99-21012. Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan; Minnesota  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 44408-44411]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-21012]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [MN 48-01-7273a; FRL-6416-8]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan; Minnesota
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Direct final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: We are approving a December 31, 1998, request from the 
    Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for new air pollution control 
    requirements for the Minnesota sulfur dioxide (SO2) State 
    Implementation Plan (SIP) for Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC 
    (Marathon). These requirements were submitted in the form of an 
    Administrative Order (Order) and include revisions associated with the 
    addition of a new stack, revised emission limits for numerous sources, 
    and other changes. The revisions result in an overall decrease in 
    allowable SO2 emissions from the facility. The new 
    requirements have been evaluated through a computerized modeling 
    analysis and have shown that they will attain and maintain the National 
    Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for SO2.
    
    DATES: This direct final rule is effective on October 15, 1999, without 
    further notice, unless we receive relevant adverse written comments by 
    September 15, 1999. If we receive adverse comments, we will publish a 
    timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and 
    inform the public that this rule will not take effect.
    
    ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Carlton T. Nash, Chief, Regulation 
    Development Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental 
    Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
    Illinois, 60604. You may inspect copies of the documents relevant to 
    this action during normal business hours at the following location: 
    Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. 
    Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 
    Chicago, Illinois, 60604.
        Please contact Randall Robinson at (312) 353-6713 before visiting 
    the Region 5 office.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randall Robinson, Meteorologist, 
    Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. 
    Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 
    Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-6713.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Supplementary Information section is 
    organized as follows:
    
    I. Introduction
    
    What Action Is EPA Taking Today?
    Who Is Affected by This Action?
    What Information Did the State Submit in Its Request?
    What Are the National Ambient Air Quality Standards?
    What Is an Administrative Order?
    How Did the State Support Its Request for Marathon?
    How Does This Action Change the Administrative Order for Marathon?
    Why Is the Request Approvable?
    
    II. EPA Action
    
    III. Administrative Requirements
    
    I. Introduction
    
    What Action Is EPA Taking Today?
    
        In this action, we are approving a revision to the Minnesota 
    SO2 SIP for Marathon. The revision is referred to as 
    Amendment Four and amends the Order for Marathon to reflect revisions 
    associated with the addition of a new stack and revised emission limits 
    for numerous sources. Other changes included in Amendment Four are 
    discussed later in this document and more fully in the technical review 
    document.
    
    Who Is Affected by This Revision?
    
        The revision to Minnesota's SIP for SO2 is site-specific 
    and, thus, only affects Marathon.
    
    What Information Did the State Submit In Its Request?
    
        On December 31, 1998, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) 
    submitted to EPA a site-specific SO2 SIP revision request 
    for Marathon. The SIP revision for Marathon was submitted in the form 
    of an Order amendment, and referred to as Amendment Four. Amendment 
    Four revises the present Order for Marathon and replaces prior 
    amendments, Amendment Two and Three, by incorporating changes in 
    response to EPA comments on Amendment Two and Amendment Three. The MPCA 
    had previously submitted Amendment Two and Amendment Three to EPA on 
    November 26, 1996, and October 17, 1997, respectively. EPA provided 
    comments to MPCA regarding Amendment Two and Amendment Three, but did 
    not take any other action on those amendments to the administrative 
    order.
        The 30-day public notice for the Order amendment, Amendment Four, 
    appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on March 4, 1998. No one from 
    the public commented on the proposed revisions or requested a public 
    hearing.
    
    What Are the National Ambient Air Quality Standards?
    
        The EPA has established concentration levels for each of six 
    pollutants, called criteria pollutants, that are protective of human 
    health (primary standard) and welfare (secondary standard). The primary 
    NAAQS for SO2 is 0.03 parts per million (ppm) annual 
    arithmetis mean, and 0.14 ppm maximum 24-hour average concentration, 
    not to be exceeded more than once per calendar year. The secondary 
    NAAQS for SO2 is 0.50 ppm maximum 3-hour average 
    concentration, not to be exceeded more than once per calendar year. See 
    40 CFR 50.4.
    
    What Is an Administrative Order?
    
        Each state is obligated by section 110(a) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 
    7410, to develop a plan which provides for ``implementation, 
    maintenance, and enforcement'' of the NAAQS promulgated by EPA. An 
    Order is a mechanism which the state uses to enforce applicable 
    requirements established either by State or Federal law. The Orders are 
    used to enforce requirements needed to meet the applicable NAAQS.
    
    How Did the State Support Its Request for Marathon?
    
        The MPCA provided EPA with a computerized modeling attainment 
    demonstration. The modeling analysis was required to evaluate whether 
    the air impacts from the proposed revisions will still provide for 
    attainment of the NAAQS for SO2. Details of the analysis are 
    presented below.
    Air Quality Model
        The analysis utilized the Industrial Source Complex Model-Short 
    Term (ISCST3) model. (The Integrated Gaussian Model (IGM), which has 
    been demonstrated to be equivalent to ISCST3, was used to obtain source 
    contributions.) ISCST3 is recommended for regulatory applications for 
    estimating short-term impacts from complicated sources (i.e., sources 
    with special problems such as aerodynamic downwash). The ISCST3 model 
    also contains the COMPLEX-I algorithms
    
    [[Page 44409]]
    
    which allow for the prediction of ambient air impacts at receptors 
    above stack top (i.e., complex terrain). Additionally, the ISCST3 model 
    automatically implements the intermediate terrain policy which requires 
    the user to predict concentrations on an hour-by-hour basis at 
    receptors above stack top but below plume height using both a simple 
    terrain model (ISCST3) and a complex terrain model (COMPLEX-I) and 
    select the highest for each hour. This option was executed for the 
    Marathon modeling.
    Modeling Inputs
        The SIP submittal revision submitted by the MPCA is specific to 
    Marathon. The total ambient air impact from the revisions at the 
    Company is the sum of the modeled impact from Company sources, modeled 
    background sources from the Twin Cities area, and an unmodeled 
    background value based on monitoring data. The value of the unmodeled 
    background concentration is based on an analysis of historic monitored 
    concentrations and has been used and approved in previous 
    SO2 SIP revisions. Marathon is located in the Mississippi 
    River valley with bluffs exceeding the height of Marathon stacks. 
    Consequently, weather data collected on-site was used to ensure 
    representativeness. The modeling analysis used one year of 
    meteorological data (1988) collected from a tower located at the 
    facility. Concentrations were calculated over a receptor grid which 
    featured 100 meter resolution. Concentrations calculated inside the 
    fenced property boundary were not used in the analysis.
        The modeling analysis used emission estimates based on maximum 
    allowable emission rates (pounds of sulfur dioxide/hour and pounds of 
    sulfur dioxide/mmBTU) and maximum design capacities (mmBTUs/hour). 
    Stacks exceeding allowable good engineering practice stack height (GEP) 
    were modeled using the calculated GEP height. Plume downwash due to 
    building wake effects was also included in the analysis. The modeling 
    was conducted in accordance with the general recommendations included 
    in the Guideline on Air Quality Models, 40 Code of Federal Regulations 
    part 51, appendix W. The results of the modeling are presented in the 
    table below.
    
             High-Second-High Modeled Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations
                            [Micrograms/cubic meter]
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Total
                                               concentration
                 Averaging time                marathon+all        NAAQS
                                                background
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual..................................            65.1              80
    24-hour.................................           359.4             365
    3-hour..................................           946.5            1300
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    How Does This Action Change the Administrative Order for Marathon?
    
        Amendment Four includes the following primary changes: (1) 
    installation of a new sulfur reduction unit exhaust stack and 
    subsequent rebuilding of one of two existing tail-gas incinerators, (2) 
    a revised table of emission limits for various process and combustion 
    equipment.
        The table below lists the Emission Unit and the new emission 
    limits, in pounds per hour and pounds per million British thermal units 
    (BTU's) for those sources with revised emission limits.
    
                               New Emission Limit
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Emission unit                     lb/hr       lb/mmBTU
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Process Steam Boiler..........................         1.08         0.03
    Crude Charge Heater...........................         34.0       0.2834
    Crude Vacuum Heater...........................         1.20         0.03
    Distillate Unifier Heater.....................         1.41         0.03
    Naphtha Unifier Heater........................         1.95         0.03
    Platformer Charge Heater......................         1.95         0.03
    Platformer Interheater #1.....................         1.68         0.03
    Asphalt Oxidizer..............................          (*)  ...........
    Crude Charge..................................         52.2         0.90
    Crude Charge Preflash A (New).................         0.89         0.03
    Crude Charge Preflash B (New).................         0.89         0.03
    Platformer Heater #2..........................         1.08         0.03
    Guard Case Reactor............................         1.70         0.03
    Reactor Heaters #1 & 2........................         2.10         0.03
    Reactor Heaters #4 & 4E.......................         0.63         0.03
    Reactor Heaters #3 & 4W.......................         1.05         0.03
    Reactor Charge Heater.........................         1.38         0.03
    Product Stripper Re-boiler....................         0.78         0.03
    Reformer Heaters..............................         3.48        0.03
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    * Removed.
    
    Significant decreases in the pounds per hour emission limits occur at 
    the crude charge heater (old limit=108 lb/hr), crude vacuum heater (old 
    limit=23.4 lb/hr), and the crude charge plus preflash (old limit=105.5 
    lb/hr). Minor increases, less than 1 pound per hour, occur at other 
    sources, mainly the heaters. Overall, the total allowable pounds per 
    hour emissions have dropped from 6325 tons per year to 5698 tons per 
    year.
        The existing SIP for Marathon included emission limits specified 
    during periods when the Shell Claus Offgas Treatment (SCOT) unit and 
    the amine reduction unit (ARU) were undergoing regular scheduled 
    maintenance. These maintenance period limits have been removed in 
    Amendment Four. The limits associated with normal operating conditions 
    and any other New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) limits apply at 
    all times.
        Other notable changes included in Amendment Four include:
        (1) A requirement to keep records of calculated SO2 
    emissions in pounds per hour.
        (2) The addition of a diesel engine to pump water to the Alky unit 
    during an emergency accidental release. Maximum emissions of 0.48 pound 
    per hour SO2.
        (3) A restriction on steam air decoking more than one emission unit 
    at the same time.
        (4) Changing fuel oil sampling from a daily sample to a requirement 
    to sample after receiving a transfer of fuel into their fuel supply 
    tank, and a change from a weekly analysis of heating value of the fuel 
    oil to quarterly.
        (5) Changes to other operating limits (Exhibits 1.1 and 1.4)
    
    Boiler 5--36.0 mmBTU/hr
    Distillate Unifier Heater--47.0 mmBTU/hr
    Naphtha Unifier Heater--65.0 mmBTU/hr
    Platformer Charge Heater--65.0 mmBTU/hr
    Platformer Interheater--56.0 mmBTU/hr
    Crude Charge--58.0 mmBTU/hr
    Crude Charge Pre--29.7 mmBTU/hr
    Crude Charge Pre--29.7 mmBTU/hr
    Platformer Heater #2--36.0 mmBTU/hr
    Reactor Heaters 3 & 4W--35.0 mmBTU/hr
    Modeled heat input values were added to the maximum heat input column
    
        (6) Changes to stack parameters (Exhibit 1.7).
    
    [[Page 44410]]
    
        Modeled flow rates and temperatures were added
        (7) Changes not requiring a modification of the Administrative 
    Order.
        Language was added which would allow certain changes to be made at 
    the facility without obtaining a modified Order. A modification to the 
    Order is not needed if the modification does not:
        (A) Exceed any of the limits in Part I of the Order,
        (B) Effect the stack parameters described in Exhibit 1.7, unless 
    the change is made to a unit that no longer will be allowed to burn 
    fuel oil (fuel oil supply disconnected),
        (C) Result in an increase of 2.28 pounds of SO2 per hour 
    or more at any new unit.
        Based on the modeled attainment demonstration submitted with the 
    revision, these changes should not threaten the NAAQS. The limits on 
    modifications identified in the Order should ensure that significant 
    changes at the facility cannot occur without additional modeling 
    showing that the NAAQS are protected. Additionally, language in the 
    Order states that regardless of whether a modification of the order is 
    required, the Company shall obtain a permit amendment if required by 
    state or Federal law.
        (8) Recordkeeping revisions.
        An additional requirement to record the time period when burning 
    fuel oil in New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) units.
        (9) Two new continuous monitoring systems were installed to 
    determine hydrogen sulfide content of commercial gas received from 
    Northern States Power. These systems were installed at the crude heater 
    and the reformer heaters.
        (10) Name change from Ashland Petroleum Company to Marathon Ashland 
    Petroleum, LLC.
        (11) Property access restrictions. The company is required to 
    maintain a fence to restrict public access around it's boundaries.
        Other restrictions on operations, fuel use, and fuel quality remain 
    in effect and unchanged from the previously Federally approved Order. 
    The general compliance methodology consists of continuous emission 
    monitors (CEMS), continuous monitoring systems (CMS), and fuel sampling 
    and analysis.
    
    Why Is the Request Approvable?
    
        After review of the SIP revision request, EPA finds that Amendment 
    Four meets the applicable requirements of Clean Air Act section 110(a) 
    and that the revisions in Amendment Four have been shown to be 
    protective of the applicable NAAQS.
    
    II. EPA Action
    
        EPA is approving the requested revision to the Minnesota 
    SO2 SIP for Marathon. The EPA is publishing this action 
    without prior proposal because EPA views this as a noncontroversial 
    revision and anticipates no adverse comments. However, in a separate 
    document in this Federal Register publication, the EPA is proposing to 
    approve the SIP revision in case written adverse comments are filed. 
    This action will become effective without further notice unless the 
    Agency receives relevant adverse written comments within 30 days from 
    the date of publication. Should the Agency receive adverse comments, it 
    will publish a final rule informing the public that this action will 
    not take effect. Any parties interested in commenting on this action 
    should do so at this time.
    
    III. 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: Enhancing Intergovernmental Partnerships
    
        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. If the mandate is unfunded, EPA must 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. The rule does 
    not impose any enforceable duties on these entities. 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. EPA interprets E.O. 13045 as applying only to those 
    regulatory actions that are based on health or safety risks, such that 
    the analysis required under section 5-501 of the Order has the 
    potential to influence the regulation.
        This action is not subject to E.O. 13045 because it approves a 
    state rule implementing a previously promulgated health or safety-based 
    Federal standard, and preserves the existing level of pollution control 
    for the affected areas.
    
    D. Executive Order 13084: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
    Tribal Governments
    
        Under E.O. 13084, EPA may not issue a regulation that is not 
    required by statute, that significantly affects or 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. If the mandate is unfunded, 
    EPA must 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, E.O. 13084 requires EPA to develop an 
    effective process permitting elected 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. Accordingly, the
    
    [[Page 44411]]
    
    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 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 section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
    (``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22, 1995, EPA 
    must prepare a budgetary impact statement to accompany any proposed or 
    final rule that includes a Federal mandate that may result in estimated 
    annual 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.
        EPA has determined that the approval action promulgated does not 
    include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated annual 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. A major rule cannot 
    take effect until 60 days after it is published 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 October 15, 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).)
    
    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
    
        Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
    reference, Sulfur dioxide.
    
        Dated: July 22, 1999
    Jerri-Anne Garl,
    Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
    
        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 Y--Minnesota
    
        2. Section 52.1220 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(49) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.1220  Identification of plan
    
        (c) * * *
        (49) Approval--On December 31, 1998, the Minnesota Pollution 
    Control Agency submitted a request for a revision to the Minnesota 
    sulfur dioxide (SO2) State Implementation Plan (SIP) for 
    Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (Marathon). The site-specific SIP 
    revision for Marathon was submitted in the form of an Administrative 
    Order (Order), and referred to as Amendment Four.
        (i) Incorporation by reference.
        (A) For Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC, located in St. Paul Park, 
    Minnesota:
        (1) Amendment Four to the administrative order, dated and effective 
    December 22, 1998, and submitted December 31, 1998.
        (ii) Additional material.
        (A) A letter from Peder A. Larson to David Ullrich, dated December 
    31, 1998, submitting Amendment Four for Marathon Ashland Petroleum, 
    LLC.
    [FR Doc. 99-21012 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
10/15/1999
Published:
08/16/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Direct final rule.
Document Number:
99-21012
Dates:
This direct final rule is effective on October 15, 1999, without further notice, unless we receive relevant adverse written comments by September 15, 1999. If we receive adverse comments, we will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public that this rule will not take effect.
Pages:
44408-44411 (4 pages)
Docket Numbers:
MN 48-01-7273a, FRL-6416-8
PDF File:
99-21012.pdf
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 52.1220