[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 144 (Monday, July 28, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43655-43661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17612]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[EPA-R05-OAR-2013-0791; FRL-9914-22-Region-5]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Ohio; Redesignation of the Bellefontaine Area To Attainment of the 2008
Lead Standard
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: On October 29, 2013, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
(OEPA) submitted a request for the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to redesignate the Bellefontaine nonattainment area to attainment
for the 2008 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or
standards) for lead. EPA determined that the Bellefontaine area meets
the requirements for redesignation and is also approving several
additional related actions. EPA is approving, as revisions to the Ohio
state implementation plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the
2008 lead NAAQS through 2025 for the area. EPA is approving the 2010
emissions inventory for the Bellefontaine area, which meet the
comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of the Act. EPA is
approving to take these actions in accordance with the Clean Air Act
(CAA or Act) and EPA's implementation regulations regarding the 2008
lead NAAQS.
DATES: This direct final rule is effective September 26, 2014, unless
EPA receives adverse comments by August 27, 2014. If adverse comments
are received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final
rule in the Federal Register informing the public that the
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-
OAR-2013-0791, by one of the following methods:
1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
2. Email: [email protected].
3. Fax: (312) 408-2279.
4. Mail: Douglas Aburano, Chief, Attainment Planning and
Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
5. Hand Delivery: Douglas Aburano, Chief, Attainment Planning and
Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office normal
hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information. The Regional Office official hours of
business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding
Federal holidays.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-
2013-0791. 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 docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is open from 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.
We recommend that you telephone Sarah Arra, Environmental Scientist, at
(312) 886-9401 before visiting the Region 5 office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Arra, Environmental Scientist,
Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-
18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-9401, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This supplementary information
section is arranged as follows:
I. What actions is EPA taking?
II. What is the background for these actions?
III. What are the criteria for redesignation to attainment?
IV. What is EPA's analysis of the state's request?
V. What are the effects of EPA's actions?
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What actions is EPA taking?
EPA is taking several actions related to the redesignation of the
Bellefontaine area to attainment for the 2008 lead
[[Page 43656]]
NAAQS. EPA is approving Ohio's lead maintenance plan for the
Bellefontaine area as a revision to the Ohio SIP. EPA is approving the
2010 lead base year emission inventory which satisfies the requirement
in section 172(c)(3) for a current, accurate and comprehensive emission
inventory.
EPA also finds that Ohio meets the requirements for redesignation
of the Bellefontaine area to attainment of the 2008 lead NAAQS under
section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. EPA is thus granting Ohio's request to
change the designation of the Bellefontaine area from nonattainment to
attainment for the 2008 lead NAAQS. EPA's analysis for these actions
are discussed in Section V. of today's rulemaking.
II. What is the background for these actions?
Lead is a metal found naturally in the environment as well as in
manufactured products. The major sources of lead emissions have
historically been from fuels used in on-road motor vehicles (such as
cars and trucks) and industrial sources. As a result of EPA's
regulatory efforts to remove lead from on-road motor vehicle gasoline,
emissions of lead from the transportation sector dramatically declined
by 95 percent between 1980 and 1999, and levels of lead in the air
decreased by 94 percent between 1980 and 1999.
Today, the highest levels of lead in the air are usually found near
lead smelters. The major sources of lead emissions to the air today are
ore and metals processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on
leaded aviation gasoline.
On November 12, 2008 (73 FR 66964), EPA established the 2008
primary and secondary lead NAAQS at 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter
([mu]g/m\3\) based on a maximum arithmetic 3-month mean concentration
for a 3-year period. See 40 CFR 50.16.
On November 22, 2010 (75 FR 71033), EPA published its initial air
quality designations and classifications for the 2008 lead NAAQS based
upon air quality monitoring data for calendar years 2007-2009. These
designations became effective on December 31, 2010.\1\ The
Bellefontaine area was designated nonattainment for the 2008 lead
NAAQS. See 40 CFR 81.336. OEPA submitted their redesignation request on
October 29, 2013.
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\1\ EPA completed a second and final round of designations for
the 2008 lead NAAQS on November 22, 2011. See 76 FR 72097. No
additional areas in Ohio were designated as nonattainment for the
2008 lead NAAQS.
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III. What are the criteria for redesignation to attainment?
The CAA sets forth the requirements for redesignating a
nonattainment area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E) of
the CAA allows for redesignation provided that: (1) The Administrator
determines that the area has attained the applicable NAAQS based on
current air quality data; (2) the Administrator has fully approved an
applicable SIP for the area under section 110(k) of the CAA; (3) the
Administrator determines that the improvement in air quality is due to
permanent and enforceable emission reductions resulting from
implementation of the applicable SIP, Federal air pollution control
regulations, or other permanent and enforceable emission reductions;
(4) the Administrator has fully approved a maintenance plan for the
area meeting the requirements of section 175A of the CAA; and (5) the
state containing the area has met all requirements applicable to the
area for purposes of redesignation under section 110 and part D of the
CAA.
IV. What is EPA's analysis of the state's request?
EPA is approving the redesignation of the Bellefontaine area to
attainment of the 2008 lead NAAQS and is also approving Ohio's
maintenance plan and emissions inventory for the area. The bases for
these actions follow.
A. Attainment Determination and Redesignation
1. The Area Has Attained the 2008 Lead NAAQS (Section 107(d)(3)(E)(i))
In accordance with section 179(c) of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7509(c),
EPA is determining that the Bellefontaine, Ohio area has attained the
2008 lead NAAQS. This determination is based upon complete, quality-
assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2010-2012
monitoring period that show this area has monitored attainment of the
lead NAAQS.
Under EPA regulations at 40 CFR 50.16, the 2008 primary and
secondary lead standards are met when the maximum arithmetic 3-month
mean concentration for a 3-year period, as determined in accordance
with 40 CFR part 50, appendix R, is less than or equal to 0.15
[micro]g/m\3\ at all relevant monitoring sites in the subject area. In
a rulemaking on November 5, 2011, EPA determined that the Bellefontaine
air quality data was attaining the standard with a design value of
0.006 [micro]g/m\3\ for the period of 2010-2012, well below the
standard of 0.15 [micro]g/m\3\. See 78 FR 66280.
Although 2010 to 2012 data are still the most recent quality-
assured and certified data, preliminary 2013 data indicate that the
area continues to attain the standard. The 2013 data, complete, but not
yet certified, show that the maximum value for the entire year was
0.005 [micro]g/m\3\. Because 0.005 [micro]g/m\3\ was the highest 3-
month rolling average in 2011 and 2012 (Id.), the design value for the
2011 to 2013 time period would not exceed 0.005 [micro]g/m\3\, a
concentration that is only 3.3% of the 0.15 [micro]g/m\3\ standard.
2. The Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements Under Section 110 and
Part D and Has a Fully Approved SIP Under Section 110(k) (Section
107(d)(3)(E)(ii) and (v))
We have determined that Ohio has met all currently applicable SIP
requirements for purposes of redesignation for the Bellefontaine area
under section 110 of the CAA (general SIP requirements). We also find
that the Ohio submittal meets all SIP requirements currently applicable
for purposes of redesignation under part D of title I of the CAA, in
accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(v). In addition, with the
exception of the emissions inventory under section 172(c)(3), we are
proposing to find that all applicable requirements of the Ohio SIP for
purposes of redesignation have been approved, in accordance with
section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii). As discussed below, in this action, EPA is
approving Ohio's 2010 emissions inventory as meeting the section
172(c)(3) comprehensive emissions inventory requirement.
In making these determinations, we have ascertained which SIP
requirements are applicable for purposes of redesignation, and
concluded that the Ohio SIP includes measures meeting those
requirements and that they are fully approved under section 110(k) of
the CAA.
a. Ohio Has Met All Applicable Requirements for Purposes of
Redesignation of the Bellefontaine Area Under Section 110 and Part D of
the CAA
i. Section 110 General SIP Requirements
Section 110(a) of title I of the CAA contains the general
requirements for a SIP. Section 110(a)(2) provides that the
implementation plan submitted by a state must have been adopted by the
state after reasonable public notice and hearing, and, among other
things, must: include enforceable emission limitations and other
control measures, means or techniques necessary to meet the
requirements of the CAA; provide for establishment and operation of
[[Page 43657]]
appropriate devices, methods, systems, and procedures necessary to
monitor ambient air quality; provide for implementation of a source
permit program to regulate the modification and construction of any
stationary source within the areas covered by the plan; include
provisions for the implementation of part C, Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) and part D, New Source Review (NSR) permit
programs; include criteria for stationary source emission control
measures, monitoring, and reporting; include provisions for air quality
modeling; and provide for public and local agency participation in
planning and emission control rule development.
Section 110(a)(2)(D) of the CAA requires that SIPs contain measures
to prevent sources in a state from significantly contributing to air
quality problems in another state. EPA believes that the requirements
linked with a particular nonattainment area's designation 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, we believe that these requirements should not
be construed to be applicable requirements for purposes of
redesignation.
Further, we believe that the other section 110 elements described
above that are not connected with nonattainment plan submissions and
not linked with an area's attainment status are also not applicable
requirements for purposes of redesignation. A state remains subject to
these requirements after an area is redesignated to attainment. We
conclude that only the section 110 and part D requirements that are
linked with a particular area's designation are the relevant measures
which we may consider in evaluating a redesignation request. See 61 FR
53174-53176 (October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826 (May 7, 1997) (proposed
and final redesignation for Reading, Pennsylvania ozone nonattainment
area); 61 FR 20458 (May 7, 1996) (final redesignation for Cleveland-
Akron-Lorain, Ohio ozone nonattainment area); and 60 FR 62748 (December
7, 1995) (final redesignation of Tampa, Florida ozone nonattainment
area). See also 65 FR 37879, 37890 (June 19, 2000) (discussing this
issue in final redesignation of Cincinnati, Ohio 1-hour ozone
nonattainment area); 66 FR 50399 (October 19, 2001) (final
redesignation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1-hour ozone nonattainment
area).
We have reviewed the Ohio SIP and determined that it meets the
general SIP requirements under section 110 of the CAA to the extent
they are applicable for purposes of redesignation. EPA has previously
approved provisions of Ohio's SIP addressing section 110 requirements
(including provisions addressing lead), at 40 CFR 52.1870.
On October 12, 2011, and supplemented on June 7, 2013, Ohio made
submittals addressing ``infrastructure SIP'' elements for the lead
NAAQS required under CAA section 110(a)(2). EPA has not yet acted on
this submittal, however, the requirements of section 110(a)(2) are
statewide requirements that are not linked to the lead nonattainment
status of the Bellefontaine area. Therefore, EPA believes that these
SIP elements are not applicable requirements for purposes of review of
the state's lead redesignation request.
ii. Part D Requirements
EPA has determined that upon approval of the base year emissions
inventories discussed in section V.B. of this rulemaking, the Ohio SIP
will meet the applicable SIP requirements for the Bellefontaine area
applicable for purposes of redesignation under part D of the CAA.
Subpart 1 of part D, found in sections 172-176 of the CAA, sets forth
the basic nonattainment requirements applicable to all nonattainment
areas.
(1) Section 172 Requirements
For purposes of evaluating this redesignation request, the
applicable section 172 SIP requirements for the Bellefontaine area are
contained in sections 172(c)(1)-(9). A thorough discussion of the
requirements contained in section 172 can be found in the General
Preamble for Implementation of Title I (57 FR 13498, April 16, 1992).
Section 172(c)(1) requires the plans for all nonattainment areas to
provide for the implementation of all reasonably available control
measure (RACM) as expeditiously as practicable and to provide for
attainment of the primary NAAQS. EPA interprets this requirement to
impose a duty on all states to consider all available control measures
for all nonattainment areas and to adopt and implement such measures as
are reasonably available for implementation in each area as components
of the area's attainment demonstration. Because the Bellefontaine area
has reached attainment, Ohio does not need to address additional
measures to provide for attainment, and section 172(c)(1) requirements
are no longer considered to be applicable as long as the area continues
to attain the standard until redesignation. (40 CFR 51.918).
The reasonable further progress (RFP) requirement under section
172(c)(2) is defined as progress that must be made toward attainment.
This requirement is not relevant for purposes of the Bellefontaine
redesignation because the area has monitored attainment of the 2008
lead NAAQS. (General Preamble, 57 FR 13564). See also 40 CFR 51.918.
The requirement to submit the section 172(c)(9) contingency measures is
similarly not applicable for purposes of redesignation. Id.
Section 172(c)(3) requires submission and approval of a
comprehensive, accurate and current inventory of actual emissions. Ohio
submitted a 2005 and 2010 base year emissions inventory along with
their redesignation request and via email on February 6, 2014,
requested that the 2010 inventory be used as the most accurate and
current inventory. As discussed below in section V.B., EPA is approving
the 2010 base year inventory as meeting the section 172(c)(3) emissions
inventory requirement for the Bellefontaine area.
Section 172(c)(4) 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 approved Ohio's current NSR
program on January 10, 2003 (68 FR 1366).
Section 172(c)(6) requires the SIP to contain control measures
necessary to provide for attainment of the standard. Because attainment
has been reached, no additional measures are needed to provide for
attainment.
Section 172(c)(7) requires the SIP to meet the applicable
provisions of section 110(a)(2). As noted above, we find that the Ohio
SIP meets the section 110(a)(2) applicable requirements for purposes of
redesignation.
(2) Section 176 Conformity Requirements
Section 176(c) of the CAA requires states to establish criteria and
procedures to ensure that Federally-supported or funded activities,
including highway and transit projects, conform to the air quality
planning goals in the applicable SIPs. The requirement to determine
conformity applies to transportation plans, programs and projects
developed, funded or approved under title 23 of the U.S. Code and the
Federal Transit Act (transportation conformity) as well as to all other
Federally-supported or funded
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projects (general conformity). In light of the elimination of lead
additives in gasoline, transportation conformity does not apply to the
lead NAAQS. See 73 FR 66964, 67043 n.120. EPA approved Ohio's general
conformity SIPs on March 11, 1996 (61 FR 9646).
b. Ohio Has a Fully Approved Applicable SIP Under Section 110(k) of the
CAA
Upon final approval of Ohio's comprehensive 2010 emissions
inventories, EPA will have fully approved the Ohio SIP for the
Bellefontaine area under section 110(k) of the CAA for all requirements
applicable for purposes of redesignation. EPA may rely on prior SIP
approvals in approving a redesignation request (See page 3 of the
September 4, 1992, Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to
Attainment: Policy Memorandum (Calcagni memorandum)); Southwestern
Pennsylvania Growth Alliance v. Browner, 144 F.3d 984, 989-990 (6th
Cir. 1998); Wall v. EPA, 265 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001) plus any
additional measures it may approve in conjunction with a redesignation
action. See 68 FR 25413, 25426 (May 12, 2003). Since the passage of the
CAA of 1970, Ohio has adopted and submitted, and EPA has fully
approved, provisions addressing various required SIP elements under
lead standards.
Under section 172, states with nonattainment areas must submit
plans providing for timely attainment and meeting a variety of other
requirements. On April 19, 2013, the Ohio EPA, submitted a request to
EPA to make a determination under the CAA that the Bellefontaine
nonattainment area has attained the 2008 lead NAAQS. EPA made a final
determination of attainment for the area (also known as a clean data
determination) on November 5, 2013. See 78 FR 66280. Pursuant to 40 CFR
51.1004(c), EPA's determination that the area has attained the 2008
lead standards suspended the requirement to submit certain planning
SIPs related to attainment, including attainment demonstration
requirements, the Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT)-RACM
requirement of section 172(c)(1) of the CAA, the RFP and attainment
demonstration requirements of sections 172(c)(2) and (6) and 182(b)(1)
of the CAA, and the requirement for contingency measures of section
172(c)(9) of the CAA. As noted above, the area has continued to attain
the standard, and preliminary data indicate the area will remain in
attainment, since EPA made the final determination of attainment in
2013.
As a result, the only remaining requirement under section 172 to be
considered is the emissions inventory required under section 172(c)(3).
In this action, EPA is approving Ohio's 2010 emissions inventories for
the Bellefontaine area as meeting the requirement of section 172(c)(3)
of the CAA. No Bellefontaine area SIP provisions are currently
disapproved, conditionally approved, or partially approved.
3. The Improvement in Air Quality Is Due to Permanent and Enforceable
Reductions in Emissions Resulting From Implementation of the SIPs and
Applicable Federal Air Pollution Control Regulations and Other
Permanent and Enforceable Reductions (Section 107(d)(3)(E)(iii))
EPA believes that Ohio has demonstrated that the observed air
quality improvement in the Bellefontaine area is due to permanent and
enforceable reductions in emissions. The only stationary source of lead
in the Bellefontaine area was the Daido facility. This source was
permanently shutdown in June of 2009.
4. Ohio Has a Fully Approved Maintenance Plan Pursuant to Section 175A
of the CAA (Section 107(d)(3)(E)(iv))
In conjunction with Ohio's request to redesignate the Bellefontaine
nonattainment area to attainment status, Ohio has submitted a SIP
revision to provide for maintenance of the 2008 lead NAAQS in the area
through 2025.
a. What is required in a maintenance plan?
Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the required 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 ten years after EPA
approves a redesignation to attainment. Eight years after
redesignation, the state must submit a revised maintenance plan which
demonstrates that attainment will continue to be maintained for ten
years following the initial ten year maintenance period. To address the
possibility of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must
contain contingency measures with a schedule for implementation as EPA
deems necessary to assure prompt correction of any future lead
violations.
The September 4, 1992, Calcagni memorandum provides additional
guidance on the content of a maintenance plan. The memorandum states
that a maintenance plan should address the following items: the
attainment emissions inventory, a maintenance demonstration showing
maintenance for the ten years of the maintenance period, a commitment
to maintain the existing monitoring network, factors and procedures to
be used for verification of continued attainment of the NAAQS, and a
contingency plan to prevent or correct future violations of the NAAQS.
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.'' Calcagni memorandum at 9. 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. Calcagni memorandum at 9-
10.
As discussed in detail in the section below, the state's
maintenance plan submission expressly documents that the area's
emissions inventories will remain below the attainment year inventories
through 2025, more than ten years after redesignation.
b. Attainment Inventory
Ohio developed an emissions inventory for lead for 2010, one of the
years in the period during which the Bellefontaine area monitored
attainment of the 2008 lead standard. The attainment level of emissions
is summarized in Table 1 below along with future maintenance
projections.
c. Demonstration of Maintenance
Along with the redesignation request, Ohio submitted a revision to
its lead SIP to include a maintenance plan for the Bellefontaine area,
as required by section 175A of the CAA. Ohio's plan demonstrates
maintenance of the 2008 lead standard through 2025 by showing that
current and future emissions of lead in the area remain at or below
attainment year emission levels. 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.'' Calcagni
memorandum at 9. Where the emissions inventory method of showing
maintenance is used, its purpose is to show that
[[Page 43659]]
emissions during the maintenance period will not increase over the
attainment year inventory. Calcagni memorandum at 9-10.
As discussed in the section below, the state's maintenance plan
submission expressly documents that the area's emissions inventories
will remain below the attainment year inventories through 2025.
Ohio's plan demonstrates maintenance of the 2008 lead NAAQS through
2025 by showing that current and future emissions of lead for the area
remain at attainment year emission levels. When the Daido facility was
operating, as shown in Table 1 as the 2005 baseline, the emissions were
0.0035 tons per year (tpy). Now that the facility is shut down, and
given that the mobile source emissions of lead are approximately zero,
the emissions level for the area is approximately zero tpy. No new
sources of lead are projected for the area, so the remainder of the
maintenance period is projected as zero tpy as well. Since the shut
down of the Daido facility in 2009, the Bellefontaine area has shown
monitored design value concentrations well below the NAAQS and, with no
other significant sources of lead, is predicted to easily stay below
the standard.
Table 1--Comparison of 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2025 Lead Totals (tpy) for the Bellefontaine Area
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2005 (Baseline) 2010 (Attainment) 2015 (Interim) 2025 (Maintenance)
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0.0035 0 0 0
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d. Monitoring Network
Ohio's maintenance plan includes additional elements. Ohio's plan
includes a commitment to continue to operate its EPA-approved
monitoring network, as necessary to demonstrate ongoing compliance with
the NAAQS. Ohio currently operates one lead monitor in the
Bellefontaine, Ohio area.
e. Verification of Continued Attainment
Ohio remains obligated to continue to quality-assure monitoring
data and enter all data into the Air Quality System (AQS) in accordance
with Federal guidelines. Ohio will use these data, supplemented with
additional information as necessary, to assure that the area continues
to attain the standard. Ohio will also continue to develop and submit
periodic emission inventories as required by the Federal Consolidated
Emissions Reporting Rule (67 FR 39602, June 10, 2002) to track future
levels of emissions. Both of these actions will help to verify
continued attainment in accordance with 40 CFR part 58.
f. Contingency Plan
The contingency plan provisions are designed to promptly correct or
prevent a violation of the NAAQS that might occur after redesignation
of an area to attainment. Section 175A of the CAA requires that a
maintenance plan include such contingency measures as EPA deems
necessary to assure that the state will promptly correct a violation of
the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. The maintenance plan should
identify the contingency measures to be adopted, a schedule and
procedure for adoption and implementation of the contingency measures,
and a time limit for action by the state. The state should also
identify specific indicators to be used to determine when the
contingency measures need to be adopted and implemented. The
maintenance plan must include a requirement that the state will
implement all pollution control measures that were contained in the SIP
before redesignation of the area to attainment. See section 175A(d) of
the CAA.
Ohio's contingency plan defines a warning level and action level
response. The warning level response will trigger when a lead monitor
3-month rolling average exceeds 0.135 [micro]g/m\3\ in the maintenance
area. If a warning level response is triggered, Ohio will conduct a
study to determine whether the lead values indicate a trend toward
exceeding the standard and what control measure would be necessary to
reverse the trend within 12 months of the conclusion of the calendar
year. The action level response will be prompted by the determination
of the warning level study that a reverse of the trend is needed, or by
the 3-month rolling average exceeding 0.143 [micro]g/m\3\. The action
level response will require Ohio to work with the culpable entity to
evaluate and implement the needed control measures to bring the area
into attainment within 18 months of the conclusion of the calendar year
that triggered the response.
Currently, no new sources of lead are projected for the
Bellefontaine area, so all control measures would be determined after
an analysis of the situation but could include control devices,
secondary controls, or improves housekeeping and maintenance. Ohio
commits to continue implementing SIP requirements upon and after
redesignation.
EPA believes that Ohio's contingency measures, as well as the
commitment to continue implementing any SIP requirements, satisfy the
pertinent requirements of section 175A(d).
As required by section 175A(b) of the CAA, Ohio commits to submit
to the EPA an updated lead maintenance plan eight years after
redesignation of the Bellefontaine area to cover an additional ten year
period beyond the initial ten year maintenance period.
For all of the reasons set forth above, EPA is approving Ohio's
2008 lead maintenance plan for the Bellefontaine area as meeting the
requirements of CAA section 175A.
B. Comprehensive Emissions Inventory
As discussed above, section 172(c)(3) of the CAA requires areas to
submit a comprehensive emissions inventory including all lead sources
in the nonattainment area. In an email dated February 6, 2014, Ohio
clarified their request that their 2005 emissions inventory submitted
on October 5, 2009, as part of their designation request documents be
updated with their 2010 emissions inventory submitted to EPA as part of
their redesignation request to more accurately represent the current
emissions status of the area. By 2010, the only source of lead is
shutdown so the emissions level for the entire Bellefontaine area is
estimated to be zero tpy. EPA is approving the Ohio 2010 emissions
inventory to fulfill this requirement. EPA believes that the 2010
emissions inventory is complete and accurate, and meets the requirement
of CAA section 172(c)(3).
V. What are the effects of EPA's actions?
Approval of this redesignation request changes the official
designation of the Bellefontaine, Ohio area for the 2008 lead NAAQS,
found at 40 CFR part 81, from nonattainment to attainment. This action
also approves as a revision to the
[[Page 43660]]
Ohio SIP for the Bellefontaine area, the maintenance plan for the 2008
lead standard and finds that Ohio's 2010 emissions inventory for the
Bellefontaine area satisfies the requirement of section 172(c)(3).
We are publishing this action without prior proposal because we
view this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipate no adverse
comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal
Register publication, we are publishing a separate document that will
serve as the proposal to approve the state plan if relevant adverse
written comments are filed. This rule will be effective September 26,
2014 without further notice unless we receive relevant adverse written
comments by August 27, 2014. If we receive such comments, we will
withdraw this action before the effective date by publishing a
subsequent document that will withdraw the final action. All public
comments received will then be addressed in a subsequent final rule
based on the proposed action. EPA will not institute a second comment
period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do
so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an
amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may
be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those
provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.
If we do not receive any comments, this action will be effective
September 26, 2014.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state
law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as specified
by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the
SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in the state,
and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct costs on
tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for
the appropriate circuit by September 26, 2014. Filing a petition for
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may
be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or
action. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are
encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of
proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules
section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate
petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can
withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed
rulemaking. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: July 11, 2014.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
40 CFR parts 52 and 81 are amended as follows:
PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
0
2. Subpart KK is amended by adding Sec. 52.1893 to read as follows:
Sec. 52.1893 Control strategy: Lead (Pb).
(a) Ohio's 2008 lead emissions inventory for the Bellefontaine area
as, as submitted on October 29, 2013, satisfying the emission inventory
requirements of section 172(c)(3) of the Clean Air Act for the
Bellefontaine area.
(b) Approval--the 2008 lead maintenance plan for the Bellefontaine,
Ohio nonattainment area has been approved as submitted on October 29,
2013.
PART 81--DESIGNATION OF AREAS FOR AIR QUALITY PLANNING PURPOSES
0
3. The authority citation for part 81 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
0
4. Section 81.336 is amended by revising the entry for Bellefontaine,
OH, in the table entitled ``Ohio--2008 Lead NAAQS'' to read as follows:
[[Page 43661]]
Sec. 81.336 Ohio.
* * * * *
Ohio--2008 Lead NAAQS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Designation for the 2008 NAAQS a
Designated area --------------------------------------
Date 1 Type
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Bellefontaine, OH:
Logan County (part).......... 7/28/2014 Attainment.
The portions of Logan
County that are bounded
by: Sections 27, 28, 33,
and 34 of Lake Township
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Includes Indian Country located in each county or area, except as
otherwise specified.
\1\ December 31, 2011, unless otherwise noted.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2014-17612 Filed 7-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P