 and no 
further action will be taken on the proposed rule.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, 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 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.
    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).
    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 April 30, 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. 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 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, Particulate 
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements and Sulfur oxides.

    Dated: February 10, 2012.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.

    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 L--Georgia

0
2. Section 52.570(e) is amended by adding a new entry 31 to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.570  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

[[Page 12491]]



                                 EPA-Approved Georgia Non-Regulatory Provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       State submittal
 Name of nonregulatory SIP provision      Applicable geographic or     date/Effective       EPA approval date
                                             nonattainment area             date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
31. Atlanta 1997 Fine Particulate      Barrow, Bartow, Carroll,             07/06/2010  3/1/2012. [Insert
 Matter 2002 Base Year Emissions        Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb,                         citation of
 Inventory.                             Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas,                         publication].
                                        Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton,
                                        Gwinnett, Hall, Henry,
                                        Newton, Paulding, Rockdale,
                                        Spalding and Walton Counties
                                        in their entireties and
                                        portions of Heard and Putnam
                                        Counties.
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[FR Doc. 2012-4988 Filed 2-29-12; 8:45 am]
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