[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6659-6664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3319]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[TX82-1-7336b; FRL-5962-5]
Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan, Texas:
15% Rate-of-Progress Plan, 1990 Emission Inventory, Motor Vehicle
Emission Budget, and Contingency Plan for the Beaumont/Port Arthur
Ozone Nonattainment Area
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: In this action, EPA is approving a revision to the Texas State
Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Beaumont/Port Arthur ozone
nonattainment area for the purpose of satisfying the 15% rate-of-
progress requirements of the Clean Air Act (Act) as amended in 1990,
which will aid in ensuring the attainment of the National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone. The EPA is also approving the
area's associated Motor Vehicle Emission Budget (MVEB).
In addition, EPA is approving revisions to the 1990 base year
emissions inventory and the contingency plan for this area.
This action also replaces the proposed limited approval/limited
disapproval of the Beaumont/Port Arthur 15% Plan and Contingency Plan
published on January 29, 1996. The May 22, 1997 (62 FR 27964), limited
approval of the Volotile Organic Compound (VOC) control measures
continues in effect.
DATES: This direct final rule document is effective April 13, 1998,
unless adverse comments are received by March 12, 1998. If the
effective date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the
Federal Register.
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.
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), 12100 Park
35 Circle, Building F, Austin, Texas 78753.
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: Mr. Eaton R. Weiler, of the EPA Region
6 Air Planning Section at the above address, telephone (214) 665-7242.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. Clean Air Act Requirements
Section 182(b)(1) of the Act as amended in 1990 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 VOC emissions of at least 15
percent, from a 1990 baseline, during the first six years after
enactment of the Act (November 15, 1996). The Act also sets limitations
on the creditability of certain types of reductions. Specifically,
states cannot take credit for reductions achieved by Federal Motor
Vehicle Control Program (FMVCP) measures (new car emissions standards)
promulgated prior to 1990, or for reductions resulting from
requirements to lower the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) of gasoline
promulgated prior to 1990. Furthermore, the Act does not allow credit
for corrections to Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Programs (I/M),
or corrections to Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) rules
as these programs were required prior to 1990. Emissions and emissions
reductions shall be calculated on a typical weekday basis for the
``peak'' 3-month ozone period (generally June through August).
In addition, section 172(c)(9) of the Act requires that contingency
measures be included in the plan revision to be implemented if
reasonable further progress is not achieved, or if the standard is not
attained.
In Texas, the Beaumont/Port Arthur ozone nonattainment area is
classified as ``moderate'' and is subject to the
[[Page 6660]]
section 182(b)(1) 15% rate-of-progress requirements. The Beaumont/Port
Arthur ozone nonattainment area is comprised of the following counties:
Orange, Jefferson, and Hardin. The 15 percent VOC emissions reduction
required by November 15, 1996, is defined within this document as
``rate-of-progress'' (ROP). The SIP revision which delineates the plan
for achieving the emissions reductions is defined in this document as
the ``15% ROP Plan.''
B. Previous 15 Percent Rate of Progress SIP revisions
Texas first adopted measures for the 15% ROP Plans and the required
contingency measures for the four nonattainment areas of Dallas/Fort
Worth, Houston/Galveston, El Paso, and Beaumont/Port Arthur in two
phases. Phase I was submitted to EPA on November 13, 1993, and
contained measures achieving the bulk of the required reductions in
each of the nonattainment areas. Phase II was submitted May 9, 1994.
The Phase II submittal was to make up the shortfall in reductions not
achieved by the Phase I measures. The combination of the Phase I and
Phase II measures was ruled administratively complete by EPA on May 12,
1994.
The EPA analyzed the November 13, 1993, and May 9, 1994, submittals
and determined that the measures included in the plan did not achieve
the required amount of reductions. Among other reasons, there was a
shortfall because the I/M program relied on reductions in the plans
which had subsequently been repealed by the State. On January 29, 1996
(61 FR 2751), EPA published a proposed limited approval/limited
disapproval of the 15% Plans included in the November 13, 1993, and May
9, 1994, submittal.
The EPA also proposed a limited approval of the measures that were
included with the plans because they resulted in a strengthening of the
SIP. For a complete discussion of the deficiencies in the State's
plans, please see the January 29, 1996, Federal Register document.
C. Current 15 Percent SIP Revision
The Governor of Texas submitted revisions to the 15% ROP Plans for
Beaumont/Port Arthur, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso and Houston/Galveston
areas in a letter dated August 9, 1996. The SIP submittal also included
revisions to the 1990 Base Year Inventory, El Paso section 818
analysis, the Post 96 ROP Plan for Houston, and the Employee Commute
Options. In this Federal Register, EPA is taking action on only the
Emission Inventory, 15% ROP Plan, Contingency measures, and MVEB for
the Beaumont/Port Arthur area. The EPA is taking no action on the other
portions of the August 23, 1996, submittal in this Federal Register,
nor on any plans for the Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso and Houston areas.
The other portions of the Governor's SIP submittal will be finalized in
separate Federal Register actions.
II. Analysis of the Submittal
A. General
Texas has made the following changes to address the shortfalls that
were identified in the January 29, 1996, limited approval/limited
disapproval proposed action. First, Texas made several revisions to its
emissions estimates. These revisions were based on more recent
information or source surveys. From these studies, Texas concluded
that, in some instances, better estimates of emissions were available
based on locally derived emission factors rather than defaults based on
national data. Second, these same studies resulted, in some instances,
in lower projections of emissions in 1996 resulting in less growth to
be offset. Finally, by better segregating the emission points that were
subject to specific rules, Texas identified additional emission
reductions from measures in the original 15% Plan. The EPA believes
that the revisions to the Emission Inventory and Growth Projections
eliminate the shortfall identified in the January 29, 1996, limited
disapproval/limited approval proposed action.
B. Emission Inventory Revisions
The EPA approved the Texas 1990 base year inventory on November 8,
1994 (59 FR 55586). In the August 23, 1996 SIP submittal, Texas
included revisions to the approved VOC inventory. The revisions have
been made based on more recently available information from source
surveys and other methods. Much of the information was developed as
part of bottom-up surveys of area source categories performed as part
of the 1993 intensive ozone study in the Houston and Beaumont. This
study, called the Coastal Oxidant Assessment for Southeast Texas
(COAST), included a study of area source emissions. Traditional area
source emission inventory techniques use national or state level
statistics for the level of activity of a source category. For example,
gallons of gasoline sold statewide might be used to determine emissions
from gasoline stations. These emissions would be apportioned
geographically using a surrogate such as population. In the bottom-up
approach, surveys of actual facilities were used to determine emission
levels. In addition to the data collected from bottom-up surveys, other
improvements were made to the 1990 inventory. A brief discussion of the
changes made to the inventory follows.
1. Other Product Coatings, High Performance Maintenance and Other
Special Purpose Coatings
These categories are all surface coating categories that were
estimated for the 1990 inventory using per capita emission factors
provided by EPA. The per capita factors were developed from national
level estimates of usage of a product divided by the 1989 population.
The documentation of the coatings and emissions covered by these
categories was not initially available. The TNRCC, with EPA approval,
removed these categories from the 1993 periodic emissions inventory.
After further study, documentation of the specific categories and
coatings was identified and the 1990 inventory has been adjusted
appropriately. Once the categories had been accurately identified,
overlap with the point source inventory could be accounted for and an
improved area source estimate was obtained.
2. Marine Vessel Loading Losses
Area source emissions in this category were based on estimates of
the total amount of VOCs loaded at Texas ports. Texas determined that
individual point sources had under reported emissions from this
category. When the revised point source emissions are considered, it
was determined that the bulk of the emissions in the Beaumont area were
covered in the point source emission inventory. Therefore, the area
source estimate could be reduced.
3. Surface Cleaning
A contractor performed a bottom-up survey of this category. This
survey was later expanded by TNRCC staff. The results of the survey
indicated that the national default estimate of emissions for this
category should be revised for the nonattainment areas in Texas.
4. Architectural Coatings
Texas revised emissions estimate by using more recent information
from the National Paint and Coatings Association combined with data
from surveys on thinner usage.
5. Automobile Refinishing
Texas used more recent information from the National Paint and
Coatings
[[Page 6661]]
Association and source surveys to revise the emission estimates for
this category. In addition, using data from the Department of Commerce
on paint shipments, Texas projected a substantial decrease in emissions
between 1990 and 1994.
6. Sheet, Strip and Coil
This category was estimated for the 1990 emission factor of 1.5
tons/employee. The number of employees related to this industry was
obtained from the County Business Patterns for Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) code 3479. This SIC code includes many businesses
not engaged in coil coating operations. A list of companies involved in
coil coating operations was obtained from the national coil coaters
association. It was determined that all of the companies involved in
these operations were outside the nonattainment area or were reporting
their emissions in the point source inventory. Therefore, including
their emissions in the area source emissions would be double counting.
Therefore, the area source emissions were removed from the inventory.
7. Vessels With Outboards
A telephone survey of pleasure craft owners in the Beaumont/Port
Arthur area was conducted. The survey showed that 62 percent of boat
usage occurs on weekends rather than on weekdays. Previous emission
estimates had allocated pleasure craft emissions equally to each day of
the week. It is important to know when emissions occur in developing
control strategies. In this case, according to the EPA guidance,
emissions are to be reduced from their 1990 summer time weekday levels.
Therefore, Texas reduced the expected weekday emissions based on the
results of the survey. A similar adjustment had previously been made to
the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston/Galveston inventories.
8. Generators <50 horsepower="" as="" part="" of="" the="" coast="" project,="" local="" area-specific="" construction="" and="" recreational="" area="" information="" and="" more="" current="" information="" about="" horsepower="" distributions="" and="" equipment/populations="" were="" utilized="" to="" obtain="" a="" more="" refined="" estimate="" of="" emissions="" in="" this="" category.="" 9.="" residential="" lawnmowers="" similar="" to="" the="" survey="" performed="" of="" recreational="" boat="" users,="" a="" survey="" of="" homeowners="" was="" performed="" to="" determine="" when="" they="" actually="" cut="" their="" lawns.="" fifty-nine="" percent="" of="" the="" surveyed="" respondents="" reported="" that="" they="" cut="" their="" lawns="" on="" the="" weekends.="" texas="" reallocated="" the="" emissions="" based="" on="" the="" results="" of="" the="" survey.="" 10.="" 1994="" quality="" assurance="" efforts="" during="" 1994,="" the="" tnrcc="" completed="" a="" thorough="" evaluation="" of="" the="" 1990="" point="" source="" inventory="" and="" discovered="" that="" emissions="" from="" facilities="" in="" several="" sic="" codes="" were="" misplaced="" under="" the="" wrong="" emissions="" category.="" this="" effort="" resulted="" in="" significant="" changes="" to="" some="" emissions="" categories.="" the="" realignment="" of="" emissions="" did="" not="" affect="" the="" total="" emissions.="" the="" realignment="" of="" emissions="" did="" have="" the="" effect="" of="" increasing="" the="" amount="" of="" reductions="" that="" were="" expected="" for="" certain="" control="" measures="" and="" decreasing="" the="" amount="" of="" emission="" reductions="" expected="" from="" other="" control="" measures.="" the="" epa="" is="" proposing="" to="" approve="" these="" revisions="" to="" the="" 1990="" base="" year="" voc="" inventory="" for="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area.="" the="" original="" biogenic="" emissions="" are="" unchanged.="" a="" summary="" of="" the="" revised="" 1990="" emissions="" inventory="" for="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area="" is="" included="" in="" table="" 1.="" table="" 1.--1990="" base="" year="" emissions="" inventory="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" beaumont="" port="" arthur="" -------------------------------------------------------------------------="" point="" area="" on-road="" non-road="" total="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" 245.35.......="" 30.63="" 19.11="" 18.44="" 313.53="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" c.="" calculation="" of="" the="" 1996="" target="" level="" of="" emissions="" texas="" subtracted="" the="" noncreditable="" reductions="" from="" the="" fmvcp="" and="" rvp="" program="" from="" the="" 1990="" emissions="" inventory.="" this="" subtraction="" results="" in="" the="" 1990="" adjusted="" inventory.="" the="" total="" required="" emission="" reduction="" required="" to="" meet="" the="" 15%="" rop="" plan="" requirement="" equals="" the="" sum="" of="" 15="" percent="" of="" the="" adjusted="" inventory,="" plus="" reductions="" to="" offset="" any="" growth="" that="" takes="" place="" between="" 1990="" and="" 1996,="" plus="" any="" reductions="" that="" result="" from="" corrections="" to="" the="" i/m="" or="" voc="" ract="" rules.="" table="" 2="" summarizes="" the="" calculations="" for="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area.="" table="" 2:="" calculation="" of="" required="" reductions="" (tons/day)="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" beaumont="" port="" arthur="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" 1990="" emission="" inventory.......................................="" 323.77="" 1990="" adjusted="" emission="" inventory..............................="" 313.53="" 15%="" of="" adjusted...............................................="" 47.03="" ract="" and="" i/m="" correction.......................................="" 4.28="" 1996="" target...................................................="" 262.22="" 1996="" projection="" \1\...........................................="" 320.01="" required="" reduction............................................="" 57.79="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" \1\="" 1996="" forecasted="" emissions="" with="" growth="" and="" pre-1990="" controls.="" d.="" projections="" of="" growth="" as="" can="" be="" seen="" from="" the="" calculations="" in="" table="" 2,="" an="" important="" component="" of="" calculating="" the="" required="" emission="" reductions="" is="" to="" project="" the="" amount="" of="" growth="" in="" emissions="" that="" is="" expected="" between="" 1990="" and="" 1996.="" since="" the="" 1996="" emissions="" are="" related="" to="" the="" 1990="" emissions,="" the="" changes="" in="" the="" 1990="" emission="" inventory="" resulted="" in="" changes="" to="" the="" 1996="" projections.="" in="" addition,="" as="" discussed="" previously,="" texas="" has="" projected="" reductions="" in="" the="" emissions="" from="" surface="" cleaning="" and="" auto="" refinishing="" emissions="" from="" 1990="" levels.="" e.="" deficiencies="" identified="" in="" the="" january="" 29,="" 1996="" federal="" register="" in="" the="" january="" 29,="" 1996="" federal="" register,="" epa="" identified="" several="" areas="" where="" it="" was="" believed="" that="" texas="" had="" projected="" too="" much="" emissions="" reduction="" for="" particular="" control="" measures.="" the="" epa="" has="" reviewed="" the="" august="" 9,="" 1996,="" sip="" revision="" and="" believes="" that="" it="" addresses="" the="" previously="" identified="" concerns.="" a="" brief="" discussion="" of="" the="" previously="" identified="" concerns="" follows="" below.="" 1.="" architectural="" coatings="" texas="" projected="" emission="" reductions="" for="" this="" category="" based="" on="" past="" epa="" guidance.="" the="" guidance,="" however,="" was="" changed="" in="" a="" memorandum="" dated="" march="" 22,="" 1995="" (credit="" for="" the="" 15="" percent="" rate-of-progress="" plans="" for="" reductions="" from="" the="" architectural="" and="" industrial="" maintenance="" (aim)="" coating="" rule).="" the="" [[page="" 6662]]="" august,="" 1996="" sip="" revision="" revises="" the="" projected="" emissions="" reduction="" estimate="" based="" on="" the="" more="" recent="" guidance.="" projected="" emissions="" reductions="" from="" the="" aim="" rule="" are="" based="" on="" the="" aim="" rule="" proposed="" by="" epa="" on="" june="" 25,="" 1995="" which="" expected="" compliance="" by="" april,="" 1997.="" subsequently,="" epa="" was="" sued="" over="" this="" proposed="" national="" rule="" and="" has="" negotiated="" a="" compliance="" date="" of="" no="" earlier="" than="" january="" 1,="" 1998.="" the="" previous="" guidance="" allowed="" states="" to="" take="" emission="" reduction="" credit="" for="" the="" aim="" rule="" even="" though="" the="" reductions="" were="" not="" expected="" to="" occur="" until="" april="" 1997.="" the="" epa="" believes="" that="" even="" though="" the="" compliance="" date="" has="" been="" pushed="" back,="" the="" projected="" emissions="" reduction="" from="" the="" national="" aim="" rule="" are="" creditable="" in="" state="" 15%="" plans.="" 2.="" acetone="" substitution="" texas="" had="" projected="" emissions="" reductions="" for="" the="" rules="" to="" regulate="" the="" cultured="" (synthetic)="" marble="" and="" fiber="" reinforced="" plastic="" operations.="" the="" epa,="" however,="" has="" added="" acetone="" to="" the="" list="" of="" non-="" reactive="" substances.="" texas,="" in="" the="" august,="" 1996="" submittal,="" removed="" emissions="" reduction="" credit="" for="" these="" rules.="" 3.="" vehicle="" inspection="" and="" maintenance="" (i/m)="" under="" the="" federal="" i/m="" flexibility="" amendments="" promulgated="" september="" 18,="" 1995,="" urbanized="" areas="" with="" a="" population="" of="" less="" than="" 200,000="" for="" 1990="" are="" not="" mandated="" to="" participate="" in="" the="" vehicle="" i/m="" program.="" the="" state="" of="" texas="" has="" elected="" not="" to="" implement="" a="" vehicle="" i/m="" program="" in="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" nonattainment="" area.="" for="" a="" complete="" discussion="" of="" the="" control="" measures="" considered="" please="" see="" the="" technical="" support="" document="" for="" this="" action.="" table="" 3="" summarizes="" the="" control="" measures="" and="" their="" projected="" emissions="" reductions="" used="" to="" achieve="" the="" 15="" percent="" target.="" table="" 3.--summary="" emission="" reductions="" for="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" required="" reduction="" (tons/day).................................="" 57.79="" ract="" catchup................................................="" 9.88="" tsdf........................................................="" 0.01="" vehicle="" refueling="" (stage="" ii)................................="" 1.96="" general="" vent="" gas............................................="" 11.75="" benzene="" neshaps.............................................="" 0.28="" fmvcp="" tier="" i................................................="" 0.21="" vessel="" cleaning.............................................="" 0.02="" fugitives...................................................="" 17.46="" re="" floating="" roof="" tank.......................................="" 25.62="" re="" improvements="" (excluding="" floating="" roof="" tank)..............="" 5.04="" gas="" utility="" engines.........................................="" 0.95="" stage="" i.....................................................="" 1.49="" architectural="" coatings......................................="" 0.45="" consumer/commercial="" products................................="" 0.38="" traffic="" markings............................................="" 0.05="" high="" performance="" maintenance................................="" 0.05="" other="" special="" purpose.......................................="" 0.12="" total="" estimated="" reductions..............................="" 75.71="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" f.="" motor="" vehicle="" emissions="" budgets="" the="" clean="" air="" act,="" section="" 176(c),="" and="" the="" transportation="" conformity="" rule="" require="" the="" states="" to="" establish="" mvebs="" in="" any="" control="" strategy="" sip="" that="" is="" submitted="" for="" attainment="" and="" maintenance="" of="" the="" naaqs.="" the="" state="" of="" texas="" has="" established="" a="" mveb="" for="" voc="" for="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area.="" the="" epa="" is="" proposing="" to="" approve="" the="" following="" mveb="" in="" table="" 4:="" table="" 4.--1996="" voc="" motor="" vehicle="" emissions="" budget="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" voc="" area="" (tons/="" day)="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" beaumont/port="" arthur..........................................="" 21.66="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" g.="" contingency="" measures="" ozone="" areas="" classified="" as="" moderate="" or="" above="" must="" include="" in="" their="" submittals,="" under="" section="" 172(c)(9)="" of="" the="" act,="" contingency="" measures="" to="" be="" implemented="" if="" reasonable="" further="" progress="" (rfp)="" is="" not="" achieved="" or="" if="" the="" standard="" is="" not="" attained="" by="" the="" applicable="" date.="" the="" general="" preamble="" to="" title="" i="" (57="" fr="" 13498)="" states="" that="" the="" contingency="" measures="" should,="" at="" a="" minimum,="" ensure="" that="" an="" appropriate="" level="" of="" emissions="" reduction="" progress="" continues="" to="" be="" made="" if="" attainment="" or="" rfp="" is="" not="" achieved="" and="" additional="" planning="" by="" the="" state="" is="" needed.="" therefore,="" the="" epa="" interprets="" the="" act="" to="" require="" states="" with="" moderate="" and="" above="" ozone="" nonattainment="" areas="" to="" include="" sufficient="" contingency="" measures="" in="" the="" november="" 1993="" submittal,="" so="" that="" upon="" implementation="" of="" such="" measures,="" additional="" emissions="" reductions="" of="" up="" to="" three="" percent="" of="" the="" adjusted="" base="" year="" inventory="" (or="" a="" lesser="" percentage="" that="" will="" make="" up="" the="" identified="" shortfall)="" would="" be="" achieved="" in="" the="" year="" after="" the="" failure="" has="" been="" identified.="" states="" must="" show="" that="" their="" contingency="" measures="" can="" be="" implemented="" with="" minimal="" further="" action="" on="" their="" part="" and="" with="" no="" additional="" rulemaking="" actions="" such="" as="" public="" hearings="" or="" legislative="" review="" .="" iii.="" analysis="" of="" specific="" contingency="" measures="" the="" following="" is="" a="" discussion="" of="" each="" of="" the="" contingency="" measures="" that="" have="" been="" included="" in="" the="" sip="" submittals="" and="" an="" analysis="" of="" their="" acceptableness.="" a.="" gas="" utility="" engines="" texas="" has="" projected="" emission="" reductions="" that="" will="" occur="" from="" the="" small="" engine="" rule="" in="" the="" year="" following="" the="" required="" milestone="" demonstration="" or="" 1997.="" the="" epa="" believes="" that="" these="" reductions="" have="" been="" quantified="" appropriately.="" b.="" tier="" i="" additional="" reductions="" are="" projected="" for="" tier="" i.="" the="" epa="" agrees="" with="" these="" reduction="" estimates.="" c.="" excess="" reductions="" excess="" reductions="" from="" measures="" in="" place="" are="" sufficient="" to="" ensure="" that="" the="" contingency="" measure="" target="" of="" three="" percent="" is="" met.="" these="" emission="" reductions="" are="" in="" excess="" of="" what="" is="" required="" for="" the="" area="" to="" achieve="" by="" november="" 15,="" 1996.="" if="" texas="" has="" to="" rely="" on="" these="" measures="" for="" contingency="" measures="" or="" for="" future="" plans="" then="" the="" state="" will="" have="" one="" year="" to="" backfill="" the="" contingency="" plan.="" table="" 7.--summary="" of="" contingency="" measures:="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" (tons/="" day)="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" required="" contingency..........................................="" 9.41="" creditable="" contingency="" reductions:="" gas="" utility="" engines.........................................="" 0.08="" tier="" i......................................................="" 0.69="" excess="" from="" existing="" measures...............................="" 17.92="" total...................................................="" 18.69="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" iv.="" final="" action="" the="" epa="" has="" evaluated="" the="" emissions="" inventory,="" 15%="" plans="" and="" contingency="" measures="" submitted="" as="" part="" of="" the="" august="" 9,="" 1996,="" sip="" revision="" for="" texas.="" the="" epa="" is="" approving="" the="" revisions="" to="" the="" 1990="" base="" year="" inventory,="" the="" 15%="" plan,="" and="" contingency="" plan="" for="" the="" beaumont/="" port="" arthur="" area="" 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="" this="" action="" should="" adverse="" or="" critical="" comments="" be="" filed.="" this="" action="" will="" be="" effective="" april="" 13,="" 1998,="" unless="" by="" march="" 12,="" 1998,="" adverse="" comments="" are="" received.="" if="" epa="" receives="" such="" comments,="" this="" action="" will="" be="" withdrawn="" before="" the="" effective="" date="" by="" publishing="" a="" [[page="" 6663]]="" subsequent="" document="" that="" will="" withdraw="" the="" final="" action.="" all="" public="" comments="" received="" will="" then="" be="" addressed="" in="" a="" subsequent="" final="" rule="" based="" on="" proposed="" action.="" the="" epa="" will="" not="" institute="" a="" second="" comment="" period.="" 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="" april="" 13,="" 1998.="" 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.="" v.="" administrative="" requirements="" a.="" executive="" order="" (e.o.)="" 12866="" the="" office="" of="" management="" and="" budget="" 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="" may="" be="" significantly="" or="" uniquely="" impacted="" by="" the="" rule.="" the="" epa="" has="" determined="" that="" this="" approval="" action="" proposed="" 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="" april="" 13,="" 1998.="" 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)="" of="" the="" act.="" list="" of="" subjects="" in="" 40="" cfr="" part="" 52="" environmental="" protection,="" air="" pollution="" control,="" carbon="" monoxide,="" hydrocarbons,="" incorporation="" by="" reference,="" intergovernmental="" relations,="" lead,="" nitrogen="" dioxide,="" ozone,="" particulate="" matter,="" reporting="" and="" recordkeeping="" requirements,="" sulfur="" oxides,="" volatile="" organic="" compounds.="" note:="" incorporation="" by="" reference="" of="" the="" sip="" for="" the="" state="" of="" texas="" was="" approved="" by="" the="" director="" of="" the="" federal="" register="" on="" july="" 1,="" 1982.="" dated:="" january="" 22,="" 1998.="" lynda="" f.="" carroll,="" acting="" regional="" administrator,="" region="" 6.="" 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="" et="" seq.="" subpart="" ss--texas="" 2.="" section="" 52.2270="" is="" amended="" by="" adding="" paragraph="" (c)(107)="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 52.2270="" identification="" of="" plan.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (c)="" *="" *="" *="" (107)="" a="" revision="" to="" the="" texas="" state="" implementation="" plan="" addressing="" the="" 15%="" rate-of-progress="" plan="" requirements="" for="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" ozone="" nonattainment="" area="" was="" submitted="" by="" a="" cover="" letter="" from="" governor="" george="" bush="" dated="" august="" 9,="" 1996.="" this="" revision="" will="" aid="" in="" ensuring="" that="" reasonable="" further="" progress="" is="" made="" towards="" attaining="" the="" national="" ambient="" air="" quality="" standard="" (naaqs)="" for="" ozone="" in="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area.="" this="" submittal="" also="" contained="" revisions="" to="" the="" 1990="" base="" year="" emissions="" inventory,="" motor="" vehicle="" emission="" budget,="" and="" contingency="" plan="" for="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area.="" (i)="" incorporation="" by="" reference.="" texas="" natural="" resource="" conservation="" commission="" (tnrcc)="" order="" adopting="" amendments="" to="" the="" state="" implementation="" plan;="" docket="" number="" 96-0465-sip,="" issued="" july="" 31,="" 1996.="" (ii)="" additional="" material.="" (a)="" tnrcc="" certification="" letter="" dated="" july="" 24,="" 1996,="" and="" signed="" by="" gloria="" vasquez,="" chief="" clerk,="" tnrcc.="" (b)="" the="" sip="" narrative="" plan="" and="" tables="" entitled,="" ``revisions="" to="" the="" state="" implementation="" plan="" for="" the="" control="" of="" ozone="" air="" pollution,''="" as="" it="" applies="" to="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area="" dated="" july="" 24,="" 1996.="" 3.="" section="" 52.2309="" is="" amended="" by="" adding="" paragraph="" (d)="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 52.2309="" emissions="" inventories.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (d)="" the="" texas="" natural="" resource="" conservation="" commission="" submitted="" state="" implementation="" plan="" revisions="" to="" the="" 1990="" base="" year="" emission="" inventory="" [[page="" 6664]]="" for="" the="" beaumont/port="" arthur="" area="" with="" a="" cover="" letter="" from="" the="" governor="" of="" texas="" dated="" august="" 9,="" 1996.="" [fr="" doc.="" 98-3319="" filed="" 2-9-98;="" 8:45="" am]="" billing="" code="" 6560-50-p="">