03-15007. Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants: Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Bernalillo County, NM; Negative Declarations

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Direct final rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is approving negative declarations submitted by the States of Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), New Mexico, which certify that there are no existing small municipal waste combustion units in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is also approving negative declarations submitted by the State of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County) which certify that there are no existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the CAA. In addition, EPA is approving a negative declaration submitted by the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County) which certifies that there are no existing large municipal waste combustion units subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the CAA. Finally, EPA is approving a negative declaration submitted by the State of New Mexico which certifies that there are no existing commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the CAA. This is a direct final action without prior notice and comment because this action is deemed noncontroversial.

DATES:

This direct final rule is effective on August 12, 2003 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by July 14, 2003. If EPA receives such comment, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that this rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments on this action should be addressed to Mr. Thomas H. Diggs, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), at the EPA Region 6 Office listed below. Copies of documents relevant to this action are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the following location. Anyone wanting to examine these Start Printed Page 35300documents should make an appointment with the EPA Region 6 Office at least two working days in advance.

Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2833.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Kenneth W. Boyce, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, U.S. EPA, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202, (214) 665-7259.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Throughout this document wherever “we”, “us”, or “our” are used we mean the EPA.

I. What Is the Background for This Action?

Section 129 of the CAA requires us to develop new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines (EG) for each category of solid waste incineration units which includes these categories addressed in today's notice: (1) Existing large municipal waste combustion units; (2) existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerator units, (3) existing small municipal waste combustion units, and (4) existing commercial and industrial solid waste incinerator units. Such standards shall include emissions limitations and other requirements applicable to new units and guidelines required by section 111(d) of the CAA.

Section 111(d) of the CAA requires states to submit plans to control certain pollutants (designated pollutants) at existing facilities (designated facilities) whenever standards of performance have been established under section 111(b) for new sources of the same type, and EPA has established emission guidelines for such existing sources. A designated pollutant is “any air pollutant, emissions of which are subject to a standard of performance for new stationary sources but for which no air quality criteria has been issued, and which is not included on a list published under section 108(a) or section 112(b)(1)(A) of the CAA.” 40 CFR 60.21(a).

Section 129(b) of the CAA also requires us to develop an EG for each category of existing solid waste incineration units. Under section 129 of the CAA, the EG is not federally enforceable. Section 129(b)(2) requires states to submit State Plans to EPA for approval. State Plans must be at least as protective as the EG, and they become Federally enforceable upon EPA approval.

Emission guidelines and compliance times for large municipal waste combustion units constructed on or before September 20, 1994, were promulgated on December 19, 1995 (60 FR 65387) at 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cb. The Federal plan was promulgated on November 12, 1998 (63 FR 63191) at 40 CFR Part 62, subpart FFF.

Emission guidelines and compliance times for hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators constructed on or before June 20, 1996, were promulgated on September 17, 1997 (62 FR 48348) at 40 CFR part 60, subpart Ce. The Federal plan was promulgated on August 15, 2000 (65 FR 49868) at 40 CFR Part 62, subpart HHH.

Emission guidelines and compliance standards for small municipal waste combustion units constructed on or before August 30, 1999, were promulgated on December 6, 2000 (65 FR 76350) at 40 CFR part 60, subpart BBBB. The Federal plan was promulgated on January 31, 2003 (68 FR 5144) at 40 CFR part 62, subpart JJJ.

The emission guidelines and compliance times for existing commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units that commenced construction on or before November 30, 1999, were promulgated December 1, 2000 (65 FR 75338) at 40 CFR part 60, subpart DDDD. The Federal plan has not been promulgated as of the date of this notice. EPA proposed approval of the Federal plan on November 25, 2002 (67 FR 70640).

The status of our approvals of State plans for designated facilities (often referred to as “111(d) plans” or “111(d)/129 plans”) is given in separate subparts in 40 CFR part 62, “Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants.” The Federal plan requirements for existing solid waste incineration units are also codified in separate subparts at the end of part 62.

Procedures and requirements for development and submission of state plans for controlling designated pollutants are given in 40 CFR part 60, “Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources,” subpart B, “Adoption and Submittal of State Plans for Designated Facilities” and in 40 CFR part 62, subpart A, “General Provisions.” If a State does not have any existing sources of a designated pollutant located within its boundaries, 40 CFR 62.06 provides that the State may submit a letter of certification to that effect, or negative declaration, in lieu of a plan. The negative declaration exempts the state from the requirements of 40 CFR Part 60, subpart B, for that designated facility. In the event that a designated facility is located in a State after a negative declaration has been approved by EPA, 40 CFR 62.13 requires that the Federal plan for the designated facility, as required by section 129 of the CAA and 40 CFR 62.02(g), will automatically apply to the facility.

This Federal Register action approves negative declarations for the following: existing large municipal waste combustion units, existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators, existing small municipal waste combustion units, and existing commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units.

II. State Submittals

A. Existing Large Municipal Waste Combustion Units Negative Declaration From the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), New Mexico

The City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County) submitted a letter dated September 10, 2002 certifying there are no existing municipal waste combustion units in Bernalillo County on lands under the jurisdiction of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board subject to 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cb. This negative declaration meets the requirements of 40 CFR 62.06.

B. Hospital/Medical/Infectious Wastes Incinerators Negative Declarations From the State of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), New Mexico

The New Mexico Environment Department and the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County) have submitted letters certifying that there are no existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators subject to 40 CFR part 62, subpart Ce, under their jurisdictions in the State of New Mexico, and Bernalillo County, New Mexico. These negative declarations meet the requirements of 40 CFR 62.06. The dates that these letters were submitted are identified in the table below.

State agency that submitted the negative declaration	Date of letter to EPA Region 6 Office
New Mexico Environment Department	September 14, 1998.
Start Printed Page 35301
City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department	January 25, 2002.

C. Small Municipal Waste Combustion Units Negative Declarations From the States of Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), New Mexico

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the New Mexico Environment Department, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, and the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County) have submitted letters certifying that there are no existing small municipal waste combustion units under their jurisdictions in their respective States or in Bernalillo County, New Mexico subject to 40 CFR part 60, subpart BBBB. These negative declarations meet the requirements of 40 CFR 62.06. The dates that these letters were submitted are identified in the table below.

State agency that submitted the negative declaration	Date of letter to EPA Region 6 Office
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality	December 20, 2002.
New Mexico Environment Department	November 13, 2001.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality	October 2, 2001.
City of Albuquerque, Environmental Health Department	September 10, 2002.

D. Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators Negative Declaration From the State of New Mexico

The New Mexico Environment Department submitted a letter dated November 13, 2001, certifying that there are no existing commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators subject to 40 CFR part 62, subpart DDDD, under its jurisdiction in the State of New Mexico (excluding tribal lands and Bernalillo County). This negative declaration meet the requirements of 40 CFR 62.06.

III. Final Action

We are approving a negative declaration submitted by the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), New Mexico certifying that there are no existing municipal waste combustion units in Bernalillo County on lands under the jurisdiction of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board subject to 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cb.

We are approving negative declarations submitted by the New Mexico Environment Department and the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department certifying that there are no existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators subject to 40 CFR part 60, subpart Ce.

We are also approving negative declarations submitted by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the New Mexico Environment Department, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, and the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department certifying that there are no existing small municipal waste combustion units subject to 40 CFR part 60, subpart BBBB, within the jurisdictions of the respective State and local agencies.

Finally, we are also approving a negative declaration submitted by the New Mexico Environment Department that there are no existing applicable commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units subject to 40 CFR part 60, subpart DDDD, under its jurisdiction in the State of New Mexico (excluding tribal lands and Bernalillo County).

If a designated facility is later found within any of the noted jurisdictions after publication of this Federal Register action, then the overlooked facility will become subject to the requirements of the Federal plan for that designated facility, including the compliance schedule. The Federal plan will no longer apply if we subsequently receive and approve the 111(d)/129 plan from the jurisdiction with the overlooked facility.

Since the States of Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma have not submitted a demonstration of authority over “Indian Country,” (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151) we are limiting our approval to those areas that do not constitute Indian Country. Under this definition, EPA treats as reservations, trust lands validly set aside for the use of a Tribe even if the trust lands have not been formally designated as a reservation. Any existing designated facility that may exist on “Indian Country” is subject to the Federal plan for the designated facility. See 40 CFR 62.13.

The EPA is publishing this action without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial action and anticipates no adverse comments. However, in the “Proposed Rules” section of this Federal Register publication, EPA is publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve these rules should relevant adverse comments be filed. This action will be effective August 12, 2003 unless EPA receives adverse written comments by July 14, 2003.

If EPA receives such comments, then it will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that this direct final rule will not take effect. All public comments received will then be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period. Parties interested in commenting should do so at this time. If no such comments are received, the public is advised that this rule will be effective on August 12, 2003 and no further action will be taken on the proposed rule.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

Under Executive Order (EO) 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. For this reason, this action is also not subject to EO 13211, “Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use” (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action merely approves state and local declarations that rules implementing certain federal standards are unnecessary. 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 state and local declarations that rules implementing certain federal standards are Start Printed Page 35302unnecessary, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).

This rule also does not have tribal implications because it will 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 EO 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism implications because it does not 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 EO 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action merely approves state and local declarations that rules implementing certain federal standards are unnecessary, 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 EO 13045 “Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks” (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.

In reviewing State plan 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 State plan submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a State plan submission, to use VCS in place of a State plan 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. 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.).

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. 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 CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by August 12, 2003. 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 42 U.S.C. 7607(b)(2)).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 62

Environmental protection
Administrative practice and procedure
Air pollution control
Intergovernmental relations
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Dated: May 22, 2003.

Lawrence E. Starfield,

Deputy Regional Administrator, Region 6.

Part 62, chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 62—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 62 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart T—Louisiana

2. Subpart T is amended by adding a new undesignated center heading and a new § 62.4660 to read as follows: