[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60740-60741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20817]



[[Page 60740]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[R03-OAR-2005-MD-0011; FRL-7984-6]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Maryland; Amendments to the Control of VOC From AIM Coatings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision 
submitted by the State of Maryland. This revision pertains to the 
amendments of controlling volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions 
from architectural and industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings in 
Maryland. EPA is approving this SIP revision in accordance with the 
Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

DATES: This final rule is effective on November 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Regional 
Material in EDocket (RME) ID Number R03-OAR-2005-MD-0011. All documents 
in the docket are listed in the RME index at http://www.docket.epa.gov/rmepub/. Once in the system, select ``quick search,'' then key in the 
appropriate RME identification number. Although listed in the 
electronic docket, some information is not publicly available, i.e., 
confidential business information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as 
copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be 
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket 
materials are available either electronically in RME or in hard copy 
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. Copies of the State 
submittal are available at the Maryland Department of the Environment, 
1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 705, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose Quinto, (215) 814-2182, or by e-
mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On August 15, 2005 (70 FR 47757), EPA published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPR) for the State of Maryland. The NPR proposed 
approval of the amendments to the control of VOC emissions from AIM 
coatings in Maryland. The formal SIP revision was submitted by the 
Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) on March 15, 2005.

II. Summary of SIP Revision

    This SIP revision amends a regulation to control emissions of VOC 
from AIM coatings in the State of Maryland. On March 15, 2005, MDE 
formally submitted its amendments to the AIM coatings rule as a SIP 
revision. These amendments are to provide consistency with similar 
regulations adopted by the other states in the Ozone Transport Region 
(OTR). These amendments are administrative changes that will not affect 
VOC reductions achieved through compliance with the coating standards. 
Other specific requirements of these amendments and the rationale for 
EPA's proposed action are explained in the NPR and will not be restated 
here. No public comments were received on the NPR.

III. Final Action

    EPA is approving Maryland's amendments to the AIM coatings rule as 
a revision to the Maryland SIP.

IV. 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 
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 (Public Law 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 
requirement, 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 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.).

B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    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

[[Page 60741]]

the Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 
U.S.C. 804(2).

C. 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 December 19, 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, pertaining to the amendments to the Maryland AIM 
coatings rule, may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce 
its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

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

    Dated: October 11, 2005.
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 V--Maryland

0
2. In Sec.  52.1070, the table in paragraph (c) is amended by revising 
the entry for COMAR 26.11.33 to read as follows:


Sec.  52.1070  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                                  EPA-Approved Regulations in the Maryland SIP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Additional
 Code of Maryland Administrative     Title/subject          State       EPA approval date   explanation/Citation
  Regulations (COMAR) citation                         effective date                         at 40 CFR 52.1100
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                                                  * * * * * * *
---------------------------------
                                        26.11.33--Architectural Coatings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
26.11.33.06.....................  Most Restrictive            2/28/05  10/19/05 [Insert     Addition of sections
                                   VOC Limit.                           page number where    B(15) through
                                                                        the document         B(19).
                                                                        begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
26.11.33.10.....................  Coatings Not Listed         2/28/05  10/19/05 [Insert     ....................
                                   in Regulation .05.                   page number where
                                                                        the document
                                                                        begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
26.11.33.12.....................  Container Labeling          2/28/05  10/19/05 [Insert     Deleted section K.
                                   Requirements.                        page number where
                                                                        the document
                                                                        begins].
26.11.33.13.....................  Record Keeping              2/28/05  10/19/05 [Insert     ....................
                                   Requirements.                        page number where
                                                                        the document
                                                                        begins].
 
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[FR Doc. 05-20817 Filed 10-18-05; 8:45 am]
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