[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59624-59627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24851]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[EPA-R03-OAR-2015-0029; FRL-9934-82-Region 3]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Pennsylvania; Redesignation Request and Associated Maintenance Plan for 
the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Nonattainment Area for the 1997 Annual and 
2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Matter Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's request to redesignate to attainment the 
Pittsburgh Nonattainment Area (Pittsburgh Area or Area) for the 1997 
annual and 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 
national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard). EPA has 
determined that the Pittsburgh Area attained both the 1997 annual and 
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, EPA is approving as a 
revision to the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) the 
associated maintenance plan to show maintenance of the 1997 annual and 
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025 for the Pittsburgh 
Area. The maintenance plan includes the 2017 and 2025 PM2.5 
and nitrogen oxides (NOX) motor vehicle emissions budgets 
(MVEBs) for the Pittsburgh Area for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS, which EPA is approving for transportation 
conformity purposes. Furthermore, EPA is approving the 2007 emissions 
inventories for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS and the 2011 
emissions inventories for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS 
included in the maintenance plan for the Pittsburgh Area. These actions 
are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: This final rule is effective on October 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
Number EPA-R03-OAR-2015-0029. All documents in the docket are listed in 
the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the electronic 
docket, some information is not publicly available, i.e., confidential 
business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted 
material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available 
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are 
available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard 
copy for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air 
Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 
1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State 
submittal are available at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental 
Protection, Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market 
Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose Quinto at (215) 814-2182, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On December 22, 2014, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), formally 
submitted a request to redesignate the Pittsburgh Area from 
nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS. Concurrently, PADEP submitted a maintenance 
plan for the Pittsburgh Area as a SIP revision to ensure continued 
attainment throughout the Pittsburgh Area over the next 10 years. The 
maintenance plan includes the 2017 and 2025 PM2.5 and 
NOX MVEBs for the Area for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS, which EPA is approving for transportation 
conformity purposes. PADEP also submitted 2007 and 2011comprehensive 
emissions inventories that were included in the maintenance plan for 
the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively, 
for NOX, sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic 
compounds (VOC), and ammonia (NH3).
    On May 20, 2015 (80 FR 28906), EPA published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPR) for Pennsylvania. In the NPR, EPA proposed approval of 
Pennsylvania's December 22, 2014 request to redesignate the Pittsburgh 
Area to attainment for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA also proposed approval of the associated 
maintenance plan as a revision to the Pennsylvania SIP for the 1997 
annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, which includes the 2017 
and 2025 PM2.5 and NOX MVEBs for both NAAQS, 
which EPA proposed to approve for purposes of transportation 
conformity. In addition, EPA proposed approval of the 2007 and 2011 
emissions inventories included in the Pittsburgh Area's maintenance 
plan for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, 
respectively, to meet the emissions inventory requirement of section 
172(c)(3) of the CAA.
    The details of Pennsylvania's submittal and the rationale for EPA's 
proposed actions are explained in the NPR and will not be restated 
here. No adverse public comments were received on the NPR.

II. Final Actions

    EPA is taking final actions on the redesignation request and SIP 
revisions

[[Page 59625]]

submitted on December 22, 2014 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 
the Pittsburgh Area for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS. First, EPA finds that the monitoring data 
demonstrates that the Area has attained the 1997 annual and 2006 24-
hour PM2.5 NAAQS, and continues to attain both NAAQS. 
Second, EPA is approving Pennsylvania's redesignation request for the 
1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, because EPA has 
determined that the request meets the redesignation criteria set forth 
in section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA for both NAAQS. Approval of this 
redesignation request will change the official designation of the 
Pittsburgh Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 annual 
and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Third, EPA is approving the 
associated maintenance plan for the Pittsburgh Area as a revision to 
the Pennsylvania SIP for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS because it meets the requirements of section 
175A of the CAA. The maintenance plan includes the 2017 and 2025 
PM2.5 and NOX MVEBs submitted by Pennsylvania for 
the Pittsburgh Area for transportation conformity purposes. In 
addition, EPA is approving the 2007 and the 2011 emissions inventories 
for the Pittsburgh Area as meeting the requirement of section 172(c)(3) 
of the CAA for 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, 
respectively.
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(d), EPA finds there is good cause 
for this rulemaking action to become effective immediately upon 
publication. A delayed effective date is unnecessary due to the nature 
of a redesignation to attainment, which eliminates CAA obligations that 
would otherwise apply. The immediate effective date for this rulemaking 
action is authorized under both 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), which provides that 
rulemaking actions may become effective less than 30 days after 
publication if the rule ``grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves 
a restriction,'' and section 553(d)(3), which allows an effective date 
less than 30 days after publication ``as otherwise provided by the 
agency for good cause found and published with the rule.'' The purpose 
of the 30-day waiting period prescribed in section 553(d) is to give 
affected parties a reasonable time to adjust their behavior and prepare 
before the final rule takes effect. Today's rulemaking action, however, 
does not create any new regulatory requirements such that affected 
parties would need time to prepare before the rule takes effect. 
Rather, today's rulemaking action relieves the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania of the obligation to comply with nonattainment-related 
planning requirements for the Pittsburgh Area pursuant to part D of the 
CAA and approves certain emissions inventories and MVEBs for the 
Pittsburgh Area. For these reasons, EPA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d) for this rulemaking action to become effective on the date of 
publication.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. General Requirements

    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 a 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 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.

B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and 
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).

C. Petitions for Judicial Review

    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by December 1, 2015. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor 
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may 
be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or 
action. This action, approving the redesignation request and 
maintenance plan for the Pittsburgh Area for the 1997 annual and 2006 
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS and the comprehensive emissions 
inventories for the Pittsburgh Area for the 1997

[[Page 59626]]

annual and the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, respectively, may 
not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. See 
section 307(b)(2).

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Nitrogen oxides, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur dioxide, Volatile organic compounds.

40 CFR Part 81

    Air pollution control, National parks, Wilderness areas.

    Dated: September 17, 2015.
 Shawn M. Garvin,
Regional Administrator, Region III.

    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.

Subpart--NN Pennsylvania


0
2. In Sec.  52.2020, the table in paragraph (e)(1) is amended by adding 
an entry for ``1997 Annual and 2006 24-Hour PM2.5 
Maintenance Plan, and 2007 and 2011 Base Year Emissions Inventories'' 
at the end of the table. The added text reads as follows:


Sec.  52.2020  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *

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  Name of non-regulatory SIP        Applicable          State        EPA approval
           revision              geographic area   submittal date        date           Additional explanation
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                                                  * * * * * * *
1997 Annual and 2006 24-Hour    Pittsburgh-Beaver        12/22/14  10/2/15 [Insert   See Sec.   52.2036(y) and
 PM2.5 Maintenance Plan, and     Valley.                            Federal           Sec.   52.2059(t).
 2007 and 2011 Base Year                                            Register
 Emissions Inventories.                                             citation].
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0
3. Section 52.2036 is amended by adding paragraph (y) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.2036  Base year emissions inventory.

* * * * *
    (y) EPA approves as a revision to the Pennsylvania State 
Implementation Plan the 2007 and 2011 base year emissions inventories 
for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour fine 
particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area, respectively, 
submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on 
December 22, 2014. The emissions inventories include emissions 
estimates that cover the general source categories of point, area, 
nonroad, and onroad sources. The pollutants that comprise the 
inventories are PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOX), 
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia (NH3), and sulfur 
dioxide (SO2).

0
4. Section 52.2059 is amended by adding paragraph (t) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.2059  Control strategy: Particulate matter.

* * * * *
    (t) EPA approves the maintenance plan for the Pittsburgh 
nonattainment area for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on 
December 22, 2014. The maintenance plan includes the 2017 and 2025 
PM2.5 and NOX motor vehicle emissions budgets 
(MVEBs) to be applied to all future transportation conformity 
determinations and analyses for the Pittsburgh nonattainment area for 
the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.

  Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley's Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for the 1997 Annual and 2006 24-Hour PM2.5 NAAQS in
                                                  Tons per Year
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  Type of control strategy SIP         Year            PM2.5            NOX       Effective date of SIP approval
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Maintenance Plan................            2017             700          17,584  October 2, 2015.
                                            2025             537          10,709  October 2, 2015.
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PART 81--DESIGNATION OF AREAS FOR AIR QUALITY PLANNING PURPOSES

0
5. The authority citation for Part 81 continues to read as follows:

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


0
6. Section 81.339 is amended by revising the ``1997 Annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS'' and the ``2006 24-Hour PM2.5 
NAAQS'' tables entry for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA to read as 
follows:


Sec.  81.339  Pennsylvania.

* * * * *

                                      Pennsylvania--1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS
                                             [Primary and secondary]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Designation \a\                        Classification
          Designated area          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Date \1\                 Type             Date \2\          Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA:

[[Page 59627]]

 
    Allegheny County (remainder)..  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Armstrong County (part).......  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
Elderton Borough and Plumcreek and
 Washington Townships:
    Beaver County.................  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Butler County.................  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Greene County (part)..........  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
Monongahela Township:
    Lawrence County (part)........  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
Township of Taylor south of New
 Castle City:
    Washington County.............  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Westmoreland County...........  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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\a\ Includes Indian Country located in each county or area, except as otherwise specified.
\1\ This date is 90 days after January 5, 2005, unless otherwise noted.
\2\ This date is July 2, 2014, unless otherwise noted.

* * * * *

                                     Pennsylvania--2006 24-Hour PM2.5 NAAQS
                                             [Primary and secondary]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Designation \a\                        Classification
          Designated area          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Date \1\                 Type             Date \2\          Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA:
    Allegheny County (remainder)..  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Armstrong County (part).......  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
Elderton Borough and Plumcreek and
 Washington Townships:
    Beaver County.................  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Butler County.................  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Green County (part)...........  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
Monongahela Township:
    Lawrence County (part)........  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
Township of Taylor south of New
 Castle City:
    Washington County.............  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
    Westmoreland County...........  October 2, 2015......  Attainment...........
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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\a\ Includes Indian County located in each county or area, except as otherwise specified.
\1\ This date is 30 days after November 13, 2009, unless otherwise noted.
\2\ This date is July 2, 2014, unless otherwise noted.

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-24851 Filed 10-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P