[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 29, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40949-40953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17844]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R06-OAR-2013-0167; FRL-9965-62-Region 6]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Louisiana; 
Volatile Organic Compounds Rule Revision and Stage II Vapor Recovery

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions submitted 
by the State of Louisiana controlling emissions of volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs) and changes to the Stage II gasoline vapor recovery 
rule as part of the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP).

[[Page 40950]]


DATES: This rule is effective on September 28, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2013-0167. All documents in the docket are 
listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in 
the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., 
Confidential Business Information 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 http://www.regulations.gov or 
in hard copy at the EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, 
Texas 75202-2733.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy Jacques, (214) 665-7395, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' and 
``our'' means the EPA.

I. Background

    The background for this action is discussed in detail in our March 
23, 2017, proposal (82 FR 14845). In that document we proposed to 
approve revisions submitted by the State of Louisiana controlling 
emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and changes to the Stage 
II gasoline vapor recovery rule as part of the Louisiana State 
Implementation Plan (SIP).
    We received comments on the proposal. Our response to the comments 
are below.

II. Response to Comments

    Comment: We received three comments opposing our SIP revision. The 
commenters expressed concerns that our approval would make air quality 
worse.
    Response: As discussed in our proposal and technical support 
document we do not believe our approval would worsen air quality. Under 
CAA section 110(l) we can approve a SIP revision if it would not 
interfere with any applicable requirement concerning attainment and 
reasonable further progress or any other applicable requirement under 
the CAA.
    Consequently, the SIP-approved Stage II vapor recovery programs 
cannot be revised or removed unless it is demonstrated that revision or 
removal of such program from the SIP would not interfere with any 
applicable requirement under the CAA. While Louisiana's submittal is 
not requesting the withdrawal of its Stage II rule for these parishes, 
this SIP revision is requesting revisions to Louisiana's Stage II 
requirements, and thus this revision must be shown to satisfy 110(l) of 
the CAA. We evaluated the SIP revision and found that it satisfies 
110(l) of the CAA.
    Stage II refers to vapor recovery systems on gasoline dispensing 
equipment for the control of emissions during the refueling of 
vehicles. This SIP revision provides an exemption to gasoline 
dispensing systems that service solely vehicles equipped with onboard 
refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) and is approvable because this is an 
equivalent vapor recovery system. In order for a system to meet ORVR 
requirements, the systems must demonstrate a 95 percent or greater VOC 
control efficiency, equivalent to the control achieved by a Stage II 
system; thus, there will be no increase in emissions as a result of 
this SIP revision. During the phase-in of ORVR controls, which began in 
1997, Stage II vapor recovery has provided VOC reductions in ozone 
nonattainment areas and certain attainment areas of the OTR. As more 
vehicles equipped with ORVR became part of the fleet, Congress 
recognized that Stage II would eventually become a largely redundant 
technology, and provided authority to the EPA to allow States to 
substitute Stage II with ORVR in their SIPs after EPA finds that ORVR 
is in widespread use in the applicable area. EPA made the determination 
on May 16, 2012 that there was widespread use throughout the country 
(77 FR 28772). A detailed discussion of this guidance and the 110(l) 
demonstration is provided in the TSD. A copy of this memo is included 
in the docket.
    Comment: EPA should not be repealed (sic) or defunded.
    Response: The subject matter of this rulemaking is the control of 
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions and changes to the Stage II 
gasoline vapor recovery rule as part of the Louisiana State 
Implementation Plan (SIP). The funding of EPA is outside the scope of 
this rulemaking.

III. Final Action

    We are approving, into the Louisiana SIP, rule revisions to 
Louisiana Administrative Code Title 33 Environmental Quality Part III, 
chapters 1, 21, 22 and 25 in the 2008-2010 VOC Rule revisions submittal 
and chapter 21 in the 2011-2013 Permit Rule revisions submittal.

IV. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, we are finalizing regulatory text that includes 
incorporation by reference. In accordance with the requirements of 1 
CFR 51.5, we are finalizing the incorporation by reference of the 
revisions to the Louisiana regulations as described in the Final Action 
section above. We have made, and will continue to make, these documents 
generally available electronically through www.regulations.gov and/or 
in hard copy at the EPA Region 6 office.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, 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, the 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 Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     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, 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 this action does not involve technical standards; and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible

[[Page 40951]]

methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian 
reservation land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has 
demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian 
country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose 
substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
    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 October 30, 2017. 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 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, Ozone, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: August 17, 2017.
Samuel Coleman,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

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

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

Subpart T--Louisiana

0
2. In Sec.  52.970(c), the table titled ``EPA Approved Regulations in 
the Louisiana SIP'' is amended by:
0
a. Revising the entry for Section 111 and the entries under Chapter 7.
0
b. Removing the entries for Sections 919-919.A.6, 919.B.1, 919.B.2-
919.B.5.g.v, 919.C, and 919.D.-F.
0
c. Adding entries in sequential order for Sections 1101, 1109, and 
2103.
0
d. Removing the entries for Sections 2103.A-2103.B, 2103.C-2103.D.4, 
2103.D.4.a, 2103.D.4.b.-2103.D.4.d, 2103.G.1-2103.G.2, 2103.G.3-
2103.G.5, 2103.H.2.a.-d, 2103.H.3, 2103.I.6, 2103.I.7, 2107.E.1.-2, 
2108.A, 2108.C.2.-2108.C.3, 2108.D.4, 2108.E.1.a.i.-ii. and E.1.b, 
2108.E.2, 2108.E.3. and E.5, and 2108.F.1.
0
e. Adding entries in sequential order for Sections 2017 and 2018.
0
f. Revising the entry for Section 2121.A; the entry for Subchapter C of 
Chapter 21; the entries under Subchapters F, I, and J of Chapter 21; 
the entries under Chapter 22; and the entry for Chapter 25.
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  52.970  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                             EPA-Approved Louisiana Regulations in the Louisiana SIP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State citation        Title/subject          State approval date       EPA approval date       Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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                                          Chapter 1--General Provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Section 111............  Definitions......  1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                                                                             [Insert Federal
                                                                             Register
                                                                             citation].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Chapter 7--Ambient Air Quality
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 701............  Purpose..........  03/20/08......................  01/28/16, 81 FR    .................
                                                                             4891.
Section 703............  Scope............  03/20/08......................  01/28/16, 81 FR    .................
                                                                             4891.
Section 705............  Standards:         Dec. 1987, LR13:741...........  03/08/89, 54 FR    Ref
                          Description of                                     09795.             52.999(c)(49).
                          Ambient Air
                          Quality
                          Standards.
Section 707............  Degradation of     Dec. 1987, LR13:741...........  03/08/89, 54 FR    Ref
                          Ambient Air                                        09795.             52.999(c)(49).
                          Having Higher
                          Quality than Set
                          Forth in these
                          Sections
                          Restricted.
Section 709............  Measurement of     9/20/2006.....................  7/05/2011, 76 FR   Ref
                          Concentrations                                     38977.             52.999(c)(50).
                          PM10, SO2, CO,
                          Atmospheric
                          Oxidants, NOX,
                          and Pb.
Section 711............  Tables 1, 1a, and  9/20/2006.....................  7/05/2011, 76 FR   PM2.5 and PM10
                          2--Air Quality.                                    38977.             standards.
 

[[Page 40952]]

 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Chapter 11--Control of Emissions From Smoke
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 1101...........  Control of Air     Dec. 1987, LR13:741...........  03/08/89, 54 FR    Ref
                          Pollution from                                     09795.             52.999(c)(49).
                          Smoke: Purpose
                          and Control of
                          Smoke.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Section 1109...........  Stack Heights....  Dec. 1987, LR13:741...........  03/08/89, 54 FR    Ref
                                                                             09795.             52.999(c)(49).
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Chapter 21--Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Section 2103...........  Storage of         10/20/2010....................  8/29/2017,         2103.E.3 is not
                          Volatile Organic                                   [Insert Federal    included in the
                          Compounds.                                         Register           SIP.
                                                                             citation].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Section 2107...........  Volatile Organic   9/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         E.1.b., E.1.d.
                          Compounds--Loadi                                   [Insert Federal    and E.1.e. have
                          ng.                                                Register           not been
                                                                             citation].         submitted for
                                                                                                approval into
                                                                                                the SIP.
Section 2108...........  Marine Vapor       9/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Recovery.                                          [Insert Federal
                                                                             Register
                                                                             citation].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Section 2121.A.........  Fugitive Emission  1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Control.                                           [Insert Federal
                                                                             Register
                                                                             citation].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Subchapter C Solvent Degreasers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 2125...........  Solvent            1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Degreasers.                                        [Insert Federal
                                                                             Register
                                                                             citation].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Subchapter F Gasoline Handling
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 2131...........  Filling of         7/20/2010.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Gasoline Storage                                   [Insert Federal
                          Vessels.                                           Register
                                                                             citation].
Section 2132...........  Stage II Vapor     4/20/2011.....................  8/29/2017,         This rule is
                          Recovery Systems                                   [Insert Federal    approved for
                          for Control of                                     Register           fueling/
                          Vehicle                                            citation].         refueling of
                          Refueling                                                             only 100% ORVR
                          Emissions at                                                          vehicles.
                          Gasoline
                          Dispensing
                          Facilities.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Subchapter I Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 2145...........  Pharmaceutical     1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Manufacturing                                      [Insert Federal
                          Facilities.                                        Register
                                                                             citation].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Subchapter J Limiting Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions From Reactor Processes and Distillation
                   Operations in the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 2147...........  Limiting VOC       1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Emissions from                                     [Insert Federal
                          SOCMI Reactor                                      Register
                          Processes and                                      citation].
                          Distillation
                          Operations.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Chapter 22--Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOX)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 2201...........  Affected           1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Facilities in                                      [Insert Federal
                          the Baton Rouge                                    Register
                          Nonattainment                                      citation].
                          Area and the
                          Region of
                          Influence.

[[Page 40953]]

 
Section 2202...........  Contingency Plan.  1/20/2010.....................  11/30/11, 76 FR    Section 2202
                                                                             74000.             approved in the
                                                                                                Louisiana
                                                                                                Register January
                                                                                                20, 2010 (LR
                                                                                                36:63).
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Chapter 25--Miscellaneous Incinerator Rules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 2511...........  Standards of       1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Performance for                                    [Insert Federal
                          Biomedical Waste                                   Register
                          Incinerators.                                      citation].
Section 2521...........  Refuse             1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Incinerators.                                      [Insert Federal
                                                                             Register
                                                                             citation].
Section 2531...........  Standards of       1/20/2008.....................  8/29/2017,         .................
                          Performance for                                    [Insert Federal
                          Crematories.                                       Register
                                                                             citation].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-17844 Filed 8-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P