[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20139-20161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08246]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0022; FRL-9909-41-Region 3]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Delaware; Redesignation Requests, Associated Maintenance Plans, and
Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets for the Delaware Portion of the
Philadelphia-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE Nonattainment Area for the 1997
Annual and 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Matter Standards, and the 2007
Comprehensive Emissions Inventory for the 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate
Matter Standard
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve the State of Delaware's requests to redesignate to attainment
the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE
nonattainment area (hereafter ``the Philadelphia Area'' or ``the
Area'') for both the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour fine particulate
matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS
or standards). EPA is also proposing to approve as revisions to the
[[Page 20140]]
Delaware State Implementation Plan (SIP), the associated maintenance
plans to show maintenance of the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025 for the Delaware portion of the
Area. EPA is also proposing to approve the motor vehicle emissions
budgets (MVEBs) included in Delaware's maintenance plans for the
Delaware portion of the Area for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standards. EPA is also proposing to determine that the
Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area continues to attain both the
1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition,
EPA is proposing to approve the 2007 emissions inventory for the
Delaware portion of the Area for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS. In this rulemaking action, EPA also addresses the effects of two
decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia (D.C. Circuit or Court): The Court's August 21, 2012 decision
to vacate and remand to EPA the Cross-State Air Pollution Control Rule
(CSAPR); and the Court's January 4, 2013 decision to remand to EPA two
final rules implementing the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard.
This rulemaking action to propose approval of the 1997 annual and 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS redesignation requests and associated
maintenance plans for the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area is
based on EPA's determination that Delaware has met the criteria for
redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA) for
both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards. EPA
has taken separate rulemaking action to approve the redesignation of
the New Jersey portion of the Philadelphia Area for the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. See 78 FR 54396.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 12, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2014-0022 by one of the following methods:
A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
B. Email: [email protected].
C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0022, Cristina Fernandez, Associate
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning, Mailcode 3AP30, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-
2014-0022. 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 information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. 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 viruses.
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 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 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control, 89 Kings Highway, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, Delaware
19903.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria A. Pino, (215) 814-2181, or by
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. EPA's Requirements
A. Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment
B. Requirements of a Maintenance Plan
III. Summary of Proposed Actions
IV. Effects of Recent Court Decisions on Proposed Actions
A. Effect of the August 21, 2012 D.C. Circuit Decision Regarding
EPA's CSAPR
B. Effect of the January 4, 2013 D.C. Circuit Decision Regarding
PM2.5 Implementation Under Subpart 4 of Part D of Title I
of the CAA
V. EPA's Analysis of Delaware's Submittals
A. Redesignation Requests
B. Maintenance Plans
C. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets
VI. Proposed Actions
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
The first air quality standards for PM2.5 were
established on July 16, 1997 (62 FR 38652, July 18, 1997). EPA
promulgated an annual standard at a level of 15 micrograms per cubic
meter ([mu]g/m\3\), based on a three-year average of annual mean
PM2.5 concentrations (the 1997 annual PM2.5
standard). In the same rulemaking action, EPA promulgated a 24-hour
standard of 65 [mu]g/m\3\, based on a three-year average of the 98th
percentile of 24-hour concentrations.
On January 5, 2005 (70 FR 944, 1014), EPA published air quality
area designations for the 1997 PM2.5 standards. In that
rulemaking action, EPA designated the Philadelphia Area as
nonattainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard. The
Philadelphia Area is comprised of New Castle County in Delaware (the
Delaware portion of the Area); Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester
Counties in New Jersey; and Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and
Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania. See 40 CFR 81.308 (Delaware), 40
CFR 81.331 (New Jersey), and 40 CFR 81.339 (Pennsylvania).
On October 17, 2006 (71 FR 61144), EPA retained the annual average
standard at 15 [mu]g/m \3\, but revised the 24-hour standard to 35
[mu]g/m \3\, based again on the three-year average of the 98th
percentile of 24-hour concentrations (the 2006 annual PM2.5
standard). On November 13, 2009 (74 FR 58688), EPA published
designations for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, which became
effective on December 14, 2009. In that rulemaking action, EPA
designated the Philadelphia Area as nonattainment for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS. See 77 FR 58775 and also see 40 CFR 81.308
(Delaware), 40 CFR 81.331 (New Jersey), and 40 CFR 81.339
(Pennsylvania).
[[Page 20141]]
In response to legal challenges of the 2006 annual PM2.5
standard, the D.C. Circuit remanded this standard to EPA for further
consideration. See American Farm Bureau Federation and National Pork
Producers Council, et al. v. EPA, 559 F.3d 512 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
However, given that the 1997 and 2006 annual PM2.5 standards
are essentially identical, attainment of the 1997 annual
PM2.5 standard would also indicate attainment of the
remanded 2006 annual PM2.5 standard. Since the Philadelphia
Area is designated nonattainment for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standards, today's proposed rulemaking action
addresses the redesignation to attainment of the Delaware portion of
the Philadelphia Area for these standards.
On May 16, 2012 (77 FR 28782) and January 7, 2013 (78 FR 882), EPA
made determinations that the entire Philadelphia Area had attained the
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively.
Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.1004(c) and based on these determinations, the
requirements for the Philadelphia Area to submit an attainment
demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures
(RACM), a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures,
and other planning SIPs related to the attainment of either the 1997
annual or 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS are suspended until such
time as: The Area is redesignated to attainment for each standard, at
which time the requirements no longer apply; or EPA determines that the
Area has again violated any of the standards, at which time such plans
are required to be submitted. However, these determinations of
attainment do not preclude states from submitting and EPA from
approving planning SIP revisions for the 1997 or 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS. Delaware submitted an attainment plan for the 1997
PM2.5 NAAQS, and EPA approved that plan on December 17, 2013
(78 FR 76209).
On December 12, 2012, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control (DNREC) formally submitted two separate
requests to redesignate the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area
from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively. Each submittal included a
maintenance plan as a SIP revision to ensure continued attainment of
the standards throughout the Delaware portion of the Area over the next
10 years. The December 12, 2012 submittal also includes a 2007
comprehensive emissions inventory for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS.
In this proposed rulemaking action, EPA is taking into account two
recent decisions of the D.C. Circuit. In the first of the two Court
decisions, the D.C. Circuit, on August 21, 2012, issued EME Homer City
Generation, L.P. v. EPA, 696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir. 2012), which vacated and
remanded CSAPR and ordered EPA to continue administering the Clean Air
Interstate Rule (CAIR) ``pending . . . development of a valid
replacement.'' EME Homer City at 38. The D.C. Circuit denied all
petitions for rehearing on January 24, 2013. In the second decision, on
January 4, 2013, in Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA, the D.C.
Circuit remanded to EPA the ``Final Clean Air Fine Particle
Implementation Rule'' (72 FR 20586, April 25, 2007) and the
``Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate
Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)'' final rule (73 FR
28321, May 16, 2008). 706 F.3d 428 (D.C. Cir. 2013).
II. EPA's Requirements
A. Criteria for Redesignation to Attainment
The CAA provides the requirements for redesignating a nonattainment
area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA
allows for redesignation providing that: (1) EPA determines that the
area has attained the applicable NAAQS; (2) EPA has fully approved the
applicable implementation plan for the area under section 110(k); (3)
EPA determines that the improvement in air quality is due to permanent
and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from implementation
of the applicable SIP and applicable Federal air pollutant control
regulations and other permanent and enforceable reductions; (4) EPA has
fully approved a maintenance plan for the area as meeting the
requirements of section 175A of the CAA; and (5) the state containing
such area has met all requirements applicable to the area under section
110 and part D.
EPA has provided guidance on redesignation in the ``State
Implementation Plans; General Preamble for the Implementation of Title
I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,'' (57 FR 13498, April 16,
1992) (the ``General Preamble'') and has provided further guidance on
processing redesignation requests in the following documents: (1)
``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to
Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality
Management Division, September 4, 1992 (hereafter the ``1992 Calcagni
Memorandum''); (2) ``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted
in Response to Clean Air Act (CAA) Deadlines,'' Memorandum from John
Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992;
and (3) ``Part D New Source Review (Part D NSR) Requirements for Areas
Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,'' Memorandum from Mary D.
Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, October 14,
1994.
B. Requirements of a Maintenance Plan
Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a maintenance
plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment.
Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of
the applicable NAAQS for at least 10 years after approval of a
redesignation of an area to attainment. Eight years after the
redesignation, the state must submit a revised maintenance plan
demonstrating that attainment will continue to be maintained for the 10
years following the initial 10-year period. To address the possibility
of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must contain such
contingency measures, with a schedule for implementation, as EPA deems
necessary to assure prompt correction of any future PM2.5
violations.
The 1992 Calcagni Memorandum provides additional guidance on the
content of a maintenance plan. The memorandum states that a
PM2.5 maintenance plan should address the following
provisions: (1) An attainment emissions inventory; (2) a maintenance
demonstration showing maintenance for 10 years; (3) a commitment to
maintain the existing monitoring network; (4) verification of continued
attainment; and (5) a contingency plan to prevent or correct future
violations of the NAAQS.
III. Summary of Proposed Actions
EPA is proposing to take several rulemaking actions related to the
redesignation of the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area to
attainment for both the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA is proposing to find that the Delaware
portion of the Area meets the requirements for redesignation of the
1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS under section
107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. EPA is thus proposing to approve Delaware's
requests to change the legal designation of the Delaware portion of the
Area from nonattainment to attainment for both the 1997 annual and 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. This rulemaking action does not impact
the legal designation of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania portions of
the Philadelphia Area. On September 4, 2013 (78 FR 54396), EPA took
[[Page 20142]]
separate rulemaking action to redesignate to attainment the New Jersey
portion of the Area for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS.
EPA is also proposing to approve the associated maintenance plans
for the Delaware portion of the Area as revisions to the Delaware SIP
for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, including
the MVEBs for the Delaware portion of the Area for both the 1997 annual
and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards. The approval of the
maintenance plans is one of the CAA criteria for redesignation of the
Delaware portion of the Area to attainment for both standards.
Delaware's maintenance plans are designed to ensure continued
attainment in the Delaware portion of the Area of the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards, respectively, for 10 years
after redesignation.
EPA previously determined that the Philadelphia Area has attained
both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, and EPA
is proposing to find that the Area continues to attain both standards.
Furthermore, under section 172(c)(3) of the CAA, EPA is proposing to
approve the 2007 comprehensive emissions inventory for the Delaware
portion of the Area as part of Delaware's SIP for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA's analysis of the proposed actions is
provided in section V of today's proposed rulemaking action.
IV. Effects of Recent Court Decisions on Proposed Actions
A. Effect of the August 21, 2012 D.C. Circuit Decision Regarding EPA's
CSAPR
Delaware has demonstrated that attainment of the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS will be maintained with or without
the implementation of CAIR or CSAPR. Delaware does not rely on either
CAIR or CSAPR in its maintenance plans for either the 1997 or the 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS, and demonstrates that emission reductions from
CAIR or CSAPR are not needed to maintain the 1997 annual and 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, modeling conducted by EPA
during the CSAPR rulemaking process also demonstrates that the counties
in the Philadelphia Area will have PM2.5 levels below the
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS in both 2012 and
2014 without taking into account emissions reductions from CAIR or
CSAPR. See ``Air Quality Modeling Final Rule Technical Support
Document,'' App. B, B-37, B-51, B-57, B-58, B-66, B-80, B-86. This
modeling is available in the docket for this proposed redesignation
action.
Moreover, in its August 2012 decision, the Court also ordered EPA
to continue implementing CAIR. See EME Homer City Generation LP v. EPA,
696 F.3d 7 (D.C. Cir. 2012). In sum, neither the current status of CAIR
nor the current status of CSAPR affects any of the criteria for
proposed approval of this redesignation request for the Philadelphia
Area.
B. Effect of the January 4, 2013 D.C. Circuit Decision Regarding PM2.5
Implementation Under Subpart 4 of Part D of Title I of the CAA
1. Background
As discussed previously, on January 4, 2013, in Natural Resources
Defense Council (NRDC) v. EPA, the D.C. Circuit remanded to EPA the
``Final Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule'' (72 FR 20586,
April 25, 2007) and the ``Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR)
Program for Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers
(PM2.5)'' final rule (73 FR 28321, May 16, 2008)
(collectively, ``1997 PM2.5 Implementation Rule''). 706 F.3d
428 (D.C. Cir. 2013). The Court found that EPA erred in implementing
the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS pursuant to the general
implementation provisions of subpart 1 of part D of Title I of the CAA
(subpart 1), rather than the particulate-matter-specific provisions of
subpart 4 of Part D of Title I (subpart 4). Although the Court did not
directly address the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard, EPA is
taking into account the Court's position on subpart 4 and the 1997
annual PM2.5 standard in evaluating redesignations for the
2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard.
2. Proposal on This Issue
EPA is proposing to determine that the Court's January 4, 2013
decision does not prevent EPA from redesignating the Delaware portion
of the Philadelphia Area to attainment for either the 1997 annual or
the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Even in light of the Court's
decision, redesignation for this Area is appropriate under the CAA and
EPA's longstanding interpretations of the CAA's provisions regarding
redesignation. EPA first explains its longstanding interpretation that
requirements that are imposed, or that become due, after a complete
redesignation request is submitted for an area that is attaining the
standard, are not applicable for purposes of evaluating a redesignation
request. Second, EPA then shows that, even if EPA applies the subpart 4
requirements to the Delaware redesignation requests and disregards the
provisions of its 1997 PM2.5 Implementation Rule recently
remanded by the Court, the State's request for redesignation of the
Area still qualifies for approval. EPA's discussion takes into account
the effect of the Court's ruling on the Area's maintenance plan, which
EPA views as approvable when subpart 4 requirements are considered.
a. Applicable Requirements for Purposes of Evaluating the Redesignation
Requests
With respect to the 1997 PM2.5 Implementation Rule, the
Court's January 4, 2013 ruling rejected EPA's reasons for implementing
the PM2.5 NAAQS solely in accordance with the provisions of
subpart 1, and remanded that matter to EPA, so that it could address
implementation of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS under subpart
4, in addition to subpart 1. For the purposes of evaluating Delaware's
redesignation request for the Delaware portion of the Area, to the
extent that implementation under subpart 4 would impose additional
requirements for areas designated nonattainment, EPA believes that
those requirements are not ``applicable'' for the purposes of CAA
section 107(d)(3)(E), and thus EPA is not required to consider subpart
4 requirements with respect to the redesignation of the Delaware
portion of the Philadelphia Area. Under its longstanding interpretation
of the CAA, EPA has interpreted section 107(d)(3)(E) to mean, as a
threshold matter, that the part D provisions which are ``applicable''
and which must be approved in order for EPA to redesignate an area
include only those which came due prior to a state's submittal of a
complete redesignation request. See 1992 Calcagni Memorandum. See also
``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas Submitting
Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and Carbon
Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on or
after November 15, 1992,'' Memorandum from Michael Shapiro, Acting
Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, September 17, 1993 (Shapiro
memorandum); Final Redesignation of Detroit-Ann Arbor, (60 FR 12459,
12465-66, March 7, 1995); Final Redesignation of St. Louis, Missouri,
(68 FR 25418, 25424-27, May 12, 2003); Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d
537, 541 (7th Cir. 2004) (upholding EPA's redesignation rulemaking
applying this interpretation and expressly rejecting Sierra Club's view
that the meaning of
[[Page 20143]]
``applicable'' under the statute is ``whatever should have been in the
plan at the time of attainment rather than whatever actually was in the
plan and already implemented or due at the time of attainment'').\1\ In
this case, at the time that Delaware submitted its redesignation
requests for both standards, the requirements under subpart 4 were not
due, and indeed, were not yet known to apply.
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\1\ Applicable requirements of the CAA that come due subsequent
to the area's submittal of a complete redesignation request remain
applicable until a redesignation is approved, but are not required
as a prerequisite to redesignation. Section 175A(c) of the CAA.
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EPA's view that, for purposes of evaluating the redesignation of
the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area, the subpart 4
requirements were not due at the time Delaware submitted the
redesignation requests is in keeping with the EPA's interpretation of
subpart 2 requirements for subpart 1 ozone areas redesignated
subsequent to the D.C. Circuit's decision in South Coast Air Quality
Mgmt. Dist. v. EPA, 472 F.3d 882 (D.C. Cir. 2006). In South Coast, the
Court found that EPA was not permitted to implement the 1997 8-hour
ozone standard solely under subpart 1, and held that EPA was required
under the statute to implement the standard under the ozone-specific
requirements of subpart 2 as well. Subsequent to the South Coast
decision, in evaluating and acting upon redesignation requests for the
1997 8-hour ozone standard that were submitted to EPA for areas under
subpart 1, EPA applied its longstanding interpretation of the CAA that
``applicable requirements,'' for purposes of evaluating a
redesignation, are those that had been due at the time the
redesignation request was submitted. See, e.g., Proposed Redesignation
of Manitowoc County and Door County Nonattainment Areas (75 FR 22047,
22050, April 27, 2010). In those actions, EPA, therefore, did not
consider subpart 2 requirements to be ``applicable'' for the purposes
of evaluating whether the area should be redesignated under section
107(d)(3)(E).
EPA's interpretation derives from the provisions of section
107(d)(3). Section 107(d)(3)(E)(v) states that, for an area to be
redesignated, a state must meet ``all requirements `applicable' to the
area under section 110 and part D.'' Section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii) provides
that the EPA must have fully approved the ``applicable'' SIP for the
area seeking redesignation. These two sections read together support
EPA's interpretation of ``applicable'' as only those requirements that
came due prior to submission of a complete redesignation request.
First, holding states to an ongoing obligation to adopt new CAA
requirements that arose after the state submitted its redesignation
request, in order to be redesignated, would make it problematic or
impossible for EPA to act on redesignation requests in accordance with
the 18-month deadline Congress set for EPA action in section
107(d)(3)(D). If ``applicable requirements'' were interpreted to be a
continuing flow of requirements with no reasonable limitation, states,
after submitting a redesignation request, would be forced continuously
to make additional SIP submissions that in turn would require EPA to
undertake further notice-and-comment rulemaking actions to act on those
submissions. This would create a regime of unceasing rulemaking that
would delay action on the redesignation request beyond the 18-month
timeframe provided by the CAA for this purpose.
Second, a fundamental premise for redesignating a nonattainment
area to attainment is that the area has attained the relevant NAAQS due
to emission reductions from existing controls. Thus, an area for which
a redesignation request has been submitted would have already attained
the NAAQS as a result of satisfying statutory requirements that came
due prior to the submission of the request. Absent a showing that
unadopted and unimplemented requirements are necessary for future
maintenance, it is reasonable to view the requirements applicable for
purposes of evaluating the redesignation request as including only
those SIP requirements that have already come due. These are the
requirements that led to attainment of the NAAQS. To require, for
redesignation approval, that a state also satisfy additional SIP
requirements coming due after the state submits its complete
redesignation request, and while EPA is reviewing it, would compel the
state to do more than is necessary to attain the NAAQS, without a
showing that the additional requirements are necessary for maintenance.
In the context of this redesignation, the timing and nature of the
Court's January 4, 2013 decision in NRDC v. EPA compound the
consequences of imposing requirements that come due after the
redesignation request is submitted. Delaware submitted its two
redesignation requests for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS on December 12, 2012, but the Court did not
issue its decision remanding EPA's 1997 PM2.5 Implementation
Rule concerning the applicability of the provisions of subpart 4 until
January 2013.
To require Delaware's fully-completed and pending redesignation
requests for both the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS to comply now with requirements of subpart 4 that the Court
announced only in its January 2013 decision on the 1997
PM2.5 Implementation Rule, would be to give retroactive
effect to such requirements when the State had no notice that it was
required to meet them. The D.C. Circuit recognized the inequity of this
type of retroactive impact in Sierra Club v. Whitman, 285 F.3d 63 (D.C.
Cir. 2002),\2\ where it upheld the District Court's ruling refusing to
make retroactive EPA's determination that the St. Louis area did not
meet its attainment deadline. In that case, petitioners urged the Court
to make EPA's nonattainment determination effective as of the date that
the statute required, rather than the later date on which EPA actually
made the determination. The Court rejected this view, stating that
applying it ``would likely impose large costs on States, which would
face fines and suits for not implementing air pollution prevention
plans . . . even though they were not on notice at the time.'' Id. at
68. Similarly, it would be unreasonable to penalize the State of
Delaware by rejecting its redesignation request for an area that is
already attaining both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standards and that met all applicable requirements
known to be in effect at the time of the requests. For EPA now to
reject the redesignation requests solely because the State did not
expressly address subpart 4 requirements of which it had no notice,
would inflict the same unfairness condemned by the Court in Sierra Club
v. Whitman.
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\2\ Sierra Club v. Whitman was discussed and distinguished in a
recent D.C. Circuit decision that addressed retroactivity in a quite
different context, where, unlike the situation here, EPA sought to
give its regulations retroactive effect. National Petrochemical and
Refiners Ass'n v. EPA. 630 F.3d 145, 163 (D.C. Cir. 2010), rehearing
denied 643 F.3d 958 (D.C. Cir. 2011), cert denied 132 S. Ct. 571
(2011).
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b. Subpart 4 Requirements and Delaware Redesignation Requests
Even if EPA were to take the view that the Court's January 4, 2013
decision requires that, in the context of pending redesignations for
either the 1997 annual or 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards,
subpart 4 requirements were due and in effect at the time Delaware
submitted its redesignation requests, EPA proposes to determine that
the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area still qualifies for
redesignation to attainment for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5
[[Page 20144]]
standards. As explained subsequently, EPA believes that the two
redesignation requests for the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia
Area, though not expressed in terms of subpart 4 requirements,
substantively meet the requirements of that subpart for purposes of
redesignating the Delaware portion of the Area to attainment for both
standards.
With respect to evaluating the relevant substantive requirements of
subpart 4 for purposes of redesignating the Delaware portion of the
Philadelphia Area, EPA notes that subpart 4 incorporates components of
subpart 1 of part D, which contains general air quality planning
requirements for areas designated as nonattainment. See section 172(c).
Subpart 4 itself contains specific planning and scheduling requirements
for coarse particulate matter (PM10) \3\ nonattainment
areas, and under the Court's January 4, 2013 decision in NRDC v. EPA,
these same statutory requirements also apply for PM2.5
nonattainment areas. EPA has longstanding general guidance that
interprets the 1990 amendments to the CAA, making recommendations to
states for meeting the statutory requirements for SIPs for
nonattainment areas. See, the General Preamble. In the General
Preamble, EPA discussed the relationship of subpart 1 and subpart 4 SIP
requirements, and pointed out that subpart 1 requirements were to an
extent ``subsumed by, or integrally related to, the more specific
PM10 requirements'' (57 FR 13538, April 16, 1992). The
subpart 1 requirements include, among other things, provisions for
attainment demonstrations, RACM, RFP, emissions inventories, and
contingency measures.
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\3\ PM10 refers to particulates nominally 10
micrometers in diameter or smaller.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the purposes of these redesignation requests, in order to
identify any additional requirements which would apply under subpart 4,
EPA is considering the Philadelphia Area to be a ``moderate''
PM2.5 nonattainment area. Under section 188 of the CAA, all
areas designated nonattainment areas under subpart 4 would initially be
classified by operation of law as ``moderate'' nonattainment areas, and
would remain moderate nonattainment areas unless and until EPA
reclassifies the area as a ``serious'' nonattainment area. Accordingly,
EPA believes that it is appropriate to limit the evaluation of the
potential impact of subpart 4 requirements to those that would be
applicable to moderate nonattainment areas. Sections 189(a) and (c) of
subpart 4 apply to moderate nonattainment areas and include the
following: (1) An approved permit program for construction of new and
modified major stationary sources (section 189(a)(1)(A)); (2) an
attainment demonstration (section 189(a)(1)(B)); (3) provisions for
RACM (section 189(a)(1)(C)); and (4) quantitative milestones
demonstrating RFP toward attainment by the applicable attainment date
(section 189(c)).
The permit requirements of subpart 4, as contained in section
189(a)(1)(A), refer to and apply the subpart 1 permit provisions
requirements of sections 172 and 173 to PM10, without adding
to them. Consequently, EPA believes that section 189(a)(1)(A) does not
itself impose for redesignation purposes any additional requirements
for moderate areas beyond those contained in subpart 1.\4\ In any
event, in the context of redesignation, EPA has long relied on the
interpretation that a fully approved nonattainment new source review
program is not considered an applicable requirement for redesignation,
provided the area can maintain the standard with a prevention of
significant deterioration (PSD) program after redesignation. A detailed
rationale for this view is described in a memorandum from Mary Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, dated October 14, 1994,
entitled, ``Part D New Source Review Requirements for Areas Requesting
Redesignation to Attainment.'' See also rulemakings for Detroit,
Michigan (60 FR 12467-12468, March 7, 1995); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain,
Ohio (61 FR 20458, 20469-20470, May 7, 1996); Louisville, Kentucky (66
FR 53665, October 23, 2001); and Grand Rapids, Michigan (61 FR 31834-
31837, June 21, 1996).
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\4\ The potential effect of section 189(e) on section
189(a)(1)(A) for purposes of evaluating these redesignation requests
is discussed in this rulemaking action.
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With respect to the specific attainment planning requirements under
subpart 4,\5\ when EPA evaluates a redesignation request under either
subpart 1 and/or 4, any area that is attaining the PM2.5
standards is viewed as having satisfied the attainment planning
requirements for these subparts. For redesignations, EPA has for many
years interpreted attainment-linked requirements as not applicable for
areas attaining the standard. In the General Preamble, EPA stated that,
``The requirements for RFP will not apply in evaluating a request for
redesignation to attainment since, at a minimum, the air quality data
for the area must show that the area has already attained. Showing that
the State will make RFP towards attainment will, therefore, have no
meaning at that point.'' See 57 FR 13564.
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\5\ I.e., attainment demonstration, RFP, RACM, milestone
requirements, contingency measures.
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The General Preamble also explained that, ``[t]he section 172(c)(9)
requirements are directed at ensuring RFP and attainment by the
applicable date. These requirements no longer apply when an area has
attained the standard and is eligible for redesignation. Furthermore,
section 175A for maintenance plans . . . provides specific requirements
for contingency measures that effectively supersede the requirements of
section 172(c)(9) for these areas.'' Id. EPA similarly stated in its
1992 Calcagni Memorandum that, ``The requirements for reasonable
further progress and other measures needed for attainment will not
apply for redesignations because they only have meaning for areas not
attaining the standard.''
It is evident that even if we were to consider the Court's January
4, 2013 decision in NRDC v. EPA to mean that attainment-related
requirements specific to subpart 4 should be imposed retroactively \6\
and, thus, are now past due, those requirements do not apply to an area
that is attaining the 1997 annual and/or the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS, for the purpose of evaluating a pending request
to redesignate the area to attainment. EPA has consistently enunciated
this interpretation of applicable requirements under section
107(d)(3)(E) since the General Preamble was published more than twenty
years ago. Courts have recognized the scope of EPA's authority to
interpret ``applicable requirements'' in the redesignation context. See
Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004).
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\6\ As EPA has explained previously, we do not believe that the
Court's January 4, 2013 decision should be interpreted so as to
impose these requirements on the states retroactively. Sierra Club
v. Whitman, supra.
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Moreover, even outside the context of redesignations, EPA has
viewed the obligations to submit attainment-related SIP planning
requirements of subpart 4 as inapplicable for areas that EPA determines
are attaining the 1997 annual and/or the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
standard. EPA's prior ``Clean Data Policy'' rulemakings for the
PM10 NAAQS, also governed by the requirements of subpart 4,
explain EPA's reasoning. They describe the effects of a determination
of attainment on the attainment-related SIP planning requirements of
subpart 4. See ``Determination of Attainment for Coso Junction
Nonattainment Area,'' (75 FR
[[Page 20145]]
27944, May 19, 2010). See also Coso Junction Proposed PM10
Redesignation, (75 FR 36023, 36027, June 24, 2010); Proposed and Final
Determinations of Attainment for San Joaquin Nonattainment Area (71 FR
40952, 40954-55, July 19, 2006 and 71 FR 63641, 63643-47, October 30,
2006). In short, EPA in this context has also long concluded that to
require states to meet superfluous SIP planning requirements is not
necessary and not required by the CAA, so long as those areas continue
to attain the relevant NAAQS.
Elsewhere in this notice, EPA proposes to determine that the
Philadelphia Area has attained both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS. Under its longstanding interpretation, EPA is
proposing to determine here that the Delaware portion of the Area meets
the attainment-related plan requirements of subparts 1 and 4 for both
the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Thus, EPA is
proposing to conclude that the requirements to submit an attainment
demonstration under 189(a)(1)(B), a RACM determination under section
172(c)(1) and section 189(a)(1)(c), a RFP demonstration under
189(c)(1), and contingency measure requirements under section 172(c)(9)
are satisfied for purposes of evaluating these redesignation requests.
c. Subpart 4 and Control of PM2.5 Precursors
The D.C. Circuit in NRDC v. EPA remanded to EPA the two rules at
issue in the case with instructions to EPA to re-promulgate them
consistent with the requirements of subpart 4. EPA in this section
addresses the Court's opinion with respect to PM2.5
precursors. While past implementation of subpart 4 for PM10
has allowed for control of PM10 precursors such as
NOX from major stationary, mobile, and area sources in order
to attain the standard as expeditiously as practicable, CAA section
189(e) specifically provides that control requirements for major
stationary sources of direct PM10 shall also apply to
PM10 precursors from those sources, except where EPA
determines that major stationary sources of such precursors ``do not
contribute significantly to PM10 levels which exceed the
standard in the area.''
EPA's 1997 PM2.5 implementation rule, remanded by the
D.C. Circuit, contained rebuttable presumptions concerning certain
PM2.5 precursors applicable to attainment plans and control
measures related to those plans. Specifically, in 40 CFR 51.1002, EPA
provided, among other things, that a state was ``not required to
address VOC [and ammonia] as . . . PM2.5 attainment plan
precursor[s] and to evaluate sources of VOC [and ammonia] emissions in
the State for control measures.'' EPA intended these to be rebuttable
presumptions. EPA established these presumptions at the time because of
uncertainties regarding the emission inventories for these pollutants
and the effectiveness of specific control measures in various regions
of the country in reducing PM2.5 concentrations. EPA also
left open the possibility for such regulation of VOC and ammonia in
specific areas where that was necessary.
The Court in its January 4, 2013 decision made reference to both
section 189(e) and 40 CFR 51.1002, and stated that, ``In light of our
disposition, we need not address the petitioners' challenge to the
presumptions in [40 CFR 51.1002] that volatile organic compounds and
ammonia are not PM2.5 precursors, as subpart 4 expressly
governs precursor presumptions.'' NRDC v. EPA, at 27, n.10.
Elsewhere in the Court's opinion, however, the Court observed,
``Ammonia is a precursor to fine particulate matter, making it a
precursor to both PM2.5 and PM10. For a
PM10 nonattainment area governed by subpart 4, a precursor
is presumptively regulated. See 42 U.S.C. 7513a(e) [section 189(e)].''
Id. at 21, n.7.
For a number of reasons, EPA believes that its proposed
redesignation of the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area is
consistent with the Court's decision on this aspect of subpart 4.
First, while the Court, citing section 189(e), stated that ``for a
PM10 area governed by subpart 4, a precursor is
`presumptively regulated,' '' the Court expressly declined to decide
the specific challenge to EPA's 1997 PM2.5 implementation
rule provisions regarding ammonia and VOC as precursors. The Court had
no occasion to reach whether and how it was substantively necessary to
regulate any specific precursor in a particular PM2.5
nonattainment area, and did not address what might be necessary for
purposes of acting upon a redesignation request.
However, even if EPA takes the view that the requirements of
subpart 4 were deemed applicable at the time the state submitted the
redesignation request, and disregards the implementation rule's
rebuttable presumptions regarding ammonia and VOC as PM2.5
precursors, the regulatory consequence would be to consider the need
for regulation of all precursors from any sources in the area to
demonstrate attainment and to apply the section 189(e) provisions to
major stationary sources of precursors. In the case of the Delaware
portion of the Philadelphia Area, EPA believes that doing so is
consistent with proposing redesignation of the area for the 1997 annual
and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard. The Philadelphia Area has
attained the standard without any specific additional controls of VOC
and ammonia emissions from any sources in the area.
Precursors in subpart 4 are specifically regulated under the
provisions of section 189(e), which requires, with important
exceptions, control requirements for major stationary sources of
PM10 precursors.\7\ Under subpart 1 and EPA's prior
implementation rule, all major stationary sources of PM2.5
precursors were subject to regulation, with the exception of ammonia
and VOC. Thus, EPA must address here whether additional controls of
ammonia and VOC from major stationary sources are required under
section 189(e) of subpart 4 in order to redesignate the area for the
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards. As explained
further in this rulemaking action, EPA does not believe that any
additional controls of ammonia and VOC are required in the context of
this redesignation.
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\7\ Under either subpart 1 or subpart 4, for purposes of
demonstrating attainment as expeditiously as practicable, a state is
required to evaluate all economically and technologically feasible
control measures for direct PM emissions and precursor emissions,
and adopt those measures that are deemed reasonably available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the General Preamble, EPA discusses its approach to implementing
section 189(e). See 57 FR 13538-13542. With regard to precursor
regulation under section 189(e), the General Preamble explicitly stated
that control of VOCs under other CAA requirements may suffice to
relieve a state from the need to adopt precursor controls under section
189(e). See 57 FR 13542. In this proposed rulemaking action, EPA
proposes to determine that the SIP has met the provisions of section
189(e) with respect to ammonia and VOCs as precursors. This proposed
determination is based on EPA's findings that (1) the Delaware portion
of the Philadelphia Area contains no major stationary sources of
ammonia, and (2) existing major stationary sources of VOC are
adequately controlled under other provisions of the CAA regulating the
ozone NAAQS.\8\ In the alternative, EPA proposes to determine that,
under the express exception provisions of section
[[Page 20146]]
189(e), and in the context of the redesignation of the area, which is
attaining the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards,
at present ammonia and VOC precursors from major stationary sources do
not contribute significantly to levels exceeding the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards in the Philadelphia Area. See
57 FR 13539-42.
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\8\ The Philadelphia Area has reduced VOC emissions through the
implementation of various control programs including VOC Reasonably
Available Control Technology regulations and various on-road and
non-road motor vehicle control programs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA notes that its 1997 annual PM2.5 implementation rule
provisions in 40 CFR 51.1002 were not directed at evaluation of
PM2.5 precursors in the context of redesignation, but at SIP
plans and control measures required to bring a nonattainment area into
attainment of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. By contrast,
redesignation to attainment primarily requires the area to have already
attained due to permanent and enforceable emission reductions, and to
demonstrate that controls in place can continue to maintain the
standard. Thus, even if we regard the Court's January 4, 2013 decision
as calling for ``presumptive regulation'' of ammonia and VOC for
PM2.5 under the attainment planning provisions of subpart 4,
those provisions in and of themselves do not require additional
controls of these precursors for an area that already qualifies for
redesignation. Nor does EPA believe that requiring Delaware to address
precursors differently than they have already would result in a
substantively different outcome.
Although, as EPA has emphasized, its consideration here of
precursor requirements under subpart 4 is in the context of a
redesignation to attainment, EPA's existing interpretation of subpart 4
requirements with respect to precursors in attainment plans for
PM10 contemplates that states may develop attainment plans
that regulate only those precursors that are necessary for purposes of
attainment in the area in question, i.e., states may determine that
only certain precursors need be regulated for attainment and control
purposes.\9\ Courts have upheld this approach to the requirements of
subpart 4 for PM10.\10\ EPA believes that application of
this approach to PM2.5 precursors under subpart 4 is
reasonable. Because the Philadelphia Area has already attained the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS with its current
approach to regulation of PM2.5 precursors, EPA believes
that it is reasonable to conclude in the context of this redesignation
that there is no need to revisit the attainment control strategy with
respect to the treatment of precursors. Even if the Court's decision is
construed to impose an obligation, in evaluating this redesignation
request, to consider additional precursors under subpart 4, it would
not affect EPA's approval here of Delaware's request for redesignation
of the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area. In the context of a
redesignation, the Area has shown that it has attained the standard.
Moreover, the State has shown and EPA has proposed to determine that
attainment in this area is due to permanent and enforceable emissions
reductions on all precursors necessary to provide for continued
attainment. It follows logically that no further control of additional
precursors is necessary. Accordingly, EPA does not view the January 4,
2013 decision of the Court as precluding redesignation of the Delaware
portion of the Philadelphia Area to attainment for the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS at this time.
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\9\ See, e.g., ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation
Plans for California--San Joaquin Valley PM-10 Nonattainment Area;
Serious Area Plan for Nonattainment of the 24-Hour and Annual PM-10
Standards,'' 69 FR 30006 (May 26, 2004) (approving a PM10
attainment plan that impose controls on direct PM10 and
NOX emissions and did not impose controls on
SO2, VOC, or ammonia emissions).
\10\ See, e.g., Assoc. of Irritated Residents v. EPA et al., 423
F.3d 989 (9th Cir. 2005).
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In sum, even if Delaware were required to address precursors for
the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area under subpart 4 rather
than under subpart 1, as interpreted in EPA's remanded PM2.5
implementation rule, EPA would still conclude that the area had met all
applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation in accordance
with section 107(d)(3(E)(ii) and (v).
V. EPA's Analysis of Delaware's Submittals
EPA is proposing several rulemaking actions for the Area: (1) To
redesignate the Delaware portion of the Area to attainment for both the
1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS; and (2) to
approve into the Delaware SIP the associated maintenance plans for both
the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA is
also proposing in this rulemaking action to approve the 2007
comprehensive emissions inventory to satisfy section 172(c)(3)
requirement for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, which is one
of the criteria for redesignation. EPA's proposed approvals of the
redesignation requests and maintenance plans for the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS are based upon EPA's determination
that the Area continues to attain both standards, which EPA is
proposing in this rulemaking action, and that all other redesignation
criteria have been met for the Delaware portion of the Area. The
following is a description of how the Delaware's December 12, 2012
submittals satisfy the requirements of section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA
for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards.
A. Redesignation Requests
1. Attainment
On January 23, 2012, EPA published a direct final rulemaking (77 FR
3147) and companion notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) (77 FR 3223),
proposing to determine that the Philadelphia Area attained the 1997
PM2.5 NAAQS by its attainment date and that the Philadelphia
Area continued to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard.
Because EPA received adverse comments, EPA withdrew the direct final
rule on March 13, 2012 (77 FR 14697), and the direct final rule was
converted to a proposed rule. In a final rulemaking action dated May
16, 2012 (77 FR 28782), EPA determined that the entire Philadelphia
Area attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS by its applicable
attainment date, based upon quality-assured and certified ambient air
quality monitoring data for the period of 2007-2009, and continued to
attain that standard based upon quality-assured and certified ambient
air quality monitoring data for the period of 2008-2010. In a separate
rulemaking action dated January 7, 2013 (78 FR 882), EPA also
determined that the Philadelphia Area has attained the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standard, based on quality-assured and certified
ambient air quality monitoring data for 2008-2010 and 2009-2011. The
basis and effect of these determinations of attainment for both the
1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS were discussed in the notices of
the proposed (77 FR 3147 and 77 FR 60089, respectively) and final (77
FR 28782 and 78 FR 882, respectively) rulemakings.
EPA has reviewed the ambient air quality PM2.5
monitoring data in the Philadelphia Area, consistent with the
requirements contained at 40 CFR part 50, and recorded in EPA's Air
Quality System (AQS), including quality-assured, quality-controlled,
and state-certified data for the monitoring periods 2009-2011 and 2010-
2012 and preliminary data for 2011-2013. The air quality data show that
the Philadelphia Area continues to attain both the 1997 annual and 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The Area's annual and 24-hour
PM2.5 design values\11\ are provided in Tables 1 and 2,
respectively.
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\11\ As defined in 40 CFR part 50, Appendix N, section (1)(c).
[[Page 20147]]
Table 1--Philadelphia Area's Annual Design Values for the 2006 24-Hour PM2.5 Standard for the 2010-2012 and 2011-
2013 Monitoring Periods, in [mu]g/m\3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual design values
------------------------------------------------------
State County Preliminary
2009-2011 2010-2012 2011-2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware.......................... New Castle........... 10.7................. 10.4 9.9
New Jersey........................ Camden............... 9.7.................. 9.7 9.9
------------------------------------------------------
Burlington........... No monitor.
------------------------------------------------------
Gloucester........... 9.7.................. 9.5 9.3
Pennsylvania...................... Bucks................ 10.9................. 10.9 10.8
Chester.............. 13.7................. 12.3 11.1
Delaware............. 12.7................. 13.1 12.3
Montgomery........... 10.1................. 9.8 9.7
Philadelphia......... 11.4................. 11.0 10.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area's Annual Design Value 13.7................. 13.1 12.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: EPA AQS.
Table 2--Philadelphia Area's 24-Hour Design Values for the 2006 24-Hour PM2.5 Standard for the 2010-2012 and
2011-2013 Monitoring Periods, in [mu]g/m\3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-Hour design values
------------------------------------------------------
State County Preliminary
2009-2011 2010-2012 2011-2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware.......................... New Castle........... 27................... 26 24
New Jersey........................ Camden............... 24................... 23 25
------------------------------------------------------
Burlington........... No monitor.
------------------------------------------------------
Gloucester........... 22................... 22 23
Pennsylvania...................... Bucks................ 28................... 29 29
Chester.............. 33................... 31 28
Delaware............. 30................... 31 29
Montgomery........... 27................... 25 24
Philadelphia......... 29................... 28 29
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area's Annual Design Value 33................... 31 29
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: EPA AQS.
EPA's review of the monitoring data for 2009-2011, 2010-2012
supports EPA's previous determinations that the Area has attained the
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, and that the Area
continues to attain both standards. Preliminary 2013 data is consistent
with attainment. Please note that preliminary 2013 data is uncertified.
States are required to certify 2013 data by May 1, 2014. In addition,
as discussed subsequently, with respect to the maintenance plan,
Delaware has committed to continue monitoring ambient PM2.5
concentrations in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. Thus, EPA is
proposing to determine that the Philadelphia Area continues to attain
the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
2. The Area has Met All Applicable Requirements Under Section 110 and
Subpart 1 of the CAA and Has a Fully Approved SIP Under Section 110(k)
In accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(v), the SIP revisions for
the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards for the
Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area must be fully approved under
section 110(k) and all the requirements applicable to the Area under
section 110 of the CAA (general SIP requirements) and part D of Title I
of the CAA (SIP requirements for nonattainment areas) must be met.
a. Section 110 General SIP Requirements
Section 110(a)(2) of Title I of the CAA delineates the general
requirements for a SIP, which include enforceable emissions limitations
and other control measures, means, or techniques, provisions for the
establishment and operation of appropriate devices necessary to collect
data on ambient air quality, and programs to enforce the limitations.
The general SIP elements and requirements set forth in section
110(a)(2) include, but are not limited to the following:
Submittal of a SIP that has been adopted by the state
after reasonable public notice and hearing;
Provisions for establishment and operation of appropriate
procedures needed to monitor ambient air quality;
Implementation of a source permit program; provisions for
the implementation of Part C requirements (PSD);
Provisions for the implementation of Part D requirements
for NSR permit programs;
Provisions for air pollution modeling; and
Provisions for public and local agency participation in
planning and emission control rule development.
[[Page 20148]]
Section 110(a)(2)(D) of the CAA requires that SIPs contain certain
measures to prevent sources in a state from significantly contributing
to air quality problems in another state. To implement this provision
for various NAAQS, EPA has required certain states to establish
programs to address transport of air pollutants in accordance with
EPA's Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for Certain
States in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group Region for Purposes of
Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone (63 FR 57356, October 27, 1998),
also known as the NOX (oxides of nitrogen) SIP Call;
amendments to the NOX SIP Call (64 FR 26298, May 14, 1999
and 65 FR 11222, March 2, 2000), and CAIR (70 FR 25162, May 12, 2005).
However, section 110(a)(2)(D) requirements for a state are not linked
with a particular nonattainment area's designation and classification
in that state. EPA believes that the requirements linked with a
particular nonattainment area's designation and classifications are the
relevant measures to evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request. The
transport SIP submittal requirements, where applicable, continue to
apply to a state regardless of the designation of any one particular
area in the state. Thus, EPA does not believe that these requirements
are applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation.
In addition, EPA believes that the other section 110(a)(2) elements
not connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with
an area's attainment status are not applicable requirements for
purposes of redesignation. The Philadelphia Area will still be subject
to these requirements after it is redesignated. EPA concludes that the
section 110(a)(2) and part D requirements which are linked with a
particular area's designation and classification are the relevant
measures to evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request, and that
section 110(a)(2) elements not linked to the area's nonattainment
status are not applicable for purposes of redesignation. This approach
is consistent with EPA's existing policy on applicability of conformity
(i.e., for redesignations) and oxygenated fuels requirement. See
Reading, Pennsylvania, proposed and final rulemakings (61 FR 53174,
October 10, 1996), (62 FR 24826, May 7, 1997); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain,
Ohio final rulemaking (61 FR 20458, May 7, 1996); and Tampa, Florida,
final rulemaking (60 FR 62748, December 7, 1995). See also, the
discussion on this issue in the Cincinnati, Ohio redesignation (65 FR
at 37890, June 19, 2000), and in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley,
Pennsylvania redesignation (66 FR at 53099, October 19, 2001).
EPA has reviewed the Delaware SIP and has concluded that it meets
the general SIP requirements under section 110(a)(2) of the CAA to the
extent they are applicable for purposes of redesignation. EPA has
previously approved provisions of Delaware's SIP addressing section
110(a)(2) requirements, including provisions addressing
PM2.5. See (76 FR 47068, August 4, 2011 and 76 FR 53638,
August 29, 2911). These requirements are, however, statewide
requirements that are not linked to the PM2.5 nonattainment
status of the Philadelphia Area. Therefore, EPA believes that these SIP
elements are not applicable requirements for purposes of review of the
State's PM2.5 redesignation requests.
b. Subpart 4 Requirements
Subpart 1 sets forth the basic nonattainment plan requirements
applicable to PM2.5 nonattainment areas. Under section 172,
states with nonattainment areas must submit plans providing for timely
attainment and must meet a variety of other requirements.
The General Preamble for Implementation of Title I discusses the
evaluation of these requirements in the context of EPA's consideration
of a redesignation request. The General Preamble sets forth EPA's view
of applicable requirements for purposes of evaluating redesignation
requests when an area is attaining the standard. See 57 FR 13498, April
16, 1992.
As mentioned previously, on May 16, 2012 (77 FR 28782), EPA made a
determination that the Philadelphia Area had attained the 1997 annual
PM2.5 NAAQS. This determination of attainment was based upon
quality-assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data for
the period of 2007-2009 showing that the entire Area had attained the
standard by its applicable attainment date, and 2008-2010 data showing
that the Area continued to attain the standard. In a separate
rulemaking action, dated January 7, 2013 (78 FR 882), EPA made a
determination of attainment for the Philadelphia Area for the 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS, based on quality-assured and certified
ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2008-2010 and 2009-2011
monitoring periods.
Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.2004(c), upon these determinations by EPA
that the Area has attained the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS, the requirement for Delaware to submit for the
Philadelphia Area an attainment demonstration and associated RACM, a
RFP plan, contingency measures, and other planning SIPs related to the
attainment of the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS were suspended until the Area is redesignated to attainment for
each standard or EPA determines that the Area has again violated any of
the standards, at which time such plans are required to be submitted.
Thus, because attainment has been reached for the Area for the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS and the Area continues
to attain both standards, no additional measures are needed to provide
for attainment. Therefore, the requirements of section 172(c)(1),
172(c)(2), 172(c)(6), and 172(c)(9) are no longer considered to be
applicable for purposes of redesignation of the Area for both
standards.
However, determinations of attainment do not preclude states from
submitting and EPA from approving planning SIP revisions for the 1997
or 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. On April 3, 2008, DNREC submitted an
attainment plan for the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area for
the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS, which included a 2002
comprehensive emissions inventory. On April 25, 2012, DNREC submitted a
SIP revision to replace the MVEBs in the April 3, 2008 submittal with a
budget that is based on the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES)
model. On December 17, 2013 (78 FR 76209), EPA approved Delaware's
attainment plan for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS for the Delaware
portion of the Philadelphia Area and MVEBs for transportation
conformity purposes for New Castle County, Delaware submitted on April
3, 2008 and April 25, 2012.
Section 172(c)(4) of the CAA requires the identification and
quantification of allowable emissions for major new and modified
stationary sources in an area, and section 172(c)(5) requires source
permits for the construction and operation of new and modified major
stationary sources anywhere in the nonattainment area. EPA has
determined that, since PSD requirements will apply after redesignation,
areas being redesignated need not comply with the requirement that a
nonattainment NSR program be approved prior to redesignation, provided
that the area demonstrates maintenance of the NAAQS without part D NSR.
A more detailed rationale for this view is described in a memorandum
from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and
[[Page 20149]]
Radiation, dated October 14, 1994, entitled, ``Part D New Source Review
Requirements for Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment.''
Nevertheless, Delaware currently has an approved NSR program, including
an approved PSD program, codified in the State's regulation at 7 DE
Admin. Code 1125, ``Requirements for Preconstruction Review.'' See (77
FR 60053, October 2, 2012) and (78 FR 13496, February 28, 2013). The
State's PSD program for PM2.5 will become effective in the
Philadelphia Area upon redesignation to attainment.
Section 172(c)(7) of the CAA requires the SIP to meet the
applicable provisions of section 110(a)(2). As noted previously, we
believe the Delaware SIP meets the requirements of section 110(a)(2)
that are applicable for purposes of redesignation.
As a result of EPA's determinations of attainment of the Area for
the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively,
the only remaining requirement under section 172 to be considered for
each of the PM2.5 standards is the comprehensive emissions
inventory required under section 172(c)(3). Section 172(c)(3) of the
CAA requires submission of a comprehensive, accurate, and current
inventory of actual emissions. For purposes of the PM2.5
NAAQS, this emissions inventory should address not only direct
emissions of PM2.5, but also emissions of all precursors
with the potential to participate in PM2.5 formation, i.e.,
sulfur dioxide (SO2), NOX, volatile organic
compounds (VOC) and ammonia.
DNREC's April 3, 2008 attainment plan submittal for the 1997 annual
PM2.5 standard is relevant to this proposed rulemaking
action to redesignate the Delaware portion of the Area only with
respect to the comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of section
172(c)(3) for the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard. On March 4,
2013 (78 FR 14020), EPA approved the 2002 comprehensive emissions
inventory included in the attainment plan for the 1997 annual
PM2.5 NAAQS, to meet the requirement of section 172(c)(3)
for this standard. The 2002 comprehensive emissions inventory for the
1997 annual PM2.5 standard includes emissions estimates that
cover the general source categories of point sources, area sources, on-
road mobile sources, and non-road mobile sources. The pollutants that
comprise the 2002 emissions inventory are PM2.5,
NOX, SO2, VOC, and ammonia. An evaluation of
Delaware's 2002 comprehensive emissions inventory for the Philadelphia
portion of the Area is provided in the Technical Support Document (TSD)
prepared by EPA for the rulemaking action. See Docket ID No. EPA-R03-
OAR-2010-0141.
To satisfy the 172(c)(3) requirement for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standard, Delaware's December 12, 2012 redesignation
request and maintenance plan for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
standard contains a 2007 comprehensive emissions inventories. DNREC had
previously prepared the 2007 inventory for the Delaware portion of the
Philadelphia Area for modeling and SIP purposes. DNREC is using that
2007 inventory as the base year inventory for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standard, because 2007 is one of the three years used
to designate the Philadelphia nonattainment area for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standard. DNREC has submitted that 2007 emissions
inventory to fulfill its obligation to submit a comprehensive inventory
under Clean Air Act section 172(c)(3), because that inventory has gone
through extensive quality assurance. The 2007 emissions inventory is
the most current accurate and comprehensive emissions inventory of
direct PM2.5, NOX, SO2, VOC, and
ammonia for the Area. Thus, as part of this rulemaking action, EPA is
proposing to approve Delaware's 2007 comprehensive emissions inventory
for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS as satisfying the
requirement of section 172(c)(3) of the CAA for this standard. Final
approval of the 2007 base year emissions inventory will satisfy the
emissions inventory requirement under section 172(c)(3) of the CAA for
the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
The 2007 comprehensive emissions inventory addresses the general
source categories of point sources, area sources, on-road mobile
sources, and non-road mobile sources. A summary of the 2007
comprehensive emissions inventory is provided in Table 3. EPA has
reviewed the documentation provided by DNREC and found the 2007
emissions inventory to be approvable. For more information on EPA's
analysis of the 2007 emissions inventory, see the TSDs prepared by the
EPA Region III Office of Air Monitoring and Analysis and both dated
January 28, 2014, ``Technical Support Document (TSD) for the
Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for the New Castle County
Portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE 1997 PM2.5
Nonattainment Area'' and ``Technical Support Document (TSD) for the
Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for the New Castle County
Portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE 2006 PM2.5
Nonattainment Area'' (``Inventory TSDs''), available in the docket for
this rulemaking action at www.regulations.gov. See Docket ID No. EPA-
R03-OAR-2014-0022.
Table 3--Summary of 2007 Comprehensive Inventory for New Castle County, in Tons per Year (tpy)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct
Sector PM2.5 NOX SO2 VOC Ammonia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point.................................................... 1,335 6,635 13,380 1,727 64
Non-point................................................ 1,207 1,293 630 4,795 653
On-road.................................................. 324 10,577 100 4,298 243
Non-road................................................. 327 4,580 1,118 2,490 2
------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 3,193 23,084 15,228 13,310 962
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 175A requires a state seeking redesignation to attainment
to submit a SIP revision to provide for the maintenance of the NAAQS in
the area ``for at least 10 years after the redesignation.'' In
conjunction with its request to redesignate the Delaware portion of the
Area to attainment status, Delaware submitted SIP revisions to provide
for maintenance of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS in the Delaware portion of the Area for at least 10 years after
redesignation, throughout 2025. Delaware is requesting that EPA approve
this SIP revision as meeting the requirement of CAA section 175A. Once
approved, the maintenance plans for the Delaware portion of the Area
will ensure that the SIP for Delaware meets the requirements of the CAA
regarding maintenance of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS for the Delaware portion of the Area. EPA's
analysis of the maintenance plans
[[Page 20150]]
is provided in section V.B. of this rulemaking action.
Section 176(c) of the CAA requires states to establish criteria and
procedures to ensure that Federally supported or funded projects
conform to the air quality planning goals in the applicable SIP. The
requirement to determine conformity applies to transportation plans,
programs, and projects that are developed, funded or approved under
title 23 of the United States Code (U.S.C.) and the Federal Transit Act
(transportation conformity) as well as to all other Federally supported
or funded projects (general conformity). State transportation
conformity SIP revisions must be consistent with Federal conformity
regulations relating to consultation, enforcement and enforceability
which EPA promulgated pursuant to its authority under the CAA. EPA
interprets the conformity SIP requirements as not applying for purposes
of evaluating a redesignation request under CAA section 107(d) because
state conformity rules are still required after redesignation, and
Federal conformity rules apply where state rules have not been
approved. See Wall v. EPA, 265 F. 3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001) (upholding
this interpretation) and (60 FR 62748, December 7, 1995) (discussing
Tampa, Florida).
Thus, for purposes of redesignating to attainment the Delaware
portion of the Philadelphia Area for the 1997 annual PM2.5
NAAQS, EPA determines that Delaware has met all the applicable SIP
requirements under part D of Title I of the CAA. EPA also determines
that upon final approval of the 2007 comprehensive emissions inventory
as proposed in this rulemaking action, Delaware will also meet all the
applicable SIP requirements under part D of Title I of the CAA for
purposes of redesignating the Area to attainment for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS.
c. The Delaware Portion of the Area Has a Fully Approved Applicable SIP
Under Section 110(k) of the CAA
For purposes of redesignation to attainment for the 1997 annual
PM2.5 NAAQS, EPA has fully approved all applicable
requirements of Delaware's SIP for the Area in accordance with section
110(k) of the CAA. Upon final approval of the 2007 comprehensive
emissions inventory as proposed in this rulemaking action, EPA will
have fully approved all applicable requirements of Delaware's SIP for
the Area for purposes of redesignation to attainment for the 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS in accordance with section 110(k) of the
CAA.
3. Permanent and Enforceable Reductions in Emissions
For redesignating a nonattainment area to attainment, section
107(d)(3)(E)(iii) requires EPA to determine that the air quality
improvement in the area is due to permanent and enforceable reductions
in emissions resulting from implementation of the SIP and applicable
Federal air pollution control regulations and other permanent and
enforceable reductions. Delaware has calculated the change in emissions
between 2002, a year showing nonattainment for the 1997 annual
PM2.5 standard in the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia
Area, and 2007, one of the years for which the Philadelphia Area
monitored attainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard.
Delaware did the same analysis for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
standard, using 2007 as a year showing nonattainment for the 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 standard in the Delaware portion of the
Philadelphia Area, and 2008, one of the years for which the
Philadelphia Area monitored attainment for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standard.
A summary of the emissions reductions of direct PM2.5,
NOX, and SO2 from 2002 to 2007 in the Delaware
portion of the Philadelphia Area, submitted by DNREC, is provided in
Table 4a. A summary of the emissions reductions of direct
PM2.5, NOX, and SO2 from 2007 to 2008,
submitted by DNREC, is provided in Table 4b. For more information on
EPA's analysis of the 2007 and 2008 emissions inventories, see EPA's
Inventory TSDs, dated January 28, 2014, available in the docket for
this rulemaking action at www.regulations.gov.
Table 4a--Emission Reductions From 2002 to 2007 in the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Percent
Sector 2002 2007 reduction reduction
2002-2007 2002-2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct PM 2.5....................... Point................. 1,733 1,335 398 23
Non-point............. 1,073 1,207 -134 -12
On-road............... 209 324 -115 -55
Non-road.............. 415 327 88 21
Total................. 3,430 3,193 237 7
NOX................................. Point................. 9,157 6,635 2,522 28
Non-point............. 1,513 1,293 220 15
On-road............... 11,799 10,577 1,222 10
Non-road.............. 8,279 4,580 3,699 45
Total................. 30,748 23,084 7,664 25
SO2................................. Point................. 47,070 13,380 33,690 72
Non-point............. 780 630 150 19
On-road............... 326 100 226 69
Non-road.............. 2,061 1,118 943 46
Total................. 50,237 15,228 35,009 70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 4b--Emission Reductions From 2007 to 2008 in the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Percent
Sector 2007 2008 reduction reduction
2007-2008 2007-2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct PM 2.5....................... Point................. 1,335 1,109 226 17
[[Page 20151]]
Non-point............. 1,207 1,191 16 1
On-road............... 324 283 42 13
Non-road.............. 327 312 15 5
Total................. 3,193 2,894 300 9
NOX................................. Point................. 6,635 5,589 1,046 16
Non-point............. 1,293 1,287 6 0
On-road............... 10,577 9,311 1,266 12
Non-road.............. 4,580 4,317 263 6
Total................. 23,084 20,504 2,580 11
SO 2................................ Point................. 13,380 10,576 2,805 21
Non-point............. 630 402 228 36
On-road............... 100 94 6 6
Non-road.............. 1,118 1,067 51 5
Total................. 15,228 12,139 3,089 20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reduction in emissions and the corresponding improvement in air
quality from 2002 to 2007 and from 2007 to 2008, for the 1997 annual
and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively, in the
Philadelphia Area can be attributed to a number of regulatory control
measures that have been implemented in the Area and contributing areas
in recent years.
In Sections 4.3, Enforceable and Permanent PM2.5,
NOX, and SO2 Measures that Contributed to
Improved Air Quality, of Delaware's redesignation requests and
maintenance plans for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5, DNREC makes demonstrations that numerous permanent
and enforceable state and federal control measures achieved emission
reductions that resulted in improved air quality in the Philadelphia
Area. The following is a list of the permanent and enforceable control
measures.
a. Delaware-Specific Control Measures
7 DE Admin. Code 1144, Control of Stationary Generator
Emissions. This statewide regulation controls SO2, PM, VOC,
and NOX emissions. The regulation was effective in January
2006, and was approved into Delaware's SIP on August 11, 2010 (75 FR
48566).
7 DE Admin. Code 1148, Control of Stationary Combustion
Turbine Electric Generating Unit Emissions. This statewide regulation
controls NOX emissions, and was effective in July 2007. EPA
approved this regulation into the Delaware SIP on August 11, 2010 (75
FR 48566).
7 DE Admin. Code 1142. EPA approved this rule, which
controls NOX emissions, into the Delaware SIP on November
22, 2002 (67 FR 70315). Section 1 of this rule, Control of
NOX Emissions from Industrial Boilers, is applicable state-
wide, and was effective in December 2001. Section 2, Control of
NOX Emissions from Industrial Boilers and Process Heaters at
Petroleum Refineries, is applicable in New Castle County. DNREC revised
Section 2, effective July 2007. EPA approved the revisions to Section 2
into the Delaware SIP on May 15, 2012 (77 FR 28489).
7 DE Admin. Code 1131, Low Enhanced Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M). Delaware's enhanced I/M program is applicable in New
Castle and Kent Counties, and was approved into the Delaware SIP by EPA
on September 30, 1999 (64 FR 52657). Revisions to the enhanced I/M
program were approved by EPA on November 26, 2003 (68 FR 228).
Please note that for Delaware's redesignation request for the 1997
annual PM2.5 NAAQS, the following additional control measure
was also included.
Delaware-Specific Control Measures
Consent Decree with Premcor Refinery at Delaware City
(formerly Motiva Enterprises), New Castle County, Control of SO2, and
NOX Emissions from Boilers and Heaters, Effective 2006, Civil Action
No. H-01-0978. This federal consent decree was lodged in the United
States Court for the Southern District of Texas on March 21, 2001.
b. Federal Measures Implemented
EPA's New Source Performance Standards for Woodstoves
(NSPS), 40 CFR part 60, subpart AAA.
Control of Emissions from New and In-Use non-road
Compression Engines, 40 CFR part 89.
Control of Air Pollution; Determination of Significance
for Non-road Sources and Emission Standards for New Non-road
Compression Ignition Engines at or Above 37 Kilowatts (59 FR 31036,
June 17, 1994).
Emissions for New Non-road Spark-Ignition Engines At or
Below 19 Kilowatts (60 FR 34581, July 3, 1995).
Final Rule for New Gasoline Spark-Ignition Marine Engines;
Exemptions for New Non-road Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 37
Kilowatts and New Non-road Spark-Ignition Engines at or Below 19
Kilowatts (61 FR 52088, October 4, 1996).
Control of Emissions of Air Pollution from Non-road Diesel
Engines (63 FR 56967, October 23, 1998).
Phase 2 Emission Standards for New Non-road Non-handheld
Spark Ignition Engines At or Below 19 Kilowatts (64 FR 15207, March 30,
1999).
Phase 2 Emission Standards for New Non-road Spark-Ignition
Handheld Engines At or Below 19 Kilowatts and Minor Amendments to
Emission Requirements Applicable to Small Spark-Ignition Engines and
Marine Spark-Ignition Engines (65 FR 24268, April 25, 2000).
Control of Emissions from Non-road Large Spark-Ignition
Engines and Recreational Engines (Marine and Land-Based), (67 FR 68241,
November 8, 2002).
Control of Emissions of Air Pollution from Non-road Diesel
Engines and Fuel (Clean Air Non-road Diesel Rule--Tier 4), (69 FR
38958, June 29, 2004).
Control of Emissions from Non-road Spark-Ignition Engines
and Equipment (Bond Rule), (73 FR 59034, October 8, 2008).
Heavy-Duty Highway Rule, 40 CFR part 86, Subpart P.
[[Page 20152]]
Federal Tier 1 New Vehicle Emission and New Federal
Evaporative Emission Standards.
The Tier 2 vehicle and gasoline sulfur program, Subpart H
of 40 CFR part 80, 40 CFR part 85, and 40 CFR part 86.
Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) National Low Emission
Vehicle Program (NLEV).
EPA has reviewed both redesignation requests and maintenance plans
for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards and
found that DNREC has demonstrated that it has controlled emissions of
PM2.5 and its precursors through numerous permanent and
enforceable emission control measures, resulting in permanent and
enforceable emission reductions adequate to attain both the 1997 annual
and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Therefore, DNREC has met this
criterion for redesignation. However, in a separate rulemaking action,
published on February 22, 2013, EPA identified deficiencies associated
with several regulations within the approved Delaware SIP including a
specific provision within 7-1100-1142 Del. Code Regs Sec. 2
(Regulation 1142, Section 2.0, Control of Nitrogen Oxide
(NOX) Emissions from Industrial Boilers and Process Heaters
at Petroleum Refineries). See 78 FR 12460. In that proposed rulemaking
action, EPA identified specific Delaware regulations in which state
officials are provided unbounded discretion to set alternative emission
limits during periods of start-up and shutdown of equipment through a
permitting process that does not entail subsequent approval of the
alternative emission limits through a SIP submission. EPA has proposed
to find that this process constitutes an impermissible director's
discretion provision with the potential to allow impermissible
discretionary exemptions from SIP emission limits. See 78 FR 12495-
12496. EPA will be taking a separate final action on the February 22,
2013 proposed rulemaking action.
EPA's analysis indicates that Regulation 1142, Section 2.0 is not
necessary for attainment of the Philadelphia Area. The Philadelphia
Area is attaining the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS. The Philadelphia Area came into attainment of the 1997 annual
NAAQS in 2009, considering 2007-2009 ambient air quality monitoring
data (77 FR 28782), and continues to meet that standard. The
Philadelphia Area came into attainment for the 2006 24-hour standard in
2010, considering 2008-2010 data (78 FR 882), and continues to meet
that standard. Furthermore, actual emission reductions of
PM2.5 and its precursors have been achieved between the base
years and the attainment years for both standards. For the 1997 NAAQS,
NOX has decreased in the Delaware portion of the
Philadelphia Area from 30,748 tpy in 2002 to 23,084 tpy in 2007. For
the 2006 NAAQS, NOX has decreased in the Delaware portion of
the Philadelphia Area from 23,084 tpy in 2007 to 20,504 tpy in 2008.
Regulation 1142 Section 2.0 applies to NOX emissions at
petroleum refineries. There is only one such petroleum refinery in
Delaware, and it is subject to a federally-enforceable consent decree
and several consent decree addendums between the source and EPA which
limit NOX emissions and require NOX control
measures at several units at the refinery. Therefore, EPA is not
relying upon Regulation 1142 Section 2.0 in its evaluation of the
permanent and enforceable attainment measures. Through numerous
permanent and enforceable regulations, which are incorporated into
Delaware's SIP, Delaware has regulated and is continuing to regulate
sources of PM2.5 and its precursors in the Philadelphia
Area. Taking into consideration existing regulations, including those
listed earlier in this rulemaking action, which Delaware included in
Sections 4.3 of its redesignation requests and maintenance plans, (with
the exception of Regulation 1142 Section 2.0), EPA has concluded that
the Philadelphia Area has attained the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5
NAAQS and that Delaware has shown that attainment of these standards is
due to permanent and enforceable emission reductions.
For more information on EPA's analysis, please refer to EPA's TSD,
available in the docket for this rulemaking action at
www.regulations.gov. See Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0022.
B. Maintenance Plans
On December 12, 2012, DNREC submitted maintenance plans for the
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, as required by
section 175A of the CAA. EPA's analysis for proposing approval of the
maintenance plans is provided in this section.
1. Attainment Emissions Inventories
An attainment inventory is comprised of the emissions during the
time period associated with the monitoring data showing attainment.
DNREC determined that the appropriate attainment inventory year for the
maintenance plan for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS is 2007,
one of the years in the periods during which the Philadelphia Area
monitored attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. DNREC
determined that the appropriate attainment inventory year for the
maintenance plan for the 2006 24-hours PM2.5 NAAQS is 2008,
one of the years in the periods during which the Philadelphia Area
monitored attainment of the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The 2007
and 2008 inventory included in the maintenance plans contains primary
PM2.5 emissions (including condensables), SO2,
and NOX. The underlying emissions data DNREC submitted to
support the 2007 and 2008 inventories contains the additional
PM2.5 precursors, ammonia and VOCs.
In its redesignation requests and maintenance plans for the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards, DNREC described the
methods used for developing its 2007 and 2008 inventories. EPA reviewed
the procedures used to develop the projected inventories and found them
to be reasonable. EPA has reviewed the documentation provided by DNREC
and found the 2007 and 2008 emissions inventories submitted with the
maintenance plans to be approvable. For more information on EPA's
analysis of the 2007 and 2008 emissions inventories, see EPA's
Inventory TSDs, dated January 28, 2014, available in the docket for
this rulemaking action at www.regulations.gov.
2. Maintenance Demonstration
Section 175A requires a state seeking redesignation to attainment
to submit a SIP revision to provide for the maintenance of the NAAQS in
the area ``for at least 10 years after the redesignation.'' EPA has
interpreted this as a showing of maintenance ``for a period of ten
years following redesignation.'' Where the emissions inventory method
of showing maintenance is used, its purpose is to show that emissions
during the maintenance period will not increase over the attainment
year inventory. See 1992 Calcagni Memorandum, pages 9-10.
For a demonstration of maintenance, emissions inventories are
required to be projected to future dates to assess the influence of
future growth and controls; however, the demonstration need not be
based on modeling. See Wall v. EPA, supra; Sierra Club v. EPA, supra.
See also 66 FR 53099-53100 and 68 FR 25430-32. DNREC uses projection
inventories to show that the Delaware portion of the Area will remain
in attainment and developed projection inventories for an interim year
of 2017 and a maintenance plan end year of 2025 to show that future
emissions of NOX, SO2, and direct
PM2.5 will remain
[[Page 20153]]
at or below the attainment year 2007 and 2008 attainment-level
emissions levels, for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5, respectively, throughout the Delaware portion of the
Area through the year 2025.
EPA has reviewed the documentation provided by DNREC for developing
annual 2017 and 2025 emissions inventories for the Delaware portion of
the Area. EPA has determined that the 2017 and 2025 projected emissions
inventories provided by DNREC are approvable. For more information on
EPA's analysis of the emissions inventories, see EPA's Inventory TSDs,
dated January 28, 2014, available in the docket for this rulemaking
action at www.regulations.gov.
Tables 5a, 6a, and 7a provide a summary of the direct
PM2.5, NOX, and SO2, respectively,
emissions inventories for the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area
for the 2007 attainment year, the 2017 interim year, and the 2025
maintenance plan end year for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
Tables 5b, 6b, and 7b provide a summary of the direct PM2.5,
NOX, and SO2, respectively, emissions inventories
for the entire Philadelphia Area for the 2007 attainment year, the 2017
interim year, and the 2025 maintenance plan end year for the 1997
annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The inventories show that, between 2007
and 2025, the Area is projected to reduce direct PM2.5
emissions by 9,055 tpy, NOX emissions by 106,099 tpy, and
SO2 emissions by 34,265 tpy. Thus, the projected emissions
inventories show that the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area
will continue to maintain the 1997 annual PM2.5 standards
during the maintenance period. Note that the emission projections for
the Delaware portion of the Area contain subcategories for point source
and non-road emissions sources. ``Non-road, MAR'' refers to Marine
Vessels, Aircraft and Locomotives (MAR). ``Non-road, NMIM'' refers to
emissions sources covered by the National Mobile Inventory Model
(NMIM). Point source emissions are reported as either from electric
generating units (EGUs) or from non-EGU point sources.
Table 5a--Comparison of 2007, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of Direct PM2.5 for the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct PM2.5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007-2017 2007-2025
-----------------------------------------------------
Sector 2007 2017 2025 Percent Percent
Reduction reduction Reduction reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-point.................................................. 1,207 1,235 1,310 -28 -2.3 -103 -8.5
Non-road, MAR.............................................. 171 61 44 110 64.2 126 74.0
Non-road, NMIM............................................. 156 106 103 51 32.5 53 34.0
On-road.................................................... 324 199 199 125 38.6 125 38.6
Point, EGU................................................. 519 502 520 17 3.2 -1 -0.2
Point, non-EGU............................................. 816 742 716 75 9.1 100 12.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 3,193 2,844 2,893 349 11 301 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 5b--Comparison of 2007, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of Direct PM2.5 for the Entire Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct PM2.5
----------------------------------------------------------------
2007-2025
Sector -------------------------
2007 2017 2025 Percent
Reduction reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point.......................................... 4,573 3,825 3,875 698 15.3
Non-point...................................... 17,879 13,358 12,983 4,897 27.4
On-road........................................ 3,795 2,488 1,443 2,352 62.0
Non-road....................................... 2,466 1,606 1,357 1,109 45.0
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total...................................... 28,713 21,277 19,657 9,055 31.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 6a--Comparison of 2007, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of NOX for the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOx
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007-2017 2007-2025
-----------------------------------------------------
Sector 2007 2017 2025 Percent Percent
Reduction reduction Reduction reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-point.................................................. 1,293 1,295 1,296 -3 -0.2 -3 -0.2
Non-road, MAR.............................................. 2,825 1,810 1,279 1,015 35.9 1,546 54.7
Non-road, NMIM............................................. 1,755 997 837 758 43.2 918 52.3
On-road.................................................... 10,577 6,273 6,273 4,304 40.7 4,304 40.7
[[Page 20154]]
Point, EGU................................................. 2,865 1,698 1,758 1,167 40.7 1,107 38.7
Point, non-EGU............................................. 3,770 2,402 2,355 1,368 36.3 1,415 37.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 23,084 14,475 13,797 8,609 37 9,287 40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 6b--Comparison of 2007, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of NOX for the Entire Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX
----------------------------------------------------------------
2007-2025
Sector -------------------------
2007 2017 2025 Percent
Reduction reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point.......................................... 31,759 13,049 19,817 11,942 37.6
Non-point...................................... 18,043 17,528 17,741 302 1.7
On-road........................................ 106,315 62,056 26,648 79,668 74.9
Non-road....................................... 31,850 20,935 17,662 14,188 44.5
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total...................................... 187,967 113,568 81,868 106,099 56.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 7a--Comparison of 2007, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of SO2 for the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007-2017 2007-2025
-----------------------------------------------------
Sector 2007 2017 2025 Percent Percent
Reduction reduction Reduction reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-point.................................................. 630 521 469 109 17.4 161 25.6
Non-road, MAR.............................................. 1,027 112 37 915 89.1 990 96.4
Non-road, NMIM............................................. 91 2 3 89 97.3 88 96.5
On-road.................................................... 100 98 98 2 2.4 2 2.4
Point, EGU................................................. 9,119 2,419 2,572 6,700 73.5 6,547 71.8
Point, non-EGU............................................. 4,261 3,843 3,780 418 9.8 482 11.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 15,228 6,995 6,958 8,234 54 8,271 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 7b--Comparison of 2007, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of SO2 for the Entire Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2
----------------------------------------------------------------
2007-2025
Sector -------------------------
2007 2017 2025 Percent
Reduction reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point.......................................... 35035 13375 13553 21482 61.3
Non-point...................................... 16763 13466 9756 7007 41.8
On-road........................................ 773 578 422 351 45.4
Non-road....................................... 6134 851 709 5425 88.4
Total...................................... 58705 28270 24440 34265 58.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tables 8a, 9a, and 10a provide a summary of the direct
PM2.5, NOX, and SO2, respectively,
emissions inventories for the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area
for the 2008 attainment year, the 2017 interim year,
[[Page 20155]]
and the 2025 maintenance plan end year for the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS. Tables 8b, 9b, and 10b provide a summary of the
direct PM2.5, NOX, and SO2,
respectively, emissions inventories for the entire Philadelphia Area
for the 2007 attainment year, the 2017 interim year, and the 2025
maintenance plan end year for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
The inventories show that, between 2008 and 2025, the Area is projected
to reduce direct PM2.5 emissions by 6,287 tpy,
NOX emissions by 73,606 tpy, and SO2 emissions by
29,990 tpy. Thus, the projected emissions inventories show that the
Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area will continue to maintain the
2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards during the maintenance period.
Table 8a--Comparison of 2008, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of Direct PM2.5 for the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct PM2.5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008-2017 2008-2025
-----------------------------------------------------
Sector 2008 2017 2025 Percent Percent
Reduction reduction Reduction reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-point.................................................. 1,191 1,247 1,327 -56 -4.7 -136 -11.4
Non-road, MAR.............................................. 164 59 42 106 64.3 122 74.3
Non-road, NMIM............................................. 148 106 103 42 28.6 45 30.2
On-road.................................................... 282 199 199 83 29.4 83 29.4
Point, EGU................................................. 396 410 427 -14 -3.5 -32 -8.0
Point, non-EGU............................................. 713 504 398 209 29.3 315 44.1
Total.................................................. 2,894 2,524 2,497 370 13 396 14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 8b--Comparison of 2008, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of Direct PM2.5 for the Entire Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct PM2.5
----------------------------------------------------------------
2008-2025
Sector -------------------------
2008 2017 2025 Percent
Reduction reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point.......................................... 4,790 4,006 4,058 731 15.3
Non-point...................................... 11,935 8,917 8,667 3,269 27.4
On-road........................................ 2,437 1,125 951 1,486 61.0
Non-road....................................... 1,728 1,598 927 801 46.4
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total...................................... 20,889 15,646 14,602 6,287 30.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 9a--Comparison of 2008, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of NOX for the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008-2017 2008-2025
Sector -----------------------------------------------------
2008 2017 2025 Percent Percent
Reduction Reduction Reduction Reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-point.................................................. 1,287 1,299 1,297 -12 -0.9 -10 -0.8
Non-road, MAR.............................................. 2,641 1,760 1,247 881 33.3 1,394 52.8
Non-road, NMIM............................................. 1,676 997 837 679 40.5 840 50.1
On-road.................................................... 9,311 6,273 6,273 3,038 32.6 3,038 32.6
Point, EGU................................................. 2,185 1,629 1,707 556 25.4 478 21.9
Point, non-EGU............................................. 3,404 1,724 1,421 1,680 49.4 1,983 58.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 20,504 13,682 12,782 6,822 33 7,722 38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 20156]]
Table 9b--Comparison of 2008, 2017, and 2025 Emissions of NOX for the Entire Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX
----------------------------------------------------------------
2008-2025
Sector -------------------------
2008 2017 2025 Percent
Reduction reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point.......................................... 31,233 12,833 19,489 11,744 37.6
Non-point...................................... 23,477 22,807 23,085 392 1.7
On-road........................................ 25,905 17,028 14,366 11,540 44.5
Non-road....................................... 66,631 38,892 16,701 49,930 74.9
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total...................................... 147,247 91,560 73,640 73,606 50.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 10a--Comparison of 2008, 2015, and 2025 Emissions of SO2 for the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008-2017 2008-2025
-----------------------------------------------------
Sector 2008 2017 2025 Percent Percent
Reduction reduction Reduction reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-point.................................................. 402 336 286 66 16.5 116 28.8
Non-road, MAR.............................................. 1,039 120 39 919 88.4 1,000 96.2
Non-road, NMIM............................................. 28 2 3 25 91.0 25 88.4
On-road.................................................... 94 98 98 -3 -3.4 -3 -3.4
Point, EGU................................................. 7,122 2,017 2,161 5,104 71.7 4,960 69.7
Point, non-EGU............................................. 3,454 2,559 2,096 895 25.9 1,358 39.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 12,139 5,132 4,683 7,007 58 7,456 61
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 10b--Comparison of 2008, 2015, and 2025 Emissions of SO2 for the Entire Philadelphia Area
[tpy]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2
----------------------------------------------------------------
2008-2025
Sector -------------------------
2008 2017 2025 Percent
Reduction reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point.......................................... 29,340 11,201 11,350 17,990 61.3
Non-point...................................... 17,016 13,669 9,903 7,113 41.8
On-road........................................ 5,312 737 614 4,698 88.4
Non-road....................................... 416 311 227 189 45.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total...................................... 52,085 25,919 22,095 29,990 57.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sections 8.2.3, Control Measures for Maintenance of Good Air
Quality, in Delaware's maintenance plans and redesignation requests for
both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards,
summarize emission reductions between the attainment years and the
maintenance plan end years, i.e. between 2007 or 2008 and 2025 in the
Delaware portion of the Area. The emissions reductions data included in
Tables 8-6 of Sections 8.2.3 of Delaware's redesignations requests and
maintenance plans for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS are summarized in Tables 11a and 11b, for the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour NAAQS, respectively.
Table 11a--2007 to 2025 Emission Reductions Due to Control Measures for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 Standard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX PM2.5 SO2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGUs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE Admin Code 1146 (Multi-Pollutant Regulation)................. 1,240.8 10.5 6,562.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 20157]]
Non-EGUs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware City Refinery NOX CAP (1650 tpy) post-2015............. 1,157.26 0.00 0.00
Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines--Maximum Achievable 0.02 0.08 0.00
Control Technology, (RICE MACT) (76 FR 12863)..................
Chrysler Plant Shutdown/unit shutdown........................... 6.50 0.89 16.64
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-point
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RICE MACT....................................................... 42.51 0.30 0.00
EPA New Source Performance Standards for Woodstoves (NSPS), 40 5.00 76.64 0.84
CFR part 60, subpart AAA.......................................
Non-road (NMIM model)........................................... 918 53 88
On-road (MOVES model)........................................... 4,304 125 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Vessels, Aircraft and Locomotives (MAR)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Control of Emissions of Air Pollution from Locomotive Engines 933 37 152
and Marine Compression-Ignition Engines Less Than 30 Liters per
Cylinder; Republication; Final Rule. (73 FR 37096).............
Control of Emissions From New Marine Compression-Ignition 631 90 836
Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder (75 FR 22895).......
-----------------------------------------------
Totals...................................................... 9,241 394 7,660
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 11b--2008 to 2025 Emission Reductions due to Control Measures for the 2006 24-Hour PM2.5 Standard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX PM2.5 SO2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGUs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE Admin Code 1146 (Multi-Pollutant Regulation).............. 953.4 3.5 5,171.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-EGUs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware City Refinery NOX CAP (1650 tpy) post-2015.......... 874.7 0.0 0.0
RICE MACT (76 FR 12863)...................................... 0.0 0.1 0.0
Chrysler Plant Shutdown/unit shutdown........................ 8.4 0.7 6.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RICE MACT.................................................... 42.5 0.3 0.3
Woodstoves NSPS, 40 CFR part 60.............................. 4.9 74.1 0.8
Non-road (NMIM model)........................................ 840 45 25
On-road (MOVES model)........................................ 3,038 83 -3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Vessels, Aircraft and Locomotives (MAR)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Control of Emissions of Air Pollution from Locomotive Engines 862.3 32.9 150.1
and Marine Compression-Ignition Engines Less Than 30 Liters
per Cylinder; Republication; Final Rule. (73 FR 37096)......
Control of Emissions From New Marine Compression-Ignition 597.3 90.7 850.7
Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder (75 FR 22895)....
--------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................... 7,221 330 6,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware included Regulation 1142, Section 2.0, Control of Nitrogen
Oxide (NOX) Emissions from Industrial Boilers and Process
Heaters at Petroleum Refineries, in that list. However, as explained
above, Regulation 1142, Section 2.0 is the subject of a separate
proposed rulemaking action, published on February 22, 2013 (78 FR
12460). Therefore, EPA has conducted an analysis to determine if the
area can demonstrate maintenance without emission reductions from that
regulation.
Delaware has determined that Regulation 1142, Section 2.0, also
known as the Delaware City Refinery NOX Cap, achieves
1,157.26 tons of NOX reductions between 2007 and 2025, and
874.7 tons of NOX reductions between 2008 and 2025. (See
Tables 8-6 of Delaware's redesignation requests for the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively.)
[[Page 20158]]
Table 12--Maintenance Demonstration, Not Considering Emission Reductions
From Delaware Regulation 1142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 annual PM[bdi2].[bdi5] NAAQS NOX 2006 24-hour
(tons) PM[bdi2].[bdi5] NAAQS
NOX (tons)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 Maintenance Year........... 81, 2025 Maintenance 73,640
868 Year.
Plus Reductions from Regulation 1,1 Plus Reductions 874.7
1142, Section 2. 57. from Regulation
26 1142, Section 2.
Adjusted 2025................... 83, Adjusted 2025...... 74,515
025
2007 Attainment Year............ 187 2008 Attainment 147,247
,96 Year.
7
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In both cases, the adjusted 2025 NOX emissions are well
below the attainment year emissions. Therefore, Regulation 1142,
Section 2 is not needed for maintenance of either the 1997 annual or
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Therefore, EPA is not relying upon
Regulation 1142, Section 2.0 in its evaluation of Delaware's
maintenance plans for the 1997 annual or 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS.
3. Monitoring Network
There are four PM2.5 monitors in the Delaware portion of
the Philadelphia Area. Delaware's maintenance plans include a
commitment to continue to operate its EPA-approved monitoring network,
as necessary to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. DNREC will consult with EPA prior
to making any necessary changes to the PM2.5 monitoring
network and will continue to quality assure the monitoring data in
accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR part 58.
4. Verification of Continued Attainment
Delaware will acquire ambient monitoring and source emission data
to track attainment and maintenance. Delaware will also track the
progress of the maintenance demonstration by periodically updating the
emissions inventory as required by the Annual Air Emissions Reporting
Requirements Rule (AERR), or as required by federal regulation during
the maintenance plan period. This includes developing annual
inventories for major point sources and a comprehensive periodic
inventory covering all source categories every three years. Tracking
will include the evaluation of annual and periodic evaluations for any
significant emission increases above the 2007 and 2008 attainment year
levels.
5. Contingency Measures
The contingency plan provisions are designed to promptly correct a
violation of either the 1997 annual or the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS that occurs in the Area after redesignation.
Section 175A of the CAA requires that a maintenance plan include such
contingency measures as EPA deems necessary to ensure that Delaware
will promptly correct a violation of either the 1997 annual or the 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS that occurs in the Area after
redesignation. The maintenance plan should identify the events that
would ``trigger'' the adoption and implementation of a contingency
measure(s), the contingency measure(s) that would be adopted and
implemented, and the schedule indicating the time frame by which the
state would adopt and implement the measure(s).
Delaware's maintenance plans outline the procedures for the
adoption and implementation of contingency measures to further reduce
emissions should a violation occur. Delaware's contingency measures
include a warning level response and an action level response. An
initial warning level response is triggered for the 1997 annual
PM2.5 NAAQS when the PM2.5 average of the
weighted annual mean for a single calendar year exceeds 15.1 [mu] g/
m\3\ at any monitor within the Philadelphia Area. An initial warning
level response is triggered for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS
when the 98th percentile 24-hour PM2.5 concentration for a
single calendar year exceeds 35.5 [mu] g/m\3\ within the Area. In
addition, for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5, a
warning level response is also triggered if total PM2.5,
NOX and SO2 emissions in the Delaware portion of
the Area increase more than 10% above attainment year levels.
For the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS, the action level
response will be prompted by any one of the following: (1) A two-year
average of the weighted annual mean of 15.1 [mu] g/m\3\ or greater
occurs within the Area; or (2) a violation of the standard occurs in
the Area (i.e. a three-year average of the weighted annual means of
15.1 [mu] g/m\3\ or greater). For the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS, the action level response will be prompted by any one of the
following: (1) a two-year average of the 98th percentile of 35.5 [mu]
g/m\3\or greater within the Area; or (2) a violation of the standard
occurs in the Area (i.e. a three-year average of the 98th percentile of
35.5 [mu] g/m\3\ or greater).
In order to select appropriate corrective measures for warning or
action level triggers, DNREC will conduct a study to determine the
causes of the violation and the control measures necessary to mitigate
the problem. The study will evaluate whether the trend, if any, is
likely to continue and if so, the control measures necessary to reverse
the trend taking into consideration ease and timing for implementation
as well as economic and social considerations. Based on the results of
the analysis, contingency measures will be selected. However, if a new
measure is already promulgated and scheduled to be implemented at the
federal or state level at such time after the exceedance, and that
measure or control is determined to be sufficient to address the upward
trend in air quality, additional local measures may be unnecessary.
Delaware will submit to EPA an analysis to demonstrate the proposed
measures are adequate to return the area to attainment. Adoption of
additional control measures is subject to necessary administrative and
legal processes.
Should a warning level response be triggered, measures that can be
implemented in a short time will be selected in order to be in place
within 18 months from the close of the calendar year that prompted the
warning level. Should an action level response be triggered,
implementation of necessary control measures will take place as
expeditiously as possible, but in no event later than 18 months after
the DNREC makes a determination, based on quality-assured ambient data,
that a violation of the NAAQS has occurred.
DNREC has indentified the following potential contingency measures
for both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour maintenance plans.
Lower particulate limits for No. 6 fuel oil-fired boilers.
Working with the local metropolitan planning agencies to
implement transportation control measures.
Low-sulfur distillate and residual fuels.
Additional PM2.5 controls for EGUs and large
industrial boilers burning
[[Page 20159]]
fuels other than distillate fuel or natural gas.
Vehicle inspection and maintenance program enhancements
(increase weight limit, addition of diesel vehicles, etc.).
Alternative fuel and additional diesel retrofit programs
for fleet vehicle operations.
Require NOX or SO2 emission offsets
for new and modified major sources.
Increase the ratio of emission offsets required for new
sources.
Require NOX or SO2 controls on new
minor sources (less than 100 tons).
Require increased recovery efficiency at sulfur recovery
plants.
Broader geographic applicability of existing measures.
Fuel switching from coal to natural gas at the Calpine
Edge Moor power plant (contingency measure only in the 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS maintenance plan).
6. EPA's Evaluation of VOC and Ammonia Precursors in Delaware's
Maintenance Plans
With regard to the redesignation of the Delaware portion of the
Philadelphia Area in evaluating the effect of the Court's remand of
EPA's 1997 PM2.5 Implementation Rule, which included
presumptions against consideration of VOC and ammonia as
PM2.5 precursors, EPA in this proposed rulemaking action is
also considering the impact of the decision on the maintenance plan
required under sections 175A and 107(d)(3)(E)(iv). To begin with, EPA
notes that the Area has attained both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standard and that Delaware has shown that attainment
of these standards is due to permanent and enforceable emission
reductions.
EPA proposes to determine that the Delaware's maintenance plan
shows continued maintenance of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standards by tracking the levels of the precursors
whose control brought about attainment of the standards in the
Philadelphia Area. EPA, therefore, believes that the only additional
consideration related to the maintenance plan requirements that results
from the Court's January 4, 2013 decision is that of assessing the
potential role of VOC and ammonia in demonstrating continued
maintenance in this Area. As explained subsequently, based upon
documentation provided by the State and supporting information, EPA
believes that the maintenance plans for the Delaware portion of the
Area need not include any additional emission reductions of VOC or
ammonia in order to provide for continued maintenance of the 1997
annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
First, as noted previously in EPA's discussion of section 189(e),
VOC emission levels in the Philadelphia Area have historically been
well-controlled under SIP requirements related to ozone and other
pollutants. Second, total ammonia emissions throughout the Philadelphia
Area are low, especially in comparison to the total amounts of
SO2, NOX, and even direct PM2.5
emissions from sources in the Area.
In the Philadelphia Area, emissions of direct PM2.5,
NOX, and SO2 are projected to decrease by 9,055
tpy, 106,099 tpy, and 34,265 tpy, respectively, over the maintenance
period for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS and by 6,287 tpy,
73,606 tpy, and 29,990 tpy, respectively, over the maintenance period
for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. See Tables 5b through 10b.
In addition, emissions inventories used in the regulatory impact
analysis (RIA) for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS \12\ show that VOC
and ammonia emissions are projected to decrease by 33,076 tpy and 611
tpy, respectively, between 2007 and 2020. See Table 13. While the RIA
emissions inventories are only projected out to 2020, there is no
reason to believe that this downward trend would not continue through
2025. Given that the Philadelphia Area is already attaining the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS even with the current
level of emissions from sources in the area, the downward trend of
emissions inventories would be consistent with continued attainment.
Indeed, projected emissions reductions for the precursors that the
State is addressing for purposes of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS indicate that the area should continue to attain
the NAAQS following the precursor control strategy that the state has
already elected to pursue. Even if VOC and ammonia emissions were to
increase unexpectedly between 2020 and 2025, the overall emissions
reductions projected in direct PM2.5, SO2, and
NOX would be sufficient to offset any increases. For these
reasons, EPA believes that local emissions of all of the potential
PM2.5 precursors will not increase to the extent that they
will cause monitored PM2.5 levels to violate the 1997 annual
and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard during the maintenance
period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ Review of the NAAQS for Particulate Matter--Regulatory
Impact Analysis.'' Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0955.
Table 13--Comparison of 2007 and 2020 Emissions of VOC and Ammonia for the Entire Philadelphia Area, in tpy \13\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOC Ammonia
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Net change Net change
2007 2020 2007-2020 2007 2020 2007-2020
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point................................................... 9,475 8,906 569 905 1,085 -180
Area.................................................... 71,981 72,537 -556 4,821 5,001 -180
Non-road................................................ 27,267 16,032 11,234 34 40 -6
On-road................................................. 35,169 13,340 21,829 2,005 1,029 977
Fires................................................... 1,798 1,798 0 125 125 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 145,689 112,613 33,076 7,890 7,279 611
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ These emissions estimates were taken from the emissions
inventories developed for the RIA for the 2012 PM2.5
NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, available air quality modeling analyses show continued
maintenance of the standard during the maintenance period. The current
annual design value for the Area is 13.7 [mu]g/m\3\ and the current 24-
hour design value is 33 [mu]g/m\3\, based on 2010-2012 air quality
data, which are well below the levels of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS. See Tables 1 and 2. Moreover, the modeling
analysis
[[Page 20160]]
conducted for the RIA for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS indicates
that the design values for the Philadelphia Area are expected to
continue to decline through 2020. In the RIA analysis, the 2020 modeled
annual design value for the Area is 9.4 [mu]g/m\3\ and the 2020 24-hour
design value is 24 [mu]g/m\3\.\14\ Given that most precursor emissions
are projected to decrease through 2025, it is reasonable to conclude
that monitored PM2.5 levels in the Area will also continue
to decrease through 2025.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ The 2020 projected PM2.5 design values are part
of the RIA for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thus, EPA believes that there is ample justification to conclude
that the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area should be
redesignated, even taking into consideration the emissions of other
precursors potentially relevant to PM2.5. After
consideration of the D.C. Circuit's January 4, 2013 decision, and for
the reasons set forth in this rulemaking action, EPA proposes to
approve Delaware's maintenance plans and requests to redesignate its
portion of the Philadelphia Area to attainment for the 1997 annual and
2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards. This proposed approval is
based on a showing that Delaware's maintenance plans provides for
maintenance of both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5
standards for at least ten years after redesignation, throughout 2025,
in accordance with section 175A.
C. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets
Section 176(c) of the CAA requires Federal actions in nonattainment
and maintenance areas to ``conform to'' the goals of SIPs. This means
that such actions will not cause or contribute to violations of a
NAAQS, worsen the severity of an existing violation, or delay timely
attainment of any NAAQS or any interim milestone. Actions involving
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) funding or approval are subject to the transportation conformity
rule (40 CFR part 93, subpart A). Under this rule, metropolitan
planning organizations (MPOs) in nonattainment and maintenance areas
coordinate with state air quality and transportation agencies, EPA, and
the FHWA and FTA to demonstrate that their long range transportation
plans and transportation improvement programs (TIP) conform to
applicable SIPs. This is typically determined by showing that estimated
emissions from existing and planned highway and transit systems are
less than or equal to the MVEBs contained in the SIP.
On December 12, 2012, Delaware submitted a SIP revision that
contains the PM2.5 and NOX on-road mobile source
budgets. In a separate and concurrent process, EPA is conducting a
process to find adequate the MVEBs for New Castle County which are
associated with the Delaware maintenance plan for the Philadelphia
Area. Concurrently with EPA's proposal to approve the SIP, a notice
will be posted on EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/currsips.htm for the purpose of opening a 30-
day public comment period on the adequacy of the MVEBs for New Castle
County in the maintenance plan for the Philadelphia Area. That notice
will inform the public of the availability of the Delaware SIP revision
on DNREC's Web site. Interested members of the public can access
Delaware's December 12, 2012 SIP revision on line at
www.regulations.gov, Docket No. EPA-R03-OAR-2014-0022. Following EPA's
public comment period, responses to any comments received will be
addressed. EPA has reviewed the MVEBs and found them consistent with
the maintenance plan and that the budgets meet the criteria for
adequacy and approval. Additional information pertaining to the review
of the MVEBs can be found in the TSD in this docket titled Adequacy
Findings for the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets in the Maintenance
Plan for the Delaware Portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE
1997 Fine Particulate (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality
Standard (NAAQS) Nonattainment Area.
VI. Proposed Actions
EPA is proposing to approve Delaware's requests to redesignate the
Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area from nonattainment to
attainment for the 1997 annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5
NAAQS. EPA has evaluated Delaware's redesignation requests and
determined that upon approval of the 2008 comprehensive emissions
inventory for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS proposed as part
of this rulemaking action, it would meet the redesignation criteria set
forth in section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA for both standards. EPA
believes that the monitoring data demonstrate that the Philadelphia
Area is attaining and will continue to attain the 1997 annual and 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA is also proposing to approve the
associated maintenance plans for the Delaware portion of the Area as a
revision to the Delaware SIP for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 standards because it meets the requirements of CAA
section 175A for both standards. For transportation conformity
purposes, EPA is also proposing to approve MVEBs for both the 1997
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standards. Final approval of
the redesignation requests would change the official designations of
the Delaware portion of the Philadelphia Area for the 1997 annual and
the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively, found at 40 CFR
part 81, from nonattainment to attainment, and would incorporate into
the Delaware SIP the associated maintenance plans ensuring continued
attainment of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS
in the Delaware portion of the Area for the next 10 years, until 2025.
EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in this
document. These comments will be considered before taking final action.
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, redesignation of an area to attainment and the
accompanying approval of the maintenance plan under CAA section
107(d)(3)(E) are actions that affect the status of geographical area
and do not impose any additional regulatory requirements on sources
beyond those required by state law. A redesignation to attainment does
not in and of itself impose any new requirements, but rather results in
the application of requirements contained in the CAA for areas that
have been redesignated to attainment. Moreover, 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 proposes to approve state law as
meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional
requirements beyond those imposed by state law and the CAA. For that
reason, this proposed 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
[[Page 20161]]
affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act of 1995 (Public Law 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, in which EPA is proposing approval of the
redesignation requests and maintenance plans for the Delaware portion
of the Philadelphia Area for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS and the 2008 comprehensive emissions inventory
for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, 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.
List of Subjects
40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen oxides,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
40 CFR Part 81
Air pollution control, National parks, and Wilderness areas.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: April 2, 2014.
Shawn M. Garvin,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2014-08246 Filed 4-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P