Environmental Protection Agency January 10, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to revise certain requirements for the Toxic Chemical Release Inventory. The purpose of these revisions is to reduce reporting burden associated with the Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Reporting requirements without compromising the usefulness of the information to the public. This proposal is one of several efforts being undertaken by EPA to reduce the reporting burden associated with the Agency's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. It is not anticipated to impact any protections for human health and the environment. The Agency will continue to provide valuable information to the public pursuant to EPCRA section 313 and the Pollution Prevention Act regarding toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities. If adopted, today's proposed action would simplify a number of TRI reporting requirements; remove some data elements from the Form R and Form A Certification Statement (hereafter referred to as Form A) that can be obtained from other EPA information collection databases, or are rarely used, and update the regulations to provide corrected contact information and descriptions of the Forms R and A data elements. EPA expects these proposed changes to improve TRI reporting efficiency and effectiveness, as well as reduce reporting burden.

Due to the receipt of an adverse comment, the EPA is withdrawing the November 10, 2004 (69 FR 65069), direct final rule approving revisions to Wisconsin's State Implementation Plan regarding the control of nitrogen oxide emissions. In the direct final rule, EPA stated that if adverse comments were submitted by December 10, 2004, the rule would be withdrawn and not take effect. On December 10, 2004, EPA received a comment. EPA believes this comment is adverse and, therefore, EPA is withdrawing the direct final rule. EPA will address the comment in a subsequent final action based upon the proposed action also published on November 10, 2004 (69 FR 65117). EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the fourth public meeting of the Water Security Working Group (WSWG) of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC), which was established under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for the WSWG members to continue deliberations on the features of active and effective security programs for drinking water and wastewater utilities (water sector), to continue deliberations on incentives to encourage broad adoption of active and effective security programs in the water sector, and to continue deliberations on measures of the performance of water security programs. The focus of the meeting will be on review of draft recommendations on incentives and development of performance measures. The WSWG findings and recommendations will be provided to the NDWAC for their consideration. The WSWG anticipates providing findings and recommendations to the NDWAC in spring 2005. One additional meeting of the WSWG is planned and will be announced in the near future.

On October 13, 2004, the EPA issued direct final amendments to the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for pushing, quenching, and battery stacks at new and existing coke oven batteries. The amendments were issued as a direct final rule, along with a parallel proposal to be used as the basis for final action in the event EPA received any significant adverse comments on the direct final amendments. Because a significant adverse comment was received on one provision, EPA is withdrawing the corresponding parts of the direct final rule. We will address the adverse comment in a subsequent final rule based on the parallel proposal published on October 13, 2004.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2004. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request for a new collection. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

EPA is proposing to approve a request from the State of West Virginia to redesignate the City of Weirton, including the Clay and Butler Magisterial Districts, from nonattainment to attainment of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). EPA is also proposing to approve a maintenance plan for the area as a SIP revision which would put in place a plan for maintaining the NAAQS for SO2 for the next ten years. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A more detailed description of the state submittal and EPA's evaluation are included in a Technical Support Document (TSD) prepared in support of this rulemaking action. A copy of the TSD is available, upon request, from the EPA Regional Office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. 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.

EPA is proposing to approve a negative declaration submitted by the City of Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), New Mexico, certifying that there are no existing commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units in Bernalillo County subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the CAA.