[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-14537] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: June 21, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [MD18-1-5993; FRL-4999-3] Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Maryland-Emission Statement Program AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: EPA is proposing approval of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. This revision consists of an emission statement program for stationary sources which emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and/or nitrogen oxides (NOx) at or above specified actual emission threshold levels. This program applies throughout the State of Maryland. The SIP revision was submitted by the State to satisfy the Clean Air Act's requirements for an emission statement program as part of the ozone SIP for the State of Maryland. DATES: Comments on this proposed action must be received in writing by July 21, 1994. ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to Thomas J. Maslany, Director, Air, Radiation, and Toxics Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107. Copies of the documents relevant to this action are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the following locations: Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, Air, Radiation, and Toxics Division, 841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Air and Radiation Management Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, 2500 Broening Highway, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Enid A. Gerena, Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Radiation, and Toxics Division, 841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 597-8239. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 13, 1992, the State of Maryland's Department of the Environment (MDE) submitted a revision to Maryland's SIP which requires owners of stationary sources that emit VOCs and/or NOx, above specified actual emission applicability thresholds, to submit annual statements certifying emissions. I. Background The air quality planning and State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements for ozone nonattainment and transport areas are set out in subparts I and II of part D of title I of the Clean Air Act, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, (CAAor ``the Act''). EPA published a ``General Preamble'' describing its preliminary views on how it intends to review SIP's and SIP revisions submitted under title I of the CAA, including those State submittals for ozone transport areas within the States (see 57 FR 13498 (April 16, 1992) (``SIP: General Preamble for the Implementation of title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990''), 57 FR 18070 (April 28, 1992) (``Appendices to the General Preamble''), and 57 FR 55620 (November 25, 1992) (``SIP: NOx Supplement to the General Preamble'')). EPA also issued a draft guidance document describing the requirements for the emission statement programs discussed in this document, entitled ``Guidance on the Implementation of an Emission Statement Program'' (July, 1992). The Agency is also conducting a rulemaking process to modify 40 CFR part 51 to reflect the requirements of the emission statement program. Section 182 of the Act sets out a graduated control program for ozone nonattainment areas. Section 182(a) sets out requirements applicable in marginal nonattainment areas, which are also made applicable by section 182 (b), (c), (d), and (e) to all other ozone nonattainment areas. Among the requirements in section 182(a) is a program for stationary sources to prepare and submit to the State each year emission statements certifying their actual emissions of VOCs and NOx. This section of the Act provides that the States are to submit a revision to their SIPs by November 15, 1992 establishing this emission statement program. If a source emits either VOC or NOx at or above the designated minimum reporting level, the other pollutant should be included in the emission statement, even if it is emitted at levels below the specified cutoffs. The States may waive, with EPA approval, the requirement for an emission statement for classes or categories of sources with less than 25 tons per year of actual plant-wide NOx or VOC emissions in nonattainment areas if the class or category is included in the base year and periodic inventories and emissions are calculated using emission factors established by EPA (such as those found in EPA publication AP-42) or other methods acceptable to EPA. At minimum the emission statement data should include:Certification of data accuracy; Source identification information; Operating schedule; Emissions information (to include annual and typical ozone season day emissions); Control equipment information; and Process data. EPA developed emission statements data elements to be consistent with other source and State reporting requirements. This consistency is essential to assist States with quality assurance for emission estimates and to facilitate consolidation of all EPA reporting requirements. II. Description of the State Submittal A. Procedural Background The State of Maryland held public hearings on September 21 (Frederick), September 22 (Columbia), and September 23, 1992 (Centreville) for the purpose of soliciting public comment on proposed regulatory revisions concerning emission statements for stationary sources. Following the public hearings, the regulatory revisions were adopted by the Secretary of the Environment on November 13, 1992, submitted to EPA on November 13, 1992 as a revision to the SIP, and became effective in the State of Maryland on December 7, 1992. B. Components of Maryland's Emission Statement Program There are several key and specific components of an acceptable emission statement program. Specifically, the State must submit a revision to its SIP which consists of an emission statement program which meets the minimum requirements for reporting by the sources and the State. For the emission statement program to be approvable, the state's SIP must include, at a minimum, definitions and provisions for applicability, compliance, and specific source reporting requirements and reporting forms. Maryland's revision consists of amendments to COMAR 26.11.01 General Administrative Procedures. These amendments, revise COMAR 26.11.01.01, Definitions, and add 26.11.01.05-1, Emission Statements. Section .01, Definitions, has been revised by amending or adding the definitions of the following terms: Actual emissions; Capture efficiency; Certifying individual; Control efficiency; Oxides of nitrogen; Percent seasonal throughput; Standard Industrial Classification; and Typical ozone season day. Section .05-1, Emission Statements, requires that a person who owns or operates any installation, source, or premises located in areas designated by the CAA as marginal, moderate, serious, severe or extreme ozone nonattainment area to report the levels of emissions from the sources emitting 25 tons per year (TPY) or more of VOCs and NOx, in order to track emission reductions and attain the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Because the entire State of Maryland is in the Northeast Ozone Transport Region, emission statement reporting provisions also apply to sources in all remaining areas of the State which emit 100 TPY of NOx or 50 TPY of VOC. Section .05-1, Emission Statements, requires that a certifying official for each facility provide the State with a statement reporting emissions by April 1 of each year, beginning with April 1, 1993, for the emissions discharged during the previous calendar year. Section .05-1, Emission Statements, delineates specific requirements for the content of these annual emission statements, including the use of the reporting form developed by the MDE. C. Enforceability The State of Maryland has provisions in its SIP (MD. Env. Code Ann. Section 2-609, 2-609.1, 2-610, 2-610.1) which ensure that the emission statement requirements of section 182(a)(3)(B) and sections 184(b)(2) and 182(f) of the CAA as required by COMAR 26.11.01, sections .01 and .05-1 are adequately enforced. Once EPA completes the rulemaking process approving the Maryland's Emission Statement program as part of the SIP, it will be federally enforceable. EPA has determined that the submittal made by the State of Maryland satisfies the relevant requirements of the CAA and EPA's guidance document, ``Guidance on the Implementation of an Emission Statement Program'' (July 1992). EPA's detailed review of Maryland's Emission Statement Program is contained in a Technical Support Document (TSD) which is available, upon request, from the EPA Regional Office listed in the Addresses section of this document. III. Proposed Action EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Maryland SIP to include an Emission Statement Program consisting of revisions to regulation COMAR 26.11.01., General Administrative Provisions, to amend section .01, Definitions, and add section .05-1, Emission Statements. This revision was submitted to EPA by the State of Maryland on November 13, 1992. The EPA is requesting public comments on all aspects of the issues discussed in this document. These comments will be considered before taking final action. Interested parties may participate in the Federal rulemaking procedure by submitting written comments to the EPA Regional Office listed in the Addresses section of this document. Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting or allowing or establishing a precedent for any future request for revision of any SIP. Each request for revision to the SIP shall be considered separately in light of specific technical, economic, and environmental factors and in relation to relevant statutory and regulatory requirements. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 600 et seq., EPA must prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis assessing the impact of any proposed or final rule on small entities. 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604. Alternatively, EPA may certify 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 government entities with jurisdiction over populations of less than 50,000. SIP approvals under section 110 and subchapter I, part D of the Act do not create any new requirements, but simply approve requirements that the State is already imposing. Therefore, because the Federal SIP- approval does not impose any new requirements, the Administrator certifies that it does not have a significant impact on small entities. Moreover, due to the nature of the Federal-state relationship under the CAA, preparation of a regulatory flexibility analysis would constitute Federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state action. The CAA forbids EPA to base its actions concerning SIPs on such grounds. Union Electric Co. v. U.S. E.P.A. , 427 U.S. 246, 256-66 (S.Ct. 1976); 42 U.S.C. 7410 (a)(2). This action to propose approval of Maryland's SIP Emission Statements Program has been classified as a Table 2 action for signature by the Regional Administrator under the procedures published in the Federal Register on January 19, 1989 (54 FR 2214-2225), as revised by an October 4, 1993 memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. A future document will inform the general public of these tables. On January 6, 1989, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) waived Table 2 and Table 3 SIP revisions (54 FR 2222) from the requirements of section 3 of Executive Order 12291 for a period of two years. The EPA has submitted a request for a permanent waiver for Table 2 and 3 SIP revisions. The OMB has agreed to continue the waiver until such time as it rules on EPA's request. This request continues in effect under Executive Order 12866, which superseded Executive Order 12291 on September 30, 1993. The Administrator's decision to approve or disapprove Maryland's SIP Emission Statements revision will be based on whether it meets the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(A)-(K), and part D of the Clean Air Act, as amended, and EPA regulations in 40 CFR part 52. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental Protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q Dated: April 15, 1994. Stanley L. Laskowski, Acting Regional Administrator, Region III. [FR Doc. 94-14537 Filed 6-20-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F