95-26959. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Redesignation of the Baltimore Carbon Monoxide Area to Attainment and Approval of the Area's Maintenance Plan and Emission Inventory;...  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 55321-55326]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-26959]
    
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
    
    [MD44-1-3001a, MD44-2-3002a; FRL-5315-4]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Designation of 
    Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Redesignation of the Baltimore 
    Carbon Monoxide Area to Attainment and Approval of the Area's 
    Maintenance Plan and Emission Inventory; State of Maryland
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Direct final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: EPA is approving a maintenance plan and a request to 
    redesignate the Baltimore carbon monoxide (CO) nonattainment area, 
    which is located within the Baltimore City Central Business District 
    (CBD) within the Baltimore Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 
    maintenance plan and redesignation requests were submitted by the State 
    of Maryland on September 20, 1995. Under the 1990 amendments of the 
    Clean Air Act (CAA) designations can be revised if sufficient data is 
    available to warrant such revisions. In this action, EPA is approving 
    Maryland's request because it meets the maintenance plan and 
    
    [[Page 55322]]
    redesignation requirements set forth in the CAA. This action is being 
    taken under section 110 of the CAA.
    
    DATES: This action will become effective on December 15, 1995, unless, 
    by November 30, 1995, adverse or critical comments are received. If the 
    effective date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the 
    Federal Register.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Marcia L. Spink, Associate 
    Director, Air Programs, Mailcode 3AT00, U.S. Environmental Protection 
    Agency, Region III, 841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
    19107. Copies of the documents relevant to this action are available 
    for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air, 
    Radiation, and Toxics Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
    Region III, 841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107; 
    Maryland Department of the Environment, 2500 Broening Highway, 
    Baltimore Maryland 21224.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine L. Magliocchetti, (215) 597-
    6863.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 20, 1995, the State of Maryland 
    submitted a formal revision to its State Implementation Plan (SIP). The 
    SIP revision consists of a maintenance plan, and a request to 
    redesignate the Baltimore CO nonattainment area from nonattainment to 
    attainment for carbon monoxide.
    
    I. Background
    
        The Baltimore area was designated a CO nonattainment area under the 
    Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (see 40 CFR 81.321). The National 
    Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for CO is 9.5 parts per million 
    (ppm). Carbon monoxide nonattainment areas can be classified as 
    moderate or serious, based on their design values. Since the Baltimore 
    CO nonattainment area had a design value of 9.6 ppm (based on 1988 and 
    1989 data), the area was classified as moderate. The CAA established an 
    attainment date of December 31, 1995 for all moderate CO areas. The 
    Baltimore area has ambient air quality monitoring data showing 
    attainment of the CO NAAQS from 1989 through 1994. Therefore, in an 
    effort to comply with the CAA and to ensure continued attainment of the 
    NAAQS, on September 20, 1995 the State of Maryland submitted a CO 
    redesignation request and a maintenance plan for the Baltimore area. 
    Maryland submitted evidence that a public hearing was held on August 9, 
    1995 in Baltimore on this revision to the State's SIP.
    
    II. Evaluation Criteria
    
        Section 107(d)(3)(E) of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments provides 
    five specific requirements that an area must meet in order to be 
    redesignated from nonattainment to attainment:
        1. The area must have attained the applicable NAAQS;
        2. The area must have a fully approved SIP under section 110(k) of 
    CAA;
        3. The air quality improvement must be permanent and enforceable;
        4. The area must have a fully approved maintenance plan pursuant to 
    section 175A of the CAA;
        5. The area must meet all applicable requirements under section 110 
    and Part D of the CAA.
    
    III. Review of State Submittal
    
        On September 20, 1995, EPA determined that the information received 
    from the State of Maryland constituted a complete redesignation request 
    under the general completeness criteria of 40 CFR part 51, appendix V, 
    Secs. 2.1 and 2.2. Maryland's redesignation request for the Baltimore 
    area meets the five requirements of section 107(d)(3)(E), noted above. 
    The following is a brief description of how the State has fulfilled 
    each of these requirements.
    
    1. Attainment of the CO NAAQS
    
        Maryland has quality-assured CO ambient air monitoring data showing 
    that the Baltimore area has met the CO NAAQS. The Maryland request is 
    based on an analysis of quality-assured CO air monitoring data which is 
    relevant to the maintenance plan and to the redesignation request. To 
    attain the CO NAAQS, an area must have complete quality-assured data 
    showing no more than one exceedance of the standard per year over at 
    least two consecutive years. The ambient air CO monitoring data for 
    calendar year 1989 through calendar year 1995, relied upon by Maryland 
    in its redesignation request, shows no violations of the CO NAAQS in 
    the Baltimore area during this time. Because the area has complete 
    quality assured data showing no more than one exceedance of the 
    standard per year over at least two consecutive years (1994 and 1995), 
    the area has met the first statutory criterion of attainment of the CO 
    NAAQS (40 CFR 50.8 and appendix C). Maryland has committed to continue 
    monitoring in this area in accordance with 40 CFR part 58.
    
    2. Fully Approved SIP Under Section 110(k) of the CAA
    
        Maryland's CO SIP is fully approved by EPA as meeting all the 
    requirements of Section 110(a)(2)(I) of the Act, including the 
    requirements of Part D (relating to nonattainment), which were due 
    prior to the date of Maryland's redesignation request. Maryland's CO 
    SIP was fully approved by EPA on September 19, 1984, at 40 CFR 
    52.1070(c)(71), (49 FR 36645). The 1990 CAA required that nonattainment 
    areas achieve specific new requirements depending on the severity of 
    the nonattainment classification. Requirements for the Baltimore area 
    included the preparation of a 1990 emission inventory with periodic 
    updates, adoption of an oxygenated fuels program, the development of 
    contingency measures, and development of conformity procedures. Each of 
    these requirements added by the 1990 Amendments to the CAA are 
    discussed in greater detail below.
        Consistent with the October 14, 1994 EPA guidance from Mary D. 
    Nichols entitled ``Part D New Source Review (Part D NSR) Requirements 
    for Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,'' EPA is not 
    requiring full approval of a Part D NSR program by Maryland as a 
    prerequisite for redesignation to attainment. Under this guidance, 
    nonattainment areas may be redesignated to attainment notwithstanding 
    the lack of a fully-approved Part D NSR program, so long as the program 
    is not relied upon for maintenance. Because the Baltimore area is being 
    redesignated to attainment by this action, Maryland's Prevention of 
    Significant Deterioration (PSD) requirements will be applicable to new 
    or modified sources in the Baltimore area. Maryland has been delegated 
    PSD authority (see Sec. 52.1116 Maryland, 45 FR 52741, August 7, 1980, 
    as amended 47 FR 7835, February 23, 1982).
    A. Emission Inventory
        On March 24, 1994, Maryland submitted a 1990 base year emissions 
    inventory to EPA for review and approval. This inventory was used as 
    the basis for calculations to demonstrate maintenance. Maryland's 
    submittal contains the detailed inventory data and summaries by source 
    category. Maryland's submittal also contains information related to how 
    it comported with EPA's guidance, and which model and emissions factors 
    were used (note, the MOBILE 5a model was used), how vehicle miles 
    travelled (VMT) data was generated, and other technical information 
    verifying the emission inventory. A summary of the base year and 
    projected maintenance year inventories are shown in the following table 
    in this section.
        Section 172(c)(3) of the CAA requires that nonattainment plan 
    provisions 
    
    [[Page 55323]]
    include a comprehensive, accurate, and current inventory of actual 
    emissions from all sources of relevant pollutants in the nonattainment 
    area. Maryland included the requisite inventory in the redesignation 
    request and maintenance plan SIP revision. The base year for the 
    inventory was 1990, using a three month CO season of December 1990 
    through February 1991. Stationary point sources, stationary area 
    sources, on-road mobile sources, and off-road mobile sources of CO were 
    included in the inventory. The following table, Table 1, presents a 
    summary of the attainment year's (1990) and projected year's (2007) CO 
    peak season daily emissions estimates in tons per winter day (tpd) by 
    source category:
    
                    Table 1.--CO Peak Season Daily Emissions                
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1990 Base     2007  
                                                          year     Projected
                                                        emissions  emissions
                                                        (tons per  (tons per
                                                          day)        day)  
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On-road Mobile...................................     1789.80     732.30
    Off-road Mobile..................................      223.28     245.19
    Area.............................................      116.47     145.74
    Stationary.......................................      375.25     381.14
    Total............................................     2504.8     1504.37
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Available guidance for preparing emission inventories is provided 
    in the General Preamble (57 FR 13498, April 16, 1992).
        Section 110(k) of the CAA sets out provisions governing the EPA's 
    review of base year emission inventory submittals in order to determine 
    approval or disapproval under section 187(a)(1). The EPA is granting 
    approval of the Maryland 1990 base year CO emissions inventories as 
    found in the Baltimore CO Redesignation Request, based on the EPA's 
    technical review of the CO inventory. For further details on the 
    emission inventory, the reader is referred to the Technical Support 
    Document, which is available for review at the addresses provided 
    above.
    B. Oxygenated Gasoline
        Section 211(m) of the CAA requires that each State in which there 
    is located a CO nonattainment area with a design value of 9.5 ppm or 
    above based on data for the 2-year period of 1988 and 1989 shall submit 
    a SIP revision which requires the implementation of an oxygenated 
    gasoline program in the Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area 
    (CMSA) or Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in which the 
    nonattainment area is located. The Baltimore area has a design value 
    above 9.5 ppm based on 1988 and 1989 data and consequently was subject 
    to the requirement to adopt an oxygenated fuel program. Maryland 
    submitted an oxygenated gasoline SIP revision for the Baltimore MSA to 
    EPA on November 13, 1992. EPA approved the SIP revision for Maryland on 
    June 6, 1994. As noted in the Maryland redesignation request, the State 
    has relegated the oxygenated fuel program to contingency status under 
    the redesignation. Through emergency rulemaking procedures, Maryland 
    modified these regulations to provide for the oxygenated gasoline 
    control period to be required in future years as a contingency measure 
    to ensure maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard 
    (NAAQS) for CO. The rule change states that upon a monitored violation 
    of the CO NAAQS (two or more exceedances of the CO NAAQS in a single 
    calendar year), the oxygenated gasoline control period shall be 
    reinstated. Under the amended regulations, a notice by July 1 of any 
    year for an area would reinstate the oxygenated gasoline requirements 
    beginning on November 1 of that year. This emergency regulation change 
    is effective from September 13, 1995 through February 28, 1996. 
    Maryland is currently pursuing permanent adoption of these regulations, 
    and final adoption of the permanent rule change should become effective 
    in January 1996.
        Maryland's maintenance demonstration, described below, asserts that 
    oxygenated gasoline in the Baltimore MSA is not necessary for continued 
    maintenance of the CO NAAQS. Consequently, EPA is approving Maryland's 
    use of oxygenated gasoline as a contingency measure for the Baltimore 
    area.
    C. Conformity
        Under section 176(c) of the CAA, states were required to submit 
    revisions to their SIPs that include criteria and procedures to ensure 
    that Federal actions conform to the air quality planning goals in the 
    applicable SIPs. The requirement to determine conformity applies to 
    transportation plans, programs and projects developed, funded or 
    approved under Title 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act 
    (``transportation conformity''), as well as all other Federal actions 
    (``general conformity''). Congress provided for the State revisions to 
    be submitted one year after the date of promulgation of final EPA 
    conformity regulations. EPA promulgated final transportation conformity 
    regulations on November 24, 1993 (58 FR 62188) and final general 
    conformity regulations on November 30, 1993 (58 FR 63214). These 
    conformity rules require that the States adopt both transportation and 
    general conformity provisions in the SIP for areas designated 
    nonattainment or subject to a maintenance plan approved under CAA 
    section 175A. Pursuant to Sec. 51.396 of the transportation conformity 
    rule and Sec. 51.851 of the general conformity rule, the State of 
    Maryland was required to submit a SIP revision containing 
    transportation conformity criteria and procedures consistent with those 
    established in the Federal rule by November 25, 1994. Similarly, 
    Maryland was required to submit a SIP revision containing general 
    conformity criteria and procedures consistent with those established in 
    the Federal rule by December 1, 1994. Maryland submitted transportation 
    conformity SIP revisions to EPA on May 16, 1995. Furthermore, Maryland 
    submitted, on May 15, 1995, SIP revisions for general conformity.
        Although this redesignation request was submitted to EPA after the 
    due dates for the SIP revisions for transportation conformity (58 FR 
    62188) and general conformity (58 FR 63214) rules, EPA believes it is 
    reasonable to interpret the conformity requirements as not being 
    applicable requirements for purposes of evaluating the redesignation 
    request under section 107(d). The rationale for this is based on a 
    combination of two factors. First, the requirement to submit SIP 
    revisions to comply with the conformity provisions of the Act continues 
    to apply to areas after redesignation to attainment. Therefore, the 
    State remains obligated to adopt the transportation and general 
    conformity rules even after redesignation and would risk sanctions for 
    failure to do so. While redesignation of an area to attainment enables 
    the area to avoid further compliance with most requirements of section 
    110 and part D, since those requirements are linked to the 
    nonattainment status of an area, the conformity requirements apply to 
    both nonattainment and maintenance areas. Second, EPA's federal 
    conformity rules require the performance of conformity analyses in the 
    absence of state-adopted rules. Therefore, a delay in adopting State 
    rules does not relieve an area from the obligation to implement 
    conformity requirements.
        Because areas are subject to the conformity requirements regardless 
    of whether they are redesignated to attainment and must implement 
    conformity under Federal rules if State rules are not yet adopted, EPA 
    believes it is reasonable to view these requirements as not being 
    applicable requirements for purposes of evaluating a redesignation 
    request.
        Therefore, with this notice, EPA is modifying its national policy 
    regarding 
    
    [[Page 55324]]
    the interpretation of the provisions of section 107(d)(3)(E) concerning 
    the applicable requirements for purposes of reviewing a carbon monoxide 
    redesignation request. Under this new policy, for the reasons just 
    discussed, EPA believes that the CO redesignation request for the 
    Baltimore area may be approved notwithstanding the lack of approved 
    state transportation and general conformity rules.
    
    3. Improvement in Air Quality Due to Permanent and Enforceable Measures
    
        EPA approved Maryland's CO SIP under the 1977 CAA. Emission 
    reductions achieved through the implementation of control measures 
    contained in that SIP are enforceable. Maryland cites the Federal Motor 
    Vehicle Control Program (FMVCP) as the major source of reductions that 
    led to attainment of the CO standard. Stationary sources have also been 
    required to improve combustion efficiency through the Best Available 
    Control Technology (BACT) requirements. Both of these measures are 
    considered permanent and enforceable.
        As discussed above, the State initially attained the NAAQS in 1989 
    with monitored attainment through 1994. This indicates that the 
    improvements are due to the permanent and enforceable measures 
    contained in the 1982 CO SIP.
        Maryland has demonstrated that actual enforceable emission 
    reductions are responsible for the air quality improvement and that the 
    CO emissions in the base year are not artificially low due to local 
    economic downturn. EPA finds that the combination of certain existing 
    EPA-approved SIP and federal measures contribute to the permanence and 
    enforceability of reduction in ambient CO levels that have allowed the 
    area to attain the NAAQS.
    
    4. Fully Approved Maintenance Plan Under Section 175A
    
        Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of a maintenance 
    plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment.
        The plan must demonstrate continued attainment of the applicable 
    NAAQS for at least ten years after the Administrator approves a 
    redesignation to attainment. Eight years after the redesignation, the 
    State must submit a revised maintenance plan which demonstrates 
    attainment for the ten years following the initial ten-year period. To 
    provide for the possibility of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance 
    plan must contain contingency measures, with a schedule for 
    implementation adequate to assure prompt correction of any air quality 
    problems. In this notice, EPA is approving the State of Maryland's 
    maintenance plan for the Baltimore area because EPA finds that 
    Maryland's submittal meets the requirements of section 175A.
    A. Attainment Emission Inventory
        As previously noted, on March 24, 1994, Maryland submitted a 1990 
    base year emissions inventory to EPA for review and approval. The 
    inventory includes emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources 
    using 1990 as the base year for calculations.
        The State submittal contains the detailed inventory data and 
    summaries by county and source category. The comprehensive base year 
    emissions inventory was submitted in the National Emission Data System 
    format. This inventory was prepared in accordance with EPA guidance.
        The 1990 inventory can be considered representative of attainment 
    conditions because the CO NAAQS was not violated during 1990. Maryland 
    established the 1990 inventory as the attainment inventory, and 
    forecasted future emissions out to the year 2007 in its redesignation 
    request. The State projected emissions for the end of the maintenance 
    period using appropriate growth factors, consistent with EPA guidance. 
    To project future emissions from mobile sources, MOBILE5a was used to 
    assess the benefits gained from federally mandated control measures. 
    Maryland assumed the following control programs, when projecting the 
    inventory: FMVCP, the 1992 Reid Vapor Pressure Program, Tier 1 controls 
    on new vehicles, Evaporative Emissions Control Program, Federal 
    Reformulated Gasoline, Enhance Inspection & Maintenance, Low Emission 
    Vehicles, Stage II Vapor Recovery, and On-Board Controls. Since these 
    programs are either a) federal measures that are currently adopted or 
    will be adopted in the future under the CAA, or b) state regulations 
    which are currently approved into the SIP, they constitute appropriate 
    assumptions for future modeling scenarios. Stationary source emissions 
    and off-road mobile source emissions were projected using the 1990 base 
    year inventory and multiplying with appropriate projection factors. The 
    area source future emissions were projected using the 1990 base year 
    inventory and multiplying the inventory with household, population, and 
    employment growth factors from the Round 5 Cooperative forecasting 
    process conducted by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.
    B. Demonstration of Maintenance-Projected Inventories
        Total CO emissions were projected from 1990 base year out to 2005 
    and 2010, and then interpolated for the maintenance plan's projection 
    year, 2007. These projected inventories were prepared in accordance 
    with EPA guidance. Maryland will not implement the oxygenated fuel 
    program in the Baltimore MSA unless a violation of the standard 
    triggers the program for the following CO season.
        The projections show that calculated CO emissions, assuming no 
    oxygenated fuels program, are not expected to exceed the level of the 
    base year inventory during this time period. Therefore, it is 
    anticipated that the Baltimore area will maintain the CO standard 
    without the program, and the oxygenated fuel program will not need to 
    be implemented following redesignation, except as a contingency 
    measure.
    C. Verification of Continued Attainment
        Continued attainment of the CO NAAQS in the Baltimore area depends, 
    in part, on the State's efforts toward tracking indicators of continued 
    attainment during the maintenance period. In addition, comprehensive 
    reviews will be conducted periodically of the factors used to develop 
    the attainment inventories and those used to project CO emissions 
    levels for 2007. If any of the localities find significant differences 
    between actual and projected growth, updated emission inventories will 
    be developed to compare with the projections.
    D. Contingency Plan
        The level of CO emissions in the Baltimore area will largely 
    determine its ability to stay in compliance with the CO NAAQS in the 
    future. Despite the State's best efforts to demonstrate continued 
    compliance with the NAAQS, the ambient air pollutant concentrations may 
    exceed or violate the NAAQS. Section 175(A)(d) of the CAA requires that 
    the contingency provisions include a requirement that the State 
    implement all measures contained in the SIP prior to redesignation. 
    Therefore, Maryland has provided for oxygenated fuels as a contingency 
    measure in the event of a future CO air quality problem. The plan 
    contains an acceptable triggering mechanism (a violation of the CO 
    standard) to determine when the contingency measure is needed.
        Maryland has changed its oxygenated fuel rule, through emergency 
    rulemaking procedures, to require oxygenated gasoline as a contingency 
    
    [[Page 55325]]
    measure for the purposes of redesignation. Maryland has also provided a 
    schedule to EPA for the permanent adoption of the oxygenated fuel 
    regulation change. EPA finds this an acceptable contingency measure 
    which fulfills the requirements of section 175(A)(d).
    E. Subsequent Maintenance Plan Revisions
        In accordance with section 175A(b) of the CAA, the State must 
    submit a revised maintenance SIP eight years after the area is 
    redesignated to attainment. Such a revised SIP will provide for 
    maintenance for an additional ten years.
    
    5. Meeting Applicable Requirements of Section 110 and Part D
    
        In Section III.2. above, EPA sets forth the basis for its 
    conclusion that Maryland has a fully approved SIP which meets the 
    applicable requirements of Section 110 and Part D of the CAA.
        EPA is approving this SIP revision 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, EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revision 
    should adverse or critical comments be filed. This action will be 
    effective December 15, 1995, unless, by November 30, 1995, adverse or 
    critical comments are received.
        If EPA receives such comments, this action will be withdrawn before 
    the effective date by publishing a subsequent document that will 
    withdraw the final action. All public comments received will then be 
    addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this action serving as a 
    proposed rule. 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 on December 15, 1995.
    
    Final Action
    
        EPA is approving the Baltimore area CO maintenance plan because it 
    meets the requirements set forth in section 175A of the CAA. In 
    addition, the Agency is approving the request and redesignating the 
    Baltimore CO nonattainment area to attainment, because the State has 
    demonstrated compliance with the requirements of section 107(d)(3)(E) 
    for redesignation. EPA is also approving Maryland's 1990 base year CO 
    emissions inventory for the Baltimore MSA, as found in the State's 
    redesignation request and maintenance plan. 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 15, 
    1995, unless, by November 30, 1995, 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 document 
    that will withdraw the final action. All public comments received will 
    then 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 15, 1995.
        Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting, 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 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.
        Under Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
    (``Unfunded Mandates Act''), 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 
    the 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 may be 
    significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule.
        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 pre-
    existing 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.
        Redesignation of an area to attainment under section 107(d)(3)(E) 
    of the CAA does not impose any new requirements on small entities. 
    Redesignation is an action that affects the status of a geographical 
    area and does not impose any regulatory requirements on sources. The 
    Administrator certifies that the approval of the redesignation request 
    will not affect a substantial number of small entities.
        The CO SIP is designed to satisfy the requirements of part D of the 
    CAA and to provide for attainment and maintenance of the CO NAAQS. This 
    final redesignation should not be interpreted as authorizing the State 
    to delete, alter, or rescind any of the CO emission limitations and 
    restrictions contained in the approved CO SIP. Changes to CO SIP 
    regulations rendering them less stringent than those contained in the 
    EPA approved plan cannot be made unless a revised plan for attainment 
    and maintenance is submitted to and approved by EPA. Unauthorized 
    relaxations, deletions, and changes could result in both a finding of 
    non-implementation (section 179(a) of the CAA) and in a SIP deficiency 
    call made pursuant to sections 110(a)(2)(H) and 110(k)(2) of the CAA.
        SIP approvals under section 110 and subchapter I, part D of the CAA 
    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, it does not have any 
    economic impact on any small entities. Redesignation of an area to 
    attainment under section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA does not impose any 
    new requirements on small entities.
        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 
    
    [[Page 55326]]
    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.
        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 January 2, 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 rulemaking redesignating the Baltimore CO 
    nonattainment area to attainment, approving the maintenance plan 
    submitted by the Maryland Department of the Environment on September 
    20, 1995, and approving the CO emissions inventory submitted on March 
    24, 1994 may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its 
    requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)
    
    List of Subjects
    
    40 CFR Part 52
    
        Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
    Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements.
    
    40 CFR Part 81
    
        Air pollution control.
    
    
        Dated: September 29, 1995.
    W. Michael McCabe,
    Regional Administrator, Region III.
    
        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 V--Maryland
    
        2. Section 52.1070 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(117) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.1070  Identification of plan.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (117) The carbon monoxide redesignation request and maintenance 
    plan for the Baltimore Carbon Monoxide nonattainment area, submitted by 
    the Maryland Department of the Environment on September 20, 1995, as 
    part of the Maryland SIP. The emission inventory projections are 
    included in the maintenance plan.
        (i) Incorporation by reference.
        (A) Letter of September 20, 1995 from the Maryland Department of 
    the Environment requesting the redesignation and submitting the 
    maintenance plan.
        (B) The ten year carbon monoxide maintenance plan for the Baltimore 
    Carbon Monoxide nonattainment area adopted on August 31, 1995.
        (ii) Additional material.
        (A) Remainder of September 20, 1995 State submittal.
        3. Section 52.1075 is added to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.1075  1990 base year emission inventory for carbon monoxide.
    
        EPA approves as a revision to the Maryland State Implementation 
    Plan the 1990 base year emission inventory for the Baltimore 
    Metropolitan Statistical Area, submitted by the Secretary, Maryland 
    Department of the Environment, on September 20, 1995. This submittal 
    consists of the 1990 base year stationary, area, off-road mobile and 
    on-road mobile emission inventories in the Baltimore Metropolitan 
    Statistical Area for the pollutant, carbon monoxide (CO).
    
    PART 81--[AMENDED]
    
        1. The authority citation for part 81 continues to read as follows:
    
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.
    
    Subpart C--Section 107 Attainment Status Designations
    
        2. In Sec. 81.321, the table for ``Maryland-Carbon Monoxide'' is 
    amended by revising the entry for ``Baltimore Area Baltimore City 
    (part) Regional Planning District No. 118'' to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 81.321  Maryland.
    
    * * * * *
    
                                                Maryland--Carbon Monoxide                                           
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Designation                        Classification  
                Designated area            -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Date \1\                     Type            Date \1\    Type  
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Baltimore Area Baltimore city (part)    [insert date 45 days       Attainment...............  ........  ........
     Regional Planning District No. 118      after publication date].                                               
     (generally corresponding to the                                                                                
     Central Business District).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ This date is November 15, 1990, unless otherwise noted.                                                     
    
    * * * * *
    [FR Doc. 95-26959 Filed 10-30-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
12/15/1995
Published:
10/31/1995
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Direct final rule.
Document Number:
95-26959
Dates:
This action will become effective on December 15, 1995, unless, by November 30, 1995, adverse or critical comments are received. If the effective date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the Federal Register.
Pages:
55321-55326 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
MD44-1-3001a, MD44-2-3002a, FRL-5315-4
PDF File:
95-26959.pdf
CFR: (3)
40 CFR 52.1070
40 CFR 52.1075
40 CFR 81.321