Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Control of Air Pollution From Nitrogen Compounds State Implementation Plan

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Texas through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on July 10, 2015. The Texas SIP submission revises 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 117 rules for control of nitrogen compounds to assist the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) moderate nonattainment area (NAA) in attaining the 2008 eight-hour ozone (O₃) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

DATES:

This rule is effective on May 13, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2015-0497. All documents in the docket are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. James E. Grady, (214) 665-6745; grady.james@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Throughout this document, “we,” “our,” or “us” each mean “the EPA.”

I. Background

The background for this action is discussed in detail in the December 21, 2015 proposal (80 FR 79279). In that document, the EPA proposed to approve the submitted 30 TAC Chapter 117 SIP revision (submitted on July 10, 2015) as assisting the DFW area into attainment of the 2008 8-Hour O₃ NAAQS.

The Proposal and the technical support documents (TSDs) that accompanied the proposed rule provide detailed descriptions of the revisions and the rationale for the proposed decisions. Please see the docket for these and other documents regarding the Proposal. The public comment period for the Proposal closed on January 20, 2016.

The EPA received one comment email dated December 30, 2015, from TCEQ. The EPA's response to the comment is below.

II. Response to Comments

Comment: There is an error on page 79282 of the Federal Register publication in Table 6. The horsepower (hp) rating for turbines under the Capacity column should be “hp rating <10,000 hp” and “hp rating ≥10,000 hp” instead of “hp rating ≤10,000 hp” and “hp rating ≥10,000 hp” as is currently printed.

Response: The EPA agrees with the mathematical operator change and notes that the adopted rule submitted to the EPA on July 10, 2015 under § 117.405(b) should read as follows:

(3) Stationary gas turbines:

(A) with a horsepower (hp) rating of less than 10,000 hp, 0.55 lb/MMBtu;

and

(B) with a hp rating of 10,000 hp or greater, 0.15 lb/MMBtu.

Please refer to Table 1 below for a list of NO_X emissions specifications for major sources in newly designated Wise County including a change in response to the above comment.

III. Final Action

With one exception the EPA is approving all modified, repealed and new sections of 30 TAC Chapter 117 submitted by Texas on July 10, 2015 as part of the SIP revision. The EPA is not taking action on the revision to 30 TAC 117.9810. The EPA intends to act on this revision in a later action. Table 2 contains a list of the sections of Chapter 117 with adopted subchapters, divisions, and key sections with approved modifications associated with the July 10, 2015 DFW 2008 eight-hour O₃ SIP submittal.

Table 3 contains a list of the sections of Chapter 117 with adopted subchapters, divisions, and key sections with approved new requirements associated with the July 10, 2015 DFW 2008 eight-hour O₃ SIP submittal.

Per TCEQ's request, the following sections listed in Table 4 below will not become a part of the EPA-approved Texas SIP. These rules pertain mainly to the control of carbon monoxide and ammonia emissions, which are not O₃ precursors and, therefore, not necessary components of the DFW SIP. The EPA concurs that these rules can remain outside of the SIP.

Table 5 contains subchapters, divisions, and key sections approved for repeal from the SIP by the TCEQ. The TCEQ adopts the repeal of existing Subchapters B and C in Division 2 as well as sections § 117.9010 and 117.9110 of Subchapter H in Division 1 because compliance dates for sources of NO_X subject to these sections have passed and are now obsolete. Furthermore, sources previously subject are now required to comply with more stringent rules in existing Subchapter B and C, Division 4 and in revised sections §§ 117.9030, 117.9130.

A complete summary along with all non-substantive changes pertaining to reformatting, restructuring, reorganizing, and administrative revisions are referenced in the Technical Support Document (TSD), “30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 117 Control of Air Pollution from Nitrogen Compounds,” a copy of which is posted in the docket of this rule.

IV. Incorporation by Reference

In this rule, the EPA is finalizing regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance with the requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, the EPA is finalizing the incorporation by reference of the revisions to the Texas regulations as described in the Final Action section above. The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these documents generally available electronically through www.regulations.gov and/or in hard copy at the EPA Region 6 office.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. Accordingly, this 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 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, 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 Clean Air Act; and
• Does not provide the EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other area where the 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 and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).

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. The EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by June 13, 2016. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

• Environmental protection
• Air pollution control
• Hydrocarbons
• Incorporation by reference
• Intergovernmental relations
• Nitrogen oxides
• Ozone
• Reasonably available control technology
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Volatile organic compounds

PART 52—APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

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

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

Subpart SS—Texas

2. In § 52.2270(c), the table titled “EPA Approved Regulations in the Texas SIP” is amended by:

a. Removing the entries for Sections 117.200, 117.203, 117.205, 117.210, 117.215, 117.223, 117.225, 117.230, 117.235, 117.240, 117.245, 117.252, 117.254, 117.256, 117.1100, 117.1103, 117.1105, 117.1110, 117.1115, 117.1120, 117.1135, 117.1140, 117.1145, 117.1152, 117.1154, 117.1156, 117.1300, 117.1356, 117.9010, and 117.9110 under Chapter 117—Control of Air Pollution from Nitrogen Compounds; and

b. Adding the entries for Sections 117.405 and 117.452 in numerical order under Chapter 117—Control of Air Pollution from Nitrogen Compounds; and

c. Revising the entries for Sections 117.10, 117.400, 117.403, 117.410, 117.423, 117.430, 117.435, 117.440, 117.445, 117.450, 117.454, 117.456, 117.1303, 117.1310, 117.1335, 117.1340, 117.1345, 117.1350, 117.1354, 117.8000, 117.9030, 117.9130, and 117.9800 under Chapter 117—Control of Air Pollution from Nitrogen Compounds.

The amendments read as follows: