[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51489-51500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7248]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[EPA-R05-OAR-2006-0399; FRL-8214-5]
Determination of Attainment, Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning
Purposes; Indiana; Redesignation of Allen County 8-hour Ozone
Nonattainment Area to Attainment for Ozone
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: On May 30, 2006, the State of Indiana, through the Indiana
Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), submitted, in final: A
request to redesignate the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standard (NAAQS) nonattainment area of Allen County, Indiana, to
attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS; and a request for EPA approval
of an Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a 14-
year maintenance plan for Allen County. Today, EPA is making a
determination that the Allen County, Indiana ozone nonattainment area
has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This determination is based on
three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring
data for the 2003-2005 ozone seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour
ozone NAAQS has been attained in the area. EPA is also approving the
request to redesignate the area to attainment for the 8-hour ozone
standard and the State's maintenance plan. EPA's approval of the 8-hour
ozone redesignation request is based on its determination that Allen
County, Indiana has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment
specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is also approving, for
purposes of transportation conformity, the motor vehicle emission
budgets (MVEBs) for the year 2020 that are contained in the 14-year 8-
hour ozone maintenance plan for Allen County.
DATES: This rule is effective on October 30, 2006, unless EPA receives
adverse written comments by September 29, 2006. If EPA receives adverse
comments, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the rule in the
Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take
effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-
OAR-2006-0399, by one of the following methods:
www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected].
Fax: (312) 886-5824.
Mail: John M. Mooney, Chief, Criteria Pollutant Section,
(AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
Hand Delivery: John M. Mooney, Chief, Criteria Pollutant
Section, (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such deliveries are only
accepted during the Regional Office normal hours of operation, and
special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed
information. The Regional Office official hours of business are Monday
through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding Federal holidays.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-
2006-0399. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
www.regulations.gov, 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 www.regulations.gov or e-mail.
The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system,
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 www.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
instructions on submitting comments, go to Section I of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This Facility is open from 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. We
recommend that you telephone Steven Rosenthal, Environmental Engineer,
at (312) 886-6052 before visiting the Region 5 office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Rosenthal, Environmental
Engineer, Criteria Pollutant Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J),
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-6052, [email protected].
[[Page 51490]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This supplementary information
section is arranged as follows:
I. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
II. What Actions Are EPA Taking?
III. What Is the Background for These Actions?
IV. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation?
V. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions?
VI. What Is EPA's Analysis of the Request?
VII. Has Indiana Adopted Acceptable Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets
for the End of the 14-Year Maintenance Plan Which Can Be Used To
Support Conformity Determinations?
VIII. What Is the Effect of EPA's Actions?
IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews.
I. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
A. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
www.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.
B. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments,
remember to:
1. Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other identifying
information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number).
2. Follow directions--The EPA may ask you to respond to specific
questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
3. Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and
substitute language for your requested changes.
4. Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information
and/or data that you used.
5. If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you
arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be
reproduced.
6. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and
suggest alternatives.
7. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of
profanity or personal threats.
8. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline
identified.
II. What Actions Are EPA Taking?
EPA is taking several related actions. EPA is making a
determination that the Allen County nonattainment area has attained the
8-hour ozone standard. EPA is also approving the State's request to
change the legal designation of the Allen County area from
nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also
approving Indiana's maintenance plan SIP revision for Allen County
(such approval being one of the CAA criteria for redesignation to
attainment status). The maintenance plan is designed to keep Allen
County in attainment for ozone for the next 14 years, through 2020. In
addition, and supported by and consistent with the ozone maintenance
plan, EPA is approving the 2020 VOC and NOX MVEBs for Allen
County for transportation conformity purposes.
These actions pertain to the designation of Allen County for the 8-
hour ozone standard and to the emission controls in this area related
to attainment and maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The emissions
of concern are VOC and NOX. If you own or operate a VOC or
NOX emission source in Allen County or live in this area,
this rule may apply to you. It may also apply to you if you are
involved in transportation planning or implementation of emission
controls in this area.
III. What Is the Background for These Actions?
Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly by sources. Rather,
emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic
compounds (VOC) react in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level
ozone. NOX and VOC are referred to as precursors of ozone.
The CAA required EPA to designate as nonattainment any area that
was violating the 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on the three most recent
years (2001-2003) of air quality data. The Federal Register notice
making these designations was signed on April 15, 2004, and published
on April 30, 2004, (69 FR 23857). The CAA contains two sets of
provisions--subpart 1 and subpart 2-- that address planning and control
requirements for nonattainment areas. (Both are found in title I, part
D.) Subpart 1 (which EPA refers to as ``basic'' nonattainment) contains
general, less prescriptive, requirements for nonattainment areas for
any pollutant--including ozone--governed by a NAAQS. Subpart 2 (which
EPA refers to as ``classified'' nonattainment) provides more specific
requirements for ozone nonattainment areas. Some areas are subject only
to the provisions of subpart 1. Other areas are also subject to the
provisions of subpart 2. Under EPA's 8-hour ozone implementation rule,
signed on April 15, 2004, an area was classified under subpart 2 based
on its 8-hour ozone design value (i.e., the 3-year average annual
fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration), if it
had a 1-hour design value at or above 0.121 ppm (the lowest 1-hour
design value in Table 1 of subpart 2). All other areas are covered
under subpart 1, based upon their 8-hour design values. Allen County
was originally designated as an 8-hour ozone nonattainment area by EPA
on April 30, 2004, (69 FR 23857). The 2004 classification for Allen
County as a subpart 1 8-hour ozone nonattainment area was based on air
quality monitoring data from 2001-2003.
Control requirements are linked to each classification. Areas with
more serious ozone pollution are subject to more prescribed
requirements. The requirements are designed to bring areas into
attainment by their specified attainment dates. The control
requirements and dates by which attainment needs to be achieved vary
with the area's classification. For example, marginal areas are subject
to the fewest mandated control requirements and have the earliest
attainment date. Under EPA regulations at 40 CFR part 50, the 8-hour
ozone standard is attained when the 3-year average of the annual
fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations (i.e.,
0.084 ppm) is less than or equal to 0.08 ppm. (See 69 FR 23857 (April
30, 2004) for further information). The data completeness requirement
is met when the average percent of days with valid ambient monitoring
data is greater than 90 percent, and no single year has less than 75
percent data completeness as determined in Appendix I of part 50.
On May 30, 2006, Indiana submitted a request for redesignation to
attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard for Allen County. The
redesignation request included three years of complete, quality-assured
data for the period of 2003 through 2005, indicating the 8-hour NAAQS
for ozone had been achieved for the Allen County. The data satisfy the
CAA requirements when the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest
daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration is less than or
[[Page 51491]]
equal to 0.08 ppm. Under the CAA, nonattainment areas may be
redesignated to attainment if sufficient complete, quality-assured data
are available for the Administrator to determine that the area has
attained the standard and the area meets the other CAA redesignation
requirements in section 107(d)(3)(E).
IV. What Are the Criteria for Redesignation?
The CAA provides the requirements for redesignating a nonattainment
area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E) allows for
redesignation providing that: (1) The Administrator determines that the
area has attained the applicable NAAQS; (2) the Administrator has fully
approved the applicable implementation plan for the area under section
110(k); (3) the Administrator determines that the improvement in air
quality is due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions
resulting from implementation of the applicable SIP and applicable
Federal air pollutant control regulations and other permanent and
enforceable reductions; (4) the Administrator has fully approved a
maintenance plan for the area as meeting the requirements of section
175A; and, (5) the state containing such area has met all requirements
applicable to the area under section 110 and part D.
EPA provided guidance on redesignation in the General Preamble for
the Implementation of Title I of the CAA Amendments of 1990, on April
16, 1992 (57 FR 13498), and supplemented this guidance on April 28,
1992 (57 FR 18070). EPA has provided further guidance on processing
redesignation requests in the following documents:
State Implementation Plans; ``Ozone and Carbon Monoxide Design Value
Calculations'', Memorandum from Bill Laxton, June 18, 1990;
``Maintenance Plans for Redesignation of Ozone and Carbon Monoxide
Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon
Monoxide Programs Branch, April 30, 1992;
``Contingency Measures for Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Redesignations,'' Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon
Monoxide Programs Branch, June 1, 1992;
``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to
Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality
Management Division, September 4, 1992;
``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted in Response to
Clean Air Act (ACT) Deadlines,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni,
Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992;
``Technical Support Documents (TSD's) for Redesignation Ozone and
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from G.T. Helms,
Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, August 17, 1993;
``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas Submitting
Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and Carbon
Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) On or
After November 15, 1992,'' Memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro, Acting
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, September 17, 1993;
Memorandum from D. Kent Berry, Acting Director, Air Quality Management
Division, to Air Division Directors, Regions 1-10, ``Use of Actual
Emissions in Maintenance Demonstrations for Ozone and CO Nonattainment
Areas,'' dated November 30, 1993.
``Part D New Source Review (part D NSR) Requirements for Areas
Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,'' Memorandum from Mary D.
Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, October 14,
1994; and
``Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment Demonstration, and Related
Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment Areas Meeting the Ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standard,'' Memorandum from John S. Seitz,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, May 10, 1995.
V. Why Is EPA Taking These Actions?
On May 30, 2006, the State submitted in final, after an April 18,
2006, public hearing, a request to redesignate the area to attainment
for the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA believes that Allen County has
attained the standard and has met the requirements for redesignation
set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E).
VI. WhatI Is EPA's Analysis of the Request?
EPA is making a determination that the Allen County nonattainment
area has attained the 8-hour ozone standard and that all other
redesignation criteria have been met. The basis for EPA's determination
is as follows:
1. Allen County has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS: EPA is making
a determination that Allen County has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
For ozone, an area may be considered to be attaining the 8-hour ozone
NAAQS if there are no violations, as determined in accordance with 40
CFR 50.10 and Appendix I, based on three complete, consecutive calendar
years of quality-assured air quality monitoring data. To attain this
standard, the 3-year average of the fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour
average ozone concentrations measured at each monitor within an area
over each year must not exceed 0.08 ppm. Based on the rounding
convention described in 40 CFR part 50, Appendix I, the standard is
attained if the design value is 0.084 ppm or below. The data must be
collected and quality-assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58, and
recorded in Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS). The
monitors generally should have remained at the same location for the
duration of the monitoring period required for demonstrating
attainment.
Indiana submitted ozone monitoring data for the April through
September ozone seasons from 2003 to 2005. This data has been quality
assured and is recorded in AIRS. In its May 30, 2006, redesignation
request, Indiana certified that the Allen County 2003-2005 data is
accurate. The 4th high averages are summarized in Table 1, in which the
values are in ppm ozone.
Table 1.--4th High Values in PPM Ozone
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Monitor County 2003-2005 2003 2004 2005
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Leo................................... Allen............... 0.083 0.090 0.073 0.086
Ft. Wayne............................. Allen............... 0.076 0.084 0.069 0.076
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[[Page 51492]]
In addition, as discussed below with respect to the maintenance
plan, Indiana has committed to continue monitoring in these areas in
accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In summary, EPA believes that the data
submitted by Indiana provide an adequate demonstration that Allen
County has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
2. Allen County has met all applicable requirements under section
110 and part D of the CAA and the Area has a fully approved SIP under
section 110(k) for Purposes of Redesignation.
EPA has determined that Indiana has met all applicable SIP
requirements for Allen County for purposes of redesignation under
section 110 of the CAA (general SIP requirements). EPA has also
determined that the Indiana SIP meets applicable SIP requirements under
Part D of Title I of the Clean Air Act (requirements specific to
Subpart 1 nonattainment areas). Section 107(d)(3)(E)(v). In addition,
EPA has determined that the SIP is fully approved with respect to all
applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. Section
107(d)(3)(E)(ii). In making these determinations, EPA ascertained what
requirements are applicable to the area and that they are fully
approved under section 110(k). SIPs must be fully approved only with
respect to applicable requirements.
a. Allen County has met all applicable requirements for purposes of
redesignation under Section 110 and Part D of the CAA.
The September 4, 1992 Calcagni memorandum (see ``Procedures for
Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment,'' Memorandum
from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division,
September 4, 1992) describes EPA's interpretation of section
107(d)(3)(E). Under this interpretation, to qualify for redesignation
states requesting redesignation to attainment must meet the relevant
CAA requirements that come due prior to the submittal of a complete
redesignation request. See also Michael Shapiro memorandum, September
17, 1993 and 60 FR 12459, 12465-66 (March 7, 1995) (redesignation of
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI). Applicable requirements of the CAA that come
due subsequent to the area's submittal of a complete redesignation
request remain applicable until a redesignation is approved, but are
not required as a prerequisite to redesignation. Section 175A (c) of
the CAA. Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004). See also 68
FR 25424, 25427 (May 12, 2003 (St. Louis NFR)
General SIP requirements: Section 110(a)(2) of Title I of the CAA
delineates the general requirements for a SIP, which include
enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means, or
techniques, provisions for the establishment and operation of
appropriate devices necessary to collect data on ambient air quality,
and programs to enforce the limitations. General SIP elements and
requirements are delineated in section 110(a)(2) of Title I, part A of
the CAA. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the
following: Submittal of a SIP that has been adopted by the state after
reasonable public notice and hearing; provisions for establishment and
operation of appropriate procedures needed to monitor ambient air
quality; implementation of a source permit program; provisions for the
implementation of part C requirements (Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) and part D requirements (New Source Review (NSR)
for major new sources or major source modifications; provisions for air
pollution modeling; and provisions for public and local agency
participation in planning and emission control rule development.
Section 110(a)(2)(D) requires that SIPs contain certain measures to
prevent sources in a state from significantly contributing to air
quality problems in another state. To implement this provision, EPA has
required certain states to establish programs to address transport of
air pollutants (NOX SIP Call, Clean Air Interstate Rule).
EPA has also found, generally, that states have not submitted SIPs
under section 110(a)(1) to meet the interstate transport requirements
of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i). However, the section 110(a)(2)(D)
requirements for a state are not linked with a particular nonattainment
area's designation and classification in that state. EPA believes that
the requirements linked with a particular nonattainment area's
designation and classification are the relevant measures to evaluate in
reviewing a redesignation request. The transport SIP submittal
requirements, where applicable, continue to apply to a state regardless
of the designation of any one particular area in the state.
Thus, we do not believe that these requirements should be construed
to be applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. In
addition, EPA believes that the other section 110 elements not
connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with an
area's attainment status are not applicable requirements for purposes
of redesignation. The State will still be subject to these requirements
after the area is redesignated. The section 110 and part D
requirements, which are linked with a particular area's designation and
classification, are the relevant measures to evaluate in reviewing a
redesignation request. This policy is consistent with EPA's existing
conformity and oxygenated fuels requirements, as well as with section
184 ozone transport requirements. See Reading, Pennsylvania, proposed
and final rulemakings (61 FR 53174-53176, October 10, 1996), (62 FR
24826, May 7, 1997); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio, final rulemaking (61
FR 20458, May 7, 1996); and Tampa, Florida, final rulemaking at (60 FR
62748, December 7, 1995). See also the discussion on this issue in the
Cincinnati redesignation (65 FR 37890, June 19, 2000), and in the
Pittsburgh redesignation (66 FR 50399, October 19, 2001)
EPA believes that section 110 elements not linked to the area's
nonattainment status are not applicable for purposes of redesignation.
Any section 110 requirements that are linked to the Part D requirements
for 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas are not yet due, since, as
explained below, no Part D requirements applicable for purposes of
redesignation under the 8-hour standard are expected to be due prior to
submission of the redesignation request. Therefore EPA believes that
the State has satisfied the criterion of section 107(d)(3)(E) regarding
section 110 of the Act.
Part D requirements: EPA has also determined that the Indiana SIP
meets applicable SIP requirements under part D of the CAA since no such
requirements are expected to become due for the 8-hour ozone standard
prior to submission of the area's redesignation request. Under part D,
an area's classification (marginal, moderate, serious, severe, and
extreme) indicates the requirements to which it will be subject.
Subpart 1 of part D, found in sections 172-176 of the CAA, sets forth
the basic nonattainment requirements applicable to all nonattainment
areas. Because Allen County is a subpart 1 8-hour ozone nonattainment
area and is not classified under subpart 2 of part D of the CAA for the
8-hour ozone standard, subpart 2 of part D of the CAA does not apply to
this area.
Part D, Subpart 1 applicable requirements. For purposes of
evaluating this redesignation request, the applicable part D, subpart 1
requirements for all nonattainment areas are contained in section
172(c)(1)-(9). A thorough discussion of the requirements contained in
section 172 can be found in the General Preamble for Implementation of
Title I (57 FR 13498). [See also 68 FR 4852-3 in St. Louis NPR
[[Page 51493]]
for discussion of section 172 requirements.]
It is not anticipated that any requirements under part D will
become due prior to submission of the complete redesignation request,
and, therefore, none is expected to be applicable to the area for
purposes of redesignation. For example, the requirement for an ozone
attainment demonstration to meet the requirement of section 172(c)(1)
is not yet applicable, nor are the requirements for Reasonably
available Control Measures (RACM) and Reasonably Available Control
technology (RACT) (section 172(c)(1)), Reasonable Further progress
(RFP) (section 172(c)(2)), and contingency measures section 172(c)(9)).
Since it is expected that Indiana will submit a complete ozone
redesignation request for Allen County prior to the deadline for any
submissions, we are determining that the part D requirements do not
apply to Allen County for purposes of redesignation. In addition to the
fact that certain Part D requirements applicable for purposes of
redesignation are not expected to be due prior to submission of the
redesignation request, EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the
conformity and New Source Review requirements as not requiring approval
prior to redesignation.
Section 176 Conformity Requirements
Section 176(c) of the CAA requires states to establish criteria and
procedures to ensure the Federally supported or funded projects conform
to the air quality planning goals in the applicable SIP. The
requirement to determine conformity applies to transportation plans,
programs and projects developed, funded or approved under Title 23
U.S.C. and the Federal Transit Act (``transportation conformity'') as
well as to all other Federally supported or funded projects (``general
conformity''). State conformity revisions must be consistent with
Federal conformity regulations relating to consultation, enforcement
and enforceability that the CAA required the EPA to promulgate.
EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the conformity
requirements as not applying for purposes of evaluating the
redesignation request under section 107(d) because state conformity
rules are still required after redesignation and federal confomity
rules apply where state rules have not been approved. See Wall v. EPA,
265 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001), upholding this interpretation. See also
60 FR 62748 (December 7, 1995) (Tampa, FL)
EPA has determined that areas being redesignated need not comply
with the requirement that a New Source Review program be approved prior
to redesignation, provided that the area demonstrates maintenance of
the standard without part D NSR in effect. The rationale for this view
is described in a memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator
for Air and Radiation, dated October 14, 1994, entitled ``Part D New
Source Review Requirements for Areas Requesting Redesignation to
Attainment.'' The State has demonstrated that the area will be able to
maintain the standard without Part D NSR in effect, and therefore, the
State need not have a fully approved Part D NSR program prior to
approval of the redesignation request. The State's Prevention of
Significant Deterioration (PSD) program will become effective in the
area upon redesignation to attainment. Detroit, MI (60 FR 12467-12468,
March 7, 1995); Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH (61 FR 20458-20469-70, May
7, 1996); Louisville, KY (66 FR 53665, 53669, October 23, 2001); Grand
Rapids, MI (61 FR 31831, 31836-31827, June 21, 1996).
Thus, EPA finds that the area has satisfied all 8-hour ozone
standard requirements applicable for purposes of section 107(d)(3)(E)
under Part D of the CAA.
b. The area has a fully approved applicable SIP for purposes of
redesignation under section 110(k) of the CAA.
EPA has fully approved the applicable Indiana SIP for purposes of
redesignation for Allen County under section 110(k) of the Clean Air
Act. EPA may rely on prior SIP approvals in approving a redesignation
request. Calcagni Memo, p. 3 Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Alliance
v. Browner, 144 F.3d 984, 989-90 (6th Cir. 1998), Wall v. EPA, 265 F.3d
426 (6th Cir. 2001), plus any additional measures it may approve in
conjunction with a redesignation action. See 68 FR 25426 (May 12, 2003)
and citations therein. Following passage of the CAA of 1970, Indiana
has adopted and submitted and EPA has fully approved at various times
provisions addressing the various SIP elements applicable in the Allen
County area under the one-hour ozone standard. As indicated above, EPA
believes that the section 110 elements not connected with nonattainment
plan submissions and not linked to the area's nonattainment status are
not applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. EPA also
believes that no 8-hour Part D requirements applicable for purposes of
redesignation have yet come due, and therefore they need not be
approved into the SIP prior to redesignation.
3. The air quality improvement in Allen County is due to permanent
and enforceable reductions in emissions resulting from implementation
of the SIP and applicable Federal air pollution control regulations and
other permanent and enforceable reductions. EPA believes that the State
of Indiana has demonstrated that the observed air quality improvement
in Allen County is due to permanent and enforceable emission reductions
resulting from implementation of the SIP, Federal measures, and other
state-adopted measures.
In making this demonstration, the State has documented the changes
in VOC and NOX emissions from all anthropogenic (man-made or
man-based) sources in Allen County between 1999 and 2004 and the
changes in NOX emissions from Electric Generating Units
(EGUs) in Indiana between 1999 and 2005. Allen County was monitored in
violation of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in 1999 and in attainment with the
NAAQS during the period of 2003 through 2005. The VOC and
NOX emissions for Allen County are given in Table 2.
Table 2.--VOC and NOX Emission Trends in Allen County for Anthropogenic Sources--Emissions in Tons/Summer Day
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent
reduction
Pollutant 1999 2002 2004 2002 to
2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOC......................................................... 68.65 57.16 52.28 8.5
NOX......................................................... 48.87 48.75 44.94 7.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 51494]]
The NOX emissions trends for EGUs for the 1999-2005
period in Indiana statewide are given in Table 3. The NOX
emissions for Allen County and the statewide EGU NOX
emissions have shown significant downward trends from 1999, an 8-hour
standard violation year, to 2004 and 2005, attainment years. IDEM notes
that the NOX emissions statewide have declined significantly
as a result of the implementation of the Indiana NOX SIP and
acid rain control regulations, both of which lead to permanent,
enforceable emission reductions.
Table 3.--NOX Emission Trends for Electric Generating Units in Indiana Statewide--Emissions in Thousands of Tons Per Ozone Season (April-October)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statewide.................................................... 149.8 133.9 136.1 114.0 99.3 66.6 55.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted in Table 2, the VOC emissions in Allen County have also
declined between 1999 and 2004. VOC emission control measures have been
implemented in Allen County. State-wide RACT rules have applied to all
new sources locating in Indiana since the mid-1990s and include the
following VOC control rules: 326 Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) 8-1-
6 (Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for non-specific sources);
326 IAC 8-2 (surface coating emission limitations); 326 IAC 8-3
(organic solvent degreasing operations); 326 IAC 8-4 (petroleum
sources, including storage, transport, and marketing sources and
petroleum refining); 326 IAC 8-5 (miscellaneous sources); and 326 IAC
8-6 (organic solvent emission limitations). Compliance with these rules
has controlled point source VOC emissions in Allen County, offsetting
some source growth, as well as controlling VOC emissions in the
remainder of Indiana. The VOC emission reductions resulting from the
implementation of the VOC emission control rules are permanent and
enforceable.
Since Allen County was not previously designated as a 1-hour ozone
nonattainment area, no ozone precursor emission controls were
specifically targeted at this County. Therefore, statewide and Federal
emission control requirements have provided the majority of the VOC and
NOX emission reductions in Allen County.
Besides the statewide VOC RACT rules and NOX emission
control requirements, other Federal emission reduction requirements
have resulted in decreased ozone precursor emissions in Allen County
and will produce future emission reductions that will lead to
maintenance of the ozone standard in Allen County (see a more detailed
discussion on maintenance of the 8-hour ozone standard in Allen County
below). These emission reduction requirements include the following:
Tier 2 Emission Standards for Vehicles and Gasoline Sulfur
Standards. These emission control requirements result in lower
emissions from new cars and light duty trucks, including sport utility
vehicles. The Federal rules are being phased in between 2004 and 2009.
The EPA has estimated that, by the end of the phase-in period, the
following vehicle NOX emission reductions will occur:
Passenger cars (light duty vehicles) (77 percent); light duty trucks,
minivans, and sports utility vehicles (86 percent; and larger sports
utility vehicles, vans, and heavier trucks (69 to 95 percent). VOC
emission reductions are also expected to range from 12 to 18 percent,
depending on vehicle class, over the same period. Although some of
these emission reductions have already occurred by the 2004 attainment
year, most of these emission reductions will occur during the
maintenance period for Allen County.
Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines. In July 2000, EPA issued a final rule to
control the emissions from highway heavy duty diesel engines, including
low-sulfur diesel fuel standards. These emission reductions are being
phased in between 2004 and 2007. This rule is expected to result in a
40 percent decrease in NOX emissions from heavy duty diesel
vehicles.
Non-Road Diesel Rule. This rule generally applies to new stationary
diesel engines used in certain industries, including construction,
agriculture, and mining. In addition to affecting engine design, this
rule includes requirements for cleaner fuels. This rule is expected to
reduce NOX emissions from these engines by up to 90 percent,
and to significantly reduce particulate matter and sulfur emissions
from these engines in addition to the NOX emission
reduction. This rule did not affect 2004 emissions from these sources,
but will limit emissions from new engines beginning in 2008.
Indiana commits to maintain all existing emission control measures
that affect Allen County after this area is designated to attainment.
All changes in existing rules affecting Allen County and new rules
subsequently needed for continued maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS
in Allen County will be submitted to the EPA for approval as SIP
revisions. Based on the information summarized above, Indiana has
adequately demonstrated that the improvement in air quality is due to
permanent and enforceable emission reductions.
4. The area has a fully approved maintenance plan pursuant to
section 175A of the CAA. In conjunction with its request to redesignate
Allen County to attainment status, Indiana submitted a SIP revision to
provide for the maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in Allen County
for 14 years after redesignation.
a. What Is Required in a Maintenance Plan?
Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a maintenance
plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment.
Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of
the applicable NAAQS for at least ten years after the Administrator
approves a redesignation to attainment. Eight years after the
redesignation, the State must submit a revised maintenance plan which
demonstrates that attainment will continue to be maintained for the ten
years following the initial ten-year period. To address the possibility
of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must contain such
contingency measures, with a schedule for implementation as EPA deems
necessary to assure prompt correction of any future 8-hour ozone
violations. Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a
maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to
attainment. The Calcagni memorandum dated September 4, 1992, provides
additional guidance on the content of a maintenance plan. An ozone
maintenance plan should address the following provisions: The
attainment emissions inventory, maintenance demonstration, monitoring
network, verification of continued attainment, and a contingency plan.
[[Page 51495]]
b. Attainment Emissions Inventory
IDEM prepared comprehensive VOC and NOX emission
inventories for Allen County, including point (significant stationary
sources), area (smaller and widely-distributed stationary sources),
mobile on-road, and mobile non-road sources for 2004 (the base year/
attainment year). To develop the attainment year emission inventories,
IDEM used the following approaches and sources of data:
Area Sources--Area source VOC and NOX emissions were
grown from Indiana's 2002 periodic emissions inventory, which was
previously submitted to the EPA.
Mobile On-Road Sources--Mobile source emissions were calculated
using the MOBILE6 emission factor model and traffic data (vehicle miles
traveled, vehicle speeds, and vehicle type and age distributions)
extracted from the region's travel-demand model.
Point Source Emissions--2004 point source emissions were compiled
using IDEM's 2004 annual emissions statement database and the 2005 EPA
Air Markets acid rain emissions inventory database.
Mobile Non-Road Emissions--Non-road mobile source emissions were
generated by the EPA and documented in the 2002 National Emissions
Inventory (NEI). IDEM used these emissions estimates along with growth
factors to grow the non-road mobile source emissions to 2004. To
address concerns about the accuracy of some of the emissions for
various source categories in EPA's non-road emissions model, the Lake
Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO) contracted with several
companies to review the base data used by the EPA and to make
recommendations for corrections to the model. Emissions were estimated
for commercial marine vessels and railroads. Recreational motorboat
population and spatial surrogates (used to assign emissions to each
county) were updated. The populations for the construction equipment
category were reviewed and updated based on surveys completed in the
Midwest, and the temporal allocation for agricultural sources was also
updated. The EPA provided a revised non-road estimation model for the
2002 analysis.
The 2004 attainment year VOC and NOX emissions for Allen
County are summarized along with the 2010 and 2020 projected emissions
for this County in Tables 4 and 5 below, which provide a demonstration
of maintanance of this area. It is our conclusion that the State has
acceptably derived and documented the attainment year VOC and
NOX emissions for Allen County.
c. Demonstration of Maintenance
As part of its May 30, 2006 redesignation request, IDEM included a
requested revision to the SIP to incorporate a 14-year ozone
maintenance plan, as required under section 175A of the CAA. Included
in the maintenance plan is a maintenance demonstration. This
demonstration shows maintenance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS by
documenting current and projected VOC and NOX and showing
that future emissions of VOC and NOX remain at or below the
attainment year emission levels.\1\ Note that a maintenance
demonstration need not be based on modeling. See Wall v. EPA, 265 F.3d
426 (6th Cir. 2001), Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2004).
See also 66 FR 53094, 53099-53100 (October 19, 2001) and 68 FR 25430-
25432 (May 12, 2003).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The attainment year can be any of the three consecutive
years in which the area has clean (below violation level) air
quality data (2003, 2004, or 2005 for Allen County).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 4 specifies the VOC emissions in Allen County for 2004, 2010,
and 2020. IDEM chose 2020 as a projection year to meet the 10-year
maintenance projection requirement, allowing additional time for the
State to complete its adoption of the ozone redesignation request and
ozone maintenance plan and for the EPA to approve the redesignation
request and maintenance plan. IDEM also chose 2010 as an interim year
to demonstrate that VOC and NOX emissions will remain below
the attainment levels throughout the 14-year maintenance period.
Table 5, similar to Table 4, specifies the NOX emissions
in Allen County for 2004, 2010, and 2020. Together, Tables 4 and 5, in
terms of projected emissions, demonstrate that Allen County should
remain in attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS between 2004 and 2020,
for more than 10 years after EPA is expected to approve the
redesignation of Allen County to attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
Table 4.--Attainment Year (2004) and Projected VOC Emissions in Allen
County (Tons per Summer Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year
Source sector --------------------------------------
2004 2010 2020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point............................ 9.33 7.91 9.74
Area............................. 18.99 20.00 22.17
On-Road Mobile................... 13.86 9.14 5.57
Off-Road Mobile.................. 10.10 7.02 6.57
--------------------------------------
Total........................ 52.28 44.07 44.05
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 5.--Attainment Year and Projected NOX Emissions in Allen County
(Tons per Summer Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year
Source sector --------------------------------------
2004 2010 2020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point............................ 4.88 4.69 4.78
Area............................. 3.89 4.09 4.33
On-Road Mobile................... 23.17 14.57 6.19
Off-Road Mobile.................. 13.01 9.84 6.98
--------------------------------------
Total........................ 44.95 33.19 22.28
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 51496]]
IDEM also notes that Indiana's and 21 other states' EGU
NOX emission control rules stemming from EPA's
NOX SIP call and CAIR, to be implemented beginning in 2006,
will further lower NOX emissions in upwind areas, resulting
in decreased ozone and ozone precursor transport into Allen County (the
State did not project emission decreases resulting from CAIR and did
not document future NOX emissions in upwind counties). This
will also support maintenance of the ozone standard in Allen County.
The emission projections for Allen County coupled with the expected
impacts of the State's EGU NOX rules and CAIR lead to the
conclusion that Allen County should maintain the 8-hour ozone standard
throughout the 14-year maintenance period. The decrease in local VOC
and local and regional NOX emissions indicate that peak
ozone levels in Allen County may actually further decline during the
14-year ozone maintenance period.
IDEM has documented some of the procedures used to project
emissions. On-road mobile sources were projected using the MOBILE6
emission factor model and projected traffic data obtained from the
Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), who maintains a
travel demand forecast model that is capable of projecting changes in
total daily Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). Emissions for the other major
source sectors were determined using source activity/growth data
provided by the Lake Michigan Air Director's Consortium, as well as
major source emissions data obtained periodically for all major sources
statewide. Emissions projections for Allen County are consistent with
the planning analyses being conducted to attain the 8-hour ozone and
fine particle (PM2.5) standards throughout Indiana and
throughout the Lake Michigan area.
Based on the comparison of the projected emissions and the
attainment year emissions, we conclude that IDEM has successfully
demonstrated that the 8-hour ozone standard should be maintained in
Allen County. We believe that this is especially likely given the
expected impacts of the NOX SIP call and CAIR. As noted by
IDEM, this conclusion is further supported by the fact that other
states in the eastern portion of the United States are expected to
further reduce regional NOX emissions through implementation
of their own NOX emission control rules for EGUs and other
NOX sources and through implementation of CAIR.
d. Monitoring Network
IDEM commits to continue operating and maintaining an approved
ozone monitoring network in Allen County, in accordance with 40 CFR
part 58, throughout the 14-year maintenance period. This will allow the
confirmation of the maintenance of the 8-hour ozone standard in this
area.
e. Verification of Continued Attainment
Continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in Allen County
depends, in part, on the State's efforts toward tracking applicable
indicators during the maintenance period. The State's plan for
verifying continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard in Allen
County consists of plans to continue ambient ozone monitoring in
accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR part 58. In addition, IDEM
will periodically revise and review the VOC and NOX
emissions inventories for Allen County to assure that emissions growth
is not threatening the continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone
standard in this area. Revised emission inventories for this area will
be prepared for 2005, 2008, and 2011 as necessary to comply with the
emission inventory reporting requirements established in the CAA. The
revised emissions will be compared with the 2004 attainment emissions
and the 2020 projected maintenance year emissions to assure continued
maintenance of the ozone standard.
f. Contingency Plan
The contingency plan provisions of the CAA are designed to result
in prompt correction or prevention of violations of the NAAQS that
might occur after redesignation of an area to attainment of the NAAQS.
Section 175A of the CAA requires that a maintenance plan include such
contingency measures as EPA deems necessary to assure that the State
will promptly correct a violation of the NAAQS that might occur after
redesignation. The maintenance plan must identify the contingency
measures to be considered for possible adoption, a schedule and
procedure for adoption and implementation of the selected contingency
measures, and a time limit for action by the State. The State should
also identify specific indicators to be used to determine when the
contingency measures need to adopted and implemented. The maintenance
plan must include a requirement that the State will implement all
measures with respect to control of the pollutant(s) that were
controlled in the SIP before the redesignation of the area to
attainment. See section 175A(d) of the CAA.
As required by section 175A of the CAA, Indiana has adopted a
contingency plan to address a possible future ozone air quality
problem. The contingency plan that Indiana has adopted has two levels
of actions/responses depending on whether a violation of the 8-hour
ozone standard is only threatened (Warning Level Response) or has
actually occurred (Action Level Response).
A Warning Level Response will be prompted whenever an annual (1-
year) fourth-high monitored daily peak 8-hour ozone concentration of 89
ppb (or greater) occurs at any monitor in Allen County, or a 2-year
averaged annual fourth-high daily peak 8-hour ozone concentration of 85
ppb or greater occurs at any monitor in Allen County. A Warning Level
Response will consist of a study to determine whether the monitored
ozone level indicates a trend toward higher ozone levels or whether
emissions are increasing, threatening a future violation of the ozone
NAAQS. The study will evaluate whether the trend, if any, is likely to
continue, and, if so, the emission control measures necessary to
reverse the trend, taking into consideration the ease and timing of
implementation, as well as economic and social considerations, will be
selected, adopted, and implemented. Implementation of necessary
controls will take place as expeditiously as possible, but in no event
later than 12 months from the conclusion of the most recent ozone
season. If new emission controls are needed to reverse the adverse
ozone trend, the procedures for emission control selection under the
Action Level Response will be followed.
An Action Level Response will occur (be triggered) when a violation
of the 8-hour ozone standard is monitored at any of the monitors in
Allen County (when a 3-year average annual fourth-high monitored daily
peak 8-hour ozone concentration of 85 ppb is recorded at any monitor in
Allen County). In this situation, IDEM will determine the additional
emission control measures needed to assure future attainment of the 8-
hour ozone NAAQS. IDEM will focus on emission control measures that can
be implemented within 18 months from the close of the ozone season in
which the ozone standard violation is monitored.
Adoption of any additional emission control measures prompted by
either of the two response levels will be subject to the necessary
administrative and legal process dictated by State law. This process
will include publication of public notices, providing the
[[Page 51497]]
opportunity for a public hearing, and other measures required by
Indiana law for rulemaking by State environmental boards. If a new
State emission control measure is already promulgated and scheduled for
implementation at the Federal or State level, and that emission control
is determined to be sufficient to address the air quality problem or
adverse trend, additional local emission control measures may be
determined to be unnecessary. IDEM will submit to the EPA an analysis
to demonstrate that the proposed emission control measures are adequate
to provide for future attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS in Allen
County.
Contingency measures contained in the maintenance plan are those
emission controls or other measures that the State may choose to adopt
and implement to correct existing or possible air quality problems in
Allen County. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
i. Lower Reid vapor pressure gasoline requirements;
ii. Broader geographic applicability of existing emission control
measures;
iii. Tightened RACT requirements on existing sources covered by EPA
Control Technique Guidelines (CTGs) issued in response to the 1999 CAA
amendments;
iv. Application of RACT to smaller existing sources;
v. Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M);
vi. One or more Transportation Control Measure (TCM) sufficient to
achieve at least a 0.5 percent reduction in actual area-wide VOC
emissions, to be selected from the following:
A. Trip reduction programs, including, but not limited to,
employer-based transportation management plans, area-wide rideshare
programs, work schedule programs, and telecommuting;
B. Transit improvement;
C. Traffic flow improvements; and
D. Other new or innovative transportation measures not yet in
widespread use that affect State and local governments as deemed
appropriate;
vii. Alternative fuel and diesel retrofit programs for fleet
vehicle operations;
viii. Controls on consumer products consistent with those adopted
elsewhere in the United States;
ix. VOC or NOX emission offsets for new or modified
major sources;
x. VOC or NOX emission offsets for new or modified minor
sources;
xi. Increased ratio of emission offset required for new sources;
and
xii. VOC or NOX emission controls on new minor sources
(with VOC or NOX emissions less than 100 tons per year).
g. Provisions for a Future Update of the Ozone Maintenance Plan
As required by section 175A(b) of the CAA, the State commits to
submit to the EPA an update of the ozone maintenance plan eight years
after redesignation of Allen County to attainment of the 8-hour ozone
NAAQS. The updated maintenance plan would provide for maintenance of
the 8-hour ozone standard in Allen County for an additional 10 years
beyond the period covered by the initial ozone maintenance plan.
EPA has concluded that the maintenance plan adequately addresses
the five basic components of a maintenance plan: attainment inventory,
maintenance demonstration, monitoring network, verification of
continued attainment, and a contingency plan. The maintenance plan
submitted by Indiana meets the requirements of section 175A of the CAA.
VII. Has Indiana Adopted Acceptable Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets for
the End of the 14-Year Maintenance Plan Which Can Be Used To Support
Conformity Determinations?
A. How Are the Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets Developed and What Are
the Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for Allen County?
Under the CAA, states are required to submit, at various times, SIP
revisions and ozone maintenance plans for applicable areas (for ozone
nonattainment areas and for areas seeking redesignations to attainment
of the ozone standard or revising existing ozone maintenance plans).
These emission control SIP revisions (e.g., reasonable further progress
and attainment demonstration SIP revisions), including ozone
maintenance plans, must create MVEBs based on on-road mobile source
emissions that are allocated to highway and transit vehicle use that,
together with emissions from other sources in the area, will provide
for attainment or maintenance of the ozone NAAQS.
Under 40 CFR part 93, MVEBs for an area seeking a redesignation to
attainment of the NAAQS are established for the last year of the
maintenance plan. The MVEBs serve as ceilings on emissions from an
area's planned transportation system. The MVEB concept is further
explained in the preamble to the November 24, 1993 transportation
conformity rule (58 FR 62188). The preamble also describes how to
establish the MVEBs in the SIP and how to revise the MVEBs if needed.
Under section 176(c) of the CAA, new transportation projects, such
as the construction of new highways, must ``conform'' to (i.e., be
consistent with) the part of the SIP that addresses emissions from cars
and trucks. Conformity to the SIP means that transportation activities
will not cause new air quality standard violations, or delay timely
attainment of the NAAQS. If a transportation plan does not conform,
most new transportation projects that would expand the capacity of
roadways cannot go forward. Regulations at 40 CFR part 93 set forth
EPA's policy, criteria, and procedures for demonstrating and assuring
conformity of transportation activities to a SIP.
When reviewing SIP revisions containing MVEBs, including attainment
strategies, rate-of-progress plans, and maintenance plans, EPA must
affirmatively find that the MVEBs are ``adequate'' for use in
determining transportation conformity. Once EPA affirmatively finds the
submitted MVEBs to be adequate for transportation conformity purposes,
the MVEBs are used by state and Federal agencies in determining whether
proposed transportation projects conform to the SIPs as required by
section 176(c) of the CAA. EPA's substantive criteria for determining
the adequacy of MVEBs are specified in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4).
EPA's process for determining adequacy of MVEBs consists of three
basic steps: (1) Providing public notification of a SIP submission; (2)
providing the public the opportunity to comment on the MVEBs during a
public comment period; and (3) EPA's finding of adequacy. The process
of determining the adequacy of submitted SIP MVEBs was initially
outlined in EPA's May 14, 1999 guidance, ``Conformity Guidance on
Implementation of March 2, 1999, Conformity Court Decision.'' This
guidance was finalized in the Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments
for the ``New 8-Hour Ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality
Standards and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing Areas:
Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments--Response to Court Decision
and Additional Rule Change'' published on July 1, 2004 (69 FR 40004).
EPA follows this guidance and rulemaking in making its adequacy
determination.
The Transportation Conformity rule in section 93.118(f) provides
for adequacy findings through two mechanisms. Section 93.118(f)(1)
provides for posting a notice to the EPA conformity Web site at: http:/
/www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/
[[Page 51498]]
transconf/adequacy.htm and providing a 30 day public comment period.
The second mechanism is described in section 93.118(f)(2) which
provides that EPA can review the adequacy of an implementation plan
submission simultaneously with EPA's approval or disapproval of the
implementation plan. In this notice, EPA is simultaneously reviewing
the adequacy of the motor vehicle emission budgets as part of this
review and proposal on the overall maintenance plan. Indiana has
requested parallel processing and the expediency of the process is best
suited to following section 93.118(f)(2).
The Allen County 14-year maintenance plan contains VOC and
NOX MVEBs for 2020. EPA has reviewed the submittal and the
VOC and NOX MVEBs for Allen County and finds that the
budgets meet the adequacy criteria in the Transportation Conformity
rule. The 30-day comment period for adequacy will be the same as the
comment period for approval of the budgets and maintenance plan. Any
and all comments on the adequacy or approvability of the budgets should
be submitted during the comment period stated in the DATES section of
this notice.
EPA, through this rulemaking is approving the MVEBs for use to
determine transportation conformity in Allen County because EPA has
determined that the budgets are consistent with the control measures in
the SIP and that Allen County can maintain attainment of the 8-hour
ozone NAAQS for the relevant required 14-year period with mobile source
emissions at the levels of the MVEBs. IDEM has determined the 2020
MVEBs for Allen County to be 6.5 tons per day for VOC and 7.0 tons per
day for NOX. It should be noted that these MVEBs exceed the
on-road mobile source VOC and NOX emissions projected by
IDEM for 2020, as summarized in Tables 4 and 5 above (``On-Road
Mobile'' source sector). Through discussions with all organizations
involved in transportation planning for Allen County, IDEM decided to
include safety margins of 0.93 tons per day for VOC and 0.81 tons per
day for NOX in the MVEBs to provide for mobile source growth
not anticipated in the projected 2020 emissions. Indiana has
demonstrated that Allen County can maintain the 8-hour ozone NAAQS with
mobile source emissions of 5.57 tons per day of VOC and 6.19 tons per
day of NOX in 2020 since total source emissions will remain
under the attainment year levels.
B. What Is a Safety Margin?
A ``safety margin'' is the difference between the attainment level
of emissions (from all sources) and the projected level of emissions
(from all sources) in the maintenance plan. As noted in Tables 4 and 5,
Allen County VOC and NOX emissions are projected to have
safety margins of 8.23 tons per day for VOC and 22.66 tons per day for
NOX in 2020 (the difference between the 2004, attainment
year, and 2020 VOC and NOX emissions for all sources in
Allen County).
The MVEBs requested by IDEM contain safety margins (selected by the
State) significantly smaller than the safety margins reflected in the
total emissions for Allen County. The State is not requesting
allocation of the entire available safety margins actually reflected in
the demonstration of maintenance (in Tables 4 and 5). Therefore, even
though the State is requesting MVEBs that exceed the on-road mobile
source emissions for 2020 contained in the demonstration of
maintenance, the increase in on-road mobile source emissions that can
be considered for transportation conformity purposes is well within the
safety margins of the ozone maintenance demonstration.
C. Are the MVEBs Approvable?
The VOC and NOX MVEBs for Allen County are approvable
because they maintain the total emissions for Allen County at or below
the attainment year emission inventory levels, as required by the
transportation conformity regulations.
VIII. What Is the Effect of EPA's Actions?
EPA is making a determination that Allen County has attained the 8-
hour ozone NAAQS, and EPA is approving the redesignation of Allen
County from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
After evaluating Indiana's redesignation request, EPA is making a
determination that it meets the redesignation criteria set forth in
section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. Final approval of this redesignation
request would change the official designation for Allen County from
nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard.
EPA is also approving the maintenance plan SIP revision for Allen
County. The approval of the maintenance plan is based on Indiana's
demonstration that the plan meets the requirements of section 175A of
the CAA, as described more fully above. Additionally, EPA is finding
adequate and approving the 2020 MVEBs submitted by Indiana in
conjunction with the redesignation request.
IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Executive Order 12866; Regulatory Planning and Review
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.
Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
Because it is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866 or a ``significant energy action,'' 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).
Regulatory Flexibility Act
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.).
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
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).
Executive Order 13175 Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
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 (59
FR 22951, November 9, 2000).
Executive Order 13132 Federalism
This action also does not have Federalism implications because it
does not have substantial direct effects on the states, on the
relationship between the
[[Page 51499]]
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.
Executive Order 13045 Protection of Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
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.
National Technology Transfer Advancement Act
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.
Paperwork Reduction Act
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.).
Congressional Review Act
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 October 30, 2006. 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, Intergovernmental
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: August 16, 2006.
Bharat Mathur,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
0
Parts 52 and 81, chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations
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 P--Indiana
0
2. Section 52.777 is amended by adding paragraph (ff) to read as
follows:
Sec. 52.777 Control strategy: photochemical oxidants (hydrocarbons).
* * * * *
(ff) Approval--On May 30, 2006, Indiana submitted a request to
redesignate Allen County to attainment of the 8-hour ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standard. As part of the redesignation request, the
State submitted a maintenance plan as required by section 175A of the
Clean Air Act. Elements of the section 175 maintenance plan include a
contingency plan and an obligation to submit a subsequent maintenance
plan revision in 8 years as required by the Clean Air Act. Also
included were motor vehicle emission budgets for use to determine
transportation conformity in Allen County. The 2020 motor vehicle
emission budgets are 6.5 tons per day for VOC and 7.0 tons per day for
NOX.
PART 81--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 81 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
0
2. Section 81.315 is amended by revising the entry for Fort Wayne, IN:
Allen County in the table entitled ``Indiana Ozone (8-Hour Standard)''
to read as follows:
Sec. 81.315 Indiana.
* * * * *
Indiana Ozone (8-Hour Standard)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Designation \a\ Classification
Designated area ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date \1\ Type Date \1\ Type
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Fort Wayne, IN:
Allen County........................ September Attainment ...........
29, 2006
* * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Includes Indian Country located in each county or area, except as otherwise specified.
\1\ This date is June 15, 2004, unless otherwise noted.
[[Page 51500]]
[FR Doc. 06-7248 Filed 8-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P