This part establishes general provisions and the applicability, permitting, allowance, excess emissions, monitoring, and opt-in provisions for the NOX Budget Trading Program for State implementation plans as a means of mitigating the interstate transport of ozone and nitrogen oxides, an ozone precursor. The owner or operator of a unit, or any other person, shall comply with requirements of this part as a matter of federal law only to the extent a State that has jurisdiction over the unit incorporates by reference provisions of this part, or otherwise adopts such requirements of this part, and requires compliance, the State submits to the Administrator a State implementation plan including such adoption and such compliance requirement, and the Administrator approves the portion of the State implementation plan including such adoption and such compliance requirement. To the extent a State adopts requirements of this part, including at a minimum the requirements of subpart A (except for § 96.4(b)), subparts B through D, subpart F (except for § 96.55(c)), and subparts G and H of this part, the State authorizes the Administrator to assist the State in implementing the NOX Budget Trading Program by carrying out the functions set forth for the Administrator in such requirements.

The terms used in this part shall have the meanings set forth in this section as follows:

Account certificate of representation means the completed and signed submission required by subpart B of this part for certifying the designation of a NOX authorized account representative for a NOX Budget source or a group of identified NOX Budget sources who is authorized to represent the owners and operators of such source or sources and of the NOX Budget units at such source or sources with regard to matters under the NOX Budget Trading Program.

Account number means the identification number given by the Administrator to each NOX Allowance Tracking System account.

Acid Rain emissions limitation means, as defined in § 72.2 of this chapter, a limitation on emissions of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides under the Acid Rain Program under title IV of the CAA.

Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the Administrator's duly authorized representative.

Allocate or allocation means the determination by the permitting authority or the Administrator of the number of NOX allowances to be initially credited to a NOX Budget unit or an allocation set-aside.

Automated data acquisition and handling system or DAHS means that component of the CEMS, or other emissions monitoring system approved for use under subpart H of this part, designed to interpret and convert individual output signals from pollutant concentration monitors, flow monitors, diluent gas monitors, and other component parts of the monitoring system to produce a continuous record of the measured parameters in the measurement units required by subpart H of this part.

Boiler means an enclosed fossil or other fuel-fired combustion device used to produce heat and to transfer heat to recirculating water, steam, or other medium.

CAA means the CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq., as amended by Pub. L. No. 101-549 (November 15, 1990).

Combined cycle system means a system comprised of one or more combustion turbines, heat recovery steam generators, and steam turbines configured to improve overall efficiency of electricity generation or steam production.

Combustion turbine means an enclosed fossil or other fuel-fired device that is comprised of a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, and in which the flue gas resulting from the combustion of fuel in the combustor passes through the turbine, rotating the turbine.

Commence commercial operation means, with regard to a unit that serves a generator, to have begun to produce steam, gas, or other heated medium used to generate electricity for sale or use, including test generation. Except as provided in § 96.5, for a unit that is a NOX Budget unit under § 96.4 on the date the unit commences commercial operation, such date shall remain the unit's date of commencement of commercial operation even if the unit is subsequently modified, reconstructed, or repowered. Except as provided in § 96.5 or subpart I of this part, for a unit that is not a NOX Budget unit under § 96.4 on the date the unit commences commercial operation, the date the unit becomes a NOX Budget unit under § 96.4 shall be the unit's date of commencement of commercial operation.

Commence operation means to have begun any mechanical, chemical, or electronic process, including, with regard to a unit, start-up of a unit's combustion chamber. Except as provided in § 96.5, for a unit that is a NOX Budget unit under § 96.4 on the date of commencement of operation, such date shall remain the unit's date of commencement of operation even if the unit is subsequently modified, reconstructed, or repowered. Except as provided in § 96.5 or subpart I of this part, for a unit that is not a NOX Budget unit under § 96.4 on the date of commencement of operation, the date the unit becomes a NOX Budget unit under § 96.4 shall be the unit's date of commencement of operation.

Common stack means a single flue through which emissions from two or more units are exhausted.

Compliance account means a NOX Allowance Tracking System account, established by the Administrator for a NOX Budget unit under subpart F of this part, in which the NOX allowance allocations for the unit are initially recorded and in which are held NOX allowances available for use by the unit for a control period for the purpose of meeting the unit's NOX Budget emissions limitation.

Compliance certification means a submission to the permitting authority or the Administrator, as appropriate, that is required under subpart D of this part to report a NOX Budget source's or a NOX Budget unit's compliance or noncompliance with this part and that is signed by the NOX authorized account representative in accordance with subpart B of this part.

Continuous emission monitoring system or CEMS means the equipment required under subpart H of this part to sample, analyze, measure, and provide, by readings taken at least once every 15 minutes of the measured parameters, a permanent record of nitrogen oxides emissions, expressed in tons per hour for nitrogen oxides. The following systems are component parts included, consistent with part 75 of this chapter, in a continuous emission monitoring system:

(1) Flow monitor;

(2) Nitrogen oxides pollutant concentration monitors;

(3) Diluent gas monitor (oxygen or carbon dioxide) when such monitoring is required by subpart H of this part;

(4) A continuous moisture monitor when such monitoring is required by subpart H of this part; and

(5) An automated data acquisition and handling system.

Control period means the period beginning May 1 of a year and ending on September 30 of the same year, inclusive.

Emissions means air pollutants exhausted from a unit or source into the atmosphere, as measured, recorded, and reported to the Administrator by the NOX authorized account representative and as determined by the Administrator in accordance with subpart H of this part.

Energy Information Administration means the Energy Information Administration of the United States Department of Energy.

Excess emissions means any tonnage of nitrogen oxides emitted by a NOX Budget unit during a control period that exceeds the NOX Budget emissions limitation for the unit.

Fossil fuel means natural gas, petroleum, coal, or any form of solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel derived from such material.

Fossil fuel-fired means, with regard to a unit:

(1) The combustion of fossil fuel, alone or in combination with any other fuel, where fossil fuel actually combusted comprises more than 50 percent of the annual heat input on a Btu basis during any year starting in 1995 or, if a unit had no heat input starting in 1995, during the last year of operation of the unit prior to 1995; or

(2) The combustion of fossil fuel, alone or in combination with any other fuel, where fossil fuel is projected to comprise more than 50 percent of the annual heat input on a Btu basis during any year; provided that the unit shall be “fossil fuel-fired” as of the date, during such year, on which the unit begins combusting fossil fuel.

General account means a NOX Allowance Tracking System account, established under subpart F of this part, that is not a compliance account or an overdraft account.

Generator means a device that produces electricity.

Heat input means the product (in mmBtu/time) of the gross calorific value of the fuel (in Btu/lb) and the fuel feed rate into a combustion device (in mass of fuel/time), as measured, recorded, and reported to the Administrator by the NOX authorized account representative and as determined by the Administrator in accordance with subpart H of this part, and does not include the heat derived from preheated combustion air, recirculated flue gases, or exhaust from other sources.

Life-of-the-unit, firm power contractual arrangement means a unit participation power sales agreement under which a utility or industrial customer reserves, or is entitled to receive, a specified amount or percentage of nameplate capacity and associated energy from any specified unit and pays its proportional amount of such unit's total costs, pursuant to a contract:

(1) For the life of the unit;

(2) For a cumulative term of no less than 30 years, including contracts that permit an election for early termination; or

(3) For a period equal to or greater than 25 years or 70 percent of the economic useful life of the unit determined as of the time the unit is built, with option rights to purchase or release some portion of the nameplate capacity and associated energy generated by the unit at the end of the period.

Maximum design heat input means the ability of a unit to combust a stated maximum amount of fuel per hour on a steady state basis, as determined by the physical design and physical characteristics of the unit.

Maximum potential hourly heat input means an hourly heat input used for reporting purposes when a unit lacks certified monitors to report heat input. If the unit intends to use appendix D of part 75 of this chapter to report heat input, this value should be calculated, in accordance with part 75 of this chapter, using the maximum fuel flow rate and the maximum gross calorific value. If the unit intends to use a flow monitor and a diluent gas monitor, this value should be reported, in accordance with part 75 of this chapter, using the maximum potential flowrate and either the maximum carbon dioxide concentration (in percent CO2) or the minimum oxygen concentration (in percent O2).

Maximum potential NOX emission rate means the emission rate of nitrogen oxides (in lb/mmBtu) calculated in accordance with section 3 of appendix F of part 75 of this chapter, using the maximum potential nitrogen oxides concentration as defined in section 2 of appendix A of part 75 of this chapter, and either the maximum oxygen concentration (in percent O2) or the minimum carbon dioxide concentration (in percent CO2), under all operating conditions of the unit except for unit start up, shutdown, and upsets.

Maximum rated hourly heat input means a unit-specific maximum hourly heat input (mmBtu) which is the higher of the manufacturer's maximum rated hourly heat input or the highest observed hourly heat input.

Monitoring system means any monitoring system that meets the requirements of subpart H of this part, including a continuous emissions monitoring system, an excepted monitoring system, or an alternative monitoring system.

Most stringent State or Federal NOX emissions limitation means, with regard to a NOX Budget opt-in source, the lowest NOX emissions limitation (in terms of lb/mmBtu) that is applicable to the unit under State or Federal law, regardless of the averaging period to which the emissions limitation applies.

Nameplate capacity means the maximum electrical generating output (in MWe) that a generator can sustain over a specified period of time when not restricted by seasonal or other deratings as measured in accordance with the United States Department of Energy standards.

Non-title V permit means a federally enforceable permit administered by the permitting authority pursuant to the CAA and regulatory authority under the CAA, other than title V of the CAA and part 70 or 71 of this chapter.

NOX allowance means an authorization by the permitting authority or the Administrator under the NOX Budget Trading Program to emit up to one ton of nitrogen oxides during the control period of the specified year or of any year thereafter.

NOX allowance deduction or deduct NOX allowances means the permanent withdrawal of NOX allowances by the Administrator from a NOX Allowance Tracking System compliance account or overdraft account to account for the number of tons of NOX emissions from a NOX Budget unit for a control period, determined in accordance with subpart H of this part, or for any other allowance surrender obligation under this part.

NOX allowances held or hold NOX allowances means the NOX allowances recorded by the Administrator, or submitted to the Administrator for recordation, in accordance with subparts F and G of this part, in a NOX Allowance Tracking System account.

NOX Allowance Tracking System means the system by which the Administrator records allocations, deductions, and transfers of NOX allowances under the NOX Budget Trading Program.

NOX Allowance Tracking System account means an account in the NOX Allowance Tracking System established by the Administrator for purposes of recording the allocation, holding, transferring, or deducting of NOX allowances.

NOX allowance transfer deadline means midnight of November 30 or, if November 30 is not a business day, midnight of the first business day thereafter and is the deadline by which NOX allowances may be submitted for recordation in a NOX Budget unit's compliance account, or the overdraft account of the source where the unit is located, in order to meet the unit's NOX Budget emissions limitation for the control period immediately preceding such deadline.

NOX authorized account representative means, for a NOX Budget source or NOX Budget unit at the source, the natural person who is authorized by the owners and operators of the source and all NOX Budget units at the source, in accordance with subpart B of this part, to represent and legally bind each owner and operator in matters pertaining to the NOX Budget Trading Program or, for a general account, the natural person who is authorized, in accordance with subpart F of this part, to transfer or otherwise dispose of NOX allowances held in the general account.

NOX Budget emissions limitation means, for a NOX Budget unit, the tonnage equivalent of the NOX allowances available for compliance deduction for the unit and for a control period under § 96.54(a) and (b), adjusted by any deductions of such NOX allowances to account for actual utilization under § 96.42(e) for the control period or to account for excess emissions for a prior control period under § 96.54(d) or to account for withdrawal from the NOX Budget Program, or for a change in regulatory status, for a NOX Budget opt-in source under § 96.86 or § 96.87.

NOX Budget opt-in permit means a NOX Budget permit covering a NOX Budget opt-in source.

NOX Budget opt-in source means a unit that has been elected to become a NOX Budget unit under the NOX Budget Trading Program and whose NOX Budget opt-in permit has been issued and is in effect under subpart I of this part.

NOX Budget permit means the legally binding and federally enforceable written document, or portion of such document, issued by the permitting authority under this part, including any permit revisions, specifying the NOX Budget Trading Program requirements applicable to a NOX Budget source, to each NOX Budget unit at the NOX Budget source, and to the owners and operators and the NOX authorized account representative of the NOX Budget source and each NOX Budget unit.

NOX Budget source means a source that includes one or more NOX Budget units.

NOX Budget Trading Program means a multi-state nitrogen oxides air pollution control and emission reduction program established in accordance with this part and pursuant to § 51.121 of this chapter, as a means of mitigating the interstate transport of ozone and nitrogen oxides, an ozone precursor.

NOX Budget unit means a unit that is subject to the NOX Budget Trading Program emissions limitation under § 96.4 or § 96.80.

Operating means, with regard to a unit under §§ 96.22(d)(2) and 96.80, having documented heat input for more than 876 hours in the 6 months immediately preceding the submission of an application for an initial NOX Budget permit under § 96.83(a).

Operator means any person who operates, controls, or supervises a NOX Budget unit, a NOX Budget source, or unit for which an application for a NOX Budget opt-in permit under § 96.83 is submitted and not denied or withdrawn and shall include, but not be limited to, any holding company, utility system, or plant manager of such a unit or source.

Opt-in means to be elected to become a NOX Budget unit under the NOX Budget Trading Program through a final, effective NOX Budget opt-in permit under subpart I of this part.

Overdraft account means the NOX Allowance Tracking System account, established by the Administrator under subpart F of this part, for each NOX Budget source where there are two or more NOX Budget units.

Owner means any of the following persons:

(1) Any holder of any portion of the legal or equitable title in a NOX Budget unit or in a unit for which an application for a NOX Budget opt-in permit under § 96.83 is submitted and not denied or withdrawn; or

(2) Any holder of a leasehold interest in a NOX Budget unit or in a unit for which an application for a NOX Budget opt-in permit under § 96.83 is submitted and not denied or withdrawn; or

(3) Any purchaser of power from a NOX Budget unit or from a unit for which an application for a NOX Budget opt-in permit under § 96.83 is submitted and not denied or withdrawn under a life-of-the-unit, firm power contractual arrangement. However, unless expressly provided for in a leasehold agreement, owner shall not include a passive lessor, or a person who has an equitable interest through such lessor, whose rental payments are not based, either directly or indirectly, upon the revenues or income from the NOX Budget unit or the unit for which an application for a NOX Budget opt-in permit under § 96.83 is submitted and not denied or withdrawn; or

(4) With respect to any general account, any person who has an ownership interest with respect to the NOX allowances held in the general account and who is subject to the binding agreement for the NOX authorized account representative to represent that person's ownership interest with respect to NOX allowances.

Permitting authority means the State air pollution control agency, local agency, other State agency, or other agency authorized by the Administrator to issue or revise permits to meet the requirements of the NOX Budget Trading Program in accordance with subpart C of this part.

Receive or receipt of means, when referring to the permitting authority or the Administrator, to come into possession of a document, information, or correspondence (whether sent in writing or by authorized electronic transmission), as indicated in an official correspondence log, or by a notation made on the document, information, or correspondence, by the permitting authority or the Administrator in the regular course of business.

Recordation, record, or recorded means, with regard to NOX allowances, the movement of NOX allowances by the Administrator from one NOX Allowance Tracking System account to another, for purposes of allocation, transfer, or deduction.

Reference method means any direct test method of sampling and analyzing for an air pollutant as specified in appendix A of part 60 of this chapter.

Serial number means, when referring to NOX allowances, the unique identification number assigned to each NOX allowance by the Administrator, under § 96.53(c).

Source means any governmental, institutional, commercial, or industrial structure, installation, plant, building, or facility that emits or has the potential to emit any regulated air pollutant under the CAA. For purposes of section 502(c) of the CAA, a “source,” including a “source” with multiple units, shall be considered a single “facility.”

State means one of the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia specified in § 51.121 of this chapter, or any non-federal authority in or including such States or the District of Columbia (including local agencies, and Statewide agencies) or any eligible Indian tribe in an area of such State or the District of Columbia, that adopts a NOX Budget Trading Program pursuant to § 51.121 of this chapter. To the extent a State incorporates by reference the provisions of this part, the term “State” shall mean the incorporating State. The term “State” shall have its conventional meaning where such meaning is clear from the context.

State trading program budget means the total number of NOX tons apportioned to all NOX Budget units in a given State, in accordance with the NOX Budget Trading Program, for use in a given control period.

Submit or serve means to send or transmit a document, information, or correspondence to the person specified in accordance with the applicable regulation:

(1) In person;

(2) By United States Postal Service; or

(3) By other means of dispatch or transmission and delivery. Compliance with any “submission,” “service,” or “mailing” deadline shall be determined by the date of dispatch, transmission, or mailing and not the date of receipt.

Title V operating permit means a permit issued under title V of the CAA and part 70 or part 71 of this chapter.

Title V operating permit regulations means the regulations that the Administrator has approved or issued as meeting the requirements of title V of the CAA and part 70 or 71 of this chapter.

Ton or tonnage means any “short ton” (i.e., 2,000 pounds). For the purpose of determining compliance with the NOX Budget emissions limitation, total tons for a control period shall be calculated as the sum of all recorded hourly emissions (or the tonnage equivalent of the recorded hourly emissions rates) in accordance with subpart H of this part, with any remaining fraction of a ton equal to or greater than 0.50 ton deemed to equal one ton and any fraction of a ton less than 0.50 ton deemed to equal zero tons.

Unit means a fossil fuel-fired stationary boiler, combustion turbine, or combined cycle system.

Unit load means the total (i.e., gross) output of a unit in any control period (or other specified time period) produced by combusting a given heat input of fuel, expressed in terms of:

(1) The total electrical generation (MWe) produced by the unit, including generation for use within the plant; or

(2) In the case of a unit that uses heat input for purposes other than electrical generation, the total steam pressure (psia) produced by the unit, including steam for use by the unit.

Unit operating day means a calendar day in which a unit combusts any fuel.

Unit operating hour or hour of unit operation means any hour (or fraction of an hour) during which a unit combusts any fuel.

Utilization means the heat input (expressed in mmBtu/time) for a unit. The unit's total heat input for the control period in each year will be determined in accordance with part 75 of this chapter if the NOX Budget unit was otherwise subject to the requirements of part 75 of this chapter for the year, or will be based on the best available data reported to the Administrator for the unit if the unit was not otherwise subject to the requirements of part 75 of this chapter for the year.

Measurements, abbreviations, and acronyms used in this part are defined as follows:

(a) The following units in a State shall be NOX Budget units, and any source that includes one or more such units shall be a NOX Budget source, subject to the requirements of this part:

(1) Any unit that, any time on or after January 1, 1995, serves a generator with a nameplate capacity greater than 25 MWe and sells any amount of electricity; or

(2) Any unit that is not a unit under paragraph (a) of this section and that has a maximum design heat input greater than 250 mmBtu/hr.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, a unit under paragraph (a) of this section shall be subject only to the requirements of this paragraph (b) if the unit has a federally enforceable permit that meets the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section and restricts the unit to burning only natural gas or fuel oil during a control period in 2003 or later and each control period thereafter and restricts the unit's operating hours during each such control period to the number of hours (determined in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section) that limits the unit's potential NOX mass emissions for the control period to 25 tons or less. Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, starting with the effective date of such federally enforceable permit, the unit shall not be a NOX Budget unit.

(1) For each control period under paragraph (b) of this section, the federally enforceable permit must:

(i) Restrict the unit to burning only natural gas or fuel oil.

(ii) Restrict the unit's operating hours to the number calculated by dividing 25 tons of potential NOX mass emissions by the unit's maximum potential hourly NOX mass emissions.

(iii) Require that the unit's potential NOX mass emissions shall be calculated as follows:

(A) Select the default NOX emission rate in Table 2 of § 75.19 of this chapter that would otherwise be applicable assuming that the unit burns only the type of fuel (i.e., only natural gas or only fuel oil) that has the highest default NOX emission factor of any type of fuel that the unit is allowed to burn under the fuel use restriction in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section; and

(B) Multiply the default NOX emission rate under paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(A) of this section by the unit's maximum rated hourly heat input. The owner or operator of the unit may petition the permitting authority to use a lower value for the unit's maximum rated hourly heat input than the value as defined under § 96.2. The permitting authority may approve such lower value if the owner or operator demonstrates that the maximum hourly heat input specified by the manufacturer or the highest observed hourly heat input, or both, are not representative, and that such lower value is representative, of the unit's current capabilities because modifications have been made to the unit, limiting its capacity permanently.

(iv) Require that the owner or operator of the unit shall retain at the source that includes the unit, for 5 years, records demonstrating that the operating hours restriction, the fuel use restriction, and the other requirements of the permit related to these restrictions were met.

(v) Require that the owner or operator of the unit shall report the unit's hours of operation (treating any partial hour of operation as a whole hour of operation) during each control period to the permitting authority by November 1 of each year for which the unit is subject to the federally enforceable permit.

(2) The permitting authority that issues the federally enforceable permit with the fuel use restriction under paragraph (b)(1)(i) and the operating hours restriction under paragraphs (b)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section will notify the Administrator in writing of each unit under paragraph (a) of this section whose federally enforceable permit issued by the permitting authority includes such restrictions. The permitting authority will also notify the Administrator in writing of each unit under paragraph (a) of this section whose federally enforceable permit issued by the permitting authority is revised to remove any such restriction, whose federally enforceable permit issued by the permitting authority includes any such restriction that is no longer applicable, or which does not comply with any such restriction.

(3) If, for any control period under paragraph (b) of this section, the fuel use restriction under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section or the operating hours restriction under paragraphs (b)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section is removed from the unit's federally enforceable permit or otherwise becomes no longer applicable or if, for any such control period, the unit does not comply with the fuel use restriction under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section or the operating hours restriction under paragraphs (b)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section, the unit shall be a NOX Budget unit, subject to the requirements of this part. Such unit shall be treated as commencing operation and, for a unit under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, commencing commercial operation on September 30 of the control period for which the fuel use restriction or the operating hours restriction is no longer applicable or during which the unit does not comply with the fuel use restriction or the operating hours restriction.

(a) This section applies to any NOX Budget unit, other than a NOX Budget opt-in source, that is permanently retired.

(b)(1) Any NOX Budget unit, other than a NOX Budget opt-in source, that is permanently retired shall be exempt from the NOX Budget Trading Program, except for the provisions of this section, §§ 96.2, 96.3, 96.4, 96.7 and subparts E, F, and G of this part.

(2) The exemption under paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall become effective the day on which the unit is permanently retired. Within 30 days of permanent retirement, the NOX authorized account representative (authorized in accordance with subpart B of this part) shall submit a statement to the permitting authority otherwise responsible for administering any NOX Budget permit for the unit. A copy of the statement shall be submitted to the Administrator. The statement shall state (in a format prescribed by the permitting authority) that the unit is permanently retired and will comply with the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section.

(3) After receipt of the notice under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the permitting authority will amend any permit covering the source at which the unit is located to add the provisions and requirements of the exemption under paragraphs (b)(1) and (c) of this section.

(c) Special provisions. (1) A unit exempt under this section shall not emit any nitrogen oxides, starting on the date that the exemption takes effect. The owners and operators of the unit will be allocated allowances in accordance with subpart E of this part.

(2)(i) A unit exempt under this section and located at a source that is required, or but for this exemption would be required, to have a title V operating permit shall not resume operation unless the NOX authorized account representative of the source submits a complete NOX Budget permit application under § 96.22 for the unit not less than 18 months (or such lesser time provided under the permitting authority's title V operating permits regulations for final action on a permit application) prior to the later of May 1, 2003 or the date on which the unit is to first resume operation.

(ii) A unit exempt under this section and located at a source that is required, or but for this exemption would be required, to have a non-title V permit shall not resume operation unless the NOX authorized account representative of the source submits a complete NOX Budget permit application under § 96.22 for the unit not less than 18 months (or such lesser time provided under the permitting authority's non-title V permits regulations for final action on a permit application) prior to the later of May 1, 2003 or the date on which the unit is to first resume operation.

(3) The owners and operators and, to the extent applicable, the NOX authorized account representative of a unit exempt under this section shall comply with the requirements of the NOX Budget Trading Program concerning all periods for which the exemption is not in effect, even if such requirements arise, or must be complied with, after the exemption takes effect.

(4) A unit that is exempt under this section is not eligible to be a NOX Budget opt-in source under subpart I of this part.

(5) For a period of 5 years from the date the records are created, the owners and operators of a unit exempt under this section shall retain at the source that includes the unit, records demonstrating that the unit is permanently retired. The 5-year period for keeping records may be extended for cause, at any time prior to the end of the period, in writing by the permitting authority or the Administrator. The owners and operators bear the burden of proof that the unit is permanently retired.

(6) Loss of exemption. (i) On the earlier of the following dates, a unit exempt under paragraph (b) of this section shall lose its exemption:

(A) The date on which the NOX authorized account representative submits a NOX Budget permit application under paragraph (c)(2) of this section; or

(B) The date on which the NOX authorized account representative is required under paragraph (c)(2) of this section to submit a NOX Budget permit application.

(ii) For the purpose of applying monitoring requirements under subpart H of this part, a unit that loses its exemption under this section shall be treated as a unit that commences operation or commercial operation on the first date on which the unit resumes operation.

(a) Permit Requirements. (1) The NOX authorized account representative of each NOX Budget source required to have a federally enforceable permit and each NOX Budget unit required to have a federally enforceable permit at the source shall:

(i) Submit to the permitting authority a complete NOX Budget permit application under § 96.22 in accordance with the deadlines specified in § 96.21(b) and (c);

(ii) Submit in a timely manner any supplemental information that the permitting authority determines is necessary in order to review a NOX Budget permit application and issue or deny a NOX Budget permit.

(2) The owners and operators of each NOX Budget source required to have a federally enforceable permit and each NOX Budget unit required to have a federally enforceable permit at the source shall have a NOX Budget permit issued by the permitting authority and operate the unit in compliance with such NOX Budget permit.

(3) The owners and operators of a NOX Budget source that is not otherwise required to have a federally enforceable permit are not required to submit a NOX Budget permit application, and to have a NOX Budget permit, under subpart C of this part for such NOX Budget source.

(b) Monitoring requirements. (1) The owners and operators and, to the extent applicable, the NOX authorized account representative of each NOX Budget source and each NOX Budget unit at the source shall comply with the monitoring requirements of subpart H of this part.

(2) The emissions measurements recorded and reported in accordance with subpart H of this part shall be used to determine compliance by the unit with the NOX Budget emissions limitation under paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Nitrogen oxides requirements. (1) The owners and operators of each NOX Budget source and each NOX Budget unit at the source shall hold NOX allowances available for compliance deductions under § 96.54, as of the NOX allowance transfer deadline, in the unit's compliance account and the source's overdraft account in an amount not less than the total NOX emissions for the control period from the unit, as determined in accordance with subpart H of this part, plus any amount necessary to account for actual utilization under § 96.42(e) for the control period.

(2) Each ton of nitrogen oxides emitted in excess of the NOX Budget emissions limitation shall constitute a separate violation of this part, the CAA, and applicable State law.

(3) A NOX Budget unit shall be subject to the requirements under paragraph (c)(1) of this section starting on the later of May 1, 2003 or the date on which the unit commences operation.

(4) NOX allowances shall be held in, deducted from, or transferred among NOX Allowance Tracking System accounts in accordance with subparts E, F, G, and I of this part.

(5) A NOX allowance shall not be deducted, in order to comply with the requirements under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, for a control period in a year prior to the year for which the NOX allowance was allocated.

(6) A NOX allowance allocated by the permitting authority or the Administrator under the NOX Budget Trading Program is a limited authorization to emit one ton of nitrogen oxides in accordance with the NOX Budget Trading Program. No provision of the NOX Budget Trading Program, the NOX Budget permit application, the NOX Budget permit, or an exemption under § 96.5 and no provision of law shall be construed to limit the authority of the United States or the State to terminate or limit such authorization.

(7) A NOX allowance allocated by the permitting authority or the Administrator under the NOX Budget Trading Program does not constitute a property right.

(8) Upon recordation by the Administrator under subpart F, G, or I of this part, every allocation, transfer, or deduction of a NOX allowance to or from a NOX Budget unit's compliance account or the overdraft account of the source where the unit is located is deemed to amend automatically, and become a part of, any NOX Budget permit of the NOX Budget unit by operation of law without any further review.

(d) Excess emissions requirements. (1) The owners and operators of a NOX Budget unit that has excess emissions in any control period shall:

(i) Surrender the NOX allowances required for deduction under § 96.54(d)(1); and

(ii) Pay any fine, penalty, or assessment or comply with any other remedy imposed under § 96.54(d)(3).

(e) Recordkeeping and Reporting requirements. (1) Unless otherwise provided, the owners and operators of the NOX Budget source and each NOX Budget unit at the source shall keep on site at the source each of the following documents for a period of 5 years from the date the document is created. This period may be extended for cause, at any time prior to the end of 5 years, in writing by the permitting authority or the Administrator.

(i) The account certificate of representation for the NOX authorized account representative for the source and each NOX Budget unit at the source and all documents that demonstrate the truth of the statements in the account certificate of representation, in accordance with § 96.13; provided that the certificate and documents shall be retained on site at the source beyond such 5-year period until such documents are superseded because of the submission of a new account certificate of representation changing the NOX authorized account representative.

(ii) All emissions monitoring information, in accordance with subpart H of this part; provided that to the extent that subpart H of this part provides for a 3-year period for recordkeeping, the 3-year period shall apply.

(iii) Copies of all reports, compliance certifications, and other submissions and all records made or required under the NOX Budget Trading Program.

(iv) Copies of all documents used to complete a NOX Budget permit application and any other submission under the NOX Budget Trading Program or to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the NOX Budget Trading Program.

(2) The NOX authorized account representative of a NOX Budget source and each NOX Budget unit at the source shall submit the reports and compliance certifications required under the NOX Budget Trading Program, including those under subparts D, H, or I of this part.

(f) Liability. (1) Any person who knowingly violates any requirement or prohibition of the NOX Budget Trading Program, a NOX Budget permit, or an exemption under § 96.5 shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to applicable State or Federal law.

(2) Any person who knowingly makes a false material statement in any record, submission, or report under the NOX Budget Trading Program shall be subject to criminal enforcement pursuant to the applicable State or Federal law.

(3) No permit revision shall excuse any violation of the requirements of the NOX Budget Trading Program that occurs prior to the date that the revision takes effect.

(4) Each NOX Budget source and each NOX Budget unit shall meet the requirements of the NOX Budget Trading Program.

(5) Any provision of the NOX Budget Trading Program that applies to a NOX Budget source (including a provision applicable to the NOX authorized account representative of a NOX Budget source) shall also apply to the owners and operators of such source and of the NOX Budget units at the source.

(6) Any provision of the NOX Budget Trading Program that applies to a NOX Budget unit (including a provision applicable to the NOX authorized account representative of a NOX budget unit) shall also apply to the owners and operators of such unit. Except with regard to the requirements applicable to units with a common stack under subpart H of this part, the owners and operators and the NOX authorized account representative of one NOX Budget unit shall not be liable for any violation by any other NOX Budget unit of which they are not owners or operators or the NOX authorized account representative and that is located at a source of which they are not owners or operators or the NOX authorized account representative.

(g) Effect on other authorities. No provision of the NOX Budget Trading Program, a NOX Budget permit application, a NOX Budget permit, or an exemption under § 96.5 shall be construed as exempting or excluding the owners and operators and, to the extent applicable, the NOX authorized account representative of a NOX Budget source or NOX Budget unit from compliance with any other provision of the applicable, approved State implementation plan, a federally enforceable permit, or the CAA.

(a) Unless otherwise stated, any time period scheduled, under the NOX Budget Trading Program, to begin on the occurrence of an act or event shall begin on the day the act or event occurs.

(b) Unless otherwise stated, any time period scheduled, under the NOX Budget Trading Program, to begin before the occurrence of an act or event shall be computed so that the period ends the day before the act or event occurs.

(c) Unless otherwise stated, if the final day of any time period, under the NOX Budget Trading Program, falls on a weekend or a State or Federal holiday, the time period shall be extended to the next business day.