[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22908-22913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10571]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R09-OAR-2018-0272; FRL-9978-17--Region 9]


Air Plan Approval; California; San Joaquin Valley Unified Air 
Pollution Control District; Reasonably Available Control Technology 
Demonstration

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve revisions to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution 
Control District (SJVUAPCD or ``District'') portion of the California 
State Implementation Plan (SIP), which applies to the San Joaquin 
Valley of California (``Valley''). These revisions concern the 
District's demonstration regarding Reasonably Available Control 
Technology (RACT) requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). We are also proposing to approve 
a public draft version of SJVUAPCD's supplement to its 2014 RACT SIP 
demonstration, which contains relevant permit conditions for J.R. 
Simplot's Nitric Acid plant in Helm, California (CA) and negative 
declarations where the District concludes it has no sources subject to 
certain Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) documents. We are proposing 
action on local SIP revisions under the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``the 
Act''). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with 
a final action.

DATES: Any comments must arrive by June 18, 2018.

[[Page 22909]]


ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
OAR-2018-0272 at https://www.regulations.gov/, or via email to Stanley 
Tong, at [email protected]. For comments submitted at 
Regulations.gov, follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be removed or edited from 
Regulations.gov. For either manner of submission, the EPA may publish 
any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically 
any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information 
(CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, please contact 
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. 
For the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley Tong, EPA Region IX, (415) 
947-4122, [email protected].

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

Table of Contents

I. The State's Submittal
    A. What documents did the State submit?
    B. Are there other versions of these documents?
    C. What is the purpose of the submitted documents?
II. The EPA's Evaluation and Proposed Action
    A. How is the EPA evaluating the submitted documents?
    B. Do the submitted documents meet the evaluation criteria?
    C. Public comment and proposed action
III. Incorporation by Reference
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. The State's Submittal

A. What documents did the State submit?

    On June 19, 2014, the SJVUAPCD adopted the ``2014 Reasonably 
Available Control Technology (RACT) Demonstration for the 8-Hour Ozone 
State Implementation Plan (SIP)'' (``2014 RACT SIP''), and on July 18, 
2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) submitted it to the EPA 
for approval as a revision to the California SIP. On January 18, 2015, 
the submittal of the 2014 RACT SIP was deemed complete by operation of 
law.
    On May 4, 2018, CARB transmitted the District's public draft 
version of relevant permit conditions in a permit to operate for J.R. 
Simplot's Nitric Acid plant in Helm, CA and negative declarations for 
several CTG source categories, along with a request for parallel 
processing.\1\ The District plans to adopt negative declarations for 
CTGs covering magnetic wire; synthesized pharmaceutical products; 
pneumatic rubber tires; leaks from synthetic organic chemical polymer 
manufacturing industry (SOCMI) equipment; high-density polyethylene, 
polypropylene and polyester resins; air oxidation processes in SOCMI; 
reactor processes and distillation operations in SOCMI; and surface 
coating operations at shipbuilding and ship repair facilities.\2\ As 
noted in footnote 1 of this document, under our parallel processing 
procedure, the EPA proposes action on a public draft version of a SIP 
revision but will take final action only after the final version is 
adopted and submitted to the EPA for approval. In this instance, we are 
proposing action based on the public draft version of the ``Supplement 
to the 2014 Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) for the 2008 8-hour Ozone Standard'' 
(``Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP'') submitted by CARB on May 4, 2018, 
and will not take final action until the final version of the 
Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP is adopted and submitted to the EPA. 
CARB's May 4, 2018 letter indicates that the District Board is 
scheduled to consider approval of the Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP 
on June 21, 2018, and if it is approved, CARB will submit the final 
package to the EPA.
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    \1\ Under the EPA's ``parallel processing'' procedure, the EPA 
proposes rulemaking action concurrently with the state's proposed 
rulemaking. If the state's proposed rule is changed, the EPA will 
evaluate that subsequent change and may publish another notice of 
proposed rulemaking. If no significant change is made, the EPA will 
publish a final rulemaking on the rule after responding to any 
submitted comments. Final rulemaking action by the EPA will occur 
only after the rule has been fully adopted by California and 
submitted formally to the EPA for incorporation into the SIP. See 40 
CFR part 51, appendix V. See also https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/aqmguide/collection/cp2_old/19921028_calcagni_sip_redesignation_requirements(alt).pdf.
    \2\ The SJVUAPCD's Governing Board is scheduled to consider 
adopting the Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP, including relevant 
permit conditions in a permit to operate for J.R. Simplot's Nitric 
Acid plant in Helm, CA and several negative declarations, on June 
21, 2018.
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    Also included with the District's 2014 RACT SIP submittal package 
was a copy of its RACT demonstration for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard 
``2009 RACT SIP.''
    On June 16, 2016, the SJVUAPCD adopted the ``2016 Ozone Plan for 
the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard'' (``2016 Ozone Plan''), and on August 
24, 2016, CARB submitted it to the EPA for approval as a revision to 
the California SIP. Chapter 3.4 of the 2016 Ozone Plan states that 
``the District updated the RACT evaluation and included VOC sources in 
the evaluation in Appendix C.'' Appendix C of the 2016 Ozone Plan, 
which is titled, ``Stationary and Area Source Control Strategy 
Evaluations,'' includes evaluations of individual rules for RACT. On 
February 24, 2017, the submittal of the 2016 Ozone Plan was deemed 
complete by operation of law.\3\
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    \3\ We are only proposing action on Chapter 3.4 and Appendix C 
of the 2016 Ozone Plan in order to demonstrate VOC RACT for all 
applicable sources for the 2008 NAAQS. We will take action on the 
remainder of the 2016 Ozone Plan in a separate action.
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B. Are there other versions of these documents?

    There are no previous versions of the documents described above in 
the SJVUAPCD portion of the California SIP for the 2008 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS.

C. What is the purpose of the submitted documents?

    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen 
(NOX) together produce ground-level ozone, smog, and 
particulate matter, which harm human health and the environment. 
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires states to submit regulations that 
control VOC and NOX emissions. Sections 182(b)(2) and (f) 
require that SIPs for ozone nonattainment areas classified as Moderate 
or above implement RACT for any source covered by a CTG document and 
for any major source of VOCs or NOX. The SJVUAPCD is subject 
to this requirement because it regulates an ozone nonattainment area 
classified as an Extreme ozone nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS.\4\ Therefore, the SJVUAPCD must, at a minimum, adopt RACT-
level controls for all sources covered by a CTG document and for all 
major non-CTG sources of VOCs or NOX within the 
nonattainment area that it regulates. Any stationary source that emits 
or has the potential to emit at least 10 tons per year (tpy) of VOCs or 
NOX is a major stationary source in an Extreme ozone

[[Page 22910]]

nonattainment area (CAA section 182(e), (f), and 302(j)).
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    \4\ 40 CFR 81.305; 77 FR 30088 (May 21, 2012).
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    Section III.D of the preamble to the EPA's final rule to implement 
the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS (80 FR 12264, March 6, 2015) discusses RACT 
requirements. It states in part that RACT SIPs must contain adopted 
RACT regulations, certifications where appropriate that existing 
provisions are RACT, and/or negative declarations that no sources in 
the nonattainment area are covered by a specific CTG source category, 
and that states must submit appropriate supporting information for 
their RACT submissions as described in the EPA's implementation rule 
for the 1997 ozone NAAQS. See 80 FR 12264, at 12278 (March 5, 2015) and 
70 FR 71612, at 71652 (November 29, 2005).
    SJVUAPCD's 2014 RACT SIP contains the District's demonstration that 
its NOX rules implement RACT and contains a review of major 
stationary sources of NOX that emit or have the potential to 
emit at least 10 tpy of NOX.\5\ The 2016 Ozone Plan contains 
the District's review of its NOX and VOC rules for RACT and 
states: ``The District adopted its 2014 RACT SIP on June 19, 2014 to 
satisfy requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone standard pursuant to the 
[EPA's] proposed 2015 Implementation Rule guidance document. The 2014 
RACT SIP analysis demonstrates that the District meets or exceeds RACT 
for all applicable NOX source categories. In addition, in 
developing this attainment plan, the District updated the RACT 
evaluation and included VOC sources in the evaluation in Appendix C 
(Stationary and Area Source Control Strategy Evaluations).'' \6\ The 
Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP contains relevant permit conditions to 
implement RACT for a major NOX source, J.R. Simplot's Nitric 
Acid plant in Helm, CA. The Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP also 
contains negative declarations for several CTG source categories for 
which the District states it does not have stationary sources or 
emitting facilities in the Valley related to the CTGs.
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    \5\ SJVUAPCD 2014 RACT SIP Chapter 3.
    \6\ See 2016 Ozone Plan available at http://valleyair.org/Air_Quality_Plans/Ozone-Plan-2016/Adopted-Plan.pdf page 3-6.
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    The submitted documents and supplemental clarifying information 
provide SJVUAPCD's analyses of its compliance with the CAA section 182 
RACT requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The EPA's technical 
support document (TSD) has more information about the District's 
submissions and the EPA's evaluations thereof.

II. The EPA's Evaluation and Proposed Action

A. How is the EPA evaluating the submitted documents?

    SIP rules must require RACT for each category of sources covered by 
a CTG document as well as each major source of VOCs or NOX 
in ozone nonattainment areas classified as Moderate or above (see CAA 
section 182(b)(2)). The SJVUAPCD regulates an Extreme ozone 
nonattainment area (see 40 CFR 81.305) so the District's rules must 
implement RACT.
    States should also submit for SIP approval negative declarations 
for those source categories for which they have not adopted CTG-based 
regulations (because they have no sources above the CTG recommended 
applicability threshold) regardless of whether such negative 
declarations were made for an earlier SIP.\7\ To do so, the submittal 
should provide reasonable assurance that no sources subject to the CTG 
requirements currently exist in the SJVUAPCD.
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    \7\ 57 FR 13498, 13512 (April 16, 1992).
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    The District's analysis must demonstrate that each major source of 
NOX or VOCs in the nonattainment area is covered by a RACT-
level rule. In addition, for each CTG source category, the District 
must either demonstrate that a RACT-level rule is in place, or submit a 
negative declaration. Guidance and policy documents that we use to 
evaluate CAA section 182 RACT requirements include the following:
    1. ``State Implementation Plans; General Preamble for the 
Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,'' 57 
FR 13498 (April 16, 1992); 57 FR 18070 (April 28, 1992).
    2. ``Issues Relating to VOC Regulation Cutpoints, Deficiencies, and 
Deviations,'' EPA, May 25, 1988 (the Bluebook, revised January 11, 
1990).
    3. ``Guidance Document for Correcting Common VOC & Other Rule 
Deficiencies,'' EPA Region 9, August 21, 2001 (the Little Bluebook).
    4. ``State Implementation Plans; Nitrogen Oxides Supplement to the 
General Preamble; Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Implementation of 
Title I; Proposed Rule,'' (the NOX Supplement), 57 FR 55620, 
November 25, 1992.
    5. Memorandum from William T. Harnett to Regional Air Division 
Directors, (May 18, 2006), ``RACT Qs & As--Reasonably Available Control 
Technology (RACT) Questions and Answers.''
    6. ``Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air 
Quality Standard--Phase 2'' (70 FR 71612; November 29, 2005); and
    7. ``Implementation of the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards for Ozone: State Implementation Plan Requirements'' (80 FR 
12264; March 6, 2015).

B. Do the submitted documents meet the evaluation criteria?

    The 2014 RACT SIP and Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP build on the 
District's previous RACT SIP demonstration for the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS, 2009 RACT SIP,\8\ and cites to its ozone plan for the 2008 8-
hour ozone NAAQS (``2016 Ozone Plan''). The 2014 RACT SIP includes a 
demonstration that major NOX sources in the Valley are 
covered by RACT rules, a demonstration that the District's 
NOX prohibitory rules satisfy RACT levels of stringency, and 
a statement that the District's 2016 Ozone Plan will contain additional 
evaluations. The 2014 RACT SIP did not contain an updated list of major 
VOC sources, and a demonstration that the District's VOC prohibitory 
rules satisfy RACT levels of stringency.\9\
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    \8\ Our January 10, 2012 action (77 FR 1417) finalized a partial 
approval and partial disapproval of San Joaquin's RACT SIP for the 
1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The partial disapproval was based on our 
conclusion that the SJVUAPCD had not demonstrated that four rules 
satisfy RACT: (Rules 4352 Solid Fuel Fired Boilers, 4402 Crude Oil 
Production Sumps, 4625 Wastewater Separators, and 4682 Polystyrene, 
Polyethylene and Polypropylene Products Manufacturing), and for 
which the EPA had not yet approved three additional rules into the 
SIP as satisfying RACT: (Rules 4566 Organic Material Composting, 
4694 Wine Fermentation, and Fumigant VOC Regulations--California 
Department of Pesticide Regulation). These rules were subsequently 
approved as satisfying RACT [Rule 4352: 77 FR 66548 (November 6, 
2012); Rule Rules 4402 and 4625: 77 FR 64427 (October 22, 2012); 
Rule 4682; 77 FR 58312 (September 20, 2012); Rule 4566: 77 FR 71129 
(November 29, 2012); Rule 4694: 77 FR 71109 (November 29, 2012); and 
Fumigation: 77 FR 65294 (October 26, 2012)].
    \9\ The EPA's proposed Implementation Rule for the 2008 8-Hour 
Ozone NAAQS, June 6, 2013 (78 FR 34178), solicited comments on 
modifying existing guidance to provide additional flexibility where 
VOC reductions may have limited impact. Although the EPA did not 
ultimately adopt this approach (see 80 FR 12264, at 12279; March 6, 
2015), the deadline for submitting RACT SIPs was prior to the date 
that the EPA finalized its SIP Implementation Rule. Instead of 
submitting a RACT evaluation of its VOC rules in the 2014 RACT SIP, 
the District submitted an analysis purporting to demonstrate that 
the nonattainment area is one in which VOC reductions would have 
limited impact. Because the EPA did not finalize this approach, we 
are not evaluating this part of the District's submission.
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    Chapter 3.4 of the 2016 Ozone Plan states that in developing its 
attainment plan, the District updated its RACT evaluation and included 
VOC sources in

[[Page 22911]]

the evaluation in Appendix C of the 2016 Ozone Plan. Accordingly, we 
evaluated these submissions together to determine whether the District 
has in place RACT-level rules or negative declarations for each 
required category.
1. Efforts To Identity Non-CTG Major Sources Within the District
a. SJVUAPCD Action
    For NOX sources, SJVUAPCD states in its 2014 RACT SIP 
that it reviewed its database of current Permits to Operate (PTO) to 
identify facilities that have the potential to emit at least 10 tons 
per year of NOx. Table 4 of the 2014 RACT SIP lists the facility name, 
the type of operation or processes occurring at the facility, and the 
SIP rule(s) that apply to operations at the facility.
    For VOC sources, although the 2014 RACT SIP did not contain an 
updated list of major VOC sources, the District's submittal included a 
copy of the 2009 RACT SIP, which contained a list of major VOC sources 
as of 2009. SJVUAPCD subsequently provided a list of additional major 
stationary sources of VOC since its 2009 RACT SIP.\10\
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    \10\ Email dated May 4, 2018 from Chay Thao (SJVUAPCD) to 
Stanley Tong (EPA), RE: major VOC sources in SJ since 2009 RACT SIP. 
See also 2009 RACT SIP, chapter 3, available at http://valleyair.org/Air_Quality_Plans/docs/RACTSIP-2009.pdf.
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b. The EPA's Evaluation
    For major stationary sources of NOX, we reviewed CARB's 
2014 emissions inventory database and determined that there were four 
stationary sources with NOX emissions greater than 10 tpy 
that were not included in Table 4 of the District's 2014 RACT SIP. To 
determine if these sources were subject to RACT rules, we searched our 
internal database and reviewed the facilities' PTOs to identify what 
equipment was generating NOX emissions and whether there was 
an associated SIP rule. We concluded that each of the facilities' major 
stationary source NOX producing operations were subject to 
RACT rules with the exception of J.R. Simplot's Nitric Acid plant in 
Helm, CA. The SJVUAPCD is submitting, in its parallel processing 
request, as Attachment A to the Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP, the 
relevant permit conditions for J.R. Simplot's PTO to correct this 
problem. We reviewed the proposed permit conditions, including the 
NOX limits, continuous emissions monitoring and data quality 
requirements, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements and conclude 
they implement NOX RACT.
    For major non-CTG stationary sources of VOC, we reviewed the 
District's list of major VOC sources in its 2009 RACT SIP, and the two 
additional major sources of VOC subsequently identified by the 
District. Based on our review, we conclude that these major VOC sources 
are covered by rules that implement RACT. We also reviewed CARB's 2014 
emissions inventory database and determined that there were several 
stationary sources with VOC emissions greater than 10 tpy that were not 
listed in the District's 2009 RACT SIP and therefore appear to be 
``new'' major sources since the District's 2009 RACT SIP. Based on a 
review of the facilities' description as found through an internet 
search and/or their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, many 
of these new major sources appear to be related to composting, 
wineries, or petroleum production, and one source is a commercial 
printer. We determined that all these sources are already covered by 
SIP rules that implement RACT. Additional information regarding the 
EPA's evaluation can be found in the TSD.
2. The Bases for Concluding Local Rules Implement RACT
a. SJVUAPCD Action
    For NOX sources, Chapter 4 of the 2014 RACT SIP states 
that the District conducted ``a literature review and evaluation of the 
District's stationary and area source regulations that control 
NOX emissions to ensure that all District NOX 
prohibitory rules satisfy RACT requirements.'' It also states that the 
District compared ``. . . each District rule against federal rules, 
state regulations, and comparable rules from California's most 
technologically progressive air districts. The applicability, 
stringency, and enforceability of every District NOX rule 
was reviewed to ensure all rules meet or exceed federal RACT 
requirements.'' \11\
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    \11\ 2014 RACT SIP at Chapters 2.2 and 4.
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    For VOC sources, Chapter 2.2 of the 2014 RACT SIP states that 
``[a]lthough the District's VOC rules will not be evaluated as part of 
the 2014 RACT SIP, each regulation was evaluated in depth for the 2009 
RACT SIP.'' As stated earlier, the District subsequently submitted an 
updated RACT analysis of its VOC rules in Appendix C of its 2016 Ozone 
Plan.
b. The EPA's Evaluation
    The District must submit a RACT certification or a negative 
declaration for each CTG source category, and must demonstrate that 
each major stationary source of NOX or VOC in the District 
is covered by a rule that implements RACT-level controls. The fact that 
the EPA found that a rule met RACT in a past RACT SIP evaluation is 
not, by itself, sufficient to establish that the rule still meets RACT, 
because what is reasonably available changes over time. However, our 
approval of the 2009 RACT SIP indicates that RACT rules were in place 
for the required sources as of 2009, and in concert with the District's 
updated RACT analysis in the 2014 RACT SIP and Appendix C of its 2016 
Ozone Plan, we agree with the District's conclusion that rules that met 
RACT in 2009 continued to meet RACT in 2014.
1. NOX Rules
    The 2014 RACT SIP conducts a RACT analysis and concludes that the 
District's rules for all major sources meet RACT. We agree with this 
conclusion based on our review of the District's analysis of relevant 
rules in the 2014 RACT SIP, 2016 Ozone Plan, a comparison of specific 
rules against rules in other air districts, and a comparison against 
federal regulations and guidance documents, where appropriate. The 
details of our evaluation are provided in the TSD, including a more 
focused evaluation of Rule 4103--Open Burning, Rule 4311--Flares, and 
Rule 4702--Internal Combustion Engines.
2. VOC Rules
    The 2016 Ozone Plan, Appendix C, concludes that the District's 
rules meet RACT for all applicable rules. We agree with this conclusion 
based on our review of the District's analysis of relevant rules in the 
2016 Ozone Plan, Appendix C, the 2013 Plan for the Revoked 1-hour ozone 
standard, the 2009 RACT SIP, and additional explanatory materials 
provided by the District and found in the docket for this action. The 
details of our evaluation are provided in the TSD, including a more 
focused evaluation of Rule 4402--Crude Oil Production Sumps, Rule 
4566--Organic Material Composting Operations, Rule 4624--Transfer of 
Organic Liquid, Rule 4653--Adhesives and Sealants, Rule 4409--
Components at Light Crude Oil Production Facilities, Natural Gas 
Production Facilities, and Natural Gas Processing Facilities, Rule 
4605--Aerospace Assembly and Component Coating Operations, and Rule 
4621--Gasoline Transfer into Stationary Storage Containers, Delivery 
Vessels, and Bulk Plants.
3. Negative Declarations for Source Categories Where There Are No 
Facilities Subject to a CTG
    In lieu of adopting RACT rules, Districts can adopt negative 
declarations

[[Page 22912]]

for CTG source categories if there are no sources in the District 
covered by the CTG.
    The District's parallel processing request states that it 
``previously adopted Negative Declarations for CTGs . . . for 
Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Operations, Control of Volatile Organic 
Emissions from Manufacture of Synthesized Pharmaceutical Products, and 
Control of Volatile Organic Emissions from Manufacture of Pneumatic 
Rubber Tires . . . and is confirming that the Negative Declarations 
adopted previously are still valid.'' The District's parallel 
processing request also proposes to adopt the following negative 
declarations because the District concludes, based on a review of its 
permitted sources, SIC codes, and internet searches that there are no 
stationary sources or emitting facilities related to the CTG source 
categories listed in Table 1. The EPA searched CARB's emissions 
inventory database and verified that there do not appear to be 
facilities in the SJVUAPCD that are subject to these CTGs. We believe 
that these five new negative declarations, and three reaffirmed 
negative declarations are consistent with the relevant policy and 
guidance regarding RACT.

           Table 1--Negative Declarations--Parallel Processing
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            CTG document No.                           Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA-450/2-77-033........................  Control of Volatile Organic
                                           Emissions from Existing
                                           Stationary Sources--Volume
                                           IV: Surface Coating of
                                           Insulation of Magnet Wire.
EPA-450/2-78-029........................  Control of Volatile Organic
                                           Emissions from Manufacture of
                                           Synthesized Pharmaceutical
                                           Products.
EPA-450/2-78-030........................  Control of Volatile Organic
                                           Emissions from Manufacture of
                                           Pneumatic Rubber Tires.
EPA-450/3-83-006........................  Control of Volatile Organic
                                           Compound Leaks from Synthetic
                                           Organic Chemical Polymer and
                                           Resin Manufacturing
                                           Equipment.
EPA-450/3-83-008........................  Control of Volatile Organic
                                           Compound Emissions from
                                           Manufacture of High-Density
                                           Polyethylene, Polypropylene,
                                           and Polystyrene Resins.
EPA-450/3-84-015........................  Control of Volatile Organic
                                           Compound Emissions from Air
                                           Oxidation Processes in
                                           Synthetic Organic Chemical
                                           Manufacturing Industry.
EPA-450/4-91-031........................  Control of Volatile Organic
                                           Compound Emissions from
                                           Reactor Processes and
                                           Distillation Operations in
                                           Synthetic Organic Chemical
                                           Manufacturing Industry.
EPA-453/R-94-032........................  Alternative Control Technology
                                           Document--Surface Coating
                                           Operations at Shipbuilding
                                           and Ship Repair Facilities.
61 FR-44050 8/27/96.....................  Control Techniques Guidelines
                                           for Shipbuilding and Ship
                                           Repair Operations (Surface
                                           Coating).
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    Our TSD has more information on our evaluation of the submitted 
2014 RACT SIP, Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP (J.R. Simplot permit to 
operate and negative declarations), and 2016 Ozone Plan--Chapter 3.4 
and Appendix C.

C. Public Comment and Proposed Action

    As authorized in section 110(k)(3) of the Act, the EPA proposes to 
fully approve the 2014 RACT SIP, Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP 
(relevant permit conditions for the J.R. Simplot Nitric Acid plant in 
Helm, CA and negative declarations), and 2016 Ozone Plan Chapter 3.4 
and Appendix C, because we believe they collectively fulfill the RACT 
SIP requirements under CAA sections 182(b) and (f) and 40 CFR 51.1112 
for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. As noted above, our proposed action also 
relies upon our evaluation of the public draft version of the relevant 
permit conditions for the J.R. Simplot Nitric Acid plant in Helm, CA 
and on the negative declarations planned for adoption by the SJVUAPCD 
in June 2018, which we will not take final action on until they are 
adopted and submitted to us as a revision to the California SIP. If the 
Supplement to the 2014 RACT SIP that we have evaluated were to be 
revised significantly prior to adoption and submittal, we would need to 
reconsider our proposed action accordingly.
    We will accept comments from the public on this proposal until June 
18, 2018. If we take final action to approve the submitted documents, 
our final action will incorporate them into the federally enforceable 
SIP.

III. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule the EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA rule 
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance 
with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is proposing to incorporate by 
reference certain permit conditions for the J.R. Simplot Nitric Acid 
plant in Helm, CA as described above in the preamble. The EPA has made, 
and will continue to make, these materials available through 
www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region IX Office (please contact the 
person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this preamble for more information).

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the Clean Air Act, 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 Clean Air Act. 
Accordingly, this proposed action merely proposes to approve state law 
as meeting federal requirements and does not impose additional 
requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this 
proposed 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);
     is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 
2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under 
Executive Order 12866;
     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);

[[Page 22913]]

     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 Clean Air Act; and
     does not provide the EPA with the discretionary authority 
to address disproportionate human health or environmental effects with 
practical, appropriate, and legally permissible 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 the 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).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

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

    Dated: May 8, 2018.
Alexis Strauss,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2018-10571 Filed 5-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P