194 F.3d 130 (D.C. Cir. 1999)
Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.,Petitionerv.Environmental Protection Agency and Carol M. Browner, Administrator, RespondentsChemical Manufacturers Association, et al., Intervenors
No. 97-1727 Consolidated with 97-1732
United States Court of AppealsFOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
Argued September 9, 1999Decided October 29, 1999

[Copyrighted Material Omitted]
On Petitions for Review of an Order of the Environmental Protection Agency
Andrew P. Caputo argued the cause for petitioner Natural  Resources Defense Council, Inc.  With him on the briefs was  David G. Hawkins.
Lauren E. Freeman argued the cause for petitioners Appalachian Power Co., et al. With her on the briefs was Henry V.  Nickel.
Scott J. Jordan, Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice,  argued the cause for respondent.  With him on the briefs  were Lois J. Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General, and Cecilia  E. Kim, Attorney.
Leslie Sue Ritts, Ellen Siegler, Henry V. Nickel, Lauren E.  Freeman, Jerome H. Heckman, Peter L. de la Cruz, William  H. Lewis, Michael A. McCord, Charles H. Lockwood, II,  John Reese, G. William Frick, David F. Zoll and Alexandra  Dunn were on the brief of Industry Intervenors in support of  respondent.  K. D. Grant entered an appearance.
Before:  Ginsburg, Sentelle and Garland, Circuit Judges.
Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge Sentelle.
Sentelle, Circuit Judge:


1
Natural Resources Defense  Council, Inc. ("NRDC") challenges the Environmental Protection Agency's enhanced emission source monitoring rule,  known as Compliance Assurance Monitoring, promulgated  pursuant to the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.  Various  industry groups challenge EPA's "any other material information" certification requirement which pertains to collecting  evidence to prove or disprove Clean Air Act compliance. After considering the parties' arguments and reviewing the  record, we hold that EPA's enhanced monitoring system  complies with the Clean Air Act Amendments except for the  portion pertaining to "continuous or intermittent" compliance  certification.  We also hold that the issue raised by the  industry groups is unripe for review.

I. Background
A. Enhanced Monitoring

2
Section 114(a) of the Clean Air Act vests EPA with the  authority to require emissions data collection in order to  enable the agency to develop emissions standards and determine compliance with those standards.  See 42 U.S.C. § 7414(a) (1994).  The Clean Air Act also provides EPA with  the authority to enforce those standards.  See 42 U.S.C.  § 7413.  Prior to 1990, most air pollution sources' emissions  were tested at start-up or another single point in time.  See  Enhanced Monitoring Program, 58 Fed. Reg. 54,648, 54,658  (1993) (proposed Oct. 22, 1993).  At that time, there was no  statutory mechanism outside of EPA, state regulators, and  citizen surveillance to ensure the requisite compliance monitoring.  See id.  In 1990, Congress enacted amendments to  the Clean Air Act intended to enhance emissions source  monitoring and compliance and to impose new monitoring and  reporting requirements on emissions sources.  Specifically,  the new amendments sought to identify and clarify the kinds  of data to be collected and to require major sources to  monitor their emissions and report their results to EPA.


3
As amended, § 114 of the Clean Air Act provides in part:


4
[T]he [EPA] Administrator may require any person who owns or operates any emission source, who manufactures emission control equipment or process equipment, who the Administrator believes may have information necessary for the purposes set forth in this subsection, or who is subject to any requirement of this chapter ... on a one-time, periodic or continuous basis to ... (D) sample such emissions (in accordance with such procedures or methods, at such locations, at such intervals, during such periods and in such a manner as the Administrator shall prescribe) [and] (E) keep records on control equipment parameters, production variables or other indirect data when direct monitoring of emissions is impractical....


5
42 U.S.C. § 7414(a)(1)(D)-(E) (emphasis added).  This provision gives EPA the authority to require a source to keep  relevant emissions data when direct sampling is impractical  and to require a source to conduct emission sampling.  Congress added a new subsection in 1990 pertaining to major  source monitoring, stating that EPA


6
shall in the case of any person which is the owner or operator of a major stationary source, and may, in the case of any other person, require enhanced monitoring and submission of compliance certifications.  Compliance certification shall include ...


7
(C) the [source's] compliance status,


8
(D) whether compliance is continuous or intermittent,[and]


9
(E) such other facts as the Administrator may require.


10
Id. § 7414(a)(3) (emphasis added).  Thus, Congress expressed  an intention to obligate major sources to a more stringent  reporting standard.


11
Section 504 of the Clean Air Act establishes the major  source permitting program's requirements and contains provisions related to monitoring and compliance certification. Section 504(a) requires that each permit "shall include enforceable emission limitations and standards ... and such  other conditions as are necessary to assure compliance with  applicable requirements."  42 U.S.C. § 7661c(a).  Subsection  (b) elaborates that "[t]he Administrator may by rule prescribe  procedures and methods for determining compliance and for  monitoring and analysis of pollutants regulated under this  chapter, but continuous emissions monitoring need not be  required if alternative methods are available that provide  sufficiently reliable and timely information for determining  compliance."  Id. § 7661c(b).  Thus, § 504 establishes that  EPA may promulgate rules that require implementing a  compliance and monitoring method which provides "sufficiently reliable" information for determining compliance.


12
In 1993, EPA proposed a broad regulatory scheme that  would have required a major source to provide an emissions  compliance statement and proof of continuous compliance. The proposal would have resulted in direct emissions monitoring in most instances.  However, following public comment  sessions, EPA decided to adopt an alternative approach in  1997.  EPA abandoned the more rigorous 1993 proposal in  response to industry and state and local pollution control  agencies' comments that the proposal was too costly given the  benefits involved, too burdensome on local permitting authorities, inconsistent with congressional intent regarding costs,  and likely to stifle innovation due to high costs.  See Compliance Assurance Monitoring Rule making (40 C.F.R. Parts 64,  70, and 71), Responses to Public Comments (Part I) (October  2, 1997).


13
EPA ultimately adopted a new approach, Compliance Assurance Monitoring ("CAM"), which requires major sources  using pollution control devices to employ parametric monitoring.  See 40 C.F.R. §§ 64.2, 64.3(a) (1998).  The CAM program allows major sources to comply with monitoring requirements by identifying specific operational parameters and  providing data that enforcement entities can use to determine  whether the source falls within the appropriate operating  range.


14
Under CAM, EPA requires that major source owners  "establish ... appropriate range(s) ... for the selected indicator(s) such that operation within the ranges provides a  reasonable assurance of ongoing compliance with emission  limitations or standards."  40 C.F.R. § 64.3(a)(2).  CAM also  imposes an affirmative requirement on each major source to  bring its emissions within the acceptable range when the  source falls outside the acceptable range.  See 40 C.F.R.  § 64.7(d).  Specifically, the source must "restore operation of  the pollutant-specific emissions unit (including the control  device and associated capture system) to its normal or ususal  manner of operation as expeditiously as practicable...."  Id.  CAM expands upon prior emissions monitoring by providing  major sources with a mechanism to implement self monitoring and self-checks on compliance.  For reasons set  forth more fully below, NRDC challenges the adequacy of  EPA's attempt to comply with the Clean Air Act Amendments.


15
B. Other Material Information and Credible Evidence


16
To comport with the CAM approach, EPA amended its  Part 70/71 major source permit compliance requirements.Under the revision, each major source must identify its  compliance methodology and identify whether that methodology provides continuous or intermittent data.  See 40 C.F.R.  §§ 70.6(c)(5)(iii)(B), 71.6(c)(5)(iii)(B).  The revision also requires major sources "if necessary, ... [to] identify any other  material information that must be included in the certification  to comply with section 113(c)(2) of the Act, which prohibits  knowingly making a false certification or omitting material  information."  Id. §§ 70.6(c)(5)(iii)(B), 71.6(c)(5)(iii)(B).  Section 113(c)(2) creates criminal liability for "[a]ny person who  knowingly ... makes any false material statement, representation, or certification in, or omits material information from,  or knowingly alters, conceals, or fails to file or maintain any  notice, application, record, report, plan, or other document  required pursuant to this chapter."  42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(2).


17
During the rule making period in issue, EPA separately  promulgated another rule, the Credible Evidence Rule  ("CER"), which provides that nothing shall preclude the use  of any credible evidence or information in demonstrating  compliance or noncompliance with national emission standards.  See 40 C.F.R. §§ 52.12(c);  60.11(g);  61.12(e).  The  preamble to the CER reconfirmed that credible evidence may  be used in permit enforcement actions and compliance certifications.  See Credible Evidence Revisions, 62 Fed. Reg. 8314,  8316-17 (1997).  However, EPA further stated that the "revisions do not call for the creation or submission of any new  emissions or parametric data, but rather address the role of  existing data in enforcement actions and compliance certifications" and that the agency "in no way intends to alter the  underlying emission standards."  Id. at 8316;  see also 62  Fed. Reg. at 8314-15.


18
Industry groups, led by Appalachian Power Company ("Appalachian"), challenge the "any other material information"  requirement as beyond EPA's authority and as a violation of  their due process rights.

II. NRDC Challenge

19
Both NRDC and the industrial challengers petitioned this  court for a review of EPA's actions pursuant to 42 U.S.C.  § 7607(b)(1), which provides that all challenges to nationally  applicable regulations under the Clean Air Act must be  brought in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  After exercising this jurisdiction under  applicable legal standards, we conclude that with one exception the challenges either are not justiciable or do not warrant judicial relief.

A. Enhanced Monitoring

20
NRDC challenges the adequacy of EPA's CAM program to  meet the enhanced monitoring requirements of the Clean Air  Act Amendments on multiple grounds.  NRDC first asserts  that CAM does not substantively comply with § 114(a)(3)'s  enhanced monitoring mandate.  Specifically, NRDC contends  that CAM exempts so many major sources from its coverage  that its lack of coverage should invalidate the rule.  Further,  NRDC argues that CAM's "reasonable assurance of compliance" standard does not assure compliance as required by the  Clean Air Act or assure compliance as a factual matter.  In  addition, NRDC claims that the length of CAM's phase-in  period creates an unreasonable delay.  Finally, NRDC asserts that EPA's requirement that a major source certify only  whether its report is based on "continuous or intermittent  data," 40 C.F.R. § 70.6(c)(5)(iii)(B) (emphasis added), does  not meet the Clean Air Act's explicit requirement that "[c]ompliance certifications shall include ... whether compliance is  continuous or intermittent," 42 U.S.C. § 7414(a)(3) (emphasis  added).  We conclude that only the last challenge merits  relief.


21
NRDC's challenge to EPA's adoption of CAM in furtherance of the "enhanced monitoring" requirement of § 114(a)(3)  questions the interpretation of a statute by the agency entrusted with the administration of that statute.  Therefore,  we apply the classic two-step test of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v.  Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837  (1984), which provides that in such review we first look to the  statute's language and give effect to any "unambiguously  expressed intent of Congress," but if the statute is ambiguous or silent with regard to the matter at issue, we accept  the agency's interpretation, provided that interpretation is  merely reasonable.  Id. at 842-43, 845.  The phrase "enhanced monitoring" as used in § 114(a)(3) is sufficiently ambiguous to invoke the second step of the Chevron analysis. As EPA pointed out, section 114(a)(3) does not specify any  particular type of enhanced monitoring.  Nothing in the  phrase "enhanced monitoring" supports NRDC's view that  only continuous or direct emissions monitoring can be regarded as "enhanced" or that CAM cannot be deemed "enhanced."  Nonetheless, NRDC argues that CAM cannot constitute "enhanced monitoring" since it exempts numerous  sources from its coverage, does not assure "sufficiently reliable" compliance as required by § 504(b), and does not in  fact provide even a "reasonable assurance of compliance."We reject these arguments for several reasons.


22
First, CAM is not invalid on the basis that it does not cover  certain major sources (e.g., those that do not utilize emission  control devices and those that fail the 100-tons-per-emission point test).  True, § 114(a)(3) plainly subjects all major  sources to enhanced monitoring and, as NRDC points out,  EPA exempts many major sources from CAM's coverage. However, the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments did not mandate that EPA fit all enhanced monitoring under one rule and  EPA has reasonably illustrated how its enhanced monitoring  program, when considered in its entirety, complies with  § 114(a)(3).  Cf. NRDC v. EPA, 22 F.3d 1125, 1141-42 (D.C.  Cir. 1994) (finding EPA's explanation for excepting certain  areas from coverage under a particular rule reasonable given  statute's broad mandate and EPA's overall regulatory plan).Specifically, EPA demonstrated that many of the major stationary sources exempt from CAM are subject to other  specific rules, and if they are not, they are subject to the  following two residual rules:  (1)"[The permit shall contain]  periodic monitoring sufficient to yield reliable data ... that  are representative of the source's compliance with the permit...."  40 C.F.R. § 70.6(a)(3)(i)(B);  (2) "All part 70 permits shall contain the following elements with respect to  compliance:  (1) Consistent with paragraph (a)(3) of this section, compliance certification, testing, [and] monitoring ...  requirements sufficient to assure compliance with the terms  and conditions of the permit."  Id. § 70.6(c)(1).


23
While the Part 70 rules are not as specific as CAM, they  have the same bottom line--a major source must undertake  "monitoring ... sufficient to assure compliance."  Like CAM,  the monitoring protocols will be developed on a unit-by-unit  basis.  Such monitoring is sufficiently "enhanced" over the  pre-1990 situation to satisfy the statutory requirement.  See  Compliance Assurance Monitoring, 62 Fed. Reg. 54,900,  54,904 (1997).


24
Second, EPA provides a reasonable basis for its conclusion  that CAM will be effective in assuring emissions limit compliance.  NRDC contends that there is no across-the-board  evidence that monitoring control parameters will assure compliance and that EPA does not require control parameters to  be statistically correlated with actual emissions standards.


25
We will not set aside a final rule under the Clean Air Act  unless the underlying agency action was "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance  with law" or "in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, or  limitations, or short of statutory right."  42 U.S.C.  § 7607(d)(9)(A) & (C).  The "arbitrary and capricious" standard deems the agency action presumptively valid provided  the action meets a minimum rationality standard.  See, e.g.,  Small Refiner Lead Phase-Down Task Force v. EPA, 705  F.2d 506, 520-21 (D.C. Cir. 1983).  In applying this standard  we determine whether the agency has considered the relevant  factors and articulated a rational connection between the facts  and its choices.  See Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n of the United  States v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43  (1983).  While we carefully review the factual record, we will  give due deference to the agency especially when the agency  action involves evaluating complex scientific or statistical data  within the agency's expertise.  See Ethyl Corp. v. EPA, 541  F.2d 1, 34-36 (D.C. Cir. 1976) (en banc).


26
Applying that standard of review to the rule before us, we  conclude that EPA's adoption of CAM survives NRDC's  challenge.  As EPA argues, across-the-board evidence is unnecessary since CAM requires major source owners, on a  unit-by-unit basis, to "establish ... appropriate range(s) ... for the selected indicator(s) such that operation within the  ranges provides a reasonable assurance of ongoing compliance with emission limitations."  40 C.F.R. § 64.3(a)(2).Thus, CAM enhances monitoring by requiring each major  source owner to design a site-specific monitoring system  sufficient to provide a reasonable assurance of compliance  with emissions standards.  See id. § 64.3(a), (a)(2).  Moreover, as EPA made clear at oral argument, this standard does  require a major source owner to establish a correlation  between the control parameters and emission limits.  We  cannot therefore conclude that the EPA has failed to consider  relevant factors or articulate a rational connection between  the facts and its choices.  For the same reasons, we conclude  CAM satisfies the "sufficiently reliable" compliance requirement of § 504(b). We therefore apply the statutorily mandated deference to the agency's judgment and deny the NRDC's  challenge.


27
Third, NRDC misconstrues § 114(a)(1)(D)-(E) as requiring  EPA to mandate direct enhanced monitoring of major sources  unless EPA finds such monitoring "impractical."  We agree  with EPA that CAM was promulgated under subsection (a)(3)  of § 114 rather than under subsection (a)(1).  Section  114(a)(1) gives EPA the option to require ("the Administrator may require") certain kinds of monitoring whereas  § 114(a)(3) squarely requires enhanced monitoring ("the Administrator shall ... require enhanced monitoring").  Since  CAM falls into the required enhanced monitoring category  and § 114(a)(3) does not contain language requiring an impracticality finding, EPA did not have to make an impracticality finding before choosing to monitor major source control  parameters rather than to monitor emissions directly.


28
Finally, NRDC erroneously believes that CAM does not  effectuate the congressional intent behind the 1990 Clean Air  Act Amendments because CAM fails to "facilitate" enforcement.  See S. Rep. No. 101-228, at 368 (1989).  NRDC argues  that since CAM monitoring data do not establish source  compliance or noncompliance, the data lack the value necessary to be used as probative evidence in enforcement proceedings.  However, as we stated before, EPA reasonably  concluded that CAM will provide a reasonable assurance of compliance with emissions limitations.  Thus, EPA "facilitates" enforcement under any reasonable definition of the  term since CAM monitoring provides evidence that will be  relevant in any enforcement action.


29
In sum, we hold that EPA's adoption of CAM as "enhanced  monitoring" meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

B. CAM Phase-In

30
EPA's decision to phase in the CAM requirements as major  source permits are renewed is reasonable.  EPA acknowledges that some major sources applying for permits will come  under CAM's coverage over the next two to three years while  some sources will not be phased-in for approximately five to  eight years because CAM requirements will not apply to  them until their next permit renewal.  See 40 C.F.R.  § 70.4(b)(3)(iii), (iv) (stating that permits are renewed or  reviewed every five years).  However, EPA reasonably decided to phase-in CAM requirements based on the already existing licensing structure in order to lessen the burden on  sources and state licensing authorities and to create a  learning-curve for implementation.  See 62 Fed. Reg. 54,90203, 54,927-28 (1997).  Nor does NRDC point to a compulsory  implementation deadline or offer a basis for second-guessing  the agency at this point in time.  See NRDC, 22 F.3d at 113740 (implying deference to the agency regarding implementation when statute silent regarding implementation deadline).Given the circumstances, EPA offers a reasonable explanation  for the extended phase-in plan.

C. Continuous or Intermittent Compliance

31
Despite CAM's validity, we hold that EPA's certification  regulations are inconsistent in one particular with  § 114(a)(3)(D)'s statutory mandate.  While § 114(a)(3) clearly  states that a major source's "compliance certification shall  include ... whether compliance is continuous or intermittent[,]" EPA only requires that a major source's compliance  certification include "[t]he identification of the method(s) ... used by the owner ... for determining the compliance status  ... and whether such methods ... provide continuous or  intermittent data."  40 C.F.R. §§ 70.6(c)(5)(iii)(B),  71.6(c)(5)(iii)(B).  The statute requires that certification include whether "compliance"--not just "data"--is continuous  or intermittent.


32
Although EPA may permit owners to certify compliance  within the degree of certainty that CAM provides, it may not  eliminate the "check off" requirement altogether.  We do not  reach the second step of the Chevron analysis on this question.  Where Congress has expressed its unmistakable intent  in the plain words of the statute, our review ends with step  one.  See Nuclear Information Resource Service v. Nuclear  Regulatory Commission, 969 F.2d 1169, 1173 (D.C.  Cir.  1992) (en banc).  It will not save EPA's failure to meet the  statutory requirement that there is ambiguity in other sections of the statute.  It is only where "the statute ... is  'silent or ambiguous with respect to the specific issue' before  us" that "we 'defer to the agency's interpretation of the  statute.' "  Id. (quoting Chemical Manufacturers Ass'n v.  EPA, 919 F.2d 158, 162-63 (D.C. Cir. 1990)).  Here, Congress  expressly and unambiguously required that the certification  include "whether compliance is continuous or intermittent."EPA's regulations do not effectuate that expressed mandate  of the statute and must be remanded.

III. Industry Groups' Challenge

33
Industry groups challenge EPA's requirement that compliance certifications be based on "any other material information," including "credible evidence," as impermissibly increasing the stringency of emissions standards.  We, as we have  before, conclude that the industry groups' challenge is unripe  for review.


34
In Clean Air Implementation Project v. EPA, 150 F.3d  1200 (D.C. Cir. 1998) ("CAIP"), various industry groups challenged EPA's "credible evidence" rule revisions by alleging  that the changes effectively increased the stringency of the  underlying emissions standards contrary to proper rule making procedures.  See id. at 1201, 1203.  We held that, absent  any demonstrable "great hardship," the industry groups'  stringency challenge would be unripe for review until EPA  actually brought a "credible evidence" enforcement proceeding against a source.  Id. at 1205.


35
The industry groups here, led by Appalachian, contend that  CAIP's ripeness analysis is not applicable to the present  challenge because, unlike in that case, delaying a decision  here will cause hardship to source owners.  They argue that a  hardship will occur because in being required to use "other  material information" in their certifications, source owners  will be required to "abandon any rights they might have to  defend against the use of that evidence in enforcement proceedings."  Appalachian Br. at 15.  Whatever the merits of  that argument might otherwise be, it does not appear that its  factual underpinnings are sound in the present controversy. That is, it is not apparent that source owners will be required  to abandon any such right.


36
At oral argument, EPA counsel agreed with the court's  supposition that nothing precludes an owner from adding a  caveat to its certification to the effect that, while it is providing other evidence which EPA might find material, the submitter disputes its materiality and reserves the right to  challenge the use of the evidence in court.  Counsel for  Appalachian then agreed that the ability to use such disclaimer language "solves our problem."  We agree.  In other  words, Appalachian's challenge on this ground is still not ripe.


37
In attacking the information requirement, Appalachian also  argues that "any other information" and "credible evidence"  as employed by EPA are such facially vague terms as to  violate the due process rights of the regulated entities.  Appalachian's void-for-vagueness attack also fails due to ripeness considerations.  Specifically, since Appalachian does not  contend that the "any other material information" rule is  vague in every circumstance, its facial challenge collapses and  it must wait until there is an actual enforcement proceeding  to make a specific challenge that will be ripe.  Cf. CAIP, 150  F.3d at 1205-06.

Conclusion

38
To recap, we hold that CAM complies with the Clean Air  Act's "enhanced monitoring" requirement, EPA supplied a  reasonable basis for the CAM phase-in schedule, and the  industry groups' challenge to EPA's "credible evidence" and  "other material information" requirements is unripe for review.


39
Each major source must, however, certify whether its  compliance is "continuous or intermittent."  We therefore  remand the portion of CAM pertaining to "continuous or  intermittent" compliance certification to EPA for it to revise  its regulation to accord with our decision, but affirm EPA in  all other respects.


40
So ordered.

