[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28261-28264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11461]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2011-0925; FRL-9669-3]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Pennsylvania; Nonattainment New Source Review Rules

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 on August 9, 2007. This 
revision pertains to the preconstruction permitting requirements of 
Pennsylvania's nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) program. The 
revision is intended to update Pennsylvania's nonattainment NSR 
regulations to meet EPA's 2002 NSR Reform regulations (NSR Reform), and 
to satisfy the requirements related to antibacksliding. Additionally, 
the proposed revision makes clarifying changes to regulations that are 
not related to NSR Reform. This action is being taken under the Clean 
Air Act (CAA).

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective on June 13, 2012.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
Number EPA-R03-OAR-2011-0925. 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: Gerallyn Duke, (215) 814-2084, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Throughout this document, whenever ``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' is 
used, we mean EPA. On January 20, 2012 (77 FR 2937), EPA published a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) for the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. The NPR proposed approval of a SIP revision pertaining to 
preconstruction permitting requirements under Pennsylvania's 
nonattainment NSR program. The formal SIP revision was submitted by the 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) on August 
9, 2007.
    The history of this SIP, the NSR Reform Program, and South Coast 
Air Quality Management District v. EPA \1\ (South Coast) decision 
regarding antibacksliding provisions of the Eight-Hour Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard (69 FR 23951), are described in the NPR. 
The purpose of this SIP revision is to incorporate

[[Page 28262]]

changes to Pennsylvania's nonattainment NSR rules made as a result of 
EPA's 2002 NSR Reform, and to address the antibacksliding provisions of 
the South Coast decision.
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    \1\ In 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the District 
of Columbia Circuit found in et al., 472 F.3d 882 (D.C. Cir. 2006) 
that NSR is a control measure and to weaken its requirements under 
the SIP would constitute impermissible backsliding under the CAA.
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    In summary, the current NSR Reform Rules: (1) Provide a new method 
for determining baseline actual emissions; (2) adopt an actual-to-
projected actual methodology for determining whether a major 
modification has occurred; and (3) allow major stationary sources to 
comply with Plantwide Applicability Limits (PALs) to avoid having a 
significant emissions increase that triggers the requirements of the 
major NSR program (68 FR 63021 and 72 FR 32526). The 2002 NSR Reform 
Rules require that state agencies adopt and submit revisions to their 
SIP permitting programs implementing the minimum program elements of 
the 2002 NSR Reform Rules no later than January 2, 2006. In addition, 
as a result of the South Coast decision, all one-hour ozone NAAQS major 
NSR requirements must remain in place where classifications under the 
newer eight-hour ozone standard imposed less stringent NSR 
requirements.

II. Summary of SIP Revision

    The SIP submittal consists of changes to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 121, 
General Provisions, and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127, Construction, 
Modification, Reactivation, and Operation of Sources. This action will 
update Pennsylvania's nonattainment NSR regulations as previously 
approved on December 9, 1997 (62 FR 64722). It will incorporate for the 
first time the 2002 ``NSR Reform'' provisions into Pennsylvania's 
nonattainment NSR program, and will satisfy the requirements of the DC 
Circuit Court decision in South Coast regarding antibacksliding. The 
proposed regulations were adopted by Pennsylvania and became effective 
on May 19, 2007. Other specific requirements of the regulations and the 
rationale for EPA's proposed action are explained in the NPR and will 
not be restated here. No public comments were received on the NPR.

III. Final Action

    EPA is approving the August 9, 2007 SIP revision, amending 
Pennsylvania's NSR construction, modification, reactivation and 
operation permit programs at 25 Pa. Code Section 121.1 and 25 Pa. Code 
Chapter 127, 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 
Pennsylvania, 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 July 13, 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 pertaining to Pennsylvania' nonattainment NSR 
program 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, Carbon monoxide, 
Incorporation by reference, Administrative practice and procedure, Air 
pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, 
Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: April 19, 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.

[[Page 28263]]

Subpart NN--Pennsylvania

0
2. In Sec.  52.2020, the table in paragraph (c)(1) is amended by:
0
a. Adding entries for Title 25, Sections 127.201a, 127.203a, and 
127.218 in alphanumerical order.
0
b. Revising the existing entries for Title 25, Sections 121.1, 127.13, 
127.201, 127.202, 127.203, 127.204 through 127.210, 127.212, 127.213, 
127.215, and 127.217.
0
c. Removing the entries for Sections 127.211 and 127.214.
    The amendments read as follows:


Sec.  52.2020  Identification of plan.

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

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                                                                                                  Additional
         State citation              Title/subject          State        EPA approval date     explanation/Sec.
                                                       effective date                          52.2063 citation
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                                       Title 25--Environmental Protection
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                                           Article III--Air Resources
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                                         Chapter 121--General Provisions
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Section 121.1..................  Definitions.........         5/19/07  5/14/2012 [Insert     Added 36 terms;
                                                                        page number where     Revised 9 terms;
                                                                        the document          Removed 5 terms.
                                                                        begins].
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                                                  * * * * * * *
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                 Chapter 127--Construction, Modification, Reactivation and Operation of Sources
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                                                  * * * * * * *
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                                    Subchapter B--Plan Approval Requirements
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Section 127.13.................  Extensions..........         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                                                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
 
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                                                  * * * * * * *
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                                         Subchapter E--New Source Review
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 127.201................  General requirements         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Paragraphs (d)
                                                                        number where the      through (f) added;
                                                                        document begins].     paragraph(c)
                                                                                              revised.
Section 127.201a...............  Measurements,                5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  New.
                                  abbreviations and                     number where the
                                  acronyms.                             document begins].
Section 127.202................  Effective Date......         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                                                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.203................  Facilities subject           5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Paragraphs (a)
                                  to special permit                     number where the      through (f)
                                  requirements.                         document begins].     revised.
Section 127.203a...............  Applicability                5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  New.
                                  determination.                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.204................  Emissions subject to         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                  this chapter.                         number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.205................  Special permit               5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                  requirements.                         number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.206................  ERC general                  5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                  requirements.                         number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.207................  Creditable emissions         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                  decrease or ERC                       number where the
                                  generation and                        document begins].
                                  creation.
Section 127.208................  ERC use and transfer         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                  requirements.                         number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.209................  ERC registry system.         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                                                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.210................  Offset ratios.......         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                                                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.212................  Portable facilities.         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                                                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.213................  Construction and             5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                  demolition.                           number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.215................  Reactivation........         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                                                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Section 127.217................  Clean Air Act Titles         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  Revised.
                                  III-V applicability.                  number where the
                                                                        document begins].
Section 127.218................  PALs................         5/19/07  5/14/12 [Insert page  New.
                                                                        number where the
                                                                        document begins].
 

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[FR Doc. 2012-11461 Filed 5-11-12; 8:45 am]
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