[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 168 (Thursday, August 28, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50723-50726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19765]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2007-0027; FRL-8708-6]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Delaware; Electric Generating Unit Multi-Pollutant Regulation
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision
submitted by the State of Delaware. This SIP revision establishes
limits on the emissions of nitrogen oxides
(NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from
Delaware's large electric generating units (EGUs). EPA is approving
this SIP revision in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective on September 29,
2008.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID
Number EPA-R03-OAR-2007-0027. All documents in the docket are listed in
the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the
electronic docket, some information is not publicly available, i.e.,
confidential business information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy for public inspection during normal
business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State submittal are available at the
Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, 89
Kings Highway, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, Delaware 19903.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose Quinto, (215) 814-2182, or by e-
mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On May 17, 2007 (72 FR 27787), EPA published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPR) for the State of Delaware. The NPR proposed approval
of Regulation No. 1146--Electric Generating Unit Multi-Pollutant
Regulation. The formal SIP revision was submitted by Delaware on
November 16, 2006.
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II. Summary
Regulation No. 1146 establishes limits on the emissions of
NOX and SO2 from Delaware's large EGUs. The large
EGUs subject to this regulation are Connective Delmarva Generating,
Inc.'s Edge Moor Generating Station Units 3, 4 and 5; City of Dover's
McKee Run Generating Unit 3; and NRG Energy, Inc.'s Indian Generating
Station Units 1, 2, 3 and 4. Other specific requirements of Regulation
No. 1146 and the rationale for EPA's proposed action are explained in
the NPR and will not be restated here. On June 18, 2007, EPA received
comments on its May 17, 2007 NPR. A summary of the comments submitted
and EPA's response is provided in Section III of this document.
III. Summary of Public Comments and EPA Responses
Comment: The commenter opposes the approval of Regulation No. 1146
since it may be changed or invalidated in the current pending appeals
process.
Response: EPA disagrees with this comment. Regulation No. 1146 was
appealed by three regulated entities: City of Dover's McKee Run
Generating Station; NRG Energy Inc. (NRG); and Connectiv Delmarva
Generating Station (Connective). The City of Dover and NRG appeals have
been settled, and only Connective remains. Currently, Regulation No.
1146 is in effect and enforceable in Delaware, and at this time, all
covered units, including Connectiv units are in the process of
designing and installing emission control equipment to meet the
requirements of Regulation No. 1146.
Comment: The commenter states that the SIP should not include
requirements of Regulation No. 1146 that are not necessary for
attaining compliance with the 8-hour ozone standard. The following are
not elements of DNREC's plan to attainment of the 8-hour ozone
standard: (1) Annual NOX emissions caps, and (2) annual
SO2 emissions caps and emission rate limitations.
Response: EPA disagrees with the premise of this comment. The
reductions associated with Regulation No. 1146, including the annual
NOX caps and the annual SO2 caps and emission
rate limitations, will support the attainment of the 8-hour ozone and
fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS. The emissions
reductions also provide necessary support for the 8-hour ozone
reasonable further progress plan. Meeting these goals will help clean
Delaware's air. In understanding EPA's role with regard to review and
approval or disapproval of rules submitted by states as SIP revisions,
EPA can only take action upon the final adopted versions of a state's
regulation as submitted by that state in its SIP revision request, and
must approve a SIP that meets the minimum requirements of the CAA. It
is not within EPA's authority, by its rulemaking on the SIP revision or
otherwise, to change or modify the text or substantive requirements of
a state regulation. Therefore, EPA cannot modify Delaware's regulation
as recommended in the comment.
Comment: The commenter states that Regulation No. 1146 overwrites
the carefully-balanced provisions of the Clean Air Interstate Rule
(CAIR). The units covered by Regulation No. 1146 are subject to CAIR
and have already been allocated annual and ozone season NOX
allowances under the CAIR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for
Delaware. Regulation No. 1146 imposes inconsistent NOX and
SO2 emission requirements on these same units. Requirements
to comply with these additional state regulations are unnecessary and
unduly burdensome for affected owners.
Response: EPA disagrees with this comment. Regulation No. 1146 is
not intended to replace the Federal CAIR requirements and does not
relieve affected sources from participating in and complying with any
CAIR cap-and-trade program requirements. The recent decision by the
District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit in North Carolina
v. EPA, No. 05-1244 (July 11, 2008), when final, would vacate CAIR. If
CAIR is eventually vacated pursuant to the Court decision, the
commenter's concern will no longer exist. However, even if CAIR remains
in effect, a State may establish and may be required to establish
requirements, including requirements for units covered by CAIR, to
address local nonattainment problems. CAIR addresses the state's
section 110(a)(2)(D) obligation to eliminate significant contribution
to downwind nonattainment on the PM2.5 and 8-hour ozone
NAAQS. In addition to meeting their 110(a)(2)(D) obligations, states
are obliged to adopt such additional SIP provisions as are necessary to
address NAAQS nonattainment within their own borders. In addition, they
retain authority under section 116 of the CAA to adopt regulations more
stringent than federal minimum requirements. The commenter has not
identified, and indeed could not identify, any requirement of CAIR that
prohibits states from adopting such emission reduction requirements or
emission caps. For these reasons, Regulation No. 1146, thus, is not
inconsistent with CAIR and the commenter's conclusions are incorrect,
because, although more stringent than CAIR, it is intended to address
such local contributions to nonattainment areas. EPA therefore
concludes that Regulation No. 1146 is approvable whether or not CAIR is
eventually vacated.
IV. Final Action
EPA is approving Delaware's EGU Multi-Pollutant Regulation as a
revision to Delaware SIP that was submitted on November 16, 2006
pertaining to NOX and SO2. This regulation will
result in the reduction of NOX and SO2 emissions
from the affected sources.
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. General Requirements
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state
law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
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);
Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement
[[Page 50725]]
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those
requirements would be inconsistent with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental
effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as specified
by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the
SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in the state,
and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct costs on
tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action 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).
C. Petitions for Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by October 27, 2008. Filing a
petition for Reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule
does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of
judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for
judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness
of such rule or action.
This action, pertaining to Delaware's EGU Multi-Pollutant
Regulation, may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its
requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides.
Dated: August 18, 2008.
William T. Wisniewski,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
0
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart I--Delaware
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2. In Sec. 52.420, the table in paragraph (c) is amended by adding
entries for Regulation No. 1146--Electric Generating Unit Multi-
Pollutant Regulation at the end of the table to read as follows:
Sec. 52.420 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
EPA-Approved Regulations in the Delaware SIP
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State effective Additional
State citation Title/subject date EPA approval date explanation
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* * * * * * *
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Regulation Electric Generating Unit (EGU) Multi-Pollutant Regulation
No. 1146
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Section 1.0.................. Preamble........ 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page Except for provisions
number where the pertaining to
document begins]. mercury emissions.
Section 2.0.................. Applicability... 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page Except for provisions
number where the pertaining to
document begins]. mercury emissions.
Section 3.0.................. Definitions..... 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page Except for provisions
number where the pertaining to
document begins]. mercury emissions.
Section 4.0.................. NOX Emissions 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page .....................
Limitations. number where the
document begins].
Section 5.0.................. SO2 Emissions 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page .....................
Limitations. number where the
document begins].
Section 7.0.................. Recordkeeping 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page Except for provisions
and Reporting. number where the pertaining to
document begins]. mercury emissions.
Section 8.0.................. Compliance Plan. 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page Except for provisions
number where the pertaining to
document begins]. mercury emissions.
Section 9.0.................. Penalties....... 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page Except for provisions
number where the pertaining to
document begins]. mercury emissions.
Table I...................... Annual NOX Mass 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page .....................
Emissions number where the
Limits. document begins].
Table II..................... Annual SO2 Mass 12/11/06 08/28/08 [Insert page .....................
Emissions number where the
Limits. document begins].
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[FR Doc. E8-19765 Filed 8-27-08; 8:45 am]
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