96-26201. Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Massachusetts; Amendment to Massachusetts' SIP (for Ozone and for Carbon Monoxide) for Establishment of a South Boston Parking Freeze  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 53628-53633]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-26201]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [MA-29-01-6537; A-1-FRL-5613-3]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
    Massachusetts; Amendment to Massachusetts' SIP (for Ozone and for 
    Carbon Monoxide) for Establishment of a South Boston Parking Freeze
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision 
    submitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This revision 
    establishes and requires the Boston Air Pollution Control Commission 
    (BAPCC) and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) to control the 
    growth of parking spaces in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston. 
    The effect of controlling parking growth is anticipated to be a 
    decrease in vehicle miles travelled (VMT), thereby holding automobile 
    usage to levels within the practical capacity of the local street 
    network. Vehicular emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and 
    nitrogen oxides will be reduced compared with their expected levels if 
    parking is not constrained. These pollutants contribute to the carbon 
    monoxide and ozone air pollution problems in the Boston urbanized area. 
    This SIP revision adds the South Boston Parking Freeze Area to ongoing 
    parking management plans in the Metropolitan Boston Area. The intended 
    effect of this action is to approve the changes to Massachusetts' SIP. 
    This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective on November 14, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Copies of the documents relevant to this action are 
    available for public inspection during normal business hours, by 
    appointment at the Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. Environmental 
    Protection Agency, Region I, One Congress Street, 11th floor, Boston, 
    MA; Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental 
    Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., (LE-131), Washington, D.C. 
    20460; and Division of Air Quality Control, Department of Environmental 
    Protection, One Winter Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald O. Cooke, (617) 565-3508.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 3, 1994 (59 FR 50211-50214), EPA 
    published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for the Commonwealth of 
    Massachusetts. The NPR proposed approval of a revision to Massachusetts 
    Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) State Implementation Plan 
    (SIP) by adding or amending four definitions in 310 CMR 7.00, and 
    inserting provisions for a City of Boston/South Boston Parking Freeze 
    at 310 CMR 7.33. The formal SIP revision was submitted by Massachusetts 
    on July 30, 1993.
    
    Air Quality Impacts
    
        The South Boston Parking Freeze is designed to reduce the growth of 
    VMT and travel-related air emissions by controlling the growth of 
    parking spaces serving South Boston. The freeze will result in air 
    quality improvements beyond those which would occur in the future 
    without this measure.
        For the three South Boston zones, DEP expects the proposed freeze 
    to reduce total future trips by 15,220 per day or 19 percent of the 
    approximately 80,105 trips forecast with unconstrained parking. This is 
    a 5.3 percent reduction in the future year trips without the freeze in 
    the Central Artery Study area, and a 0.3 percent reduction overall in 
    Eastern Massachusetts.
        Without the South Boston freeze, the amount of VMT increases in the 
    South Boston zones are large. On average in the three South Boston 
    zones, DEP expects trips to rise by about 35 percent between now and 
    the year 2010. Based on vehicle trip reductions and the related VMT 
    change, a reduction of 8.06 percent in VMT is obtained below the level 
    which would otherwise occur with unconstrained parking within the 
    Central Artery Study area, and 0.3 percent over the entire region.
        Using EPA's Mobile Emission Factor Model (MOBILE4.1, the current 
    version at the time of the DEP's analysis) and the Central Artery 
    Traffic Model, the South Boston Parking Freeze would reduce emissions 
    of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by approximately 74.86 kilograms 
    per day by the year 2010 within the Central Artery Study area. Carbon 
    Monoxide emissions would be reduced by 558.50 kilograms per day within 
    the Central Artery Study area.
        Using the EPA MOBILE4.1 emission Model and the Central 
    Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) regional transportation model, the 
    South Boston Parking Freeze will reduce emissions of VOCs by 269.79 
    kilograms per day, and of carbon monoxide (CO) by approximately 
    1,663.91 kilograms per day within Eastern Massachusetts. The regional 
    model also accounts for the secondary effects of reducing traffic, 
    which will in turn reduce congestion and emissions elsewhere in the 
    region.
        EPA supports the South Boston Parking Freeze Plan as a means to 
    reduce VMT and ultimately eliminate motor vehicle emissions associated 
    with reduced VMT. The VMT reduction anticipated with implementing the 
    South Boston Parking Freeze Plan will be accounted for through Highway 
    Performance Monitoring System's (HPMS) statistical sampling of VMT 
    within the Boston Metropolitan area. VMT reductions resulting from the 
    South Boston freeze will be documented by Massachusetts in their 
    emission inventories and regional emission analysis (prepared for 
    transportation conformity) and result in improved ambient air quality. 
    Specific emission credit associated with the South Boston Parking 
    Freeze Plan is not being assigned in the SIP. In addition, because 
    Massachusetts will account for VMT and emission benefits in the base 
    scenario for their ozone SIP, Massachusetts' Reasonable Further 
    Progress Plan does not identify the South Boston Parking Freeze as an
    
    [[Page 53629]]
    
    emission reduction element or as a contingency measure.
        Specific requirements of the South Boston Parking Freeze and the 
    rationale for EPA's proposed action are explained in the NPR and will 
    not be restated here. Public comments received on the NPR are addressed 
    below:
    
    Public Comment
    
        Four public comments were received on the NPR. On November 2, 1994, 
    the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) submitted comments generally 
    supporting approval of the South Boston Parking Freeze rule into the 
    SIP. On November 3, 1994 the City of Boston Environmental Department 
    (BED) and the Boston Air Pollution Control Commission (BAPCC) submitted 
    comments questioning the potential air quality benefits associated with 
    a South Boston Parking Freeze. However, the City of Boston's comments 
    declared that the City is ready to administer the South Boston Freeze 
    and that the City's comments were an effort to improve this Freeze. On 
    November 14, 1994, the Dorchester Avenue Taxpayers Association (DATA) 
    submitted comments asserting that the South Boston Parking Freeze will 
    be a detriment to businesses and the economic viability of South 
    Boston. Finally, on November 16, 1994 the Boston Redevelopment 
    Authority (BRA) submitted comments concurring on the BED and BAPCC 
    comment letter of November 2, 1994.
        The specific comments and EPA's responses are presented below. A 
    memorandum summarizing these comments and EPA's response is also 
    available at the address listed above.
        1. CLF had recommended at the SIP development phase that the BAPCC 
    be designated as the ``sole governing authority'' of the freeze program 
    rather than divide implementation between BAPCC and Massport.
        Response: 1. DEP has found that BAPCC possess adequate 
    administrative and enforcement authority to administer the South Boston 
    Parking freeze on private, public, and city property. Similarly DEP has 
    determined that under state law the Massport Authority has the power of 
    enforcement for the parking freeze on property owned or leased by 
    Massport. Indeed each of these entities is currently administering the 
    freezes in the Boston area. See e.g. 310 CMR 7.30 and 7.31. While it 
    might be simpler to have the South Boston Parking Freeze administered 
    by one entity, the CAA does not authorize EPA to second-guess DEP's 
    choice for structuring the freeze, absent a finding that the local or 
    regional entities lack the authority to implement the freeze. See CAA 
    Section 110(a)(2)(E). EPA believes that the proposed South Boston 
    Parking Freeze SIP can be implemented and is legally enforceable, even 
    though the administration is divided as proposed between BAPCC and 
    Massport. Consistent with CAA Section 110(a)(2)(E)(iii) DEP retains 
    authority to implement the freeze if BAPCC or Massport fail to do so.
        2. CLF raised their concern that approval of the South Boston 
    Parking Freeze as a Transportation Control Measure (TCM) in the SIP, 
    would add additional conformity criteria that must be satisfied before 
    a conformity determination could be made. Specifically, once the 
    parking freeze is approved in the SIP, the Boston Transportation 
    Improvement Program (TIP) or Boston Transportation Plan would not be 
    able to conform to the SIP unless the parking freeze is being 
    implemented in a timely manner, with a commitment of adequate funds for 
    implementing the freeze. CLF then expanded on the requirements of 
    conformity to ensure timely implementation of TCMs found at 40 CFR 
    Section 51.418.
        Response: 2. In order to make a positive transportation conformity 
    determination, in accordance with requirements set forth by section 
    51.418(c)(1), The Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization must affirm 
    whether past obstacles to implementation of TCMs in the SIP (including 
    the Boston, the East Boston/Logan, the Cambridge and the new South 
    Boston Parking Freezes) which are behind the schedule established in 
    the applicable implementation plan have been identified and are being 
    overcome, and whether State and local agencies with influence over 
    approvals or funding for TCMs are giving maximum priority to approval 
    or funding for TCMs.
        3. The City of Boston believes that the addition of a parking 
    freeze covering South Boston is not a viable air quality measure as 
    proposed and may actually be counterproductive. The City raises its 
    concern that reductions in vehicle trips to and from South Boston may 
    be more than outweighed by VMT growth that would result if development 
    is displaced to the suburbs. Suburban vehicle trips tend to be longer 
    with lower vehicle occupancy rates and there are negligible mass 
    transit shares in the typical development in ``suburban sprawl'' 
    locations. In order to determine the full environmental impact of the 
    South Boston Freeze, the applicability of MEPA/NEPA notwithstanding, a 
    detailed environmental impact report with wide circulation and an 
    opportunity for comment may be the best method for testing assumptions 
    about freezes and would provide a chance for review of the methodology.
        Response: 3. EPA believes that there is a substantial history of 
    parking freeze management regulations in the Boston area to support 
    beneficial mobile source emission reductions. DEP submitted a careful 
    modeling analysis of VMT reductions that result from the freeze. 
    Although the City of Boston's assertions about possible development 
    impacts may be valid concerns, they are not substantiated well enough 
    for EPA to overrule DEP's determination that the Freeze will yield VMT 
    reductions and air quality benefits. Pursuant to CAA requirements for a 
    state public hearing on all SIP actions, there have been significant 
    opportunities for the public to review and comment on the South Boston 
    Parking Freeze Regulation.
        4. The city of Boston questions the efficacy of such a labor 
    intensive and complex bureaucracy for the sake of a .03%, at best, VMT 
    reduction region wide. For what it will cost to implement this plan, 
    the Boston Environmental Department believes compliance with existing 
    ride sharing regulations, development of Transportation Management 
    Associations (TMAs), and revision of cities and towns zoning 
    requirements would result in more significant VMT reductions.
        Response: 4. EPA endorses cost efficiency and the greatest possible 
    emission reductions of nonattainment pollutants. The SIP process under 
    the CAA leaves it to the States, however, to choose from a wide variety 
    of programs to develop a strategy to attain clean air and achieve the 
    National Ambient Air Quality Standards, as well as achieving all state 
    air quality standards and state air quality guidelines. The state has 
    the flexibility to include a South Boston Parking Freeze and Management 
    Program as part of their overall strategy to attain clean air goals. 
    Indeed EPA has no authority to disapprove a state's choice of control 
    measure solely because EPA disagrees with the state's assessment of its 
    cost-effectiveness. Union Electric Co. v. EPA, 427 U.S. 246 (1976). 
    Furthermore, this parking freeze will complement existing Parking 
    Freeze Programs in the Metropolitan Boston Area.
        5. The City of Boston believes where the air quality problem is 
    regional in nature, such as ground-level ozone, a regional solution is 
    the only reasonable approach. The City of Boston Environmental 
    Department and Air Pollution Control Commission oppose to the South 
    Boston Parking Freeze
    
    [[Page 53630]]
    
    because it is a local approach better suited to localized pollution 
    problems, such as carbon monoxide.
        Response: 5. The Boston Environmental Department letter agrees with 
    EPA that VMT reduction strategies such as parking freezes may be useful 
    as one component of an overall traffic control program to reduce 
    localized air quality problems, such as high carbon monoxide levels at 
    intersections. EPA further believes that the parking freeze program 
    would influence current single occupant vehicle commuters. Such trips 
    originate from within Boston's large interstate commuting area (from 
    the States of Rhode Island, Maine, and New Hampshire, as well as from 
    central and western Massachusetts) and commuters now park in South 
    Boston. The freeze will eventually create incentives for commuters to 
    form carpools and utilize existing bus and mass transit options. Such a 
    change in commuting habits would result in reduced regional VMT and 
    would contribute to attainment of the ozone standard in the region.
        6. The South Boston Parking Freeze Regulation was changed from the 
    version DEP first proposed, to give Massport administrative control 
    over the freeze as it applies to Massport property. Since that change, 
    the City of Boston has opposed the South Boston Parking Freeze in the 
    belief that the freeze merely duplicates existing land use controls 
    such as the Restricted Parking District zoning and other regulatory 
    controls. The City of Boston believes the freeze should apply to 
    Massport.
        Response: 6. The existing state regulation now being approved will 
    place a cap on parking spaces under the jurisdiction of both the City 
    of Boston and Massport. The overall number of spaces allowed under the 
    freeze has not changed as a result of giving Massport control over 
    spaces it operates. There has been no relaxation of the parking freeze 
    regulation as it applies to Massport property. EPA cannot require DEP 
    to adopt a specific structure for implementing the freeze, as long as 
    the freeze is structured so that DEP may implement it if the City of 
    Boston or Massport fail to do so, consistent with CAA section 
    110(a)(2)(E)(iii). Furthermore, it is EPA's opinion that the parking 
    freeze regulation will compliment existing land use controls such as 
    the Restricted Parking District Zoning and other regulatory controls by 
    adding federal and state enforcement provisions to controls that have 
    been effective at limiting parking growth in South Boston.
        7. Several commenters believed that the definition of ``motor 
    vehicle'' in the state regulation is ambiguous especially as to trucks, 
    buses, construction equipment and other vehicles.
        Response: 7. The definition for motor vehicle and parking space 
    clearly covers passenger vehicles using parking spaces within the South 
    Boston Parking Freeze area, which is the overwhelming bulk of the 
    parking supply that Massachusetts seeks to regulate. However, the 
    definition of motor vehicles is not clear when one thinks about trucks, 
    busses and commercial vehicles that park on streets or odd corners of 
    lots. Massachusetts agrees with EPA that the application of the South 
    Boston Parking Freeze Regulation to commercial vehicles (trucks, busses 
    and the like) is unclear in the existing regulation. EPA understands 
    that DEP will address this implementation question in the near future 
    through operational guidance. In any case, the rule is clear as to 
    passenger vehicles, and will address the vast majority of vehicles 
    using South Boston for parking.
        8. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) identified two economic 
    initiatives that in their opinion required a delay in the SIP amendment 
    until the impact of the parking freeze could be determined. The first 
    initiative is a City report calling for a major exposition center to be 
    developed in the South Boston Industrial Zone or in the Piers Zone. The 
    second initiative is a June 29, 1994 Boston Empowerment Zone 
    application, which calls for much of the area under the South Boston 
    Parking Freeze to be the location for major public and private 
    investment in economic development and job opportunities for poor 
    residents of the City.
        Response 8: EPA does not envision the endorsement of the existing 
    State regulation to impose any new developmental constraints or to have 
    any derogatory effect on BRA's proposed development plans. In fact, 
    many of the Federal government's recent actions in South Boston to fund 
    public transit projects and mass transit improvements, modify the 
    approaches and connecting roads to the Third Harbor Tunnel (Ted 
    Williams Tunnel), and undertake the construction of a new Federal 
    Courthouse in South Boston have all been consistent with BRA's 
    development plans for South Boston. Furthermore, EPA has no authority 
    to disapprove the proposed SIP amendment because of possible 
    development plans that may be implemented in the future.
        9. Several commenters raised concern that the South Boston Parking 
    Freeze might place South Boston businesses and industries at a 
    competitive disadvantage to suburban locations, in part, because of the 
    perception of yet another regulatory hurdle placed in the way of new 
    investment. At a time when Boston Harbor and the Port of Boston is 
    being revitalized, an additional regulatory initiative targeting this 
    neighborhood threatens to drive out existing business and frighten off 
    the financial community, stifling the rebirth of this industrial, 
    commercial and residential community.
        Response: 9. The state regulation for South Boston Parking Freeze 
    has been in place since April 9, 1993, with no reports of adverse 
    economic impact. Since that time considerable federal, state, city and 
    local funds have supported projects in South Boston including: Boston 
    Harbor clean-up and improvement; the Port of Boston; the new Federal 
    Courthouse; planning and future implementation of the South Boston 
    Piers Transitway Project; rail and road enhancement projects associated 
    with the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel construction in South 
    Boston; and new business start ups in South Boston. Moreover, the CAA 
    SIP process leaves decisions about the economic impact of SIP control 
    measures to the State. As discussed above, EPA has no authority to 
    disapprove a state's SIP proposal for reasons of economic hardship. 
    Union Electric, supra.
        10. Several commenters raised a concern regarding funds and funding 
    source(s) necessary for the City of Boston to implement the Freeze.
        Response: 10. At the request of the City of Boston, the 
    Massachusetts' State Auditor has determined that the South Boston 
    Parking Freeze need not be carried out by the City until funding is 
    provided by the State. This ruling is based on the Local Mandate Law 
    [General Laws Chapter 29, Section 27c, so-called ``Proposition 2\1/
    2\''], which allows for the City of Boston to request a compliance 
    exemption from a State imposed unfunded mandate. Here the City argues 
    and the Massachusetts Auditor agrees that the State's South Boston 
    Parking Regulation imposes an unfunded state mandate on Boston. Such an 
    action could: one, force the State to provide funds that the City may 
    determine necessary to implement the freeze; or two, force the State to 
    implement the freeze itself. However, neither action would change the 
    requirement to implement and enforce the South Boston Parking Freeze as 
    a federally approved SIP control measure. Note that while approving the 
    freeze into the SIP does make it federally enforceable, the freeze is 
    not a federally required control program under the
    
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    Clean Air Act and EPA's SIP approval does not impose any new 
    requirements beyond those already included in the state regulations.
        11. DATA commented that the public notification process by DEP was 
    flawed.
        Response: 11. EPA regrets that DATA did not learn about the 
    Commonwealth's November 30, 1992 public meeting/hearing on the South 
    Boston Parking Freeze. However, DEP followed state regulations and 
    policy regarding public participation and outreach throughout the 
    development of 310 CMR 7.33, and has submitted ample documentation that 
    it met the procedural requirements of CAA section 110(l) and 40 CFR 
    sections 51.102 and 51.104(f). DATA submitted a comment letter dated 
    November 10, 1994 (received November 16) to EPA which EPA is now 
    addressing. EPA notes that DATA has since participated in the 
    implementation of the South Boston Parking Freeze when several of its 
    members testified during a July 8, 1994 public hearing held by DEP on 
    the parking freeze plan and inventory.
        12. DATA commented that the South Boston Parking Freeze is 
    arbitrary and that the regulations will not resolve the regional air 
    quality problem.
        Response: 12. The South Boston Parking Freeze is a transportation 
    control measure chosen by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as one of 
    its strategies to attain clean air. The South Boston area was part of 
    the Boston moderate carbon monoxide (CO) nonattainment area, which was 
    redesignated by EPA to attainment for CO on April 1, 1996. Since CO is 
    a pollutant of local concern the reduction of motor vehicle emissions 
    will assist the state in attaining and maintaining the CO ambient air 
    quality standard. In fact, the Boston CO redesignation effort and the 
    Boston CO maintenance plan both assume the implementation of the 
    current South Boston parking freeze regulation. The South Boston area 
    is also part of the eastern Massachusetts serious ozone (O3) 
    nonattainment area, where a reduction in vehicle miles traveled will 
    reduce mobile source emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 
    oxides of nitrogen (NOX), both precursors for the formation of 
    ozone. Much of the VMT reduction may well be outside of the parking 
    freeze limits, but ozone is a regional pollutant which forms over time 
    and often at significant distances from the original source of the 
    ozone precursors. VMT reductions will support other efforts within the 
    Northeast Ozone Transport Region to reduce ozone concentrations and 
    episodes. Projected emissions reductions calculated by DEP are detailed 
    in the Technical Support Document which is contained in the docket 
    supporting this action.
        13. DATA commented that the parking freeze will impact South 
    Boston's business community negatively, in light of the fact that the 
    Pier and Industrial Zones of South Boston are not presently served by 
    adequate public transportation.
        Response: 13. The South Boston Piers/Fort Point Channel Transit 
    Project will soon be built in South Boston through participation of the 
    Federal Transit Administration, supplementing existing MBTA Bus 
    service. See 310 CMR 7.36(2)(g). Indeed, this freeze works in 
    conjunction with transit and high occupancy vehicle lane measures 
    provided for in 310 CMR sections 7.36 and 7.37 as an integrated plan to 
    encourage commuters to avoid single occupancy car trips.
        14. DATA asserted that the parking freeze is unnecessary because 
    existing zoning regulation will provide effective parking control.
        Response: 14. The South Boston Parking Freeze will work in tandem 
    with existing land use and zoning regulations. There may be future 
    changes to the zoning regulations and individual waivers from zoning 
    regulations, undertaken without carefully accounting for potential 
    impacts on VMT or air quality. The SIP-approved parking freeze will 
    provide additional assurance that efforts to restrict motor vehicle 
    miles traveled and motor vehicle emissions in South Boston will not be 
    relaxed without an analysis of the impacts on air quality.
        15. DATA believes that the parking freeze is the wrong approach for 
    improving air quality. A better way to improve the air quality is by 
    increasing the levels of public transit and accessibility, by improving 
    vehicle design to reduce emissions, and by using alternative fuels.
        Response: 15. The Commonwealth is actively exploring other measures 
    to attain and maintain air quality standards. Their current approach 
    includes implementing the South Boston Parking Freeze, maintaining and 
    enhancing existing mass transit services, including the South Boston 
    Piers Transit project, conducting a statewide vehicle inspection and 
    maintenance program, encouraging introduction of electric vehicles into 
    the motor vehicle fleet, and encouraging the use of alternative fuels 
    including reformulated fuels, methanol, compressed natural gas, and 
    propane.
        16. The BRA concurred in many of objections to the freeze described 
    above, and added the point that Boston has submitted an empowerment 
    zone application for the area covered by the freeze. The BRA maintains 
    that the freeze imposes constraints on development inconsistent with 
    the goals of an empowerment zone. The BRA cited to federal regulations 
    (24 CFR Part 597) establishing the empowerment zone program which BRA 
    asserts require that the federal government will work with communities 
    that complete the nomination process for an empowerment zone ``to 
    overcome programmatic regulations and statutory impediments to 
    encourage more effective economic, physical, environmental and 
    community development activities.''
        Response: 16. EPA does not necessarily agree with BRA's assertion 
    that the freeze is inconsistent with the development of an economically 
    vibrant urban empowerment zone. The freeze is broadly consistent with 
    the goals of fostering dense development, served by mass transit, with 
    responsible measures designed to avoid automobile urban gridlock. More 
    importantly, however, once the Commonwealth has decided that the freeze 
    is its choice for a SIP control measure, the CAA does not give EPA 
    authority to contradict a state's choice even if EPA believed the 
    measure was not the most economically efficient way to control air 
    emissions. Union Electric, supra.
    
    Final Action
    
        EPA is approving the South Boston Parking Freeze SIP Amendment as a 
    revision to the Massachusetts SIP. Today's action makes final the 
    action proposed on October 3, 1994 (59 FR 50211).
        Under Sections 202, 203, and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
    Act of 1995 (``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 
    1995, EPA must undertake various actions in association with proposed 
    or final rules that include a Federal mandate that may result in 
    estimated costs of $100 million or more to the private sector, or to 
    State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate.
        Through submission of this state implementation plan revision, the 
    State and any affected local or tribal governments have elected to 
    adopt the program provided for under Section 110 of the Clean Air Act. 
    These rules may bind State, local and tribal governments to perform 
    certain actions and also require the private sector to perform certain 
    duties. The rules being approved by this action will impose no new 
    requirements because such sources are already subject to these 
    regulations
    
    [[Page 53632]]
    
    under State law. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or 
    tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this action. 
    EPA has also determined that this final action does not include a 
    mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100 million or more to 
    State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate or to the private 
    sector.
        Under 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A) as added by the Small Business 
    Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, EPA submitted 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 
    General Accounting Office prior to publication of the rule in today's 
    Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 
    U.S.C. 804(2).
        Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 600 et seq., EPA 
    must prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis assessing the impact of 
    any proposed or final rule on small entities. 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604. 
    Alternatively, EPA may certify that the rule will not have a 
    significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small 
    entities include small businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, 
    and government entities with jurisdiction over populations of less than 
    50,000.
        SIP approvals under section 110 and subchapter I, Part D of the 
    Clean Air Act do not create any new requirements, but simply approve 
    requirements that the State is already imposing. Therefore, because the 
    federal SIP-approval does not impose any new requirements, I certify 
    that it does not have a significant impact on any small entities 
    affected. Moreover, due to the nature of the federal-state relationship 
    under the Clean Air Act, preparation of a regulatory flexibility 
    analysis would constitute federal inquiry into the economic 
    reasonableness of state action. The Clean Air Act forbids EPA to base 
    its actions concerning SIPs on such grounds. Union Electric Co. v. U.S. 
    E.P.A., supra; 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
        This action has been classified as a Table 3 action for signature 
    by the Regional Administrator under the procedures published in the 
    Federal Register on January 19, 1989 (54 FR 2214-2225), as revised by a 
    July 10, 1995 memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for 
    Air and Radiation. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
    exempted this regulatory action from review under Executive Order 
    12866.
        Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting or 
    allowing or establishing a precedent for any future request for 
    revision to any State implementation plan. Each request for revision to 
    the State implementation plan shall be considered separately in light 
    of specific technical, economic, and environmental factors and in 
    relation to relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.
        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 December 16, 1996. 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 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, Carbon monoxide, 
    Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, 
    Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides.
    
        Note: Incorporation by reference of the State Implementation 
    Plan for the State of Commonwealth of Massachusetts was approved by 
    the Director of the Federal Register on July 1, 1982.
    
        Dated: September 10, 1996.
    John P. DeVillars,
    Regional Administrator, Region I.
    
        Part 52 of chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
    is amended as follows:
    
    PART 52--[AMENDED]
    
        1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.
    
    Subpart W--Massachusetts
    
        2. Section 52.1120 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(111) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.1120  Identification of plan.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (111) Revisions to the State Implementation Plan submitted by the 
    Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on July 30, 1993.
        (i) Incorporation by reference.
        (A) Letter from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental 
    Protection dated July 30, 1993 submitting a revision to the 
    Massachusetts State Implementation Plan.
        (B) Massachusetts Air Pollution Control Regulation 310 CMR 7.33, 
    entitled ``City of Boston/South Boston Parking Freeze,'' and the 
    following amendments to 310 CMR 7.00, entitled ``Definitions,'' which 
    consist of adding or amending four definitions; motor vehicle parking 
    space; off-peak parking spaces; remote parking spaces; and restricted 
    use parking, effective in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 9, 
    1993.
        For the State of Massachusetts:
        3. In Sec. 52.1167 Table 52.1167 is amended by adding new entries 
    to existing state citations for 310 CMR 7.00 Definitions; and by adding 
    new state citations for 310 CMR 7.33 City of Boston/South Boston 
    Parking Freeze to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.1167  EPA-approved Massachusetts State regulations.
    
    * * * * *
    
                                                       Table 52.1167.--EPA-Approved Rules and Regulations.                                                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Date                                                                                       
              State citation               Title/subject     submitted by  Date approved by EPA    Federal Register     52.1120(c)     Comments/unapproved  
                                                                 State                                 citation                             sections        
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    310 CMR 7.00.....................  Definitions.........      7/30/93   October 15, 1996....  [Insert FR citation           111  Adding or amending the  
                                                                                                  from published                     following definitions: 
                                                                                                  date].                             motor vehicle parking  
                                                                                                                                     space; off-peak parking
                                                                                                                                     spaces; remote parking 
                                                                                                                                     spaces; and restricted 
                                                                                                                                     use parking.           
                                                                                                                                                            
    
    [[Page 53633]]
    
                                                                                                                                                            
                       *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  
    310 CMR 7.33.....................  City of Boston/South      7/30/93   October 15, 1996....  [Insert FR citation           111  Applies to the parking  
                                        Boston Parking                                            from published                     of motor vehicles      
                                        Freeze.                                                   date].                             within the area of     
                                                                                                                                     South Boston, including
                                                                                                                                     Massport property in   
                                                                                                                                     South Boston.          
                                                                                                                                                            
                       *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    [FR Doc. 96-26201 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
11/14/1996
Published:
10/15/1996
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-26201
Dates:
This rule is effective on November 14, 1996.
Pages:
53628-53633 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
MA-29-01-6537, A-1-FRL-5613-3
PDF File:
96-26201.pdf
CFR: (2)
40 CFR 52.1120
40 CFR 52.1167