Air Plan Approval; TN: Non-interference Demonstration for Federal Low-Reid Vapor Pressure Requirement in Middle Tennessee |
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V. Anne Heard
Environmental Protection Agency
24 February 2017
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11517-11522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03579]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R04-OAR-2016-0615; FRL-9959-08-Region 4]
Air Plan Approval; TN: Non-interference Demonstration for Federal
Low-Reid Vapor Pressure Requirement in Middle Tennessee
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the
State of Tennessee, submitted through the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation (TDEC), on November 21, 2016. This SIP
revision was submitted in support of the State's request that EPA
change the federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for Davidson,
Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties (hereinafter
referred to as the ``Middle Tennessee Area'' or ``Area''). Tennessee's
November 21, 2016, SIP submittal revises its maintenance plan for the
Middle Tennessee Area for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air
quality standard (NAAQS) and demonstrates that relaxing the federal RVP
requirements in this Area would not interfere with the Area's ability
to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
Specifically, Tennessee's SIP revision concludes that relaxing the
federal RVP requirement from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0
psi for gasoline sold between June 1 and September 15 of each year in
the Area would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of the
[[Page 11518]]
NAAQS or with any other CAA requirement. EPA is proposing to determine
that Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision is consistent with the
applicable provisions of the CAA.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 27, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2016-0615 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. 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, 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: D. Brad Akers, Air Regulatory
Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air,
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia
30303-8960. Mr. Akers can be reached via telephone at (404) 562-9089 or
via electronic mail at akers.brad@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What is being proposed today?
This rulemaking proposes to approve Tennessee's noninterference
demonstration, submitted on November 21, 2016, in support of the
State's request that EPA relax the federal RVP requirement from 7.8 psi
to 9.0 psi for gasoline sold between June 1 and September 15 of each
year (i.e., during high ozone season) in the Area. The State is
requesting the removal of the federal 7.8 psi RVP requirement. As part
of that request, Tennessee has evaluated whether removal of this
requirement would interfere with air quality in the Area. To make this
demonstration of noninterference, Tennessee completed a technical
analysis, including modeling, to estimate the change in emissions that
would result from a switch to 9.0 psi RVP fuel. EPA has reviewed this
technical analysis and is proposing to find that Tennessee's
demonstration supports the conclusion that the use of gasoline with an
RVP of 9.0 psi throughout the Middle Tennessee Area will not interfere
with attainment or maintenance of any NAAQS or with any other
applicable requirement of the CAA.
EPA is proposing to approve changes to the existing CAA section
110(a)(1) ozone maintenance plan, including updated modeling, that show
that the Middle Tennessee Area can continue to maintain the ozone
standards without the use of gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi during the
high ozone season. More specifically, EPA is proposing to approve that
portion of Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision which includes a
technical demonstration that changing the federal RVP requirements in
this Area from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi will not interfere with attainment or
maintenance of any NAAQS or with any other applicable requirement of
the CAA.\1\
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\1\ A separate rulemaking is required for relaxation of the
current requirement to use gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi in the
Area. This action proposes EPA's evaluation of the approvability of
Tennessee's noninterference demonstration pursuant to section
110(l). The decision regarding removal of Federal RVP requirements
pursuant to section 211(h) in the Area includes other considerations
evaluated at the discretion of the Administrator. As such, the
determination regarding whether to remove the Area from those areas
subject to the section 211(h) requirements is made through a
separate rulemaking action.
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This preamble is hereinafter organized into five parts. Section II
provides the background of the Middle Tennessee Area designation status
with respect to the various ozone NAAQS. Section III describes the
applicable history of federal gasoline regulation. Section IV provides
the Agency's policy regarding relaxation of the volatility standards.
Section V provides EPA's analysis of the information submitted by
Tennessee to support a change for the conventional gasoline volatility
standard in the Middle Tennessee Area.
II. What is the background for the Middle Tennessee Area?
The Middle Tennessee Area was originally designated as a 1-hour
ozone nonattainment area by EPA on March 3, 1978 (43 FR 8962). The
Middle Tennessee Area, then referred to as the Nashville Area, was
geographically defined as Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and
Wilson Counties, Tennessee. On November 6, 1991, by operation of law
under section 181(a) of the CAA, EPA classified the Middle Tennessee
nonattainment area as a moderate nonattainment area for ozone. See 56
FR 56693. Among the requirements applicable to nonattainment areas for
the 1-hour ozone NAAQS, pursuant to the Clean Air Act Amendments of
1990, was the requirement to meet certain volatility standards (known
as Reid Vapor Pressure or RVP) for gasoline sold commercially for
calendar years 1992 and beyond. See 55 FR 23658 (June 11, 1990). As
discussed in Section III below, a 7.8 psi federal RVP requirement first
applied to the Area during the high ozone season given its status as a
marginal nonattainment area for the 1-hour ozone standard after the
effective date of the November 6, 1991 designation.\2\
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\2\ The designations were effective January 6, 1992.
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TDEC originally requested a redesignation of the Middle Tennessee
Area to attainment for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS on November 14, 1994.
Tennessee updated its request and maintenance plan on August 9, 1995,
and January 19, 1996. EPA approved the redesignation and maintenance
plan on October 30, 1996, based on 1992-1994 ambient air quality
monitoring data showing the Area attaining the NAAQS. See 61 FR 55903.
Tennessee's 1-hour ozone redesignation request and maintenance plan did
not include a request to relax the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard.
On April 30, 2004, EPA designated and classified areas for the 8-
hour ozone NAAQS that was promulgated at a level of 0.085 parts per
million on July 18, 1997. See 69 FR 23857. In this action, the Middle
Tennessee Area had a pending designation as nonattainment for the 1997
8-hour ozone NAAQS with a delayed effective date because the Area was
an Early Action Compact (EAC) area. EAC areas developed attainment
demonstrations and implemented control measures on an expedited
schedule to bring areas into compliance with the NAAQS prior to the
effective designations. As such, TDEC submitted an attainment
demonstration for the Middle Tennessee Area on December 29, 2004. EPA
approved the attainment demonstration for the Area on August 26, 2005
(70 FR 50199). Subsequently, the Area showed attainment for the 1997 8-
hour ozone NAAQS with a design value of 0.084 parts per million using
quality assured data for the years of 2005-2007. The Area was
designated to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in a final
rulemaking on April 2, 2008, and was therefore never effectively
designated as
[[Page 11519]]
nonattainment for that NAAQS. See 73 FR 17897. Tennessee did not
request to relax the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard in relation to the
EAC planning or attainment demonstration.
Pursuant to CAA section 110(a)(1), and consistent with EPA
guidance, EAC areas submitted plans to demonstrate continued
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.\3\ As required, these
110(a)(1) maintenance plans provide for continued attainment and
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years from
the effective date of these areas' designation as attainment for the
1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. These plans also include components
demonstrating how each area will continue to attain the 1997 8-hour
ozone NAAQS, and provide contingency measures should an area violate
the NAAQS. On August 3, 2010, TDEC submitted a draft 110(a)(1)
maintenance plan for the Middle Tennessee Area for the 1997 8-hour
ozone NAAQS, and submitted the final SIP revision on October 13, 2010.
EPA approved the maintenance plan on January 28, 2011 (76 FR 5078).
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\3\ US EPA, Lydia Wegman, May 20, 2005. Memorandum and Guidance
Document: Maintenance Plan Guidance Document for Certain 8-hour
Ozone Areas Under Section 110(a)(1) of Clean Air Act.
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Tennessee is now requesting that EPA remove the federal 7.8 psi RVP
requirement for the Middle Tennessee Area, and the State submitted a
SIP revision on November 21, 2016, revising its 110(a)(1) maintenance
plan for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, including a noninterference
demonstration to support its request.\4\
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\4\ Effective July 20, 2012, EPA designated the Middle Tennessee
Area as unclassifiable/attainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
See 77 FR 30088 (April 30, 2012). Although the Middle Tennessee Area
is designated as unclassifiable/attainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone
NAAQS and attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, the federal
7.8 psi RVP requirement nonetheless remains in place because the
State has never requested removal of the more stringent RVP.
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III. What is the history of the gasoline volatility requirement?
On August 19, 1987 (52 FR 31274), EPA determined that gasoline
nationwide had become increasingly volatile, causing an increase in
evaporative emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment.
Evaporative emissions from gasoline, referred to as volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), are precursors to the formation of tropospheric ozone
and contribute to the nation's ground-level ozone problem. Exposure to
ground-level ozone can reduce lung function (thereby aggravating asthma
or other respiratory conditions), increase susceptibility to
respiratory infection, and may contribute to premature death in people
with heart and lung disease.
The most common measure of fuel volatility that is useful in
evaluating gasoline evaporative emissions is RVP. Under section 211(c)
of CAA, EPA promulgated regulations on March 22, 1989 (54 FR 11868),
that set maximum limits for the RVP of gasoline sold during the high
ozone season. These regulations constituted Phase I of a two-phase
nationwide program, which was designed to reduce the volatility of
commercial gasoline during the summer ozone control season. On June 11,
1990 (55 FR 23658), EPA promulgated more stringent volatility controls
as Phase II of the volatility control program. These requirements
established maximum RVP standards of 9.0 psi or 7.8 psi (depending on
the State, the month, and the area's initial ozone attainment
designation with respect to the 1-hour ozone NAAQS during the high
ozone season).
The 1990 CAA Amendments established a new section, 211(h), to
address fuel volatility. Section 211(h) requires EPA to promulgate
regulations making it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, dispense,
supply, offer for supply, transport, or introduce into commerce
gasoline with an RVP level in excess of 9.0 psi during the high ozone
season. Section 211(h) prohibits EPA from establishing a volatility
standard more stringent than 9.0 psi in an attainment area, except that
EPA may impose a lower (more stringent) standard in any former ozone
nonattainment area redesignated to attainment.
On December 12, 1991 (56 FR 64704), EPA modified the Phase II
volatility regulations to be consistent with section 211(h) of the CAA.
The modified regulations prohibited the sale of gasoline with an RVP
above 9.0 psi in all areas designated attainment for ozone, beginning
in 1992. For areas designated as nonattainment, the regulations
retained the original Phase II standards published on June 11, 1990 (55
FR 23658). A current listing of the RVP requirements for states can be
found on EPA's Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards.
As explained in the December 12, 1991 (56 FR 64704), Phase II
rulemaking, EPA believes that relaxation of an applicable RVP standard
is best accomplished in conjunction with the redesignation process. In
order for an ozone nonattainment area to be redesignated as an
attainment area, section 107(d)(3) of the Act requires the state to
make a showing, pursuant to section 175A of the Act, that the area is
capable of maintaining attainment for the ozone NAAQS for ten years
after redesignation. Depending on the area's circumstances, this
maintenance plan will either demonstrate that the area is capable of
maintaining attainment for ten years without the more stringent
volatility standard or that the more stringent volatility standard may
be necessary for the area to maintain its attainment with the ozone
NAAQS. Therefore, in the context of a request for redesignation, EPA
will not relax the volatility standard unless the state requests a
relaxation and the maintenance plan demonstrates, to the satisfaction
of EPA, that the area will maintain attainment for ten years without
the need for the more stringent volatility standard.
As noted previosly, Tennessee did not request relaxation of the
applicable 7.8 psi federal RVP standard when the Middle Tennessee Area
was redesignated to attainment for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. Tennessee is
therefore now revising its maintenance plan and modeling for the 1997
8-hour ozone NAAQS with a conservative approach in estimating emissions
by using a level of 9.0 psi.
IV. What are the section 110(l) requirements?
To support Tennessee's request to relax the federal RVP requirement
in the Middle Tennessee Area, the State must demonstrate that the
requested change will satisfy section 110(l) of the CAA. Section 110(l)
requires that a revision to the SIP not interfere with any applicable
requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further progress (as
defined in section 171), or any other applicable requirement of the
Act. EPA's criterion for determining the approvability of Tennessee's
November 21, 2016, SIP revision is whether the noninterference
demonstration associated with the relaxation request satisfies section
110(l). The modeling associated with Tennessee's maintenance plan for
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS is premised upon the 7.8 psi RVP
requirements. So the request for a change in the federal RVP
requirement is accompanied by a revision to the maintenance plan with
updated modeling based on the 9.0 psi RVP. EPA is proposing approval of
the revised maintenance plan based on an evaluation of current air
quality monitoring data, the information provided in the revised
maintenance plan, and the maintenance plan requirements in the CAA.
EPA evaluates each section 110(l) noninterference demonstration on
a case-by-case basis considering the circumstances of each SIP
revision. EPA
[[Page 11520]]
interprets 110(l) as applying to all NAAQS that are in effect,
including those that have been promulgated but for which EPA has not
yet made designations. The degree of analysis focused on any particular
NAAQS in a noninterference demonstration varies depending on the nature
of the emissions associated with the proposed SIP revision. EPA's
analysis of Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision pursuant to
section 110(l) is provided below.
EPA notes that in this action, it is only proposing to approve the
State's technical demonstration that the Area can continue to attain
and maintain the NAAQS and meet other CAA requirements after switching
to the sale of gasoline with an RVP of 9.0 psi in the Middle Tennessee
Area during the high ozone season and to amend the SIP to include this
demonstration and revise the maintenance plan for the 1997 8-hour ozone
NAAQS. Consistent with CAA section 211(h) and the Phase II volatility
regulations, EPA will initiate a separate rulemaking to relax the
current federal requirement to use gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi in
the Middle Tennessee Area.
V. What is EPA's analysis of Tennessee's submittal?
a. Overall Preliminary Conclusions Regarding Tennessee's Non-
Interference Analyses
On November 21, 2016, TDEC submitted a SIP revision making changes
to the 110(a)(1) maintenance plan for the Middle Tennessee Area,
including a noninterference demonstration to support the State's
request to modify the RVP summertime gasoline requirement from 7.8 psi
to 9.0 psi for the Area. This demonstration includes an evaluation of
the impact that the removal of the 7.8 psi RVP requirement would have
on maintenance of the ozone standards and on the maintenance of the
other NAAQS.\5\ Tennessee focused its analysis on the impact of the
change in RVP to attainment and maintenance of the ozone, PM,\6\ and
NO2 NAAQS because RVP requirements do not affect lead,
sulfur dioxide (SO2), or carbon monoxide (CO) emissions;
because VOC and NOX emissions are precursors for ozone and
PM; and because NO2 is a component of NOX.
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\5\ The six NAAQS for which EPA establishes health and welfare
based standards are CO, lead, NO2, ozone, PM, and
SO2.
\6\ PM is composed of PM2.5 and PM10.
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TDEC's noninterference analysis utilized EPA's 2014 Motor Vehicle
Emissions Simulator (MOVES2014a) emission modeling system to estimate
emissions for mobile sources.\7\ These mobile source emissions are used
as part of the evaluation of the potential impacts to the NAAQS that
might result exclusively from changing the high ozone season RVP
requirement from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi. As summarized in Tables 1 and 2,
below, the MOVES model predicted minor increases in mobile source
NOX and VOC emissions from the switch to 9.0 psi RVP fuel.
Daily on-road mobile NOX emissions are projected to increase
by 0.09 tpd in 2018 during the ozone season, while daily on-road mobile
VOC emissions are projected to increase by 0.05 tpd (approximately 0.3
percent for both pollutants).
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\7\ The MOVES2014a model was the latest EPA mobile source model
available to the State at the time that it developed its SIP
revision. TDEC's modeling using MOVES2014a conforms with EPA's
modeling guidance.
Table 1--On-road Mobile Source Ozone Season NOX Emissions (Aveage Tons/Day) in Middle Tennessee
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7.8 psi RVP 9.0 psi RVP
County -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 2010 2014 2018 2018
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Davidson........................ 40.50 33.80 24.86 15.88 15.92
Rutherford...................... 20.40 17.10 12.70 8.28 8.30
Sumner.......................... 9.20 7.50 5.22 2.94 2.95
Williamson...................... 13.50 11.06 7.82 4.56 4.57
Wilson.......................... 13.80 11.31 8.00 4.67 4.68
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Total....................... 97.40 80.77 58.59 36.33 36.42
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Table 2--On-road Mobile Source Ozone Season VOC Emissions (Average Tons/Day) in Middle Tennessee
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7.8 psi RVP 9.0 psi RVP
County -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 2010 2014 2018 2018
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Davidson.................................................. 17.10 14.69 11.47 8.25 8.26
Rutherford................................................ 5.60 5.10 4.44 3.75 3.77
Sumner.................................................... 3.30 2.93 2.45 1.95 1.96
Williamson................................................ 4.50 3.93 3.17 2.41 2.41
Wilson.................................................... 3.30 2.95 2.47 1.99 2.00
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Total................................................. 33.80 29.60 24.00 18.35 18.40
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TDEC's analysis in the November 21, 2016, submittal shows that RVP
relaxation could increase total anthropogenic VOC emissions by 0.8
percent and increase total anthropogenic NOX emissions by
0.1 percent in 2018. Table 3, below, shows the total estimated
anthropogenic emissions of NOX and VOC from area, point, on-
road, nonroad and aircraft, locomotive, and commercial marine source
categories for the Middle Tennessee Area.\8\ Emissions reported for
2018 in the Table assume the use of 9.0 psi RVP fuel whereas emissions
from 2007 through 2014 assume the use of 7.8 psi RVP fuel. The
110(a)(1) Maintenance Plan Guidance indicates that the principal
mechanism for demonstrating continued attainment is a projected future
inventory. NOX and VOC
[[Page 11521]]
emissions are projected to continue to decrease in the Middle Tennessee
Area even with the use of 9.0 psi RVP fuel in the entire Area.
NOX emissions are expected to decrease by 46% from 2007 to
2018 for the Middle Tennessee Area. Similarly, VOC emissions are
expected to decrease by 26% over the same timeframe. Therefore,
emissions resulting in the change in RVP are not expected to cause the
area to be out of compliance with any NAAQS.
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\8\ To see more details about emissions inventory development,
see Appendices A-D of the November 21, 2016, SIP submittal.
Table 3--Total Anthropogenic Ozone Season Emissions of NOX and VOC
(Average Tons/Day) for Middle Tennessee
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Year NOX VOC
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2007 (7.8 psi RVP)...................... 164.25 126.18
2010 (7.8 psi RVP)...................... 141.48 119.18
2014 (7.8 psi RVP)...................... 115.90 93.30
2018 (9.0 psi RVP)...................... 89.17 92.91
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Difference from 2007 to 2018........ -75.08 -33.27
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b. Noninterference Analysis for the Ozone NAAQS
As described above, the Middle Tennessee Area was redesignated to
attainment for purposes of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. This redesignation
was based upon a Tennessee redesignation request for the Area which
included the required 1-hour ozone monitoring data and maintenance plan
ensuring the Area would remain in attainment of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS
for at least a period of 10 years (consistent with CAA 175A(a)). The
maintenance plan requirements remained in place for the counties when
they were subsequently designated unclassifiable/attainment on April
30, 2004, for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS (69 FR 23858) effective June
15, 2004. However, because this 1997 8-hour ozone unclassifiable/
attainment area had an existing maintenance plan pursuant to the 1-hour
ozone NAAQS, it was required to submit a 10-year 110(a)(1) maintenance
plan for purposes of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. As required,
110(a)(1) maintenance plans provide for continued attainment and
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years from
the effective date of areas' designation as unclassifiable/attainment
for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. As a previous 1-hour ozone
nonattainment area, the Middle Tennessee Area was already subject to
the federal RVP requirements for high ozone season gasoline. Although
originally implemented for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS, these Federal RVP
requirements continued to apply to the Middle Tennessee Area per the
110(a)(1) maintenance plan required to show continued attainment and
maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
The Middle Tennessee Area is continuing to meet the 1-hour NAAQS,
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS,\9\ and the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, based
on recent air quality monitoring data. The 2008 ozone NAAQS is met when
the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average concentration,
averaged over 3 years is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) or less.
Similarly, the 2015 ozone NAAQS, promulgated October 1, 2015, as
published in a final rule on October 26, 2015 (80 FR 65292), is met
when the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average
concentration, averaged over 3 years is 0.070 ppm or less. The trend in
design values (DV) for ozone for the Middle Tennessee Area is shown in
Table 4, with the current DV in the Area being 0.067 ppm in 2015, below
the 2015 standard. EPA also evaluated the potential increase in the VOC
and NOX precursor emissions, and whether it is reasonable to
conclude that the requested change to RVP requirements in the Areas
during the high ozone season would cause the Middle Tennessee Area to
be out of compliance with the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
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\9\ The air quality design value for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS is
the 3-year average of the annual 4th highest daily maximum 8-hour
ozone concentration. The level of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is
0.075 ppm. The 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS is not met when the design
value is greater than 0.075 ppm.
Table 4--Middle Tennessee Area Ozone Design Value Trends
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Design value
Years (ppm)
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2005-2007............................................... 0.084
2006-2008............................................... 0.084
2007-2009............................................... 0.078
2008-2010............................................... 0.076
2009-2011............................................... 0.075
2010-2012............................................... 0.079
2011-2013............................................... 0.076
2012-2014............................................... 0.072
2013-2015............................................... 0.067
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Table 4 also shows that there is an overall downward trend in ozone
concentrations in the Middle Tennessee Area. This decline can be
attributed to federal and state programs that have led to significant
emissions reductions in ozone precursors, such as federal standards in
onroad and nonroad mobile source sectors and resultant fleet turnover.
Given this downward trend, the downward trend in precursor emissions,
the current ozone concentrations in the Middle Tennessee Area, and the
results of Tennessee's emissions analysis, EPA is proposing to
determine that a change to 9.0 psi RVP fuel for the affected counties
would not interfere with the Area's ability to attain or maintain the
ozone NAAQS in the Area. There has been no formal determination at this
point for whether the Middle Tennessee Area is attaining the 2015 ozone
NAAQS.\10\ However, for the reasons noted above, EPA is proposing to
determine that changing the RVP to 9.0 psi for the Middle Tennessee
Area will not significantly impact the Area's ability to attain or
maintain the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
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\10\ EPA will designate areas for the 2015 ozone NAAQS based on
2013-2015 data by October 1, 2017. The deadline for states to submit
recommendations for initial designations with respect to the 2015
ozone NAAQS was October 1, 2016. See 80 FR 65292 (October 26, 2015).
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c. Noninterference Analysis for the PM NAAQS
Over the course of several years, EPA has reviewed and revised the
PM2.5 NAAQS a number of times. On July 16, 1997, EPA
established an annual PM2.5 NAAQS of 15.0 micrograms per
cubic meter ([mu]g/m\3\), based on a 3-year average of annual mean
PM2.5 concentrations, and a 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS
of 65 [mu]g/m\3\, based on a 3-year average of the 98th percentile of
24-hour concentrations. See 62 FR 36852 (July 18, 1997). On September
21, 2006, EPA retained the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS of 15.0
[mu]g/m\3\ but revised the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS to 35 [mu]g/
m\3\, based again on a 3-year average of the 98th
[[Page 11522]]
percentile of 24-hour concentrations. See 71 FR 61144 (October 17,
2006). On December 14, 2012, EPA retained the 2006 24-hour
PM2.5 NAAQS of 35 [mu]g/m\3\ but revised the annual primary
PM2.5 NAAQS to 12.0 [mu]g/m\3\, based again on a 3-year
average of annual mean PM2.5 concentrations. See 78 FR 3086
(January 15, 2013).
The main precursor pollutants for PM2.5 are
NOX, SO2, VOC, and ammonia. As mentioned earlier
in this rulemaking, the federal RVP requirements only result in
emissions benefits for VOC and NOX. Therefore, Tennessee
focused on these two PM2.5 precursors in its analysis of the
potential impact of changing the RVP requirements for the Middle
Tennessee Area on the PM2.5 NAAQS. Tennessee asserted in its
110(l) demonstration that relaxing the RVP standard will have little
impact on these precursor emissions in relation to PM formation and is
not expected to negatively impact attainment or maintenance of the
PM2.5 NAAQS. Moreover, there have been a number of studies
which have indicated that SO2 is the primary driver of
PM2.5 formation in the Southeast.\11\
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\11\ See, e.g., Journal of Environmental Engineering--
Quantifying the sources of ozone, fine particulate matter, and
regional haze in the Southeastern United States (June 24, 2009),
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journalofenvironmental-management.
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Given the downward trend in precursor emissions noted above and the
small increases in those emissions with a relaxation of the RVP
standard (less than 0.1 tpd for each pollutant), and given that RVP
will not affect the most significant PM2.5 precursor
(SO2), EPA is proposing to determine that a change to 9.0
psi RVP fuel for the affected counties would not interfere with the
Area's ability to attain or maintain the PM2.5 NAAQS in the
Area.
d. Noninterference Analysis for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS
On February 17, 2012, EPA designated all counties in Tennessee as
unclassifiable/attainment for the 2010 NO2 NAAQS. See 77 FR
9532. Based on the technical analysis in Tennessee's November 21, 2016,
SIP revision, the projected increase in total anthropogenic
NOX emissions associated with the change to 9.0 psi RVP fuel
for the Middle Tennessee Area is approximately 0.09 tpd in 2018. Given
the current unclassifiable/attainment designation and the results of
Tennessee's emissions and modeling analysis, EPA is proposing to
determine that a change to 9.0 psi RVP fuel for the Middle Tennessee
Area would not interfere with maintenance of the 2010 NO2
NAAQS in the Area.
VI. Proposed Action
EPA is proposing to approve Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP
revision consisting of a revision to its 110(a)(1) maintenance plan for
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the Middle Tennessee Area and the
technical noninterference demonstration supporting the State's request
to relax the RVP standard to 9.0 psi in the Area. Specifically, EPA is
proposing to accept updated emissions inventory and projections
associated with the mobile source modeling used in the State's
noninterference demonstration related to RVP. EPA is also proposing to
find that this change in the RVP requirements for the Middle Tennessee
Area will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any NAAQS or
with any other applicable requirement of the CAA.
EPA is proposing that Tennessee's November 21, 2016, SIP revision,
including the technical demonstration associated with the State's
request for the removal of the federal RVP requirements, and the
updated attainment inventory and emissions projections, are consistent
with the applicable provisions of the CAA. Should EPA decide to remove
the counties of the Middle Tennessee Area from those areas subject to
the 7.8 psi federal RVP requirements, such action will occur in a
separate, subsequent rulemaking.
VII. 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. See 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in
reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this
proposed action merely approves state law as meeting federal
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those
imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action:
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 (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 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).
The SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or
in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does
not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it impose substantial direct
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,
Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile
organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: January 20, 2017.
V. Anne Heard,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2017-03579 Filed 2-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P