[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34449-34452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11355]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R05-OAR-2022-0477; FRL-10516-02-R5]


Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Sulfur Dioxide Regulations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving, under 
the Clean Air Act (CAA), revised sulfur dioxide (SO2) 
regulations submitted by Ohio on May 23, 2022. Ohio updated its 
regulations to make changes to facility information, remove 
requirements for shutdown facilities and units, consolidate county-wide 
requirements, and revise requirements for the Veolia Fort Hill plant in 
Miami, Ohio and the DTE St. Bernard facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. EPA 
believes that the revisions improve the clarity of the rules without 
affecting the stringency, and therefore is approving the submitted 
revisions with the exception of selected paragraphs in Ohio 
Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-18. EPA proposed to approve this 
action on January 26, 2023 and received no adverse comments.

DATES: This final rule is effective on June 29, 2023.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. EPA-R05-OAR-2022-0477. All documents in the docket are listed on 
the www.regulations.gov website. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, i.e., 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 either 
through www.regulations.gov or at the Environmental Protection Agency, 
Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays and facility 
closures due to COVID-19. We recommend that you telephone Tyler 
Salamasick, at (312)886-6206 before visiting the Region 5 office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyler Salamasick, Control Strategies 
Section, Air Programs Branch (AR18J), Environmental Protection Agency, 
Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 
886-6206, [email protected].

[[Page 34450]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.

I. Background Information

    On January 26, 2023 (88 FR 4935), EPA proposed to approve revisions 
to Ohio's SO2 regulations contained in Ohio OAC Chapter 
3745-18 ``Sulfur Dioxide Regulations.'' An explanation of the CAA 
requirements, a detailed analysis of the revisions, and EPA's reasons 
for proposing approval were provided in the notice of proposed 
rulemaking and will not be restated here. The public comment period for 
the proposed rule ended on February 27, 2023. EPA received one 
supportive comment which stated that Ohio's changes add increased 
clarity within the regulations. EPA received no adverse comments on the 
proposal. Therefore, EPA is finalizing this action as proposed.

II. Final Action

    EPA is approving revisions and rescissions to OAC 3745-18 submitted 
by Ohio on May 23, 2022, with the exception of selected paragraphs in 
OAC 3745-18-04. Specifically, EPA is approving Ohio rules OAC 3745-18-
01 through OAC 3745-18-06 [with the exception of OAC 3745-18-04(D)(2), 
(D)(3), (D)(5), (D)(6), (E)(2), (E)(3), and (E)(4)], OAC 3745-18-08, 
OAC 3745-18-10, OAC 3745-18-11, OAC 3745-18-15, OAC 3745-18-23, OAC 
3745-18-24, OAC 3745-18-26, OAC 3745-18-28, OAC 3745-18-31, OAC 3745-
18-33, OAC 3745-18-35, OAC 3745-18-37, OAC 3745-18-47, OAC 3745-18-49, 
OAC 3745-18-53, OAC 3745-18-54, OAC 3745-18-56, OAC 3745-18-61, OAC 
3745-18-63, OAC 3745-18-68, OAC 3745-18-69, OAC 3745-18-77, OAC 3745-
18-78, OAC 3745-18-80, OAC 3745-18-82 through OAC 3745-18-85, OAC 3745-
18-91, and OAC 3745-18-92, as effective on February 2, 2022. EPA is 
removing Ohio rules OAC 3745-18-07, OAC 3745-18-09, OAC 3745-18-12 
through OAC 3745-18-14, OAC 3745-18-16 through OAC 3745-18-22, OAC 
3745-18-25, OAC 3745-18-27, OAC 3745-18-29, OAC 3745-18-30, OAC 3745-
18-32, OAC 3745-18-34, OAC 3745-18-36, OAC 3745-18-38 through OAC 3745-
18-46, OAC 3745-18-48, OAC 3745-18-50 through OAC 3745-18-52, OAC 3745-
18-55, OAC 3745-18-57 through OAC 3745-18-60, OAC 3745-18-62, OAC 3745-
18-64, OAC 3745-18-65, OAC 3745-18-67, OAC 3745-18-70 through OAC 3745-
18-76, OAC 3745-18-79, OAC 3745-18-81, OAC 3745-18-86 through OAC 3745-
18-89, OAC 3745-18-93, and OAC 3745-18-94. EPA is taking no action on 
OAC 37-18-04(D)(2), (D)(3), (D)(5), (D)(6), (E)(2), (E)(3), and (E)(4). 
These paragraphs have not been previously approved by EPA and are 
outside the cleanup intent of this final SIP revision.

III. Incorporation by Reference

    In this rule, EPA is finalizing regulatory text that includes 
incorporation by reference. In accordance with requirements of 1 CFR 
51.5, EPA is finalizing the incorporation by reference of the Ohio 
Sulfur Dioxide Regulations described in section II of this preamble and 
set forth in the amendments to 40 CFR part 52 below. EPA has made, and 
will continue to make, these documents generally available through 
www.regulations.gov, and at the EPA Region 5 Office (please contact the 
person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this preamble for more information). Therefore, these materials have 
been approved by EPA for inclusion in the SIP, have been incorporated 
by reference by EPA into that plan, are fully federally enforceable 
under sections 110 and 113 of the CAA as of the effective date of the 
final rulemaking of EPA's approval, and will be incorporated by 
reference in the next update to the SIP compilation.\1\
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    \1\ 62 FR 27968 (May 22, 1997).
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    Also in this document, as described in section II of this preamble 
and set forth in the amendments to 40 CFR part 52 below, EPA is 
removing provisions of the EPA-Approved Ohio Regulations and Statutes 
from the Ohio State Implementation Plan, which is incorporated by 
reference in accordance with the requirements of 1 CFR part 51.

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 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 14094 (88 FR 21879, April 11, 2023);
     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 subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, 
April 23, 1997) because it approves a state program;
     Is not a significant regulatory action subject to 
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001); and
     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.
    In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian 
reservation land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has 
demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian 
country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose 
substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
    Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629, 
February 16, 1994) directs Federal agencies to identify and address 
``disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental 
effects'' of their actions on minority populations and low-income 
populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. 
EPA defines environmental justice (EJ) as ``the fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, 
national origin, or income with respect to the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies.'' EPA further defines the term fair treatment to mean that 
``no group of people should bear a disproportionate burden of 
environmental harms and risks, including those resulting from the 
negative environmental consequences of industrial, governmental, and 
commercial operations or programs and policies.''

[[Page 34451]]

    The Ohio EPA did not evaluate environmental justice considerations 
as part of its SIP submittal; the CAA and applicable implementing 
regulations neither prohibit nor require such an evaluation. EPA did 
not perform an EJ analysis and did not consider EJ in this action. Due 
to the nature of the action being taken here, this action is expected 
to have a neutral to positive impact on the air quality of the affected 
area. Consideration of EJ is not required as part of this action, and 
there is no information in the record inconsistent with the stated goal 
of E.O. 12898 of achieving environmental justice for people of color, 
low-income populations, and Indigenous peoples.
    This action is subject to the Congressional Review Act, and 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).
    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 July 31, 2023. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor 
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may 
be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or 
action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to 
enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Sulfur oxides.


    Dated: May 23, 2023.
Debra Shore,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, title 40 CFR part 52 is 
amended as follows:

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. In Sec.  52.1870, the table in paragraph (c) is amended by revising 
the section entitled ``Chapter 3745-18 Sulfur Dioxide Regulations'' to 
read as follows:
    (c) * * *

                                          EPA-Approved Ohio Regulations
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                                                    Ohio effective
       Ohio citation             Title/subject           date         EPA approval date            Notes
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                                   Chapter 3745-18 Sulfur Dioxide Regulations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3745-18-01.................  Definitions and              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              incorporation by                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                              reference.                             CITATION].
3745-18-02.................  General countywide           2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-03.................  Compliance Time              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              Schedules.                             FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-04.................  Measurement Methods          2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     Except (D)(2),
                              and Procedures.                        FEDERAL REGISTER       (D)(3), (D)(5),
                                                                     CITATION].             (D)(6), (E)(2),
                                                                                            (E)(3), and (E)(4).
3745-18-05.................  Ambient and                  2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              Meteorological                         FEDERAL REGISTER
                              Monitoring                             CITATION].
                              Requirements.
3745-18-06.................  General Emission             2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              Limit Provisions.                      FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-08.................  Allen county emission        2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-10.................  Ashtabula county             2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emissions limits.                      FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-11.................  Athens county                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-15.................  Butler county                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-23.................  Crawford county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-24.................  Cuyahoga county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-26.................  Defiance county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-28.................  Erie county emission         2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-31.................  Franklin county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-33.................  Gallia county                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-35.................  Greene county                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-37.................  Hamilton county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-47.................  Jefferson county             2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-49.................  Lake county emission         2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].

[[Page 34452]]

 
3745-18-53.................  Lorain county                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-54.................  Lucas county emission        2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-56.................  Mahoning county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-61.................  Miami county emission        2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-63.................  Montgomery county            2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-66.................  Muskingum County            2/16/2017  10/11/2018, 83 FR
                              Emission Limits.                       51361.
3745-18-68.................  Ottawa county                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-69.................  Paulding county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-77.................  Ross county emission         2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-78.................  Sandusky county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-80.................  Seneca county                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-82.................  Stark County Emission        2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              Limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-83.................  Summit County                2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              Emission Limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-84.................  Trumbull County              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              Emission Limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-85.................  Tuscarawas County            2/3/2022  PUBLICATION IN THE     .....................
                              Emission Limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER],
                                                                     [INSERT FEDERAL
                                                                     REGISTER CITATION].
3745-18-90.................  Washington County            2/3/2022  PUBLICATION IN THE     .....................
                              Emission Limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER],
                                                                     [INSERT FEDERAL
                                                                     REGISTER CITATION].
3745-18-91.................  Wayne county emission        2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              limits.                                FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
3745-18-92.................  Williams county              2/3/2022  5/30/2023, [INSERT     .....................
                              emission limits.                       FEDERAL REGISTER
                                                                     CITATION].
 
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[FR Doc. 2023-11355 Filed 5-26-23; 8:45 am]
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