§ 51.1110 - Requirements for reasonable further progress (RFP).

§ 51.1110 Requirements for reasonable further progress (RFP).

(a) RFP for nonattainment areas classified pursuant to § 51.1103. The RFP requirements specified in CAA section 182 for that area's classification shall apply.

(1) Submission deadline. For each area classified as Moderate or higher pursuant to § 51.1103, the state shall submit a SIP revision no later than 36 months after the effective date of designation as nonattainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS that provides for RFP as described in paragraphs (a)(2) through (4) of this section.

(2) RFP requirements for areas with an approved 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS 15 percent VOC ROP plan. An area classified as Moderate or higher that has the same boundaries as an area, or is entirely composed of several areas or portions of areas, for which EPA fully approved a 15 percent plan for the 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS is considered to have met the requirements of CAA section 182(b)(1) for the 2008 ozone NAAQS and instead:

(i) If classified as Moderate or higher, the area is subject to the RFP requirements under CAA section 172(c)(2) and shall submit a SIP revision that:

(A) Provides for a 15 percent emission reduction from the baseline year within 6 years after the baseline year;

(B) Provides for an additional emissions reduction of 3 percent per year from the end of the first 6 years up to the beginning of the attainment year if a baseline year earlier than 2011 is used; and

(C) Relies on either NO_X or VOC emissions reductions (or a combination) to meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2)(i)(A) and (B) of this section. Use of NO_X emissions reductions must meet the criteria in CAA section 182(c)(2)(C).

(ii) If classified as Serious or higher, the area is also subject to RFP under CAA section 182(c)(2)(B) and shall submit a SIP revision no later than 48 months after the effective date of designation providing for an average emissions reduction of 3 percent per year:

(A) For all remaining 3-year periods after the first 6-year period until the year of the area's attainment date; and

(B) That relies on either NO_X or VOC emissions reductions (or a combination) to meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) of this section. Use of NO_X emissions reductions must meet the criteria in CAA section 182(c)(2)(C).

(3) RFP requirements for areas for which an approved 15 percent VOC ROP plan for the 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS exists for only a portion of the area. An area that contains one or more portions for which EPA fully approved a 15 percent VOC ROP plan for the 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS (as well as areas for which EPA has not fully approved a 15 percent plan for either the 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS) shall meet the requirements of either paragraph (a)(3)(i) or (ii) of this section.

(i) The state shall not distinguish between the portion of the area with a previously approved 15 percent ROP plan and the portion of the area without such a plan, and shall meet the requirements of (a)(4) of this section for the entire nonattainment area.

(ii) The state shall treat the area as two parts, each with a separate RFP target as follows:

(A) For the portion of the area without an approved 15 percent VOC ROP plan for the 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS, the state shall submit a SIP revision as required under paragraph (a)(4) of this section.

(B) For the portion of the area with an approved 15 percent VOC ROP plan for the 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS, the state shall submit a SIP as required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(4) ROP Requirements for areas without an approved 1-hour or 1997 ozone NAAQS 15 percent VOC ROP plan.

(i) For each area, the state shall submit a SIP revision consistent with CAA section 182(b)(1). The 6-year period referenced in CAA section 182(b)(1) shall begin January 1 of the year following the year used for the baseline emissions inventory.

(ii) For Moderate areas, the plan must provide for an additional 3 percent per year reduction from the end of the first 6 years up to the beginning of the attainment year if a baseline year from 2008 to 2010 is used.

(iii) For each area classified as Serious or higher, the state shall submit a SIP revision consistent with CAA section 182(c)(2)(B). The final increment of progress must be achieved no later than the attainment date for the area.

(5) Creditability of emission control measures for RFP plans. Except as specifically provided in CAA section 182(b)(1)(C) and (D), CAA section 182(c)(2)(B), and 40 CFR 51.1110(a)(6), all emission reductions from SIP-approved or federally promulgated measures that occur after the baseline emissions inventory year are creditable for purposes of the RFP requirements in this section, provided the reductions meet the requirements for creditability, including the need to be enforceable, permanent, quantifiable, and surplus.

(6) Creditability of out-of-area emissions reductions. For each area classified as Moderate or higher pursuant to § 51.1103, in addition to the restrictions on the creditability of emission control measures listed in § 51.1110(a)(5), creditable emission reductions for fixed percentage reduction RFP must be obtained from sources within the nonattainment area.

(7) Calculation of non-creditable emissions reductions. The following four categories of control measures listed in CAA section 182(b)(1)(D) are no longer required to be calculated for exclusion in RFP analyses because the Administrator has determined that due to the passage of time the effect of these exclusions would be de minimis:

(i) Measures related to motor vehicle exhaust or evaporative emissions promulgated by January 1, 1990;

(ii) Regulations concerning Reid vapor pressure promulgated by November 15, 1990;

(iii) Measures to correct previous RACT requirements; and

(iv) Measures required to correct previous I/M programs.

(b) Baseline emissions inventory for RFP plans. For the RFP plans required under this section, at the time of designation for the 2008 ozone NAAQS the baseline emissions inventory shall be the emissions inventory for the most recent calendar year for which a complete triennial inventory is required to be submitted to EPA under the provisions of subpart A of this part. States may use an alternative baseline emissions inventory provided the state demonstrates why it is appropriate to use the alternative baseline year, and provided that the year selected is between the years 2008 to 2012. All states associated with a multi-state nonattainment area must consult and agree on a single alternative baseline year. The emissions values included in the inventory required by this section shall be actual ozone season day emissions as defined by § 51.1100(cc).

[80 FR 12314, Mar. 6, 2015]