Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit, 87368-87369 [2024-25483]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 87368 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2024 / Notices CERCLA, as amended, authorizes EPA to award grants or cooperative agreements to states, Tribal Nations, local governments, and other eligible entities to support the assessment and cleanup of brownfields properties, and subtitle C authorizes a noncompetitive $50 million program to establish and enhance state and Tribal response programs. The authority for these financial assistance programs is codified at CERCLA 104(k) and CERCLA 128(a) respectively. Congress appropriates specific amounts of funding for both programs in EPA’s State and Tribal Assistance Grant account. With this ICR, EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) seeks authorization to collect information from grant applicants and noncompetitive funding requesters using several standard instruments (templates) that will streamline the data collection effort and improve the quality, efficiency, and fairness of the competitions and allocations. EPA estimates that all respondents who voluntarily respond to this information collection by electing to participate in the Brownfields Program have determined that the expected benefits of participation outweigh any burden associated with preparing the response. This new ICR provides the burden estimate for activities associated with optional applicant use instruments, and EPA review of the submissions; and seeks approval for seven standard application/request templates. EPA’s goal in providing these templates is to provide an example for applicants and requesters of how the information in an application or funding request can be presented. Applicants and requesters who choose not to use the sample formats for providing information will not be punished. However, when the information in an application or funding request is presented using a standard format, EPA staff can review applications and funding requests more efficiently. Form Numbers: OMB Control Number: 2050–NEW; EPA ICR Number: 7789.01. Respondents/affected entities: State/ local/tribal governments; Non-Profits. Respondent’s obligation to respond: required to obtain or retain a benefit (2 CFR part 1500). Estimated number of respondents: 1,215 (total). Frequency of response: Annually. Total estimated burden: 7,865 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b). Total estimated cost: $1,060,540.53 (per year), which includes $0 VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Oct 31, 2024 Jkt 265001 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is no increase or decrease of hours in the total estimated respondent burden because this is a new ICR being submitted to OMB. Dated: October 28, 2024. Brian Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization. [FR Doc. 2024–25417 Filed 10–31–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OGC–2024–0490; FRL–12343–01– OGC] Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of proposed consent decree; request for public comment. AGENCY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is providing notice of a proposed consent decree in Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club v. Regan, No. 4:24-cv-01900–HSG (N.D. Cal.). On May 11, 2024, Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club (collectively Plaintiffs) filed an amended complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to perform certain non-discretionary duties in accordance with the Act: to determine that certain nonattainment areas under the 2010 primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2) had failed to submit required state implementation plans (SIPs); to promulgate federal implementation plans (FIPs) for certain SO2 nonattainment areas; and to determine whether certain nonattainment areas had timely attained the NAAQS. The proposed consent decree would establish deadlines for EPA to take actions. SUMMARY: Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received by December 2, 2024. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OGC–2024–0490, online at https:// www.regulations.gov (EPA’s preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID number for this action. Comments received may be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the ‘‘Additional Information about Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decree’’ heading under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Thrift, Air and Radiation Law Office, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; telephone: (202) 564–8852; email address: thrift.mike@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Obtaining a Copy of the Proposed Consent Decree The official public docket for this action (identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2024–0490 contains a copy of the proposed consent decree. The official public docket is available for public viewing at the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is (202) 566–1752. The electronic version of the public docket for this action contains a copy of the proposed consent decree, and is available through https:// www.regulations.gov. You may use https://www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, key in the appropriate docket identification number then select ‘‘search.’’ II. Additional Information About the Proposed Consent Decree Plaintiffs filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that EPA failed to perform certain nondiscretionary duties in accordance with the Clean Air Act under sections 110 and 179 to (i) determine that certain nonattainment areas under the 2010 primary SO2 NAAQS had failed to submit required SIPs; (ii) promulgate E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2024 / Notices FIPs for certain SO2 nonattainment areas; and (iii) determine whether certain nonattainment areas had timely attained the NAAQS. Subsequently, EPA issued a notice determining that the areas alleged to have failed to submit SIPs in fact had so failed, thus mooting Plaintiffs’ claim on those grounds. The EPA solicits public comments on a proposed consent decree that would establish deadlines for EPA to take proposed and final actions pursuant to CAA sections 110(c) and 179(c) related to the 2010 primary SO2 NAAQS. The consent decree would require that EPA no later than December 19, 2024, sign a final notice (or notices) determining under CAA section 179(c) whether the Anne-Arundel/Baltimore County, MD; Alton Township, IL; St. Clair, MI; Freestone-Anderson, TX; Rusk-Panola. TX; Titus, TX; Evangeline Parish, LA; and Piti-Cabras, Guam, nonattainment areas timely attained the 2010 primary SO2 NAAQS; and by August 29, 2025, sign a final notice under CAA section 179(c) determining whether the Huntington, IN nonattainment area timely attained the NAAQS and sign a final notice promulgating a FIP for that area under the NAAQS. The consent decree would also require that EPA no later than September 30, 2025, sign a proposed notice (or notices) to promulgate FIPs under the NAAQS for the Piti-Cabras, Guam and Evangeline Parish, LA nonattainment areas and by March 31, 2026, sign a final notice (or notices) promulgating FIPs under the NAAQS for the Piti-Cabras, Guam and Evangeline Parish, LA nonattainment areas; and by August 28, 2026, sign a final notice promulgating a FIP under the NAAQS for the Hayden, AZ nonattainment area. In addition, the consent decree would require that EPA no later than January 14, 2027, sign a proposed notice (or notices) to promulgate FIPs under the NAAQS for the Guayama-Salinas and San Juan, Puerto Rico nonattainment areas and by June 1, 2027, sign a final notice (or notices) promulgating FIPs under the NAAQS for the Guayama-Salinas and San Juan, Puerto Rico nonattainment areas; and by November 1, 2027, sign a final notice (or notices) determining whether the Guayama-Salinas and San Juan, Puerto Rico nonattainment areas timely attained the NAAQS. For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will accept written comments relating to the proposed consent decree. The EPA or the Department of Justice may withdraw or withhold consent to the proposed consent decree if the comments disclose VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Oct 31, 2024 Jkt 265001 facts or considerations that indicate that such consent is inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or inconsistent with the requirements of the Act. III. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decree Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2024– 0490, via https://www.regulations.gov. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from this docket. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA’s docket at https:// www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ commenting-epa-dockets. For additional information about submitting information identified as CBI, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. Note that written comments containing CBI and submitted by mail may be delayed and deliveries or couriers will be received by scheduled appointment only. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing address, and an email address or other contact information in the body of your comment. This ensures that you can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your comment. Any identifying or contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket and made available in EPA’s electronic public docket. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 87369 Use of the https:// www.regulations.gov website to submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA’s preferred method for receiving comments. The electronic public docket system is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity, email address, or other contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period will be marked ‘‘late.’’ The EPA is not required to consider these late comments. Gautam Srinivasan, Associate General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2024–25483 Filed 10–31–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [GN Docket No. 19–329; FR ID 257926] Federal Advisory Committee Act; Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice advises interested persons that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States (Task Force) will hold its next meeting via live internet link. DATES: December 5, 2024. The meeting will come to order at 10 a.m. EST. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via conference call and open viewing to the public via live feed from the FCC’s web page at www.fcc.gov/live. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Caditz, Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 418–2268, or Emily.Caditz@fcc.gov; or Grant B. Lukas, Deputy Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 418–1057, or Grant.Lukas@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting will be held on December 5, 2024 at 10 a.m. EST and may be viewed live, by the public, at https:// www.fcc.gov/live. Any questions that arise during the meeting should be sent to PrecisionAgTF@fcc.gov and will be answered at a later date. Members of the public may submit comments to the Task Force in the FCC’s Electronic SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87368-87369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25483]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OGC-2024-0490; FRL-12343-01-OGC]


Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed consent decree; request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as 
amended (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or 
the Agency) is providing notice of a proposed consent decree in Center 
for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club v. Regan, No. 4:24-cv-01900-
HSG (N.D. Cal.). On May 11, 2024, Plaintiffs Center for Biological 
Diversity and Sierra Club (collectively Plaintiffs) filed an amended 
complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District 
of California. Plaintiffs alleged that EPA failed to perform certain 
non-discretionary duties in accordance with the Act: to determine that 
certain nonattainment areas under the 2010 primary National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2) had 
failed to submit required state implementation plans (SIPs); to 
promulgate federal implementation plans (FIPs) for certain 
SO2 nonattainment areas; and to determine whether certain 
nonattainment areas had timely attained the NAAQS. The proposed consent 
decree would establish deadlines for EPA to take actions.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received 
by December 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OGC-2024-0490, online at https://www.regulations.gov (EPA's preferred 
method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
number for this action. Comments received may be posted without change 
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Additional Information 
about Commenting on the Proposed Consent Decree'' heading under the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Thrift, Air and Radiation Law 
Office, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency; telephone: (202) 564-8852; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining a Copy of the Proposed Consent Decree

    The official public docket for this action (identified by Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OGC-2024-0490 contains a copy of the proposed consent 
decree. The official public docket is available for public viewing at 
the Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket 
Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. 
The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the 
telephone number for the OEI Docket is (202) 566-1752.
    The electronic version of the public docket for this action 
contains a copy of the proposed consent decree, and is available 
through https://www.regulations.gov. You may use https://www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index 
listing of the contents of the official public docket, and access those 
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once 
in the system, key in the appropriate docket identification number then 
select ``search.''

II. Additional Information About the Proposed Consent Decree

    Plaintiffs filed a complaint in the United States District Court 
for the Northern District of California alleging that EPA failed to 
perform certain non-discretionary duties in accordance with the Clean 
Air Act under sections 110 and 179 to (i) determine that certain 
nonattainment areas under the 2010 primary SO2 NAAQS had 
failed to submit required SIPs; (ii) promulgate

[[Page 87369]]

FIPs for certain SO2 nonattainment areas; and (iii) 
determine whether certain nonattainment areas had timely attained the 
NAAQS. Subsequently, EPA issued a notice determining that the areas 
alleged to have failed to submit SIPs in fact had so failed, thus 
mooting Plaintiffs' claim on those grounds.
    The EPA solicits public comments on a proposed consent decree that 
would establish deadlines for EPA to take proposed and final actions 
pursuant to CAA sections 110(c) and 179(c) related to the 2010 primary 
SO2 NAAQS. The consent decree would require that EPA no 
later than December 19, 2024, sign a final notice (or notices) 
determining under CAA section 179(c) whether the Anne-Arundel/Baltimore 
County, MD; Alton Township, IL; St. Clair, MI; Freestone-Anderson, TX; 
Rusk-Panola. TX; Titus, TX; Evangeline Parish, LA; and Piti-Cabras, 
Guam, nonattainment areas timely attained the 2010 primary 
SO2 NAAQS; and by August 29, 2025, sign a final notice under 
CAA section 179(c) determining whether the Huntington, IN nonattainment 
area timely attained the NAAQS and sign a final notice promulgating a 
FIP for that area under the NAAQS. The consent decree would also 
require that EPA no later than September 30, 2025, sign a proposed 
notice (or notices) to promulgate FIPs under the NAAQS for the Piti-
Cabras, Guam and Evangeline Parish, LA nonattainment areas and by March 
31, 2026, sign a final notice (or notices) promulgating FIPs under the 
NAAQS for the Piti-Cabras, Guam and Evangeline Parish, LA nonattainment 
areas; and by August 28, 2026, sign a final notice promulgating a FIP 
under the NAAQS for the Hayden, AZ nonattainment area. In addition, the 
consent decree would require that EPA no later than January 14, 2027, 
sign a proposed notice (or notices) to promulgate FIPs under the NAAQS 
for the Guayama-Salinas and San Juan, Puerto Rico nonattainment areas 
and by June 1, 2027, sign a final notice (or notices) promulgating FIPs 
under the NAAQS for the Guayama-Salinas and San Juan, Puerto Rico 
nonattainment areas; and by November 1, 2027, sign a final notice (or 
notices) determining whether the Guayama-Salinas and San Juan, Puerto 
Rico nonattainment areas timely attained the NAAQS.
    For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication 
of this notice, the Agency will accept written comments relating to the 
proposed consent decree. The EPA or the Department of Justice may 
withdraw or withhold consent to the proposed consent decree if the 
comments disclose facts or considerations that indicate that such 
consent is inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or inconsistent with 
the requirements of the Act.

III. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Consent 
Decree

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OGC-2024-
0490, via https://www.regulations.gov. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from this docket. The EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit to EPA's docket at https://www.regulations.gov any information you consider to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must 
be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered 
the official comment and should include discussion of all points you 
wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, 
cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission 
methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets. For additional information about submitting information 
identified as CBI, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. Note that written 
comments containing CBI and submitted by mail may be delayed and 
deliveries or couriers will be received by scheduled appointment only.
    If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you 
include your name, mailing address, and an email address or other 
contact information in the body of your comment. This ensures that you 
can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to 
contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical 
difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your 
comment. Any identifying or contact information provided in the body of 
a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
official public docket and made available in EPA's electronic public 
docket. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment.
    Use of the https://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments 
to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. 
The electronic public docket system is an ``anonymous access'' system, 
which means EPA will not know your identity, email address, or other 
contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified 
comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period 
will be marked ``late.'' The EPA is not required to consider these late 
comments.

Gautam Srinivasan,
Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-25483 Filed 10-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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