Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Utah on May 26, 2011 that addresses regional haze. EPA is also proposing to approve specific sections of a State of Utah SIP revision submitted on September 9, 2008 to address regional haze. These SIP revisions were submitted to address the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and our rules that require states to prevent any future and remedy any existing man-made impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas caused by emissions of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area (also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). States are required to assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. EPA is taking this action pursuant to section 110 of the CAA.

The EPA has determined that onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) technology is in widespread use throughout the motor vehicle fleet for purposes of controlling motor vehicle refueling emissions, and, therefore, by this action, the EPA is waiving the requirement for states to implement Stage II gasoline vapor recovery systems at gasoline dispensing facilities in nonattainment areas classified as Serious and above for the ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This finding will be effective as noted below in the DATES section. After the effective date of this notice, a state previously required to implement a Stage II program may take appropriate action to remove the program from its State Implementation Plan (SIP). Phasing out the use of Stage II systems may lead to long-term cost savings for gas station owners and operators while air quality protections are maintained.

EPA is making two determinations regarding the Philadelphia- Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE fine particulate (PM2.5) nonattainment area (the Philadelphia Area). First, EPA is making a determination that the Philadelphia Area has attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by its attainment date of April 5, 2010. This determination is based upon quality assured and certified ambient air monitoring data that show the area monitored attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS for the 2007-2009 monitoring period. Second, EPA is making a clean data determination, finding that the Philadelphia Area has attained the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS, based on quality assured and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 monitoring periods. In accordance with EPA's applicable PM2.5 implementation rule, this determination suspends the requirement for the Philadelphia Area to submit an attainment demonstration, reasonably available control measures/reasonably available control technology (RACM/RACT), a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, and contingency measures related to attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS for so long as the area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland (Maryland). This revision pertains to amendments to the Code of Maryland (COMAR) 26.11.19.11, Lithographic and Letterpress Printing. Maryland's SIP revision meets the requirement to adopt Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for sources covered by EPA's Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) for offset lithographic printing and letterpress printing. This will help Maryland attain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. This revision pertains to the requirements for meeting reasonably available control technology (RACT) for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). These requirements are based on: A certification that previously adopted RACT controls in Maryland's SIP, that were approved by EPA under the 1-hour ozone NAAQS, are based on the currently available technically and economically feasible controls, and that they continue to represent RACT for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS implementation purposes; a negative declaration demonstrating that no facilities exist in the State for the applicable control technique guideline (CTG) categories; and adoption of new or more stringent RACT determinations. This action is being taken in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of penflufen in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. Bayer CropScience requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluxapyroxad in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. BASF Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

In the Federal Register issue of March 16, 2012, EPA published a direct final rule revoking certain testing requirements promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 10 chemical substances, including benzenesulfonic acid, [[4-[[4- (phenylamino)phenyl][4-(phenylimino)-2,5-cyclohexadien-1- ylidene]methyl]phenyl]amino]- (CAS No. 1324-76-1), also known as C.I. Pigment Blue 61. EPA received an adverse comment regarding C.I. Pigment Blue 61. This document withdraws the revocation of testing requirements for C.I. Pigment Blue 61 as described in the March 16, 2012 direct final rule. In withdrawing the revocation, this document also restores the original testing requirements as currently shown in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Elsewhere in today's Federal Register, EPA is publishing a proposed rule revoking the same testing requirements for C.I. Pigment Blue 61 that were published in the March 16, 2012 direct final rule.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on August 9, 2007. This revision pertains to the preconstruction permitting requirements of Pennsylvania's nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) program. The revision is intended to update Pennsylvania's nonattainment NSR regulations to meet EPA's 2002 NSR Reform regulations (NSR Reform), and to satisfy the requirements related to antibacksliding. Additionally, the proposed revision makes clarifying changes to regulations that are not related to NSR Reform. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is making a final determination regarding the two-state Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-West Virginia nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the ``Steubenville-Weirton Area'' or ``Area'') for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is determining that the Steubenville-Weirton Area has attained the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. This determination is based upon complete, quality assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that this area has monitored attainment of the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2008-2010 data. EPA's determination suspends the obligation of Ohio and West Virginia to submit, with respect to this area, attainment demonstrations, associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), reasonable further progress plans, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the 2006 PM2.5 standard for so long as the Area continues to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

EPA is taking comment on a draft document that describes Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program guidance for permitting the underground injection of oil- and gas-related hydraulic fracturing (HF) using diesel fuels where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the permitting authority. The draft guidance includes EPA's interpretation of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and regulations regarding UIC permitting of oil and gas hydraulic fracturing operations using diesel fuels as a fracturing fluid or as a component of a fracturing fluid, specifically that they are subject to Class II UIC permitting requirements. EPA's goal is to provide greater regulatory clarity and certainty to the industry, which will in turn improve compliance with the SDWA requirements and strengthen environmental protections consistent with existing law. The draft guidance will not impose any new requirements. See Supporting Information section.

This notice announces EPA's order for the amendment to terminate uses, voluntarily requested by the registrant and accepted by the Agency, of products containing aldicarb, pursuant to section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended. This cancellation order follows an October 7, 2010 Federal Register Notice of Receipt of Request from the registrant, Bayer CropScience to voluntarily amend to terminate uses of the product, TEMIK[supreg] Brand 15G, containing aldicarb on citrus and potatoes effective immediately. The registrant also requested that EPA amend to terminate the remaining pesticide uses of this product on cotton, dry beans, peanuts, soybeans, sugar beets, and sweet potatoes, effective as of December 31, 2014. These are not the last products containing aldicarb registered for use in the United States. In the October 7, 2010 notice, EPA indicated that it would issue an order implementing the amendments to terminate uses, unless the Agency received substantive comments within the 30-day comment period that would merit its further review of these requests, or unless the registrant withdrew their requests. The Agency received comments on the notice but none merited its further review of the requests. Further, the registrant did not withdraw their requests. Accordingly, EPA hereby issues in this notice a cancellation order granting the requested amendments to terminate uses. Any distribution, sale, or use of the products subject to this cancellation order is permitted only in accordance with the terms of this order, including any existing stocks provisions.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of ametoctradin in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. BASF Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of 1- naphthaleneacetic acid, potassium and sodium salts in or on potatoes. Stehekin, LLC petitioned EPA for clearance of use of this pesticide under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), EPA is granting a request from the State of California to reclassify the Western Mojave Desert ozone nonattainment area from ``Moderate'' to ``Severe-15'' for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is also reclassifying Indian country under the jurisdiction of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians of California located within the boundaries of the Western Mojave Desert area in the same manner, following consultation with the Tribe, to maintain consistency with the classification of the surrounding areas under State jurisdiction.

In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (``CAA'' or the ``Act''), 42 U.S.C. 7413(g), notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement agreement between EPA and the industry petitioners in Portland Cement Ass'n v. EPA, No. 10-1358 (D.C. Circuit). Under the settlement agreement, EPA would propose action on pending reconsideration issues and on issues raised by the court's remand in Portland Cement Ass'n v. EPA by June 15, 2012 (proposal) and December 20, 2012 (final). EPA would also address the issue of whether there should be new compliance dates for amended standards for existing sources as part of that process. In exchange, industry petitioners would agree not to seek rehearing or rehearing en banc of the DC Circuit's opinion in Portland Cement Ass'n v. EPA, 665 F. 3d 177.

This notice announces that EPA Region 10 has issued a final permit decision granting a Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) permit to construct and Title V air quality operating permit to Shell Offshore, Inc. (``Shell'') for operation of the Kulluk conical drilling unit in the Beaufort Sea off the north coast of Alaska.

Notice is hereby given that a reissuance of an exemption to the land disposal Restrictions, under the 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, has been granted to Diamond Shamrock for three Class I injection wells located at Sunray, Texas. The company has adequately demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Environmental Protection Agency by the petition reissuance application and supporting documentation that, to a reasonable degree of certainty, there will be no migration of hazardous constituents from the injection zone for as long as the waste remains hazardous. This final decision allows the continued underground injection by Diamond Shamrock, of the specific restricted hazardous wastes identified in this exemption, into Class I hazardous waste injection wells WDW-102, WDW-192, and WDW-332 at the Sunray, Texas facility until December 31, 2025, unless EPA moves to terminate this exemption. Additional conditions included in this final decision may be reviewed by contacting the Region 6 Ground Water/UIC Section. A public notice was issued February 27, 2012. The public comment period closed on April 12, 2012. No comments were received. This decision constitutes final Agency action and there is no Administrative appeal. This decision may be reviewed/appealed in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

In accordance with Section 122(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative settlement concerning the City Storage Superfund Site, located in Sulphur, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The settlement requires the three (3) settling parties to pay a total of $145,000 as payment of response costs to the Hazardous Substances Superfund plus $2,750.23 in calculated interest. The settlement includes a covenant not to sue pursuant to Section 107 of CERCLA, 42, U.S.C. 9607. For thirty (30) days beginning on the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to this notice and will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2012. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD), Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD), and Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). Under authority of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act), we are approving local rules that define terms used in other air pollution regulation in these areas and approving a rule rescission that addresses Petroleum Coke Calcining OperationsOxides of Sulfur.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve the ozone 2002 base year emissions inventory portion of the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina November 12, 2009. The emissions inventory is part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina ozone attainment demonstration that was submitted for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the ``bi-state Charlotte Area'') is comprised of Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and a portion of Iredell (Davidson and Coddle Creek Townships) Counties in North Carolina; and a portion of York County in South Carolina. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). EPA will take action on the South Carolina submission for the ozone 2002 base year emissions inventory for its portion of the bi-state Charlotte Area in a separate action.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of an initial filing of a pesticide petition requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.