ÿWPC ª¹7Ü)´§bYÒØØG˜nE²ÐôM™`j`~W}ä[ã·Tý¹ë`Ó°Ç„Bw™)ÞWrØ3æŸ5¦+2¿gá]«‘PgdqöïþKÕ…á­Ã* # …¹E?4=3.ÌXÛ1¤Õ1w!á÷Ñq,»•q¡ÀÒFc'#þtR)«Êà'¡DQ]͉q@á÷á>ŽYÝ×WÀM_ çCj”Þ; +JWNzÔñþ1§¿¤Î{B^“»Võ‹B> ÈÕ^G6«Î&烡ZÃfp$ó¹sìe@M¼áÿ5¨ë52æ¨ÃÄPÈíË^w"ékV ¼"‡=ç[.ÊDÓ,¹M`,f‚õ«îýÄð{ià•Þ—± .8®ÝQLýFŽåKôÔIõ¦GrÊF«Åã37Šåø·ó=‹èCÕˆw¾‚hµîXëì | Á(^™É%‰sß B˜J&6s x”{‚3MJ9Í·š*h”|ËGÓJœçf Š+ö‹Öïb8–m@®ò:ÊRá¾-HŠÉÅ©s~[—K¸ï_§ì*UôF·  µv†²%/)–Årç{sÛb³ÖUiªgÑxC°´íT™Y'cr¼È6g ¸ÃCÄ»±è ?pÝ?gZ]]ož”U:  %DÉJ 0O Bb D3Ʋ 0Ox 0JÇ AMM^ 0O«ún­  04·ëwë4ï<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiX ¿Ý ƒ8P(ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒP °ÒÒÀ°Òß|€ H84Z|Ð,š 0€@ H@EÐXšJ.ÐXšJ.|ß('28P$¨¨Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý d'ÿÿÈÈÈÈdxd Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5('28P$££Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  ÚÚ  Úó ó A<< cÿÿ CÝ ƒ 8P)ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒP °ÒÒÀ°Ò('28P$©©Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý#|x«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXôxþ6X@É“8Ç;X@( ¤U$¡¡Ó  Ó±zz&ÁÝ ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑTRY03Ø'3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÑX°ÑÑP°ÑÓ  ÓÒP °ÒÒÀ°ÒÖ€ÿÿÖÖ€ ÿÿÖÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@88)4àPUBLIC€HEARING€ONˆÌà@\ \ 4àSUPPLEMENTAL€NOTICE€OF€PROPOSED€RULEMAKINGˆÌà@ìì*4àON€SECTION€126ˆÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ìì*4àMarch€12,€1999ˆÌÌà@ÜÜ,4à10:00€a.m.ˆÌÌÌÌÌà@ìì*4àEPA€AuditoriumˆÌà@üü(4à401€M€Street,€S.W.ˆÌà@tt)4àWashington,€D.C.ˆÐ  àê ÐÑ7€ŠXXdÖdÈ7Ñà@°°*4àC€O€N€T€E€N€T€SˆÐ ö ÐÌPRESENTATION€OF:à ° àà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àPAGEÐ ¢¬ ÐÌGale€LeaÌMidwest€Ozone€Groupà ° àà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€€8Ð $. ÐÌJoe€FerraraÌWest€Virginia€Chamber€of€Commerceà ¸ àà  àà h à€12Ð ¦ ° ÐÌJeff€UnderhillÌState€of€New€Hampshireà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€16Ð ( 2  ÐÌJeff€UnderhillÌState€of€Maineà X àà ° àà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€23Ð ª´  ÐÌNorman€FichthornÌUARGà ¨ àà  àà X àà ° àà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€26Ð ,6 ÐÌEdward€KroppÌState€of€West€Virginiaà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€31Ð ®¸ ÐÌÌÐ  0: ÐÓ'` °¸ À°œX'ÓÓ=€ŠXXdÐd=ÓÓ€Óà@HH'4àP€R€O€C€E€E€D€I€N€G€SˆÌà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Good€morning.€€Thank€you€forÏattending€our€public€hearing€on€the€supplementalÏproposal€on€the€Section€126€petitions.Ìà ¨ àà  àMy€name€is€Lydia€Wegman,€and€I€am€theÏDirector€of€the€Air€Quality,€Strategies€and€StandardsÏDivision€in€the€Office€of€Air€Quality,€Planning€andÏStandards,€and€my€fellow€panelists€are€Howard€Hoffman,Ïto€my€right,€from€the€Office€of€General€Counsel€andÏBrian€McLean€with€the€Office€of€Atmospheric€Programs.Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€are€here€today€to€listen€to€your€commentsÏon€our€supplemental€proposal€responding€to€theÏpetitions€under€Section€126€of€the€Clean€Air€ActÏconcerning€regional€transport€of€ground€level€ozone€andÏone€of€its€principal€precursors,€nitrogen€oxides.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€administrator,€Carol€Browner,€signed€theÏnotice€on€February€25,€1999,€and€the€proposalÏsupplements€are€October€21,€1998,€Action€on€PetitionsÏFiled€under€Section€126€by€eight€Northeastern€states.€ÏThe€proposals€are€also€related€to€our€final€rulemakingÏaction€on€the€NOx€SIP€call,€with€which€you€are€allÐ Â-Ì)< Ðfamiliar,€I€believe.Ìà ¨ àà  àBefore€we€begin€testimony€this€morning,€IÏjust€want€to€highlight€a€couple€of€things€from€ourÏOctober€21st€proposal€and€our€proposed€supplementalÏaction,€and€after€that,€I'll€just€present€the€groundÏrules€for€the€hearing.Ìà ¨ àà  àIn€August€1997,€eight€states€filed€petitionsÏunder€Section€126€of€the€Clean€Air€Act,€asking€us€toÏmake€findings€that€utilities€and€other€stationaryÏsources€of€nitrogen€oxides€exacerbate€ozone€pollutionÏin€those€states.€€In€total,€the€petitions€targetedÏsources€in€31€states,€and€if€we€do€grant€any€of€thoseÏpetitions,€EPA€is€authorized€to€establish€federalÏemission€limitations€for€the€sources€in€the€states€toÏwhich€we€grant€petitions.Ìà ¨ àà  àIn€evaluating€the€Section€126€petitions,€weÏrelied€on€the€technical€analyses€and€information€in€theÏNOx€SIP€call,€and€we€proposed,€on€the€original€8Ïpetitions,€to€find€that€sources€in€19€states€and€theÏDistrict€of€Columbia€do€significantly€contribute€toÏnonattainment€problems€in€the€petitioning€states.€Ð Â-Ì)< ÐThat's€actually€in€seven€of€the€petitioning€states.Ìà ¨ àà  àTo€mitigate€the€transport,€we€proposed€aÏfederal€NOx€budget€trading€program€to€reduce€NOxÏemissions€from€utilities€and€other€large€industrialÏsources,€and€that€trading€program€is€the€same€one€thatÏwe€developed€for€states€to€use€in€response€to€the€NOxÏSIP€call,€except€for€some€changes€to€account€forÏfederal€implementation.Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€original€eight€petitions€focused€„„€well,ÏI€should€say,€originally,€all€of€the€eight€petitionsÏwere€focused€on€the€1„hour€standard€and€three€of€themÏwere€also€directed€at€the€8„hour€standard.€€In€ourÏOctober€1998€notice,€we€proposed€action€under€the€Ì1„hour€and/or€the€8„hour€standard€as€requested€in€eachÏstate's€petition.Ìà ¨ àà  àAt€that€time,€Maine€and€New€Hampshire'sÏpetitions€covered€only€the€1„hour€standard.€ÏSubsequently,€those€states€submitted€requests€asking€usÏto€make€findings€under€the€8„hour€standard,€and€that€isÏthe€subject€of€our€hearing€today.Ìà ¨ àà  àIn€acting€on€these€new€petitions,€we€areÐ Â-Ì)< Ðapplying€the€same€analytical€approach€that€we€used€inÏour€proposed€October€1998€action,€and€we€are€proposingÏto€find€that€portions€of€the€Maine€and€New€HampshireÏpetitions€are€approvable€with€respect€to€the€8„hourÏstandard,€based€on€these€technical€considerations.Ìà ¨ àà  àAs€with€our€earlier€proposal,€we€areÏproposing€that€the€technically€approvable€portions€ofÏthe€Maine€and€New€Hampshire€8„hour€petitions€be€deemedÏgranted€or€denied€at€certain€later€dates,€pendingÏactions€by€the€states€and€EPA€regarding€submittals€andÏresponse€to€the€NOx€SIP€call.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€control€requirements€that€would€apply€toÏsources€and€source€categories,€for€which€a€finding€isÏultimately€made,€were€proposed€in€our€October€1998Ïproposal.€€So€the€same€control€requirements€are€theÏones€that€would€apply€as€to€any€finding€we're€to€makeÏon€these€new€petitions€on€the€8„hour€standard.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€are€also€proposing€to€deny€portions€of€theÏpetition€with€respect€to€the€8„hour€standard.€€ThereÏare€some€parts€we€are€proposing€to€deny.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àOur€purpose€today€is€to€receive€your€commentsÐ Â-Ì)< Ðon€our€supplemental€proposal€on€the€Maine€and€NewÏHampshire€8„hour€126€petitions.€€If€you€wish€to€submitÏwritten€comments,€the€public€comment€period€for€theÏsupplemental€proposal€closes€on€April€11,€1999.€Ìà ¨ àà  àThere€will€be€a€transcript€of€this€hearingÏtoday,€and€it€will€be€available€in€our€docket€officeÏand€on€the€Internet€in€approximately€30€days.Ìà ¨ àà  àAs€to€the€ground€rules€for€today's€hearing,€IÏwill€ask€each€of€our€scheduled€speakers€to€come€one€atÏa€time€to€the€witness€table.€€Since€we€have€very€fewÏspeakers€today,€each€speaker€is€expected€to€have€up€toÏ10€minutes,€but€I€will€tell€you,€if€you€need€more€thanÏ10€minutes,€we're€not€going€to€cut€you€off.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€are€certainly€happy€to€have€your€fullÏwritten€statement,€if€you€brought€one,€and€we€ask€thatÏyou€leave€two€copies€at€our€registration€table,€if€youÏhaven't€done€so€already.Ìà ¨ àà  àIf€there's€anyone€in€the€audience€who€wantsÏto€testify€but€hasn't€registered,€please€sign€up€at€theÏregistration€table€with€Laura.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€do€have€E.H.€Pechan€and€AssociatesÐ Â-Ì)< Ðsupporting€us€here€today.€€Laura€Stack€is€theÏtimekeeper,€and€she'll€signal€you€when€there's€oneÏminute€left.€€But,€as€I€say,€we're€not€playing€to€cutÏanybody€off€here,€unless€you€go€on€for€a€very€longÏtime.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€do€have€an€overhead€projector€and€a€slideÏprojector€if€anyone€needs€those.€€We€do€anticipateÏbeing€done€fairly€soon€today.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àIf€there€are€no€questions,€we'll€begin.€€OurÏfirst€speaker€is€Gale€Lea€of€the€Midwest€Ozone€Group.Ìà@””%4àPRESENTATION€BY€GALE€LEAˆÌà ¨ àà  àMS.€LEA:€€My€name€is€Gale€Lea.€€I€am€a€memberÏof€the€law€firm€of€Jackson€and€Kelly,€PLLC€in€ourÏCharleston,€West€Virginia€office,€and€I€appear€today€onÏbehalf€of€the€Midwest€Ozone€Group.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWhile€we€appreciate€having€the€opportunity€toÏcomment€on€the€proposal€by€EPA€to€examine€the€SectionÏ126€petitions€that€have€been€filed€by€Maine€and€NewÏHampshire€with€respect€to€the€8„hour€ozone€standard,€weÏare€strongly€opposed€to€the€approach€being€undertakenÏto€evaluate€those€petitions€and€others€like€them.Ð Â-Ì)< Ðà ¨ àà  àBeyond€our€general€concerns€over€EPA'sÏauthority€to€address€the€interstate€transport€of€airÏpollution€through€the€mechanisms€set€forth€in€SectionÏ126€of€the€Clean€Air€Act,€we€believe€that€the€8„hourÏstandard€has€no€place€in€evaluating€these€petitions.€ÏThe€Clean€Air€Act€sets€forth€a€clear€process€forÏaddressing€any€new€national€ambient€air€qualityÏstandard.Ìà ¨ àà  àThis€process€calls€for€states€to€designateÏthe€areas€that€may€not€have€attained€that€standard€andÏdelegates€to€the€states€the€primary€responsibility€forÏsolving€their€own€nonattainment€problems.€€UsingÏSection€126€to€implement€the€8„hour€standards€at€thisÏtime€would€put€the€cart€before€the€horse€and€totallyÏshift€the€responsibility€of€complying€with€the€CleanÏAir€Act€away€from€the€regulation€of€local€sources€andÏtowards€the€regulation€of€regional€sources.Ìà ¨ àà  àMost€significantly,€EPA's€proposal€continuesÏto€rely€on€the€same€defective€significant€contributionÏtest€as€was€previously€utilized€to€address€the€SectionÏ126€petitions.€€Ð Â-Ì)< Ðà ¨ àà  àThe€Midwest€Ozone€Group€has€retained€EnvironÏInternational€Corporation€of€Nevada,€California,€toÏexamine€EPA's€approach€and€methodology.€€Environ'sÏconclusion€about€EPA's€approach€is€as€follows.Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€have€reviewed€the€results€of€EPA'sÏdeterminations€of€which€upwind€state/downwind€receptorÏarea€linkages€are€considered€significant,€and€which€areÏconsidered€not€significant,€and€concluded€that€many€ofÏEPA's€significance€determinations€are€inconsistent,Ïarbitrary,€capricious€and€not€technically€justified.Ìà ¨ àà  àIn€reaching€this€conclusion,€Environ€hasÏidentified€a€number€of€defects€with€respect€to€EPA'sÏapproach,€including:€€Ìà ¨ àà  àOne,€EPA€relies€on€data€from€the€period€1994,Ï1995€and€1996,€even€though€8„hour€nonattainmentÏdesignations€will€be€based€on€data€from€1997,€1998€andÏ1999.€€This€defect,€of€course,€fails€to€take€account€ofÏthe€ongoing€emission€reductions€that€are€actuallyÏoccurring€under€the€existing€Clean€Air€Act,€as€well€asÏconcurrent€air€quality€improvements.€Ìà ¨ àà  àTwo,€EPA's€projection€of€8„hour€nonattainmentÐ Â-Ì)< Ðin€2007€rely€on€OTAG€data€bases€that€were€neverÏevaluated€for€how€well€they€simulate€8„hour€ozoneÏexceedences€and,€therefore,€incorrectly€characterizeÏfuture€year€nonattainment.Ìà ¨ àà  àThree,€EPA's€projections€of€the€role€ofÏregional€transport€are€flawed€by€the€inclusion€of€localÏsources€and€sources€immediately€adjacent€to€theÏdownwind€receptor€area€as€part€of€the€transportÏcomponent.€€With€these€corrected,€the€data€show€a€veryÏmuch€smaller€contribution€by€regional€transport€thanÏEPA€has€determined.Ìà ¨ àà  àFour,€EPA's€determination€of€whether€anÏupwind€state's€linkage€is€significant,€is€inconsistentÏwithin€receptor€areas,€inconsistent€within€the€sameÏsource€region,€inconsistent€across€receptor€areas€andÏis€based€on€arbitrary€factors.€€In€fact,€using€theÏcontributions€of€New€Hampshire€and€Vermont€as€a€measureÏof€insignificance,€Environ€found€that€of€the€218€8„hourÏozone€linkages€that€EPA€determined€were€significant,Ïover€80€percent€had€contributions€to€8„hourÏnonattainment€that€are€clearly€lower€than€theÐ Â-Ì)< Ðinsignificant€contributions€of€New€Hampshire€andÏVermont.Ìà ¨ àà  àEnviron's€report€is€now€being€finalized€andÏwill€be€filed€in€the€record€of€this€proceeding.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWhen€these€defects€in€the€law,€policy€andÏscience€are€examined€in€light€of€steadily€improving€airÏquality€in€Maine€and€New€Hampshire€and€elsewhere€in€theÏNortheast,€it€seems€clear€that€EPA€should€not€grant€theÏrelief€that€has€been€requested€under€these€petitions.Ìà ¨ àà  àEPA€is€correct€in€its€companion€proposal€withÏrespect€to€the€revocation€of€the€1„hour€standard€inÏsignificant€portions€of€New€England,€and€is€correct€inÏproposing€to€deny€the€petitions,€to€the€extent€thatÏthey€relate€to€any€areas€now€in€attainment€for€the€Ì1„hour€standard.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€urge€EPA€to€deny€the€Maine€and€NewÏHampshire€petitions,€insofar€as€they€relate€to€the€Ì8„hour€standard.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWith€the€Northeast€states€only€now€comingÏinto€compliance€with€mandatory€Clean€Air€ActÏrequirements,€and€with€new€emission€reductions€beingÐ Â-Ì)< Ðimplemented€as€a€result€of€approaching€deadlines€underÏthe€Clean€Air€Act,€continued€air€quality€improvementsÏcan€be€expected.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€urge€that€EPA€reject€these€and€otherÏSection€126€petitions€as€being€inconsistent€with€theÏClean€Air€Act€and€in€particular€the€obligation€whichÏthe€Act€places€on€nonattainment€states€to€regulateÏlocal€sources€first.Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€again€thank€you€for€the€opportunity€toÏoffer€these€comments€today.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Thank€you,€Gale.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àAny€questions?Ìà ¨ àà  à(No€response.)Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Okay.€€Thank€you.€€Our€nextÏspeaker€is€Joe€Ferrara€of€the€West€Virginia€Chamber€ofÏCommerce.Ìà ¨ àà  àIt€is€Joe,€right?Ìà@àà$4àPRESENTATION€BY€JOE€FERRARAˆÌà ¨ àà  àMR.€FERRARA:€€I€am€Joe.€€I'm€not€Stephen€G.ÏRoberts.Ìà ¨ àà  àGood€morning.€€My€name€is€Joe€Ferrara.€€I'mÐ Â-Ì)< Ðcounsel€with€Jackson€and€Kelly,€PLLC,€and€I€have€theÏprivilege€today€of€presenting€the€testimony€of€Mr.ÏStephen€G.€Roberts,€President€of€the€West€VirginiaÏChamber€of€Commerce.€€Unfortunately,€he€couldn't€beÏwith€us€this€morning.€€The€Chamber€represents€businessÏinterests€across€the€State€of€West€Virginia.Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€greatly€appreciate€the€courtesy€that€theÏAgency€has€extended€us€to€allow€us€to€present€theseÏcomments,€and€these€comments€are€directed€at€EPA'sÏproposals€with€respect€to€the€evaluation€of€the€MaineÏand€New€Hampshire€Section€126€petitions€and€the€8„hourÏambient€air€quality€standard€for€ozone.¼à ¨ àà  àÌà ¨ àà  àThe€Chamber€believes€that€EPA's€request€forÏcomment€on€the€8„hour€standard€is€especiallyÏsignificant,€because€it€arises€at€a€time€when€theÏAgency€has€proposed€to€revoke€the€1„hour€standard,€notÏonly€in€Maine€and€New€Hampshire,€but€also€in€RhodeÏIsland€and€eastern€Massachusetts€for€the€reason€thatÏthe€1„hour€standard€has€been€attained€in€those€areas.Ìà ¨ àà  àThis€is€a€significant€improvement€in€airÐ Â-Ì)< Ðquality,€but€it's€obviously€not€occurred€as€the€resultÏof€any€new€regulatory€initiatives€under€either€the€NOxÏSIP€call€or€Section€126€petitions,€but,€rather,€hasÏoccurred€under€existing€programs€mandated€by€the€CleanÏAir€Act€as€amended€in€1990.Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€Chamber€has€consistently€been€a€strongÏand€consistent€proponent€of€full€implementation€ofÏexisting€regulatory€requirements€before€new€ones€areÏimposed.€€We€think€this€makes€good€policy€and€legal€andÏscientific€sense.€€It's€for€this€reason€that€theÏChamber€filed€a€Notice€of€Citizen€Suit€against€EPA€inÏJune€of€last€year,€insisting€that€EPA€force€theÏpetitioning€states€to€comply€with€all€mandatoryÏrequirements€of€the€Clean€Air€Act.Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€Chamber€continues€to€believe€that€theÏquality€standards€in€these€Section€126€petitioningÏstates€should€be€strictly€applied€from€both€a€logical,Ïa€scientific€and€from€both€a€legal€and€a€policyÏperspective.€€Only€until€we€see€application€of€thoseÏcontrols€to€sources€within€the€petitioning€statesÏthemselves€will€there€be€an€adequate€basis€forÐ Â-Ì)< Ðdetermining€the€need€for€new€controls€in€the€upwindÏstates.Ìà ¨ àà  àMoreover,€significant€new€emission€reductionsÏwill€be€occurring€in€the€immediate€future€as€a€resultÏof€the€reductions€and€emissions€of€NOx€from€utilityÏboilers.€€This€is€going€to€occur€across€the€country,€asÏyou€know,€as€a€result€of€the€imposition€of€Phase€IIÏcontrols€under€Title€IV€of€the€Clean€Air€Act,€which€areÏto€be€implemented€on€January€1€of€2000.Ìà ¨ àà  àEven€more€important€from€the€standpoint€ofÏnortheastern€air€quality€will€be€the€Phase€II€NOxÏreductions€that€will€be€implemented€later€this€yearÏunder€the€Memorandum€of€Understanding€involving€theÏNortheast€Ozone€Transport€Commission.€€Phase€IIIÏreductions€under€that€MOU€will€be€implemented€in€2003.€ÏThus,€not€only€is€there€a€need€in€our€view€for€theÏpetitioning€states€to€meet€the€requirements€of€the€ActÏas€it€stands€in€their€own€states,€but€there€also€is€theÏopportunity€that€will€be€arising€shortly€for€futureÏimprovements€even€beyond€that€which€has€been€attainedÏto€date.Ð Â-Ì)< Ðà ¨ àà  àAccordingly,€for€all€these€reasons,€theÏChamber€urges€EPA€to€take€no€action€with€respect€to€theÏMaine€and€New€Hampshire€petitions€or€any€otherÏpetitions€which€seek€to€impose€control€on€upwind€statesÏwithout€first€engaging€in€the€necessary€predicate€forÏany€such€action,€and€that€is,€reevaluating€theÏlikelihood€that€the€petitioning€states€will€attain€bothÏthe€1„hour€and€the€8„hour€ambient€air€quality€standardsÏthrough€a€combination€of€regulating€their€localÏsources,€at€least€as€mandated€by€the€Clean€Air€Act,€andÏregional€sources€to€the€extent€as€mandated€by€Title€IVÏof€the€Clean€Air€Act€and€the€OTR€MOU.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àFor€those€in€the€audience€who€may€beÏinterested€in€a€copy€of€the€written€version€of€thisÏpresentation,€there€are€a€few€extra€copies€in€the€backÏof€the€room€on€that€table.€€I'd€be€happy€to€provideÏthem€to€you€otherwise.Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€Chamber€of€Commerce€greatly€appreciatesÏthis€opportunity€to€address€this€important€subject,€andÏthank€you€for€the€opportunity€to€be€here€today€to€doÏthat.Ð Â-Ì)< Ðà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Thank€you,€Joe.Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€FERRARA:€€Thanks.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Our€next€speaker€is€JeffÏUnderhill€of€the€State€of€New€Hampshire.Ìà@,,"4àPRESENTATION€BY€JEFF€UNDERHILLˆÌà ¨ àà  àMR.€UNDERHILL:€€My€name€is€Jeffrey€Underhill,Ïrepresenting€the€Department€of€Environmental€ServicesÏin€New€Hampshire.€€Thank€you€for€the€opportunity€toÏcomment€on€EPA's€proposed€action€to€includeÏconsideration€of€the€8„hour€national€ambient€airÏquality€standard€for€ozone€and€fashioning€remediesÏunder€New€Hampshire€Section€126€petition.Ìà ¨ àà  àNew€Hampshire€requested€this€considerationÏand€DES€commends€EPA€for€this€proposal€and€for€itsÏcommitment€to€address€interstate€ozone€transport.€€NewÏHampshire€believes€that€EPA€is€both€authorized€andÏobligated€under€the€Clean€Air€Act€Sections€126€and€110Ïto€consider€transport€contributions€with€respect€to€anyÏsuch€national€primary€or€secondary€ambient€airÏstandard.Ìà ¨ àà  àWhile€New€Hampshire's€petition€originallyÐ Â-Ì)< Ðfocused€on€the€1„hour€standard,€the€State€was€mindfulÏof€the€8„hour€standard€in€its€preparation.€€Indeed,Ïmany€of€New€Hampshire's€8„hour€analyses€were€submittedÏin€support€of€the€petition.€€New€Hampshire€recognizesÏthat€when€and€if€the€1„hour€standard€is€revoked,€theÏState€must€still€demonstrate€attainment€and€maintenanceÏof€the€8„hour€standard.Ìà ¨ àà  àUnder€Section€126,€EPA€must€evaluate€NewÏHampshire's€ability€to€attain€and€maintain€existingÏstandards€and€whether€the€sources€identified€in€NewÏHampshire's€petition,€individually€or€as€a€group,Ïsignificantly€affect€New€Hampshire's€ability€to€attainÏand€maintain€compliance€with€the€8„hour€standard.Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€science€is€clear;€the€transport€problemsÏdocumented€in€New€Hampshire's€petition€for€the€1„hourÏstandard€apply€equally,€if€not€to€a€greater€extent,Ïunder€the€8„hour€standard.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àA€significant€portion€of€DES's€analysis€inÏsupport€of€Section€126€petition€was€based€upon€1995Ïdata,€a€moderate€year€for€ozone€in€New€Hampshire.€€HadÏthe€analysis€been€performed€for€1997,€a€year€with€moreÐ Â-Ì)< Ðozone€exceedences€and€widespread€impact€on€NewÏHampshire,€ozone€transport€from€distant€sources€wouldÏbe€found€to€be€even€more€significant€than€stated€in€NewÏHampshire's€Section€126€petition.¼à ¨ àà  àÌà ¨ àà  àRecently,€claims€have€been€made€that€NewÏHampshire€failed€to€acknowledge€the€trend€for€improvedÏozone€air€quality€in€its€original€petition.€€As€NewÏHampshire€documented€in€its€1„hour€ozone€attainmentÏdemonstration€to€EPA,€two€monitors€showed€a€mild€trendÏfor€improvement€over€the€past€10€years,€probably€thanksÏto€the€major€emission€reductions€already€implemented€inÏthe€Northeast.€€However,€the€vast€majority€of€theÏstates€monitors€showed€either€no€statistical€change€orÏincreasing€ozone€rates€at€comparable€rates€to€theÏimprovements€made€by€the€first€two€monitors.Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€air€quality€for€the€vast€majority€of€NewÏHampshire€citizens€has€not€been€improving€as€claimed,Ïsuggesting€that€they€are€more€dependent€on€long„rangeÏtransport.Ìà ¨ àà  àFortunately€for€New€Hampshire€citizens,€theÐ Â-Ì)< Ðmeteorology€which€results€in€the€most€transportedÏpollution€failed€to€develop€fully€during€two€of€theÏpast€three€years,€resulting€in€somewhat€cleaner€airÏwithin€the€state.€€Because€of€this€serendipity,€NewÏHampshire€did€not€record€a€1„hour€ozone€violationÏduring€these€years,€thus€clearing€the€way€for€theÏstandard€to€be€revoked.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àConversely,€meteorology€in€1997€was€moreÏfavorable€for€ozone€transport,€resulting€in€monitoredÏozone€concentrations€that€were€the€second€highest€forÏthe€state€in€10€years.Ìà ¨ àà  àThis€clean„dirty„clean€fluctuation€wasÏprimarily€due€to€meteorological€variations€inÏtransport,€since€New€Hampshire's€emissions€declined€andÏregional€emissions€did€not€vary€significantly€duringÏthis€3„year€period.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àUpon€completion€of€the€1„hour€ozone€standardÏrevocation,€the€challenge€of€attaining€and€maintainingÏthe€new€8„hour€standard€will€be€significant€in€NewÏHampshire.€€According€to€DES€monitoring€records,€hadÏthe€new€standard€been€in€place€over€the€past€10€years,Ð Â-Ì)< Ðit€would€have€been€violated€each€year.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àAdditional€evidence€of€the€restrictive€natureÏof€the€new€standard€is€shown€by€the€increased€frequencyÏand€the€geographical€coverage€of€ozone€exceedencesÏbeyond€those€of€the€older€standard.€€Common€senseÏdictates€that€a€stricter€nature€of€the€8„hour€standardÏwill€require€emission€reductions,€both€regionally€andÏupwind,€beyond€those€needed€to€meet€the€older€1„hourÏstandard.Ìà ¨ àà  àFinal€determination€of€the€8„hour€ozoneÏnonattainment€areas€is€to€include€1999€data€that€won'tÏbe€finalized€until€July€2000.€€However,€failure€toÏattain€the€standard€this€summer€will€ultimately€resultÏin€nonattainment€area€designations.€€In€New€Hampshire,Ïthree€monitors€will€violate€the€new€standard€in€1999,Ïprovided€that€the€fourth€highest€concentrations€meet€orÏexceed€65,€77€and€82€parts€per€billion€respectively.Ìà ¨ àà  àHistorically,€the€fourth€occurrence€at€theseÏlevels€occurs€early€in€the€ozone€season.€€TheseÏexpected€exceedences€are€certainly€relevant€to€EPA'sÏfindings€with€regard€to€New€Hampshire's€petition.€€NewÐ Â-Ì)< ÐHampshire€believes€that€EPA€will€find,€as€it€would€haveÏunder€the€1„hour€standard,€that€the€upwind€sourcesÏidentified€in€New€Hampshire's€petition€significantlyÏcontribute€to€the€violations€of€the€8„hour€ozoneÏstandard.Ìà ¨ àà  àTherefore,€EPA€must€consider€the€8„hour€ozoneÏstandard€in€fashioning€remedies€under€Section€126,Ïregardless€of€the€status€of€EPA's€nonattainmentÏdesignation.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àFinally,€New€Hampshire's€Section€126€petitionÏshould€only€be€denied€upon€achievement€of,€not€plansÏfor,€the€emission€reductions€anticipated€in€the€SIPs€ofÏupwind€states.Ìà ¨ àà  àThank€you€for€the€opportunity€to€comment€onÏthe€proposed€SNPR.€€DES€will€submit€a€complete€set€ofÏdetailed€comments€to€the€docket€on€or€before€April€11,Ï1999.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Just€one€question,€Jeff.€€YouÏprovided€some€materials€here.€€Is€there€anything€inÏparticular€we€should€note€about€them?Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€UNDERHILL:€€They€were€referenced€from€theÐ Â-Ì)< Ðoriginal€petition.€€I€just€wanted€to€make€sure€you€hadÏit€in€front€of€you€just€in€case€you€wanted€to€see€it.€ÏThose€were€some€of€the€materials€that€were€preparedÏunder€the€8„hour€standard€analyses€that€were€includedÏin€the€original€petition.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Okay.€€One€other€question.€€WhenÏyou€talked€about€the€violations€that€will€occur€inÏ1999,€provided€the€fourth€highest€concentrations€are€atÏcertain€levels,€is€that€based€on€the€levels€you've€hadÏfor€the€past€two€years?€€I'm€just€curious€how€youÏcalculated€those€numbers.Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€UNDERHILL:€€That€would€be€based€on€theÏfourth€highest€concentration€that€we've€had€for€theÏpast€two€years.€€Essentially,€you€back„solve€theÏequation,€what€you€would€need€to€meet€85€parts€perÏbillion€average€over€the€3€years.€€That€was€doneÏindividually€by€monitor.€€If€we€had€taken€the€3„yearÏperiod€before€that€where€the€monitoring€data€isÏcomplete,€they€would€have€all€shown€violations.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Thank€you.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àAny€questions?Ð Â-Ì)< Ðà ¨ àà  à(No€response.)Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€You're€going€to€read€Maine'sÏtestimony?Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€UNDERHILL:€€Yes.€€Once€again,€I'm€here.€ÏJim€Brooks,€the€air€director€at€Maine,€has€requestedÏthat€I€read€their€comments€as€well.Ìà@xx!4àPRESENTATION€BY€JEFFREY€UNDERHILLˆÌà ¨ àà  àMR.€UNDERHILL:€€Thank€you€for€the€opportunityÏto€comment€on€the€U.S.€Environmental€ProtectionÏAgency's€Notice€of€Proposed€Findings€of€SignificantÏContribution€and€Rulemaking€on€the€Section€126ÏPetitions€and€the€State€of€Maine's€request€that€EPAÏconsider€its€Section€126€petition€under€not€only€the€Ì1„hour€standard,€but€the€8„hour€standard€as€well.€Ìà ¨ àà  àOn€November€30,€1998,€Maine€requested€thatÏEPA€consider€its€Section€126€petition€under€the€contextÏof€both€the€1„hour€and€the€8„hour€ozone€standards.€€AtÏthe€time,€we€stated€that€while€our€August€15,€1997Ïpetition€did€not€explicitly€reference€the€8„hourÏnational€ambient€air€quality€standard,€we€believe€thatÏit€was€reasonable€to€extend€consideration€of€ourÐ Â-Ì)< Ðpetition€to€the€new€standard.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àEven€though€EPA€has€since€proposed€revocationÏof€the€1„hour€ozone€standard€in€Maine's€remainingÏnonattainment€counties,€we€nevertheless€believe€thatÏstrong€and€affirmative€action€on€our€Section€126Ïpetition€is€critically€important€for€the€health€andÏwelfare€of€Maine's€residents€and€visitors.Ìà ¨ àà  àAs€EPA€is€well€aware,€the€revocation€processÏis€intended€as€a€transition€from€the€1„hour€ozoneÏstandard€to€the€more€health€protective€8„hour€standard.€ÏThis€summer,€Maine€will€submit€its€formalÏrecommendations€for€attainment€and€nonattainmentÏdesignations€under€the€new€ozone€standard.€€Based€onÏ1996€through€1998€monitoring€data,€we€have€at€leastÏfive€sites€that€are€not€meeting€the€8„hour€ozoneÏstandard.€€High€ozone€levels€in€this€and€the€followingÏsummers€could€imperil€even€more€sites.Ìà ¨ àà  àMaine€is€very€concerned€the€upwind€sourcesÏwill€avail€themselves€of€this€opportunity€to€delay€orÏevade€their€statutory€obligations€under€Section€126€andÏcontinue€to€emit€air€pollutants€in€violations€ofÐ Â-Ì)< ÐSections€110(a)(2)(D)€and€126(c)€of€the€Clean€Air€ActÏAmendments€of€1990.Ìà ¨ àà  àSection€126€is€clear€in€its€intent.€€MajorÏsources€or€groups€of€stationary€sources€shall€not€emitÏpollutants€such€that€they€will€contribute€significantlyÏor€interfere€with€maintenance€of€the€national€ambientÏair€quality€standards.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àFormal€designations€of€nonattainment€areasÏunder€Section€107€of€the€Act€are€not€a€prerequisite€forÏviolations€of€the€standards.€€Given€this,€it€behoovesÏEPA€to€move€forward€with€Section€126€petitions,€as€itÏwould€be€senseless€to€interrupt€our€air€pollutionÏcontrol€efforts€as€we€move€to€the€new€ozone€standard.Ìà ¨ àà  àIt€is€clear€that€Maine€is€failing€to€meet€theÏ8„hour€NAAQS€in€a€number€of€areas,€and€it€is€incumbentÏupon€EPA€to€ensure€that€emissions€from€upwind€sourcesÏthat€are€significantly€contributing€to€this€Ìnonattainment€are€mitigated€in€a€timely€manner.€ÏSuspension,€or€even€worse,€denial€of€these€petitions,Ïis€inimical€to€our€mutual€goal€of€attaining€the€newÏfederal€ozone€standard€as€expeditiously€as€practicableÐ Â-Ì)< Ðand€cannot€be€logically€be€supported.Ìà ¨ àà  àWe€will€be€submitting€additional€comments,Ïand€look€forward€to€EPA€taking€timely€action€on€ourÏpetition.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Thank€you€very€much,€Jeff.€€YouÏshould€get€a€drink€of€water.Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€UNDERHILL:€€I€could€have€used€that€aboutÏhalfway€through.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Thanks€a€lot.Ìà ¨ àà  àOur€next€speaker€is€Norman€Fichthorn€fromÏUARG.Ìà@´´!4àPRESENTATION€BY€NORMAN€FICHTHORNˆÌà ¨ àà  àMR.€FICHTHORN:€€Good€morning.€€My€name€isÏNorman€Fichthorn.€€I'm€here€on€behalf€of€the€UtilityÏAir€Regulatory€Group€to€provide€initial€comments€onÏEPA's€Supplemental€Notice€of€Proposed€Rulemaking€UnderÏSection€126€of€the€Clean€Air€Act.€€Thank€you€for€theÏopportunity€to€provide€this€testimony€today.Ìà ¨ àà  àOn€November€30,€1998,€UARG€filed€comments€onÏthe€proposed€rule€that€was€published€last€October.€€MyÏtime€today€is€too€short€to€allow€me€to€catalogue€allÐ Â-Ì)< Ðthe€reasons,€explained€in€those€comments€and€in€our€SIPÏcall€comments,€why€EPA's€proposal€to€grant€the€SectionÏ126€petitions€is€unlawful.Ìà ¨ àà  àBut€one€point€in€our€comments€is€especiallyÏrelevant:€€Making€significant€contribution€findings€onÏthe€basis€of€projected€8„hour€nonattainment€isÏunlawful.€€As€a€legal€matter,€there€is€no€basis€for€anyÏfinding€of€significant€contribution€to€8„hourÏnonattainment€before€areas€have€been€designatedÏnonattainment€for€that€standard.Ìà ¨ àà  àWhy€is€this€issue€even€before€us?€€TheÏpetitioning€states€and€EPA€have€claimed€repeatedly,Ïuntil€it€became€an€article€of€faith€to€them,€that€thoseÏstates€would€never€escape€nonattainment€area€statusÏunless€power€plants€in€states€hundreds€of€miles€awayÏwere€forced€to€make€huge,€expensive€NOx€reductionsÏbeyond€the€Title€IV€reductions.Ìà ¨ àà  àEPA's€recent€1„hour€revocation€noticeÏundermines€those€claims.€€EPA's€data€show€that€all€ofÏMaine,€New€Hampshire,€Rhode€Island€and€easternÏMassachusetts,€even€the€big€Amtrak€corridor€city€ofÐ Â-Ì)< ÐBoston,€have€escaped€nonattainment€area€status€and€haveÏdone€so€before€the€effective€dates€of€the€OTC€MOU€andÏTitle€IV€Phase€II€programs.Ìà ¨ àà  àAlarmed€that€1„hour€attainment€underminesÏtheir€accusations€of€upwind€culpability,€the€crusadersÏfor€massive€NOx€reductions,€seeking€a€level€playingÏfield,€an€economic€goal€that€they€barely€bother€toÏpretend€is€an€air€quality€objective,€now€march€forwardÏunder€the€banner€of€the€8„hour€standards;€hence,€MaineÏand€New€Hampshire's€rush€to€expand€their€petitions€toÏembrace€that€new€standard.€€There€is€no€basis€for€this.Ìà ¨ àà  àNot€only€do€no€8„hour€nonattainment€areasÏexist€in€Maine€or€New€Hampshire€or€anywhere€else,€thoseÏstates€are€not€now€required€and€will€not€be€required€orÏsome€time€to€adopt€any€control€measures€to€address€Ì8„hour€nonattainment€within€their€borders.€€And€upwindÏstates€that€EPA€holds€primarily€responsible€forÏhypothetical€8„hour€nonattainment€in€other€states€areÏlikewise€not€required,€even€under€EPA's€rewriting€ofÏthe€Act,€to€do€anything€now€to€address€their€own€EPAÏprojected€8„hour€nonattainment.€€Yet€EPA€apparentlyÐ Â-Ì)< Ðbelieves€that€sources€must€become€subject€to€aÏstringent€control€regime€now€to€address€possible€futureÏnonattainment€in€other€states€hundreds€of€miles€away.Ìà ¨ àà  àThis€turns€the€Act€on€its€head.€€In€theÏlanguage€of€Section€110(a)(2)(D)(i),€the€provision€thatÏEPA€relies€on,€it€is€simply€not€consistent€with€theÏprovisions€of€Title€I€of€the€Act€to€force€sources€inÏstates€far€away€from€a€possible€future€nonattainmentÏarea€to€drastically€reduce€their€emissions€to€help€thatÏarea's€projected€air€quality€problem€at€a€time€whenÏthat€area€is€required€to€do€nothing€to€address€its€ownÏproblem.Ìà ¨ àà  àBesides€sharing€the€fatal€defects€of€EPA'sÏoriginal€proposal,€this€new€notice€has€special€flaws€ofÏits€own,€probably€in€part€the€result€of€EPA's€rush€toÏmeet€the€April€30€final„action€deadline€that€wasÏnegotiated€behind€closed€doors.€€These€flaws€are€simplyÏbaffling,€frustrating€any€meaningful€opportunity€toÏcomment.Ìà ¨ àà  àWhat€are€we€to€make,€for€example,€of€EPA'sÏDelphic€statement€that,€quote,€purely€as€a€matter€ofÐ Â-Ì)< Ðdrafting,€close€quote,€it€need€not,€and€we€see€from€theÏnotice,€will€not,€quote,€include€regulatory€textÏidentifying€negative€technical€determinations,€closeÏquote;€that€is,€determinations€that€states€or€parts€ofÏstates€do€not€contribute€significantly€to€nonattainmentÏin€petitioning€states?€€The€original€text€did€containÏthese€determinations.€Ìà ¨ àà  àWhy€does€EPA€conclude€now€that€it€need€notÏinclude€them?€€EPA€fails€to€say.€€And€even€if€it€isÏtrue€that€EPA€need€not€include€them,€it€presumably€hasÏdiscretion€to€include€them.€€Why€is€it€proposing€not€toÏexercise€that€discretion?€€And€why€does€EPA€keep€theÏparagraph€(j)€statement€that€it€denies€the€petitionsÏwith€respect€to€sources€for€which€it€makes€the€negativeÏdeterminations€in€paragraphs€(b)€through€(i),€when,Ïpresumably,€there€are€no€negative€determinations€inÏparagraphs€(b)€through€(i)€anymore.€€Given€this€newÏproposal,€what€is€the€legal€status€of€the€negativeÏdeterminations€and€the€petition€denials?Ìà ¨ àà  àMoreover,€in€its€haste€or€its€enthusiasm€toÏeliminate€negative€determinations,€EPA€proposes€toÐ Â-Ì)< Ðdelete€provisions€that€never€existed,€paragraphs€(i)(7)Ïand€(8),€but,€oddly,€keeps€in€the€text€negativeÏdeterminations€for€Vermont€on€the€1„hour€but€not€the€Ì8„hour€standard.€€What€does€EPA€actually€intend€toÏinclude€in€the€rule€about€its€action€on€Vermont'sÏpetition?Ìà ¨ àà  àIn€addition,€EPA€continues€to€ignore€theÏpetitions'€scope,€the€geographic€scope.€€For€instance,Ïthe€only€part€of€North€Carolina€covered€by€Maine'sÏpetition€is€its€northeastern€tip,€a€small€area€that,€toÏour€knowledge,€contains€no€significant€stationaryÏsources€of€NOx€and,€according€to€EPA's€acid€rain€webÏsite,€has€no€Title€IV€sources.€€Yet,€EPA€proposes€toÏfind€that€major€sources€in€this€minuscule€part€of€NorthÏCarolina€contribute€significantly€to€8„hourÏnonattainment€in€Maine,€600€miles€away.Ìà ¨ àà  àIncredibly,€while€EPA€asserts€that€the€dataÏshow€phantom€sources€in€a€small€corner€of€distant€NorthÏCarolina€contributing€significantly€to€nonattainment€inÏMaine,€EPA€says€it€has€no€information€to€find€that€nextÏdoor€neighbor€New€Hampshire€contributes€significantlyÐ Â-Ì)< Ðto€Maine's€nonattainment,€and€then€announces€it€isÏdoing€nothing€to€develop€that€information.€€This€is€aÏtextbook€case€of€arbitrary€action.Ìà ¨ àà  àFor€these€reasons,€and€reasons€discussed€inÏUARG's€written€comments,€Maine€and€New€Hampshire's€Ì8„hour€petitions,€like€all€the€petitions€on€bothÏstandards,€must€be€denied.Ìà ¨ àà  àThank€you.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Thank€you,€Norm.€€We'll€lookÏinto€the€discrepancies€you€note€there.€€There€does€seemÏto€be€some€numbering€discrepancies,€if€nothing€else.Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€FICHTHORN:€€Thank€you.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Okay.€€Our€next€speaker€isÏEdward€Kropp€of€West€Virginia.Ìà@¤¤#4àPRESENTATION€BY€EDWARD€KROPPˆÌà ¨ àà  àMR.€KROPP:€€Good€morning.€€I€am€Skip€Kropp,Ïthe€Chief€of€the€Office€of€Air€Quality€for€the€WestÏVirginia€Division€of€Environmental€Protection.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àWest€Virginia€has€found€itself€in€veryÏinteresting€places€throughout€the€continuing€debateÏover€NOx€Control€for€purposes€of€interstate€transportÐ Â-Ì)< Ðof€ozone,€but€none€more€curious€than€the€one€raised€byÏthe€proposal€by€EPA€with€respect€to€the€identificationÏof€states€that€are€significant€contributors€to€the€Ì8„hour€ozone€ambient€air€quality€standard€in€Maine€andÏNew€Hampshire.€€Specifically,€we€have€not€beenÏimplicated€with€respect€to€either€state.Ìà ¨ àà  àUnder€other€circumstances,€that€might€beÏenough€for€us€to€sit€quietly€in€Charleston€and€allowÏEPA€to€move€forward€with€its€proposal.€€However,Ïsignificant€errors€in€this€proposal€and€new€evidence€ofÏair€quality€improvements€in€the€Northeast€compels€thatÏwe€be€present€today€and€to€share€with€you€our€furtherÏcomments€and€technical€data€regarding€these€issues.Ìà ¨ àà  àLet€me€say€at€the€outset€that€West€VirginiaÏhas€taken€very€seriously€its€obligation€to€the€controlÏof€sources€to€achieve€ozone€attainment.€€Even€though€weÏhad€a€number€of€areas€that€were€initially€nonattainmentÏfor€ozone€and€even€though€we€are€downwind€of€a€greatÏnumber€of€large€NOx€sources€along€the€Ohio€River,€weÏhave€been€able€to€achieve€compliance€with€the€1„hourÏozone€standard.Ð Â-Ì)< Ðà ¨ àà  àWhile€we€anticipate€additional€portions€ofÏour€state€being€designated€as€nonattainment€for€the€Ì8„hour€standard,€we€are€likewise€confident€of€ourÏability€to€be€able€to€achieve€timely€compliance€withÏthe€8„hour€standard€throughout€the€state€with€moderateÏadditional€control€requirements.Ìà ¨ àà  àGovernor€Underwood€has€been€a€leader€both€atÏthe€state€and€national€level€on€the€need€for€a€NOx€andÏozone€precursor€control€policy€that€is€committed€toÏachieving€attainment€with€both€the€8„hour€and€1„hourÏstandards,€and,€thereby,€protecting€the€health€andÏwelfare€of€the€citizens€of€all€states,€but€also€to€doÏso€in€a€way€that€places€those€controls€on€the€sourcesÏthat€are€actually€causing€the€nonattainment.Ìà ¨ àà  àUnder€Governor€Underwood's€leadership,€weÏwill€continue€our€efforts€to€develop€the€type€ofÏscientific€and€technical€data€that€permit€theseÏdeterminations€to€be€made.€€We€renew€our€generalÏconcerns€about€EPA's€overall€approach€to€addressing€theÏvarious€Section€126€petitions€that€have€been€filed.€Ìà ¨ àà  àOur€earlier€comments€noted€concerns€withÐ Â-Ì)< Ðrespect€to€the€Agency's€legal€authority€and€misplacedÏreliance€on€what€we€believe€to€be€a€one„size„fits„allÏstrategy€for€the€regulation€of€NOx€sources.€€We€alsoÏcontinue€to€be€concerned€with€the€Agency's€reliance€onÏthe€8„hour€standard€all€together,€since€the€Clean€AirÏAct€establishes€a€specific€process€that€we€and€allÏother€states€should€be€allowed€to€implement€to€addressÏthis€standard.Ìà ¨ àà  àRelying€on€the€8„hour€standard€as€a€basis€forÏacting€on€these€Section€126€petitions€usurps€ourÏauthority€in€that€regard€and€is€contrary€to€the€CleanÏAir€Act.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àAs€I€said€at€the€outset,€I'm€struck€by€theÏfact€that€West€Virginia€is€not€implicated€under€EPA'sÏproposed€rule€with€respect€to€the€8„hour€nonattainmentÏissues€in€either€New€Hampshire€or€Maine,€and,€withoutÏmeaning€to€seem€ungrateful€or€without€meaning€toÏconcede,€that€we€have€any€significant€impact€on€anyÏdownwind€state,€it€defies€all€logic€to€believe€that€EPAÏcan€find€that€West€Virginia€has€no€impact€on€Maine€andÏNew€Hampshire's€8„hour€nonattainment,€while€findingÐ Â-Ì)< Ðthat€West€Virginia€has€significant€contribution€to€Ì8„hour€nonattainment€in€Massachusetts.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àSimilarly,€it€defies€all€logic€and€scientificÏanalysis€to€believe€that€West€Virginia€should€have€noÏsignificant€impact€on€Maine€and€New€Hampshire,€while€atÏthe€same€time€finding€that€our€immediate€neighbor€toÏthe€north,€Ohio,€is€a€significant€contributor€to€NewÏHampshire€and€finding€that€our€immediate€neighbor€toÏthe€south,€Virginia,€is€a€significant€contributor€toÏMaine.Ìà ¨ àà  àEPA's€significance€test€is€obviously€flawedÏand€produces€results€that€are€virtually€arbitrary.€€WeÏurge€that€EPA€abandon€its€approach€in€favor€of€one€thatÏidentifies€those€upwind€states€that€are€truly€culpableÏin€adversely€affecting€the€air€quality€of€its€downwindÏneighbors.Ìà ¨ àà  àMore€significantly,€we€are€impressed€with€theÏsignificant€improvements€in€air€quality€that€areÏoccurring€in€all€of€the€Section€126€petitioning€states.€ÏEPA's€December€17,€1998€notice€proposing€revocation€ofÏthe€1„hour€standard€in€all€of€Maine,€New€Hampshire€andÐ Â-Ì)< ÐRhode€Island€and€in€the€Boston€area€of€Massachusetts,Ïis€an€enormously€significant€development,€not€onlyÏbecause€it€requires€that€EPA€reject€the€petitions€ofÏthose€states,€but€also€because€it€indicates€thatÏimprovements€in€air€quality€are€occurring€in€thatÏentire€region€without€the€benefit€of€any€reductionsÏcalled€for€under€either€the€NOx€SIP€call€or€the€reliefÏbeing€sought€under€the€Section€126€petitions.Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€state€of€West€Virginia€and€theÏCommonwealth€of€Virginia€have€sought€to€determine€theÏsignificance€of€this€development,€and€we've€retainedÏTRC€Environmental€Consultants€based€in€Connecticut€toÏexamine€air€quality€improvements€throughout€theÏnortheast€ozone€transport€region.€€TRC's€report€is€nowÏbeing€finalized€and€will€be€filed€in€the€record€of€thisÏproceeding.Ìà ¨ àà  àI€can€advise€you€at€this€time,€however,€thatÏTRC's€principal€conclusions€are€as€follows:Ìà ¨ àà  àFirst,€the€trend€of€second€highest€1„hourÏozone€concentrations€in€New€England€shows€the€entireÏregion€meeting€the€.12€standard,€the€1„hour€standard,Ð Â-Ì)< Ðby€2002€at€the€latest.€€Using€1990€as€a€starting€yearÏrather€than€1998,€only€two€sites€in€Connecticut€wouldÏnot€make€the€1„hour€standard€by€2002,€and€those€sitesÏare€shoreline€stations.Ìà ¨ àà  àSecond,€the€trend€of€fourth€highest€8„hourÏozone€concentrations€in€New€England€since€1994,€whichÏis€the€limit€of€available€AIRS€data€shows€only€smallÏtrends.€€Most€stations€are€going€down€gradually,Ïalthough€a€few€are€showing€upward€trends.Ìà ¨ àà  àFinally,€it€is€likely€that€most€of€NewÏEngland€will€meet€both€standards€in€the€2002€to€2004Ïtime€frame€with€the€application€of€current€controlÏstrategies.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àFor€all€of€these€reasons,€we€believe€that€itÏis€time€for€EPA€to€completely€rethink€its€approach€toÏthese€Section€126€petitions€and,€indeed,€its€overallÏapproach€to€the€control€of€regional€NOx€as€a€solutionÏto€ozone€nonattainment,€particularly€in€the€Northeast.Ìà ¨ àà  àIt's€obvious€that€the€Clean€Air€Act€in€itsÏcurrent€form€is€working€and€that,€given€only€a€littleÏadditional€time,€attainment€will€be€achieved€with€theÐ Â-Ì)< Ð1„hour€standard€throughout€the€East.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àThe€Clean€Air€Act€creates€an€independentÏmechanism€for€addressing€the€new€8„hour€standard,€andÏstates€should€be€allowed€the€opportunity€to€invoke€thatÏmechanism€in€determining€what€type€of€controls€will€beÏappropriate€to€achieve€compliance€with€that€standard.Ìà ¨ àà  àThank€you€for€the€opportunity€to€present€thisÏinformation€to€you,€and€we€look€forward€to€working€withÏEPA€to€find€a€legally€and€technically€correct€solutionÏto€these€important€issues.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Thanks,€Skip.€€Any€questions€forÏSkip?Ìà ¨ àà  à(No€response.)Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€KROPP:€€You've€heard€this€before,€right?Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€We€have.€€We€have.Ìà ¨ àà  àMR.€McLEAN:€€It€was€well„delivered.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Yes.€€We€look€forward€to€yourÏTRC€report.€€Ìà ¨ àà  àThat€concludes€our€scheduled€speakers.€€IsÏthere€anyone€else€in€the€audience€who€wants€to€speak?Ìà ¨ àà  à(No€response.)Ð Â-Ì)< Ðà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Okay.€€Thank€you€all€very€muchÏfor€coming.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€LEA:€€I€have€one€question.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Yeah,€Gale.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€LEA:€€The€comment€deadline€was€AprilÏ11th?Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Yes.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€LEA:€€It's€a€Sunday.€€So€does€that€meanÏthey're€due€Friday€or€Monday?€€Friday?Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Monday.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€LEA:€€Thank€you.Ìà ¨ àà  àMS.€WEGMAN:€€Okay.Ìà ¨ àà  à(Whereupon,€at€10:48€a.m.,€the€hearing€in€theÏabove„entitled€matter€was€concluded.)Ìà@-4à*€*€*€*€*