Air Plan Approval; Michigan; Permit To Install Public Hearing Provisions

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve certain changes to the Michigan State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action relates to changes to the Permit to Install requirements for public participation of permitting actions. Additionally, the action contains changes to the rule which address permit emission limits that are enforceable as a practical matter.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before April 26, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-2007-1092 at https://www.regulations.gov,, or via email to damico.genevieve@epa.gov. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either manner of submission, 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, please contact the person identified in the For Further Information Contact section. For the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Constantine Blathras, Environmental Engineer, Air Permits Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-0671, blathras.constantine@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Throughout this document whenever “we,” “us,” or “our” is used, we mean EPA. This supplementary information section is arranged as follows:

I. Background

II. Review of State Submittal

III. What Action is EPA Taking?

IV. Incorporation by Reference

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Background

Section 110(a)(2)(C) of the Clean Air Act requires that the SIP include a program to provide for the “regulation of the modification and construction of any stationary source within the areas covered by the plan as necessary to assure that national ambient air quality standards are achieved.” This includes a program for permitting construction and modification of both major and minor sources that the state deems necessary to protect air quality. The State of Michigan's minor source permit to install rules are contained in Part 2 (Air Use Approval) of the Michigan Administrative Code. Changes to the Part 2 rules were submitted on November 12, 1993; May 16, 1996; April 3, 1998; September 2, 2003; March 24, 2009; and February 28, 2017.

Michigan originally submitted its Michigan R 336.1205 (rule 205) as a revision to its Part 2 SIP on May 16, 1996. The most recent version of rule 205 was submitted to EPA on March 24, 2009 and has a state effective date of June 20, 2008. EPA published a proposed approval of all Part 2 changes, except rule 205, on August 15, 2017 (82 FR 38651). EPA took no action to approve rule 205 at that time. Most recently, EPA approved changes to the Part 2 rules (except rule 205) in a final approval dated August 31, 2018 (83 FR 44485). In this action, EPA is proposing approval to revisions to the SIP for Michigan rule 205 and 324.5511(3) of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. Rule 205 is titled “Permit to install; approval.” and is a section of the Part 2 air use approval rules of the Michigan Administrative Code that specifies the requirements for issuance of air pollutant construction permits. Michigan Act 451, Part 55, section 324.5511(3) defines the permitting actions requiring public comment and public hearing opportunities.

II. Review of State Submittal

(1) R 336.1205 (Rule 205) of Michigan's Part 2 Air Permit Rules

The provisions of rule 205 require a permit to install that includes limitations which restrict the potential to emit from a stationary source, process, or process equipment to a quantity below that which would otherwise constitute a major source or major modification under any part of the Part 2 air permit rules. The permit to install must contain adequate emission limits that are enforceable as a practical matter; with a consideration to the time-period, production, emission, usage and/or operational limits that restrict the source's potential to emit in order to demonstrate compliance.

Michigan rule 205 describes the content and public participation process for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), as the permitting authority, to act on certain permits which need to be “federally enforceable” or enforceable as a practical matter. Additionally, the rule also prescribes these requirements for any permit issued under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. This rule incorporates guidance published by EPA in the Federal Register on June 28, 1989 (54 FR 27274) on limiting a source's potential to emit. The rule applies only to sources and modifications defined as “major” under Federal regulations and to sources which would be subject to the “major” requirements except for conditions contained in the permit which limit the potential to emit to less than the applicable emission thresholds. Sources which accept conditions which limit the potential to emit to something less than the true design capacity of the equipment being installed are referred to as “synthetic minor” sources. The Michigan rule sets a deminimus level for these “synthetic minor” sources at 50% of the applicable emission threshold.

Rule 205 specifies that the draft permit is subject to the public participation process specified in section 324.5511(3) of Michigan Act 451. The requirements of section 324.5511(3) are reviewed and further described below. Lastly, Michigan, at its discretion, may approve a permit to install that includes limitations restricting the potential to emit of the stationary source without meeting the requirements of section 324.5511(3) if the emission limitations restrict the potential to emit of the source to less than 90% of the quantity referenced in the applicable requirement.

(2) 324.5511(3) of Michigan Act 451

In its May 1996 submittal, MDEQ requested that all of Part 55 of Act 451 of the 1994 Michigan act be approved as a revision to the Michigan SIP in addition to rule 205 and other sections of Michigan's Part 2 air permit program rules. EPA did not act on the request to include Part 55 of the Michigan act into the Michigan SIP, nor did we approve rule 205. Upon EPA's review of the submittal, we determined that the other sections of the Part 55 act, such as 324.5506, pertain to the Michigan operating permits program. EPA approved the mechanism for Michigan's title V operating permits program but did not approve its operating permits rules into the SIP because that program has a different approval mechanism under the Clean Air Act. Additionally, section 324.5511(3) references consent orders and the public notice opportunity for those actions. Actions related to consent orders are not being approved into a state's SIP.

On December 19, 2018, Michigan submitted a clarification letter to EPA specifying that it only intended to submit a selection of section 324.5511(3), of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 451 of 1994 as part of the revision with Michigan rule 205 into the SIP. Michigan rule 205 references the above-mentioned rule 324.5511(3) at R 336.1205(1)(b) citing, “A draft permit has been subjected to the public participation process specified in section 324.5511(3) of the act.” EPA is proposing to approve the selection of section 5511(3) into the Michigan SIP as submitted by the state in their December 19, 2018 letter. The selected language as submitted removes references to Michigan's operating permits program and consent order requirements which are not being approved into the SIP, nor are they required to be approved into the SIP. Michigan does not intend to submit a revision to its SIP language pertaining to its title V operating permits program or to actions related to consent orders, but only for New Source Review construction permitting purposes.

EPA requires that major sources and major modifications to major sources subject to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration of air quality and those sources impacting nonattainment areas be subject to public participation requirements, including a public comment period and opportunity for a public hearing. EPA already approved Michigan's major source air permitting program into the Michigan SIP and its associated public participation requirements, found in Michigan rule R 336.2817, on March 25, 2010 (75 FR14352) in accordance with the minimum requirements found in 40 CFR 51.166. Sources subject to Part 19, new source review for major sources impacting nonattainment areas, are required to obtain a permit subject to the permitting provisions of Michigan rules Part 19, which meet the minimum requirements found in 40 CFR 51.165(a) and (b), and rule 201 of the Part 2 air permit rules.

By approving Michigan's rule 205 and section 324.5511(3) of the Michigan act as a revision to the Michigan SIP, the SIP is therefore strengthening the existing state public notice requirements for public participation of air permits. As stated in Michigan's letter, “These additions will strengthen the Michigan SIP by formalizing the public participation process for all permits issued pursuant to Part 55 and R 336.1201, as well as major source prevention of significant deterioration and nonattainment NSR permits to install.”

Section 324.5511(3), paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) specify the requirements for permit notification and sets the public comment period to at least 30 days with an opportunity for a public hearing with at least a 30-day notice. The current SIP required NSR public participation process provides for only a 21-day public notice and comment period. The Federal permit public participation requirements are only applicable for major source and major modifications in both attainment and nonattainment areas and not the minor source permitting program. Approving the provisions of rule 205 and section 324.5511(3) into the SIP will further strengthen the already approved minor air pollutant construction permitting program by adding a public notice requirement for those sources above 90% of the quantity referenced in the applicable requirements which would constitute a major source or major modification and prescribing the permit emission limitations which will make the synthetic minor air permit practically enforceable. Michigan will continue to exercise its discretion making draft permits available for public comment which are below the 90% quantity in the applicable requirements for a major source or major modification.

III. What action is EPA taking?

EPA is proposing to approve Michigan rule R 336.1205, “Permit to install; approval” and portions of section 324.5511(3) of Michigan Act 451 of 1994 into the Michigan SIP.

IV. Incorporation by Reference

In this rule, EPA proposes to include in a final EPA rule regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance with requirements on 1 CFR 51.5, EPA proposes to incorporate by reference Michigan Administrative Code R 336.1205 Permit to install; approval, effective June 20, 2008. EPA has made, and will continue to make, these documents generally available through www.regulations.gov and at the EPA Region 5 Office (please contact the person identified in the For Further Information Contact section of this preamble for more information).

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Clean Air Act 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 Clean Air Act. 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 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011);
• Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under Executive Order 12866;
• 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 Clean Air Act; 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, 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 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).

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