Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") State implementation plan (SIP) revision on behalf of the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD or "District") that corrects deficiencies concerning the District's nonattainment new source review stationary source permitting program. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, of PCAPCD Rule 502, "New Source Review." The effect of this interim final determination is to defer sanctions that were triggered by the EPA's previous limited disapproval of PCAPCD Rule 502 in 2023.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is postponing the effectiveness of certain regulatory provisions of the final rule entitled "Trichloroethylene (TCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)" for 90 days pending judicial review. Specifically, this postponement applies to the conditions imposed on the uses with TSCA exemptions.

Pursuant to section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the review of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Brick and Structural Clay Products Manufacturing; and Clay Ceramics Manufacturing (Brick and Clay 610 Review). As part of this review, the EPA will consider and solicit comments on the following factors: the continued need for the rule; the nature of complaints or comments received concerning the rule; the complexity of the rule; the extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal, State, or local government rules; and the degree to which the technology, economic conditions or other factors have changed in areas affected by the rule.

By a letter dated August 14, 2024, and supplemented by a letter dated March 5, 2025, the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation announced the convening of a proceeding for reconsideration of certain requirements in the final rule, "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities Technology Review," published on April 3, 2024. In this action, the EPA is staying provisions establishing compliance deadlines in 2025 for requirements that were added or revised by the April 3, 2024, final rule for 90 days pending reconsideration.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NSPS for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (EPA ICR Number 2498.05, OMB Control Number 2060-0697) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through March 31, 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on August 6, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Pseudomonas oryzihabitans strain SYM23945 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Indigo Ag, Inc. submitted a petition to the EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Pseudomonas oryzihabitans strain SYM23945 under FFDCA when used in accordance with this exemption.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") state implementation plan (SIP) revision on behalf of the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD or "District") that corrects deficiencies concerning the District's New Source Review (NSR) stationary source permitting program. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, of AVAQMD Rules 1301, 1302 (except 1302(C)(5) and 1302(C)(7)(c)), 1303, 1304, 1305, and 1309. The effect of this interim final determination is to stay the application of the offset sanction and to defer the action of the highway sanction that were triggered by the EPA's limited disapproval of AVAQMD Rules 1301, 1302 (except 1302(C)(5) and 1302(C)(7)(c)), 1303, 1304, 1305, 1309 on July 3, 2023.

On December 13, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) for new, modified, and reconstructed stationary combustion turbines and stationary gas turbines. The EPA is reopening the public comment period for this proposed rule to allow additional time for stakeholders to review and comment on the proposal. The initial 90-day public comment period, which ended March 13, 2025, is being reopened for an additional 21 days, from March 25, 2025 to April 15, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reopening the public comment period on the proposed rule entitled "Air Plan Approval; AK, Fairbanks North Star Borough; 2006 24-hour PM2.5 Serious Area and 189(d) Plan" published on January 8, 2025. Commenters requested more time to review the proposal and prepare comments. In response, the EPA is providing an additional 30 days for the public to provide comment on all aspects of the proposed rule. The January 8, 2025, notice of proposed rulemaking also started the EPA's adequacy process for the motor vehicle emissions budgets and began the public comment period for that process. The EPA is not reopening the public comment period for the adequacy process, and it intends to proceed with the adequacy process outside of this rulemaking.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army intend to engage with State and Tribal co- regulators; industry and agricultural stakeholders; environmental and conservation stakeholders; and the public on certain key topics related to the implementation of the definition of "waters of the United States" in light of the Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. The agencies are committed to learning from the past regulatory approachesthe pre-2015 regulations and guidance, the 2015 Clean Water Rule, the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule, the 2023 Rule, and the Amended 2023 Rulewhile engaging with stakeholders before taking further administrative action to provide any additional clarification to agency staff, co-regulators, and the public on specific aspects of the definition of "waters of the United States." This notice includes an announcement of forthcoming listening sessions on specific key topic areas to hear interested stakeholders' perspectives on defining "waters of the United States" consistent with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction and how to implement that interpretation as the agencies consider next steps. The agencies are also accepting written recommendations from members of the public via a recommendations docket. These opportunities are intended to provide for broad, transparent engagement with a full spectrum of stakeholders.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination to stay and defer the imposition of sanctions under the Clean Air Act (CAA), based on a proposed determination that the Sacramento Metro area has attained the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by its December 31, 2024, attainment date. The proposed determination of attainment is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

On January 22, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule titled "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Chemical Manufacturing Area Sources Technology Review." The EPA is extending the comment period on this proposed rule, which was scheduled to close on March 24, 2025. The comment period will now remain open until April 14, 2025, to allow additional time for stakeholders to review and comment on the proposal.

Due to the receipt of adverse comment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the direct final rule titled, "Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Legacy CCR Surface Impoundments; Correction," published on January 16, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the Feather River Air Quality Management District (FRAQMD or "District") portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns recodification of certain rules to replace historical Sutter County Air Pollution Control District and Yuba County Air Pollution Control District rules with the corresponding FRAQMD rules. These rules regulate pollutants under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act").

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions, under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"), to portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) regarding emissions statements (ES) requirements for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). In addition, we are approving that the following California nonattainment areas meet the ES requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS: Tuscan Buttes, Kern County (Eastern Kern), and San Diego County.

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice to the public of the denial of the Petition to Set Aside Consent Agreement and Proposed Final Order filed in the matter styled as In the Matter of Frederick- Winchester Service Authority, and Frederick County Sanitation Authority, d/b/a Frederick Water, Docket No. CWA-03-2024-0036, along with the reasons for such denial.

In the Federal Register of January 7, 2025, EPA announced the availability of and solicited public comment on a draft risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) (1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-dicyclohexyl ester) (CASRN 84-61-7). This document reopens the comment period, which is scheduled to end on March 10, 2025, for 60 days.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the rescheduled meeting dates of the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) that had been previously scheduled for February 2025 to consider and review the draft risk evaluation for 1,3- butadiene. The rescheduled preparatory meeting for the SACC to consider the scope and clarity of the revised draft charge questions for the peer review will now be held on March 25, 2025, and the rescheduled peer review meeting for the SACC to consider the draft documents and public comments will now be held on April 1 to 4, 2025. As previously announced, these meetings will be virtual public meetings of the SACC, with the public invited to comment on the scope and clarity of the revised draft charge questions for the peer review and the draft risk evaluation and related documents, including a new supplement of preliminarily refined risk estimates for 1,3-butadiene released from facilities in advance of and during the peer review meeting. The SACC will consider the comments during their discussions.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of an initial filing of a pesticide petition requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on December 20, 2023. The revision modifies the State's air quality regulations as incorporated into the SIP by changing the definition of "volatile organic compounds" (VOC) to be consistent with Federal regulations. The revision also addresses typographical errors and increases clarity and consistency with EPA's definitions and Alabama's Legislative Services Agency requirements.

In accordance with section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), notice is hereby given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 ("EPA"), of a proposed settlement agreement ("Agreement") related to the U.S. Technology Superfund Site ("Site") in Berger, Franklin County, Missouri.

In the Federal Register of January 16, 2025, EPA announced the availability of and solicited public comment on the draft scope of the risk evaluation to be conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for vinyl chloride (ethene, chloro-; CASRN 75-01-4). This document extends/reopens the comment period, which is scheduled to end on March 3, 2025, for 30 days.