Revision to the Washington State Implementation Plan; Approval of Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets and Determination of Attainment for the 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Standard; Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment Area |
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Dennis J. McLerran
Environmental Protection Agency
September 19, 2013
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 182 (Thursday, September 19, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57503-57505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22738]
[[Page 57503]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R10-OAR-2012-0760: FRL-9901-02-Region 10]
Revision to the Washington State Implementation Plan; Approval of
Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets and Determination of Attainment for the
2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Standard; Tacoma-Pierce County
Nonattainment Area
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The EPA is approving a request submitted by the Washington
Department of Ecology (Ecology) dated November 28, 2012, to establish
motor vehicle emission budgets for the Tacoma-Pierce County fine
particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area to meet
transportation conformity requirements. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA),
new transportation plans, programs, and projects, such as the
construction of new highways, must ``conform'' to (i.e., be consistent
with) the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The CAA requires federal
actions in nonattainment and maintenance areas to ``conform to'' the
goals of the SIP. This means that such actions will not cause or
contribute to violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS), worsen the severity of an existing violation, or delay timely
attainment of any NAAQS or any interim milestone.
Under the Transportation Conformity Rule, the EPA can approve motor
vehicle emission budgets based on the most recent year of clean data if
the EPA approves the request in the rulemaking that determines that the
area has attained the NAAQS for which the area is designated
nonattainment. In September 2012, the EPA finalized an attainment
finding for the Tacoma-Pierce County PM2.5 nonattainment
area (hereafter referred to as ``Tacoma-Pierce County Area'' or ``the
area''). This finding, also called a clean data determination, was
based upon quality-assured, quality-controlled, and certified ambient
air monitoring data showing that the area had monitored attainment of
the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2009-2011 data available
in the EPA's Air Quality System. This action updates the previous
finding of attainment with more recent 2010-2012 data and approves
motor vehicle emission budgets under the Transportation Conformity
Rule.
DATES: This final rule is effective on October 21, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action under
Docket Identification No. EPA-R10-OAR-2012-0760. All documents in the
docket are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although
listed in the index, some information may not be publicly available,
i.e., Confidential Business Information or other information the
disclosure of which 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 through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at EPA Region 10, Office of Air,
Waste, and Toxics, AWT-107, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington
98101. The EPA requests that you contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection. The
Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Hunt at (206) 553-0256,
hunt.jeff@epa.gov, or the above EPA, Region 10 address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, wherever ``we,''
``us,'' or ``our'' are used, it is intended to refer to the EPA.
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Final Action
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. Background
On November 28, 2012, Ecology submitted a request for the EPA to
approve motor vehicle emission budgets for the Tacoma-Pierce County
area to meet transportation conformity requirements. As described in 40
CFR 93.109(c)(5) of the Transportation Conformity Rule, the EPA can
approve motor vehicle emission budgets if the EPA approves the request
in a rulemaking that determines that the area has attained the NAAQS
for which the area is designated nonattainment. An explanation of the
CAA requirements and implementing regulations that are met by this
action, a detailed explanation of the revision, and the EPA's reasons
for approving it were provided in the notice of proposed rulemaking on
July 18, 2013, and will not be restated here. See 78 FR 42905. The
public comment period for this proposed rule ended on August 19, 2013.
The EPA did not receive any comments on the proposal.
II. Final Action
The EPA has determined, based on the most recent three years of
complete, quality-assured data meeting the requirements of 40 CFR part
50, appendix N, that the Tacoma-Pierce County area is currently
attaining the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. As explained in the
proposal for this action, the EPA has determined that the following
attainment-related planning requirements are not applicable for so long
as the area continues to attain the PM2.5 standard: The part
D, subpart 4 obligations to provide an attainment demonstration
pursuant to CAA section 189(a)(1)(B), the reasonably available control
measures (RACM) provisions of CAA section 189(a)(1)(C), the reasonable
further progress (RFP) provisions of CAA section 189(c), and related
attainment demonstration, RACM, RFP and contingency measure provisions
requirements of subpart 1 of CAA section 172. This action does not
constitute a redesignation to attainment under CAA section 107(d)(3).
In conjunction with this finding of attainment, the EPA is approving
the motor vehicle emission budgets shown below in Table 1 below. The
EPA is approving the motor vehicle emission budgets pursuant to 40 CFR
93.109(c)(5)(iii), as described in the Transportation Conformity Rule
and the preamble of the Transportation Conformity Restructuring
Amendments (77 FR 14982, March 14, 2012).
Table 1--2011 Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for the Tacoma-Pierce
County 2006 Fine Particulate Matter Nonattainment Area
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Emissions
Pollutant (pounds per
winter day)
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PM2.5................................................... 3,002
NOX..................................................... 71,598
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III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable
Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and
does not impose additional requirements beyond
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those imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
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 (Pub. L. 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 the 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 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000),
because it will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt tribal law. The SIP is not approved to apply in
Indian country located in the State, except for non-trust land within
the exterior boundaries of the Puyallup Indian Reservation, also known
as the 1873 Survey Area. Under the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement
Act of 1989, 25 U.S.C. 1773, Congress explicitly provided state and
local agencies in Washington authority over activities on non-trust
lands within the 1873 Survey Area and the EPA is therefore approving
this SIP on such lands. Consistent with EPA policy, the EPA nonetheless
provided a consultation opportunity to the Puyallup Tribe in a letter
dated December 11, 2012. The EPA did not receive a request for
consultation.
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).
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 November 18, 2013. 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. This action 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, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur
oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: September 3, 2013.
Dennis J. McLerran,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for Part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart WW--Washington
0
2. Section 52.2470 is amended:
0
a. In the table in paragraph (e) by adding two new entries
``Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 2008 Baseline Emissions
Inventory and SIP Strengthening Rules'' and ``Approval of Motor Vehicle
Emission Budgets and Determination of Attainment for the 2006 24-Hour
Fine Particulate Standard'' at the end of the section with the heading
``Attainment and Maintenance Planning--Particulate Matter''
0
b. In the table in paragraph (e) by removing entry ``Particulate Matter
(PM2.5) 2008 Baseline Emissions Inventory and SIP
Strengthening Rules'' and the heading ``Recently Approved Plans''
Sec. 52.2470 Identification of plan.
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(e) * * *
State of Washington Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures
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Applicable
Name of SIP provision geographic or State EPA approval date Comments
nonattainment area submittal date
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Attainment and Maintenance Planning--Particulate Matter
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* * * * * * *
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 2008 Tacoma, Pierce 11/28/12 5/29/13, 78 FR
Baseline Emissions Inventory and County. 32131.
SIP Strengthening Rules.
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Approval of Motor Vehicle Tacoma, Pierce 11/28/12 9/19/13, [Insert
Emission Budgets and County. page number where
Determination of Attainment for the document
the 2006 24-Hour Fine begins].
Particulate Standard.
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[FR Doc. 2013-22738 Filed 9-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P