§ 52.31 Selection of sequence of mandatory sanctions for findings made pursuant to section 179 of the Clean Air Act.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to implement 42 U.S.C. 7509(a) of the Act, with respect to the sequence in which sanctions will automatically apply under 42 U.S.C. 7509(b), following a finding made by the Administrator pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 7509(a).
(b) Definitions. All terms used in this section, but not specifically defined herein, shall have the meaning given them in § 52.01.
(1) 1990 Amendments means the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act (Pub. L. No. 101–549, 104 Stat. 2399).
(2) Act means Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. (1991)).
(3) Affected area means the geographic area subject to or covered by the Act requirement that is the subject of the finding and either, for purposes of the offset sanction under paragraph (e)(1) of this section and the highway sanction under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, is or is within an area designated nonattainment under 42 U.S.C. 7407(d) or, for purposes of the offset sanction under paragraph (e)(1) of this section, is or is within an area otherwise subject to the emission offset requirements of 42 U.S.C. 7503.
(4) Criteria pollutant means a pollutant for which the Administrator has promulgated a national ambient air quality standard pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 7409 (i.e., ozone, lead, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide).
(5) Findings or Finding refer(s) to one or more of the findings, disapprovals, and determinations described in subsection 52.31 (c).
(6) NAAQS means national ambient air quality standard the Administrator has promulgated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 7409.
(7) Ozone precursors mean nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
(8) Part D means part D of title I of the Act.
(9) Part D SIP or SIP revision or plan means a State implementation plan or plan revision that States are required to submit or revise pursuant to part D.
(10) Precursor means pollutant which is transformed in the atmosphere (later in time and space from point of emission) to form (or contribute to the formation of) a criteria pollutant.
(c) Applicability. This section shall apply to any State in which an affected area is located and for which the Administrator has made one of the following findings, with respect to any part D SIP or SIP revision required under the Act:
(1) A finding that a State has failed, for an area designated nonattainment under 42 U.S.C. 7407(d), to submit a plan, or to submit one or more of the elements (as determined by the Administrator) required by the provisions of the Act applicable to such an area, or has failed to make a submission for such an area that satisfies the minimum criteria established in relation to any such element under 42 U.S.C. 7410(k);
(2) A disapproval of a submission under 42 U.S.C. 7410(k), for an area designated nonattainment under 42 U.S.C. 7407(d), based on the submission's failure to meet one or more of the elements required by the provisions of the Act applicable to such an area;
(3)
(i) A determination that a State has failed to make any submission required under the Act, other than one described under paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section, including an adequate maintenance plan, or has failed to make any submission, required under the Act, other than one described under paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section, that satisfies the minimum criteria established in relation to such submission under 42 U.S.C. 7410(k)(1)(A); or
(ii) A disapproval in whole or in part of a submission described under paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section; or
(4) A finding that any requirement of an approved plan (or approved part of a plan) is not being implemented.
(d) Sanction application sequencing. (1) To implement 42 U.S.C. 7509(a), the offset sanction under paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall apply in an affected area 18 months from the date when the Administrator makes a finding under paragraph (c) of this section unless the Administrator affirmatively determines that the deficiency forming the basis of the finding has been corrected. To further implement 42 U.S.C. 7509(a), the highway sanction under paragraph (e)(2) of this section shall apply in an affected area 6 months from the date the offset sanction under paragraph (e)(1) of this section applies, unless the Administrator affirmatively determines that the deficiency forming the basis of the finding has been corrected. For the findings under paragraphs (c)(2), (c)(3)(ii), and (c)(4) of this section, the date of the finding shall be the effective date as defined in the final action triggering the sanctions clock.
(2)
(i) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(1) of this section, to further implement 42 U.S.C. 7509(a), following the findings under paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3)(ii) of this section, if the State has submitted a revised plan to correct the deficiency prompting the finding and the Administrator, prior to 18 months from the finding, has proposed to fully or conditionally approve the revised plan and has issued an interim final determination that the revised plan corrects the deficiency prompting the finding, application of the offset sanction under paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall be deferred unless and until the Administrator proposes to or takes final action to disapprove the plan in whole or in part. If the Administrator issues such a proposed or final disapproval of the plan, the offset sanction under paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall apply in the affected area on the later of the date the Administrator issues such a proposed or final disapproval, or 18 months following the finding that started the sanctions clock. The highway sanction under paragraph (e)(2) of this section shall apply in the affected area 6 months after the date the offset sanction under paragraph (e)(1) of this section applies, unless the Administrator determines that the deficiency forming the basis of the finding has been corrected.