Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Final rule.
EPA is approving a redesignation request and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of West Virginia. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) requested that the West Virginia portion of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH fine particulate matter (PM
This final rule is effective on December 28, 2012.
EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID Number EPA-R03-OAR-2012-0174. All documents in the docket are listed in the
Rose Quinto, (215) 814-2182, or by email at
The Huntington-Ashland Area is composed of Cabell and Wayne Counties and the Graham Tax District in Mason County in West Virginia (West Virginia portion of the Area); Boyd County and a portion of Lawrence County in Kentucky; and Lawrence and Scioto Counties and portions of Adams and Gallia Counties in Ohio. On November 15, 2012 (77 FR 68076), EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) for the State of West Virginia. Pursuant to sections 107(d)(3) and 175A of the CAA, the NPR proposed approval of West Virginia's redesignation request, a SIP revision that establishes a maintenance plan for the West Virginia portion of the Area that provides for continued attainment of the 1997 annual PM
EPA is approving the redesignation request, maintenance plan, and insignificance determination for transportation conformity for the West Virginia portion of the Area that was submitted by WVDEP on June 30, 2011 because the requirements for approval have been satisfied. EPA has evaluated West Virginia's redesignation request, and determined that it meets the redesignation criteria set forth in section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. Approval of this redesignation request will change the legal designation of the West Virginia portion of the Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 annual PM
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(d), EPA finds there is good cause for this action to become effective immediately upon publication. A delayed effective date is unnecessary due to the nature of a redesignation to attainment, which eliminates CAA obligations that would otherwise apply. The immediate effective date for this action is authorized under both 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), which provides that rulemaking actions may become effective less than 30 days after publication if the rule “grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction,” and section 553(d)(3), which allows an effective date less than 30 days after publication “as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the rule.” The purpose of the 30-day waiting period prescribed in section 553(d) is to give affected parties a reasonable time to adjust their behavior and prepare before the final rule takes effect. Today's rule, however, does not create any new regulatory requirements such that
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the CAA 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).
In addition, this rule does not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in the state, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
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 February 26, 2013. 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 approving the redesignation request, maintenance plan, and transportation conformity insignificance determination for the West Virginia portion of the Area may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Air pollution control, National parks, Wilderness areas.
42 U.S.C. 7401
42 U.S.C. 7401
(e) * * *
42 U.S.C. 7401