40 CFR 62.4100 - Identification of plan - negative declaration.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing a direct final rule published on June 5, 2017, because one adverse comment was received during the public comment period. The withdrawn rule pertained to the EPA's receipt and approval of 20 negative declaration letters from EPA Region 8 states. These letters of negative declaration are statements by the state certifying the absence of designated facilities of a certain solid waste incinerator category or class within its jurisdiction, which obviates the statutory requirement for the state to develop a Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(d)/129 State plan for the regulation of designated facilities of that particular category or class.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is correcting a direct final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on June 5, 2017. The document approved a total of 20 negative declarations from all EPA Region 8 states declaring an absence of existing designated facilities, of certain incinerator classes, regulated under one of the Emissions Guidelines for solid waste incineration units. An approved and promulgated negative declaration exempts a state from certain implementation plan development requirements of Clean Air Act sections 111 and 129. An error in the proposed regulatory text amending 40 CFR part 62 is identified and corrected in this action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a request from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for delegation of authority to implement and enforce the Federal plan for Sewage Sludge Incineration (SSI) units. On April 29, 2016 the EPA promulgated the Federal plan for SSI units to fulfill the requirements of sections 111(d)/129 of the Clean Air Act. The Federal plan addresses the implementation and enforcement of the emission guidelines applicable to existing SSI units located in areas not covered by an approved and currently effective state plan. The Federal plan imposes emission limits and other control requirements for existing affected SSI facilities which will reduce designated pollutants. On January 24, 2017, the NJDEP signed a Memorandum of Agreement which is intended to be the mechanism for the transfer of authority between the EPA and the NJDEP and defines the policies, responsibilities and procedures pursuant to the Federal plan for existing SSI units.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a revised section 111(d)/129 plan submitted by the State of Maryland for existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incineration (HMIWI) units. The section 111(d)/129 plan contains revisions to a previously-approved State plan for existing HMIWI units that was submitted as a result of the October 6, 2009 promulgation of federal new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines for HMIWI units, which were subsequently amended on April 4, 2011. This action is being taken under sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This action proposes the federal plan for existing commercial and industrial incineration (CISWI) units. This proposed action implements the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) emission guidelines (EG) adopted on February 7, 2013, as amended on June 23, 2016, in states that do not have an approved state plan implementing the EG in place by the effective date of this federal plan. The federal plan will result in emissions reductions of certain pollutants from all affected units covered.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a section 111(d)/129 plan submitted by the State of Maryland for existing hospital/medical/infectious waste incineration (HMIWI) units. The section 111(d)/129 plan contains revisions to a previously-approved state plan for existing HMIWI units and was submitted as a result of the October 6, 2009 promulgation of federal new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines for HMIWI units, which were subsequently amended on April 4, 2011. This action is being taken under sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

On June 30, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule titled, “Clean Energy Incentive Program Design Details.” The EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule, which was scheduled to close on September 2, 2016, by 60 days until November 1, 2016. The EPA is making this change to allow for requested tribal consultation in response to the proposed rule.

On June 30, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule titled, “Clean Energy Incentive Program Design Details.” The EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule that was scheduled to close on August 29, 2016, by four days until September 2, 2016. The EPA is making this change to align the public comment period with the public hearing submittal time frame.

In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing design details of the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP). The CEIP is a program that states have the option to adopt if they wish to incentivize certain early emission reduction projects under the Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (also known as the Clean Power Plan Emission Guidelines (EGs)). The framework for the CEIP was established in the Clean Power Plan EGs, where the EPA also noted that the design details of the program would be developed in a follow-on action. This proposal addresses those design details. In addition, we are re-proposing the CEIP-related aspects of the proposed rate-based and mass-based model trading rules—referred to in this action as optional example regulatory text. This proposal is consistent with the Supreme Court's orders staying the Clean Power Plan during judicial review. The timing elements of the CEIP may be adjusted, if necessary, upon resolution of the petitions for review of the Clean Power Plan.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the State plan submitted by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to implement and enforce the Emission Guidelines (EG) for existing sewage sludge incineration (SSI) units. Puerto Rico's plan is consistent with the EG promulgated by the EPA on March 21, 2011. Puerto Rico's plan establishes emission limits and other requirements for the purpose of reducing toxic air emissions and other air pollutants from existing SSI units throughout the Commonwealth. At the request of Puerto Rico, the EPA is proposing not to take action on a provision of its SSI plan allowing for affirmative defenses of Clean Air Act violations in the case of malfunctions. Puerto Rico submitted its plan to fulfill the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing four public hearings to be held on the proposed “Federal Plan Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Electric Utility Generating Units Constructed on or before January 8, 2014; Model Trading Rules; Amendments to Framework Regulations.”

The Environmental Protection Agency is approving a request from the State of New York that EPA withdraw its approval of a provision of the New York State plan that implements and enforces the Emission Guidelines for existing sewage sludge incineration units. This action withdraws the EPA's approval of a provision of the State sewage sludge incineration plan allowing for affirmative defenses of Clean Air Act violations in the case of malfunctions. No other provision in the State plan is affected by this action.

In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a federal plan to implement the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission guidelines (EGs) for existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EGs were proposed in June 2014 and finalized on August 3, 2015 as the Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (also known as the Clean Power Plan or EGs). This proposal presents two approaches to a federal plan for states and other jurisdictions that do not submit an approvable plan to the EPA: a rate-based emission trading program and a mass-based emission trading program. These proposals also constitute proposed model trading rules that states can adopt or tailor for implementation of the final EGs. The federal plan is an important measure to ensure that congressionally mandated emission standards under the authority of the CAA are implemented. The proposed federal plan is related to but separate from the final EGs. The final EGs establish the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for applicable fossil fuel-fired EGUs in the form of a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emission performance rate for steam-fired EGUs and a CO 2 emission performance rate for natural gas-fired combined cycle (NGCC) units, and provide guidance and criteria for the development of approvable state plans. The purpose of the proposed federal plan is to establish requirements directly applicable to a state's affected EGUs that meet these emission performance levels, or the equivalent statewide goal, in order to achieve reductions in CO 2 emissions in the case where a state or other jurisdiction does not submit an approvable plan. The stringency of the emission performance levels established in the final EGs will be the same whether implemented through a state plan or a federal plan. The EPA is also proposing enhancements to the CAA section 111(d) framework regulations related to the process and timing for state plan submissions and EPA actions. The EPA intends to finalize both the rate-based and mass-based model trading rules in summer 2016.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to withdraw its approval of a provision of the New York State plan that implements and enforces the Emission Guidelines for existing sewage sludge incineration units. This action would withdraw the EPA's approval of a provision of the State sewage sludge incineration plan allowing for affirmative defenses of Clean Air Act violations in the case of malfunctions. No other provision in the State plan would be affected by this action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania) State Implementation Plan (SIP). EPA is proposing to approve the 2011 base year emissions inventory SIP revision submittal for the 2008 lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The base year emissions inventory SIP revision was submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) on February 9, 2015 to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the Lyons 2008 lead NAAQS nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the “Lyons Area” or “Area”). EPA is approving this revision to the Pennsylvania SIP in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.

On March 21, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued emissions standards for new and existing sewage sludge incineration units (SSI). This action proposes that existing SSI units implement the emission guidelines (EG) adopted on March 21, 2011, in states that do not have an approved state plan implementing the EG in place by March 21, 2012. This Federal Plan will result in emissions reductions of certain pollutants from all affected units.