Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California State Implementation Plan Revision, Kern County Air Pollution Control District, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, and San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[CA 057-0009a; FRL-5527-6]

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California

State Implementation Plan Revision, Kern County Air Pollution Control

District, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County

Air Pollution Control District, and San Joaquin Valley Unified Air

Pollution Control District

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action on revisions to the

California State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions concern rules

from the following Districts: Kern County Air Pollution Control

District (KNCAPCD), Placer County Air Pollution Control District

(PLCAPCD), Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VTCAPCD), and

San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD).

This approval action will incorporate these rules into the federally

approved SIP. The intended effect of approving these rules is to

regulate emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in accordance

with the requirements of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (CAA or

the Act). The revised rules control VOC emissions from surface coating

of metal parts and products, semiconductor manufacturing, fugitive

emissions of reactive organic compounds (ROC) at petroleum refineries

and chemical plants, polyester resin material operations, and

decontamination of soil. Thus, EPA is finalizing the approval of these

revisions into the California SIP under provisions of the CAA regarding

EPA action on SIP submittals, SIPs for national primary and secondary

ambient air quality standards and plan requirements for nonattainment

areas.

DATES: This action is effective on September 23, 1996 unless adverse or

critical comments are received by August 26, 1996. If the effective

date is delayed, a timely notice will be published in the Federal

Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the rule revisions and EPA's evaluation report for

each rule are available for public inspection at EPA's Region IX office

during normal business hours. Copies of the submitted rule revisions

are available for inspection at the following locations:

Rulemaking Section (A-5-3), Air and Toxics Division, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA

94105

Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket (6102), 401 ``M'' Street,

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460

California Air Resources Board, Stationary Source Division, Rule

Evaluation Section, 2020 ``L'' Street, Sacramento, CA 92123-1095

Kern County Air Pollution Control District, 2700 ``M'' Street, Suite

290, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Placer County Air Pollution Control District, 11464 B Avenue, Auburn,

CA 95603

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, 669 County Square Drive,

Ventura, CA 93003

San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, 1999

Tuolumne Street, Suite 200, Fresno, CA 93721

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel A. Meer, Chief, Rulemaking

Section (A-5-3), Air and Toxics Division, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105,

Telephone: (415) 744-1185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Applicability

The rules being approved into the California SIP include: KNCAPCD's

Rule 410.4, Surface Coating of Metal Parts and Products; PLCAPCD's Rule

244, Semiconductor Manufacturing Operations; VTCAPCD's Rules 74.7,

Fugitive Emissions of Reactive Organic Compounds (ROC) at Petroleum

Refineries and Chemical Plants, and 74.14, Polyester Resin Material

Operations; and SJVUAPCD's Rule 4651, Volatile Organic Compound

Emissions from Decontamination of Soil. These rules were submitted by

the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to EPA on May 25, 1995

(410.4), May 24, 1995 (244), March 26, 1996 (74.7), September 14, 1992

(74.14), and December 22, 1994 (4651).

Background

On March 3, 1978, EPA promulgated a list of ozone nonattainment

areas under the provisions of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1977

(1977 Act or pre-amended Act), that included the San Joaquin Valley Air

Basin, Ventura County and the Sacramento Metro Area, which includes a

portion of Placer County. 43 FR 8964, 40 CFR 81.305. On May 26, 1988,

EPA notified the Governor of California, pursuant to section

110(a)(2)(H) of the 1977 Act, that the above districts' portions of the

California SIP were inadequate to attain

[[Page 38572]]

and maintain the ozone standard and requested that deficiencies in the

existing SIP be corrected (EPA's SIP-Call). On November 15, 1990, the

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 were enacted. Pub. L. 101-549, 104

Stat. 2399, codified at 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q. In amended section

182(a)(2)(A) of the CAA, Congress statutorily adopted the requirement

that nonattainment areas fix their deficient reasonably available

control technology (RACT) rules for ozone and established a deadline of

May 15, 1991 for states to submit corrections of those deficiencies.

Section 182(a)(2)(A) applies to areas designated as nonattainment

prior to enactment of the amendments and classified as marginal or

above as of the date of enactment. It requires such areas to adopt and

correct RACT rules pursuant to pre-amended section 172(b) as

interpreted in pre-amendment guidance.1 EPA's SIP-Call used that

guidance to indicate the necessary corrections for specific

nonattainment areas. Ventura County and the Sacramento Metro Area are

classified as severe, the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin and all of Kern

County is classified as serious, therefore, these areas were subject to

the RACT fix-up requirement and the May 15, 1991 deadline. However, the

Southeast Desert Air Basin portion of Kern County was not a pre-

amendment nonattainment area and, therefore was not designated and

classified upon enactment of the amended Act. For this reason, KCAPCD

is not subject to section 182(a)(2)(A) RACT fix-up requirement. The

KCAPCD is, however, still subject to the requirements of EPA's SIP-Call

because the SIP-Call included all of Kern County.2

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\1\ Among other things, the pre-amendment guidance consists of

those portions of the proposed Post-1987 ozone and carbon monoxide

policy that concern RACT, 52 FR 45044 (November 24, 1987); ``Issues

Relating to VOC Regulation Cutpoints, Deficiencies, and Deviations,

Clarification to Appendix D of November 24, 1987 Federal Register

Notice'' (Blue Book) (notice of availability was published in the

Federal Register on May 25, 1988); and the existing control

technique guidelines (CTGs).

\2\ Ventura County, the Sacramento Metro Area and the San

Joaquin Valley Air Basin retained their designation of nonattainment

and were classified by operation of law pursuant to sections 107(d)

and 181(a) upon the date of enactment of the CAA. The Southeast

Desert Airbasin portion of the KCAPCD was designated nonattainment

on November 6, 1991. See 56 FR 56694 (November 6, 1991). However on

April 25, 1995, EPA published a final rule granting the State's

request to reclassify the Sacramento Metro Area to severe from

serious (60 CFR 20237). This reclassification became effective on

June 1, 1995.

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The State of California submitted many revised RACT rules for

incorporation into its SIP on September 14, 1992, December 22, 1994,

May 24, 1995, May 25, 1995, and March 26, 1996, including the rules

being acted on in this document. This document addresses EPA's direct-

final action for KNCAPCD's Rule 410.4, Surface Coating of Metal Parts

and Products; PLCAPCD's Rule 244, Semiconductor Manufacturing

Operations; VTCAPCD's Rules 74.7, Fugitive Emissions of Reactive

Organic Compounds (ROC) at Petroleum Refineries and Chemical Plants,

and 74.14, Polyester Resin Material Operations; and SJVUAPCD's Rule

4651, Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Decontamination of Soil.

KNCAPCD adopted Rule 410.4 on April 6, 1995, PLCAPCD adopted Rule 244

on February 9, 1995, VTCAPCD adopted Rules 74.7 on October 10, 1995,

74.14 on May 26, 1992, and SJVUAPCD adopted Rule 4651 on December 17,

1992. These submitted rules were found to be complete on November 20,

1992 (74.14), January 3, 1995 (4651), July 24, 1995 (410.4 and 244),

and May 15, 1996, (74.7) pursuant to EPA's completeness criteria that

are set forth in 40 CFR part 51, appendix V 3 and are being

finalized for approval into the SIP.

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\3\ EPA adopted the completeness criteria on February 16, 1990

(55 FR 5830) and, pursuant to section 110(k)(1)(A) of the CAA,

revised the criteria on August 26, 1991 (56 FR 42216).

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These rules control VOC emissions from surface coating of metal

parts and products, semiconductor manufacturing, polyester resin

material operations, marine coatings, soil decontamination and fugitive

ROC emissions at petroleum refineries and chemical plants. VOCs and

ROCs contribute to the production of ground level ozone and smog. These

rules were originally adopted as part of the efforts of these air

pollution control districts to achieve the National Ambient Air Quality

Standard (NAAQS) for ozone and in response to EPA's SIP-Call and the

section 182(a)(2)(A) CAA requirement. The following is EPA's evaluation

and final action for these rules.

EPA Evaluation and Action

In determining the approvability of a VOC rule, EPA must evaluate

the rule for consistency with the requirements of the CAA and EPA

regulations, as found in section 110 and part D of the CAA and 40 CFR

part 51 (Requirements for Preparation, Adoption, and Submittal of

Implementation Plans). The EPA interpretation of these requirements,

which forms the basis for today's action, appears in the various EPA

policy guidance documents listed in footnote 1. Among those provisions

is the requirement that a VOC rule must, at a minimum, provide for the

implementation of RACT for stationary sources of VOC emissions. This

requirement was carried forth from the pre-amended Act.

For the purpose of assisting state and local agencies in developing

RACT rules, EPA prepared a series of Control Technique Guideline (CTG)

documents. The CTGs are based on the underlying requirements of the Act

and specify the presumptive norms for what is RACT for specific source

categories. Under the CAA, Congress ratified EPA's use of these

documents, as well as other Agency policy, for requiring States to

``fix-up'' their RACT rules. See section 182(a)(2)(A). The CTG

applicable to KNCAPCD's Rule 410.4 is entitled: ``Control of Volatile

Organic Emissions from Existing Stationary Sources-- Volume VI: Surface

Coating of Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products'', (EPA-450/2-015).

The CTG applicable to VTCAPCD's Rule 74.7 is entitled: ``Control of

Volatile Organic Compound Leaks from Synthetic Organic Chemical and

Polymer Manufacturing Equipment'', (EPA-450/3-83-006). PLCAPCD's Rule

244, VTCAPCD's Rule 74.14, and SJVUAPCD's Rule 4651 control emissions

from source categories for which EPA has not issued CTGs. Accordingly

these rules were evaluated for consistency with the general RACT

requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA Section 110 and part D). Further

interpretations of EPA policy are found in the Blue Book, referred to

in footnote 1. In general, these guidance documents have been set forth

to ensure that VOC rules are fully enforceable and strengthen or

maintain the SIP.

KNCAPCD's submitted Rule 410.4, Surface Coating of Metal Parts and

Products, is a revised rule which includes the following significant

changes from the current SIP:

Clarified definitions,

Lower VOC limits for baked extreme performance and for

both baked and air-dried pretreatment wash primer coatings,

A capture efficiency requirement of at least 85% and a

control efficiency requirement of 90%,

New VOC limits and vapor pressure requirements for solvent

usage,

New prohibitions of sale and specifications

Record keeping provisions that require daily records, as

well as more specific information about the coating applied,

New test methods.

PLCAPCD's Rule 244, Semiconductor Manufacturing Operations, is a

new rule

[[Page 38573]]

which includes the following significant provisions:

A requirement that all precursor VOCs from solvent

cleaning stations be vented to control devices that reduce the total

emissions by at least 90% by weight,

In lieu of the above, a requirement that solvent cleaning

stations be equipped with full covers, and a definition of freeboard

ratio for solvent cleaning station sinks/reservoirs,

A requirement that all precursor VOC emissions from

negative photoresist operations be vented to control devices that

reduce total emissions by at least 90% by weight,

A list of test methods and record keeping requirements.

VTCAPCD's Rule 74.7, Fugitive Emissions of Reactive Organic

Compounds (ROC) at Petroleum Refineries and Chemical Plants, is a

revised rule which includes the following significant changes from the

SIP:

The applicability of the rule was expanded to include

additional chemical plants,

The definition section has been expanded,

The operations requirement section was broadened,

New inspection requirements were added,

The repair requirements were revised,

The Operator Management Plan was amended to reflect the

new requirement and exemptions in the rule,

The recordkeeping and reporting requirements were revised.

VTCAPCD's Rule 74.14, Polyester Resin Material Operations, is a new

rule which includes the following significant provisions:

Limits the ROC loss rate during resin polymerization to 60

grams per square meter of exposed area,

Limits the monomer content of specialty and non-specialty,

clear and pigmented gel coats, or requires the use of a closed mold

system,

Requires specified transfer efficient application methods,

Limits ROC content of clean-up solvents,

Add-on control equipment is specified when using non-

compliant resin material,

When compliant resin materials are used, records may be

kept at weekly intervals, but daily records are required when using

non-compliant resin material and/or an add-on control system,

Test methods are included to verify rule compliance.

SJVUAPCD's Rule 4651, Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from

Decontamination of Soil, is a new rule which includes the following

significant provisions:

A definition of contaminated soil,

An exemption for soil quantities of less than one cubic

yard,

A definition of the conditions allowing limited aeration,

The requirements for decontamination systems,

Test methods to be employed, and soil sampling procedures

to be followed to verify compliance.

EPA has evaluated the submitted rules and has determined that they

are consistent with the CAA, EPA regulations, and EPA policy.

Therefore, KNCAPCD's Rule 410.4, Surface Coating of Metal Parts and

Products; PLCAPCD's Rule 244, Semiconductor Manufacturing Operations;

VTCAPCD's Rules 74.7, Fugitive Emissions of Reactive Organic Compounds

(ROC) at Petroleum Refineries and Chemical Plants; 74.14, Polyester

Resin Material Operations; and SJVUAPCD's Rule 4651, Volatile Organic

Compound Emissions from Decontamination of Soils are being approved

under section 110(k)(3) of the CAA as meeting the requirements of

section 110(a) and part D.

Nothing in this action should be construed as permitting or

allowing or establishing a precedent for any future implementation

plan. Each request for revision to the state implementation plan shall

be considered separately in light of specific technical, economic, and

environmental factors and in relation to relevant statutory and

regulatory requirements.

EPA is publishing this document without prior proposal because the

Agency views this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipates no

adverse comments. However, in a separate document in this Federal

Register publication, the EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revision

should adverse or critical comments be filed. This action will be

effective September 23, 1996, unless, by August 26, 1996, adverse or

critical comments are received.

If the EPA receives such comments, this action will be withdrawn

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 this action serving as a

proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on

this action. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should

do so at this time. If no such comments are received, the public is

advised that this action will be effective September 23, 1996.

Regulatory Process

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 600 et seq., EPA

must prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis assessing the impact of

any proposed or final rule on small entities. 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.

Alternatively, EPA may certify that the rule will not have a

significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small

entities include small businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises and

government entities with jurisdiction over population of less than

50,000.

SIP approvals under sections 110 and 301(a) and subchapter I, Part

D of the CAA do not create any new requirements, but simply approve

requirements that the State is already imposing. Therefore, because the

Federal SIP-approval does not impose any new requirements, I certify

that it does not have a significant impact on any small entities

affected. Moreover, due to the nature of the Federal-state relationship

under the CAA, preparation of a regulatory flexibility analysis would

constitute Federal inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state

action. The CAA forbids EPA to base its actions concerning SIPs on such

grounds. Union Electric Co. v. U.S. E.P.A., 427 U.S. 246, 256-66 (S.

Ct. 1976); 42 U.S.C. 7410 (a)(2).

Unfunded Mandates

Under Sections 202, 203, and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform

Act of 1995 (``Unfunded Mandates Act''), signed into law on March 22,

1995, EPA must undertake various actions in association with proposed

or final rules that include a Federal mandate that may result in

estimated costs of $100 million or more to the private sector or to

State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate.

Through submission of this state implementation plan or plan

revision, the State and any affected local or tribal governments have

elected to adopt the program provided for under Part D of the Clean Air

Act. These rules may bind State, local, and tribal governments to

perform certain actions and also require the private sector to perform

certain duties. The rules being approved by this action will impose no

new requirements because affected sources are already subject to these

regulations under State law. Therefore, no additional costs to State,

local, or tribal governments or to the private sector result from this

action. EPA has also determined that this final action does not include

a mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100

[[Page 38574]]

million or more to State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate

or to the private sector.

Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office

Under section 801(a)(1)(A) of the Administrative Procedure Act

(APA) as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness

Act of 1996, EPA submitted 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 General Accounting

Office prior to publication of this rule in today's Federal Register.

This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by section 804(2) of the

APA as amended.

This action has been classified as a Table 3 action for signature

by the Regional Administrator under the procedures published in the

Federal Register on January 19, 1989 (54 FR 2214-2225), as revised by a

July 10, 1995 memorandum from Mary Nichols, Assistant Administrator for

Air and Radiation. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has

exempted this regulatory action from Executive Order 12866 review.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Hydrocarbons,

Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Ozone,

Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

Note: Incorporation by reference of the State Implementation

Plan for the State of California was approved by the Director of the

Federal Register on July 1, 1982.

Dated: June 17, 1996.

Felicia Marcus,

Regional Administrator.

Subpart F of part 52, chapter I, title 40 of the Code of Federal

Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

Subpart F--California

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

2. Section 52.220 is amended by adding paragraphs

(c)(189)(i)(B)(3), (210)(i)(E), (220)(i)(B)(3), (221)(i)(A)(2), (229)

and (230) to read as follows:

Sec. 52.220 Identification of plan.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(189) * * *

(i) * * *

(B) * * *

(3) Rule 74.14, adopted on May 26, 1992.

* * * * *

(210) * * *

(i) * * *

(E) San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District.

(1) Rule 4651, adopted on December 17, 1992.

* * * * *

(220) * * *

(i) * * *

(B) * * *

(3) Rule 244, adopted on February 9, 1995.

* * * * *

(221) * * *

(i) * * *

(A) * * *

(2) Rule 410.4, adopted on April 6, 1995.

* * * * *

(229) (Reserved)

(230) New and amended regulations for the following APCDs were

submitted on March 26, 1996, by the Governors designee.

(i) Incorporation by reference.

(A) Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

(1) Rule 74.7, adopted on October 10, 1995.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 96-18935 Filed 7-24-96; 8:45 am]

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