Environmental Protection Agency April 1, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA is convening a 2-day public workshop to explain the provisions of its recently proposed rule updating and revising data requirements for conventional pesticides in 40 CFR parts 152 and 158. The data requirements identify the types of information that EPA needs to determine that a pesticide product can be registered, a tolerance or exemption can be issued for pesticide residues in food, or the pesticide can be used experimentally. The proposed rule is intended to: Improve the scientific basis for pesticide decisions; update the requirements last codified in 1984; and reorganize part 158 to improve usability. These efforts will help protect human health and the environment by identifying, assessing, and reducing the risks of conventional pesticides for use in the United States. This workshop is open to the public.

EPA expressed concerns about the project's economic viability, the scope of the project's dredging and sediment disposal, the impacts to water quality, fish and wildlife species and habitat, and the indirect and cumulative impacts, and requested that additional information, especially Habitat Impairment Test results, be presented in the Final EIS to address these issues. ERP No. D-COE-E11055-NC Rating LO, Fort Bragg Headquarters for XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command, To Fully Integrate the Overhill Tract Training Program, Cumberland and Harnett Counties, NC. Summary: EPA has no objections to the proposed project. ERP No. D- FHW-F40428-OH Rating EC2, OH-823, Portsmouth Bypass Project, Transportation Improvements, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Appalachian Development Highway, Scioto County, OH. Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about the proposed project related to upland forest habitat losses, forest fragmentation, and potential for stream sedimentation. EPA also recommends additional analysis of the cumulative impacts related to forest fragmentation be included in the FEIS. ERP No. D-FRC-G03024-TX Rating EC2, Vista del Sol Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal Project, Construct, Install and Operate an LNG Terminal and Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities, Vista del Sol LNG Terminal LP and Vista del Sol Pipeline LP, TX. Summary: EPA identified environmental concerns that may require changes to the preferred alternative and mitigation measures to reduce environmental impact. EPA requested additional information to be included in the FEIS, including information regarding wetland impacts, mitigation, contaminant testing and the suitability of dredged material for beneficial use.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions were submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to establish and require reasonably available control technology (RACT) for three major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC). These sources are located in Pennsylvania. EPA is approving these revisions to establish RACT requirements in the SIP in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).