The statement of scope for this rule, SS #042-19 was approved by the Governor on April 29, 2019, published in Register No. 761A1 on May 6, 2019, and approved by the Natural Resources Board on June 26, 2019. This rule was approved by the Governor on August 26, 2021. ORDER OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
REPEALING, RENUMBERING AND AMENDING, AMENDING AND CREATING RULES
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board adopts an order to repeal NR 404.04 (5) (c) (Note), renumber and amend NR 407.02 (4) (c) 1. and 428.20 (1); to amend NR 408.02 (32) (a) 6., 428.20 (2) and 428.21 (3) (intro.), (a) and (b); and to create NR 404.04 (5) (d) and (Note), 407.02 (4) (c) 1. b., 408.02 (24) (c) and (Note), 428.20 (1) (a) 1., 2., 3., (b), (Note) and (c), 428.21 (3) (c), 428.255, and 484.04 Table 2 row (7s), relating to incorporation of the 2015 national ambient air quality standards for ozone. |
AM-10-19
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Natural Resources
1. Statute Interpreted: Section 285.21(1), Stats. The State Implementation Plan developed under s. 285.11 (6), Stats., is revised. 3. Explanation of Agency Authority: Section 227.11(2)(a), Stats., expressly confers rulemaking authority to an agency where such rules are necessary to effectuate the purpose of existing statutory authority. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (the department) is required under s. 285.21(1)(a), Stats., to promulgate by rule ambient air quality standards similar to, but not more restrictive than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The department is also authorized under s. 285.11(6), Stats., to develop one or more comprehensive plans for the prevention, abatement and control of air pollution in this state. 4. Related Statutes or Rules: There are no other statutes or rules directly related to the proposed rule changes.
5. Plain Language Analysis: Under the federal Clean Air Act (CAA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for promulgating NAAQS, which are designed to protect public health (primary standards) and public welfare (secondary standards). Under s. 285.21(1)(a), Stats., if EPA promulgates a NAAQS, the department is required to promulgate a similar, but no more restrictive, standard. The CAA also requires states to adopt or otherwise incorporate federal NAAQS into state rules. State-enforced ambient air standards enable the department to implement the full range of emission control programs necessary to comply with the health-based standards and meet associated CAA requirements. On October 26, 2015, the EPA revised the primary and secondary NAAQS for ozone to 0.070 parts per million (ppm). These revisions (the “2015 ozone NAAQS”) became effective on December 28, 2015. This rulemaking to adopt the NAAQS was initiated in the spring of 2019 after it became clear that the 2015 ozone NAAQS would not be revised by EPA as a result of litigation and after the implementation rule for the 2015 ozone NAAQS was finalized (December 6, 2018; 83 FR 62998).
EPA’s approach to revoking the 1997 ozone NAAQS as part of the 2008 ozone NAAQS implementation rule was challenged in South Coast Air Quality Management District v. EPA, 882 F.3d 1138 (D.C. Cir. 2018). In that decision, the D.C. Circuit found that EPA unlawfully weakened protections when it decided to revoke the 1997 ozone NAAQS. In December 2018, as part of the implementation rule for the 2015 standard, EPA stated that it intends to address any revocation of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in a separate future rulemaking. As a result of these actions, there are currently two federal ozone NAAQS in effect and being implemented: the 2015 ozone NAAQS, and the previous, less stringent 2008 ozone NAAQS. Several elements of this rule will apply to areas currently or formerly designated as nonattainment for any ozone standard, including these two NAAQS. To incorporate the 2015 ozone NAAQS into Wisconsin Administrative Code and otherwise ensure implementation of federal ozone NAAQS consistent with CAA requirements, this rule includes the following changes:
Adoption of the 2015 ozone NAAQS
SECTIONS 1, 2, and 13 revise chs. NR 404 and 484, Wis. Adm. Code, to adopt the 2015 ozone NAAQS and incorporate by reference the federal ambient air monitoring requirements related to the NAAQS. Clarification of major source thresholds in areas subject to multiple ozone nonattainment classifications
A “major source” is a stationary source whose emissions exceed a specified threshold. Major source thresholds are defined in the CAA based on areas’ ozone nonattainment classifications (100 tons per year (tpy) in areas classified as “moderate,” 50 tpy in areas classified as “serious,” 25 tpy in areas classified as “severe,” and 10 tpy in areas classified as “extreme” nonattainment). A “major modification” refers to a modification project, including construction of new emission units and modification of existing units, at an existing source which results in the source’s potential to emit in excess of the CAA-specified major source threshold. Major sources and major modifications are subject to nonattainment New Source Review permitting requirements.
SECTIONS 3 through 6 include changes to chs. NR 407 and 408, Wis. Adm. Code, to clarify which major source or major modification thresholds apply in areas subject to more than one ozone nonattainment classification due to the implementation of multiple ozone NAAQS. This clarification has been requested by EPA. SECTION 6 also updates the definition of an ozone precursor in s. NR 408.02(32)(a), Wis. Adm. Code, to address an oversight identified by the department when revising this rule. Changes to the thresholds used to determine the applicability of Reasonably Available Control Technologies (RACT) for emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx)
SECTIONS 7 through 12 amend subch. IV of NR 428, Wis. Adm. Code, which includes the requirements for NOx RACT. Currently, NOx RACT requirements apply to sources with maximum theoretical NOx emissions equal to or greater than 100 tpy that are located in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, or Waukesha counties that are or had been previously classified as “moderate” ozone nonattainment areas.
SECTIONS 7 and 8 revise the applicability emissions thresholds for NOx RACT so that they include all the major source thresholds associated with current (and former) ozone nonattainment classification of the area (i.e., 100 tpy in areas classified as “moderate,” 50 tpy in areas classified as “serious,” 25 tpy in areas classified as “severe,” and 10 tpy in areas classified as “extreme” nonattainment). This change is required to meet CAA “moderate” (or higher) ozone nonattainment area requirements for NOx RACT programs, and is specifically applicable to the 2008 ozone NAAQS partial Kenosha County nonattainment area, which was reclassified by EPA from “moderate” to “serious” nonattainment on September 23, 2019.
SECTION 9 revises s. NR 428.20(2), Wis. Adm. Code, to expand NOx RACT implementation requirements from the seven southeastern counties (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha) to any area that is classified as moderate (and above) ozone nonattainment, as required by the CAA. SECTIONS 10 and 11 revise s. NR 428.21, Wis. Adm. Code, to ensure that the existing 75 tpy exemption threshold continues to apply in areas with a 100 tpy major source threshold, which is currently the case. SECTION 12 creates s. NR 428.255, Wis. Adm. Code, which provides compliance schedule information for some sources affected by the updated NOx RACT major source thresholds. The department has evaluated these proposed rule changes to determine their potential impact on existing sources of emissions, and has not identified any immediate effects. While a new NAAQS and the associated designations process can result in additional permitting requirements, the adoption of this rule does not have an economic impact. Sources in the areas designated as nonattainment are identified as such by EPA and not by this rule. Construction of new major sources of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) or NOx or major modifications of VOC or NOx need to conduct additional air pollution dispersion modeling and engineering analysis in order to satisfy s. 285.63(1)(b), Stats.; however, this would typically affect five or fewer projects a year. Regulatory requirements associated with the 2015 ozone NAAQS became effective when the federal rule went into effect on December 28, 2015 (80 FR 65291), and the department immediately began implementing these requirements as required by federal lawThe changes proposed to the description of major source thresholds only clarify the department’s existing application of those rules. Regarding the proposed revision to NOx RACT applicability thresholds in ch. NR 428, Wis. Adm. Code, the department assessed how sources in the partial Kenosha County 2008 ozone NAAQS nonattainment area might be affected since that area is a “serious” nonattainment area and is also the only part of the state with the potential to be impacted by this change. The department determined that none of the ten sources (establishments which emit or cause emissions of air contaminants) located in that nonattainment area that report NOx emissions to the department would be required to implement NOx RACT controls as a result of this rule revision. This is because their Maximum Theoretical Emissions (MTE), as defined in s. NR 428.02(7e), Wis. Adm. Code, would be less than the serious nonattainment area major source applicability threshold of 50 tpy. Therefore, based on these sources’ current emissions and Wisconsin’s current ozone nonattainment area classifications, the proposed changes in ch. NR 428, Wis. Adm. Code, would not result in any existing source in the state becoming subject to NOx RACT requirements upon promulgation of this rule. Depending on their location, sources could be affected in the future if their NOx emissions increase above the updated major source threshold and/or the nonattainment area in which they are located is reclassified to a more stringent nonattainment status. For example, under the CAA, it is possible that EPA will reclassify the partial Kenosha County area, which EPA designated as part of the Chicago-Naperville 2008 ozone NAAQS nonattainment area, to a “severe” classification in the future if the area’s air quality monitoring data do not meet the 2008 ozone NAAQS. If this were to occur, the major source threshold in the partial Kenosha County 2008 ozone NAAQS nonattainment area would be lowered to 25 tpy. Reclassifications, and their resulting lower major source/modification thresholds, are a function of the CAA, not this rule. The department has determined that such a reclassification could impact three sources in the area. The department will reach out to any affected source and revise its permits as needed, should this reclassification occur. SECTION 12 describes the compliance schedule for sources affected by this rulemaking.
6. Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations: The federal NAAQS are contained in Title 40, Part 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Part 50). The purpose of these proposed rules is to make the state-enforced ambient air standards for ozone in ch. NR 404, Wis. Adm. Code, consistent with the corresponding federal NAAQS, as required under s. 285.21(a), Stats. 7. Summary of Public Comments and Feedback Received During Preliminary Public Hearing and Comment Period on Statement of Scope: A preliminary public hearing was requested by the Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules on May 13, 2019, and was held on May 31, 2019. No public comments were received during the preliminary public hearing and comment period on the statement of scope of the proposed rule.
8. Comparison with Similar Rules in Adjacent States: Illinois and Indiana have incorporated the 2015 ozone NAAQS into their administrative code. Indiana is included in this analysis because portions of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana comprise a tri-state nonattainment area for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Minnesota has state-specific standards in its administrative code and incorporates by reference the federal standard for ozone. Michigan incorporates by reference the federal ozone standard. Iowa does not currently have the 2015 ozone NAAQS incorporated into its administrative code, but has incorporated ozone NAAQS promulgated in earlier years.
9. Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies Used and How Any Related Findings Support the Regulatory Approach Chosen: When reviewing and setting a NAAQS, the EPA undertakes a comprehensive review, synthesis, and evaluation of the most policy-relevant science, including key science judgments and risk and exposure assessments. EPA’s review is also informed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), which provides independent advice to the EPA Administrator on the technical bases for each NAAQS. The result is that each primary NAAQS is established so that it provides for the protection of public health with an adequate margin of safety, as required by the CAA.
