[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 146 (Monday, August 1, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44055-44063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15150]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[R08-OAR-2005-UT-0002; FRL-7939-8]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
State of Utah; Salt Lake City Revised Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan 
and Approval of Related Revisions

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action approving State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Utah. On 
October 19, 2004, the Governor of Utah submitted revisions to Utah's 
Rule R307-110-12, ``Section IX, Control Measures for Area and Point 
Sources, Part C, Carbon Monoxide,'' which incorporates a revised 
maintenance plan for the Salt Lake City carbon monoxide (CO) 
maintenance area for the CO National Ambient Air Quality Standard 
(NAAQS). The revised maintenance plan contains revised transportation 
conformity budgets for the years 2005 and 2019. In addition, the 
Governor submitted revisions to Utah's Rule R307-110-33, ``Section X, 
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program, Part C, Salt Lake County,'' 
which incorporates a revised vehicle inspection and maintenance program 
for Salt Lake County. In this action, EPA is approving the Salt Lake 
City CO revised maintenance plan, the revised transportation conformity 
budgets, the revised vehicle inspection and maintenance program for 
Salt Lake County, and the revisions to rules R307-110-12 and R307-110-
33. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: This rule is effective on September 30, 2005 without further 
notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by August 31, 2005. If 
adverse comment is received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of 
the direct final rule in the Federal Register informing the public that 
the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by RME Docket Number R08-
OAR-2005-UT-0002, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Agency Web site: http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/index.jsp. 
Regional Materials in EDOCKET (RME), EPA's electronic public docket and

[[Page 44056]]

comment system for regional actions, is EPA's preferred method for 
receiving comments. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting 
comments.
     E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], and 
[email protected].
     Fax: (303) 312-6064 (please alert the individual listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT if you are faxing comments).
     Mail: Richard R. Long, Director, Air and Radiation 
Program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, Mailcode 8P-
AR, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202-2466.
     Hand Delivery: Richard R. Long, Director, Air and 
Radiation Program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, 
Mailcode 8P-AR, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202-
2466. Such deliveries are only accepted Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 
to 4:55 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. Special arrangements should 
be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to RME Docket Number R08-OAR-
2005-UT-0002. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be 
included in the public docket without change and may be made available 
at http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/index.jsp, including any personal 
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through EDOCKET, 
regulations.gov, or e-mail. EPA's Regional Materials in EDOCKET and 
federal regulations.gov Web site are ``anonymous access'' systems, 
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information 
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA, without going through EDOCKET or 
regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and 
made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, 
EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information 
in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If 
EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot 
contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your 
comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, 
any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For 
additional information about EPA's public docket visit EDOCKET online 
or see the Federal Register of May 31, 2002 (67 FR 38102). For 
additional instructions on submitting comments, go to Section I. 
General Information of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the Regional 
Materials in EDOCKET index at http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/index.jsp. 
Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly 
available, i.e., 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 electronically in Regional Materials in EDOCKET or in 
hard copy at the Air and Radiation Program, Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA), Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 
80202-2466. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the 
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to 
view the hard copy of the docket. You may view the hard copy of the 
docket Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Domenico Mastrangelo, Air and 
Radiation Program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, 
Mailcode 8P-AR, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202-
2466, phone (303) 312-6436, and e-mail at: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. General Information
II. What Is the Purpose of This Action?
III. What Is the State's Process to Submit These Materials to EPA?
IV. EPA's Evaluation of the Revised Maintenance Plan
V. EPA's Evaluation of the Transportation Conformity Requirements
VI. EPA's Evaluation of the Revised Vehicle Inspection and 
Maintenance Program
VII. Consideration of Section 110(l) of the CAA
VIII. Final Action
IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

Definitions

    For the purpose of this document, we are giving meaning to certain 
words or initials as follows:
    (i) The words or initials Act or CAA mean or refer to the Clean Air 
Act, unless the context indicates otherwise.
    (ii) The words EPA, we, us or our mean or refer to the United 
States Environmental Protection Agency.
    (iii) The initials NAAQS mean National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard.
    (iv) The initials SIP mean or refer to State Implementation Plan.
    (v) The word State means the State of Utah, unless the context 
indicates otherwise.

I. General Information

A. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
Regional Materials in EDOCKET, regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark 
the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI 
information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside 
of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within 
the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In 
addition to one complete version of the comment that includes 
information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain 
the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the 
public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in 
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other 
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and 
page number).
     Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the 
use of profanity or personal threats.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

II. What Is the Purpose of This Action?

    In this action, we are approving a revised maintenance plan for the 
Salt

[[Page 44057]]

Lake City CO attainment/maintenance area that is designed to keep the 
area in attainment for CO through 2019, we're approving revised 
transportation conformity motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs), and 
we're approving revisions to the vehicle inspection and maintenance 
program for Salt Lake County. We are also approving revisions to Utah's 
Rule R307-110-12, ``Section IX, Control Measures for Area and Point 
Sources, Part C, Carbon Monoxide,'' and Rule R307-110-33, ``Section X, 
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program, Part C, Salt Lake County,'' 
which merely incorporate the State's SIP revisions to the Salt Lake 
City CO maintenance plan and the vehicle inspection and maintenance 
program for Salt Lake County, respectively.
    We approved the original CO redesignation to attainment and 
maintenance plan for the Salt Lake City area on January 21, 1999 (see 
64 FR 3216).
    The original Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan that we approved on 
January 21, 1999 (hereafter January 21, 1999 maintenance plan) utilized 
the then applicable EPA mobile sources emission factor model, MOBILE5a. 
On January 18, 2002, we issued policy guidance for States and local 
areas to use to develop SIP revisions using the new, updated version of 
the model, MOBILE6. The policy guidance was entitled ``Policy Guidance 
on the Use of MOBILE6 for SIP Development and Transportation 
Conformity'' (hereafter, January 18, 2002 MOBILE6 policy). On November 
12, 2002, EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) issued 
an updated version of the MOBILE6 model, MOBILE6.2, and notified 
Federal, State, and Local agency users of the model's availability. 
MOBILE6.2 contained additional updates for air toxics and particulate 
matter. However, the CO emission factors were essentially the same as 
in the MOBILE6 version of the model.
    For the revised maintenance plan, the State recalculated the CO 
emissions for the 1993 attainment year, projected emission inventories 
for 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2019, and calculated all 
the mobile source emissions using MOBILE6.2. Based on projected 
significant mobile source emission reductions for the interim years 
between 2005 and 2019, the State's revised maintenance demonstration is 
also able to accommodate the relaxation of certain provisions for newer 
vehicles in the Salt Lake County Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/
M) Program while continuing to demonstrate maintenance of the CO NAAQS. 
Thus, the State has asked us to approve a revision to ``Vehicle 
Inspection and Maintenance Program, Salt Lake County'' (hereafter 
referred to as ``Salt Lake County I/M program'' or ``I/M program'') 
that allows vehicles less than six years old to be inspected every 
other year instead of annually. The State calculated a CO MVEB for 2005 
and applied a selected amount of the available safety margin to the 
2005 transportation conformity MVEB. The State calculated a CO MVEB for 
2019 and beyond and also applied a selected amount of the available 
safety margin to the 2019 and beyond transportation conformity MVEB. We 
have determined that all the revisions noted above are Federally-
approvable, as described further below.

III. What Is the State's Process To Submit These Materials To EPA?

    Section 110(k) of the CAA addresses our actions on submissions of 
revisions to a SIP. The CAA requires States to observe certain 
procedural requirements in developing SIP revisions for submittal to 
us. Section 110(a)(2) of the CAA requires that each SIP revision be 
adopted after reasonable notice and public hearing. This must occur 
prior to the revision being submitted by a State to us.
    The Utah Air Quality Board (UAQB) held a public hearing for the 
revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan, the revised Salt Lake 
County vehicle inspection and maintenance program, and the revisions to 
Rule R307-110-12 and Rule R307-110-33 on August 18, 2004. The revised 
plan elements and rules were adopted by the UAQB on October 6, 2004. 
The revised CO maintenance plan and Rule R307-110-12 became State 
effective on December 2, 2004 and the revised vehicle inspection and 
maintenance program and Rule R307-110-33 became State effective on 
October 7, 2004. The Governor submitted these SIP revisions to us on 
October 19, 2004. Additional administrative materials were submitted to 
us by the State on March 3, 2005.
    We have evaluated the Governor's submittal for these SIP revisions 
and have determined that the State met the requirements for reasonable 
notice and public hearing under section 110(a)(2) of the CAA. As 
required by section 110(k)(1)(B) of the CAA, we reviewed these SIP 
materials for conformance with the completeness criteria in 40 CFR part 
51, appendix V and determined that the submittals were administratively 
and technically complete. Our completeness determination was sent on 
March 22, 2005, through a letter from Robert E. Roberts, Regional 
Administrator, to Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.

IV. EPA's Evaluation of the Revised Maintenance Plan

    EPA has reviewed the State's revised maintenance plan for the Salt 
Lake City attainment/maintenance area and believes that approval is 
warranted. The following are the key aspects of this revision along 
with our evaluation of each:
    (a) The State has air quality data that show continuous attainment 
of the CO NAAQS.
    As described in 40 CFR 50.8, the national primary ambient air 
quality standard for carbon monoxide is 9 parts per million (10 
milligrams per cubic meter) for an 8-hour average concentration not to 
be exceeded more than once per year. 40 CFR 50.8 continues by stating 
that the levels of CO in the ambient air shall be measured by a 
reference method based on 40 CFR part 50, appendix C and designated in 
accordance with 40 CFR part 53 or an equivalent method designated in 
accordance with 40 CFR part 53. The January 21, 1999 maintenance plan 
relied on ambient air quality data from 1993 through 1997. In our 
consideration of the revised Salt Lake City maintenance plan, submitted 
by the Governor on October 19, 2004, we reviewed ambient air quality 
data from 1993 through 2004. The Salt Lake City area shows continuous 
attainment of the CO NAAQS from 1993 to present. All of the above-
referenced air quality data are archived in our Air Quality System 
(AQS).
    (b) Using the MOBILE6.2 emission factor model, the State revised 
the attainment year inventory (1993) and provided projected emissions 
inventories for the years 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2019.
    The revised maintenance plan that the Governor submitted on October 
19, 2004, includes comprehensive inventories of CO emissions for the 
Salt Lake City area. These inventories include emissions from 
stationary point sources, area sources, non-road mobile sources, and 
on-road mobile sources. More detailed descriptions of the revised 1993 
attainment year inventory, and the projected emissions inventories for 
2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2019, are documented in the 
maintenance plan in section IX.C.7.b entitled ``Emission Inventories 
and Maintenance Demonstration,'' and in the State's Technical Support 
Document (TSD). The State's submittal contains emission inventory 
information that was prepared in accordance with EPA guidance. Summary 
emission figures

[[Page 44058]]

from the 1993 attainment year and the projected years are provided in 
Table IV--1 below.

                                                                       Table IV--1
                                          [Summary of CO emissions in tons per day for the Salt Lake City area]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Source category                             1993       2004       2005       2008       2011       2014       2017       2019
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Point*..........................................................          0          0          0          0          0          0          0          0
Area............................................................      15.34       7.57       7.54       7.48       7.50       7.49       7.42       7.34
Non-Road........................................................      34.84      38.52      39.23      41.13      43.08      45.02      47.01      48.37
                                                                     295.21     176.14     168.66     130.01     118.19     110.30     106.35     104.08
                                                                 ------------
    Total.......................................................     345.39     222.23     215.43     178.62     168.77     162.81     160.78     159.79
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*There were no major CO point sources in the Salt Lake City maintenance area; the State included point source emissions in the Area source category.

    The revised mobile source emissions show that the largest change 
from the original January 21, 1999 maintenance plan and this is 
primarily due to the use of MOBILE6.2 instead of MOBILE5a. The 
MOBILE6.2 modeling information is contained in the State's TSD (see 
``Mobile Source 1993 Base Year Inventory Using MOBILE6.2,'' pages 
2.b.ii.5-1 through 2.b.ii.5-4; and ``Mobile Source Projection Year 
Inventories Using MOBILE6.2, pages 2.c.iv-1 through 2.c.iv-4) and on a 
compact disk produced by the State (see ``Supplemental Mobile Source 
Data (CD-ROM),'' section 2.d.). A copy of the State's compact disk is 
available upon request to EPA. The compact disk contains much of the 
modeling data, MOBILE6.2 input-output files, fleet makeup, MOBILE6.2 
input parameters, and other information, and is included with the 
docket for this action. Other revisions to the mobile sources category 
resulted from revised vehicle miles traveled (VMT) estimates provided 
to the State by the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) which is the 
metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Salt Lake City area. 
In summary, the revised maintenance plan and State TSD contain detailed 
emission inventory information that was prepared in accordance with EPA 
guidance and is acceptable to EPA.
    (c) The State revised the January 21, 1999 Salt Lake City 
maintenance plan.
    The January 21, 1999 CO maintenance plan utilized the then 
applicable EPA mobile sources emission factor model, MOBILE5a. On 
January 18, 2002, we issued policy guidance for States and local areas 
to use to develop SIP revisions using the updated version of the model, 
MOBILE6. The policy guidance was entitled ``Policy Guidance on the Use 
of MOBILE6 for SIP Development and Transportation Conformity'' 
(hereafter, January 18, 2002 MOBILE6 policy). Additional policy 
guidance regarding EPA's MOBILE model was issued on November 12, 2002, 
which notified Federal, State, and local agencies that the updated 
MOBILE6.2 model was now available and was the recommended version of 
the model to be used. We note that the State used the MOBILE6.2 model 
to revise the Salt Lake City maintenance plan.
    Our January 18, 2002, MOBILE6 policy allows areas to revise their 
motor vehicle emission inventories and transportation conformity MVEBs 
using the MOBILE6 model without needing to revise the entire SIP or 
completing additional modeling if: (1) The SIP continues to demonstrate 
attainment or maintenance when the MOBILE5-based motor vehicle emission 
inventories are replaced with MOBILE6 base year and attainment/
maintenance year inventories and, (2) the State can document that the 
growth and control strategy assumptions for non-motor vehicle emission 
sources continue to be valid and minor updates do not change the 
overall conclusion of the SIP. Our January 18, 2002 MOBILE6 policy also 
speaks specifically to CO maintenance plans on page 10 of the policy. 
The first paragraph on page 10 of the policy states `` * * * if a 
carbon monoxide (CO) maintenance plan relied on either a relative or 
absolute demonstration, the first criterion could be satisfied by 
documenting that the relative emission reductions between the base year 
and the maintenance year are the same or greater using MOBILE6 as 
compared to MOBILE5.''
    The State could have used the streamlined approach described in our 
January 18, 2002 MOBILE6 policy to update the Salt Lake City carbon 
monoxide MVEBs. However, the Governor's October 19, 2004 SIP submittal 
instead contained a completely revised maintenance plan and maintenance 
demonstration for the Salt Lake City area. That is, all emission source 
categories (point, area, non-road, and on-road mobile) were updated 
using the latest versions of applicable models (including MOBILE6.2), 
transportation data sets, emissions data, emission factors, population 
figures and other demographic information. We have determined that this 
fully revised maintenance plan SIP submittal exceeds the requirements 
of our January 18, 2002 MOBILE6 policy and, therefore, our January 18, 
2002 MOBILE6 policy is not relevant to our approval of the revised 
maintenance plan and its MVEBs.
    As discussed above, the State prepared a revised attainment year 
inventory for 1993, and new emission inventories for the years 2004, 
2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2019. The results of these 
calculations are presented in Table 3 ``Emissions Projections for 
Interim Years'' on page 5 of the revised Salt Lake City maintenance 
plan (Utah SIP Section IX, Part C.7) and are also summarized in our 
Table IV-1 above. In addition, we note that the State modified the Salt 
Lake County I/M program to specify that vehicles less than six years 
old are to have their emissions tested every other year instead of 
annually (see our discussion and evaluation in section VI below.)
    The State performed an analysis of this relaxation of the Salt Lake 
I/M program and determined that this change could be implemented for 
Salt Lake County, beginning in 2005, without jeopardizing maintenance 
of the CO NAAQS. As noted below in section VI, we reviewed the State's 
methodology and analysis and we have determined they are acceptable. 
The effects of this I/M rule relaxation were incorporated into the 
State's mobile sources modeling with MOBILE6.2, as applicable to the 
years 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2019, and these results are 
reflected in the Table 3 of the maintenance plan and in our Table IV-1 
above.

[[Page 44059]]

    We have determined that the State has demonstrated, using 
MOBILE6.2, that mobile source emissions continuously decline from 1993 
to 2019 and that the total CO emissions from all source categories, 
projected for years 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2019, are 
all below the 1993 attainment year level of CO emissions. Therefore, we 
are approving the revised maintenance plan as it demonstrates 
maintenance of the CO NAAQS from 1993 through 2019, while allowing the 
I/M relaxations from the revisions to the Salt Lake County I/M program.
    (d) Monitoring Network and Verification of Continued Attainment.
    Continued attainment of the CO NAAQS in the Salt Lake City area 
depends, in part, on the State's efforts to track indicators throughout 
the maintenance period. This requirement is met in section IX.C.7.e: 
``Monitoring Network/Verification of Continued Attainment'' of the 
revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan. In section IX.C.7.e, the 
State commits to continue the operation of the CO monitor in the Salt 
Lake City area, in accordance with the provisions of 40 CFR 58, and to 
annually review this monitoring network and gain EPA approval before 
making any changes.
    Also, in section IX.C.7.e and IX.C.7.f, the State commits to track 
mobile sources' CO emissions (which are the largest component of the 
inventories) through the ongoing regional transportation planning 
process that is done by the WFRC. Since regular revisions to Salt Lake 
City's transportation improvement programs and long range 
transportation plans must go through a transportation conformity 
finding, the State will use this process to periodically review the 
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and mobile source emissions projections 
used in the revised maintenance plan. This regional transportation 
conformity process is conducted by WFRC in coordination with Utah's 
Division of Air Quality (UDAQ), the UAQB, the Utah Department of 
Transportation (UDOT) and EPA.
    Based on the above, we are approving these commitments as 
satisfying the relevant requirements. We note that our final rulemaking 
approval renders the State's commitments federally enforceable.
    (e) Contingency Plan.
    Section 175A(d) of the CAA requires that a maintenance plan include 
contingency provisions. To meet this requirement, the State has 
identified appropriate contingency measures along with a schedule for 
the development and implementation of such measures.
    As stated in section IX.C.7.f of the revised maintenance plan, the 
contingency measures for the Salt Lake City area will be triggered by a 
violation of the CO NAAQS. However, the State approaches the 
development and implementation of contingency measures from a two-step 
process; first, upon an exceedance of the CO NAAQS and second, upon a 
violation of the CO NAAQS.
    The UDAQ will notify the Salt Lake City government and EPA of an 
exceedance of the CO NAAQS generally within 30, but no more than 45 
days. Upon notification of a CO exceedance, the UDAQ in coordination 
with the WFRC, will begin evaluating and developing potential 
contingency measures that are intended to correct a violation of the CO 
NAAQS. This process will be completed within six months of the 
notification that an exceedance of the CO NAAQS has occurred. If a 
violation of the CO NAAQS has occurred, a public hearing process will 
begin at the local and State levels. Should the UAQB conclude that the 
implementation of local measures will prevent further exceedances or 
violations of the CO NAAQS, the UAQB may approve or endorse local 
measures without adopting State requirements. If, however, the UDAQ 
decides locally-adopted contingency measures are inadequate, the UDAQ 
will recommend to the UAQB that they instead adopt State-enforceable 
measures as deemed necessary to address the current violation(s) and 
prevent additional exceedances or violations. Regardless of whether the 
selected contingency measures are local- or State-adopted, the 
necessary contingency measures will be implemented within one year of a 
CO NAAQS violation. The State also indicates in section IX.C.7.f that 
any State-enforceable measure will become part of the next revised 
maintenance plan submitted for EPA approval.
    The potential contingency measures identified in section 
IX.C.7.f(3) of the revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan include: 
(1) A return to annual inspections for all vehicles; (2) improvements 
to the current I/M program in the Salt Lake City area; (3) mandatory 
employer-based travel reduction programs as allowed by statute; (4) and 
other emission control measures appropriate for the area.
    Based on the above, we find that the contingency measures provided 
in the State's revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan are 
sufficient and continue to meet the requirements of section 175A(d) of 
the CAA.
    (f) Subsequent Maintenance Plan Revisions.
    Section IX.C.7.g of the State's revised maintenance plan states 
that:
    ``No maintenance plan revision will be needed after 2019, as that 
is the 20th year following EPA approval of the original maintenance 
plan. No further maintenance plan is needed after successful 
maintenance of the standard for 20 years. However, the State will 
update the Plan if conditions warrant.''
    This is essentially a correct interpretation of the length of time 
that an area is required to demonstrate maintenance of the CO NAAQS as 
provided in sections 175A(a) and 175A(b) of the CAA. Although this 
language in section IX.C.7.g of the revised Salt Lake City CO 
maintenance plan does not address the specific requirements for the 
submittal of a revised maintenance plan as stated in section 175A(b) of 
the CAA, we have concluded it is sufficient to meet the intent of 
section 175A(b).
    The requirement for a subsequent maintenance plan submittal appears 
in section 175A(b) of the CAA which states ``8 years after 
redesignation of any area as an attainment area under section 107(d), 
the State shall submit to the Administrator an additional revision of 
the applicable State implementation plan for maintaining the national 
primary ambient air quality standard for 10 years after the expiration 
of the 10-year period referred to in subsection (a).'' As EPA 
redesignated the Salt Lake City CO nonattainment area to attainment on 
January 21, 1999, a subsequent maintenance plan submittal from the 
State, to address the requirements of section 175A(b) of the CAA, would 
normally be submitted to us by January 21, 2007. However, as the 
Governor's October 19, 2004 submittal of the revised Salt Lake City CO 
maintenance plan provides a sufficiently robust maintenance 
demonstration through 2019, we find that this revised maintenance plan 
addresses the requirements of section 175A(b) of the CAA.
    Regardless of the requirements of section 175(A) of the CAA, 
though, other sections of the CAA, presently in place or adopted in the 
future, may require the State to revise the maintenance plan and/or 
Utah SIP more generally, to ensure that the area continues to meet the 
CO NAAQS. Section 110(a)(1) of the CAA is an example of such a 
provision. Also, we interpret the quoted statement above as merely 
indicating that section 175A does not require a further maintenance 
plan revision after 2019; we do not interpret it to mean that the 
maintenance plan will automatically terminate after 2019. EPA's

[[Page 44060]]

longstanding interpretation is that SIP provisions remain in place 
until EPA approves a revision to such provisions. The only exception is 
if the SIP contains explicit language that some or all of its 
provisions will terminate upon a specific future date. The maintenance 
plan does not contain such explicit language. Based on our 
interpretation, section IX.C.7.g of the State's revised maintenance 
plan is acceptable to us.
    Based on our review and evaluation of the components of the revised 
Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan, as discussed in our items IV.(a) 
through IV.(f) above, we have concluded that the State has met the 
necessary requirements in order for us to approve the revised Salt Lake 
City CO maintenance plan.

V. EPA's Evaluation of the Transportation Conformity Requirements

    One key provision of our conformity regulation (40 CFR part 93) 
requires a demonstration that emissions from the long range 
transportation plan and Transportation Improvement Program are 
consistent with the emissions budget(s) in the SIP (40 CFR 93.118 and 
93.124). The emissions budget is defined as the level of mobile source 
emissions relied upon in the attainment or maintenance demonstration to 
maintain compliance with the NAAQS in the nonattainment or maintenance 
area. The rule's requirements and EPA's policy on emissions budgets are 
found in the preamble to the November 24, 1993, transportation 
conformity rule (58 FR 62193-62196) and in the sections of the rule 
referenced above.
    With respect to maintenance plans, our conformity regulation 
requires that MVEB(s) must be established for the last year of the 
maintenance plan and may be established for any other years deemed 
appropriate (40 CFR 93.118). For transportation plan analysis years 
after the last year of the maintenance plan (in this case 2019), a 
conformity determination must show that emissions are less than or 
equal to the maintenance plan's motor vehicle emissions budget(s) for 
the last year of the implementation plan. EPA's conformity regulation 
(40 CFR 93.124) also allows the implementation plan to quantify 
explicitly the amount by which motor vehicle emissions could be higher 
while still demonstrating compliance with the maintenance requirement. 
The implementation plan can then allocate some or all of this 
additional ``safety margin'' to the emissions budget(s) for 
transportation conformity purposes.
    Section IX.C.7.d ``Mobile Source Carbon Monoxide Emissions Budget 
for Transportation Conformity'' of the revised Salt Lake City CO 
maintenance plan briefly describes the applicable transportation 
conformity requirements, provides MVEB calculations, identifies 
``safety margin,'' and indicates that the UAQB elected to apply some of 
the ``safety margin'' to the MVEB(s) for 2005 and 2019.
    In section IX.C.7.d of the revised maintenance plan, the State 
evaluated two MVEBs: A budget for 2005, and a budget applicable to the 
maintenance year 2019. For the 2019 MVEB, the State subtracted the 
total estimated 2019 emissions (from all sources) of 159.79 Tons Per 
Day (TPD) from the 1993 attainment year total emissions of 345.39 TPD. 
This produced a ``safety margin'' of 185.60 TPD. The State then reduced 
this ``safety margin'' by 11.06 TPD. The identified ``safety margin'' 
of 174.54 TPD for 2019 was then added to the estimated 2019 mobile 
sources emissions, 104.08 TPD, to produce a 2019 MVEB of 278.62 TPD. 
For the 2005 MVEB, the State subtracted the total estimated 2005 
emissions (from all sources) of 215.43 TPD from the 1993 attainment 
year total emissions of 345.39 TPD. This produced a ``safety margin'' 
of 129.96 TPD. The State then reduced this ``safety margin'' by 20 TPD. 
The identified ``safety margin'' of 109.96 TPD for 2005 was then added 
to the estimated 2005 mobile sources emissions, 168.66 TPD, to produce 
a 2005 MVEB of 278.62 TPD.
    As noted above, the Governor submitted the original Salt Lake City 
CO maintenance plan to us on December 9, 1996 and we approved it on 
January 21, 1999 (see 64 FR 3216.) This original maintenance plan 
demonstrated maintenance of the CO NAAQS through 2006. While our 
conformity rule (see 40 CFR part 93) does not require a MVEB for years 
other than the last year of the maintenance period, states have the 
option to establish MVEBs for other years too. The State's December 9, 
1996, maintenance plan established MVEB(s) for 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2016. As 
noted in our January 21, 1999 action, the State also alluded to a MVEB 
for the period 2007 to 2016. Because the maintenance plan did not 
adequately identify such a MVEB, we approved no MVEB for 2007 to 2016. 
We stated in our January 21, 1999 action that the 2006 MVEB would be 
used for any transportation conformity determinations for the period 
2007 through 2015 (see 64 FR 3216, pages 3221 and 3222.)
    The revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan, that was submitted 
to us on October 19, 2004, states, ``This plan retracts the emissions 
budgets for 2005-2016 that were included in the original Salt Lake City 
Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan submitted to EPA in 1996.'' EPA 
interprets this language to mean that the State is retracting the 1996 
maintenance plan budgets for years 2005, 2006 and 2016. The October 19, 
2004 maintenance plan establishes new MVEBs for 2005 and 2019 based on 
MOBILE6.2. In part, the State chose these budget years and retracted 
budgets for other years based on input from Region 8.
    However, Region 8 recently discovered that we misinterpreted the 
CAA requirements regarding initial maintenance plan MVEBs and 
mistakenly advised the State that it could entirely remove a MVEB for 
2006 from the maintenance plan. Instead, EPA's interpretation is that a 
MVEB for the last year of the first maintenance period must be retained 
as a specific MVEB year when a second maintenance plan is submitted to 
meet the requirements of section 175A(b) of the CAA. We should have 
advised the State to retain a MVEB for 2006.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This doesn't mean the State would have had to retain the 
same exact budget. With a proper demonstration, a state can revise 
the budget for the last year of the first 10-year maintenance 
period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described below, however, we believe the lack of a 2006 MVEB in 
this case is not significant and that approval of the revised 
maintenance plan and MVEBs is still warranted. In section IV of this 
action, we describe how the revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan 
meets our criteria for approval and that the State has demonstrated 
maintenance of the CO NAAQS for the entire maintenance period through 
2019. Essentially, the State demonstrated that total CO emissions in 
future years through 2019 will be less than the 1993 attainment year 
level of CO emissions. Table V-1 below, which is taken from Table 3 of 
section IX.C.7.b of the State's revised maintenance plan, illustrates 
this point. We have also included in this table the available safety 
margin that the State could have applied to the MVEB in each projection 
year.

[[Page 44061]]



                                                                        Table V-1
                                                        [All emissions are in tons per day of CO]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              On-road        Non-road                          Total         Available
                          Year                             Area sources   mobile sources      sources     Point sources*     emissions     safety margin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993....................................................           15.34          295.21           34.84               0          345.39  ..............
2004....................................................            7.57          176.14           38.52               0          222.23          123.16
2005....................................................            7.54          168.66           39.23               0          215.43          129.96
2008....................................................            7.48          130.01           41.13               0          178.62          166.77
2011....................................................            7.50          118.19           43.08               0          168.77          176.62
2014....................................................            7.49          110.30           45.02               0          162.81          182.58
2017....................................................            7.42          106.35           47.01               0          160.78          184.61
2019....................................................            7.34          104.08           48.37               0          159.79         185.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The State indicated there were no major point sources of CO and that point source emissions were included with the Area Sources category.

    Based on the information from Table V-1 above, Table V-2 below 
illustrates the State-specified MVEBs for 2005 and 2019. It also shows 
that, based on available safety margin, the State could have specified 
the same budget as it specified for 2005 and 2019 in any of the other 
projection years--278.62 tons per day of CO. The emissions estimates 
for 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017 are provided in Table V-2 for 
illustrative purposes only; emissions estimates for these years do not 
represent MVEBs.

                                                    Table V-2
                      [(All emissions are in tons per day of CO) (MVEBs are shown in bold)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      On-road
                                                                                   mobile source
                      Year                        On-road source     Available    emissions with     Remaining
                                                     emissions     safety margin     allocated     safety margin
                                                                                  safety margins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 **.........................................          168.66          129.96          278.62           20.00
2008............................................          130.01          166.77          278.62           18.16
2011............................................          118.19          176.62          278.62           16.19
2014............................................          110.30          182.58          278.62           14.26
2017............................................          106.35          184.61          278.62           12.34
2019 **.........................................          104.08          185.60          278.62          11.06
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Emissions estimates for 2005 and 2019 represent MVEBs established in the CO maintenance plan.

    It is evident from the emissions trends from 2005 forward, and from 
the amount of remaining safety margin in 2005 and 2008, that the State 
could have established 278.62 tons per day of CO as the 2006 MVEB too. 
In other words, the 2005 MVEB is reasonably representative of 2006.
    A 2006 MVEB would have applied for any conformity determination for 
analysis years between 2006 and 2019. The 2005 MVEB must be used for 
any conformity determination for analysis years between 2005 and 2019. 
(See 40 CFR 93.118(b)(2)(iv).) In other words, the elimination of the 
2006 MVEB has limited, if any, practical effect. For a conformity 
analysis of any transportation plan or program, there will still be a 
quantitative budget analysis for any analysis years between 2005 and 
2019, as required by 40 CFR 93.118(b), and conformity will have to be 
shown to a MVEB of 278.62 tons per day of CO, the same MVEB the State 
could have specified for 2006.
    We also note that the 2005 MVEB is reasonably representative of 
2009. This was the year for which EPA extracted data from the State's 
TSD in its January 21,1999 action to meet the 10-year maintenance 
requirement in section 175A(a) of the CAA. See 64 FR 3216. Normally, 
the initial maintenance plan would have established a MVEB for 2009, 
and the current maintenance plan should then have included a MVEB for 
2009. However, Table V-2 above shows that a budget identical to the 
2005 MVEB of 278.62 tons per day of CO could have also been established 
in 2008 and 2011. Based on our discussion above relative to MVEB for 
2005 and 2006, and the information from Table V-2, it is evident that 
the 2005 MVEB could have been established for 2009 as well. For the 
same reasons that the lack of a 2006 MVEB has limited, if any, 
practical effect, the lack of a 2009 MVEB also has limited, if any, 
practical effect.
    Pursuant to Sec.  93.118(e)(4) of EPA's transportation conformity 
rule, as amended, EPA must determine the adequacy of submitted mobile 
source emissions budgets. EPA reviewed the revised Salt Lake City CO 
maintenance plan's emission budget for 2019 for adequacy using the 
criteria in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4), and determined that the budget was 
adequate for conformity purposes. EPA's adequacy determination was made 
in a letter to the Utah Division of Air Quality May 2, 2005, and was 
announced in the Federal Register on May 31, 2005 (70 FR 30946). As a 
result of this adequacy finding, the 2019 budget took effect for 
conformity determinations in the Salt Lake City area on June 15, 2005. 
However, we note that we are not bound by this determination in acting 
on the revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan.
    We have concluded that the State has satisfactorily demonstrated 
continued maintenance of the CO NAAQS while using transportation 
conformity MVEBs of 278.62 TPD for 2005 and 2019. Therefore, we are 
approving the transportation conformity MVEB of 278.62 TPD of CO, for 
the Salt Lake City attainment/maintenance area, for 2005 and 2019.

[[Page 44062]]

VI. EPA's Evaluation of the Revised Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance 
Program

    In developing the Salt Lake City revised CO maintenance plan, the 
State revised Section X, Part C, of the Utah State Implementation Plan, 
``Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program, Salt Lake County,'' to go 
from an annual to an every-other-year testing program for vehicles less 
than six years old.
    The Salt Lake County I/M program revisions adopted by the UAQB on 
October 6, 2004, State effective on October 7, 2004, and submitted by 
the Governor on October 19, 2004, reflect the changes in State law, 
section 41-6-163.6, Utah Code Annotated, for implementing the I/M 
program in Salt Lake County. After EPA approval, this State provision 
will become part of the Federally-enforceable SIP. The revised 
maintenance plan reflects the changes in the Salt Lake County I/M 
program in that mobile source CO emissions were calculated for the Salt 
Lake City area for the years 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2019, 
assuming every-other-year testing for vehicles less than six years old. 
Even with this relaxation of the I/M requirements, the emission 
projections indicate that the Salt Lake City area will maintain the CO 
NAAQS from 2005 through 2019.
    We note a discrepancy between the Salt Lake County I/M program and 
Appendix 1.1, ``Salt Lake City-County Health Department Regulation 
22A Governing the Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection 
Maintenance Program for the Control of Air Contaminant Emissions from 
Motor Vehicles, March 5, 1998.'' In Regulation 22A, section 
2.0 ``Purpose'' and section 6.0 ``General Provisions'' indicate that 
the Director and the Board of County Commissioners can require either 
an annual or biennial program. The maintenance demonstration is based 
on an annual program for vehicles six years or older and a biennial 
program for vehicles less than six years old. Any decision by the 
Director and the Board of County Commissioners to expand the biennial 
program to other vehicles will only be federally effective upon EPA 
approval as a SIP revision.
    We have evaluated and determined that the Salt Lake County I/M 
program revisions described above are acceptable to us and we are 
approving them now in conjunction with this action.

VII. Consideration of Section 110(l) of the CAA

    Section 110(1) of the CAA states that a SIP revision cannot be 
approved if the revision would interfere with any applicable 
requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further progress 
towards attainment of a NAAQS or any other applicable requirement of 
the CAA. The revised Salt Lake City CO maintenance plan and Salt Lake 
County I/M program will not interfere with attainment, reasonable 
further progress, or any other applicable requirement of the CAA.

VIII. Final Action

    In this action, EPA is approving the revised Salt Lake City CO 
maintenance plan, the revisions to Utah's Rule R307-110-12 (which 
incorporates the revised CO maintenance plan into the Utah Rules,) the 
revised transportation conformity CO motor vehicle emission budget for 
the years 2005 and 2019, the revised Salt Lake County vehicle 
inspection and maintenance program, and the revisions to Utah's Rule 
R307-110-33 (which incorporates the revised Salt Lake County vehicle 
inspection and maintenance program into the Utah Rules,) all as 
submitted by the Governor on October 19, 2004.
    EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the 
Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no 
adverse comments. However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's 
Federal Register publication, EPA is publishing a separate document 
that will serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse 
comments are filed. This rule will be effective September 30, 2005 
without further notice unless the Agency receives adverse comments by 
August 31, 2005. If the EPA receives adverse comments, EPA will publish 
a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that 
the rule will not take effect. EPA will address all public comments in 
a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. The EPA will not 
institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in commenting must do so at this time. Please note that if 
EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of 
this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of 
the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are 
not the subject of an adverse comment.

IX. 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 approves 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.
    In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. In 
this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the 
State 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 a SIP 
submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise 
satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements 
of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and

[[Page 44063]]

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 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 30, 2005. 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).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: July 8, 2005.
Robert E. Roberts,
Regional Administrator, Region VIII.

0
40 CFR part 52 is amended to read 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 TT--Utah

0
2. Section 52.2320 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(60) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.2320  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (60) Revisions to the Utah State Implementation Plan, Section IX, 
Part C.7, ``Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Provisions for Salt Lake 
City,'' as submitted by the Governor on October 19, 2004; revisions to 
UACR R307-110-12, ``Section IX, Control Measures for Area and Point 
Sources, Part C, Carbon Monoxide,'' as submitted by the Governor on 
October 19, 2004; revisions to the Utah State Implementation Plan, 
Section X, ``Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program, Part C, Salt 
Lake County,'' as submitted by the Governor on October 19, 2004; and 
revisions to UACR R307-110-33, ``Section X, Vehicle Inspection and 
Maintenance Program, Part C, Salt Lake County,'' as submitted by the 
Governor on October 19, 2004.
    (i) Incorporation by reference.
    (A) UACR R307-110-12, as adopted by the Utah Air Quality Board on 
October 6, 2004, effective December 2, 2004. This incorporation by 
reference of UACR R307-110-12 only extends to the following Utah SIP 
provisions and excludes any other provisions that UACR R307-110-12 
incorporates by reference: Section IX, Part C.7, ``Carbon Monoxide 
Maintenance Provisions for Salt Lake City,'' adopted by Utah Air 
Quality Board on October 6, 2004, effective December 2, 2004.
    (B) UACR R307-110-33, ``Section X, Vehicle Inspection and 
Maintenance Program, Part C, Salt Lake County,'' as adopted by the Utah 
Air Quality Board on October 6, 2004, effective October 7, 2004.

[FR Doc. 05-15150 Filed 7-29-05; 8:45 am]
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