2015-30541. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Albuquerque-Bernalillo County; Infrastructure and Interstate Transport State Implementation Plan for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards  

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    AGENCY:

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    ACTION:

    Final rule.

    SUMMARY:

    EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from the Governor of New Mexico for the City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County for the 2008 Lead (Pb) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The submittal addresses how the existing SIP provides for implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the 2008 Pb NAAQS (infrastructure SIP or i-SIP). This i-SIP ensures that the State's SIP for Albuquerque-Bernalillo County is adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), including the four CAA requirements for interstate transport of Pb emissions.

    DATES:

    This final rule is effective on January 4, 2016.

    ADDRESSES:

    EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2012-0400. All documents in the docket are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Tracie Donaldson, 214-665-6633, donaldson.tracie@epa.gov.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

    I. Background

    The background for this action is discussed in detail in our September 11, Start Printed Page 756372015, proposal (80 FR 54739). In that document, we proposed that the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County New Mexico i-SIP submittal for the 2008 Pb NAAQS met the requirements for an i-SIP, including the requirements for interstate transport of Pb emissions. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Act. We did not receive any comments regarding our proposed approval.

    II. Final Action

    We are approving the May 2, 2012, i-SIP submission from Albuquerque-Bernalillo County New Mexico, which addresses the requirements of CAA sections 110(a)(1) and (2) as applicable to the 2008 Pb NAAQS. Specifically, we are approving the following infrastructure elements: 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J), (K), (L) and (M). We are also approving the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County's demonstration that it meets the four statutory requirements for interstate transport of Pb emissions.

    III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:

    • Is not a “significant regulatory action” subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
    • Does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
    • Is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
    • Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
    • Does not have Federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
    • Is not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
    • Is not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
    • Is not subject to requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act; and
    • Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

    In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by February 1, 2016. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposed 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)).

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    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    • Environmental protection
    • Air pollution control
    • Incorporation by reference
    • Intergovernmental relations
    • Lead
    • Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
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    Dated: November 17, 2015.

    Ron Curry,

    Regional Administrator, Region 6.

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    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

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    PART 52—APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

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    1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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

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    Subpart GG—New Mexico

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    2. In § 52.1620(e), the second table entitled “EPA Approved Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures in the New Mexico SIP” is amended by adding an entry at the end of the table to read as follows:

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    Identification of plan.
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    (e) * * *

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    EPA Approved Nonregulatory Provisions and Quasi-Regulatory Measures in the New Mexico SIP

    Name of SIP provisionApplicable geographic or nonattainment areaState submittal/ effective dateEPA approval dateExplanation
    *         *         *         *         *         *         *
    Infrastructure and Interstate Transport for the 2008 Pb NAAQSAlbuquerque-Bernalillo County5/2/201212/3/2015, [insert Federal Register citation]
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    [FR Doc. 2015-30541 Filed 12-2-15; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/4/2016
Published:
12/03/2015
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
2015-30541
Dates:
This final rule is effective on January 4, 2016.
Pages:
75636-75638 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
EPA-R06-OAR-2012-0400, FRL-9939-47-Region 6
Topics:
Air pollution control, Environmental protection, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
PDF File:
2015-30541.pdf
Supporting Documents:
» NM052.07 EPA Review, February 3, 2015, of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County 2014 Annual Network Review for Ambient Air Monitoring submitted to EPA July 10, 2014. 4 pages v9a
» NM052.06 Albuquerque-Bernalillo County 2014 Annual Network Review for Ambient Air Monitoring submitted to EPA July 10, 2014. 14 pages v9a
» NM052.05 EPA Guidance on Infrastructure State Implementation Plan Elements Required Under the Federal Clean Air Act Sections 110(a)(1) and 110(a)(2) for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
» NM052.04 EPA OAR/OAQPS/AQAD Memorandum, November 7, 2011, RE: Estimated Contribution of Ambient Lead (Pb) to Class I Area Visibility Impairment. 3 pages v9a
» NM052.03 New Mexico Albuquerque-Bernalillo County SIP To Address Infrastructure Requirements of Section 110 (a)(2)(A)-(M) of the Federal Clean Air Act To Implement the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards, submitted to EPA May 2, 2012 (NM-117)
» NM052.02 EPA Technical Support Document, August 2015, 19 pages v9a
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 52.1620