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

On four occasions in the first half of 2002, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and various other parties filed objections with EPA to final rules under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), (21 U.S.C. 346a), establishing pesticide tolerances for various pesticides. The objections apply to 14 pesticides and 112 separate pesticide tolerances. Although the objections raise numerous pesticide-specific issues, they all focus on the potential risks that the pesticides pose to farm children. This Order responds to NRDC's objections as to all of the challenged tolerances with the exception of the objections pertaining to the imidacloprid tolerance on blueberries which were previously denied. The objections to the other tolerances are denied for the reasons stated herein.

This notice announces receipt of applications to register pesticide products containing new active ingredients not included in any previously registered products pursuant to the provisions of section 3(c)(4) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92- 463, the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), announces one meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Drinking Water Subcommittee.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend certain provisions of the regulations establishing effluent limitations guidelines, pretreatment standards and new source performance standards for the Iron and Steel Manufacturing Point Source Category. Prior to 2002, regulations applicable to the Iron and Steel Manufacturing Point Source Category had authorized the establishment of limitations applicable to the total mass of a pollutant discharged from more than one outfall. The effect of such a ``water bubble'' was to allow a greater or lesser quantity of a particular pollutant to be discharged from any single outfall so long as the total quantity discharged from the combined outfalls did not exceed the allowed total mass limitation. In 2002, EPA revised the water bubble to prohibit establishment of alternative oil and grease effluent limitations. Based on consideration of new information and analysis, EPA proposes to reinstate the provision authorizing alternative oil and grease limitations with one exception. Today's notice also proposes to correct errors in the effective date of new source performance standards.

On December 14, 1994, we promulgated National Emission Standards for Gasoline Distribution Facilities (Bulk Gasoline Terminals and Pipeline Breakout Stations) (59 FR 64318). The national emission standards limit and control hazardous air pollutants (HAP) that are known or suspected to cause cancer or have other serious health or environmental effects. Section 112(f)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) directs EPA to assess the risk remaining (residual risk) after the application of national emission standards controls. Also, CAA section 112(d)(6) requires us to review and revise the national emission standards as necessary by taking into account developments in practices, processes, and control technologies. The proposal announces a decision and requests public comments on the residual risk assessment and technology review for the national emission standards. We are proposing no further action at this time to revise the national emission standards.

The EPA is proposing amendments to the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for cellulose products manufacturing, which were issued on June 11, 2002, under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). This action proposes to improve implementation of the emission standards by revising the work practice standards, general and initial compliance requirements, definitions, and General Provisions applicability, as well as correcting typographical, formatting, and cross-referencing errors in the final rule. In the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register, we are issuing the amendments as a direct final rule, without prior proposal, because we view the revisions as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse comments. We have explained our reasons for the revisions in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive any adverse comment on one or more distinct amendments in the direct final rule, we will publish a timely notice of withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public which provisions will become effective and which provisions are being withdrawn due to adverse comment. We will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. If no adverse comments are received, no further action will be taken on the proposal, and the direct final rule will become effective as provided in that action. The regulatory text for the proposal is identical to that for the direct final rule published in the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register. For further supplementary information, see the direct final rule.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of topramezone in or on field corn, pop corn, sweet corn, kidney, and liver. BASF Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA).

EPA has granted experimental use permits (EUPs) to the following pesticide applicants. An EUP permits use of a pesticide for experimental or research purposes only in accordance with the limitations in the permit.