Environmental Protection Agency March 15, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document withdraws the direct final rule published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2005. 70 FR 9872. In that rule, we approved a revision to the State of Maine's plan for controlling total reduced sulfur (``TRS'') from kraft pulp mills under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act (``CAA'') (the ``111(d) plan''). That revision extended the compliance date for brown stock washers to April 17, 2007. EPA stated in the direct final rule that if it received adverse comment by March 31, 2005, the rule would be withdrawn and not take effect. We are withdrawing the direct final rule today because we received an adverse comment concerning our approval to extend the compliance date for brown stock washers. EPA will address this comment and any others received concerning Maine's revision to its 111(d) plan in a subsequent final action based upon the proposed rule that was issued simultaneously with the direct final rule. 70 FR 9901. As explained in the direct final rule and the proposed rule, EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. 70 FR 9874; 70 FR 9901. In addition, this document corrects a statement in the preamble of the direct final rule. In that preamble, the Agency inaccurately summarized the provisions of CAA section 111(d). This mistake has no bearing on the substance of EPA's proposed approval of Maine's revision to its 111(d) plan.

Alabama has applied to EPA for Final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA proposes to grant final authorization to Alabama for RCRA Clusters VIII through XII. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is authorizing the changes by an immediate final rule. EPA did not make a proposal prior to the immediate final rule because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. We have explained the reasons for this authorization in the preamble to the immediate final rule. Unless we get written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the immediate final rule will become effective on the date it establishes, and we will not take further action on this proposal. If we get comments that oppose this action, we will withdraw the immediate final rule and it will not take effect. We will then respond to public comments in a later final rule based on this proposal. You may not have another opportunity for comment. If you want to comment on this action, you must do so at this time.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Oregon Visibility Protection Plan submitted to EPA on January 22, 2003. The revisions are the result of a required periodic review of the Visibility Protection Plan conducted by the State, and reflect recommendations from the Oregon Visibility Advisory Committee. In general, the revisions reflect work the State intends to conduct over the next three years. EPA has determined that this submission is a general strengthening of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) as it expands strategies to protect visibility in Oregon.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee's (CASAC) Particulate Matter (PM) Review Panel (Panel) to conduct a peer review of the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter: Policy Assessment of Scientific and Technical Information (second draft PM Staff Paper, January 2005); and a related draft technical support document, Particulate Matter Health Risk Assessment for Selected Urban Areas: Second Draft Report (second draft PM Risk Assessment, January 2005).