[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62137-62138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24641]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9918-02-Region 3]
Delegation of Authority to the Commonwealth of Virginia To
Implement and Enforce Additional or Revised National Emission Standards
for Hazardous Air Pollutants and New Source Performance Standards
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of delegation of authority.
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SUMMARY: On July 29, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
sent the Commonwealth of Virginia (Virginia) a letter acknowledging
that Virginia's delegation of authority to implement and enforce
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) had been updated, as provided
for under previously approved delegation mechanisms. To inform
regulated facilities and the public of Virginia's updated delegation of
authority to implement and enforce NESHAP and NSPS, EPA is making
available a copy of EPA's letter to Virginia through this notice.
DATES: On July 29, 2014, EPA sent Virginia a letter acknowledging that
Virginia's delegation of authority to implement and enforce NESHAP and
NSPS had been updated.
ADDRESSES: Copies of documents pertaining to this action are available
for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air
Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III,
1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029. Copies of
Virginia's submittal are also available at the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
Copies of Virginia's notice to EPA that Virginia has updated its
incorporation by reference of Federal NESHAP and NSPS, and of EPA's
response, may also be found posted on EPA Region III's Web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/airregulations/delegate/vadelegation.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray Chalmers, (215) 814-2061, or by
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 16, 2014, Virginia notified EPA that
Virginia had updated its incorporation by reference of Federal NESHAP
and NSPS to include many such standards, as they were published in
final form in the Code of Federal Regulations dated July 1, 2013. On
July 29, 2014, EPA sent Virginia a letter acknowledging that Virginia
now has the authority to implement and enforce the NESHAP and NSPS as
specified by Virginia in its notice to EPA, as provided for under
previously approved automatic delegation mechanisms. All notifications,
applications, reports and other correspondence required pursuant to the
delegated NESHAP and NSPS must be submitted to both the US EPA Region
III and to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, unless the
delegated standard specifically provides that such submittals may be
sent to EPA or a delegated State. In such cases, the submittals should
be sent only to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. A
copy of EPA's letter to Virginia follows:
``Michael G. Dowd, Director
Air Division
Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality
629 East Main Street
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Dear Mr. Dowd:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
previously delegated to the Commonwealth of Virginia (Virginia) the
authority to implement and enforce various federal National
Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and New
Source Performance Standards (NSPS), which are found at 40 CFR Parts
60, 61 and 63.\1\ In those actions, EPA also delegated to Virginia
the authority to implement and enforce any future EPA NESHAP or NSPS
on the condition that Virginia legally adopt the future standards,
make only allowed wording changes, and provide specified notice to
EPA.
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\1\ EPA has posted copies of these actions at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/airregulations/delegate/vadelegation.htm.
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In a letter dated July 16, 2014, Virginia informed EPA that
Virginia had updated its incorporation by reference of federal
NESHAP and NSPS to include many such standards, as they were
published in final form in the Code of Federal Regulations dated
July 1, 2013. Virginia noted that its intent in updating its
incorporation by reference of the NESHAP and NSPS was to retain the
authority to enforce all standards included in the revisions, as per
the provisions of EPA's previous delegation actions. Virginia
committed to enforcing the federal standards in conformance with the
terms of EPA's previous delegations of authority. Virginia made only
allowed wording changes.
Virginia provided copies of its revised regulations specifying
the NESHAP and NSPS which Virginia has adopted by reference. These
revised regulations are entitled 9 VAC 5-50 ``New and Modified
Stationary Sources,'' and 9 VAC 5-60 ``Hazardous Air Pollutant
Sources.'' These revised regulations have an effective date of July
1, 2014.
Accordingly, EPA acknowledges that Virginia now has the
authority, as provided for under the terms of EPA's previous
delegation actions, to implement and enforce the NESHAP and NSPS
standards which Virginia has adopted by reference in Virginia's
revised regulations 9 VAC 5-50 and 9 VAC 5-60, both effective on
July 1, 2014.
Please note that on December 19, 2008, in Sierra Club v. EPA,\2\
the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit vacated certain provisions of the General Provisions of 40
CFR Part 63 relating to exemptions for startup, shutdown, and
malfunction (SSM). On October 16, 2009, the Court issued a mandate
vacating these SSM
[[Page 62138]]
exemption provisions, which are found at 40 CFR Sec. 63.6(f)(1) and
(h)(1).
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\2\ Sierra Club v. EPA, 551 F.3rd 1019 (D.C. Cir. 2008).
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Accordingly, EPA no longer allows sources the SSM exemption as
provided for in the vacated provisions at 40 CFR Sec. 63.6(f)(1)
and (h)(1), even though EPA has not yet formally removed these SSM
exemption provisions from the General Provisions of 40 CFR Part 63.
Because Virginia incorporated 40 CFR Part 63 by reference, Virginia
should also no longer allow sources to use the former SSM exemption
from the General Provisions of 40 CFR Part 63 due to the Court's
ruling in Sierra Club vs. EPA.
EPA appreciates Virginia's continuing NESHAP and NSPS
enforcement efforts, and also Virginia's decision to take automatic
delegation of additional and more recent NESHAP and NSPS by adopting
them by reference.
Sincerely,
Diana Esher, Director
Air Protection Division''
This notice acknowledges the update of Virginia's delegation of
authority to implement and enforce NESHAP and NSPS.
Dated: October 1, 2014.
David Arnold,
Acting Director, Air Protection Division, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2014-24641 Filed 10-15-14; 8:45 am]
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