[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 180 (Friday, September 16, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57871-57896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23659]
[[Page 57871]]
Vol. 76
Friday,
No. 180
September 16, 2011
Part IV
Environmental Protection Agency
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40 CFR Part 52
Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; California; South Coast;
Attainment Plan for 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 76 , No. 180 / Friday, September 16, 2011 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 57872]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R09-OAR-2011-0622; FRL-9464-8]
Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; California; South
Coast; Attainment Plan for 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve state implementation plan (SIP)
revisions submitted by California to provide for attainment of the 1997
8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards in the Los Angeles-
South Coast Area (South Coast). These SIP revisions are the South Coast
2007 Air Quality Management Plan (South Coast 2007 AQMP) (revised 2011)
and South Coast-related portions of the 2007 State Strategy (revised
2009 and 2011). EPA is proposing to approve the emissions inventories,
reasonably available control measures, provisions for transportation
control strategies and measures, reasonable further progress (RFP) and
attainment demonstrations, transportation conformity motor vehicle
emissions budgets for all RFP milestone years and the attainment year,
contingency measures for failure to make RFP or attain, and Clean Air
Act section 182(e)(5) new technologies provisions and associated
commitment to adopt contingency measures. EPA is also proposing to
approve commitments to measures and reductions by the South Coast Air
Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board.
Simultaneously and in the alternative, EPA is proposing to disapprove
the SIP with respect to certain provisions for transportation control
strategies and measures pending resolution of petitions filed before
the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Association of Irritated
Residents v. EPA, 632 F.3d 584 (9th Cir. 2011).
DATES: Any comments must be submitted by October 17, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments, identified by docket number EPA-R09-OAR-
2011-0622, by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions.
E-mail: tax.wienke@epa.gov.
Mail or deliver: Marty Robin, Office of Air Planning (AIR-
2), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, 75 Hawthorne
Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.
Instructions: All comments 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 Confidential Business Information (CBI) or
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Information that you consider CBI or otherwise protected should be
clearly identified as such and should not be submitted through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, and EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your
comment. If you send e-mail directly to EPA, your e-mail address will
be automatically captured and included as part of the public comment.
If EPA cannot read your comments due to technical difficulties and
cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider
your comment.
Docket: The index to the docket for this action is available
electronically on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site and in hard
copy at EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California,
94105. 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 at
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 below.
Copies of the SIP materials are also available for inspection at
the following locations:
California Air Resources Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento,
California 95812, and
South Coast Air Quality Management District, 21865 E.
Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765.
The SIP materials are also electronically available at: http://aqmd.gov/aqmp/07aqmp/index.html and http://www.arb.ca.gov/planning/sip/sip.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wienke Tax, Air Planning Office (AIR-
2), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, (415) 947-4192,
tax.wienke@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we,'' ``us'' and
``our'' refer to EPA.
Table of Contents
I. The 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)
and the South Coast Nonattainment Area
A. Background on the 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
B. The South Coast 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area
II. CAA and Regulatory Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment SIPs
III. California's State Implementation Plan Submittals To Address 8-
Hour Ozone Nonattainment in the South Coast Nonattainment Area
A. California's SIP Submittals
B. CAA Procedural and Administrative Requirements for SIP
Submissions
IV. Review of the South Coast 2007 AQMP and the South Coast Portion
of the Revised 2007 State Strategy
A. Emission Inventories
B. Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM) Demonstration
and Control Strategy
C. Attainment Demonstration
D. Reasonable Further Progress Demonstration
E. Transportation Control Strategies and Transportation Control
Measures and Vehicle Miles Travelled Offset To Offset Emissions
Increases From VMT Increases, To Provide for RFP and Attainment
F. Contingency Measures
G. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets for Transportation Conformity
H. Other Clean Air Act Requirements Applicable to Extreme Ozone
Nonattainment Areas
V. EPA's Proposed Actions
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. The 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and
the South Coast Nonattainment Area
A. Background on the 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
Ground-level ozone is formed when oxides of nitrogen
(NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) react in the
presence of sunlight.\1\ These two pollutants, referred to as ozone
precursors, are emitted by many types of pollution sources, including
on- and off-road motor vehicles and engines, power plants and
industrial facilities, and smaller area sources such as lawn and garden
equipment and paints.
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\1\ California plans sometimes use the term Reactive Organic
Gases (ROG) for VOC. These terms are essentially synonymous. For
simplicity, we use the term VOC herein to mean either VOC or ROG.
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Scientific evidence indicates that adverse public health effects
occur following exposure to ozone, particularly in children and adults
with lung disease. Breathing air containing ozone can reduce lung
function and inflame airways, which can increase respiratory symptoms
and aggravate asthma or other lung diseases. Ozone
[[Page 57873]]
exposure also has been associated with increased susceptibility to
respiratory infections, medication use, doctor visits, and emergency
department visits and hospital admissions for individuals with lung
disease. Ozone exposure also increases the risk of premature death from
heart or lung disease. Children are at increased risk from exposure to
ozone because their lungs are still developing and they are more likely
to be active outdoors, which increases their exposure. See ``Fact
Sheet, Proposal To Revise the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for Ozone,'' January 6, 2010 and 75 FR 2938 (January 19, 2010).
In 1979, under section 109 of the CAA, EPA established primary and
secondary national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or standard)
for ozone at 0.12 parts per million (ppm) averaged over a 1-hour
period. See 44 FR 8202 (February 8, 1979).
On July 18, 1997, EPA revised the primary and secondary NAAQS for
ozone to set the acceptable level of ozone in the ambient air at 0.08
ppm, averaged over an 8-hour period. See 62 FR 38856 (July 18,
1997).\2\ EPA set the 8-hour ozone standard based on scientific
evidence demonstrating that ozone causes adverse health effects at
lower concentrations and over longer periods of time than was
understood when the pre-existing 1-hour ozone standard was set. EPA
determined that the 8-hour standard would be more protective of human
health, especially children and adults who are active outdoors, and
individuals with a pre-existing respiratory disease, such as asthma.
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\2\ In March 2008, EPA completed another review of the primary
and secondary ozone standards and tightened them further by lowering
the level for both to 0.075 ppm. 73 FR 16436 (March 27, 2008).
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B. The South Coast 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area
Following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, EPA is required
by the Clean Air Act (CAA) to designate areas throughout the nation as
attaining or not attaining the NAAQS. On April 15, 2004, EPA designated
the South Coast as nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard and
classified it as ``severe-17'' under CAA section 181(a)(1) and 40 CFR
51.903(a), Table 1. See 69 FR 23858 at 23888-89 (April 30, 2004) and 40
CFR 81.305. The designations and classifications became effective on
June 15, 2004.
In 2007, California requested that EPA reclassify the South Coast
from ``severe-17'' to ``extreme'' nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour
ozone standard under CAA section 181(b)(3).\3\ We granted California's
request on May 5, 2010 and reclassified the South Coast to extreme
nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard effective June 4,
2010. See 75 FR 24409. The South Coast 2007 AQMP was developed to
address the extreme area planning requirements for the 1997 8-hour
ozone standard in the CAA and EPA's implementing regulations and thus
California did not need to make additional submittals in response to
this reclassification.
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\3\ See SCAQMD Governing Board Resolution No. 07-9 (June 1,
2007), p. 12; CARB Resolution No. 07-41 (September 27, 2007), p. 8;
and letter, James Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB to Wayne
Nastri, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, November 28, 2007.
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The South Coast 8-hour ozone nonattainment area is home to about 17
million people, has a diverse economic base, and contains one of the
highest-volume port areas in the world. For a precise description of
the geographic boundaries of the South Coast 8-hour ozone nonattainment
area, see 40 CFR 81.305. The local air district with primary
responsibility for developing a plan to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone
NAAQS in this area is the South Coast Air Quality Management District
(District or SCAQMD).
Ambient 8-hour ozone levels in the South Coast are well above the
1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The maximum design value for the area, based
on monitored readings at the Crestline monitor, is 0.112 ppm for the
2008-2010 period.\4\
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\4\ See EPA, Air Quality System Quick Look Report dated April
14, 2011 in the docket for today's action. A design value is an
ambient concentration calculated using a specific methodology to
evaluate monitored air quality data and is used to determine whether
an area's air quality is meeting a NAAQS. The methodology for
calculating design values for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS is found in 40
CFR part 50, Appendix I. This value is preliminary because while
2008 and 2009 data are complete, validated, and certified, 2010 data
have not yet been certified by the District.
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II. CAA and Regulatory Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment SIPs
States must implement the 1997 8-hour ozone standard under Title 1,
Part D of the CAA, which includes section 172, ``Nonattainment plan
provisions,'' and subpart 2, ``Additional Provisions for Ozone
Nonattainment Areas'' (sections 181-185).
In order to assist states in developing effective plans to address
their ozone nonattainment problem, EPA issued the 8-hour ozone
implementation rule. This rule was finalized in two phases. The first
phase of the rule addresses classifications for the 1997 8-hour ozone
standard, applicable attainment dates for the various classifications,
and the timing of emissions reductions needed for attainment. See 69 FR
23951 (April 30, 2004). The second phase addresses SIP submittal dates
and the requirements for reasonably available control technology and
measures (RACT and RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP), modeling
and attainment demonstrations, contingency measures, and new source
review. See 70 FR 71612 (November 29, 2005). The rule is codified at 40
CFR part 51, subpart X.\5\ We discuss each of these CAA and regulatory
requirements for 8-hour ozone nonattainment plans in more detail below.
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\5\ EPA has revised or proposed to revise several elements of
the 8-hour ozone implementation rule since its initial promulgation
in 2004. See, e.g., 74 FR 2936 (January 16, 2009); 75 FR 51960
(August 24, 2010); and 75 FR 80420 (December 22, 2010). None of
these revisions affect any provision of the rule that is applicable
to EPA's proposed actions on the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone Plan.
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III. California's State Implementation Plan Submittals To Address 8-
Hour Ozone Nonattainment in the South Coast Nonattainment Area
A. California's SIP Submittals
Designation of an area as nonattainment starts the process for a
state to develop and submit to EPA a State implementation plan (SIP)
providing for attainment of the NAAQS under title 1, part D of the CAA.
For 8-hour ozone areas designated as nonattainment effective June 15,
2004, this attainment SIP was due by June 15, 2007. See CAA 172(b) and
40 CFR 51.908(a) and 51.910.
California has made five SIP submittals to address the CAA's
planning requirements for attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in
the South Coast nonattainment area. We refer to these submittals
collectively as ``the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone SIP'' or ``the
South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP.'' The two principal ones are the District's
2007 8-Hour Ozone Plan (South Coast 2007 AQMP) and the California Air
Resources Board's (CARB's) State Strategy for California's 2007 State
Implementation Plan (2007 State Strategy).
1. 2007 South Coast AQMP
The ``Final 2007 Air Quality Management Plan, June 2007'' (South
Coast 2007 AQMP) was adopted by the District on June 1, 2007 and
submitted to CARB on October 24, 2007.6 7 On
[[Page 57874]]
November 28, 2007, CARB submitted the South Coast 2007 AQMP to EPA. The
South Coast 2007 AQMP includes an 8-hour ozone attainment demonstration
for the South Coast nonattainment area, commitments by the SCAQMD to
adopt control measures to achieve emissions reductions from sources
under its jurisdiction (primarily stationary sources), and motor
vehicle emissions budgets (budgets) used for transportation conformity
purposes. The attainment demonstration includes air quality modeling,
an analysis of CAA section 172 reasonably available control measures
(RACM), base year and projected year emissions inventories, and
contingency measures.
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\6\ See November 28, 2007 letter to Wayne Nastri, Regional
Administrator, EPA Region 9, from James N. Goldstene, Executive
Officer, CARB, with enclosures.
\7\ The South Coast 2007 AQMP is the first South Coast Plan to
address the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. We have previously acted on numerous
South Coast air quality plans for ozone, PM-10, carbon monoxide, and
NO2, such as the 1997/1999 AQMP. We approved the ozone
portion of the 1997 South Coast AQMP, as amended in 1999, on April
10, 2000 (see 65 FR 18903). Our most recent action on a SIP
addressing the CAA requirements for the South Coast ozone
nonattainment area was our partial approval and partial disapproval
of the 2003 AQMP, which addressed 1-hour ozone (see 74 FR 10176,
March 10, 2009). Our 2009 final action was challenged in the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals, which published an opinion remanding
certain aspects of EPA's action for further action consistent with
the opinion. See Association of Irritated Residents v. EPA, 632 F.3d
584 (9th Cir. 2011). The issues in dispute relate to the
consequences of an EPA disapproval of a SIP submittal, the adequacy
of EPA's evaluation of a particular control measure from the 2003
State Strategy, and the rationale for EPA's approval of the State's
submittal as meeting the requirements of CAA section 182(d)(1)(A)
(TCMs to offset growth in emissions from growth in VMT) in the South
Coast. EPA has sought rehearing on some of the issues, and the
mandate in this case has not yet been issued pending action by the
court on the petition for rehearing.
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In today's proposal, we are evaluating only those portions of the
South Coast 2007 AQMP and its revisions that are relevant to attainment
of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast.
2. CARB 2007 State Strategy
To demonstrate attainment, the South Coast 2007 AQMP relies to a
large extent on measures and commitments in CARB's 2007 State Strategy.
The 2007 State Strategy was adopted by CARB on September 27, 2007 and
submitted to EPA on November 16, 2007.\8\ It describes CARB's overall
approach to addressing, in conjunction with local plans, attainment of
both the 1997 8-hour ozone and fine particulate (PM2.5)
NAAQS not only in the South Coast nonattainment area but also in the
San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento area. It also includes CARB's
commitments to propose 15 defined State measures \9\ and to obtain
specific amounts of aggregate emissions reductions of NOX
and VOC emissions in the South Coast from sources under the State's
jurisdiction, primarily on- and off-road motor vehicles and engines. In
addition, it contains an RFP demonstration and contingency measures for
the South Coast 8-hour ozone nonattainment area.
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\8\ See CARB Resolution No. 07-28, September 27, 2007 with
attachments and letter from James N. Goldstene, Executive Officer,
CARB, to Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9,
November 16, 2007 with enclosures.
\9\ The 2007 State Strategy also includes measures to be
implemented by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (Smog
Check improvements) and the California Department of Pesticide
Regulation (VOC reductions from pesticide use). See 2007 State
Strategy, pp. 64-65 and CARB Resolution 7-28, Attachment B, p. 8.
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On August 12, 2009, CARB submitted the ``Status Report on the State
Strategy for California's 2007 State Implementation Plan (SIP) and
Proposed Revision to the SIP Reflecting Implementation of the 2007
State Strategy,'' dated March 24, 2009 and adopted April 24, 2009
(``2009 State Strategy Status Report'').\10\ This submittal updated the
2007 State Strategy to reflect its implementation during 2007 and 2008.
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\10\ See CARB Resolution No. 09-34, April 24, 2009 and letter,
James N. Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB, to Wayne Nastri,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, August 12, 2009 with
enclosures. Only pages 11-27 of the 2009 State Strategy Status
Report are submitted as a SIP revision. The balance of the report is
for informational purposes only. See Attachment A to CARB Resolution
No. 09-34.
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In today's proposal, we are evaluating only those portions of the
2007 State Strategy and its revisions that are relevant to attainment
of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast.
3. CARB's 2011 SIP Revisions
On May 18, 2011, CARB submitted a SIP revision entitled Progress
Report on Implementation of PM2.5 State Implementation Plans
(SIP) for the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley Air Basins and
Proposed SIP Revisions, dated March 29, 2011 and adopted April 28,
2011, together with the adopting resolution and other supporting
documentation 11 12 (2011 Progress Report). Appendix F of
this 2011 Progress Report provides revised control measure commitments
and a revised rule implementation schedule for the South Coast 2007
AQMP.\13\ We refer to this SIP revision as the ``2011 Progress Report,
Appendix F.''
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\11\ See CARB Board Resolution 11-24, April 28, 2011 and letter,
James N. Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB, to Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, May 18, 2011 with enclosures.
\12\ Only Appendices B, C, and D of the 2011 Progress Report are
submitted as a SIP revision. The balance of the report is for
informational purposes only. See letter, James Goldstene, Executive
Officer, CARB, to Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, EPA
Region 9, May 18, 2011.
\13\ See letter, Lynn Terry, Deputy Executive Officer, CARB, to
Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, dated May
19, 2011, and enclosed ARB Board Resolution 11-24.
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On July 29, 2011, CARB submitted the ``8-Hour Ozone State
Implementation Plan Revisions and Technical Revisions to the
PM2.5 State Implementation Plan Transportation Conformity
Budgets for the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley Air Basins,'' dated
June 20, 2011 and adopted July 21, 2011 (2011 Ozone SIP Revision).\14\
This SIP revision updates the 2007 State Strategy and 2009 State
Strategy Status Report. Specifically, it updates the emissions
inventories, RFP demonstration, contingency measures, and
transportation conformity budgets for the South Coast to reflect rule
adoptions and improvements to emissions estimates. CARB provided
supplemental documentation for the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision on August
10, 2011 (2011 Ozone SIP Supplement).\15\
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\14\ See CARB Resolution 11-22, July 21, 2011 and letter, James
N. Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB, to Jared Blumenfeld, Regional
Administrator, EPA Region 9, July 29, 2011 with enclosures. Only
Appendix A of the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision is submitted as a SIP
revision. The balance of the report is for informational purposes
only.
\15\ See letter, Lynn Terry, Executive Officer, CARB, to Deborah
Jordan, Director, Region 9 Air Division, dated August 10, 2011 with
attachments.
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Future references in this proposal to the 2007 State Strategy and
to the South Coast 2007 AQMP will be to the State Strategy as revised
in 2009 and 2011, and the AQMP as revised in 2011, respectively, unless
otherwise noted.
B. CAA Procedural and Administrative Requirements for SIP Submissions
CAA sections 110(a)(1) and (2) and 110(l) require a state to
provide reasonable public notice and opportunity for public hearing
prior to the adoption and submission of a SIP or SIP revision. To meet
this requirement, every SIP submittal should include evidence that
adequate public notice was given and an opportunity for a public
hearing was provided consistent with EPA's implementing regulations in
40 CFR 51.102.
Both the District and CARB have satisfied applicable statutory and
regulatory requirements for reasonable public notice and hearing prior
to adoption and submission of the South Coast 2007 Ozone Plan. The
District conducted public workshops, provided public comment periods,
and held public hearings prior to the adoption of the South Coast 2007
AQMP on June 1, 2007 (See SCAQMD Governing Board Resolution No. 07-9).
CARB provided the required public notice and opportunity for public
comment prior to its September 27, 2007 public hearing on the plan. See
CARB Resolution No. 07-41. The District also provided the
[[Page 57875]]
required public notice and hearing on its 2011 revision to the 2007
AQMP. See SCAQMD Governing Board Resolution 11-9.
CARB conducted public workshops, provided public comment periods,
and held a public hearing prior to the adoption of the 2007 State
Strategy on September 27, 2007 (See CARB Resolution No. 07-28). CARB
also provided the required public notice, opportunity for public
comment, and a public hearing prior to its April 24, 2009 adoption of
the 2009 State Strategy Status Report. See CARB Resolution 09-34, April
24, 2009. Finally, CARB provided the required public notice,
opportunity for public comment, and a public hearing prior to its April
28, 2011 and July 21, 2011 adoption of the 2011 Progress Report and the
2011 Ozone SIP Revision, respectively. See CARB Resolution 11-11, April
28, 2011, and CARB Resolution 11-22, July 21, 2011.
The SIP submittals include proof of publication for notices of the
District and CARB public hearings, as evidence that all hearings were
properly noticed. We find, therefore, that each of the five submittals
meet the procedural requirements for public notice and hearing in CAA
sections 110(a) and 110(l).
CAA section 110(k)(1)(B) requires EPA to determine whether a SIP
submittal is complete within 60 days of receipt. This section also
provides that any plan that EPA has not affirmatively determined to be
complete or incomplete will be deemed complete 6 months after the date
of submission by operation of law. EPA's SIP completeness criteria are
found in 40 CFR part 51, Appendix V.
The November 28, 2007 submittal of the South Coast 2007 AQMP became
complete by operation of law on May 28, 2008. The November 16, 2007
submission of the 2007 State Strategy and the August 12, 2009 revisions
to the Strategy became complete by operation of law on May 16, 2008 and
February 12, 2010, respectively.
We determined that CARB's 2011 Progress Report submittal of May 18,
2011 was complete on June 13, 2011. See Letter, Deborah Jordan, Air
Division Director, US EPA Region 9, to James Goldstene, Executive
Officer, CARB, dated June 13, 2011. We determined that CARB's 2011
Ozone SIP Update submittal of July 29, 2011 was complete on August 23,
2011.\16\
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\16\ See Letter, Deborah Jordan, Air Division Director, US EPA
Region 9, to James Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB, dated August
23, 2011.
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IV. Review of the South Coast 2007 AQMP and the South Coast Portion of
the Revised 2007 State Strategy
We provide our evaluation of the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone
SIP's compliance with applicable CAA and EPA regulatory requirements
below. A more detailed evaluation can be found in the technical support
document (TSD) for this proposal, which is available online at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number EPA-R09-OAR-2011-0622, or from
the EPA contact listed at the beginning of this notice.
A. Emissions Inventories
1. Requirements for Emissions Inventories
CAA section 182(a)(1) requires each state with an ozone
nonattainment area classified under subpart 2 to submit, within two
years of the area's designation as nonattainment, a ``comprehensive,
accurate, current inventory of actual emissions from all sources'' of
the relevant pollutant or pollutants in accordance with guidance
provided by EPA. CAA 182(a)(1), 40 CFR 51.915. EPA has issued
``Emissions Inventory Guidance for Implementation of Ozone and
Particulate Matter NAAQS and Regional Haze Regulations,'' (EPA-454/R-
05-001), November 2005 (``EI Guidance'') which provides guidance on how
to develop base year and baseline emissions inventories for 8-hour
ozone, PM2.5, and regional haze SIPs.
For areas that were initially designated nonattainment for the 8-
hour ozone standard in 2004, EPA recommends using calendar year 2002 as
the base year for the inventory required by CAA section 182(a)(1). EI
Guidance, p. 8.
Emissions inventories for ozone should include emissions of VOC,
NOX, and carbon monoxide (CO) and represent an average
summer week day during the ozone season. EI Guidance, pp. 14 and 17.
States should include documentation in their submittals explaining how
emissions data were calculated. 70 FR 71612 at 71664 and EI Guidance,
p. 40. In estimating mobile source emissions, states should use the
latest emission models and planning assumptions available at the time
the SIP is developed. 66 FR at 32854 and 70 FR 61612, at 71666. For
California, the latest available mobile source emissions model is
EMFAC2007, which EPA approved in 2008 for use in SIPs and
transportation conformity analyses. See 73 FR 3464 (January 18, 2008).
2. Emissions Inventories in the South Coast 2007 AQMP
The base year and future year baseline inventories for ozone
precursors for the South Coast ozone nonattainment area together with
additional documentation for the inventories are found in Chapter 3 and
Appendix III of the South Coast 2007 AQMP.\17\ These inventories
represent average summer day (ozone season) emissions. Inventories are
provided for the base year of 2002; the RFP milestone years of 2008,
2011, 2014, 2017, 2020; and the attainment year of 2023. The projected
baseline inventories include reductions from Federal, State, and
District measures adopted prior to 2007. See South Coast 2007 AQMP,
page 3-1 and 2007 State Strategy, Appendix A, p. 1. All inventories
include emissions from point, area, on-road and non-road sources.
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\17\ By ``future year baseline inventories'' or ``projected
baseline inventories,'' we mean projected emissions inventories for
future years that account for, among other things, the effects of
economic growth and adopted emissions control requirements.
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As a starting point for the South Coast 2007 AQMP's inventories,
the District used CARB's inventory for the year 2002. This inventory
and CARB's documentation for its inventories can be found in Appendices
A and F, respectively, of the 2007 State Strategy. The 2002 inventory
for the South Coast nonattainment area was projected to 2005 and future
years using CARB's California Emission Forecasting System (CEFS). Both
base year and projected baseline inventories use the most current
version of California's mobile source emissions model, EMFAC2007, for
estimating on-road motor vehicle emissions. EPA has approved this model
for use in SIPs and transportation conformity analyses. 73 FR 3464
(January 18, 2008). Off-road inventories were developed using the CARB
off-road model.
As part of its 2011 Ozone SIP Revision, CARB submitted revised base
year and future year baseline inventories for the South Coast
nonattainment area. See Table 1 below. These revised inventories
incorporate improved activity data and/or emission factors for diesel
trucks and buses and off-road equipment that were developed as part of
CARB's December 2010 rulemakings amending its In-Use On-Road Truck and
Bus Rule and In-Use Off-Road Engine rule. The State estimates that
these changes collectively reduce the 2002 base year total inventory in
the South Coast by 5 percent for NOX and less than 2 percent
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for VOC.\18\ The projected baseline inventories for subsequent years
were also revised to reflect the ongoing effects of the 2007-2009
economic recession, which has significantly reduced activity levels and
associated emissions from the State's construction and goods movement
sectors. CARB estimates that emissions levels and growth rates will
return to normal levels by the 2017-2018 timeframe. 2011 Ozone SIP
Revision, Appendix B. As a result, projected emission levels from these
categories in the years up to 2017-2018 are now substantially lower
than were originally projected in the South Coast 2007 AQMP and 2007
State Strategy as submitted in November 2007. These recession-related
decreases in emissions do not in themselves affect the Plan's emissions
inventories for the modeling validation years (1997, 2004, and 2005),
the base year (2002), or future years (2020 and 2023), and thus do not
change the carrying capacity estimates in the plan (i.e., they do not
in themselves affect the target level of overall emissions reductions
needed to demonstrate attainment), nor do they alter the 2002 adjusted
baseline emissions, which provide the starting point for the reasonable
further progress demonstration. The principal effect of the recession-
related decreases in projected emissions estimates is to reduce the
amount of reductions needed from the SIP's control strategy to
demonstrate RFP in the years prior to 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ See Appendix A of 2011 Ozone SIP Revision.
Table 1--South Coast Base Year and Attainment Year Emissions Inventory Summary
[Summer planning inventory emissions in tons per day] a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emissions inventory category NOx VOC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 2002 2023 2002 2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stationary/Areawide Sources............. 89 68 318 273
On-road Mobile Sources.................. 652 140 361 98
Off-road Mobile Sources................. 283 170 202 142
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL............................... 1024 378 881 513
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Numbers may not add up to precise totals due to rounding. Source: 2011 Ozone SIP Revision, Appendix B, p. B-
2.
3. Proposed Action on the Base Year Emissions Inventory
We have reviewed the 2002 base year emissions inventory in the
South Coast 2007 AQMP and the inventory methodologies used by the
District and CARB in developing that inventory and have determined that
the inventory was developed consistent with CAA requirements as
reflected in the 8-hour ozone implementation rule, and EPA's guidance.
The revised 2002 base year inventory is a comprehensive, accurate, and
current inventory of actual emissions of 8-hour ozone precursors in the
South Coast nonattainment area. We therefore propose to approve the
base year inventory as meeting the requirements of CAA section
182(a)(1) and EPA's 8-hour ozone implementation rule. 40 CFR 51.915. We
provide detail on our review of the base year inventory in section
II.A. of the TSD for this proposal.
B. Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM) Demonstration and
Control Strategy
1. Requirements for RACM and Control Strategy
CAA section 172(c)(1) requires that each attainment plan ``provide
for the implementation of all reasonably available control measures as
expeditiously as practicable (including such reductions in emissions
from existing sources in the area as may be obtained through the
adoption, at a minimum, of reasonably available control technology),
and shall provide for attainment of the national primary ambient air
quality standards.'' The 8-hour ozone implementation rule requires that
for each nonattainment area that is required to submit an attainment
demonstration, the state must also submit concurrently a SIP revision
demonstrating that it has adopted all RACM necessary to demonstrate
attainment as expeditiously as practicable and to meet any RFP
requirements. 40 CFR 51.912(d).
EPA has previously provided guidance interpreting the RACM
requirement in the General Preamble at 13560 \19\ and in a memorandum
entitled ``Guidance on Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM)
Requirements and Attainment Demonstration Submissions for the Ozone
NAAQS,'' John Seitz, November 30, 1999. (Seitz memo). In summary, EPA
guidance provides that to address the requirement to adopt all RACM,
states should consider all potentially reasonable control measures for
source categories in the nonattainment area to determine whether they
are reasonably available for implementation in that area and whether
they would, if implemented individually or collectively, advance the
area's attainment date by one year or more. See Seitz memo and General
Preamble at 13560; see also ``State Implementation Plans; General
Preamble for Proposed Rulemaking on Approval of Plan Revisions for
Nonattainment Areas,'' 44 FR 20372 (April 4, 1979) and Memorandum dated
December 14, 2000, from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, ``Additional Submission on RACM from States
with Severe One-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area SIPs.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ The ``General Preamble for the Implementation of Title I of
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,'' published at 57 FR 13498 on
April 16, 1992, describes EPA's preliminary view on how we would
interpret various SIP planning provisions in title I of the CAA as
amended in 1990, including those planning provisions applicable to
the 1-hour ozone standard. EPA continues to rely on certain guidance
in the General Preamble to implement the 8-hour ozone standard under
title I.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any measures that are necessary to meet these requirements that are
not already either federally promulgated, part of the state's SIP, or
otherwise creditable in SIPs must be submitted in enforceable form as
part of a state's attainment plan for the area. 72 FR 20586, at
20614.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ For ozone nonattainment areas classified as moderate or
above, CAA section 182(b)(2) also requires implementation of RACT
for all major sources of VOC and for each VOC source category for
which EPA has issued a Control Techniques Guideline (CTG). CAA
section 182(f) requires that RACT under section 182(b)(2) also apply
to major stationary sources of NOX. In extreme areas, a
major source is a stationary source that emits or has the potential
to emit at least 10 tons of VOC or NOX per year. CAA
section 182(e) and (f). Under the 8-hour ozone implementation rule,
states were required to submit SIP revisions meeting the RACT
requirements of CAA sections 182(b)(2) and 182(f) no later than 27
months after designation for the 8-hour ozone standard (September
15, 2006 for areas designated in April 2004) and to implement the
required RACT measures no later than 30 months after that submittal
deadline. See 40 CFR 51.912(a). California submitted the CAA section
182 RACT SIP for the South Coast 8-hour ozone nonattainment area on
January 31, 2007, which EPA fully approved on December 18, 2008. See
73 FR 76947.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 57877]]
CAA section 172(c)(6) requires nonattainment plans to ``include
enforceable emission limitations, and such other control measures,
means or techniques (including economic incentives such as fees,
marketable permits, and auctions of emission rights), as well as
schedules and timetables for compliance, as may be necessary or
appropriate to provide for attainment of such standard in such area by
the applicable attainment date * * *.'' See also CAA section
110(a)(2)(A). The ozone implementation rule requires that all control
measures needed for attainment be implemented no later than the
beginning of the attainment year ozone season. 40 CFR 51.908(d). The
attainment year ozone season is defined as the ozone season immediately
preceding a nonattainment area's attainment date. 40 CFR 51.900(g).
2. RACM Demonstration and Control Strategy
For the 2007 Ozone Plan and the 2007 State Strategy, CARB, the
District, and the local agency (through the South Coast's metropolitan
planning organization (MPO), the Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG)) each undertook a process to identify and evaluate
potential reasonably available control measures that could contribute
to expeditious attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone standards in the
South Coast nonattainment area. We describe each agency's efforts
below.
a. District's RACM Demonstration and Control Strategy
The District's RACM demonstration, which focuses on stationary and
area source controls, is described in Chapter 6 and Appendix VI of the
South Coast 2007 AQMP. In developing the South Coast 2007 AQMP, the
District conducted a process to identify RACM for the South Coast that
involved public meetings to solicit input, evaluation of EPA's
suggested RACM, and evaluation of other air agencies' regulations. See
South Coast 2007 AQMP, Appendix VI.
To identify potential reasonably available measures for the South
Coast, the District evaluated measures implemented in other
nonattainment areas (including the San Joaquin Valley, the San
Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Ventura, Dallas-Fort Worth, and the
Houston-Galveston area) and measures identified by the Lake Michigan
Air Directors Consortium (LADCO), and held meetings with CARB,
technical experts, local government representatives, and the public
during development of the South Coast 2007 AQMP. The District sponsored
an AQMP summit, which generated 200 potential control measures. The
District also reevaluated all 82 of the existing SIP-approved District
rules and regulations.
From the set of identified potential controls, the District then
screened the identified measures and rejected those that would not
individually or collectively advance attainment in the area, had
already been adopted as rules, or were in the process of being adopted.
The remaining measures were evaluated taking into account baseline
inventories, available control technologies, and potential emission
reductions as well as whether the measure could be implemented on a
schedule that would advance attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone
standard by at least a year, assuming a 2024 deadline. South Coast 2007
AQMP, Appendix VI.
In general, EPA believes that the District's current rules and
regulations are equivalent to or more stringent with respect to
emissions of ozone precursors than those developed by other air
districts.
Based on its RACM analysis for stationary and area sources under
its jurisdiction, the District scheduled 15 new or revised stationary
source control measures for development and adoption, including
measures at least as stringent as those identified in other California
districts' AQMPs and several innovative measures. Since submission of
the AQMP in 2007, the District has adopted 13 of these rules and
submitted them to EPA for approval into the SIP. These rules are part
of the District's enforceable commitment to achieve emissions
reductions of 9 tons per day (tpd) of NOX and 19 tpd of VOC
by 2023. As to the few remaining measures that the District rejected
from its RACM analysis, the District determined that these measures
would not advance the attainment date or contribute to RFP due to the
insignificant or unquantifiable emissions reductions they would
potentially generate. See South Coast 2007 AQMP, Appendix VI.
The District has made new commitments in its South Coast 2007 AQMP
to achieve specific reductions from VOC and NOX sources in
the South Coast area. The District committed to adopt and submit
measures that will achieve the following additional emissions
reductions by 2023: 9 tpd NOX and 19 tpd VOC. See South
Coast 2007 AQMP, Table 4-2A, page 4-10 and CARB Staff Report on the
South Coast 2007 AQMP, page 13.\21\ The District expects to meet its
emissions reductions commitments for VOC and NOX (see Table
2 below) by adopting new control measures and programs and
strengthening existing control measures, such as those identified in
Table 4-2A of the South Coast 2007 AQMP (see South Coast 2007 AQMP,
page 4-10 and CARB Staff Report on South Coast 2007 AQMP, p. 13), and
through the additional actions summarized in the CARB Staff Report on
the South Coast 2007 AQMP (See CARB Staff Report on South Coast 2007
AQMP, p. 18). These new or revised control measures include rules to
regulate lubricants, consumer products, non-RECLAIM ovens, dryers and
furnaces, space heaters, facility modernizations, livestock waste, and
residential wood burning. The South Coast 2007 AQMP also identifies 22
measures (beyond the new control measures and additional actions just
discussed) for further review, which may yield additional emission
reductions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ The CARB Staff Report on the South Coast 2007 AQMP, page
ES-4, incorrectly states the SCAQMD commitments as 19 tpd
NOX and 9 tpd VOC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCAQMD has committed to adopt and implement control measures that
will achieve the total tonnage of emission reductions identified in
Tables 2 and 3 of Appendix F of the 2011 Progress report. As discussed
above, the District's commitment is to achieve the total tonnage of
reductions of each pollutant by the specified dates. If SCAQMD
determines that a particular measure is infeasible, in whole or in
part, SCAQMD commits to achieve equivalent reductions on the same
schedule through substitute controls. South Coast 2007 AQMP, p. 4-73.
[[Page 57878]]
Table 2--District Short and Intermediate Term Control Measures Credited in South Coast 2007 AQMP Attainment
Demonstration, as Revised in 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emissions reduction Emissions reductions achieved a
commitment in South ---------------------------------
Coast 2007 AQMP, as
Control measure Rule No. Title revised in 2011
------------------------ NOX VOC
NOX VOC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BCM-03............. 445 Woodburning n/a....... n/a....... 0.1 tpd 0.7 tpd.
fireplaces and
woodstoves.
CTS-01............. 1144 Metalworking n/a....... 2.0 tpd... n/a 4.2 tpd.
fluids and
direct-contact
lubricants.
CTS-03 \b\......... .............. Consumer Products n/a....... n/a....... n/a n/a.
Certification
and Emissions
Reductions from
the Use of
Consumer
Products at
Inst. and Comm'l
Facilities.
CTS-04............. 1143 Consumer Paint n/a....... n/a....... n/a 10.1 tpd.
Thinners and
Multi-Purpose
Solvents.
CMB-01............. 1147 NOX reductions 4.1 tpd... .......... 4.1 tpd .................
from
miscellaneous
sources.
FUG-02............. 461 Gasoline transfer n/a....... 4.0 tpd... n/a Met via excess
and dispensing. from Rule 1143.
FUG-04............. 1149 Storage Tank and n/a....... n/a....... n/a 0.04 tpd.
Pipeline
Cleaning and
Degassing.
CMB-03............. 1111 Further NOX 1.1 tpd... n/a....... 3.0 tpd n/a.
reductions from
space heaters.
MCS-01............. 1110.2 Liquid and 2.2 tpd... 9.2 tpd... 0.54 tpd 0.3 tpd.
gaseous fuels--
stationary ICEs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measures not yet adopted or not fully approved by EPA \c\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.............. ................. NOX....... VOC....... .............
MCS-01............. 1146 NOX from .......... .......... Emissions reductions not
industrial, currently creditable; EPA
institutional, & proposed limited approval/
commercial limited disapproval published
boilers, steam July 8, 2011, see 76 FR 40303.
generators, and
process heaters.
1146.1 NOX from small .......... .......... Emissions reductions not
ind, inst, & currently creditable; EPA
comm'l boilers, proposed limited approval/
steam gens, and limited disapproval published
proc. htrs. July 8, 2011, see 76 FR 40303.
EGM-01............. 2301 Emissions 0.8 tpd... 0.5 tpd... Scheduled for
reductions from adoption in
new or 2012.
redevelopment
projects.
MCS-05............. 1127 Livestock waste.. n/a....... 0.6 tpd... EPA has not
yet acted on
this rule.
FLX-02............. .............. Refinery pilot n/a....... 1.6 tpd... Not yet
program. adopted.
MOB-05............. .............. AB923 LDV high 0.4 tpd... 0.7 tpd... No rule
emitter program. associated
with this
measure.
MOB-06............. .............. AB923 MDV high 0.6 tpd... 0.6 tpd... No rule
emitter program. associated
with this
measure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIP Commitments and Currently Creditable Reductions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 SIP commitment--NOX............. 9.2 tpd NOX............ SIP-creditable 7.7 tpd.
reductions--NOX.
2023 SIP commitment--VOC............. 19.3 tpd VOC........... SIP-creditable 15.3 tpd.
reductions--VOC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ From SCAQMD's 2011 ``Revisions to PM2.5 and Ozone State Implementation Plan for South Coast Air Basin and
Coachella Valley,'' which was included as Appendix F in CARB's 2011 Progress Report, Tables 2 and 3, and
District rule evaluation forms. Some emissions reduction commitments were revised from the information
originally provided in the South Coast 2007 AQMP.
[[Page 57879]]
\b\ Adopted by CARB in November 2010.
\c\ EPA can only credit District rules that have been adopted, submitted to EPA, and approved for credit in the
SIP.
n/a = not applicable.
Table 3--Status of District Rules in the South Coast 2007 AQMP for 8-Hour Ozone
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Implementation
Rule Adoption date date SIP status Federal Register cite
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 445--Woodburning fireplaces 2008 2008-2014 SIP-approved......... 74 FR 27716, 06/11/
and woodstoves. 09.
Rule 461--Gasoline transfer and 2009 2010-2012 SIP-approved......... 71 FR 18216, 04/11/
dispensing. 06.
Rule 1149--storage tank and 2008 2008 SIP-approved......... 74 FR 67821, 12/21/
pipeline cleaning and degreasing. 09.
Rule 1144--Vanishing oils and rust 2009 2011 Proposed for SIP- 75 FR 41744, 07/15/
inhibitors. approval. 11.
Rule 1143--Consumer Paint Thinners 2009 2011 Proposed for SIP- 76 FR 41744, 07/15/
and Multi-Purpose Solvents. approval. 11.
Rule 1147--NOX reductions from 2008 2010 SIP-approved......... 75 FR 46845, 08/04/
miscellaneous sources. 10.
Rule 1111--Further NOX reductions 2009 2012-2043 SIP-approved......... 75 FR 46845, 08/04/
from space heaters. 10.
Rule 1110.2--Liquid and gaseous 2008 2011 SIP-approved......... 74 FR 18995, 4/27/09.
fuels--stationary ICEs.
Rule 1146--NOX from industrial, 2008 2011 Submitted............ Proposed limited
institutional, commercial approval/limited
boilers, steam generators, and disapproval 7/8/11,
process heaters. 76 FR 40303.
Rule 1146.1--NOX from small 2008 2011 Submitted............ Proposed limited
industrial, institutional, approval/limited
commercial boilers, steam disapproval 7/8/11,
generators, and process heaters. 76 FR 40303.
Rule 1127--Livestock Waste........ 2006 2011 Submitted to EPA on Found complete on 10/
10/05/06. 25/06.
Refinery Pilot Program............ 2008 2010 Not yet adopted...... N/A.
Rule 2301--Indirect Source Review. 2012 2014 Not yet adopted...... N/A.
AB923--Light duty vehicle high (a) (a) No rule associated N/A.
emitter program. with this measure.
AB923--Light duty vehicle high (a) (a) No rule associated N/A.
emitter program. with this measure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Ongoing.
b. The Local Jurisdiction's RACM Analysis
The local jurisdiction's RACM analysis was conducted by the
metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the South Coast region,
the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). This
analysis focused on transportation control measures (TCMs). TCMs are,
in general, measures designed to reduce emissions from on-road motor
vehicles through reductions in vehicle miles traveled or traffic
congestion. SCAG's analysis is described in Appendix IV-C of the South
Coast 2007 AQMP. The TCMs in the South Coast 2007 AQMP are derived from
TCM projects in the 2006 SCAG Regional Transportation Improvement
Program (RTIP). This evaluation, described beginning on page 49 of
Appendix IV-C of the South Coast 2007 AQMP, resulted in extensive local
government commitments to implement programs to reduce auto travel and
improve traffic flow. South Coast 2007 AQMP page 6-6 and Appendix IV-C.
Attachment A to Appendix IV-C contains an extensive list of TCMs under
development and newly scheduled TCMs. See South Cost 2007 AQMP,
Appendix IV-C, p. 39.
SCAG evaluated a wide variety of transportation control measures,
including those measures listed in CAA section 108(f), and determined
that there were no combinations of reasonable measures that would
advance attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast. See
South Coast 2007 AQMP, Appendix IV-C.
c. CARB's RACM Demonstration and Control Strategy
Source categories for which CARB has primary responsibility for
reducing emissions in California include most new and existing on- and
off-road engines and vehicles, motor vehicle fuels, and consumer
products.
Given the need for significant emissions reductions from mobile and
area sources to meet the NAAQS in California nonattainment areas, the
State of California has been a leader in the development of stringent
control measures nationwide for on-road and off-road mobile sources and
the fuels that power them. See, e.g., 2007 State Strategy, p. 37; see
also TSD at Appendix A. California has unique authority under CAA
section 209 (subject to a waiver by EPA) to adopt and implement new
emission standards for many categories of on-road vehicles and engines
and new and in-use off-road vehicles and engines.
The State is working with EPA on goods movement activities and is
implementing programs to reduce emissions from ship auxiliary engines,
locomotives, harbor craft and new cargo handling equipment. In
addition, the State has standards for lawn and garden equipment,
recreational vehicles and boats, and other off-road sources that
require newly manufactured equipment to be 80-98 percent cleaner than
their uncontrolled counterparts. Id. Finally, the State has adopted
many measures that focus on achieving reductions from in-use mobile
sources that include more stringent inspection and maintenance
requirements in California's Smog
[[Page 57880]]
Check program, truck and bus idling restrictions, and various incentive
programs. Appendix A of the TSD includes a list of all measures adopted
by CARB between 1990 and the beginning of 2007. These measures,
reductions from which are reflected in the Plan's baseline inventories,
fall into two categories: measures that are subject to a waiver of
Federal pre-emption under CAA section 209 (section 209 waiver measures
or waiver measures) and those for which the State is not required to
obtain a waiver (non-waiver measures). Emissions reductions from waiver
measures are fully creditable in attainment and RFP demonstrations and
may be used to meet other CAA requirements, such as contingency
measures. See TSD, section II.C. and EPA's proposed and final approval
of the SJV 1-Hour Ozone Plan at 74 FR 33933, 33938 (July 14, 2009) and
75 FR 10420 (March 8, 2010). Generally, the State's baseline non-waiver
measures have been approved by EPA into the SIP and are fully
creditable for meeting CAA requirements. See TSD, Appendix A.
CARB developed its proposed 2007 State Strategy after an extensive
public consultation process to identify potential SIP measures.\22\
Through this process, CARB identified and has committed to develop 15
new or revised control measures. See also the discussion on enforceable
commitments below. These measures focus on cleaning up the in-use fleet
as well as increasing the stringency of emissions standards for a
number of engine categories, fuels, and consumer products. They build
on CARB's existing program, which addresses emissions from all types of
mobile sources through both regulations and incentive programs. See
Appendix A of the TSD. Table 4 lists the defined measures in the 2007
State Strategy and their current adoption and approval status. Table 5
provides the State's current estimate of the expected emissions
reductions from these measures in the attainment year (2023), which
would contribute to achieving the State's aggregate emission reduction
commitment for that year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ More information on this public process including
presentations from the workshops and symposium that preceded the
adoption of the 2007 State Strategy can be found at http://www.arb.ca.gov/planning/sip/2007sip/2007sip.htm.
Table 4--2007 State Strategy Defined Measures Scheduled for Consideration and Current Status
[Updated July 2011]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State measure Expected action year Current status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smog Check Improvements.................. 2007-2009.............................. Elements approved 75 FR
38023 (July 1, 2010).\23\
Expanded Vehicle Retirement.............. 2007................................... Adopted by CARB June 2009;
by BAR, September 2010.
Modifications to Reformulated Gasoline 2007................................... Approved, see 75 FR 26653
Program. (May 2, 2010).
Cleaner In-use Heavy Duty Trucks......... 2007,.................................. Proposed approval 76 FR
2008, 2010............................. 40652 (July 11, 2011).
Auxiliary Ship Cold Ironing and Other 2007-2008.............................. Adopted December 2007.
Clean Technologies.
Cleaner Main Ship Engines and Fuels...... Fuel: 2008-2011........................ Proposed approval 76 FR
Engines: 2008.......................... 40652 (July 11, 2011).
Port Truck Modernization................. 2007, 2008, 2010....................... Adopted December 2007 and
December 2008.
Accelerated Introduction of Cleaner 2008................................... Prop 1B funds awarded to
Locomotives. upgrade line-haul
locomotive engines not
already accounted for by
enforceable agreements with
the railroads. Those
cleaner line-hauls will
begin operation by 2012.
Clean Up Existing Harbor Craft........... 2007, 2010............................. Adopted November 2007,
revised June 2010.
Cleaner In-Use Off-Road Equipment........ 2007, 2010............................. Waiver decision pending.
New Emissions Standards for Recreational 2013................................... Action expected in 2013.
Boats.
Expanded Off-Road Recreational Vehicle 2013................................... Action expected in 2013.
Emissions Standards.
Enhanced Vapor Recovery for Above Ground 2008................................... Adopted June 2007, effective
Storage Tanks. June 2008.
Additional Evaporative Emissions 2009, 2013............................. Action expected 2013.
Standards.
Consumer Products Program (I & II)....... 2008, 2009, & 2011..................... Approved 74 FR 57074
(November 4, 2009) and 76
FR 27613 (May 12, 2011).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: 2009 State Strategy Status Report, p. 23, 2011 Progress Report, Table 1, and 2011 Ozone SIP Revision,
Appendix A-3. Additional information from http://www.arb.ca.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ California Assembly Bill 2289, passed in 2010, requires the
Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to direct older vehicles to high
performing auto technicians and test stations for inspection and
certification effective 2013. Reductions shown for the SmogCheck
program in the 2011 Progress Report do not include reductions from
AB 2289 improvements. See CARB Progress Report Supplement,
Attachment 5.
Table 5--Expected Emissions Reductions From Defined Measures in the 2007
State Strategy for the South Coast
[2023 planning inventory, tpd]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measure 2023 NOX 2023 VOC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smog Check Improvements (BAR) [partial]. 1.2 5.3
Cleaner In-Use Heavy-Duty Trucks........ 27.4 1.3
Ship Auxiliary Engine Cold Ironing & 28.4 0.7
Clean Technology.......................
Cleaner Main Ship Engines and Fuel 44.5 0.8
[engine portion].......................
Clean Up Existing Harbor Craft.......... 10 0.4
Cleaner In-Use Off-Road Equipment 3.2 0.3
(>25hp)................................
[[Page 57881]]
Consumer Products Program [partial]..... -- 7.1
-------------------------------
Totals.............................. 114.7 15.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: CARB 2011 Ozone SIP Revision Supplement, Attachment 1.
The 2007 State Strategy includes an enforceable commitment to
achieve aggregate emissions reductions of 141 tpd of NOX and
54 tpd of VOC by the attainment year (2023). See Table 6. The 2007
State Strategy demonstrates that these CARB commitments, in combination
with existing SIP-creditable measures, the District's commitments, and
reduction commitments from the CAA section 182(e)(5) new technologies
provision, will be sufficient to attain the 1997 8-hour NAAQS in the
South Coast nonattainment area by the applicable attainment date of
June 15, 2024. CARB also made enforceable commitments to achieve
aggregate emissions reductions in the RFP milestone years of 2014 and
2020. See 2009 State Strategy Status Report, p. 20 and CARB Resolution
07-28, Attachment B, p. 4. See Table 6 below. The nature of these
commitments is described in the State Strategy as follows:
The total emission reductions from the new measures necessary to
attain the federal standards are an enforceable State commitment in
the SIP. While the proposed State Strategy includes estimates of the
emission reductions from each of the individual new measures, it is
important to note that the commitment of the State Strategy is to
achieve the total emission reductions necessary to attain the
federal standards, which would be the aggregate of all existing and
proposed new measures combined. Therefore, if a particular measure
does not get its expected emission reductions, the State still
commits to achieving the total aggregate emission reductions,
whether this is realized through additional reductions from the new
measures or from alternative control measures or incentive programs.
If actual emission decreases occur in any air basin for which
emission reduction commitments have been made that are greater than
the projected emissions reductions from the adopted measures in the
State Strategy, the actual emission decreases may be counted toward
meeting ARB's total emission reduction commitments.
CARB Resolution 07-28 (September 27, 2007), Appendix B, p. 3.
Table 6--CARB Commitments to Specific Aggregate Emissions Reductions
[Tons per summer day]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 CAA
2014 2020 1 2023 section
182(e)(5) 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOC..................................... 46 52 54 40
NOX..................................... 152 144 141 241
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: 2009 State Strategy Update, p. 20.
\1\ No commitments to VOC or NOX reductions in 2017; 2020 commitment in the South Coast is necessary to provide
for attainment in the downwind nonattainment areas.
\2\ The anticipated reductions of VOC and NOX from 182(e)(5) measures will be reassessed as new SIPs are
developed and revised. 2009 State Strategy Update, p. 20.
d. CAA Section 182(e)(5) New or Improved Technologies Provisions
For ozone nonattainment areas classified as extreme, the CAA
recognizes that an attainment demonstration may need to rely to a
certain extent on new or evolving technologies, given the relatively
long time between developing the initial plan and attaining the
standard and the degree of emissions reductions needed to attain. To
address these needs, CAA section 182(e)(5) authorizes EPA to approve
provisions in an extreme area plan which ``anticipate development of
new control techniques or improvement of existing control
technologies,'' and to approve an attainment demonstration based on
such provisions, if the State demonstrates that: (1) Such provisions
are not necessary to achieve the incremental emission reductions
required during the first 10 years after November 15, 1990;\24\ and (2)
the State has submitted enforceable commitments to develop and adopt
contingency measures to be implemented if the anticipated technologies
do not achieve the planned reductions. CAA 182(e)(5). The State must
submit these contingency measures to EPA no later than 3 years before
proposed implementation of these long-term measures, and the
contingency measures must be ``adequate to produce emissions reductions
sufficient, in conjunction with other approved plan provisions, to
achieve the periodic emissions reductions required by [CAA sections
182(b)(1) or (c)(2)] and attainment by the applicable dates.'' Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ Consistent with provisions in our implementation
regulations for the 1997 ozone NAAQS at 40 CFR part 51, subpart X,
we interpret this 10 year timeframe to run from the effective date
of designation for the 1997 ozone NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The General Preamble further provides that the new technology
measures contemplated by section 182(e)(5) may include those that
anticipate future technological developments as well as those that
require complex analyses, decision making and coordination among a
number of government agencies. See General Preamble at 13524. An
attainment demonstration that relies on long-term new technology
measures under section 182(e)(5) must identify any such measures and
contain a schedule outlining the steps leading to final development and
adoption of the measures. Id.
CARB and the SCAQMD have demonstrated a clear need for emissions
reductions from new and improved control technologies to reduce air
[[Page 57882]]
pollution in the South Coast. The adopted control measures and
enforceable commitments, discussed above, provide the majority, but not
all, of the balance of the emissions reductions needed to attain by
June 15, 2024. See 2007 State Strategy, p. 54. The State Strategy and
South Coast AQMP rely on commitments to achieve additional reductions
of 241 tpd NOX and 40 tpd VOC by 2023 from new and improved
technologies consistent with the requirements of section 182(e)(5). See
2009 State Strategy Status Report, p. 20. The new technology provisions
(also called ``long-term measures'') described in the revised 2007
State Strategy and South Coast 8-Hour Ozone SIP are not relied on to
demonstrate RFP; they are relied on solely for attainment by June 15,
2024. They are accompanied by an enforceable commitment by the State to
adopt and submit contingency measures no later than 3 years before
implementation, as required by CAA section 182(e)(5). We provide our
analysis of these new technology provisions below.
CARB and the California districts have a longstanding history of
successfully adopting and implementing technology-advancing regulations
and innovative control measures. They have worked closely with research
scientists and the regulated industry to develop regulations that are
stringent enough to compel technology development, yet flexible enough
to encourage industry innovations. CARB has provided a list of
potential long-term control measures which include increased durability
of emission control equipment in passenger vehicles, tighter engine
emission standards, cleaner ground support equipment at airports, and
prioritizing Federal transportation funding to support air quality
goals. See pp. 56-57 of the 2007 State Strategy. The SCAQMD has also
provided a list of potential advanced control technologies and
innovative approaches that could achieve the long-term reductions (See
South Coast 2007 AQMP, pp. 4-54 to 4-71). SCAQMD also has an active
Technology Advancement Office. The South Coast technology advancement
efforts include, though are not limited to: Heavy-Duty Class 8 Electric
Trucks, Vehicle Maintenance, Commercial Green Cleaners, Fireplace Gas
Log Buy-down, Residential Yard Equipment and Commercial Leaf Blower
Exchange, Boiler and Process Heater Efficiency Upgrades, Architectural
Coating Rebates, and zero-emission electric delivery trucks.
CARB has also provided updates to its list of potential long-term
measures in both the 2009 State Strategy update and the 2011 ozone SIP
revision. The SCAQMD has also provided a more specific list of
potential technologies, which may be used to fulfill the new technology
commitments. SCAQMD's list of potential projects includes (but is not
limited to) extensive retirement of high-emitting light duty vehicles,
accelerated penetration of zero-emitting vehicles, retrofit and I/M for
heavy duty vehicles, more stringent fuel specifications and use of
diesel alternatives, more stringent marine vessel standards and
programs, advanced and zero-emitting technologies for locomotives/cargo
transportation, accelerated replacement of pleasure craft, more
stringent aircraft standards, and ultra-low VOC formulations for
consumer products. See South Coast AQMP, Table 4-9, p. 4-56. See 2009
State Strategy Status Report, pp. 25-27 and 2011 Ozone SIP Revision,
Appendix A, pp. A-8 to A-12.
To implement the long-term strategy, CARB has committed to a
process that will help ensure that the long-term measures are adopted
and that reductions are achieved by the beginning of the last full
ozone season before the attainment date. CARB is coordinating a
government, private and public effort to establish emission goals for
critical mobile and stationary emission source categories. The effort
includes periodic assessment of technology advancement opportunities
and updates to the Board and the public regarding new emission control
opportunities and progress in achieving the long-term measure
reductions. CARB's commitment for implementing the long-term strategy
also includes (a) sharing results through periodic briefings to the
Board, workshops, conferences, symposia, Web site postings and other
means, (b) working to secure resources for continuing research and
development of new technologies, and (c) developing schedules for
moving from research to implementation. Id.
An initial step in the long-term strategy was the signing of a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the U.S. EPA, CARB and the South
Coast and San Joaquin Valley Air Districts to commit to developing and
testing new sustainable technologies to accelerate progress in meeting
air quality goals. The goal of the MOA is to help align agency research
resources to evaluate innovative technologies and assess new monitoring
equipment to better measure mobile and stationary source emissions. The
MOA agencies have also established a Clean Air Technology Working Group
to help bring together the necessary participants (e.g., scientists,
engineers, analysts and agency specialists) to achieve the goals of the
MOA. 2009 State Strategy Status Report, pp. 25-27. For the South Coast,
the focus has been on demonstrating new technologies for goods movement
activities at a large intermodal rail yard in the City of San
Bernardino, and on the more than 1,000 stationary and area emission
sources in the South Coast (e.g., auto repair shops, transportation
facilities, concrete and aggregate operations, military installations,
printing and coating operations, and manufacturing facilities). See
2011 Ozone SIP Revision, p. A-9.
Other State programs that may achieve emissions reductions to help
meet CARB's 182(e)(5) commitment include: potential co-benefits from
California's climate change programs where State legislation (Assembly
Bill 32--Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32)) aims to reduce
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) in 2020 to 1990 levels or by about 30%;
California's Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), an incentive
program that supports the deployment of hybrid and zero-emission
vehicles and other advanced technologies today in order to achieve the
large-scale reductions needed in the future; and California's annual
research program, which identifies projects and provides funding to
help provide timely scientific and technical information needed for air
quality control programs. In addition, the South Coast AQMD has
identified a clean energy strategy that focuses agencies and business
leaders on using the cleanest technologies, making efficient land-use
decisions, cleaner energy generation (solar and fuel cells),
modernizing old inefficient power plants and improving building energy
use. See 2011 Ozone SIP Revision, pp. A-10 to A-12.
In addition to its commitment to the process discussed above, CARB
has committed to submit an 8-hour ozone SIP revision by 2020 that will:
(1) Reflect modifications to the 2023 emission reduction target based
on updated science and (2) identify additional strategies and
implementing agencies needed to achieve the needed reductions by the
beginning of the 2023 ozone season. See 2011 Ozone SIP Revision, p. A-
8.
CARB's 2011 Ozone SIP Revision updates and reaffirms both the
``long-term strategy commitment to identify and implement advanced
technologies to reduce ozone-forming emissions in the State Strategy''
and the State's enforceable commitment ``to develop, adopt, and submit
contingency measures by 2020 if advanced
[[Page 57883]]
technology measures do not achieve planned reductions.'' See CARB
Resolution 11-22, July 21, 2011. Finally, CARB has committed to meet
annually with EPA to discuss strategies to maximize the clean air
benefits of emerging advanced technologies and to provide annual
summaries of strategies and activities.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ See letter, James Goldstene, Executive Officer, CARB, to
Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, dated August
29, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The long-term strategy commitment for the South Coast 8-Hour Ozone
SIP satisfies the two criteria in CAA section 182(e)(5)(A) and (B) as
follows. First, as mentioned above, the South Coast 8-Hour Ozone SIP
does not rely on any of these new technology reductions to demonstrate
RFP in any milestone year between 2008 and 2020. CARB has committed to
achieve 241 tpd of NOX and 40 tpd of VOC reductions through
new technology measures approved under section 182(e)(5) only in the
attainment year (2023). We note that the amount and relative proportion
of reductions from measures scheduled for long-term adoption under
section 182(e)(5), as compared to measures already adopted in
regulatory form or scheduled for near-term adoption, should clearly
decrease in any future SIP update, and that EPA will not approve a SIP
revision that contains an increase in the amount or relative proportion
of section 182(e)(5) new technology measures without a convincing
showing in a SIP revision that the technologies relied upon in the
near-term rules have been found to be technologically infeasible or
ineffective in achieving emissions reductions in the near term.
Second, CARB has submitted an enforceable commitment to submit
adopted contingency measures to EPA by 2020 as required by CAA section
182(e)(5). See CARB Resolution 11-22, July 21, 2011. These contingency
measures must be adequate to produce emissions reductions sufficient,
in conjunction with other approved plan provisions, to achieve the
periodic emissions reductions required by CAA sections 182(b)(1) or
(c)(2) and attainment by the applicable dates. See CAA 182(e)(5). EPA
will approve or disapprove these contingency measures in accordance
with CAA section 110.
Based on the above discussion and evaluations, we propose to
determine that the long-term strategy for the South Coast 8-Hour Ozone
SIP satisfies the requirements of CAA 182(e)(5).
3. Proposed Actions on RACM Demonstration and Control Strategy
As described above, the District evaluated a range of potentially
available measures for inclusion in its 2007 Ozone Plan and committed
to adopt those it found to be reasonably available for implementation
in the South Coast nonattainment area. The process and the criteria the
District used to select certain measures and reject others were
consistent with EPA's RACM guidance. The evaluation processes
undertaken by SCAG and the State were also consistent with EPA's RACM
guidance. See e.g., General Preamble at 13560 and Seitz memo.
Based on our review of these RACM analyses and the District's and
California's adopted rules, as well as their commitments to adopt and
implement additional control measures, we propose to find that there
are, at this time, no additional reasonably available control measures
(including reasonably available control technology) that would advance
attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast.
Therefore, we propose to find that the South Coast 2007 AQMP, together
with the 2007 State Strategy, provide for the implementation of all
RACM as required by CAA section 172(c)(1).
We propose to approve the SCAQMD's commitments to achieve specific
aggregate reductions of NOX and VOC emissions by specific
years as given in Table 4-2A of the 2007 AQMP, as revised by Tables 2
and 3 of the 2007 Progress Report, Appendix F, and as shown in Table 2
above.
We propose to approve CARB's commitments to propose certain defined
measures, as given in Table B-1 in Appendix B of the 2011 Progress
Report, and Appendix B, Table B-1 in the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision. We
also propose to approve CARB's commitment to achieve the total
aggregate emissions reductions necessary to demonstrate RFP and to
attain the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast nonattainment
area, as given in 2009 State Strategy Status Report, p. 20 and CARB
Resolution 07-28, Attachment B, p. 4, and shown in Table 6 above. See
CARB Resolution 07-28 (September 27, 2007), Appendix B, p. 4.
Finally, we are proposing to approve CARB's and the District's
long-term strategy commitments in the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone
Plan under the new technology provisions of CAA section 182(e)(5). This
proposal is based on our proposed findings that these commitments
satisfy the two criteria in CAA section 182(e)(5)(A) and (B). First,
the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone Plan does not rely on any of these
new technology reductions to demonstrate RFP in any milestone year
between 2008 and 2020. CARB has committed to achieve 241 tpd of
NOX and 40 tpd of VOC reductions through new technology
measures approved under section 182(e)(5) only in the attainment year
(2023). We note that the amount and relative proportion of reductions
from measures scheduled for long-term adoption under 182(e)(5), as
compared to measures already adopted in regulatory form or scheduled
for near-term adoption, should clearly decrease in any future SIP
update, and that EPA will not approve a SIP revision that contains an
increase in the amount or relative proportion of 182(e)(5) new
technology measures without a convincing showing in a SIP revision that
the technologies relied upon in the near-term rules have been found to
be technologically infeasible or ineffective in achieving emissions
reductions in the near-term.
Second, CARB has submitted an enforceable commitment to submit
adopted contingency measures to EPA by 2020 as required by CAA
182(e)(5). See CARB Resolution 11-22, July 21, 2011. These contingency
measures must be adequate to produce emissions reductions sufficient,
in conjunction with other approved plan provisions, to achieve the
periodic emissions reductions required by CAA section 182(b)(1) or
(c)(2) and attainment by the applicable attainment date. See CAA
182(e)(5). Following the State's submittal of these contingency
measures, EPA will approve or disapprove the provisions in accordance
with CAA section 110.
C. Attainment Demonstration
1. Requirements for Attainment Demonstrations
CAA section 182(c)(2)(A) requires states with ozone nonattainment
areas classified as serious or above to submit plans that demonstrate
attainment of the applicable ambient air quality standard as
expeditiously as practicable but no later than the outside date
established in the CAA.\26\ The attainment demonstration is due within
three years of the area's designation as nonattainment (40 CFR 51.908),
and should include:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ EPA's regulation at 40 CFR 51.903(a) translates the maximum
attainment periods in Table 1 of section 181, which are specifically
linked to enactment of the 1990 CAA Amendments, for purposes of
attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Technical analyses that locate and identify sources of
emissions that are
[[Page 57884]]
contributing to violations of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS within the
nonattainment area;
(2) adopted measures with schedules for implementation and other
means and techniques necessary and appropriate for attainment; and
(3) contingency measures required under section 172(c)(9) of the
CAA.
See 70 FR 71612 at 71624.
The requirements for the first two items are described in the
sections on emissions inventories and RACM above (sections IV.A. and
IV.C.) and in the sections on air quality modeling and attainment
demonstration that follow immediately below. Requirements for the third
item are described in the sections on the control strategy and the
contingency measures (sections V.B. and V.F.), respectively.
2. Air Quality Modeling in the South Coast 2007 AQMP
Below, we discuss the applicable statutory and regulatory
requirements for modeled attainment demonstrations and EPA guidance on
air quality modeling for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard, the air
quality modeling analysis supporting the attainment demonstration in
the State's submittal, and our evaluation of these modeling analyses as
part of the attainment demonstration SIP.
a. CAA and Regulatory Requirements for 8-Hour Ozone Air Quality
Modeling and EPA Guidance
For any ozone nonattainment area classified as serious or above,
section 182(c)(2)(A) of the CAA specifically requires the State to
submit a modeled attainment demonstration based on a photochemical grid
modeling evaluation or any other analytical method determined by the
Administrator to be at least as effective as photochemical modeling.
EPA's ozone implementation rule in 40 CFR section 51.908 also specifies
this requirement and in addition requires that each attainment
demonstration meet the requirements of section 51.112, including
Appendix W to 40 CFR part 51, as interpreted in EPA guidance. See,
e.g., ``Guidance on the Use of Models and Other Analyses for Air
Quality Goals in Attainment Demonstrations for Ozone, PM2.5,
and Regional Haze,'' April 2007 (hereafter referred to as ``EPA's 2007
attainment demonstration guidance documents''). These guidance
documents describe the criteria that an air quality model and its
application should meet to qualify for use in an 8-hour ozone
attainment demonstration. For more detail on EPA's evaluation of the
modeling in the South Coast 8-hour ozone attainment demonstration, see
the ``Modeling and Other Analyses Attainment Demonstration'' (section
II.B.) of the TSD for today's proposal. The modeling section of the TSD
also includes a complete list of applicable modeling guidance
documents. These documents describe the components of the attainment
demonstration, explain how the modeling and other analyses should be
conducted, and provide overall guidance on the technical analyses for
attainment demonstrations.
As with any predictive tool, inherent uncertainties are associated
with photochemical grid modeling. EPA's guidance recognizes these
limitations and provides recommended approaches for considering other
analytical evidence to help assess whether attainment of the NAAQS is
likely. This process is called a weight of evidence (WOE) analysis.
EPA's modeling guidance (updated in 1996, 1999, and 2002) discusses
various WOE analyses. EPA's modeling guidance was updated in 2005 and
2007 for the 1997 8-hour attainment demonstration procedures to include
a WOE analysis as an integral part of any attainment demonstration.
This guidance strongly recommends that all attainment demonstrations
include supplemental analyses beyond the recommended modeling. These
supplemental analyses would provide additional information such as data
analyses, and emissions and air quality trends, which would help
strengthen the conclusion based on the photochemical grid modeling. A
WOE analysis is specifically recommended for inclusion in any
attainment demonstration SIP where the modeling results predict Future
Design Values (FDVs) ranging from 82 to less than 88 ppb (see EPA's
2007 attainment demonstration guidance documents).
b. 8-Hour Attainment Demonstration Modeling and Weight of Evidence in
the South Coast 2007 AQMP
i. Photochemical Grid Modeling Attainment Demonstration Results
a. Photochemical Grid Model. The model selected for the Final 2007
AQMP attainment demonstrations is the Comprehensive Air Quality Model
with Extensions (CAMx), version 4.4 (Environ, 2006), using Statewide
Air Pollution Research Center-99 (SAPRC-99) gas phase mechanisms
(Carter, 2000).\27\ The modeling system (including the photochemical
model, meteorological inputs, and chemical mechanism) is consistent
with the previous advice of outside peer reviewers. CAMx is a state-of-
the-art air quality model that can simulate ozone and PM2.5
concentrations together in a ``one-atmosphere'' approach for attainment
demonstrations. CAMx is designed to integrate the output from both
prognostic and diagnostic meteorological models.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ Carter, W.P.L., May 8, 2000a. Documentation of the SAPRC-99
chemical mechanism for VOC reactivity assessment. Report to the
California Air Resources Board, Contracts 92-329 and 95-308.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Episode Selection. Six meteorological episodes from three years
are used as the basis for the plan. The 2003 AQMP benefited from the
intensive monitoring conducted under the 1997 Southern California Ozone
Study (SCOS 1997) where the August 4-7, 1997 episode was the
cornerstone of the modeling analysis. One of the primary modeling
episodes that was used in the 2003 AQMP, August 5-6, 1997, was also
selected for this plan. In addition, five episodes that occurred during
the Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study III (MATES-III) sampling program
in 2004 (August 7-8) and 2005 (May 21-22, July 15-19, August 4-6, and
August 27-28) were selected.
c. Model Performance. Model performance was evaluated in three
zones in the South Coast Basin: the San Fernando Valley; the eastern
San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino Valleys; and Los Angeles and
Orange County. Normalized Gross Bias, Normalized Gross Error, and Peak
Prediction Accuracy were determined for each area. Although not a
requirement for determining acceptable model performance, the
performance statistics were compared to the EPA performance goals
presented in guidance documents. The performance goals for Normalized
Gross Error and Peak Prediction Accuracy were met in the eastern San
Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino Valleys. In general, the
statistic for bias (Normalized Gross Bias) tends to be negative,
indicating that the model tends to slightly under-predict ozone. Based
on their analysis, South Coast concludes and EPA agrees that model
performance is acceptable for this application.
ii. Modeling Approaches for the SCAQMD Attainment Demonstration
CAMx simulations were conducted for the base year 2002, and future-
year 2023 baseline and controlled emissions.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\28\ Future year controlled emissions were estimated from the
baseline emissions using the CEPA control factors for the
simulations, are given in Table V-4-4 of the 2007 South Coast AQMP,
Appendix V.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 57885]]
The ozone attainment demonstration relies on the use of site-
specific relative response factors (RRFs) being applied to the 2002
weighted design values. The RRFs are determined from the future year
controlled and the 2002 base year simulations. The initial screening
for station days to be included in the attainment demonstration
included the following criteria: (1) Having an observed concentration
equaling or exceeding 85 ppb, and (2) a simulation predicted base year
(1997, 2004 or 2005) concentration over 60 ppb. Additional criteria
were added to the selection process as the simulations were evaluated.
A minimum of five episode days are recommended to determine the site
specific RRF. The selection criteria for the episode days and the
process of applying the RRFs to the CAMx modeling are discussed in more
detail in the TSD for today's action.
iii. Results of SCAQMD Modeling
The results of the attainment demonstration for 2023 indicate that
the Federal 1997 8-hour ozone standard would be attained by June 15,
2024 at all monitors with the 2023 controlled emissions inventory. The
attainment targets (420 tpd VOC and 114 tpd NOX) are based
on both short-term and long-term control measures. With controls in
place, it is expected that all stations in the South Coast ozone
nonattainment area will meet the Federal 1997 8-hour ozone standard in
calendar year 2023 (i.e., by June 15, 2024). The east Basin stations of
Crestline and Fontana are projected to have the highest 8-hour ozone
design values of 83 ppb and 81 ppb respectively. Both sites are
downwind receptors along the primary wind transport route that moves
precursor emissions and developing ozone eastward by the daily sea
breeze. Future year projections of ozone along the northerly transport
route through the San Fernando Valley indicate that the ozone design
value in the Santa Clarita Valley will be 74 ppb, which is
approximately 13 percent below the standard, in 2023.
In addition to the monitor-based attainment test, the AQMP includes
an unmonitored area analysis. This review is intended to ensure that a
control strategy leads to reductions in ozone at other locations which
could have baseline (and future) design values exceeding the NAAQS were
a monitor deployed there. The unmonitored area analysis indicates
projected 2024 controlled 8-hour ozone design concentrations at or
below 84 ppb for all grid cells in the South Coast Air Basin.
c. EPA's Evaluation and Proposed Conclusion on the Modeling
Demonstration
Our evaluation of the air quality modeling analyses and supporting
information provided in the South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP indicate that
the South Coast area will attain the 1997 8-hour ozone standard by its
attainment date of June 15, 2024. In addition to the attainment
demonstration provided in the South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP, we have
considered supplemental technical information, including ambient air
quality monitoring data, which was not available at the time the
attainment modeling was performed by SCAQMD. This information is
discussed in more detail in the TSD. The modeling shows significant
reductions in ozone from the base period. The modeling predicts values
of 83 ppb or below at all of the twenty ozone monitoring stations. The
most recent ambient air quality data that we have reviewed indicate
that the area is on track to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone standard by
2024. The peak ozone design values have dropped from 128 ppb in 2000-
2002 to 112 ppb in 2008-2010.
Based on the analysis above and in the TSD, EPA proposes to find
that the air quality modeling provides an adequate basis for the RACM,
RFP and attainment demonstrations in the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone
Plan.
3. Enforceable Commitments in the Attainment Demonstration
Table 8 below summarizes the measures that are relied upon in the
South Coast 2007 AQMP's 8-hour ozone attainment demonstration to
achieve the carrying capacities shown in Table 7. This attainment
demonstration was updated by the 2011 Ozone SIP revision to reflect
adjustments to future year baseline inventories and adopted controls.
Table 7--Emissions Carrying Capacity Estimates for the South Coast
Nonattainment Area for 8-Hour Ozone Attainment
[Tons/day, based on summer planning inventory]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX VOC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
114....................................................... 420
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: South Coast 2007 AQMP, Table 5-6, page 5-21.
As shown in Table 8, the majority of emissions reductions the State
projects are needed for attaining the 8-hour ozone standard in the
South Coast nonattainment area by 2024 come from baseline measures.
These baseline measures include numerous adopted District and State
measures that generally have been approved by EPA either through the
SIP process or the CAA section 209 waiver process. See Appendices A and
B of the TSD for a list of these measures. We have also accounted for
ARB's improvements to the emissions inventories, discussed above in
section IV.A, in the attainment year baseline emissions level (see
Table 8, row D). The remaining reductions needed for attainment are to
be achieved through the District's and CARB's enforceable commitments
to achieve aggregate emission reductions in the South Coast either
through defined control measures or through their commitments to
develop new or improved technologies under CAA section 182(e)(5). Since
the submittal of the South Coast 2007 AQMP and 2007 State Strategy, the
District and CARB have adopted numerous control measures that have
significantly reduced the amount of emissions reductions that still
need to be achieved through these commitments. See Table 9.
Table 8--Summary of South Coast's 8-Hour Ozone Attainment Demonstration
[Tons per summer planning day]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX VOC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A...................... Revised 2002 baseline 1024........................... 881
emissions level.
B...................... Attainment target 114............................ 420
level.
C...................... Total reductions 910............................ 461
needed from 2002
baseline levels to
demonstrate
attainment (A-B).
D...................... Attainment year 493............................ 529
baseline emissions
level (from 2011
Ozone SIP Revision
Supplement, ``new
2023 baseline'').
E...................... Reductions from 531............................ 352
baseline measures and
improvements to the
emissions inventory
(A-D).
[[Page 57886]]
F...................... Reductions needed from 379............................ 109
control strategy
measures including
reductions from new
technologies (D-B).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: 2011 Ozone SIP Revision, Appendix B, and 2011 Ozone SIP Revision Supplement.
Table 9--Reductions Needed for Attainment Remaining as Commitments Based
on SIP-Creditable Measures
[Tons per summer planning day in 2023]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX VOC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Total reductions 910 461
needed from
baseline and
control strategy
measures to attain.
B Reductions from 531 352
baseline measures
and emissions
inventory
improvements.
C Total reductions 7.7 + 114.7 = 15.3 + 15.9 =
from approved 122.4 31.2
measures
(District--Table 2
above, and CARB--
Table 5 above).
D Total reductions 256.6 77.8
remaining as
commitments and
reductions from
new technology
measures (A-B-C).
E Reductions 14.3 33.1
remaining as CARB
enforceable
commitments \1\.
F Reductions 1.5 3.9
remaining as
District
enforceable
commitments \2\.
G Total reductions 241 40
remaining as
reductions from
new technologies
(CAA section
182(e)(5).
H Percent of 2% 8%
reductions needed
for attainment
from new control
measures, not
including
reductions from
new technologies
[(E + F)/A].
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Calculated by subtracting from CARB's 2023 NOX commitment of 141 tpd
and VOC commitment of 54 tpd (Table 8) the adjustments to baseline
from State and Federal sources from 2011 Ozone SIP Revision
Supplement, Attachment 1 (12 tpd NOX, 5 tpd VOC) and emissions
reductions from currently SIP-creditable State measures from Table 5
(114.7 tpd NOX, 15.9 tpd VOC).
\2\ From Table 2 above in section IV.B., difference between District
commitments and SIP-creditable measures.
As shown in Table 9, reductions in the projected baseline inventory
from measures already adopted by the District and State (both prior to
and as part of the South Coast 2007 AQMP and 2007 State Strategy),
which EPA has approved/waived or proposed to approve, provide the great
majority of the emissions reductions needed to demonstrate attainment
of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast. The balance is in
the form of either enforceable commitments to specific aggregate
emissions reductions by the District and CARB, or emissions reductions
from new or improved technologies under CAA section 182(e)(5). In this
section, we discuss the enforceable commitments that are a part of the
attainment demonstration in the South Coast 2007 Ozone Plan.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ Based on SIP-creditable measures adopted to date, the South
Coast 2007 Ozone Plan does not rely on enforceable commitments to
aggregate emissions reductions to demonstrate RFP or to meet any
other applicable requirement of the CAA. Therefore, we discuss here
only those enforceable commitments relied on to demonstrate
attainment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We believe that, with respect to the 2007 South Coast 8-hour Ozone
SIP, circumstances warrant the consideration of enforceable commitments
as part of the attainment demonstration for the South Coast. As shown
in Table 9 above, a substantial portion of NOX emissions
reductions and the majority of the VOC reductions needed to demonstrate
attainment in the South Coast come from rules and regulations that were
adopted prior to 2007, i.e., from baseline measures. As a result of
these State and District efforts, most sources in the South Coast
nonattainment area are currently subject to stringent rules adopted and
approved by EPA prior to the development of the 2007 State Strategy and
the South Coast 2007 AQMP, leaving few opportunities (and generally
more technologically and economically challenging ones) to further
reduce emissions. In the South Coast 2007 AQMP and the 2007 State
Strategy, the District and CARB identified potential control measures
that could provide many of the additional emissions reductions needed
for attainment. See 2007 Ozone Plan, Chapter 5 and 2007 State Strategy,
Chapter 5. However, the timeline needed to develop, adopt, and
implement these measures went beyond the November 2007 submittal date
of the South Coast 8-hour Ozone SIP. These circumstances warrant the
District's and CARB's reliance on enforceable commitments as part of
the attainment demonstration in the South Coast 2007 AQMP and 2007
State Strategy.
Given the State's demonstrated need for reliance on enforceable
commitments, we now consider the three factors EPA uses to determine
whether the use of enforceable commitments in lieu of adopted measures
to meet a CAA planning requirements is approvable: (a) Does the
commitment address a limited portion of the statutorily-required
program; (b) is the state capable of fulfilling its commitment; and (c)
is the commitment for a reasonable and appropriate period of time.
a. Commitments are a Limited Portion of Required Reductions
For the first factor, we look to see if the commitment addresses a
limited portion of a statutory requirement, such as the amount of
emissions reductions needed to demonstrate attainment in a
nonattainment area. For this calculation, reductions assigned to the
new technologies provision (CAA section 182(e)(5) are not counted as
commitments.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ CAA section 182(e)(5) specifically allows EPA to approve an
attainment demonstration that relies on reductions from new
technologies. This provision is separate from the requirement in CAA
section 172(c)(6) for enforceable emissions limitations under which
enforceable commitments are considered. As a result, reductions
attributed in the attainment demonstration to new technologies are
not considered part of the State's enforceable commitments for
purposes of determining the percentage of reductions needed for
attainment that remain as commitments.
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As shown in Table 9 above, the remaining portions of the emission
[[Page 57887]]
reductions needed to demonstrate attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone
standard in the South Coast nonattainment area (i.e., of the State's
total enforceable commitments), after accounting for State and District
measures approved/waived by EPA since 2007 and emissions reduction
commitments assigned to CAA section 182(e)(5) measures, are 15.8 tpd
NOX and 37 tpd VOC. When compared to the total reductions
needed to demonstrate attainment (not including the CAA section
182(e)(5) reductions in the attainment demonstration), the remaining
portion of the enforceable commitments represents approximately 2
percent of the needed NOX reductions and 8 percent of the
needed VOC reductions. Historically, EPA has approved SIPs with
enforceable commitments in the range of 10 percent or less of the total
needed reductions for attainment. See our approval of the SJV
PM10 Plan at 69 FR 30005 (May 26, 2004), the SJV 1-hour
ozone plan at 75 FR 10420 (March 8, 2010), the Houston-Galveston 1-hour
ozone plan at 66 FR 57160 (November 14, 2001), proposed approval of the
SJV 2007 PM2.5 SIP at 76 FR 41338 (July 13, 2011), and
proposed approval of the South Coast PM2.5 SIP at 76 FR
41562 (July 14, 2011). Thus, the State's commitment addresses a limited
proportion of the required emission reductions.
b. The State Is Capable of Fulfilling its Commitment
For the second factor, we consider whether the District and State
are capable of fulfilling their commitments.
As discussed above, CARB has adopted and submitted the 2009 State
Strategy Status Report and the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision which update and
revise the 2007 State Strategy. These submittals show that CARB has
made significant progress in meeting its enforceable commitments for
the South Coast 8-hour ozone nonattainment area and several other
nonattainment areas in California. The District has also made
significant progress in meeting its enforceable commitments for the
attainment year of 2023. It has adopted rules that are projected to
achieve additional reductions of NOX and VOC in future years
as shown in Table 2 above. In addition to the rules discussed above,
both CARB and the District have well-funded incentive grants programs
to reduce emissions from the on- and off-road engine fleets. Reductions
from several of these programs have yet to be quantified and/or
credited in the attainment demonstration. See, for example, Tables 2
and 3 in Appendix F of the 2011 Progress Report.
Given the State's and District's efforts to date to reduce
emissions, we believe that the State and District are capable of
meeting their enforceable commitments to adopt measures that will
reduce emissions of NOX and VOC to the levels needed to
attain the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area by the attainment date, as shown in Table 9.
c. The Commitment Is for a Reasonable and Appropriate Timeframe
For the third and last factor, we consider whether the commitment
is for a reasonable and appropriate period of time.
In order to meet the commitments to adopt measures to reduce
emissions to the levels needed to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone standard
in the South Coast nonattainment area by 2023, the South Coast 2007
AQMP and 2007 State Strategy include ambitious rule development,
adoption, and implementation schedules. The State has committed to
adopt the rules needed to achieve the few remaining reductions by 2023.
We believe that this period is appropriate given the technological and
economic challenges associated with the control measures that will be
needed to achieve these reductions and the State's required procedures
for development and adoption of these measures. In addition, these
reductions are not needed to meet earlier RFP targets and the adoption
and submission timeframe ensures adequate time for implementation by
the beginning of the last full ozone season (2023) prior to the June
15, 2024 attainment date. See Tables 2 and 4 above. Thus, the
commitment is for a reasonable and appropriate period of time.
4. Proposed Action on Attainment Demonstration
In order to approve a SIP's attainment demonstration, EPA must make
several findings.
First, we must find that the demonstration's technical bases,
including the emissions inventories and air quality modeling, are
adequate. As discussed above in section IV.A and IV.C.2, we are
proposing to approve the revised base year emissions inventory, and to
find the air quality modeling adequate to support the attainment
demonstration.
Second, we must find that the SIP provides for expeditious
attainment through the implementation of all RACM. As discussed above
in section IV.C., we are proposing to approve the RACM demonstration in
the South Coast 2007 AQMP as meeting the requirements of CAA section
172(c)(1).
Third, we must find that the emissions reductions that are relied
on for attainment are creditable and are sufficient to provide for
attainment. As shown in Table 9, the South Coast 2007 AQMP relies
primarily on adopted and approved/waived rules to achieve the emissions
reductions needed to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone standards in the
South Coast by June 15, 2024. The balance of the reductions projected
to be needed for attainment is currently in the form of enforceable
commitments to adopt measures to achieve aggregate tonnage reductions
of VOC or NOX in the near term from available technologies
and measures, and an enforceable commitment to adopt and submit in the
longer term measures relying on the development and deployment of new
technologies that will achieve specific aggregate tonnage reductions of
VOC and NOX.
EPA has previously accepted enforceable commitments in lieu of
adopted control measures in attainment demonstrations when the
circumstances warrant them and the commitments meet three criteria. As
discussed above in section IV.C.3., we believe that circumstances here
warrant the consideration of enforceable commitments, and that the
three criteria are met: (1) The commitments constitute a limited
portion of the required emissions reductions; (2) both the State and
District are capable of meeting their commitments; and (3) the
commitments are for an appropriate timeframe. Based on these
evaluations, we are proposing to approve the enforceable commitments as
part of the attainment demonstration.
CAA section 182(e)(5) allows extreme ozone nonattainment area plans
under certain conditions to include provisions for the development of
new technologies in the SIP and allows EPA to approve attainment
demonstrations based, in part, on those provisions. For the reasons
discussed in section IV.B., we propose to find that California has met
the conditions for relying on new technology provisions in its
attainment demonstration for the South Coast nonattainment area.
For the foregoing reasons, we propose to approve the attainment
demonstration in the South Coast 2007 Ozone Plan.
[[Page 57888]]
D. Reasonable Further Progress Demonstration
1. Requirements for Reasonable Further Progress
CAA Section 172(c)(2) requires that plans for nonattainment areas
shall provide for reasonable further progress (RFP). RFP is defined in
section 171(1) as ``such annual incremental reductions in emissions of
the relevant air pollutant as are required by [Part D--Plan
Requirements for Nonattainment Areas] or may reasonably be required by
the Administrator for the purpose of ensuring attainment of the
applicable [NAAQS] by the applicable date.'' CAA Section 182(b)(1)
specifically requires that ozone nonattainment areas that are
classified as moderate or above demonstrate a 15 percent reduction in
ozone precursor emissions between the years of 1990 and 1996. For ozone
nonattainment areas classified as serious or higher, section
182(c)(2)(B) also requires a 3 percent per year reduction of ozone
precursor emissions until attainment, in addition to the 15 percent
reduction required under CAA 182(b)(1).
CAA Section 182(b)(1)(D) prohibits the state from including
emissions reductions from pre-1990 Federal motor vehicle programs when
demonstrating RFP. In other words, the reductions from these programs
are not creditable when demonstrating RFP.
The ozone implementation rule for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS
interprets the RFP requirements for the purposes of the 1997 8-hour
ozone standards, establishing requirements for RFP that depend on the
area's classification as well as whether the area has an approved 15
percent reduction plan for the 1-hour ozone standard that covers all of
the 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. See 40 CFR 51.910(a) and 70 FR
71612. In 1997, EPA approved a 15 percent rate of progress (ROP) plan
for the South Coast, which covers the entire nonattainment area for the
1997 8-hour ozone standard. See 62 FR 1150 (January 8, 1997). As a
result, the State does not need to demonstrate another 15 percent
reduction in VOC for this area. Instead, under the ozone implementation
rule, the 8-hour ozone SIP for South Coast must provide for an average
of 3 percent per year of VOC and/or NOX emissions reductions
for (1) the 6-year period beginning January 1 of the year following the
year used for the baseline and (2) all remaining 3-year periods after
the first 6-year period out to the area's attainment date. 40 CFR
51.910(a)(1)(ii)(B). Except as specifically provided in CAA section
182(b)(1)(C), emissions reductions from all SIP-approved, federally
promulgated, or otherwise SIP-creditable measures that occur after the
baseline are creditable for purposes of demonstrating that the RFP
targets are met.
The RFP demonstration must calculate and exclude the non-creditable
reductions described in CAA 182(b)(1)(D). These non-creditable
reductions include emissions reductions from pre-1990 Federal motor
vehicle programs. The method for calculating the target emissions
levels is found in Appendix A to the preamble of the ozone
implementation rule. See 70 FR 71612 at 71696.
2. RFP Demonstration in the South Coast 2007 AQMP
California has made several submittals to address the RFP
requirement for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast 8-
hour ozone nonattainment area. The original RFP demonstration is in
Chapter 6 of the South Coast 2007 AQMP. The demonstration addresses
NOX and VOC emissions and uses the 2002 annual average
inventory as the baseline emissions inventory and 2023 as the
attainment year. See South Coast 2007 AQMP, Table 6-2A and 6-2B. CARB
submitted a revised RFP demonstration for the South Coast 8-hour ozone
nonattainment area on July 29, 2011 as part of the 2011 Ozone SIP
Revision. The 2011 submission reflected revisions to several
significant control measures since the submission of the SIP in 2007,
as well as changes to the on-road diesel and off-road construction
emissions estimates. Table 10 below summarizes the South Coast ozone
RFP demonstration as revised by the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision.
Table 10--2011 Revisions to the 8-Hour Ozone SIP Reasonable Further Progress Calculations South Coast
[Summer season, tons per day]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline ROG.................................... 880.5 632.0 579.9 535.2 519.8 513.9 513.4.
CA MVCP/RVP Adjustment.......................... 0.0 56.1 73.0 86.6 93.7 98.3 101.6.
RACT Corrections................................ 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0.
Adjusted 2002 Baseline ROG in milestone year.... 880.5 824.5 807.6 793.9 786.8 782.3 778.9.
RFP commitment for ROG reductions from new 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0.
measures.......................................
Future Year ROG with existing and proposed ........ 632.0 579.9 535.2 519.8 513.9 513.4.
measures.......................................
Required % change since previous milestone year ........ 18% 9% 9% 9% 9% 9%.
(ROG or NOX) compared to 2002..................
Required % change since 2002 (ROG or NOX)....... ........ 18% 27% 36% 45% 54% 63%.
Target ROG levels............................... ........ 676.1 599.8 533.4 479.0 431.7 389.8.
Apparent shortfall in ROG....................... ........ -44.1 -19.9 1.7 40.8 82.2 123.6.
Apparent shortfall in ROG, %.................... ........ -5.3% -2.5% 0.2% 5.2% 10.5% 15.9%.
ROG shortfall previously provided by NOX ........ 0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 5.2% 10.5%.
substitution, %................................
Actual ROG shortfall, %......................... ........ -5.3% -2.5% 0.2% 5.0% 5.3% 5.4%.
Baseline NOX.................................... 1024.1 728.3 591.2 532.1 478.8 428.2 378.4.
CA MVCP Adjustment.............................. 0.0 64.7 80.6 93.0 98.3 102.4 105.9.
Adjusted 2002 Baseline NOX in milestone year.... 1024.1 959.4 943.4 931.1 925.8 921.7 918.2.
RFP commitment for NOX reductions from new 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0.
measures.......................................
Change in NOX since 2002........................ ........ 231.1 352.3 398.9 447.0 493.5 539.7.
Change in NOX since 2002, %..................... ........ 24.1% 37.3% 42.8% 48.3% 53.5% 58.8%.
NOX reductions since 2002 already used for RFP ........ 0.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.2% 8.2% 13.5%.
substitution and contingency through last
milestone year, %..............................
NOX reductions since 2002 available for RFP ........ 24.1% 34.3% 39.8% 45.1% 45.4% 45.3%.
substitution and contingency in this milestone
year, %........................................
Change in NOX since 2002 used for ROG ........ 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 5.0% 5.3% 5.4%.
substitution in this milestone year, %.........
[[Page 57889]]
Change in NOX since 2002 available for ........ 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 3.0%.
contingency in this milestone year, %..........
Change in NOX since 2002 surplus after meeting ........ 21.1% 34.3% 39.6% 40.1% 40.0% 39.9%.
substitution and contingency needs in this
milestone year, %..............................
RFP Met?........................................ ........ YES YES YES YES YES YES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: CARB 2011 Ozone SIP Revision, Appendix A, Table A-1.
3. Proposed Action on the RFP Demonstration
CARB has correctly calculated the RFP target levels for the
appropriate years following the method provided in the ozone
implementation rule and preamble. See 40 CFR 51.910 and 70 FR 71612 at
71631-71650. As shown in Table 10, the South Coast 2007 8-hour Ozone
SIP provides for RFP in each milestone year, consistent with applicable
CAA requirements and EPA guidance. We propose, therefore, to approve
the RFP demonstration under sections 182(b)(1) and 182(c)(2) of the
CAA.
E. Transportation Control Strategies and Transportation Control
Measures and Vehicle Miles Travelled Offset Emissions Increases From
VMT Increases, To Provide for RFP and Attainment
1. Requirements for Transportation Control Strategies and
Transportation Control Measures To Offset Emissions Growth, To Provide
for RFP and Attainment
CAA section 182(d)(1)(A) requires that areas classified as severe
or extreme submit transportation control strategies (TCSs) and
transportation control measures (TCMs) sufficient to offset any growth
in emissions from growth in VMT or the number of vehicle trips, and to
provide (along with other measures) the reductions needed to meet the
applicable RFP requirement. CAA section 182(d)(1)(A) also requires that
states choose and implement such measures as are specified in section
108(f), to the extent needed to demonstrate attainment. In selecting
the measures, Congress directed that States ``should ensure adequate
access to downtown, other commercial and residential areas, and should
avoid measures that increase or relocate emissions and congestion
rather than reduce them.'' CAA 182(d)(1)(A).
EPA believes that it is appropriate to treat the three required
elements of section 182(d)(1)(A) (i.e., offsetting emissions growth,
attainment of the RFP reduction, and attainment of the ozone NAAQS) as
separable. As to the first element of CAA section 182(d)(1)(A) (i.e.,
offsetting emissions growth), EPA has historically interpreted this CAA
provision to allow areas to meet the requirement by demonstrating that
emissions from motor vehicles decline each year through the attainment
year. General Preamble at 13521, 13522.\31\
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\31\ See also 60 FR 48896 (September 21, 1995), approval of
Illinois' vehicle miles traveled plan for the Chicago area; 62 FR
23410 (April 30, 1997) and 62 FR 35100 (June 30, 1997), proposed and
final approval of New Jersey's 15 percent ROP plan and other
provisions for the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut ozone
nonattainment area; 66 FR 23849 (May 10, 2001), approval of New
York's attainment demonstration and related provisions for the New
York-New Jersey-Connecticut ozone nonattainment area; 66 FR 57247
(November 14, 2001), approval of the VMT offset plan for the
Houston-Galveston ozone nonattainment area; 70 FR 25688 (May 13,
2005), approval of the Washington, DC area's 1-hour attainment
demonstration and related provisions; and 70 FR 34358 (June 14,
2005), approval of Atlanta's VMT plan.
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2. Transportation Control Strategies and Transportation Control
Measures To Offset Emissions Growth, To Provide for RFP and Attainment
in the South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP
Information in Table 6-12 on page 6-27 of the South Coast AQMP
reproduced in Table 11 shows that on-road motor vehicle emissions of
VOC and NOX decline steadily in the South Coast from 2002 to
2023. This decline in emissions is due to EPA's and California's on-
road mobile source programs, California's clean fuels and SmogCheck
programs, and CARB's in-use truck and bus rule. As discussed above in
section IV.B, these programs are fully creditable for SIP planning
purposes in attainment and RFP demonstrations, including demonstrating
compliance with section 182(d)(1). The on-road emissions in Table 11
are calculated using EMFAC2007 (the most recent EPA-approved mobile
source emissions model in California) and the same transportation
activity projections used to develop the RFP and attainment
demonstrations and transportation conformity motor vehicle emissions
budgets in the South Coast 2007 Ozone Plan. South Coast 2007 AQMP, p.
6-23 and 6-27.
Table 11--On-Road Motor Vehicle Emissions in the South Coast 2002-2023
[Summer planning inventory, tons per day] 1 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline Remaining
Year -----------------------------------------------------------------------
VOC NOX VOC NOX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002.................................... 360 611 360 611
2003.................................... 341 595 341 595
2004.................................... 321 579 321 579
2005.................................... 302 563 302 563
2006.................................... 273 518 273 518
2007.................................... 243 472 243 472
2008.................................... 214 441 210 438
2009.................................... 199 419 195 413
[[Page 57890]]
2010.................................... 186 379 164 330
2011.................................... 176 355 154 291
2012.................................... 166 331 144 252
2013.................................... 157 309 135 219
2014.................................... 148 287 126 191
2015.................................... 142 269 119 174
2016.................................... 135 250 113 162
2017.................................... 129 232 109 160
2018.................................... 124 216 101 135
2019.................................... 119 200 96 120
2020.................................... 114 184 93 112
2021.................................... 110 176 91* 78
2022.................................... 107 169 88* 52
2023.................................... 103 161 86 27
2024.................................... 95 146 76 24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: South Coast 2007 AQMP, Chapter 6, Table 6-12.
\1\ These values were incorrectly listed as 88 for 2021 and 85 for 2022 in the 2007 South Coast AQMP. See
Letter, Elaine Chang, DrPH, Deputy Executive Officer, SCAQMD, to Wienke Tax, EPA Region 9, Air Division, dated
August 12, 2011 in the docket for today's action.
\2\ ''Baseline'' emissions account for controls adopted prior to the 2007 AQMP. ``Remaining'' emissions include
the impacts of economic growth and implementation of the plan's control strategy.
As described above in section IV.B., SCAG evaluated a wide variety
of transportation control strategies and measures, including those
measures listed in CAA section 108(f), and determined that there were
no combinations of reasonable measures that would expedite attainment
of the 8-hour ozone standard in the South Coast. See South Coast 2007
AQMP, Appendix IV-C.
3. Evaluation and Conclusions
Because both VOC and NOX emissions from on-road mobile
sources decline steadily over the entire time period covered by the
South Coast 2007 Ozone Plan, the SIP need not include additional TCSs
and TCMs to offset growth in motor vehicle emissions from growth in
VMT. We propose, therefore, to find that the South Coast 2007 8-hour
ozone SIP, as corrected on August 12, 2011, meets the requirement in
CAA section 182(d)(1)(A) to include TCSs and TCMs sufficient to offset
any growth in emissions from growth in VMT or the number of vehicle
trips.
In Association of Irritated Residents v. EPA, 632 F.3d 584 (9th
Cir. 2011), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that,
with respect to the first element, section 182(d)(1)(A) of the CAA
requires States to adopt transportation control measures and strategies
whenever vehicle emissions are projected to be higher than they would
have been had vehicle miles traveled not increased, even when aggregate
vehicle emissions are actually decreasing. EPA has filed a petition for
rehearing on this issue. Docket Nos. 09-71383 and 09-71404
(consolidated), Docket Entry 41-1, Petition for Panel Rehearing.
The Ninth Circuit has yet to issue its mandate in the Association
of Irritated Residents case, and EPA has not adopted the court's
interpretation for the reasons set forth in the Agency's petition for
rehearing, pending a final decision by the court. If the court denies
the Agency's petition for rehearing and issues its mandate before EPA
issues a final rule on the South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP, then we
anticipate that we would not be able to finalize approval of the South
Coast 2007 Ozone SIP with respect to the first element (i.e.,
offsetting emissions growth) of section 182(d)(1)(A). Therefore, in
today's action, and in the alternative to the proposed approval, we are
simultaneously proposing to disapprove the South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP
with respect to the first element (i.e., offsetting emissions growth)
of section 182(d)(1)(A) based on the plan's failure to include
sufficient transportation control strategies and TCMs to offset the
emissions from growth in VMT. If EPA were to finalize the proposed
disapproval, the area would be eligible for a protective finding under
the transportation conformity rule because the submitted SIP contains
adopted control measures and enforceable commitments that fully satisfy
the emissions reductions requirements for reasonable further progress
and attainment.\32\ 40 CFR 93.120(a)(3)
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\32\ An area would not be eligible for a protective finding
under the transportation conformity regulation if EPA finalizes a
disapproval of a control strategy implementation plan revision
(i.e., a plan that demonstrates reasonable further progress or
attainment) because the plan revision does not contain adopted
control measures or written commitments to enforceable control
measures that fully satisfy the emissions reductions requirements
relevant to the statutory provision for which the implementation
plan revision was submitted. 40 CFR 93.120(a)(3)
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As discussed above in section IV.D., we are proposing to find that
the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone SIP provides for RFP consistent with
all applicable CAA and EPA regulatory requirements. Therefore, we also
propose to find that the SIP meets requirement in CAA section
182(d)(1)(A) to include TCSs and TCMs as necessary to provide (along
with other measures) the reductions needed to meet the applicable RFP
requirement.
Finally, as discussed in section IV.B. and IV.C. above, we are
proposing to find that the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone SIP provides
for expeditious attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard.
Therefore, we propose to find that the SIP meets the requirement in CAA
section 182(d)(1)(A) to include strategies and measures to the extent
needed to demonstrate attainment.
F. Contingency Measures
1. Requirements for Contingency Measures
Under the CAA, ozone nonattainment areas classified under subpart 2
as moderate or above must include in their SIPs contingency measures
consistent with sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9). Contingency measures
are additional
[[Page 57891]]
measures to be implemented in the event the area fails to meet an RFP
milestone or fails to attain by the applicable attainment date. These
contingency measures must be fully adopted rules or control measures
that are ready to be implemented quickly upon failure to meet the
milestones or attainment. The SIP should contain trigger mechanisms for
the contingency measures, specify a schedule for implementation, and
indicate that the measure will be implemented without significant
further action by the State or by EPA. See 68 FR 32802 at 32837 and 70
FR 71612 at 71650.
Additional guidance on the CAA contingency measure provisions is
found in the General Preamble, 57 FR at 13510-13512 and 13520. The
guidance indicates that states should adopt and submit contingency
measures sufficient to provide a 3 percent emissions reduction from the
adjusted RFP baseline. EPA concludes this level of reductions is
generally acceptable to offset emission increases while States are
correcting their SIPs. These reductions should be beyond what is needed
to meet the attainment and/or RFP requirement. States may use
reductions of either VOC or NOX or a combination of both to
meet the contingency measure requirements. 57 FR at 13520, footnote 6.
EPA guidance provides that contingency measures may be implemented
early, i.e., prior to the milestone or attainment date.\33\ Consistent
with this policy, States are allowed to use excess reductions from
already adopted measures to meet the CAA sections 172(c)(9) and
182(c)(9) contingency measures requirement. This is because the purpose
of contingency measures is to provide extra reductions that are not
relied on for RFP or attainment, and that will provide a cushion while
the plan is being revised to fully address the failure to meet the
required milestone. Nothing in the CAA precludes a State from
implementing such measures before they are triggered. This approach has
been approved by EPA in numerous SIPs. See 62 FR 15844 (April 3, 1997)
(approval of the Indiana portion of the Chicago area 15 percent ROP
plan); 62 FR 66279 (December 18, 1997) (approval of the Illinois
portion of the Chicago area 15 percent ROP plan); 66 FR 30811 (June 8,
2001) (proposed approval of the Rhode Island post-1996 ROP plan); 66 FR
586 and 66 FR 634 (January 3, 2001) (approval of the Massachusetts and
Connecticut 1-hour ozone attainment demonstrations). In the only
adjudicated challenge to this approach, the court upheld it. See LEAN
v. EPA, 382 F.3d 575 (5th Cir. 2004). 70 FR 71612 at 71651.
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\33\ Memorandum, G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide
Programs Branch to Air Directors, ``Contingency Measures for Ozone
and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Redesignations,'' June 1, 1992.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, CAA section 182(e)(5) authorizes EPA to ``approve
provisions of an implementation plan for an Extreme Area which
anticipate development of new control techniques or improvement of
existing control techniques, and an attainment demonstration based on
such provisions,'' if the State meets certain criteria. CAA 182(e)(5).
Such plan provisions may include enforceable commitments to submit, at
a later date, contingency measures for failure to attain under CAA
section 172(c)(9), in addition to the contingency measures to be
implemented if the anticipated technologies approved under section
182(e)(5) do not achieve planned reductions. These contingency measures
must be submitted no later than three years before proposed
implementation of the plan provisions and approved or disapproved by
EPA in accordance with CAA section 110. Id.
2. Contingency Measures in the South Coast 2007 AQMP
The attainment plan for the South Coast nonattainment area includes
contingency measures to be implemented if the area fails to attain by
its attainment date or fails to meet RFP requirements. The contingency
measures for the South Coast nonattainment area are described in
Chapter 9 of the South Coast 2007 AQMP, discussed in more detail in
Appendix IV-A, section 2 of the AQMP, and also discussed in Appendix D
of the 2007 State Strategy as updated on February 1, 2008. The
provisions were again updated in CARB's 2011 Ozone SIP Revision,
Appendix A.
Contingency measures for failure to make RFP. To provide for
contingency measures for failure to make RFP, the SIP relies on surplus
NOX reductions in the RFP demonstration. See 2011 Ozone SIP
Revision, Attachment A, p. A-1. See also Table 10 above.
Contingency measures for failure to attain. To provide for
contingency measures for failure to attain, the SIP relies on the
additional incremental emissions reductions resulting from fleet
turnover in calendar year 2024. This includes the incremental
additional emissions reductions that will occur in 2024 (the year after
the attainment year) from the continuing implementation of both on- and
off-road motor vehicle controls. For the South Coast, these reductions
are 2 tpd of NOX and 1 tpd of VOC. See CARB 2011 Ozone SIP
Supplement, Attachment 2.
Additionally, as discussed above in section IV.B., we are proposing
to determine that CARB and the SCAQMD have satisfied the criteria in
section 182(e)(5) for reliance on the new technology provision as part
of the attainment demonstration in the South Coast 8-Hour Ozone SIP.
Based on the State's anticipated development of these new technologies,
CARB has submitted an enforceable commitment to submit, no later than
2020, additional contingency measures under CAA section 182(e)(5) that
meet the requirements for attainment contingency measures in CAA
section 172(c)(9), in addition to contingency measures to be
implemented if the anticipated long-term measures approved pursuant to
section 182(e)(5) do not achieve planned reductions. CARB Resolution
11-22, July 2011, p. 4.
3. Proposed Action on the Contingency Measures
Contingency measures for failure to make RFP. As discussed above in
section IV.D., we are proposing to approve the South Coast 2007 8-Hour
Ozone SIP's RFP demonstration. As seen from the RFP demonstration in
Table 10, there are sufficient excess reductions of NOX in
each milestone year beyond those needed to meet the next RFP percent
reduction requirement to provide the 3 percent of adjusted baseline
emissions reductions needed to meet the RFP contingency measure
requirement for 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020.
No RFP contingency measures are needed for 2008, since the 2011
Ozone SIP Revision demonstrates that South Coast has already met its
2008 milestone. See Table 10 above. As a result, contingency measures
for failure to meet the 2008 RFP benchmark would never be triggered and
thus are not needed.
Contingency measures for failure to attain. The incremental
additional emissions reductions that will occur in 2024 (the year after
the attainment year) from the continuing implementation of both on- and
off-road motor vehicle controls may be used to meet the contingency
measure requirement for failure to attain. For the South Coast, these
reductions are 2 tpd of NOX and 1 tpd of VOC. See 2011 Ozone
SIP Revision Supplement, Attachment 2.
In addition, based on our proposal to determine that the State has
satisfied the criteria in section 182(e)(5) for reliance on long-term
measures as part of the attainment demonstration in the South Coast 8-
Hour Ozone SIP, we propose to
[[Page 57892]]
approve CARB's enforceable commitment to submit no later than 2020,
additional contingency measures under CAA section 182(e)(5) which meet
the requirements for attainment contingency measures in CAA section
172(c)(9), in addition to contingency measures to be implemented if the
anticipated long-term measures approved pursuant to section 182(e)(5)
do not achieve planned reductions.\34\
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\34\ These contingency measures should, at a minimum, ensure
that an appropriate level of emissions reduction progress continues
to be made if attainment is not achieved and additional planning by
the State is needed. See General Preamble at 13524.
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Accordingly, we propose to approve the RFP and attainment
contingency measures in the South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP under CAA
sections 172(c)(9) and 182(c)(9), based in part on CARB's commitment to
submit by 2020 additional contingency measures meeting the requirements
of CAA sections 172(c)(9) and 182(e)(5). Following the State's
submittal of these additional contingency measures, EPA will approve or
disapprove the provisions in accordance with CAA section 110.
G. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets for Transportation Conformity
CAA Section 176(c) requires Federal actions in nonattainment and
maintenance areas to conform to the SIP's goals of eliminating or
reducing the severity and number of violations of the NAAQS and
achieving expeditious attainment of the standard. Conformity to the
SIP's goals means that such actions will not (1) cause or contribute to
violations of a NAAQS, (2) worsen the severity of an existing
violation, or (3) delay timely attainment of any NAAQS or any interim
milestone.
Actions that involve Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding or approval are subject to
EPA's transportation conformity rule, which is codified in 40 CFR part
93, subpart A. Under this rule, metropolitan planning organizations
(MPOs) in nonattainment and maintenance areas coordinate with state and
local air quality and transportation agencies, EPA, FHWA, and FTA to
demonstrate that an area's regional transportation plans (RTP) and
transportation improvement programs (TIP) conform to the applicable
SIP. This demonstration is typically done by showing that estimated
emissions from existing and planned highway and transit systems are
less than or equal to the motor vehicle emissions budgets (budgets)
contained in the SIP. An attainment, maintenance, or RFP SIP
establishes budgets for the attainment year, each required RFP year or
last year of the maintenance plan, as appropriate. Budgets are
generally established for specific years and specific pollutants or
precursors.
Ozone attainment and RFP plans establish budgets for NOX
and VOC. See 40 CFR 93.102(b)(2)(i).
Before an MPO may use budgets in a submitted SIP, EPA must first
either determine that the budgets are adequate or approve the budgets.
In order for us to find the budgets adequate and approvable, the
submittal must meet the conformity adequacy requirements of 40 CFR
93.118(e)(4) and (5) and be approvable under all pertinent SIP
requirements. To meet these requirements, the budgets must be
consistent with the approvable attainment and RFP demonstrations and
reflect all of the motor vehicle control measures contained in the
attainment and RFP demonstrations. See 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4)(iii), (iv)
and (v).
2. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets in the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone
SIP
As submitted on November 28, 2007, the 2007 South Coast AQMP
included a set of ozone precursor budgets for VOC and NOX
for RFP years 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020 and an attainment year
budget for 2023. On April 30, 2008, CARB submitted a SIP revision that
replaced the original set of 8-hour ozone budgets with two sets of
replacement budgets. CARB labeled these sets as ``baseline'' and ``SIP-
based'' budgets with sets of 8-hour ozone budgets for RFP years 2008,
2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, the attainment year 2023, and analysis year
2030. See CARB Resolution 07-05, which revised the budgets in the 2007
South Coast AQMP as adopted by the District, and which was included in
the November 28, 2007 submission.
EPA Region 9 sent a letter to the CARB on May 7, 2008 stating that
the ``baseline'' motor vehicle emissions budgets in the amended 2007
South Coast SIP for the reasonable further progress (RFP) milestone
years of 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020 were adequate. We found the
``SIP-based'' motor vehicle emissions budgets in the amended 2007 South
Coast SIP inadequate for transportation conformity purposes. The
amended 2007 South Coast SIP included ``SIP-based'' budgets for 2008,
2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023. The State has included additional on-
road mobile source emissions reductions in the ``SIP-based'' budgets
from the 2007 State Strategy for the California SIP. The ``baseline''
budgets include no such reductions but rather reflect emissions
reductions from CARB rules that were adopted as of October 2006. EPA
has determined that the ``SIP-based'' budgets are inadequate because
all of the ``SIP-based'' budgets after 2009 include new emission
reductions that do not result from specific or enforceable control
measures. Our notice of adequacy/inadequacy of the budgets was
published on May 15, 2008 at 73 FR 28110 (corrected on June 18, 2008 at
73 FR 34837), and was effective on May 30, 2008. More information on
this finding can be found in the TSD for today's action.
CARB submitted revised budgets for the South Coast nonattainment
area and their documentation in Appendices A and C, respectively, of
the 2011 Ozone SIP Revisions. The revised budgets are for
NOX and VOC for the RFP years of 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020,
and the attainment year of 2023. No budgets were included for the RFP
year of 2008 because it is no longer applicable as a conformity
analysis year. Additional information associated with the motor vehicle
emission budget calculations were provided in Attachment 1 of the CARB
Ozone SIP Revision supplement and an electronic mail from CARB.\35\
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\35\ See electronic mail from Douglas Ito, Chief, Air Quality
and Transportation Planning Branch, CARB, to Elizabeth Adams, Deputy
Director, Air Division, EPA Region 9, dated August 11, 2011.
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3. Proposed Action on the Revised Budgets
As part of its review of the budgets' approvability, EPA has
evaluated the revised budgets using our adequacy criteria in 40 CFR
93.318(e)(4) and (5). As documented in Table H-3 in the TSD, we found
that they meet each adequacy criterion. We have completed our detailed
review of the 2007 South Coast 8-hour Ozone SIP and supplemental
submittals including the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision and 2011 Ozone SIP
Supplement, and are proposing to approve the SIP's attainment and RFP
demonstrations. We have also reviewed the proposed budgets submitted
with the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision and have found that they are
consistent with the attainment and RFP demonstrations, were based on
control measures that have already been adopted and implemented, and
meet all other applicable statutory and regulatory requirements
including the adequacy criteria in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4) and (5).
Therefore, we are proposing to
[[Page 57893]]
approve the 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023 budgets as shown in Table
12.
Table 12--Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets in the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone SIP as Revised on July 21, 2011
[Tons per summer day]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 2014 2017 2020 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOC NOX VOC NOX VOC NOX VOC NOX VOC NOX
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Coast Air Basin............................... 172 328 136 277 119 224 108 185 99 140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: ``8-Hour Ozone State Implementation Plan Revisions and Technical Revisions to the PM2.5 State Implementation Plan Transportation Conformity
Budgets for the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley Air Basins,'' Appendix C, submitted July 29, 2011.
EPA is not required under its transportation conformity rule to
find budgets adequate prior to proposing approval of them. However, we
will complete the adequacy review of these budgets either prior to or
concurrently with our final action on South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone
SIP. We will also post the revised budgets on EPA's adequacy review Web
page.
If the budgets are found adequate and/or the proposed approval of
the budgets is finalized, then these budgets will replace the budgets
previously found adequate and SCAG and the U.S. Department of
Transportation will be required to use the new budgets in
transportation conformity determinations after the effective date of
the approval or adequacy finding, whichever is earlier. For conformity
determinations, the plan emissions should be used at the same level of
accuracy as in the revised updated budgets from the plan (see Section H
of the TSD for more conformity implementation details).
As stated in section IV.E., if we were to finalize a disapproval
with respect to the plan's section 182(d)(1)(A) element, then the area
would be eligible for a protective finding under the transportation
conformity rule because the submitted SIP contains adopted control
measures and enforceable commitments that fully satisfy the emissions
reductions requirements for reasonable further progress and attainment.
40 CFR 93.120(a)(3).
H. Other Clean Air Act Requirements Applicable to Extreme Ozone
Nonattainment Areas
In addition to the requirements discussed above, Title I, subpart D
of the CAA includes other provisions applicable to extreme ozone
nonattainment areas such as the South Coast nonattainment area. Below,
we discuss the current status of each of these requirements for
informational purposes only.
1. Enhanced Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Requirement
CAA section 182(c)(3) requires states with ozone nonattainment
areas classified under subpart 2 as serious or above to implement an
enhanced motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program in
those areas. The requirements for those programs are provided in
section 182(c)(3) and 40 CFR part 51, subpart S.
On July 1, 2010 (75 FR 38023), EPA approved California's inspection
and maintenance program in the South Coast as meeting the requirements
of the CAA and applicable EPA regulations for enhanced I/M programs.
2. Reformulated Gasoline Program
As an extreme ozone nonattainment area for the 1-hour ozone
standard, the South Coast was covered under the Federal reformulated
gasoline (RFG) program. See CAA section 211(k)(10)(D). As an 8-hour
ozone nonattainment area, the South Coast continues to be covered under
the Federal RFG program. See 40 CFR 80.70(m)(1)(i) and 70 FR 71685.
California has its own RFG program (California Phase III RFG (CaRFG3)),
which also applies in the South Coast nonattainment area. EPA approved
CaRFG3 program into the California SIP on May 12, 2010. See 75 FR
26633.
3. New Source Review
CAA section 182(a)(2)(C) requires states to develop SIP revisions
containing permit programs for each of its ozone nonattainment areas.
The SIP revisions are to include requirements for permits in accordance
with CAA 172(c)(5) and 173 for the construction and operation of each
new or modified major stationary source (with respect to ozone)
anywhere in the nonattainment area. See also CAA section 182(e). EPA's
implementing regulations for nonattainment new source review (NSR)
programs are in 40 CFR 51.165, and guidance specific to ozone
nonattainment areas was provided in the preamble to the 8-hour ozone
implementation rule, 70 FR 71612 at 71671-71684.
On December 4, 1996 (61 FR 64291), EPA approved SCAQMD's NSR rules
(the District's Regulation XIII) for the South Coast air basin as
satisfying the NSR requirements in title I, part D of the CAA for
``extreme'' ozone nonattainment areas. See also 64 FR 13514 (March 19,
1999) and 71 FR 35157 (June 19, 2006).
4. Clean-fuel Vehicle Program
CAA sections 182(c)(4)(A) and 246 require states to submit a SIP
revision for EPA approval that includes measures to implement the
Clean-Fuel Vehicle Program in serious and above ozone nonattainment
areas. Section 182(c)(4)(B) of the Act allows states to ``opt-out'' of
the clean-fuel vehicle fleet program by submitting for EPA approval a
SIP revision consisting of a program or programs that will result in at
least equivalent long term reductions in ozone-producing and toxic air
emissions.
In 1994, CARB submitted a SIP revision to opt-out of the Federal
clean fuel fleet program demonstrating that its low-emission vehicle
(LEV) program achieved emission reductions at least as large as the
Federal program would. We approved the substitution of the LEV program
for a Clean Fuel Fleet program into the California SIP on August 27,
1999. See 64 FR 46849.
5. Gasoline Vapor Recovery
CAA section 182(b)(3) mandates that States submit a revised SIP by
November 15, 1992 that requires owners or operators of gasoline
dispensing systems to install and operate gasoline vehicle refueling
vapor recovery (``Stage II'') systems in ozone nonattainment areas
classified as moderate and above. See General Preamble at 13514.
California's ozone nonattainment areas had implemented Stage II vapor
recovery well before the passage of the CAA Amendments of 1990.
[[Page 57894]]
Under California State law (Health and Safety Code Section 41954),
CARB is required to adopt procedures and performance standards for
controlling gasoline emissions from gasoline marketing operations,
including transfer and storage operations. State law also authorizes
CARB, in cooperation with districts, to certify vapor recovery systems,
to identify defective equipment, and to develop test methods. CARB has
adopted numerous revisions to its vapor recovery program regulations.
See Table A-7 in Appendix A to the TSD for today's action. See also
CARB's Web site, http://www.evrhome.org.
In the South Coast, the installation and operation of ARB-certified
vapor recovery equipment is required and enforced by SCAQMD Rules 461
and 462, the latest versions of which were approved into the SIP on
April 11, 2006 and July 21, 1999, respectively. See 71 FR 18216 (April
11, 2006) and 64 FR 39037 (July 21, 2006).
6. Enhanced [Ambient Air Quality] Monitoring
CAA Section 182(c)(1) requires that all ozone nonattainment areas
classified as serious or above implement measures to enhance and
improve monitoring for ambient concentrations of ozone, NOX,
and VOCs, and to improve monitoring of emissions of NOX and
VOCs.
The South Coast Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station (PAMS)
network was initiated in 1994 at two monitoring sites in the Basin and
subsequently expanded through 2001. The SCAQMD's Annual Air Quality
Monitoring Network Plan (July 2010) describes the steps the state has
taken to address the requirements of CAA section 182(c)(1). Pages 4
through 6 and 17 of the monitoring network plan describe the South
Coast Air Basin's PAMS network.36 37 We have determined that
the SCAQMD's PAMS network meets EPA requirements for enhanced
monitoring programs.\38\ More detail is provided in the TSD for today's
action.
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\36\ Starting in 2007, EPA's monitoring rules (see 71 FR 61236),
October 17, 2006) required the submittal and EPA action on annual
monitoring network plans.
\37\ SCAQMD's 2010 monitoring network plan can be found in the
docket for today's action.
\38\ See SCAMQD's 2010 monitoring network plan and letter,
Matthew Lakin, Chief, Air Quality Analysis Office, EPA Region 9, to
Dr. Chung Liu, Deputy Executive Officer, SCAQMD, dated November 1,
2010, approving the 2009 South Coast Air Quality Monitoring Network
Plan.
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7. Clean Fuels or Advanced Control Technology for Boilers
CAA section 182(e)(3) provides that SIPs for extreme areas must
require each new, modified, and existing electric utility and
industrial and commercial boiler that emits more than 25 tons per year
(tpy) of NOX to either burn as its primary fuel natural gas,
methanol, or ethanol (or a comparably low polluting fuel), or use
advanced control technology (such as catalytic control technology or
other comparably effective control methods). Further guidance on this
requirement is provided in the General Preamble at 13523. According to
the General Preamble, a boiler should generally be considered as any
combustion equipment used to produce steam and generally does not
include a process heater that transfers heat from combustion gases to
process streams. General Preamble at 13523, 13524. In addition, boilers
with rated heat inputs less that 15 million Btu (MMBtu) per hour which
are oil- or gas-fired may generally be considered de minimis and exempt
from these requirements since it is unlikely that they will exceed the
25 tpy NOX emission limit. General Preamble at 13524.
The South Coast 2007 AQMP does not directly address CAA section
182(e)(3) requirements for 8-hour ozone. CARB has previously submitted
SIP revisions for the South Coast Air Basin addressing the clean fuels
for boilers requirement under section 182(e)(3) for the 1-hour ozone
standard. See 61 FR 57775 (November 8, 1996) for EPA's approval of the
rule submitted to satisfy the CAA section 182(e)(3) requirement in the
South Coast.
South Coast Rule 1146 ``Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from
Industrial, Institutional and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators and
Process Heaters,'' as revised on November 17, 2000 and approved by EPA
on April 8, 2002 (67 FR 16640), regulates emissions from boilers larger
than 5 MMBtu/hour burning gaseous or non-gaseous fuels. The limits in
the rule range between 0.036 and 0.052 lb/MMBtu, depending on the size
of the boiler and its capacity factor. This limit is lower than the
level of emissions expected from uncontrolled natural gas-fired
boilers. Thus, the rule essentially requires all subject boilers to
burn fuels that are comparably low polluting (compared to natural gas
combustion) or to use control technologies to achieve emissions levels
that are similar to those obtained by burning natural gas, methanol,
ethanol, or other comparably low polluting fuels.
South Coast Regulation XIII (New Source Review (NSR) Program).
Regulation XIII (consisting of Rules 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1306,
1309, 1309.1, 1310, and 1313), which EPA has approved into the South
Coast portion of the California SIP (see 61 FR 64291, December 4,
1996), applies to any new or modified boiler proposing to locate in the
South Coast that emits or has the potential to emit at least 10 tons
per year (tpy) of NOX or VOC, among other sources. See Rules
1301 and 1302. Under Rule 1303, any such boiler is required to employ
Best Available Control Technology, which must be at least as stringent
as the Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate (LAER) as defined in CAA
section 171(3). See Rule 1302(f) and 1303(a). The LAER standard
essentially requires, at a minimum, combustion of low-polluting fuels
and/or use of advanced control technologies consistent with the
requirements of CAA section 182(e)(3). See CAA 171(3).\39\ Accordingly,
the SCAQMD's SIP-approved NSR program in Regulation XIII, which
establishes LAER-level control requirements for any new or modified
boiler that emits more than 10 tpy of NOX, satisfies the
requirements of CAA section 182(e)(3) for each new or modified electric
utility and industrial and commercial boiler that emits more than 25
tpy of NOX. As to existing boilers that emit more than 25
tpy of NOX, the District has demonstrated that each such
boiler currently operating in the South Coast either burns as its
primary fuel natural gas or a comparably low polluting fuel, or uses
advanced control technology such as SCR or another comparably effective
control method (e.g., SNCR), in accordance with SIP-approved
requirements such as Rule 1146. See letter, Elaine Chang, DrPH, Deputy
Executive Officer, SCAQMD, to Elizabeth Adams, Deputy Director, Air
Division, EPA Region 9, dated August 23, 2011.
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\39\ Section 171(3) of the CAA defines LAER, in relevant part,
as ``that rate of emissions which reflects--(A) the most stringent
emission limitation which is contained in the implementation plan of
any State for such class or category of source, unless the owner or
operator of the proposed source demonstrates that such limitations
are not achievable, or (B) the most stringent emission limitation
which is achieved in practice by such class or category of source,
whichever is more stringent.''
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8. CAA Section 185 Fee Program
CAA Section 185 requires that the SIP for each severe and extreme
ozone nonattainment area provide that, if the area fails to attain by
its applicable attainment date, each major stationary source of VOCs
and NOX located in the
[[Page 57895]]
nonattainment area shall pay a fee to the State as a penalty for such
failure for each calendar year beginning after the attainment date,
until the area is redesignated as an attainment area for ozone. States
are not yet required to implement CAA section 185 fee programs for the
1997 8-hour ozone standard.\40\
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\40\ SCAQMD submitted Rule 317, ``Clean Air Act Non-attainment
Fees,'' a fee-equivalent program to address the requirements of
section 185 for the 1-hour ozone standard, on April 22, 2011.
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V. EPA's Proposed Actions
For the reasons discussed above, EPA is proposing to fully approve
California's attainment SIP for the South Coast nonattainment area for
the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. Simultaneously and in the alternative,
EPA is proposing to disapprove the submitted SIP with respect to
certain requirements for transportation control strategies and TCMs
pending resolution of petitions before the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of
Appeals in Association of Irritated Residents v. EPA, 632 F.3d 584 (9th
Cir. 2011). This SIP submittal consists of the South Coast 2007 AQMP
(as revised March 4, 2011) and those portions of CARB's revised 2007
State Strategy as revised in 2009 and 2011 that address the CAA's
requirements for attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the South
Coast nonattainment area.
Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve under CAA section
110(k)(3) the following elements of the South Coast 2007 8-Hour Ozone
Plan:
1. The revised 2002 base year emissions inventory as meeting the
requirements of CAA section 182(a)(1) and 40 CFR 51.915;
2. The reasonably available control measure demonstration as
meeting the requirements of CAA section 172(c)(1) and 40 CFR 51.912(d);
3. The reasonable further progress demonstration as meeting the
requirements of CAA sections 172(c)(2) and 182(c)(2)(B) and 40 CFR
51.910;
4. The attainment demonstration as meeting the requirements of CAA
section 182(c)(2)(A) and 40 CFR 51.908;
5. The provisions for the development of new technologies pursuant
to CAA section 182(e)(5) and CARB's commitment to adopt and submit by
2020 contingency measures to be implemented if the new technologies do
not achieve the planned emissions reductions, as well as additional
attainment contingency measures meeting the requirements of CAA section
172(c)(9), pursuant to CAA section 182(e)(5); and to develop and submit
by 2020, revisions to the SIP that will (1) reflect modifications to
the 2023 emission reduction target based on updated science and (2)
identify additional strategies and implementing agencies needed to
achieve the needed reductions by the beginning of the 2023 ozone
season.
6. The contingency measure provisions for failure to make RFP and
to attain as meeting the requirements of CAA sections 172(c)(9) and
182(c)(9);
7. The demonstration that the SIP provides for transportation
control strategies and measures sufficient to offset any growth in
emissions from growth in VMT or the number of vehicle trips, and to
provide for RFP and attainment, as meeting the requirements of CAA
section 182(d)(1)(A);
8. The revised motor vehicle emissions budgets for the RFP
milestone years of 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020, and for the attainment
year of 2023, because they are derived from approvable RFP and
attainment demonstrations and meet the requirements of CAA sections
176(c) and 40 CFR part 93, subpart A;
9. The SCAQMD's commitments to achieve specific aggregate emission
reductions of NOX and VOC as listed in Table 4-2A of the
South Coast 2007 AQMP (as revised March 4, 2011); and
10. CARB's commitments to propose certain defined measures, as
listed in Table B-1 on page 1 of Appendix B of the 2011 Progress Report
and in Appendix B, Table B-1 of the 2011 Ozone SIP Revision, to achieve
specific aggregate emission reductions of VOC and NOX in the
South Coast nonattainment area by 2023 as provided in CARB Resolution
07-28, Attachment B, and the 2009 State Strategy update, p. 20; and to
achieve the emissions reductions needed to attain the 8-hour ozone
standard in the South Coast nonattainment area as provided in CARB
Resolution 07-28, Attachment B, p. 4, 2009 State Strategy Status
Report, p. 20.
Simultaneously and in the alternative, if the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the 9th Circuit denies the Agency's petition for rehearing in AIR
v. EPA and issues its mandate before EPA issues a final rule on the
South Coast 2007 Ozone SIP, we propose to disapprove the SIP under CAA
section 110(k)(3) with respect to the first element (i.e., offsetting
emissions growth) of CAA section 182(d)(1)(A) based on the plan's
failure to include sufficient transportation control strategies and
TCMs to offset the emissions from growth in VMT.
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this
regulatory action from Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory
Planning and Review.''
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose an information collection burden under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency
to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to
notice and comment rulemaking requirements unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small
businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, and small governmental
jurisdictions.
This proposed rule will not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities because proposed SIP approvals
under section 110 and subchapter I, part D of the Clean Air Act do not
create any new requirements but simply propose to approve requirements
that the State is already imposing. Therefore, because this proposed
Federal SIP approval does not create any new requirements, I certify
that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Moreover, due to the nature of
the Federal-State relationship under the Clean Air Act, preparation of
flexibility analysis would constitute Federal inquiry into the economic
reasonableness of State action. The Clean Air Act forbids EPA to base
its actions concerning SIPs on such grounds. Union Electric Co., v.
U.S. EPA, 427 U.S. 246, 255-66 (1976); 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Under sections 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 1995, EPA
must prepare a budgetary impact statement to accompany any proposed or
final rule that includes a Federal mandate that may result in estimated
costs to State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate; or to
the private sector, of $100 million or more. Under section 205, EPA
must select the most cost-
[[Page 57896]]
effective and least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives
of the rule and is consistent with statutory requirements. Section 203
requires EPA to establish a plan for informing and advising any small
governments that may be significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule.
EPA has determined that the proposed approval action does not
include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100
million or more to either State, local, or tribal governments in the
aggregate, or to the private sector. This Federal action proposes to
approve pre-existing requirements under State or local law, and imposes
no new requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local,
or tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this
action.
E. Executive Order 13132, Federalism
Federalism (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999) revokes and replaces
Executive Orders 12612 (Federalism) and 12875 (Enhancing the
Intergovernmental Partnership). Executive Order 13132 requires EPA to
develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input
by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies
that have federalism implications.'' ``Policies that have federalism
implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations
that 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.'' Under Executive Order 13132, EPA may not issue a
regulation that has federalism implications, that imposes substantial
direct compliance costs, and that is not required by statute, unless
the Federal government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct
compliance costs incurred by State and local governments, or EPA
consults with State and local officials early in the process of
developing the proposed regulation. EPA also may not issue a regulation
that has federalism implications and that preempts State law unless the
Agency consults with State and local officials early in the process of
developing the proposed regulation.
This proposed rule will 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,
because it merely proposes to approve 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. Thus, the requirements of section 6 of the Executive Order do not
apply to this rule.
F. Executive Order 13175, Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000),
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory
policies that have tribal implications.'' This proposed rule does not
have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175. It
will not have substantial direct effects on tribal governments, 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. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not
apply to this rule.
EPA specifically solicits additional comment on this proposed rule
from tribal officials.
G. Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks
EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997)
as applying only to those regulatory actions that concern health or
safety risks, such that the analysis required under section 5-501 of
the Executive Order has the potential to influence the regulation. This
proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045, because it
proposes to approve a State rule implementing a Federal standard.
H. Executive Order 13211, Actions That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use
This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) because it
is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
Section 12 of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
(NTTAA) of 1995 requires Federal agencies to evaluate existing
technical standards when developing a new regulation. To comply with
NTTAA, EPA must consider and use ``voluntary consensus standards''
(VCS) if available and applicable when developing programs and policies
unless doing so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise
impractical.
The EPA believes that VCS are inapplicable to this action. Today's
action does not require the public to perform activities conducive to
the use of VCS.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Population
Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes
Federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision
directs Federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income
populations in the United States. EPA lacks the discretionary authority
to address environmental justice in this rulemaking. In reviewing SIP
submittals, EPA's role is to approve or disapprove State choices, based
on the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this action merely proposes to
approve certain State requirements for inclusion into the SIP under CAA
section 110 and subchapter I, part D will not in-and-of itself create
any new requirements. Accordingly, it 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.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Nitrogen dioxide,
Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic
compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: September 7, 2011.
Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9.
[FR Doc. 2011-23659 Filed 9-15-11; 8:45 am]
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