ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
Under the Federal Clean Air Act (Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the New Mexico State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions update the transportation conformity rules and remove the general conformity provisions.
DATES:
This rule is effective on July 20, 2015.
ADDRESSES:
EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-R06-OAR-2011-0938. All documents in the docket are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeffrey Riley (6PD-L), telephone: (214) 665-8542, email: riley.jeffrey@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The background for this action is discussed in detail in our February 10, 2015 direct final rule and proposal (80 FR 7341). The rule and proposal stated that if any relevant adverse comments were received by the end of the public comment period, the direct final rule would be withdrawn and we would respond to the comments in a subsequent final action. A relevant adverse comment was received during the comment period, and the direct final rule was withdrawn on April 8, 2015 (80 FR 19020). Our proposal provides the basis for this final action. These revisions amend the transportation conformity SIP provisions and remove the general conformity provisions from the SIP, as allowed by the Act's 2005 amendments. These revisions also address interagency consultation and enforceability of certain transportation-related control measures and mitigation measures.
We received one comment on the direct final rule by one commenter, Sierra Club. The comment and our response to the comment is below.
II. Response to Comments
Comment: “Acting regional administrator Sam Coleman cannot sign approvals, disapprovals, or any combination of approvals or disapproval, in whole or in part, due to the fact that agency actions on state implementation plans are required to be signed by the regional administrator, Ron Curry, not the current deputy regional administrator as stated in the agency's delegations manual. The manual specifically states that SIP actions can't be redelegated from the regional administrator.”
Response: As the Acting Regional Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator Sam Coleman had authority to sign the proposal and direct final action on the SIP revisions. On January 28, 2015, the day that the proposal and direct final action were signed, Sam Coleman was acting in the capacity of the Regional Administrator for Ron Curry, who was absent from Region 6 at the time. The following language is listed in the Region 6 Deputy Regional Administrator's position description “In the absence of the Regional Administrator, the Deputy Regional Administrator will perform the duties of the Regional Administrator.” Further, EPA Region 6 Order 1110.11 establishes a line of succession to perform the duties of the Regional Administrator should the Regional Administrator be absent from the office. The Deputy Regional Administrator is the first person listed on that line of succession. Copies of the two documents are included in the docket for this rulemaking. Finally, the heads of administrative agencies are statutorily vested with the authority to delegate authorities to subordinate officials, 5 U.S.C. 302. Federal Courts have held that rules, including internal delegations and appointments of authority are effective regardless of publication in the Federal Register or the Code of Federal Regulations.
The comment only challenged the Deputy Regional Administrator's authority to sign the Direct Final Action. EPA received no other comments or challenges as to the substance of the proposal or direct final. Therefore, we are finalizing our action to approve these SIP amendments.
III. Final Action
Pursuant to sections 110 and 176 of the Act, EPA is approving three revisions to the New Mexico SIP that were submitted on October 28, 2011, November 1, 2013, and August 8, 2014. We evaluated the state's submittals and determined that they meet the applicable requirements of the CAA sections 110 and 176 and applicable EPA guidance. In accordance with CAA section 110(l), these revisions will not interfere with attainment of the NAAQS, reasonable further progress, or any other applicable requirement of the CAA.
IV. Incorporation by Reference
In this rule, we are finalizing regulatory text that includes incorporation by reference. In accordance with the requirements of 1 CFR 51.5, we are finalizing the incorporation by reference of the revisions to the New Mexico regulations as described in the Final Action section above. We have made, and will continue to make, these documents generally available electronically through www.regulations.gov and/or in hard copy at the EPA Region 6 office.
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 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 CAA. Accordingly, this action merely proposes to approve 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).
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 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.
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 rule 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 August 17, 2015. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this rule 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. 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, Carbon monoxide, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: May 27, 2015.
Ron Curry,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
Therefore, 40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:
PART 52—APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Subpart GG—New Mexico
2. In § 52.1620, the first table in paragraph (c) entitled “EPA Approved New Mexico Regulations” is amended by:
a. Removing the entry for “Part 98, General Conformity”;
b. Revising the entries for “20.2.99.1” through “20.2.99.8”;
c. Removing the entry for “20.2.99.9 to 20.2.99.100”;
d. Revising the entries for “20.2.99.101” through “20.2.99.112”;
e. Removing the entries for “20.2.99.113” through “20.2.99.154”.
The revisions read as follows:
§ 52.1620
(c) * * *
EPA Approved New Mexico Regulations
State citation
Title/Subject
State approval/
effective
date
EPA Approval date
Comments
*******
Part 99—Transportation Conformity
20.2.99.1
Issuing Agency
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.2
Scope
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.3
Statutory Authority
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.4
Duration
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.5
Effective Date
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.6
Objective
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.7
Definitions
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.8
Documents
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.101
Applicability
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.102
Consultation
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.103
Agency Roles in Consultation
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.104
Agency Responsibilities in Consultation
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.105
General Consultation Procedures
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.106
Consultation Procedures for Specific Major Activities
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.107
Consultation Procedures for Specific Routine Activities
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.108
Notification Procedures for Routine Activities
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.109
Conflict Resolution and Appeals to the Governor
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.110
Public Consultation Procedures
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.111
Enforceability of Design Concept and Scope and Project-Level Mitigation and Control Measures
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
20.2.99.112
Savings Provision
7/11/2014
6/18/2015 [ Insert
Federal Register
Citation ]
[FR Doc. 2015-13948 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
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