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

EPA is amending the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for primary aluminum reduction plants. The amendments will revise the emission limit for polycyclic organic matter (POM) applicable to one potline subcategory. The amendments will revise the compliance provisions to clarify the dates by which all plants must meet the NESHAP requirements, and to specify the time allowed to demonstrate initial compliance for a new or reconstructed potline, anode bake furnace, or pitch storage tank as well as an existing potline or anode bake furnace that has been shutdown and subsequently restarted. We are making these amendments to reduce compliance uncertainties and improve understanding of the NESHAP requirements.

This document describes how EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs intends to implement its Endangered Species Protection Program (ESPP or the Program). The goal of the ESPP is to carry out responsibilities under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) in compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), while at the same time not placing unnecessary burden on agriculture and other pesticide users. This document describes EPA's approach to implementing its responsibilities under section 7(a)(2) of ESA subsequent to a determination by EPA that geographically specific risk mitigation is necessary to protect federally listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat. For purposes of the ESPP, the term ``listed species'' or ``endangered species'' will encompass species listed as threatened or endangered, plus designated critical habitat of these species; the term ``county'' will include counties, parishes, and similar political boundaries of U.S. Territories. The implementation approach relies on pesticide labels, as appropriate, referring the pesticide user to geographically specific Endangered Species Protection Bulletins that will contain enforceable use limitations for the pesticide necessary to ensure the pesticide's use will not jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species.

EPA is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Utah. On April 1, 2004, the Governor of Utah submitted an attainment demonstration and plan for the Provo metropolitan area (hereafter, Provo area) for the carbon monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) to replace the demonstration and plan that were submitted by Governor Leavitt on July 11, 1994. The Governor's submittal also contained a request to redesignate the Provo area to attainment for the CO NAAQS and a maintenance plan which includes transportation conformity motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEB) for 2014 and 2015. The Governor also submitted revisions to: Utah's Rule R307-110-12, ``Section IX, Control Measures for Area and Point Sources, Part C, Carbon Monoxide,'' which incorporates the attainment demonstration, plan, and maintenance plan; Utah's Rule R307-110-31, ``Section X, Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program, Part A,'' which incorporates general requirements and applicability for motor vehicle emissions inspections; and Utah's Rule R307-110-34, ``Section X, Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program, Part D, Utah County,'' which incorporates a revised vehicle inspection and maintenance program for Utah County. The Governor's April 1, 2004 submittal also stated that the prior July 11, 1994 submittal of Utah's Rule R307-1-4.12, ``Emissions Standards for Residential Solid Fuel Burning Devices and Fireplaces'' to restrict woodburning in Utah County, remains part of her April 1, 2004 submittal and requested that Utah's Rule R307-301, ``Oxygenated Gasoline Program,'' be eliminated from the Federally- approved SIP. We note that on September 20, 1999, the Governor submitted Utah Rules R307-302-3 and -4, which together comprise a re- numbered and re-titled version of R307-1-4.12. The text of Rules R307- 302-3 and -4 is identical to the text of Rule R307-1-4.12 that the Governor submitted on July 11, 1994. EPA is proposing to approve the Provo area's attainment demonstration and plan, the request for redesignation to attainment for the Provo area, the maintenance plan, the transportation conformity MVEBs for 2014 and 2015, the revisions to Rule R307-110-12, the revisions to Rule R307-110-31, the revisions to Rule R307-110-34, Rules R307-302-3 and -4, and the request to remove Rule R307-301 from the Federally-approved SIP. EPA is also identifying the transportation conformity MVEB for the year 2000, which is derived from the attainment year emission inventory in the attainment plan. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revisions as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial SIP revision and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the preamble to the direct final rule. If EPA receives no adverse comments, EPA will not take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives adverse comments, EPA will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.

EPA must determine whether any of the approximately 160 acres of land located in the southeast portion of Section 8, Township 16N, Range 16W, in the State of New Mexico, is part of a dependent Indian community under 18 U.S.C. 1151(b) and, thus, considered to be ``Indian country.'' This determination is necessary in order to establish whether EPA or the New Mexico Environment Department is the appropriate agency to issue a particular underground injection control permit under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA is seeking comments and information from the public and all interested parties regarding the possible Indian country status of this land and is considering whether to hold a public hearing on the matter.

This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide dimethipin. The Agency's risk assessments and other related documents also are available in the dimethipin docket. Dimethipin is registered for use as a cotton growth regulator and dessicant. In addition, it is used as a post-emergence herbicide on cotton and nonbearing apple nursery stock. EPA has reviewed dimethipin through the public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions. Through these programs, EPA is ensuring that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards.

EPA is taking final action to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 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) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) pursuant to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's (Pennsylvania's or the Commonwealth's) SIP-approved generic RACT regulations. EPA is approving these revisions in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

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 to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2005. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

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 to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2005. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 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 to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2005. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

This document announces that the EPA Administrator has responded to a citizen petition asking EPA to object to an operating permit proposed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Specifically, the Administrator has partially granted and partially denied the petition submitted by the Lake County Conservation Alliance to object to the proposed operating permit for the Midwest Generation Waukegan station. Pursuant to section 505(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (Act), Petitioner may seek judicial review in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit of those portions of the petition which EPA denied. Any petition for review shall be filed within 60 days from the date this notice appears in the Federal Register, pursuant to section 307 of the Act.

EPA is taking final action to approve revisions to the Delaware State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions were submitted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and consist of modifications to the ambient air quality standards for ozone and fine particulate matter. EPA is approving these revisions in the SIP in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Notice is hereby given that the State of Indiana is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Indiana has revised its Public Notification (PN) Rule; its Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions (LCRMR) Rule; its Analytical Methods for Chemical and Microbiological Contaminants and revisions to Laboratory Certification Requirements; its revisions to Analytical Methods for Radionuclides Rule; and its Removal of the Prohibition on the Use of Point of Use Devices for compliance with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Rule. EPA has determined that these revisions by the State are no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulations. Therefore, EPA intends to approve these revisions to the State of Indiana's Public Water System Supervision Program. This approval action does not extend to public water systems (PWSs) in Indian Country, as the term is defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151. By approving these rules, EPA does not intend to affect the rights of federally recognized Indian Tribes in Indiana, nor does it intend to limit existing rights of the State of Indiana. Any interested party may request a public hearing. A request for a public hearing must be submitted by December 1, 2005 to the Regional Administrator at the EPA Region 5 address shown below. The Regional Administrator may deny frivolous or insubstantial requests for a hearing. However, if a substantial request for a public hearing is made by December 1, 2005, EPA Region 5 will hold a public hearing. If EPA Region 5 does not receive a timely and appropriate request for a hearing and the Regional Administrator does not elect to hold a hearing on his own motion, this determination shall become final and effective on December 1, 2005. Any request for a public hearing shall include the following information: The name, address, and telephone number of the individual, organization, or other entity requesting a hearing; a brief statement of the requesting person's interest in the Regional Administrator's determination and a brief statement of the information that the requesting person intends to submit at such hearing; and the signature of the individual making the request, or, if the request is made on behalf of an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible official of the organization or other entity.

The EPA is approving a revision to the Tennessee State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted in final form on August 10, 2005. The SIP revision provides the second 10-year maintenance plan for the Nashville (Middle Tennessee) 1-hour ozone maintenance area (Nashville Area), which is composed of the following five counties: Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson. The Nashville Area is still required to fulfill obligations under the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS), because EPA has deferred the effective date of the designation for the Nashville Area under the newer 8-hour ozone NAAQS due to participation in an Early Action Compact. EPA is approving this SIP revision because it satisfies the requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the second 10-year maintenance plan for the Nashville Area. In addition, in this rulemaking, EPA is providing information on its transportation conformity adequacy determination for new motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for the year 2016 that are contained in the second 10-year 1-hour ozone maintenance plan for the Nashville Area. EPA determined that the 2016 MVEBs are adequate through a previous action. EPA is also approving the 2016 MVEBs in this action.

This proposed rule and preamble describe the requirements that States and Tribes must meet in their implementation plans for attainment of the fine particle (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The health effects associated with exposure to PM2.5 are serious, including premature death, aggravation of heart and lung disease, and asthma attacks. Those particularly sensitive to PM2.5 exposure include older adults, people with heart and lung disease, and children. The EPA designated areas not attaining the PM2.5 standards on December 17, 2004. The PM designations notice was published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2005 (70 FR 944) and became effective on April 5, 2005. On this same date, the Administrator signed a supplemental notice making certain changes to the designations based on 2002-2004 air quality data. The supplemental notice was published in the Federal Register on April 14, 2005 (70 FR 19844). A total of 39 areas with a population of 90 million were designated as nonattainment. Within 3 years, each State having a nonattainment area must submit to EPA an attainment demonstration (and associated air quality modeling), adopted State regulations to reduce emissions of PM2.5 and its precursors, and other supporting information demonstrating that the area will attain the standards as expeditiously as practicable. In order to address PM2.5 problems, EPA believes that States should implement a balanced program to reduce emissions from regional sources [such as power plants emitting sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX)] and local sources (such as cars, trucks, industrial sources, and various other combustion or burning-related activities). States should take into account national, State, and local emission reduction programs that are already in place and projected to provide future air quality benefits.