[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 14, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65008-65013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20967]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0317; FRL-10014-78-Region 3]


Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; 1997 8-Hour Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard Second Maintenance Plan for the State 
College Area

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This revision pertains to the 
Commonwealth's plan, submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of 
Environmental Protection (PADEP), for maintaining the 1997 8-hour ozone 
national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) (referred to as the 
``1997 ozone NAAQS'') in the Centre County, Pennsylvania area (State 
College Area). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act 
(CAA).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 13, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-
OAR-2020-0317 at https://www.regulations.gov, or via email to 
[email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either 
manner of submission, EPA may publish any comment received to its 
public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you 
consider to be confidential business information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia 
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written 
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and 
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person 
identified in the For Further Information Contact section. For the full 
EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia 
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please 
visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Serena Nichols, Planning & 
Implementation Branch (3AD30), Air & Radiation Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. The telephone number is (215) 814-
2053. Ms. Nichols can also be reached via electronic mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 10, 2020, PADEP submitted a 
revision to the Pennsylvania SIP to incorporate a plan for maintaining 
the 1997 ozone NAAQS in the State College Area through December 14, 
2027, in accordance with CAA section 175A.

I. Background

    In 1979, under section 109 of the CAA, EPA established primary and 
secondary NAAQS for ozone at 0.12 parts per million (ppm), averaged 
over a 1-hour period. 44 FR 8202 (February 8, 1979). On July 18, 1997 
(62 FR 38856),\1\ EPA revised the primary and secondary NAAQS for ozone 
to set the acceptable level of ozone in the ambient air at 0.08 ppm, 
averaged over an 8-hour period. EPA set the 1997 ozone NAAQS based on 
scientific evidence demonstrating that ozone causes adverse health 
effects at lower concentrations and over longer periods of time than 
was understood when the pre-existing 1-hour ozone NAAQS was set.
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    \1\ In March 2008, EPA completed another review of the primary 
and secondary ozone standards and tightened them further by lowering 
the level for both to 0.075 ppm. 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008). 
Additionally, in October 2015, EPA completed a review of the primary 
and secondary ozone standards and tightened them by lowering the 
level for both to 0.70 ppm. 80 FR 65292 (October 26, 2015).
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    Following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, EPA is required 
by the CAA to designate areas throughout the nation as attaining or not 
attaining the NAAQS. On April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23857), EPA designated 
the State College Area as nonattainment for the 1997 ozone NAAQS. The 
State College Area consists solely of Centre County.
    Once a nonattainment area has three years of complete and certified 
air quality data that has been determined to attain the NAAQS, and the 
area has met the other criteria outlined in CAA section 
107(d)(3)(E),\2\ the state can submit a request to EPA to redesignate 
the area to attainment. Areas that have been redesignated by EPA from 
nonattainment to attainment are referred to as ``maintenance areas.'' 
One of the criteria for redesignation is to have an approved 
maintenance plan under CAA section 175A. The maintenance plan must 
demonstrate that the area will continue to maintain the standard for 
the period extending 10 years after redesignation, and it must contain 
such additional measures as necessary to ensure maintenance as well as 
contingency measures as necessary to assure that violations of the 
standard will be promptly corrected.
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    \2\ The requirements of CAA section 107(d)(3)(E) include 
attainment of the NAAQS, full approval under section 110(k) of the 
applicable SIP, determination that improvement in air quality is a 
result of permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions, 
demonstration that the state has met all applicable section 110 and 
part D requirements, and a fully approved maintenance plan under CAA 
section 175A.
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    On November 14, 2007 (72 FR 63990, effective December 14, 2007), 
EPA approved a redesignation request (and maintenance plan) from PADEP 
for the State College Area. In accordance with

[[Page 65009]]

section 175A(b), at the end of the eighth year after the effective date 
of the redesignation, the state must also submit a second maintenance 
plan to ensure ongoing maintenance of the standard for an additional 10 
years.
    EPA's final implementation rule for the 2008 ozone NAAQS revoked 
the 1997 ozone NAAQS and provided that one consequence of revocation 
was that areas that had been redesignated to attainment (i.e, 
maintenance areas) for the 1997 ozone NAAQS no longer needed to submit 
second 10-year maintenance plans under CAA section 175A(b).\3\ However, 
in South Coast Air Quality Management District v. EPA \4\ (South Coast 
II), the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 
(D.C. Circuit) vacated EPA's interpretation that, because of the 
revocation of the 1997 ozone standard, second maintenance plans were 
not required for ``orphan maintenance areas,'' (i.e., areas like the 
State College Area) that had been redesignated to attainment for the 
1997 ozone NAAQS and were designated attainment for the 2008 ozone 
NAAQS. Thus, states with these ``orphan maintenance areas'' under the 
1997 ozone NAAQS must submit maintenance plans for the second 
maintenance period.
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    \3\ See 80 FR 12315 (March 6, 2015).
    \4\ 882 F.3d 1138 (D.C. Cir. 2018).
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    As previously discussed, CAA section 175A sets forth the criteria 
for adequate maintenance plans. In addition, EPA has published 
longstanding guidance that provides further insight on the content of 
an approvable maintenance plan, explaining that a maintenance plan 
should address five elements: (1) An attainment emissions inventory; 
(2) a maintenance demonstration; (3) a commitment for continued air 
quality monitoring; (4) a process for verification of continued 
attainment; and (5) a contingency plan. The 1992 Calcagni Memo \5\ 
provides that states may generally demonstrate maintenance by either 
performing air quality modeling to show that the future mix of sources 
and emission rates will not cause a violation of the NAAQS or by 
showing that future emissions of a pollutant and its precursors will 
not exceed the level of emissions during a year when the area was 
attaining the NAAQS (i.e., attainment year inventory). See 1992 
Calcagni Memo at p. 9. EPA further clarified in three subsequent 
guidance memos describing ``limited maintenance plans'' (LMPs) \6\ that 
the requirements of CAA section 175A could be met by demonstrating that 
the area's design value \7\ was well below the NAAQS and that the 
historical stability of the area's air quality levels showed that the 
area was unlikely to violate the NAAQS in the future. Specifically, EPA 
believes that if the most recent air quality design value for the area 
is at a level that is below 85% of the standard, or in this case below 
0.071 ppm, then EPA considers the state to have met the section 175A 
requirement for a demonstration that the area will maintain the NAAQS 
for the requisite period. Accordingly, on March 10, 2020, PADEP 
submitted an LMP for the State College Area, following EPA's LMP 
guidance and demonstrating that the area will maintain the 1997 ozone 
NAAQS through December 14, 2027, i.e., through the entire 20-year 
maintenance period.
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    \5\ ``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to 
Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality 
Management Division, September 4, 1992 (1992 Calcagni Memo).
    \6\ See ``Limited Maintenance Plan Option for Nonclassifiable 
Ozone Nonattainment Areas'' from Sally L. Shaver, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), dated November 16, 1994; 
``Limited Maintenance Plan Option for Nonclassifiable CO 
Nonattainment Areas'' from Joseph Paisie, OAQPS, dated October 6, 
1995; and ``Limited Maintenance Plan Option for Moderate 
PM10 Nonattainment Areas'' from Lydia Wegman, OAQPS, 
dated August 9, 2001.
    \7\ The ozone design value for a monitoring site is the 3-year 
average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average 
ozone concentrations. The design value for an ozone nonattainment 
area is the highest design value of any monitoring site in the area.
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II. Summary of SIP Revision and EPA Analysis

    PADEP's March 10, 2020 SIP submittal outlines a plan for continued 
maintenance of the 1997 ozone NAAQS which addresses the criteria set 
forth in the 1992 Calcagni Memo as follows.

A. Attainment Emissions Inventory

    For maintenance plans, a state should develop a comprehensive and 
accurate inventory of actual emissions for an attainment year which 
identifies the level of emissions in the area which is sufficient to 
maintain the NAAQS. The inventory should be developed consistent with 
EPA's most recent guidance. For ozone, the inventory should be based on 
typical summer day's emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and 
volatile organic compounds (VOC), the precursors to ozone formation. In 
the first maintenance plan for the State College Area, PADEP used 2004 
for the attainment year inventory, because 2004 was one of the years in 
the 2002-2004 three-year period and accounts for reductions 
attributable to implementation of the Clean Air Act requirements to 
date.\8\ The State College Area continued to monitor attainment of the 
1997 ozone NAAQS in 2014. Therefore, the emissions inventory from 2014 
represents emissions levels conducive to continued attainment (i.e., 
maintenance) of the NAAQS. Thus, PADEP is using 2014 as representing 
attainment level emissions for its second maintenance plan. 
Pennsylvania used 2014 summer day emissions from EPA's 2014 version 7.0 
modeling platform as the basis for the 2014 inventory presented in 
Table 1.\9\
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    \8\ For more information, see EPA's September 11, 2007 document 
proposing to redesignate the State College Area to attainment for 
the 1997 ozone NAAQS (72 FR 51747).
    \9\ For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-11/ozone_1997_naaqs_emiss_inv_data_nov_19_2018_0.xlsx.

  Table 1--2014 Typical Summer Day NOX and VOC Emissions for the State
                        College Area in Tons/Day
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                                                      NOX         VOC
                 Source category                   emissions   emissions
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Point...........................................        0.07        3.44
Nonpoint........................................        6.97        1.39
Onroad..........................................        2.86        9.00
Nonroad.........................................        2.06        1.97
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    The data shown in Table 1 is based on the 2014 National Emissions 
Inventory (NEI) version 2.\10\ The inventory addresses four 
anthropogenic emission source categories: Stationary (point) sources, 
stationary nonpoint (area) sources, nonroad mobile, and onroad mobile 
sources. Point sources are stationary sources that have the potential 
to emit more than 100 tons per year (tpy) of VOC, or more than 50 tpy 
of NOX, and which are required to obtain an operating 
permit. Data are collected for each source at a facility and reported 
to PADEP. Examples of point sources include kraft mills, electrical 
generating units, and pharmaceutical factories. Nonpoint sources 
include emissions from equipment, operations, and activities that are 
numerous and in total have significant emissions. Examples include 
emissions from commercial and consumer products, portable fuel 
containers, home heating, repair and refinishing operations, and 
crematories. The onroad emissions sector includes emissions from 
engines used primarily to propel equipment on highways and other roads, 
including passenger

[[Page 65010]]

vehicles, motorcycles, and heavy-duty diesel trucks. The nonroad 
emissions sector includes emissions from engines that are not primarily 
used to propel transportation equipment, such as generators, forklifts, 
and marine pleasure craft. EPA reviewed the emissions inventory 
submitted by PADEP and proposes to conclude that the plan's inventory 
is acceptable for the purposes of a subsequent maintenance plan under 
CAA section 175A(b).
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    \10\ The NEI is a comprehensive and detailed estimate of air 
emissions of criteria pollutants, criteria precursors, and hazardous 
air pollutants from air emissions sources. The NEI is released every 
three years based primarily upon data provided by State, Local, and 
Tribal air agencies for sources in their jurisdictions and 
supplemented by data developed by EPA.
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B. Maintenance Demonstration

    In order to attain the 1997 ozone NAAQS, the three-year average of 
the fourth-highest daily average ozone concentrations (design value, or 
``DV'') at each monitor within an area must not exceed 0.08 ppm. Based 
on the rounding convention described in 40 CFR part 50, appendix I, the 
standard is attained if the DV is 0.084 ppm or below. CAA section 175A 
requires a demonstration that the area will continue to maintain the 
NAAQS throughout the duration of the requisite maintenance period. 
Consistent with the prior guidance documents discussed previously in 
this document as well as EPA's November 20, 2018 ``Resource Document 
for 1997 Ozone NAAQS Areas: Supporting Information for States 
Developing Maintenance Plans'' (2018 Resource Document),\11\ EPA 
believes that if the most recent DV for the area is well below the 
NAAQS (e.g., below 85%, or in this case below 0.071 ppm), the section 
175A demonstration requirement has been met, provided that prevention 
of significant deterioration requirements, any control measures already 
in the SIP, and any Federal measures remain in place through the end of 
the second 10-year maintenance period (absent a showing consistent with 
section 110(l) that such measures are not necessary to assure 
maintenance).
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    \11\ This resource document is included in the docket for this 
rulemaking available online at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket 
ID: EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0317 and is also available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-11/documents/ozone_1997_naaqs_lmp_resource_document_nov_20_2018.pdf.
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    For the purposes of demonstrating continued maintenance with the 
1997 ozone NAAQS, PADEP provided 3-year DVs at monitors located in the 
State College Area from 2007 to 2018. This includes DVs at monitors for 
2005-2007, 2006-2008, 2007-2009, 2008-2010, 2009-2011, 2010-2012, 2011-
2013, 2012-2014, 2013-2015, 2014-2016, 2015-2017, and 2016-2018, which 
are shown in Table 2 of this document.\12\ In addition, EPA has 
reviewed the most recent ambient air quality monitoring data for ozone 
in the State College Area, as submitted by Pennsylvania and recorded in 
EPA's Air Quality System. The most recent DVs (i.e., 2017-2019) at 
monitors located in the State College Area are also shown in Table 
2.\13\
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    \12\ See also Table II-2 of PADEP's March 10, 2020 submittal, 
included in the docket for this rulemaking available online at 
https://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0317.
    \13\ This data is also included in the docket for this 
rulemaking available online at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket 
ID: EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0317 and is also available at https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-design-values#report.

                                                     Table 2--1997 Ozone NAAQS Design Values in Parts per Million for the State College Area
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                                                                              2005-    2006-    2007-    2008-    2009-    2010-    2011-    2012-    2013-    2014-    2015-    2016-    2017-
                   County                              AQS Site ID             2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     2019
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Centre.....................................  42-027-0100...................     .078     .075     .070     .070     .070     .073     .070     .067     .063     .063     .062     .062    0.061
Centre.....................................  42-027-9991*..................  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......  .......     .071     .068     .065     .065     .065     .064    0.062
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* This monitor (AQS Site ID 42-027-9991) began operation in April 1, 2011, so 2013 is the first valid design value.

    As can be seen in Table 2, DVs at all monitors located in the State 
College Area have been well below 85% of the 1997 ozone NAAQS (i.e., 
0.071 ppm) since the 2012-2014 period. The highest DV for the 2017-2019 
period at a monitor in the State College Area is 0.062 ppm, which is 
well below 85% of the 1997 ozone NAAQS.
    Additionally, states can support the demonstration of continued 
maintenance by showing stable or improving air quality trends. 
According to EPA's 2018 Resource Document, several kinds of analyses 
can be performed by states wishing to make such a showing. One approach 
is to take the most recent DV at a monitor located in the area and add 
the maximum design value increase (over one or more consecutive years) 
that has been observed in the area over the past several years. For an 
area with multiple monitors, the highest of the most recent DVs should 
be used. A sum that does not exceed the level of the 1997 ozone NAAQS 
may be a good indicator of expected continued attainment. As shown in 
Table 2 of this document, the largest increase in DVs at a monitor 
located in the State College Area was 0.003 ppm, which occurred between 
the 2009-2011 (0.070 ppm) and 2010-2012 (0.073 ppm) DVs at monitoring 
site 42-027-0100. Adding 0.003 ppm to the highest DV for the 2017-2019 
period (0.062 ppm) results in 0.065 ppm, a sum that is still below the 
1997 ozone NAAQS.
    The State College Area has maintained air quality levels well below 
the 1997 ozone NAAQS since the area first attained the NAAQS in 
2006.\14\ Additional supporting information that the area is expected 
to continue to maintain the standard can be found in projections of 
future year DVs that EPA recently completed to assist states with the 
development of interstate transport SIPs for the 2015 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS. Those projections, made for the year 2023, show that the highest 
DV at a monitor located in the State College Area is expected to be 
0.0598 ppm.\15\ Therefore, EPA proposes to determine that future 
violations of the 1997 ozone NAAQS in the State College Area are 
unlikely.
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    \14\ As explained in EPA's September 11, 2007 document proposing 
to redesignate the State College Area as attainment for the 1997 
ozone NAAQS (72 FR 51747), the 2004-2006 DV for the State College 
Area was 0.076 ppm.
    \15\ See U.S. EPA, ``Air Quality Modeling Technical Support 
Document for the Updated 2023 Projected Ozone Design Values'', 
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, dated June 2018, 
available at https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/air-quality-modeling-technical-support-document-updated-2023-projected-ozone-design.
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C. Continued Air Quality Monitoring and Verification of Continued 
Attainment

    Once an area has been redesignated to attainment, the state remains 
obligated to maintain an air quality network in accordance with 40 CFR 
part 58, in order to verify the area's attainment status. In the March 
10, 2020 submittal, PADEP commits to continue to operate their air 
monitoring network in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. PADEP also 
commits to track the attainment status of the State College Area for 
the 1997 ozone NAAQS through the review of air quality and emissions 
data during the second maintenance period. This includes an annual 
evaluation of vehicles miles traveled and stationary

[[Page 65011]]

source emissions data compared to the assumptions included in the LMP. 
PADEP also states that it will evaluate the periodic (i.e., every three 
years) emission inventories prepared under EPA's Air Emission Reporting 
Requirements (40 CFR part 51, subpart A). Based on these evaluations, 
PADEP will consider whether any further emission control measures 
should be implemented for the State College Area. EPA has analyzed the 
commitments in PADEP's submittal and is proposing to determine that 
they meet the requirements for continued air quality monitoring and 
verification of continued attainment.

D. Contingency Plan

    The contingency plan provisions are designed to promptly correct or 
prevent a violation of the NAAQS that might occur after redesignation 
of an area to attainment. Section 175A of the CAA requires that a 
maintenance plan include such contingency measures as EPA deems 
necessary to assure that the state will promptly correct a violation of 
the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. The maintenance plan should 
identify the contingency measures to be adopted, a schedule and 
procedure for adoption and implementation of the contingency measures, 
and a time limit for action by the state. The state should also 
identify specific indicators to be used to determine when the 
contingency measures need to be adopted and implemented. The 
maintenance plan must require that the state will implement all 
pollution control measures that were contained in the SIP before 
redesignation of the area to attainment. See section 175(A)(d) of the 
CAA.
    PADEP's March 10, 2020 submittal includes a contingency plan for 
the State College Area. In the event that the fourth highest eight-hour 
ozone concentrations at a monitor in the State College Area exceeds 
0.084 ppm for two consecutive years, but prior to an actual violation 
of the NAAQS, PADEP will evaluate whether additional local emission 
control measures should be implemented that may prevent a violation of 
the NAAQS.\16\ After analyzing the conditions causing the excessive 
ozone levels, evaluating the effectiveness of potential corrective 
measures, and considering the potential effects of Federal, state, and 
local measures that have been adopted but not yet implemented, PADEP 
will begin the process of implementing selected measures so that they 
can be implemented as expeditiously as practicable following a 
violation of the NAAQS. In the event of a violation, PADEP commits to 
adopting additional emission reduction measures as expeditiously as 
practicable in accordance with the schedule included in the contingency 
plan as well as the CAA and applicable Pennsylvania statutory 
requirements.
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    \16\ A violation of the NAAQS occurs when an area's 3-year 
design value exceeds the NAAQS.
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    PADEP will use the following criteria when considering additional 
emission reduction measures to adopt to address a violation of the 1997 
ozone NAAQS in the State College Area: (1) Air quality analysis 
indicating the nature of the violation, including the cause, location, 
and source; (2) emission reduction potential, including extent to which 
emission generating sources occur in the nonattainment area; (3) 
timeliness of implementation in terms of the potential to return the 
area to attainment as expeditiously as practicable; and (4) costs, 
equity, and cost-effectiveness. The measures PADEP would consider 
pursuing for adoption in the State College Area include, but are not 
limited to, those summarized in Table 3 of this document. If additional 
emission reductions are necessary, PADEP commits to adopt additional 
emission reduction measures to attain and maintain the 1997 ozone 
NAAQS.
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    \17\ These regulatory measures were considered potential cost-
effective and timely control strategies by the Ozone Transport 
Commission (OTC) as well as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management 
Association and the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union. The OTC 
is a multi-state organization responsible for developing regional 
solutions to ground-level ozone pollution in the Northeast and Mid-
Atlantic, including the development of model rules that member 
states may adopt. The OTC member states include: Connecticut, 
Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 
Vermont, and Virginia. For more information on the OTC, visit 
https://otcair.org/index.asp. To view the model rules developed by 
the OTC, including those for consumer products and portable fuel 
containers, visit https://otcair.org/document.asp?fview=modelrules.
    \18\ Pennsylvania's existing controls on consumer products are 
under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 130, Subchapters B and C (38 Pa.B. 5598). 
This contingency measure includes the adoption of additional 
controls on consumer products such as VOC limits for adhesive 
removers.

Table 3--State College Area Second Maintenance Plan Contingency Measures
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Non-Regulatory Measures:
    Voluntary diesel engine ``chip reflash'' (installation software to
     correct the defeat device option on certain heavy-duty diesel
     engines).
    Diesel retrofit (including replacement, repowering or alternative
     fuel use) for public or private local onroad or offroad fleets.
    Idling reduction technology for Class 2 yard locomotives.
    Idling reduction technologies or strategies for truck stops,
     warehouses, and other freight-handling facilities.
    Accelerated turnover of lawn and garden equipment, especially
     commercial equipment, including promotion of electric equipment.
    Additional promotion of alternative fuel (e.g., biodiesel) for home
     heating and agricultural use.
Regulatory Measures: \17\
    Additional control on consumer products.\18\
    Additional controls on portable fuel containers.\19\
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The contingency plan includes schedules for the adoption and 
implementation of both non-regulatory and regulatory contingency 
measures, including schedules for adopting potential land use planning 
strategies not listed in Table 3 of this document, which are summarized 
in Tables 4 and 5 of this document, respectively.
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    \19\ Existing controls on portable fuel containers can be found 
under 40 CFR part 39, subpart F--Control of Evaporative Emissions 
From New and In-Use Portable Fuel Containers.

 Table 4--Implementation Schedule for State College Area Non-Regulatory
                          Contingency Measures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Time after  triggering event                    Action
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Within 2 months.........................  PADEP will identify
                                           stakeholders for potential
                                           non-regulatory measures for
                                           further development.

[[Page 65012]]

 
Within 3 months.........................  If funding is necessary, PADEP
                                           will identify potential
                                           sources of funding and the
                                           timeframe for when funds
                                           would be available.
Within 6 months.........................  PADEP will work with the
                                           relevant planning
                                           commission(s) to identify
                                           potential land use planning
                                           strategies and projects with
                                           quantifiable and timely
                                           emission benefits. PADEP will
                                           also work with the
                                           Pennsylvania Department of
                                           Community and Economic
                                           Development and other state
                                           agencies to assist with these
                                           measures.
Within 9 months.........................  If state loans or grants are
                                           required, PADEP will enter
                                           into agreements with
                                           implementing organizations.
                                           PADEP will also quantify
                                           projected emission benefits.
Within 12 months........................  PADEP will submit revised SIP
                                           to EPA.
Within 12-24 months.....................  PADEP will implement
                                           strategies and projects.
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   Table 5--Implementation Schedule for State College Area Regulatory
                          Contingency Measures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Time after  triggering event                    Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Within 1 month..........................  PADEP will submit request to
                                           begin regulatory development
                                           process.
Within 3 months.........................  Request will be reviewed by
                                           the Air Quality Technical
                                           Advisory Committee (AQTAC),
                                           Citizens Advisory Council,
                                           and other advisory committees
                                           as appropriate.
Within 6 months.........................  Environmental Quality Board
                                           (EQB) meeting/action.
Within 8 months.........................  PADEP will publish regulatory
                                           measure in the Pennsylvania
                                           Bulletin for comment as
                                           proposed rulemaking.
Within 10 months........................  PADEP will hold a public
                                           hearing and comment period on
                                           proposed rulemaking.
Within 11 months........................  House and Senate Standing
                                           Committee and Independent
                                           Regulatory Review Commission
                                           (IRCC) comment on proposed
                                           rule.
Within 13 months........................  AQTAC, Citizens Advisory
                                           Council, and other committees
                                           will review responses to
                                           comment(s), if applicable,
                                           and the draft final
                                           rulemaking.
Within 16 months........................  EQB meeting/action.
Within 17 months........................  The IRCC will take action on
                                           final rulemaking.
Within 18 months........................  Attorney General's review/
                                           action.
Within 19 months........................  PADEP will publish the
                                           regulatory measure as a final
                                           rulemaking in the
                                           Pennsylvania Bulletin and
                                           submit to EPA as a SIP
                                           revision. The regulation will
                                           become effective upon
                                           publication in the
                                           Pennsylvania Bulletin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA proposes to find that the contingency plan included in PADEP's 
March 10, 2020 submittal satisfies the pertinent requirements of CAA 
section 175A(d). EPA notes that while six of the potential contingency 
measures included in the Commonwealth's second maintenance plan are 
non-regulatory, their inclusion among other measures is overall SIP-
strengthening, and their inclusion does not alter EPA's proposal to 
find the LMP is fully approvable. EPA also finds that the submittal 
acknowledges Pennsylvania's continuing requirement to implement all 
pollution control measures that were contained in the SIP before 
redesignation of the State College Area to attainment.

E. Transportation Conformity

    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the CAA. 
Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities will not 
produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or 
delay timely attainment of the NAAQS (CAA 176(c)(1)(B)). EPA's 
conformity rule at 40 CFR part 93 requires that transportation plans, 
programs and projects conform to SIPs and establish the criteria and 
procedures for determining whether or not they conform. The conformity 
rule generally requires a demonstration that emissions from the 
Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Transportation Improvement 
Program (TIP) are consistent with the motor vehicle emissions budget 
(MVEB) contained in the control strategy SIP revision or maintenance 
plan (40 CFR 93.101, 93.118, and 93.124). A MVEB is defined as ``that 
portion of the total allowable emissions defined in the submitted or 
approved control strategy implementation plan revision or maintenance 
plan for a certain date for the purpose of meeting reasonable further 
progress milestones or demonstrating attainment or maintenance of the 
NAAQS, for any criteria pollutant or its precursors, allocated to 
highway and transit vehicle use and emissions (40 CFR 93.101).''
    Under the conformity rule, LMP areas may demonstrate conformity 
without a regional emission analysis (40 CFR 93.109(e)). However, 
because LMP areas are still maintenance areas, certain aspects of 
transportation conformity determinations still will be required for 
transportation plans, programs, and projects. Specifically, for such 
determination, RTPs, TIPs, and transportation projects still will have 
to demonstrate that they are fiscally constrained (40 CFR 93.108), meet 
the criteria for consultation (40 CFR 93.105 and 93.112) and 
transportation control measure implementation in the conformity rule 
provisions (40 CFR 93.113). Additionally, conformity determinations for 
RTPs and TIPs must be determined no less frequently than every four 
years, and conformity of plan and TIP amendments and transportation 
projects is demonstrated in accordance with the timing requirements 
specified in 40 CFR 93.104. In addition, for projects to be approved, 
they must come from a currently conforming RTP and TIP (40 CFR 93.114 
and 93.115). The State College Area remains under the obligation to 
meet the applicable conformity requirements for the 1997 ozone NAAQS.

III. Proposed Action

    EPA's review of PADEP's March 10, 2020 submittal indicates that it 
meets all applicable CAA requirements, specifically the requirements of 
CAA section 175A. EPA is proposing to approve the second maintenance 
plan for the State College Area as a revision

[[Page 65013]]

to the Pennsylvania SIP. EPA is soliciting public comments on the 
issues discussed in this document. These comments will be considered 
before taking final action.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP 
submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA and applicable 
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in 
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, 
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this 
action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and 
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state 
law. For that reason, this proposed action:
     Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 
2011);
     Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 
2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under 
Executive Order 12866.
     Does not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Is certified as not having a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
     Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
     Does not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Is not an economically significant regulatory action based 
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     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 proposed rulemaking, proposing approval of 
Pennsylvania's second maintenance plan for the State College Area, does 
not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the SIP 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.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

    Dated: September 17, 2020.
Cosmo Servidio,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 2020-20967 Filed 10-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P