99-11827. Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maine; Approval of Fuel Control Program under Section 211(c)  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 26306-26311]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-11827]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [ME61-7010A; A-1-FRL-6338-2]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
    Maine; Approval of Fuel Control Program under Section 211(c)
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Direct final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision 
    submitted by the State of Maine on March 10, 1999, establishing a lower 
    Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) fuel requirement for gasoline distributed in 
    southern Maine which includes York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Kennebec, 
    Androscoggin, Knox, and Lincoln Counties. Maine has developed these 
    fuel requirements to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds 
    (VOC) in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). 
    EPA is approving Maine's fuel requirements into the Maine SIP because 
    EPA has found that the requirements are necessary for southern Maine to 
    achieve the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone.
    
    DATES: This direct final rule is effective on July 13, 1999 without 
    further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by June 14, 1999. 
    If adverse comment is received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of 
    the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public 
    that the rule will not take effect.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Susan Studlien, Deputy Director, 
    Office of Ecosystem Protection (mail code CAA), U.S. Government 
    Protection Agency, Region I, One Congress Street, Boston MA 02203. 
    Copies of the State submittal and EPA's technical support document are 
    available for public inspection during normal business hours, by 
    appointment, at the Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. Environmental 
    Protection Agency, Region I, One Congress Street, 11th floor, Boston, 
    MA, and Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. 
    Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., (LE-131), 
    Washington, D.C. 20460. In addition, the information is available at 
    the Bureau of Air Quality Control, Department of Environmental 
    Protection, 71 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04333.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Judge, (617) 918-1045.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Background
    
        Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, southern Maine was 
    divided into three separate ozone nonattainment areas: the Portland 
    area which is comprised of York, Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties; the 
    Lewiston-Auburn area which is comprised of Androscoggin and Kennebec 
    counties; and the Knox and Lincoln County area. Each of these areas was 
    classified as moderate nonattainment for ozone. The ozone attainment 
    deadline for these areas was initially November 15, 1996. Just downwind 
    from these areas, the largely rural counties of Hancock and Waldo were 
    designated nonattainment and classified as marginal.
        To bring these areas into attainment, the State has adopted and 
    implemented a broad range of ozone control measures including stage II 
    vapor recovery on larger facilities, numerous stationary and area 
    source VOC controls, an inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, and 
    the California low emission vehicle program. In addition, the State 
    participated in the federal reformulated gasoline (RFG) program from 
    January 1, 1995 until March 10, 1999 in southern Maine. These measures 
    resulted in significant air quality improvements in southern Maine.
        Following adoption of the new ozone NAAQS (described below), EPA 
    has determined that the 1-hour ozone standard no longer applies in 
    certain
    
    [[Page 26307]]
    
    areas of the country that were meeting the 1-hour ozone NAAQS (63 FR 
    31014, 63 FR 39432). In Maine, EPA made this determination for all 
    areas outside the Portland area (63 FR 31014). On December 17, 1998, 
    EPA proposed to make this determination for the Portland area (63 FR 
    69598).
        On July 18, 1997, EPA adopted a new 8-hour ozone standard (62 FR 
    38856). The new standard defines the new ozone air quality standard 
    which all areas must meet to protect the public health. EPA is required 
    to determine the attainment status of areas with respect to the new 
    standard by July 18, 2000. Current monitoring data for Cumberland, 
    Sagadahoc, York and Hancock counties indicate that these areas are not 
    attaining the 8-hour ozone standard. Thus, despite significant progress 
    toward attaining the 1-hour standard, EPA believes that additional 
    reductions of ozone precursors will be required for these areas to meet 
    the new standard.
        On October 13, 1998, Maine's Governor requested that EPA allow the 
    State to discontinue its participation in the federal RFG program, in 
    accordance with the ``opt-out'' procedures set forth in 40 CFR 80.72. 
    At the same time, the Governor committed to ensure that the State adopt 
    a control program which achieved VOC reductions equivalent to those 
    required under the RFG program, specifically identifying fuel controls 
    as the primary replacement options. EPA approved the Governor's opt-out 
    request effective March 10, 1999.
        On February 24, 1999, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection 
    (BEP), after a public hearing and comment period, adopted a low-RVP 
    gasoline rule that set limits on the RVP of gasoline sold during the 
    summer months in these seven counties in southern Maine. The rule 
    establishes a phased approach with an ultimate RVP standard of 7.2 
    pounds per square inch (psi). Specifically, the rule provides that, 
    beginning May 1, 1999 through September 15, 1999, regulated gasoline 
    must have an RVP no greater than 7.8 psi. Beginning May 1, 2000 through 
    September 15, 2000, and each May 1 through September 15 thereafter, no 
    gasoline may be sold with an RVP greater than 7.2 psi. The State's low-
    RVP rule is codified in Chapter 119 of the Maine Department of 
    Environmental Protection's regulations, entitled ``Motor Vehicle Fuel 
    Volatility Limit.''
        The Department of Environmental Protection, on behalf of the BEP, 
    submitted its low-RVP rule to EPA as a revision to the SIP on March 10, 
    1999, the effective date of Maine's ``opt-out'' of the RFG program. On 
    April 8, 1999, Maine submitted additional technical support for the SIP 
    revision, including materials supporting the State's request to waive 
    Clean Air Act preemption of state fuel controls pursuant to section 
    211(c)(4) of the Act.
        By this low-RVP rule, Maine is ensuring that it replaces the VOC 
    benefits that RFG had been required to achieve. These emission 
    reductions were critical to Maine's attainment of the 1-hour ozone 
    standard in several areas. Further, given currently available 
    monitoring data demonstrating that some of these areas are not meeting 
    the new 8-hour ozone standard, EPA believes that these reductions will 
    help achieve that standard.
    
    II. Reid Vapor Pressure
    
        Reid Vapor Pressure is a measure of a gasoline's volatility at a 
    certain temperature and is a measurement of the rate at which gasoline 
    evaporates and emits VOC; the lower the RVP, the lower the rate of 
    evaporation. The RVP of gasoline can be lowered by reducing the amount 
    of its volatile components, such as butane. Lowering RVP in the summer 
    months can offset the effect of summer temperature upon the volatility 
    of gasoline, which, in turn, lowers emissions of VOC. Because VOC is a 
    necessary component in the production of ground level ozone in 
    hotsummer months, reduction of RVP will help areas achieve the NAAQS 
    for ozone and thereby produce benefits for human health and the 
    environment.
        The primary emission benefits from low-RVP gasoline come from 
    reductions in VOC evaporative emissions; exhaust emission reductions 
    are much smaller. Because oxides of nitrogen (NOX) are a 
    product of combustion, they will not be found in evaporative emissions, 
    and low-RVP gasoline will have little or no effect on NOX.
    
    III. State Submittal
    
        The fuel program for southern Maine covering York, Cumberland, 
    Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Androscoggin, Knox, and Lincoln Counties 
    establishes limits on gasoline properties that reduce emissions of VOC. 
    The rule controls the RVP of gasoline sold in this area in two steps. 
    Beginning May 1, 1999 through September 15, 1999, the gasoline sold 
    must have an RVP no greater than 7.8 psi, and from May 1, 2000 through 
    September 15, 2000, and each May 1 through September 15 thereafter, no 
    gasoline may be sold with an RVP greater than 7.2 psi. These same 
    counties in Maine had previously participated in the federal RFG 
    program.
    
    IV. Clean Air Act Requirements
    
        In determining the approvability of a SIP revision, EPA must 
    evaluate the proposed revision for consistency with the requirements of 
    the CAA and EPA regulations, as found in section 110 and part D of the 
    CAA and 40 CFR part 51 (Requirements for Preparation, Adoption, and 
    Submittal of Implementation Plans).
        For SIP revisions addressing certain fuel measures, an additional 
    statutory requirement applies. CAA section 211(c)(4)(A) prohibits state 
    regulations respecting a fuel characteristic or component for which EPA 
    has adopted a control or prohibition under section 211(c)(1), unless 
    the state control is identical to the federal control. Section 
    211(c)(4)(C) provides an exception to this preemption if EPA approves 
    the state requirements in a SIP. Section 211(c)(4)(C) states that the 
    Administrator may approve preempted state fuel standards in a SIP:
    
    only if [s]he finds that the State control or prohibition is 
    necessary to achieve the national primary or secondary ambient air 
    quality standard which the plan implements. The Administrator may 
    find that a State control or prohibition is necessary to achieve 
    that standard if no other measures that would bring about timely 
    attainment exist, or if other measures exist and are technically 
    possible to implement, but are unreasonable or impracticable.
    
    EPA's August, 1997 ``Guidance on Use of Opt-in to RFG and Low RVP 
    Requirements in Ozone SIPS'' gives further guidance on what EPA is 
    likely to consider in making a finding of necessity.
    
    V. EPA Evaluation
    
    A. General SIP Requirements
    
        As discussed below, EPA has evaluated the submitted SIP revision 
    and has determined that it is consistent with the requirements of the 
    CAA and EPA regulations. EPA has found that the March 10, 1999, SIP 
    revision, as supplemented by the additional technical support submitted 
    on April 8, 1999, conforms to EPA's completeness criteria in 40 CFR 
    part 51, appendix V.
        The SIP submittal contains: (1) Chapter 119, Maine Department of 
    Environmental Protection regulations, as adopted by the Maine Board of 
    Environmental Protection on February 24, 1999 and effective on March 9, 
    1999; (2) documentation of the public notice dated December 22, 1998, 
    and a transcript of the public hearing regarding the amendment of 
    Chapter 119, dated January 20, 1999; (3) evidence of State legal 
    authority; and (4) application for waiver of federal
    
    [[Page 26308]]
    
    preemption. Information regarding prohibitions on the sale of non-
    conforming gasoline, test procedures and sampling for the SIP revision 
    can be found in Chapter 119 of the Maine Department of Environmental 
    Protection regulations, and Maine statutes on enforcement and penalties 
    can be found at Title 38 of Maine Revised Statutes Annotated (M.R.S.A.) 
    Sections 348 and 349. EPA has concluded that these provisions confer on 
    the State the requisite authority to enforce compliance with the 7.2 
    psi (and initial 7.8 psi) RVP limit.
    
    B. Section 211(c)(4)(C)
    
    1. Federal Preemption
        CAA section 211(c)(4)(A) preempts certain state fuel regulations by 
    prohibiting a state from prescribing or attempting to enforce any 
    control or prohibition respecting any characteristic or component of a 
    fuel or fuel additive for the purposes of motor vehicle emission 
    control if theAdministrator has prescribed under section 211(c)(1) a 
    control or prohibition applicable to such characteristic or component 
    of the fuel or fuel additive, unless the state prohibition is identical 
    to the prohibition or control prescribed by the Administrator.
        EPA first proposed to regulate summertime gasoline RVP pursuant to 
    211(c)(1) of the Act in 1987 (52 FR 31274). EPA's gasoline RVP proposal 
    resulted in a two-phased final regulation that Congress incorporated 
    into the CAA at section 211(h). Phase I of the regulation took effect 
    in 1990 (54 FR 11868) for the years 1990 and 1991. Phase II of the 
    regulation became effective in 1992 (55 FR 23658). These regulations 
    are found in 40 CFR 80.27. Under the regulations, the continental 
    United States is divided into two control regions, Class B and Class C. 
    Generally speaking, the Class B states are the warmer southern and 
    western states, and Class C states are the cooler northern states. The 
    Phase II regulation limits the volatility of gasoline sold during the 
    high ozone season to 9.0 psi RVP for Class C areas and 7.8 psi RVP for 
    Class B ozone nonattainment areas. Maine is a Class C state and is 
    therefore required under the federal rule to meet the 9.0 psi RVP 
    standard. See 40 CFR 80.27(a)(2).
        Because Maine's fuel requirement for the southern Maine area 
    limiting summertime RVP to 7.2 psi is not identical to the federal fuel 
    standards applicable to the fuel characteristic RVP (i.e., federal 
    phase II volatility limit of 9.0 psi), Maine's requirement is preempted 
    unless it is approved into the Maine SIP.
    2. Necessity
        A state may prescribe and enforce an otherwise preempted low-RVP 
    requirement only if the EPA approves the control into the state's SIP. 
    In order to approve a preempted state fuel control into a SIP, EPA must 
    find that the state control is necessary to achieve a NAAQS. In order 
    to demonstrate the necessity of a fuel control, the state must show 
    either that no other measures exist to bring about timely attainment, 
    or that such measures, while technically possible, are unreasonable or 
    impracticable. Thus, to determine whether Maine's low-RVP rule is 
    necessary to meet the ozone NAAQS, EPA must consider whether there are 
    other reasonable and practicable measures available to produce the 
    needed emission reductions for ozone control.
        With the State's decision to opt-out of the federal RFG program, 
    additional VOC reductions are necessary to ensure that the Portland 
    area continues to meet the 1-hour ozone standard and to help the entire 
    area achieve the new 8-hour ozone standard. The Portland area has 
    measured air quality meeting the 1-hour standard by a slim margin 
    (i.e., the design value for the area was 0.124 ppm, just below the 
    0.125 ppm standard). Given the narrow margin of attainment, it is clear 
    that the VOC reductions provided by participation of the seven counties 
    of southern Maine in the federal RFG program were critical to the 
    Portland area's achievement of the ozone NAAQS.
        For purposes of demonstrating necessity, EPA has used the VOC 
    reductions provided by RFG as an estimate of the emission reductions 
    that are necessary for southern Maine to achieve the ozone NAAQS. EPA 
    believes this estimate of necessary reductions is conservative in that 
    it is based on the reductions needed for attainment of the 1-hour ozone 
    standard rather than the reduction needed for the new 8-hour standard. 
    Current monitoring data in Cumberland, Hancock, York and Sagadahoc 
    counties suggest that additional reductions will be necessary for the 
    state to achieve the new 8-hour standard.
        In its 15-percent rate of progress plan for the Portland area, 
    Maine had estimated that RFG would achieve 6.96 tons of VOC reduction 
    per summer day. This figure was calculated using only vehicle miles 
    traveled in the three-county Portland area. The sale of RFG in the 
    surrounding four counties further benefitted the Portland area due to 
    driving patterns into and around the Portland area and the geographic 
    proximity of these surrounding counties.
        With this estimate of the VOC reductions necessary to achieve the 
    ozone NAAQS, the State evaluated an extensive list of non-fuel 
    alternative controls to determine if reasonable and practicable 
    controls could be implemented to provide sufficient VOC reductions in a 
    timely manner. The State analyzed potential control measures by 
    reviewing previously prepared emission inventories to determine if 
    other non-fuel control measures could be adopted, and used to replace 
    the VOC reductions that RFG had achieved. They reviewed all the source 
    categories that comprised the emission inventory, and evaluated control 
    measures on each source category. For a variety of reasons, most 
    control measures were either already implemented, or were found to be 
    unreasonable or impracticable for achieving reductions in advance of 
    the 1999 and/or 2000 ozone season.
        As one example, the State evaluated the possibility of further 
    controlling gasoline refueling, or ``stage II,'' emissions. The State 
    does have a stage II program for larger facilities, but expanding the 
    geographic coverage, and requiring smaller facilities (i.e., gas 
    stations) to comply would yield among the most additional VOC 
    reductions of any control strategy that the State reviewed. The State 
    concluded that first, a legislative change, as well as a regulatory 
    change, would be necessary to further control emissions from this 
    source category. Further, the actual installation of these controls 
    would take a number of additional months, which would be beyond the 
    time frame that Maine needed to secure the emission reductions. For 
    these reasons, the State concluded that further stage II controls were 
    not a practical measure for achieving VOC emission reductions in 
    advance of the summer of 1999. EPA believes implementation of such 
    controls would be difficult and impractical to achieve these reductions 
    even by the summer of 2000. Other control measures were similarly 
    evaluated, and determined to be either technically impossible or 
    unreasonable and impracticable.
        The State's analysis identified several non-fuel alternative 
    controls that could conceivably be implemented by the summer of 2000  
    the time frame for complete adoption of the phased low-RVP standard. At 
    best, adoption of all available measures would result in about 4.5 tons 
    per day (tpd) reduction (assuming stage II could be
    
    [[Page 26309]]
    
    implemented) which is 2.46 tpd less than the estimated necessary VOC 
    reductions. Thus, even with implementation of all reasonable and 
    practicable non-fuel control measures, additional VOC reductions are 
    necessary.
        Maine's low-RVP rule will achieve approximately 7 tpd of VOC 
    reductions once fully implemented beginning the summer of 2000 (based 
    on vehicle miles traveled in the Portland area). Due to the driving 
    patterns and proximity of the surrounding four counties, EPA believes 
    RVP controls in these areas will further benefit the Portland area. EPA 
    believes these emission reductions are necessary to achieve the 
    applicable ozone NAAQS in southern Maine. EPA is basing today's action 
    on the information available to the Agency at this time, which 
    indicates that adequate reasonable and practicable non-fuel measures 
    are not available to the State that would achieve these needed emission 
    reductions, and protect Maine's air quality in a timely manner. Hence, 
    EPA is finding that the RVP standards are necessary for attainment of 
    the applicable ozone NAAQS, and EPA is approving them as a revision to 
    the Maine SIP.
    
    Final Action
    
        EPA has evaluated the submitted SIP revision and has determined 
    that it is consistent with the CAA and EPA regulations. EPA has also 
    found that this two-step low-RVP fuel control measure is necessary to 
    achieve the ozone NAAQS in southern Maine pursuant to the CAA. 
    Therefore, EPA is approving the Maine low-RVP rule as submitted on 
    March 10, 1999 into the Maine SIP.
        EPA is publishing this action without prior proposal because the 
    Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no 
    adverse comments. Further, the State has requested approval of this 
    action in advance of this summer season. However, in the proposed rules 
    section of this Federal Register publication, EPA is publishing a 
    separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve the SIP 
    revision should relevant adverse comments be filed. This rule will be 
    effective July 13, 1999 without further notice unless the Agency 
    receives relevant adverse comments by June 14, 1999.
        If EPA receives such comments, then EPA will publish a notice 
    withdrawing the final rule and informing the public that the rule will 
    not take effect. All public comments received will then be addressed in 
    a subsequent final rule based on the proposed rule. EPA will not 
    institute a second comment period on the proposed rule. All 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 rule 
    will be effective on July 13, 1999 and no further action will be taken 
    on the proposed rule.
        Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting or 
    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.
    
    VI. Administrative Requirements
    
    A. Executive Order 12866
    
        The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this 
    regulatory action from Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, entitled 
    ``Regulatory Planning and Review.''
    
    B. Executive Order 12875
    
        Under E.O. 12875, EPA may not issue a regulation that is not 
    required by statute and that creates a mandate upon a state, local, or 
    tribal government, unless the Federal government provides the funds 
    necessary to pay the direct compliance costs incurred by those 
    governments, or EPA consults with those governments. If EPA complies by 
    consulting, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to provide to the Office 
    of Management and Budget, a description of the extent of EPA's prior 
    consultation with representatives of affected state, local, and tribal 
    governments, the nature of their concerns, copies of written 
    communications from the governments, and a statement supporting the 
    need to issue the regulation. In addition, E.O. 12875 requires EPA to 
    develop an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
    representatives of state, local, and tribal governments ``to provide 
    meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals 
    containing significant unfunded mandates.''
        Today's rule does not create a mandate on state, local or tribal 
    governments that does not already exist as a matter of State law. EPA 
    is simply approving a state regulation under the Clean Air Act. 
    Accordingly, the requirements of section 1(a) of E.O. 12875 do not 
    apply to this rule.
    
    C. Executive Order 13045
    
        Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
    Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), applies to any rule that: (1) is 
    determined to be ``economically significant'' as defined under E.O. 
    12866, and (2) concerns an environmental health or safety risk that EPA 
    has reason to believe may have a disproportionate effect on children. 
    If the regulatory action meets both criteria, the Agency must evaluate 
    the environmental health or safety effects of the planned rule on 
    children, and explain why the planned regulation is preferable to other 
    potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives considered 
    by the Agency.
        This rule is not subject to E.O. 13045 because it is not 
    ``economically significant'' as defined under E. O. 12866, and does not 
    involve an action that addresses environmental or safety risks.
    
    D. Executive Order 13084
    
        Under E.O. 13084, EPA may not issue a regulation that is not 
    required by statute, that significantly uniquely affects the 
    communities of Indian tribal governments, and that imposes substantial 
    direct compliance costs on those communities, unless the Federal 
    government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance 
    costs incurred by the tribal governments, or EPA consults with those 
    governments. If EPA complies by consulting, Executive Order 13084 
    requires EPA to provide to the Office of Management and Budget, in a 
    separately identified section of the preamble to the rule, a 
    description of the extent of EPA's prior consultation with 
    representatives of affected tribal governments, a summary of the nature 
    of their concerns, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
    regulation. In addition, Executive Order 13084 requires EPA to develop 
    an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
    representatives of Indian tribal governments ``to provide meaningful 
    and timely input in the development of regulatory policies on matters 
    that significantly or uniquely affect their communities.''
        Today's rule does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
    communities of Indian tribal governments. This action does not involve 
    or impose any requirements that affect Indian Tribes. Accordingly, the 
    requirements of section 3(b) of E.O. 13084 do not apply to this rule.
    
    E. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency 
    to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to 
    notice and comment rulemaking requirements unless the
    
    [[Page 26310]]
    
    agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic 
    impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small entities 
    include small businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, and small 
    governmental jurisdictions. This final rule will not have a significant 
    impact on a substantial number of small entities because SIP approvals 
    under section 110 and subchapter I, part D of the Clean Air 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 create any new requirements, I certify that this action will 
    not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
    entities. Moreover, due to the nature of the Federal-State relationship 
    under the Clean Air Act, preparation of flexibility analysis would 
    constitute Federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state 
    action. The Clean Air Act forbids EPA to base its actions concerning 
    SIPs on such grounds. Union Electric Co., v. U.S. EPA, 427 U.S. 246, 
    255-66 (1976); 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2).
    
    F. Unfunded Mandates
    
        Under sections 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 this final approval action 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 requirements. 
    Accordingly, no additional costs to State, local, or tribal 
    governments, or to the private sector, result from this action.
    
    G. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
    
        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 rule 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. This rule is not a 
    ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    
    H. Petitions for Judicial 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 July 13, 1999. 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).) EPA encourages 
    interested parties to comment in response to the proposed rule rather 
    than petition for judicial review, unless the objection arises after 
    the comment period allowed for in the proposal.
    
    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
    
        Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, 
    Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, 
    Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
    
        Dated: April 29, 1999.
    John P. DeVillars,
    Regional Administrator, Region I.
    
        Part 52 of 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 U--Maine
    
        2. Section 52.1020 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(49) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.1020  Identification of plan.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (49) Revisions to the State Implementation Plan submitted by the 
    Maine Department of Environmental Protection on March 10, 1999.
        (i) Incorporation by reference.
        Chapter 119 of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection 
    rules entitled ``Motor Vehicle Fuel Volatility Limit,'' as dated as 
    approved on March 9, 1999.
        (ii) Additional material.
        (A) Letter from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection 
    dated March 10, 1999 submitting a revision to the Maine State 
    Implementation Plan.
        (B) Additional technical support for Section 211(c) waiver 
    submitted by Maine DEP on April 8, 1999.
        4. In Sec. 52.1031, Table 52.1031 is amended by revising citation 
    119 for vehicle inspection and maintenance to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.1031  EPA-approved Maine regulations.
    
    * * * * *
    
    [[Page 26311]]
    
    
    
                                                                           Table 52.1031.--EPA-Approved Rules and Regulations
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       State  citation              Title/Subject                  Date adopted by State              Date approved by EPA           Federal Register  citation      52.1020
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
                                           *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
    119.................  Motor Vehicle Fuel Volatility      March 9, 1999....................  May 14, 1999....................  [Insert FR citation from                 49  Maine Motor Vehicle
                           Limit.                                                                                                  published date].                             Fuel Volatility
                                                                                                                                                                                Limit. Amends
                                                                                                                                                                                previously approved
                                                                                                                                                                                regulation to
                                                                                                                                                                                require that fuel
                                                                                                                                                                                with a further
                                                                                                                                                                                volatility controls
                                                                                                                                                                                be sold in York,
                                                                                                                                                                                Cumberland,
                                                                                                                                                                                Sagadahoc,
                                                                                                                                                                                Androscoggin,
                                                                                                                                                                                Kennebec, Knox and
                                                                                                                                                                                Lincoln Counties.
                                                                                                                                                                                The RVP limit during
                                                                                                                                                                                the summer will
                                                                                                                                                                                begin in 1999 with a
                                                                                                                                                                                7.8 psi limit, and
                                                                                                                                                                                drop to 7.2 psi in
                                                                                                                                                                                each subsequent
                                                                                                                                                                                summer.
     
                                           *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    [FR Doc. 99-11827 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
7/13/1999
Published:
05/14/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Direct final rule.
Document Number:
99-11827
Dates:
This direct final rule is effective on July 13, 1999 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by June 14, 1999. If adverse comment is received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that the rule will not take effect.
Pages:
26306-26311 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
ME61-7010A, A-1-FRL-6338-2
PDF File:
99-11827.pdf
CFR: (2)
40 CFR 52.1020
40 CFR 52.1031