[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8249-8252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3512]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0009; FRL-9115-9]
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;
Virginia; Opacity Source Surveillance Methods
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the
Commonwealth of Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions
update methods for determining compliance with opacity standards for
existing, new and modified stationary sources. EPA is approving these
revisions in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act
(CAA).
DATES: This rule is effective on April 26, 2010 without further notice,
unless EPA receives adverse written comment by March 26, 2010. If EPA
receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the
direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that
the rule will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2010-0009 by one of the following methods:
A. http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
B. E-mail: [email protected].
C. Mail: EPA-R03-OAR-2010-0009, Cristina Fernandez, Associate
Director, Office of Air Program Planning, Mailcode 3AP30, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-
2010-0009. 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 information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. 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 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 Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria A. Pino, (215) 814-2181, or by
e-mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, whenever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA.
I. Background
On August 25, 2008, the Commonwealth of Virginia submitted a formal
revision to its SIP. The SIP revision consists of amendments to Title 9
of the Virginia Administrative Code (VAC) to update methods for
determining compliance with opacity standards for existing, new, and
modified stationary sources.
[[Page 8250]]
Amendments to regulations 9VAC5-40-20 and 9VAC5-50-20 allow the use of
continuous opacity monitoring system (COMS) data to determine
compliance with opacity standards. The amendments also allow the use of
other methods approved by EPA.
II. Summary of SIP Revision
These revisions update regulations 9VAC5-40-20 and 9VAC5-50-20 to
allow the use of data from a ``continuous monitoring by
transmissometer'' or COMS, provided that the devise meets Performance
Standard 1--Specifications and Test Procedures for Continuous Opacity
Monitoring Systems in Stationary Sources in Appendix B to 40 CFR part
60. The revisions also require that the devise be properly maintained
and prohibit any alteration of the resulting data. Previously,
compliance with opacity standards was determined by EPA Method 9, which
requires a certified smoke reader to observe the emissions leaving the
stack during daylight hours. EPA Method 9 had been the only Federally
acceptable method to determine compliance with opacity standards and
visibility requirements. However, on February 24, 1997, EPA promulgated
its Credible Evidence Revisions, which clarified that non-reference
test data, i.e., any creditable evidence, can be used in enforcement
actions and for compliance determinations under the Clean Air Act (62
FR 8314). Thus, Method 9 is not the exclusive means to determining
compliance with opacity standards, and the use of data from COMS is
deemed acceptable. This change strengthens the Virginia SIP by allowing
the use of COMS data to determine compliance with opacity standards,
which will make compliance determinations easier.
The revisions also limit the use of alternative compliance methods
to only methods which EPA has approved. These changes strengthen the
Virginia SIP, which had previously allowed alternative methods, but did
not specify that those methods must be approved by EPA.
Virginia made these revisions to make regulations 9VAC5-40-20 and
9VAC5-50-20 consistent with Sec. 10.1-1307.3.B of the Code of
Virginia, which reads as follows:
``The Executive Director or his duly authorized representative
may pursue enforcement action for a violation of opacity
requirements or limits based on (i) visual observations conducted
pursuant to methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, (ii) data from certified continuous opacity monitors, or
(iii) other methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.''
III. General Information Pertaining to SIP Submittals From the
Commonwealth of Virginia
In 1995, Virginia adopted legislation that provides, subject to
certain conditions, for an environmental assessment (audit)
``privilege'' for voluntary compliance evaluations performed by a
regulated entity. The legislation further addresses the relative burden
of proof for parties either asserting the privilege or seeking
disclosure of documents for which the privilege is claimed. Virginia's
legislation also provides, subject to certain conditions, for a penalty
waiver for violations of environmental laws when a regulated entity
discovers such violations pursuant to a voluntary compliance evaluation
and voluntarily discloses such violations to the Commonwealth and takes
prompt and appropriate measures to remedy the violations. Virginia's
Voluntary Environmental Assessment Privilege Law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-
1198, provides a privilege that protects from disclosure documents and
information about the content of those documents that are the product
of a voluntary environmental assessment. The Privilege Law does not
extend to documents or information (1) that are generated or developed
before the commencement of a voluntary environmental assessment; (2)
that are prepared independently of the assessment process; (3) that
demonstrate a clear, imminent and substantial danger to the public
health or environment; or (4) that are required by law.
On January 12, 1998, the Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the
Attorney General provided a legal opinion that states that the
Privilege Law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1198, precludes granting a privilege
to documents and information ``required by law,'' including documents
and information ``required by Federal law to maintain program
delegation, authorization or approval,'' since Virginia must ``enforce
Federally authorized environmental programs in a manner that is no less
stringent than their Federal counterparts. * * *'' The opinion
concludes that ``[r]egarding Sec. 10.1-1198, therefore, documents or
other information needed for civil or criminal enforcement under one of
these programs could not be privileged because such documents and
information are essential to pursuing enforcement in a manner required
by Federal law to maintain program delegation, authorization or
approval.''
Virginia's Immunity law, Va. Code Sec. 10.1-1199, provides that
``[t]o the extent consistent with requirements imposed by Federal
law,'' any person making a voluntary disclosure of information to a
State agency regarding a violation of an environmental statute,
regulation, permit, or administrative order is granted immunity from
administrative or civil penalty. The Attorney General's January 12,
1998 opinion states that the quoted language renders this statute
inapplicable to enforcement of any Federally authorized programs, since
``no immunity could be afforded from administrative, civil, or criminal
penalties because granting such immunity would not be consistent with
Federal law, which is one of the criteria for immunity.''
Therefore, EPA has determined that Virginia's Privilege and
Immunity statutes will not preclude the Commonwealth from enforcing its
program consistent with the Federal requirements. In any event, because
EPA has also determined that a State audit privilege and immunity law
can affect only State enforcement and cannot have any impact on Federal
enforcement authorities, EPA may at any time invoke its authority under
the CAA, including, for example, sections 113, 167, 205, 211 or 213, to
enforce the requirements or prohibitions of the State plan,
independently of any State enforcement effort. In addition, citizen
enforcement under section 304 of the CAA is likewise unaffected by
this, or any, State audit privilege or immunity law.
IV. Final Action
EPA is approving revisions to the Virginia SIP that amend
regulations 9VAC5-40-20 and 9VAC5-50-20 to update methods for
determining compliance with opacity standards for existing, new, and
modified stationary sources. The amendments allow the use of data from
COMS or other EPA-approved methods to determine compliance with opacity
standards.
EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the
Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no
adverse comment. However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's
Federal Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve
as the proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse comments are
filed. This rule will be effective on April 26, 2010 without further
notice unless EPA receives adverse comment by March 26, 2010. If EPA
receives adverse comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the
Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take
effect. EPA will address all public comments in a
[[Page 8251]]
subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. EPA will not
institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties
interested in commenting must do so at this time. Please note that if
EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of
this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of
the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are
not the subject of an adverse comment.
V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. General Requirements
Under the Clean Air Act, 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 Clean Air Act.
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 Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the Clean Air Act; 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 April 26, 2010. 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. Parties with objections to this direct final
rule are encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel
notice of proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed
rules section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an
immediate petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so
that EPA can withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in
the proposed rulemaking. This action, which revises the Virginia SIP to
update methods for determining compliance with opacity standards for
existing, new and modified stationary sources, 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, Nitrogen dioxide,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides.
Dated: February 1, 2010.
W.C. Early,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
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40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
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1. The authority citation for 40 CFR part 52 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart VV--Virginia
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2. In Sec. 52.2420, the table in paragraph (c) is amended by revising
the entries for Chapter 40, Section 5-40-20 and Chapter 50, Section 5-
50-20 to read as follows:
Sec. 52.2420 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
EPA-Approved Virginia Regulations and Statutes
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State Explanation (former
State citation Title/subject effective date EPA approval date SIP citation)
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9 VAC 5 Chapter 40 Existing Stationary Sources
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[[Page 8252]]
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Part I Special Provisions
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* * * * * * *
5-40-20.................. Compliance............... 12/12/07 02/24/10 [Insert Revisions to
page number where paragraph A.3.
the document
begins].
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9 VAC 5 Chapter 50 New and Modified Stationary Sources
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Part I Special Provisions
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* * * * * * *
5-50-20.................. Compliance............... 12/12/07 02/24/10 [Insert Revisions to
page number where paragraph A.3.
the document
begins].
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[FR Doc. 2010-3512 Filed 2-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P