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EPA/AR RIN: 2060-AR28 Publication ID: Fall 2014 
Title: New Source Review and Title V Operating Permit Programs--Reconsideration of PSD Requirements for Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5) and Revision to Public Notice Requirements 
Abstract:

This proposed rulemaking is, in part, in response to the January 22, 2013, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit decision that vacated the Significant Monitoring Concentration (SMC) and vacated and remanded two provisions in EPA's prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) regulations containing Significant Impact Levels (SILs) that were contained in the 2010 final rule promulgating fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increments, SMC, and SILs for PM2.5. This rulemaking address the court's decision remanding the PM2.5 SILs provisions in the PSD program. This rulemaking will address significant emission rates for precursors of PM2.5 in both the PSD and nonattainment new source review programs. This rulemaking will also re-propose for public comment two provisions of the rule that were not addressed in that court decision. The reason that EPA is re-proposing these two provisions is because the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) filed a Petition for Reconsideration to the Administrator regarding several provisions contained in the 2010 final rule. In response to the TCEQ petition, EPA agreed to reconsider, by re-proposing, the following three provisions: 1) The revised definition of "baseline area" that includes a new significance level for PM2.5, which is used for determining whether a particular attainment or unclassifiable area should be included in the baseline area for the PM2.5 increments; 2) The requirement that PM2.5 precursor emissions be included in the significant impact analysis; and 3) The level selected for the SMC for PM2.5. In each case, the TCEQ claimed that EPA did not provide an opportunity for public comment prior to issuing the provisions as part of the 2010 final rule. The third of these claims by TCEQ subsequently became moot by the court's vacatur of the PM2.5 SMC. This proposed rule will also amend the PSD, nonattainment new source review (NNSR) and Title V Operating Permit regulations to remove the current requirement in these regulations that a public notice be provided as a prominent advertisement, which historically has been interpreted as an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the source seeking a PSD, NNSR or Title V permit is located. The proposed rule will include a public notice requirement that is media-neutral and includes among other mechanisms electronic noticing on permitting authority websites. The option of providing public notice via a traditional newspaper advertisement will still be available to air agencies. This portion of the rule revision is anticipated to result in significant annual savings in publication costs.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 51.156   
Legal Authority: 42 USC 7470 to 7479   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  07/00/2015 
Final Rule  To Be Determined 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined  Government Levels Affected: Undetermined 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Information URL: www.epa.gov/nsr  
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Phil Lorang
Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Radiation
C304-04,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone:919 541-5463
Email: lorang.phil@epa.gov

Chuck Buckler
Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Radiation
C504-03,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone:919 541-0873
Fax:919 541-5509
Email: buckler.charles@epa.gov