96-27002. Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan; Louisiana; 15 Percent Rate-of-Progress Plan  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 22, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 54737-54743]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-27002]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [LA-23-1-6871a; FRL-5636-6]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan; 
    Louisiana; 15 Percent Rate-of-Progress Plan
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Direct final rule.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: In this action, EPA is approving a revision to the Louisiana 
    State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the purpose of satisfying the 15 
    percent rate-of-progress requirements of the Clean Air Act (Act) which 
    will aid in ensuring the attainment of the national ambient air quality 
    standard (NAAQS) for ozone.
    
    DATES: This ``direct final'' rule is effective December 23, 1996 unless 
    adverse comments are received by November 21, 1996. If the effective 
    date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the Federal 
    Register (FR).
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Thomas H. Diggs, 
    Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), at the EPA Regional Office listed 
    below. Copies of the documents relevant to this final action are 
    available for public inspection during normal business hours at the 
    following locations. Interested persons wanting to examine these 
    documents should make an appointment with the appropriate office at 
    least 24 hours before the visiting day.
        Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Multimedia Planning and 
    Permitting Division, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-
    2733, telephone (214) 665-7214.
        Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air 
    Quality and Radiation Protection, H. B. Garlock Building, 7290 
    Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810.
        Documents which are incorporated by reference are available for 
    public inspection at the Air and Radiation Docket and Information 
    Center, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, 
    DC 20460.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jeanne McDaniels, Air Planning 
    Section (6PD-L), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross 
    Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733, telephone (214) 665-7254.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Background
    
        On November 15, 1990, Congress enacted amendments to the 1977 Clean 
    Air Act; Public Law 101-549, 104 Stat. 2399, codified at 42 U.S.C. 
    7401-7617q. Section 182(b)(1) of the Act requires all ozone 
    nonattainment areas classified as moderate and above to submit a SIP 
    revision by November 15, 1993, which describes, in part, how these 
    areas will achieve an actual reduction in emissions of volatile organic 
    compounds (VOC) of at least 15 percent during the first six years after 
    enactment of the Act (November 15, 1996). Emissions and emissions 
    reductions shall be calculated on a typical weekday basis for the 
    ``peak'' 3-month ozone period (generally June through August). In 
    Louisiana, the Baton Rouge ozone nonattainment area is classified as 
    ``serious'' and is subject to the section 182(b)(1) 15 percent rate-of-
    progress requirements. The Baton Rouge ozone nonattainment area is 
    comprised of the following parishes: East Baton Rouge, West Baton 
    Rouge, Iberville, Ascension, Livingston, and Pointe Coupee.
        The 15 percent VOC emissions reduction required by November 15, 
    1996, is defined within this document as ``rate-of-progress'' (ROP). 
    The SIP revision that illustrates the plan for the achievement of the 
    emissions reductions is defined in this document as the ``15 Percent 
    ROP Plan.''
    
    II. Analysis of the Submittal
    
        On December 15, 1995, the Governor of Louisiana submitted to EPA a 
    revision to the SIP to meet the 15 percent ROP requirements. This 
    submittal superseded previous 15 Percent ROP Plans that had been 
    submitted to EPA on November 4, 1993; November 10, 1994; and May 19, 
    1995. (A detailed chronology and description of these earlier 
    submittals is provided in the Technical Support Document (TSD) to this 
    action, which is available from EPA's Region 6 Office listed above.) 
    The EPA deemed the December 15, 1995,
    
    [[Page 54738]]
    
    submittal administratively complete on January 25, 1996.
        The EPA has reviewed the State's submittal for consistency with the 
    requirements of EPA regulations. A summary of EPA's analysis is 
    provided below. More detailed support for approval of the State's 15 
    Percent ROP Plan is contained in the TSD.
    
    A. Accurate and Current 1990 Base Year Emissions Inventory
    
        Sections 172(c)(3) and 182(b)(1) of the Act require that 
    nonattainment plan provisions include a comprehensive, accurate, 
    current inventory of actual emissions from all sources of relevant 
    pollutants in the nonattainment area. Because the approval of such 
    inventories is necessary for an area's Rate-of-Progress Plans and the 
    Attainment Demonstration, the emissions inventory must be approved 
    prior to or with the 15 Percent ROP Plan submission.
        The EPA approved Louisiana's 1990 base year inventory on March 15, 
    1995 (60 FR 13911). In the 15 Percent ROP Plan submittal, the State has 
    made minor revisions to the approved 1990 base year VOC inventory for 
    Baton Rouge. The point source inventory changes are the result of 
    receiving updated 1990 actual emissions information from several 
    facilities, conducting additional rule effectiveness studies, and 
    deleting non-VOC emissions that were erroneously included in the 
    approved base year inventory. The on-road and non-road mobile sources, 
    area source, and biogenic source inventories are unchanged from the 
    approved inventory. The revised 1990 base year VOC emissions inventory 
    is as follows:
    
                Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1990 Base Year Inventory            
                    [Ozone Seasonal VOC Emissions (Tons/Day)]               
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Point                    On-road      Non-road                       
       source    Area source     mobile       mobile     Biogenic     Total 
     emissions    emissions    emissions    emissions    emissions          
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    115.40.....      26.30        55.50        23.20       120.91     341.31
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        In this document, EPA is approving the above revisions to the 1990 
    base year VOC emissions inventory for the Baton Rouge ozone 
    nonattainment area. (It should be noted that, in the 15 Percent ROP 
    Plan, these revised 1990 base year VOC inventory numbers have been 
    rounded to the nearest 10th of a decimal place and the non-road mobile 
    source and area source emissions have been combined.)
    
    B. Calculation of the Adjusted Base Year Inventory
    
        The Act specifies the emissions baseline from which the 15 percent 
    reduction is calculated. This baseline value is termed the 1990 
    adjusted base year inventory. Section 182(b)(1)(D) excludes from the 
    baseline the emissions that would be eliminated by Federal Motor 
    Vehicle Control Program (FMVCP) regulations promulgated by January 1, 
    1990, and Reid vapor pressure (RVP) regulations (55 FR 23666, June 11, 
    1990), which require maximum RVP limits in nonattainment areas during 
    the peak ozone season.
        The adjusted base year inventory is determined by starting with the 
    emissions inventory, and then removing all biogenic emissions as well 
    as emissions from outside of the designated nonattainment boundary. The 
    resulting inventory is termed the rate-of-progress base year inventory. 
    The rate-of-progress base year inventory is then adjusted by removing 
    the expected FMVCP and RVP reductions in order to derive the adjusted 
    base year inventory.
        To estimate the expected reductions from FMVCP standards and the 
    RVP restrictions, the State used EPA's MOBILE5a emission factor model. 
    The RVP was reduced from 8.3 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 7.8 PSI to 
    estimate the reductions from RVP restrictions. To determine the effect 
    of FMVCP standards, the State calculated emissions first using 1990 
    vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and 1990 MOBILE5a emission factors, and 
    then estimated the emissions using the 1990 VMT and the 1996 MOBILE5a 
    emission factors. The plan includes adequate documentation on how the 
    MOBILE5a model was run to calculate the expected emission reductions 
    from FMVCP and RVP. As specified by section 182(b)(1)(B) of the Act, 
    preenactment banked emission credits were not included in Louisiana's 
    emissions inventory.
        Provided below is a tabular summary of the emission inventories 
    calculated above.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Tons 
                          Emissions inventory                        per day
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    A. 1990 Base Year Emissions Inventory..........................    341.3
    B. 1990 Rate-of-Progress Inventory.............................    220.4
    C. Emission Reductions from the Pre-1990 FMVCP and Phase II RVP         
     Expected by 1996..............................................     22.2
    D. 1990 Adjusted Base Year Inventory (B-C).....................    198.2
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    C. Required Reductions
    
        The 1990 adjusted base year inventory is multiplied by 0.15 to 
    calculate the required 15 percent ROP emission reductions. Louisiana's 
    plan must provide for at least a 29.7 ton per day (TPD) reduction, net 
    of growth, in VOC emissions. Under section 182(b)(1)(D) of the Act, the 
    following reductions are not creditable towards the ROP reductions: (1) 
    FMVCP regulations promulgated by January 1, 1990; (2) RVP regulations; 
    (3) reasonably available control technology (RACT) corrections; and (4) 
    inspection and maintenance (I/M) corrections. (The TSD provides a 
    detailed explanation of the noncreditable reductions.)
        Louisiana has calculated the noncreditable reductions to be 23.5 
    TPD. Thus, the 1996 total expected reductions in the plan are the sum 
    of the 15 percent ROP reduction requirement (29.7 TPD) and the expected 
    reductions from the four noncreditable programs (23.5 TPD), or 53.2 
    TPD.
        Louisiana has followed EPA guidance in calculating the 1996 total 
    expected reductions for the nonattainment area, documenting at each 
    step the assumptions made and the origin of the numbers used in the 
    calculations.
        The target level of emissions for 1996, therefore, is the 1990 
    rate-of-progress base year inventory less the 1996 total expected 
    reductions, or 167.2 TPD.
    
    D. Projected Emissions Inventory
    
        A projection of 1996 anthropogenic emissions is required for the 15 
    percent rate-of-progress calculation. The calculation is made by 
    multiplying the 1990 rate-of-progress base year inventory by factors 
    which estimate growth from 1990 to 1996. (A specific growth factor for 
    each source type in the inventory is required since sources typically 
    grow at different rates.) The difference between the 1990 rate-of-
    progress base year inventory figure and the 1996 emissions projection 
    is the emissions growth estimate.
        The projected growth in point source emissions is a negative 1.8 
    TPD. Area source emissions growth is projected to
    
    [[Page 54739]]
    
    be .73 TPD. The on-road mobile sources emissions growth estimate is 3.8 
    TPD. Non-road mobile emissions growth is estimated at 1.07 TPD. Total 
    growth for the four source categories is 3.8 TPD.
        In the 15 Percent ROP Plan submittal, Louisiana documented the 
    growth factors that were used to project the 1996 emissions. The growth 
    factors used are consistent with EPA's guidance for projecting 
    emissions.
    
    E. Total Required Reductions
    
        The total required reductions for the area are the difference 
    between the 1996 projected emissions (224.0 TPD) and the target level 
    of emissions for 1996 (167.2 TPD), or 57.0. The State's 15 Percent ROP 
    Plan must provide for a minimum of 34.8 TPD in reductions. The 34.8 TPD 
    consists of the 15 percent ROP reduction requirement (29.7 TPD), the I/
    M correction (1.3 TPD), and growth offset (3.8 TPD). (The State 
    determined that no significant reductions resulted from the RACT fix-
    up.) The FMVCP and RVP reductions (22.2 TPD) account for the remainder 
    of the total required reductions.
    
    F. Control Measures
    
        1. Stage II Vapor Recovery: This measure requires the installation 
    and operation of vapor recovery equipment on gasoline pumps to reduce 
    the emissions during refueling. The State's stage II vapor recovery 
    regulation is found in Title 33, Part III, Chapter 21, section 2132 of 
    the Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC:33:III.2132). The EPA approved 
    this regulation in the Federal Register on March 25, 1994 (59 FR 
    14112). The EPA agrees with the projected reductions from this control 
    measure in the Baton Rouge nonattainment area and is approving the 
    reductions towards the 15 percent ROP requirement as being permanent 
    and enforceable.
        2. Vents to Flare: Louisiana's waste gas disposal regulation (LAC 
    33:III.2115) requires that emissions from vents be controlled. The 15 
    Percent ROP Plan claims credit for reductions that have occurred at 
    four companies (Dow Chemical, Exxon Plastics, Exxon Chemical, and Sid 
    Richardson) through compliance with the State rule. Regulation 2115 has 
    already been approved into the SIP, most recently on July 25, 1996 (61 
    FR 38590), and is, therefore, Federally enforceable. The EPA is 
    crediting the reductions from the rule towards the 15 percent ROP 
    requirement as being permanent and enforceable.
        3. Marine Vapor Recovery: Louisiana's marine vapor recovery 
    regulation, LAC 33:III.2108, was adopted to control emissions from the 
    loading of VOC in barges and tankers. The regulation controls emissions 
    from loading facilities with greater than 100 TPD of emissions and is 
    based on the existing rules for land-based VOC loading. The rule 
    contains the appropriate test methods, monitoring and recordkeeping 
    requirements to make the rule enforceable. The EPA is crediting the 
    reductions from the rule towards the 15 percent ROP requirement as 
    being permanent and enforceable, and approving the regulation into the 
    SIP.
        4. Tank Fitting Controls: Louisiana added requirements to its VOC 
    storage regulation (LAC 33:III.2103) to control emissions from 
    guidepole wells and stilling well systems in external floating roof 
    storage tanks. The State is taking credit in the 15 Percent ROP Plan 
    for reductions resulting from compliance with the revised regulation. 
    The State has identified five facilities (Exxon Refinery, Exxon 
    Chemical, Placid Refinery, Dow Chemical, and Cosmar) with a total of 
    125 affected tanks that will have controls implemented before November 
    1996.
        The EPA is approving the revisions to regulation 2103 into the SIP 
    to make them Federally enforceable. The EPA is also approving the 
    reductions from the rule towards the 15 percent ROP requirement as 
    being permanent and enforceable.
        5. Fugitive Emissions Controls: This control measure tightens leak 
    detection and repair requirements for petroleum refineries, natural gas 
    processing plants, the synthetic organic chemical manufacturing 
    industry, the methyl tertiary butyl ether manufacturing industry, and 
    the polymer manufacturing industry.
        The State's regulation, Fugitive Emission Control for Ozone 
    Nonattainment Areas, LAC 33:III.2122, lowers leak screening levels for 
    valves, pumps and compressors. In addition, the rule adds monitoring 
    requirements for agitators and requires weekly inspections of 
    connectors for leaks.
        The EPA agrees with the projected reductions from this control 
    measure in the Baton Rouge nonattainment area and is approving the 
    reductions towards the 15 percent ROP requirement as being permanent 
    and enforceable. In addition, EPA is approving regulation 2122 into the 
    SIP.
        6. Federal Regulations: 40 CFR Part 61 (National Emission Standards 
    for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)), subpart FF requires the control 
    of benzene emissions from wastewater streams. In the process of 
    controlling the benzene emissions, other VOC emissions are also 
    controlled. In the 15 Percent ROP Plan, Louisiana has identified three 
    facilities (Exxon Refinery, Exxon Chemical, and Union Texas) that have 
    installed controls in response to these regulations resulting in VOC 
    emissions reductions.
        In addition, Louisiana is taking credit in the 15 Percent ROP Plan 
    for volatile organic liquid (VOL) storage tank upgrades. Exxon Refinery 
    removed several existing tanks from service and replaced them with new 
    tanks. The new tanks were required to meet New Source Performance 
    Standards (NSPS), subpart Kb requirements for VOL storage vessels. 
    These upgrades to the emissions controls resulted in permanent 
    emissions reductions. Similarly, Dupont modified some of its tankage, 
    thus triggering the NSPS control requirements.
        The EPA is approving these reductions resulting from compliance 
    with the Federal benzene waste operations NESHAP and the VOL storage 
    vessels NSPS towards the 15 percent ROP requirements as being permanent 
    and enforceable.
        7. Compliance Orders: Louisiana has adopted regulations governing 
    major sources of toxic air pollutants. Many of the pollutants required 
    to be reduced by the State's air toxics regulations are VOC. Per the 
    regulations, sources are expected to have emissions controls in place 
    by the end of 1996. The State has not submitted its toxics regulations 
    to EPA for approval into the State Implementation Plan.
        In order for the emissions reductions resulting from compliance 
    with the State's toxics rules to be approvable, EPA required the State 
    to submit, as part of the 15 Percent ROP Plan, an enforceable mechanism 
    to ensure that the VOC reductions would be achieved by November 15, 
    1996.
        Accordingly, the State issued administrative orders to five 
    facilities (CosMar Chemical, Vulcan Chemical, Shell Chemical, Uniroyal 
    Chemical, and BASF Corporation). The administrative orders were 
    submitted as part of the 15 Percent ROP Plan submittal for approval 
    into the SIP. The orders include appropriate test methods, monitoring 
    and recordkeeping requirements to make them enforceable. The EPA is 
    approving the orders into the State Implementation plan, and approving 
    the reductions towards the 15 percent ROP requirement.
        8. Permits: Emission reductions were obtained from two facilities 
    (Allied Signal and Georgia Pacific) from revisions to their State 
    permits. The permits were issued pursuant to the State's SIP-approved 
    permitting
    
    [[Page 54740]]
    
    program and are, therefore, Federally enforceable. The EPA reviewed the 
    permits to ensure they contained appropriate test methods, monitoring, 
    and recordkeeping requirements to render them enforceable. The EPA is, 
    therefore, approving the reductions from the permits towards the 15 
    percent ROP requirement.
        9. Other Reductions: Louisiana's 15 Percent ROP Plan includes 
    reductions from implementation of tank vent controls at two facilities. 
    Exxon Chemical began venting emissions from 10 storage tanks to a vent 
    recovery system. These emissions are enforceable through LAC 
    33:III.2103. Ciba-Geigy also installed controls on tank vents. These 
    emission reductions are enforceable under LAC 33:III.2115.
        The EPA is approving these reductions resulting from compliance 
    with the State regulations towards the 15 percent ROP requirement.
    
    G. RACT Determination
    
        The EPA has defined RACT as the lowest level of emissions that can 
    reasonably be achieved considering technical and economic issues. 
    Section 182(b)(2) of the Act requires States to adopt RACT rules for 
    three general groups of sources: (1) Those covered by post-enactment 
    Control Technique Guidelines (CTG) documents; (2) those covered by pre-
    enactment CTG documents; and (3) all other major stationary sources of 
    VOC. A CTG is a document issued by EPA that examines the technical 
    feasibility and costs of controls for a particular source type and 
    establishes a presumptive level of control that is considered RACT. The 
    EPA has not issued a number of the post-enactment CTG documents. 
    Instead, EPA has issued Alternative Control Technique (ACT) documents. 
    These documents provide much of the same information as the CTG 
    documents pertaining to control costs and feasibility. However, instead 
    of establishing a presumptive norm for RACT, these documents provide 
    options for control. A State can use this information to establish a 
    RACT level of control appropriate for the circumstances in the State. 
    When EPA failed to issue a CTG document for VOL storage by November 15, 
    1993, the responsibility shifted to the State to submit a non-CTG RACT 
    rule under section 182(b)(2)(C) for major non-CTG sources. (For a 
    discussion of the legal rationale, see Appendix E of the General 
    Preamble to Title I of the Clean Air Act (57 FR 13498, April 16, 
    1992).) The EPA issued an ACT for VOL storage in January 1994.
        Louisiana's VOC storage regulation (LAC 33:III.2103) is generally 
    consistent with EPA's guidance contained in the ACT for VOL storage. 
    Therefore, EPA is approving the regulation as meeting the RACT 
    requirements of section 182(b)(2)(C) for VOL storage.
        The following table summarizes the total reductions identified in 
    the Louisiana 15 Percent ROP Plan to satisfy the 15 percent (net of 
    growth) reductions requirement:
    
                     Summary of Approved Emission Reductions                
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Louisiana 15 percent ROP plan required reductions                  
                       (excluding RVP/FMVCP)                      (tons/day)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    15 Percent ROP Reduction...................................         29.7
    I/M Correction.............................................          1.3
    RACT Correction............................................          0.0
    Growth.....................................................          3.8
                                                                ------------
          Total................................................         34.8
    Reductions In Plan:........................................             
    Stage II Vapor Recovery....................................          3.4
    Vents to Flares............................................          3.7
    Marine Vapor Recovery......................................          8.6
    Tank Fitting Controls......................................          7.9
    Fugitive Emission Controls.................................         10.4
    Federal Rules (Wastewater NESHAP, VOL Storage NSPS)........          1.5
    Compliance Orders/Permits..................................          1.0
    Other (Tank Vent Recovery, Secondary Roof Seal on Tank)....          0.9
                                                                ------------
          Total................................................         37.4
    Surplus Reductions (To Be Carried Over To Post-1996 Rate-of-            
     Progress Plan)............................................          2.6
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    H. Contingency Measures
    
        Section 172(c)(9) of the Act requires moderate and above areas to 
    adopt and submit contingency measures to be implemented if ROP is not 
    achieved or if the standard is not attained by the applicable 
    attainment date. In the General Preamble to Title I of the Act, EPA 
    interpreted the Act to require States with moderate and above ozone 
    nonattainment areas to include contingency measures in their November 
    15, 1993, submittals. The contingency measures generally must provide 
    reductions of 3 percent of the emissions from the adjusted base year 
    inventory. While all contingency measures must be fully adopted rules 
    or measures, the State can use these measures in two different ways. 
    The State can use its discretion to implement any contingency measures 
    it wants before 1996. Alternatively, the State may decide not to 
    implement a measure until the area has failed to either make ROP or 
    attain the NAAQS. In that situation, the reductions must be achieved in 
    the year following that in which the failure has been identified.
        Louisiana included its emissions banking regulations as the section 
    172(c)(9) contingency measures in the 15 Percent ROP Plan. The EPA will 
    be acting upon the banking regulations in its rulemaking action on the 
    Louisiana Post-1996 ROP Plan and Attainment Demonstration SIP, which 
    was submitted to EPA on December 22, 1995. The EPA considers it 
    appropriate to act on the contingency measure in the context of that 
    rulemaking action because the banking regulation has also been 
    submitted for the contingency measures in the Post-1996 ROP Plan. In 
    addition, the banking regulation allows the use of post-1990 shutdown 
    credits for emissions offsets, and EPA has established certain 
    requirements that must be met regarding the approval status of the 
    Attainment Demonstration in order for certain shutdown credits to be 
    used for emissions offsets.
    
    [[Page 54741]]
    
        A more detailed description of the contingency measure is provided 
    in the TSD.
    
    I. Rate-of-Progress Demonstration
    
        The control measures in Louisiana's 15 Percent ROP Plan have 
    already been implemented, or will be implemented, by November 15, 1996.
    
    J. Enforceability Issues
    
        All measures and other elements in the SIP must be enforceable by 
    the State and EPA (see sections 172(c)(6), 110(a)(2)(A) of the Act, and 
    page 13556 of the General Preamble). The EPA criteria addressing the 
    enforceability of SIP's and SIP revisions were stated in a September 
    23, 1987, memorandum (with attachments) from J. Craig Potter, Assistant 
    Administrator for Air and Radiation (see page 13541 of the General 
    Preamble). Nonattainment area plan provisions must also contain a 
    program that provides for enforcement of the control measures and other 
    elements of the SIP (see section 110(a)(2)(C) of the Act).
        The 15 percent ROP control measures have been reviewed by EPA and 
    determined to be enforceable by the State. Several of the measures are 
    already Federally enforceable. The remaining measures will be made 
    Federally enforceable in this rulemaking action by incorporation into 
    the SIP.
    
    IV. Final Action
    
        The EPA is approving the Louisiana 15 Percent ROP Plan required by 
    section 182(b)(1) of the Act and the State's accompanying orders and 
    regulations. The EPA is also approving a revision to the 1990 base year 
    VOC emission inventory for the Baton Rouge ozone nonattainment area. In 
    addition, EPA is approving LAC 33:III.2103, Storage of Volatile Organic 
    Compounds, as meeting the section 182(b)(2) RACT requirements for VOL 
    storage.
        The EPA is not acting on the section 172(c)(9) contingency measures 
    contained in the 15 Percent ROP Plan submittal in this document. The 
    contingency measures will be addressed in a future rulemaking action on 
    that subject.
        In addition, by virtue of approving the 15 Percent ROP Plan, EPA is 
    also approving the motor vehicle emissions budget for VOC. For the 
    purpose of transportation conformity determinations, final approval of 
    this 15 Percent ROP Plan revision would eliminate the need for a build/
    no-build test and less-than-1990 emissions test for VOC for the 1996 
    analysis year. However, for the 1996 analysis year and later, 
    conformity determinations addressing VOC must demonstrate consistency 
    with this plan revision's motor vehicle emissions budget. In addition, 
    for years beyond 1996, conformity determinations addressing VOC must 
    demonstrate consistency with this plan revision's VOC motor vehicle 
    emissions budget, the VOC motor vehicle emissions budget in the 
    submitted (but not yet approved) Attainment Demonstration, and 
    satisfaction of the build-no-build test and less-than-1990 emissions 
    test for VOC (until the Attainment Demonstration is approved). 
    Conformity determinations addressing nitrogen oxides (NOX) must 
    demonstrate conformity with the NOX motor vehicle emissions budget 
    in the submitted (but not yet approved) Attainment Demonstration. The 
    build/no-build test for NOX for the 1996 analysis year and beyond 
    is not required because EPA has approved a section 182(b)(1) 
    transportation conformity NOX exemption for the Baton Rouge ozone 
    nonattainment area (61 FR 7218, February 27, 1996).
        The EPA is publishing this action without prior proposal because 
    the Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates 
    no adverse comments. However, in a separate document in this Federal 
    Register publication, the EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revision 
    should adverse or critical comments be filed. This action will be 
    effective December 23, 1996, unless, by November 21, 1996 adverse or 
    critical comments are received.
        If the EPA receives such comments, this action will be withdrawn 
    before the effective date by publishing a subsequent action that will 
    withdraw the final action. All public comments received will be 
    addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this action serving as a 
    proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on 
    this action. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should 
    do so at this time. If no such comments are received, the public is 
    advised that this action will be effective December 23, 1996.
        Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting or 
    allowing or establishing a precedent for any future request for 
    revision to any SIP. Each request for revision to the SIP shall be 
    considered separately in light of specific technical, economic, and 
    environmental factors and in relation to relevant statutory and 
    regulatory requirements.
    
    VI. Administrative Requirements
    
    A. Executive Order (E.O.) 12866
    
        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 E.O. 12866 review.
    
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        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. See 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.
        The SIP approvals under section 110 and subchapter I, part D of the 
    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 Act, 
    preparation of a flexibility analysis would constitute Federal inquiry 
    into the economic reasonableness of State action. The Act forbids EPA 
    to base its actions concerning SIPs on such grounds. See Union Electric 
    Co. v. U.S. EPA, 427 U.S. 246, 255-66 (1976); 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
    
    C. Unfunded Mandates
    
        Under section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 
    signed into law on March 22, 1995, EPA must prepare a budgetary impact 
    statement to accompany any proposed or final rule that includes a 
    Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs to State, local, or 
    tribal governments in the aggregate; or to private sector, of $100 
    million or more. Under section 205, EPA must select the most cost-
    effective and least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives 
    of the rule and is consistent with statutory requirements. Section 203 
    requires EPA to establish a plan for informing and advising any small 
    governments that
    
    [[Page 54742]]
    
    may be significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule.
        The EPA has determined that the approval action promulgated does 
    not include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs of 
    $100 million or more to either State, local, or tribal governments in 
    the aggregate, or to the private sector. This Federal action approves 
    preexisting requirements under State or local law, and imposes no new 
    Federal requirements. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, 
    or tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this 
    action.
    
    D. Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office
    
        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 this rule in today's 
    Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 
    U.S.C. 804(2).
    
    E. Petitions for Judicial Review
    
        Under section 307(b)(1) of the Act, petitions for judicial review 
    of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
    the appropriate circuit by December 23, 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, Hydrocarbons, 
    Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Ozone, 
    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
        Note: Incorporation by reference of the SIP for the State of 
    Louisiana was approved by the Director of the FR on July 1, 1982.
    
        Dated: September 30, 1996.
    Jerry Clifford,
    Acting Regional Administrator.
        Part 52, 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 T--Louisiana
    
        2. Section 52.970 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(71) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.970  Identification of plan.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (71) A revision to the Louisiana SIP addressing the 15 percent 
    rate-of-progress requirements was submitted by the Governor of 
    Louisiana by cover letter dated December 15, 1995. This revision, 
    submitted to satisfy the requirements of section 182(b) of the Clean 
    Air Act (Act), will aid in ensuring that reasonable further progress is 
    made towards attaining the national ambient air quality standard 
    (NAAQS) for ozone.
        (i) Incorporation by reference.
        (A) Revisions to LAC, Title 33, Environmental Quality, Part III. 
    Air; Chapter 21. Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds, Subchapter 
    A. General; section 2108. Marine Vapor Recovery, paragraphs B.1., B.2., 
    B.3., B.3.a. through B.3.d., B.4.a., B.4.b., B.5., B.6., D.1.a., 
    D.1.a.i., D.1.a.ii., D.1.b., D.2., D.3., D.4.a., D.4.b., D.4.c., 
    D.4.c.i., D.4.c.ii., D.4.d., D.4.e., D.4.e.i., D.4.e.ii., D.4.f., 
    D.4.g., E.2., E.2.a. through E.2.c., F.1., F.2., F.3., G.1., G.2., as 
    adopted by LDEQ on October 20, 1988.
        (B) Revisions to LAC, Title 33, Environmental Quality, Part III. 
    Air; Chapter 21. Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds, Subchapter 
    A. General; section 2108. Marine Vapor Recovery, paragraphs A., B. 
    Definitions-Barge, Crude Oil, Gasoline, Ship, C., C.1., C.2., C.3., 
    C.3.a. through C.3.d. (note: paragraphs B.1., B.2., B.3., and B.3.a. 
    through B.3.d., as adopted on October 20, 1988, were moved to C.1., 
    C.2., C.3., and C.3.a. through C.3.d. without repromulgating), C.4., 
    C.4.a., C.4.b., C.5., C.6. (note: paragraphs B.4.a., B.4.b., B.5., and 
    B.6., as adopted on October 20, 1988, were moved to C.4.a., C.4.b., 
    C.5., and C.6. without repromulgating), D.1., D.1.a. through D.1.c., 
    D.2., D.2.a. through D.2.c., D.3., E., E.1., E.1.a., E.1.a.i., 
    E.1.a.ii., E.1.b., E.2., E.3. (note: D.1.a., D.1.a.i., D.1.a.ii., 
    D.1.b., D.2., and D.3., as adopted October 20, 1988, were moved to 
    E.1.a., E.1.a.i., E.1.a.ii., E.1.b., E.2., and E.3. without 
    repromulgating), E.4., E.4.a., E.4.b., E.4.c., E.4.c.i., E.4.c.ii., 
    E.4.d., E.4.e., E.4.e.i., E.4.e.ii., E.4.f., E.4.g. (note: D.4.a., 
    D.4.b., D.4.c., D.4.c.i., D.4.c.ii., D.4.d., D.4.e., D.4.e.i., 
    D.4.e.ii., D.4.f., and D.4.g, as adopted on October 20, 1988, were 
    moved to E.4.a., E.4.b., E.4.c., E.4.c.i., E.4.c.ii., E.4.d., E.4.e., 
    E.4.e.i., E.4.e.ii., E.4.f., and E.4.g. without repromulgating), E.5., 
    F., F.1., F.2., F.2.a. through F.2.e. (note: E.2. and E.2.a. through 
    E.2.c., as adopted on October 20, 1988, were moved to F.2. and F.2.a 
    through F.2.c. without repromulgating), G., G.1., G.2., G.3. (note: 
    F.1., F.2., and F.3., as adopted October 20, 1988, were moved to G.1., 
    G.2., and G.3. without repromulgating), H., H.1., H.2. (note: G.1. and 
    G.2., as adopted on October 20, 1988, were moved to H.1. and H.2. 
    without repromulgating), as adopted by LDEQ on November 20, 1990.
        (C) Revisions to LAC, Title 33, Environmental Quality, Part III. 
    Air; Chapter 21. Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds, Subchapter 
    A. General; section 2122. Fugitive Emission Control for Ozone 
    Nonattainment Areas, paragraphs A., A.1. through A.5., A.6., A.6.a. 
    through A.6.d., B. Definitions-Connector, Good Performance Level, Heavy 
    Liquid Service, Inaccessible Valve/Connector, In Vacuum Service, Light 
    Liquid, Light Liquid Service, Liquid Service, Process Unit, Process 
    Unit Shutdown, Unrepairable Component, C., C.1., C.1.a. through C.1.c., 
    C.2. through C.5., D., D.1., D.1.a., D.1.a.i., D.1.a.ii., D.1.b., 
    D.1.b.i. through D.1.b.v., D.1.c. through D.1.e., D.2., D.2.a., D.2.b., 
    D.2.b.i. through D.2.b.iii., D.3., D.3.a. through D.3.d., D.4., D.4.a. 
    through D.4.k., D.5., E.1.a. through E.1.f., E.2., E.3., E.3.a., 
    E.3.a.i. through E.3.a.v., E.3.b., E.3.b.i. through E.3.b.v., F., F.1., 
    F.2., F.2.a. through F.2.j., F.3., G., G.1. through G.13., as adopted 
    by LDEQ on October 20, 1994.
        (D) Revisions to LAC, Title 33, Environmental Quality, Part III. 
    Air; Chapter 21. Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds, Subchapter 
    A. General; section 2122. Fugitive Emission Control for Ozone 
    Nonattainment Areas, paragraphs E., E.1., E.1.g., as adopted by LDEQ on 
    November 20, 1994.
        (E) Revisions to LAC, Title 33, Environmental Quality, Part III. 
    Air; Chapter 21. Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds, Subchapter 
    A. General; section 2103. Storage of Volatile Organic Compounds, 
    paragraphs A., B., D.1., D.1.a. through D.1.d., D.2., D.2.a. through 
    D.2.e., E., F., G., G.1. through G.4., H., H.1., H.2., H.2.a. through 
    H.2.e., H.3., I., I.1., I.2., I.2.a. through I.2.c., I.3. through I.5., 
    as adopted by LDEQ on December 20, 1994.
        (F) Revisions to LAC, Title 33, Environmental Quality, Part III. 
    Air;
    
    [[Page 54743]]
    
    Chapter 21. Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds, Subchapter A. 
    General; section 2103. Storage of Volatile Organic Compounds, 
    paragraphs C., D., D.3., as adopted by LDEQ on November 20, 1995.
        (G) Revisions to LAC, Title 33, Environmental Quality, Part III. 
    Air; Chapter 21. Control of Emissions of Organic Compounds, Subchapter 
    A. General; section 2103. Storage of Volatile Organic Compounds, 
    paragraph D.4., as adopted by LDEQ on December 20, 1995.
        (H) Reasonable Further Progress Agreed To Order, dated December 16, 
    1994, issued by the Assistant Secretary of the State of Louisiana 
    Department of Environmental Quality in the matter of BASF Corporation, 
    Geismar, Louisiana.
        (I) Reasonable Further Progress Agreed To Order, dated August 22, 
    1994, issued by the Assistant Secretary of the State of Louisiana 
    Department of Environmental Quality in the matter of CosMar Company, 
    Inc., Carville, Louisiana.
        (J) Reasonable Further Progress Agreed To Order, dated September 
    26, 1994, issued by the Assistant Secretary of the State of Louisiana 
    Department of Environmental Quality in the matter of Shell Chemical 
    Company, Geismar, Louisiana.
        (K) Reasonable Further Progress Agreed To Order, dated September 8, 
    1994, issued by the Assistant Secretary of the State of Louisiana 
    Department of Environmental Quality in the matter of Uniroyal Chemical 
    Company, Inc., Geismar, Louisiana.
        (L) Reasonable Further Progress Agreed To Order, dated September 8, 
    1994, issued by the Assistant Secretary of the State of Louisiana 
    Department of Environmental Quality in the matter of Vulcan Chemicals, 
    Geismar, Louisiana.
        (M) SIP narrative plan entitled, ``Revision to the 15% Rate of 
    Progress Plan and 1990 Emissions Inventory,'' dated December 28, 1995, 
    page 11, Section 2.2, 1996 Target Level Emissions, first paragraph; 
    page 23, Section 5, Table 2--Reductions in Plan; page 173, Appendix G, 
    table--Reductions from Industrial Sources through 1996 Used for the 15% 
    Requirement, which ends on page 174.
        (ii) Additional materials.
        (A) SIP narrative plan entitled, ``Revision to 15% Rate of Progress 
    Plan and 1990 Emissions Inventory,'' submitted by the Governor of 
    Louisiana on December 15, 1995, except Section 6. Contingency Measures 
    Documentation, Appendix M. Contingency Reductions Documentation, and 
    Appendix N. Banking Regulations.
        (B) Letter dated May 3, 1996, from Gustave Von Bodungen, Louisiana 
    Department of Environmental Quality, to Thomas Diggs, U.S. 
    Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting supplemental 
    documentation for the 15 Percent Rate of Progress Plan.
    [FR Doc. 96-27002 Filed 10-21-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
12/23/1996
Published:
10/22/1996
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Direct final rule.
Document Number:
96-27002
Dates:
This ``direct final'' rule is effective December 23, 1996 unless adverse comments are received by November 21, 1996. If the effective date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the Federal Register (FR).
Pages:
54737-54743 (7 pages)
Docket Numbers:
LA-23-1-6871a, FRL-5636-6
PDF File:
96-27002.pdf
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 52.970