[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 139 (Monday, July 20, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43788-43793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14425]
[[Page 43788]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R04-OAR-2020-0177; FRL-10011-68-Region 4]
Air Plan Approval; FL; GA; KY; MS; NC; SC: Definition of Chemical
Process Plants Under State Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Regulations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
approve revisions to the State Implementation Plans (SIP) for Florida,
Georgia, the Jefferson County portion of Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, and South Carolina. The SIP revisions incorporate changes to
the definition of chemical process plants under the States' Prevention
of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations. Consistent with an EPA
regulation completed in 2007, EPA is proposing to approve the rules for
Florida, Georgia, the Jefferson County portion of Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina that modify the
definition of chemical process plant to exclude ethanol manufacturing
facilities that produce ethanol by natural fermentation processes. This
will clarify that the PSD major source applicability threshold in the
SIPs for these ethanol plants is 250 tons per year (tpy) (rather than
100 tpy) and removes the requirement to include fugitive emissions when
determining if the source is major for PSD. EPA is proposing to find
that the changes to the state and local rules described herein are
approvable because the Agency believes that they are consistent with
EPA regulations governing state PSD programs and will not interfere
with any applicable requirement concerning attainment and reasonable
further progress (as defined in section 171 of the Clean Air Act (CAA
or Act)), or any other applicable requirement of the CAA.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 19, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2020-0177 at 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 www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: D. Brad Akers, Air Regulatory
Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air and
Radiation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61
Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Mr. Akers can be
reached via electronic mail at [email protected] or via telephone at
(404) 562-9089.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What is being addressed in this notice?
II. Background
A. PSD Permitting Thresholds for Chemical Processing Plants
B. Ethanol Rule
C. Petitions for Review and Reconsideration of the 2007 Ethanol
Rule
III. What SIP revisions are being proposed by EPA?
IV. Have the requirements for approval of a SIP revision been met?
V. What action is EPA proposing to take?
VI. Incorporation by Reference
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
I. What is being addressed in this notice?
EPA is proposing to approve the following revisions to SIPs
received by EPA from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, and South Carolina: (1) A portion of a SIP revision provided
to EPA through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FL
DEP) via letter dated December 12, 2011; (2) a SIP revision provided to
EPA through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) via
letter dated September 15, 2008; \1\ (3) a SIP revision to the
Jefferson County portion of the Kentucky SIP that was provided to EPA
through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ) via a letter dated
July 1, 2009; \2\ (4) a SIP revision provided to EPA through the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) via letter dated
November 28, 2007; (5) a SIP revision provided to EPA through the North
Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) \3\ via letter
dated June 20, 2008; \4\ and (6) a portion of a SIP revision provided
to EPA through the South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control (SC DHEC) via letter dated April 14, 2009, as
updated in a portion of SIP revision provided to EPA via letter dated
April 10, 2014. These revisions conform the State rules to changes to
EPA regulations reflected in EPA's final rule entitled ``Prevention of
Significant Deterioration, Nonattainment New Source Review, and Title
V: Treatment of Certain Ethanol Production Facilities Under the ``Major
Emitting Facility'' Definition'' (hereinafter referred to as the ``2007
Ethanol Rule'') as published in the Federal Register on May 1, 2007.
See 72 FR 24060.
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\1\ EPA received the submittal on September 29, 2008.
\2\ In 2003, the City of Louisville and Jefferson County
governments merged and the ``Jefferson County Air Pollution Control
District'' was renamed the ``Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control
District.'' See The History of Air Pollution Control in Louisville,
available at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/air-pollution-control-district/history-air-pollution-control-louisville. However,
each of the regulations in the Jefferson County portion of the
Kentucky SIP still has the subheading ``Air Pollution Control
District of Jefferson County.'' Thus, to be consistent with the
terminology used in the SIP, EPA refers throughout this notice to
regulations contained in the Jefferson County portion of the
Kentucky SIP as the ``Jefferson County'' regulations.
\3\ At the time of the 2008 submittal, the NC DEQ was the North
Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Throughout
this proposed rulemaking, EPA will refer to the State Agency as NC
DEQ.
\4\ EPA received the submission on June 25, 2008.
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The 2007 Ethanol Rule amends the PSD definition of ``major
stationary source'' to exclude certain ethanol facilities from the
``chemical process plant'' source category and clarifies that the PSD
major source applicability threshold for certain ethanol plants is 250
tpy (rather than 100 tpy). The 2007 Ethanol Rule also removed the
requirement to include fugitive emissions when determining if the
source is major for PSD and Title V permitting. On October 21, 2019,
EPA responded to a petition for reconsideration of the 2007 Ethanol
Rule, and EPA denied the petition with respect to the revisions of the
PSD Regulations reflected in that rule (as described in more detail
below). EPA is now proposing to approve these SIP revisions that are
based on a part of the 2007 Ethanol Rule.
[[Page 43789]]
II. Background
A. PSD Permitting Thresholds for Chemical Processing Plants
Under the CAA, there are two potential thresholds for determining
whether a source is a major emitting facility that is potentially
subject to the construction permitting requirements under the PSD
program; one threshold is 100 tpy per pollutant, and the other is 250
tpy per pollutant. Section 169(1) of the CAA lists twenty-eight source
categories that qualify as major emitting facilities if their emissions
exceed the 100 tpy threshold. If the source does not fall within one of
twenty-eight source categories listed in section 169, then the 250 tpy
threshold is applicable.
One of the source categories in the list of twenty-eight source
categories to which the 100 tpy threshold applies is chemical process
plants. Since the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for
chemical process plants includes facilities primarily engaged in
manufacturing ethanol fuel, EPA and States had previously considered
such facilities to be subject to the 100 tpy thresholds.
As a result of this classification, pursuant to EPA regulations
interpreting CAA section 302(j), chemical process plants were also
required to include fugitive emissions for determining the potential
emissions of such sources. Thus, prior to promulgation of the 2007
Ethanol Rule, the classification of fuel and industrial ethanol
facilities as chemical process plants had the effect of requiring these
plants to include fugitive emissions of criteria pollutants when
determining whether their emissions exceed the applicability thresholds
for the PSD and nonattainment new source review (NA NSR) permit
programs.
B. Ethanol Rule
On May 1, 2007, EPA published in the Federal Register the 2007
Ethanol Rule (72 FR 24060). This final rule amended EPA's PSD and NA
NSR regulations to exclude ethanol manufacturing facilities that
produce ethanol by natural fermentation processes from the ``chemical
process plants'' category under the regulatory definition of ``major
stationary source.''
This change to EPA's NSR regulations affected the threshold used to
determine PSD applicability for these ethanol production facilities,
clarifying that such facilities were subject to the 250 tpy major
source threshold. The 2007 Ethanol Rule also included changes to other
provisions which established that ethanol facilities need not count
fugitive emissions when determining whether such a source is ``major''
under the Federal PSD, NA NSR, and Title V permitting programs.
C. Petitions for Review and Reconsideration of the 2007 Ethanol Rule
On July 2, 2007, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) to review the 2007 Ethanol Rule. On
that same day, EPA received a petition for administrative
reconsideration and request for stay of the 2007 Ethanol Rule from
NRDC. On March 27, 2008, EPA denied NRDC's 2007 administrative petition
for reconsideration.
On March 2, 2009, EPA received a second petition for
reconsideration and request for stay from NRDC. In 2009, NRDC also
filed a petition for judicial review challenging EPA's March 27, 2008,
denial of NRDC's 2007 administrative petition in the D.C. Circuit. This
challenge was consolidated with NRDC's challenge to the 2007 Ethanol
Rule. In August of 2009, the D.C. Circuit granted a joint motion to
hold the case in abeyance, and the case has remained in abeyance.
On October 21, 2019, EPA partially granted and partially denied
NRDC's 2009 administrative petition for reconsideration. Specifically,
EPA granted the request for reconsideration with regard to NRDC's claim
that the 2007 Ethanol Rule did not appropriately address the CAA
section 193 anti-backsliding requirements for nonattainment areas. EPA
denied the remainder of the requests for reconsideration on the grounds
that NRDC failed to establish that reconsideration was warranted under
CAA section 307(d)(7)(B).
III. What SIP revisions are being proposed by EPA?
As mentioned above, EPA is proposing to approve revisions to SIPs
dated: Florida on December 12, 2011; Georgia on September 15, 2008;
Kentucky, corresponding to the Jefferson County portion of the Kentucky
SIP, on July 1, 2009; Mississippi on November 28, 2007; North Carolina
on June 20, 2008; and South Carolina on April 14, 2009, and April 10,
2014. These revisions adopt language that is the same or consistent
with that contained in EPA's 2007 Ethanol Rule. EPA is not acting on
any changes with respect to NA NSR. The State regulations that EPA is
proposing to approve exclude ethanol production facilities that produce
ethanol by natural fermentation from the ``chemical process plants''
category. The revisions thus clarify that an ethanol facility is
subject to a PSD major source threshold of 250 tpy and that such
sources need not count fugitive emissions to determine potential
emissions that are compared to this threshold. The revisions proposed
for approval in this action do not affect NA NSR. More detail on the
SIP revisions that EPA is proposing to approve is provided below. Each
subsection below begins by identifying the rules as modified by each
state or local government to include the ethanol exemption in its PSD
program.
A. Florida
Florida rule 62-210.200, Definitions, Florida Administrative Code
(F.A.C.) at 62-210.200(189) ``Major Stationary Source'': ``Any of the
following stationary sources of air pollutants which emits, or has the
potential to emit, 100 tons per year or more of any regulated NSR
pollutant: Chemical process plants (the term ``chemical process
plants'' shall not include ethanol production facilities that produce
ethanol by natural fermentation included in North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) codes 325193 or 312140) . . .'' Florida
rule 62-210.200(214) ``North American Industry Classification System''
or ``NAICS'': ``A federal system of classifying business establishments
according to similarity in the process used to produce goods or
services, as described in the 2007 NAICS definition file (available
free of cost at http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ or available in CD
ROM or book from at a cost from the US Department of Commerce at 1-800-
553-6847), hereby adopted and incorporated by reference (https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00705).'' Additionally,
Chapter 62-212.400, Prevention of Significant Deterioration, at (3)(b):
``The requirements of subsections 62-212.400(4) through (12), F.A.C.,
shall not apply to a major stationary source or major modification if
the source of modification would be a major stationary source or major
modification only if fugitive emissions, to the extent quantifiable,
are considered in calculating the potential to emit of the stationary
source or modification and the source does not belong to one of the
following categories . . . 20. Chemical process plants (the term
``chemical process plants'' shall not include ethanol production
facilities that produce ethanol by natural fermentation included in
North American Industry Classification
[[Page 43790]]
System (NAICS) codes 325193 or 312140) . . .''
Chapter 62-210 of the F.A.C., which contains Florida's definitions
regulation, generally applies to stationary sources in Florida. These
definitions are referenced throughout Florida's rules, including in
Chapter 62-212, which governs preconstruction review, including PSD.
Chapter 62-212 of the F.A.C., which contains Florida's PSD regulation,
applies to new or modified ``major stationary sources,'' as that term
is defined in 62-210.200. As identified above, Florida revised 62-
210.200 to exclude ethanol production facilities from the ``chemical
process plants'' major stationary source category such that ethanol
facilities emitting less than 250 tpy of a regulated air pollutant are
not subject to PSD.\5\ Additionally, Florida incorporated a definition
for NAICS as part of this rulemaking. Furthermore, Florida's PSD
regulation at 62-212.400(3)(b)20. says that emissions from these same
facilities are not considered in determining whether the facility is
subject to PSD. The state effective date of Florida's revision to the
definition of ``chemical process plants'' in Rule 62-210.200 and the
change to applicability procedures in Rule 62-212.400 is December 12,
2011.
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\5\ Florida's definition of ``major stationary source'' at 62-
210.200 is also cross-referenced in the portion of its SIP-approved
NA NSR regulation, 62-212.500, Preconstruction Review in
Nonattainment Areas, that sets the fugitive emissions exclusion for
determining rule applicability. See Rule 62-212.500(2)(b). If the
definition of ``chemical process plants'' within the term of ``major
stationary source'' were updated to exclude these ethanol producing
facilities for the purposes of NA NSR, then fugitive emissions would
not need to be considered in determining whether the source is
major. All sources in nonattainment areas are major at 100 tpy, and
certain classifications of nonattainment areas for ozone and
PM2.5 establish lower thresholds for major source
applicability. See 40 CFR 51.165(b)(iv)(A). However, Florida's
December 12, 2011, submittal did not seek to revise, nor ask EPA to
revise, the State's SIP-approved NA NSR program. Therefore, EPA is
not approving the revision to the definition of ``chemical process
plant'' within the term ``major stationary source'' to apply to the
NA NSR program. Accordingly, if EPA finalizes this action, the
ethanol production facility exclusion within the definition of
``major stationary source'' at 62-210.200 will not apply in the SIP
for the purposes of determining applicability in Rule 62-212.500,
and EPA will note this in the list of SIP-approved Florida
regulations at 40 CFR 52.520(c). There are currently no
nonattainment areas in Florida.
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B. Georgia
Official Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of
Georgia (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs.) 391-3-1-.02(7), Prevention of
Significant Deterioration of Air Quality, (a)2.(iii): ``The definition
of major stationary source contained in 40 CFR part 52.21(b)(1) is
hereby incorporated by reference except as follows . . .''
Additionally, (b)6.: ``Review of major stationary sources and major
modifications--source applicability and general exemptions: 40 CFR part
52.21 (i), as amended, is hereby incorporated and adopted by reference
with the following exception . . .''
This regulation incorporates by reference portions of 40 CFR 52.21,
including most portions of the federal definition of ``major stationary
source'' and most portions of EPA's applicability procedures as revised
and amended on July 1, 2007, which include the 2007 Ethanol Rule
provisions. This revision aligns paragraph (a)2.(iii) with the
incorporation by reference of provisions in 40 CFR 52.21 at paragraph
(a)1.
The term ``major stationary source'' is defined in 40 CFR
52.21(b)(1)(i)(a) as ``[a]ny of the following stationary sources of air
pollutants which emits, or has the potential to emit, 100 tons per year
or more of any regulated NSR pollutant: . . . Chemical process plants
(which does not include ethanol production facilities that produce
ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or
312140).'' Additionally, 40 CFR 52.21(b)(1)(iii) excludes fugitive
emissions from ethanol production facilities from the ``chemical
process plants'' category such that fugitive emissions are not
considered in determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
Because Georgia's incorporation by reference of 40 CFR 52.21
includes the ethanol exclusion, ethanol facilities emitting less than
250 tpy of a regulated air pollutant are not subject to PSD, and
fugitive emissions from ethanol facilities are not considered in
determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
C. Jefferson County Portion of the Kentucky SIP
Jefferson County Regulation 2.05, Prevention of Significant
Deterioration of Air Quality. This regulation incorporates by reference
40 CFR 52.21, as revised and amended on July 1, 2008, with exceptions.
The term ``major stationary source'' is defined in 40 CFR
52.21(b)(1)(i)(a) as ``[a]ny of the following stationary sources of air
pollutants which emits, or has the potential to emit, 100 tons per year
or more of any regulated NSR pollutant: . . . Chemical process plants
(which does not include ethanol production facilities that produce
ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or
312140).'' Additionally, 40 CFR 52.21(b)(1)(iii) excludes fugitive
emissions from ethanol production facilities from the ``chemical
process plants'' category such that fugitive emissions are not
considered in determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
Because Jefferson County's incorporation by reference of 40 CFR
52.21 includes the ethanol exclusion, ethanol facilities emitting less
than 250 tpy of a regulated air pollutant are not subject to PSD, and
fugitive emissions from ethanol facilities are not considered in
determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
D. Mississippi
11 Mississippi Administrative Code (MAC) Part 2, Chapter 5,
Regulations for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air
Quality. This regulation incorporates by reference 40 CFR 52.21, as
revised and amended on June 15, 2007, with exceptions.
The term ``major stationary source'' is defined in 40 CFR
52.21(b)(1)(i)(a) as ``[a]ny of the following stationary sources of air
pollutants which emits, or has the potential to emit, 100 tons per year
or more of any regulated NSR pollutant: . . . Chemical process plants
(which does not include ethanol production facilities that produce
ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or
312140).'' Additionally, 40 CFR 52.21(b)(1)(iii) excludes fugitive
emissions from ethanol production facilities from the ``chemical
process plants'' category such that fugitive emissions are not
considered in determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
Because Mississippi's incorporation by reference of 40 CFR 52.21
includes the ethanol exclusion, ethanol facilities emitting less than
250 tpy of a regulated air pollutant are not subject to PSD, and
fugitive emissions from ethanol facilities are not considered in
determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
E. North Carolina
15 North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) 02D .0530, Prevention
of Significant Deterioration. This regulation incorporates by reference
40 CFR 52.21, as revised and amended on June 13, 2007, with exceptions.
The term ``major stationary source'' is defined in 40 CFR
52.21(b)(1)(i)(a) as ``[a]ny of the following stationary sources of air
pollutants which emits, or has the potential to emit, 100 tons per year
or more of any regulated NSR pollutant: . . . Chemical process plants
(which does not include ethanol production facilities that produce
[[Page 43791]]
ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or
312140).'' Additionally, 40 CFR 52.21(b)(1)(iii) excludes fugitive
emissions from ethanol production facilities from the ``chemical
process plants'' category such that fugitive emissions are not
considered in determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
Because North Carolina's incorporation by reference of 40 CFR 52.21
includes the ethanol exclusion, ethanol facilities emitting less than
250 tpy of a regulated air pollutant are not subject to PSD, and
fugitive emissions from ethanol facilities are not considered in
determining whether the facility is subject to PSD.
F. South Carolina
South Carolina Code of Regulations Annotated (S.C. Code Ann.
Regs.), Rule 61-62.5, Standard No. 7, Prevention of Significant
Deterioration, at 61-62.5, Standard No. 7(b)(32) ``Major stationary
source'' at (i)(a): ``Any of the following stationary sources of air
pollutants which emits, or has the potential to emit, 100 tons per year
or more of any regulated NSR pollutant: . . . chemical process plants
(which does not include ethanol production facilities that produce
ethanol by natural fermentation included in North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) codes 325193 or 312140) . . .''
Additionally, another part of the definition at Standard No.
7(b)(32)(iii): ``The fugitive emissions of a stationary source shall
not be included in determining for any of the purposes of this
regulation whether it is a major stationary source, unless the source
belongs to one of the following categories of stationary sources: . . .
(t) Chemical process plants--The term chemical processing plant shall
not include ethanol production facilities that produce ethanol by
natural fermentation included in North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) codes 325193 or 312140 . . .''
SC DHEC's Rule 61-62.5, Standard No. 7, applies to new or modified
``major stationary sources.'' As identified above, Standard No. 7 was
revised to exclude ethanol production facilities from the ``chemical
process plants'' major stationary source category such that ethanol
facilities emitting less than 250 tpy of a regulated air pollutant are
not subject to PSD. Furthermore, South Carolina's PSD regulation at 61-
62.5, Standard No. 7(b)(32)(iii) was revised to say that fugitive
emissions at these same facilities are not considered in determining
whether the facility is subject to PSD. The state effective date of SC
DHEC's revision to the definition of ``major stationary source'' at 61-
62.5, Standard No. 7(b)(32)(i) and (iii) was initially April 24, 2009,
as transmitted in the April 14, 2009, SIP revision.
Subsequently, South Carolina made additional changes to Standard
No. 7 regarding these provisions. Specifically, South Carolina made a
minor change to spell out the term ``North American Industrial
Classification System'' the first time it appears in Regulation No. 7
at Regulation No. 7(b)(32)(i)(a). The State published its proposed
changes in the South Carolina State Register on August 23, 2013, and
held a public hearing on December 12, 2013. South Carolina adopted the
amended rule on December 27, 2013, at which point it became state
effective. On April 10, 2014, South Carolina submitted a request to EPA
Region 4 to revise the South Carolina SIP with these additional changes
made to South Carolina's PSD program.
IV. Have the requirements for approval of a SIP revision been met?
All of the aforementioned regulations are consistent with EPA's PSD
program requirements in 40 CFR 51.166, as amended in the 2007 Ethanol
Rule. Further, all submissions have met the public notice requirements
for SIP submissions in accordance with 40 CFR 51.102.
FL DEP published a Notice of Proposed Rule on September 16, 2011,
in the Florida Administrative Weekly, with a public hearing offered on
October 13, 2011, if requested within 21 days of the published Notice.
FL DEP received no request for a public hearing and therefore did not
hold an official hearing. FL DEP received no comments from on its
proposed revisions and therefore did not change the rules based on
public input.
GA EPD issued a Notice of Public Hearing and Proposed Revisions on
May 4, 2008. A public hearing was then held on June 3, 2008. No
comments were received on the proposed revision, and GA EPD therefore
did not make changes to the rule based on public input.
Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (LMAPCD) noticed
proposed changes in newspapers published on February 20, 2009, and held
a public hearing on May 20, 2009. Two sets of comments were received on
the draft revisions, and LMAPCD responded to the comments received and
noted that it made no substantive changes in response to the comments.
MDEQ published its notice of public hearing and proposed changes
via newspapers on June 15, 2007, June 22, 2007, and June 29, 2007, and
held a public hearing on July 17, 2007. MDEQ did not receive any
comments on its proposed changes and therefore did not make any changes
to its rules based on public input.
NC DEQ published a notice of proposed amendments in newspapers by
October 7, 2007, and in the North Carolina Register on October 15,
2007, and a public hearing was held on November 7, 2007. NC DEQ
received one set of public comments on the proposed rule and made
changes to the rule based on those comments. No substantive comments
were received on the adoption of regulations consistent with the 2007
Ethanol Rule.
SC DHEC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in the State
Register on January 23, 2009, for the April 14, 2009, submittal, and
held a public hearing on April 9, 2009. In addition, for the April 10,
2014, submittal, SC DHEC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on
August 23, 2013, in the State Register and held a public hearing on
December 12, 2013. SC DHEC received no comments on either of its
proposed revisions, and therefore made no changes based on public
input.
The SIP submissions also satisfy the completeness criteria of 40
CFR part 51, appendix V. In addition, these revisions meet the
substantive SIP requirements of the CAA, including section 110 and
implementing regulations. A Technical Support Document (TSD) for each
state or local revision, available as part of the docket to this
proposed rulemaking, contains an analysis of the potential impact of
the SIP revisions on air quality and whether approval of the SIP
revisions will interfere with attainment or maintenance of the national
ambient air quality standards (or standards) or any other CAA
requirement. Existing ethanol plants, where a state has any, are listed
with information from their permits, including applicable requirements,
current PSD status, and applicable federal rules that control emissions
in lieu of PSD. The existing ethanol plants, where a state has any, are
mapped along with the ambient air monitors to demonstrate the
relationship between ethanol production and air quality.
Emissions from ethanol plants are compared to other emissions data
categories for four major pollutants revealing that for the major
pollutants associated with ethanol production, ethanol plants make up
less than 1 percent of the total anthropogenic emissions of that
pollutant in all six states. EPA graphed air quality trends in each
state, since the date of promulgation of the 2007 Ethanol Rule, for all
criteria pollutants associated with
[[Page 43792]]
ethanol production. The air quality trends reveal that while ethanol
production increased in certain areas, air quality improved for
generally every pollutant monitored in each of the states.
EPA also describes requirements for each state or local
government's minor source NSR program because the facilities that would
be below the 250 tpy PSD major source threshold under this rulemaking
will still need to obtain minor source construction permits.\6\ EPA
further analyzes the impact of increasing the threshold to 250 tpy on
ozone and particulate matter (PM) precursors in each state. The
analysis for ozone and secondary PM demonstrates that sources of this
size will not cause any interference with attainment or maintenance of
the standard in these states.
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\6\ With the exception of facilities with a potential to emit
between 100-250 tpy in several counties adjacent to the Atlanta,
Georgia ozone nonattainment area for the 2015 8-hour ozone NAAQS,
which are subject to Georgia's NA NSR program. See the TSD for
Georgia in the docket for this proposed rulemaking for more
information.
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Based on EPA's analysis in each TSD, EPA proposes to conclude that
approval of this action will not interfere with any applicable
requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further progress (as
defined in section 171 of the CAA), or any other applicable requirement
of the CAA as required under CAA section 110(l).
V. What action is EPA proposing to take?
EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Florida SIP, Georgia
SIP, Jefferson County portion of the Kentucky SIP, Mississippi SIP,
North Carolina SIP, and South Carolina SIP. EPA plans to take final
action after consideration of any comments received on this proposed
rulemaking.
The revisions to state rules that EPA is proposing to approve
change the definition of ``major stationary source'' under each state
or local PSD regulations. These proposed changes make clear that the
PSD applicability threshold for certain ethanol plants is 250 tpy and
remove the requirement to include fugitive emissions when determining
if an ethanol plant is major for PSD. EPA proposes to determine that
these revisions are consistent with EPA's PSD regulations and that
approval of these revisions is consistent with the requirements of CAA
section 110(l) and will not adversely impact air quality. EPA's
analysis is available in the individual State TSDs that are part of the
docket for this proposed rulemaking. This proposed action will ensure
consistency between the State and federally approved rules and ensure
Federal enforceability of the State's revised air program rules.
VI. Incorporation by Reference
In this document, EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA rule
regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance
with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is proposing to incorporate by
reference the following regulations: Florida Rule 62-210.200, F.A.C.,
``Definitions,'' state effective March 28, 2012; 7 8 Florida
Rule 62-212.400, ``Prevention of Significant Deterioration,'' state
effective March 28, 2012; \9\ Georgia Rule 391-3-1-.02(7), ``Prevention
of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (PSD),'' state effective
July 20, 2017; \10\ Jefferson County Regulation 2.05, ``Prevention of
Significant Deterioration of Air Quality,'' version 13, state effective
January 17, 2018 \11\ for the Jefferson County portion of the Kentucky
SIP; Mississippi Rule 11 MAC Part 2, Rule 5.2, ``Adoption of Federal
Rules by Reference,'' state effective May 28, 2016; \12\ North Carolina
Rule 02D .0530, ``Prevention of Significant Deterioration,'' state
effective September 1, 2017; \13\ and South Carolina Rule 61-62.5,
Standard No. 7, ``Prevention of Significant Deterioration,'' state
effective August 25, 2017.\14\ EPA has made, and will continue to make,
these materials generally available through www.regulations.gov and at
the EPA Region 4 office (please contact the person identified in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble for more
information).
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\7\ Except for the purposes of determining applicability in Rule
62-212.500, ``Preconstruction Review for Nonattainment Areas.'' See
footnote 5 for additional information.
\8\ The effective date of the change to Florida Rule 62-210.200
made in Florida's December 12, 2011, SIP revision is December 4,
2011. However, for purposes of the state effective date included at
40 CFR 52.520(c), that change to Florida's rule is captured and
superseded by Florida's update in a February 27, 2013, SIP revision,
state effective on March 28, 2012, which EPA previously approved on
October 6, 2017. See 82 FR 46682.
\9\ The effective date of the change to Florida Rule 62-212.400
made in Florida's December 12, 2011, SIP revision is December 4,
2011. However, for purposes of the state effective date included at
40 CFR 52.520(c), that change to Florida's rule is captured and
superseded by Florida's update in a February 27, 2013, SIP revision,
state effective on March 28, 2012, which EPA previously approved on
September 19, 2012. See 77 FR 58027.
\10\ The effective date of the change to Georgia Rule 391-3-
1-.02(7) made in Georgia's September 15, 2008, SIP revision is
September 11, 2008. However, for purposes of the state effective
date included at 40 CFR 52.570(c), that change to Georgia's rule is
captured and superseded by Georgia's update in a November 29, 2017,
SIP revision, state effective on July 20, 2017, which EPA previously
approved on December 4, 2018. See 83 FR 62466.
\11\ The effective date of the change to Jefferson County
Regulation 2.05 made in Kentucky's July 1, 2009, SIP revision is
June 20, 2009. However, for purposes of the state effective date
included at 40 CFR 52.920(c), that change to Jefferson County's rule
is captured and superseded by Kentucky's update in a March 15, 2018,
SIP revision, state effective on January 17, 2018, which EPA
previously approved on April 10, 2019. See 84 FR 14268.
\12\ The effective date of the change to Mississippi Rule APC-S-
5, ``Regulations for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration of
Air Quality'' made in Mississippi's November 28, 2007, SIP revision
is August 23, 2007. However, for purposes of the state effective
date included at 40 CFR 52.1270(c), that change to Mississippi's
rule is captured and superseded by Mississippi's update in a June 7,
2016, SIP revision, state effective on May 28, 2016, which EPA
previously approved on August 8, 2017. See 82 FR 37015. Furthermore,
Mississippi has recodified previous Rule APC-S-5 as 11 MAC Part 2,
Rule 5, with the relevant part from the November 28, 2007, SIP
revision now included in Rule 5.2.
\13\ The effective date of the change to North Carolina Rule 02D
.0530 made in North Carolina's June 20, 2008, SIP revision is May 1,
2008. However, for purposes of the state effective date included at
40 CFR 52.1770(c), that change to North Carolina's rule is captured
and superseded by North Carolina's update in a October 17, 2017, SIP
revision, state effective on September 1, 2017, which EPA previously
approved on September 11, 2018. See 82 FR 45827.
\14\ The effective date of the change to South Carolina Rule 61-
62.1, Standard No. 7 made in South Caorlina's April 10, 2014, SIP
revision is December 27, 2013. However, for purposes of the state
effective date included at 40 CFR 52.2120(c), that change to South
Carolina's rule is captured and superseded by South Carolina's
update in a September 5, 2017, SIP revision, state effective on
August 25, 2017, which EPA previously approved on February 13, 2019.
See 84 FR 3705.
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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. These proposed actions
merely propose to approve state law as meeting Federal requirements and
does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state
law. For that reason, these proposed actions:
Are not significant regulatory actions 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);
Are not Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2,
2017) regulatory actions because SIP approvals are exempted under
Executive Order 12866;
Do not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
[[Page 43793]]
Are 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.);
Do 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);
Do not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
Are not economically significant regulatory actions based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
Are not significant regulatory actions subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
Are 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
Do 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).
For Florida, Georgia, the Jefferson County portion of Kentucky,
Mississippi, and North Carolina, the SIPs are 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 proposed 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.
For South Carolina, because this proposed action merely proposes to
approve state law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose
additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law, this action
for the State of South Carolina does not have Tribal implications as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
Therefore, this proposed action will not impose substantial direct
costs on Tribal governments or preempt Tribal law. The Catawba Indian
Nation Reservation is located within the boundary of York County, South
Carolina. Pursuant to the Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act, S.C.
Code Ann. 27-16-120 (Settlement Act), ``all state and local
environmental laws and regulations apply to the Catawba Indian Nation
and Reservation and are fully enforceable by all relevant state and
local agencies and authorities.'' The Catawba Indian Nation also
retains authority to impose regulations applying higher environmental
standards to the Reservation than those imposed by state law or local
governing bodies, in accordance with the Settlement Act.
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: June 26, 2020.
Mary Walker,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2020-14425 Filed 7-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P