Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Maryland; Approval of Revisions to Volatile Organic Compounds, Regulations and Miscellaneous Revisions

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Direct final rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is taking direct final action on revisions to the Maryland State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). The revisions replace the existing regulation and adopt a new regulation for control of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from expandable polystyrene operations (EPO), establish VOC reasonably available control technology (RACT) standards for facilities that recycle bakery and confectionary waste, adopt by reference the EPA definition of VOC and include other miscellaneous revisions. EPA is approving these revisions to the State of Maryland's SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

DATES:

This rule is effective on July 6, 2001 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse written comment by June 6, 2001. If EPA receives such comments, it will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be mailed to David L. Arnold, Chief, Air Quality Planning and Information Services Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the documents relevant to this action are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103; the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; and the Maryland Department of the Environment, 2500 Broening Highway, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rose Quinto at (215) 814-2182, or by e-mail at quinto.rose@epa.gov for information concerning the EPO regulation or Kelly L. Bunker at (215) 814-2177, or by e-mail at bunker.kelly@epa.gov for the remaining regulation revisions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary of SIP Revision

On February 6, 1998, October 20, 2000, October 31, 2000 and November 16, 2000 the State of Maryland submitted formal revisions to its SIP. The SIP revisions consist of a new regulation which replaces the existing regulation for control of VOC from EPOs (COMAR 26.11.19.19), establish VOC RACT regulations for facilities that recycle bakery and confectionary waste (COMAR 26.11.19.28), adopt by reference the EPA definition of VOC (COMAR 26.11.01.01B(53)), update the Maryland regulation references to the federal definition of VOC at 40 CFR 51.100(s) and the federal PSD regulations at 40 CFR 52.21 PSD (COMAR 26.11.01.01B(37) and (53) and COMAR 26.11.06.14) and include other miscellaneous revisions (COMAR 26.11.01.01B(6-1) and COMAR 26.11.06.06A(1)(d)) . These regulatory revisions became effective on October 2, 2000, October 16, 2000, June 30, 1997 and September 22, 1997.

The amendment to COMAR 26.11.01.01B adds the definition of “commercial bakery oven” to the general definitions section of the Maryland air regulations. EPA approved Maryland's commercial bakery oven RACT regulation, including a definition for “commercial bakery oven”, found at COMAR 26.11.19.21 on October 15, 1997 (62 FR 53544). The definition for “commercial bakery oven” found in COMAR 26.11.19.21 is identical to the definition being added at COMAR 26.11.01.01B(6-1). The addition of the definition for the term “commercial bakery oven” is approvable.

The amendment to COMAR 26.11.01.01B(53) adopts by reference the EPA definition of “volatile organic compound” found at Title 40, Part 51.100(s) of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), as per the 1996 edition. The amendment ensures that Maryland's definition of the term is identical to the federal definition. EPA defines VOCs as any organic compound that contributes to ground-level ozone formation and lists as exclusions the compounds that have negligible photochemical reactivity. As EPA completes its reactivity testing, the list of exempt compounds expands. In the past, each time that EPA amended its' definition of VOC to include another exempt compound Maryland then had to amend its definition of VOC to add the newly exempted compound. Amending Maryland's definition requires draft regulations to be prepared, processed, put through public hearing and comment, adopted and then submitted to EPA. Since Maryland accepts the EPA test results on VOC exempt compounds it is appropriate for Maryland to adopt the federal definition of VOC as it appears in 40 CFR § 51.100 (s) as of a specified date.

COMAR 26.11.01.01B(53) was subsequently amended to update the federal reference for incorporation of the EPA definition of VOC found at 40 CFR § 51.100(s) from the 1996 to the 1999 edition of the CFR.

The amendments to COMAR 26.11.01.01B(37) and COMAR 26.11.06.14 update the reference for incorporation of the federal PSD regulations found at 40 CFR § 52.21 from the 1993 to the 1996 edition and then again from the 1996 to the 1999 edition. These revisions are approvable.

The amendment to COMAR 26.11.06.06 A(1)(d) will clarify the general VOC regulation and will affect VOC sources that are currently, or will be in the future, subject to a RACT regulation in Chapter 19, VOCs from Specific Processes. The amendment will exempt any source that is subject to a source specific regulation in Chapter 19 from the general VOC requirements in COMAR 26.11.06.06. These modifications are approvable.

The amendment to COMAR 26.11.19.19 will replace the existing regulation and adopt a new regulation for control of VOCs from expandable polystyrene operations (EPO). On October 15, 1997 (62 FR 53544) EPA approved a new regulation which established VOC RACT for EPOs. The existing regulation requires VOC emissions to be reduced through the use of various control options including incineration and a combination of low VOC beads (7 percent or less) and recycled material use. Since the adoption of the existing regulation, the bead manufacturers have been successful in producing an “ultra low VOC” bead (6 percent or less). These “ultra low VOC” beads, however, cannot be used for all products. But the production of the “ultra low VOC” bead has made available other cost-effective compliance options for specific product types at the EPO facilities. The existing regulation is being replaced with a new regulation which allows the use of conventional VOC control methods and adds the use of ultra low VOC beads as an additional alternative control option. This regulation will further reduce VOC emissions, encourage use of recycled materials and is approvable.

A new regulation, COMAR 26.11.19.28, is being added for the control of VOC emissions from bread and snack food drying operations. The purpose of the regulation is to establish RACT standards for facilities that recycle bakery and confectionary waste products for use as animal feed. The facilities dry the waste products to reduce moisture content and in the process VOCs are released. The new regulation requires a source with VOC emissions of 25 tons or more per year to install a control device with 85% or more removal efficiency to reduce emissions from the dryer stack. The regulation applies statewide and includes compliance testing, monitoring and recordkeeping requirements. The regulation will reduce VOC emissions and is approvable.

A more detailed analysis of Maryland's submittal is contained in a Technical Support Document (TSD) which is available from the Region III office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

II. Final Action

EPA is approving revisions to the Maryland SIP that replace the existing regulation and adopt a new regulation for control of VOC from EPOs (COMAR 26.11.19.19), establish VOC RACT regulations for facilities that recycle bakery and confectionary waste (COMAR 26.11.19.28), adopt by reference the EPA definition of VOC found at 40 CFR 51.100(s) (COMAR 26.11.01.01B(53)), update the Maryland regulation references to the federal definition of VOC at 40 CFR 51.100(s) (COMAR 26.11.01.01B(53)) and the federal PSD regulations at 40 CFR 52.21 (COMAR 26.11.01.01B(37) and 26.11.06.14), add a definition for the term “commercial bakery oven” (COMAR 26.11.01.01B(6-1) and other miscellaneous revisions (COMAR 26.11.06.06A(1)(d)). The revisions became effective on October 2, 2000, October 16, 2000, June 30, 1997 and September 22,1997.

EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no adverse comment since the revisions are administrative changes to the state regulations. However, in the “Proposed Rules” section of today's Federal Register, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve the SIP revision if adverse comments are filed. This rule will be effective on July 6, 2001 without further notice unless EPA receives adverse comment by June 6, 2001. If EPA receives adverse comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

III. Administrative Requirements

A. General Requirements

Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is not a “significant regulatory action” and therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. This action merely approves state law as meeting federal requirements and imposes no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because this rule approves pre-existing requirements under state law and does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by state law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4). This rule also does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because it merely approves a state rule implementing a federal standard, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act. This rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.

In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. In this context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in place of a SIP submission that otherwise satisfies the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. As required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing this rule, EPA has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct. EPA has complied with Executive Order 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by examining the takings implications of the rule in accordance with the “Attorney General's Supplemental Guidelines for the Evaluation of Risk and Avoidance of Unanticipated Takings” issued under the executive order. This rule does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

B. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. This rule is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

C. Petitions for Judicial Review

Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by July 6, 2001. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. This action granting full approval of the State of Marylands' volatile organic compounds regulations and miscellaneous revisions 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
• Hydrocarbons
• Incorporation by reference
• Intergovernmental relations
• Ozone
• Particulate matter
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Subpart V—Maryland

2. Section 52.1070 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(156) through (c)(159) to read as follows: