[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21240-21253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09829]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 49

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0606; FRL-9993-43-OAR]
RIN 2060-AT96


Amendments to Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air 
Emissions From True Minor Sources in Indian Country in the Oil and 
Natural Gas Production and Natural Gas Processing Segments of the Oil 
and Natural Gas Sector

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing three 
amendments to the existing National Oil and Natural Gas Federal 
Implementation Plan (National O&NG FIP). This final rule applies to new 
true minor sources and minor modifications at existing true minor 
sources in the oil and natural gas production and natural gas 
processing segments of the oil and natural gas sector that are locating 
or expanding in Indian reservations or in other areas of Indian country 
over which an Indian tribe, or the EPA, has demonstrated a tribe's 
jurisdiction. The National O&NG FIP, which includes a mechanism for 
authorizing construction of true minor new and modified oil and natural 
gas sources, satisfies the minor source permitting requirement under 
the Federal Minor New Source Review (NSR) Program in Indian Country 
(Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule). We are finalizing two 
amendments to apply the National O&NG FIP to the Indian country portion 
of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. The purpose of these two 
amendments is make available the streamlined authorization to construct 
process provided by the National O&NG FIP to the Uintah and Ouray 
Reservation (U&O Reservation) as part of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area. We are also finalizing a minor technical correction 
to fix a typographical error in a provision of the National O&NG FIP.

DATES: The final rule is effective on May 14, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0606, at https://www.regulations.gov. 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

[[Page 21241]]

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 electronically 
through https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Stoneman, Outreach and 
Information Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (C-
304-01), Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North 
Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-0823, facsimile number (919) 
541-0072, email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this preamble 
is organized as follows:

I. General Information
    A. What entities are potentially affected by this action?
    B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related 
information?
    C. Effective Date of This Rulemaking
II. Purpose of This Final Action
    A. Overview
    B. Rationale for Final Action
III. Background
IV. Amendments to Regulations
V. Summary of Comments and Responses
    A. Comments Pertaining To Extending the Applicability of the 
National O&NG FIP to the Indian Country Portion of the Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area
    B. Legal Authority To Extend Applicability of the National O&NG 
FIP to the Indian Country Portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area
    C. Non-Air Quality Impacts of Extending or Not Extending the 
National O&NG FIP to the Indian Country Portion of the Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area
    D. Timing of Nonattainment Designation Process for Newly 
Designated Indian Country Areas as it Relates to Timing of This 
Rulemaking Action
    E. Uintah and Ouray Reservation-Specific FIP
    F. Out-of-Scope Comments
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
    A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and 
Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
    B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulations and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs
    C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
    D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
    E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
    F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
    G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
    I. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use
    J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)
    K. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations
    L. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

I. General Information

A. What entities are potentially affected by this action?

    Entities potentially affected by this final action include the Ute 
Indian Tribe,\1\ as well as new and modified true minor sources that 
are in the oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing 
segments of the oil and natural gas sector and that are in the Indian 
country \2\ portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. All 
the Indian country lands located within the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area, of which the EPA is aware, are Ute Indian Tribe 
Indian country lands. Further, all of the Ute Indian Tribe Indian 
country lands of which the EPA is aware are located within the exterior 
boundaries of the U&O Reservation, and these amendments will apply to 
such lands. To the extent that there are Ute Indian Tribe dependent 
Indian communities under 18 U.S.C. 1151(b) or allotted lands under 18 
U.S.C. 1151(c) that are located outside the exterior boundaries of the 
Reservation, those lands will not be covered by these amendments.\3\ 
This action amends the National O&NG FIP, which only applies in Indian 
country, and it does not broaden its application to areas outside of 
Indian country. This final rule will not apply to any sources not in 
Indian country lands, including any areas within the exterior 
boundaries of the Reservation that are not Indian country lands.\4\
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    \1\ The Ute Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe 
organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, with a 
Constitution and By-Laws adopted by the Ute Indian Tribe on December 
19, 1936, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on January 
19, 1937. See Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive 
Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, 83 FR 
34863, 34866 (July 23, 2018); 48 Stat. 984, 25 U.S.C. 5123 (IRA); 
Constitution and By-Laws of the Ute Indian Tribe of the U&O 
Reservation, available at: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/american-indian-consts/PDF/37026342.pdf.
    \2\ Indian country is defined in the National O&NG FIP at 40 CFR 
49.102, which adopts the definition at section 49.152 of the Federal 
Indian Country Minor NSR rule. 40 CFR 49.152 references 18 U.S.C. 
1151, which defines Indian country as: (a) All land within the 
limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the 
United States Government, notwithstanding the issuance of any 
patent, and, including rights-of-way running through the 
reservation, (b) all dependent Indian communities within the borders 
of the United States whether within the original or subsequently 
acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits 
of a state, and (c) all Indian allotments, the Indian titles to 
which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running 
through the same. In 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. 
Circuit addressed the EPA's authority to promulgate the FIP 
establishing the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR program (as well 
as another NSR permitting program) in Indian country. Oklahoma Dept. 
of Environmental Quality v. EPA, 740 F. 3d 185 (D.C. Cir. 2014). In 
that case, the court recognized the EPA's authority to promulgate a 
FIP to directly administer CAA programs on Indian reservations, but 
invalidated the FIP at issue as applied to non-reservation areas of 
Indian country in the absence of a demonstration of an Indian 
tribe's jurisdiction over such non-reservation area. To address this 
court decision, section 49.152 notes that the geographic scope of 
the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule is addressed at 40 CFR 
49.151(c)(1). As described below, because the current revisions to 
the National O&NG FIP would apply only on Indian country lands that 
are within the exterior boundaries of the U&O Reservation, i.e., on 
Reservation lands, they are unaffected by the Oklahoma court 
decision.
    \3\ Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), lands held in trust for the 
use of an Indian tribe are reservation lands within the definition 
at 18 U.S.C. 1151(a), regardless of whether the land is formally 
designated as a reservation. See Indian Tribes: Air Quality Planning 
and Management, 63 FR 7254, 7258 (1998) (``Tribal Authority Rule''); 
Arizona Pub. Serv. Co. v. EPA, 211 F.3d 1280, 1285-86 (D.C. Cir. 
2000). The EPA's references in this FIP to Indian country lands 
within the exterior boundaries of the U&O Reservation include any 
such tribal trust lands that may be acquired by the Ute Indian 
Tribe.
    \4\ Because of a series of federal court decisions, there are 
some areas within the exterior boundaries of the U&O Reservation 
that are not Indian country lands. See Ute Indian Tribe v. Utah, 521 
F. Supp. 1072 (D. Utah 1981); Ute Indian Tribe v. Utah, 716 F.2d 
1298 (10th Cir. 1983); Ute Indian Tribe v. Utah, 773 F.2d 1087 (10th 
Cir. 1985) (en banc), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 994 (1986); Hagen v. 
Utah, 510 U.S. 399 (1994); Ute Indian Tribe v. Utah, 935 F. Supp. 
1473 (D. Utah 1996); Ute Indian Tribe v. Utah, 114 F.3d 1513 (10th 
Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1107 (1998); Ute Indian Tribe v. 
Utah, 790 F.3d 1000 (10th Cir. 2015), cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 1451 
(2016); and Ute Indian Tribe v. Myton, 835 F.3d 1255 (10th Cir. 
2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2328 (2017).
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    The list in Table 1 is not intended to necessarily be exhaustive, 
but rather to provide a guide for readers regarding entities likely to 
be potentially affected by this action. To determine whether your 
facility could be affected by this action, you should examine the 
applicability criteria in the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule and 
the National O&NG FIP (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49.153 and 
49.101, respectively). If you have any questions regarding the 
applicability of this action to a particular entity, contact the 
appropriate person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.

[[Page 21242]]



           Table 1--Source Categories Affected by This Action
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                                                  Examples of regulated
       Industry category         NAICS code \a\  entities/description of
                                                    industry category
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Oil and Natural Gas Production/           21111  Exploration for crude
 Operations.                                      petroleum and natural
                                                  gas; drilling,
                                                  completing, and
                                                  equipping wells;
                                                  operation of
                                                  separators, emulsion
                                                  breakers, desilting
                                                  equipment, and field
                                                  gathering lines for
                                                  crude petroleum and
                                                  natural gas; and all
                                                  other activities in
                                                  the preparation of oil
                                                  and natural gas up to
                                                  the point of shipment
                                                  from the producing
                                                  property.
                                                 Production of crude
                                                  petroleum, the mining
                                                  and extraction of oil
                                                  from oil shale and oil
                                                  sands, the production
                                                  of natural gas, sulfur
                                                  recovery from natural
                                                  gas, and the recovery
                                                  of hydrocarbon liquids
                                                  from oil and natural
                                                  gas field gases.
Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas          211111  Exploration,
 Extraction.                                      development and/or the
                                                  production of
                                                  petroleum or natural
                                                  gas from wells in
                                                  which the hydrocarbons
                                                  will initially flow or
                                                  can be produced using
                                                  normal pumping
                                                  techniques or
                                                  production of crude
                                                  petroleum from surface
                                                  shales or tar sands or
                                                  from reservoirs in
                                                  which the hydrocarbons
                                                  are semisolids.
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction..          211112  Recovery of liquid
                                                  hydrocarbons from oil
                                                  and natural gas field
                                                  gases; and sulfur
                                                  recovery from natural
                                                  gas.
Drilling Oil and Natural Gas             213111  Drilling oil and
 Wells.                                           natural gas wells for
                                                  others on a contract
                                                  or fee basis,
                                                  including spudding in,
                                                  drilling in,
                                                  redrilling, and
                                                  directional drilling.
Support Activities for Oil and           213112  Performing support
 Natural Gas Operations.                          activities on a
                                                  contract or fee basis
                                                  for oil and natural
                                                  gas operations (except
                                                  site preparation and
                                                  related construction
                                                  activities) such as
                                                  exploration (except
                                                  geophysical surveying
                                                  and mapping);
                                                  excavating slush pits
                                                  and cellars, well
                                                  surveying; running,
                                                  cutting, and pulling
                                                  casings, tubes, and
                                                  rods; cementing wells,
                                                  shooting wells;
                                                  perforating well
                                                  casings; acidizing and
                                                  chemically treating
                                                  wells; and cleaning
                                                  out, bailing, and
                                                  swabbing wells.
Engines (Spark Ignition and               22111  Provision of electric
 Compression Ignition) for                        power to support oil
 Electric Power Generation.                       and natural gas
                                                  production where
                                                  access to the electric
                                                  grid is unavailable.
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a North American Industry Classification System.

B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related 
information?

    In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of 
this final rule will also be available on the World Wide Web. Following 
signature by the EPA Administrator, a copy of this final rule will be 
posted in the regulations and standards section of our NSR home page 
located at https://www.epa.gov/nsr and on the tribal NSR page at 
https://www.epa.gov/tribal-air/tribal-minor-new-source-review.

C. Effective Date of This Rulemaking

    This final rule is effective immediately upon publication. The 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) provides that final rules shall not 
become effective until 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register, except for, among other exceptions, ``a substantive rule 
which grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction.'' 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(1). In the absence of this final action, the streamlined 
authorization to construct process associated with the National O&NG 
FIP would be unavailable to oil and natural gas sources constructing or 
modifying in the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area, and such sources otherwise would have to comply 
with the site-specific permitting requirements of the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule to locate or expand on the U&O Reservation. The 
amendments finalized today allow such sources to comply with the O&NG 
National FIP instead of having to obtain permits under the Federal 
Indian Country Minor NSR rule that would otherwise apply in 
nonattainment areas because of a limitation on the applicability of the 
National O&NG FIP. The purpose of the generally applicable 30-day 
delayed effective date is to ``give affected parties a reasonable time 
to adjust their behavior before the final rule takes effect.'' 
Omnipoint Corp. v. FCC, 78 F.3d 620, 630 (D.C. Cir. 1996). Here, 
affected sources are not subject to additional, new requirements such 
that they may need time to adjust their behavior before the rule takes 
effect, but are relieved of the requirement to follow just one 
specified permitting procedure and afforded the option to take 
advantage of an otherwise unavailable, streamlined approach to obtain 
authorization for construction. Accordingly, this action is excepted 
from the generally applicable APA 30-day delayed effective date 
requirement.\5\
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    \5\ The APA provides another exception to the general 
requirement that final rules shall not become effective until 30 
days after publication in the Federal Register: Except ``as 
otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and published 
with the rule.'' 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). In determining whether good 
cause exists to waive the 30-day delay, an agency should ``balance 
the necessity for immediate implementation against principles of 
fundamental fairness which require that all affected persons be 
afforded a reasonable amount of time to prepare for the effective 
date of its ruling.'' U.S. v Gavrilovic, 551 F.2d 1099, 1105 (8th 
Cir. 1977). Here, affected sources are not adversely affected by 
making this action effective upon publication and fundamental 
fairness does not require that sources be prohibited from taking 
advantage of streamlined permitting of the National O&NG FIP for at 
least 30 days after publication. To the contrary, sources that can 
immediately pursue streamlined authorizations to construct may do so 
and sources that opt not to do so may still utilize the site-
specific permitting approach of the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR 
rule. Under these circumstances, the EPA also finds that there is 
good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this rule effective 
immediately upon publication.
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II. Purpose of This Final Action

A. Overview

    In this action, after considering the comments received, the EPA is 
finalizing amendments to the National O&NG FIP \6\ consistent with the

[[Page 21243]]

authorities and requirements of sections 301(a), 301(d)(4) and 
110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA and 40 CFR 49.11. The rule extends coverage of 
the FIP to eligible true minor new and modified oil and natural gas 
sources in the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area, making the FIP available as a mechanism for 
authorizing construction in that area. (The Indian country lands within 
the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area to which these amendments 
apply are on the U&O Reservation.) The Uinta Basin is a petroleum-
producing region that contains thousands of active oil and natural gas 
wells. Oil and natural gas production activity in the area is the 
primary source of anthropogenic emissions of volatile organic compounds 
(VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), ozone precursors that react 
to form wintertime ozone in the presence of sunlight and widespread 
snow cover.\7\
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    \6\ ``Federal Implementation Plan for True Minor Sources in 
Indian Country in the Oil and Natural Gas Production and Natural Gas 
Processing Segments of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector; Amendments to 
the Federal Minor New Source Review Program in Indian Country to 
Address Requirements for True Minor Sources in the Oil and Natural 
Gas Sector,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 81 FR 35943, 
June 3, 2016, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
    \7\ For more information, see: ``Ozone in the Uinta Basin,'' 
https://deq.utah.gov/legacy/destinations/u/uintah-basin/ozone/overview.htm, accessed August 16, 2018.
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    The National O&NG FIP currently provides a mechanism for 
authorizing construction for eligible true minor oil and natural gas 
sources wishing to locate or expand in areas of Indian country 
designated as attainment, unclassifiable and attainment/unclassifiable. 
As promulgated in 2016, it does not apply in areas designated as 
nonattainment.\8\ In 2012, the counties in the Uinta Basin were 
designated as unclassifiable with respect to the 2008 ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS),\9\ and those areas were not 
designated as nonattainment with any NAAQS until 2018. Thus, when the 
National O&NG FIP became effective on August 2, 2016, it was available 
as a streamlined option for authorizing construction in the U&O 
Reservation, and owners and operators of eligible oil and natural gas 
sources were able to use that streamlined approach from that date.
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    \8\ See 40 CFR 49.101(b)(1)(v).
    \9\ ``Air Quality Designations for the 2008 Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards; Implementation of the 2008 National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Nonattainment Area 
Classifications Approach, Attainment Deadlines and Revocation of the 
1997 Ozone Standards for Transportation Conformity Purposes,'' U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 77 FR 30087, May 21, 2012, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-21/pdf/2012-11618.pdf.
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    However, on June 4, 2018, the EPA designated portions of the Uinta 
Basin as nonattainment with respect to the 2015 ozone NAAQS, and that 
designation became effective on August 3, 2018.\10\ On that date, the 
Indian country portion of the nonattainment area fell out of the 
National O&NG FIP's coverage. Thus, the area currently lacks a 
streamlined mechanism to authorize construction of true minor new and 
modified oil and natural gas sources.
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    \10\ ``Additional Air Quality Designations for the 2015 Ozone 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards,'' U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 83 FR 25776, June 4, 2018, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-06-04/pdf/2018-11838.pdf.
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    With this final action, the EPA is ensuring that the National O&NG 
FIP's streamlined approach for authorizing construction and 
requirements to comply with various emission standards and standards of 
performance will re-apply on the U&O Reservation. The EPA intends to 
further address air quality in the Uinta Basin through a separate U&O 
Reservation-specific FIP \11\ containing requirements to reduce ozone-
forming emissions from oil and natural gas sources on Indian country 
lands within the U&O Reservation. Through that rulemaking, the EPA will 
further address the Uinta Basin's air quality situation in an area-
specific manner.
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    \11\ The rulemaking is listed on the Office of Management and 
Budget's Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. For 
more information, go to: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201710&RIN=2008-AA03. In the Agenda, the 
rulemaking appears as: ``Federal Implementation Plan for Oil and 
Natural Gas Sources; Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Utah.''
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B. Rationale for Final Action

    In the preamble to the final June 2016 National O&NG FIP, we 
indicated that we could extend the geographic coverage of the FIP to 
nonattainment areas, although we anticipated that we would also address 
emissions from oil and natural gas sources in separate area-specific 
FIPs. Specifically, we stated that the EPA could ``potentially apply 
the national FIP's requirements as appropriate to nonattainment areas 
where the EPA has established a separate, area-specific FIP.'' \12\ We 
described the need to develop area-specific plans if and when areas of 
Indian country were designated nonattainment. Further, we specifically 
noted concern about the air quality problem in the Uinta Basin and 
indicated our expectation to propose a separate U&O Reservation-
specific FIP to address the issue in this particular area.\13\
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    \12\ See 81 FR 35943, 35946, June 3, 2016, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
    \13\ See 81 FR 35943, 35975, June 3, 2016, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
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    At the time that the National O&NG FIP was issued there were no 
areas officially designated as nonattainment in Indian country with oil 
and natural gas activity. In the absence of any such areas but 
anticipating the possibility, the EPA initially opted to not apply the 
National O&NG FIP in such areas, recognizing that whether and to what 
extent it might be extended to apply to nonattainment areas could be 
subsequently evaluated in the event of particular, relevant 
nonattainment designations, such as in the Uinta Basin. As noted above, 
the EPA previously did anticipate that, in the event of a nonattainment 
designation applicable to the Uinta Basin, it likely would not extend 
the National O&NG FIP until after the EPA had issued an area-specific 
nonattainment FIP, but that particular anticipatory view was not 
expressly set out in the relevant regulatory text. Now, faced with an 
actual nonattainment designation for the Uinta Basin, the EPA is 
required to address the question of whether the National O&NG FIP 
should be extended to nonattainment areas in the context of an actual 
tribal nonattainment area with O&NG activity.
    Upon careful consideration of an actual, specific nonattainment 
determination, the EPA has determined that, under the particular 
circumstances presented, the National O&NG FIP may be extended narrowly 
to cover the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area. The EPA is not completely eliminating or changing 
the applicability parameters of the National O&NG FIP, but instead 
creating only a narrow exception to the limitation on its application 
in nonattainment areas, such that it may apply in the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area.
    In light of the actual nonattainment designation, the EPA now has 
more carefully assessed the question of the applicability of the 
National O&NG FIP in one specific such area--the Indian country portion 
of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area--and, unlike what the EPA 
preliminarily had anticipated in connection with the June 2016 
publication of the National O&NG FIP (but had not been required to 
definitively address), the EPA is satisfied that extending the National 
O&NG FIP will be adequately protective of air quality for the reasons 
stated here.

[[Page 21244]]

That decision is made in consideration of comments received in response 
to the EPA's proposal and various other factors, including the extent 
and nature of the particular air quality concerns in the Uinta Basin, 
the nature of the nonattainment designation (e.g., Marginal 
nonattainment), the protections and controls associated with the 
National O&NG FIP, and the recent nature and extent of oil and natural 
gas development in the Uinta Basin.
    Moreover, the CAA provides the EPA with significant authority to 
manage air quality in Indian country.\14\ Here, the EPA is exercising 
that authority judiciously, consistent with the goals and basic 
requirements of the statute. The National O&NG FIP remains inapplicable 
to non-attainment areas, but the EPA has used our authority in a 
limited manner to extend the reach of the National O&NG FIP to only the 
Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. As 
discussed below, we believe that the area will have adequate air 
quality protection in the near future as sources expanding or locating 
in the U&O Reservation adopt emissions controls required by the 
National O&NG FIP. This process is reasonable and adequately protective 
of air quality, while ensuring the Ute Indian Tribe can continue to 
benefit from economic development and industry can properly plan its 
activities. Commenters will have an opportunity to comment on the 
measures in the U&O Reservation-specific FIP that we will propose for 
the area to further protect its air quality in the longer term.
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    \14\ CAA section 110(a)(2)(C) is part of the foundation for the 
minor NSR program, and it requires states to submit plans that 
include programs for the regulation of ``the modification and 
construction of any stationary source.'' Further, section 
110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA requires state plans to include ``a program 
to provide for the . . . regulation of the modification and 
construction of any stationary source within the areas covered by 
the plan as necessary to assure that national ambient air quality 
standards are achieved, including a permit program as required in 
parts C and D of this subchapter.'' CAA section 110(c) also 
authorizes the EPA to promulgate a Federal implementation plan in 
the absence of a satisfactory state plan. CAA section 301(a) 
generally authorizes the EPA to prescribe regulations as are 
necessary to carry out its functions under the Act. Section 301(d) 
of the CAA authorizes the EPA to treat Indian tribes in the same 
manner as states and directs the EPA to promulgate regulations 
specifying those provisions of the CAA for which such treatment is 
appropriate. (CAA sections 301(d)(1) and (2)). It also authorizes 
the EPA, in circumstances in which the EPA determines that the 
treatment of Indian tribes as identical to states is inappropriate 
or administratively infeasible, to provide by regulation other means 
by which the EPA will directly administer the CAA. (CAA section 
301(d)(4)). Acting principally pursuant to that authority, on 
February 12, 1998, (``Indian Tribes: Air Quality Planning and 
Management,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 63 FR 7254, 
February 12, 1998, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-02-12/pdf/98-3451.pdf.) the EPA promulgated what we refer to as the Tribal 
Authority Rule (TAR). (40 CFR 49.1-49.11). In the TAR, we determined 
that it was appropriate to treat tribes in the same manner as states 
for all CAA and regulatory purposes except a list of specified CAA 
provisions and implementing regulations thereunder. (40 CFR 49.4).
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    The narrow extension of the National O&NG FIP reflected in this 
rule will provide coverage under the National O&NG FIP for the Indian 
country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area now that 
the EPA's nonattainment designation of a portion of the Uinta Basin is 
effective. The EPA's work on a separate rulemaking to establish a U&O 
Reservation-specific FIP remains ongoing and may be completed before 
the start of the 2019-2020 winter season in the Uinta Basin. 
Nonetheless, while the EPA continues its work on the U&O Reservation-
specific FIP, we have decided to finalize this action before that work 
is completed. We believe that this approach is reasonable and 
appropriate for several reasons, as discussed in this notice, 
including:
    First, the National O&NG FIP will help ensure that emissions from 
new and modified true minor sources are well-controlled.\15\ In 
particular, it requires that all new and modified oil and natural gas 
production facilities and natural gas processing plants comply, as 
applicable, with eight federal emission standards--five New Source 
Performance Standards and three National Emissions Standards for 
Hazardous Air Pollutants.\16\ These standards control emissions of VOC, 
NOX, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM, 
PM10, PM2.5), hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide 
and various sulfur compounds from the following units/processes in the 
oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing segments of 
the oil and natural gas sector: Compression ignition and spark ignition 
engines; process heaters; combustion turbines; fuel storage tanks; 
glycol dehydrators; completion of hydraulically fractured oil and 
natural gas wells; reciprocating and centrifugal compressors (except 
those located at well sites); pneumatic controllers; pneumatic pumps; 
storage vessels; and fugitive emissions from well sites, compressor 
stations and natural gas processing plants. We believe that these 
controls are sufficiently strict that authorizing construction of new 
or modified minor sources, under the relevant circumstances, will allow 
only modest, incremental increases in emissions, and will be adequately 
protective of air quality in the U&O Reservation during the period of 
time following the finalization of this rule, while we complete the 
separate rulemaking to establish a U&O Reservation-specific FIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The CAA does not specifically prohibit the construction of 
new minor sources in designated nonattainment areas like the Uinta 
Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. Nor does the CAA specifically 
require the EPA to engage in any particular analysis before 
authorizing construction of new or modified minor sources in such 
areas. Here, the EPA has determined, under the particular 
circumstances presented, that extending the National O&NG FIP to the 
Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, 
while continuing to develop the U&O Reservation-specific FIP, is 
adequately protective of air quality.
    \16\ See 40 CFR 49.105.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, we believe this is the case especially considering the 
slower growth of oil and natural gas sources on the U&O Reservation 
over the past two and a half years since August 2016 when the National 
O&NG FIP became effective. Since that time, we have seen limited 
construction of new and modified oil and natural gas sources on the U&O 
Reservation. Oil and natural gas sources planning to construct on or 
after October 3, 2016 have been required to either comply with the 
National O&NG FIP or to seek a minor source permit under the generally 
applicable (site-specific) permit provisions of the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule.\17\ Sources complying with the National O&NG 
FIP are required to meet a two-part registration requirement: The Part 
1 Registration Form is submitted 30 days before a source begins 
construction and contains information about source location and the 
Part 2 Registration Form is submitted within 60 days after the startup 
of production and contains information about emissions.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See 40 CFR 49.151(c)(1)(iii)(B).
    \18\ See 40 CFR 49.160(c)(1)(iv).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since October 2016, we have received only 122 Part 1 Registration 
Forms from sources planning on constructing a new or modified true 
minor oil and natural gas sources on the U&O Reservation. Of these, 
only 41 have submitted Part 2 Registration Forms.\19\ The 41 sources 
covered by the Part 2 Forms estimate their total annual allowable (or 
potential) emissions to be about 623 tons per year (tpy) of VOC 
emissions,

[[Page 21245]]

the chief pollutant of concern for the winter ozone problem in the 
Uinta Basin. As compared to the overall VOC emissions inventory in the 
U&O Reservation (about 72,718 tpy), the increase in total allowable (or 
potential) emissions represented by these 41 sources is very small (0.9 
percent average increase per year). And, as a practical matter, it 
could be even smaller, since the actual emissions could be less than 
the allowable emissions.\20\ We believe that this low growth rate for 
new and modified minor sources may continue for the short term, during 
which time we plan to complete the U&O Reservation-specific FIP.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ These numbers (i.e., 122 Part 1 Registration Forms and 41 
Part 2 Registration Forms) cover only the period during the National 
O&NG FIP applied from October 2016 until the during or Uinta Basin 
nonattainment designation became effective in August 2018. Since 
August 2018, the EPA has received only one permit application from 
Encana Corporation/Newfield Exploration Company concerning a source 
modification; other operators have approached the EPA requesting 
pre-application meetings to gather information on what would be 
required for a permit application (Anadarko and Andeavor, in 
addition to Encana Corporation/Newfield Exploration Company).
    \20\ See Microsoft Excel spreadsheet titled ``ONGFIP 
Registrations_3-7-19.xlsx'' in the docket for this rule (Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0606).
    \21\ There are indications, however, that some owners or 
operators have taken preliminary steps indicative of longer-range 
plans for greater development in the Uinta Basin, including 
requesting approvals from the Bureau of Land Management and the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs. See, for example: (1) https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=renderDefaultPlanOrProjectSite&projectId=62904&dctmId=0b0003e880ba28f6; (2) https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/legacyProjectSite.do?methodName=renderLegacyProjectSite&projectId=72548; and (3) https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=renderDefaultPlanOrProjectSite&projectId=53899&dctmId=0b0003e88092c30b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Third, it is generally accepted in the field of oil and natural gas 
production that a production well's output (and associated emissions) 
peaks during the initial period of production and generally declines 
thereafter over time. That rate of decline is difficult to precisely 
quantify and can vary from well to well and from basin petroleum play 
to basin petroleum play. Nonetheless, it is a phenomenon that does 
occur and is generally accepted.\22\ For example, the CAA permitting 
authorities for several oil and natural gas-producing states allow for 
the use of a decline factor in calculating potential emissions of 
production sources.\23\ These emissions declines over time are relevant 
here because declines in emissions from existing oil and natural gas 
sources in the Uinta Basin could at least partially ``offset'' any 
increases from new or modified minor sources taking advantage of the 
streamlined authorization to construct process in the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area.24 25
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See ``Analysis of Decline Curves,'' J.J. Arps, British-
American Oil Producing Company, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 
December 1945, http://www.pe.tamu.edu/blasingame/data/z_zCourse_Archive/P648_15A/P648_15A_Lectures_(working_lectures)/
20150402_P648_15A_Lec_15_AIME_1758_(Arps)_%5bPDF%5d.pdf.
    \23\ See ``Oil and Gas Production Facilities Chapter 6, Section 
2 Permitting Guidance,'' Revised May 2016, page 42, http://deq.wyoming.gov/media/attachments/Air%20Quality/New%20Source%20Review/Guidance%20Documents/5-12-2016%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Guidance.pdf.
    \24\ This is not to say that the EPA believes that any such 
general decline trends are sufficient, alone, such that further 
measures or steps will not be needed to further ensure that the 
Uinta Basin achieves cleaner air quality and, ultimately, 
attainment.
    \25\ In addition, the EPA, as ``Reviewing Authority,'' retains 
the discretion, even under the National O&NG FIP, to require sources 
``to obtain a source-specific permit to ensure protection of the 
[NAAQS].'' 40 CFR 49.101(b)(3). Accordingly, contrary to the EPA's 
current expectations, in the event that the extension of coverage of 
the National O&NG FIP to this nonattainment area may lead to serious 
concerns about adequate protection of the NAAQS, the EPA retains the 
authority, notwithstanding the potential availability of the 
streamlined permitting, to require site-specific permitting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, it should be noted that, with the separate U&O 
Reservation-specific FIP that the EPA intends to pursue, the approach 
we expect to take goes beyond what comparable nonattainment areas 
classified as Marginal are required to submit on state-managed lands 
when an area under state jurisdiction is designated Marginal 
nonattainment for ozone. Under section 182(a) of the CAA, for the Uinta 
Basin Marginal Ozone Nonattainment Area for the 2015 ozone standard, a 
revised State Implementation Plan (SIP) must be prepared for the non-
Indian country portion of the area. Under section 182(a) of the CAA, 
Marginal ozone nonattainment areas are required to submit and/or 
address a baseline emissions inventory, a nonattainment NSR permitting 
program, and general conformity. With respect to nonattainment NSR, new 
and modified major sources are required to obtain 1.1 tons of emissions 
offsets for each ton of emissions increase and are subject to stringent 
emissions controls (called Lowest Achievable Emission Rate). Under 
section 182(a) of the CAA, a State with a marginal nonattainment area 
is not required to submit a SIP demonstrating attainment of the ozone 
NAAQS. The U&O Reservation-specific FIP the EPA plans to propose to do 
so in an expeditious manner is expected to include emissions reductions 
measures which will represent more than what comparable areas 
classified as Marginal are required to submit on state-managed lands. 
And the nonattainment designation for the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area (which includes the U&O Reservation) was only 
effective in August of last year.
    In conclusion, for the multiple reasons stated, the EPA believes 
that this action--along with the EPA's related, forthcoming action to 
issue a separate, area-specific FIP--will be protective of air quality 
on the U&O Reservation, while maintaining a mechanism for authorizing 
construction that helps ensure continued responsible oil and natural 
gas production on the U&O Reservation. Even if this action may be 
regarded as reflecting some difference from how the EPA previously 
anticipated it would proceed, an agency may change its course and must 
have ample latitude to adapt their rules and policies to changing 
circumstances. When an agency changes course, its action ordinarily is 
not subject to a more searching review, and the agency need only 
provide a reasoned explanation for its action. To the extent that the 
EPA's decision to make a limited extension of the application of the 
National O&NG FIP to the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area is viewed as a change of course, the EPA's 
action is permissible under the CAA and the reasons articulated provide 
a sound basis for this action. The EPA has decided that this approach 
is a reasonable course, in light of the particular facts and 
circumstances associated with this specific nonattainment designation, 
the area in question, the recent nature and extent of oil and natural 
gas development in the area, the protections afforded by the National 
O&NG FIP, and the Agency's on-going development of the area-specific 
FIP. We believe that the action is protective of air quality, meets the 
requirements of the CAA and provides a much-needed method for 
streamlining construction authorizations that the Ute Indian Tribe and 
industry are seeking. Finally, based on feedback from the Ute Indian 
Tribe leadership, continued oil and natural gas production is important 
for the maintenance of the local tribal economy, as the Ute Indian 
Tribe is dependent upon oil and natural gas revenue for its economic 
prosperity.

III. Background

    In the proposed rule,\26\ we provided background information on 
several topics relating to this rulemaking. We suggest interested 
parties consult the proposed action for that background information, as 
we are not repeating it here. The following topics were covered in the 
background discussion: (1) Indian country FIPs, including the Federal 
Indian Country Minor NSR rule and the National O&NG FIP; (2) areas for 
which the EPA received comment on the National O&NG FIP relevant to 
this

[[Page 21246]]

action; (3) the Uinta Basin air quality and nonattainment designation; 
and (4) the authority for this action. In terms of updates on the 
background information since the proposal, the nonattainment 
designation for the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area has been 
finalized and, as noted, became effective on August 3, 2018.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See 83 FR 20775, 20781-20784, May 8, 2018, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-08/pdf/2018-09652.pdf.
    \27\ See 83 FR 25776, June 4, 2018, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-06-04/pdf/2018-11838.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Amendments to Regulations

    For the reasons described above, this action executes two 
amendments to the National O&NG FIP to extend its application to 
eligible true minor oil and natural gas sources in the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. The FIP provides a 
streamlined mechanism for authorizing construction of oil and gas 
sources. We also are also correcting a typographical error in Sec.  
49.101(c).
    First, this action makes two amendments to the regulation to extend 
the scope of the FIP to include the area described above. In the first 
of these two amendments, this action adds a new subparagraph to the 
CFR, to be codified at Sec.  49.101(e). In the new subparagraph, we 
narrowly extend the geographic scope of the National O&NG FIP to cover 
eligible true minor oil and natural gas sources seeking to locate or 
expand in the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area. This extension of coverage to this one 
nonattainment area does not otherwise alter the National O&NG FIP's 
current geographic coverage of attainment, unclassifiable and 
attainment/unclassifiable areas regarding the rest of Indian country 
across the nation. The geographically limited extension is in addition 
to the current coverage. Under this amendment, true minor oil and 
natural gas sources in the oil and natural gas production and natural 
gas processing segments of the oil and natural gas sector wishing to 
locate or expand in the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area will also have to meet the criteria under Sec.  
49.101(b)(1) to qualify, except for Sec.  49.101(b)(1)(v). Section 
49.101(b)(1)(v) contains the requirement governing the primary 
geographic scope of the National O&NG FIP and prevents the FIP from 
applying in the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. The new Sec.  
49.101(e) displaces existing Sec.  49.101(b)(1)(v) for Indian country 
within the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area--and only for that area 
of Indian country.
    To accomplish this extension, it is also necessary to execute a 
second amendment to the regulation, to define the boundaries of the 
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area to which the National O&G FIP 
applies under this final rule. To accomplish this, the EPA incorporates 
the boundaries for the nonattainment area for the Uinta Basin, or areas 
within the Uinta Basin, as defined at 40 CFR part 81, Designations of 
Areas for Air Quality Purposes. This action does not govern the 
development and final decision of the boundaries for the Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area. Instead, the regulatory and other processes 
that have occurred within and outside the EPA and between the EPA and 
state and tribal governments determined those boundaries, and this 
action takes those boundaries as given.
    Finally, this action makes a typographical correction to Sec.  
49.101(c), which currently reads: ``When must I comply with Sec. Sec.  
49.101 through 49.105? You must comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 
49.101 on or after October 3, 2016.'' This provision is supposed to 
reference Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105, as the title indicates. We 
are correcting it to read: ``When must I comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 
through 49.105? You must comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105 
on or after October 3, 2016.'' The EPA believes that this is a 
correction of a self-evident scrivener's error (in that EPA plainly 
intended the second ``101'' to instead read ``105'') and does not 
constitute a substantive change of the existing regulatory provision.

V. Summary of Comments and Responses

A. Comments Pertaining to Extending the Applicability of the National 
O&NG FIP to the Indian Country Portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area

    Four oil and natural gas industry commenters, one Indian tribe and 
one state agency commenter supported extending the applicability of the 
National O&NG FIP to the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area. As summarized and discussed in the following 
paragraphs, these commenters cited several main arguments in their 
support of the amendments.
    Comment #1: Two oil and natural gas industry commenters and one 
Indian tribe commenter agreed with the EPA that extending the National 
O&NG FIP is an appropriate path forward while the agency works through 
the nonattainment process for the area.
    One oil and natural gas industry commenter stated that the 
amendments are a reasonable exercise of the EPA's discretion in 
regulating minor source emissions and that the proposed action is a 
sensible solution to address emissions from minor source oil and gas 
operations on tribal land. One oil and natural gas industry commenter 
and one Indian tribe commenter expressed that the proposed action is a 
reasonable and environmentally protective way to address emissions 
during the period between designation and implementation of the 
attainment plan, while preventing the development in the Basin from 
coming to a standstill.
    Two oil and natural gas industry commenters and one state agency 
commenter agreed with the EPA's identification of several consequences 
of not extending the National O&NG FIP to the Indian country portion of 
the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. The commenters stated that 
many producers that operate in Indian country have come to rely on the 
streamlined approach that is available through the National O&NG FIP 
and will now be required to seek site-specific permits for new and 
modified sources. The commenters asserted that this would subject O&NG 
development on the U&O Reservation to variable and uncertain timelines 
and requirements. One state agency commenter added that, based on 
discussions with Utah's Division of Air Quality about future permitting 
requirements for companies that are operating on projects that overlap 
in and out of Indian country and in and out of attainment and 
nonattainment areas, it is complicated for government attorneys to 
understand, and a challenging issue for industry.
    Response #1: After considering the comments, the EPA agrees to 
extend the coverage of the National O&NG FIP to the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. We believe that 
extending coverage is reasonable and can be done in an environmentally 
protective manner. We recognize that the site-specific permitting that 
is available as an alternative to the National O&NG FIP poses less 
certain and more variable timetables and can be more challenging and 
complicated than the streamlined process. We believe that extending the 
National O&NG FIP and resuming streamlined authorizations to construct 
that had been available in the area before the nonattainment 
designation will help alleviate these concerns.
    Comment #2: Four oil and natural gas industry commenters and one 
Indian tribe commenter agreed with the EPA's position that extending 
the National O&NG FIP would provide a much-needed, streamlined 
construction authorization mechanism for the U&O

[[Page 21247]]

Reservation. One oil and natural gas industry commenter and one Indian 
tribe commenter noted that it is important that there be a streamlined 
mechanism for obtaining construction authorization in the Uinta Basin 
so there is no gap in coverage while the EPA and the Ute Indian Tribe 
develop and adopt a U&O Reservation-specific FIP for the U&O 
Reservation. One Indian tribe commenter noted that without the adoption 
of the proposed amendments to the National O&NG FIP, the EPA would face 
the administrative burden of processing hundreds of true minor source 
permits within a short time frame. One oil and natural gas industry 
commenter noted that the amendments allow the Agency to focus its 
resources on a reservation-specific regulatory scheme.
    Response #2: After considering the comments, the EPA agrees to 
extend the coverage of the National O&NG FIP to the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. We believe that 
extending coverage of the National O&NG FIP will provide a more 
efficient and certain path for affected true minor sources. We have 
sought to minimize the gap in streamlined construction authorizations 
that began after the nonattainment designation became effective, and we 
are also working on completing the U&O Reservation-specific FIP. We 
also agree that extending the National O&NG FIP will enable the Agency 
to focus on completing the U&O Reservation-specific FIP, instead of 
having to process site-specific permits.
    Comment #3: Three oil and natural gas industry commenters noted 
that the extension of the National O&NG FIP will help to make sure that 
the Ute Indian Tribe is treated fairly by avoiding a potential 
disparity in the regulatory landscape in the newly designated 
nonattainment area in comparison to surrounding areas and other areas 
of Indian country covered by the National O&NG FIP. One oil and natural 
gas industry commenter, referring to the Utah Division of Air Quality's 
streamlined Permit by Rule process, stated that the extension of the 
National O&NG FIP will help end the EPA's allegedly discriminatory 
approach to the development of Tribal minerals.
    Response #3: Finalizing this proposal and extending the streamlined 
authorization process to the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin 
Ozone Nonattainment Area will enhance consistency by ensuring that 
there are similar authorization processes available to sources in 
Indian country and other areas. In particular, in the portion of the 
Uinta Basin under Utah jurisdiction, the state has a permit by rule 
program available that is also streamlined, like the streamlined 
authorization to construct process provided by the National O&NG FIP. 
Oil and natural gas sources wishing to construct on lands in the Uinta 
Basin under Utah jurisdiction are subject to the Utah Administrative 
Code Chapter R307-401-10 (Permit: New and Modified Sources. Source 
Category Exemptions).\28\ Under Utah's rules, such oil and natural gas 
sources that are not major sources can simply register with the state 
and then proceed with construction.\29\ This process is substantially 
similar to what is required of eligible true minor sources that wish to 
gain coverage under the National O&NG FIP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r307/r307.htm for 
a list of, and links to, all effective rules under Title R307. 
Environmental Quality, Air Quality.
    \29\ Oil natural gas sources that include well sites (as defined 
at 40 CFR 60.5430a), including centralized tank batteries, that are 
not major sources (as defined in Utah Administrative Code R307-101-
2) and that register with the UDAQ as required by Utah 
Administrative Code R307-505 (Oil and Gas Industry: Registration 
Requirements), are exempt from the requirement to obtain an approval 
order (the UDAQ equivalent of a site-specific NSR permit). The 
registration program at Utah Administrative Code R307-505 requires 
the operator of a non-major well site to certify that they are in 
compliance with a suite of emission unit-specific requirements in 
Utah Administrative Code R307-506 through R307-510, as applicable 
(i.e., Oil and Gas Industry Storage Vessels, Dehydrators, VOC 
Control Devices, Leak Detection and Repair and Natural Gas Engines).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EPA does not agree with the comment that we have engaged in a 
discriminatory approach relative to the development of tribal minerals. 
With respect to oil and natural gas new or modified minor sources in 
Indian country, since October 2016 (and up to August 2018), the 
streamlined authorization process the National O&NG FIP has been 
available. As noted, that process is comparable to Utah's permit by 
rule approach in terms of the degree to which it streamlines the 
relevant construction authorization process.
    Comment #4: Three oil and natural gas industry commenters and one 
Indian tribe commenter agreed with the EPA's position that use of the 
National O&NG FIP will continue to be adequately protective of air 
quality while the EPA follows the process detailed under the CAA that 
allows time to develop an attainment plan. Specifically, one oil and 
natural gas industry commenter noted that the National O&NG FIP 
requires compliance with eight federal emission standards that are 
required for all new and modified sources and, thus, will allow de 
minimis incremental increases in emissions, while the EPA follows the 
CAA nonattainment process. One Indian tribe commenter stated that the 
proposed action correctly noted that the air quality issues in the 
Uinta Basin will not manifest until winter, and, therefore, these 
amendments are a reasonable step to protect development in the Uinta 
Basin from coming to a standstill, while protecting public health and 
the environment.
    Another oil and natural gas industry commenter cited the EPA's 
language in the EPA's proposal that the ozone problems in the Uinta 
Basin are limited to the winter season and that preliminary monitoring 
data from the 2017-2018 winter ozone season across the region shows 
values well below the 2015 ozone NAAQS, and asserted that extending the 
current National O&NG FIP to Uinta Basin now will not exacerbate the 
Basin's wintertime ozone air quality problem in the future.
    Response #4: The EPA agrees that the eight emissions standards are 
sufficiently strict that authorizing construction of new or modified 
minor sources, under the relevant circumstances, will allow only 
modest, incremental increases in emissions, and will be adequately 
protective of air quality in the U&O Reservation during the period in 
which we establish the U&O Reservation-specific FIP. As noted above in 
Section II.B. where we compared the process we are adopting here (and 
with the U&O Reservation-specific FIP to follow) to what is required in 
the CAA for Marginal ozone nonattainment areas, the approach we intend 
to take is not unlike the CAA process that occurs when an area under 
state jurisdiction is designated nonattainment. However, under the CAA, 
as a Marginal nonattainment area, an attainment plan--or SIP 
demonstrating attainment--is not required.
    The EPA agrees that air quality issues in the Uinta Basin will not 
manifest until winter and that these amendments are a reasonable step 
to ensure development in the Uinta Basin from coming to a standstill, 
while protecting public health and the environment. For the reasons 
stated above, we believe that the National O&NG FIP will be protective 
of air quality after this rule is finalized and until the U&O 
Reservation-specific FIP is finalized (which may be before the next 
winter ozone season).\30\
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    \30\ Ozone air quality levels in the Uinta Basin during the 
winter ``ozone season'' can be quite variable. For example, in 2017-
18, preliminary monitoring data for the winter ozone season from 
across the region show values well below the 2015 ozone NAAQS. 
Preliminary information from the recent 2018-19 season, on the other 
hand, show values above the standards. See Microsoft Excel 
spreadsheets titled: ``Uinta Basin Ozone Data, Dec. 2017-Feb. 
2018,'' ``2018 Duchesne_data.csv,'' ``2019 Duchesne_data.csv,'' 
``2018 Uintah_data.csv,'' and ``2019 Uintah_data.csv,'' Docket No. 
EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0606.

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[[Page 21248]]

    Comment #5: Four oil and natural gas industry commenters and one 
Indian tribe commenter agreed with the EPA's concerns that the U&O 
Reservation would be adversely affected if the National O&NG FIP did 
not apply to nonattainment areas. One oil and natural gas industry 
commenter noted that, due to permitting delays in the affected area, 
operators may divert operating capital to areas where there are more 
predictable regulatory requirements in state jurisdiction where the 
Utah Division of Air Quality ``Permit by Rule'' exists, thus denying 
the economic benefits of oil and gas developments to the U&O 
Reservation. One oil and natural gas industry commenter and one Indian 
tribe commenter expressed that the amendments will encourage a smooth 
transition (with the streamlined authorization approach) in allowing 
continued oil and gas operations to occur on tribal lands within the 
Uinta Basin in the wake of the nonattainment designation, as well as 
prevent further regulatory burdens that have historically served as a 
disincentive for the development of oil and gas resources on the U&O 
Reservation.
    Response #5: After considering the comments, we believe that the 
approach in the final rule will both protect air quality and avoid 
potential permitting delays that could accompany site-specific 
permitting, which may lead operators to look outside the U&O 
Reservation for oil and gas development opportunities. In addition, 
through this rulemaking, the EPA is seeking to ensure a consistent set 
of regulatory requirements for oil and natural gas activity between 
Indian country lands within the U&O Reservation and lands under state 
of Utah jurisdiction. Finally, the EPA agrees that this final rule will 
help with the transition for the U&O Reservation from being in an area 
designated as unclassifiable to being included in the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area.
    Comment #6: Three oil and natural gas industry commenters and one 
Indian tribe commenter agreed with the EPA's position that use of the 
National O&NG FIP, after designation of the Uinta Basin as an ozone 
nonattainment area, will continue to be adequately protective of air 
quality while the EPA follows the process detailed under the CAA that 
allows areas time to develop an attainment plan.
    Response #6: After considering the comments, the EPA agrees with 
the comment in part. We believe that the National O&NG FIP will be 
protective of air quality as we develop the U&O Reservation-specific 
FIP, which we intend to issue by the start of the next winter ozone 
season. Specifically, the terms and conditions of the construction 
authorization permitted by the National O&NG FIP will help protect air 
quality. To further protect air quality in the Uinta Basin, the EPA 
continues to develop the U&O Reservation-specific FIP.
    Comment #7: One oil and natural gas industry commenter expressed 
that the industry's objective is that final regulations protect the 
environment and the public and cost-effectively address VOC emissions 
that as a co-benefit also reduce methane emissions, without 
unnecessarily hampering manufacturing and business expansion. According 
to the commenter, this objective can be met while the private sector 
develops and delivers more natural gas and oil to its customers. 
According to the oil and natural gas industry commenter, their efforts 
are producing real results based on the EPA's latest Greenhouse Gas 
Inventory which continues to show a downward trend in methane 
emissions, even as U.S. oil and natural gas production rose 
dramatically. The commenter reported that the inventory report 
indicates that methane emissions from natural gas systems and petroleum 
systems increased 14 percent between 1990 and 2016, at a time when the 
natural gas output increased by more than 50 percent. This is in 
addition to the U.S. continuing to lead the world in reducing carbon 
emissions, which are at 25-year lows, largely due to the increased use 
of natural gas.
    Response #7: After considering the comments, the EPA believes that 
it is possible, as the commenter suggests, to protect the environment 
and public health by controlling VOC emissions from oil and natural gas 
activity in a cost-effective manner, while also ensuring responsible 
oil and natural gas development. The EPA also recognizes the trends 
found in an EPA report on greenhouse gas emissions, but because they 
are not relevant to this rulemaking we find it unnecessary to provide a 
response here.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-
2016, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 430-R-18-003, April 
2018, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/2018_complete_report.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment #8: Three oil and natural gas industry commenters and one 
Indian tribe commenter were opposed to a temporary implementation of 
the proposed amendments. One oil and natural gas industry commenter 
noted that classifying this proposal as a permanent construction 
authorization mechanism for the Uinta Basin will conserve resources as 
the Agency will not have to reinvent a new scheme when a temporary 
extension would expire. One oil and natural gas industry commenter and 
one Indian tribe commenter stated that they agree with the EPA's 
concern that a temporary extension of the National O&NG FIP could have 
a significant effect on oil and natural gas activity on the U&O 
Reservation, with a resulting serious effect on the revenue which the 
Ute Indian Tribe relies upon for its livelihood.
    Response #8: After considering the comments, the EPA agrees to 
finalize the extension of the National O&NG FIP to the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, without expressly 
providing that it is temporary, to provide certainty to the Ute Indian 
Tribe and to the affected oil and natural gas companies that operate in 
the U&O Reservation. Deciding not to make the extension temporary will 
help the tribal leadership plan their services and activities on the 
U&O Reservation, knowing that they can rely on the important revenue 
from oil and natural gas activity. It also helps the affected oil and 
natural gas companies operating in the U&O Reservation as they plan 
their activities in the Uinta Basin and decide where to locate or 
expand their activities. The EPA believes that extending the 
streamlined authorization approach to the Indian country portion of the 
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area will be adequately protective of 
air quality for the reasons outlined in Section II.B. above.

B. Legal Authority To Extend Applicability of the National O&NG FIP to 
the Indian Country Portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area

    Comment #9: One oil and natural gas industry commenter stated that 
the EPA has the legal authority to extend the National O&NG FIP to an 
area designated as nonattainment. According to the commenter, the EPA 
has legal authority to extend the National O&NG FIP to all parts of the 
U&O Reservation, including nonattainment areas, citing CAA section 
301(d) as granting the EPA authority to treat Indian tribes the same as 
states under the CAA, when appropriate. The commenter, quoting language 
from EPA's published proposal

[[Page 21249]]

(83 FR at 20780), asserts that this authority extends to all areas, 
including nonattainment areas.
    The commenter asserted that the CAA's nonattainment provisions are 
consistent with the EPA's proposal to apply the existing National O&NG 
FIP to address the time between designation and implementation of the 
attainment plan for the Uinta Basin. According to the commenter, CAA 
sections 110, 172, and 173 require nonattainment areas to have 
permitting programs for new or modified major stationary sources in 
nonattainment areas and, for both attainment and nonattainment areas, 
regulation of all stationary sources as necessary to assure achievement 
of the NAAQS. The commenter asserted that the CAA does not establish 
specific requirements for how nonattainment implementation plans should 
address true minor sources and that states (and the EPA) have wide 
discretion in addressing true minor sources. According to the 
commenter, the CAA does not require reservation-specific or area-
specific FIPs, let alone require them immediately after nonattainment 
designations are made.
    The commenter stated that the EPA's statements in the proposed and 
final rule issuing the National O&NG FIP do not preclude this action 
and the proposed extension is not contrary to such previous statements 
because the EPA currently lacks the necessary information and input to 
issue an area-specific FIP. The commenter stated that the proposal will 
protect air quality and allow for oil and natural gas development while 
the EPA undergoes the process of determining how to bring this area 
back into attainment and that the EPA's position stated in the National 
O&NG FIP preamble concerning the need for an area-specific FIP before 
extending the National O&NG FIP to nonattainment areas is not required 
by the CAA and does not bind the EPA in this rulemaking, citing FCC v. 
Fox Television Stations, Inc.
    Response #9: After considering the comments, the EPA agrees that, 
consistent with the authorities and requirements of sections 301(d)(4) 
and 110(a)(2)(C) of the CAA and 40 CFR 49.11, we possess the authority 
to take this action amending the National O&NG FIP to extend it to 
eligible true minor oil and natural gas sources in the Indian country 
portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. In addition, we 
recognize that the CAA does not specifically or expressly prescribe 
detailed requirements for the treatment of new and modified true minor 
sources in nonattainment areas and that the EPA has discretion in 
developing measures for Indian country nonattainment areas. To the 
extent that the commenter's statements relate to the timing or content 
of an area-specific FIP, those comments are better addressed in the 
context of that rulemaking, but the EPA does not agree that it is 
necessary to gather significantly more information before proceeding to 
propose the U&O Reservation-specific FIP.

C. Non-Air Quality Impacts of Extending or Not Extending the National 
O&NG FIP to the Indian Country Portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area

    Comment #10: Two oil and natural gas industry commenters stated 
that amending the National O&NG FIP will facilitate the continued 
development of tribal minerals and land and provide an uninterrupted 
and valuable source of income to the Ute Indian Tribe. One of the 
commenters further stated that the development of oil and natural gas 
resources is a huge economic opportunity and job creator for the Ute 
Indian Tribe and is vitally important.
    Response #10: After considering the comments, the EPA recognizes 
that revenue from oil and natural gas activity in the U&O Reservation 
is important for the Ute Indian Tribe's prosperity. It provides for 
economic development and services for tribal members. As the EPA crafts 
solutions for the U&O Reservation's air quality challenges, the EPA 
remains cognizant of these facts.
    Comment #11: Two oil and natural gas industry commenters noted that 
one benefit of these actions is the creation of a needed streamlined 
mechanism for authorizing oil and gas construction in the Uinta Basin 
Indian country and the U&O Reservation.
    One oil and natural gas industry commenter added that the proposal 
conserves Agency resources because the Ute Indian Tribe and the EPA 
will not have to process and issue site-specific permits, which allows 
the Agency to instead focus time and energy on working with the Ute 
Indian Tribe and stakeholders to develop an appropriate U&O 
Reservation-specific FIP. This commenter expressed that the proposal 
will achieve consistency between Uinta Basin Indian country and basin 
lands under state of Utah jurisdiction by creating a ``self-executing'' 
authorization scheme for new and modified minor sources of emissions in 
the tribal air shed that is similar to the current state of Utah's R-
307 series of rules for oil and natural gas production or Permit by 
Rule (``PBR'') Program, for state-managed areas.
    Response #11: The EPA generally agrees with these comments. This 
action will provide a streamlined construction authorization mechanism, 
allowing the EPA to focus its efforts on issuing the U&O Reservation-
specific FIP and helping to achieve consistency of approach for 
authorizing sources to construct on Indian country lands within the 
Uinta Basin versus adjacent Utah state-managed lands, as discussed 
above. The EPA does not agree, however, that this action will conserve 
Ute Indian Tribe permitting resources, because the Ute Indian Tribe is 
not currently authorized to issue CAA minor source permits on its 
Reservation.

D. Timing of Nonattainment Designation Process for Newly Designated 
Indian Country Areas as it Relates to Timing of This Rulemaking Action

    Comment #12: Two oil and natural gas industry commenters encouraged 
the EPA to finalize this rule revision as close to the nonattainment 
designation becoming effective on August 3, 2018, as possible to 
minimize any gaps between the effective dates of both actions. One oil 
and natural gas industry commenter noted that consequences and 
hardships can be avoided by meeting that date, such as the absence of a 
streamlined construction authorization mechanism, the significant 
pressure and time constraints associated with processing individual 
permits under a novel site-specific permitting program, and redirection 
of Agency focus from development of the reservation-specific 
regulations.
    Response #12: After considering the comments, the EPA agrees and 
has sought to minimize the lapse in streamlined authorizations to 
construct that started after August 3, 2018. Because there is a gap, 
though, the EPA has committed the staff resources as needed to process 
any site-specific permits in a timely manner. In addition, until the 
nonattainment area designation became effective, sources could have 
taken advantage of the streamlined mechanism of the existing National 
O&NG FIP, provided such sources were able to meet certain registration 
form submittal deadlines.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ As noted, the National O&NG FIP registration requirement 
consists of two parts: Part 1 is submitted 30 days before a source 
begins construction; Part 2 is submitted within 60 days after the 
startup of production. In our view, Part 1 Registration Forms that 
were submitted before the effective date of the nonattainment 
designation (August 3, 2018) allow sources to begin construction 
after the effective date of the designation. Thus, Part 1 
Registration Forms filed prior to the nonattainment designation 
taking effect (on August 3, 2018) allowed construction to begin 
after that date. (It is important to note that any such sources may 
be subject to future control under a U&O Reservation-specific FIP.) 
See correspondence: Letter from Peter Tsirigotis, Director, Office 
of Air Quality and Standards, EPA, to Doug Jordan, Newfield 
Exploration Company, June 6, 2018, in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-
0606.

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[[Page 21250]]

E. Uintah and Ouray Reservation-Specific FIP

1. Timing of U&O Reservation-Specific FIP
    Comment #13: One oil and natural gas industry commenter supported 
the EPA's intention to use the same process for nonattainment areas on 
tribal lands as the states generally use for all other nonattainment 
areas. The commenter agreed with the EPA that the proposal is similar 
to how nonattainment areas in states are treated, where there is a gap 
in time between the nonattainment designation and the deadline for the 
attainment plan. The commenter expressed the view that the process used 
on tribal lands should align with other nonattainment areas, which 
allows for a period of time to develop a plan to achieve attainment. 
The commenter argued that states are not under any obligation to 
immediately have an implementation plan for nonattainment areas and 
there is no reason that the EPA should single out the U&O Reservation 
for different treatment by imposing this strict timeline. According to 
the commenter, the EPA should focus its efforts on developing the best 
plan to reach attainment and this planning process must involve 
appropriate stakeholder outreach and input.
    Response #13: While the U&O Reservation-specific FIP is an 
important component of the EPA's approach to addressing the U&O 
Reservation as part of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, this 
rulemaking is not the appropriate context in which to address comments 
on the specifics of the forthcoming U&O Reservation-specific FIP. 
Therefore, as a general matter, the EPA will not be responding, here, 
to comments on any such U&O Reservation-specific FIP, including the 
timing of such FIP. Concerning the development process and stakeholder 
engagement for that FIP, the EPA is committed to working closely with 
the Ute Indian Tribe, as well as the state of Utah and other interested 
stakeholders.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ For more discussion of stakeholder engagement, see the 
response to Comment #15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Consistency With Utah's R-307 Series of Rules for Oil and Natural 
Gas Production
    Comment #14: One oil and natural gas industry commenter 
acknowledged the EPA's commitment to develop a U&O Reservation-specific 
FIP and encouraged the EPA to develop the FIP with requirements that 
are equivalent to or consistent with the Utah Division of Air Quality 
Permit by Rule to mitigate potential disparities between state and 
federal air jurisdictions.
    Response #14: As noted, while the U&O Reservation-specific FIP is 
an important part of the EPA's approach to the U&O Reservation as part 
of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area, this rulemaking is not the 
appropriate context in which to address comments on the specifics of 
the forthcoming U&O Reservation-specific FIP. Therefore, as a general 
matter, the EPA will not be responding, here, to comments concerning 
such FIP.
3. Stakeholder Engagement
    Comment #15: Four oil and natural gas industry commenters and one 
Indian tribe commenter expressed interest in the opportunity to work 
with the Agency on the development of the U&O Reservation-specific FIP 
and the identification of proper emission controls that will result in 
a direct reduction of ozone in the Uinta Basin. One Indian tribe 
commenter indicated interest in continuing consultation with the Agency 
about the unique characteristics of the reservation and to balance the 
regulation with the Ute Indian Tribe's interests in developing its 
resources without harming future natural resource and economic 
development.
    Two oil and natural gas industry commenters encouraged the EPA to 
engage stakeholders, including the Ute Indian Tribe, trade associations 
and operators in advance of proposing the U&O Reservation-specific FIP. 
One oil and natural gas industry commenter recommended a collaborative 
stakeholder engagement process, modeled after the stakeholder program 
implemented by Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality that 
established the Upper Green River Basin Air Quality Citizens Advisory 
Task Force. According to the commenter, the stakeholder outreach 
process should contain highly inclusive public outreach early in the 
planning process, involvement of stakeholders in advance of development 
of formal plans to seek additional emission reductions, continuous 
engagement throughout the duration of the attainment planning process, 
a process specific to the Basin's unique winter ozone air quality 
problem that drives the nonattainment designation, and a mechanism to 
allow for transparent and collaborative dialog with all parties.
    Response #15: The comments concerning the process for development 
of the U&O Reservation-specific FIP are not material to this action 
amending the existing National O&NG FIP and the EPA is not responding 
to them here. However, the EPA notes that, consistent with the federal 
government's trust responsibility and established EPA policy and to 
improve our understanding of the potential environmental implications 
of oil and natural gas production operations, the Agency has consulted 
(and will continue to consult) with the Ute Indian Tribe on issues 
related to this action and to the U&O Reservation-specific FIP. We 
appreciate the importance of oil and natural gas activity for the U&O 
Reservation, as expressed to us by the Tribe during our government-to-
government consultations.
    We have held numerous consultations with the Ute Indian Tribe, and 
participated in numerous tribally-convened stakeholder and other 
meetings, in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. We have also reached out 
to the following stakeholders: (1) Oil and natural gas operators and 
representatives; (2) environmental groups; (3) Federal Land Managers; 
and (4) local county officials. These consultations and meetings 
addressed, at least in part, the issue that has prompted this 
rulemaking, i.e., the need expressed by the Ute Indian Tribe and others 
for continued streamlined authorizations to construct to continue to be 
available on the U&O Reservation as part of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area. For a complete list of these consultations and 
meetings, including dates, locations and attendees, please consult the 
docket to this rulemaking.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ ``Meetings and Consultations Held with the Ute Indian Tribe 
Concerning at Least Partly the National Oil and Natural Gas Federal 
Implementation Plan for Indian Country,'' March 26, 2019, EPA-HQ-
OAR-2014-0606.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A significant purpose of the government-to-government consultations 
was to receive tribal comments and concerns for consideration by the 
EPA as it developed this action. The purposes of the EPA, Tribe, and 
UDEQ meetings were to discuss our intent to address ozone issues in the 
Uinta Basin and to solicit input on potential solutions to the region's 
air quality problem, while ensuring continued resource development. We 
strive to provide greater regulatory certainty and consistency across 
the Uinta Basin in the regulation of these operations through enhanced 
data collection and analysis, improved information sharing

[[Page 21251]]

and partnerships, and focused compliance assistance and enforcement. 
The EPA is committed to working closely with the Ute Indian Tribe, the 
state of Utah and other stakeholders during the U&O Reservation-
specific FIP development process.
4. Other Construction Permitting Options for U&O Reservation
    Comment #16: One Indian tribe commenter requested that the EPA work 
with the Ute Indian Tribe to mitigate air quality impacts during the 
winter ozone season. The commenter stated that the Tribe seeks to make 
sure all options are evaluated for permitting in the development of the 
U&O Reservation-specific FIP so that the best permitting solutions can 
be achieved. The commenter asserted that the National O&NG FIP on the 
U&O Reservation should not be the only option available for authorizing 
construction on the Reservation once the U&O Reservation-specific FIP 
is developed. The commenter requested that the EPA remain open to other 
flexible, targeted controls and permitting schemes or mechanisms for 
inclusion in the U&O Reservation-specific FIP that will be key to 
bringing the Uinta Basin back into attainment, including a streamlined 
permitting system for minor modifications at major sources and 
synthetic minor sources.
    Response #16: Again, the EPA is not responding, here, to comments 
concerning the development of the U&O Reservation-specific FIP. The EPA 
is committed to continuing to work with the Ute Indian Tribe to find 
permitting solutions for the U&O Reservation that protect air quality 
and address the needs of the Tribe. Specifically, the EPA is willing to 
engage in discussions with the Tribe about permitting mechanisms and 
other regulatory options in Indian country that may apply in lieu of or 
in addition to the National O&NG FIP (i.e., general permits and 
synthetic minor permits).

F. Out-of-Scope Comments

    Comment #17: Four anonymous commenters did not address the proposal 
and included general comments on the oil and natural gas industry, 
greenhouse gases and other environmental concerns.
    Response #17: Because these comments are out of scope and do not 
relate to this action, the EPA is not providing responses to them as 
part of this final rulemaking.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is not a significant regulatory action and was, 
therefore, not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review.

B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulations and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs

    This action is an Executive Order 13771 deregulatory action. This 
final rule provides meaningful burden reduction by extending the 
streamlined authorization-to-construct method for true minor new and 
modified oil and natural gas sources. The streamlined authorization, 
which was established by the EPA in 2016, reduces the resource burden 
on the permitting authority and regulated community associated with 
submitting and reviewing permit applications for these sources in 
attainment, unclassifiable and attainment/unclassifiable areas. This 
action finalizes the extension of streamlined authorizations to the 
Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose any new information collection burden 
under the PRA. OMB has previously approved the information collection 
activities contained in the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule and 
has assigned OMB control number 2060-0003.\35\ This action amends the 
National O&NG FIP, which provides a mechanism for authorizing 
construction for true minor sources in the oil and natural gas 
production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and natural 
gas sector locating or located in areas covered by the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule to satisfy the requirements of that rule other 
than by obtaining a site-specific minor source permit. Because it 
substitutes for a site-specific permit, which would contain information 
collection activities covered by the Information Collection Request for 
Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule issued in July 2011, neither the 
proposed amendments, nor the National O&NG FIP, impose any new 
obligations or enforceable duties on any state, local or tribal 
government or the private sector. In fact, the final amendments should 
have the effect of reducing paperwork burden on sources wishing to 
locate or expand in the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area, as the amendments provide an alternative to site-
specific permitting for such sources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Since the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule was 
promulgated, the Information Collection Request has been renewed and 
approved by OMB twice. The most recent approval extended the ICR 
until October 31, 2020. The ICR covers the activities of the 
National O&NG FIP. For more information, go to: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201702-2060-005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. In 
making this determination, the impact of concern is any significant 
adverse economic impact on small entities. An agency may certify that a 
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities if the rule relieves regulatory burden, has no 
net burden or otherwise has a positive economic effect on the small 
entities subject to the rule. The EPA analyzed the impact on small 
entities of streamlined permitting under the Federal Indian Country 
Minor NSR rule \36\ and determined that it would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. (By allowing 
sources to avoid having to obtain site-specific permits, this action 
also will relieve regulatory burden.) This action merely implements a 
particular aspect of the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule. We 
have, therefore, concluded that this action will have no net regulatory 
burden for all directly regulated small entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ ``Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian 
Country,'' U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 76 FR 38748, July 
1, 2011, https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/07/01/2011-14981/review-of-new-sources-and-modifications-in-indian-country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate, as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any state, 
local or tribal governments or the private sector. It simply modifies 
one option for sources to comply with the Federal Indian Country Minor 
NSR rule. The CAA and the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule itself, 
not this final action, impose the obligation that true minor sources in 
areas covered by the Federal Indian Country Minor NSR rule obtain a 
minor source NSR permit prior to commencing construction. This final 
action merely applies the National

[[Page 21252]]

O&NG FIP to the Indian country portion of the Uinta Basin Nonattainment 
Area, which includes a streamlined mechanism for authorizing 
construction for meeting the obligation of the Federal Indian Country 
Minor NSR rule.

F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have 
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between 
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action has tribal implications. However, it will neither 
impose substantial direct compliance costs on federally recognized 
tribal governments, nor preempt tribal law. Consistent with the EPA 
Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (May 4, 
2011),\37\ the EPA offered consultation on the concerns addressed in 
this final action, which include the lack of a streamlined permitting 
for the U&O Reservation should the area be designated nonattainment. 
The EPA conducted outreach on the issues addressed by the previous rule 
through ongoing monthly meetings with tribal environmental 
professionals in the development of the proposed action.\38\ We have 
held numerous consultations with the Ute Indian Tribe, and participated 
in numerous tribally-convened stakeholder and other meetings, in 2015, 
2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. We have also reached out to the following 
stakeholders: (1) Oil and natural gas operators and representatives; 
(2) environmental groups; (3) Federal Land Managers; and (4) local 
county officials. These consultations and meetings addressed, at least 
in part, the issue that has prompted this rulemaking, i.e., the need 
expressed by the Ute Indian Tribe and others for continued streamlined 
authorizations to construct to continue to be available on the U&O 
Reservation as part of the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. For a 
complete list of these consultations and meetings, including dates, 
locations and attendees, please consult the docket to this 
rulemaking.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ For more information, go to: https://www.epa.gov/tribal/epa-policy-consultation-and-coordination-indian-tribes.
    \38\ These monthly meetings are general in nature, dealing with 
many air-related topics, and are not specific to this proposed 
action.
    \39\ ``Meetings and Consultations Held with the Ute Indian Tribe 
Concerning at Least Partly the National Oil and Natural Gas Federal 
Implementation Plan for Indian Country,'' March 26, 2019, EPA-HQ-
OAR-2014-0606.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This action reflects tribal concerns about, and priorities for, 
developing a streamlined approach for permitting true minor sources in 
the oil and natural gas sector in areas covered by the Federal Indian 
Country Minor NSR rule in the Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area. As 
these amendments are implemented, we will continue to provide regular 
outreach to tribes to ensure we address issues concerning the National 
O&NG FIP, if and when they arise. The EPA is available for consultation 
with any interested tribe.

H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    The EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those 
regulatory actions that concern environmental health or safety risks 
that the EPA has reason to believe may disproportionately affect 
children, per the definition of ``covered regulatory action'' in 
section 2-202 of the Executive Order. This action is not subject to 
Executive Order 13045 because it does not establish an environmental 
standard intended to mitigate health or safety risks. The action merely 
implements a previously-promulgated FIP for oil and natural gas sources 
in Indian country.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ See 81 FR 35943, June 3, 2016, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-06-03/pdf/2016-11969.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is 
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This action does not involve technical standards.

K. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    The EPA believes the amendments in this action will not have 
potential disproportionately high and adverse human health or 
environmental effects on minority or low-income populations. Through 
these amendments, we are: (1) Extending geographically the National 
O&NG FIP and its mechanism for authorizing construction that 
effectively provides a streamlined method for implementing a pre-
construction permitting program for true minor sources in the oil and 
natural gas sector in areas covered by the Federal Indian Country Minor 
NSR rule, and (2) continuing an approach that enables a streamlined 
process, which helps promote economic development by minimizing delays 
in new construction.

L. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

    This action is subject to the CRA, and the EPA will submit a rule 
report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of 
the United States. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 
U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 49

    Environmental protection, Administrative practices and procedures, 
Air pollution control, Indians, Indians--law, Indians--tribal 
government, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Dated: May 2, 2019.
Andrew R. Wheeler,
Administrator.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 40 CFR part 49 is 
amended as follows:

PART 49--INDIAN COUNTRY: AIR QUALITY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 49 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart C--General Federal Implementation Plan Provisions

0
2. In Sec.  49.101, revise paragraph (c) and add paragraph (e) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  49.101  Introduction.

* * * * *
    (c) When must I comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105? You 
must comply with Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 49.105 on or after October 
3, 2016.
* * * * *
    (e) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1)(v) of this section, oil and 
natural gas sources located in the Indian country portion of the Uinta 
Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area are subject to Sec. Sec.  49.101 through 
49.105 (except for paragraph (b)(1)(v)), provided paragraphs (b)(1)(i) 
through (iv) of this section are also satisfied.

[[Page 21253]]

    3. In Sec.  49.102, add a definition for ``Uinta Basin Ozone 
Nonattainment Area'' in alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  49.102  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area means the nonattainment area 
for the Uinta Basin, or such parts or areas of the Uinta Basin, as it 
is or may hereafter be defined at 40 CFR part 81, Designations of Areas 
for Air Quality Purposes.

[FR Doc. 2019-09829 Filed 5-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P