Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Final rule.
EPA is taking final action to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision, submitted by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, on July 26, 2012. This SIP revision was submitted to address Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) section 110(a)(2)(G). Specifically, EPA is approving Mississippi's July 26, 2012, submission addressing section 110(a)(2)(G), of the CAA for both the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM
EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket Identification No. EPA–R04–OAR–2012–0238. All documents in the docket are listed on the
Sean Lakeman, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. The telephone number is (404) 562–9043. Mr. Lakeman can be reached via electronic mail at
Upon promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS, sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the CAA require states to address basic SIP requirements, including emissions inventories, monitoring, and modeling to assure attainment and maintenance for that new NAAQS. On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38652), EPA promulgated a new annual PM
Section 110(a) of the CAA requires states to submit SIPs to provide for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of a new or revised NAAQS within three years following the promulgation of such NAAQS, or within such shorter period as EPA may prescribe. Section 110(a) imposes the obligation upon states to make a SIP submission to EPA for a new or revised NAAQS, but the contents of that submission may vary depending upon the facts and circumstances. The data and analytical tools available at the time the state develops and submits the SIP for a new or revised NAAQS affects the content of the submission. The contents of such SIP submissions may also vary depending upon what provisions the state's existing SIP already contains. In the case of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM
More specifically, section 110(a)(1) provides the procedural and timing requirements for SIPs. Section 110(a)(2) lists specific elements that states must meet for “infrastructure” SIP requirements related to a newly established or revised NAAQS. As already mentioned, these requirements include SIP infrastructure elements such as modeling, monitoring, and emissions inventories that are designed to assure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS. However, EPA is only addressing element 110(a)(2)(G) in this action.
EPA is taking final action to approve Mississippi's infrastructure submission as demonstrating that the State meets the applicable requirements of section 110(a)(2)(G) of the CAA for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM
On July 31, 2012, EPA proposed to approve Mississippi's July 13, 2012, draft SIP revision addressing section 110(a)(2)(G). EPA's July 31, 2012 (77 FR 45320), proposed approval was contingent upon Mississippi providing EPA with a final SIP revision that was not changed significantly from the July 13, 2012, draft SIP revision. Mississippi provided its final SIP revision on July 26, 2012. There were no significant changes made to the final submittal. All other applicable Mississippi infrastructure elements are being addressed in a separate rulemakings.
EPA received one off-topic comment on its July 31, 2012, proposed rulemaking to approve Mississippi's July 13, 2012, draft SIP revision as meeting the section 110(a)(2)(G) requirements of the CAA for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM
This comment does not appear to be related to the issues presented in the proposed rulemaking, and instead, appears related to a wholly separate topic—promulgation of the PM NAAQS. Promulgations of NAAQS involve public comment opportunities, and that would be the time to raise concerns specific to a particular NAAQS. Additionally, with regard to Commenter's general statement about consent decrees, although it is not clear to which specific consent decree Commenter is referring, the CAA does provide for opportunities for public input regarding certain consent decrees.
EPA does not interpret these comments as relevant to the topic of EPA's July 31, 2012, proposed action, which proposed approval of Mississippi's draft SIP revision pertaining to section 110(a)(2)(G) infrastructure requirements for the existing 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM
Mississippi's infrastructure submission regarding section 110(a)(2)(G), provided to EPA on July 26, 2012, in final form, addressed the 110(a)(2)(G) requirements for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM
As already described, Mississippi has addressed section 110(a)(2)(G) requirements pursuant to EPA's October 2, 2007, guidance to ensure that 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this action:
• Is not a “significant regulatory action” subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
• Does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
• Is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
• Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have Federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
• Is not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by December 10, 2012. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action 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.
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate Matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.
40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
42 U.S.C. 7401
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