[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13493-13494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5384]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2011-0029; FRL-9643-3]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and 
Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; North Carolina 
and South Carolina; Charlotte; Determination of Attainment by 
Applicable Attainment Date for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standards

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is determining that the bi-state Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock 
Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina, 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment 
Area (hereafter referred to as ``the bi-state Charlotte Area'' or ``the 
Area'') has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality 
standards (NAAQS) by its applicable attainment date of June 15, 2011. 
The determination of attainment was made by EPA on November 15, 2011, 
and was based on quality-assured and certified monitoring data for the 
2008-2010 monitoring period. The bi-state Charlotte Area is comprised 
of Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and a portion 
of Iredell (Davidson and Coddle Creek Townships) Counties in North 
Carolina; and a portion of York County in South Carolina. In this 
action EPA is determining to find that the above-identified Area 
attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by its applicable attainment date. 
EPA is finalizing this action because it is consistent with the Clean 
Air Act (CAA) and its implementing regulations. Additionally, in this 
action EPA is clarifying an inadvertent citation error in the proposed 
approval for this action.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective on April 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
Number EPA-R04-OAR-2011-0029. 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 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this 
attainment determination, contact Mr. 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. Telephone number: 
(404) 562-9043; email address: [email protected]. For information 
regarding 8-hour ozone NAAQS, contact Ms. Jane Spann, Regulatory 
Development Section, at the same address above. Telephone number: (404) 
562-9029; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. What action is EPA taking?
II. What is the effect of this action?
III. What is EPA's final action?
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What action is EPA taking?

    Based on EPA's review of the quality-assured and certified 
monitoring data for 2008-2010, and in accordance with section 181(b)(2) 
of the CAA and EPA's regulations, EPA is determining that the bi-state 
Charlotte Area attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the applicable 
attainment date of June 15, 2011.\1\
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    \1\ Effective June 15, 2004, EPA designated the bi-state 
Charlotte Area as a moderate area under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. 
Moderate areas for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS had an applicable 
attainment date of June 15, 2010, unless the Area qualified for an 
extension. On May 31, 2011, EPA took final action to extend the 
applicable attainment date for the bi-state Charlotte Area to June 
15, 2011. See 76 FR 31245 for more information.
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    On November 15, 2011, EPA published a final rulemaking for the bi-
state Charlotte Area which served to suspend the requirements for the 
State to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably 
available control measures (RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP) 
plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation 
Plan (SIP) revisions related to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS so long as the Area continues to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS. See 76 FR 70656. This final rulemaking also includes useful 
background information on the 8-hour ozone NAAQS relevant to the bi-
state Charlotte Area. Today's action finalizes EPA's determination that 
the bi-state Charlotte Area attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the 
applicable attainment date of June 15, 2011. Today's action is simply 
focused on the date by which the Area had attaining data.
    Other specific requirements of the determination and the rationale 
for EPA's action are explained in the notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPR) published on December 29, 2011 (76 FR 81901). The comment period 
closed on January 30, 2012. No comments were received in response to 
the NPR.
    Also, in the NPR, EPA stated that its obligations to determine if 
an area attained the 1997 8-hour NAAQS by its applicable attainment 
date were found under CAA section 179(c). See 76 FR 81902. The citation 
to section 179(c) was incorrect. EPA notes that for an area such as 
Charlotte, which is designated moderate nonattainment for the 1997 8-
hour ozone standard, the proper citation is CAA section 181(b)(2)(A). 
Thus CAA section 181(b)(2) is the correct citation for the basis of 
today's action.

II. What is the effect of this action?

    Today's action is a determination that the bi-state Charlotte Area 
attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by its applicable attainment date 
of June 15, 2011, consistent with CAA section 181(b)(2). Finalizing 
this action does not constitute a redesignation of bi-state Charlotte 
Area to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS under section 
107(d)(3) of the CAA. Further, finalizing this action does not involve 
approving maintenance plans for the bi-state Charlotte Area as required 
under section 175A of the CAA, nor would it find that the bi-state 
Charlotte Area has met all other requirements for redesignation. The 
designation status of the bi-state Charlotte Area remains nonattainment 
for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS until such time as EPA determines that 
the Area meets the CAA requirements for redesignation to attainment and 
takes action to redesignate the Area.

III. What is EPA's final action?

    EPA is determining, based on quality-assured and certified 
monitoring data for the 2008-2010 monitoring period, that the bi-state 
Charlotte Area attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the applicable 
attainment date of June 15, 2011. This action is being taken pursuant 
to section 181(b)(2) of the CAA

[[Page 13494]]

and is consistent with the CAA and its implementing regulations.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action makes a determination of attainment by the applicable 
attainment date, based on air quality, and would 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 determination of attainment by the attainment date 
for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS final approval for the bi-state 
Charlotte Area does not have tribal implications as specified by 
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the 
determination does not have substantial direct effects on an Indian 
Tribe. The Catawba Indian Nation Reservation is located within the 
South Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte nonattainment area. 
Generally SIPs do not apply in Indian country throughout the United 
States. However, for purposes of the Catawba Indian Nation Reservation 
in Rock Hill, the South Carolina SIP does apply within the Reservation. 
Pursuant to the Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act, S.C. Code Ann. 
27-16-120, ``all state and local environmental laws and regulations 
apply to the [Catawba Indian Nation] and Reservation and are fully 
enforceable by all relevant state and local agencies and authorities.'' 
Pursuant to Executive Order 13175 and the EPA Policy on Consultation 
and Coordination with Indian Tribes, in a letter dated October 13, 
2011, EPA extended the opportunity for consultation between EPA and 
Catawba. Consultation with the Catawba Tribe began on October 14, 2011, 
and ended on October 31, 2011. The views and concerns raised by the 
Catawba Indian Nation during consultation have been taken into account 
in this final rule. Furthermore, EPA notes today's action 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 May 7, 2012. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of these final rules do not affect 
the finality of these actions 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, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: February 22, 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 II--North Carolina

0
2. Section 52.1779 is amended by adding paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.1779  Control strategy: Ozone.

* * * * *
    (b) Based upon EPA's review of the air quality data for the 3-year 
period 2008-2010, EPA determined that the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, 
North Carolina-South Carolina, 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment Area 
attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date 
of June 15, 2011. Therefore, EPA has met the requirement pursuant to 
CAA section 181(b)(2) to determine, based on the Area's air quality as 
of the attainment date, whether the Area attained the standard. EPA 
also determined that the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-
South Carolina, 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment Area is not subject to 
the consequences of failing to attain pursuant to section 181(b)(2).

Subpart PP--South Carolina

0
3. Section 52.2125 is amended by adding paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.2125  Control strategy: Ozone.

* * * * *
    (b) Based upon EPA's review of the air quality data for the 3-year 
period 2008-2010, EPA determined that the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, 
North Carolina-South Carolina, 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment Area 
attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date 
of June 15, 2011. Therefore, EPA has met the requirement pursuant to 
CAA section 181(b)(2) to determine, based on the Area's air quality as 
of the attainment date, whether the Area attained the standard. EPA 
also determined that the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-
South Carolina, 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment Area is not subject to 
the consequences of failing to attain pursuant to section 181(b)(2).

[FR Doc. 2012-5384 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
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