Environmental Protection Agency April 12, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 9 of 9
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Redesignation of the Richmond-Petersburg 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area To Attainment and Approval of the Associated Maintenance Plan and 2002 Base-Year Inventory
EPA is proposing to approve a redesignation request and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) is requesting that the Richmond-Petersburg ozone nonattainment area (``Richmond Area'' or ``Area'') be redesignated as attainment for the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The Area is comprised of the Cities of Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Richmond, and the Counties of Prince George, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and Charles City. EPA is proposing to approve the ozone redesignation request for the Richmond Area. In conjunction with its redesignation request, the Commonwealth submitted a SIP revision consisting of a maintenance plan for the Richmond Area that provides for continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years after redesignation. EPA is proposing to make a determination that the Richmond Area has attained the 8-hour ozone NAAQS, based upon three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for 2003-2005. EPA's proposed approval of the 8-hour ozone redesignation request is based on its determination that the Richmond Area has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition, the Commonwealth of Virginia has also submitted a 2002 base-year inventory for the Richmond Area, and EPA is proposing to approve that inventory for the Richmond Area as a SIP revision. EPA is also providing information on the status of its adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) that are identified in the maintenance plan for the Richmond Area for purposes of transportation conformity, and is also proposing to approve those MVEBs. EPA is proposing approval of the redesignation request and of the maintenance plan and 2002 base-year inventory SIP revisions in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans: Alabama: Proposed Approval of Revisions to the Visible Emissions Rule
EPA is proposing to approve the Visible Emissions portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted to EPA, by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), on September 11, 2003 (the ``2003 ADEM submittal''), provided it is revised as described in this action and submitted as a SIP revision. The open burning portion of the submittal was previously approved in a separate action on March 9, 2006 (71 FR 12138).
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Information Collection Request for the National Listing of Fish Advisories, EPA ICR Number 1959.03, OMB Control Number 2040-0226
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (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 September 30, 2007. 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.
EPAAR Prescription and Solicitation Provision-EPA Green Meetings and Conferences
EPA is revising the EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) to establish policy and procedures for acquiring environmentally preferable meeting and conference services. This EPAAR revision adds a prescription and solicitation provision that Agency employees are required to use when soliciting quotes or offers for meeting and conference space and services. The solicitation provision requires meeting and conference venues to provide EPA with information about environmentally preferable features and practices in use at their facilities. As stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), environmentally preferable products and services are those ``that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.'' The intent of this rule is to ensure that environmental preferability is considered in each purchase of commercial meeting and conference services, which furthers the EPA mission to protect human health and the environment. This action revises the EPAAR, but does not impose any new requirements on Agency contractors. The procedure requires Agency employees to request information from prospective meeting venues about their environmentally preferable (green) practices for consideration in the award decision, thus encouraging the industry to adopt more of these practices so that we will be more likely to do business with them. This rule imposes no requirement or standard that a facility must meet in order to do business with us.
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Arkansas; Prevention of Significant Deterioration and New Source Review; Economic Development Zone for Crittenden County, AR; and Stage I Vapor Recovery
EPA is approving 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 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 and reconsidered with minor changes on November 7, 2003 (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 the Federal Clean Air Act (``Act''), are commonly referred to as the ``NSR programs.'' Arkansas revised its preconstruction permitting rules that affect major sources and major modifications to include provisions for baseline emissions calculations, an actual-to-projected-actual methodology for calculating emissions changes, options for plantwide applicability limits (PALs), and recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The revisions also include non-substantive revisions to previously SIP-approved regulations and new 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. Finally, EPA is taking no action on provisions that relate to designated facilities. We are approving the revisions because we find the changes consistent with EPA's implementing regulations, guidance, and policy and with section 110(l) of the Act.
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Wisconsin; Prevention of Significant Deterioration
EPA is proposing to revise the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for the purpose of giving the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) full regulatory responsibility for EPA-issued Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits. WDNR has the necessary state legislative authority to take responsibility for the permits, and has demonstrated that it has adequate resources to maintain oversight of these permits.
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Wisconsin; Prevention of Significant Deterioration
EPA is revising the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to give the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) full regulatory responsibility for EPA-issued Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits. WDNR has the necessary state legislative authority to take responsibility for the permits, and has demonstrated that it has adequate resources to maintain oversight of these permits.
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Tennessee: Approval of Revisions to the Knox County Portion of the Tennessee State Implementation Plan
EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Tennessee, through Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), on August 18, 1999 and July 16, 2001. The revisions pertain to the Knox County portion of the Tennessee SIP and include changes to the Knox County Air Quality Regulations Section 51.0Standards for Cement Kilns. These standards set nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions control, compliance demonstration, certification, record keeping, and reporting requirements for Portland cement kilns in the County. The revisions were initially reviewed by TDEC, which found them to be as stringent as the State's requirements. After review of this submittal, EPA concurs with TDEC's finding. The proposed changes are part of the Knox County strategy to meet the national ambient air quality standards by reducing the emissions of NOX, a precursor of ozone formation. Because of the harmful health effects of ozone, EPA limits the amount of volatile organic compounds and NOX that can be released into the atmosphere. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving the State's SIP revisions 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 significant, material, and adverse comments are received in response to this rule, 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 rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Tennessee: Approval of Revisions to the Knox County Portion of the Tennessee State Implementation Plan
EPA is approving revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Tennessee, through Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), on August 18, 1999 and July 16, 2001. The revisions pertain to the Knox County portion of the Tennessee SIP and include changes to the Knox County Air Quality Regulations (KCAQR) Section 51.0Standards for Cement Kilns. These standards set nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions control, compliance demonstration, certification, record keeping, and reporting requirements for Portland cement kilns in the County. The revisions were initially reviewed by TDEC, which found them to be as stringent as the State's requirements. The proposed changes are part of the Knox County strategy to meet the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by reducing the emissions of NOX, a precursor of ozone formation. Because of the harmful health effects of ozone, EPA limits the amount of volatile organic compounds and NOX that can be released into the atmosphere. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
