Environmental Protection Agency May 23, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is soliciting applications for the Critical Use Exemption from the phaseout of methyl bromide for 2007 and beyond. This application process offers users of methyl bromide the opportunity to provide technical and economic information to support a ``critical use'' claim. Today's notice also invites interested parties to provide information on the technical and economic feasibility of methyl bromide alternatives. Methyl bromide is a chemical pesticide that has been identified under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Clean Air Act as an ozone-depleting substance. The complete phaseout of methyl bromide took effect on January 1, 2005. The Critical Use Exemption is designed to allow continued production and import of methyl bromide after the phaseout for those uses that have no technically and economically feasible alternatives. Critical Use Exemptions are exemptions from the January 1, 2005 methyl bromide phaseout. Applicants for the exemption are requested to submit technical and economic information to EPA for U.S. review. The U.S. will then create a national nomination for review by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. EPA encourages users with similar circumstances of use to submit a single application. Please contact your state regulatory agency to receive information about their involvement in the process.

The EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on December 6, 2004. The proposed revisions will demonstrate attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard and incorporate the San Antonio Early Action Compact (EAC) Clean Air Plan into the Texas SIP. EPA is proposing approval of the photochemical modeling in support of the attainment demonstration of the 8-hour ozone standard within the San Antonio EAC area and is proposing approval of the associated control measures. EPA is proposing these actions as a strengthening of the SIP in accordance with the requirements of sections 110 and 116 of the Federal Clean Air Act (the Act), which will result in emission reductions needed to help achieve attainment and maintenance of the 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone.