[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 89868-89870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29751]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R03-OAR-2016-0455; FRL-9956-41-Region 3]
Determination of Attainment of the 2012 Annual Fine Particulate
Matter Standard; Pennsylvania; Delaware County Nonattainment Area
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making a final
determination that the Delaware County, Pennsylvania moderate
nonattainment area (the Delaware County Area) has attained the 2012
annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air
quality standard (NAAQS). This determination of attainment, also known
as a clean data determination, is based upon quality assured,
certified, and complete ambient air quality monitoring data showing
that this area has monitored attainment of the 2012 annual
PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2013-2015 data available in EPA's
Air Quality System (AQS) database. As a result of this determination,
the requirements for the Delaware County Area to submit an attainment
demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures (RACM),
a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, and
other planning state implementation plan (SIP) revisions related to
attainment of the standard shall be suspended for so long as the area
continues to meet the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. This action
is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
DATES: This rule is effective on February 13, 2017 without further
notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by January 12,
2017. If EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely
withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform
the public that the rule will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R03-
OAR-2016-0455 at http://www.regulations.gov, or via email to
[email protected]. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, follow
the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted,
comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either
manner of submission, EPA may publish any comment received to its
public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you
consider to be confidential business information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of
the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing
system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person
identified in the ``For Further Information Contact'' section. For the
full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please
visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gavin Huang, (215) 814-2042, or by
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On December 14, 2012, EPA promulgated a revised primary annual
PM2.5 NAAQS to provide increased protection of public health
from fine particle pollution (the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS). 78 FR
3086 (January 15, 2013). In that action, EPA strengthened the primary
annual PM2.5 standard, lowering the level from 15.0
micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m\3\) to 12.0 mg/m\3\. The 2012
PM2.5 NAAQS is attained when the 3-year average of the
annual arithmetic means does not exceed 12.0 mg/m\3\. See 40 CFR 50.18.
On December 18, 2014 (80 FR 2206), EPA made designation determinations,
as required by CAA section 107(d)(1), for the 2012 PM2.5
NAAQS. In that action, EPA designated the Delaware County Area as
moderate nonattainment for the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. See
40 CFR 81.339.
Under EPA's longstanding Clean Data Policy,\1\ which was codified
in EPA's Clean Air Fine Particulate Implementation Rule (72 FR 20586,
April 25, 2007), EPA may issue a determination of attainment after
notice and comment rulemaking determining that a specific area is
attaining the relevant standard. See 40 CFR 51.1004. The effect of a
clean data determination is to suspend the requirement for the area to
submit an attainment demonstration, RACM, RFP plan, contingency
measures, and any other planning SIPs related to attainment for
[[Page 89869]]
as long as the area continues to attain the standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Clean Data Policy for the Fine Particle National Ambient
Air Quality Standards,'' Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, December
14, 2004.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA issued the Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality
Standards: State Implementation Plan Requirements on July 29, 2016
(effective October 24, 2016). 81 FR 58010 (August 24, 2016). In that
rule, EPA reaffirmed the Clean Data Policy at 40 CFR 51.1015, as
follows:
Upon a determination by EPA that a moderate PM2.5
nonattainment area has attained the PM2.5 NAAQS, the
requirements for the state to submit an attainment demonstration,
provisions demonstrating that reasonably available control measures
(including reasonably available control technology for stationary
sources) shall be implemented no later than 4 years following the
date of designation of the area, reasonable further progress plan,
quantitative milestones and quantitative milestone reports, and
contingency measures for the area shall be suspended until such time
as: (1) The area is redesignated to attainment, after which such
requirements are permanently discharged; or, (2) EPA determines that
the area has re-violated the PM2.5 NAAQS, at which time
the state shall submit such attainment plan elements for the
moderate nonattainment area by a future date to be determined by EPA
and announced through publication in the Federal Register at the
time EPA determines the area is violating the PM2.5
NAAQS. See 40 CFR 51.1015.
II. EPA's Evaluation
Under EPA regulations at 40 CFR part 50, Sec. 50.18 and appendix
N, the annual primary PM2.5 standard is met when the 3-year
average of PM2.5 annual mean mass concentrations for each
eligible monitoring site is less than or equal to 12 [mu]g/m\3\. Three
years of valid annual means are required to produce a valid annual
PM2.5 NAAQS design value. A year meets data completeness
requirements when quarterly data capture rates for all four quarters
are at least 75 percent from eligible monitoring sites. See 40 CFR part
50, appendix N. There is one PM2.5 monitor in the Delaware
County Area. Table 1 shows the Delaware County Area design value for
the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS for the years 2013-2015 at the
Delaware County monitor.
Table 1--2013-2015 Annual PM2.5 Values for Delaware County, Pennsylvania
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted mean ([mu]g/m \3\) Complete quarters Certified
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ annual design
Monitor ID value 2013-
2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015 2015 ([mu]g/m
\3\)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
420450002........................ 11.5 12.6 10.7 4 4 4 11.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistent with the requirements contained in 40 CFR part 50, EPA
has reviewed the PM2.5 ambient air quality monitoring data
for the monitoring period from 2013 through 2015 for the Delaware
County Area, as recorded in the AQS database. As shown from Table 1,
each quarter in 2013-2015 is complete with all four quarters reporting
data capture rates of at least 75 percent from the only monitor.
Additionally, the certified annual design value for 2013-2015 is 11.6
[mu]g/m\3\, which is below the 2012 annual primary PM2.5
standard of 12 [mu]g/m\3\. Therefore, the Delaware County Area has
attained the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS in accordance with the
requirements in 40 CFR part 50, Sec. 50.18 and appendix N.
III. Final Action
EPA is determining that the Delaware County Area has attained the
2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. As provided in 40 CFR 51.1015,
finalization of this determination, suspends the requirements for this
area to submit an attainment demonstration, associated RACM, RFP plan,
contingency measures, and any other planning SIP revisions related to
the attainment of the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, so long as this area
continues to meet the standard. This determination of attainment does
not constitute a redesignation to attainment. The Delaware County Area
will remain designated nonattainment for the 2012 annual
PM2.5 NAAQS until such time as EPA determines that the
Delaware County Area meets the CAA requirements for redesignation to
attainment, including an approved maintenance plan, pursuant to
sections 107 and 175A of the CAA.
EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because EPA
views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no adverse
comment. However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of this Federal
Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the
proposal to approve the determination of attainment if adverse comments
are filed. This rule will be effective on February 13, 2017 without
further notice unless EPA receives adverse comment by January 12, 2017.
If EPA receives adverse comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal
in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not
take effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final
rule based on the proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second
comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting
must do so at this time.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. General Requirements
This rulemaking action makes a determination of attainment of the
2012 PM2.5 NAAQS based on air quality and does not impose
additional requirements. For that reason, this determination of
attainment:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21,
2011);
Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
Is certified as not having a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4);
Does not have federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent
with the CAA; and
Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to
address, as
[[Page 89870]]
appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects,
using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive
Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and
other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
In addition, this rulemaking determining that the Delaware County
Area has attained the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS does not have
tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,
November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian
country located in the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose
substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
C. Petitions for Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for
the appropriate circuit by February 13, 2017. Filing a petition for
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect
the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor
does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may
be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or
action. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are
encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of
proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules
section of this Federal Register, rather than file an immediate
petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can
withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed
rulemaking action.
This determination of attainment of the 2012 annual
PM2.5 NAAQS for the Delaware County nonattainment area may
not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements.
(See section 307(b)(2)).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Particulate matter, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: November 22, 2016.
Shawn M. Garvin,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart NN--Pennsylvania
0
2. In Sec. 52.2059, add paragraph (u) to read as follows:
Sec. 52.2059 Control strategy: Particulate matter.
* * * * *
(u) Determination of attainment. EPA has determined based on 2013
to 2015 ambient air quality monitoring data, that the Delaware County,
Pennsylvania moderate nonattainment area has attained the 2012 annual
fine particulate matter (PM2.5) primary national ambient air
quality standard (NAAQS). This determination, in accordance with 40 CFR
51.1015, suspends the requirements for this area to submit an
attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control
measures, a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and
other planning state implementation plan revisions related to
attainment of the standard for as long as this area continues to meet
the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
[FR Doc. 2016-29751 Filed 12-12-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P