[Federal Register: July 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 139)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43520-43522]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jy04-6]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[DC-2025, MD-3064, VA-5052; DC052-7007, MD143-3102, VA129-5065; FRC-
7790-5]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
District of Columbia; Maryland; Virginia; Technical Amendment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.
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SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to remove codification of certain
State Implementation Plan (SIP) approvals vacated by United States
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and remanded to
EPA. EPA is also concurrently vacating an indefinite stay, which EPA
had issued pending completion of judicial review, of a conditional
approval promulgated on April 17, 2003. These revisions relate to the
1-hour ozone attainment demonstration and the 1996-1999 rate-of-
progress (ROP) plans for the Metropolitan Washington DC ozone
nonattainment area (the Washington area) submitted by the District of
Columbia's Department of Health (DoH), by the Maryland Department of
the Environment (MDE) and by the Virginia Department of Environmental
Quality (VADEQ), including enforceable commitments submitted by the
District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland as part of the 1-hour
attainment demonstration. EPA is correcting the codification of the
approval of these revisions in accordance with the requirements of the
Clean Air Act.
DATES: This rule is effective on August 20, 2004.
In addition, EPA is vacating the stay on 40 CFR 52.473, 52.1072(e)
and 52.2450(b), effective August 20, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the documents relevant to this action are
available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air
Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III,
1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Cripps, (215) 814-2179, or
by e-mail at cripps.christopher@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What Previous Action Had Been Taken on These SIP Revisions?
A. January 3, 2001 Approval
On January 3, 2001 (66 FR 586), the EPA approved the 1996-1999 ROP
plans, an attainment date extension and the attainment demonstrations
for the Washington, DC area. On July 2, 2002, the United States Courts
of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (the Circuit Court)
vacated our January 3, 2001, approval of the attainment demonstration,
1996-1999 ROP plan and extension of the attainment date. See Sierra
Club v. Whitman, 294 F.3d 155, 163 (D.C. Cir. 2002).
B. April 17, 2003 Conditional Approval
In response to the Circuit Court's July 2002 ruling, on January 24,
2003, the EPA published a final action (68 FR 3410) determining that
the Washington area failed to attain the serious ozone nonattainment
deadline of November 15, 1999, and reclassified the Washington area to
severe ozone nonattainment by operation of law.
On February 3, 2003, the EPA published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (68 FR 5246) regarding the SIP revisions covered by the
vacated January 3, 2001, final rule. On April 17, 2003 (68 FR 19106),
EPA conditionally approved these same SIP revisions. On February 3,
2004, the Circuit Court issued an opinion to vacate our conditional
approval of the attainment demonstration, and ROP plan. See Sierra Club
v. EPA, 356 F.3d at 302-04 (D.C. Cir. 2004).
On March 19, 2004, the Sierra Club filed a ``Petition for Panel
Rehearing'' requesting the Circuit Court to reconsider one issue
addressed in a footnote of the opinion. This issue was
[[Page 43521]]
not related to vacatur of the conditional approval.
On April 15, 2004 (69 FR 19937), EPA indefinitely stayed, pending
completion of judicial review, a conditional approval promulgated on
April 17, 2003 in response to the March 19, 2004, petition for
rehearing. In the preamble to that rule, EPA stated that EPA would lift
the stay and/or vacate the conditional approval after the issuance of
the mandate by the Circuit Court in a manner consistent with any order
the Court may issue in Sierra Club v. EPA. See 69 FR at 19138, April
15, 2004.
On April 16, 2004, Circuit Court issued an order slightly revising
the February 3, 2004, opinion to address the petition for rehearing and
leaving its decision to vacate and remand the conditional approval to
EPA intact. On April 23, 2004, the Circuit Court issued its mandate
thereby relinquishing jurisdiction over this matter and remanding it to
EPA.
II. What Action Is EPA Taking Today?
A. Actions Regarding the January 3, 2001, Final Rule (66 FR 586)
EPA is vacating the January 3, 2001 final rule (66 FR 586) by
amending 40 CFR part 52 to remove codification of certain plan
approvals that the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded to EPA. The intended effect of
this action would be to remove and reserve the following in 40 CFR part
52:
(1) In subpart J--District of Columbia: Sec. 52.475
``Extensions,'' and paragraphs (b) and (c) in Sec. 52.476 ``Control
strategy and rate-of-progress plan: ozone;''
(2) In subpart V--Maryland: paragraph (a) in Sec. 52.1078
``Extensions,'' and paragraphs (e ) and (g) in Sec. 52.1076 ``Control
strategy plans for attainment and rate-of-progress: Ozone;'' and,
(3) In subpart VV,--Virginia: Sec. 52.2429 ``Extensions,'' and
paragraphs (c) and (d) in Sec. 52.2428 ``Control Strategy: Carbon
monoxide and ozone.''
B. Actions Regarding the April 17, 2003, Final Rule (68 FR 19106)
EPA is vacating the April 17, 2003 final rule (68 FR 19106) by
amending 40 CFR part 52 to remove codification of certain plan
approvals for which the United States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit vacated our final action. The intended effect of
this action would be to: remove and reserve in 40 CFR part 52:
(1) Remove and reserve Sec. 52.473 ``Conditional approval'' in 40
CFR part 52, subpart J;
(2) Remove and reserve paragraph (e) in Sec. 52.1072 ``Conditional
approval'' in 40 CFR part 52, subpart V; and,
(3) Remove and reserve paragraph (b) in Sec. 52.2450 ``Conditional
approval'' in 40 CFR part 52, subpart VV.
C. Stay of the Conditional Approval
Because EPA is vacating the actions which EPA stayed on April 15,
2004 (69 FR 19937), the need for the stay has become moot. Concurrently
with vacating the April 17, 2003 final rule, EPA is vacating this April
15, 2004 final rule that imposed the stay on 40 CFR 52.473, 40 CFR
52.1072(e) and 40 CFR 52.2450(b). Because EPA is vacating the
underlying rules--40 CFR 52.473, 40 CFR 52.1072(e) and 40 CFR
52.2450(b)--that were stayed indefinitely on April 15, 2004, EPA must
vacate the April 15, 2004 stay rather than lift this stay.
III. Final Action
A. District of Columbia
EPA is amending 40 CFR part 52 to remove the codification of
certain plan approvals that the United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded to EPA. EPA is
removing and reserving the following sections or paragraphs in 40 CFR
part 52, subpart J:
(1) Sec. 52.475 Extensions;
(2) Paragraphs (b) and (c) in Sec. 52.476 Control strategy and
rate-of-progress plan: ozone; and,
(3) Sec. 52.473 Conditional Approval;
B. State of Maryland
EPA is amending 40 CFR part 52 to remove the codification of
certain plan approvals that the United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded to EPA. EPA is
removing and reserving the following paragraphs in 40 CFR part 52,
subpart V:
(1) Paragraph (a) in Sec. 52.1078 Extensions;
(2) Paragraphs (e) and (g) in Sec. 52.1076 Control strategy plans
for attainment and rate-of-progress: Ozone; and,
(3) Paragraph (e) in Sec. 52.1073 Approval Status.
C. Commonwealth of Virginia
EPA is amending 40 CFR part 52 to remove the codification of
certain plan approvals that the United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded to EPA. EPA is
removing and reserving the following sections or paragraphs in 40 CFR
part 52, subpart VV:
(1) Sec. 52.2429 Extensions;
(2) Paragraphs (c) and (d) in Sec. 52.2428 Control Strategy:
Carbon monoxide and ozone; and,
(3) Paragraph (b) in Sec. 52.2450 Conditional Approval.
D. Vacating of the Stay on 40 CFR 52.473, 40 CFR 52.1072(e) and 40 CFR
52.2450(b)
Because EPA is vacating 40 CFR 52.473, 40 CFR 52.1072(e) and 40 CFR
52.2450(b) EPA is vacating the stay, which was promulgated on April 15,
2004 on 40 CFR 52.473, 40 CFR 52.1072(e) and 40 CFR 52.2450(b).
IV. Basis for Exception From Notice and Comment Rulemaking
Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B), provides that, when an agency for good cause finds that
notice and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary or contrary
to the public interest, the agency may issue a rule without providing
notice and an opportunity for public comment. We have determined that
there is good cause for making today's rule final without prior
proposal and opportunity for comment because we are merely correcting
those portions of 40 CFR part 52 that were stricken when the Circuit
Court vacated our January 3, 2001 approvals and our April 17, 2003
conditional approvals and mooted the need to continue the April 15,
2004 stay of the April 17, 2003 conditional approvals. EPA believes
that notice and comment procedures would serve no purpose because this
action is a nondiscretionary ministerial action necessitated by the
Circuit Court orders vacating the January 3, 2001 approvals and our
April 17, 2003 conditional approvals and by the subsequent mooting the
need to continue the April 15, 2004 stay of the April 17, 2003
conditional approvals. We find that this constitutes good cause under 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. General Requirements
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
is taken pursuant to a decision of the United States Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit and merely reflects the Circuit
Court's action in vacating EPA's rules approving pre-existing state
requirements. The vacated final rules merely approved state law as
meeting Federal requirements and imposed no
[[Page 43522]]
additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. The Circuit
Court's action does not change or negate the pre-existing state
requirements, impose any new requirements on sources, including small
entities, nor impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that
previously required and it does not contain any unfunded mandate or
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Under these
circumstances, correcting the approval status in 40 CFR part 532 of
these State implementation plans does not impose any new requirements
on sources, including small entities. 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 merely implements the
Circuit Court's order vacating EPA's approvals and conditional
approvals, it does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond
that previously required and 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).
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 merely reflects the Circuit Court's decision,
removing EPA's approval or conditional approval, it 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
rule merely implements the Circuit Court's orders vacating EPA's
approvals and conditional approvals of a state rule implementing a
Federal standard and does not alter the relationship or the
distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air
Act. 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.
This technical correction action does not involve technical
standards; 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. This rule is not a
``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
B. Petitions for Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by September 20, 2004. 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 to vacate certain approvals of SIP
revisions submitted by the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia
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, Intergovernmental
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: July 13, 2004.
Donald S. Welsh,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
0
40 CFR part 52 is 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 J--District of Columbia
Sec. 52.475 [Removed]
0
2. Section 52.475 is removed and reserved.
Sec. 52.476 [Amended]
0
3. Section 52.476 is amended by removing and reserving paragraphs (b)
and (c).
Subpart V--Maryland
Sec. 52.1076 [Amended]
0
4. Section 52.1076 is amended by removing and reserving paragraphs (e)
and (g).
Sec. 52.1078 [Amended]
0
5. Section 52.1078 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph (a).
Subpart VV--Virginia
Sec. 52.2428 [Amended]
0
6. Section 52.2428 is amended by removing and reserving paragraphs (c)
and (d).
Sec. 52.2429 [Removed]
0
7. Section 52.2429 is removed and reserved.
[FR Doc. 04-16569 Filed 7-20-04; 8:45 am]
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