Rule2021-20008
Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Mecklenburg Miscellaneous Rules Revisions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 28, 2021
Effective
October 28, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the Mecklenburg County portion of the North Carolina SIP, hereinafter referred to as the Mecklenburg Local Implementation Plan (LIP). The revision was submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ), on behalf of Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ) via a letter dated April 24, 2020, and was received by EPA on June 19, 2020. The revision updates several Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Control Ordinance (MCAPCO) rules incorporated into the LIP. EPA is finalizing these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 185 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53552-53555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20008]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA-R04-OAR-2020-0726; FRL-8939-02-R4]
Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Mecklenburg Miscellaneous
Rules Revisions
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final
action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the
Mecklenburg County portion of the North Carolina SIP, hereinafter
referred to as the Mecklenburg Local Implementation Plan (LIP). The
revision was submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the
North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ), on behalf of
Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ) via a letter dated April 24,
2020, and was received by EPA on June 19, 2020. The revision updates
several Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Control Ordinance (MCAPCO)
rules incorporated into the LIP. EPA is finalizing these changes
pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
DATES: This rule is effective October 28, 2021.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket
Identification No. EPA-R04-OAR-2020-0726. All documents in the docket
are listed on the <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> website. Although listed in the
index, some information may not be publicly available, i.e.,
Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure
is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted
material, is not placed on the internet and will be publicly available
only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or in hard
copy at the Air Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and
Implementation Branch, Air and Radiation Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia
30303-8960. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to
schedule your inspection. The Regional Office's official hours of
business are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evan Adams, Air Regulatory Management
Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air and Radiation
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth
Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number is (404)
562-9009. Mr. Adams can also be reached via electronic mail at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dabbbebbb7a9f4bfacbbb49abfaabbf4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4a5a0a5a9b7eaa1b2a5aa84a1b4a5eaa3abb2">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on July 2, 2021
(86 FR 35244), EPA proposed to approve changes to several rules in the
Mecklenburg County LIP. The April 24, 2020, submittal includes changes
and updates to the following rules to more closely align them with
their analog SIP-
[[Page 53553]]
approved North Carolina regulations.\1\ The submission includes changes
and updates to MCAPCO Rules 2.0101, Definitions; 2.0201, Classification
of Air Pollution Sources; 2.0202, Registration of Air Pollution
Sources; 2.0302, Episode Criteria; 2.0303, Emission Reduction Plans;
and 2.0304, Preplanned Abatement Program.\2\
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\1\ EPA notes that the April 24, 2020, submittal was received by
EPA on June 19, 2020.
\2\ The April 24, 2020 submittal contains changes to other
Mecklenburg LIP-approved rules that are not addressed in this
notice. EPA will be acting on those rules in separate actions.
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The submittal also asks EPA to reincorporate the following rules
into the LIP with a new effective date: MCAPCO Rules 1.5301, Special
Enforcement Procedures; 1.5302, Criminal Penalties; 1.5303, Civil
Injunction; 1.5304, Civil Penalties; 1.5306, Hearings; 1.5307, Judicial
Review; 2.0301, Purpose; and 2.0305, Emission Reduction Plant: Alert
Level. The text of these rules has not changed.
The July 2, 2021, NPRM provides additional detail regarding the
background and rationale for EPA's action. Comments were due on or
before August 2, 2021. EPA only received one comment, and it was in
favor of this action. This comment will be posted in the docket for
this action for public review.
II. Incorporation by Reference
In this document, EPA is finalizing approval of regulatory text
that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance with
requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is approving MCAPCO Rules 1.5301--
Special Enforcement Procedures; 1.5302--Criminal Penalties; 1.5303--
Civil Injunction; 1.5304--Civil Penalties; 1.5306--Hearings; 1.5307--
Judicial Review; 2.0301--Purpose; and 2.0305--Emission Reduction Plan:
Alert Level, all of which have an effective date of December 15, 2015;
as well as MCAPCO Rules 2.0101--Definitions; 2.0201--Classification of
Air Pollution Sources; 2.0202--Registration of Air Pollution Sources;
2.0302--Episode Criteria; 2.0303--Emission Reduction Plans; and
2.0304--Preplanned Abatement Program, all of which have an effective
date of December 18, 2018, into the Mecklenburg County portion of the
North Carolina SIP to update the rules to more closely align them with
their analog North Carolina rules in the SIP.
EPA has made and will continue to make these materials generally
available through <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and at the EPA Region 4 Office
(please contact the person identified in the For Further Information
Contact section of this preamble for more information). Therefore,
these materials have been approved by EPA for inclusion in the SIP,
have been incorporated by reference by EPA into that plan, are fully
federally enforceable under sections 110 and 113 of the CAA as of the
effective date of the final rulemaking of EPA's approval, and will be
incorporated by reference in the next update to the SIP compilation.\3\
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\3\ See 62 FR 27968 (May 22, 1997).
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III. Final Action
EPA is taking final action to approve the aforementioned changes to
the Mecklenburg LIP. Specifically, EPA is finalizing approval of
revisions to MCAPCO Rules 1.5301--Special Enforcement Procedures;
1.5302--Criminal Penalties; 1.5303--Civil Injunction, 1.5304--Civil
Penalties; 1.5306--Hearings; 1.5307--Judicial Review; 2.0101--
Definitions; 2.0201--Classification of Air Pollution Sources; 2.0202--
Registration of Air Pollution Sources; 2.0301--Purpose; 2.0302--Episode
Criteria; 2.0303--Emission Reduction Plans; 2.0304--Preplanned
Abatement Program; and 2.0305--Emission Reduction Plan: Alert Level.
EPA is taking final action to approve these revisions because they are
consistent with the CAA.
IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP
submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable
Federal regulations. See 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 they meet the criteria of the CAA. 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:
<bullet> Is not a significant regulatory action subject to review
by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58
FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
<bullet> Does not impose an information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
<bullet> 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 et seq.);
<bullet> 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);
<bullet> Does not have Federalism implications as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
<bullet> Is not an economically significant regulatory action based
on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997);
<bullet> Is not a significant regulatory action subject to
Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
<bullet> 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
<bullet> 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 SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or
in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does
not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000), nor will it impose substantial direct
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
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 action 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 action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
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 November 29, 2021. 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
[[Page 53554]]
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, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: September 9, 2021.
John Blevins,
Acting Regional Administrator Region 4.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, EPA amends 40 CFR part 52
as follows:
PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart II--North Carolina
0
2. In Sec. 52.1770 amend the table in paragraph (c)(3) by:
0
a. Revising the title of ``Article 1.000 Permitting Provisions for Air
Pollution Sources, Rules and Operating Regulations for Acid Rain
Sources, Title V and Toxic Air Pollutants'';
0
b. Under Section 1.5300 Enforcement; Variances; Judicial Review by
revising the entries for ``Section 1.5301,'' ``Section 1.5302,''
``Section 1.5303,'' ``Section 1.5304,'' ``Section 1.5306,'' and
``Section 1.5307'';
0
c. Under ``Section 2.0100 Definitions and References'' by revising the
entry for ``Section 2.0101'';
0
d. Under ``Section 2.0200 Air Pollution Source'' by revising the
entries for ``Section 2.0201'' and ``Section 2.0202,''; and
0
e. Under ``Section 2.0300 Air Pollution Emergencies'' by revising the
entries for ``Section 2.0301,'' ``Section 2.0302,'' ``Section 2.0303,''
``Section 2.0304,'' and ``Section 2.0305'' .
The revisions read as follows:
Sec. 52.1770 Identification of plan.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(3) EPA-Approved Mecklenburg County Regulations
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State
State citation Title/subject effective EPA approval date Explanation
date
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Article 1.0000 Permitting Provisions for Air Pollution Sources, Rules and Operating Regulations for Acid Rain
Sources, Title V and Toxic Air Pollutants
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* * * * * * *
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Section 1.5300 Enforcement; Variances; Judicial Review
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Rule 1.5301................ Special Enforcement 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
Procedures. citation of
publication].
Rule 1.5302................ Criminal Penalties.... 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
Rule 1.5303................ Civil Injunction...... 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
Rule 1.5304................ Civil Penalties....... 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
* * * * * * *
Rule 1.5306................ Hearings.............. 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
Rule 1.5307................ Judicial Review....... 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
* * * * * * *
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Section 2.0100 Definitions and References
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Rule 2.0101................ Definitions........... 12/18/2018 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
* * * * * * *
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Section 2.0200 Air Pollution Sources
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Rule 2.0201................ Classification of Air 12/18/2018 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
Pollution Sources. citation of
publication].
Rule 2.0202................ Registration of Air 12/18/2018 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
Pollution Sources. citation of
publication].
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Section 2.0300 Air Pollution Emergencies
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Rule 2.0301................ Purpose............... 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
Rule 2.0302................ Episode Criteria...... 12/18/2018 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
citation of
publication].
Rule 2.0303................ Emission Reduction 12/18/2018 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
Plans. citation of
publication].
[[Page 53555]]
Rule 2.0304................ Preplanned Abatement 12/18/2018 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
Program. citation of
publication].
Rule 2.0305................ Emission Reduction 12/15/2015 9/28/2021, [Insert ......................
Plan: Alert Level. citation of
publication].
* * * * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2021-20008 Filed 9-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 28, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.