[Federal Register: August 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 149)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43172-43176]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03au07-12]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[EPA-R04-OAR-2006-0362-200702; FRL-8449-5]
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and
Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Kentucky:
Redesignation of Boyd County, Kentucky Portion of the Huntington-
Ashland 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment for Ozone
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to approve a request, submitted on
September 29, 2006, from the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Kentucky),
through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ), to redesignate
the Kentucky portion of the bi-state Huntington-Ashland 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone National Ambient
Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The Kentucky portion of the bi-state
Huntington-Ashland 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred
to as ``Boyd County'') is comprised of one county in Kentucky (Boyd
County) and two counties in West Virginia (Cabell and Wayne Counties).
EPA's approval of Kentucky's redesignation request is based upon the
determination that Kentucky has demonstrated that Boyd County has met
the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air
Act (CAA), including the determination that the entire (including both
the Kentucky and West Virginia counties) bi-state Huntington-Ashland 8-
hour ozone nonattainment area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard.
Additionally, EPA is approving a revision to the Kentucky State
Implementation Plan (SIP) including the 8-hour ozone maintenance plan
for Boyd County that contains the new 2018 motor vehicle emission
budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). Through this action, EPA is also finding the
2018 MVEBs adequate for the purposes of transportation conformity. On
May 17, 2006, the State of West Virginia submitted a redesignation
request and maintenance plan through a separate action. The final
rulemaking approving the West Virginia submittal was published in the
Federal Register on September 15, 2006. MVEBs for Cabell and Wayne
Counties in West Virginia were approved through EPA's September 15,
2006, action.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule will be effective September 4, 2007.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA-R04-OAR-2006-0362. All documents in the docket
are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the
index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential
Business 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 either electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard
copy at the Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air,
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia
30303-8960. EPA
[[Page 43173]]
requests that if at all possible, you contact the person listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection.
The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through
Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi LeSane, Regulatory Development
Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management
Division, Region 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 61 Forsyth
Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Ms. LeSane can be reached via
telephone number at (404) 562-9074 or electronic mail at
LeSane.Heidi@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What is the Background for the Actions?
II. What Actions are EPA Taking?
III. Why Are We Taking These Actions?
IV. What Are the Effects of These Actions?
V. Final Action
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What is the Background for the Actions?
On September 29, 2006, Kentucky, through the KDAQ, submitted a
request to redesignate Boyd County to attainment for the 8-hour ozone
standard, and for EPA approval of the Kentucky SIP revision containing
a maintenance plan for Boyd County. In an action published on May 11,
2007 (72 FR 26759), EPA proposed to approve the redesignation of Boyd
County to attainment. EPA also proposed approval of Kentucky's plan for
maintaining the 8-hour NAAQS as a SIP revision, and proposed to approve
the 2018 state \1\ MVEBs for Boyd County that were contained in the
maintenance plan. EPA received no comments on the May 11, 2007,
proposal. Today's rule is EPA's final action following the May 11,
2007, proposed rule.
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\1\ The term ``state'' with regard to MVEBs refers to the
portion of the area, in a multi-state area, for which the MVEBs
apply. In this case, the term ``state'' indicates that the MVEBs
cover Boyd County, and also indicates to transportation conformity
implementers in this area that there are separate MVEBs for the West
Virginia portion of this area. EPA's Companion Guidance for the July
1, 2004, Final Transportation Conformity Rule: Conformity
Implementation in Multi-Jurisdictional Nonattainment and Maintenance
Areas for Existing and New Air Quality Standards explains more about
the possible geographical extent of an MVEB, how these geographical
areas are defined, and how transportation conformity is implemented
in these different geographical areas. For the purposes of today's
final action, the term ``state MVEBs'' refers to the Boyd County
MVEBs being approved as part of the Boyd County maintenance plan.
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Today, EPA is also providing information on the status of the
Agency's transportation conformity adequacy determination for the new
state MVEBs for the year 2018 that are contained in the maintenance
plan for Boyd County. The maintenance plan establishes the following
state MVEBs for Boyd County.
Boyd County 2018 MVEBs
[Tons per day]
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2018
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VOCs.................................................... 1.18
NOX..................................................... 1.30
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EPA's adequacy public comment period on these budgets (as contained
in Kentucky's submittal) began on June 21, 2006, and closed on July 23,
2006. No comments were received during EPA's adequacy public comment
period. Through this Federal Register notice, EPA is finding the 2018
state MVEBs, as contained in Kentucky's submittal, adequate. These
MVEBs meet the adequacy criteria contained in the Transportation
Conformity Rule. The new state MVEBs must be used for future
transportation conformity determinations.
Various aspects of EPA's Phase 1 8-hour ozone implementation rule
were challenged in court and on December 22, 2006, the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit Court) vacated
EPA's Phase 1 Implementation Rule for the 8-hour Ozone Standard (69 FR
23951, April 30, 2004). South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. v.
EPA, 472 F.3d 882 (DC Cir. 2006). On June 8, 2007, in response to
several petitions for rehearing, the DC Circuit Court clarified that
the Phase 1 Rule was vacated only with regard to those parts of the
Rule that had been successfully challenged. Therefore, the Phase 1 Rule
provisions related to classifications for areas currently classified
under subpart 2 of title I, part D of the CAA as 8-hour nonattainment
areas, the 8-hour attainment dates and the timing for emissions
reductions needed for attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, remain
effective. The June 8th decision left intact the Court's rejection of
EPA's reasons for implementing the 8-hour standard in certain
nonattainment areas under subpart 1 in lieu of subpart 2. By limiting
the vacatur, the Court let stand EPA's revocation of the 1-hour
standard and those anti-backsliding provisions of the Phase 1 Rule that
had not been successfully challenged. The June 8th decision affirmed
the December 22, 2006, decision that EPA had improperly failed to
retain measures required for 1-hour nonattainment areas under the anti-
backsliding provisions of the regulations: (1) Nonattainment area New
Source Review (NSR) requirements based on an area's 1-hour
nonattainment classification; (2) Section 185 penalty fees for 1-hour
severe or extreme nonattainment areas; and (3) measures to be
implemented pursuant to section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the CAA, on
the contingency of an area not making reasonable further progress
toward attainment of the 1-hour NAAQS, or for failure to attain that
NAAQS. The June 8th decision clarified that the Court's reference to
conformity requirements for anti-backsliding purposes was limited to
requiring the continued use of 1-hour MVEBs until 8-hour budgets were
available for 8-hour conformity determinations, which is already
required under EPA's conformity regulations. The Court thus clarified
that 1-hour conformity determinations are not required for anti-
backsliding purposes.
For the reasons set forth in the proposal action for Boyd County,
EPA does not believe that the Court's rulings alter any requirements
relevant to this redesignation action so as to preclude redesignation,
and do not prevent EPA from finalizing this redesignation. EPA believes
that the Court's December 22, 2006, and June 8, 2007, decisions impose
no impediment to moving forward with redesignation of Boyd County to
attainment. Even in light of the Court's decisions, redesignation is
appropriate under the relevant redesignation provisions of the CAA and
longstanding policies regarding redesignation requests.
With respect to the requirement for transportation conformity under
the 1-hour standard, the Court in its June 8th decision clarified that
for those areas with 1-hour MVEBs in their 1-hour maintenance plans (in
this instance, Boyd County), anti-backsliding requires only that those
1-hour budgets must be used for 8-hour conformity determinations until
replaced by 8-hour budgets. To meet this requirement, conformity
determinations in such areas must continue to comply with the
applicable requirements of EPA's conformity regulations at 40 CFR part
93.
II. What Actions are EPA Taking?
EPA is taking final action to approve Kentucky's redesignation
request and to change the legal designation of Boyd County from
nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The entire bi-
state Huntington-Ashland 8-hour ozone nonattainment area is comprised
of one county in Kentucky (Boyd County) and two West Virginia Counties
(Cabell and Wayne Counties). This final action addresses
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only Boyd County. EPA has already taken action on the redesignation
request and maintenance plan for the West Virginia portion of this area
in a separate action. EPA is also approving Kentucky's 8-hour ozone
maintenance plan for Boyd County (such approval being one of the CAA
criteria for redesignation to attainment status). The maintenance plan
is designed to help keep Boyd County in attainment for the 8-hour ozone
NAAQS through 2018. These approval actions are based on EPA's
determination that Kentucky has demonstrated that Boyd County has met
the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the CAA,
including a demonstration that the entire bi-state Huntington-Ashland
Area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA's analyses of
Kentucky's 8-hour ozone redesignation request and maintenance plan are
described in detail in the proposed rule published May 11, 2007 (72 FR
26759).
Consistent with the CAA, the maintenance plan that EPA is approving
today also includes 2018 state MVEBs for NOX and VOCs for
Boyd County. In this action, EPA is approving these 2018 MVEBs. For
regional emission analysis years that involve years prior to 2018, the
applicable budgets, for the purpose of conducting transportation
conformity analyses, are the 1-hour ozone maintenance plan state MVEBs.
For regional emission analysis years that involve the year 2018 and
beyond, the applicable budgets, for the purpose of conducting
transportation conformity analyses, are the new 2018 MVEBs. EPA is
finding adequate and approving the Boyd County MVEBs for NOX
and VOCs in this action. MVEBs for Cabell and Wayne Counties in West
Virginia were found adequate and approved through a separate action.
III. Why Are We Taking These Actions?
EPA has determined that the entire bi-state Huntington-Ashland Area
has attained the 8-hour ozone standard and has also determined that
Kentucky has demonstrated that all other criteria for the redesignation
of Boyd County from nonattainment to attainment of the 8-hour ozone
NAAQS have been met. See, section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. EPA is also
taking final action to approve the maintenance plan for Boyd County as
meeting the requirements of sections 175A and 107(d) of the CAA.
Furthermore, EPA is finding adequate and approving the new 2018 state
MVEBs contained in Kentucky's maintenance plan because these MVEBs are
consistent with maintenance for the entire bi-state Huntington-Ashland
Area. In the May 11, 2007, proposal to redesignate Boyd County, EPA
described the applicable criteria for redesignation to attainment and
its analysis of how those criteria have been met. The rationale for
EPA's findings and actions is set forth in the proposed rulemaking and
summarized in this rulemaking.
IV. What Are the Effects of These Actions?
Approval of the redesignation request changes the official
designation of Boyd County, Kentucky for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, found
at 40 CFR Part 81. The approval also incorporates into the Kentucky SIP
a plan for maintaining the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in Boyd County through
2018. The maintenance plan includes contingency measures to remedy
future violations of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, and establishes state
MVEBs for the year 2018 for Boyd County. In a separate action, EPA has
already approved 8-hour ozone MVEBs for the West Virginia portions
(Cabell and Wayne Counties) of this area.
V. Final Action
After evaluating Kentucky's redesignation request, EPA is taking
final action to approve the redesignation and change the legal
designation of Boyd County, Kentucky from nonattainment to attainment
for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Through this action, EPA is also approving
into the Kentucky SIP the 8-hour ozone maintenance plan for Boyd
County, which includes the new state 2018 MVEBs of 1.18 tpd for VOCs,
and 1.30 tpd for NOX. Within 24 months from the publication
date for this final rule, the Kentucky transportation partners will
need to demonstrate conformity to these new MVEBs pursuant to 40 CFR
93.104(e) as effectively amended by section 172(c)(2)(E) of the CAA as
added by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation
Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which was signed into law
on August 10, 2005. EPA has taken action on the West Virginia SIP
through a separate rulemaking, and the transportation partners are
currently using the West Virginia 8-hour ozone MVEBs.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this
reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action
merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes
no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law.
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because
this rule approves pre-existing requirements under state law and does
not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by
state law, it 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).
This rule also does not have tribal implications because it will
not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal
Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism
implications because it does 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, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64
FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action merely affects the status of a
geographical area, does not impose any new requirements on sources or
allow a state to avoid adopting or implementing other requirements, and
does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and
responsibilities established in the CAA. This rule also is not subject
to Executive Order 13045, ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because
it is not economically significant and because the Agency does not have
reason to believe that the rule concerns an environmental health risk
or safety risk that may disproportionately affect children.
In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. In this
context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the
Commonwealth to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no
authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It
would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews
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a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that
otherwise satisfies the provisions of the CAA. Thus, the requirements
of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. This rule does not
impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
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. EPA will submit a report containing this rule 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 October 2, 2007. Filing a petition for
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect
the finality of this rule 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) of the CAA.)
List of Subjects
40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
40 CFR Part 81
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, National parks,
Wilderness areas.
Dated: July 25, 2007.
J.I. Palmer, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
40 CFR part 52 and 81 are amended as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart S--Kentucky
0
2. Section 52.920 is amended by adding a new entry at the end of the
table for ``Huntington-Ashland 8-hour Ozone Maintenance Plan'' to read
as follows:
Sec. 52.920 Identification of plan.
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(e) * * *
EPA-Approved Kentucky Non-regulatory Provisions
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Applicable State submittal
Name of nonregulatory SIP geographic or date/effective EPA approval date Explanation
provision nonattainment area date
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Huntington-Ashland 8-hour Ozone Boyd County......... 09/29/06 08/03/07 [Insert
Maintenance Plan. first page of
publication].
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PART 81--[AMENDED]
0
3. The authority citation for part 81 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
0
4. In Sec. 81.318, the table entitled ``Kentucky-Ozone (8-Hour
Standard)'' is amended by revising the entry for ``Huntington-Ashland,
WV-KY:'', ``Boyd County'' to read as follows:
Sec. 81.318 Kentucky.
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Kentucky-Ozone (8-Hour Standard)
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Designation \a\ Category/classification
Designated area ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date \1\ Type Date \1\ Type
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Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY:
Boyd County.................... 09/04/07 Attainment.................
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\a\ Includes Indian Country located in each county or area, except as otherwise specified.
\1\ This date is June 15, 2004, unless otherwise noted.
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[FR Doc. E7-14982 Filed 8-2-07; 8:45 am]
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