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

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92463, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives notice of a public meeting of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). NACEPT provides advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental policy, technology, and management issues. NACEPT members represent academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and local, state, and tribal governments. The purpose of this meeting is for NACEPT to begin developing recommendations to the Administrator regarding actions that EPA can take in response to the agency's charge on citizen science. A copy of the meeting agenda will be posted at https://www2.epa.gov/faca/nacept.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App 2. The Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) is a necessary committee which is in the public interest. Accordingly, CHPAC will be renewed for an additional two-year period. The purpose of CHPAC is to provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator of EPA on issues associated with the development of regulations, guidance and policies to address children's health risks. Inquiries may be directed to Martha Berger, Designated Federal Officer, CHPAC, U.S. EPA,MC 1107T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460 or 202-564-2191 or berger.martha@epa.gov.

This notice announces our approval of the Alternative Means of Emission Limitation (AMEL) requests for the operation of multi-point ground flares (MPGF) at The Dow Chemical Company's (Dow) Propane Dehydrogenation Plant and Light Hydrocarbons Plant located at its Texas Operations site in Freeport, Texas, and the ExxonMobil Chemical Company (ExxonMobil) Olefins Plant in Baytown, Texas, and its Plastics Plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas. This approval notice also specifies the operating conditions and monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for demonstrating compliance with the AMEL that these facilities must follow. In addition, this notice solicits comments on an all aspects of an AMEL request from Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) in which long- term MPGF burner stability and destruction efficiency have been demonstrated on different pressure-assisted MPGF burners that OCC has proposed for use in controlling emissions at its Ingleside, Texas, ethylene plant. Lastly, this notice presents and solicits comments on all aspects of a framework of both MPGF burner testing and rule-specific emissions control equivalency demonstrations that we anticipate, when followed, would afford us the ability to approve future AMEL requests for MPGF in a more efficient and streamlined manner.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving two revisions to the New Mexico State Implementation Plan (SIP) to update the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) SIP permitting program consistent with federal requirements. New Mexico submitted the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County PSD SIP permitting revisions on July 26, 2013, and June 11, 2015, which includes a request for parallel processing of the submitted 2015 revisions. These submittals contain revisions to address the requirements of the EPA's May 2008, July 2010, and October 2012 PM2.5 PSD Implementation Rules and to incorporate revisions consistent with the EPA's March 2011 Fugitives Interim Rule, July 2011 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Biomass Deferral Rule, and July 2012 GHG Tailoring Rule Step 3 and GHG PALs Rule. The EPA finds that these revisions to the New Mexico SIP meet the Federal Clean Air Act (the Act or CAA) and EPA regulations, and are consistent with EPA policies. We are taking this action under section 110 and part C of title I of the Act. The EPA is not approving these rules within the exterior boundaries of a reservation or other areas within any Tribal Nation's jurisdiction.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of Regulation 2, Rules 1 and 2 for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD or District) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on April 22, 2013. These revisions consist of significant updates to rules governing the issuance of permits for stationary sources, including review and permitting of major sources and major modifications under parts C and D of title I of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The intended effect of this proposed limited approval and limited disapproval action is to update the applicable SIP with current BAAQMD permitting rules and to set the stage for remedying certain deficiencies in these rules. If finalized as proposed, this limited disapproval action would trigger an obligation for EPA to promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan unless California submits and we approve SIP revisions that correct the deficiencies within two years of the final action, and for certain deficiencies the limited disapproval would also trigger sanctions under section 179 of the CAA unless California submits and we approve SIP revisions that correct the deficiencies within 18 months of final action.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of the Chief Financial Officer is giving notice that it proposes to create a new system of records pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). This system of records contains personally identifiable information (PII) collected from individuals registering to attend EPA-hosted meetings and events.

EPA has granted amendments, extensions, and/or issuances of experimental use permits (EUPs) to the pesticide applicants described in Unit II. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. An EUP permits use of a pesticide for experimental or research purposes only in accordance with the limitations in the permit.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the State of Missouri. This final action will approve Missouri's SIP for the Buick/Viburnum Trend lead National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) nonattainment area near Boss, Missouri. EPA proposed approval of this plan on June 1, 2015. The applicable standard addressed in this action is the lead NAAQS promulgated by EPA in 2008. EPA believes Missouri's SIP satisfies the applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) identified in EPA's 2008 Final Rule and will bring the area into attainment of the 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m\3\) lead NAAQS in the Buick/Viburnum Trend, Missouri area. In this action, EPA is also finalizing its approval of a revision to the Missouri SIP to incorporate an amendment to an existing Missouri regulation to restrict lead emissions from specific sources. The amendment revises certain throughput and emissions limits applicable to the Buick Resource Recycling Facility (BRRF) in the Buick/Viburnum Trend lead nonattainment area. Approval of this rule ensures consistency between the state and Federally-approved rules, and ensures Federal enforceability of the revised state rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing three separate and independent determinations related to the 36 areas that are currently classified as ``Marginal'' for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). First, the EPA is proposing to determine that 17 areas attained the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of July 20, 2015, based on complete, quality-assured and certified ozone monitoring data for 2012-2014. Second, the EPA is proposing to grant 1-year attainment date extensions for eight areas on the basis that the requirements for such extensions under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) have been met. Third, the EPA is proposing to determine that 11 areas failed to attain the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of July 20, 2015, and that they are not eligible for an extension, and to reclassify these areas as ``Moderate'' for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Once reclassified as Moderate, states must submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions that meet the statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to 2008 ozone NAAQS nonattainment areas classified as Moderate. In this action, the EPA is proposing and taking comment on two options for the deadline by which states would need to submit to the EPA for review and approval the SIP revisions required for Moderate areas once their areas are reclassified.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new subpart that updates the Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (Emission Guidelines). The EPA determined that it was appropriate to review the landfills Emission Guidelines based on changes in the landfills industry since the Emission Guidelines were promulgated in 1996. The EPA's review of the Emission Guidelines for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills applies to landfills that accepted waste after November 8, 1987, and commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification on or before July 17, 2014. Based on its initial review, the EPA has determined that it is appropriate to propose revisions to the Emission Guidelines that reflect changes to the population of landfills and the results of an analysis of the timing and methods for reducing emissions. This action proposes to achieve additional reductions of landfill gas (LFG) and its components, including methane, by lowering the emissions threshold at which a landfill must install controls. This action also incorporates new data and information received in response to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking and addresses other regulatory issues including surface emissions monitoring, wellhead monitoring, and the definition of landfill gas treatment system. In addition to considering information received in response to this proposed rule in evaluating potential changes to the Emission Guidelines, the EPA intends to consider the information in evaluating whether changes to the requirements for new sources beyond those in the July 17, 2014, proposed rule for new sources are warranted. The proposed revisions to the Emission Guidelines, once implemented through revised state plans or a revised federal plan, would reduce emissions of LFG, which contains both nonmethane organic compounds and methane. Landfills are a significant source of methane which is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) pollutant. These avoided emissions will improve air quality and reduce public health and welfare effects associated with exposure to landfill gas emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing this supplemental proposal for the Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfills to address the nonmethane organic compound (NMOC) emission rate threshold at which an affected MSW landfill must install controls. The EPA is in the process of reviewing the Standards of Performance for MSW Landfills based on changes in the landfills industry since the standards were promulgated in 1996 and issued a proposed rulemaking on July 17, 2014. The EPA's review of the Standards of Performance for MSW Landfills (also referred to as the New Source Performance Standards or NSPS for MSW Landfills) applies to landfills that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification after July 17, 2014. This document proposes to achieve additional reductions of landfill gas (LFG) and its components, including methane, through a lower emission threshold at which MSW landfills must install and operate a gas collection and control system (GCCS). This document supplements the proposed July 17, 2014, rulemaking by further lowering, from 40 megagrams per year (Mg/yr) to 34 Mg/yr, the proposed NMOC emissions threshold at which controls would be required. This change to the 2014 proposed threshold is based on additional data we have reviewed that indicate greater potential for reductions in methane emissions from these sources than we originally estimated that can be achieved at reasonable cost. Accordingly, the EPA is proposing to establish the NMOC emission rate threshold for installing a GCCS at 34 Mg/yr and is requesting comment specifically on whether this is appropriate. The EPA is also soliciting comment on the number of facilities that might ultimately become subject to proposed new subpart XXX. The EPA intends to consider the information received in response to this supplemental proposal prior to finalizing revised Standards of Performance for MSW Landfills. The EPA is seeking comment only on the two issues addressed by this supplemental proposal and the supplemental proposal does not otherwise reopen the comment period for the July 17, 2014, proposed rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve an element of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from the State of Kansas addressing the applicable requirements of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110 for the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone (O3), which requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP to support implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each new or revised NAAQS promulgated by EPA. These SIPs are commonly referred to as ``infrastructure'' SIPs. The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA.

In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. Section 9622(i), notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative settlement for recovery of response costs under CERCLA Section 122(h) and 104(e), concerning the Former Kocher Drive Dump Superfund Site in Bennington, Vermont with the following settling party: Town of Bennington, Vermont. The settlement requires the Town of Bennington, Vermont to pay $175,000 to the Hazardous Substance Superfund, consisting of principal and interest, on the following payment schedule: (1) $50,000 within 10 days of the Effective Date of the settlement; (2) $75,000 on or before December 31, 2015; and (3) the balance of $50,000 on or before December 31, 2016. The settlement also requires the Town to comply with any request or order from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources relating to the Site. For 30 days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement. The United States 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 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-3912.

This document announces EPA's receipt of several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR) for the Microbial Rules (EPA ICR No. 1895.09, OMB Control No. 2040-0205) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through August 31, 2015. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (80 FR 17040) on March 31, 2015, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is provided in this renewal notice, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is disapproving an element of State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from Illinois regarding the infrastructure requirements of section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the requirements of the CAA. This action pertains specifically to infrastructure requirements concerning state board requirements.

EPA will be hosting a public meeting entitled, ``Workshop for Public Input on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Algae'' on September 30, 2015. The objective of this workshop is to receive public input and comments on EPA's data needs to support risk assessments of biotechnology products subject to oversight under the Toxic Substances Control Act that make use of genetically engineered algae and cyanobacteria. The workshop will inform an update to an EPA guidance document entitled ``Points to Consider in The Preparation of TSCA Biotechnology Submissions for Microorganisms''. EPA encourages all members of the public interested in participating in this workshop to register to attend, whether in-person or through the Web-connect and teleconference that will also be available.

EPA has received applications to register pesticide products containing active ingredients not included in any currently registered pesticide products. Pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is hereby providing notice of receipt and opportunity to comment on these applications.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92- 463, notice is hereby given that the Good Neighbor Environmental Board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18, 2015 in San Diego, CA. The meeting is open to the public.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing approval and conditional approval of portions of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) State Implementation Plan (SIP) and other general rule revisions submitted by the State of Utah. The revisions affect the Utah Division of Administrative Rules (DAR), R307-300 Series; Requirements for Specific Locations; the revisions had submission dates of February 2, 2012, May 9, 2013, June 8, 2013, February 18, 2014, April 17, 2014, May 20, 2014, July 10, 2014, August 6, 2014, and December 9, 2014. These area source rules control emissions of direct PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors, sulfur dioxides (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). Additionally, the EPA will be proposing to approve the State's reasonably available control measure (RACM) determinations for the rule revisions that pertain to the PM2.5 SIP. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

North Carolina has applied to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization, and is authorizing the State's changes through this direct final rule. In the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's Federal Register, EPA is also publishing a separate document that serves as the proposal to authorize these changes. EPA believes this action is not controversial and does not expect comments that oppose it. Unless EPA receives written comments that oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize North Carolina's changes to its hazardous waste program will take effect. If EPA receives comments that oppose this action, EPA will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing today's direct final rule before it takes effect, and the separate document published in today's ``Proposed Rules'' section of this Federal Register will serve as the proposal to authorize the changes.

The Director, Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region 10, is proposing to issue a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for Offshore Seafood Processors discharging in Federal Waters off the coasts of Washington and Oregon, pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq. As proposed, the draft general permit authorizes the discharge of treated seafood processing wastes from facilities to Federal Waters of the contiguous zone and ocean.

The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``Transportation Conformity Determinations for Federally Funded and Approved Transportation Plans, Programs and Projects (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2130.05, OMB Control No. 2060-0561) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is approved through August 31, 2015. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (80 FR 9454) on February 23, 2015 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making determinations under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that the Chicago, Illinois and Eagan, Minnesota nonattainment areas (hereafter also referred to, respectively, as the ``Chicago area,'' ``Eagan area,'' or ``areas'') have attained the 2008 lead (Pb) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard). These determinations of attainment are based upon complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2012-2014 design period showing that the areas have achieved attainment of the 2008 Pb NAAQS. Additionally, as a result of these determinations, EPA is suspending the requirements for the areas to submit attainment demonstrations, and associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP) plans, contingency measures for failure to meet RFP, and attainment deadlines, for as long as the areas continue to attain the 2008 Pb NAAQS. This action does not constitute a redesignation of the areas to attainment of the 2008 Pb NAAQS; the areas remain designated nonattainment until such time as EPA determines that the areas meet the CAA requirements for redesignation to attainment and takes action to redesignate the areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Missouri in a letter dated March 30, 2015. This SIP revision provides Missouri's state-determined allowance allocations for existing electric generating units (EGUs) in the state for the 2016 control period and replaces certain allowance allocations for the 2016 control periods established by EPA under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The CSAPR addresses the ``good neighbor'' provision of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) that requires states to reduce the transport of pollution that significantly affects downwind air quality. In this action EPA is proposing to approve Missouri's SIP revision, incorporating the state-determined allocations for the 2016 control periods into the SIP, and amending the regulatory text of the CSAPR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to reflect this approval and inclusion of the state-determined allocations. EPA is proposing to take direct final action to approve Missouri's SIP revision because it meets the requirements of the CAA and the CSAPR requirements to replace EPA's allowance allocations for the 2016 control periods. This action is being proposed pursuant to the CAA and its implementing regulations. EPA's allocations of CSAPR trading program allowances for Missouri for control periods in 2017 and beyond remain in place until the State submits and EPA approves state-determined allocations for those control periods through another SIP revision. The CSAPR FIPs for Missouri remain in place until such time as the State decides to replace the FIPs with a SIP revision.