[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 57 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11198-11208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05159]



[[Page 11197]]

Vol. 84

Monday,

No. 57

March 25, 2019

Part III





 Environmental Protection Agency





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





40 CFR Part 52





Clean Air Plans; 2008 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area Requirements; San 
Joaquin Valley, California and Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality 
State Implementation Plans; California; Plumas County; Moderate Area 
Plan for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 57 / Monday, March 25, 2019 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 11198]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R09-OAR-2018-0535; FRL-9990-13-Region 9]


Clean Air Plans; 2008 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area 
Requirements; San Joaquin Valley, California

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final 
action to approve portions of two state implementation plan (SIP) 
revisions submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act 
(CAA or ``the Act'') requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone national 
ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the San 
Joaquin Valley, California ozone nonattainment area. First, the EPA is 
approving the portion of the ``2016 Ozone Plan for the 2008 8-Hour 
Ozone Standard'' (``2016 Ozone Plan'') that addresses the requirement 
for a base year emissions inventory. Second, the EPA is approving the 
portions of the ``2018 Updates to the California State Implementation 
Plan'' (``2018 SIP Update'') that address the requirements for a 
reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstration and motor vehicle 
emissions budgets (MVEBs or ``budgets'') for the San Joaquin Valley for 
the 2008 ozone standards. Lastly, the EPA is conditionally approving 
the contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone Plan, as modified by 
the 2018 SIP Update. The approval is conditional because a key portion 
of the element relies on commitments by the State air agency and 
regional air district to supplement the contingency measure element 
with submission of a specific contingency measure within one year of 
the EPA's final conditional approval.

DATES: This rule is effective on April 24, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. EPA-R09-OAR-2018-0535. 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 (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 through https://www.regulations.gov, or please 
contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section for additional availability information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Lawrence, EPA Region IX, (415) 
972-3407.

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

Table of Contents

I. Summary of the Proposed Action
II. Changes and Corrections to Proposed Action
III. Public Comments and EPA Responses
IV. Final Action
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Summary of the Proposed Action

    On November 29, 2018 (83 FR 61346), the EPA proposed to approve, 
under CAA section 110(k)(3), and to conditionally approve, under CAA 
section 110(k)(4), portions of submittals from the California Air 
Resources Board (CARB or ``State'') and the San Joaquin Valley Air 
Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD or ``District'') as revisions to 
the California SIP for the San Joaquin Valley 2008 ozone nonattainment 
area.\1\ The relevant SIP revisions include the 2016 Ozone Plan and the 
2018 SIP Update. With respect to the 2018 SIP Update, our proposal was 
based on a public draft version of this document and a request from 
CARB that the EPA accept the public draft for parallel processing with 
respect to the portions of the 2018 SIP Update that apply to the San 
Joaquin Valley 2008 ozone nonattainment area.\2\ The State has since 
adopted and submitted the 2018 SIP Update, and this submittal is 
discussed in more detail in section II of this preamble.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone 
standards generally covers the southern half of California's Central 
Valley and consists of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, 
Fresno, Tulare, and Kings counties, and the western portion of Kern 
County. A precise description of the San Joaquin Valley ozone 
nonattainment area is contained in 40 CFR 81.305.
    \2\ Letter from Richard Corey, CARB Executive Officer, to 
Michael Stoker, EPA Region IX Regional Administrator, dated October 
3, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Our proposal also relied on a specific commitment from the District 
to revise the District's architectural coatings rule to create a 
contingency measure that will be triggered if the area fails to meet 
reasonable further progress (RFP) or to attain by the applicable 
attainment date, and a commitment from CARB to submit the revised 
District rule to the EPA as a SIP revision within 12 months of our 
final action.\3\ \4\ For more information on these submittals, please 
see our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Letter from Sheraz Gill, SJVAPCD Deputy Air Pollution 
Control Officer, to Richard Corey, CARB Executive Officer, and to 
Michael Stoker, EPA Region IX Regional Administrator, dated October 
18, 2018.
    \4\ Letter from Dr. Michael Benjamin, Chief, Air Quality 
Planning and Science Division, CARB, to Michael Stoker, EPA Region 
IX Regional Administrator, dated October 30, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In our proposed rulemaking, we provided background material on the 
ozone standards,\5\ area designations, and related SIP revision 
requirements under the CAA, and the EPA's implementing regulations for 
the 2008 ozone standards, referred to as the 2008 Ozone SIP 
Requirements Rule (``2008 Ozone SRR''). In short, the San Joaquin 
Valley nonattainment area is classified as Extreme for the 2008 ozone 
standards, and the 2016 Ozone Plan was developed to address the 
requirements for this Extreme nonattainment area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Ground-level ozone pollution is formed from the reaction of 
volatile organic compounds (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen 
(NOX) in the presence of sunlight. The 2008 ozone 
standard is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) average over an 8-hour 
period. 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). The State of California 
typically refers to reactive organic gases (ROG) in its ozone-
related submittals. The CAA and the EPA's regulations refer to VOC, 
rather than ROG, but both terms cover essentially the same set of 
gases. In this final rule, we use the term federal term (VOC) to 
refer to this set of gases.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In our proposed rulemaking, we also discussed a decision issued by 
the DC Circuit Court of Appeals in South Coast Air Quality Management 
Dist. v. EPA, (``South Coast II'') \6\ that vacated certain portions of 
the EPA's 2008 Ozone SRR. The only aspect of the South Coast II 
decision that affects this action is the vacatur of the provision in 
the 2008 Ozone SRR that allowed states to use an alternative baseline 
year for demonstrating RFP. To address this, in the 2018 SIP Update, 
CARB submitted an updated RFP demonstration that relied on a 2011 
baseline year as required, along with updated motor vehicle emissions 
budgets (MVEBs) associated with the new RFP milestone years. Portions 
of the 2016 Ozone Plan not affected by the South Coast II decision were 
addressed in previous rulemakings.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, 882 F.3d 
1138 (D.C. Cir. 2018). The term ``South Coast II'' is used in 
reference to the 2018 court decision to distinguish it from a 
decision published in 2006 also referred to as ``South Coast.'' The 
earlier decision involved a challenge to the EPA's Phase 1 
implementation rule for the 1997 ozone standard. South Coast Air 
Quality Management Dist. v. EPA, 472 F.3d 882 (D.C. Cir. 2006).
    \7\ For approval of the elements related to the RACT SIP 
requirement, see 83 FR 41006 (August 17, 2018). For approval of the 
attainment demonstration and other associated requirements, see 84 
FR 3302 (February 12, 2019).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 11199]]

    For our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, we reviewed the base 
year emissions inventory contained in the 2016 Ozone Plan, the RFP 
demonstration, the RFP and attainment year MVEBs contained in the 2018 
SIP Update, and the contingency measure element contained in the 2016 
Ozone Plan, as modified by the 2018 SIP Update and supplemented by the 
CARB and District commitment letters, and evaluated them for compliance 
with statutory and regulatory requirements.
    With respect to the contingency measure requirement, in our 
proposed rulemaking, we noted that the EPA's longstanding 
interpretation of section 172(c)(9) that states may rely on already-
implemented measures as contingency measures (if they provide emissions 
reductions in excess of those needed to meet any other nonattainment 
plan requirements) was rejected by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 
in a case referred to as Bahr v. EPA.\8\ In Bahr, the Ninth Circuit 
concluded that contingency measures must be measures that would take 
effect at the time the area fails to make RFP or to attain by the 
applicable attainment date, not before.\9\ Thus, within the geographic 
jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit, states cannot rely on already-
implemented control measures to comply with the contingency measure 
requirements under CAA sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9).\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Bahr v. EPA, 836 F.3d 1218, at 1235-1237 (9th Cir. 2016).
    \9\ Id. at 1235-1237.
    \10\ The Bahr v. EPA decision involved a challenge to an EPA 
approval of contingency measures under the general nonattainment 
area plan provisions for contingency measures in CAA section 
172(c)(9), but, given the similarity between the statutory language 
in section 172(c)(9) and the ozone-specific contingency measure 
provision in section 182(c)(9), we find that the decision affects 
how both sections of the Act must be interpreted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on our review of the relevant portions of the 2016 Ozone Plan 
and 2018 SIP Update, commitment letters and other technical 
documentation provided by CARB, we proposed the following:
     We proposed to approve the 2012 base year emissions 
inventory from the 2016 Ozone Plan because we determined that it is 
comprehensive, accurate, and current, and thereby meets the 
requirements of CAA sections 172(c)(3) and 182(a)(1) and 40 CFR 
51.1115.
     We proposed to approve the RFP demonstration in the 2018 
SIP Update because we determined that it provides for emissions 
reductions of VOC or NOX of at least 3 percent per year on 
average for each three-year period from a 2011 baseline year through 
the attainment year and thereby meets the requirements of CAA sections 
172(c)(2), 182(b)(1), and 182(c)(2)(B), and 40 CFR 51.1110(a)(2)(ii); 
and
     We proposed to find adequate and approve MVEBs for the RFP 
milestone years of 2020, 2023, 2026, 2029, and the attainment year of 
2031 from the 2018 SIP Update because we determined that they are 
consistent with the RFP demonstration proposed for approval and the 
attainment demonstration previously approved, are clearly identified 
and precisely quantified, and meet all other applicable statutory and 
regulatory requirements in 40 CFR 93.118(e), including the adequacy 
criteria in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4) and (5).
     Finally, we proposed to conditionally approve the 
contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone Plan, as modified by the 
2018 SIP Update, as meeting the requirements of CAA sections 172(c)(9) 
and 182(c)(9), based on commitments by CARB and the District to 
supplement the element through submission of a SIP revision within one 
year of final conditional approval action that will include a revised 
District architectural coatings rule.
    Please see our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking and the 
related Technical Support Document for more information concerning the 
background for this action and for a more detailed discussion of the 
rationale for approval or conditional approval of the above-listed 
elements of the 2016 Ozone Plan and 2018 SIP Update.

II. Changes and Corrections to Proposed Action

A. Submittal of Adopted 2018 SIP Update

    As noted above, we proposed to approve portions of the 2018 SIP 
Update based on a public draft of the plan and an October 3, 2018 
request from CARB that the EPA accept the draft 2018 SIP Update for 
parallel processing with respect to the portions of the 2018 SIP Update 
that apply to the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area. Under the 
EPA's parallel processing procedure, the EPA may propose action on a 
public draft version of a SIP revision but will take final action only 
after the state adopts and submits the final version to the EPA for 
approval.\11\ If there are no significant changes from the draft 
version of the SIP revision to the final version, the EPA may elect to 
take final action on the proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See 40 CFR part 51, appendix V, section 2.3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In this case, CARB adopted the 2018 SIP Update, previously released 
for public review, without significant modifications on October 25, 
2018, and submitted the adopted 2018 SIP Update to the EPA as a 
revision to the California SIP on December 5, 2018.\12\ The submittal 
includes CARB Resolution 18-50 adopting the 2018 SIP Update, the 2018 
SIP Update itself, and documentation of public notice and opportunity 
to comment on the draft plan update. With respect to the San Joaquin 
Valley, the 2018 SIP Update includes an RFP demonstration with a 2011 
baseline year, MVEBs for RFP milestone years and the attainment year, 
and modifications to the contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone 
Plan. The modifications to the contingency measure element include 
CARB's Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program and updated emissions 
estimates for surplus emissions reductions in the RFP milestone years 
and in the year following the attainment year. We proposed action based 
on the draft version of the 2018 SIP Update submitted to us on October 
3, 2018, and the contents of CARB Resolution 18-50, and are now 
finalizing action based on the December 5, 2018 submittal of the final 
adopted version of the 2018 SIP Update and CARB Resolution 18-50.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Letter from Richard Corey, CARB Executive Officer, to 
Michael Stoker, EPA Region IX Regional Administrator, dated December 
5, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For this final rule, we have evaluated the December 5, 2018 
submittal for compliance with CAA procedural requirements for adoption 
and submission of SIP revisions. Specifically, CAA sections 110(a)(1) 
and (2) and 110(l) require a state to provide reasonable public notice 
and opportunity for public hearing prior to the adoption and submission 
of a SIP or SIP revision. To meet this requirement, every SIP submittal 
should include evidence that adequate public notice was given and an 
opportunity for a public hearing was provided consistent with the EPA's 
implementing regulations in 40 CFR 51.102.
    CARB has satisfied the applicable statutory and regulatory 
requirements for reasonable public notice and hearing prior to the 
adoption and submittal of the 2018 SIP Update. Concurrent with the 
release of the draft 2018 SIP Update, CARB published a notice of public 
hearing to be held on October 25, 2018, to consider approval of the 
2018 SIP Update.\13\ On October 25, 2018, CARB held the hearing, 
approved the 2018 SIP Update, and directed its Executive Officer to 
submit the 2018 SIP Update

[[Page 11200]]

to the EPA for approval into the California SIP.\14\ On December 5, 
2018, the CARB Executive Officer submitted the 2018 SIP Update to the 
EPA and included the transcript of the hearing held on October 25, 
2018.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See Notice of Public Meeting to Consider the 2018 Updates 
to the California State Implementation Plan, September 21, 2018.
    \14\ See CARB Resolution 18-50.
    \15\ See Letter from Richard Corey, CARB Executive Officer, to 
Michael Stoker, EPA Region IX Regional Administrator, dated December 
5, 2018, transmitting the following enclosures: (1) 2018 SIP Update, 
(2) CARB SIP Completeness Checklist, (3) CARB Resolution 18-50 
adopting the 2018 SIP Update as a revision to the California SIP, 
(4) Evidence of public notice and transcript of public meeting to 
consider approval of the 2018 SIP Update, Board Meeting Comments Log 
and written comments regarding the 2018 SIP Update.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program as Stand-Alone Contingency 
Measure

    In our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, we proposed to 
approve conditionally the contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone 
Plan, as modified by the 2018 SIP Update, and as supplemented by the 
District's and CARB's commitments to submit a revised District rule as 
a contingency measure, as meeting the requirements of CAA sections 
172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9). In our proposal, we considered two elements of 
the overall contingency measure package as meeting the requirements of 
CAA sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9)--the CARB contingency measure, 
i.e., the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program described in Chapter 
X of the 2018 SIP Update, and the District's forthcoming contingency 
measure, i.e., the removal of the small container exemption from the 
current District architectural coatings rule in the SIP upon a 
triggering event (i.e., failure to meet RFP or attainment deadlines). 
We considered these two elements in the context of additional 
reductions from ongoing implementation of the existing control program, 
and CARB's commitment in the 2016 State Strategy to achieve an 
additional 8 tons per day (tpd) of emissions reductions of 
NOX in the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area in 2031.
    In response to comments received during the comment period for this 
proposed action, and as discussed in more detail in section III of this 
preamble, we are conditionally approving only the District's intended 
contingency measure as meeting the requirements of CAA sections 
172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9). Though we are not approving the CARB Enhanced 
Enforcement Activities Program as submitted to fulfill the requirements 
of CAA 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9), we consider the program to have merit 
in achieving additional emissions reductions in the San Joaquin Valley 
nonattainment area in the event that the area fails to meet an RFP 
milestone or to attain the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the attainment date. For 
that reason, we find that the CARB Enhanced Enforcement Activities 
Program strengthens the SIP and we are approving it conditionally as 
part of the overall contingency measure element. Our rationale is 
discussed in section III of this preamble. Our overall conclusion--that 
the contingency measure element in the 2016 Ozone Plan, as modified by 
the 2018 SIP Update and supplemented by the forthcoming District 
measure (once adopted and submitted), meets the contingency measure 
requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS--remains unchanged.

C. Corrections to Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets

    In our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, we proposed to find 
adequate and approve MVEBs for the San Joaquin Valley for RFP milestone 
years 2020, 2023, 2026, 2029 and the 2031 attainment year.\16\ In our 
proposal, we inadvertently introduced typographical errors in table 5, 
which detailed the MVEBs for each county. Table 1 below corrects these 
errors, making them consistent with tables VIII-3 through VIII-10 of 
the 2018 SIP Update. Because the changes in Table 1 below are 
consistent with the source tables in the public draft version of the 
2018 SIP Update, and those source tables were cited in the proposal 
rule, we are correcting this error without re-proposing approval of the 
budgets. The approved MVEBs (in tons per day (tpd), average summer 
weekday) are as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See table 5, Budgets in the 2018 SIP Update, 83 FR 61346 
(November 29, 2018) at 61354.

                                                             Table 1--Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs) in the 2018 SIP Update
                                                                                         [Tons per day]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          2020                      2023                      2026                      2029                      2031
                                                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            County                                            NOX (tpd)                 NOX (tpd)                 NOX (tpd)                 NOX (tpd)                 NOX (tpd)
                                                                 VOC (tpd)                 VOC (tpd)                 VOC (tpd)                 VOC (tpd)                 VOC (tpd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresno........................................................          6.7         23.9          5.5         14.1          4.9         13.2          4.5         12.4          4.2         12.1
Kern (SJV)....................................................          5.4         20.9          4.5         14.5          4.2         14.4          4.0         14.3          3.9         14.3
Kings.........................................................          1.2          4.5          1.0          2.7          0.9          2.6          0.8          2.6          0.8          2.6
Madera........................................................          1.5          4.3          1.1          2.7          1.0          2.5          0.9          2.4          0.8          2.3
Merced........................................................          2.2          8.8          1.7          6.0          1.5          5.9          1.3          5.6          1.2          5.4
San Joaquin...................................................          4.7         11.2          3.9          7.4          3.5          7.0          3.1          6.6          2.8          6.3
Stanislaus....................................................          3.1          8.8          2.6          5.6          2.2          4.9          2.0          4.5          1.8          4.3
Tulare........................................................          3.0          7.6          2.4          4.6          2.1          4.0          1.8          3.7          1.7          3.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Tables VIII-3 through VIII-10 of the 2018 SIP Update.

    Also, with regards to the MVEBs, in its December 5, 2018 letter 
submitting the adopted 2018 SIP Update to the EPA as a revision to the 
California SIP, CARB requested that we limit the duration of our 
approval of the budgets only until the effective date of the EPA's 
adequacy finding for any subsequently submitted budgets.\17\ The 
request to limit duration of our approval of the budgets was not 
included in the October 3, 2018 letter requesting parallel processing 
of the 2018 SIP Update, and therefore was not addressed in our November 
29, 2018 proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ Letter, Richard W. Corey, Executive Officer, California Air 
Resources Board, to Michael Stoker, Regional Administrator, EPA 
Region IX, December 5, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The transportation conformity rule allows the EPA to limit the 
duration of the approval of budgets.\18\ We will consider a state's 
request to limit an approval of its MVEB if the request includes the 
following elements: \19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 40 CFR 93.118(e)(1).
    \19\ 67 FR 69141 (November 15, 2002), limiting our prior 
approval of MVEB in certain California SIPs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     An acknowledgement and explanation as to why the budgets 
under consideration have become outdated or deficient;
     A commitment to update the budgets as part of a 
comprehensive SIP update; and

[[Page 11201]]

     A request that the EPA limit the duration of its approval 
to the time when new budgets have been found to be adequate for 
transportation conformity purposes.

Because CARB's request does not include a commitment to update the 
budgets as part of a comprehensive SIP update, we cannot at this time 
limit the duration of our approval of the submitted budgets until new 
budgets have been found adequate. Once CARB provides that commitment, 
we intend to review the request and take appropriate action. If we 
propose to limit the duration of our approval of the motor vehicle 
emissions budgets in the 2018 SIP Update, we will provide the public an 
opportunity to comment. The duration of the approval of the budgets, 
however, would not be limited until we complete such a rulemaking.

III. Public Comments and EPA Responses

    The public comment period on the proposed rulemaking opened on 
November 29, 2018, the date of its publication in the Federal Register, 
and closed on December 31, 2018. During this period, the EPA received 
five anonymous comments, and a comment letter submitted on behalf of 
the Association of Irritated Residents (AIR). Three of the anonymous 
commenters express overall support for the proposed action. One of the 
anonymous commenters questions the existence of global warming, an 
issue that is outside the scope of this rulemaking. The EPA is not 
responding to these four comments, either because they are not adverse 
to, or because they are not relevant to, the proposed action.
    The fifth anonymous comment and the comment letter from AIR are 
germane to this action and are addressed below. All of the comments 
received are included in the docket for this action. In addition to 
written comments received during the comment period, EPA staff 
participated in a conference call with CARB staff during which aspects 
of the proposed rulemaking were discussed. A summary of this call is 
included in a memo to the docket.
    Comment #1: An anonymous commenter seeks clarification on the 
repercussions of a failure by San Joaquin Valley to achieve an RFP 
milestone given that the contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone 
Plan, as modified by the 2018 SIP Update, would be conditionally, 
rather than fully, approved.
    Response #1: In our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, we 
proposed to approve conditionally the contingency measure element of 
the 2016 Ozone Plan, as modified by CARB in the 2018 SIP Update, and as 
supplemented by commitments by the District and CARB to adopt and 
submit a specific contingency measure for the San Joaquin Valley for 
the 2008 ozone NAAQS. The contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone 
Plan (as modified and supplemented) includes a measure that would be 
implemented by CARB (i.e., the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program) 
and a measure, that, upon adoption, would be implemented by the 
District (i.e., the removal of the small container exemption from the 
current District architectural coatings rule). In this document, we are 
taking final action to approve conditionally the contingency measure 
element of the nonattainment plan for the San Joaquin Valley 
nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.
    As allowed under section 110(k)(4) of the CAA, the District 
contingency measure has not yet been adopted or submitted by the 
District and CARB to the EPA for approval as part of the California 
SIP. Rather, the District has submitted a commitment to CARB and the 
EPA to adopt a specific contingency measure and to submit the measure 
to CARB in sufficient time to allow for its adoption and submittal by 
CARB to the EPA within one year of the EPA's conditional approval of 
the contingency measure element for the San Joaquin Valley 
nonattainment area in this final action. More specifically, the 
District has committed to amend its existing architectural coatings 
rule to provide that the small container exemption will no longer be 
available upon a failure to meet an RFP milestone or upon a failure to 
attain the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date. This 
means that if such a triggering event occurs, the VOC emissions from 
small containers of architectural coatings would immediately be subject 
to regulation in the District. For its part, CARB has committed to the 
EPA to submit the District's revised architectural coatings rule to the 
EPA within one year of the effective date of the final conditional 
approval. Assuming this action is published by the end of February 
2019, and made effective 30 days from publication, the District's and 
CARB commitments as to the District contingency measure should be 
fulfilled well before the next relevant triggering event will occur, 
i.e., the EPA's determination of whether the San Joaquin Valley ozone 
nonattainment area met the RFP milestone in 2020.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Section 182(g)(2) of the CAA requires states to submit a 
demonstration that the milestone has been met not later than 90 days 
after the date on which an applicable milestone occurs. The EPA has 
90 days thereafter to determine whether or not a state's 
demonstration is adequate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, while the EPA has concluded that CARB's Enhanced 
Enforcement Activities Program does not meet all of the requirements 
for a stand-alone contingency measure, the program will strengthen the 
SIP and is part of the conditional approval of the overall contingency 
measure element. Like the forthcoming District contingency measure, the 
Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program would be triggered upon a 
failure to achieve an RFP milestone or failure to attain the ozone 
NAAQS by the applicable attainment date in San Joaquin Valley. As 
discussed in more detail in chapter X (``Contingency Measures'') of the 
2018 SIP Update and our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, under 
CARB's Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program, within 60 days of the 
triggering event the CARB Executive Officer would implement enhanced 
enforcement activities in the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area 
consistent with the findings and recommendations in a report (referred 
to as the Enhanced Enforcement Report) that CARB will prepare and 
publish. Per the terms of the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program, 
the report will identify the probable causes of the failure to meet RFP 
or attain by the applicable attainment date and identify specific 
enhanced enforcement activities to reduce emissions and health impacts 
in the area, and it requires CARB to implement those activities within 
60 days of the triggering event. The focus of CARB's enhanced 
enforcement would be regulations for which CARB has the authority to 
enforce under State law, such as mobile source and consumer product 
regulations.
    Under CAA section 110(k)(4), if the District and CARB fulfill their 
commitments, then the conditional approval would become a full approval 
upon the EPA's approval of the District's contingency measure as part 
of the SIP, and both the District's contingency measure (removal of the 
small container exemption in the architectural coatings rule) and 
CARB's Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program would be triggered upon 
a failure to achieve an RFP milestone, or failure to attain the 2008 
ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date, in the San Joaquin 
Valley nonattainment area.
    If, on the other hand, the District or CARB fail to meet their 
commitments to adopt and submit the District

[[Page 11202]]

contingency measure within one year, then the final conditional 
approval of the contingency measure element would become a disapproval 
upon the EPA's determination that the agencies had failed to fulfill 
their commitments and would thereby trigger the imposition of certain 
sanctions if the contingency measure SIP deficiency is not remedied 
within 18 months or 24 months (depending on the specific sanction).\21\ 
The disapproval would also trigger a 24-month clock for the EPA to 
promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to remedy the deficiency 
if CARB and the District do not remedy the deficiency within that time 
frame.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See CAA section 179(a) and (b); 40 CFR 52.31.
    \22\ See CAA section 110(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment #2: AIR asserts that the 2016 Ozone Plan, as amended by the 
2018 SIP Update, fails to meet the CAA requirements for base year 
inventories because it provides emissions inventory information for 
year 2012 whereas a recent court decision requires that such 
inventories reflect emissions for year 2011.
    Response #2: The commenter appears to be confused as to the purpose 
for which we are approving the various inventories prepared in this 
package and under which specific CAA requirements those inventories 
must be evaluated. In our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, we 
proposed to approve the 2012 base year emissions inventory provided in 
the 2016 Ozone Plan as meeting the base year requirements of CAA 
sections 172(c)(3) and 182(a)(1) and 40 CFR 51.1115. We also are 
approving the portion of the 2018 SIP Update that starts with 2011 as 
the baseline year and future baseline emissions inventories out to 2032 
as appropriate for use in developing the RFP demonstration, motor 
vehicle emissions budgets, and the contingency measure element. The 
base year emissions inventory requirement and the RFP demonstration are 
two separate SIP revision requirements under the CAA and the EPA's 
regulations.
    As described in our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, the EPA 
issued the 2008 Ozone SRR to assist states in developing effective 
plans to address ozone nonattainment problems. The 2008 Ozone SRR 
addresses implementation of the 2008 ozone NAAQS, including 
requirements for base year emissions inventories and RFP 
demonstrations, among other requirements. As AIR notes, the 2008 Ozone 
SRR was challenged and certain portions of the SRR were vacated in the 
South Coast II decision. In relevant part, the court decision vacated 
the option for a state to select an alternative baseline year for RFP 
demonstrations.
    More specifically, the 2008 Ozone SRR required states to develop 
the baseline emissions inventory for RFP plans using the emissions for 
the most recent calendar year for which states submit a triennial 
inventory to the EPA under subpart A (``Air Emissions Reporting 
Requirements'') of 40 CFR part 51, which was 2011. However, the 2008 
Ozone SRR allowed states to use an alternative year, between 2008 and 
2012, for the baseline emissions inventory provided that the state 
demonstrated why the alternative baseline year was appropriate. In the 
South Coast II decision, the D.C. Circuit vacated the provisions of the 
2008 Ozone SRR that allowed states to use an alternative baseline year 
for demonstrating RFP.
    However, the provisions in the 2008 Ozone SRR addressing the base 
year emissions inventory, in contrast to the RFP demonstration, were 
not at issue in the South Coast II case and, thus, remain in effect. 
The 2008 Ozone SRR defines the base year emissions inventory as a 
comprehensive, accurate, current inventory of actual emissions and 
requires that the base year emissions inventory year be selected 
``consistent'' with the baseline year for the RFP plan.\23\ In 
promulgating the 2008 Ozone SRR, we indicated that we generally expect 
that the year used for the base year emissions inventory for the 
nonattainment area would be the same as the year used for the RFP plan 
baseline,\24\ but we did not require that they be the same.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 40 CFR 51.1100(bb) and 40 CFR 51.1115(a).
    \24\ 80 FR 12264, at 12290 (March 6, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In this case, CARB selected 2012 as the year for the base year 
emissions inventory in the 2016 Ozone Plan. Although this means that 
the state is not using the same year for the base year inventory and 
the RFP baseline, we believe that using 2012 for the base year 
inventory is consistent with the 2011 baseline year for the RFP 
demonstration because the 2011 emission inventory is backcast from the 
2012 base year inventory, and therefore is based on the same data.
    Comment #3: AIR asserts that the 2011 emissions inventory does not 
meet the requirements for base year emissions inventories because it 
does not represent actual emissions but, rather, represents emissions 
that have been backcast from actual emissions in year 2012.
    Response #3: First, we did not review the 2011 emissions inventory 
for compliance with the requirements for base year emissions 
inventories under CAA sections 172(c)(3) and 182(a)(1) and 40 CFR 
51.1115. We reviewed the 2012 emissions inventory for compliance with 
those base year requirements, and for the reasons set forth in our 
proposed rulemaking, we found that the 2012 emissions inventory 
represents a comprehensive, accurate, and current inventory of actual 
emissions during that year in the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment 
area.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ 83 FR 61346, 61352 (November 29, 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, we reviewed the 2011 emissions inventory as part of our 
review of the RFP demonstration, and we found it to be appropriate for 
that purpose. With respect to the derivation of the 2011 RFP baseline 
year emissions inventory, CARB has explained that the 2011 RFP baseline 
year emissions inventory reflects actual emissions (in 2011) from the 
large stationary sources and that, with respect to areawide and small 
stationary sources, the inventory reflects emissions backcast from the 
2012 base year emissions inventory.\26\ Backcasting emissions based on 
differences in emissions controls and source activity levels is a 
standard method for estimating emissions in previous years, just as 
forecasting emissions on the same basis is a standard method for 
estimating emissions in future years. On-road motor vehicle emissions 
in 2011 were calculated using the same model (EMFAC2014) and the same 
source for transportation activity data (2014 Regional Transportation 
Plan) as that used for the corresponding emissions in the 2012 base 
year emissions inventory for the 2016 Ozone Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Richard W. Corey, Executive Officer, CARB, to Michael 
Stoker, Regional Administrator, EPA Region IX, December 5, 2018, 
enclosure titled ``San Joaquin Valley Emission Projections Technical 
Clarification.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment #4: AIR asserts that the 2011 emissions inventory fails to 
meet the CAA requirements for base year emissions inventories because 
the on-road motor vehicle portion of the emissions inventory is based 
on an outdated emissions model (EMFAC2014) and, thus, is not current.
    Response #4: As noted in response to comment #3, we did not review 
the 2011 emissions inventory for compliance with the requirements for 
base year emissions inventories under CAA sections 172(c)(3) and 
182(a)(1) and 40 CFR 51.1115. We reviewed the 2012 emissions inventory 
for compliance with those base year requirements, and for the reasons 
set forth in our proposed rulemaking, we found that the 2012 emissions 
inventory represents a comprehensive, accurate,

[[Page 11203]]

and current inventory of actual emissions during that year in the San 
Joaquin Valley nonattainment area. We acknowledge that the on-road 
motor vehicle emissions portions of the 2012 base year emissions 
inventory and 2011 RFP baseline emissions inventory are based on 
EMFAC2014 and that CARB has released an updated version of that model 
(EMFAC2017). We disagree, however, that the motor vehicle emissions 
estimates for the 2012 base year emissions inventory or the 2011 RFP 
baseline emissions inventory are thereby outdated.
    The 2008 Ozone SRR states that the latest approved models should be 
used to estimate emissions from on-road sources.\27\ EMFAC2014 was 
approved in December 2015 and is the most recently approved version of 
CARB's motor vehicle emissions model, and as such, is the appropriate 
model to use for SIP development purposes.\28\ CARB submitted EMFAC2017 
to the EPA for approval in July 2018, but the EPA has not yet taken 
action to approve it, and until the Agency takes such action, EMFAC2014 
will remain the appropriate model to use for SIP development 
purposes.\29\ Moreover, based on the timing of the EPA's review of 
submittals of previous versions of EMFAC, it would not have been 
reasonable for CARB to assume that EMFAC2017 would have been approved 
by the time the 2018 SIP Update was adopted and submitted to the 
EPA.\30\ As such, the continued use by CARB of EMFAC2014 for the on-
road motor vehicle portion of the emissions inventories in the 2018 SIP 
Update is reasonable and appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 80 FR 12264, at 12290 (March 6, 2015).
    \28\ 80 FR 77337 (December 14, 2015).
    \29\ AIR cites the EPA's SRR for the 2015 ozone NAAQS as 
evidence of the EPA's knowledge about EMFAC2017. EPA's SRR for the 
2015 ozone NAAQS does refer to the EPA's on-going review of 
EMFAC2017, but it also notes that ``EMFAC2017 should not be used for 
any conformity analyses until the EPA officially approves the model 
for that purpose.'' 83 FR 62998, at 63022 n.54 (December 6, 2018).
    \30\ EMFAC2007 was submitted on April 18, 2007 and approved on 
January 18, 2008 (73 FR 3464); EMFAC2011 was submitted on April 6, 
2012 and approved on March 6, 2013 (78 FR 14533); and EMFAC2014 was 
submitted on May 21, 2015, and approved on December 14, 2015 (80 FR 
77337).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Nonetheless, the EPA is aware of differences in on-road motor 
vehicle emissions estimates between the two models. Preliminary data 
developed by CARB indicate that, within the San Joaquin Valley 
nonattainment area, on-road emissions estimates of NOX using 
EMFAC2017 would be slightly higher than the corresponding emissions 
estimates using EMFAC2014 in years 2011 and 2012.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See page 250 of CARB's EMFAC2017 Volume III--Technical 
Documentation, July 20, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment #5: AIR asserts that CARB's Enhanced Enforcement Activities 
Program does not meet the requirements for contingency measures under 
CAA sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9) because it fails to require 
adoption by CARB of any specific strategies and is thus unenforceable. 
AIR acknowledges that, in adopting the 2018 SIP Update, CARB required 
that the Enhanced Enforcement Program for a given area include some of 
the enhanced enforcement actions listed in a menu of actions attached 
to CARB's resolution of adoption, but asserts that the requirement to 
include such actions does not make the plan enforceable because CARB 
retains discretion to select among the menu of activities and include 
activities not listed in the menu.
    Response #5: As noted by AIR, CARB's enhanced enforcement approach 
includes a menu of enhanced enforcement actions, one or more of which 
must be included in an Enhanced Enforcement Report developed under the 
program and implemented within 60 days of a triggering event. This menu 
was included as Attachment B to CARB Resolution 18-50 (October 25, 
2018) through which CARB adopted the 2018 SIP Update as a revision to 
the California SIP. The menu lists eight source categories over which 
CARB retains primary enforcement authority--including on- and off-road 
mobile sources, fuels, marine vessels and consumer products--and 
includes options for enhanced enforcement actions applicable to each 
source category. Examples of the types of specific actions listed in 
the menu of actions included as Attachment B include additional audits 
of commercial truck and bus fleets operating in the region; additional 
investigations of manufacturers, retailers and installers of 
aftermarket ``defeat devices''; and use of additional data, including 
remote sensing data, to identify high-emitting off-road vehicles and 
equipment.
    We acknowledge that CARB retains the discretion to select among the 
actions and to supplement the selected actions with additional actions 
not listed in Attachment B; however, Resolution 18-50 contains certain 
limits on that discretion. For example, Resolution 18-50 states that 
the Enhanced Enforcement Report cannot conclude that no enhanced 
enforcement action is appropriate.\32\ Resolution 18-50 also states 
that the Enhanced Enforcement Program must include at least some of the 
menu of actions included in Attachment B.\33\ As such, the menu in 
Attachment B serves as a floor for enforcement responses to a 
triggering event under the program. Moreover, the enforcement actions 
must be implemented within 60 days of the triggering event. Because 
CARB's Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program can be utilized on a 
state-wide basis, it is not feasible to predict the specific events 
that would lead to triggering of this measure in a specific 
nonattainment area (i.e., failure to meet RFP or attainment deadlines. 
In light of the variety of conditions that could lead to a specific 
triggering event, we believe a menu-based approach is reasonable and 
that the menu of enhanced enforcement actions in Attachment B includes 
reasonable and appropriate responses to potential triggering events.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ See page 7 of CARB Resolution 18-50.
    \33\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We note that the EPA has approved other rules that include a menu 
of specific control measures from which affected sources have the 
discretion to select a single measure for implementation, where the 
need for flexibility was clearly demonstrated, and the EPA's approval 
of those rules has withstood legal challenge.\34\ In this case, the 
need for flexibility is clear because it is not feasible to know the 
exact nature of any potential future violations of SIP requirements at 
this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ See Vigil v. Leavitt, 381 F.3d 826 (9th Cir. 2004) 
(Upholding the EPA's approval of Arizona's general permit rule for 
agricultural sources) and Latino Issues Forum v. EPA, 558 F.3d 936 
(9th Cir. 2009) (Upholding the EPA's approval of San Joaquin Valley 
Unified Air Pollution Control District Rule 4550).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Nonetheless, we recognize that the enforcement actions listed in 
Attachment B are themselves general in nature and lack the specificity 
found in menu-type rules that the EPA has approved in the past. The 
lack of specificity, while understandable for the reasons described 
above, means that the program itself does not ``provide for the 
implementation of specific measures'' to address ozone emissions that 
would ``take effect . . . without further action by the State or the 
Administrator'' upon a triggering event as required under CAA sections 
172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9). Accordingly, we find the program to be a SIP-
strengthening portion of the contingency measure element that we are 
approving conditionally today, rather than as a stand-alone contingency 
measure. We believe CARB's program is meritorious and that the reports 
and enhanced enforcement actions would likely achieve additional 
emissions

[[Page 11204]]

reductions to address a failure to meet an RFP milestone or a failure 
to attain; however, the program, as currently conceived, fails to 
include all of the characteristics necessary to provide for a stand-
alone contingency measure.
    Likewise, while we recognize that the lack of specificity in the 
program does limit some enforcement of specific enhanced enforcement 
actions CARB may identify after a future triggering event, the 
discretion afforded to CARB under Resolution 18-50 to select specific 
actions listed in the menu does not preclude all enforcement against 
CARB. First, CARB's Resolution 18-50 is being conditionally approved as 
part of the SIP in today's action; therefore, its provisions will be 
enforceable by the EPA and the public. Accordingly, if CARB were to 
fail to implement the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program after a 
triggering event, the EPA or the public could initiate an enforcement 
action. Furthermore, Resolution 18-50 requires CARB to implement the 
specific Enhanced Enforcement Program selected by CARB for a given area 
as documented in the report.\35\ In addition, to the extent that CARB's 
Enhanced Enforcement Report fails to include any of the actions 
included in the menu of actions listed in Attachment B and/or failed to 
implement the enhanced enforcement actions within 60 days of the 
triggering event, that would not comply with the SIP-approved 
program,\36\ and the EPA or the public could initiate an enforcement 
action against CARB to compel the inclusion and implementation of at 
least one of the actions from the menu.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ See page 6, paragraph 1.b. of CARB Resolution 18-50 
(October 25, 2018).
    \36\ See id. at page 7, paragraph 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although we have decided that, for the specific reasons described 
above, the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program as defined in the 
2018 SIP Update and Resolution 18-50 does not meet all of the 
characteristics needed for a stand-alone contingency measure under CAA 
sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9), we continue to find the contingency 
measure element for San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area for the 2008 
ozone standard acceptable for conditional approval on the basis of the 
District's and CARB's commitment to submit a District measure that will 
eliminate an exemption in the event of a failure to achieve an RFP 
milestone or failure to attain by the applicable attainment date. In 
other words, we find the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program to be 
a SIP-strengthening portion of the contingency measure element for San 
Joaquin Valley nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone standard that we 
are conditionally approving in this action.
    Comment #6: AIR asserts that the contents of the Enhanced 
Enforcement Program will not be independently enforceable by the EPA or 
citizens because the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program has not 
and will not be submitted to the EPA for review or approval into the 
SIP.
    Response #6: While there are parts of the Enhanced Enforcement 
Activities Program that will be approved into the SIP, we agree that 
the Enhanced Enforcement Program resulting from any specific triggering 
event, as set forth in the Enhanced Enforcement Report, will not be 
submitted to the EPA for review and approval into the SIP. In this 
context, the Enhanced Enforcement Program refers to the specific 
enforcement actions that CARB selects after consideration of various 
factors such as the enforcement history, inspection locations and 
compliance status of emissions sources in the area.\37\ The menu of 
enforcement actions listed in Attachment B lacks specificity (as 
described in Response #5) and so the specific actions that would make 
up the Enhanced Enforcement Program would not have been defined and 
adopted in the SIP. CARB has obligated itself to implementing the 
Enhanced Enforcement Program documented in the Enhanced Enforcement 
Report,\38\ and thus could be compelled through citizen enforcement to 
implement the actions set forth in the Enhanced Enforcement Report. 
However, we agree that the specific contents of the Enhanced 
Enforcement Program as documented in the Enhanced Enforcement Report 
remain largely at CARB's discretion due to the program's structure and 
the general nature of enforcement actions listed in Attachment B. Thus, 
due to the lack of specificity of the measures as described in our 
response to comment #5, we no longer consider the Enhanced Enforcement 
Activities Program (in its current form) to include all of the 
necessary characteristics of a stand-alone contingency measure, but we 
find it to be a SIP-strengthening portion of the contingency measure 
element that we are approving conditionally in today's action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ The ``Enhanced Enforcement Program'' is distinct from the 
``Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program.'' As noted above, the 
``Enhanced Enforcement Program'' refers to the specific enforcement 
actions described in the ``Enhanced Enforcement Report.'' In our 
notice of proposed rulemaking, 83 FR 61346 (November 29, 2018), at 
page 61356, we define the ``Enhanced Enforcement Activities 
Program'' as an umbrella term describing the program that CARB has 
set forth in Chapter X of the 2018 SIP Update and Resolution 18-50. 
Though the Enhanced Enforcement Program as described in the Enhanced 
Enforcement Report will not be submitted into the SIP, the Enhanced 
Enforcement Activities Program is being conditionally approved into 
the SIP in today's action.
    \38\ See page 77 of the 2018 SIP Update.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment #7: AIR asserts that the EPA does not have the Enhanced 
Enforcement Activities Program before it now for review, and therefore 
the EPA cannot evaluate the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program to 
determine whether it meets EPA's SIP measure criteria standards 
(quantifiable, enforceable, surplus and permanent).
    Response #7: Though CARB has submitted the Enhanced Enforcement 
Activities Program to the EPA as a revision to the SIP, we agree that 
the Enhanced Enforcement Program (refer to footnote 37) as set forth in 
the Enhanced Enforcement Report will not be submitted to the EPA for 
review and approval into the SIP. As explained more fully in our 
response to comment #5, although we continue to find that the Enhanced 
Enforcement Activities Program has merit and will likely achieve 
emissions reductions beyond those that would otherwise occur to address 
a failure to meet an RFP milestone or failure to attain, we no longer 
consider the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program (in its current 
form) to include all of the characteristics necessary for a stand-alone 
contingency measure to fulfill the requirements of CAA section 
172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9), but we find the program to be SIP-
strengthening and are including it as part of our conditional approval 
of the contingency measure element.
    Comment #8: AIR asserts that the Enhanced Enforcement Activities 
Program fails as a contingency measure because such measures must be 
included as part of the SIP and must take effect (after the triggering 
event) without further action by the state or the EPA, and, in 
contrast, the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program would not be 
included in the SIP and would require CARB to, among other things, take 
several additional actions prior to implementation, such as adoption of 
a report, commitment of enforcement resources, investigation of 
responsible parties for enforcement, prosecution of any identified 
violations, and filing of a final report documenting the activities and 
emissions reductions resulting from enhanced enforcement.
    Response #8: AIR is correct that sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9) 
specify that the EPA must approve the contingency measures as part of 
the SIP

[[Page 11205]]

and the measures must be structured so as to take effect without 
further significant action by the state or the EPA. As noted above, we 
are no longer approving the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program as 
a stand-alone contingency measure, but we find the program to be SIP-
strengthening and are including it as part of our conditional approval 
of the contingency measure element.
    We disagree, however, that the Enhanced Enforcement Activities 
Program is not structured so as to take effect without further action 
by the state or the EPA. The EPA has long interpreted the phrase 
``without further action'' in section 172(c)(9), and section 182(c)(9), 
not to preclude contingency measures that may require some additional 
actions, so long as those pertain to effective implementation of the 
measures within a short period of time. The EPA provided its 
interpretation of this requirement in the General Preamble (57 FR 13498 
(April 16, 1992)) published in the wake of the Clean Air Act Amendments 
of 1990. In the General Preamble, we stated the following in connection 
with the requirement to take effect without further action by the state 
or EPA:

    The EPA interprets this requirement to be that no further 
rulemaking activities by the State or EPA would be needed to 
implement the contingency measures. The EPA recognizes that certain 
actions, such as notification of sources, modification of permits, 
etc., would probably be needed before a measure could be implemented 
effectively. States must show that their contingency measures can be 
implemented with minimal further action on their part and with no 
additional rulemaking actions such as public hearings or legislative 
review. In general, EPA will expect all actions needed to affect 
full implementation of the measures to occur with 60 days after EPA 
notifies the State of its failure. \39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ 57 FR 13498, at 13512 (April 16, 1992).

    The EPA has reiterated this interpretation of the contingency 
measure requirements many times in the intervening years, including the 
2008 Ozone SRR applicable to this action.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ 80 FR 12264, 12285 (March 6, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program, once triggered, 
implementation would occur within 60 days without the need for 
additional rulemaking activity by CARB or the EPA.\41\ CARB would, 
however, need to undertake certain actions prior to implementation, 
primarily the preparation of a report titled ``Enhanced Enforcement 
Report.'' In the Enhanced Enforcement Report, CARB enforcement staff 
will evaluate a number of factors (e.g., enforcement history and 
compliance status), identify the probable causes of the failure (to 
meet the RFP milestone or to attain the NAAQS), and specify the type 
and quantity of additional enforcement resources that will be 
reallocated to the particular area (referred to as the ``Enhanced 
Enforcement Program'' for the area). The Executive Officer will then 
direct enhanced enforcement activities in accordance with the Enhanced 
Enforcement Program (as documented in the Enhanced Enforcement Report) 
that is selected for the area.\42\ We believe that the preparation by 
CARB enforcement staff of the Enhanced Enforcement Report and the role 
of the CARB Executive Officer to direct enhanced enforcement activities 
in accordance with the report are minimal administrative types of 
actions that are consistent with our interpretation of the requirement 
for contingency measures to take effect without further action by the 
state or the EPA. As noted by the EPA in the General Preamble, actions 
by a state such as modification of permits may be needed for effective 
implementation of a contingency measure, and we conclude that the 
Enhanced Enforcement Report and identification of specific actions for 
additional enforcement are analogous implementation actions. We believe 
that the 60-day period for this process assures that the contingency 
measure will take effect in a timely fashion as intended.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ See page 7 of CARB Resolution 18-50: ``A given Enhanced 
Enforcement Report (as described above) may not conclude that no 
enhanced enforcement action is appropriate; U.S. EPA's finding that 
a covered area has failed to meet an RFP milestone or failed to 
attain must result in some enhanced enforcement action for the 
relevant district and those actions must begin within 60 days of the 
finding.''
    \42\ See page 77 of the 2018 SIP Update for a full description 
of the actions CARB will take in the event of a triggering event.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment #9: AIR asserts that the EPA interprets the CAA to mean 
that the 2018 SIP Update must include contingency measures that would 
result in emissions reductions equivalent to at least one year's worth 
of RFP. AIR states that the EPA has failed to articulate a factual 
basis on which it could make the finding that the Enhanced Enforcement 
Activities Program and the District's architectural coating exemption 
removal rule would together achieve that quantity of emission 
reductions.
    Response #9: As noted in our November 29, 2018 proposed rulemaking, 
neither the CAA nor the EPA's implementing regulations for the ozone 
NAAQS establish a specific amount of emissions reductions that 
implementation of contingency measures must achieve. AIR is correct, 
however, that the EPA has recommended in guidance that contingency 
measures should provide emissions reductions approximately equivalent 
to one year's worth of RFP, which, with respect to ozone in the San 
Joaquin Valley nonattainment area, amounts to approximately 11.4 tpd of 
VOC or NOX reductions.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 83 FR 61346, at 61357 (November 29, 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In making the recommendation that contingency measures achieve one 
year's worth of RFP, the EPA has considered the overarching purpose of 
such measures in the context of attainment planning. The purpose of 
emissions reductions from implementation of contingency measures is to 
ensure that, in the event of a failure to meet an RFP milestone or a 
failure to attain the NAAQS by the applicable attainment date, the 
state will continue to make progress toward attainment at a rate 
similar to that specified under the RFP requirements and that the state 
will achieve these reductions while conducting additional control 
measure development and implementation as necessary to correct the RFP 
shortfall or as part of a new attainment demonstration plan.\44\ The 
facts and circumstances of a given nonattainment area may justify 
larger or smaller amounts of emission reductions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ 57 FR 13498, at 13512 (April 16, 1992).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EPA has also interpreted the Act to allow already-implemented 
measures to qualify as contingency measures so long as the emissions 
reductions from such measures are surplus to those necessary for RFP or 
attainment. In light of the Bahr decision, already-implemented measures 
no longer qualify as contingency measures for SIP purposes in the 
states located within the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit Court of 
Appeals. Thus, in the states affected by the Bahr decision, the EPA 
evaluates contingency measure SIP elements to determine whether they 
include contingency measures that are structured to meet the statutory 
requirements set forth in CAA section 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9) (e.g., 
structured to take effect prospectively in the event of a failure to 
achieve an RFP milestone or to attain by the applicable attainment 
date) and whether the contingency measure or measures would provide 
emissions reductions that, when considered with emissions reductions 
from already-implemented measures or other extenuating circumstances, 
ensure sufficient continued progress in the

[[Page 11206]]

event of a failure to achieve an RFP milestone or to attain the ozone 
NAAQS by the applicable attainment date. We continue to evaluate the 
sufficiency of continued progress that will result from contingency 
measures in light of our guidance, but in appropriate circumstances, do 
not believe that the contingency measures themselves must provide for 
one year's worth of RFP so long as sufficient progress would be 
maintained by the contingency measures plus other sources of surplus 
emissions reductions while the state conducts additional control 
measure development and implementation as necessary to correct the RFP 
shortfall or as part of a new attainment demonstration plan. In other 
words, if there are additional emission reductions projected to occur 
that a state has not relied upon for purposes of RFP or attainment or 
to meet other nonattainment plan requirements, and that result from 
measures the state has not adopted as contingency measures, then those 
reductions may support EPA approval of contingency measures identified 
by the state even if they would result in less than one year's worth of 
RFP in appropriate circumstances.
    In this instance, the contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone 
Plan, as modified by the 2018 SIP Update, and supplemented by the 
commitments to adopt and submit a local contingency measure, relies 
upon a to-be-adopted District contingency measure (i.e., the removal of 
the small container exemption from the current District architectural 
coatings rule). In our proposed rulemaking, we identify an analogous 
rulemaking by the South Coast Air Quality Management District as the 
source for our estimate of 1-tpd of emissions reductions from the to-
be-adopted District contingency measure. As for the Enhanced 
Enforcement Activities Program, although we believe that the measure 
would result in emissions reductions, we found that the reductions are 
not reasonably quantifiable at this time given the range of potential 
enforcement actions that could be taken. While we consider the 
program's potential value in mitigating the effects of a failure to 
meet an RFP milestone or to attain the standard by the attainment date, 
we did not credit the Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program as 
achieving any emissions reductions.
    As to whether the 1-tpd of emissions reductions from the 
contingency measures would provide for sufficient continued progress in 
the event of a failure to achieve an RFP milestone or failure to 
attain, we reviewed the documentation provided in the 2018 SIP Update 
of ``surplus'' (i.e., those over and above the emissions reductions 
necessary to demonstrate RFP in the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment 
area) reductions from CARB's already-adopted mobile source control 
program in the RFP milestone years and the year-over-year emissions 
reductions expected in the year following the attainment year. For the 
San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area, CARB's estimates of ``surplus'' 
reductions in the various RFP milestones years (ranging from 92.4 tpd 
to 157.4 tpd) provide the factual basis for us to conclude that the to-
be-adopted District contingency measure need not in itself achieve one 
year's worth of RFP. The 1 tpd reduction from the contingency measures 
would be sufficient even though it is far less than 11.4 tpd (i.e., one 
year's worth of RFP) because already-implemented measures (although not 
relied upon for the purposes of meeting the statutory contingency 
measure requirement) will also ensure sufficient continued progress in 
the event of a failure to achieve an RFP milestone.
    For attainment contingency measure purposes, we noted that overall 
regional emissions are expected to be approximately 1 tpd of 
NOX lower in 2032 than in 2031 and that the contingency 
measures (1 tpd) plus the year-over-year reduction in regional 
emissions (1 tpd) would not provide for sufficient progress during the 
time when a new attainment demonstration plan is being prepared, absent 
countervailing circumstances. However, we also noted CARB had made an 8 
tpd NOX aggregate emissions reduction commitment in the 2016 
State Strategy for the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area in year 
2031, and that CARB's aggregate commitment would result in emissions 
reductions beyond those needed for RFP or attainment, and thus would 
reduce the potential for the San Joaquin Valley to fail to attain the 
2008 ozone NAAQS by the 2031 attainment date.\45\ (We recently took 
final action in a separate action to approve CARB's 8 tpd aggregate 
commitment from the 2016 State Strategy as part of the SIP.\46\) The 1 
tpd year-over-year reduction in regional emissions--in addition to the 
8 tpd reduction in emissions from CARB's aggregate commitment and the 
additional potential emission reductions of the SIP-strengthening 
Enhanced Enforcement Activities Program--provide us with the factual 
basis to conclude that the 1 tpd reduction from the contingency measure 
would be sufficient to ensure continued progress in the event of a 
failure to attain the ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date 
notwithstanding the fact that the District contingency measure itself 
does not provide one year's worth of RFP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ To be clear, the 8 tpd NOX aggregate emissions 
reduction commitment by CARB in the 2016 State Strategy was not 
submitted, and was not approved, as a contingency measure. Rather, 
we consider the existence of the aggregate commitment in the context 
of evaluating whether the reductions associated with the contingency 
measure element would be sufficient to provide the EPA with the 
basis to approve the contingency measure element as meeting the 
applicable requirements of the CAA for San Joaquin Valley for the 
2008 ozone NAAQS.
    \46\ See 84 FR 3302 (February 12, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Final Action

    For the reasons discussed in our proposed action and in responses 
to comments above, the EPA is taking final action under CAA section 
110(k)(3) to approve as a revision to the California SIP the following 
portion of the San Joaquin Valley 2016 Ozone Plan submitted by CARB on 
August 24, 2016: \47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ As noted previously, the EPA has already approved the 
portions of the 2016 Ozone Plan that relate to the Reasonably 
Available Control Technology (RACT), Reasonably Available Control 
Measure (RACM), attainment demonstration, and vehicle miles traveled 
(VMT) offset demonstration requirements, among others. For approval 
of the elements related to the RACT SIP requirement see 83 FR 41006 
(August 31, 2018). For approval of other elements see 84 FR 3302 
(February 12, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Base year emissions inventory as meeting the requirements 
of CAA sections 172(c)(3) and 182(a)(1) and 40 CFR 51.1115.
    The EPA is also taking final action to approve as a revision to the 
California SIP the following portions of the 2018 SIP Update to the 
California State Implementation Plan, submitted by CARB on December 5, 
2018:
     RFP demonstration for the San Joaquin Valley as meeting 
the requirements of CAA sections 172(c)(2), 182(b)(1), and 
182(c)(2)(B), and 40 CFR 51.1110(a)(2)(ii); and
     Motor vehicle emissions budgets for the RFP milestone 
years of 2020, 2023, 2026, 2029, and the attainment year of 2031 (see 
Table 1, above) for the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area because 
they are consistent with the RFP demonstration approved herein and the 
attainment demonstration previously approved and meet the other 
adequacy criteria in 40 CFR 93.118(e).\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ On February 12, 2019, the EPA finalized approval of motor 
vehicle emissions budgets for year 2031 for San Joaquin Valley for 
the 2008 ozone standards. See 84 FR 3302. The revised budgets for 
2031 that we are approving in this action replace the budgets that 
we approved through our action published on February 12, 2019. In 
addition, the MVEBs that we are finding adequate and approving today 
are also replacing the MVEBs from the 2016 Ozone Plan that we 
previously found adequate (see 82 FR 29547, June 29, 2017) for use 
in conformity determinations by transportation agencies in the San 
Joaquin Valley.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 11207]]

    Lastly, we are taking final action to approve conditionally the 
contingency measure element of the 2016 Ozone Plan, as modified by the 
2018 SIP Update, as meeting the requirements of CAA sections 172(c)(9) 
and 182(c)(9) based on commitments by CARB and the District to 
supplement the element through submission of a SIP revision within one 
year of final conditional approval that will include a revised District 
architectural coatings rule removing an exemption upon a failure to 
achieve an RFP milestone or to attain the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the 
applicable attainment date.

V. 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 action merely approves or conditionally 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 Clean Air Act; and
     Does not provide the 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, 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, this final 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. The 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 May 24, 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

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

    Dated: February 15, 2019.
Deborah Jordan,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.

    Chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 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 F--California

0
2. Section 52.220 is amended by adding paragraphs (c)(496)(ii)(B)(4), 
and (c)(514) to read as follows:


Sec.  52.220   Identification of plan--in part.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (496) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (B) * * *
    (4) 2016 Ozone Plan for 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard, adopted June 
16, 2016, subchapters 3.11.1 (``Emission Inventory Requirements'') and 
6.4 (``Contingency for Attainment''), only.
* * * * *
    (514) The following plan was submitted on December 5, 2018, by the 
Governor's designee.
    (i) [Reserved]
    (ii) Additional materials. (A) California Air Resources Board.
    (1) Resolution 18-50, 2018 Updates to the California State 
Implementation Plan, October 25, 2018, including Attachments A 
(``Covered Districts''), B (``Menu of Enhanced Enforcement Actions''), 
and C (``Correction of Typographical Error'').
    (2) 2018 Updates to the California State Implementation Plan, 
adopted on October 25, 2018, chapter VIII (``SIP Elements for the San 
Joaquin Valley''), chapter X (``Contingency Measures''), and Appendix A 
(``Nonattainment Area Inventories''), pages A-1, A-2 and A-27 through 
A-30, only.

0
3. Section 52.248 is amended by adding paragraph (g) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.248   Identification of plan--conditional approval.

* * * * *
    (g) The EPA is conditionally approving the California State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) for San

[[Page 11208]]

Joaquin Valley for the 2008 ozone NAAQS with respect to the contingency 
measure requirements of CAA sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9). The 
conditional approval is based on a commitment from the San Joaquin 
Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (District) dated October 
18, 2018 to adopt specific rule revisions, and a commitment from the 
California Air Resources Board (CARB) dated October 30, 2018 to submit 
the amended District rule to the EPA within 12 months of the effective 
date of the final conditional approval. If the District or CARB fail to 
meet their commitment within one year of the effective date of the 
final conditional approval, the conditional approval is treated as a 
disapproval.

[FR Doc. 2019-05159 Filed 3-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P