[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 37 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8280-8283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-847]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 70
[EPA-R03-OAR-2006-0625; FRL-8280-8]
State Operating Permit Programs; West Virginia; Amendment to the
Definitions of a ``Major Source'' and ``Volatile Organic Compound''
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to amend the State of West
Virginia's operating permit program to correct the definitions of
``major source'' and ``volatile organic compound.'' West Virginia's
revision was submitted in response to the Clean Air Act (CAA)
Amendments of 1990 that required States to submit to EPA program
revisions in accordance with the Federal Title V regulations. EPA
granted final approval of West Virginia's operating permit program on
November 23, 2001. West Virginia amended its operating permit program
to address the Federal EPA amendment to the Federal Title V
regulations, which went into effect on November 27, 2001, and this
action approves this amendment. Any parties interested in commenting on
this action granting approval of West Virginia's amendment to the Title
V operating permit program should do so at this time.
DATES: This rule is effective on April 27, 2007 without further notice,
unless EPA receives adverse written comment by March 28, 2007. If EPA
receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the
direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that
the rule will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA-
R03-OAR-2006-0625 by one of the following methods:
A. www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
B. E-mail: [email protected].
C. Mail: EPA-R03-2006-0625, David Campbell, Chief, Permits and
Technical Assessment Branch, Mailcode 3AP11, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19103.
D. Hand Delivery: At the previously-listed EPA Region III address.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R03-2006-
0625. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in
the public docket without change, and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov
or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access''
system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you
send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through
www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket
and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses.
Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy during normal business hours at the
Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region
III, 1650
[[Page 8281]]
Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the State
submittal are available at the West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601 57th Street SE,
Charleston, West Virginia 25304.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemarie Nino, (215) 814-3377, or by
e-mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 10, 2003, the State of West
Virginia submitted an amendment to its State operating permit program.
This amendment is the subject of this document and this section
provides additional information on the amendment by addressing the
following questions:
What is the State operating permit program?
What are the State operating permit program requirements?
What is being addressed in this document?
What is not being addressed in this document?
What changes to West Virginia's operating permit program is EPA
approving?
Changes to West Virginia's Operating Permit Program That Corrects a
Deficiency
What action is being taken by EPA?
What is the State operating permit program?
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 required all States to develop
operating permit programs that meet certain Federal criteria. When
implementing the operating permit programs, the States require certain
sources of air pollution to obtain permits that contain all of their
applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The focus of the
operating permit program is to improve enforcement by issuing each
source a permit that consolidates all of its applicable CAA
requirements into a federally-enforceable document. By consolidating
all of the applicable requirements for a given air pollution source
into an operating permit, the source, the public, and the State
environmental agency can more easily understand what CAA requirements
apply and how compliance with those requirements is determined.
Sources required to obtain an operating permit under this program
include ``major'' sources of air pollution and certain other sources
specified in the CAA or in EPA's implementing regulations. For example,
all sources regulated under the acid rain program, regardless of size,
must obtain operating permits. Examples of ``major'' sources include
those that have the potential to emit 100 tons per year or more of
volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, or particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5); those that
emit 10 tons per year of any single hazardous air pollutant (HAP)
specifically listed under the CAA; or those that emit 25 tons per year
or more of a combination of HAPs. In areas that are not meeting the
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone, carbon
monoxide, or particulate matter, major sources are defined by the
gravity of the nonattainment classification.
What are the State operating permit program requirements?
The minimum program elements for an approvable operating permit
program are those mandated by Title V of the Clean Air Act Amendments
of 1990 and established by EPA's implementing regulations at title 40,
part 70--``State Operating Permit Programs'' in the Code of Federal
Regulations (40 CFR part 70). Title V required state and local air
pollution control agencies to develop operating permit programs and
submit them to EPA for approval by November 23, 2001. Under Title V,
State and local air pollution control agencies that implement operating
permit programs are called ``permitting authorities''.
The State was granted final full approval effective on November 23,
2001. On September 10, 2003, West Virginia submitted an amendment to
its currently EPA-approved Title V operating permit program. In
general, West Virginia amended its operating permit program regulation
(45 CSR 30) to correct (1) the definition of ``major source;'' (2)
strike the existing definition of ``volatile organic compound'' (VOC)
and insert in its place the reference to the federal definition of VOC;
and, (3) to make other administrative corrections, i.e., revise
Director to Secretary, Division to Department, Office to Division and
filing and effective date changes. These changes will make regulation
45 CSR 30 consistent with the corresponding provisions of 40 CFR part
70, which went into effect on November 27, 2001.
What is being addressed in this document?
West Virginia has revised 45 CSR 30, Section 2, Definitions of the
State of West Virginia Regulations Governing the Control of Air
Pollution to be consistent with the provisions of 40 CFR part 70.2
which went into effect on November 27, 200l. West Virginia amended the
definition of a ``major source'' by removing part of the existing
definition which stated ``All other stationary source categories
regulated by a standard promulgated under section 111 or section 112 of
the Clean Air Act, but only with respect to those air pollutants that
have been regulated for that category'' and inserted in its place ``Any
other stationary source category, which as of August 7, 1980 is being
regulated under section 111 or 112 of the Clean Air Act.'' This would
require a source belonging to a source category subject to federal New
Source Performance Standards (NSPS) or National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants Standards (NESHAPs) standard to include
fugitive emissions of all regulated pollutants, not just the pollutants
regulated by the particular NSPS or NESHAP, in its calculation of major
source status only if the relevant standard was promulgated as of
August 7, 1980.
West Virginia has stricken the definition of ``volatile organic
compound'' (VOC) and inserted in its place the reference to the Federal
definition of VOC. This change will make this aspect of 45 CSR 30
consistent with the Federal rule. EPA has no objection to this
revision.
In addition, West Virginia included the following administrative
corrections: (1) Revise Director to Secretary, Division to Department,
Office to Division; (2) filing date from June 21, 2001 to April 21,
2003, the effective date from July 1, 2001 to June 1, 2003; and the
former rule dates for filing from April 27, 1994 to June 21, 2001 and
effective April 27, 1994 to July 1, 2001. EPA has no objection to these
revisions.
What is not being addressed in this document?
EPA is not opening the entirety of West Virginia's Title V
operating permit program up to public comment, we are only addressing
changes listed above.
What changes to West Virginia's operating permit program is EPA
approving?
West Virginia has revised 45 CSR 30--Definitions (``major source,''
``volatile organic compound,'' and other administrative changes as
mentioned above) of the State of West Virginia Regulations Governing
the Control of Air Pollution to be consistent with the provision of 40
CFR part 70, which went into effect on November 27, 2001.
Changes to West Virginia's Operating Permit Program That Corrects a
Deficiency
EPA has reviewed West Virginia's September 10, 2003 program
amendment in conjunction with the portion of West Virginia's program
that was earlier approved. Based on this review, EPA is granting full
approval of
[[Page 8282]]
West Virginia's amended operating permit program. EPA has determined
that this amendment to West Virginia's operating permit program
adequately addresses any deficiency. West Virginia's operating permit
program, including this amendment submitted on September 10, 2003,
fully meets the minimum requirements of 40 CFR part 70.
What action is being taken by EPA?
The State of West Virginia has satisfactorily addressed a program
deficiency when EPA made a change to the Federal rule. The operating
permit program amendment that is the subject of this document
considered together with that portion of West Virginia's operating
permit program that was earlier approved fully satisfy the requirements
of 40 CFR part 70 and the Clean Air Act. Therefore, EPA is taking
direct final action to fully approve the West Virginia Title V
operating permit program in accordance with 40 CFR 70.2 definitions of
``a major source'' and ``volatile organic compound.''
EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the
Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no
adverse comments. However, in the ``Proposed Rule'' section of today's
Federal Register EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve
as the proposal to approve this amendment to West Virginia's operating
permit program if adverse comments are filed relevant to the issues
discussed in this action. This rule will be effective on April 27,
2007. If EPA receives adverse comments, 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.
Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. General Requirements
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this
reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)). This
action merely approves State law as meeting Federal requirements and
imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law.
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because
this rule approves pre-existing requirements under State law and does
not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by
State law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4). This rule also does not
have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, 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, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it 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 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it
merely approves 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. This rule also is
not subject to Executive Order 13045 ``Protection of Children from
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23,
1997), because it approves a state rule implementing a Federal
standard.
In reviewing State operating permit program submissions, EPA's role
is to approve State choices, provided that they meet the criteria of
the Clean Air Act. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing
requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS),
EPA has no authority to disapprove an operating permit program for
failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law
for EPA, when it reviews an operating permit program submission, to use
VCS in place of an operating permit program submission that otherwise
satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements
of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required by section 3
of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing
this rule, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting
errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a
clear legal standard for affected conduct. EPA has complied with
Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by examining the
takings implications of the rule in accordance with the ``Attorney
General's Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk and
Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings'' issued under the executive order.
This rule does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.).
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 rule 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. This rule is not a
``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
C. Petitions for Judicial Review
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for
judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court
of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by April 27, 2007. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule
does not affect the finality of this rule 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. This action fully approving West Virginia's Title V
operating permit program may not be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 70
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Air pollution control, Operating permits, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: February 16, 2007.
Donald S. Welsh,
Regional Administrator, Region III.
0
40 CFR part 70 is amended as follows:
[[Page 8283]]
PART 70--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 70 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
0
2. Appendix A to Part 70 is amended by adding paragraph (e) in the
entry for West Virginia to read as follows:
Appendix A to Part 70--Approval Status of State and Local Operating
Permits Programs
* * * * *
West Virginia
* * * * *
(e) The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control submitted program amendment on September 10,
2003. This rule amendment contained in the September 10, 2003 submittal
is necessary to make the current definitions of a ``major source'' and
``volatile organic compound'' consistent with the corresponding
provisions of 40 CFR part 70, which went into effect on November 27,
2001. The State is hereby granted approval effective on April 27, 2007.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 07-847 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
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