Environmental Protection Agency December 1, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on 4/30/07. 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 expressed environmental concerns about the mix of options presented in the DEIS for controlling invasive, and suggested there be more consideration of IPM, biological controls and the use of prescribed fire and careful consideration when using herbicides. Rating EC1.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Arkansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) that include changes made to Arkansas regulations entitled, ``Regulations of the Arkansas Plan of Implementation for Air Pollution Control'' and ``Nonattainment New Source Review Requirements.'' The proposed revisions amend the State's permitting rules in order to address revisions to the Federal New Source Review (NSR) regulations, which were promulgated by EPA on December 31, 2002 (67 FR 80186) and reconsidered with minor changes on November 7, 2003 (68 FR 63021) (collectively, these two final actions are called the ``2002 NSR Reform Rules''). Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment NSR (NNSR) programs, together with the minor preconstruction permit program required by section 110 of the Federal Clean Air Act (``Act''), are commonly referred to as the ``NSR programs.'' The Arkansas revised preconstruction permitting rules proposed for inclusion in the Arkansas SIP, affecting major sources and modifications to include provisions for baseline emissions calculations, an actual-to-projected-actual methodology for calculating emissions changes, options for plantwide applicability limits, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The proposed revisions also include non-substantive revisions to previously SIP-approved regulations and regulations for implementing the permitting provisions for the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard-Phase 2, Economic Development Zone in Crittenden County, and Stage I Vapor Recovery Rules. Finally, EPA is taking no action on provisions that relate to designated facilities. We are proposing approval of the revisions because we find the changes consistent with EPA's implementing regulations, guidance and policy and with Section 110(l) of the Act.

This document corrects an error in the rule language of a final rule pertaining to EPA's direct final action to convert a conditional approval in the West Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) to a full approval. The SIP revision pertains to nitrogen oxides (NOX) emission reductions required in West Virginia to meet Phase II of the NOX SIP Call.