Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; South Carolina; Clean Air Interstate Rule

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the South Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of South Carolina through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control on December 4, 2008. This revision addresses the requirements of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). Although the District of Columbia Circuit Court found CAIR to be flawed, the rule was remanded without vacatur and thus remains in place. Thus, EPA is continuing to approve CAIR provisions into SIPs as appropriate. CAIR, as promulgated, requires states to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_X) that significantly contribute to, or interfere with maintenance of, the national ambient air quality standards for fine particulates and/or ozone in any downwind state. CAIR establishes budgets for SO₂ and NO_X for states that contribute significantly to nonattainment in downwind States and requires the significantly contributing states to submit SIP revisions that implement these budgets. States have the flexibility to choose which control measures to adopt to achieve the budgets, including participation in EPA-administered cap-and-trade programs addressing SO₂, NO_X annual, and NO_X ozone season emissions. In the full SIP revision that EPA is proposing to approve, South Carolina will meet CAIR requirements by participating in these cap-and-trade programs. EPA is proposing to approve the full SIP revision, as interpreted and clarified herein, as fully implementing the CAIR requirements for South Carolina. Consequently, this action will also cause the CAIR Federal Implementation Plans (CAIR FIPs) concerning SO₂, NO_X annual, and NO_X ozone season emissions by South Carolina sources to be automatically withdrawn. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before November 16, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-OAR-2009-0455, by one of the following methods:

1. http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

2. E-mail: benjamin.lynorae@epa.gov.

3. Fax: 404-562-9019.

4. Mail: EPA-R04-OAR-2009-0455, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.

5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Lynorae Benjamin, Chief, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding Federal holidays.

Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to submit comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steven Scofield, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number is (404) 562-9034. Mr. Scofield can also be reached via electronic mail at scofield.steve@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For additional information see the direct final rule which is published in the Rules Section of this Federal Register. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.