95-2351. Control Strategy: Ozone (OINF3); Kentucky  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 1995)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 5881-5883]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-2351]
    
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [KY-80-6666; FRL-5147-6]
    
    
    Control Strategy: Ozone (O3); Kentucky
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to approve a request for an exemption 
    from the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) reasonably available control 
    technology (RACT) requirement of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 
    (CAA) for the Kentucky portion of the Huntington-Ashland, moderate 
    ozone O3 nonattainment area. The exemption request, submitted by 
    the Commonwealth of Kentucky through [[Page 5882]] the Department of 
    Environmental Protection, is based upon the most recent three years of 
    ambient air monitoring data, which demonstrate that additional 
    reductions of NOx would not contribute to the attainment of the 
    National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for O3 in the area. 
    The CAA requires states with designated nonattainment areas of the 
    NAAQS for O3, and classified as moderate nonattainment and above, 
    to adopt RACT rules for major stationary sources of NOx. The CAA 
    provides further that the NOx requirements do not apply to these 
    areas outside an O3 transport region if EPA determines that 
    additional reductions of NOx would not contribute to attainment of 
    the NAAQS for O3 in the area.
    DATES: To be consideered comments must be received by March 2, 1995.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Kimberly Bingham, 
    Stationary Source Planning Unit, Regulatory Planning and Development 
    Section, Air Programs Branch; Air, Pesticides, and Toxics Management 
    Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 345 Courtland 
    Street NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30365.
        A copy of the exemption request is available for inspection at the 
    following location (it is recommended that you contact Kimberly Bingham 
    at (404) 347-3555 extension 4195 before visiting the Region 4 office):
    
        United States Environmental Protection Agency; Air, Pesticides, and 
    Toxics Management Division, Air Programs Branch, Regulatory Planning 
    and Development Section, Stationary Source Planning Unit, 345 Courtland 
    Street NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30365.
        Department for Environmental Protection Natural Resources and 
    Environmental Protection Cabinet, 803 Schenkel Lane, Frankfort, 
    Kentucky 40601.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Bingham, Stationary Sources 
    Planning Unit, Regulatory Planning and Development Section; Air 
    Programs Branch, Air Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. 
    Environmental Protection Agency, 345 Courtland Street NE., Atlanta, 
    Georgia 30365.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        The air quality planning requirements for the reduction of NOx 
    emissions are set out in section 182(f) of the CAA. Section 182(f) of 
    the CAA requires states with areas designated nonattainment for O3 
    and classified as moderate and above to impose the same control 
    requirements for major stationary sources of NOx as apply to major 
    stationary sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Section 182(f) 
    provides further that these NOx requirements do not apply to areas 
    outside an O3 transport region if EPA determines that additional 
    reductions of NOx would not contribute to attainment in such 
    areas. In an area that did not implement the section 182(f) NOx 
    requirements, but did attain the O3 standard as demonstrated by 
    ambient air monitoring data (consistent with 40 CFR part 58 and 
    recorded in the EPA's-Aerometric Information Retrieval system (AIRS)), 
    it is clear that the additional NOx reductions required by section 
    182(f) would not contribute to attainment of the NAAQS.
        The criteria established for the evaluation of an exemption request 
    from the section 182(f) requirements are set forth in an EPA memorandum 
    from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and 
    Standards, dated May 27, 1994, entitled ``Section 182(f) Nitrogen 
    Oxides (NOx) Exemptions--Revised Process and Criteria,'' and an 
    EPA guidance document entitled ``Guidelines for Determining the 
    Applicability of Nitrogen Oxides Requirements Under Section 182(f),'' 
    dated December 1993, from EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and 
    Standards, Air Quality Management Division.
        On November 12, 1993, the Commonwealth of Kentucky submitted to EPA 
    Region 4 a request to redesignate the Kentucky portion of the 
    Huntington-Ashland moderate O3 nonattainment area to attainment. 
    The redesignation request is currently under review and will be 
    addressed in a separate rulemaking. On August 16, 1994, the 
    Commonwealth requested that the Kentucky portion of the Huntington-
    Ashland area be exempt from the NOx RACT requirement in section 
    182(f) of the CAA. The section 182(f) exemption also relieves the area 
    of all NOx requirements of the CAA such as New Source Review, 
    Conformity, and Inspection/ Maintenance. The exemption request is based 
    upon ambient air monitoring data from 1991, 1992, and 1993, which 
    demonstrate that the NAAQS for O3 has been attained in the area 
    without additional reductions of NOx (a violation of the ozone 
    NAAQS occurs when the average exceedance for any O3 monitoring 
    site in a three year period is greater than 1.0).
        Only one O3 exceedance was recorded in the Huntington-Ashland 
    area for the period from 1991 to 1993: Monitor 21-019-0015-0.129 ppm 
    (1993). Thus, there has been no violation of the NAAQS in the area 
    during this period and the area has maintained the standard through 
    1994.
        EPA has reviewed the ambient air monitoring data for O3 
    (consistent with the requirements contained in 40 CFR part 58 and 
    recorded in AIRS) submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in support 
    of the exemption request and has determined that a violation of the 
    O3 NAAQS has not occurred in the Huntington-Ashland, Kentucky 
    portion area for the relevant three year period. Because the Kentucky 
    portion of the Huntington-Ashland area is meeting the O3 NAAQS, 
    this exemption request for the area meets the applicable requirements 
    contained in the EPA policy and guidance documents referenced above.
        Continuation of the section 182(f) exemption granted herein is 
    contingent upon continued monitoring and continued maintenance of the 
    O3 NAAQS for the entire Huntington-Ashland area. If a violation of 
    the O3 NAAQS is monitored in the Kentucky portion of the 
    Huntington-Ashland area, EPA will provide notice in the Federal 
    Register. A determination that the NOx exemption no longer applies 
    would mean that the NOx RACT provision (see 58 FR 63214 and 58 FR 
    62188) would immediately be applicable to the affected area. Although 
    the NOx RACT requirements would be applicable, some reasonable 
    period of notice is necessary to provide major stationary sources 
    subject to the RACT requirements time to purchase, install, and operate 
    any required controls. Accordingly, the Commonwealth may provide 
    sources a reasonable time period to meet the RACT emission limits after 
    the EPA determination that NOx RACT requirements are necessary. 
    EPA expects the time period to be as expeditious as practicable, but in 
    no case longer than 24 months.
    
    Proposed Action
    
        EPA is proposing approval of Kentucky's request to exempt the 
    Kentucky portion of the Huntington-Ashland area moderate O3 
    nonattainment area from the section 182(f) NOx RACT requirement. 
    This proposed approval is based upon the evidence provided by Kentucky 
    and the Commonwealth's compliance with the requirements outlined in the 
    applicable EPA guidance. If a violation of the O3 NAAQS occurs in 
    the Kentucky portion of the Huntington-Ashland area, the exemption from 
    the NOx RACT requirement of section 182(f) of the CAA in the 
    applicable area shall no longer apply.
        This action is not a SIP revision and is not subject to the 
    requirements of section 110 of the CAA. The authority to approve or 
    disapprove exemptions [[Page 5883]] from NOx requirements under 
    section 182 of the CAA was delegated to the Regional Administrator from 
    the Administrator in a memo dated July 6, 1994, from Jonathan Cannon, 
    Assistant Administrator, to the Administrator, titled, ``Proposed 
    Delegation of Authority: 'Exemptions from Nitrogen Oxide Requirements 
    Under Clean Air Act Section 182(f) and Related Provisions of the 
    Transportation and General Conformity Rules'--Decision Memorandum.''
        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. This rule approves an exemption from a CAA requirement. 
    Therefore, I certify that it does not have a significant impact on any 
    small entities affected.
    
    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
    
        Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Incorporation 
    by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, 
    Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
    Sulfur oxides.
    
        Dated: January 12, 1995.
    Joe R. Franzmathes,
    Acting Regional Administrator.
    [FR Doc. 95-2351 Filed 1-30-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
    
    

Document Information

Published:
01/31/1995
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
95-2351
Dates:
To be consideered comments must be received by March 2, 1995.
Pages:
5881-5883 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
KY-80-6666, FRL-5147-6
PDF File:
95-2351.pdf
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 52