Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for the notice that published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2024, seeking public comment on the manufacture of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), during the fluorination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other plastic containers to inform regulations as appropriate under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). That notice established a public comment period that is scheduled to end on November 29, 2024. This document extends that comment period for 31 days to December 30, 2024. EPA received a request to extend the comment period from an interested stakeholder who requested additional time to collect information relating to EPA's notice and develop thoughtful responses to the issues raised in EPA's notice. EPA believes it is appropriate to extend the comment period in order to give stakeholders including the requester additional time to identify and gather information related to the issues identified in EPA's notice and to prepare comprehensive comments.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the EPA gives notice of a public meeting of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC). The NAC and GAC provide advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental policy, technology, and management issues. NAC and GAC members represent academia, business/industry, non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and Tribal governments. The purpose of this meeting is to provide advice to the EPA Administrator on the 2026-2030 Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Strategic Plan, and other matters related to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Due to unforeseen administrative circumstances, it is possible that EPA may announce this meeting with less than 15 calendar days' notice.

Tennessee has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended. The EPA has reviewed Tennessee's application and has determined, subject to public comment, that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization. Therefore, in the "Rules and Regulations" section of this Federal Register, we are authorizing Tennessee for these changes as a final action without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of requests by registrants, submitted as part of their 2024 Pesticide Registration Maintenance Fee responses, to voluntarily cancel certain pesticide registrations. EPA intends to grant these requests to cancel at the close of the comment period for this announcement unless the Agency receives substantive comments within the comment period that would merit its further review of the requests to cancel, or unless the registrants withdraw its requests to cancel. If these requests to cancel are granted, any sale, distribution, or use of products listed in this notice will be permitted after the registrations have been cancelled only if such sale, distribution, or use is consistent with the terms as described in the final order. Additionally, EPA is issuing a notice of intent to cancel other pesticide product registrations as a result of registrants' non-payment of 2024 Pesticide Registration Maintenance Fees.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing approval of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") requirements for the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or "standards") in the San Joaquin Valley "Serious" nonattainment area. The EPA is also finalizing a one-year extension of the applicable attainment date from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024, for the 1997 annual PM2.5 San Joaquin Valley, California, nonattainment area based on our evaluation of air quality monitoring data and the extension request and supporting information submitted by the State of California.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Wisconsin or WDNR) on July 30, 2021, along with subsequent information discussed herein, as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. Wisconsin's SIP submission and the subsequent information addresses the requirement that states must periodically revise their long-term strategies for making reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas. The SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. EPA is taking this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the materials that are incorporated by reference (IBR) into the Idaho State Implementation Plan (SIP). The regulations affected by this update have been previously submitted by Idaho and approved by the EPA. In this final rule, the EPA is also notifying the public of corrections and clarifying changes in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) tables that identify the materials incorporated by reference into the Idaho SIP. This update affects the materials that are available for public inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the EPA Regional Office.

In the Federal Register of February 8, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) announced it had determined that pesticide products marketed in flexible packaging (e.g., pouches) 20 fluid ounces or less in size with labeling either directly recommending residential use or reasonably interpreted to permit residential use are subject to the Child Resistant Packaging (CRP) mitigation measures, regardless of acute toxicity requirements, based on the visual similarity of the packaging design to children's food products. With this document, the Agency is clarifying that the flexible packaging intended to be addressed by the determination is the packaging known as flexible spouted pouches, also known as a spouted pouch, spouted pouch and cap, or fitment pouch. The determination does not apply to non- spouted flexible packaging such as the flexible packaging of household cleaning wipes and pet spot on pipettes or applicators.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Connecticut. On May 9, 2023, and supplemented on February 21, 2024, the State submitted a Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for New Haven and Fairfield Counties (New Haven-Fairfield). This revision provides for the maintenance of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through the end of the second 10-year portion of the maintenance period. Additionally, EPA finds the LMP to be adequate since it meets the appropriate transportation conformity requirements. The intended effect of this action is to approve Connecticut's LMP for the 2006 24- hour PM2.5 NAAQS for the New Haven- Fairfield maintenance area into the Connecticut SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (the Board or EFAB). The Board provides advice to EPA on ways to lower the costs of, and increase investments in, environmental and public health protection. Appointments will be made by the Administrator and will be announced in June 2025. EPA may also consider nominations received through this solicitation in the event of unanticipated vacancies on the Board.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) that were submitted by the Department of Ecology (Ecology) in coordination with the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA). In 2021, the EPA approved a comprehensive update to the SRCAA general air quality regulations in the SIP, which include new source review permitting requirements as well as other general requirements for sources regulated under SRCAA's jurisdiction. In this action, the EPA proposes to approve additional updates to the SRCAA general air quality regulations promulgated since our comprehensive approval in 2021.

The Director of the Water Division, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyRegion 1 (EPA), is providing a Notice of Availability for the Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) New Hampshire Medium Wastewater Treatment Facility General Permit (NH Medium WWTF GP) for discharges to certain Class B waters of the State of New Hampshire. This Draft NPDES NH Medium WWTF GP ("Draft General Permit") establishes effluent limitations and requirements, effluent and ambient monitoring requirements, reporting requirements, and standard conditions for 21 eligible facilities that are currently covered by individual NPDES permits (see Attachment E of the Draft General Permit for a list of eligible WWTFs). The Draft General Permit is available on EPA Region 1's website at https:// www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/region-1-draft-new-hampshire-medium - wastewater-treatment-facility-general-permit. The Fact Sheet for the Draft General Permit sets forth principal facts and the significant factual, legal, methodological, and policy questions considered in the development of the Draft General Permit and is also available at this website.

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to enter into individual settlements with six parties concerning the Bennett Landfill Fire Site located in Chester, South Carolina. The proposed settlements address recovery of CERCLA costs for a cleanup that was performed at the Site and costs incurred by EPA.

As part of EPA's high-priority efforts to reduce childhood lead exposure, and in accordance with a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2021 opinion, EPA is finalizing its proposal to lower the dust-lead hazard standards to any reportable level as analyzed by a laboratory recognized by EPA's National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP). EPA's lead-based paint (LBP) regulations do not compel property owners or occupants to evaluate their property for LBP hazards or to take control actions, but if a LBP activity such as an abatement is performed, then EPA's regulations set requirements for doing so. EPA is also finalizing changes to lower the post-abatement dust-lead clearance levels to 5 micrograms per square foot ([micro]g/ft\2\), 40 [micro]g/ft\2\, and 100 [micro]g/ft\2\ for floors, window sills and troughs respectively, the current levels in New York City. Due to feedback from public comments, EPA is also finalizing changes to the nomenclature to adopt the terms dust-lead reportable levels (DLRL) and dust-lead action levels (DLAL). Given the decoupling of the action levels from the reportable levels, EPA is finalizing revisions to the definition of abatement so that the recommendation for action based on dust-lead applies when dust-lead loadings are at or above the action levels, rather than the hazard standards, as has been the case historically. The dust-lead hazard standards will be described as DLRL moving forward (i.e., after publication of this final rule) and the dust-lead clearance levels will be described as DLAL. Additionally, EPA is finalizing several other amendments, including revising the definition of target housing to conform with the statute.

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.

On or about November 8, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available to the public an update on two aspects of the approach for the quantitative human exposure and health risk analyses, Update on Two Aspects of the Analytical Approach (Update). This Update provides additional detail regarding aspects of the analysis plans described in Volume 3 of the Integrated Review Plan for the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards (IRP). The national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead (Pb) are set to protect the public health and the public welfare from Pb in ambient air. Volume 3 of the IRP is the planning document for quantitative analyses to be considered in the policy assessment (PA), including human exposure and health risk analyses.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of revisions to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD or "County") portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from loading of organic liquids and gasoline. We are proposing action on local rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"). We are also proposing to disapprove the MCAQD's reasonably available control technology (RACT) demonstration for the source categories associated with these rules for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in the Phoenix-Mesa ozone nonattainment area. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluindapyr in or on soybean, forage; soybean, hay; soybean, hulls; and soybean, seed. FMC Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that a portion of a December 7, 2023, final disapproval action of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Louisiana was in error and to make a correction pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to correct three errors published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2024. This May 8, 2024 rule (Legacy Final Rule) established regulatory requirements for legacy coal combustion residuals (CCR) surface impoundments and CCR management units, among other things, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This proposal seeks comment on issues discussed in the direct final rule to correct three errors in the Legacy Final Rule.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to address outdated maximum and minimum statutory civil monetary penalty amounts by adding language that refers readers to the up-to-date maximum and minimum statutory civil monetary penalty amounts. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended through the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires the EPA to annually issue rules that adjust the statutory maximum and minimum civil penalty amounts under the various environmental laws implemented by the EPA to account for inflation. The EPA makes inflation adjustments for each of the outdated penalty amounts in a separate rule. This rule adds language notifying the reader that the penalty amount listed may not be accurate and refers the reader to the EPA's regulation to find the correct amounts.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): "Threshold Setting Data Needs for the Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials," identified by EPA ICR No. 2805.01 and OMB Control No. 2070-NEW. This ICR represents a new request. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a portion of the state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The revisions being approved adopt nitrogen oxides (NOX) emission limits and requirements for the coal-fired electric generating units (EGUs) equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) at the Keystone, Conemaugh, Homer City, and Montour facilities. The NOX limits address reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements for these EGUs for the 1997 and 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and address the deficiencies identified in EPA's August 16, 2022, disapproval of an earlier SIP submission. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA has received applications to register new uses for pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients. 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 the State of Arizona's request to redesignate the Yuma nonattainment area from nonattainment to attainment for the 8-hour national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or "standard") for ozone promulgated in 2015 ("2015 ozone NAAQS"). The EPA is also proposing to approve the "SIP Revision: 2015 Ozone NAAQS, Yuma Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan" ("Yuma Maintenance Plan" or "Plan") as a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the State of Arizona. The Yuma Maintenance Plan includes, among other elements, an emissions inventory consistent with attainment, a maintenance demonstration, contingency provisions, and a motor vehicle emissions budget for the first ten-year maintenance period. With this proposed rulemaking, the EPA is beginning the adequacy process for the 2020, 2030, and 2037 motor vehicle emissions budgets. The EPA is proposing these actions because this SIP revision meets the applicable Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act") requirements for maintenance plans and because the State has met the requirements under the Act for redesignation of a nonattainment area to attainment with respect to the Yuma 2015 ozone NAAQS nonattainment area ("Yuma area").