Department of Agriculture August 11, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) review of Utah's 2012-2014 Clean Water Act section 303(d) list, we deferred action on Utah's decision not to list the Great Salt Lake as impaired. We are seeking data from the Great Salt Lake for consideration. While we are seeking all available mercury concentration data (any medium) from the Great Salt Lake we are particularly interested in obtaining mercury concentration data in avian: tissue (particularly liver tissue), blood, diet, and eggs. Ideally, we would like raw data and any available quality assurance metadata and quality criteria. Reports and publications are also desirable.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan revision submitted by the State of Georgia, through Georgia Environmental Protection Division on February 6, 2015, to address the base year emissions inventory and emissions statements requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards for the Atlanta, Georgia 2008 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Atlanta Area''). These requirements apply to all ozone nonattainment areas. The Atlanta Area is comprised of 15 counties in Atlanta (Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, and Rockdale). This proposed action is being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Washington, Department of Ecology (Ecology). These revisions pertain to the plan to maintain the 1997 8-hour national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone in the Vancouver portion of the Portland/ Vancouver Air Quality Maintenance Area (Pdx/Van AQMA). The maintenance plan for this area meets Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements and demonstrates that the Vancouver portion of the Pdx/Van AQMA will be able to remain in attainment for the 1997 ozone NAAQS through 2015. The EPA is approving the maintenance plan and minor revisions to the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) regulations in the statewide Emission Check Program.