2016-20854: Air Plan Approval; Alabama; Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving portions of the October 26, 2015, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal from Alabama concerning the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). Under CSAPR, large electricity generating units (EGUs) in Alabama are subject to Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) requiring the units to participate in CSAPR's federal trading program for annual emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) and one of CSAPR's two federal trading programs for annual emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>). This action approves the incorporation into Alabama's SIP of the state's regulations requiring Alabama EGUs to participate in new CSAPR state trading programs for annual NO<INF>X</INF> and SO<INF>2</INF> emissions integrated with the CSAPR federal trading programs, replacing the corresponding FIP requirements. These CSAPR state trading programs are substantively identical to the CSAPR federal trading programs except with regard to the provisions allocating emission allowances among Alabama units. EPA is approving the portions of the SIP revision concerning these CSAPR state trading programs because these portions of the SIP revision meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA's regulations for approval of a CSAPR full SIP revision replacing the requirements of a CSAPR FIP. Under the CSAPR regulations, approval of these portions of the SIP revision automatically eliminates Alabama units' obligations to participate in CSAPR's federal trading programs for annual NO<INF>X</INF> and SO<INF>2</INF> emissions under the corresponding CSAPR FIPs addressing interstate transport requirements for the 1997 and 2006 Fine Particulate Matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Approval of these portions of the SIP revision fully satisfies Alabama's good neighbor obligation under the CAA to prohibit emissions which will significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 1997 and 2006 PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS in any other state. This approval also addresses the judicial remand of the federally-established CSAPR Phase 2 SO<INF>2</INF> budget for Alabama. EPA is not acting at this time on the portion of Alabama's SIP submittal intended to replace Alabama units' obligations to participate in CSAPR's federal trading program for ozone-season NO<INF>X</INF> emissions under a separate CSAPR FIP.
The agency’s own summary, as published.
What this changes
Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.
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