Department of Agriculture 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to fully approve revisions to the State of Connecticut's State Implementation Plan (SIP) relating to regulation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions within the context of EPA's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations. EPA is also approving clarifications to the applicability section of Connecticut's Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) regulations. These revisions will be part of Connecticut's major stationary source preconstruction permitting programs, and are intended to align Connecticut's regulations with the federal PSD and NNSR regulations. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection has submitted an information collection request (ICR), ``NESHAP for Hazardous Waste Combustors (40 CFR part 63, subpart EEE) (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1773.11, OMB Control No. 2050-0171) 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 currently approved through July 31, 2015. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (80 FR 20223) on April 15, 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. 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) proposes to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia (collectively, the States). The submittals are comprised of the 2011 base year carbon monoxide (CO) emissions inventories for the Washington, DC-MD-VA nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the States' SIP submittals 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 and EPA's Technical Support Document (TSD) prepared in support of this rulemaking action. The TSD is available in the Docket for this rulemaking action. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, 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. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Rhode Island. This revision includes a regulation adopted by Rhode Island that establishes and requires Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for volatile organic compound (VOC) sources of emissions from miscellaneous adhesives and sealants. The intended effect of this action is to approve these requirements into the Rhode Island SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

EPA is announcing its receipt of test data submitted pursuant to a test rule issued by EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). As required by TSCA, this document identifies each chemical substance and/or mixture for which test data have been received; the uses or intended uses of such chemical substance and/or mixture; and describes the nature of the test data received. Each chemical substance and/or mixture related to this announcement is identified in Unit I. under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of June 24, 2015, concerning the document ``Risk Management Approach to Identifying Options for Protecting the Monarch Butterfly.'' This notice extends the comment period for 30 days, from July 24, 2015 to August 24, 2015. Crop Life America, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, and the California Crops Council requested an extension of the comment period to allow sufficient time to analyze the subject document and assemble relevant information.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of novaluron in or on multiple commodities and removes several existing tolerances which are identified and discussed later in this document. This regulation additionally revises existing tolerances in or on vegetable, cucurbit, group 9; and plum, prune, dried. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

EPA is proposing, in follow-up to canceled product registrations or uses, to revoke certain tolerances for acephate, aldicarb, azinphos-methyl, etridiazole, fenarimol, imazamethabenz- methyl, tepraloxydim, thiacloprid, thiazopyr, and tralkoxydim, and tolerance exemptions for certain pesticide active ingredients. Also, EPA is proposing to make minor revisions to the section heading and introductory text for Pythium oligandrum DV 74. In addition, in accordance with current Agency practice, EPA is proposing to make minor revisions to the tolerance expression for imazamethabenz-methyl, and remove expired tolerances and tolerance exemptions for certain pesticide active ingredients.

On April 4, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) a letter acknowledging MDE has been delegated the authority to implement and enforce sections of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Air Regulations. To inform regulated facilities and the public of MDE's delegation of authority to implement and enforce OCS regulations, EPA is making available a copy of EPA's letter to MDE through this notice.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve portions of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), to EPA on July 25, 2010. The SIP revision includes multiple changes to Mississippi's SIP to add definitions in accordance with federal regulations and to implement clarifying language. EPA is not proposing to take action on the aspects of the SIP revision related to the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) or hazardous air pollutants at this time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) related to Low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) Fuel Regulations that were submitted by the State of Texas on January 5, 2015. The EPA evaluated the Texas SIP submittal and determined these revisions are consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (Act or CAA). The EPA is approving this action under the federal CAA.

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.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Florida through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on July 31, 2009. The revision grants a variance to the Combs Oil Company, located in Naples, Florida. This source specific revision relieves the Combs Oil Company of the requirement to comply with the Florida rule governing installation and operation of vapor collection and control systems on loading racks at bulk gasoline plants. EPA is proposing approval of Florida's July 31, 2009, SIP revision.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources on August 13, 2012, pertaining to definition changes for the Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is approving this SIP revision because the State has demonstrated that it is consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the exclusion for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in Essex Junction, Vermont to reflect changes in ownership and name.

The EPA is fully approving revisions to the Texas New Source Review (NSR) State Implementation Plan (SIP) to establish the Texas Minor NSR Flexible Permits Program (FPP), submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The approval was predicated on the TCEQ meeting its commitment outlined in its letter dated December 9, 2013, to adopt certain minor clarifications to the Flexible Permit Program (FPP) by November 30, 2014. The TCEQ submitted the revised program rules to meet its commitment on July 31, 2014. The EPA is finalizing this action under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This document announces the Agency'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.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of distillates, (Fischer-Tropsch), heavy, C18-C50, branched, cyclic and linear when used as an inert ingredient (solvent, diluent and/or dust suppressant) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops and raw agricultural commodities after harvest. On behalf of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company, Wagner Regulatory Associates, submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of distillates, (Fischer-Tropsch), heavy, C18- C50, branched, cyclic and linear.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a request submitted on March 14, 2013, and supplemented on November 17, 2014, by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to revise the state implementation plan (SIP) for lead. The submittal updates Indiana's lead rule at Title 326 of the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC), Article 15. It also amends 326 IAC Article 20, to incorporate some of the provisions of EPA's National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for secondary lead smelters. IDEM made the revisions to increase the stringency and clarity of Indiana's lead SIP rules.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland (Maryland). This revision includes amendments to Maryland's regulation for the control of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and meets the requirement to adopt reasonably available control technology (RACT) for sources covered by EPA's Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) standards for coatings for metal furniture and miscellaneous metal parts. These amendments will reduce emissions of VOC from these source categories and help Maryland attain and maintain the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's request to redesignate to attainment the Lancaster Nonattainment Area (Lancaster Area or Area) for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard). EPA has determined that the Lancaster Area attained both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, EPA is approving as a revision to the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) the associated maintenance plan to show maintenance of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025 for the Lancaster Area. The maintenance plan includes the 2017 and 2025 PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) mobile vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for the Lancaster Area for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, which EPA is approving for transportation conformity purposes. Furthermore, EPA is approving the 2007 base year emissions inventory included in the maintenance plan for the Lancaster Area for both NAAQS. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a submittal by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) demonstrating that the State Implementation Plan (SIP) meets certain interstate transport requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) promulgated for lead (Pb) on October 15, 2008 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on January 22, 2010. Specifically, Ecology conducted an emissions inventory analysis and reviewed monitoring data to show that sources in Washington do not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 Pb and 2010 NO2 NAAQS in any other state.

This notice announces EPA's approval of the State of Vermont's request to revise/modify certain of its EPA-authorized programs to allow electronic reporting.