Environmental Protection Agency June 13, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is promulgating a significant new use rule (SNUR) under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for tetrabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 40088-47-9; Benzene, 1,1'-oxybis-, tetrabromo deriv.), pentabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 32534-81-9; Benzene, 1,1'-oxybis-, pentabromo deriv.), hexabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 36483-60-0; Benzene, 1,1'-oxybis-, hexabromo deriv.), heptabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 68928-80-3; Benzene, 1,1'-oxybis-, heptabromo deriv.), octabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 32536-52-0; Benzene, 1,1'-oxybis-, octabromo deriv.), and nonabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 63936-56-1; Benzene, pentabromo(tetrabromophenoxy)-), or any combination of these substances resulting from a chemical reaction. This rule requires manufacturers and importers to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing the manufacture or import of any one or more of these chemical substances on or after January 1, 2005 for any use. EPA believes that this action is necessary because these chemical substances may be hazardous to human health and the environment. The required notice will provide EPA with the opportunity to evaluate an intended new use and associated activities and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit that activity before it occurs.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) to provide input on the Agency's process for reviewing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria air pollutants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee's (CASAC) Lead Review Panel (Panel) to conduct a peer review of EPA's Air Quality Criteria for Lead (Second External Review Draft), Volumes I and II (EPA/600/R-05/144aB-bB, May 2006); and to conduct a consultation on the Agency's Analysis Plan for Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment for the Review of the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards (Draft, May 31, 2006).

EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to establish and require reasonably available control technology (RACT) for eight major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Commonwealth's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.