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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public teleconference of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAS) Particulate Matter (PM) Review Panel (Panel) to review and approve the Panel's report from its April 6-7, 2005 meeting to conduct a peer review of the Agency's second draft PM Staff Paper and a related draft technical support document, the second draft PM Risk Assessment.

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 proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of Iowa for the purpose of clarifying that only untreated wood, seeds, pellets and other vegetative matter may be burned in fuel burning equipment and residential heating units; to remove a reference to a boiler that was removed at a power and water facility, and to clarify the language with regard to continuous emissions monitoring. One administrative correction to the operating permit program is also included in this revision. Approval of these revisions will ensure consistency between the state and Federally- approved rules, and ensure Federal enforceability of the state's revised air program rules.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request for an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2005. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

EPA proposes to approve a revision to the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) and Operating Permits Program. EPA proposes to approve a revision to the Missouri rule entitled ``Submission of Emission Data, Emission Fees, and Process Information.'' This revision will ensure consistency between the state and the Federally-approved rules.

The Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) Region V is issuing a notice of intent to delete the Lower Ecorse Creek (LEC) Superfund Site (Site) located in Wyandotte, Michigan, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this notice of intent to delete. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is found at Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300 which is the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the State of Michigan, through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' Section of today's Federal Register, we are publishing a direct final notice of deletion of the LEC Superfund Site without prior notice of intent to delete because we view this as a non- controversial revision and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this deletion in the preamble to the direct final notice of deletion. If we receive no adverse comment(s) on this notice of intent to delete or the direct final notice of deletion, we will not take further action on this notice of intent to delete. If we receive timely adverse comment(s), we will withdraw the direct final notice of deletion and it will not take effect. We will, as appropriate, address all public comments in a subsequent final deletion notice based on adverse comments received on this notice of intent to delete. We will not institute a second comment period on this notice of intent to delete. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. For additional information, see the direct final notice of deletion which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is taking final action to approve Washington's State Implementation Plan for the Wallula, Washington serious nonattainment area for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM10). Wallula was initially classified as a moderate nonattainment area for PM10 pursuant to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. In 2001, it was reclassified as a serious nonattainment area for PM10. As a result, Washington was required to submit a serious area plan for bringing the area into attainment. Washington submitted a serious area plan on November 30, 2004. We are approving this plan for Wallula, Washington because it meets the Clean Air Act requirements for PM10 serious nonattainment areas.