[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 60784-60785] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-29863] [[Page 60784]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [CA 034-0048; FRL-5917-5] Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California State Implementation Plan Revision, South Coast Air Quality Management District AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: EPA is finalizing limited approvals and limited disapprovals of revisions to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) proposed in the Federal Register on September 23, 1992 and May 14, 1997. This final action will incorporate these rules into the federally approved SIP. The intended effect of finalizing this action is to regulate emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). The revised rules control VOC emissions from the formulation and manufacture of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics and from facilities that load organic liquids into tank trucks, trailers, or railroad tank cars. Thus, EPA is finalizing a simultaneous limited approval and limited disapproval under CAA provisions regarding EPA action on SIP submittals and general rulemaking authority because these revisions, while strengthening the SIP, also do not fully meet the CAA provisions regarding plan submissions and requirements for nonattainment areas. As a result of this limited disapproval EPA will be required to impose highway funding or emission offset sanctions under the CAA unless the State submits and EPA approves corrections to the identified deficiencies within 18 months of the effective date of this disapproval. Moreover, EPA will be required to promulgate a Federal implementation plan (FIP) unless the deficiencies are corrected within 24 months of the effective date of this disapproval. EFFECTIVE DATE: This action is effective on December 15, 1997. ADDRESSES: Copies of the rules and EPA's evaluation report for each rule are available for public inspection at EPA's Region 9 office during normal business hours. Copies of the submitted rules are available for inspection at the following locations: Rulemaking Office, (AIR-4), Air Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket (6102), 401 ``M'' Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. California Air Resources Board, Stationary Source Division, Rule Evaluation Section, 2020 ``L'' Street, Sacramento, CA 92123-1095. South Coast Air Quality Management District, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4182. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Vineyard, Rulemaking Office, (AIR-4), Air Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, Telephone: (415) 744- 1197. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Applicability The rules being approved into the California SIP include: South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1103, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetic Manufacturing Operations; and SCAQMD Rule 462, Organic Liquid Loading. These rules were submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to EPA on May 13, 1991 and October 13, 1995, respectively. This Federal Register action for the South Coast Air Quality Management District excludes the Los Angeles County portion of the Southeast Desert AQMA, otherwise known as the Antelope Valley Region in Los Angeles County, which is now under the jurisdiction of the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District as of July 1, 1997. 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The State has recently changed the names and boundaries of the air basins located within the Southeast Desert Modified AQMA. Pursuant to State regulation the Coachella-San Jacinto Planning Area is now part of the Salton Sea Air Basin (17 Cal. Code. Reg. Sec. 60114); the Victor Valley/Barstow region in San Bernardino County and Antelope Valley Region in Los Angeles County is a part of the Mojave Desert Air Basin (17 Cal. Code. Reg. Sec. 60109). In addition, in 1996 the California Legislature established a new local air agency, the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District, to have the responsibility for local air pollution planning and measures in the Antelope Valley Region (California Health & Safety Code Sec. 40106). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Background On September 23, 1992 in 57 FR 43960 and May 14, 1997 in 62 FR 26460, EPA proposed granting limited approval and limited disapproval of the following rules into the California SIP: SCAQMD Rule 1103, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Manufacturing Operations, and SCAQMD Rule 462, Organic Liquid Loading. Rule 1103 was adopted by SCAQMD on December 7, 1990 and Rule 462 was adopted by SCAQMD on June 9, 1995. These rules were submitted by the CARB to EPA on May 13, 1991 and October 13, 1995, respectively. These rules were submitted in response to EPA's 1988 SIP Call and the CAA section 182(a)(2)(A) requirement that nonattainment areas fix their reasonably available control technology (RACT) rules for ozone in accordance with EPA guidance that interpreted the requirements of the pre-amendment Act. A detailed discussion of the background for each of the above rules and nonattainment areas is provided in the proposed rules (PRs) cited above. EPA has evaluated the above rules for consistency with the requirements of the CAA and EPA regulations and EPA's interpretation of these requirements as expressed in the various EPA policy guidance documents referenced in the PRs. EPA is finalizing the limited approval of these rules in order to strengthen the SIP and finalizing the limited disapproval requiring the correction of the remaining deficiencies. SCAQMD Rule 1103 deficiencies include the following: (1) Air Pollution Control Officer discretion in the approval of equivalent control systems; (2) inadequate recordkeeping requirements for key operating parameters for monitoring control systems; (3) the lack of necessary recordkeeping requirements to show compliance with exemption levels; and (4) the lack of a test method for measuring vapor pressure. In SCAQMD Rule 462 the deficiency is the definition of ``facility vapor leak'' that allows a measurement distance of 2 centimeters from the source according to procedures listed in EPA Test Method 21. This 2 centimeter distance is inconsistent with EPA Test Method 21, which requires measurement at the surface of the source or 1 centimeter for moving parts. A detailed discussion of the rule provisions and evaluations has been provided in the PRs and in the technical support documents (TSDs) available at EPA's Region IX office (TSDs dated June 19, 1992 (Rule 1103) and March 12, 1997 (Rule 462)). III. Response to Public Comments A 30-day public comment period was provided in 57 FR 43960 and 62 FR 26460. EPA received no comments on the PRs. IV. EPA Action EPA is finalizing a limited approval and a limited disapproval of the above-referenced rules. The limited approval of these rules is being finalized under section 110(k)(3) in light of EPA's [[Page 60785]] authority pursuant to section 301(a) to adopt regulations necessary to further air quality by strengthening the SIP. The approval is limited in the sense that the rules strengthen the SIP. However, the rules do not meet the section 182(a)(2)(A) CAA requirement because of the rule deficiencies which were discussed in the PRs. Thus, in order to strengthen the SIP, EPA is granting limited approval of these rules under sections 110(k)(3) and 301(a) of the CAA. This action approves the rules into the SIP as federally enforceable rules. At the same time, EPA is finalizing the limited disapproval of these rules because they contain deficiencies that have not been corrected as required by section 182(a)(2)(A) of the CAA, and, as such, the rules do not fully meet the requirements of Part D of the Act. As stated in the PRs, upon the effective date of this FR, the 18-month clock for sanctions and the 24-month FIP clock will begin. Sections 179(a) and 110(c). If the State does not submit the required corrections and EPA does not approve the submittal within 18 months of the FR, either the highway sanction or the offset sanction will be imposed at the 18 month mark. It should be noted that the rules covered by this FR have been adopted by the SCAQMD and are currently in effect in the SCAQMD. EPA's limited disapproval action will not prevent a local agency or EPA from enforcing these rules. Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting or allowing or establishing a precedent for any future request for revision to any state implementation plan. Each request for revision to the state implementation plan shall be considered separately in light of specific technical, economic, and environmental factors and in relation to relevant statutory and regulatory requirements. V. Administrative Requirements A. Executive Order 12866 The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this regulatory action from E.O. 12866 review. B. Regulatory Flexibility Act 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 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 sections 110 and 30l, and subchapter I, part D of the CAA 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, I certify that it does not have a significant impact on any small entities affected. Moreover, due to the nature of the Federal-State relationship under the CAA, preparation of a flexibility analysis would constitute Federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state action. The Clean Air Act forbids EPA to base its action 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). C. Unfunded Mandates Under Section 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 private sector, of $100 million or more. Under Section 205, EPA must select the most cost-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 approval action promulgated 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 approves pre- existing requirements under State or local law, and imposes no new Federal requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this action. D. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office Under 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A) as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, EPA submitted a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Comptroller General of the General Accounting Office prior to publication of this rule in today's Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compound. Dated: October 24, 1997. Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator. Part 52, chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows: PART 52--[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows: Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q. Subpart F--California 2. Section 52.220 is amended by adding paragraphs (c)(184)(i)(B)(5) and (225)(i)(A)(2) to read as follows: Sec. 52.220 Identification of plan. * * * * * (c) * * * (184) * * * (i) * * * (B) * * * (5) Rule 1103, adopted on December 7, 1990. * * * * * (225) * * * (i) * * * (A) * * * (2) Rule 462, revised on June 9, 1995. * * * * * [FR Doc. 97-29863 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P