Environmental Protection Agency January 24, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting applications from eligible applicants for the planning, arranging, administering, and conducting of conferences, workshops, and/or meetings in the areas of EPA mission related issues connected to protecting, human health and safeguarding the natural environment; advancing the scientific and technical research that promotes environmental protection; exploring current and emerging issues of importance to environmental protection; and/or encouraging collaboration among the nation's best scientists and engineers in academia, business and nonprofit research institutes.

EPA is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Montana on August 20, 2003, except for revisions to three rules that EPA will act on at a later date. The revisions modify definitions and references to federal regulations and other materials in the Administrative Rules of Montana. The intended effect of this action is to make federally enforceable those provisions that EPA is approving. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Montana on August 25, 2004. The revisions are to the Administrative Rules of Montana and correct internal references to state documents; correct references to, or update citations of, Federal documents; and make minor editorial changes. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision 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 is taking direct final action approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Governor of Colorado with a letter dated March 24, 2005. This revision updates the Long-Term Strategy of the Visibility SIP to establish strategies, activities, and monitoring plans that constitute reasonable progress toward the National visibility goal. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

EPA is proposing to take direct final action approving certain revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) as submitted by the Governor of North Dakota with a letter dated April 11, 2003. The revisions affect certain portions of air pollution control rules regarding permitting and prevention of significant deterioration. EPA is also providing notice that on July 27, 2005, North Dakota was delegated authority to implement and enforce certain New Source Performance Standards, as of January 31, 2004. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision 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.

The EPA is proposing to approve the State of Maine's permit program for municipal solid waste landfills (MSWLF's) and to approve the State's approach of not allowing conditionally exempt small quantity generator (CESQG) hazardous waste to be sent to non-municipal, non-hazardous waste disposal units. Elsewhere in today's Federal Register, EPA is publishing a direct final rule that determines the adequacy of the State of Maine's municipal solid waste permitting program without a prior proposal because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. Unless we get relevant written comments which oppose this determination of adequacy during the comment period, the decision will take effect. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes effect and this separate document in this proposed rules section of the direct final Federal Register will serve as the proposal to determine the adequacy of the State Municipal Solid Waste Landfill permitting program.