97-31915. Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; California; South Coast Air Quality Management District  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 1997)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 64329-64334]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-31915]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [CA-189-0059; FRL-5932-3]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; 
    California; South Coast Air Quality Management District
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) 
    revision submitted by the State of California to provide for attainment 
    of the carbon monoxide (CO) national ambient air quality standards 
    (NAAQS) in the Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin Area (South Coast). 
    EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revision under provisions of the 
    Clean Air Act (CAA) regarding EPA action on SIP submittals, SIPs for 
    national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards, and plan 
    requirements for nonattainment areas. The demonstration of attainment 
    in the SIP depends, in part, upon reductions from an enhanced 
    inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for motor vehicles. Since EPA 
    has previously granted interim approval to the California I/M program, 
    the Agency is proposing interim approval of the CO attainment 
    demonstration portion of the plan.
    
    DATES: Written comments on this proposal must be received by January 5, 
    1998.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the EPA contact below.
        The rulemaking docket for this notice, Docket No. 97-17, may be 
    inspected and copied at the following location during normal business 
    hours. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying parts of the docket. 
    Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Air Division, Air Planning 
    Office, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3901.
        Copies of the SIP materials are also available for inspection at 
    the addresses listed below:
    
    California Air Resources Board, 2020 L Street, Sacramento, California
    South Coast Air Quality Management District, 21865 E. Copley Drive, 
    Diamond Bar, California
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Jesson (415) 744-1288, Air 
    Planning Office (AIR-2), Air Division, U.S. EPA, Region 9, 75 Hawthorne 
    Street, San Francisco, California, 94105-3901.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Background
    
    A. The Carbon Monoxide Problem
    
        Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas emitted in combustion 
    processes. In the South Coast, like most urban areas, CO comes 
    primarily from tailpipe emissions of cars and trucks. 1 
    Exposure to elevated CO levels is associated with impairment of visual 
    perception, work capacity, manual dexterity, and learning ability, and 
    with illness and death for those who already suffer from cardiovascular 
    disease, particularly angina or peripheral vascular disease.
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        \1\  In the 1990 base year planning (winter) inventory for the 
    South Coast, onroad vehicles accounted for approximately 80 percent 
    of CO emissions, while nonroad engines and stationary sources 
    contributed roughly 18 and 2 percent, respectively. Despite 
    continued growth in vehicle use, the percent of CO emissions from 
    onroad vehicles is predicted to decline to about 50 percent by the 
    year 2010, as a result of the cleaner motor vehicles mandated by the 
    California low-emission vehicle program.
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        Under section 109 of the CAA, EPA has established primary, health-
    related NAAQS for CO: 9 parts per million (ppm) averaged over an 8-hour 
    period, and 35 ppm averaged over 1 hour. Attainment of the 8-hour CO 
    NAAQS is achieved if not more than one non-overlapping 8-hour average 
    in any consecutive 2-year period per monitoring site exceeds 9 ppm 
    (values below 9.5 are rounded down to 9.0 and are not considered 
    exceedances).
        The South Coast has continuously achieved the 1-hour NAAQS for the 
    past 6 years. For this reason, the South Coast SIP and this action 
    address primarily the 8-hour NAAQS. In 1995, the South Central Los 
    Angeles County area recorded 13 exceedances of the 8-hour NAAQS, the 
    largest number of CO exceedances within the SCAB and, in fact, within 
    the country. Most of the CO exceedances in the SCAB occur during the 
    months of January, November, and December, with peak concentrations 
    typically around 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
    
    B. Clean Air Act Requirements
    
        The Federal CAA was substantially amended in 1990 to establish new 
    planning requirements and attainment deadlines for the NAAQS. Under 
    section 107(d)(1)(C) of the Act, areas designated nonattainment prior 
    to enactment of the 1990 amendments, including the South Coast, were 
    designated nonattainment by operation of law.2 Under section 
    186(a) of the Act,
    
    [[Page 64330]]
    
    each CO area designated nonattainment under section 107(d) was also 
    classified by operation of law as either moderate or serious, depending 
    on the severity of the area's air quality problem. CO areas with design 
    values at and above 16.5 ppm, such as the South Coast, were classified 
    as serious.
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        \2\ For a description of the boundaries of the Los Angeles-South 
    Coast Air Basin, see 40 CFR 81.305. The nonattainment area includes 
    all of Orange County and the more populated portions of Los Angeles, 
    San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties.
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        Section 172 of the Act contains general requirements applicable to 
    SIPs for nonattainment areas. Sections 186 and 187 of the Act set out 
    additional air quality planning requirements for CO nonattainment 
    areas.
        The most fundamental of these provisions is the requirement that CO 
    nonattainment areas submit by November 15, 1992, a SIP demonstrating 
    attainment of the NAAQS as expeditiously as practicable but no later 
    than the deadline applicable to the area's classification: December 31, 
    1995, for moderate areas, and December 31, 2000, for serious areas like 
    the South Coast. CAA sections 186(a)(1), 187(a)(7), and 187(b)(1). Such 
    a demonstration must provide enforceable measures to achieve emission 
    reductions each year leading to emissions at or below the level 
    predicted to result in attainment of the NAAQS throughout the 
    nonattainment area.
        EPA has issued a ``General Preamble'' describing the Agency's 
    preliminary views on how EPA intends to act on SIPs submitted under 
    Title I of the Act. See generally 57 FR 13498 (April 16, 1992) and 57 
    FR 18070 (April 28, 1992). The reader should refer to the General 
    Preamble for a more detailed discussion of EPA's preliminary 
    interpretations of Title I requirements. In this proposed rulemaking 
    action, EPA is applying these policies to the South Coast CO SIP 
    submittal, taking into consideration the specific factual issues 
    presented.
    
    C. EPA Actions on Prior South Coast CO SIP Revisions
    
        The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) adopted a 
    CO plan on November 6, 1992. This plan was forwarded to the California 
    Air Resources Board (CARB), which submitted the plan as a proposed 
    revision to the California SIP on December 31, 1992. On April 29, 1993, 
    CARB submitted a letter correcting certain adoption and implementation 
    dates for measures under CARB's jurisdiction. On May 5, 1994, EPA 
    proposed to approve in part and disapprove in part the SIP submittal 
    (59 FR 23264). The proposed disapprovals derived from the State's 
    failure, at the time, to adopt and submit regulations for an enhanced 
    I/M program, since progress and attainment under the South Coast CO 
    plan depended, to a large extent, on this program.
        On December 28, 1994, CARB amended and submitted the South Coast 
    Carbon Monoxide Attainment Plan (Revised), adopted by the SCAQMD on 
    September 9, 1994. The 1994 CO plan provided technical amendments to 
    the 1992 submittal and wholly superseded it.
        On February 14, 1995, the Administrator signed final and direct 
    final partial approval and partial disapproval of the revised South 
    Coast CO plan, as part of a notice promulgating Federal Implementation 
    Plans (FIPs) for California, including a CO FIP for the South Coast. 
    Again, the disapproval actions were the result of the plan's dependence 
    upon reductions from an enhanced I/M program, which had not yet been 
    adopted.
        On April 10, 1995, legislation was enacted mandating that the 
    California FIPs ``shall be rescinded and shall have no further force 
    and effect'' (Pub. L. 104-6, Defense Supplemental Appropriation, H.R. 
    889). At the time of enactment of this legislation, the FIP and SIP 
    actions had not yet been published in the Federal Register.3 
    Because the State was in the process of adopting legislation and 
    regulations for an enhanced I/M program and developing a revised CO 
    attainment plan, EPA did not reissue the South Coast CO SIP partial 
    approval and partial disapproval actions. For this reason, the Agency's 
    direct final approval and disapproval action did not become effective. 
    As part of today's action, EPA is proposing to rescind the 1995 
    approval and disapproval actions taken on the 1994 CO SIP submittal.
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        \3\ On August 21, 1995 (60 FR 43468), EPA issued a notice of 
    Congressional action rescinding the California FIP and also 
    published notices relating to many of the SIP approvals included 
    with the final FIP.
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        On January 22, 1996, CARB submitted regulations adopted by the 
    California Bureau of Automotive Repair for the implementation of an 
    enhanced I/M program. California's program mandates loaded mode testing 
    of all vehicles, with the majority of vehicles to be tested at test-
    and-repair facilities.
        On March 18, 1996 (61 FR 10920), EPA proposed to grant interim 
    approval to the enhanced I/M program and regulations, as meeting the 
    high enhanced performance standard requirements of 40 CFR Part 51, 
    Subpart S, as amended, and section 348(c) of the National Highway 
    System Designation Act (``the Highway Act,'' Public Law 104-59, enacted 
    on November 28, 1995). The Highway Act provides for approval of 
    decentralized or test-and-repair programs for the full credit proposed 
    by the state if the proposed credits reflect a good faith estimate and 
    the program otherwise complies with the CAA. The approval remains 
    effective for up to 18 months after the date of final rulemaking. After 
    the 18-month period, permanent approval of the program is granted if 
    the data collected on operation of the program demonstrates that the 
    credits are appropriate. In order to ensure that at least 6 months of 
    operational data can be collected to evaluate program performance, EPA 
    requires program start-up no later than 12 months after the effective 
    date of approval.
        On January 8, 1997 (62 FR 1160), EPA finalized the interim approval 
    of California's enhanced I/M program, effective February 7, 1997. This 
    action set February 9, 1998, as the deadline for program start-up. The 
    approval expires on August 7, 1998, or earlier if by such date the 
    State has submitted as a SIP revision the required demonstration that 
    the credits claimed for the program are appropriate and that the 
    program is otherwise in compliance with the CAA, and EPA takes final 
    action approving the revision.
        EPA's final interim approval of California's enhanced I/M program 
    also granted interim approval to the State's submittal as meeting the 
    requirements of section 187(a)(6) of the Act for enhanced I/M for the 
    South Coast. Section 187(a)(6) requires CO nonattainment areas with a 
    design value greater than 12.7 ppm to implement enhanced I/M programs 
    in the urbanized portion of the nonattainment area, as defined by the 
    Bureau of Census, with 1980 populations of 200,000 or more.
        On February 5, 1997, CARB submitted as a revision to the California 
    SIP the 1997 Air Quality Management Plan for the South Coast Air Basin 
    (SCAB), Antelope Valley, and Coachella Valley, adopted by the SCAQMD on 
    November 15, 1996. This submittal, which included the South Coast 
    Carbon Monoxide Attainment Plan (Revised), was found to be complete on 
    April 1, 1997, with respect to portions of the AQMP relating to CO and 
    nitrogen dioxide SIP requirements.4 This 1997 CO plan 
    supersedes all prior submittals.
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        \4\ EPA adopted the completeness criteria on February 16, 1990 
    (55 FR 5830) and, pursuant to section 110(k)(1)(A) of the CAA, 
    revised the criteria on August 26, 1991 (56 FR 42216).
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        This 1997 CO plan provides, among other things, a revised CO 
    attainment demonstration based on updated vehicle
    
    [[Page 64331]]
    
    miles traveled (VMT) projections reflecting new forecasts prepared by 
    the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), an amended 
    Regional Mobility Element adopted by SCAG, revised motor vehicle 
    emissions modeling, new emissions inventories, amended control 
    measures, and updated areawide Urban Airshed Modeling (UAM) and hotspot 
    (CAL3QHC) air quality modeling analyses using the updated inventories 
    and improvements to other modeling inputs.
    
    II. EPA Action
    
    A. Summary of Proposed Action
    
        In this document, EPA is proposing to approve the 1997 CO plan, 
    with respect to the CAA requirements for notice and adoption, baseline 
    and projected emissions inventory, and VMT forecasts. EPA proposes to 
    grant interim approval to the CO attainment demonstration, quantitative 
    milestones, and reasonable further progress. Along with EPA's prior 
    interim approval of California's enhanced I/M program under section 
    187(a)(6) of the CAA and section 348(c) of the Highway Act, these 
    interim approvals expire on August 7, 1998, or earlier if by such date 
    California submits the required demonstration that the CO credits are 
    appropriate.
        As noted above, EPA is also proposing to rescind the Agency's 
    partial approval and partial disapproval of the 1994 CO SIP submittal, 
    taken on February 14, 1995.
    
    B. Procedural Requirements
    
        Both the SCAQMD and CARB have satisfied applicable statutory and 
    regulatory requirements for reasonable public notice and hearing prior 
    to adoption of the plan and each of the plan amendments. The SCAQMD 
    conducted numerous public workshops and public hearings prior to the 
    adoption hearing on November 15, 1996, at which the 1997 AQMP was 
    adopted by the Governing Board of the SCAQMD (Resolution No. 96-23). On 
    January 23, 1997, the Governing Board of CARB adopted the plan 
    (Resolution No. 97-1). The plan was submitted to EPA by Michael P. 
    Kenny, Executive Officer of CARB, on February 5, 1997. The SIP 
    submittal includes proof of publication for notices of SCAQMD and CARB 
    public hearings, as evidence that all hearings were properly noticed. 
    Therefore, EPA proposes to approve the 1997 CO plan as meeting the 
    procedural requirements of section 110(a)(1) of the CAA.
    
    C. Baseline and Projected Emissions Inventory
    
        The revised and updated emissions inventory included in the 1997 CO 
    plan is consistent with EPA's guidance documents.5 This EPA 
    guidance allows approval of California's motor vehicle emissions 
    factors in place of the corresponding federal emissions factors. The 
    motor vehicle emissions factors used in the plan were generated by the 
    CARB EMFAC7G and BURDEN7G program. The gridded CO inventory for motor 
    vehicles was then produced using an updated Caltrans Direct Travel 
    Impact Model (DTIM2) (Systems Applications International, 1994) to 
    combine EMFAC7G data with transportation modeling performed by SCAG.
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        \5\ See, for example, Emission Inventory Requirements for Carbon 
    Monoxide State Implementation Plans, EPA--450/4-91-011; Procedures 
    for the Preparation of Emission Inventories for Carbon Monoxide and 
    Precursors of Ozone, Volume I: General Guidance for Stationary 
    Sources, EPA--450/4-91-016; Procedures for Emission Inventory 
    Preparation, Volume IV: Mobile Sources, EPA--450/4-91-026d Revised.
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        SCAG provided the baseline socioeconomic data used in the plan. 
    These forecasts include the following predicted growth through the CO 
    attainment year.
    
                                       1997 AQMP Baseline Socioeconomic Forecasts                                   
                                                      [In millions]                                                 
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                                Category                                   1993            2000          % growth   
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    Population......................................................            13.8            14.8               7
    Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled....................................           293.3           317.9               8
    Daily Vehicle Trips.............................................            31.2            33.2               6
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        EPA notes that these predictions assume that the key categories of 
    VMT and daily trip levels will increase at growth rates considerably 
    below long-term historic trends. This makes it particularly important 
    for transportation agencies to track actual VMT and trip numbers 
    carefully, and to trigger remedial actions, if necessary, before the 
    plan fails to meet scheduled reduction targets.
        The planning emissions inventory from the 1997 CO plan is 
    summarized in the table below, ``Carbon Monoxide Emissions by Major 
    Source Category,'' from Table 5-3 in Appendix V of the 1997 AQMP.
    
                                   Carbon Monoxide Emissions by Major Source Category                               
                                                    [In tons per day]                                               
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                             Source category                               1993            1995            2000     
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    Stationary Sources..............................................             127             170             297
    Onroad Vehicles.................................................            5908            5381            3298
    Other Mobile....................................................            1538            1637            1550
                                                                     -----------------------------------------------
        Total.......................................................            7573            7188            5145
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        The sharp decline in baseline emissions from onroad vehicles and, 
    consequently, the decrease in total CO emissions, from 1993-2000 is 
    attributed to the adopted California motor vehicle and clean fuels 
    regulations, and benefits from vehicle fleet turnover.
    
    [[Page 64332]]
    
        The methodologies used to prepare the base year and projected 
    emissions inventory, as described in Chapter 3 and Appendix 3 of the 
    AQMP, are acceptable. Accordingly, EPA proposes to approve the 1997 CO 
    plan with respect to the emissions inventory requirements of sections 
    172(c)(3) and 187(a)(1) the CAA.
    
    D. Attainment Demonstration
    
        The attainment demonstration includes both an areawide and a hot-
    spot modeling analysis at four heavily traveled intersections.
        The areawide analysis was conducted using the Urban Airshed Model, 
    according to EPA's ``Guidance for Application of Urban Areawide Models 
    for CO Attainment Demonstration'' (1992). The UAM analysis uses a 
    December 6-7, 1989 episode. This episode recorded a 1-hour CO 
    concentration of 31 ppm and an 8-hour concentration of 21.8 ppm. These 
    were the highest monitored values in recent years. The UAM analysis 
    performed for the 1997 CO plan makes one significant change in the 
    meteorological inputs: the mixing height was raised from 15 meters to 
    50 meters, to reflect the results of studies in the Lynwood area. The 
    adjusted mixing height is also within the uncertainties of estimating 
    night time mixing height.
        Emissions used in the UAM analysis are shown in the table below, 
    titled ``Peak CO Emissions and South Coast UAM Results.'' These 
    emissions, representing day-specific emissions, were disaggregated into 
    5 kilometer grid cells throughout the modeling domain.
    
                                      Peak CO Emissions and South Coast UAM Results                                 
                                                        [In ppm]                                                    
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                                                                         Regional         Maximum        Regional   
                        Scenario                         Emissions     maximum  (8-    Lynwood  (8-    maximum  (1- 
                                                           (tpd)           hour)           hour)           hour)    
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    1989 Base.......................................            9140            22.1            16.4            26.1
    2000 Base.......................................            4511             7.7             6.6            10.7
    2000 Control....................................            4349             7.4             6.4            10.3
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    Source: 1997 AQMP, Appendix V, Tables 5-12 and 5-13.                                                            
    
        The table shows the results of the UAM analysis for both the 8-hour 
    and 1-hour average (the corresponding NAAQS are 9 ppm and 35 ppm). 
    Concentrations for the 8-hour average are shown for the Lynwood 
    receptor, since the monitor at this site typically records peak 
    concentrations.
        Model performance for the UAM simulation is within EPA's acceptable 
    range of accuracy: +1 percent for the unpaired peak prediction, -25 
    percent for the paired peak prediction, and 22 percent for the paired 
    absolute error. See 1997 AQMP, Appendix V, pages V-5-6 and V-5-7.
        The predicted regional maximum 8-hour average CO concentration is 
    7.7 ppm in the year 2000, assuming no new control measures. The UAM 
    analysis thus shows attainment with a margin of safety based solely on 
    fully adopted regulations.
        The SCAQMD also modeled a ``control'' scenario, which assumes a 
    combined reduction of 173 tpd in the year 2000 from two CARB measures 
    which are currently under development, M1 (Accelerated Retirement of 
    Light-Duty Vehicles) and M2 (Improved Control Technology for Light-Duty 
    Vehicles). These State measures have already been approved as part of 
    the 1994 ozone SIP. Reductions from M1 and M2 are not needed for 
    purposes of the attainment demonstration, but the control scenario 
    illustrates additional ambient air quality improvements possible with a 
    greater level of control.\6\
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        \6\ EPA approved M1 on January 8, 1997 (62 FR 1150). M2 was 
    approved on August 21, 1995 (60 FR 43379) under the provisions of 
    section 182(e)(5) of the CAA, which authorizes the Administrator to 
    approve as part of an extreme ozone area SIP conceptual measures 
    dependent upon new control technologies or new control techniques. 
    EPA notes that the M2 reductions may help ensure maintenance of the 
    CO NAAQS, but any reductions from this measure would not be 
    creditable for purposes of the CO attainment SIP, because the State 
    has committed to begin implementation of the measure in 2004-2005, 
    several years beyond the year 2000 attainment deadline for CO.
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        The hot-spot analysis was performed for four intersections 
    (Lynwood, Hollywood, Westwood and Inglewood), using CAL3QHC (a roadway 
    intersection model) and base case as well as worst case meteorological 
    data. Projected peak 8-hour average hot-spot concentrations under base 
    case meteorology were 2.1 ppm at Lynwood, 2.2 ppm at Inglewood, and 3.2 
    ppm at Westwood and Hollywood. Under worst case meteorology, 
    concentrations are predicted to range from 3.5 ppm at Lynwood to 5.3 
    ppm at Hollywood.
        The areawide analysis and hot-spot analysis concentrations were not 
    aggregated, because CARB's 1991 study of CO in the Lynwood area 
    indicated that the projected maximum hot-spot concentrations were at 
    different times of day from the maximum areawide peak concentrations.
        The hot-spot modeling follows applicable EPA guidelines and 
    demonstrates attainment of the 8-hour CO standard for the year 2000 
    with the proposed control measures.
        Because the enhanced I/M regulations have now been adopted, the 
    1997 CO plan demonstrates attainment with adopted measures, which 
    reduce areawide emissions to 4511 tpd, substantially below the 
    estimated carrying capacity of 4968 tpd. However, attainment depends, 
    in part, upon specific reductions from the enhanced I/M program, which 
    was granted interim approval in prior rulemaking. Therefore, under 
    section 348(c) of the Highway Act, EPA proposes to grant interim 
    approval to the 1997 CO plan with respect to the attainment 
    demonstration requirement of section 187(a)(7) of the CAA.
    
    E. Quantitative Milestones and Reasonable Further Progress (RFP)
    
        EPA disapproved the 1994 South Coast CO SIP submittal with respect 
    to the milestone and RFP requirement because the plan depended heavily 
    upon reductions from the as yet unadopted enhanced I/M program to 
    achieve scheduled progress and eventual attainment by the year 2000 
    deadline in the Act. EPA's interim approval of California's enhanced I/
    M regulations cures this defect and allows for interim approval of the 
    milestone and RFP provision.
        The 1997 CO plan shows steady annual reductions in CO emissions 
    from 1993 through 2000, despite annual growth in VMT and stationary 
    source emissions (see 1997 AQMP, Appendix
    
    [[Page 64333]]
    
    V, Tables 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3). The CO emissions decline is displayed 
    below in the summary table entitled ``South Coast CO Emissions,'' taken 
    from Table 5-3 in Appendix V of the 1997 AQMP.
    
                                                South Coast CO Emissions                                            
                                                [Planning Inventory--tpd]                                           
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Source category                               1993            1995            2000     
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On-Road Vehicles................................................            5908            5381            3298
    Other Mobile....................................................            1538            1637            1550
    Stationary Sources..............................................             127             170             297
                                                                     -----------------------------------------------
        Total.......................................................            7573            7188            5145
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        In this action, therefore, EPA proposes to grant interim approval, 
    under section 348(c) of the Highway Act, to the 1997 CO plan with 
    respect to the RFP requirements in sections 171(1), 172(c)(2), and 
    187(a)(7) of the CAA.
    
    F. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Forecast
    
        Section 187(a)(2)(A) of the CAA requires the 1997 CO plan to 
    contain a forecast of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for each year until 
    attainment of the CO NAAQS. Also, as required by section 187(a)(2)(A), 
    the 1997 CO plan must provide for annual updates of the forecasts along 
    with annual reports to be submitted regarding the extent to which the 
    preceding annual forecasts proved to be accurate. These annual reports 
    must contain estimates of actual VMT in each previous year for which 
    the forecast was required, including the year prior to the report.
        The 1997 CO plan revises VMT forecasts in the prior South Coast CO 
    plans. The VMT forecasts have been updated by using new transportation 
    modeling and incorporating more recent socioeconomic data compared with 
    the VMT forecasts contained in the earlier plans. The required VMT 
    forecasts for each year from 1993 through 2000 are displayed in Table 
    5-1 in Appendix V to the 1997 AQMP. The forecasts are broken down by 7 
    motor vehicle categories. Table 5-2 shows the CO emissions from each 
    category for each year.
        EPA proposes to approve these new VMT forecasts as meeting the 
    section 187(a)(2)(A) requirement. Also, EPA proposes to approve the 
    responsible agencies' commitments to revise and replace the VMT 
    projections as needed and monitor actual VMT levels in the future.
    
    G. Summary of Proposed EPA Actions
    
        EPA proposes the following actions on elements of the South Coast 
    CO Attainment Plan (Revised), as submitted on February 5, 1997:
        (1) Approval of procedural requirements, under section 110(a)(1) of 
    the CAA;
        (2) Approval of baseline and projected emission inventories, under 
    sections 172(c)(3) and 187(a)(1) of the CAA;
        (3) Interim approval of attainment demonstration, under section 
    187(a)(7) of the CAA and section 348(c) of the Highway Act;
        (4) Interim approval of quantitative milestones and reasonable 
    further progress, under sections 171(1), 172(c)(2), and 187(a)(7) of 
    the CAA and section 348(c) of the Highway Act; and
        (5) Approval of VMT forecasts and the responsible agencies' 
    commitments to revise and replace the VMT projections as needed and 
    monitor actual VMT levels in the future, under section 187(a)(2)(A) of 
    the CAA.
        EPA also proposes to rescind EPA's prior partial approval and 
    partial disapproval of the 1994 South Coast CO SIP submittal, taken on 
    February 14, 1995. As discussed above, these actions have not been in 
    effect, since the final rulemaking was never published in the Federal 
    Register.
    
    III. Regulatory Process
    
        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 business, small not-for-profit enterprises and 
    government entities with jurisdiction over populations of less than 
    50,000.
        SIP approvals under sections 110 and 301 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 a significant impact on any small entities affected. Moreover, due 
    to the nature of the Federal state relationship under the CAA, 
    preparation of a regulatory flexibility analysis would constitute 
    Federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state action. The 
    CAA forbids EPA to base its actions concerning SIP's on such grounds. 
    Union Electric Co. v. U.S.E.P.A., 427 U.S. 246, 256-66 (S.Ct. 1976); 42 
    U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
        The OMB has exempted this action from review under Executive Order 
    12866.
    
    IV. Unfunded Mandates
    
        Under sections 202, 203, and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
    Act of 1995 (``Unfunded Mandates Act'') signed into law on March 22, 
    1995, EPA must undertake various actions in association with proposed 
    or final rules that include a Federal mandate that may result in 
    estimated costs of $100 million or more to the private sector, or to 
    State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate.
        Through submission of these SIP revisions, the State and any 
    affected local or tribal governments have elected to adopt the program 
    provided for under section 110 and 182(b) of the CAA. These rules may 
    bind State, local, and tribal governments to perform certain actions 
    and also require the private sector to perform certain duties. To the 
    extent that the rules being approved or disapproved by this action will 
    impose any mandate upon the State, local, or tribal governments either 
    as the owner or operator of a source or as a regulator, or would impose 
    any mandate upon the private sector, EPA's action will impose no new 
    requirements; such sources are already subject to these requirements 
    under State law. Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or 
    tribal governments, or to the private sector, result from this action. 
    EPA has also determined that this final action does not include a 
    mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100 million or more to 
    State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate or to the private 
    sector.
    
    [[Page 64334]]
    
    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
    
        Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
    Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.
    
        Dated: November 26, 1997.
    Felicia Marcus,
    Regional Administrator.
    [FR Doc. 97-31915 Filed 12-4-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/05/1997
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
97-31915
Dates:
Written comments on this proposal must be received by January 5, 1998.
Pages:
64329-64334 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CA-189-0059, FRL-5932-3
PDF File:
97-31915.pdf
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 52