AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Tennessee State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted through two letters dated June 25, 2008, and September 12, 2018. The SIP revisions were submitted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) on behalf of the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau and modify the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations in the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP to address changes to the federal new source review (NSR) regulations in recent years for the implementation of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Additionally, the SIP revisions include updates to Chattanooga's regulations of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other miscellaneous typographical and administrative updates. This action is being proposed pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before March 12, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-OAR-2019-0294 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/​dockets/​commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andres Febres, 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) 562-8966. Mr. Febres can also be reached via electronic mail at febres-martinez.andres@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. What action is EPA proposing?

EPA is proposing to approve changes to the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP regarding PSD permitting, as well as updates to the regulations of NOx and other miscellaneous typographical and administrative updates, submitted by TDEC on behalf of the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau (Bureau) through two letters dated June 25, 2008, and September 12, 2018.^[1 2 3] EPA is proposing to approve portions of these SIP revisions that make changes to the Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 4, Article II, Section 4-41. Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve changes in Section 4-41, which include updates to Rule 2—Regulation of Nitrogen Oxides; Rule 9—Regulation of Visible Emissions from Internal Combustion Engines, and Rule 18—Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality.^{[4 5 6 7]}

Aside from making typographical and administrative corrections to some of the rules, these SIP revisions are meant to address changes to the federal NSR regulations, as promulgated by EPA in various rules and described below. Additional detail on EPA's analysis of these SIP revisions and its reasoning for proposing to approve them is presented in the sections below.

II. Background

A. 2002 NSR Reform Rules

On December 31, 2002, EPA published final rule revisions to title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 51 and 52, regarding the CAA's PSD and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) programs. See 67 FR 80186 (hereinafter referred to as the 2002 NSR Rule). The revisions included five changes to the major NSR program that would reduce burden, maximize operating flexibility, improve environmental quality, provide additional certainty, and promote administrative efficiency. Initially, these updates to the federal NSR program included the adoption of baseline actual emissions, actual-to-projected-actual emissions methodology, plant-wide applicability limits (PALs), Clean Units, and pollution control projects (PCPs). The final rule also codified a longstanding policy regarding the calculation of baseline emissions for electric utility steam generating units and the definition of “regulated NSR pollutant” that clarifies which pollutants are regulated under the Act for purposes of major NSR.

Following publication of the 2002 NSR Rule, EPA received numerous petitions requesting reconsideration of several aspects of the final rule, along with portions of EPA's 1980 NSR Rules. See 45 FR 52676 (August 7, 1980). On July 30, 2003, EPA granted petitions for reconsideration of six issues presented by the petitioners and opened a new comment period for the public.^[8] As a result of the reconsideration, on November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63021), EPA published the NSR Reform Reconsideration Rule. In the reconsideration rule, EPA made a final determination not to change any of the six issues opened for reconsideration but did make two clarifications to the rule. These two clarifications included: (1) Adding the definition of “replacement unit” to indicate that it is considered an existing unit in terms of major NSR applicability, and (2) specifying that the PAL baseline calculation procedures for newly constructed units do not apply to modified units. The 2002 NSR Rule and the NSR Reform Reconsideration Rule are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “2002 NSR Reform Rules.”

The 2002 NSR Reform Rules were challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit), and the court issued a decision on the challenges on June 24, 2005. See New York v. United States, 413 F.3d 3 (D.C. Cir. 2005). In summary, the D.C. Circuit vacated portions of EPA's NSR rules pertaining to Clean Units and PCPs, remanded a portion of the rules regarding recordkeeping and the term “reasonable possibility” found in 40 CFR 52.21(r)(6), 40 CFR 51.166(r)(6), and 40 CFR 51.165(a)(6) to EPA, and either upheld or did not comment on the other provisions included as part of the 2002 NSR Reform Rules. On June 13, 2007 (72 FR 32526), EPA took final action to revise the 2002 NSR Reform Rules to exclude the portions that were vacated by the D.C. Circuit.

Meanwhile, EPA continued to move forward with its evaluation of the portion of its NSR Reform Rules that were remanded by the D.C. Circuit. On March 8, 2007 (72 FR 10445), EPA responded to the Court's remand regarding the recordkeeping provisions by proposing two alternative options to clarify what constitutes “reasonable possibility” and when the “reasonable possibility” recordkeeping requirements apply. The “reasonable possibility” standard identifies the circumstances under which a major stationary source must keep records for modifications that do not trigger major NSR. EPA later finalized these changes on December 21, 2007 (72 FR 72607).

Separately from the petitions received that led to the 2002 NSR Reconsideration Rule, EPA received another petition for reconsideration on July 11, 2003. Specifically, the petitioner requested EPA to reconsider the inclusion of “fugitive emissions” when assessing whether a proposed physical or operational change qualified as a “major modification.” On November 13, 2007, EPA granted the petition for reconsideration, and on December 19, 2008, finalized the revision of the language to clarify which types of sources were required to include “fugitive emissions” in their calculations. See 73 FR 77882 (hereinafter referred to as the Fugitive Emissions Rule).

Finally, on February 17, 2009, EPA received one additional petition challenging the Fugitive Emissions Rule. Due to this petition, and after several stays,^[9] EPA established an interim stay on March 30, 2011 (76 FR 17548), in which most of the Fugitive Emissions Rule language was stayed indefinitely. With the March 30, 2011, stay, EPA specified which portions of 40 CFR 51.165, 40 CFR 51.166, and 40 CFR 52.21 were stayed indefinitely, which were reinstated, and which were revised, in order to revert the federal rules to regulatory language that existed prior to the Fugitive Emissions Rule.

In summary, after several court decisions and public petitions, the federal major NSR program (found in 40 CFR 51.165, 51.166, and 52.21) no longer includes the provisions related to Clean Units or PCPs that were part of the 2002 NSR reform rules. Additionally, an indefinite stay has been placed on the language related to the Fugitive Emissions Rule. Chattanooga is adopting all of the surviving provisions from the 2002 NSR Reform Rules and is not adopting all those provisions that were either vacated or stayed indefinitely. More details on Chattanooga's adoption of the 2002 NSR Reform Rules and our analysis of its submittals can be found in section III below.

B. Fine Particulate Matter (PM _2.5) NAAQS

1. Implementation of NSR for the PM_2.5 NAAQS and Grandfathering Provisions

On May 16, 2008 (73 FR 28321), EPA published the “Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers (PM_2.5)” Final Rule (hereinafter referred to as the NSR PM_2.5 Rule). The 2008 NSR PM_2.5 Rule revised the NSR program requirements to establish the framework for implementing preconstruction permit review for the PM_2.5 NAAQS in both attainment and nonattainment areas. As indicated in the 2008 NSR PM_2.5 Rule, major stationary sources seeking permits must begin directly satisfying the PM_2.5 requirements, as of the effective date of the rule, rather than relying on PM₁₀ as a surrogate, with two exceptions. The first exception was a “grandfathering” provision in the federal PSD program at 40 CFR 52.21(i)(1)(xi). This grandfathering provision applied to sources that had applied for, but had not yet received, a final and effective PSD permit before the July 15, 2008, effective date of the May 2008 final rule. The second exception was that states with SIP-approved PSD programs could continue to implement a policy in which PM₁₀ served as a surrogate for PM_2.5 for up to three years (until May 2011) or until the individual revised state PSD programs for PM_2.5 are approved by EPA, whichever came first.^[10]

On February 11, 2010 (75 FR 6827), EPA proposed to repeal the grandfathering provision for PM_2.5 contained in the federal PSD program at 40 CFR 52.21(i)(1)(xi) and to end early the PM₁₀ Surrogate Policy applicable in states that have a SIP-approved PSD program. In support of this proposal, EPA explained that the PM_2.5 implementation issues that led to the adoption of the PM₁₀ Surrogate Policy in 1997 had been largely resolved to a degree sufficient for sources and permitting authorities to conduct meaningful permit-related PM_2.5 analyses. On May 18, 2011 (76 FR 28646), EPA took final action to repeal the PM_2.5 grandfathering provision at 40 CFR 52.21(i)(1)(xi). This final action ended the use of the 1997 PM₁₀ Surrogate Policy for PSD permits under the federal PSD program at 40 CFR 52.21. In effect, any PSD permit applicant previously covered by the grandfathering provision (for sources that completed and submitted a permit application before July 15, 2008) ^[11] that did not have a final and effective PSD permit before the effective date of the repeal will not be able to rely on the 1997 PM₁₀ Surrogate Policy to satisfy the PSD requirements for PM_2.5 unless the application includes a valid surrogacy demonstration.

The NSR PM_2.5 Rule also established the following NSR requirements for PSD to implement the PM_2.5 NAAQS: (1) Required NSR permits to address directly emitted PM_2.5 and precursor pollutants; (2) established significant emission rates for direct PM_2.5 and precursor pollutants (including sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and NO_X); and (3) required states to account for gases that condense to form particles (“condensables”) in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ emission limits in PSD or NNSR permits.

2. PM_2.5 Condensables Correction Rule

Among the changes included in the 2008 NSR PM_2.5 Rule mentioned above, the EPA also revised the definition of “regulated NSR pollutant” for PSD to add a paragraph providing that “particulate matter (PM) emissions, PM_2.5 emissions and PM₁₀ emissions shall include gaseous emissions from a source or activity which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures” and that on or after January 1, 2011, “such condensable particulate matter shall be accounted for in applicability determinations and in establishing emissions limitations for PM, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ in permits.” See 73 FR 28321 at 28348 (May 16, 2008). A similar paragraph added to the NNSR rule did not include “particulate matter (PM) emissions.” See 40 CFR 51.165(a)(1)(xxxvii)(D).

On October 25, 2012 (77 FR 65107), EPA took final action to amend the definition, promulgated in the 2008 NSR PM_2.5 Rule, of “regulated NSR pollutant” contained in the PM condensable provision at 40 CFR 51.166(b)(49)(vi), 52.21(b)(50)(i) and Appendix S to 40 CFR 51 (hereinafter referred to as the PM_2.5 Condensables Correction Rule). The PM_2.5 Condensables Correction Rule removed the inadvertent requirement in the 2008 NSR PM_2.5 Rule that the measurement of condensable particulate matter be included as part of the measurement and regulation of “particulate matter emissions” under the PSD program. The term “particulate matter emissions” includes only filterable particles that are larger than PM_2.5 and larger than PM₁₀.

C. 1997 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS Phase 2 Rule

On November 29, 2005 (70 FR 71612), EPA published a final rule entitled “Final Rule To Implement the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard—Phase 2; Final Rule To Implement Certain Aspects of the 1990 Amendments Relating to New Source Review and Prevention of Significant Deterioration as They Apply in Carbon Monoxide, Particulate Matter and Ozone NAAQS; Final Rule for Reformulated Gasoline” (hereinafter referred to as the Phase 2 Rule). The Phase 2 Rule addressed control and planning requirements as they applied to areas designated nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS ^[12] such as reasonably available control technology, reasonably available control measures, reasonable further progress, modeling and attainment demonstrations, NSR, and the impact to reformulated gasoline for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS transition. Additionally, regarding the NSR permitting requirements which are relevant to this action, the Phase 2 Rule included the following provisions: (1) Recognized NO_X as an ozone precursor for PSD purposes; and (2) established significant emission rates for the 8-hour ozone, PM₁₀ and carbon monoxide NAAQS.

The June 25, 2008, and September 12, 2018, revisions requesting adoption of Chattanooga's Rule 18 adopt all the NSR provisions of the Phase 2 Rule as they appear in the federal PSD rules, effectively recognizing NO_X as a precursor to ozone as well as establishing significant emission rates for PM₁₀. The adoption of these provisions is consistent with the federal NSR rules as well as TDEC's rules.

D. Equipment Replacement Provision

Under federal regulations, certain activities are not considered to be a physical change or a change in the method of operation at a source, and thus do not trigger NSR review. One category of such activities is routine maintenance, repair and replacement (RMRR). On October 27, 2003 (68 FR 61248), EPA published a rule titled “Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Non-Attainment New Source Review (NSR): Equipment Replacement Provision of the Routine Maintenance, Repair and Replacement Exclusion” (hereinafter referred to as the ERP Rule). The ERP Rule provided criteria for determining whether an activity falls within the RMRR exemption. The ERP Rule also provided a list of equipment replacement activities that are exempt from NSR permitting requirements, while ensuring that industries maintain safe, reliable, and efficient operations that will have little or no impact on emissions. Under the ERP Rule, a facility undergoing equipment replacement would not be required to undergo NSR review if the facility replaced any component of a process unit with an identical or functionally equivalent component. The rule included several modifications to the NSR rules to explain what would qualify as an identical or functionally equivalent component.

Shortly after the October 27, 2003, rulemaking, several parties filed petitions for review of the ERP Rule in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit). The D.C. Circuit stayed the effective date of the rule pending resolution of the petitions. A collection of environmental groups, public interest groups, and States, subsequently filed a petition for reconsideration with EPA, requesting that the Agency reconsider certain aspects of the ERP Rule. EPA granted the petition for reconsideration on July 1, 2004 (69 FR 40278).^[13] After the reconsideration, EPA published its final response on June 10, 2005 (70 FR 33838), which stated that the Agency would not change any aspects of the ERP. On March 17, 2006, the D.C. Circuit acted on the petitions for review and vacated the ERP Rule.^[14]

The June 25, 2008, submittal includes portions of the ERP Rule for adoption. Although the ERP rule is vacated, EPA is proposing to approve those portions of the June 25, 2008, submittal, consistent with EPA's December 20, 2019,^[15] proposed rulemaking which would add certain portions back to the major NSR rules, as explained further in Section III of this proposed action.

III. Analysis of State's Submittal

A. Section 4-41, Rule 18—Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality

Chattanooga currently has a SIP-approved PSD program for new and modified stationary sources who wish to construct or modify in an area designated attainment, under Section4-41, Rule 18, Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality. The June 25, 2008, and September 12, 2018, SIP revisions propose changes to Rule 18 to address changes to the federal NSR regulations, as promulgated by EPA in the 2002 NSR Reform Rules, and subsequent changes in other relevant rulemakings as described in section II, above.

As part of the changes to Rule 18, Chattanooga adopts all the necessary provisions of the federal PSD rules (found in 40 CFR 51.166) to make them consistent with, and in some cases more stringent than, the federal rules. These changes include the adoption of several definitions in the federal PSD rules, such as the definition of “regulated NSR pollutant,” as well as provisions regarding major NSR applicability procedures, actual-to-projected-actual applicability tests, PALs, and recordkeeping. Slight differences between the Chattanooga PSD rules and the federal rules are discussed below in Section III.A.1.-5.

Additionally, as part of the changes included in the June 25, 2008, and September 12, 2018, SIP revisions, Chattanooga adopts the provisions from the Ozone Phase 2 Rule, as discussed in section II.C of this rulemaking. Consistent with TDEC's rules and the federal rules, Chattanooga adopts the same language regarding the Phase 2 rule found at 40 CFR 51.166. This includes amendments found in the federal PSD rules in subparagraphs 51.166(b)(1)(ii), 51.166(b)(2)(ii), 51.166(b)(23)(i), and 51.166(b)(49)(i).

EPA believes that the proposed approval of these changes, including all amendments mentioned in the following sections, will not have a negative impact on air quality in the Chattanooga-Hamilton County area. With these proposed changes, the local regulations will now be consistent with the State's current SIP-approved PSD program, which is slightly more stringent than the federal rules. Tennessee's PSD program already underwent updates concerning the 2002 NSR reform on September 14, 2007. See 72 FR 52472.

It is also important to note that the Chattanooga-Hamilton County area currently does not have any designated nonattainment areas, and all previous nonattainment areas have been redesignated to attainment and have clean data.^[16] Additionally, during the most recent designations process, for the 2010 1-hour SO₂ and the 2015 8-hour Ozone NAAQS, the entire Hamilton County Area was designated as attainment/unclassifiable for both standards.^[17]

Although in most cases Chattanooga adopts the federal rules as enacted at 51.166, certain portions were modified or not adopted. These differences from the federal PSD rules, which are all discussed in the sections below, include: (1) Adopting a modified definition of “baseline actual emissions;” (2) not adopting the stayed language in the Fugitive Emissions Rule; (3) adopting a different major source baseline date for PM_2.5; (4) adopting vacated language from the ERP rule; and (5) not adopting changes from a May 1, 2007, final rule regarding facilities that produce ethanol through natural fermentation.^[18]

1. Definition of “baseline actual emissions”

Regarding the definition of “baseline actual emissions,” as promulgated in 40 CFR 51.166(b)(47), Chattanooga adopts into Section 4-41, Rule 18, a definition mostly consistent with the federal definition. However, Chattanooga excluded a portion of the definition that would allow for different 24-month periods to be chosen for each regulated NSR pollutant when calculating baseline actual emissions for either PSD applicability determinations.

Chattanooga's adoption of “baseline actual emissions” in Rule 18 excludes the last sentence of subparagraphs 51.166(b)(47)(i)(c) and 51.166(b)(47)(ii)(d) of the federal PSD rules, which states that “a different consecutive 24-month period can be used for each regulated NSR pollutant.” Instead, Chattanooga adopts specific language at Section 4-41, Rule 18.2(d)(1)(c), which states, “For a regulated NSR pollutant, when a project involves multiple emissions units, one consecutive 24-month period must be used to determine the baseline actual emissions for the emissions units being changed.” With this difference in the definition, Chattanooga is not allowing for different baseline periods to be chosen for a single project that involves multiple units, which removes an additional flexibility built into the federal rules and makes the local rules slightly more stringent than the federal rules. This portion of Chattanooga's definition is consistent with TDEC's SIP-approved definition of “baseline actual emissions,” which also does not allow for different pollutant-specific 24-month baseline periods.

However, like TDEC, Chattanooga does retain the authority to allow for the use of multiple 24-month baseline periods only if certain conditions are met. These conditions are: (1) The new source or modification would still be subject to major NSR when using a single 24-month period; (2) one or more pollutants were emitted at lower amounts than permitted during that time; (3) the use of multiple baseline periods for any of the pollutants in item (2) above would result in the source or modification not being subject to major NSR; and (4) the use of the multiple baselines is not prohibited by any applicable provision of the federal NSR regulations. Although this portion of the definition does allow for the Director to authorize the use of multiple baseline periods, Chattanooga's definition is still more stringent than the federal definitions because the source or modification would have to meet very specific conditions, would have to bear the burden for demonstrating that these conditions are met, and must obtain the Director's approval in order to use this flexibility.

2. Fugitive Emissions Rule

As mentioned in Section II.A of this rulemaking, a portion of the Fugitive Emissions Rule was stayed indefinitely on March 30, 2011. For this reason, Chattanooga did not adopt into Section 4-41, Rule 18, the language found in the federal PSD rules at 40 CFR 51.166(b)(2)(v) and 51.166(b)(3)(iii)(d), which are part of the stayed Fugitive Emissions Rule provisions that can still be found in the CFR.

Given that the omitted language has been stayed indefinitely, EPA is proposing to approve the changes into the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP as consistent with federal requirements, and the Tennessee SIP.

3. ERP Rule

Chattanooga's June 25, 2008, SIP revision makes changes to Chattanooga's PSD permitting regulations, in part, by adding a definition of “replacement unit” at Rule 18.2(vv) and by adding Section 18.22, which describes “basic design parameters” to be considered in determining whether the replacement of equipment should be considered a new or existing emission unit. Chattanooga's definition of “replacement unit” mirrors the definition in 40 CFR 51.166(b)(32). Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve these changes.

In addition, EPA's definition of “replacement unit” cross references the description of “basic design parameters” in 40 CFR 51.166(y)(2). The description of “basic design parameters” was added to the EPA's PSD regulations on October 27, 2003, as part of the ERP Rule, to provide a category of equipment replacement activities that are not subject to the NSR requirements under the existing RMRR. Soon after, the ERP Rule was vacated in its entirety, as noted in Section II.D of this proposed rulemaking, by the D.C. Circuit in the 2006 New York v. EPA decision. 443 F.3d 880 (D.C. Cir. 2060). However, the definition of “replacement unit” was not vacated as part of that decision even though it cross referenced the vacated description of “basic design parameters” because it was not part of the ERP, 68 FR 61247 (October 27, 2003), but rather was added during the final reconsideration of NSR Reform, 68 FR 63021 (November 7, 2003). Nevertheless, the cross reference to the use of “basic design parameters” indicates EPA's intention to interpret that term consistently between the use of “replacement unit” and the ERP.

Lastly, on December 20, 2019, EPA published a NPRM intended to correct various errors in the NSR regulations, which proposed to remove the vacated ERP provisions. However, this proposal included incorporating into the federal regulations at 40 CFR 51.165(h), 51.166(y), and 52.21(cc) the concept of “basic design parameters” because EPA believes that as used in the definition of “replacement unit,” this is consistent with EPA's interpretation of that provision. See 84 FR 70092, 70094 (December 20, 2019). Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve Chattanooga's definition of “replacement unit” at Rule 18.2(vv), as well as the addition of Section 18.22 prescribing “basic design parameters,” because these provisions are consistent with and are as stringent as EPA's interpretation of the criteria for “basic design parameters” and the definition of “replacement unit.”

4. PM_2.5 NAAQS

The September 12, 2018, submittal adopts the PM_2.5 provisions necessary to implement PSD for the PM_2.5 NAAQS. However, one difference from the federal rules is that the “major source baseline date” for PM_2.5, the date after which actual emissions increases associated with construction at any major stationary source consume the PSD increment, is adopted at Rule 18.2(gg)(1) as October 20, 2011, rather than October 20, 2010.^[19] This locally effective date was adopted in error.^[20] However, on January 16, 2020, TDEC submitted, on behalf of the Bureau, a letter dated January 15, 2020, certifying that no construction activity affecting actual emissions at a major source took place within Chattanooga, Hamilton County, or the other municipalities within the Bureau, between the dates of October 20, 2010, and October 20, 2011.^[21] Thus, as the letter explains, no PM_2.5 increment was consumed in that time period. Consequently, there are no functional differences for PSD in Hamilton County versus what is required in other areas by the State and/or federal rules for the purposes of implementing the PM_2.5 NAAQS.

5. Other PSD Changes Not Related to NSR Reform

In addition to proposing revisions to Section 4-41, Rule 18, to address changes to the federal NSR regulations, as promulgated by EPA in the 2002 NSR Reform Rules, Chattanooga also seeks to delete several exemptions from the rule. Under Rule 18.8, Chattanooga currently has several exemptions for sources that have obtained or have requested to obtain a permit prior to a certain date, which range from 1977 through 1988.

The exemptions being proposed for deletion were found in Rule 18.8, paragraphs (a)(1) through (5), (9), and (10), as well as paragraphs (f) through (j). According to the Bureau, there are currently no sources operating within Hamilton County which obtained a PSD permit before 1988, and it is no longer possible for a source to request a permit before this date. As part of the June 25, 2008, and September 12, 2018, SIP revisions, Chattanooga seeks to delete the language in the paragraphs mentioned above, and instead place a “(Reserved)” notification in their place.

EPA has reviewed the changes to the exemptions in Section 4-41, Rule 18, and has determined that the changes do not decrease the stringency of the PSD rules. The deletion of these exemptions, although not functional at this time, would be a SIP-strengthening change to Chattanooga's PSD rules. Therefore, EPA believes that these changes are approvable pursuant to section 110 of the Act and is proposing to approve the aforementioned changes into the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP.

Lastly, the changes to Section 4-41, Rule 18, together with the differences mentioned above in section III.A.1. through 5., make Chattanooga's PSD regulations generally consistent with the federal requirements (and in some cases more stringent, as is the case of the definition of “baseline actual emissions”), as well as consistent with TDEC's PSD rules. With the exception of the vacated or stayed portions, as mentioned in section II, the adoption of vacated language from the ERP rule, the difference in the PM_2.5 major source baseline date from the federal provisions, and a minor change to the permit-rescission provision that was recently adopted by EPA,^[22] Chattanooga is adopting all other necessary provisions of the federal PSD rules. Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve the aforementioned changes to the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP.

B. Section 4-41, Rule 9—Regulation of Visible Emissions From Internal Combustion Engines

Rule 9, of Section 4-41, regulates visible emissions from internal combustion engines in order to protect the visibility of an area by limiting the time an internal combustion engine may operate at certain conditions, as well as the level of opacity that may be caused by the visible emissions. The June 25, 2008, SIP revision seeks to correct a typographical error that was mistakenly approved into the rule.

Under paragraph 9.2, the rule currently states that “no person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the visible emission of air contaminants from diesel type engines for a period of more than sixty (60) consecutive seconds in excess of twenty (20) capacity opacity” (emphasis added). The typographical correction included in the June 25, 2008, SIP revision seeks to change the word “capacity” to “percent” in order to clarify that the rule imposes a 20 percent opacity limit.

EPA has reviewed this change and has preliminarily determined that the change to Section 4-41, Rule 9 is a minor typographical correction. Therefore, EPA believes that this change is approvable pursuant to section 110 of the Act and is proposing to approve the aforementioned change into the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP.

C. Section 4-41, Rule 2—Regulation of Nitrogen Oxides

Rule 2 of Section 4-41 regulates the emissions of NO_X from several sources, which include fuel burning equipment, nitric acid plants, Portland cement plants, and emergency generators. The June 25, 2008, SIP revisions seek to lower the amount of NO_X that a Portland cement plant kiln may emit within a 3-hour period, restrict the time of year that these kilns may be operated, and add new reporting requirements.

Under the current SIP-approved version of Section 4-41, Rule 2, Portland cement plants are addressed in paragraph 2.6, which imposes a NO_X limit of no more than 1,500 ppm when averaged over a period of three hours. The June 25, 2008, SIP revision proposes to lower this limit by fifty percent, to allow emissions of NO_X of only 750 ppm over a three-hour average.

Additionally, the proposed changes seek to restrict the time of year that Portland cement plant kilns may be operated. Currently, these do not have any restriction on when they may operate, as long as they stay within the current 1,500 ppm, 3-hour-average limit on NO_X emissions. The proposed changes would restrict kilns' operation between May 1 and September 30, unless they meet certain criteria. In order to operate during the May 1 through September 30 timeframe, a kiln must have one of the following installed: (1) Low-NO_X burner(s); (2) mid-kiln system firing; (3) an alternative control technique, approved by the Director of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau (Director) and the EPA, that achieves the same level of control as low-NO_X burners or mid-kiln system firing; or (4) reasonably available control technology (RACT) approved by the Director and the EPA.

Lastly, the revisions add a new reporting requirement for sources previously subject to this rule. Although the time has expired for sources to meet the first condition of the reporting requirements, sources that were subject to this rule at the time of the local adoption were required to submit an initial report by April 30, 2007. This initial report was intended to provide the Director with two things: (1) A statement to confirm that the kiln is subject to the rule; and (2) a report demonstrating compliance with the new requirements of the rule. After the initial report was received, the source had to provide a NO_X emissions report for the period of May 31, 2007, through September 30, 2007, to show compliance was being achieved. Thereafter, the source is required to submit an annual NO_X emissions report, for the May 31 through September 30 time period, due October 31 of each year. Finally, the annual report is required to include a certification that the kiln continues to be in compliance with the rule, as stated in the initial certification.

These changes to Section 4-41, Rule 2, are consistent with TDEC's regulations regarding the control of NO_X emissions from Portland cement plants. Additionally, EPA believes that these changes are SIP strengthening, and help better control the emissions from cement kilns. Therefore, EPA is proposing to approve the aforementioned changes to the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP.

IV. Incorporation by Reference

In this document, EPA is proposing to include in a final EPA rule regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance with requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, EPA is proposing to incorporate by reference Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 4, Article II, Section 4-41, Rule 2— Regulation of Nitrogen Oxides; and Rule 9—Regulation of Visible Emissions from Internal Combustion Engines, both state effective December 12, 2007; as well as Rule 18—Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality, state effective January 23, 2017.^[23] EPA has made, and will continue to make, these materials generally available through www.regulations.gov 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).

V. Proposed Action

EPA is proposing to approve the aforementioned changes to the Chattanooga portion of the Tennessee SIP. EPA is proposing to approve the changes presented in the June 25, 2008, and September 12, 2018, SIP revisions that make changes to Chattanooga's City Code, Part II, Chapter 4, Article II, Section 4-41. Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve changes in Section 4-41, regarding updates to Rule 2—Regulation of Nitrogen Oxides; Rule 9—Regulation of Visible Emissions from Internal Combustion Engines; and Rule 18—Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality.^[24] These SIP revisions are meant to address several changes to the federal NSR regulations, as promulgated by EPA on December 31, 2002, and reconsidered with minor changes on November 7, 2003, which are commonly referred to as the “2002 NSR Reform Rules,” as well as subsequent changes to the federal NSR regulations as described in Section II of this proposed rulemaking. Finally, these revisions are meant to make Chattanooga's PSD regulations consistent with those of the State of Tennessee. The other SIP revisions EPA is proposing to approve include updates to Chattanooga's regulations of NO_X and other miscellaneous typographical and administrative updates.

VI. 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 that they meet the criteria of the CAA. These actions merely propose to approve state law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, these proposed actions:

• Are 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);
• Are not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under Executive Order 12866;
• Do not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Are 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.);
• Do 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);
• Do not have Federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
• Are not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Are not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
• Are 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
• Do 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, these rules do 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.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

• Environmental protection
• Air pollution control
• Carbon monoxide
• Incorporation by reference
• Lead
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Ozone
• Particulate matter
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Sulfur oxides
• Volatile organic compounds

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

Footnotes