[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 16, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58535-58538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20378]



[[Page 58535]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 70

[EPA-R07-OAR-2007-0718; FRL-8483-1]


Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans and 
Operating Permits Program; State of Iowa

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA is approving revisions to the Iowa State Implementation 
Plan (SIP) and Operating Permits Program submitted by the state of 
Iowa. These revisions update and clarify various rules and make minors 
revisions and corrections. Approval of these revisions will ensure 
consistency between the state and Federally-approved rules, and ensure 
Federal enforceability of the State's revised air program rules.

DATES: This direct final rule will be effective December 17, 2007, 
without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by November 
15, 2007. If adverse comment is received, EPA will publish a timely 
withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register informing 
the public that the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R07-
OAR-2007-0718, by one of the following methods:
    1. http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
    2. E-mail: [email protected].
    3. Mail: Heather Hamilton, Environmental Protection Agency, Air 
Planning and Development Branch, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, 
Kansas 66101.
    4. Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver your comments to Heather 
Hamilton, Environmental Protection Agency, Air Planning and Development 
Branch, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R07-OAR-
2007-0718. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://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 through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail information that you consider to be CBI 
or otherwise protected. The http://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 http://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.
    Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the 
http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be 
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket 
materials are available either electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Air Planning and Development Branch, 901 North 5th Street, 
Kansas City, Kansas 66101. The Regional Office's official hours of 
business are Monday through Friday, 8 to 4:30 excluding Federal 
holidays. The interested persons wanting to examine these documents 
should make an appointment with the office at least 24 hours in 
advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Hamilton at (913) 551-7039, or 
by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This section provides 
additional information by addressing the following questions:

What is a SIP?
What is the Federal approval process for a SIP?
What does Federal approval of a state regulation mean to me?
What is the Part 70 operating permits program?
What is the Federal approval process for an operating permits 
program?
What is being addressed in this document?
Have the requirements for approval of a SIP revision and a Part 70 
revision been met?
What action is EPA taking?

What is a SIP?

    Section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to develop 
air pollution regulations and control strategies to ensure that state 
air quality meets the national ambient air quality standards 
established by EPA. These ambient standards are established under 
section 109 of the CAA, and they currently address six criteria 
pollutants. These pollutants are: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, 
ozone, lead, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide.
    Each state must submit these regulations and control strategies to 
us for approval and incorporation into the Federally-enforceable SIP. 
Each Federally-approved SIP protects air quality primarily by 
addressing air pollution at its point of origin. These SIPs can be 
extensive, containing state regulations or other enforceable documents 
and supporting information such as emission inventories, monitoring 
networks, and modeling demonstrations.

What is the Federal approval process for a SIP?

    In order for state regulations to be incorporated into the 
Federally-enforceable SIP, states must formally adopt the regulations 
and control strategies consistent with state and Federal requirements. 
This process generally includes a public notice, public hearing, public 
comment period, and a formal adoption by a state-authorized rulemaking 
body.
    Once a state rule, regulation, or control strategy is adopted, the 
state submits it to us for inclusion into the SIP. We must provide 
public notice and seek additional public comment regarding the proposed 
Federal action on the state submission. If adverse comments are 
received, they must be addressed prior to any final Federal action by 
us.
    All state regulations and supporting information approved by EPA 
under section 110 of the CAA are incorporated into the Federally-
approved SIP. Records of such SIP actions are maintained in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at title 40, part 52, entitled ``Approval and 
Promulgation of Implementation Plans.'' The actual state regulations 
which are approved are not reproduced in their entirety in the CFR 
outright but are ``incorporated by reference,'' which means that we 
have approved a given state regulation with a specific effective date.

[[Page 58536]]

What does Federal approval of a state regulation mean to me?

    Enforcement of the state regulation before and after it is 
incorporated into the Federally-approved SIP is primarily a state 
responsibility. However, after the regulation is Federally approved, we 
are authorized to take enforcement action against violators. Citizens 
are also offered legal recourse to address violations as described in 
section 304 of the CAA.

What is the Part 70 operating permits program?

    The CAA Amendments of 1990 require all states to develop operating 
permits programs that meet certain Federal criteria. In implementing 
this program, the states are to require certain sources of air 
pollution to obtain permits that contain all applicable requirements 
under the CAA. One purpose of the part 70 operating permits program is 
to improve enforcement by issuing each source a single permit that 
consolidates all of the applicable CAA requirements into a Federally-
enforceable document. By consolidating all of the applicable 
requirements for a facility into one document, the source, the public, 
and the permitting authorities can more easily determine what CAA 
requirements apply and how compliance with those requirements is 
determined.
    Sources required to obtain an operating permit under this program 
include ``major'' sources of air pollution and certain other sources 
specified in the CAA or in our implementing regulations. For example, 
all sources regulated under the acid rain program, regardless of size, 
must obtain permits. Examples of major sources include those that emit 
100 tons per year or more of volatile organic compounds, carbon 
monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, or PM10; 
those that emit 10 tons per year of any single hazardous air pollutant 
(HAP) (specifically listed under the CAA); or those that emit 25 tons 
per year or more of a combination of HAPs.
    Revision to the state operating permits program are also subject to 
public notice, comment, and our approval.

What is the Federal approval process for an operating permits program?

    In order for state regulations to be included in the Federally-
enforceable Title V operating permits program, states must formally 
adopt regulations consistent with state and Federal requirements. This 
process generally includes a public notice, public hearing, public 
comment period, and a formal adoption by a state-authorized rulemaking 
body.
    Once a state rule, regulation, or control strategy is adopted, the 
state submits it to us for inclusion into the approved operating 
permits program. We must provide public notice and seek additional 
public comment regarding the proposed Federal action on the state 
submission. If adverse comments are received, they must be addressed 
prior to any final Federal action by us.
    All state regulations and supporting information approved by EPA 
under section 502 of the CAA, including revisions to the state program, 
are included in the Federally-approved operating permits program. 
Records of such actions are maintained in the CFR at Title 40, part 70, 
appendix A, entitled ``Approval Status of State and Local Operating 
Permits Programs.''

What is being addressed in this document?

    EPA is approving the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions 
submitted by the state of Iowa which include minor revisions to various 
rules. The state of Iowa periodically makes minor revisions that are 
included under its general rulemaking and are typically processed twice 
a year. The revisions are described as follows:
    With regard to Iowa's variance provision in subrule 21.2(4)``c'' of 
the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC), the Iowa Department of Natural 
Resources added language to clarify the Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration (PSD) requirements for which they may not grant a 
variance and referenced the new chapter in the Iowa Administrative Code 
that addresses PSD requirements. The revision clarifies that variances 
cannot be issued to sources seeking permit limits on their potential 
emissions in order to avoid major source permitting requirements. In 
other words, a variance cannot be issued to a source seeking a 
synthetic minor permit.
    Revisions were made to subrules 22.201(2) and 22.300(3) which 
address applicability of Iowa's synthetic minor permit program. The 
revisions correct cross references to the state's rules for Title V 
permits, Acid Rain permits and permits by rule for small sources. These 
changes apply to the SIP and Iowa's operating permits program.
    Revisions were made to Chapter 25 of the IAC, relating to emissions 
monitoring methods, to update references to Federal reference methods 
and performance standards. These changes apply to SIP monitoring 
requirements.

Have the requirements for approval of a SIP revision and a Part 70 
revision been met?

    The state submittal has met the public notice requirements for SIP 
submissions in accordance with 40 CFR 51.102. The submittal also 
satisfied the completeness criteria of 40 CFR part 51, appendix V. In 
addition, as explained above and in more detail in the technical 
support document which is part of this docket, these revisions meet the 
substantive SIP requirements of the CAA, including section 110 and 
implementing regulations. These revisions are minor clarifications, 
updates, and corrections which do not affect the stringency of existing 
requirements. These revisions are also consistent with applicable EPA 
requirements in Title V of the CAA and 40 CFR Part 70.

What action is EPA taking?

    EPA is approving these revisions submitted by Iowa on April 26, 
2007, to update the SIP and the Iowa Operating Permits Program to 
include minor revisions and updates. We are processing this action as a 
direct final action because the revisions make routine changes to the 
existing rules which are noncontroversial. We do not anticipate any 
adverse comments. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on 
part of this rule and if that part can be severed from the remainder of 
the rule, EPA may adopt as final those parts of the rule that are not 
the subject of an adverse comment.

Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this 
reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211, 
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action 
merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes 
no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. 
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this action 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 action 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

[[Page 58537]]

affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).
    This action also does not have tribal implications because it will 
not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on 
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 
FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism 
implications because it does not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 
FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action merely approves a state rule 
implementing a Federal standard, and does not alter the relationship or 
the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the CAA. 
This action 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 state submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. 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 state submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be 
inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a state 
submission, to use VCS in place of a state submission that otherwise 
satisfies the provisions of the CAA. 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 action does not impose an 
information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register.
    A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published 
in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined 
by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for 
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by December 17, 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

40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate 
matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, 
Volatile organic compounds.

40 CFR Part 70

    Administrative practice and procedure, Air pollution control, 
Intergovernmental relations, Operating permits, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: October 5, 2007.
William Rice,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 7.

0
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 Q--Iowa

0
2. In Sec.  52.820 the table in paragraph (c) is amended by revising 
entries for 567-21.2, 567-22.201, 567-22.300, and 567-25.1, to read as 
follows:


Sec.  52.820  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                                         EPA.-Approved Iowa Regulations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    State
     Iowa citation              Title          effective date    EPA approval date            Explanation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Commission [567]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Chapter 21--Compliance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
567-21.2..............  Variances............        04/04/07  10/16/07 [insert FR    ..........................
                                                                page number where
                                                                the document begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Chapter 22--Controlling Pollution
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[[Page 58538]]

 
                                                  * * * * * * *
567-22.201............  Eligibility for              04/04/07  10/16/07 [insert FR    ..........................
                         Voluntary Operating                    page number where
                         Permits.                               the document begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
567-22.300............  Operating Permit by          04/04/07  10/16/07 [insert FR    ..........................
                         Rule for Small                         page number where
                         Sources.                               the document begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Chapter 25--Measurement of Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
567-25.1..............  Testing and Sampling         04/04/07  10/16/07 [insert FR    ..........................
                         of New and Existing                    page number where
                         Equipment.                             the document begins].
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

PART 70--[AMENDED]

0
3. The authority citation for Part 70 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

0
4. Appendix A to Part 70 is amended by adding paragraph (i) under 
``Iowa'' to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 70--Approval Status of State and Local Operating 
Permits Programs

* * * * *
    Iowa
* * * * *
    (i) The Iowa Department of Natural Resources submitted for 
program approval rules 567-22.105(2), 567-22.106(6), 567-22.201(2), 
567-22.300(3) on April 19, 2007. The state effective date was April 
4, 2007. These revisions to the Iowa program are approved effective 
December 17, 2007.
* * * * *
 [FR Doc. E7-20378 Filed 10-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P