September 12, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On June 14, 2005, EPA issued a notice of data availability concerning a proposed rule to add a diisononyl phthalate (DINP) category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). The notice of data availability made available for public comment a revised hazard assessment for DINP. The purpose of this action is to inform interested parties that, in response to a request for an extension, EPA is extending the comment period by 30 days until October 12, 2005. The comment period for the notice of data availability was previously scheduled to close on September 12, 2005.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today designates LA- 3 as a permanent ocean dredged material disposal site (ODMDS) located offshore of Newport Beach, California, managed at a maximum annual dredged material disposal quantity of 2,500,000 cubic yards (yd\3\) (1,911,000 cubic meters [m\3\]), and adjusts the management of the permanently-designated LA-2 ODMDS at an increased maximum annual dredged material disposal quantity of 1,000,000 yd\3\ (765,000 m\3\) for the ocean disposal of clean dredged material from the Los Angeles County and Orange County regions. The availability of suitable ocean disposal sites to support ongoing maintenance and capital improvement projects is essential for the continued use and economic growth of the vital commercial and recreational areas in the region. Dredged material will not be allowed to be disposed of in the ocean unless the material meets strict environmental criteria established by the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The action would shift the center of the permanently-designated LA- 3 site approximately 1.3 nautical miles (nmi) (2.4 kilometers [km]) to the southeast of the interim LA-3 site, and encompass a region that is already disturbed by dredged material. The permanent site also would be located on a flat, depositional plain, and away from the submarine canyons, that will be more amenable to surveillance and monitoring activities. The LA-2 site is a permanently designated ODMDS that has been historically managed at an average annual disposal quantity of 200,000 yd\3\ (153,000 m\3\) for the disposal of material dredged primarily from the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor complex. The action will allow an increased volume of dredged material to be disposed annually at this site. The annual disposal quantity has occasionally exceeded the historical annual average due to capital projects from both the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Thus, the new maximum volume designation would accommodate the projected average annual volume requirements as well as provide for substantial annual volume fluctuations.

In response to a petition for rulemaking, this document proposes to require straight trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of between 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) and 11,793 kilograms (26,000 pounds) to be equipped with a rear object detection system. The purpose of the proposed requirement is to alert drivers to persons and objects directly behind the vehicle, thereby reducing backing-related deaths and injuries. This notice proposes two compliance options. Vehicle manufacturers could satisfy the proposed requirement either by installing a mirror system or rear video system that would make the area to the rear of the vehicle visible to the driver. The notice also asks a series of questions to help the agency determine whether the proposed requirements should be extended to vehicles in other weight classes and whether existing straight trucks engaged in interstate commerce should be retrofitted to meet the proposed requirements, as part of a future rulemaking.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-400D series airplanes; and Model 747-200B series airplanes having a stretched upper deck. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting for cracking or discrepancies of the fasteners in the tension ties, shear webs, and frames at body stations 1120 through 1220, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from new reports of severed tension ties, as well as numerous reports of cracked tension ties, broken fasteners, and cracks in the frame, shear web, and shear ties adjacent to tension ties for the upper deck. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the tension ties, shear webs, and frames of the upper deck, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

This rule modifies the pack requirements currently prescribed under the Washington potato marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Washington, and is administered locally by the State of Washington Potato Committee (Committee). This rule relaxes the pack requirements to allow handlers to ship U.S. No. 2 grade potatoes in cartons to better meet buyer needs. Currently, only potatoes grading U.S. No. 1 or better, or potatoes failing to grade U.S. No. 1 only because of internal defects, may be shipped in cartons. The relaxation in pack requirements will help maximize producer returns.

EPA is proposing to approve a redesignation request and a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia is requesting that the city of Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, and Stafford County (the Fredericksburg Nonattainment Area) be redesignated as attainment for the eight-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The Commonwealth's SIP revision establishes a maintenance plan for the Fredericksburg Nonattainment Area that provides requirements for continued attainment of the eight-hour ozone NAAQS for the next 10 years. EPA is proposing approval of the redesignation request and revision to the Virginia SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).