NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Proposed State Implementation Plan Revision to Remove Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area Summertime Low Reid Vapor Pressure Gasoline Volatility Requirements and Supporting Noninterference Demonstration under Section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act; Public Hearing
[48 Pa.B. 1481]
[Saturday, March 10, 2018]The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is seeking public comment on a proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to remove Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area summertime low Reid vapor pressure (RVP) gasoline volatility requirements from the Commonwealth's SIP. The proposed SIP revision includes the supporting noninterference demonstration required under section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) (42 U.S.C.A. § 7410(l)) and by the act of May 14, 2014 (P.L. 674, No. 50) (Act 50). The Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area consists of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.
This proposed SIP revision is the result of a legislative mandate. In 2014, Governor Tom Corbett signed into law Act 50, which amended the Air Pollution Control Act (APCA) (35 P.S. §§ 4001—4015) to add section 4(18.3) (35 P.S. § 4004(18.3)). Section 4(18.3) of the APCA required the Department to:
Within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this clause, initiate the process of amending the State implementation plan. Upon approval of a revision which demonstrates continued compliance with Federal national ambient air quality standards through utilization of commensurate emission reductions by the Environmental Protection Agency, the board [Environmental Quality Board] shall promulgate regulations to repeal the provisions of 25 Pa. Code Ch. 126, Subch. C (relating to gasoline volatility requirements).Section 110(l) of the CAA states that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator may not approve a SIP revision that would interfere with any applicable requirement concerning attainment of a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and reasonable further progress in attaining a NAAQS, or any other applicable requirement of the CAA. The noninterference demonstration in this proposed SIP revision shows that making the requirements of 25 Pa. Code Chapter 126, Subchapter C no longer applicable for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area would satisfy section 110(l) of the CAA. The proposed SIP revision demonstrates noninterference by offsetting the potential emissions increases from repeal and removal of the gasoline volatility regulations from the Commonwealth's approved SIP with previously unclaimed emissions reductions already achieved by the Commonwealth in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area. These emission reductions are: 1) emissions benefits gained from the Commonwealth's adoption of volatile organic compound limits on the use or application of adhesives, sealants, primers and solvents (25 Pa. Code § 129.77 (relating to control of emissions from the use or application of adhesives, sealants, primers and solvents)); and 2) previously unclaimed creditable emissions reductions associated with the permanent closure of a large stationary source of nitrogen oxide emissions in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area.
This proposed SIP revision is available on the Department's web site at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by contacting Amanda Rodriguez at (717) 787-9702 or amarodrigu@pa.gov.
The Department is seeking public comment on the proposed SIP revision, including the noninterference demonstration. The EPA approval of the SIP revision will make 25 Pa. Code Chapter 126, Subchapter C inapplicable in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area, remove the requirements from 40 CFR 52.2020(c)(1) (relating to identification of plan) and approve the noninterference demonstration.
The Department will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed SIP revision on April 9, 2018, at 1 p.m. in the Waterfront A Room, Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Persons wishing to present testimony should contact Amanda Rodriguez, P.O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 787-9702 or amarodrigu@pa.gov to reserve a time. Speakers will be limited to 10 minutes and should provide two written copies of their comments. The hearing will be cancelled if no person has requested to testify at the hearing by 12 p.m. on April 4, 2018. The Department will provide public notice if the hearing is cancelled on the Bureau of Air Quality webpage at http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/Pages/default.aspx. Persons may also contact Amanda Rodriguez at (717) 787-9702 or amarodrigu@pa.gov to find out if the hearing is cancelled.
Persons with a disability who wish to attend a hearing and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceeding should contact Amanda Rodriguez at (717) 787-9702 or amarodrigu@pa.gov. TDD users may contact the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 to discuss how the Department can best accommodate their needs.
The Department must receive comments no later than April 9, 2018. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments may be submitted to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Use ''Low RVP NID'' as the subject line in written communication.
PATRICK McDONNELL,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 18-373. Filed for public inspection March 9, 2018, 9:00 a.m.]
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