              UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                                                               REGION 4
                                               ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
                                                   61 FORSYTH STREET, SW
                                           ATLANTA, GEORGIA  30303-3104

					        

                                October 3, 2022

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT:	Clarification of Federal Register Document: Air Plan Approval and Air Quality Designation; GA; Redesignation of the Atlanta, Georgia 2015 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment 87 FR 52487, (August 26, 2022)

FROM:	Pearlene Williams-Miles
	Air Regulatory Management Section

TO:	Docket EPA-R04-OAR-2022-0290, FRL-10107-01-R4 (GA-184)
		

The purpose of this memorandum is to address minor errors and inconsistencies that exist in the August 26, 2022, publication of Air Plan Approval and Air Quality Designation; GA; Redesignation of the Atlanta, Georgia 2015 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment (87 FR 52487).  

Georgia's redesignation request, which is the subject of this rulemaking, was transmitted to EPA on February 28, 2022. The submission requested redesignation of the Atlanta, Georgia 2015 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as the "Atlanta Area" or "Area") to attainment for the 2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards) and to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a maintenance plan for the Area. EPA is approving the State's plan for maintaining attainment of the 2015 8-hour ozone standard in the Area, including the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for the years of 2018 and 2033 for the Area, incorporating the maintenance plan into the SIP, and redesignating the Area to attainment for the 2015 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is also notifying the public of the status of EPA's adequacy determination for the MVEBs for the Area. EPA proposed approval of the State's plan in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 26, 2022. See 87 FR 52487.

It has come to EPA's attention that several errors and inconsistencies exist within the August 26, 2022, proposed rule. 
 On page 52498 in the sentence above Table 6, it states, "The NOx and VOC MVEBs for the Area are identified in Table 5, below," however, the table documented should be Table 6.
 On page 52499, in the first column, and in the first paragraph under section VIII, the last sentence states, "The maintenance plan establishes NOx and VOC MVEBs for the 2018 and 2033 for the Area and..." In this sentence, the word "year" is missing ahead of "2018." A similar error occurs in the second sentence of the first paragraph under section IX. 
 On page 52495, in the third column, and in the second sentence of the second full paragraph, the statement, "Georgia projected 2033 locomotive emissions from 2018 emissions using growth and annual factors[,]" should utilize the word, "control" instead of "annual," according to page 42 of the SIP in the second paragraph under "Marine, Aircraft, and Locomotives. 
 On page 52495, in the third column, and in the third sentence of the second full paragraph, it states "Summer day and annual emissions for 2018 and 2033 from aircraft at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport were provided by KB Environmental Sciences..." however emissions were provided by Crawford, Murphy & Tilly," according to the third paragraph under "Marine, Aircraft, and Locomotives on page 42 of the SIP. 
 On page 52497, in the third column, at the five bullets listed near the bottom of the page, the third point states, "Expansion of RACM/RACT to areas(s) of transport within the State." This third point is not listed in the SIP and should regarded as an invalid. The first row in Table 6 on page 52498, "NOx On-Road Emissions." For 2033, the value shows 37.57, however should be more accurately represented as 36.43.
 Lastly, footnote 14 on page 52493, provides a link to an EPA document that describe the Tier 2 Vehicle standards; however, the link is unfunctional. The information regarding Tier 2 may be appropriately found at https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/final-rule-control-air-pollution-new-motor-vehicles-tier. 

The aforementioned errors and inconsistencies are minor in nature and do not impede EPA's decision to finalize Georgia's request to redesignate the Area outlined in the August 26, 2022, NPRM. See 87 FR 52487. EPA merely provides this information for transparency and clarity. The details of Georgia's submittal and the rationale for EPA's actions are further explained in NPRM. Comments on the NPRM were due on or before September 26, 2022. EPA did not receive any comments on the August 26, 2022, NPRM. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Pearlene Williams-Miles at (404) 562-9144.


