[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78720-78725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30885]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R05-OAR-2009-0965; FRL-9904-71-Region 5]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Indiana; Disapproval of State Implementation Plan Revision for 
ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On December 10, 2009, Indiana submitted a request for a 
revision to its sulfur dioxide (SO2) state implementation 
plan (SIP) for the ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor LLC (ArcelorMittal) 
facility in Porter County, Indiana. This revision would remove the 
SO2 emission limit for the blast furnace gas flare at the 
facility. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to 
disapprove this requested revision on March 20, 2013. The EPA is 
addressing comments and finalizing the disapproval action.

DATES: This final rule is effective on January 27, 2014.

[[Page 78721]]


ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. EPA-R05-OAR-2009-0965. All documents in the docket are listed on 
the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some 
information may not be 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 at the 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 
77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is 
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
Federal holidays. We recommend that you telephone Mary Portanova, 
Environmental Engineer, at (312) 353-5954 before visiting the Region 5 
office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Portanova, Environmental 
Engineer, Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-5954, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This supplementary information 
section is arranged as follows:

I. What is the background for this action?
II. What comments were received, and what is EPA's response?
III. What action is EPA taking?
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What is the background for this action?

    On December 10, 2009, the Indiana Department of Environmental 
Management (IDEM) submitted a request for revision of its 
SO2 SIP. This revision would amend 326 Indiana 
Administrative Code (IAC) 7-4-14, Porter County SO2 Emission 
Limitations, by removing the SO2 limit for the blast furnace 
flare at the ArcelorMittal steel mill. To be approved, this SIP 
revision request must comply with section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act 
(CAA), which states that the Administrator shall not approve a SIP 
revision if it would interfere with attainment and maintenance of the 
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), reasonable further 
progress, and any other applicable requirements. 42 U.S.C. 7410(l).
    After reviewing the state's submittal, EPA determined that the 
proposed SIP revision does not meet the requirements of CAA section 
110(l). Removal of the flare limit eliminates the only requirement 
which directly addresses the sulfur content of the blast furnace gas 
which ArcelorMittal uses to fuel other combustion units in the 
facility. Although blast furnace gas is considered to be a low-sulfur 
fuel, the state's submittal indicates that the sulfur content of blast 
furnace gas can vary, and the proposed SIP revision would allow 
ArcelorMittal's blast furnace gas to increase in sulfur content without 
limit. This would be inconsistent with the state's prior attainment 
demonstration for the SO2 NAAQS.
    The state has not fully evaluated the ambient impact of new 
operating scenarios in which ArcelorMittal generates and uses higher-
sulfur blast furnace gas. It did not provide sufficient information for 
EPA to confirm the assertion that the SIP emission limits would 
continue to be met, with or without the use of the flare, under maximum 
blast furnace capacity without limitations on blast furnace gas sulfur 
content. Since the state's SIP submittal did not meet the requirements 
of CAA section 110(l), EPA published a notice of proposed disapproval 
for this SIP revision request on March 20, 2013 (78 FR 17157). EPA 
received four letters commenting on the proposed disapproval.

II. What comments were received, and what is EPA's response?

    EPA received two comments in support of the proposed disapproval, 
from an Indiana public interest group (March 22, 2013) and a private 
citizen (April 18, 2013). Both IDEM and ArcelorMittal disagreed with 
the proposal to disapprove the SIP revision request. IDEM submitted its 
comments on April 18, 2013. ArcelorMittal submitted its comments on 
April 19, 2013. Their comments are addressed below.
    Comment: The flare limit represents an inequity in the state's 
treatment of blast furnace gas flares; a similar facility nearby does 
not have SO2 limits on its functionally identical flares. 
The limits for Lake County, Indiana, were established after the limits 
for Porter County, where ArcelorMittal is located. Emission inventories 
and modeling parameters had improved, and through extensive 
consultation with EPA, it was determined to be unnecessary to establish 
SO2 emission limits specific to the flares for similar 
facilities in Lake County (i.e. U.S. Steel Gary Works). IDEM was able 
to establish SIP limits for sources such as U.S. Steel Gary Works which 
did not include SO2 limits on the flares. EPA approved those 
limits. There is no material reason for ArcelorMittal's blast furnace 
gas flares in Porter County to be treated different from the blast 
furnace gas flares operated by U.S. Steel in Lake County. It would be 
arbitrary for EPA to disapprove the Porter County SIP revision to 
remove blast furnace gas flare limits as unnecessary and redundant 
limits after approving the 2005 Lake County SO2 SIP that did 
not include blast furnace gas flare limits because they were 
unnecessary and redundant. IDEM's attempt to remove this arbitrary 
difference between neighboring counties should be considered an 
appropriate correction to a historic error and approved. This SIP 
revision would harmonize the Lake and Porter County treatment of flares 
combusting excess blast furnace gas.
    Response: Indiana's December 10, 2009, submission did not 
demonstrate that ArcelorMittal's revised SO2 SIP would 
continue to protect the SO2 NAAQS or meet the requirements 
of CAA section 110(l). Therefore, the SIP revision cannot be approved. 
Emission limits, or the lack thereof, at other facilities are not 
relevant to this demonstration. The fact that SO2 SIPs have 
been approved without the need for SO2 limits on certain 
flares is not in itself a justification for removing SO2 
limits on flares from other sources in the absence of a showing that 
the removal will not interfere with attainment and maintenance of the 
NAAQS.
    Comment: This should not be considered a matter of backsliding or 
relaxation of the SIP, but a technical correction that is necessary to 
establish consistency. The limit should have been excluded from the 
start; therefore, this corrective action has no impact on the approved 
SIP or the modeling conducted to support it.
    Response: The state established ArcelorMittal's flare limit in the 
SIP as part of its strategy to attain and maintain the SO2 
NAAQS in Porter County. The SIP was approved by EPA in 1989 and has 
remained in effect. CAA section 110(l) does not provide an exception 
for ``technical corrections.'' Even if it did, it would not be 
appropriate to treat the state's December 10, 2009, SIP revision 
request as a technical correction because it can be expected to affect 
air quality and because the state has not provided a demonstration that 
in 1989 it did not intend to establish an SO2 limit 
applicable to the blast furnace flare now operated by ArcelorMittal. 
Likewise, to the extent that the commenter is suggesting the SIP 
provision was approved in error and should be

[[Page 78722]]

corrected pursuant to CAA section 110(k)(6), EPA notes that the state 
has not provided a basis for concluding that the approval of this 
provision in 1989 was an error. In addition, EPA does not believe that 
emission limit relaxations can be justified on the basis of 
establishing consistency without also satisfying the requirements of 
CAA section 110(l). Therefore, the proposed SIP revision's effects on 
the existing SIP and on the state's maintenance of the NAAQS must be 
evaluated in accordance with CAA section 110(l).
    Comment: IDEM and ArcelorMittal were led in 2007-2009 to believe 
that the flare limit removal would be approvable. IDEM and 
ArcelorMittal received no information to the contrary until 2012. EPA 
was unwilling to establish fruitful dialogue with the state prior to 
proposing disapproval. In its proposed disapproval, EPA did not cite or 
recognize the wealth of information provided to supplement the SIP 
revision.
    Response: EPA's concerns with this SIP revision did not arise until 
EPA received and began review of Indiana's December 10, 2009, SIP 
submittal. Following a thorough review of the submittal and additional 
information subsequently provided by Indiana, EPA concluded that the 
submittal did not meet the requirements of CAA section 110(l). EPA 
regularly communicated the progress of EPA's review of the submittal 
during monthly conference calls with IDEM and offered opportunities for 
further dialogue, which is documented in call summaries prepared by 
IDEM.
    As early as January 2010, EPA identified potential issues with this 
SIP revision request. EPA acknowledges that IDEM and ArcelorMittal 
provided EPA with additional information in response to its questions, 
which EPA carefully considered. However, the state's submittal, 
including supplemental information, did not demonstrate that the 
proposed SIP revision would satisfy CAA section 110(l). IDEM's monthly 
call summaries indicate that EPA had begun working on a disapproval in 
January 2012, after expressing continuing concerns in September 2011. 
EPA formally communicated the deficiencies of the revision in the March 
20, 2013, notice of proposed rulemaking (78 FR 17157). EPA's proposal 
was based on an evaluation of the state's official submittal using the 
applicable requirements of the CAA, related regulations and guidance.
    Comment: The flares should not have a limit, especially a mass 
limit (pounds per hour), because the flare needs to be available for 
full usage to maintain operational safety. Additionally, a flare limit 
presents a major hardship for compliance testing and enforcement.
    Response: EPA agrees that the ArcelorMittal flare must be allowed 
to operate as necessary for operational safety and proper disposal of 
waste gases. EPA also agrees that direct compliance testing of flare 
emissions can be difficult. ArcelorMittal's existing flare emission 
limit would not limit the flare's actual usage while the blast furnace 
gas generated by the facility continued to meet the flare emission 
limit. Deleting the flare limit, however, has additional consequences 
for the SIP which Indiana did not adequately address in its SIP 
revision request.
    Comment: The commenter states that the Montana Sulphur case which 
EPA cited does not apply to this SIP revision because Indiana's SIP 
includes limits on all the emissions from blast furnace gas combustion 
that were used in the modeling to demonstrate attainment. The flares 
were not attributed any mass emissions in the modeling demonstration or 
the SIP. The Montana Sulphur case involved a state's decision to 
include flares in the modeling demonstration but not include 
corresponding emission limits in the SIP rule.
    Response: The Montana Sulphur case affirms that flares are not 
exempt from having SIP emission limits, particularly where flare 
emissions were quantified in an attainment demonstration that assumed 
flare emissions would occur at a certain level. Indiana has submitted 
information to EPA indicating that the blast furnace flare was included 
in the original modeled attainment demonstration for the Porter County 
SO2 SIP, with its SO2 emissions calculated from 
blast furnace gas with a sulfur content of 0.07 pounds SO2 
per million British Thermal Units (lb/mmBtu). Allowing higher-sulfur 
blast furnace gas would affect SO2 emissions at several 
emission points, including the flare, which could affect the adequacy 
of the prior modeled attainment demonstration, which relied upon the 
use of blast furnace gas with a sulfur content of 0.07 lb/mmBtu. 
Therefore, it is reasonable for the SIP to require the flare and the 
other sources using blast furnace gas to meet that emission rate or 
demonstrate compliance with applicable emission limits based on that 
emission rate. Indiana has not provided a demonstration which fully 
addresses the effect on the attainment demonstration of relaxing the 
SIP requirements to allow the facility to generate, use, and flare 
higher-sulfur blast furnace gas. Likewise, in the SIP disapproval that 
was the subject of the Montana Sulphur case, the state's attainment 
demonstration had assumed SO2 emissions from flares would 
occur at a certain rate, but had not shown in its enforceable SIP 
emissions limits how the assumed emissions would be achieved. It is 
true that EPA has not required all flares in all SO2 SIPs to 
be subjected to emission limits. But where an attainment demonstration 
relies upon SO2 emissions to occur at certain levels, 
including those from flares, the SIP must contain adequate emission 
limits to support the demonstration. The problem both in Montana 
Sulphur and here was that the attainment demonstration submitted by the 
state could not be so supported. (The blast furnace flare limit helped 
support Indiana's demonstration for the ArcelorMittal facility when the 
SO2 SIP was approved in 1989.) Consequently, EPA's 
disapproval of the proposed SIP relaxation is fully consistent with the 
Court's reasoning in the Montana Sulphur case and with EPA's SIP 
disapproval action that was the subject of that case.
    Comment: The flare SO2 limit is in units of lb/mmBtu. 
This is not a mass limit, which would be given as pounds of 
SO2 per hour (lb/hr). Therefore the form of the limit is not 
designed to be protective of the NAAQS. Only the mass based lb/hr 
limits are relevant to ensuring SO2 NAAQS attainment in the 
SIP. The 0.07 lb/mmBtu SO2 emission rate is a factor that is 
no longer necessary or relevant after the lb/hr limits were established 
and included in the SIP. Exclusion of this limit is no less protective 
than the current SIP limit.
    Response: Emission limits given in units of lb/mmBtu are common in 
SO2 SIPs. By directly limiting the sulfur content of the 
fuels combusted in a given unit or facility, this type of limit allows 
flexibility of unit operations. When the individual units are modeled 
at their maximum heat input rates (in units of million British Thermal 
Units per hour), assuming fuel at the lb/mmBtu limit, the SIP can be 
shown to protect the NAAQS for any actual heat input rate, including 
continual maximum operations, with compliant fuel. The removal of a lb/
mmBtu emission limit would enable the burning of a higher-sulfur fuel, 
which could result in SO2 concentrations in excess of the 
NAAQS and adversely affect public health.
    Comment: Given the existing flare SIP limit of 0.07 lb/mmBtu, an 
emission rate of 8.9 lb/hr could be assumed for the flare, for modeling 
purposes. Over a year of continuous operation, this would total less 
than 39 tons per year, which is below the Significant Emission

[[Page 78723]]

Rate for SO2 (40 tons per year). Actual emissions would be 
lower, because flares operate intermittently. Since the facility is in 
an attainment area, the flare would normally be excluded from modeling 
because it was considered de minimis. Recent EPA guidance suggests that 
intermittent sources can be excluded from modeling.
    Response: The commenter's statements regarding the relative 
importance of the flare's SO2 emissions do not eliminate the 
need for a CAA section 110(l) demonstration addressing the full effects 
of the proposed SIP revision. The comment references the flare's total 
annual emissions while in compliance with the current SO2 
emission limit, but it does not consider the increase in annual 
SO2 emissions which the proposed SIP revision would allow. 
In comparing the flare's total annual emissions to the Significant 
Emission Rate, the commenter appears to be referencing New Source 
Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration program requirements 
which are not relevant to this SIP action. The designation of an area 
as attainment of the NAAQS does not automatically exempt emission 
sources from inclusion in SIP attainment demonstrations. It is not 
clear that ArcelorMittal's blast furnace flare would qualify as an 
intermittent source under EPA's March 1, 2011, memorandum Additional 
Clarification Regarding Application of Appendix W Modeling Guidance for 
the 1-hour NO2 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (which 
is what EPA assumes the commenter is referencing), or that it would be 
appropriate to disregard the flare's emissions in a SIP modeling 
analysis per this memorandum, and the state did not provide an analysis 
justifying such an approach within a modeled demonstration for the 1-
hour SO2 standard.
    Comment: The pressure surge events that concern EPA are rare and 
unexpected events that cannot be quantified. The allowable 
SO2 emission rates are sufficiently conservative to account 
for all such surges within the current allowable emissions inventory. 
Therefore, the commenter disagrees with EPA's assertion that the SIP 
revision would enable an increase in allowable SO2 
emissions.
    Response: EPA referenced pressure surges in the March 20, 2013, 
notice of proposed rulemaking because the documentation provided by the 
state indicated that the blast furnace flare gas generation or 
distribution systems were known to experience pressure surge events. 
However, the state's declarations regarding flare usage and worst-case 
facility operations did not address these events. We acknowledge the 
commenter's additional assurances regarding the frequency and magnitude 
of pressure surges. As discussed above, EPA is not solely concerned 
with pressure surge events, but also with the effect on air quality of 
removing the blast furnace flare limit from the SIP.
    Comment: The commenter declared a strong economic incentive to use 
this gas as fuel, flaring as little of it as possible.
    Response: EPA understands that it is ArcelorMittal's intent to use 
its blast furnace gas as fuel rather than flaring it, thus minimizing 
flare emissions. However, the company has acknowledged the need to use 
the flare for the safe operation of the blast furnace gas operating 
system, regardless of the economic incentives to do otherwise. Whether 
the flare is used frequently or not, the full effect of removing the 
flare's emission limit must be addressed. The state did not provide a 
CAA section 110(l) demonstration which adequately addressed the effect 
of the proposed SIP revision on air quality, taking into consideration 
the facility's ability to continue using all of its generated gases as 
fuel and the lack of a sulfur limit on blast furnace gas.
    Comment: The commenter stated that the amount of process gas 
generation is limited by enforceable restrictions. The facility's Part 
70 operating permit places a limit on the amount of hot metal that can 
be produced in the blast furnace, which effectively limits the amount 
of blast furnace gas that can be produced by the facility. The coke 
oven batteries have enforceable SIP limits on the amount of coke oven 
gas that can be produced. The commenter said that the maximum amount of 
blast furnace gas and coke oven gas that can be generated within these 
restrictions can be consumed in the existing combustion units when 
operated at maximum capacity. When IDEM modeled the allowable emissions 
from the facility, combustion of all the blast furnace gas and coke 
oven gas is properly included and there is no additional blast furnace 
gas to attribute to the flare.
    Response: The commenter referred to hot metal production limits 
within the facility's Part 70 permit which were originally derived from 
a construction permit and are therefore permanent. The commenter stated 
that these restrictions would affect blast furnace gas production, but 
did not provide calculations or documentation which identified the 
maximum amount of blast furnace gas that can be generated while in 
compliance with the hot metal limitation in the facility's Part 70 
permit. The total coke oven gas production allowable under the cited 
coke battery limits was not given. The SIP includes SO2 
emission limits for various fuel combustion units at ArcelorMittal 
which can use blast furnace gas and coke oven gas, such as the blast 
furnace stoves, coke battery underfire, slab mill soaking pits, and 
power station boilers, which are referred to in this document as ``the 
combustion units.'' No calculations were provided to show the amount of 
process gas by volume which can be burned in the combustion units at 
their maximum heat input capacities, for comparison with maximum gas 
production in support of the commenter's assertion. The state's 
submittal did not address the amounts of each fuel gas which 
corresponded to the emission rates used in the dispersion modeling 
analysis which the state cited in support of the SIP revision. 
Therefore, EPA does not have sufficient information to confirm that the 
maximum amount of blast furnace gas and coke oven gas which can be 
generated within the facility's enforceable production restrictions can 
be entirely consumed in the combustion units when operated in 
compliance with the SO2 SIP emission limits.
    Comment: The sum of allowable SO2 lb/hr rates for all 
combustion units burning process gases at the ArcelorMittal facility is 
8,692 lb/hr. This rate is more than double the maximum SO2 
emissions from combustion of all the process gases that can be produced 
at the facility within current enforceable restrictions on hot metal 
and coke oven gas. The commenter provided calculations to support this 
assertion.
    Response: The calculations which the commenter provided appear to 
be based on actual annual facility gas production data, rather than a 
calculated maximum value which would be allowed by the enforceable 
limits, as suggested by the comment. The comment letter contains a 
table of calculated SO2 emissions from blast furnace gas and 
coke oven gas. This table is identical to a table in ArcelorMittal's 
June 29, 2011, letter to IDEM. In that letter, the blast furnace gas 
production data was identified as the facility's highest recent annual 
production amount (2004), and the coke oven gas was identified as the 
highest recent annual production amount (2009). EPA has already 
considered this information. The June 29, 2011, letter did not indicate 
that the 2004 blast furnace gas production totals represented the 
maximum amount of process gas that could be generated while in 
compliance with the hot metal limit in the Part 70 permit. The

[[Page 78724]]

comment on EPA's March 20, 2013, proposed disapproval does not provide 
additional calculations or documentation to identify the true maximum 
blast furnace gas production which would be possible within the hot 
metal limitation in ArcelorMittal's Part 70 permit, or to demonstrate 
that the 2004 actual production value is equal to the maximum possible 
production rate. EPA therefore concludes that the comment continues to 
cite actual production data from 2004, which is not sufficient to prove 
that the existing SIP limits will continue to accommodate all of the 
gas ArcelorMittal can generate, when the blast furnace gas sulfur 
content is no longer restricted by the flare limit.
    Comment: Since the worst-case scenario attributes no blast furnace 
gas to the flare, a change in the actual emissions at the flare is 
irrelevant for purposes of attainment and maintenance of the 
SO2 NAAQS. Any increase in emissions at the flare reflects a 
corresponding reduction from another source already modeled and must be 
considered a departure from the worst-case scenario that must be 
modeled for the attainment demonstration. This is how EPA endorsed 
modeling similar sources in Lake County.
    Response: A change in actual SO2 emissions at the flare 
is only irrelevant if the SIP truly covers all possible blast furnace 
gas production and sulfur content increases which would be allowed 
under the revised SIP. The range of potential blast furnace gas sulfur 
content at this facility has not been established. When blast furnace 
gas is no longer assured of meeting 0.07 lb/mmBtu, the new worst-case 
operating scenario may differ from the scenario which was previously 
modeled to support the original SO2 SIP for this facility. 
The state has not demonstrated that the SIP fully covers new potential 
operating scenarios which could occur.
    Comment: One of the commenters disagreed with EPA's statement that 
the limitations on the sulfur content of the process gases need to be 
addressed in the SIP. The comment stated that the purpose of the SIP is 
to attain and maintain the NAAQS and ensure reasonable further 
progress, and for this purpose, IDEM established the SO2 lb/
hr emission limits for all fuel burning sources that use process gases 
when operating at their full utilization rates. These rates were 
modeled and attainment of the SO2 NAAQS was demonstrated at 
the time of adoption of 326 IAC 7-4-14 as noted in 53 FR 34314 
(September 6, 1988). The modeled rates were included as emission limits 
in the SIP. The conservative modeled scenario provides an adequate 
margin of safety to ensure than the attainment demonstration remains 
valid and protective of the NAAQS. The modeled emission rates for the 
combustion units remain unchanged and are not affected by the SIP 
revision. Therefore, the revision does not interfere with protection of 
the NAAQS. The other commenter added the statement that the limits 
established to support compliance of the NAAQS are applicable 
regardless of the sulfur content in the fuel used.
    Response: The SIP revision request removes an emission limit which 
is directly linked to the sulfur content of the blast furnace gas 
generated and used at ArcelorMittal. The sulfur content of the blast 
furnace gas is directly linked to the facility's compliance with its 
remaining lb/hr SIP emission limits, because the emissions from many of 
those units correspond directly to the sulfur content of the blast 
furnace gas and coke oven gas which are allowed to be used together as 
fuel. The state has not demonstrated how ArcelorMittal will continue to 
meet and demonstrate continuous compliance with these limits if blast 
furnace gas is no longer assured of meeting a sulfur content of 0.07 
lb/mmBtu. The state has not limited or quantified the expected increase 
in blast furnace gas sulfur content under the revised SIP. The existing 
SIP does not require the sulfur content of blast furnace gas to be 
analyzed for compliance purposes. The facility's sampling and analysis 
plan under 326 IAC 7-4-14(1)(F) would allow ArcelorMittal to calculate 
its combustion unit SO2 emissions by assuming that its blast 
furnace gas sulfur content is 0.07 lb/mmBtu, even though the SIP would 
no longer require the gas to meet that limit at any combustion unit. 
The state has not shown that 0.07 lb/mmBtu will continue to be a 
representative SO2 emission factor for ArcelorMittal's blast 
furnace gas. The compliance requirements for the combustion units have 
not been revised. The state has not provided a basis for EPA to 
conclude that the revised SIP will have no effect on the operation of 
the combustion sources or on the facility's need to flare excess fuel 
gases. Therefore, the state has not demonstrated that relaxing 
ArcelorMittal's SIP will satisfy the requirements of CAA section 
110(l).
    Comment: The commenter disagrees that actual flaring data is needed 
for the SIP revision. Actual flaring events reflect something other 
than the worst-case operating scenario for blast furnace gas combustion 
and are therefore irrelevant for establishing attainment and 
maintenance of the NAAQS.
    Response: As the commenter states, actual flaring data is not in 
itself a requirement for SIP approval. The state's arguments for 
removing the flare limit hinge on the concept that the facility intends 
to and is able to use all of its process gas in its combustion units, 
minimizing flare usage, and that flare usage events correspond to 
overall facility emissions below the SIP allowable levels. EPA's 
proposed disapproval simply pointed out that no historical flaring data 
was provided.

III. What action is EPA taking?

    EPA is disapproving Indiana's December 10, 2009, submittal 
requesting a SIP revision to remove the SO2 emission limit 
on the blast furnace gas flare at ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor in Porter 
County. The commenters on the proposed disapproval contend primarily 
that the facility's blast furnace gas flare does not need an emission 
limit in order to maintain the NAAQS. The comments did not demonstrate 
that the revised SIP satisfactorily addresses the results of removing 
an emission limit that had had the effect of requiring the facility to 
maintain a specific sulfur content in its blast furnace gas. Nor did 
other information in the record provide a basis to conclude that this 
SIP revision satisfies the requirements of CAA section 110(l). 
Accordingly, EPA is disapproving the submittal.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review

    This site-specific action is exempt from review under Executive 
Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, 
January 21, 2011).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not impose an information collection burden under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This action merely disapproves state law as not meeting Federal 
requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. Accordingly, I certify that this rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Because this rule disapproves pre-existing requirements under state 
law

[[Page 78725]]

and does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that 
required by state law, it does not contain an unfunded mandate or 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).

Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action also does not have Federalism implications because it 
does not have substantial direct effects on the states, on the 
relationship between the national government and the states, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 
10, 1999). This action merely disapproves a state rule, and does not 
alter the relationship or the distribution of power and 
responsibilities established in the CAA.

Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments

    This rule also does not have tribal implications because it will 
not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on 
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (59 
FR 22951, November 9, 2000).

Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health 
and Safety Risks

    EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) 
as applying only to those regulatory actions that concern health or 
safety risks, such that the analysis required under section 5-501 of 
the Executive Order has the potential to influence the regulation. This 
action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is not an 
economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety 
risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997). 
This SIP disapproval under section 110 will not in-and-of itself create 
any new rules but simply disapproves a state rule proposed for 
inclusion into the SIP.

Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use

    Because it is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866 or a ``significant energy action,'' this action 
is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning 
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or 
Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001).

National Technology Transfer Advancement Act

    In reviewing state submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. In this 
context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the state 
to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to 
disapprove a state submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be 
inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a state 
submission, to use VCS in place of a state submission that otherwise 
satisfies the provisions of the CAA. Thus, the requirements of section 
12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 
(15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply.

Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice 
in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes 
Federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision 
directs Federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and 
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission 
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high 
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, 
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income 
populations in the United States.
    EPA lacks the discretionary authority to address environmental 
justice in this action. In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to 
approve or disapprove state choices, based on the criteria of the CAA. 
Accordingly, this action merely disapproves certain state requirements 
for inclusion into the SIP under section 110 and will not in-and-of 
itself create any new requirements. Accordingly, it 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.

Congressional Review Act

    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 rule 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. 
section 804(2).

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 February 25, 2014. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this rule 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, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Sulfur oxides.

    Dated: December 12, 2013.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52-APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

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

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


0
2. Section 52.781 is amended by adding paragraph (h) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.781  Rules and regulations.

* * * * *
    (h) Disapproval. EPA is disapproving the December 10, 2009 
submittal of 326 IAC 7-4-14 as a revision to the Indiana SIP.
[FR Doc. 2013-30885 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
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