Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New York; Elements of the 2008 and 2015 Ozone National Air Quality Standards

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of New York for purposes of certifying and meeting the requirements for Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for the Serious classification of the 2008 and Moderate classification of the 2015 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is also approving that this SIP revision fulfills SIP requirements pertaining to the Ozone Transport Region (OTR) for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS. The EPA is approving the demonstration portion of the comprehensive SIP revision submitted by New York that certifies that the State has satisfied the requirements for an Ozone nonattainment new source review program, certifies that the State has satisfied the requirements for a nonattainment emission inventory, and certifies that the State has satisfied the requirements for clean fuels for fleets. In addition, the EPA is approving New York's reasonable further progress plans and motor vehicle emissions budgets for both the Moderate and Serious classifications of the 2008 ozone NAAQS. These actions are being taken in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

DATES:

This final rule is effective on December 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID Number EPA–R02–OAR–2022–0648. All documents in the docket are listed on the https://www.regulations.gov website. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) (formally referred to as 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 electronically through https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Fausto Taveras, Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, New York, New York 10007–1866, at (212) 637–3378, or by email at Taveras.Fausto@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

Table of Contents

I. What is the background for this action?

II. What comments were received in response to the EPA's proposed action?

III. What action is the EPA taking?

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What is the background for this action?

On August 25, 2023 (88 FR 58202), the EPA proposed to approve a SIP revision submitted by the State of New York on January 29, 2021, for purposes of meeting the requirement for Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for the 2008 8-hour Ozone NAAQS in New York's portion of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (NJ-NJ-CT) nonattainment area (also referred to as the New York Metro Area or NYMA) for the Serious classification. The EPA also proposed to approve that same submittal for meeting New York's RACT requirements for the 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS in the NYMA and for meeting the State's requirements for statewide RACT for the 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS within the Ozone Transport Region (OTR). The State's January 2021 SIP submittal consists of a RACT certification demonstration that New York continues to meet the RACT requirements for the two precursors for ground-level ozone, i.e., oxides of nitrogen (NO_X) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), set forth by the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) with respect to the 2008 and 2015 8-hour ozone standard. Therefore, the EPA proposed to approve New York's January 2021 RACT SIP submittal as it applies to non-control technique guideline (non-CTG) major sources of VOCs, CTG sources of VOCs and to major sources of NO_X.

In the August 25, 2023, notice of proposed rulemaking, the EPA also proposed to approve portions of a comprehensive SIP revision submitted by the State of New York on November 29, 2021, certifying that the State has satisfied the requirements for: (1) An Ozone nonattainment new source review (NNSR) program which applies to NO_X and VOC emissions from stationary sources; (2) a nonattainment emission inventory; and (3) clean fuels for fleets. The EPA also proposed to approve New York's reasonable further progress plans and motor vehicle emission budgets (transportation conformity budgets or Budgets) for the Serious classifications of the 2008 Ozone NAAQS in the NYMA. In the August 25, 2023, notice of proposed rulemaking, the EPA also proposed to approve New York's reasonable further progress and transportation conformity budgets for the Moderate classification of the 2008 Ozone NAAQS in the NYMA, which was submitted by the State on November 13, 2017.

In New York's January 29, 2021, RACT submittal for the Serious classification of the 2008 Ozone standard, Moderate classification for the 2015 Ozone Standard, and OTR requirements related to the 2015 ozone NAAQS, New York recertified that its previously approved negative declaration for various CTGs remain valid. New York certified that there are no sources located in the State for the following six CTGs: Manufacture of Vegetable Oils; Manufacture of High-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polystyrene Resins; Natural Gas/Gasoline Processing Plants; Air Oxidation Processes in Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry; Fiberglass Boat Manufacturing Materials; Agricultural Pesticides. In the August 25, 2023, notice of proposed rulemaking, the EPA proposed that the State's negative declaration for the six CTGs listed above remain valid and satisfies the requirements for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS Serious classification, the 2015 Ozone Standard Moderate classification and requirements associated with the OTR for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS. Therefore, within this action the EPA is certifying that the previously approved State's negative declaration remains valid for these six CTGs for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS Serious classification, the 2015 Ozone Standard Moderate classification and the requirements associated with the OTR for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS. See 82 FR 58342 (December 12, 2017); 40 CFR 52.1683(a) and (b).

The specific details of New York's SIP submittals and the rationale for the EPA's approval action are explained in the EPA's proposed rulemaking and are not restated in this final action. For this detailed information, the reader is referred to the EPA's August 25, 2023, proposed rulemaking (88 FR 58202).

II. What comments were received in response to the EPA's proposed action?

In response to EPA's August 25, 2023, proposed rulemaking on New York's SIP revisions, the EPA received only one comment during the 30-day public comment period. The specific comment may be viewed under Docket ID Number EPA–R02–OAR–2022–0648 on the https://regulations.gov website.

Comment: A private citizen commenter living in the New York Metropolitan Area supports the EPA's proposed approval of New York's SIP revision because “. . . approving this SIP would help push the State of New York, especially the Metropolitan Area to closer meet the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS . . .” and that “. . . these new revisions all overall help the betterment of the air quality in New York by providing [the State] the programming and provisions needed to improve their air quality and public health.”

Response: The EPA acknowledges the commenter's support of the EPA's proposed rule.

This concludes our response to the comments received. No changes have been made to the proposed rule as a result of the comments received.

III. What action is the EPA taking?

The EPA is approving New York's RACT certification submittal dated January 29, 2021, for purposes of meeting the requirements for RACT for the 2008 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) in New York's portion of the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area for the Serious classification. The EPA is also approving that this RACT certification submittal also satisfies New York's requirement for RACT for the 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS in the NYMA and the requirements for RACT for the 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS throughout the State of New York's commitment to meet RACT within the OTR.

The EPA is also approving portions of a comprehensive SIP revision submitted by New York on November 29, 2021, which includes: (1) The reasonable further progress plan and transportation conformity budgets for the 2008 8-hour Ozone Serious classification of the NYMA; (2) an Ozone nonattainment new source review (NNSR) program which applies state-wide for emissions to NO_X and VOC emissions from stationary sources; (3) an nonattainment emission inventory; and (4) clean fuels for fleets.

In addition, the EPA is also approving a portion of a comprehensive SIP revisions submitted by New York on November 13, 2017, which include New York's reasonable further progress plan and transportation conformity budgets for the 2008 8-hour Ozone Moderate classification of the NYMA.

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 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 Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 14094 (88 FR 21879, April 11, 2023);

• 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 subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) because it approves a State program;
• 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 Clean Air Act.

In addition, this final rulemaking action, pertaining to New York's submissions, is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other area where the 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 and will not impose substantial direct costs on Tribal governments or preempt Tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).

Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629, Feb. 16, 1994) directs Federal agencies to identify and address “disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects” of their actions on minority populations and low-income populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. EPA defines environmental justice (EJ) as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” EPA further defines the term fair treatment to mean that “no group of people should bear a disproportionate burden of environmental harms and risks, including those resulting from the negative environmental consequences of industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or programs and policies.”

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) did not evaluate environmental justice considerations as part of its SIP submittal; the CAA and applicable implementing regulations neither prohibit nor require such an evaluation. EPA did not perform an EJ analysis and did not consider EJ in this action. Due to the nature of the action being taken here, this action is expected to have a neutral to positive impact on the air quality of the affected area. Consideration of EJ is not required as part of this action, and there is no information in the record inconsistent with the stated goal of E.O. 12898 of achieving environmental justice for people of color, low-income populations, and Indigenous peoples.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

• Environmental protection
• Air pollution control
• Incorporation by reference
• Intergovernmental relations
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Ozone
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Volatile organic compounds

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52—APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Subpart HH—New York

2. In § 52.1670(e), in the table, add entries for “2008 8-hour Ozone Reasonable Further Progress Plan (RFP) for milestone year 2017; 2017 motor vehicle emission budgets used for planning purposes”, “2008 8-hour Ozone Reasonable Further Progress Plan (RFP) for milestone year 2020; 2020 motor vehicle emission budgets used for planning purposes”, “2008 8-hour Ozone Serious RACT Analysis and Certification”, “2015 8-hour Ozone RACT Analysis and Certification”, “2008 8-hour Ozone Serious Nonattainment New Source Review Requirements Certification”, “2008 8-hour Ozone Serious nonattainment emission inventory”, and “2008 8-hour Ozone Clean Fuel for Fleets” to the end of the table to read as follows:

3. In §52.1683:

a. Remove the headings from paragraphs (f), (n), and (v); and

b. Add paragraph (w).

The addition reads as follows: