[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 8, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25971-25973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8693]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R09-OAR-2006-0635; FRL-8308-2]
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Revisions to
the Nevada State Implementation Plan; Visible Emissions and Particulate
Matter Rules
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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[[Page 25972]]
SUMMARY: EPA is finalizing full approval of revisions to the Nevada
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources portion of the Nevada
State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action was proposed in the
Federal Register on March 12, 2007 (72 FR 10960), and approves amended
visible emissions and particulate matter regulations as well as
requests for rescission of certain regulations related to visible
emissions and particulate matter. The intended effect is to approve
regulations for inclusion into the applicable plan and to rescind
unnecessary provisions from the applicable plan. We are approving these
regulations and rescissions in order to regulate emission sources under
the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act) and to update the
applicable SIP.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective on June 7, 2007.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established docket number EPA-R09-OAR-2006-0635 for
this action. The index to the docket is available electronically at
http://regulations.gov and in hard copy at EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne
Street, San Francisco, California. While all documents in the docket
are listed in the index, some information may be publicly available
only at the hard copy location (e.g., copyrighted material), and some
may not be publicly available in either location (e.g., CBI). To
inspect the hard copy materials, please schedule an appointment during
normal business hours with the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Rose, EPA Region IX, (415)
947-4126, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we,'' ``us'' and
``our'' refer to EPA.
I. Proposed Action
On March 12, 2007 (72 FR 10960), EPA proposed approval of the
provisions of chapter 445B of the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC)
listed below.
Table 1.--Amended Rules Submitted for Approval Into the SIP
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NAC No. NAC title Adopted Submitted
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445B.22017............ Visible emissions: 10/04/05 01/12/06
Maximum opacity;
determination.
(Effective April 1,
2006.).
445B.2202............. Visible emissions: 10/04/05 01/12/06
Exceptions for
stationary sources.
(Effective April 1,
2006.).
445B.22027............ Emissions of 01/22/98 01/12/06
particulate matter:
Maximum allowable
throughput for
calculating emissions
rates.
445B.2203............. Emissions of 09/09/99 01/12/06
particulate matter:
Fuel-burning
equipment.
445B.22033............ Emissions of 01/22/98 01/12/06
particulate matter:
Sources not otherwise
limited.
445B.22037............ Emissions of 10/03/95 01/12/06
particulate matter:
Fugitive dust.
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Table 2 lists two related rules in the existing SIP for which the
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) has requested
rescission. On March 12, 2007 we also proposed to approve these
rescissions, deleting these rules from the applicable SIP.
Table 2.--Related SIP Rules for Which the State Has Requested Rescission
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Submittal Approval
SIP provision Title date date
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NAQR Article 16.3.3.1............................... Opacity from kilns.............. 12/29/78 06/18/82
NAC 445.535......................................... Kilogram-calorie................ 10/26/82 03/27/84
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We proposed to approve these regulations and rescissions because we
determined that they complied with the relevant CAA requirements. Our
proposed action contains more information on the regulations and our
evaluation.
II. Public Comments and EPA Responses
EPA's proposed action provided a 30-day public comment period.
During this period, we received comments from Jennifer L. Carr, Chief,
Bureau of Air Quality Planning, Nevada Division of Environmental
Protection (NDEP), by letter dated April 10, 2007. In its comment
letter, NDEP calls for correction of two specific errors found in EPA's
Technical Support Document (TSD) (dated February 9, 2007) for the
proposed rule. With respect to the first error noted by NDEP, we agree
that the correct effective date for the second of the three submitted
versions of NAC 445B.2202 is March 1, 2006, not March 2, 2006 as
incorrectly cited in the TSD. With respect to the second error, we
agree that the correct units for power plant particulate matter
emissions standards under the applicable NSPS are ``lb/MMBtu,'' not
``MMBtu/hour'' as incorrectly cited in the TSD. While we agree with the
technical corrections identified by the commenter, they do not
substantively affect the basis for our action.
III. EPA Action
No comments were submitted that change our assessment of the rules
as described in our proposed action. Therefore, as authorized in
sections 110(k)(3) of the Act, EPA is finalizing the approval of the
provisions listed in Table 1 and also finalizing the approval of the
rescission requests for the provisions listed in Table 2. This action
incorporates the six submitted rules into the federally-enforceable SIP
\1\ and rescinds NAQR Article 16.3.3.1 and NAC 445.535 therefrom.
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\1\ Final approval of these rules supersedes the following rules
in the applicable SIP (superseding rule shown in parentheses): NAC
445.721 (NAC 445B.22017); NAQR Article 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3 and
4.3.5 (NAC 445B.2202); NAC 445.731 (NAC 445B.2203), NAC 445.732 (NAC
445B.22033), and NAC 445.734 (NAC 445B.22037). NAC 445.729 is not
superseded by the corresponding submitted rule NAC 445B.22027
because the former is relied upon by certain SIP rules (e.g., NAC
445.730) that are being retained in the SIP.
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IV. 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
[[Page 25973]]
22, 2001). This action merely approves state rules 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 state rules
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 approves a state rule
implementing a Federal standard.
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.).
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. section 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 July 9, 2007. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule
does not affect the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial
review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial
review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such
rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings
to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Particulate matter, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: April 19, 2007.
Jane Diamond,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
0
Part 52, 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 DD--Nevada
0
2. Section 52.1470 is amended by:
0
a. Adding paragraphs (c)(14)(x) and (c)(25)(iv);
0
b. Revising paragraphs (c)(56)(i)(A)(3)(i), (ii), and (iii); and
0
c. Adding paragraph (c)(56)(i)(A)(3)(viii) to read as follows:
Sec. 52.1470 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(14) * * *
(x) Previously approved on June 18, 1982 in paragraph (c)(14)(viii)
of this section and now deleted without replacement: Article 16: Rules
16.3.3.1.
* * * * *
(25) * * *
(iv) Previously approved on March 27, 1984 in paragraph
(c)(25)(i)(A) of this section and now deleted without replacement:
Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) section: 445.535.
* * * * *
(56) * * *
(i) * * *
(A) * * *
(3) * * *
(i) October 3, 1995: 445B.005, 445B.059, 445B.077, 445B.112,
445B.116, 445B.130, 445B.145, 445B.152, 445B.177, 445B.180, and
445B.22037.
(ii) January 22, 1998: 445B.011, 445B.0425, 445B.058, 445B.22027,
and 445B.22033.
(iii) September 9, 1999: 445B.2203 and 445B.22047.
* * * * *
(viii) October 4, 2005: 445B.22017 (effective April 1, 2006) and
445B.2202 (effective April 1, 2006).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E7-8693 Filed 5-7-07; 8:45 am]
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