[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62719-62720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26287]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R06-OAR-2008-0408; FRL-9986-64-Region 6]
Air Plan Approval; Texas; Interstate Transport Requirements for
the 1997 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards
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 portions of two
Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittals that pertain to the
good neighbor and interstate transport requirements of the CAA with
respect to the 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS). The good neighbor provision requires each state, in its SIP,
to prohibit emissions that will significantly contribute to
nonattainment, or interfere with maintenance, of a NAAQS in other
states. In this action, EPA is approving the Texas SIP submittals as
having met the requirements of the good neighbor provision for the 1997
ozone NAAQS in accordance with section 110 of the CAA.
DATES: This rule is effective on January 7, 2019.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under
Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2008-0408. All documents in the docket are
listed on the https://www.regulations.gov website. 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 https://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: Carl Young, 214-665-6645,
[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
October 3, 2018 proposal (83 FR 49894). In that document we proposed to
(1) approve the portions of the April 4, 2008 and May 1, 2008 Texas SIP
submittals as they pertain to the requirements of CAA section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with respect to the 1997 ozone NAAQS, and (2) find
that the conclusion in the state's SIP submittals is consistent with
EPA's conclusion regarding Texas's good neighbor obligation, that
emissions from Texas will not significantly contribute to nonattainment
or interfere with maintenance of the 1997 ozone NAAQS in any other
state.
We did not receive any adverse comments regarding our proposal. We
received two supportive comments regarding the proposal. The first was
a comment from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality which
supported the proposal; and the second comment was an anonymous comment
stating general support for clean air regulations. The comments are
available in the electronic docket for this action.
II. Final Action
We are approving the portions of the April 4, 2008 and May 1, 2008
Texas SIP submittals as they pertain to the requirements of CAA section
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with respect to the 1997 ozone NAAQS. We find that
the conclusion in the state's SIP submittals is consistent with EPA's
conclusion regarding the good neighbor obligation, that emissions from
Texas will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere
with maintenance of the 1997 ozone NAAQS in any other state. This
action is being taken under section 110 of the Act.
III. 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);
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);
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
[[Page 62720]]
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 Clean Air Act, petitions for
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by February 4, 2019. 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, Air pollution
control, Incorporation by reference, Ozone.
Dated: November 26, 2018.
Anne Idsal,
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 SS--Texas
0
2. In Sec. 52.2270(e) the second table titled ``EPA Approved
Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures in the Texas
SIP'' is amended by revising the entry for ``Infrastructure and
Interstate Transport for the 1997 Ozone and the 1997 and 2006
PM2.5 NAAQS'' to read as follows:
Sec. 52.2270 Identification of plan
* * * * *
(e) * * *
EPA-Approved Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures in the Texas SIP
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Applicable
Name of SIP provision geographic or State submittal/ EPA approval date Explanation
nonattainment area effective date
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* * * * * * *
Infrastructure and Interstate Statewide......... 12/12/2007, 3/11/ 12/28/2011, 76 FR Approval for CAA
Transport for the 1997 Ozone 2008, 4/4/2008, 5/ 81371. elements
and the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 1/2008, 11/23/ 110(a)(2)(A),
NAAQS.. 2009. (B), (E), (F),
(G), (H), (K),
(L), and (M).
Full approval for
CAA elements
110(a)(2)(C),
(D)(i)(II),
(D)(ii) and (J)
with approval of
the GHG PSD
revision (11/10/
2014, 79
FR66626). 1997
and 2006 PM2.5
element D(i)(I)
approved 5/14/
2018, 83 FR
22208. 1997 ozone
element D(i)(I)
approved 12/6/
2018, [Insert
Federal Register
citation].
* * * * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2018-26287 Filed 12-4-18; 8:45 am]
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