[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 8, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55377-55380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17572]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 55

[EPA-R10-OAR-2019-0433; FRL-10006-99-Region 10]


Outer Continental Shelf Air Regulations; Consistency Update for 
Alaska

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule; consistency update.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final 
action to update a portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Air 
Regulations. Requirements applying to OCS sources located within 25 
miles of states' seaward boundaries must be updated periodically to 
remain consistent with the requirements of the corresponding onshore 
area (COA), as mandated by the Clean Air Act (CAA). The portion of the 
OCS air regulations that is being updated pertains to the requirements 
for OCS sources subject to requirements of the State of Alaska. The 
State of Alaska's requirements discussed in this document and listed in 
the appendix to the Federal OCS air regulations, are approved for 
incorporated into the compilation of state provisions that is 
incorporated by reference.

DATES: This rule is effective on October 8, 2020. The incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this rule is approved by 
the Director of the Federal Register as of October 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
Number EPA-R10-OAR-2019-0433. All documents in the docket are listed on 
the https://www.regulations.gov website. Although listed in the index, 
some information is not publicly available, e.g., confidential business 
information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is 
not placed on the internet and will be publicly available only in hard 
copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available through 
https://www.regulations.gov, or please contact the person identified in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section for additional availability 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natasha Greaves, (206) 553-7079, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 2, 2019, EPA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) proposing to approve various Alaska air pollution control 
requirements for inclusion in the updated compilation of ``the State of 
Alaska Requirements Applicable to OCS Sources,'' dated September 15, 
2018, which is incorporated by reference into 40 CFR part 55. 84 FR 
65938 (December 2, 2019).
    Pursuant to 40 CFR 55.12, consistency reviews will occur at least 
annually. Additionally, consistency reviews will occur upon receipt of 
a Notice of Intent (NOI) under 40 CFR 55.4 and when a State or local 
agency submits a rule to

[[Page 55378]]

EPA to be considered for incorporation by reference in 40 CFR part 55. 
This action is being taken in response to the submittal of a NOI on 
October 1, 2019, by Hilcorp Alaska, LLC.
    Section 328(a) of the CAA requires that EPA establish requirements 
to control air pollution from OCS sources located within 25 miles of 
States' seaward boundaries that are the same as onshore requirements. 
To comply with this statutory mandate, EPA must incorporate applicable 
onshore rules into 40 CFR part 55 as they exist onshore. This limits 
EPA's flexibility in deciding which requirements will be incorporated 
into 40 CFR part 55 and prevents EPA from making substantive changes to 
the requirements it incorporates. As a result, EPA may be incorporating 
rules into 40 CFR part 55 that do not conform to all of EPA's state 
implementation plan (SIP) guidance or certain requirements of the CAA. 
Consistency updates may result in the inclusion of state or local rules 
or regulations into 40 CFR part 55, even though the same rules may 
ultimately be disapproved for inclusion as part of the SIP. Inclusion 
in the OCS rule does not imply that a rule meets the requirements of 
the CAA for SIP approval, nor does it imply that the rule will be 
approved by EPA for inclusion in the SIP.
    EPA reviewed Alaska's rules for inclusion in 40 CFR part 55 to 
ensure that they are rationally related to the attainment or 
maintenance of Federal or state ambient air quality standards and 
compliance with part C of title I of the CAA, that they are not 
designed expressly to prevent exploration and development of the OCS, 
and that they are potentially applicable to OCS sources. See 40 CFR 
55.1. EPA has also evaluated the rules to ensure they are not arbitrary 
or capricious. See 40 CFR 55.12(e). In addition, EPA has excluded 
administrative or procedural rules \1\ and requirements that regulate 
toxics which are not related to the attainment and maintenance of 
Federal and state ambient air quality standards. EPA has also proposed 
to exclude those provisions that would not reasonably be expected to 
apply to an OCS source.
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    \1\ Each COA which has been delegated the authority to implement 
and enforce 40 CFR part 55 will use its administrative and 
procedural rules as onshore. However, in those instances where EPA 
has not delegated authority to implement and enforce 40 CFR part 55, 
EPA will use its own administrative and procedural requirements to 
implement the substantive requirements. See 40 CFR 55.14(c)(4).
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    Other specific requirements of the consistency update and the 
rationale for EPA's proposed action are explained in the December 2, 
2019 NPRM and will not be restated here.

II. Public Comments and EPA Responses

    EPA received one comment on the December 2, 2019 NPRM during the 
public comment period. A summary of the comment and EPA's response is 
discussed in this Section. A copy of the comment can be found in the 
docket for this rulemaking action.
    Comment: I recommend we employ the most stringent standards in 
order to protect the OCS and prevent any and all exploration.
    EPA Response: EPA is required to perform consistency updates to 
maintain consistency with the regulations in onshore areas. EPA 
incorporates those onshore rules that comply with the statutory 
requirements of section 328 of the CAA that are rationally related to 
the attainment and maintenance of national or state ambient air quality 
standards and the prevention of significant deterioration of air 
quality. See 40 CFR 55.1. In updating 40 CFR part 55, EPA reviews the 
current onshore rules for consistency with part 55. In this instance, 
EPA reviewed Alaska's Air Quality Control Regulations at 18 AAC 50, as 
amended through September 5, 2018, to identify rules that are 
rationally related to the attainment or maintenance of federal or state 
ambient air quality standards (or part C of title I of the CAA) and 
applicable to OCS sources. Additionally, as noted in 40 CFR 55.1, in 
implementing, enforcing and revising this rule and in delegating 
authority hereunder, the EPA will ensure that there is a rational 
relationship to the attainment and maintenance of Federal and State 
ambient air quality standards and the requirements of part C of title 
I, and that the rule is not used for the purpose of preventing 
exploration and development of the OCS. See 57 FR 40792 at 40802 
(September 4, 1992).
    After reviewing Alaska's rules, EPA proposed incorporating by 
reference rules which are rationally related to the attainment or 
maintenance of federal or state ambient air quality standards or part C 
of title I of the CAA and, are not designed expressly to prevent 
exploration and development of the OCS and are applicable to OCS 
sources.

III. Final Action

    EPA is taking final action today as discussed in the NPRM, with one 
minor change. The change is consistent with the approach detailed in 
the NPRM and does not materially alter the scope of the State of 
Alaska's requirements incorporated by reference. EPA is excluding from 
the incorporation by reference in this final action one additional 
Alaska regulatory provision found at 18 AAC 50.316(c) which relates to 
state procedures for preconstruction permitting approval. This 
provision is not appropriate for incorporation by reference because it 
is a procedural rule, and as explained in the NPRM such provisions 
should not be included in the scope of this action. EPA shall rely on 
its own procedural provisions in implementing the requirements 
applicable to OCS sources. The provision was inadvertently omitted from 
the list of excluded provisions at the NPRM stage.
    EPA is taking final action to incorporate the rules potentially 
applicable to OCS sources for which the State of Alaska is the COA. The 
rules that EPA is taking final action to incorporate are applicable 
provisions of Title 18 of the Alaska Administrative Code, specifically, 
the provisions of Air Quality Control Chapter 50 identified below. The 
intended effect of incorporating by reference various Alaska air 
pollution control requirements for inclusion in the updated compilation 
of the ``State of Alaska Requirements Applicable to OCS Sources'' dated 
September 15, 2018, is to regulate emissions from OCS sources in 
accordance with the requirements for onshore sources. The rules that 
EPA is taking final action to incorporate will replace the rules 
previously incorporated into the ``State of Alaska Requirements 
Applicable to OCS Sources,'' dated December 10, 2010, which was 
incorporated by reference into 40 CFR part 55. See 76 FR 37274 (June 
27, 2011).

IV. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, EPA is finalizing regulatory text that includes 
incorporation by reference. In accordance with the requirements of 1 
CFR 51.5, EPA is finalizing the incorporation by reference of the 
``State of Alaska Requirements Applicable to OCS Sources,'' dated 
September 15, 2018, which is a compilation of provisions of Chapter 50 
of the Alaska Administrative Code described in the amendments to 40 CFR 
part 55 set forth below. EPA has made, and will continue to make, these 
materials available through www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region 
10 Office (please contact the person identified in the For Further 
Information Contact section of this preamble for more information).

[[Page 55379]]

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to establish 
requirements to control air pollution from OCS sources located within 
25 miles of states' seaward boundaries that are the same as onshore air 
pollution control requirements. To comply with this statutory mandate, 
the EPA must incorporate applicable onshore rules into 40 CFR part 55 
as they exist onshore. See 42 U.S.C. 7627(a)(1); 40 CFR 55.12. Thus, in 
promulgating OCS consistency updates, EPA's role is to maintain 
consistency between OCS regulations and the regulations of onshore 
areas, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, 
this action simply updates the existing OCS requirements to make them 
consistent with requirements onshore, without the exercise of any 
policy direction by EPA. For that reason, this action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     Is not an Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because 
this action is not significant under Executive Order 12866;
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     Does not have federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent 
with the CAA; and
     Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to 
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental 
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under 
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, this rule incorporating by reference sections of Title 
18 of the Alaska Administrative Code, does not have tribal implications 
as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
because this action is not approved to apply in Indian country located 
in the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct 
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
    Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C 3501 
et seq., an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved the information 
collection requirements contained in 40 CFR part 55 and, by extension, 
this update to the rules, and has assigned OMB control number 2060-
0249. OMB approved the EPA Information Collection Request (ICR) No. 
1601.08 on September 18, 2017.\2\ The current approval expires 
September 30, 2020. The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for collection of information under 40 CFR part 55 is estimated 
to average 643 hours per response, using the definition of burden 
provided in 44 U.S.C. 3502(2).
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    \2\ OMB's approval of the ICR can be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
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    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. The EPA will submit a report containing this action and 
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review 
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
the appropriate circuit by November 9, 2020. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor 
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may 
be filed and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or 
action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to 
enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
    EPA is incorporating the rules potentially applicable to sources 
for which the State of Alaska will be the COA. The rules that EPA is 
incorporating are applicable provisions of Title 18 of the Alaska 
Administrative Code, specifically, Air Quality Control Chapter 50.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 55

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Incorporation by reference, 
Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Outer continental 
shelf, Ozone, Particulate matter, Permits, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: February 26, 2020.
Christopher Hladick,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.

    Part 55 of Chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
is amended as follows:

PART 55--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF AIR REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 55 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Section 328 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et 
seq.) as amended by Public Law 101-549.


0
2. Section 55.14 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraph (e)(2)(i)(A); and
0
b. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A).
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  55.14   Requirements that apply to OCS sources located within 25 
miles of States' seaward boundaries, by State.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) State of Alaska Requirements Applicable to OCS Sources, 
September 15, 2018.
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0
3. Appendix A to part 55 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1) under 
the heading ``Alaska'' to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 55--Listing of State and Local Requirements 
Incorporated by Reference Into Part 55, by State

* * * * *

[[Page 55380]]

Alaska

    (a) * * *
    (1) The following State of Alaska requirements are applicable to 
OCS Sources, September 15, 2018, Alaska Administrative Code--
Department of Environmental Conservation. The following sections of 
Title 18, Chapter 50:

Article 1. Ambient Air Quality Management

18 AAC 50.005. Purpose and Applicability of Chapter (effective 10/
01/2004)
18 AAC 50.010. Ambient Air Quality Standards (effective 08/20/2016)
18 AAC 50.015. Air Quality Designations, Classification, and Control 
Regions (effective 04/17/2015) except (b)(3) and (d)(2)
Table 1. Air Quality Classifications
18 AAC 50.020. Baseline Dates and Maximum Allowable Increases 
(effective 08/20/2016)
Table 2. Baseline Areas and Dates
Table 3. Maximum Allowable Increases
18 AAC 50.025. Visibility and Other Special Protection Areas 
(effective 09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.030. State Air Quality Control Plan (effective 09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.035. Documents, Procedures, and Methods Adopted by 
Reference (effective 09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.040. Federal Standards Adopted by Reference (effective 09/
15/2018) except (h)(2)
18 AAC 50.045. Prohibitions (effective 10/01/2004)
18 AAC 50.050. Incinerator Emissions Standards (effective 07/25/
2008)
Table 4. Particulate Matter Standards for Incinerators
18 AAC 50.055. Industrial Processes and Fuel-Burning Equipment 
(effective 09/15/2018) except (a)(4) through (a)(6), (a)(9), 
(b)(2)(A), (b)(3), (b)(5), and (e)
18 AAC 50.065. Open Burning (effective 03/06/2016)
18 AAC 50.070. Marine Vessel Visible Emission Standards (effective 
06/21/1998)
18 AAC 50.080. Ice Fog Standards (effective 01/18/1997)
18 AAC 50.085. Volatile Liquid Storage Tank Emission Standards 
(effective 01/18/1997)
18 AAC 50.100. Nonroad Engines (effective 10/01/2004)
18 AAC 50.110. Air Pollution Prohibited (effective 05/26/1972)

Article 2. Program Administration

18 AAC 50.200. Information Requests (effective 10/01/2004)
18 AAC 50.201. Ambient Air Quality Investigation (effective 10/01/
2004)
18 AAC 50.205. Certification (effective 10/01/2004) except (b)
18 AAC 50.215. Ambient Air Quality Analysis Methods (effective 09/
15/2018)
Table 5. Significant Impact Levels (SILs)
18 AAC 50.220. Enforceable Test Methods (effective 09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.225 Owner-Requested Limits (effective 09/15/2018) except 
(c) through (g)
18 AAC 50.230. Preapproved Emission Limits (effective 09/15/2018) 
except (d)
18 AAC 50.235. Unavoidable Emergencies and Malfunctions (effective 
09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.240. Excess Emissions (effective 12/29/2016)
18 AAC 50.245. Air Quality Episodes and Advisories for Air Pollution 
Other Than PM 2.5 (effective 02/28/2015)
Table 6. Concentrations Triggering an Air Quality Episode for Air 
Pollution Other Than PM 2.5
18 AAC 50.246. Air Quality Episodes and Advisories for PM 2.5 
(effective 02/28/2015)
Table 6a. Concentrations Triggering an Air Quality Episode for PM 
2.5

Article 3. Major Stationary Source Permits

18 AAC 50.302. Construction Permits (effective 09/14/2012)
18 AAC 50.306. Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permits 
(effective 01/
    04/2013) except (c) and (e)
18 AAC 50.311. Nonattainment Area Major Stationary Source Permits 
(effective 09/15/2018) except (c)
18 AAC 50.316. Preconstruction Review for Construction or 
Reconstruction of a Major Source of Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(effective 12/01/2004) except (c)
18 AAC 50.321. Case-By-Case Maximum Achievable Control Technology 
(effective 10/06/2013)
18 AAC 50.326. Title V Operating Permits (effective 09/15/2018) 
except (c)(1), (h), (i)(3), (j)(5), (j)(6), (k)(1), (k)(3), (k)(5), 
and (k)(6)
18 AAC 50.345. Construction, Minor and Operating Permits: Standard 
Permit Conditions (effective 09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.346. Construction and Operating Permits: Other Permit 
Conditions (effective 09/15/2018)
Table 7. Standard Operating Permit Condition

Article 4. User Fees

18 AAC 50.400. Permit Administration Fees (effective 09/15/2018) 
except (a)(2) through (a)(4), (a)(6), (a)(8), (i)(1), (i)(4), 
(i)(8), and (i)(9)
18 AAC 50.403. Negotiated Service Agreements (effective 09/26/2015)
18 AAC 50.410. Emission Fees (effective 09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.499. Definition for User Fee Requirements (effective 09/
26/2015)

Article 5. Minor Permits

18 AAC 50.502. Minor Permits for Air Quality Protection (effective 
09/15/2018) except (b)(1) through (b)(3), (b)(5), (d)(1)(A) and 
(d)(2)(A)
18 AAC 50.508. Minor Permits Requested by the Owner or Operator 
(effective 12/09/2010)
18 AAC 50.510. Minor Permit--Title V Permit Interface (effective 12/
09/2010)
18 AAC 50.540. Minor Permit: Application (effective 09/15/2018)
18 AAC 50.542. Minor Permit: Review and Issuance (effective 09/15/
2018) except (a), (b), (c), and (d)
18 AAC 50.544. Minor Permits: Content (effective 12/09/2010)
18 AAC 50.546. Minor Permit Revision (effective 7/25/08)
18 AAC 50.560. General Minor Permits (effective 09/15/2018) except 
(b)

Article 9. General Provisions

18 AAC 50.990. Definitions (effective 09/15/2018)
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[FR Doc. 2020-17572 Filed 9-4-20; 8:45 am]
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