Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Ohio; Redesignation of the Bellefontaine Area To Attainment of the 2008 Lead Standard

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Direct final rule.

SUMMARY:

On October 29, 2013, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) submitted a request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to redesignate the Bellefontaine nonattainment area to attainment for the 2008 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or standards) for lead. EPA determined that the Bellefontaine area meets the requirements for redesignation and is also approving several additional related actions. EPA is approving, as revisions to the Ohio state implementation plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the 2008 lead NAAQS through 2025 for the area. EPA is approving the 2010 emissions inventory for the Bellefontaine area, which meet the comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of the Act. EPA is approving to take these actions in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA's implementation regulations regarding the 2008 lead NAAQS.

DATES:

This direct final rule is effective September 26, 2014, unless EPA receives adverse comments by August 27, 2014. If adverse comments are received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule in the Federal Register informing the public that the

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-2013-0791, by one of the following methods:

1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

2. Email: aburano.douglas@epa.gov.

3. Fax: (312) 408-2279.

4. Mail: Douglas Aburano, Chief, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

5. Hand Delivery: Douglas Aburano, Chief, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Regional Office official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays.

Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-2013-0791. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.

Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. This facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. We recommend that you telephone Sarah Arra, Environmental Scientist, at (312) 886-9401 before visiting the Region 5 office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sarah Arra, Environmental Scientist, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 886-9401, arra.sarah@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. What actions is EPA taking?

II. What is the background for these actions?

III. What are the criteria for redesignation to attainment?

IV. What is EPA's analysis of the state's request?

V. What are the effects of EPA's actions?

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What actions is EPA taking?

EPA is taking several actions related to the redesignation of the Bellefontaine area to attainment for the 2008 lead NAAQS. EPA is approving Ohio's lead maintenance plan for the Bellefontaine area as a revision to the Ohio SIP. EPA is approving the 2010 lead base year emission inventory which satisfies the requirement in section 172(c)(3) for a current, accurate and comprehensive emission inventory.

EPA also finds that Ohio meets the requirements for redesignation of the Bellefontaine area to attainment of the 2008 lead NAAQS under section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA. EPA is thus granting Ohio's request to change the designation of the Bellefontaine area from nonattainment to attainment for the 2008 lead NAAQS. EPA's analysis for these actions are discussed in Section V. of today's rulemaking.

II. What is the background for these actions?

Lead is a metal found naturally in the environment as well as in manufactured products. The major sources of lead emissions have historically been from fuels used in on-road motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) and industrial sources. As a result of EPA's regulatory efforts to remove lead from on-road motor vehicle gasoline, emissions of lead from the transportation sector dramatically declined by 95 percent between 1980 and 1999, and levels of lead in the air decreased by 94 percent between 1980 and 1999.

Today, the highest levels of lead in the air are usually found near lead smelters. The major sources of lead emissions to the air today are ore and metals processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation gasoline.

On November 12, 2008 (73 FR 66964), EPA established the 2008 primary and secondary lead NAAQS at 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) based on a maximum arithmetic 3-month mean concentration for a 3-year period. See 40 CFR 50.16.

On November 22, 2010 (75 FR 71033), EPA published its initial air quality designations and classifications for the 2008 lead NAAQS based upon air quality monitoring data for calendar years 2007-2009. These designations became effective on December 31, 2010. The Bellefontaine area was designated nonattainment for the 2008 lead NAAQS. See 40 CFR 81.336. OEPA submitted their redesignation request on October 29, 2013.

III. What are the criteria for redesignation to attainment?

The CAA sets forth the requirements for redesignating a nonattainment area to attainment. Specifically, section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA allows for redesignation provided that: (1) The Administrator determines that the area has attained the applicable NAAQS based on current air quality data; (2) the Administrator has fully approved an applicable SIP for the area under section 110(k) of the CAA; (3) the Administrator determines that the improvement in air quality is due to permanent and enforceable emission reductions resulting from implementation of the applicable SIP, Federal air pollution control regulations, or other permanent and enforceable emission reductions; (4) the Administrator has fully approved a maintenance plan for the area meeting the requirements of section 175A of the CAA; and (5) the state containing the area has met all requirements applicable to the area for purposes of redesignation under section 110 and part D of the CAA.

IV. What is EPA's analysis of the state's request?

EPA is approving the redesignation of the Bellefontaine area to attainment of the 2008 lead NAAQS and is also approving Ohio's maintenance plan and emissions inventory for the area. The bases for these actions follow.

A. Attainment Determination and Redesignation

1. The Area Has Attained the 2008 Lead NAAQS (Section 107(d)(3)(E)(i))

In accordance with section 179(c) of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7509(c), EPA is determining that the Bellefontaine, Ohio area has attained the 2008 lead NAAQS. This determination is based upon complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2010-2012 monitoring period that show this area has monitored attainment of the lead NAAQS.

Under EPA regulations at 40 CFR 50.16, the 2008 primary and secondary lead standards are met when the maximum arithmetic 3-month mean concentration for a 3-year period, as determined in accordance with 40 CFR part 50, appendix R, is less than or equal to 0.15 µg/m³ at all relevant monitoring sites in the subject area. In a rulemaking on November 5, 2011, EPA determined that the Bellefontaine air quality data was attaining the standard with a design value of 0.006 µg/m³ for the period of 2010-2012, well below the standard of 0.15 µg/m³. See 78 FR 66280.

Although 2010 to 2012 data are still the most recent quality-assured and certified data, preliminary 2013 data indicate that the area continues to attain the standard. The 2013 data, complete, but not yet certified, show that the maximum value for the entire year was 0.005 µg/m³. Because 0.005 µg/m³ was the highest 3-month rolling average in 2011 and 2012 (Id.), the design value for the 2011 to 2013 time period would not exceed 0.005 µg/m³, a concentration that is only 3.3% of the 0.15 µg/m³ standard.

2. The Area Has Met All Applicable Requirements Under Section 110 and Part D and Has a Fully Approved SIP Under Section 110(k) (Section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii) and (v))

We have determined that Ohio has met all currently applicable SIP requirements for purposes of redesignation for the Bellefontaine area under section 110 of the CAA (general SIP requirements). We also find that the Ohio submittal meets all SIP requirements currently applicable for purposes of redesignation under part D of title I of the CAA, in accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(v). In addition, with the exception of the emissions inventory under section 172(c)(3), we are proposing to find that all applicable requirements of the Ohio SIP for purposes of redesignation have been approved, in accordance with section 107(d)(3)(E)(ii). As discussed below, in this action, EPA is approving Ohio's 2010 emissions inventory as meeting the section 172(c)(3) comprehensive emissions inventory requirement.

In making these determinations, we have ascertained which SIP requirements are applicable for purposes of redesignation, and concluded that the Ohio SIP includes measures meeting those requirements and that they are fully approved under section 110(k) of the CAA.

a. Ohio Has Met All Applicable Requirements for Purposes of Redesignation of the Bellefontaine Area Under Section 110 and Part D of the CAA

i. Section 110 General SIP Requirements

Section 110(a) of title I of the CAA contains the general requirements for a SIP. Section 110(a)(2) provides that the implementation plan submitted by a state must have been adopted by the state after reasonable public notice and hearing, and, among other things, must: include enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means or techniques necessary to meet the requirements of the CAA; provide for establishment and operation of appropriate devices, methods, systems, and procedures necessary to monitor ambient air quality; provide for implementation of a source permit program to regulate the modification and construction of any stationary source within the areas covered by the plan; include provisions for the implementation of part C, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and part D, New Source Review (NSR) permit programs; include criteria for stationary source emission control measures, monitoring, and reporting; include provisions for air quality modeling; and provide for public and local agency participation in planning and emission control rule development.

Section 110(a)(2)(D) of the CAA requires that SIPs contain measures to prevent sources in a state from significantly contributing to air quality problems in another state. EPA believes that the requirements linked with a particular nonattainment area's designation are the relevant measures to evaluate in reviewing a redesignation request. The transport SIP submittal requirements, where applicable, continue to apply to a state regardless of the designation of any one particular area in the state. Thus, we believe that these requirements should not be construed to be applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation.

Further, we believe that the other section 110 elements described above that are not connected with nonattainment plan submissions and not linked with an area's attainment status are also not applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation. A state remains subject to these requirements after an area is redesignated to attainment. We conclude that only the section 110 and part D requirements that are linked with a particular area's designation are the relevant measures which we may consider in evaluating a redesignation request. See 61 FR 53174-53176 (October 10, 1996) and 62 FR 24826 (May 7, 1997) (proposed and final redesignation for Reading, Pennsylvania ozone nonattainment area); 61 FR 20458 (May 7, 1996) (final redesignation for Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio ozone nonattainment area); and 60 FR 62748 (December 7, 1995) (final redesignation of Tampa, Florida ozone nonattainment area). See also 65 FR 37879, 37890 (June 19, 2000) (discussing this issue in final redesignation of Cincinnati, Ohio 1-hour ozone nonattainment area); 66 FR 50399 (October 19, 2001) (final redesignation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1-hour ozone nonattainment area).

We have reviewed the Ohio SIP and determined that it meets the general SIP requirements under section 110 of the CAA to the extent they are applicable for purposes of redesignation. EPA has previously approved provisions of Ohio's SIP addressing section 110 requirements (including provisions addressing lead), at 40 CFR 52.1870.

On October 12, 2011, and supplemented on June 7, 2013, Ohio made submittals addressing “infrastructure SIP” elements for the lead NAAQS required under CAA section 110(a)(2). EPA has not yet acted on this submittal, however, the requirements of section 110(a)(2) are statewide requirements that are not linked to the lead nonattainment status of the Bellefontaine area. Therefore, EPA believes that these SIP elements are not applicable requirements for purposes of review of the state's lead redesignation request.

ii. Part D Requirements

EPA has determined that upon approval of the base year emissions inventories discussed in section V.B. of this rulemaking, the Ohio SIP will meet the applicable SIP requirements for the Bellefontaine area applicable for purposes of redesignation under part D of the CAA. Subpart 1 of part D, found in sections 172-176 of the CAA, sets forth the basic nonattainment requirements applicable to all nonattainment areas.

(1) Section 172 Requirements

For purposes of evaluating this redesignation request, the applicable section 172 SIP requirements for the Bellefontaine area are contained in sections 172(c)(1)-(9). A thorough discussion of the requirements contained in section 172 can be found in the General Preamble for Implementation of Title I (57 FR 13498, April 16, 1992).

Section 172(c)(1) requires the plans for all nonattainment areas to provide for the implementation of all reasonably available control measure (RACM) as expeditiously as practicable and to provide for attainment of the primary NAAQS. EPA interprets this requirement to impose a duty on all states to consider all available control measures for all nonattainment areas and to adopt and implement such measures as are reasonably available for implementation in each area as components of the area's attainment demonstration. Because the Bellefontaine area has reached attainment, Ohio does not need to address additional measures to provide for attainment, and section 172(c)(1) requirements are no longer considered to be applicable as long as the area continues to attain the standard until redesignation. (40 CFR 51.918).

The reasonable further progress (RFP) requirement under section 172(c)(2) is defined as progress that must be made toward attainment. This requirement is not relevant for purposes of the Bellefontaine redesignation because the area has monitored attainment of the 2008 lead NAAQS. (General Preamble, 57 FR 13564). See also 40 CFR 51.918. The requirement to submit the section 172(c)(9) contingency measures is similarly not applicable for purposes of redesignation. Id.

Section 172(c)(3) requires submission and approval of a comprehensive, accurate and current inventory of actual emissions. Ohio submitted a 2005 and 2010 base year emissions inventory along with their redesignation request and via email on February 6, 2014, requested that the 2010 inventory be used as the most accurate and current inventory. As discussed below in section V.B., EPA is approving the 2010 base year inventory as meeting the section 172(c)(3) emissions inventory requirement for the Bellefontaine area.

Section 172(c)(4) requires the identification and quantification of allowable emissions for major new and modified stationary sources in an area, and section 172(c)(5) requires source permits for the construction and operation of new and modified major stationary sources anywhere in the nonattainment area. EPA approved Ohio's current NSR program on January 10, 2003 (68 FR 1366).

Section 172(c)(6) requires the SIP to contain control measures necessary to provide for attainment of the standard. Because attainment has been reached, no additional measures are needed to provide for attainment.

Section 172(c)(7) requires the SIP to meet the applicable provisions of section 110(a)(2). As noted above, we find that the Ohio SIP meets the section 110(a)(2) applicable requirements for purposes of redesignation.

(2) Section 176 Conformity Requirements

Section 176(c) of the CAA requires states to establish criteria and procedures to ensure that Federally-supported or funded activities, including highway and transit projects, conform to the air quality planning goals in the applicable SIPs. The requirement to determine conformity applies to transportation plans, programs and projects developed, funded or approved under title 23 of the U.S. Code and the Federal Transit Act (transportation conformity) as well as to all other Federally-supported or funded projects (general conformity). In light of the elimination of lead additives in gasoline, transportation conformity does not apply to the lead NAAQS. See 73 FR 66964, 67043 n.120. EPA approved Ohio's general conformity SIPs on March 11, 1996 (61 FR 9646).

b. Ohio Has a Fully Approved Applicable SIP Under Section 110(k) of the CAA

Upon final approval of Ohio's comprehensive 2010 emissions inventories, EPA will have fully approved the Ohio SIP for the Bellefontaine area under section 110(k) of the CAA for all requirements applicable for purposes of redesignation. EPA may rely on prior SIP approvals in approving a redesignation request (See page 3 of the September 4, 1992, Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to Attainment: Policy Memorandum (Calcagni memorandum)); Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Alliance v. Browner, 144 F.3d 984, 989-990 (6th Cir. 1998); Wall v. EPA, 265 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2001) plus any additional measures it may approve in conjunction with a redesignation action. See 68 FR 25413, 25426 (May 12, 2003). Since the passage of the CAA of 1970, Ohio has adopted and submitted, and EPA has fully approved, provisions addressing various required SIP elements under lead standards.

Under section 172, states with nonattainment areas must submit plans providing for timely attainment and meeting a variety of other requirements. On April 19, 2013, the Ohio EPA, submitted a request to EPA to make a determination under the CAA that the Bellefontaine nonattainment area has attained the 2008 lead NAAQS. EPA made a final determination of attainment for the area (also known as a clean data determination) on November 5, 2013. See 78 FR 66280. Pursuant to 40 CFR 51.1004(c), EPA's determination that the area has attained the 2008 lead standards suspended the requirement to submit certain planning SIPs related to attainment, including attainment demonstration requirements, the Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT)-RACM requirement of section 172(c)(1) of the CAA, the RFP and attainment demonstration requirements of sections 172(c)(2) and (6) and 182(b)(1) of the CAA, and the requirement for contingency measures of section 172(c)(9) of the CAA. As noted above, the area has continued to attain the standard, and preliminary data indicate the area will remain in attainment, since EPA made the final determination of attainment in 2013.

As a result, the only remaining requirement under section 172 to be considered is the emissions inventory required under section 172(c)(3). In this action, EPA is approving Ohio's 2010 emissions inventories for the Bellefontaine area as meeting the requirement of section 172(c)(3) of the CAA. No Bellefontaine area SIP provisions are currently disapproved, conditionally approved, or partially approved.

3. The Improvement in Air Quality Is Due to Permanent and Enforceable Reductions in Emissions Resulting From Implementation of the SIPs and Applicable Federal Air Pollution Control Regulations and Other Permanent and Enforceable Reductions (Section 107(d)(3)(E)(iii))

EPA believes that Ohio has demonstrated that the observed air quality improvement in the Bellefontaine area is due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions. The only stationary source of lead in the Bellefontaine area was the Daido facility. This source was permanently shutdown in June of 2009.

4. Ohio Has a Fully Approved Maintenance Plan Pursuant to Section 175A of the CAA (Section 107(d)(3)(E)(iv))

In conjunction with Ohio's request to redesignate the Bellefontaine nonattainment area to attainment status, Ohio has submitted a SIP revision to provide for maintenance of the 2008 lead NAAQS in the area through 2025.

a. What is required in a maintenance plan?

Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the required elements of a maintenance plan for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. Under section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of the applicable NAAQS for at least ten years after EPA approves a redesignation to attainment. Eight years after redesignation, the state must submit a revised maintenance plan which demonstrates that attainment will continue to be maintained for ten years following the initial ten year maintenance period. To address the possibility of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan must contain contingency measures with a schedule for implementation as EPA deems necessary to assure prompt correction of any future lead violations.

The September 4, 1992, Calcagni memorandum provides additional guidance on the content of a maintenance plan. The memorandum states that a maintenance plan should address the following items: the attainment emissions inventory, a maintenance demonstration showing maintenance for the ten years of the maintenance period, a commitment to maintain the existing monitoring network, factors and procedures to be used for verification of continued attainment of the NAAQS, and a contingency plan to prevent or correct future violations of the NAAQS.

Section 175A requires a state seeking redesignation to attainment to submit a SIP revision to provide for the maintenance of the NAAQS in the area “for at least 10 years after the redesignation.” EPA has interpreted this as a showing of maintenance “for a period of ten years following redesignation.” Calcagni memorandum at 9. Where the emissions inventory method of showing maintenance is used, its purpose is to show that emissions during the maintenance period will not increase over the attainment year inventory. Calcagni memorandum at 9-10.

As discussed in detail in the section below, the state's maintenance plan submission expressly documents that the area's emissions inventories will remain below the attainment year inventories through 2025, more than ten years after redesignation.

b. Attainment Inventory

Ohio developed an emissions inventory for lead for 2010, one of the years in the period during which the Bellefontaine area monitored attainment of the 2008 lead standard. The attainment level of emissions is summarized in Table 1 below along with future maintenance projections.

c. Demonstration of Maintenance

Along with the redesignation request, Ohio submitted a revision to its lead SIP to include a maintenance plan for the Bellefontaine area, as required by section 175A of the CAA. Ohio's plan demonstrates maintenance of the 2008 lead standard through 2025 by showing that current and future emissions of lead in the area remain at or below attainment year emission levels. Section 175A requires a state seeking redesignation to attainment to submit a SIP revision to provide for the maintenance of the NAAQS in the area “for at least 10 years after the redesignation.” EPA has interpreted this as a showing of maintenance “for a period of ten years following redesignation.” Calcagni memorandum at 9. Where the emissions inventory method of showing maintenance is used, its purpose is to show that emissions during the maintenance period will not increase over the attainment year inventory. Calcagni memorandum at 9-10.

As discussed in the section below, the state's maintenance plan submission expressly documents that the area's emissions inventories will remain below the attainment year inventories through 2025.

Ohio's plan demonstrates maintenance of the 2008 lead NAAQS through 2025 by showing that current and future emissions of lead for the area remain at attainment year emission levels. When the Daido facility was operating, as shown in Table 1 as the 2005 baseline, the emissions were 0.0035 tons per year (tpy). Now that the facility is shut down, and given that the mobile source emissions of lead are approximately zero, the emissions level for the area is approximately zero tpy. No new sources of lead are projected for the area, so the remainder of the maintenance period is projected as zero tpy as well. Since the shut down of the Daido facility in 2009, the Bellefontaine area has shown monitored design value concentrations well below the NAAQS and, with no other significant sources of lead, is predicted to easily stay below the standard.

d. Monitoring Network

Ohio's maintenance plan includes additional elements. Ohio's plan includes a commitment to continue to operate its EPA-approved monitoring network, as necessary to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the NAAQS. Ohio currently operates one lead monitor in the Bellefontaine, Ohio area.

e. Verification of Continued Attainment

Ohio remains obligated to continue to quality-assure monitoring data and enter all data into the Air Quality System (AQS) in accordance with Federal guidelines. Ohio will use these data, supplemented with additional information as necessary, to assure that the area continues to attain the standard. Ohio will also continue to develop and submit periodic emission inventories as required by the Federal Consolidated Emissions Reporting Rule (67 FR 39602, June 10, 2002) to track future levels of emissions. Both of these actions will help to verify continued attainment in accordance with 40 CFR part 58.

f. Contingency Plan

The contingency plan provisions are designed to promptly correct or prevent a violation of the NAAQS that might occur after redesignation of an area to attainment. Section 175A of the CAA requires that a maintenance plan include such contingency measures as EPA deems necessary to assure that the state will promptly correct a violation of the NAAQS that occurs after redesignation. The maintenance plan should identify the contingency measures to be adopted, a schedule and procedure for adoption and implementation of the contingency measures, and a time limit for action by the state. The state should also identify specific indicators to be used to determine when the contingency measures need to be adopted and implemented. The maintenance plan must include a requirement that the state will implement all pollution control measures that were contained in the SIP before redesignation of the area to attainment. See section 175A(d) of the CAA.

Ohio's contingency plan defines a warning level and action level response. The warning level response will trigger when a lead monitor 3-month rolling average exceeds 0.135 µg/m³ in the maintenance area. If a warning level response is triggered, Ohio will conduct a study to determine whether the lead values indicate a trend toward exceeding the standard and what control measure would be necessary to reverse the trend within 12 months of the conclusion of the calendar year. The action level response will be prompted by the determination of the warning level study that a reverse of the trend is needed, or by the 3-month rolling average exceeding 0.143 µg/m³. The action level response will require Ohio to work with the culpable entity to evaluate and implement the needed control measures to bring the area into attainment within 18 months of the conclusion of the calendar year that triggered the response.

Currently, no new sources of lead are projected for the Bellefontaine area, so all control measures would be determined after an analysis of the situation but could include control devices, secondary controls, or improves housekeeping and maintenance. Ohio commits to continue implementing SIP requirements upon and after redesignation.

EPA believes that Ohio's contingency measures, as well as the commitment to continue implementing any SIP requirements, satisfy the pertinent requirements of section 175A(d).

As required by section 175A(b) of the CAA, Ohio commits to submit to the EPA an updated lead maintenance plan eight years after redesignation of the Bellefontaine area to cover an additional ten year period beyond the initial ten year maintenance period.

For all of the reasons set forth above, EPA is approving Ohio's 2008 lead maintenance plan for the Bellefontaine area as meeting the requirements of CAA section 175A.

B. Comprehensive Emissions Inventory

As discussed above, section 172(c)(3) of the CAA requires areas to submit a comprehensive emissions inventory including all lead sources in the nonattainment area. In an email dated February 6, 2014, Ohio clarified their request that their 2005 emissions inventory submitted on October 5, 2009, as part of their designation request documents be updated with their 2010 emissions inventory submitted to EPA as part of their redesignation request to more accurately represent the current emissions status of the area. By 2010, the only source of lead is shutdown so the emissions level for the entire Bellefontaine area is estimated to be zero tpy. EPA is approving the Ohio 2010 emissions inventory to fulfill this requirement. EPA believes that the 2010 emissions inventory is complete and accurate, and meets the requirement of CAA section 172(c)(3).

V. What are the effects of EPA's actions?

Approval of this redesignation request changes the official designation of the Bellefontaine, Ohio area for the 2008 lead NAAQS, found at 40 CFR part 81, from nonattainment to attainment. This action also approves as a revision to the Ohio SIP for the Bellefontaine area, the maintenance plan for the 2008 lead standard and finds that Ohio's 2010 emissions inventory for the Bellefontaine area satisfies the requirement of section 172(c)(3).

We are publishing this action without prior proposal because we view this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipate no adverse comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register publication, we are publishing a separate document that will serve as the proposal to approve the state plan if relevant adverse written comments are filed. This rule will be effective September 26, 2014 without further notice unless we receive relevant adverse written comments by August 27, 2014. If we receive such comments, we will withdraw this action before the effective date by publishing a subsequent document that will withdraw the final action. All public comments received will then be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed action. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. If we do not receive any comments, this action will be effective September 26, 2014.

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 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 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 rule does not have tribal implications as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in the state, and EPA notes that it will not 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 September 26, 2014. 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. Parties with objections to this direct final rule are encouraged to file a comment in response to the parallel notice of proposed rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules section of today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate petition for judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can withdraw this direct final rule and address the comment in the proposed rulemaking. 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
• Incorporation by reference
• Intergovernmental relations
• Lead
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

40 CFR parts 52 and 81 are 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.

2. Subpart KK is amended by adding § 52.1893 to read as follows:

PART 81—DESIGNATION OF AREAS FOR AIR QUALITY PLANNING PURPOSES

3. The authority citation for part 81 continues to read as follows:

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

4. Section 81.336 is amended by revising the entry for Bellefontaine, OH, in the table entitled “Ohio—2008 Lead NAAQS” to read as follows: