Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Washington; Determination of Clean Data for the 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Standard for the Tacoma, Pierce County Nonattainment Area

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is making a final determination that the Tacoma, Pierce County nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as “Tacoma, Pierce County” or “the area”) has clean data for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination is based upon complete, quality-assured, quality-controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the area has monitored attainment of the 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS based on the 2009-2011 data available in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. EPA's determination relieves the area from the requirements to submit an attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures, a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the standard for so long as the area continues to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS.

DATES:

Effective Date: This final rule is effective on October 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID Number EPA-R10-OAR-2012-0380. All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the electronic docket, some information is not publicly available, i.e., confidential business information (CBI) 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 www.regulations.gov or in hard copy for public inspection during normal business hours at EPA Region 10, Office of Air, Waste and Toxics, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle WA, 98101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeff Hunt at telephone number: (206) 553-0256, email address: hunt.jeff@epa.gov, or the above EPA, Region 10 address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Throughout this document whenever “we,” “us,” or “our” is used, we mean EPA.

I. What action is EPA taking?

II. What is the effect of this action?

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What action is EPA taking?

EPA is making a final determination that the Tacoma, Pierce County nonattainment area has clean data for the 2006 24-hour PM_2.5 NAAQS. This determination is based upon complete, quality-assured, quality-controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the area has monitored attainment of the 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS based on 2009-2011 monitoring data.

On July 5, 2012 (77 FR 39657), EPA proposed a determination of clean data for the Tacoma, Pierce County nonattainment area. A discussion of the rationale behind this determination and the effect of the determination were included in the notice of proposed rulemaking. EPA received no comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking.

II. What is the effect of this action?

Under the provisions of EPA's PM_2.5 implementation rule (See 40 CFR 51.1004(c)), the requirements for the Tacoma, Pierce County nonattainment area to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (including reasonably available control technology), a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and any other planning SIPs related to attainment of the 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS are suspended for so long as the area continues to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS. If EPA subsequently determines that the area violates the 24-hour 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS, the basis for the suspension of the specific requirements, set forth at 40 CFR 51.1004(c), would no longer exist and the area would thereafter have to address the pertinent requirements.

This action does not constitute a redesignation of the area to attainment for the 24-hour 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS under section 107(d)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Further, this action does not involve approving a maintenance plan for the area as required under section 175A of the CAA, nor does it find that the area has met all other requirements for redesignation. Even after this determination of attainment by EPA, the designation status of the area is nonattainment for the 24-hour 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS until such time as EPA determines that the area meets the CAA requirements for redesignation to attainment and takes action to redesignate the area.

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. General Requirements

This action makes a determination of attainment based on air quality, and will result in the suspension of certain Federal requirements, and will 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 et seq.);
• 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.);
• 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 rulemaking that the Tacoma, Pierce County PM_2.5 nonattainment area has clean data for the 2006 24-hour PM_2.5 standard does not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).

B. 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 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).

C. Petitions for Judicial Review

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 5, 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 clean data determination for the 24-hour 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS for the Tacoma, Pierce County nonattainment area 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
• Intergovernmental relations
• Particulate matter
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

40 CFR part 52 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 WW—Washington

2. In § 52.2475, paragraph (e)(4) is added to read as follows: