Technical Correction to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to correct an equation in an appendix in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particle Pollution. In the “Rules and Regulations” section of the Federal Register, we are approving the correction as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. Equation 2 describes an intermediate step in the calculation of the design value for the annual PM_2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers) NAAQS. This proposed action would correct a scrivener's error in one of the equations used to calculate an annual mean PM_2.5 concentration, to properly account for cases where a site does not have four complete quarters of data and passes one of two substitution tests. This change accurately reflects the intended calculation of the annual mean PM_2.5 design value and is consistent with the text elsewhere in the appendix.

DATES:

Written comments must be received by September 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0408, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The 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. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (e.g., 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:

Mr. Brett Gantt, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Assessment Division, Air Quality Analysis Group (Mail Code: C304-04), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-5274; fax number: (919) 541-3613; email address: gantt.brett@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Why is the EPA issuing this proposed rule?

This document proposes a revision in appendix N to correct a scrivener's error in an intermediate equation in the calculation of the annual PM_2.5 design value to properly account for cases where a site does not have four complete quarters of data in a specific year and passes the minimum quarterly value substitution test. We have published a direct final rule approving the revisions to appendix N in the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register because we view this as a non-controversial action and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this action in the preamble of the direct final rule.

If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule, and it will not take effect. We would address all public comments in any subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule.

We do not intend to institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. For further information, please see the information provided in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

II. Does this action apply to me?

This action applies to you if you are calculating the annual PM_2.5 design value for a site which does not have four complete quarters of data for a specific year and passes the minimum quarterly value substitution test.

III. Environmental Justice

The EPA has determined that this proposed rule will not have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income populations because it does not affect the level of protection provided to human health or the environment. This rule does not relax the calculation of the annual PM_2.5 NAAQS design values and, therefore, will not cause decreases in the design values used to designate and classify nonattainment areas and assess progress towards meeting the NAAQS.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

For a complete discussion of the administrative requirements applicable to this action, see the direct final rule in the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 50

• Air pollution control
• Carbon monoxide
• Lead
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Ozone
• Particulate matter
• Sulfur oxides

For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Environmental Protection Agency proposes to amend title 40, chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 50—NATIONAL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

1. The authority citation for Part 50 continues to read as follows:

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

2. In appendix N to part 50, in section 4.4, Equation 2 is revised to read as follows:

Appendix N to Part 50—Interpretation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM_2.5

4.4 Equations for the Annual PM_2.5 NAAQS

(b) * * *

Where:

X̄ _y = the annual mean concentration for year y (y = 1, 2, or 3);

n _Q,y = the number of complete quarters Q in year y; and

X̄ _q,y = the mean for quarter q of year y (result of equation 1).