[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22174-22176]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10117]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-85838; File No. SR-CboeEDGX-2019-029]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Related
to Amending its Fee Schedule Assessed on Members To Establish a Monthly
Trading Rights Fee

May 10, 2019.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on April 29, 2019, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``EDGX'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II,
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change

    Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``EDGX Equities'')
proposes to amend its fee schedule assessed on Members to establish a
monthly Trading Rights Fee. The text of the proposed rule change is
provided in Exhibit 5.
    The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the
Exchange's website (http://markets.cboe.com/us/options/regulation/rule_filings/edgx/), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, and at
the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to establish a monthly
Trading Rights Fee under the ``Membership Fees'' section of the fee
schedule. The Trading Rights Fee will be assessed on Members that trade
more than a specified volume in U.S. equities, and will assist in
covering the cost of regulating the Exchange and its Members.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to charge Member firms a monthly
Trading Rights Fee of $500 per month for the ability to trade on the
Exchange. So as to continue to encourage active participation on the
Exchange by smaller Members, the Trading Rights Fee would not be
charged to Members with a monthly ADV \3\ of less than 100,000 shares.
Similarly, to continue to support individual investor order flow on the
Exchange, the Trading Rights Fee would not be charged to Members in
which at least 90% of their orders submitted to the Exchange per month
are retail orders.
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    \3\ ``ADV'' means average daily volume calculated as the number
of shares added or removed, combined, per day. ADV is calculated on
a monthly basis.
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    Additionally, the Exchange recognizes that new Members are new and
important sources of liquidity. As such, the Exchange proposes that new
Exchange Members will not be charged the proposed Trading Rights Fee
for their first three months of Membership. Moreover, for any month in
which a firm is approved for Membership with the Exchange, the monthly
Trading Rights Fee will be pro-rated in accordance with the date on
which Membership is approved. For example, if a firm's Membership is
approved on May 15, 2019, then, as proposed, it would not be charged
for its first three months of Membership. The month of August would
then be pro-rated and the Trading Rights Fee would be assessed from
August 15, 2019 through the end of the month. During any month in which
a firm terminates Membership with the Exchange, the monthly Trading
Rights Fee will not be pro-rated.
    As proposed, the Exchange believes the Trading Rights Fee assessed
aligns with the benefit provided by allowing Members to trade on an
efficient and well-regulated market. The proposed Trading Rights Fee
will fund a portion of the cost of regulating and maintaining the
Exchange's equities market. Lastly, the Exchange believes the cost of
Exchange Membership, including the proposed Trading Rights Fees, is
significantly lower than the cost of membership in a number of other
SROs.\4\
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    \4\ See NASDAQ Stock Market Equity Rules, Equity 7, Sec. 10(a)
(assessing a trading rights fee of $1,250 per month per each
member); New York Stock Exchange Price List 2019, ``Trading
Licenses'' (assessing an annual fee $50,000 for the first trading
license held by a member, to which the Exchange notes that the
Exchange assesses a $2,500 annual fee for membership, and that this
annual fee coupled with 12 months of the proposed Trading Rights
Fees remains substantially lower than NYSE's annual trading license
fee).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular,
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\5\ Specifically, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section
6(b)(4) of the Act,\6\ which requires that Exchange rules provide for
the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges
among its Members and other persons using its facilities.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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    In particular, the Exchange believes that the proposed Trading
Right Fee is reasonable because the fee will assist in funding the
overall regulation and maintenance of the Exchange. Additionally, the
Exchange believes the fee is reasonable because the cost of this
membership fee is generally less than the analogous membership fees of
other markets. For example, the Exchange's proposed Trading Rights Fee
at $500 a month is substantially lower than the NASDAQ Stock Market's
(``Nasdaq'') analogous fee, which assesses a monthly Trading Rights Fee
of $1,250 per member.
    In addition to this, the Exchange believes that not charging a
Trading Rights Fee for Members that trade less

than a monthly ADV of 100,000 shares is reasonable because it ensures
that smaller Members who do not trade significant volume on EDGX
Equities can continue to trade on the Exchange at a lower cost. The
Exchange believes that not charging a fee for such Members is
reasonable because smaller Members with lower volumes executed on the
Exchange consume fewer regulatory resources. The Exchange also believes
that not charging a Trading Rights Fee for Members that submit 90% or
more of their orders per month as retail orders is reasonable because
it ensures retail broker Members can continue to submit orders for
individual investors at a lower cost, thereby continuing to encourage
retail investor participation on the Exchange. Furthermore, continuing
to allow smaller Members and retail broker Members to trade on the
Exchange without incurring a Trading Rights Fee may encourage
additional participation from such Members and thereby contribute to a
more diverse and competitive market for equity securities traded on the
Exchange.
    Additionally, the Exchange believes that not charging its new
Members the proposed Trading Rights Fee for their first three months of
Membership is reasonable because it provides an incentive for firms and
other participants that are not currently Members of the Exchange to
apply for Membership and bring additional liquidity to the market to
the benefit of all market participants. The Exchange believes that not
charging a Trading Rights Fee for new Members will incentivize firms to
become Members of the Exchange. The Exchange believes creating
incentives for new Exchange Members protects investors and the public
interest by increasing the competition and liquidity across the
Exchange.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed Trading Rights Fee is
equitable and is not unfairly discriminatory because it will apply
equally to all Members with an ADV of 100,000 shares or more traded per
month and all Members in which less than 90% of their orders are
submitted as retail orders per month.\7\ The Exchange believes that not
charging the Trading Rights Fee for Members that do not meet these
thresholds in a month is not unfairly discriminatory as it is designed
to reduce the costs of smaller Members and retail-based Members that
transact on the Exchange. Furthermore, the Exchange believes that not
charging a Trading Rights Fee for a new Member for the first three
months of Membership is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory
because the proposed waiver will be offered to all market participants
that wish to become Members of the Exchange. As stated, the proposed
waiver intends to incentivize new Membership which will bring increased
liquidity and competition to the benefit of all market participants. In
addition to this, the Exchange notes that the proposed fee is equitable
and not unfairly discriminatory because it will contribute revenue to a
portion of the costs incurred by the Exchange in providing its Members
with an efficient and well-regulated market, which benefits all
Members.
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    \7\ A Member will not be charged if it meets either one (or
both) of the exceptions. To illustrate, if a Member submits 5% of
its orders as retail orders but only has an ADV of 90,000 shares
traded, that Member will not be charged the proposed Trading Rights
Fee.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange does not
believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on
intramarket competition that is not necessary in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act because the proposed rule change will apply equally
to all Members that reach an ADV of 100,000 shares traded or greater,
and those that submit less than 90% of their orders as retail orders
per month. Although smaller Members would be excluded from the Trading
Rights Fee, the Exchange believes that this may increase competition by
encouraging additional order flow from such smaller Members thereby
contributing to a more diverse, vibrant, and competitive market.
Additionally, while the proposed three month waiver of the Trading
Rights Fee only applies to new Members, new Members can be an important
source of liquidity and facilitate competition within the market, which
uniformly benefits all market participants.
    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the
Exchange operates in a highly competitive environment in which market
participants can readily favor competing exchanges and marketplaces if
they deem fee levels at a particular exchange or other venue to be
excessive. If the proposed fee increase is unattractive to members, it
is likely that the Exchange will lose membership and market share as a
result. As a result, the Exchange carefully considers any increases to
its fees, balancing the utility in remaining competitive with other
exchanges and with alternative trading systems exempted from compliance
with the statutory standards applicable to exchanges, and in covering
costs associated with maintaining its equities market and its
regulatory programs to ensure that the Exchange remains an efficient
and well-regulated marketplace. The Exchange notes that competitors are
free to modify their own fees in response to its proposal, and because
Members are not compelled to be Members of the Exchange and may trade
on numerous other exchanges and other alternative venues, the Exchange
believes that the proposed fee change will not impose a burden on
intermarket competition.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \8\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4\9\
thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed
rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission will institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or
disapproved.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or

     Send an email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please include
File Number SR-CboeEDGX-2019-029 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CboeEDGX-2019-029. This
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml).
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying
information from comment submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR-CboeEDGX-2019-029 and should be
submitted on or before June 6, 2019.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-10117 Filed 5-15-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


MEMORANDUM From: BART Project Team, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards To: Docket for BART Guidelines, OAR 2002 0076 Subject: Fine Particles: Overview of Atmospheric Chemistry, Sources of Emissions, and Ambient Monitoring Data Date: April 1, 2005 A. Introduction Particulate matter is a chemically and physically diverse mixture of discrete solid particles and liquid droplets. It exists in the air in a range of particle sizes, from submicrometer to more than 30 micrometers in size. The composition of particles varies throughout this range of sizes, depending on the age of the particle, the nature of the source of pollutant emissions, and the source's operating characteristics. This regulation focuses on reducing ambient concentrations of the PM2.5 size fraction of PM. The term PM2.5 is used to describe the fraction of particles whose nominal aerodynamic diameter is less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers. PM2.5 in the ambient air is defined operationally as the set of particles measured ( and associated concentration) by the Federal Reference Method sampling device. Since the cut point of this sampling device is not perfectly sharp, some particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers are not retained and some particles larger than 2.5 micrometers are captured by sampling devices. This is important because there are two relevant modes to the PM size distribution, fine PM ( nominally PM2.5) and coarse PM ( nominally from 2.5 to 10 micrometers aerodynamic diameter). These modes overlap slightly, but they are generally associated with distinctly different source types and formation processes. Fine particles emitted directly into the air in a stable solid or liquid chemical form are referred to as " primary" particles. Particles formed near their source by condensation processes in the atmosphere are also considered to be primary particles. PM2.5 that is formed by chemical reactions of gases in the atmosphere is considered to be " secondarily" formed particulate matter. PM2.5 in the atmosphere is composed of a complex mixture of constituents: sulfate; nitrate; ammonium; particle bound water; black carbon ( also known as elemental carbon); a great variety of organic compounds; and miscellaneous inorganic material ( sometimes called " crustal material," which includes geogenic dust and metals). Atmospheric PM2.5 also contains a large number of elements in various compounds and concentrations. Some organic materials such as pollen, spores, and plant detritus are also found in both the fine and coarse particle modes but from different sources or mechanisms. Crustal materials such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, magnesium, and iron are found predominately in coarse mode particles. Nitrate is generally found in the fine particle mode, but it is also found in the coarse mode particles, coming primarily from the reaction of gasphase nitric acid with preexisting coarse particles. Primary coarse particles are usually formed by mechanical processes. This includes material emitted from such sources as wind blown dust, road dust, and particles formed by abrasion, crushing, and grinding. Some combustion generated particles such as fly ash and soot also are found in the coarse mode. Primary PM2.5 includes soot from diesel engines, a wide variety of organic compounds condensed from incomplete combustion or cooking operations, and compounds such as arsenic, selenium, and zinc that condense from vapor formed during combustion or smelting. The concentration of primary PM2.5 in the air depends on source emission rates, transport and dispersion, and removal rate from the atmosphere. Secondary PM is formed by chemical reactions of gas phase precursors in the atmosphere. These reactions form condensable vapors that either form new particles or condense onto other particles in the air. Most of the sulfate and nitrate and a portion of the organic compounds in the atmosphere are formed by such chemical reactions. Secondary PM formation depends on numerous factors including the concentrations of precursors; the concentrations of other gaseous reactive species such as ozone, hydroxyl radicals, peroxy radicals, or hydrogen peroxide; atmospheric conditions including solar radiation, temperature, and relative humidity ( RH); and the interactions of precursors and pre existing particles with cloud or fog droplets or in the liquid film on solid particles. Several atmospheric aerosol species, such as ammonium nitrate and certain organic compounds, are semivolatile and are found in both gas and particle phases. Given the complexity of PM formation processes, new information from the scientific community continues to emerge to improve our understanding of the relationship between sources of PM precursors and secondary particle formation. Certain particles, such as sulfates, nitrates, and certain organics, readily take up water and are considered to be hygroscopic. As a result of the equilibrium of water vapor with liquid water in hygroscopic particles, many ambient particles contain some amount of liquid water. When filter samples are weighed at lower relative humidity levels according to the PM2.5 Federal reference method specifications, the filters are desiccated and much of this water is removed, but some particlebound water will be measured as a component of the particle mass. Particle bound water in the ambient air increases with higher relative humidities. This phenomenon is important because it affects the size of certain particles, and in turn, their 1 US EPA ( 1996). Air Quality Criteria Document for Particulate Matter  Volumes I, II and III, EPA/ 600/ P 95001aF, EPA/ 600/ P 95/ 001bF, and EPA/ 600/ P 95/ 001cF. Also: USEPA, 2003. Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter ( Fourth External Review Draft). EPA/ 600/ P 99/ 002aD and bD. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center For Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Office, Research Triangle Park, NC. June 2003. Available electronically at http:// cfpub. epa. gov/ ncea/ cfm/ partmatt. cfm. properties of light scattering and aerodynamics. Differences in relative humidity can result in different measured particle size distributions, mass concentrations, and resulting visibility impairment levels. Regional emission reduction strategies to reduce PM2.5, particularly hygroscopic particles such as sulfates and nitrates, should also provide significant visibility improvements, both in urban areas and in federal class I areas ( national parks and wilderness areas). The following discussion elaborates on the relationship between source types and the composition of PM2.5. More information and references on the composition of PM may be found in the EPA 1996 PM Air Quality Criteria Document and draft updates we released during the past year. 1 B. Concentration, composition and sources of fine PM The relative contribution of PM2.5 components varies significantly by region of the country. Data on PM2.5 composition primarily in urban areas is available from the EPA Speciation TABLE 2. PM2.5 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION DATA, SEPTEMBER 2001  AUGUST 2002 URBAN SITES RURAL SITES T o tal T o tal R EGION Es t ima ted C a rbo n C rus ta l UR B A N Es t ima ted C a rbo n C rus t a l R UR A L (# s ite s ) M e t ric Sul fa te Ammo nium N it rate M ass M a t e ria l T O T A L Sulf a t e Ammo nium N it rate M as s M a te rial T O T A L Southeas t Mass 4.0 1.7 0.7 5.1 0.6 12.1 3.2 1.4 0.4 2.8 0.5 8.3 ( 8 urban/ 11 rural) % 33% 14% 6% 42% 5% 100% 39% 17% 5% 34% 6% 100%

Midw est Mass 4.1 2.1 2.6 5.2 0.7 14.7 4.2 1.8 1.1 2.8 0.7 10.6 ( 8 urban/ 7 rural) % 28% 14% 18% 35% 5% 100% 40% 17% 10% 26% 7% 100%

Eas t Coas t Mass 4.5 2.3 2.0 6.2 0.6 15.6 4.1 1.6 0.7 3.1 0.5 10.0 ( 10 urban/ 8 rural) % 29% 15% 13% 40% 4% 100% 41% 16% 7% 31% 5% 100%

California Mass 1.9 2.7 7.0 9.5 1.0 22.1 0.8 0.4 0.4 2.1 0.6 4.3 ( 5 urban, 14 rural) % 9% 12% 32% 43% 5% 100% 19% 9% 9% 49% 14% 100%

Desert West Mass 1.3 0.8 1.0 6.1 1.5 10.7 0.7 0.3 0.2 1.2 1.3 3.7 ( 5 urban/ 29 rural) % 12% 7% 9% 57% 14% 100% 19% 8% 5% 32% 35% 100%

Nor thw e s t Mass 1.2 0.7 0.8 4.4 0.4 7.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.7 0.4 3.0 ( 2 urban/ 17 rural) % 16% 9% 11% 59% 5% 100% 13% 10% 7% 57% 13% 100%

East Texas / South Mass 3.3 1.6 1.1 4.2 0.9 11.1 3.0 1.4 0.8 2.4 0.8 8.4 ( 3 urban/ 3 rural) % 30% 14% 10% 38% 8% 100% 36% 17% 10% 29% 10% 100%

Far North Eas t Mass 2.7 1.3 1.1 4.3 0.4 9.8 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.3 0.3 6.0 ( 2 urban/ 11 rural) % 28% 13% 11% 44% 4% 100% 35% 15% 7% 38% 5% 100%

Nor th Plains Mass 1.8 1.2 1.9 3.0 0.6 8.5 0.7 0.4 0.2 1.5 0.5 3.3 ( 2 urban/ 17 rural) % 21% 14% 22% 35% 7% 100% 21% 12% 6% 45% 15% 100%

Source: EPA Spe ciation Trends Netw ork, IM PROVE visibility m onitor ing ne tw ork Note s :

1. A ll units are in micrograms/ cubic meter. A ll mass numbers represent median annual average values for the time period September 2001 Au 2. A ll sites included in analyses had complete data for this time period as def ined by 50% or more observations per quarter for all major chem 3. A ll Ammonium concentrations are estimated f rom a ` f ully neutralized' assumption of ammonium sulf ate and ammonium nitrate.

4. The regions are def ined as f ollow s:

South East: A L, SC, NC, LA, MS, TN, FL, GA Mid West: IL, IN, Eastern IA, Southern MI, South Eastern WI, MO, OH, KY East Coast/ North East: DC, MD, NJ, NY, Nor thern VA, PA, Northern WV CA: All of CA Desert West: Eastern AZ, CO, NV, UT, Western TX, NM North West: WA, OR, ID East Texas, South: Dallas, Houston, AK, Southern OK Far North East: ME, V T, NH, Upstate NY North Plains: MN, Dakotas, Upper MI, MT, WY Trends Network beginning in 2001. PM2.5 composition data for primarily rural areas ( e. g. national parks and wilderness areas) is available from the IMPROVE visibility monitoring network beginning in 1988. Speciation data from September 2001 to August 2002 are summarized for urban and rural areas in nine regions in table 2. This discussion focuses on the eastern U. S. and California since most nonattainment areas will be located in those regions. In general, urban areas have higher annual average PM2.5 concentrations than nearby rural areas. In the eastern U. S. urban areas, ammonium sulfate and total carbon ( comprised of black carbon and organic carbon) are the dominant species, each accounting for 30 40 percent of total reconstructed mass in most locations. ( Reconstructed mass is the PM mass calculated by adding together the mass from each of the main components of PM 2 V. Rao, N. Frank, A. Rush, F. Dimmick, " Chemical Speciation of PM2.5 in Urban and Rural Areas," In the Proceedings of the Air & Waste Management Association Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology, San Francisco, November 13 15, 2002. as obtained from chemical composition monitoring.) Nitrate plus associated ammonium ion is a more significant component of PM mass in northern regions, such as the midwest and east coast, but is a less significant fraction in the southeast. In California, the main species contributing to urban PM2.5 mass are ammonium nitrate ( 35 40 percent) and total carbon ( 43 percent), while sulfate and associated ammonium accounts for approximately 10 15 percent. Table 3 compares chemical composition data for 13 pairs of urban and nearby non urban sites in order to identify the primary components that make up the " urban increment." To conduct this analysis, for each species the PM2.5 mass in the rural location is subtracted from the species mass for the urban location. The amount by which the urban site exceeds the nearby rural site is the " urban increment." 2 Chemical Species West ( 3 site pairs) East ( 10 site pairs)

Min Max Avg Min Max Avg Sulfate 0.2 0.7 0.5  0.5 1.1 0.3 Est. Ammonium 0.2 2.2 1.2 0.1 0.8 0.4 Nitrate 0.6 6.9 3.7 0.4 1.4 0.8 Total Carbon 4.8 9.8 6.6 2.1 5.3 3.1 Crustal 0.1 0.6 0.4  0.1 0.8 0.3 TOTAL EXCESS 5.8 20.1 12.4 2.0 9.4 4.8 Table 3. Urban Increment Analysis for 13 urban/ rural pairs. Carbonaceous mass is the largest contributor to urban increments in all regions of the country. In east coast and midwestern urban areas, carbon can account for as much as 70 90 percent of the total urban increment. The highest local increment of carbon as calculated from available data appears to be about 10 µ g/ m3 in Fresno, CA. Nonroad diesel, onroad diesel, gasoline highway vehicles, and fire related activities are regarded to be important major contributors to this urban excess of carbon. The relative amounts of primary versus secondary 3 USEPA, National Air Pollutant Emissions Trends, Report Number EPA 454/ R 00 002, Research Triangle Park, NC, March 2000. organic compounds in the ambient air vary with location and time of year. While it is difficult to generalize, it is clear that both primary and secondary organic compounds are significant contributors to ambient PM2.5 mass in many parts of the country. The urban increment for sulfate, on the other hand, appears to be fairly low in most locations. Rural and urban sulfate levels are often very similar, indicating that sulfate is a regional pollutant that can be transported long distances. This is consistent with the fact that power plants are the principal sources of SO2, the precursor to sulfate, and in general, these plants are located outside urban core areas. In some eastern cities, the small estimated urban excess ( up to 0.5 µ g/ m3) may be attributed to a range of source types, including power plants located within the metro area, the combustion of sulfur laden fuel oil used for commercial or institutional heating, and fuel combustion by diesel and gasoline motor vehicles. Excess nitrate concentrations are observed predominantly in northern, midwestern, and western locations, comprising a larger local contribution than sulfate or crustal material. Nitrate is particularly high in the winter time partly because it is less volatile at colder temperatures and partly because SO2 is less prone to react preferentially with ammonium in the winter as opposed to the summer. Local sources of NOx leading to excess urban nitrate likely include mobile sources and other types of fuel combustion. Some locations also show a small urban excess of crustal material ( e. g. inorganic material including metals, dust, sea salt, and other trace elements). The estimation procedure used in the IMPROVE protocol includes the measurement of iron and other trace elements. Therefore, this difference also reflects oxidized particulate metals, some of which may be attributed to road dust or industrial sources in urban areas. We have developed a National Emissions Inventory ( NEI) inventory for use in analyzing trends in emissions, conducting various regulatory analyses for PM, and for use in regional scale modeling. 3 The NEI covers all 50 States plus some of the U. S. territories, and includes point, area, onroad and nonroad mobile sources, biogenic, and geogenic emissions. Large stationary sources are located individually in the inventory while county tallies are used for smaller stationary sources, and area and mobile source category groups. Spatial, temporal and compositional profiles are used to allocate these emissions to time resolved grids for chemical transport modeling. The inventory includes emissions of SO2, NOx, VOC, NH3, PM10, and PM2.5. A brief discussion of each particle type, their principal sources ( based on the NEI), formation mechanisms, and spatial and temporal patterns follows. Primary PM ( Crustal and Carbonaceous). This section addresses inorganic and organic forms of primary PM. The main anthropogenic sources of inorganic ( or crustal) particles are: entrainment by vehicular traffic on unpaved or paved roads; mechanical disturbance of soil by highway, commercial, and residential construction; and agricultural field operations ( tilling, planting and harvesting). However, much of these emissions are coarse PM rather than fine PM. Industrial processes such as quarries, minerals processing, and agricultural crop processing can also emit crustal materials, but their influence is most important close to the source and they are not generally significant contributors to regional scale PM problems. Even so, during certain high wind events, fine crustal PM has been shown to be transported over very long distances. Satellite data and other studies have shown that dust has been transported into the US as a result of Asian or African dust storms. Emission estimates of mechanically suspended crustal PM from sources within the US are often quite high. However, this PM is often released very close to the ground, and with the exception of windblown dust events, thermal or turbulent forces sufficient to lift and transport them very far from their source are not usually present. Thus, as shown in table 1, crustal material is only a minor part of PM2.5 annual average concentrations. Primary carbonaceous particles are largely the result of incomplete combustion of fossil or biomass fuels. This incomplete combustion usually results in emissions of both black carbon and organic carbon particles. High molecular weight organic molecules ( i. e., molecules with 25 or more carbon atoms) are either emitted as solid or liquid particles, or as gases that rapidly condense into particle form. These heavy organic molecules sometimes are referred to as volatile organic compounds, but because their characteristics are most like direct PM emissions, they will be considered to be primary emissions for the purposes of this regulation. Primary organic carbon also can be formed by condensation of semi volatile compounds on the surface of other particles. The main combustion sources emitting carbonaceous PM2.5 are mobile sources ( both onroad and nonroad), managed burning, wildland fires, open burning of waste, residential wood combustion, certain industrial processes, and coal and oilburning boilers ( utility, commercial and industrial). Certain organic particles also come from natural sources such as decomposition or crushing of plant detritus. Most combustion processes emit more organic particles than black carbon particles. A notable exception to this are diesel engines, which typically emit more black carbon particles than organic carbon, although newer engines tend to emit an increasing fraction of organic carbon. Because photochemistry is typically reduced in 4USEPA, 2003. Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter ( Fourth External Review Draft). EPA/ 600/ P 99/ 002aD and bD. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center For Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Office, Research Triangle Park, NC. June 2003. Available electronically at http:// cfpub. epa. gov/ ncea/ cfm/ partmatt. cfm.

5 North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone and Particulate Matter, Particulate Matter Science for Policy Makers   A NARSTO Assessment, Parts 1 and 2. NARSTO Management Office ( Envair), Pasco, Washington. February 2003. http:// www. cgenv. com/ NARSTO/ the cooler winter months for much of the country, studies indicate that the carbon fraction of PM mass in the winter months is likely dominated by direct PM emissions as opposed to secondarily formed organic aerosol. Particles from the earth's crust may contain a combination of metallic oxides and biogenic derived organic matter. The combustion of surface debris will likely entrain some soil. Additionally, emissions from many processes and from the combustion of fossil fuels contain elements that are chemically similar to soil. Thus, a portion of the emissions from combustion activities may be classified as crustal in a compositional analysis of ambient PM2.5. Secondary PM. Although some sulfate and nitrate salts ( i. e. calcium sulfate, calcium nitrate) and acids ( i. e. sulfuric acid, nitric acid) are directly emitted by sources under certain circumstances, sulfates and nitrates are predominately formed as a result of chemical reactions with ammonia and other compounds in the atmosphere. ( See next sections for more detail.) During combustion, very small combustion nucleation particles ( ultrafine particles, less than 0.1 µ m) are produced. These small particles act as nucleation sites where gases, water vapor, and other nucleation particles can condense or coagulate and therefore cause particle growth in both particle size and particle mass. Ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and secondarily formed organic aerosols, as well as agglomerating fine particles, all may use these ultrafine particles in their formation and growth in the atmosphere. The secondary organic aerosol ( SOA) component of PM2.5 is a complex mixture of perhaps thousands of organic compounds. A brief discussion of the sources of SO2, NOx, NH3, and organic gases ( including VOC and semi volatile compounds), and the formation of sulfate, nitrate and secondary organic aerosol follows. More detailed discussions of the formation and characteristics of secondary particles can be found in the US EPA Criteria Document, 4 and in the NARSTO Fine Particle Assessment, 5 on which much of the following discussion is based. 6 Sievering, H., Boatman, J., Gorman, E., Kim, Y., Anderson, L., Ennis, G., Luria, M., Pandis, S. N., 1992. Removal of sulfur from the marine boundary layer by ozone oxidation in sea salt. Nature 360, 571 573.

7 McHenry, J. N., Dennis, R. L., 1994. The relative importance of oxidation pathways and clouds to atmospheric ambient sulfate production as predicted by the Regional Acid Deposition Model. Journal of Applied Meteorology 33, 890 905. Also: Langner, J., Rodhe, H., 1991. A global three dimensional model for the tropospheric sulfur cycle. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 13, 225 263. Sulfate. SO2 is emitted mostly from the combustion of fossil fuels in boilers operated by electric utilities and other industry. Less than 20 percent of SO2 emissions nationwide are from other sources, mainly from other industrial processes including oil refining and pulp and paper production. The formation of sulfuric acid from the oxidation of SO2 is an important process for most areas in North America. There are three different pathways for this transformation. First, gaseous SO2 can be oxidized by the hydroxyl radical ( OH) to create sulfuric acid. This gaseous SO2 oxidation reaction occurs slowly and only in the daytime. The hydroxl radical is an important product of the atmospheric chemistry process that forms ozone through the oxidation of NOx to form nitric acid. It is also involved in the formation of secondary organics. Second, SO2 can dissolve in cloud water ( or fog or rain water), and there it can be oxidized to sulfuric acid by a variety of oxidants, or through catalysis by transition metals such as manganese or iron. If ammonia is present and taken up by the water droplet, then ammonium sulfate will form as a precipitant in the water droplet. After the cloud changes and the droplet evaporates, the sulfuric acid or ammonium sulfate remains in the atmosphere as a particle. This aqueous phase production process involving oxidants can be very fast; in some cases all the available SO2 can be oxidized in less than an hour. Third, SO2 can be oxidized in reactions in the particlebound water in the aerosol particles themselves. This process takes place continuously, but only produces appreciable sulfate in alkaline ( dust, sea salt) coarse particles. 6 Oxidation of SO2 has been also observed on the surfaces of black carbon and metal oxide particles. During the last twenty years, much progress has been made in understanding the first two major pathways, but some important questions still remain about the smaller third pathway. Models indicate that more than half of the sulfuric acid in the eastern United States and in the overall atmosphere is produced in clouds. 7 8 Wayne, R. P., 1991. The nitrate radical: physics, chemistry and the atmosphere. Atmospheric Environment 25A, 1 203.

9 Seinfeld, J. H., Pandis, S. N., 1998. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change. J. Wiley, New York. The sulfuric acid formed from the above pathways reacts readily with ammonia to form ammonium sulfate, ( NH4) 2SO4. If there is not enough ammonia present to fully neutralize the produced sulfuric acid ( one molecule of sulfuric acid requires two molecules of ammonia), part of it exists as ammonium bisulfate, NH4HSO4 ( one molecule of sulfuric acid and one molecule of ammonia) and the particles are more acidic than ammonium sulfate. In extreme cases ( in the absence of sufficient ammonia for neutralization), sulfate can exist in particles as sulfuric acid, H2SO4. Sulfuric acid often exists in the plumes of stacks where SO2, SO3, and water vapor are in much higher concentrations than in the ambient atmosphere, but these concentrations become quite small as the plume is cooled and diluted by mixing. Nitrate. The main sources of NOx are combustion of fossil fuel in boilers and onroad mobile sources. Together they account for almost 80 percent of NOx emissions, with stationary and mobile source fuel combustion each accounting for about half of these emissions. Nitrates are formed from the oxidation of oxides of nitrogen into nitric acid either during the daytime ( reaction with OH) or during the night ( reactions with ozone and water). 8 Nitric acid continuously transfers between the gas and the condensed phases through condensation and evaporation processes in the atmosphere. However, unless it reacts with other species ( such as ammonia, sea salt, or dust) to form a neutralized salt, it will volatize and not be measured using standard PM2.5 measurement techniques. 9 The formation of aerosol ammonium nitrate is favored by the availability of ammonia, low temperatures, and high relative humidity. Because ammonium nitrate is not stable in higher temperatures, nitrate levels are typically lower in the summer months and higher in the winter months. The resulting ammonium nitrate is usually in the sub micrometer particle size range. Reactions with sea salt and dust lead to the formation of nitrates in coarse particles. Nitric acid may be dissolved in ambient aerosol particles. Secondary Organic Aerosol ( SOA). The organic component of ambient particles is a complex mixture of hundreds or even thousands of organic compounds. These organic compounds are either emitted directly from sources ( i. e. primary organic aerosol) or can be formed by reactions in the ambient air ( i. e. 10 As discussed earlier, high molecular weight organic molecules ( i. e., molecules with 25 or more carbon atoms) are either emitted directly as particles or as liquids that rapidly condense onto existing particles. Because these condensable emissions act primarily as direct PM emissions, they are to be regulated as direct PM2.5 emissions, not as VOC precursors, for the purposes of this regulation.

11 Jang, M.; Czoschke, N.; Lee, S; Kamens, R. Heterogenous Atmospheric Aerosol Production by Acid Catalyzed Particle Phase Reactions, Science, vol. 298, p. 814 817, October 25, 2002. secondary organic aerosol, or SOA). Volatile organic compounds10 are key precursors in both the SOA and ozone formation processes. The lightest organic molecules ( i. e., molecules with six or fewer carbon atoms) occur in the atmosphere mainly as vapors and typically do not directly form organic particles at ambient temperatures due to the high vapor pressure of their products. However, they participate in atmospheric chemistry processes resulting in the formation of ozone and certain free radical compounds ( such as the hydroxyl radical [ OH]) which in turn participate in the oxidation of semivolatile organic compounds to form secondary organic aerosols, sulfates and nitrates. These VOCs include all alkanes with up to six carbon atoms ( from methane to hexane isomers), all alkenes with up to six carbon atoms ( from ethene to hexene isomers), benzene and many low molecular weight carbonyls, chlorinated compounds, and oxygenated solvents. The relative importance of organic compounds in the formation of organic particles varies from area to area, depending upon local emissions sources, atmospheric chemistry, and season of the year. Intermediate weight organic molecules ( i. e., compounds with 7 to 24 carbon atoms) often exhibit a range of volatilities and can exist in both the gas and aerosol phase. For this reason they are also referred to as semivolatile compounds. Semivolatile compounds react in the atmosphere to form secondary organic aerosols. These chemical reactions are accelerated in warmer temperatures, and studies show that SOA typically comprises a higher percentage of carbonaceous PM in the summer as opposed to the winter. The production of SOA from the atmospheric oxidation of a specific VOC depends on four factors: its atmospheric abundance, its chemical reactivity, the availability of oxidants ( O3, OH, HNO3), and the volatility of its products. In addition, recent work by Jang and others suggests that the presence of acidic aerosols may lead to an increased rate of SOA formation. 11 Aromatic compounds such as toluene, xylene, and trimethyl benzene are considered to be the most significant anthropogenic SOA precursors and have been estimated to be responsible for 50 12 Grosjean, D., Seinfeld, J. H., 1989. Parameterization of the formation potential of secondary organic aerosols. Atmospheric Environment 23, 1733 1747.

13 Odum, J. R., Jungkamp, T. P. W., Griffin, R. J., Flagan, R. C., Seinfeld, J. H., 1997. The atmospheric aerosol forming potential of whole gasoline vapor. Science 276, 97 99. to 70 percent of total SOA in some airsheds. 12 As organic gases such as aromatics are oxidized in the gas phase by species such as the hydroxyl radical ( OH), ozone ( O3), and the nitrate radical ( NO3) their oxidation products accumulate. Some of these products have low volatility and condense on available particles in an effort to establish equilibrium between the gas and condensed phases. Man made sources of aromatics gases are mobile sources, petrochemical manufacturing and solvents. The experimental work of Odum and others13 showed that the secondary organic aerosol formation potential of gasoline could be accounted for solely in terms of its aromatic fraction. Some of the biogenic hydrocarbons emitted by trees are also considered to be important precursors of secondary organic particulate matter. Terpenes (   and   pinene, limonene, carene, etc.) and the sesquiterpenes are expected to be major contributors to SOA in areas with significant vegetation cover, but isoprene is not. Terpenes are very prevalent in forested areas, especially in the southeastern U. S. The rest of the anthropogenic hydrocarbons ( higher alkanes, paraffins, etc.) have been estimated to contribute 5 20 percent to the SOA concentration depending on the area.

SOA Forming Organic Gases Non SOA Forming Organic Gases Anthropogenic  Aromatics ( esp. toluene, xylenes, trimethyl benzenes)  Higher alkanes (> 6 C atoms)  Lower alkanes < 6 C atoms,( ethane to hexane isomers)  Benzene  Lower MW carbonyls, chlorinated compounds & oxygenated solvents Biogenic  Terpenes ( esp.   and   pinene, limonene, carene)  Sesquiterpenes  Isoprene Table 4. Role of Organic Gases in Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation.

The contribution of the primary and secondary components of organic aerosol to the measured organic aerosol concentrations 14 Hildemann, L. M., Cass, G. R., Mazurek, M. A., Simoneit, B. R. T., 1993. Mathematical modeling of urban organic aerosol properties measured by high resolution gaschromatography Environmental Science and Technology 27, 2045 2055.

15 Turpin, B. J., Lim, H. J., 2000. Species contributions to PM mass concentrations: Revisiting common assumptions for estimating organic mass, Aerosol Science and Technology, vol. 35, no. 1, p. 602 610.

16 Anderson, N., R. Strader, and C. Davidson ( 2003) Airborne reduced nitrogen: ammonia emissions from agriculture and other sources, Environment International, remains a controversial issue. Most of the research performed to date has been done in southern California, and more recently in central California, while fewer studies have been completed on other parts of North America. Early studies suggested that the majority of the observed organic particulate matter was secondary in nature. Later investigators focusing on the emissions of primary organic material proposed that 80 percent or so of the organic aerosol in Southern California on a monthly basis resulted from direct organic particle emissions. 14 More recent studies suggest that the primary and secondary contributions are highly variable even during the same day. Studies of pollution episodes indicated that the contribution of SOA to the organic particulate matter varied from 20 percent to 80 percent during the same day. 15 Despite significant progress that has been made in understanding the origins and properties of SOA, it remains the least understood component of PM2.5. The reactions forming secondary organics are complex and the number of intermediate and final compounds formed is voluminous. Some of the best efforts to unravel the chemical composition of ambient organic aerosol matter have been able to quantify the concentrations of hundreds of organic compounds representing only 10 20 percent of the total organic aerosol mass. For this reason, SOA continues to be a significant topic of research and investigation.

C. The role of ammonia in sulfate, nitrate & secondary organic aerosol formation Ammonia ( NH3) is a gaseous pollutant that is emitted by natural and anthropogenic sources. Emissions inventories for ammonia are considered to be among the most uncertain of any species related to PM. One recent estimate shows, however, that livestock ( 73 percent) and fertilizer application ( 17 percent) are the two primary sources of emissions. 16 ( Note that these 29: 277 286.

17 Seinfeld, J. H., Pandis, S. N., 1998. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change. J. Wiley, New York.

18 NARSTO, 2003. Particulate Matter Science for Policy Makers A NARSTO Assessment. Parts 1 and 2. NARSTO Management Office ( Envair), Pasco, Washington. http:// www. cgenv. com/ NARSTO.

19 Ibid, at S 31 ( table S. 4). estimates do not include natural emissions from soil, which can be significant.) Ammonia serves an important role in neutralizing acids in clouds, precipitation and particles. In particular, ammonia neutralizes sulfuric acid and nitric acid, the two key contributors to acid deposition ( acid rain). Deposited ammonia also can be an important nutrient, contributing to problems of eutrophication in water bodies. 17 Ammonia would not exist in particles, if not for the presence of acidic species with which it can combine to form a particle. In the eastern US, sulfate, nitrate, and the ammonium associated with them can together account for between roughly 30 percent and 75 percent of the PM2.5 mass. The ammonium itself roughly accounts for between 5 percent and 20 percent of the PM2.5.18 The NARSTO Fine Particle Assessment indicates that sulfates form preferentially over nitrates and that particle nitrate formation is affected by a number of factors, including the availability of sulfates, NOx, ammonia, nitric acid and VOCs. The report also notes that implementing decreasing ammonia emissions where sulfate concentrations are high can reduce PM2.5 mass concentrations, but may also increase particle and precipitation acidity. 19 As noted above, this acidification of particles may result in an increase in the formation of secondary organic compounds. Moreover, the relationship between ammonia and sulfate nitrate equilibrium may also impact SOA formation, although this link is not well understood. Recent studies of ammonia sources and possible emission reduction measures indicate that ammonia controls are a maturing science, but that ongoing research will greatly improve our understanding of such control measures. The same can be said of our understanding of the role of ammonia in aerosol formation. Based on the above information and further insights gained from the NARSTO Fine Particle Assessment, it is apparent that the formation of sulfate, nitrate & SOA compounds is a complex, nonlinear process. The control techniques for ammonia and the analytical tools to quantify the impact of reducing ammonia emissions on atmospheric aerosol formation are both evolving sciences. Also, there are indications that there may be considerable ambiguity concerning the results of reducing ammonia emissions and in some cases, there may be undesired consequences of ammonia reductions. Therefore, based on our current understanding of ammonia's role in these complex precursor interactions and emission reduction processes, it seems prudent to continue research on ammonia control technologies and the ammonia  sulfate  nitrate  SOA equilibrium before one undertakes broad national programs to reduce ammonia emissions. However, as States and EPA develop a greater understanding over the coming years about the potential air quality effects of reducing ammonia emissions in specific nonattainment areas, it may be appropriate for ammonia reduction strategies to be included in future SIPs. At this time, however, we believe that reducing SO2 and NOx will allow us to move with greater certainty toward achieving our nation's air quality goals. We encourage you to provide comments on the resolution of this issue. D. Regional patterns of carbon, sulfate and nitrate, and indications of transport Table 2 above shows that much of the eastern US, both urban and non urban areas alike, is subject to high PM2.5 concentrations, with the highest concentrations occurring in urban areas. Table 3 above compares the urban and rural concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, and carbon particles. The data show that there are high concentrations of sulfate across the region and that sulfate at urban monitoring sites is only slightly higher than at nearby non urban sites. In contrast, the carbon mass at urban sites is significantly higher than at the nearby non urban sites. This seems to indicate that sulfate is present on a much more regional scale and likely is associated with significant pollutant transport. On the other hand, a sizeable fraction of the carbonaceous mass seems to be more associated with urban sources. Mobile sources are much more concentrated in urban areas and may explain much of the elevated urban carbon concentrations. However, black carbon and organic aerosols still make up a large percentage of the non urban air quality composition, indicating that there is a regional background level of carbon that is enhanced in urban areas by local sources. The atmospheric lifetimes of particles and thus the distances they can be transported vary with particle size. The regional nature of PM2.5 reflects the fact that fine particles can be transported over long distances. Ultra fine and fine particles rapidly grow in size into a relatively stable size range, generally less than 2 µ m. These fine particles are kept suspended by normal air motions and have very low deposition rates to surfaces. They can be transported thousands of kilometers and remain in the atmosphere for a number of days. Thus, they are important when considering regional PM transport. Coarse particles can settle rapidly from the atmosphere within hours and normally travel only short distances. However, when mixed high into the atmosphere, as in some dust storms, the smaller sized coarse mode particles may have longer lives and travel greater distances. Meteorology also plays a role in the size and characteristics of particles. High temperatures increase reaction rates, which may explain why sulfate concentrations are generally greatest in the summer. Conversely, lower temperatures result in a greater fraction of nitrates being in the particle phase. Fine particles, especially particles with a hygroscopic component, grow as the relative humidity increases, serve as cloud condensation nuclei, and grow into cloud droplets. If the cloud droplets grow large enough to form rain, the particles are removed in the rain. Falling rain drops impact coarse particles and remove them. Very fine particles are small enough to diffuse to the falling drop, be captured, and be removed in rain. However, falling rain drops are not nearly as effective in removing PM2.5 as the cloud processes mentioned above. Sulfuric acid, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfates, and organic particles also are deposited on surfaces by dry deposition. Therefore, reductions in SO2 and NOx emissions will decrease both acidic deposition and PM concentrations.


[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 248 (Friday, December 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67328-67329]
[FR Doc No: 2018-28148]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-4410-DR; Docket ID FEMA-2018-0001]

Connecticut; Major Disaster and Related Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major
disaster for the State of Connecticut (FEMA-4410-DR), dated December 5,
2018, and related determinations.

DATES: The declaration was issued December 5, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Webster, Office of Response and
Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW,
Washington, DC 20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that, in a letter
dated December 5, 2018, the President issued a major disaster
declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the
``Stafford Act''), as follows:

    I have determined that the damage in certain areas of the State
of Connecticut resulting from severe storms and flooding during the
period of September 25-26, 2018, is of sufficient severity and
magnitude to warrant a major disaster declaration under the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.
5121 et seq. (the ``Stafford Act''). Therefore, I declare that such
a major disaster exists in the State of Connecticut.

    In order to provide Federal assistance, you are hereby
authorized to allocate from funds available for these purposes such
amounts as you find necessary for Federal disaster assistance and
administrative expenses.
    You are authorized to provide Public Assistance in the
designated areas and Hazard Mitigation throughout the State.
Consistent with the requirement that Federal assistance be
supplemental, any Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for
Hazard Mitigation will be limited to 75 percent of the total
eligible costs. Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for
Public Assistance also will be limited to 75 percent of the total
eligible costs, with the exception of projects that meet the
eligibility criteria for a higher Federal cost-sharing percentage
under the Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program for
Debris Removal implemented pursuant to section 428 of the Stafford
Act.
    Further, you are authorized to make changes to this declaration
for the approved assistance to the extent allowable under the
Stafford Act.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice
that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under
Executive Order 12148, as amended, James N. Russo, of FEMA is appointed
to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster.
    The following areas of the State of Connecticut have been
designated as adversely affected by this major disaster:

    Middlesex and New London Counties, including the Mashantucket
Pequot Indian Tribe and Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut
located within New London County for Public Assistance.
    All areas within the State of Connecticut are eligible for
assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
    The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers
(CFDA) are to be used for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030,
Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis
Counseling; 97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster
Unemployment Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management Assistance
Grant; 97.048, Disaster Housing Assistance to Individuals and
Households In Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049,
Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance--Disaster Housing
Operations for Individuals and Households; 97.050, Presidentially
Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals and Households--Other
Needs; 97.036, Disaster Grants--Public Assistance (Presidentially
Declared Disasters); 97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant.

Brock Long,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2018-28148 Filed 12-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-23-P