Environmental Protection Agency – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (also, ``the Agency'' in this preamble) is granting a petition submitted by Sandvik Special Metals (Sandvik), in Kennewick, Washington to exclude (or ``delist'') up to 1,500 cubic yards of F006 wastewater treatment sludge per year from the list of Federal hazardous wastes. The EPA has decided to grant the petition based on an evaluation of waste-specific information provided by Sandvik and a consideration of public comments received. This action conditionally excludes the petitioned waste from the requirements of hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) when disposed of in a Subtitle D landfill permitted, licensed, or registered by a State. The rule also imposes testing conditions for waste generated in the future to ensure that this waste continues to qualify for delisting. Subject to state- only requirements within the State of Washington, or federally- authorized or state-only requirements in other states where the subject wastes may be disposed of, Sandvik's petitioned waste may be disposed of in a Subtitle D landfill which is permitted, licensed, or registered by a State to manage municipal solid waste, or non-municipal non- hazardous waste.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving portions of State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions and the Title V Operating Permit Program revisions submitted on May 19, 2017, by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM); submitted on November 29, 2017, by the State of Georgia, through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Georgia EPD); and submitted on September 5, 2017, by the State of South Carolina, through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). These revisions address the public notice rule provisions for the New Source Review (NSR) and Title V Operating Permit programs (Title V) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) that remove the mandatory requirement to provide public notice of a draft air permit in a newspaper and that allow electronic notice (``e- notice'') as an alternate noticing option. EPA is approving these revisions pursuant to the CAA and implementing federal regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``EPA's ENERGY STAR Program in the Commercial and Industrial Sectors'' (EPA ICR No. 1772.08, OMB Control No. 2060-0347), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 2019. 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 proposing to approve a request submitted by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on December 12, 2017, and supplemented on August 9, 2018, as a revision to Michigan's state implementation plan (SIP). The SIP submission incorporates several revisions to Michigan's Air Pollution Control Rules entitled ``Part 1General Provisions.'' The revisions include administrative changes to the existing rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing action on three state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of California addressing the nonattainment new source review (NNSR) requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These SIP revisions address the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD) portions of the California SIP.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (Board) will hold a public teleconference on December 19, 2018 from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Due to unforeseen administrative circumstances, EPA is announcing this teleconference with less than 15 calendar days' notice. For further information regarding the teleconference and background materials, please contact Ann-Marie Gantner at the number and email provided below. Background: The Good Neighbor Environmental Board is a federal advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463. By statute, the Board is required to submit an annual report to the President on environmental and infrastructure issues along the U.S. border with Mexico. Purpose of Meeting: The purpose of this teleconference is to discuss and approve the Board's annual letter to the President, which focuses on energy infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border. General Information: The agenda and teleconference materials, as well as general information about the Board, can be found at http:// www2.epa.gov/faca/gneb. If you wish to make oral comments or submit written comments to the Board, please contact Ann-Marie Gantner at least five days prior to the teleconference. Meeting Access: For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Ann-Marie Gantner at (202) 564-4330 or email at gantner.ann-marie@epa.gov. To request accommodation of a disability, please contact Ann-Marie Gantner at least 10 days prior to the meeting to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request.

In accordance with the EPA Administrator's October 16, 2017, Directive Promoting Transparency and Public Participation in Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements, notice is hereby given of a proposed joint stipulation and proposed stipulated notice of dismissal in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in the case of Ellis, et al., v. Keigwin, et al., No. 3:13-cv-01266. On May 8, 2017, the court issued an order on summary judgment dismissing claims against EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (``FIFRA''), but finding that EPA failed to perform duties mandated by the Endangered Species Act (``ESA'') to consult with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (``FWS'') regarding 59 EPA- approved pesticide products containing either of the insecticidal active ingredients clothianidin or thiamethoxam. The parties are proposing to reach a settlement in the form of a joint stipulation on the appropriate remedy for the court's finding of liability. Among other provisions, the joint stipulation would set a June 30, 2022, deadline for EPA to complete ESA effects determination for EPA's registration reviews of clothianidin and thiamethoxam and, as appropriate, request initiation of any ESA consultations with FWS that EPA may determine to be necessary as a result of those effects determinations. EPA is also taking comment on a proposed stipulated notice of dismissal that would be entered with the court following execution of the joint stipulation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Ferroalloys Production: Ferromanganese and Silicomanganese (EPA ICR No. 1831.07, OMB Control No. 2060-0391), 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 December 31, 2018. Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register, on June 29, 2017 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 neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NSPS for Kraft Pulp Mills (EPA ICR No. 1055.12, OMB Control No. 2060-0021), 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 December 31, 2018. Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register, on June 29, 2017 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 neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

This notice announces that the Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX (EPA Region IX) issued a final permit decision to Palmdale Energy, LLC for a Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit for the construction of the Palmdale Energy Project (PEP).

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives notice of a teleconference meeting of the National Environmental Education Advisory Council (NEEAC). The NEEAC was created by Congress to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on matters related to activities, functions and policies of EPA under the National Environmental Education Act (the Act). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss specific topics of relevance for consideration by the council to provide advice and insights to the Agency on environmental education.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit the information collection request (ICR), Part B Permit Application, Permit Modifications, and Special Permits (EPA ICR No. 1573.14, OMB Control No. 2050-0009) 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.). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through May 31, 2019. 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.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), gives notice of a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Chemical Safety for Sustainability Subcommittee.

EPA issued a proposed significant new use rule (SNUR) in the Federal Register of September 17, 2018 (FRL-9983-14) for 28 chemical substances. EPA is reopening the comment period because it received a request to extend the comment period but the request was received too late to publish an extension of the comment period before the comment period expired.

EPA is withdrawing significant new use rules (SNURs) promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 28 chemical substances, which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). EPA published these SNURs using direct final rulemaking procedures, which requires EPA to take certain actions if an adverse comment is received. EPA received adverse comments regarding the SNURs identified in the direct final rule. Therefore, the Agency is withdrawing the direct final rule SNURs identified in this document, as required under the direct final rulemaking procedures.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete the Tomah Armory Landfill Superfund Site (Tomah Armory Site), located in Tomah, Wisconsin, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). EPA and the State of Wisconsin, through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation and maintenance, monitoring and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 announces the partial deletion of all media at the 20-acre Former Research Center Property of the Beloit Corporation Superfund Site (Site), in Rockton, Illinois from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The remainder of the Site will remain on the NPL and is not being considered for deletion as part of this action. EPA and the State of Illinois through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation and maintenance, monitoring and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, the deletion of this parcel does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order, dated October 15, 2018, granting a petition dated September 1, 2016, filed by Bill Green of Richland, Washington. The Petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit (Permit No. 00-05-006, Renewal 2, Revision B) issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to the U.S. Department of Energy-Hanford Operations (DOE) for the Hanford site located in Benton County, Washington.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's state implementation plan (SIP). The revision is in response to EPA's February 3, 2017 Findings of Failure to Submit for various requirements relating to the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This SIP revision is specific to nonattainment new source review (NNSR) requirements. EPA is approving this revision in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to find that California has failed to submit complete state implementation plans (SIPs) required under the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') to implement the 1997, 2006, and 2012 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the San Joaquin Valley. For the 1997 annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, California was required to submit by December 31, 2016, a SIP submission that provides for, among other things, annual reductions in emissions of direct PM2.5 or a PM2.5 plan precursor pollutant within the area of not less than five percent of the amount of such emissions as reported in the most recent inventory for the area. For the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, California was required to submit by August 21, 2017, a SIP submission that meets the requirements for Serious PM2.5 nonattainment areas, including the requirement for best available control measures (BACM). For the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS, California was required to submit by October 15, 2016, a SIP submission that meets the requirements for Moderate PM2.5 nonattainment areas, including the requirement for reasonably available control measures (RACM). California submitted substantial portions of each of these required SIP submissions as part of an integrated plan on November 16, 2018, but each of these submissions fails to meet the EPA's minimum criteria for completeness. If the EPA has not affirmatively found that the State has submitted complete SIPs that correct the deficiencies in each of these SIP submissions within 18 months of this finding, the offset sanction will apply in the area. If within 6 additional months the EPA still has not affirmatively determined that the State has submitted complete SIPs that correct the deficiencies, the highway funding sanction will apply in the area. No later than 2 years after the EPA makes these findings, if the State has not submitted, and the EPA has not approved, each of the required SIP submissions, the EPA must promulgate a federal implementation plan (FIP) to address any remaining requirements.

This regulation extends time-limited tolerances for the pesticides listed in this document. These actions are in response to EPA's granting of emergency exemptions under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of these pesticides. In addition, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires EPA to establish a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving portions of two Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittals that pertain to the good neighbor and interstate transport requirements of the CAA with respect to the 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The good neighbor provision requires each state, in its SIP, to prohibit emissions that will significantly contribute to nonattainment, or interfere with maintenance, of a NAAQS in other states. In this action, EPA is approving the Texas SIP submittals as having met the requirements of the good neighbor provision for the 1997 ozone NAAQS in accordance with section 110 of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to the Agency's Privacy Act regulations in order to exempt a new system of records, EPA-63, the eDiscovery Enterprise Tool Suite, from certain requirements of the Privacy Act because records in EPA's eDiscovery Enterprise Tool Suite are maintained for use in civil and criminal actions. A notice has been published in the Federal Register on July 27, 2018 for the creation of this new system of records that will contain information collected using the Agency's suite of tools that search and preserve electronically stored information (ESI) in support of the Agency's eDiscovery (electronic discovery) and Freedom of Information Act processes. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are simultaneously publishing the Revision of the Agency's Privacy Act Regulations for EPA-63 as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.