Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petitions for Objection to State Operating Permit for Dow Chemical Company, Dow Salt Dome Operations, Brazoria County, Texas, 16095-16096 [2020-05777]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 55 / Friday, March 20, 2020 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES approaches relating to implementation of TSCA. The SACC members serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) or Regular Government Employees (RGEs). The SACC expects to meet approximately 4 to 6 times per year, or as needed and approved by the DFO. Meetings will be held in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. In January 2017, the EPA Administrator appointed 18 members to the SACC. After further consideration of the objectives and scope of SACC activities, EPA decided to increase the membership of the SACC, and in March 2018, completed additional appointments resulting in a total of 26 members. Subsequently, some SACC members either resigned or declined to serve extended appointments. Currently, there are 19 SACC members, all with membership terms that will expire over the next year. To date, SACC members and ad hoc reviewers have provided their expertise and knowledge on the first draft chemical risk evaluations. These individuals have dedicated an incredible amount of time to provide EPA with thoughtful and important recommendations for improving the risk evaluations. At times, SACC members were working on multiple chemical evaluations while also preparing for and participating in peer review meetings and writing reports. EPA greatly appreciates the dedication and commitment to service of the SACC members. Given the foundation provided by the SACC recommendations from these first reviews, EPA is exploring different ways to use the SACC’s expertise for providing independent advice and expert consultation after the peer reviews of the first 10 chemical risk evaluations are completed. The Agency is considering requesting that the SACC review significant, cross-cutting science issues on exposure, risk, and modeling, similar to how the Agency uses the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) for health and safety issues related to pesticides. Therefore, EPA may not ask the SACC to peer review every single draft risk evaluation for the next 20 high priority chemicals. With this prospective change in the scope of SACC activities, EPA anticipates appointing approximately 15 members to the SACC by March 2021. III. Nominations EPA values and welcomes diversity and encourages nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified persons to be VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Mar 19, 2020 Jkt 250001 considered for appointment to this advisory committee. Individuals also may self-nominate. Nominations may be submitted in electronic format (preferred) or mailed in accordance with the instructions under ADDRESSES. Nominations should include candidates who have demonstrated high levels of competence, knowledge, and expertise in scientific/technical fields relevant to chemical safety and risk assessment. In particular, the nominees should include representation of the following disciplines, including, but not limited to: Human health and ecological risk assessment, biostatistics, epidemiology, pediatrics, physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK), toxicology and pathology (including neurotoxicology, developmental/reproductive toxicology, and carcinogenesis), and the relationship of chemical exposures to women, children, and other potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations. To be considered, all nominations should include the following information: Current contact information for the nominee (including the nominee’s name, organization, current business address, email address, and daytime telephone number); the disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; the nominee’s curriculum vitae; and a biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current position, educational background, research activities, and recent service on other federal advisory committees and national or international professional organizations. Persons having questions about the nomination process should contact the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The DFO will acknowledge receipt of nominations. Sources in addition to respondents to this Federal Register Notice may be utilized to solicit nominations and identify candidates. The names and biographical sketches of all interested and available candidates will be posted in a List of Candidates in the docket at https://www.regulations.gov and on the SACC website at https:// www.epa.gov/tsca-peer-review. The availability of the list also will be announced through the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP)’s listservs. You may subscribe to these listservs at the following website: https:// public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ USAEPAOPPT/subscriber/new?topic_ id=USAEPAOPPT_101. Public comments on the List of Candidates will be accepted for 21 days from the date the list is posted. The public will be requested to provide relevant information or other documentation on PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16095 nominees that the EPA should consider in evaluating candidates. IV. Selection Criteria In addition to scientific expertise, in selecting members, EPA will consider the differing perspectives and the breadth of collective experience needed to address EPA’s charge to the SACC, as well as the following: • Background and experiences that would contribute to the diversity of scientific viewpoints on the committee, including professional experiences in government, labor, public health, public interest, animal protection, industry, and other groups, as the EPA Administrator determines to be advisable (e.g., geographical location; social and cultural backgrounds; and professional affiliations); • Skills and experience working on committees and advisory panels including demonstrated ability to work constructively and effectively in a committee setting; • Absence of financial conflicts of interest or the appearance of a loss of impartiality; • Willingness to commit adequate time for the thorough review of materials provided to the committee; and • Availability to participate in committee meetings. (Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2625 et seq.; 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2 et seq.) Dated: March 13, 2020. Hayley Hughes, Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy. [FR Doc. 2020–05827 Filed 3–19–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–10005–99–Region 6] Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petitions for Objection to State Operating Permit for Dow Chemical Company, Dow Salt Dome Operations, Brazoria County, Texas Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of final Order on Petition for objection to Clean Air Act title V operating permit. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order dated February 18, 2020, granting a Petition dated August 31, 2015 from the Environmental Integrity Project and Sierra Club. The Petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM 20MRN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 16096 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 55 / Friday, March 20, 2020 / Notices title V operating permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to Dow Chemical Company (Dow) for its Dow Salt Dome Operations located in Brazoria County, Texas. ADDRESSES: The EPA requests that you contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to view copies of the final Order, the Petition, and other supporting information. You may review copies of the final Order, the Petition, and other supporting information at the EPA Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 75270–2102. You may view the hard copies Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding federal holidays. If you wish to examine these documents, you should make an appointment at least 24 hours before the visiting day. Additionally, the final Order and Petition are available electronically at: https://www.epa.gov/ title-v-operating-permits/title-v-petitiondatabase. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Wilson, EPA Region 6, (214) 665–7596, wilson.aimee@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CAA affords EPA a 45-day period to review and object to, as appropriate, operating permits proposed by state permitting authorities under title V of the CAA. Section 505(b)(2) of the CAA authorizes any person to petition the EPA Administrator to object to a title V operating permit within 60 days after the expiration of the EPA’s 45-day review period if the EPA has not objected on its own initiative. Petitions must be based only on objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable specificity during the public comment period provided by the state, unless the petitioner demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise these issues during the comment period or unless the grounds for the issue arose after this period. The EPA received the Petition from the Environmental Integrity Project and Sierra Club dated August 31, 2015, requesting that the EPA object to the issuance of the facility’s Federal Operating Permit Number O2212, issued by TCEQ to Dow Chemical Company’s Salt Dome Operations in Brazoria County, Texas. The Petition claims the proposed permit improperly incorporates by reference confidential operational limits even though operational limits are required to be federally enforceable by being publicly available and listed in the proposed permit. On February 18, 2020, the EPA Administrator issued an Order granting VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Mar 19, 2020 Jkt 250001 the Petition requesting that the EPA Administrator object to the title V operating permit. The Order explains the basis for EPA’s decision. Dated: March 13, 2020. Kenley McQueen, Regional Administrator, Region 6. [FR Doc. 2020–05777 Filed 3–19–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPPT–2019–0500; FRL–10006– 79] Trichloroethylene; TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) Meeting; Amended Notice of Public Meeting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that the March 24–26, 2020, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) meeting, previously announced in the Federal Register on February 26, 2020, (85 FR 11079) (FRL–10005–52) is being changed to a virtual public meeting, with participation by phone and webcast only. There will be no inperson gathering for this meeting. Meeting times and dates are adjusted to accommodate this change. DATES: Virtual meeting: The virtual meeting will be held on March 24–27, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. (EDT). To make oral comments during the virtual meeting, please register by noon on March 20, 2020. Virtual meeting: Please visit https://www.epa.gov/tsca-peer-review to register. You must register online to receive the webcast meeting link and audio teleconference information for participation. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: TSCA SACC: Dr. Todd Peterson, DFO, Office of Science Coordination and Policy (7201M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone number: (202) 564–6428; email address: peterson.todd@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background EPA is announcing that the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) meeting to consider and review the draft risk evaluation for PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Trichloroethylene (TCE) will be a virtual public meeting, with participation by phone and webcast only. There will be no in-person gathering for this meeting. To accommodate this change, meeting start times are adjusted, and the meeting dates are extended by one day. The topic for this meeting remains unchanged from that described in the February 26, 2020, Federal Register notice (85 FR 11079) (FRL–10005–52). Due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV–2, the cause of COVID–19, the agency is implementing this change out of an abundance of caution and in response to travel restrictions imposed by some SACC members’ employers and other members’ concerns regarding travel. II. How do I participate in the virtual public meeting? Virtual meeting. The virtual meeting will be conducted via webcast and telephone. You may participate in the virtual meeting by registering to join the webcast. You may also submit written or oral comments. i. Registration. You must register to participate in the virtual meeting. To participate by listening or making a comment during this meeting, please go to the EPA website to register: https:// www.epa.gov/tsca-peer-review. Registration online will be confirmed by an email that will include the webcast meeting link and audio teleconference information. ii. Oral comments. Requests to make brief oral comments to the TSCA SACC during the virtual meeting should be submitted when registering online or with the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT on or before noon on the date set in the DATES section. Oral comments before the TSCA SACC during the virtual meeting are limited to approximately 5 minutes. Each speaker should email their comments and presentation to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, preferably, at least 24 hours prior to the oral public comment period. iii. Written comments. Please refer to the February 26, 2020, Federal Register notice (85 FR 11079) for detailed instructions on written comments. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. Dated: March 13, 2020. Hayley Hughes, Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy. [FR Doc. 2020–05826 Filed 3–19–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM 20MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 55 (Friday, March 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16095-16096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05777]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-10005-99-Region 6]


Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petitions for Objection 
to State Operating Permit for Dow Chemical Company, Dow Salt Dome 
Operations, Brazoria County, Texas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of final Order on Petition for objection to Clean Air 
Act title V operating permit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed 
an Order dated February 18, 2020, granting a Petition dated August 31, 
2015 from the Environmental Integrity Project and Sierra Club. The 
Petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA)

[[Page 16096]]

title V operating permit issued by the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to Dow Chemical Company (Dow) for its Dow 
Salt Dome Operations located in Brazoria County, Texas.

ADDRESSES: The EPA requests that you contact the individual listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to view copies of the final 
Order, the Petition, and other supporting information. You may review 
copies of the final Order, the Petition, and other supporting 
information at the EPA Region 6 Office, 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 
75270-2102. You may view the hard copies Monday through Friday, from 9 
a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding federal holidays. If you wish to examine 
these documents, you should make an appointment at least 24 hours 
before the visiting day. Additionally, the final Order and Petition are 
available electronically at: https://www.epa.gov/title-v-operating-permits/title-v-petition-database.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Wilson, EPA Region 6, (214) 665-
7596, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CAA affords EPA a 45-day period to 
review and object to, as appropriate, operating permits proposed by 
state permitting authorities under title V of the CAA. Section 
505(b)(2) of the CAA authorizes any person to petition the EPA 
Administrator to object to a title V operating permit within 60 days 
after the expiration of the EPA's 45-day review period if the EPA has 
not objected on its own initiative. Petitions must be based only on 
objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable specificity 
during the public comment period provided by the state, unless the 
petitioner demonstrates that it was impracticable to raise these issues 
during the comment period or unless the grounds for the issue arose 
after this period.
    The EPA received the Petition from the Environmental Integrity 
Project and Sierra Club dated August 31, 2015, requesting that the EPA 
object to the issuance of the facility's Federal Operating Permit 
Number O2212, issued by TCEQ to Dow Chemical Company's Salt Dome 
Operations in Brazoria County, Texas. The Petition claims the proposed 
permit improperly incorporates by reference confidential operational 
limits even though operational limits are required to be federally 
enforceable by being publicly available and listed in the proposed 
permit.
    On February 18, 2020, the EPA Administrator issued an Order 
granting the Petition requesting that the EPA Administrator object to 
the title V operating permit. The Order explains the basis for EPA's 
decision.

    Dated: March 13, 2020.
Kenley McQueen,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2020-05777 Filed 3-19-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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